Honoring the James Beard Awards with a Sweet Treat

May 7, 2012 at 4:48 pm , by Hilary Merzbacher

It should come as no surprise that the members of the LHJ Food Department are, well, food obsessed.  Far beyond our love of cooking (and eating, of course!), we do our best to keep our finger on the pulse of the food world. Today marks the 22nd annual James Beard Awards Gala, which is, in essence, the Oscars of the food industry — covering everything from restaurant design to food journalism to cookbooks, the James Beard Foundation honors the greatest culinary accomplishments of the past year.

As a sweet treat to honor the Foundation — which celebrates is 25th anniversary this year — we wanted to share a recipe from this year’s winner in the Dessert and Baking Cookbook category. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home, by Jeni Britton Bauer is the ultimate guide to creating frozen treats at home. The author’s nine Columbus, Ohio-area scoop shops have become well known for churning out creative flavors like Roasted Strawberry & Buttermilk and Chamomile Chardonnay, and since they’ve started shipping, have developed a national following. We can’t take our minds of her recipe for white Rum Praline Sauce (recipe below) and can’t wait to give it a try!

Along with applauding the winning book, we’d want to send our congrats to the other category nominees — Baking Style by Lisa Yockelson and Cooking with Chocolate, edited by Frédéric Bau. Both feature the kind of recipes (and photographs!) that make us want to abandon our diets all together.

              

Read more

---

Shopping with Sue…at Nine West

May 3, 2012 at 11:59 am , by Sue Erneta

It’s official. My toes have been released from the confines of winter. Now, I know that the weather has not been very warm in New York but once I wake my toes from their cold weather hibernation, there’s no putting them back. No more boots. No more tights. So, today I’m taking you shopping for some new summer sandals at one of my favorite shoe companies: Nine West. There’s simply not another brand on the planet that hits every shoe trend at such amazing prices. Here’s my hit list of the top 5 shoes to have this summer.

1. Something flat – We shot these gold beauties in Joshua Tree (you can see the story in our June issue on newsstands May 8th) and though I live in my gold Matt Bernson flat sandals every summer, I think I need to shake it up a bit and add these into the mix. Wewantit, $79.

2. Something floral – Like I said, when the toes come out, they stay out but a little peep might be enough. These would be fun with the pretty, blushy colored skirts and dresses we’ve been seeing this season. (I got this one from Zara.) Feelngood, $99.

3. Something nude – I get a new neutral platform sandal each spring because I wear them to death. By “wear them to death”, I mean there is literally no life in them at the end of the season. This summer, I’ll be picking up Nine West’s Hotlist in Light Natural Leather ($89) because they’re cute and not a bad substitute for the YSL Tribute that I’ve been coveting forEVER. (Um…$795? Not for something that me and the New York City streets are going to murder in 3 months time. Well, actually not for anything!)

4. Something bright – High heeled wedges are so comfy that they’re like slippers to me so I’ll definitely be picking up these bright orange (or should I get the yellow? No, the orange. No wait…) woven heeled wedges. Oh, they’re on sale! Maybe I’ll get both. Troischic, $59.

5. Something crazy – Oh boy, it’s that gorgeous Hotlist style that I loved in nude but this time it’s in…muticolored glitter! Could any outfit be sad with these babies on your feet? I don’t think I need to tell you that my 1st grade diva daughter nearly passed out when I brought these home. Hotlist glitter sandals, $69.

Say it with me…Free Those Toes! Free Those Toes! (And don’t forget your pedi! Zoya’s bright orange Paz is going to be my summer 2012 color.) Happy shopping!

All images from ninewest.com

---

Get Yourself a Mother’s Day Present – Win a Windows Phone!

May 2, 2012 at 9:30 am , by Catherine LeFebvre

I’m a big believer in carving out a bit of me-time every day, so any time I find a gadget that helps simplify my routine, I’m happy.  The new Windows Phone from Nokia does just that, and since Mother’s Day is coming up, we thought it would be nice to give one away as a treat for all the busy Moms who make life simpler for everyone in their family. Here’s how I think it’ll help free up some time:

Live Tiles – In the Windows Phone world, your screen has “tiles,” or buttons that link to photos, programs, etc. Kind of like apps, except that you can make almost anything a tile. You can have a best friend (or a husband) app on your start screen that pulls in all of that person’s photos, Facebook, and Twitter updates, so can keep up to date on your favorite people without going to three different social media sites.  Or you can make an important contacts tile that keeps phone numbers for your pediatrician, school, and babysitters all in one place. If your kids are a little older, make a family tile and you can text message everyone at once.

Camera – this is a small thing, but my jaw dropped when I first figured it out. Say your kid (or in my case, my dog) is doing something adorable and you want to take a picture. Instead of taking out your phone, unlocking it, entering your password, and opening the camera app, all you have to do is point it at the cuteness and hold down the camera button. It’ll bypass the lock function and take the picture immediately.

To enter to win a Windows phone,  just leave a comment below!

Official Rules

---

Kids and Fashion: How Much is Too Much?

May 1, 2012 at 10:56 am , by Sue Erneta

Last weekend, my parents stopped by for a visit. Somehow that always means that Sophia has a few crisp singles in her pocket so she asked if we could stop by The Children’s Place. She was ready to spend. Well, when we walked into the store, I wanted to open my wallet too. Cute fruit shaped purses! Neon hair clips! Flower-adorned headbands! Pink neon rimmed aviators! Ribbon-trimmed fedoras! Sophia and I were scurrying around the store like teenagers grabbing everything in sight. And when Lily asked her “Mimi” to buy her a sequin skirt like the one her sister had, I knew I had created not one monster, but two.
Of course, we had a fashion show back at the house to display our haul. But when Pablo got home, he was not as pleased. (It had nothing to do with what I spent. I mean, you can fill a bag with accessories at TCP, use a coupon, and barely need more than a 20 spot.)

For him, it was all just too much.

Granted, they did look a little crazy. But they had piled it on just for fun. You see, I’m working on teaching the girls that these fun pieces should be styled into their wardrobes of basics. It’s not about neon head-to-toe; it’s about a hint of it. (But try telling that to a 3 year old who wants to look like her big sister who wants to look like a Selena Gomez.)

He really shouldn’t be concerned though. On most days, they’re both heading to school in tunics, leggings and Vans. So, what’s the harm in owning a cute sequin skirt or hot pink sunglasses?

Yesterday he described Sophia’s going-to-the-supermarket look as “a 15 year old celebrity heading to a nightclub”. And this morning I swear he was doing an impression of my father when he said, “She’s NOT wearing that hat to school.”
(My dad used to disagree with my outfits back in my teenager years. He’d ask my mom if she had seen what I was wearing and mom would roll her eyes and say “Yes. I just bought that for her.”)

Well, thanks for backing me up, Mom. Someday my daughters will thank me too.

---

You Deserve This: Win A Cute Lilly Pulitzer Phone Case

May 1, 2012 at 10:03 am , by Sue Erneta

There is no doubt that phone cases have become the newest accessory du jour! So, why not treat yourself to the adorable Lily Pulitzer iPhone case that was featured in our June issue? We absolutely love the sweet tropical print.

You could be one of the lucky 25 (that’s right! TWENTY-FIVE!) winners of a Lilly Pulitzer iPhone case compliments of Lifeguard Press (check out all their other Lilly stuff here).

To enter to win a Lilly Pulitzer iPhone case,  just leave a comment below!

Official rules

---

The White Smile Diet

April 30, 2012 at 1:21 pm , by nykiaspradley

Admit it, we diet for every other reason under the sun, so why not for whiter teeth?
But this isn’t your typical diet. Think of it more as a compromise that will leave you with a brighter smile. Dr. Timothy Chase a New York City dentist dished on what to eat and what to give up to get your choppers their pearliest.

Do’s

Certain foods help to remove bacteria that cause plaque which hardens into a yellowish tartar if not brushed away soon enough.

• Crunchy fruits and vegetables work best because they function as an abrasive scrub for your teeth.  They also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps to keep plaque from forming:
• Apples
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Celery
• Strawberries and oranges are both useful for polishing teeth.  Rubbing an orange peel or a strawberry over your teeth, following by washing out your mouth with water will get your noticeable whiter teeth after a few months
• Dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese contain a lactic acid which may help protect teeth against decay.  Hard cheeses are best for whitening since they help remove food particles as well.

Don’ts

• It’s important to avoid stain-causing foods and substances as much as possible.  A simple rule is any food which causes a stubborn laundry stain can stain teeth too.  Brushing teeth or at least rinsing one’s mouth with water after consuming these foods is a great way to help prevent staining.  Foods to avoid include:
• Coffee
• Tea
• Blueberries
• Red Wine
• Soy Sauce
• Tobacco
• Soda

---

Red Carpet Report: 2012 Matrix Awards

April 27, 2012 at 3:51 pm , by Rachel Shippy

In its 42nd year honoring “women who change the world,” the 2012 Matrix Awards ceremony, held at New York’s Waldorf Astoria this week, did just that.  New York Women in Communications honored eight deserving women for their various accomplishments in the industry, and both the presenters and recipients of the prestigious award left onlookers with a few laughs and lots of inspiration.  The Journal caught up with some of these heavy hitters on the red carpet at the annual fete:

Glenn Close (Matrix Award winner) on the awards and her fellow winners: “I think it’s very important for women to support women, and I really believe that for women to attain true positions of leadership it means that they’ve had to be 500,000 times better than any guy – I think that’s still very true. Whatever support and celebration we can have around that [like the Matrix Awards] is tremendously important.” Close received her award from NYPD Deputy Chief Theresa Shortell, with whom she prepared for her role in FX’s police drama, The Shield.

Tyra Banks (Matrix Award winner) on branching out from modeling: “When I was a model I knew that I wanted to produce television but I didn’t think that I would be in front of the camera, and I didn’t think that I would be using my voice to send a message… my biggest message would be to run toward your fears, run toward your insecurities because it means that something different is going to happen.  It’s a big risk but a crazy huge reward to be successful.” Banks received her award from seasoned broadcaster Katie Couric.

Katie Couric (Matrix Award presenter) on her advice for being successful: “Don’t let the turkeys get you down. I think that when you’re starting out in your career there are a lot of naysayers and people who think you may not have what it takes. And sometimes you just have to put your blinders on, keep your head down, stay focused and work your butt off.” Katie (pictured here on a stool to bypass 5’10″ Tyra Banks) later quipped about the ‘turkeys’ in Banks’ past who teased the then-gawky beanpole at school saying, “Oh please! Don’t all supermodels say that?”

Ann Curry (Matrix Award winner) on inspiring future generations: “We need a renewed call for action, to stand up for women… We can hear the clamor of smart, young women coming up behind us, calling out to us – we should let their voices embolden us.” Curry received her award from former TODAY show co-star Meredith Vieira who was a Matrix winner in 2007.

Barbara Walters (Matrix Award presenter) on presenting to Chief Communications Officer of the Walt Disney Company, Zenia Mucha, and succeeding as a woman in business: “I think Zenia is an example of how far one can come – she came here as a first generation immigrant and is in charge of all communications for Disney’s vast world. She is tough in the best way, she has a very sweet smile, but do not be deceived.  I think we would both say [success] takes very hard work and the will to hang in there when things are not so good. And if you just do your job and only open your mouth to fight the big fight when absolutely necessary, you’ll get there.”

Gayle Butler (Matrix Award Winner) on the advice that has steered her success: “One great piece of advice that I’ve always remembered is to be there on time, be there dressed to play, and be there with an idea in your head. I think that is something that has always stuck with me – to bring some original thinking to whatever task is at hand.” Butler, who is the Editor-in-Chief of fellow Meredith publication Better Homes and Gardens, received her award from celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito who added, “Better Homes and Gardens is one of the first magazines my mom could relate to after coming here from a different country [Italy].  I remember as a kid flipping through the pages with my mom at the kitchen table and am almost certain it has something to do with why I do what I do today.” Of getting to know Butler through their mutual presence in the food industry, DiSpirito jokes, “The truth is we met on Match.com like everyone else!”

This years’ winners also included social activist and wife of clothing designer Kenneth Cole,  Maria Cuomo Cole presented by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Laura Desmond from Starcom MediaVest Group presented by Songwriter Susan Werner, and Wall Street Journal‘s Peggy Noonan presented by 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl. Along with its award winners, New York Women in Communications also provided several scholarships to young women pursuing a career in communications.

Photos courtesy of maryannerussell.com

---