::happy:halloween::

This editorial that I'm about to post has got to be one of my favorites. It was in the issue of US Harpers Bazaar last October ~ and as soon as I saw it, I fell completely in love with the styling, the setting, the colours. It embodies everything Halloween-y. :) So of course it was absolutely great to see this in an October issue of a fashion magazine. Not many magazines do a holiday based theme. Alas, it also is to embody the work of Tim Burton's long and interchanging career.
This was of course, shot by the amazing photographer, Tim Walker. Who always does an illusive and etheral spread for top fashion magazines.The models in this editorial are Polish uber-model Malgosia Bela, Sophie Srej & Evelina Mambetova. These models embody Burton's film characters through the striking clothes and dramatic make-up.
I'm unsure of where the source of this editorial comes from. I had this sitting on my little iPhone whilst searching for extraordinary fashion spreads. Kudos goes to the person that scanned these, whoever you are. I appreciate it!

-S*

::recipe::

It's time for another recipe!! I haven't posted one in quite some time and I just recently found this cool recipe over the weekend, it's from EatingWell.com and it boats lots of nutrients and health conscious ingredients.
I am going to definitely try this recipe tonight and let you guys know how it turned out. If you beat me to it, then let me know what you think of it if you happen to try it or have already tried it.

Bon appetit!

Black Bean Croquettes with Fresh Salsa

Cook Time: 20 minutes
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 Servings, 2 croquettes & 1/2 cup salsa each


Ingredients
2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs, divided
2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
2 scallions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder, hot if desired, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 avocado, diced

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Mash black beans and cumin with a fork in a large bowl until no whole beans remain. Stir in corn and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Combine tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and salt in a medium bowl. Stir 1 cup of the tomato mixture into the black bean mixture.

Mix the remaining 1/3 cup breadcrumbs, oil and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon chili powder in a small bowl until the breadcrumbs are coated with oil. Divide the bean mixture into 8 scant 1/2-cup balls. Lightly press each bean ball into the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the croquettes until heated through and the breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Stir avocado into the remaining tomato mixture. Serve the salsa with the croquettes.


Per Serving - 405 Calories


-S*

(Credit: eatingwell.com / foodnetwork.ca)

::covet::

Antonio Berardi Silk-Blend Velvet Strapless Dress $2,275 USD

-S*

(Photo Credit: www.net-a-porter.com)

::queen:for:a:day::

"What is it in us that makes us feel the need to keep pretending...we gotta let ourselves be."
- Christina Aguilera

-S*

(Photo Credit: http://www.aguileraworld.com/)

::quote:of:the:day::

Alot of women have been misled by the media for so many years as to what the ideal body is to look like. I know that I have had my trials and tribulations with regards to weight and what I think I should look like and how others think I should look like as well. I grew up obviously reading fashion magazines and watching runway shows and I always thought to myself that I should look like the models that are in the magazines. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not bashing fashion models (maybe a bit to the guy that photoshops all these images), but growing up I wished that I could have been a bit taller (I'm 5'5" and I wanted to be 5'10") and alot thinner. And of course, any girl dreams of being a model, and that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be the next Kate Moss! Alas, that was never in the books for me. Lol.
Anyways...growing up, I think that alot of girls and women battle with their self-confidence ~ they want the confidence, but they also tell themselves that they're never good enough. And I think that you battle with those feelings all your life. Of course you are going to have bad days where you just want to wear your sweat pants instead of skinnies and hide under a huge t-shirt, but I think women need to embrace all shapes and sizes and that's why I am glad that magazines are featuring a range of beautiful and curvaceous women such as uber-beauty Crystal Renn. She's not your typical stick-thin lady.
Since beginning to go to the gym and eating more clean, I have realized that I definitely don't want to be super skinny, I'd rather be fit, I'd rather have muscle definition and be toned and of course strong. When I'm older I definitely don't want to be frail and brittle, but able-bodied and someone who can hold their own.
This is why, my role models aren't Kate Moss anymore (although her clothes are fabulous), but women like Ava Cowan, Zuzana Light or Amber Elizabeth.
There is no point in battling with myself thinking that I should be a foot taller or my butt should be a size smaller.
I should embrace the body and the curves I have and work with what I got. I gotta hit the weight room and get those biceps like Ms. Cowan and her incredible stomach (people, have you SEEN this woman?! Holy crap. She's a lean machine, I really don't think there is any fat to this women's body, she is toned beyond all beleif).
I know that there won't be an end to all this media hype of what a woman's body should look like (and boys more then likely deal with the same sort of thing), but I think it's time for women to start looking like women ~ to embrace what we have and to enhance it.
Sorry if I sound preachy here. ;)

"No matter how you feel at this moment, it will change. So if you are feeling horrible, I promise that will pass, so just hang on."
Ava Cowan
Team Gaspari IFBB Figure professional and a 5 x Overall Figure Champion

-S*

(Photo Credit: Gaspari Website)

::covet::

3.1 Phillip Lim Shell Embellished Cotton-Voile Kaftan
$250 USD
http://www.net-a-porter.com/

-S*

::quote:of:the:day::

"Before, being a model, it was just a job, and I was making fun of it. But today, I take my career more seriously. The fact that a reader may buy an Armani item because she`d seen it on me in a magazine is very important to me. So much so that I intend to launch my own label."
-Milla Jovovich-

-S*

(Photo Credit: millaj.net)

::recipe::

This isn't really a recipe, but I decided to blog about something I just recently tried. :)

Mmmm....over the weekend me and my boyfriend had gone to his bosses cottage to help out with moving some stuff around, and to just plain enjoy the scenery up North.

It was a gorgeous Fall day and the house was super cozy with the mini fire place going.

It's amazing too how food can enhance any sort of situation or event.

And I will share one super amazing food I tried for the first time and will probably indulge with on a regular basis.

Brie.


Yummy yummy Brie.

Brie is a French cheese with the nickname "The Queen of Cheeses" it was said that several hundred years ago, Brie was one of the tributes given to the French kings.
Brie is a creamy cow's milk cheese from France and is said to be a dessert cheese ( although I do find the cheese a bit salty ). Brie is manufactured all over the world but true Brie is traditionally French and is unavailable in the US/Canada. True Brie is made from unpasteurized milk and the Department of Agriculture probitis raw milk cheese to be more then 60 days old. So unfortunately to be able to try out true Brie, you'd probably have to buy a ticket to France, and that can get expensive.


Nevertheless, Brie made outside of France is still beyond delicious. You can serve it at room temperature or throw it in the oven for about 10 minutes or when it's slightly melted, you take it out ( peel the rind off the time ) and put whatever garnish you'd like to eat it with. Jam, pesto, garlic, whatever you have a craving for.
And you just smear it onto anything cheese can be smeared onto.
I just decided to make a little note of this, as some people are afraid of different types of cheeses and it can get pretty expensive.


But this stuff is absolutely delish and it would be a pity if you didn't try this deliciousness out. :)




Fat content: 45 %
Recommended Wine: Bourgogne


-S*

::quote:of:the:day::

"During the shoot in November 2003, I was vaguely aware of the stylist’s sulky demeanor and eye-rolling vibe, but I blocked her out. Some fashion people are snotty drama queens; this is not news. Whatever was going on with her, I was determined to be positive and not get infected by her energy. Later, Fiorella told me that the entire time I was in makeup, the stylist had been clomping up and down the hall, sputtering into her cell phone, “I can’t believe I have to style a FAT GIRL!”


Believe it, bitch. "


— Crystal Renn (Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves)

-S*

(Photo Credit: Google Images)