News from The Capital Barbie!

Hey lovebugs!
Today's post isn't full of wonderful clothing picks and stocking stuffer ideas, but rather a new addition to the blog.  A sign off.

Now most people wouldn't announce such a thing, they'd just start doing and have people catch on. A signature isn't exactly a life changing event or something to be yelled from the rooftops, but I think it is a very personal way of including you guys into what kind of tone and message this blog is all about.

This blog isn't huge, but it has some really fantastic followers, a group of people I consider my friends even if we've never met.  This blog is about making you feel good inside and out through putting on great clothing and accessories that will always put a smile on your face but (hopefully) not a dent in your wallet.  It's a place to share ideas and great finds and occasionally, really deliciously bad for you recipes!

I wanted to set aside a post to talk about my new sign off because I want you to realize how important it is for me to make sure you take it to heart.  Every single day.  So without further ado:

(drumroll)

Be fabulous today.

That's it!  That's the new way I will end every post.  Why? Because I want you to believe it.  I want it to be your pick-me-up and your mantra.  Sometimes we need a reminder, and sometimes we need a motto.  Please feel free to borrow this one.  Now let me break it down for you.

Be- a verb that means to exist.  Just be.  Be with yourself, with a loved one, with an enemy, with a pet.  Just be.  Learn how to be comfortable with just being.

Fabulous- do you have 3 days? Because that's how long it would take me to truly convey the meaning of this word to you.  It's probably my favorite word.  It encompasses everything that is wonderful.  I could go on and on with synonyms all day but maybe I can nail down the meaning of this word by using it's antonyms? The opposite of "fabulous" is ordinary, common, and normal.  See? Are you ANY of those things? Nope.  You're not.  You. Are. Fabulous.

Today- that's right.  Right now.  Right this second.  Whether you're in a staff meeting or shopping or sleeping.  Today. Right now.

Be fabulous today

Think about it.  Why wouldn't you want to remember this all of the time.  I know you are fabulous, I think I'm pretty fabulous and I think this blog is pretty fabulous.  So why don't I remind you of everyday.  Cool with you?  Great!  

And don't worry, we'll get back to the fashion tomorrow.

Hey- be fabulous today.

Wrapped up in Warmth

Scarves are tough.  When you think about gift giving for a stranger or acquaintance what do you think? Scarf.  And as well you should; they're functional, warm, cozy, and usually reasonably priced.  But what about the scarf you pick out for yourself? That's right.  You time.

For me, a scarf is a very important accessory.  I don't like to collect scarves, I limit my closet to maybe 3 not including pashmenas.  So, it's tough to make the scarf cut in my house. When I find one I love, I wear it pretty much everyday.  Especially right now when it's colder than the North Pole with a leaking freezer.

LL Bean, lambswool scarf, $19.99

Ok bear with me, its not sequined, sparkley or bright colored but its warm, chic in a suburban class kind of way, its lambswool, AND its $19.99.

Ann Taylor, Knit endless metallic scarf, $34

This beauty is just cozy-tastic.  I'm not much for the "infinity" scarf craze but this one does it with class

Target, Muk Luks Nordic Long Scarf, $29.99

I just love these colors and for some reason I picture Jill GG wearing it with her Ugg clogs!

Nordstrom, Michael Kors Rugby Scarf, $78

I love chocolate anything, I love this sporty take on the scarf and the hardware is just beautiful.  And apparently it has pockets? Not sure where but I never say no to pockets!

Gap, Fair Isle pocket scarf, $29.50

If this doesn't say December I don't know what does!  

Sweater Hangover Cure

Did you check out the fabulous holiday traditions featured on Friday Foodday?  Wanna get in on it? Send me your holiday tradition recipes and I would just love to feature them in an upcoming post!

In other news lovebugs.  I want to talk to you an inevitable Winter occurrence: the sweater hangover.  Not familiar with it? Let me tell you the symptoms:
October: Pulling out the sweaters from storage or the back of the closet.  So excited to be warm and cozy and fashionable.
November: Maybe added a couple new sweaters to the mix, tried out some oldies but goodies in a new way.
December: Ok, you've worn every sweater and while you love them, you: a) can't come up with new combos or b) don't have the money or time or effort to take them to the dry cleaners.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you may have a sweater hangover.  But fret not.  While I strongly discourage sweater shopping before Santa arrives (for the sakes of your parents, significant other, or siblings) I do encourage accessories!  Namely, necklaces.  They're an easy way to jazz up a sweater without breaking the bank.  Here are my picks:

Stella and Dot, Ava cupchain necklace, $44

I'm a sucker for ribbon necklaces, this on is perfect with a turtleneck sweater of a plain crew neck.

Loft, Gold Flower Ribbon Choker, $35 with code HOLIDAY

Have a cabled knit v-neck? Pair this with it and it's dressed up for the holiday party

LunaShineShine, Vintage style antique camera, $24

I love the detail in this.  Brass camera but the middle is actually tan leather!

Jess LC, Astor Two Tone Cluster Bib, $60

Hi my name is Kelsey and I'm a Jess LC addict.

J Crew Factory, Crystal Corona Necklace, $59.50

You guys, the J Crew FACTORY outlet is online 24/7 until December 20. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Forever 21, short chain necklace with large stones, $10.80

Bling-tastic.

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs!!!!!!

Thank you so much for sending your holiday traditions and recipes and please please please keep them coming, I would love to continue this through the new year!

I have some great recipes for you this week, have a fabulous weekend!

The first holiday tradition comes from Cara: The recipe for Maggie's Favorite Cranberry Cookies is found in the children's Christmas book Cranberry Christmas - a 70's classic children's book my mom used to read me in the winter.  We first made these easy sweet and tart cookies together when I was really little.


Maggie's Favorite Cranberry Cookies From “Cranberry Christmas,” by Wende and Harry Devlin, 1976  

3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 Tblsp lemon juice
3 cups fresh (or frozen) cranberries, stemmed and chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Measure flour, baking powder, soda and salt into a bowl; stir with a fork to mix.

Cream butter and sugars in a large bowl till fluffy; beat in egg, milk and lemon juice. Stir in flour a little at a time, until well blended; stir in cranberries and walnuts. Drop dough by teaspoons full, about one inch apart onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake 15 minutes, or till firm and golden. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 8 dozen cookies. 

Blue Cheese Orzo

Ingredients:
2/3 cup of orzo
1 can of fat free chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
2 heaping tablespoons mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons blue cheese
1/3 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and wrung out
Salt and pepper

Directions:
1- Heat the butter in a small skillet. Add the orzo, stir until some pieces are browned.
2- Pour in the chicken broth, cook until most of the liquid absorbs and the pasta is cooked.
3- Add the spinach and cheeses. Stir until well combined. Taste- add seasonings as desired.

Easy-Five Mexican Dip

1/2 lb. (8 oz.), Velveeta 

VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

4 oz.  (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed

1/2 tsp.  ground cumin

1 tomato, chopped 

Mix all ingredients except tomatoes in microwaveable bowl.  

Microwave on HIGH 4 min. or until VELVEETA and cream cheese are melted and mixture is well blended, stirring every 2 min.  

Stir in tomatoes. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

And last but not least is from a fellow blogger at YAMS Designs.  Lindsay unknowingly holds a special place in my heart because she was my first blog friend and I think she rocks.

Lindsay's cookies

Every year growing up, about a week - 2 weeks before Christmas, my mom would set aside a Saturday and bake her face off. My absolute favorite recipe of hers was the Kolaczki recipe she made. They were her mom's favorite cookies and a Christmas tradition for her since she was a baby. When I was little she would let me help her spoon in the jelly filling or sprinkle the powdered sugar on top. Her mom, my grandma, died Thanksgiving 1995. Ever since then, baking of these cookies has been especially important to me. My mom continues making her own recipe. Matt (the better half) and I have adopted his mom's recipe as our own to keep the kolaczki train rolling. This is her recipe that she brought over from Poland when she came here at the age of 18 :)

• 1 pound butter
• stick of cream cheese
• pinch of salt 
• 1 and half cups flour. 
• Mix all of the above & refrigerate for two hours. 

-Roll out to about 1/4" thick - Dough will be very sticky (this is good!) you will need A LOT of floor on the rolling pin and the surface you roll it out on. And you will need to keep adding it. 

-Cut out circles with a cup or glass, about 2" in diameter. Create a small indent or well in the center of each with fingers or the back of a teaspoon.

-Add jelly of your choice (small jar of raspberry, strawberry, apricot, etc), about 1/2 - 1 tsp each

-Bake 30 mins or so at 350 degrees. The rims will just be beginning to brown. Let cool.

-Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!