Do Something a little different – Create Your Very Own ‘Choccuterie’ Board
Indulge in Some Chocolate Pairing with the help of Fames Chocolates
As with everything in life – there’s an art to pairing chocolate.
The Key to Chocolate Pairing:
Chocolate & Cheese – since pungent cheeses overwhelm the flavor of chocolate, pair them with soft and creamy cheeses like Brie or Gouda.
Chocolate & Nuts – hazelnuts are the most common type of nut used to enhance the flavor of chocolate but there are some other ones out there that are just as good! Macadamia nuts paired with chocolate are quite a delicacy while pistachios are very compatible with any kind of chocolate.
Chocolate & Fruits – pairing dark chocolate with very sweet fruits like banana, mangoes and figs balances the flavor and the paring compliments each other. Milk chocolate works with a variety of fruits, whether the fruit is sweet or tart.
Inspiration for Chocolate Pairing
You can pair chocolates with other food items such as coffee, wine, and cheese to enhance or compliment that chocolate’s flavor. Chocolate pairs really well with fruits and cheeses.
Try pairing your favorite dark chocolate with some soft goat cheese and some raspberries. You can also pair chocolate with figs and walnuts – go crazy!
Do you feel inspired to create a ‘Choccuterie’ board? Enjoy!
Give chocolate-eating a new twist with a chocolate charcuterie board or as I like to call it – ‘Choccuterie’ board!
Chocolate tastes amazing with anything! Don’t forget a salty twist!
A guide to what’s inside that “Box of Chocolates”
So you can’t get enough of chocolates, but want to avoid the cough-syrup tasting ones? Try looking at the delicate details on your piece of candy. Chocolate stringing is a technique used by chocolatiers to make little designs on a piece of chocolate indicating what’s inside. The strings are drawn by hand or by running chocolates through an enrober. Though this practice started for decoration, it has become convenient for those who’d like to know what flavor they’ll be tasting when picking up a piece of chocolate.
Now let’s get to decoding!
Square Candy – usually contains coconut, fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter, or nougat The peanut butter one may have a P stringed on to it and a nougat one has an N.
Lemon will have an L on it, R is for raspberry.
Cream chocolates will also have a letter from the alphabet decorated on them: V is for vanilla cream, M for maple cream, and B for buttercream.
Who knew a box of chocolates isn’t actually full of surprises?! The little pieces of candy simply have to be decoded.
Not every box of chocolate will be easy to decode since various companies use different methods. Some may print the flavors on the box while others may use letter-molds instead of stringing by hand but there’s always a way to know what flavor you’ll be indulging in.
Chocolates by Fames incorporate some of the best techniques from the cultures of Germany, the Mediterranean, and Brooklyn into each scrumptious chocolate morsel.
These gourmet chocolates are created with elite ingredients and meticulously made in small batches. They will be a perfect choice for any occasion.
Are you losing hair, muscle mass and skin elasticity?? If so, collagen loading could help you!
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein that is a main building block of your skin, hair, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments. I have been mixing it into my coffee for years. Just one scoop and you get frothy coffee with extra benefits.
As we age, we naturally start losing skin elasticity, bone density, muscle mass and of course, hair loss becomes a problem. Collagen, being a naturally-produced nutrient in our body starts to decline after the age of 25. As collagen production declines, fine lines become apparent, our hair starts to fall, and our bones weaken.
To look and feel more youthful we can take collagen supplements and practice what’s called ‘collagen loading.’
What is Collagen Loading?
Collagen loading is when you increase your collagen levels over a short period of time. All you need to do is multiply your daily collagen intake through supplements. So, the goal is getting 2-3 times the serving of collagen supplements into your daily routine for 2 – 3 weeks.
You can go the natural route and include more collagen-boosting foods into your diet such as chicken, fish, bone broth, citrus fruits, and leafy greens. However, you won’t be able to get the amount your body needs through food alone.
You can find all sorts of collagen supplements in your health food store but as with everything else, quality is key. When I first started putting a scoop in my coffee, I used Dr. Axe. It was one of the first reels I posted on my Instagram account. Now, Dr. Axe has a line called Ancient Nutrition so for three weeks of collagen loading I am using his supplements.
How can I get more Collagen into my Diet?
For joint support, gut support and beauty support, Ancient Nutrition offers a variety of high quality collagen supplements. You can pour 2-3 scoops of it in tea or coffee and even a sparkling drink. You can even make a superfood smoothie with the Multi Collagen Protein Ancient Nutrition offers.
An easy way to practice collagen loading to retain muscle mass, grow healthy hair, and reduce wrinkles is by adding it to the drinks you consume throughout the day.
When you feel good everything else falls into balance. Try collagen loading out. It might be just what you need.
Yes, Chico’s is having a sale and here are some of Chico’s latest spring looks!
A Versatile Denim Piece – for Spring or Summer!
Wear this chic denim dress as a topper – it’s great for an all white look: a pair of white pants, a cami, a long necklace over it or this beautiful scarf. It truly elongates a petite frame! As a stand alone piece It can be worn loose or belted or as a swimsuit cover up like I did here. If you travel with this one item it will take you a long way. This will be a great addition to your wardrobe for spring and summer!
One Jean two ways!
This is the easiest way to go from a shopping trip to lunch or dinner. Dress up these trendy girlfriend jeans with a pair of heels and a jacket. Or pair the jeans with a comfy tie dyed tunic and sandals for a day of play!
Navy and white – A classic combo!
If you want to feel unfettered this look is for you. Easy pull on floral pants, a cami and an oversized shirt are my go to’s. Don’t forget the jewelry, it’s such an easy way to elevate a look.
Color color!
These floral slim cropped slacks are wonderful for a day of shopping or brunch. The shawl I bought from Chico’s last year, so find a coordinating one in your closet. Grab a pair of cute flats and a straw bag and you are good to go! Don’t forget a tassel necklace for fun – Chico’s has the best accessories. Chico’s sale is here for only a limited amount of time so check out Chico’s for the latest spring looks!
Don’t be afraid to add some color to your wardrobe, mix and match, and just have fun with it!!
As we all know, the fast fashion movement has had devastating effects on our environment. But what are high fashion creatives and brands doing to combat that issue? Alber Elbaz’s groundbreaking contribution to sustainable fashion combines the technology and fashion world together to create a truly innovative piece of fabric called ‘AnatoKnit’.
Alber Elbaz – A Fashion Innovator
Alber Elbaz knew he wanted to break into fashion since he was a little boy living in Israel. When he was only 24 years old, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. Now, Albert Elbaz is a very well-known fashion creative/designer. He has worked with Geoffrey Benne, Guy Laroche, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and many more notable brands.
In 2021, blurring the lines of the tech and fashion world, Alber Elbaz launched his own label, AZ Factory. In collaboration with Richemont, the AZ Factory caters to a whole new generation that cares about the environment and demands sustainable fashion.
Who are these Consumers of Sustainable Fashion?
While the baby boomers and Gen X used to focus more on the function, material and craftsmanship of products, the younger generation is all about ethical consumption. They only want to consume products that do not harm the environment and the people involved in creating the garments.
The development of sustainable fashion involves manufacturing made-to-last products while limiting the amount of wasted material. Sustainable fashion’s goal is to limit harm to the environment by making key changes in our process of consumption.
These young consumers of sustainable fashion aim to place environmental, social and ethical improvements on the fashion industry’s agenda. Alber Elbaz’s AZ Factory caters to these consumers by producing clothing that has limited effects on the environment and showcases it on different types of bodies.
How Alber Elbaz Blurred the Lines between Fashion and Technology
To launch his AZ Factory label, Alber Elbaz released a 25-minute video featuring the technology that went into creating a groundbreaking piece of fabric called “AnatoKnit.”
Taking women’s concerns of weight gain into account and not being able to fit into their favorite dresses, Elbaz fashioned a fabric that hugs and shapes each curve. The all-inclusive products’ sizes span from XXS to 4XL. The “AnatoKnit” fabric is an ultra-soft and flexible fabric that is developed to sculpt and support the body while allowing comfortable movement.
To make each dress fit like a glove and feel custom-made, Elbaz asked his design team to work like engineers. They delivered by using different quantities of lycra and various tension-techniques to make the dress snug, flattering, and easy to move around in.
Alber Elbaz’s collection also features ‘smart-fabrics’ created in collaboration with Nyalstar – a European yarn lab. This Nylon that can be produced with very little environmental impact and is used by the AZ Factory to create wonderful leisurewear pieces that can be dressed up to go from the gym to a Zoom meeting.
Alber Elbaz has beautifully married technology and fashion to create a truly groundbreaking product that is not only sustainable but also inclusive. I can see this latest trend being followed by many other high fashion brands to cater to the new generation. This ‘super tech to super chic’ brand is the next big thing on the market!
This post is in partnership with Hair Biology. All comments and opinions are my own.
Have you seen your hair texture change through the years? I certainly have!
I struggle with hair loss and changing texture not to mention my gray hair which gets dyed every three weeks. Which is why using the right products is essential for keeping my hair healthy.
As we age the biological traits of our hair also change, so the products that were good for our hair at 30, won’t be doing much for our hair’s health after 50. The hair care products we choose are vital to keeping our hair healthy. We take great care of our skin as we watch it change, but our hair sometimes gets left behind.
Today we have HairBiology now readily available at target.com that focuses on the unique issues presented to us as our hair ages.
With products that are infused with Biotene (known for supporting healthy hair) and free of parabens and dyes we can still have beautiful hair in mid-life that makes us look “Bolder not Older” and you know at 68, I’m all about that. The products I’m using are Full & Vibrant Shampoo, Full & Vibrant Conditioner, and the Thickening Treatment.
Hair Biology Results
After using @HairBiology for a month I have started seeing more growth and a thicker texture! I’ve also noticed my hair feeling softer and healthier than ever before. I can’t wait to see the changes as time goes by. Just 15 pumps of the thickening treatment on the scalp provides the nourishment we need for better hair.
Final Thoughts
I love that Hair Biology is a brand that provides hair care for aging hair. I’m happy to have started my hair care journey using Hair biology products and I’m looking forward to even better results. This product is versatile in the way that you can use it on wet or dry hair! Winning! Try it yourself. You can get this product www.target.com. You will be glad you did.
The Key to Chocolate Pairing:
