Festive Fall Centerpieces

I love fall entertaining and parties, almost as much as Christmas and holiday entertaining. I think it stems from the fact that we have a lot of family birthdays in the fall so I grew up watching my mother entertain a lot during this time of the year. 

I have some posts coming up on great recipes for fall entertaining, as well as some beautiful ideas for tablescapes and place settings but today I'm going to focus on the first thing that goes onto your party table: the centerpiece.

The fall season is the perfect time to mix food into your flower centerpieces. 

NYFW: Final Show Wrap Up

Below are my top picks for the final shows of New York Fashion Week. I will most definitely be following London Fashion Week with the help of the lovely Style.com, but in the interest of including some non-fashion related posts to Chic | Sparkle I will be keeping my London Fashion Week posts to every other day. 

Co

Thursday Night Cocktail: Chucktown Sunrise

Recipe via Southern Living

Ingredients

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 

10 ounces ice

6 tablespoons ginger ale or ginger beer 

1/4 teaspoon grenadine

fresh lime slices or wedges (garnish) 

Directions

Combine 2 Tbsp. bourbon and 1 1/2 tsp. fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into a 10-oz. glass filled with ice. Top with 6 Tbsp. of your favorite ginger ale or ginger beer. Drizzle with 1/4 tsp. grenadine. Garnish with fresh lime slices or wedges.

Cheers! 

NYFW Spring 2014: Day Seven Top Picks

It's been a long week of fashion peeps. I don't know how the editors have the strength to keep the pace that they do, especially since many of them are on their way to London for the first day of London Fashion Week. These are my top picks for day seven of New York Fashion Week.

Marchesa

First Fall Dessert of the Season: Apple Pie Slab

I am a big fan of apple pie and I always look forward to fall because it's the best season for apples. My Mom recently found a recipe for Apple Slab in her King Arthur Flour catalogue and we figured it was worth a try. It turned out great and I think it's just as good as regular apple pie for several reasons.

1. It's easier to make!
2. The bottom crust cooks much more evenly than crust in a pie dish.
3. It serves more people than a traditional pie so it's great for holiday's and parties.

I usually use cortland apples for baking but they aren't available yet so I googled baking apples and it turns out that honey crisp and pink lady apples are also good for baking. Perfect because those are easy apples to find at the grocery store in late summer-early fall.

NYFW Spring 2014: Day Six Top Picks

Just a couple of more days of NYFW before fashion month continues across the pond in London. These are my top picks from day six. 

Oscar de la Renta

NYFW Spring 2014: Day Five Top Picks

Before I jump into my tops picks from day five I need to take a moment to acknowledge the beauty that was Zac Posen's Spring 2014 collection. When yesterday's top picks post was scheduled the photos from Pozen's show were not yet available. These are top picks from his show.

Street Chic: New York Fashion Week Edition

This week's Street Chic is going back to where street style all began: Fashion Week! Obviously the main attraction at Fashion Week are the designers and their beautiful clothes (as it should be), but the amazing street style from the models, celebrities and fashion pack runs a very close second. These are my top street style looks so far from New York Fashion Week. 

NYFW Spring 2014: Day Four Top Picks

Fashion week is in full swing i'm loving all the color for next spring, but as you can see I am loving the color black as well. I know that dark colors aren't considered "springy" but a great black dress is always in season. Don't tell Anna Wintour that I said that though. 

Lela Rose

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Mindy Kaling