CasaSugar

Happy Hour: Blueberry Bonnet

Susannah Chen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:31:57 PDT

I've been up to my knees in blueberries after discovering cartons of them on sale for next to nothing at the market. After a long afternoon of hard work, I found myself in need of an alcoholic refreshment - so very naturally, the berries found their way into my drink. Browsing through cocktail recipes, I was inspired by a libation, Le Midi, which combines the essence of lavender with blueberries. I reinterpreted that with berry sauce I'd just made, lavender-scented limoncello, and Cointreau liqueur.

The end result smelled sweet and tasted fruity-floral, with just a whiff of lavender that wasn't overwhelming. For the recipe, read on.

Lavender Isn't Just For a Bouquet

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:42:15 PDT

There's something slightly magical about the bright color and powerful fragrance of a big bouquet of lavender. For years we've been raving about lavender-infused cocktails, and now lavender is making its way into many home chefs' kitchens for the first time. And it's not just sitting pretty in a bouquet.

Lavender is part of herbes de Provence, but this flower is beginning to stand alone as a spice staple in both savory and sweet dishes. Its robust flavor is sweet and floral with citrus notes. But like rosemary, the trick with lavender is that a little goes a long way; you don't want to ever feel like you're eating perfume. I'm curious about your thoughts. Do you love cooking with lavender, or is this one of those trends you're not willing to try?

Source: Flickr User hozinja

The Great Big 2011 Spring Nail Polish Preview

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:10:43 PST

Every season, color company Pantone surveys the designers at New York Fashion Week to find out what the 10 most popular colors of the season will be. Spring 2011's shades are out now, and colors we've got to look forward to are a fun melange. There's bright Regatta blue, golden yellow Beeswax, Silver Cloud gray, creamy green Peopod, teal Blue Curacao, Honeysuckle pink, Russet brown, Coral Rose orange, Silver Peony pink, and classic Lavender.

To get your nails in fashion fast, I scouted out 25 pretty, trendy nail polishes in the 10 big Pantone shades. Whether you're in the mood for a creamy pastel or a lively electric hue, the perfect new polish is in here for you.

10 Gorgeous Ways to Wear 2011's Hottest Hues

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:15:45 PST

Spring 2011 is going to be all about two shades, lavender and honeysuckle. The former was an overwhelming favorite on the runways in New York and London, and the latter is Pantone's pick for Color of the Year in 2011. What does this mean for you? Well, there's bound to be loads of both shades showing up at makeup counters, and that means finding new and pretty ways to wear the colors. I've gathered up some of the prettiest, freshest uses of lavender and honeysuckle from the runways, and now I'm passing them on to you. So whether you want to look proper, edgy, or sweet, there's a look here for you and a color variation to suit your skin tone.

DIY: Herbal Sachets

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:30:27 PST

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Crafty McCrafterson:

This is a quick and easy way to freshen drawers or give as gifts. I got this idea from The Mountain Rose Blog and they smell divine!

What you need:

Muslin Fabric
Stamps with ink
Herbs that smell good
Scissors
Sewing machine

Continue reading to learn the steps!

Casa Quickie: Bug-Free and Beautiful

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:00:00 PDT

If the scent or the effects of chemical bug sprays worry you, why not go the natural way? Lavender is a wonderful natural bug repellent, and it smells fantastic, too. Try placing potted lavender and other herb plants near your doors to repel bugs from entering your home. When you're having a picnic or hosting an outdoor dinner party, set some bunches of dried lavender on your table to use as table décor and keep the insects away!

When the party is over, bring it up to your bedroom and place it on your nightstand: lavender is also known to improve sleep quality and promote relaxation.

How-To: Go Subtle With Lavender

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:01 PST

Earlier today, I showed you how to decorate with lavender walls. If you're not ready to make the commitment to that much lavender, though, you can always work with accents. Try using textiles in a lavender shade. Or, paint the interior of a cabinet or cupboard with your favorite lavender shade. Accent decor is also an option as well. See some of my favorite lavender accents below.

Color Theory: Painting the Walls With Lavender

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:00:35 PST

If you're looking for a feminine, cool color, lavender is always a good bet. This palest purple shade is named for the pretty flower of the same name. With shades ranging from a brighter purple to gray-tinted pale lavenders to lavender pinks, there's plenty to choose from when it comes to shades of lavender. See some beautiful examples of lavender coloring every room in the house.

Yummy Links: From Nirvino's Wine App to Eater's Expansion

partysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:50:56 PDT

Introducing the newest must-have wine application for your iPhone. - Nirvino
Fabio Viviani's cookbook by the numbers. - Eat Me Daily
Here are 21 tasty bar snack recipes. - Chow
Everything you need to know about buying sustainable seafood. - Sunset
Eight common fast foods you should avoid. - SF Weekly
Michael Pollan's next mission: reform health care. - Grub Street
The real reason Hector was kicked off of Top Chef? His thermometer didn't work.- The Feedbag
Is it OK to serve pesto at a dinner party? - The Epi-Log
This lavender honey spice cake is seriously Italian. - Serious Eats
Eater is expanding and looking for bloggers/photographers in a city near you. - Eater

2009 Cannes Film Festival: Penelope Cruz

FabSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:00:22 PDT

You know I've been waiting for someone to wear my favorite lavender Marchesa dress from the designer's Fall collection. And that someone was Fab favorite Penelope Cruz. Alas, it's ill-fitting. Speaking of ill, Penelope otherwise looks radiant at the Broken Embraces premiere after a bout of food poisoning. From the sweet lavender color, to the jeweled bodice and back, and the drapes and ruching, this dress has it all. I just wish a proper fitting took place. Can you see past the fit and into the fabulous?

Vote on all our Cannes Film Festival fashion polls!

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