Wine Wednesday: Wishing you Happy New Year from Skyy and Moet & Chandon

Last week, I said that would be my last Wine Wednesday post.  Well, my friends from Skyy and Moet & Chandon sent me such yummy New Years ideas that I couldn’t resist. I love these two brands and think that they are an absolute must have for your holiday celebration, as well as any, no all of your wedding parties.  Today I’m sharing great engagement cocktail ideas from these brands.  You should absolutely keep both of these in your home… to celebrate each other.

As we go into 2011, I want you to enjoy your engagement.  I really want you to have the marriage that you dare to dream of.  Love is so special and when you find the ‘divine right person’ for you, hold on to each other.  Savor your love and friendship like the finest champagne. 

So this IS the last Wine Wednesday post for 2010.  I can’t wait to bring you some of the newest creations from the makers of the finest spirits in the world.  If there is something that you want more (or less) of, then let me know.  Until then, may your troubles be light, your heart happy and your cup full.  Happy, Happy New Year.

Remember to please drink responsibly.

CHERRY BERRY AMORE

1 oz SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka

2 tbsp Raspberry Preserves

4-5 frozen Raspberries

Top with Moet & Chandon Imperial

Gently muddle the Raspberry Preserves and frozen Raspberries with SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka in a mixing pint.  Add ice and shake.  Strain into two champagne flutes and top both glasses with Moet & Chandon Imperial.  Garnish with Lemon Zest.

Cider Bellini

By Kim Haasarud, 101 Champagne Cocktails

Moet & Chandon Imperial

1oz Apple Juice

1oz Simple Syrup

1/2oz Cognac

Dash of Ground Cinnamon

Dash of Ground Allspice

Dash of Ground Cloves

Thin Red Apple Slice, for garnish

Place red apple slice in champagne flute and set aside. Combine the apple juice, simple syrup, cognac, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into the champagne flute over the red apple slice. Top off with champagne.

I love this for the day after New Year…or truthfully, it’s baking in my house now.

Rustic Apple Tarts Infused with SKYY Infusions Ginger

Serves 4

1 tbsp. SKYY Infusions Ginger

1/3 cup and 0.5 tablespoon Sugar

1/2 cup Apple Cider or Apple Juice

1 tbsp. Cider Vinegar

1 lb. Small Gala Apples (about 4; left unpeeled)

1 Frozen Puff Pastry Sheet (from a 17 1/4-oz package), thawed

3 tbsp. Unsalted Butter

Preheat oven to 425°F.  Cook 1/3 cup sugar in a dry, 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar is melted into a pale golden caramel. Tilt skillet and carefully pour in cider and vinegar (caramel will harden and steam vigorously). Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel is dissolved. 

While syrup simmers, cut apples into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Add apple slices to hot syrup in skillet, gently tossing to coat. Remove from heat and let stand, stirring occasionally, until apples are wilted by syrup, 5 to 10 minutes.  While apples stand, roll out puff pastry sheet into a 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Cut into quarters, forming 4 (6-inch) squares and brush off excess flour from both sides.

Transfer squares to a large, shallow baking pan, overlapping if necessary (squares will fit without touching after edges are folded in later).  Drain apples in a sieve set over a bowl (save the syrup), then place apple slices decoratively on each square, leaving a 3/4-inch border all around. Fold border over apples along edges, pinching edges together as necessary, then dot tops of apples with a total of 1 tablespoon butter and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon sugar.  Bake tarts until apples are tender, pastry is puffed, and edges and undersides are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. While tarts bake, boil reserved syrup in skillet with SKYY Infusions Ginger and remaining 2 tablespoons butter until thickened and reduced to about 1/3 cup. Brush or drizzle hot syrup over tarts. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

2011 Bridal sales and trunk shows ...is it January already?

Here’s wishing you a very happy engagement!  My advise to you – BREATHE!!  Take your time, don’t let anyone pressure you into making decisions and by all means…enjoy the process.  As we move forward in 2011, I’ll be sharing some great vendors, trends, ideas and commentary with you.  Until then (and if you can’t wait) here are some trunk shows and sales for you to put on your January radar.  Some happen as early as Jan 1.

Vera Wang is inviting you to her Madison Avenue Bridal Salon now through January 1, 2011 to preview the Fall 2011 bridal collection. Call 212.628.3400 to schedule your appointment.

Vera Wang Bridal Salon
991 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 1007

Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier is one of my favorites.  I want you to also keep on your radar the brand new “The Aisle” which launches on Jan 3 at 11:00am.  You will find beautiful gowns from all the hottest designers up to 50% off.  Sign up by clicking here.

In the mean time, visit Mark’s salon for these special sales and trunk shows.

Vera Wang Selling Day - January 5

Junko Yoshioka Trunk Show - January 6 - 8

Lela Rose Collection Preview - January 10 - 12

Elizabeth Fillmore - January 13 - 15

Lela Rose Collection Preview - January 17 - 19

Peter Langner Trunk Show with Personal Appearance - January 27 - 29

The Park 55 Building
110 East 55th St., 8th Floor
To schedule an appointment, please call: 212 319 6778

The salons and amazing service will always have me posting the sales from Bridal Reflections.  They seem to get it right time and time again (according to brides who write to me who have visited them) 

This is a great list of their sales through January.  I especially LOVE they are having a special sale for Military Brides on Jan 31.  Way to Go Bridal Reflections!!

Sample Sale January 2nd - 9th – Carle Place/Westbury salon – Fifth Avenue salon

Designer gowns from 40%-75% off.

Martina Liana January 7th - 9th – Fifth Avenue salon

Christine Anthony - Exclusive to Bridal Reflections! January 7th - 9th – Massapequa salon

Ines Di Santo January 21st - 23rd – Fifth Avenue salon

Simone Carvalli January 21st - 23rd – Carle Place/Westbury salon

Romona Keveza January 28th - 30th – Fifth Avenue salon

Marina K. January 28th - 30th – Carle Place/Westbury salon

Bridesmaids: Jim Hjelm Occasions January 28th - 30th – Carle Place/Westbury salon

Mother of Bride/Groom: Rina Di Montella January 28th - 30th – Massapequa salon

Gowns for Military Brides! January 31st – Carle Place/Westbury salon – Fifth Avenue salon – Massapequa salon

Address for NYC

260 Fifth Avenue
(At W. 28th St)
New York, NY 10001

212.764.3040

Address for Carle Place

80 Westbury Ave
Carle Place, NY 11514

516.742.7788

Address for Massapequa

3 Broadway
Massapequa, NY 11758

516.795.222

Ok so that should be good to get you started.  Again Congratulations and if you didn’t get the bling-bling for Christmas…there’s always New Years eve.  May all your bridal dress-dreams come true.

Romona Keveza sets the stage for couture glamour with her 2011 collection

 I’m convinced that Romona Keveza doesn’t sleep.  She had a successful ready-to-wear collection and then she created two different bridal lines.  She is truly a special kind of designer.  The fall 2011 legends collection takes on the glamour of Camelot and elegance of the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Once again Romona has captured glamour that ranges from short and sassy to full ball gowns that have amazing movement as the models walked.  The legends collection features classic chic and underscored by modern minimalism.  This is a marriage of Parisian style all with American girl spirit.
Her second collection begins with “Darling, won’t you join me?” The collection inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly and the Aristocratic soirées of the 1960’s NY high society.  Each piece in the collection really was a throw back in time where women wore gloves, and weren’t scared to wear something a bit more ‘shocking’ yet looked as if they effortlessly stepped off a fashion page.

Playful lengths, colors and cuts, bold and feminine touches, equal luxury and unassuming grace.  The Keveza bride won’t play by the rules…she creates them.  One of my favorites is a new spin on the ‘little black dress’.  Who am I kidding?  I love the entire collection.

Quick Beauty Fixes for the Holiday Hangover

I can't believe that it's just a few days before Christmas and New Years eve...already. Seems like it was just September and now, I can actually see the New Year just a few days away. So I know that you will be partying, some of you may receive a little something “shiny” and in your excitement, may forget that taking care of your skin is an ‘every-day-kind-of-thing’ especially as you begin to plan for your wedding.  So here are some tips that I hope will help you.

The Night Before: 

Take the easy way out: Reach for KORRES^® Natural Products Milk Proteins Makeup Removal Wipes.  These soft wipes gently and effectively remove all traces of face and eye makeup.  Rich in essential amino acids, milk proteins offer nourishing and moisturizing benefits, while Aloe and pro-vitamin B5 soothe the skin and reduce redness and irritation.

Go on the defensive: If you wear contact lenses, opt for a daily disposable lens you can throw out at the end of the night.  Your eyes will look and feel better with a clean, fresh lens the next day. New 1-DAY ACUVUE^® TruEye^TM combines the gold standard in comfort (silicone hydrogel) with the flexibility and freshness of a daily disposable. 

In The AM:

Perform a vanishing act: Whiten your peepers with VISINE^® Maximum Redness Relief Formula^®(You can find at your local drug store) so no one knows how much fun you had last night.  This amazing long-lasting HYDROBLEND Formula acts like natural tears to provide up to 10 hours of comfort.  I would also recommend that you give your eyes a break.  Leave your contacts out for the day and break out your old eyeglasses.  Trust me, your eyes will thank you.

Makeup is your new BFF: You can read a party all over your face – puffy, patchy, wrinkly, and splotchy – it’s so not pretty.  Create a bright, polished palette with KORRES^® Natural Products Quercetin and Oak Face Primer.  This silicone-free skin-perfecting primer treats wrinkles to provide a smooth, even surface for long-lasting makeup.

IF you don’t want to go full make-up, fake a healthy flush: Dust the apples of your cheeks with KORRES^® Natural Products Zea Mays Powder Blush in Peach.  Your dry skin will benefit from the botanical blend, including zea mays (corn), soy and licorice, all while sporting a smooth, long-lasting glow.

Bring on the light: Apply a shimmery light shadow to the inner corners of the eyes to reflect light and instantly brighten eyes. KORRES^® Antioxidant Sunflower & Hydrating Evening Primrose “Cool” Eye Palette offers both a white and a silver option to choose from. 

Give yourself a lift: Pull your hair up into a youthful ponytail, which will give your facial features a “mini-lift”. Goody has great and “safe for hair” ouchless hair products in so many different colors, you can find one to match yours. (You can find at your local drug store)

Ok so Happy Holidays to you and more importantly may all your wishes come true.

(All products can be purchased at at korresusa.com and SEPHORA unless otherwise noted.)

Keeping your holiday face fresh

I can’t believe that it’s the holidays already.  Seems like it was just September and now, I can actually see the New Year just a few days away. So I know that you will be partying, some of you may receive a little something “shiny” and in your excitement, may forget that taking care of your skin is an ‘every-day-kind-of-thing’ especially as you begin to plan for your wedding.  So here are some tips that I hope will help you.

The Night Before:

Take the easy way out: Reach for KORRES^® Natural Products Milk Proteins Makeup Removal Wipes.  These soft wipes gently and effectively remove all traces of face and eye makeup.  Rich in essential amino acids, milk proteins offer nourishing and moisturizing benefits, while Aloe and pro-vitamin B5 soothe the skin and reduce redness and irritation.



Go on the defensive: If you wear contact lenses, opt for a daily disposable lens you can throw out at the end of the night.  Your eyes will look and feel better with a clean, fresh lens the next day. New 1-DAY ACUVUE^® TruEye^TM combines the gold standard in comfort (silicone hydrogel) with the flexibility and freshness of a daily disposable.  (Complimentary contact lens fittings available.)


In The AM:
Perform a vanishing act: Whiten your peepers with VISINE^® Maximum Redness Relief Formula so no one knows how much fun you had last night.  This amazing long-lasting HYDROBLEND^® Formula acts like natural tears to provide up to 10 hours of comfort.  I would also recommend that you give your eyes a break.  Leave your contacts out for the day and break out your old eyeglasses.  Trust me, your eyes will thank you. (You can find at your local drug store)

Makeup is your new BFF: You can read a party all over your face – puffy, patchy, wrinkly, and splotchy – it’s so not pretty.  Create a bright, polished palette with KORRES^® Natural Products Quercetin and Oak Face Primer.  This silicone-free skin-perfecting primer treats wrinkles to provide a smooth, even surface for long-lasting makeup.

IF you don’t want to go full make-up, fake a healthy flush: Dust the apples of your cheeks with KORRES^® Natural Products Zea Mays Powder Blush in Peach.  Your dry skin will benefit from the botanical blend, including zea mays (corn), soy and licorice, all while sporting a smooth, long-lasting glow.


Bring on the light: Apply a shimmery light shadow to the inner corners of the eyes to reflect light and instantly brighten eyes. KORRES^® Antioxidant Sunflower & Hydrating Evening Primrose “Cool” Eye Palette offers both a white and a silver option to choose from.



Give yourself a lift: Pull your hair up into a youthful ponytail, which will give your facial features a “mini-lift”.  Goody has great and “safe for hair” ouchless hair products in so many different colors, you can find one to match yours. (You can find at your local drug store)


Ok so Happy Holidays to you and more importantly may all your wishes come true.
(All products can be purchased at at korresusa.com and SEPHORA unless otherwise noted.)