Fabulous Fridays: Score A Touchdown By Pairing Chili and Wine

Michael traditionally makes a mean chili. It's become a Super Bowl tradition.

And the odds are high we'll be snacking the night away with everyone else on chicken wings, chips and dip and pizza rolls as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts battle it out during Super Bowl 44 in Miami Sunday night.

While I realize beer generally come to mind for these sort of occasion, we'll be sipping some vino.

What is it about chicken wings and beer?

I asked my fabulous friend, author of The Ski House Cookbook and food blogger Tina what are some great pairings.

"You might be surprised to find out that slightly sweet wines pair well with spicy foods, so a 12-pack may not be the best choice," Tina said.

So if you're like me and like your grapes over your hops, here are a few ideas from Tina to that can help you uncork a bottle of wine while enjoying traditional game day snacks:

Potato Chips - Pinot Gris or Prosecco
Buttered Popcorn - Chardonnay or Prosecco
Chips & Salsa - for mild salsa a Chardonnay or Sangiovese (Chianti); for spicy salsa an off-dry Riesling
Chips and Guacamole - Chardonnay
Veggie Tray - Sauvignon Blanc
Pizza - depends on the toppings but Chardonnay for cheese, Pinto Noir for mushrooms or Sangiovese (Chianti) or Barbera for meat
Ribs (with BBQ sauce) - off dry Riesling or Zinfandel
BBQ dishes - fruity Rosé

Wings - Prosecco, off dry Riesling, Albariño
Chili - if it's really spicy: an off-dry Riesling, mild chili: Zinfandel

And in honor of The Saints and Jazzfest, you might want to try a food icon from the Crescent City, Crawfish Monica. It's mind-blowing delicious. Trust me. If you go for this decadent meal, I would pair it with a dry white wine.

Always remember, trying to match wine with signature Superbowl feasts there are always exceptions as not all recipes are the same and not all wines are the same.

And to celebrate along with the winner (com' on Saints - WHO 'DAT!) Tina said to pop open Champagne or a sparkling wine like a Cava or Prosecco). But if you're lucky enough to be in Miami for the game, why not go for a Cuba Libre or Mojito.

Whether you are rooting for The Saints or The Colts, you'll score a touchdown with these great pairing.

Kickoff is 6:25 on CBS.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Rent-The-Runway For You Next Big Occasion

The red carpet is sizzling with gorgeous gowns on celebrities like Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry. But I too have major events to attend to in the coming months, like my 40th birthday next month, and don’t have a thing to wear. On top of that, right now I can't justify splurging on another dress I might wear only once.

Rent The Runway to the rescue. Whew! Crisis averted.

I love this merino wool ruched dress by Catherine Malandrino. It can be mine for $50 for four crazy nights. It retails for $425.

This silk chiffon stunner by Temperley London is another great choice for the big night. It retails for $3,295, but it could be briefly mine for for $300.

The membership-only website is a new way of shopping for women like us who love fashion and want to look fabulous for an exciting dinner date or a girls' night out on the town , but don't want to open our wallets on the high designer prices. Renttherunway.com is an exciting new Web site that works like Netflix and lets you rent the latest designs from a bevy of luxury and contemporary designers for a recession-friendly price and then you simply drop it in the mail the next day.

“We are bringing the dream of a rotating closet to reality,” Lara Crystal of RTR said. "Finding that perfect dress is just a click away."

The way it works is first you browse from current season styles for a dress your love from an impressive list of highly coveted designers like Matthew Williamson, Robert Rodriquez, Yigal Azrouel and Catherine Malandrino. The dresses are organized by designer, style, trend (like timeless classics, return of the mini, flirty and feminine and lingerie inspired) or occasion (winter wedding, black tie affair, meet the parents or cocktail party). You get to keep the dress for four or eights days and you even receive a second size dress FREE to ensure a perfect fit when you pick a designer for the first time.

So that super flattering Catherine Malandrino ruched dress I’ve been eyeing for my big bash pictured above, which retails for $425, can be mine for $50. And if I’m undecided between two looks, I can have the second style (and the additional size) shipped to me for an additional $25.

I can wear it, look chic for the night and then simply pop in right in the mail in a handy, pre-paid stamped and addressed envelope, also provided. Dry cleaning is also included.

This shimmering frock by Badgley Mischka channels 1920s sensibilities and will absolutely help you light up the night. The A-line style dress retails for $595, but it can be yours for $75.

All the dresses are shipped in a RTR garment bag you get to keep as well as a “fix kit” of emergency going out products like fashion tape, bra converter, deodorant wipeouts.

RTR works closely with the designers to get their dresses directly in the hands of potential customers. So you get to have an evening in a Matthew Williamson dress and in return the fashion company hopes you will have such a great time you will be a loyal customer.

Co-founders and sectionmates at Harvard Business School Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Carter Fleiss started the business in 2009 after learning Jennifer Hyman’s sister couldn’t wear the too-expensive designer dress she loved because it was out of her price range.

Co-founders of Rent-The-Runway Jennifer Hyman, left, and Jennifer Carter Fleiss. Photo courtesy of RTR.

The cost of the rental is about 10% of the retail price and rental starts at just $50. There are about 1,500 dresses online from 37 designers and RTR is adding to the list all the time. This month they will have added Temperely London and Le Roc. In April, RTR will be adding jewelry from such designers as Ciner, Miquel Ases, Chan Luu, Kenneth Jay Lane and Gerard Yosca.

“We’re giving women access to the complete Carrie Bradshaw experience without the high cost,” Lara said.

If you want to become a member of Rent The Runway, holla back at me and I'll send you an invite for immediate membership.

Now you can’t complain you don’t have a thing to wear.

I'm A Barbie Girl In A LBD

Barbie® is a Cougar babe, looks fashionable in a little black dress and Ken is still her best accessory.

I found this breaking news for you last night at the first-ever Barbie Tweetup event held last night in Soho.

Me, my fabulous fashion blogger friend Kristin and about 30 other bloggers wore our best LBD (as requested) for the exclusive unveiling of 12 one-of-a-kind LBD-loving Barbie Basic™ dolls. This 51-year-old iconic figure, who you would think already has a closet full of clothes, had some of her favorite fashion designer friends from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) outfit her. The 12 designers, including Tory Burch, Rachel Roy, Betsey Johnson and Isaac Mizrahi, were invited to update Barbie by putting their own fabulous interpretation of another iconic staple - the little black dress - and accessorize Barbie to the nines.

Ain't life just swell Barbie.

Me and Kristin posing in our LBDs with the Albertus Swanepoel Barbie.

One of my more favorite Barbie's was by Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giuta because I just love the layers and layers of pearls and the sleek hair. It's sooo chic.

Subersive Jewelry's Justin Giunta Barbie.

I also loved the Barbie by Lorraine Schwartz because she has about $10,000 worth of diamonds and is currently is bidding on eBay at $4,050.

Lorraine Schwartz Barbie.

The Alexis Bittar Barbie also added glamour to the night. I love the one-shoulder look on this Barbie, who stood next to the real AB cuff bracelet.

Alexis Bittar Barbie.

These newest dolls in the Barbie family are part of the Barbie Basics collection and are available on auction exclusively on eBay now through February 7. Opening bids start at $100 and all of the proceeds are benefiting the CFDA's educational initiatives and scholarship program. You can bid for these amazing dolls here.

The packaging on these Barbie's is also special. The CFDA put their own stamp of approval on the boxes, marking the first time the council put it anywhere. Also, the boxes have a quote from one of the designers explaining the importance of the LBD.

You can contact Barbie on Twitter and Facebook. You can even reach this career babe on Linkedin. You can follow her on Twitter by using her Twitter name BarbieStyle. She has almost 10,000 followers already. She sounds like she had so much fun last night because she tweeted: "Kisses to everyone that came out tonight! Pink bubbly, fun beats and fab friends. Life as a doll couldn't get better!"

I was a huge Barbie fan as a child. I had a whole bevy of dolls I would play with in my Barbie Townhouse. That's why I'm super excited about my new doll I received last night.

If you want to play the designer and dress her yourself, and who wouldn't want to do this, you can purchase one of your own here or at Target or Toys "R" Us. The new collection is aimed at adults who still want to play (or be) Barbie. The Barbie Basics collection features 12 different Barbie dolls attired in different styles of the LBD. You can also purchase one of four accessory packs aimed to further personalize your very own Barbie doll.

My new Barbie doll I received last night.

The Barbie Basics collection.

Oh Barbie, you are still fabulous. Tell me, would you want to play with Barbie again?

Sail Away With Loft This Summer

I was recently invited to a blogger/editor's sneak peak preview for Loft's (formerly know as Ann Taylor Loft) Spring/Summer 2010 collection. The event was held at the beautiful and open Industria Superstudio, the super chic industrial space in the Meat Packing District. As I made my way downtown to the event, I called my darling friend Hala. She told me she's never been to any of the Loft stores and had no interest in them. Though I could understand her hesitation, my expectations for the new collection were high. You see, I attended a fashion show for Ann Taylor, Loft's more dressier sister, last fall and was pleasantly surprised with the trendy changes over there. You can read my review of the AT fashion show here.

I was hoping the same pizazz would be found at Loft.

These statement-making dresses are part of the early summer deliveries. I love the "Sailing Ferns Maxi Dress" ($98).

The new Loft collection has a lot of safari influences and chunky jewelry.

Once inside, the music was pumping, champagne was pouring and the clothes, the night's main event, made you feel you were on the shores of St. Tropez or going on some exotic Safari expedition.

The wild prints, playful ruffles and touches of whimsical sparkle all made the sensible, utilitarian basics that Loft is known for more youthful and fun. The colors were lovely shades of muted neutrals, making these separates perfect to wear with one another. It's just so great to see a collection of clothes meant for real women that's so fabulous and fashionable yet totally wearable. The entire collection instantly transported me away from the cold outside to a place that is fabulous and warm.

I looked around the room and saw so many pieces I wanted. But my most favorite one, the look I'll be wearing all summer long, is the shine twist neck top ($49.50) and the sleeveless sequin tank ($49.50) paired with the lean boyfriend chinos ($59.50). The prices are so great, I might even be able to wear this someplace fabulous.

Loft's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection will be hitting the stores starting in March.

If our fashionable First Lady Michelle Obama can wear J. Crew, we can certainly feel great wearing Loft.

I left the party three hours later really digging Loft's new collection. The new designs retained the easy-going, casual nature of the brand, while giving it a fresh, lively look and feel.

Fabulous Fridays: A Day Spent With My Fabulous Mom

I spent a lovely afternoon today with my fabulous mother, the beautiful Rainie. It was full of laughter and knitting therapy. We went to Knitty City on the Upper West Side. My mom learned to knit from her mother and I learned from my mom. It's a great way to spend the day and it's one of the best things she taught me. I usually would end of with an article of clothing when my mom came in, now it's hand-dyed yarn.

We browsed the kaleidoscope of yarns, knit together and came out with two bags of more yarn. I wanted to post a picture of my new purchases, but I left the my bag in my mom's car. I hope she doesn't sneak it into her stash.

So instead, here's a picture of my mom and I wearing our matching cowls in pretty ombré shades of brown. I like the lighter color on top, whereas my mom likes to wear the darker brown closer to her face.

Me and my Mom are styling in our hand-made cowls.

The yarn we were searching for and eventually found was a superwash merino wool hand-dyed yarn by Madelinetosh to make a lacy shawl for spring. I have so many projects I'm working on that by the time summer is over I should be ready to make this in time for summer 2011. The color, named Maple Leaf, is more vibrant in person, this photo doesn't do the distinctive color justice.

My newest yarn: Madelinetosh in Maple Leaf.

After knitting, we treated ourselves to a manicure and pedicure. I selected a nail polish from Essie's new spring collection Mink Muffs. I'm digging this pretty milk chocolate shade for right now. It represents a classic yet edgy vibe and it works as a great transition color from the dark shades I like to wear in the winter to the lighter ones I have on as the temperatures begin to rise. Plus it's an overall refreshing color.

I love Essie's new Mink Muffs

Thanks for the awesome day Mom! You've created a monster.

I'm Ready for Sandals

I've just about had it with my Ugg's. They felt especially burdensome as I perused the latest spring fashions today. I'm so ready to wear these Gucci sandals. If the red carpet is any indication, purple will be a huge color story this Spring/Summer.

One can only dream.

So tell me, what Spring trend are you looking to add to your wardrobe?

Look 10 Years Younger With A Little Spray

As a beauty and fashion blogger, I get pitched all kinds of great products to review. But I guess because of the name of my blog, I was recently sent a product from Skindinavia that said it would make me appear 10 years younger. I put the bottle far away in my closet and buried myself under the covers.

But last night I had planned to meet up with my always put together friend and fashion blogger Kristin for the Ann Taylor Loft Summer Collection preview (more to come on this collection) and I thought it would be a perfect night to look (and feel) younger. After all, isn't that what Ann Taylor Loft is after.

This super-fine makeup finishing spray felt light and immediately cooling on my face. It made my skin feel smooth, soft and gave me a healthy-looking, natural glow. Not too sparkly, just the kind that of glow people saw in me when I was 30. It works by adding hydration to my skin and keeps my foundation, eye shadow, blush and concealer out of where it doesn't belong - those lovely fine lines and wrinkles.

The innovative, refreshing mist chills the makeup surface which causes drying to slow down greatly, and then it is loaded with six hydrators that bring more needed moisture to the makeup surface. The result is glowing, dewy foundation that holds in place up to 16 hours.

I hate when makeup, especially those mineral foundations, start to crease, clump, slide, get shiny or dry out. It's not a good look for anyone.

Did I magically look 10 years younger with this spray? Maybe 8 years. But what's best about this finishing spray is, with just 2-4 quick pumps of the mist over my makeup, my skin felt fresh for hours and my makeup didn't fall into any creases as the night wore on. There was no need for frequent makeup retouches in the bathroom so I was able to mingle away.

I'm really glad I tried this anti-aging finishing spray. It didn't make my face feel like I sealed it in plastic, but rather I felt invigorated. Now I'm going to use the 10 Years Younger Makeup Finish wherever I go.

Skindinavia has six unique finishes for different skin types, climates, lifestyles and events. They are available at skindinavia.com and beauty.com.