Introducing Lady Gray's New Style Editor - Amanda!

Hi everyone -

I am so excited to inform you that my amazingly talented friend Amanda will be joining the Lady Gray team as our style editor. I couldn't be more thrilled! Check out her first post below...

“Would you be interested in being the style editor for my blog?” When Ellie approached me with this question, the answer was a no-brainer. I signed on within seconds. After all, getting the chance to talk about fashion on an awesome blog- what could be better than that? Then it really sunk in…I get to talk about fashion on an awesome blog! I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity or the subject matter.

Personally, I think fashion is pretty powerful. Not only can it inspire you (remember feeling invincible when you first slipped into those knee-high boots?), but others as well. It can trigger a domino effect of inspiration: a showstopping dress can inspire an entire photo shoot that in turn sparks a writer to pen a novel. See what I mean?


Now, my attention is not focused solely on labels. Let’s get real- the stores I frequent are T.J. Maxx, Target and Marshalls. As the daughter of a bona fide bargain shopper, I’ve been schooled to believe that a stylish wardrobe need not compromise your credit report. My goal with these posts is to show you all of the amazing ideas out there- and how you can make them work for your budget. From time to time, I may even throw in an interior design post or two. With all that said, hello Lady Gray followers!

-Amanda

Back to Work!

Just got back to Manhattan after a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! Will be back to blogging regularly soon...

Photo credit: Kate Spade via High-Heeled Foot in the Door

Loving: Ashley Olsen

How delicious are these images of Ashley Olsen from September issue of Marie Claire? I love how sensual they are without being too overdone or risqué. Simple. Beautiful. Magical. Enjoy!

Photos by Mark Abrahams

Last Minute Turkey Recipe

If any of you are looking for last minute turkey recipes for your Thanksgiving feast, give this one a try. I’ve started making it every year for my family and it’s a big hit (or at least they are nice enough to say it is)! 

Maple-Roasted Turkey with Sage, Smoked Bacon, and Cornbread Stuffing
By Tyler Florence (of the Food Network)

Prep Time: 20 min

Inactive Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 3 hr 25 min

Level: Intermediate

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1/2 bunch fresh sage, leaves finely chopped

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 large onions, finely chopped

• 1 loaf cornbread, cubed (about 6 cups)

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 3 cups chicken stock

• 1 (12 to 14 pound) fresh turkey

• 1 cup pure maple syrup

• 1/4 cup hot water

• 8 strips smoked bacon

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and remove the top rack.

Combine the butter and sage in a mixing bowl, mash with a fork or spoon until the sage is well incorporated and the butter has flecks of green in it; season with salt and pepper.

In a saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the sage butter, add the onions, cook and stir for 15 minutes until soft and golden. Remove from heat. Put the cornbread in a large mixing bowl and scrape the sauteed onion mixture on top. Add the egg, heavy cream, and just enough chicken stock to moisten the stuffing without making it soggy (about 1/2 cup.) Toss well to combine, season with salt and pepper.

Remove the neck and gizzards from the inside of the turkey and discard. Rinse the bird thoroughly inside and out with cold water, pat dry. Sprinkle the cavity and skin liberally with salt and pepper. Using your fingers, gently lift the skin from the breast and legs, and slip pieces of the sage butter underneath; massaging it in as you go. Fill the bird with the cornbread stuffing without packing too tightly; cook the remaining stuffing separately in a buttered baking dish. Truss the turkey; place it on a rack in a large roasting pan, and put into the oven.

Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the maple syrup and hot water to thin the glaze out a bit; use this to baste the turkey every 30 minutes. The turkey should take about 3 hours to cook (i.e. 15 to 20 minutes per pound.) If the legs or breast brown too quickly, cover with foil. About 2 hours into cooking, shingle the strips of bacon oven the turkey breast to cover; continue to roast and baste for another hour or so. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meatiest part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F (the thigh juices will also run clear when pricked with a knife.) Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes before carving, so the juices can settle back into the meat.

Skim off the excess fat from the pan drippings with a spoon and place the roasting pan over 2 burners set on medium-high heat. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up brown bits stuck to bottom of pan. Whisk the flour into the drippings, stirring as it thickens to prevent lumps. Add the remaining chicken stock and bring to a simmer; season with salt and pepper and hit it with a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Simmer for 5 minutes and then strain to remove any particles. Serve the gravy with the maple-roasted turkey and cornbread stuffing.

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Photo from http://grooveefortune.wordpress.com/

Happy Monday!

How stylish is this little guy from Swagger 360?!

Cheap, Easy, and Fun – The Holidays Made Simple

Thanksgiving seems to be a time of year that always causes anxiety. Whether it’s the fact that you are expected to host an inordinate amount of guests, or that Christmas or Hanukkah are just around the corner, it can be a stressful time of year. In order to keep you sane, I’ve listed ten tips to help you have a happy holiday season perfect for any budget! After all, it is supposed to be a celebration...

1) Many people feel pressure to become the perfect host during the holidays, but it’s nothing to stress over. First of all, feel free to say “No,” when you start to feel overwhelmed. Secondly, make lists to keep yourself organized, and don’t be afraid to delegate!

2) If you are planning to cook, keep these few things in mind: Yes, this is supposed to be a season of delicious and impressive meals, but don’t over do it. Think about the size of your kitchen as you plan your menu, and don’t cook something you feel is over your head. Always feel free to ask for help or to ask friends and family to bring a dish. Make anything in advance if at all possible. This will help you stay sane as everyone starts gathering around the table.

3) Try not to overeat, but don’t sweat if you break a few of your diet rules over the holidays. Cherish the time you have with family and friends and savor the food that they’ve prepared. There will be plenty of time to get back on track after the holiday season.

4) Instead of spending money on wrapping paper, wrap your gifts in brown paper bags and accessorize with a colorful ribbon. This will help the environment and your wallet! Just remember to recycle the paper after your fun fête has ended.

5) Can’t decide what to give the person that has everything? Give them a gift that gives back. On websites like The Hunger Site and The Heifer Project you can purchase things like livestock that helps families support themselves or immunizations for children in third world countries.

6) Set a budget to spend on gifts, or even suggest gifting “Secret Santa” style in order to cut down on anxiety about finances during this busy and expensive time of year.

7) Don’t focus on trying to make your holiday perfect, but instead focus on taking in all the fun moments. Laugh, cry, embrace each other, but don’t worry if you burn the turkey. That’s what take-out is there for!

8) If you had a successful holiday season, make a file of all the things that worked well so that it will be there for a quick reference next year. Turkey recipes, hotel contact information, and Gramma’s food allergies will be right at your fingertips whenever you need it.

9) Take the time to think about what you are thankful for and enjoy the company of your family and friends. If you have more tips, be sure to comment below. I would love to hear what you have to say!
 
10) Listen to Mariah Carey’s Christmas Album – it will put you in a merry mood!

Be sure to share your own tips in the comment section below. I would love to hear what you have to say!

Photo from zen's photostream

Love this Quote!

I just came across this quote on A Life More Fabulous, and I had to share. It pretty much sums up my life philosophy! What do you think?

Photo by ermarie 9

"I Spy with My Little Eye"... Something Incredible by Willard Wigan!

Just a little (no pun intended) something to blow your mind today... I had a chance to see an exhibit by Willard Wigan this summer in London and was amazed by his incredible “microsculptures.”Originally from the UK, Wigan has made a career out of sculpting tiny people, animals, buildings, etc in the eyes of needles and on the heads of pins. To do this, he has perfected a type of meditating that slows his heart rate so that he can work through his pulses. He uses the hair from a fly to paint his sculptures and has carved things like dust to make some of his creations taking months to complete each one. At times has even inhaled the whole thing! My sister and I had to use microscopes to view the sculptures that are barely visible to the human eye, but amazingly he has no problem with his sight. I have never stopped being impressed by Wigan and I hope you enjoy taking a closer look at some of his work. If you get a chance, check out his new book "I Spy with My Little Eye," released October 1.

Wigan with "The Thinker" sculpted on the head of a pin (Photo from chipchick.com)

Wigan's rendition of the Obama family inside the eye of a needle (Photo from telegraph.co.uk)

"Miss Muffet" by Willard Wigan - How impressive is the spiderweb? This was by far my favorite sculpture by Wigan at the exhibit I saw this summer. (Photo from www.environmentalgrafitti.com)