Meat-Free Feasts

Yes, the holidays are upon us and it doesn't mean you have to gobble up the turkeys or the ham or the steak and eggs, but start transitioning to a meat-free diet that is healthier for you, and will make you happier that you have contributed to the ending of cruelty to animals. I know, it's a preference, but when I have gone back to tasting real meatballs or real chicken, all I taste is the grease, fat, and gross tissue of the animal that died for my dinner, aside from the attacks on my health due to the fat and high cholesterol side effects. 

I know, you say some slaughter methods are not cruel, but there are no humane slaughter methods in spite of what the government tries to say. Any quick Google search will take you to real video of what goes on in slaughter plants, even at the hands of professionals. The quickest methods are employed leaving little thought to the animal being slaughtered since time is money, and it's all about production and getting the work done and slaughtering as many animals as they can each day to make more money for the slaughter plant owners and operators and of course for the employees.

Meatless dishes are really good, but you still have to watch the calories and fat you are consuming if you are concerned about losing some pounds over the holidays this year. If you are careful about what you eat and control portion size, you should see a difference in your waistline in a few months so you don't have to make any major New Year's resolutions about weight loss or diet, since you will already be on your way to your weight loss goals.

Here are a few recipes that might get you going in the vegetable direction if you choose to cook. There are many prepared foods that are just as good to choose from at the market or in the produce or fresh foods section of the store where the food is prepared for you on the premises.

All recipes are from MarthaStewart.com

Cauliflower, Red Onion and Chestnut Tart:

Click here for the recipe.

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna:

Click here for the recipe.

Roasted Parsnip Bread Pudding:

Click here for the recipe.

Pumpkin and Pecorino Gratin:

Click here for the recipe.

Mint and chocolate added to your coffee is an easy recipe or just make hot chocolate with almond milk for your morning or afternoon break. For dinner, you can have that one glass of red or white wine to compliment your meat-free dinner.

I know, hunting season officially starts on Friday as I wish you good luck on your shopping expeditions that don't result in any harm to any living thing.

#thanksgiving  #holiday

#meatlesscooking #meatfree  #marthastewart

Selfie Day

Time to take a day, maybe two, to stay home and have some selfie time. No, not in front of your camera phone to post your picture on your social media sites, but taking time alone for yourself, especially as we head into the winter months and the holiday season. 

Don't be thrown off your selfie course just because you feel that demand from the retail Gods to empty your bank accounts. Nope, think about yourself and what you want to accomplish as we finish up 2017 and head into 2018. Don't even think about those boring New Year's resolutions that never work. Think about a real plan of action, step by step, and prioritize your life. 

Start your day out at a comfortable pace enjoying that cup of coffee or herbal tea along with fresh fruit.

Try metabolism boosting fruit with toast, like strawberries with
cream cheese, peach and yogurt, apples and hummus,
or bananas and almond butter.

What about exercise? The basics are always the best and very easy to follow without feeling pressure to join a gym or lope around a park everyday. Pick an exercise routine, any exercise routine, since practically all of them work, it's just that we don't stick to a daily schedule. Basic free weights last a lifetime and you can choose a simple routine from the Internet to get you started. Low impact aerobics work for most people and you don't need to purchase any extra treadmills or special exercise contraptions. Get outdoors if you can and walk around the neighborhood or a park; no need for expensive gym memberships.


Your face and hair? Basics are best. Simple cold cream will remove your makeup and if you wear waterproof eye makeup, Neutrogena works best to remove it all. Castor oil mixed with yellow Vaseline will encourage those brows to grow and you can apply it sparingly with a brush to your lash roots being careful to not get the mixture in your eyes. Remember to keep your hair moisturized especially if you color it or it will eventually break off and die like a tree branch. Some women use coconut oil on their hair and wrap it in a hot towel, but shampoo first so your hair is clean from any hairspray or dirt. Take a beauty day and use the oil treatment when you are home and can relax with a hot towel around your head reading your favorite fashion magazines. Or, you can use it at night and wash the oil out in the morning.


Beauty is a pursuit of everyone, and don't think if you're not rich that you can't be beautiful. In spite of her wealth and access to the best plastic surgeons, even Catherine Zeta-Jones has a well-stocked cabinet filled with dozens of skin care products and makeup that any of us can purchase too, it's just funny since you would think she would use only products from her doctors or from the best salons of Paris or New York. Catherine uses one product I have posted on this blog before from a company I like called Natura Bisse. They have a wide range of products that are all fabulous and are a luxury that we all deserve to indulge in from time to time.

Catherine Zeta-Jones' cabinet of beauty products.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTCmI_dgtAT/?hl=en&taken-by=catherinezetajones

Beauty is a part of developing your own personal style and it doesn't have to break the bank. Go back to the basics and you can't go wrong.

#margauxhemingway  #stylesheetdaily
#fashion #beauty #womenswear
#naturabisse  #neutrogena

Unmasking Halloween

You don't have to wear a mask at Halloween and you don't always have to follow traditions. More and more people are getting creative each year and not sticking to the tired custom of picking out some costume sold at those retail shops with a paper mask attached to their heads which can be a bit confining, especially if you are into actually trekking up and down those streets trying to keep up the traditional Trick-or-Treat custom. If you have the kids you have to deal with, then why not just have a party for them instead of working the streets? Just a suggestion. I mean, let's not just make the retail stores happy every year, it's time to think about yourself and creating some fun memories that doesn't involve the same stale stuff year in and year out. I've got some suggestions here for a more vintage Halloween, even taking inspiration from some of the old Gothic films and adding some Edgar Allan Poe touches here and there around your home for the Fall season. 

For your Halloween party, create your own table filled
with pumpkins or anything that inspires you.
I like the black and white theme with the orange and white pumpkins.

Expecting any spirits of the dead? Then set out a tray
of their favorite things and they will surely be grateful.

Decorating your mantel and fireplace is a good way
to show your creativity without disrupting the whole house.
You can easily switch out the Halloween stuff for a Fall motif.

This is a simple design anyone can do. Add a few
pumpkins for your Halloween centerpiece and into
Thanksgiving. Then you can switch the colors of the
candle and wreath or add any type of flowers you like as
you head into Winter and the xmas season.

What about movie night for Halloween? A few vintage suggestions might be just what you need to settle in for a night of chills. If you can get them, I highly recommend these cinema classics.

Have fun this season and never run with the crowd into those same ol' retail shops. Creativity and your own unique expression is the spice of life as you conjure up a few spirits to inspire your holiday style.

#halloween #halloweendesignideas

#halloweendecor #stylesheetdaily #spiritsofthedead

#torturegarden  #rogermoore  #petercushing  #alaindelon

Fixer-Upper

How many times do we love something we see, whether we see it on a celebrity or on the runway and we can't wait to see it in stores but we would have to fix it to actually make it wearable. I have done this many times and it just doesn't work out the way I think it will and I end up throwing the item in the garbage. Don't do this with your life. When you see something you love and have to have it, think first, can you really wear it in the real world? Is it for shopping in the Village where nobody knows who you are and doesn't care? Is it for the workplace and you won't be snickered at behind your back? Or, could you wear it to the local mall shops where you might meet a friend from the neighborhood?

Fashion by Junko Shimada
Spring/Summer 2018.

Here is a dress that might work [photo, right] but let's get real. You would have to wear a giant flesh-colored opaque slip under it or you might get arrested and please, take that thing off your head since you look really stupid with that cheap plastic looking palm branch on your head. But the dress is pretty, right? Wrong, don't attempt to fix this, just pass it up.

What about this style below for your wedding? Well, I suppose if you are married to the idea of wearing something outrageous for your special day, then you must commit to it, but you will be extremely uncomfortable in a wacky getup and remember, those wedding photos are forever. I would opt for a neutral style that won't embarrass you down that long aisle of life whether or not you keep the husband or the gown.

Your fashion choices don't have to be boring, but think about where you want to wear it and your body type, and you will never go wrong.

#stylesheetdaily

#stylesheet

#style  #fashion #parisrunway

#catherinedeneuve  #blogspot
#womensweardaily

Eyeliner & Purses

Valentino Resort 2018

You can never have too much eyeliner or too many purses in your life and a few designers are focusing on both for next year. 

Below are a few design trends to look out for and anyone can duplicate the prints and color of the designer versions of these clothes, as you work on your style sheet to plan your wardrobe.

Thom Browne on the left and Valentino on the right.

Luisa Beccaria dress on the left and Valentino on the right.

Gucci's "Build a Bag" allows you to wear three bags at once that connect or disconnect to your heart's content:

Nope, that's not a rifle, it's the new YSL clutch purse:

Here's wishing you good luck with whatever you decide to collect for your wardrobe either this year or next as you develop your own style.

#handbags #valentino #ysl

#stylesheet   #style   #fashion

#purses #makeup

Summer Bond Style

Very sad to hear about the death of Sir Roger Moore last month, the one and only true James Bond. He is the one that producers wanted originally when they were searching for an actor to play Bond and Ian Fleming actually wanted Moore to play the part, however, he was already in a contract for the BBC TV series "The Saint", which began in 1962. He would continue with that show until 1969 and only signed for one season of "The Persuaders" because becoming Bond was finally a reality.

Nobody does it better with style than James Bond and the beautiful girls from the Bond films. They have established a classic style that can be duplicated right now as we head into the summer season.

If you plan on doing any deep sea diving, wearing a T-shirt will protect your skin from the burning rays of the sun:

A beautifully made up face is never out of place, even at the shore. Protect your beautiful skin with a sunscreen and keep the mouth color very natural with the eyes emphasized:

Whatever you decide to do this summer, don't forget to have a laugh and have fun.

#jamesbond  #rogermoore #bondstyle #stylesheetdaily

#fashion #beauty #ursula Andress  #janeseymour
#maudadams #bambi #domino #brittekland #carolebouquet

Private Sanctuary

I don't think we can talk about bedrooms enough. It's your own private sanctuary where you can indulge your personal style, get comfortable, and not worry about the room being on public display should you have acquaintances that stop by. Normally, your living room and kitchen are a basic design to accommodate your friends with family rooms or game rooms for entertaining guests at casual dinner parties. But your bedroom is your own space. It can be where you try some new design ideas and surround yourself with favorite things, even fitting a private home office in that room if you are short on space.

First tip, do not sleep in a dog bed by placing your mattress on the floor as if you are shacking up with Fido. I am not against animals on a bed, however, you don't need to sleep with them on the floor. You will not have a restful night's sleep. It will disturb your sleep patterns aside from having a few little bugs that might wander around the floor at night that will end up in your mattress. 

Here are a few ideas to create your own special haven that will be difficult to leave in the morning as you head out for that little cafe around the corner for a cappuccino and think about that vacation you are planning this summer.

Stylish bedroom designs:

Cozy, simple design with a home office or vanity area upstairs:

Cher's bedroom featured soft comfortable pillows, a sitting area by the fireplace, and a tray for a bedtime snack. It also doesn't hurt to have an awesome view of the ocean:

You can even work from your bed just like Henri Matisse did in a photo from 1950:

Pleasant Dreams

#bedroomdesign #celebritybedrooms

#stylesheetdaily #style #cher

Easy Dietary Changes

We all struggle from time to time with various problems of weight loss and what to do about it. We exercise, change our diet, but nothing seems to be a lasting fix. The bottom line is, we've got to start making changes now that will affect how we look and feel in the future. Everything counts. Don't think that a handful of strawberries is not worth the bother, that it will mean nothing in your day, when it does. So here are a few tips to make you think twice before you consume that giant hamburger, fries and piece of pie.

First of all, think of common table sugar, sugary sweets, candy, pies, cakes, cupcakes, etc., as eating fat that your body can't use. It not only contributes to that lumpy cellulite but it contributes to overall weight gain. Sugar equals fat. The substitute? Something that has vitamins in it such as strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, grapes, or bananas, etc., yet adding nothing to it, no sugar or whipped cream. Fruit helps with hydrating your skin and gives you a bit of natural energy without feeling sluggish later. I find that fresh fruit is the best choice over frozen as some frozen foods contain dyes to make them more appealing and yet they are never as sweet as fresh fruit and can be very sour and you'll probably go reaching for that table sugar to make it palatable.

Second, stop or reduce your intake of animal products. There are a lot of products that are substitutes for the animal based products and many times are healthier since they contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids which promote heart health. Carefully avoid soy products, as they lead to weight gain since they can adversely affect the thyroid gland. You may think, well what can I eat? There are soy-free and meat-free products now readily available in the grocery store. They make a nice addition to your salad, or as a main dish with vegetables. Don't overdo it, thinking that you can eat a huge pile of faux chicken and not have weight gain. It all counts. Remember if you do choose to have any genuine meat or dairy products, they are loaded with naturally occurring hormones from the food animal, contain white and red blood cells, lactose and tons of cholesterol.

Originating from the U.K., the products contain egg whites,
however, some vegan products are available.

Third, increase your intake of fresh vegetables. If you choose the canned version, make sure it's either low salt or salt free. There are a variety of vegetables that you can cook in a variety of ways and if you use them as a main dish, you can have a small serving of pasta to use as a base. Use almond or hemp oil as a garnish with fresh basil. Start researching the different vegetables and be careful to not overdo it on the root vegetables, as they can adversely affect your thyroid. Deep purple and red vegetables are a good choice, even that deep purple onion with toasted bread can make a nice side dish to any soup or main dish.

Fourth, yes, we've got to get moving everyday. Try for that walk around the block every morning after your hot water with fresh lemon juice [helps with eliminating toxins] and then come back for some fresh coffee with warm pita bread and strawberries on the side. After maybe a salad or hot soup for lunch, do stretches, yoga, or lift some weights before dinner. 

Dinner? Well, minestrone or vegetable soup is a good option [if canned, make sure it's low sodium] with a salad and some faux chicken strips and coffee or tea. Some people like that glass of wine before bed but be careful since too much alcohol intake can lead to an addiction, aside from sagging skin and bags under the eyes. 

Where to go for help? Well, it comes from inside of you. Think about everything you eat and it will make a difference. Keep a food diary to see where you messed up and make that change the next day. If you write everything down, you see where and how you need to switch out the fatty foods with the foods that are packed with nutrition that your body can use and not simply try and get rid of.

Begin looking online at vegetarian and vegan food sites. Be careful of following celebrity advice since it is well known they have not only their own expert chefs, but also their very own and very expensive plastic surgeons.

It's fun discovering news ways to eat, even that veggie or fruit smoothie can be very healthy and take the place of a few meals per day. If you eat for substance and nutrition, you will not feel as hungry. Remember to think about taking that walk everyday, go window shopping, get out of the house and you'll find you are not sitting and thinking about that next meal, but about that awesome pair of jeans you've been wanting to wear that are already hanging inside your closet.

#stylesheetdaily #fashion #diettips
#veganfood #vegetarian

New Year, New Style Ideas

Are you getting tired of your same old makeup and color scheme? Add a bit of color to that fresh face of yours to boost your spirits and add some color to those dark winter months.

What about your home? Well now is the time to freshen up your place and think about incorporating some color into your design style. I've come across some ideas and want to share them with you. So here we go.

If you want to introduce a bit of bold color in your home, try it on a side table or entryway table with a beige wall. Even if the wall has a wallpaper pattern, keep it neutral so that the color will be the focal point. You can use various patterns, but keep it in the same color scheme.

You can have neutral room decor and introduce a beautiful color couch, like this wonderful lilac color or pick a favorite color. It will look good as a focal point in a beautifully neutral room. The green plant is a nice compliment to the purplish couch.

Having trouble getting going in the morning? How about a colorful retro kitchen? It will inspire you to start your day with a smile on your face.

And don't forget your home office decor where you can freely display your personal photos and knickknacks and don't be shy about displaying your Oscar on a credenza.

#style #decor #vogue #stylesheetdaily