"Au Chocolat"

Nothing is more indulgent than chocolat!

Well, I have just the thing for all, of my calorie counting    Divas! This fall treat yourself to rich mocha shadows, hazelnut  blushes , silky cocoa glosses and  velvety brownie nails.

NARS

CALANQUE

Gold infused platinum with silver flecks / Light matte caramel / Rich antique bronze infused with gold

Metallic Colorama Collection, from Yves Saint Laurent
• Golden Champagne
• Golden Chocolate
• Golden Carat

Dior Nail Lacquer – Bronze Libertine

Sour Cream-Hazelnut Bundt Cake

Yields 14 servings

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cups butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (16 oz.) carton low-fat sour cream

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teasponn baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, toasted

3 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)

For decoration:

1 teaspoon powdered sugar, or Chocolate ganache and additional chopped toasted hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.  Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray, dust with breadcrumbs.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl, beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes).  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla and sour cream; beat until well blended.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well combined.  Add flour mixutre to sugar mixture, stirring just until combined.

Spoon half batter into prepared bundt pan; sprinkle evenly with hazelnuts.  Drop small spoonsfuls of chocolate spread over nuts.  Spoon remaining batter over chocolate spread; swirl batter using the tip of a knife. 

Bake at 350 degree for 40-50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in a pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, remove cake from pan.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar or drizzle chocolate ganache on top and then sprinkle chopped hazelnuts over the ganache.

Chocolate Hazelnut Kiss Cookies

                                                                     1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup orange sprinkles, or orange sugar

1 (9-ounce) package of chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped (recommended: Hershey's)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In another medium bowl, place the chocolate hazelnut spread, butter, and both sugars. Using a hand mixer, cream the ingredients together, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and blend until incorporated. Stir in the dry ingredients, just until incorporated. Shape the cookie dough into walnut-sized balls. Rolls the balls in the sprinkles or colored sugar, pressing to adhere. Place the cookies on a heavy cookie sheet about 4 inches apart. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven. Quickly place a chocolate kiss in the middle of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven and bake for another 3 minutes. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

"Old World Charm"

Is it a French Chateau or a Tuscan Villa you aspire to bring to life? "Old World Charm" and elegance is illustrated with texture, color, and patterns. Through the use of enchanting painted finishes and delightful distressed furniture, a room can journey back in time. A color palette of hues including french bleu, sea foam green, alabaster, rich walnuts and burled woods paint a picturesque scape of years gone by. A collage of varying textures and prints such as velvety chenilles, luxurious silks, and scenic toile evoke a tranquil and harmonious environment, which exemplifies "Old World Charm" at its best.

By incorporating touches of wrought iron mixed with wood, woven tapestries and a hint of chinoiserie, rooms capture the eclectic aspect of "Old World" style. Accessorize with candelabras, leather-bound books, and venetian mirrors. Group paintings of similar subject matter or hues creating a collection, to continue the art onto the floor, always include a great rug to anchor the room. "A rug is the canvas by which all rooms are painted". A Peshawar or an Aubusson rug is the perfect "work of art" for an "Old World" room. To illuminate your dwelling, utilize torchieres, candliers and sconces. A drawing, farm, Irish wake or trestle table is a must for an "Old Word" dining room, with cane, ladder-back or regency chairs. Display your vintage wine collection in a custom cabinet to create the illusion of a French chateau. In the bedroom, layering custom linens with hand stitched embroidery are most essential. Complete the look by enlisting needlepoint or tapestry pillows. These small details can make an ordinary space extraordinary.

Remember, when it comes to color, "Old World Charm" takes its queues from nature and the Mediterranean Sea . True European style is not about every piece of furniture matching perfectly, but more about interesting pieces of furniture complementing each other in an effortless manner. 

Quintessential Design !

The internationally inspired designs of Christopher Guy Harrison are legendary for merging classic and modern elements. This year, the designer, himself, became a legend as he received the highest honors of World Market Center Las Vegas: the Design Icon Award. The "Design Icon" award honors design visionaries who have created a body of work that left an indelible print on the industry. 

In the early 1990s, Guy had a vision. "I’m going to create the finest mirror collection in the world," he said. In 1993, he did just that, moving from Spain to Java, a dusty little town that was home to the finest mahogany carvers in the world. There, he began Harrison & Gil, a prestigious mirror frame collection. Over time, he built a state-of-the art facility, employing more than 1,400 craftsmen. After much success with the mirror collection, Guy told about how he decided to expand his scope into luxury furnishings. 

In 2006, the Christopher Guy brand was born, uniting mirrors and luxury furnishings in harmony. Today, it is a global brand with its headquarters in Singapore.

Composed in a myriad of carved ovals, this dramatic headboard is a stunning addition 
to any bedroom with a contemporary feel.

Stunning diamond back design with musical clef inspired detail and straight legs, a fitting complement to a contemporary interior.

A Christopher Guy signature mahogany writing desk, embodied with intricately hand carved motifs, a lacquered writing top, and concealed writing drawers.

This oval headboard is based on a legendary Christopher Guy design, inspired by the Chapeau worn by Camilla Parker Bowles at her Royal Wedding.

Guy’s products can be found across the world, in the finest homes in Beverly Hills and the Riviera, in movies such as The Devil Wears Prada and Casino Royale, in his flagship store in Beverly Hills and the Robert Allen | Beacon Hill showroom at Las Vegas Design Center, in hotels from Las Vegas to London and in casinos in Macau.

Byzantine Glamour !

Chanel has launched the Byzance makeup collection, a limited edition lineup of opulent makeup products inspired by the Byzantine glamour.  The muse is Empress Theodora in the Byzantine Era, where the Empire remained as one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe, despite setbacks and territorial losses. The collection, called Byzance, is composed by eye shadows, blushes and a ruby red lipstick. The palette combines gold and bronze shades, perfect for the everyday use with brown and black tones appropriate for a special occasion. In addition, sculpted cheeks and rosy lips finish the goddess look.

The jewel in the crown of this series is without a doubt the show stopping Lumières Byzantine palette which has been limited to a release of just 1500 globally. With its 5 shimmering, creamy shades that can be used as either eye shadows or skin highlighters, this palette is a sure sign that glimmering metallics will be on the top of designers lists this fall.

Topkapi Quadra Eyeshadow: Beloved by Mademoiselle Chanel, the opulence of Byzantine art served as muse for this quartet of creamy powder eyeshadows. Copper, taupe, gold and bronze, touched with shimmer and light, create mesmerizing effects. 

       

The Lumières Byzantines collection also features glittering jewel toned blushers Rouge and Or.  

The eternally classic Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick has been given a little twist as well, resulting in the lustrous shade of Rouge Byzantin. 

The collection is available at Chanel.com.