Candy Spelling's Blog, page 4

Vintage Summer Trends

Now that I’m a grandmother, with all the life and wisdom that comes with that privilege, it’s easier for me to admit how many times fashion trends that I used to embrace have come BACK in style. That’s why I absolutely love this article from Harper’s Bazaar about vintage summer trends that are stylish today.

Prints are in and I couldn’t be happier! After wearing lots of solid colors in the winter (and a lot of black), it’s fun to brighten up a wardrobe with any kind of print – floral, geometric or whimsical. This trend actually started in the 30s during the Great Depression because it was an extremely inexpensive way of bringing brightness to clothes. That’s still true today in a sense.  Prints can be found on all types of clothing and for all budgets.

Bell sleeves are back and perfect for all the summer festivals. I’ve never been to Coachella, but I’ve certainly worn my share of bell sleeves. It’s an oddly elegant yet casual dress style. I’m sure all you festivalgoers know this look, even if you don’t know the term!

Graphic t-shirts are making a comeback too. This is an 80s trend that my daughter, and all her friends, really embraced.  I have a few in my own closet as well.

If you take a look at my Instagram or Facebook, you’ll probably see a few photos of me from back in the day in ‘vintage’ fashions. Now that I think about it, I’ll check my closet to see what I still have from ‘way back when’ that I can wear and be a trendsetter today.  It’ll be fun!

Here’s a great slide show from Harper’s Bazaar with many examples of great vintage summer trends that are back in style!

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Welcoming Summer!

With the first day of summer a week away, I always like to brighten things up around the house as a way of welcoming the season’s change. Depending on your specific weather situation, this is a fun thing to do for all seasons. Summer is an especially fun one because it you get to be bold with color. Here’s a few things I do every year at my house to welcome in the summer season.

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Summer is the time to bring out the color! Vibrant blues, yellows, greens, and even the right shade of red can really change the feel of a room. If you want to really change things up, switching out heavier curtains for light or pastel version of them will really change it up.


Maximize the light. Any room that doesn’t need curtains or blinds drawn, go ahead and leave them open. Not only will that let light in, you will feel more vibrant and open when entering these rooms. If you use a floor mirror or hanging mirrors, it’s always nice to place them adjacent windows or very light areas. Again, this makes everything feel sunnier and happier.


Bring in new indoor plants. Once there’s more light in your house, you probably have enough light to support some more indoor plants. Just like the light, plants bring the outdoors in, and tend to brighten the environment.


Pull away the winter blankets. Now that it’s heating up, it’s a good time to put away the throws and wintery blankets you had out for their coziness. Even if you keep a light one out, this will make your living room, family room, and bedroom feel more light and airy, like summer!

These are the four I always do, sometimes I brighten up my outdoors too, with brighter cushions or new plants. For more detail on these great ideas, please check out this great homify article

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Packing Tips. Travel like a Pro!

As May turns to June this week and we’ve passed Memorial Day, you probably have a vacation planned. Or perhaps you have a last-minute work trip you need to take. If you’re like me, you probably wait until the night before or even the morning of to pack!

Well, here’s four ideas that will allow you to get it all together much, much faster.

Packing List – I cannot stress enough how much easier this will make it. How many times, like me, have you gotten into the cab, the plane, or even arrived, and said to yourself, “what have I forgotten?” Well. Create one list once, and that alleviates this anxiety completely! Make the list for the biggest and best trip you can imagine, and then you can simply not pack something for that quick trip.
Cutback on Clothes — Yes. This is a difficult one. But if you apply some logic, one fancy, one casual, one comfy, to your outfits, then you can always hit up a local laundromat or the hotel’s concierge if you are traveling longer or have a spill. Once you have these essentials, you can consider some embellishments, accessories and the like. Trust me, jewelry and accessories pack beautifully, so that’s a way to vary your ensemble and look fabulous traveling!

Pack Light — Cutting back on clothes comes before packing light simply because I love clothes! But, you can’t pack light without cutting back on the bigger items. Now you need to consider shoes, belts, toiletries… What hotel are you staying in? Will it have nice enough accoutrements that you don’t need that special conditioner you use?
Buy a Nice Inflight Satchel — How many times have you been at check-in at the airport and seen someone scrounging around to figure out what they need on the plane. If you prepare a nice little tote, backpack, or even a toiletry-type bag with some skin lotion, eye drops, earbuds, or whatever must-haves you like, this will make it easy and keep it classy.

For more travel tips, please see this HuffPost article.

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Summer Parties!

Summer is almost in full swing. Graduations have come, teachers are off, and I bet you are planning a BBQ or two sometime this month. As I’m sure you all know, I love to entertain. Here’s some ideas that I used to use at the Manor and still use for friends and family.

SUMMER PARTY IDEAS

Use tablecloths or buy larger unfinished swaths of cloth to cover tables. Often you need to bring a folding table or something from inside out to accommodate your party. By unifying with tablecloths, it will elevate the setting by bringing uniformity.

Consider placing tables lengthwise so you have one long table. If you break up the setting into groups, it’s more likely to segregate the party. A seating chart is way too formal for a summer party, but the faux-banquet table will allow for more interaction.

You might already have this in your yard. But even if you don’t, string some lights. Even the simplest strand of one will add elegance.

Pick flowers from your yard or neighborhood and place in inexpensive mason jars. Your guests will think you had an event planner!

Get a large bucket, old planter (clean that is), or any large tub and put out the drinks in ice. You’ll be amazed at how many great conversations will happen around a drink station. If you have to go inside to pour the rose, or grab a IPA, you’ll put a damper on the conversation. Think “ice-cooler conversations” at work!

Don’t forget the finger food and appetizers. This is so much more important than the burgers. People like to nosh, and they’ll spend more time grazing than grubbing down on the main course.

Here’s some more party ideas and even some appetizers at Food & Wine.

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Let’s Drive Away!

Last week we talked about vacation travel, with exciting ideas about up-and-coming travel destinations like Madagascar or the Pisco Provence. This week, in honor of Memorial Day, here’s a couple driving distance ideas for some of us across the country.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | California

Obviously here in Los Angeles, Palm Springs is one of our go-to driving vacations. One big reason to go in the next week or two is that temps are still reasonable. Hot, but 90s— not the sweltering 100s that Palm Springs sees later in the summer. Golf, poolside, amazing post-modern hotels, me and my family have experienced these many times. But there’s also the Palm Springs Air Museum, Joshua Tree National Park, and incredible hiking and biking throughout the Palm Desert.

Columbia Gorge | Oregon

A couple lesser-known staycation-type of destinations from Los Angeles are Los Alamos, a destination labeled “California’s Next Great Food & Wine Destination” by Conde Naste. Los Alamos is where some celebs like Kurt Russell have opened restaurants, wineries, or bars like the Wine Saloon. And Idyllwild, an idyllic mountain and hiking destination, playfully called Mile-high Idyllwild. If long hikes and forest vistas are your thing, that’s a great place just over 100 miles from LA.

For those of you across the country, there’s a ton of hidden jems. Everyone on the east coast thinks immediately of the Hamptons, but Cape Cod is a stunning beach-side option. From pretty much anywhere in Texas, Austin comes to mind. The yearly festivals are very popular obviously, but because of those they have world-class restaurants and accommodations all year round. And then, if you are in or around Illinois, a place that doesn’t get a ton of press is Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It’s a lake, but it’s great one, and if you like boating, canoeing, fishing, or just soaking up the sun on private beaches, Elkhorn is a great drivable option.

Camp Wandawega | Wisconsin

I hope this post inspires you all to take a few days to find a driving destination near you. And, yes, Memorial Day is next week, but these are great options throughout the summer.

Here’s a few more options from Trips to Discover

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Where to travel in 2017?

As we move from spring to summer, many of us start to plan our travel for the year. School breaks are coming up, and who doesn’t need a vacation!

Ecuador, Cerro Santa Ana, courtesy of Travel + Leisure

One of my favorite magazines, Travel + Leisure puts together an annual list of recommended places, and it’s so fun even dreaming about these exotic locals. It’s so interesting how places we never even thought about a decade ago have become number-one places to visit. I hadn’t heard of Tulum, Mexico until this decade. And although I knew of Reykjavik, Iceland, it’s now become such a de rigueur travel destination.

Jerusalem, courtesy of Travel + Leisure

Places like Madagascar, the Okavango Delta, Botswana or the Pisco Province, Peru seem like such amazing and exotic recommendations. This list is terrific because you have your choice of big city environments or remote locations. International destinations are always exciting, but make sure to look at the cities in the US, too. It would be fun to spend time in Nashville or Jackson Hole, Wyoming! As far as the list goes, I would recommend Jerusalem — it is a fascinating city and – and who doesn’t enjoy some quiet time relaxing in beautiful Honolulu?  I also enjoyed the beautiful museums in Malaga, Spain.

Jackson Hole Area, Wyoming, courtesy of Travel + Leisure

I’m really looking for somewhere new and interesting like Lake Lucerne in Switzerland or the Cambodian Coast.  Where do you want to go on this list? Let me know by posting or messaging me on Facebook or Instagram.

Here’s Travel + Leisure’s great 2017 List.

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Spaghetti with Bacon, Peas, Mint & a Touch of Cream

My last blog post was all about eating cleaner for spring, and using fresh seasonal vegetables to do it. Here’s a great everyday dinner that’s quick, easy, and relatively healthy— even with that small bit of cream.  It’s an extremely satisfying meal that even the pickiest eater will love. If you put bacon in with the peas, even the kids will eat it!

Spaghetti with Bacon, Peas, Mint & a Touch of Cream
original author ashley rodriguez, and thanks to Not Without Salt

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces spaghetti

7 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup heavy cream, you can use milk or half and half, but this tastes best

1 cup finely grated Parmesan

1/2 cup mint leaves

salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the pasta in heavily salted water.

While the pasta cooks saute the bacon pieces until crispy. Drain off the bacon grease before adding in the peas. Saute until just warmed through then stir in the cream. Add the pasta and toss the pasta around in the sauce. If it seems too dry, add a bit of pasta water. Simmer gently until the past feels well coated. Throw on a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Add in the first half of the grated Parmesan at this point.

Transfer the pasta to a serving dish then tear the mint leaves over top. Finish with the mint and remaining Parmesan.

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Give Your Diet a Spring Clean Too!

Now that spring has really sprung, it’s a great time to clean up your diet as well!

Although it’s easy to think of fruit in the springtime, strawberries, cherries, grapefruits, there’s some amazingly health vegetables that are in season now. From peas and asparagus, to beets and broccoli, fresh vegetables are obviously the easiest way to clean up any diet.

As the weather warms up, we naturally gravitate towards lighter food and cooler salads. And as farm to table has become such a fad, it’s always been better nutritionally to eat in-season fruits and vegetables. And lastly, the more abundant the produce is, it’s usually a more cost effective time to buy it. So, now’s the time to start cooking light!

Here’s a great article from Cooking Light that gave me inspiration and lists some great seasonal ideas!

 

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A Spring Favorite, Lemon Curd

Here in LA, we’ve had an unusually wet winter and even some colder weather. I know it’s nothing like most of the country experiences, but it’s definitely something for Los Angeles. Now that we’re back into the 70s every day, and Spring seems to be here in full force, here’s one of my favorite recipes to have around during the week. Somehow lemon curd is just perfect around spring, Passover, and Easter. Maybe it’s the silky sweetness, but more than anything it’s the beautiful pastel hue of the finished dish. And, this particular recipe doesn’t use refined sugar, just honey. So it’s on the healthier side of sweet! Please enjoy on any shortbread cookies this season, or on scones with coffee in the morning.

 

Lemon Curd w/Honey

Recipe modified from: Cookie and Kate and Fine Cooking

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
⅓ cup honey
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
Juice of 5 lemons, about ⅔ cups
4 large egg yolks
2 large eggs




INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and honey.
Beat in the eggs slowly.
Pour in the fresh lemon juice, and pour the mixture into a medium-sized saucepan.
Cook over moderate (medium-low) heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook until the mixture has thickened and becomes jelly-like. This takes about 5 to 8 minutes, depending. But you have to watch it! It solidifies very quickly. It’s done when a spoon dipped into it comes out covered and you can swipe your finger through it on the back of the spoon. It’s hot, so just be careful.
It’s great because there’s no straining. At this point,  remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest.

 

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Super Simple, and Small, Dessert

When family and friends drop by, I’m often left thinking, “what’s something quick, easy, and sweet that I can make to share with a cup of coffee and great conversation.” Well, with only 6 ingredients, this Brown Butter Cinnamon Apples and Whipped Cream bowl of amazingness really works on so many levels. It’s practically apple pie without the crust. By caramelizing the apples for sweetness, you’re really cutting out added sugar too. So, it’s healthy— at least for a dessert. It’s simple. Almost all the ingredients, cinnamon, butter and honey, you probably have in your pantry right now. I got this recipe from the lovely blogger Sarah {Yates} Mora, who has a great blog A House in the Hills, where I go for a lot of clean-eating recipes.  So, next time someone drops by your house, literally whip this great desert up while you chat with them. That’s what I’ll be making this weekend! Oh, and hurry while apples are still so fresh here in southern California.

 

BROWN BUTTER CINNAMON APPLES AND WHIPPED CREAM

Recipe from A House in the Hills

 

INGREDIENTS

1 Fuji apple

1-2 tablespoons brown butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon honey

handful of chopped walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS

Place mixing bowl and wire whip attachment into freezer for 15 minutes before starting and make sure your cream is well-chilled.
To make brown butter, heat one stick of butter over medium low, stirring often, in a light colored pan. Cook until butter is browned and has a nutty, toasty flavor. Remove from pan and set aside the extra butter.
Core and slice apple into thin pieces and add to a medium sauté pan with brown butter and cinnamon.
Cook apples over medium-low heat until well softened.
While apples are cooking add cream and honey to stand mixer with the wire whip attachment ready to go.

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