Inspired B! ISSUE 02 / Jan. - Mar. 2014
Sprinkles To Make Your Life Everything You Want it to B!
The Gift of Love
The Importance of saying “I Love You” More Often
B! Inspired...To Love
The Power of Love
It’s an Orchid Affair
25 Fabulous Gifts for Valentine’s Day
Bren’s Luxe Guide to Share Gifts of LoveFor Him, For Her, and For Both
Pantone Color of the Year Tops Our Gift Guide
e u s s I e v o L The
B
IN THIS ISSUE
Flanboyant Eats
Flanboyant Eats
Flanboyant Eats
Orchid Affair
B’s
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her
Especially For Him
Sexy Items For Him & Her
The Gift Of Love
Welcome to the Valentine’s Issue I was really on the fence about doing this issue. I’m not into Valentine’s Day and never have been, really. I have no answer for that reality though I suppose some have speculated. Apart from the divine amounts of chocolatiers dishing out samples, flowers occupying office spaces, and hearts floating everywhere in social media, I’m not so attracted to the pressure of indulging someone with lavish gifts -- relegated to one specific day. Valentine’s Day is traditionally used to express the love between a man and woman, couples, wether married or single, and friends. The amount of sweet text messages I get is admirable. In the absence of celebrating this hugely commercial lovers’ day, I’ve spent a good amount of time pondering love from all angles. And I’ve come to one conclusion: to love is beautiful. No matter who you’re sharing your deepest emotion with, the reward of loving someone is priceless. To tell someone you love them when you mean it is to share a piece of your being, your soul; the essence of who you are. It’s sharing an intimate emotion that covers all when genuinely felt. I spent the the better half of my twenties and early thirties loosely “loving” significant others. It wasn’t until close to this time last year I really figured out the true process of loving someone. I learned and experienced loving someone without judgement. I learned how to extend pure unconditional love, accepting them for all their beautiful quirks and idiosyncrasies. For the first time, I felt the sheer joy of anticipating their presence and equal sheer sadness when they departed, temporarily. I learned how to love. It is beautiful. The beauty in that is now knowing how to love everyone else around me in a way I hadn’t before. I love my parents and siblings differently. I enjoy my girlfriends differently. I adore the virtual strangers whom I’ve bonded with and have shared their affection with me through the inter-webs. It’s so liberating when you allow yourself to love freely; to love, honestly. On this Valentine’s, I encourage you to explore the way you love. It may not be the same as your partner or your parents or your best friend. But it’s the way you know how to love. Say it often. Say with fervor. Say it with passion and true grit. And while this Friday is simply a fun day to give pretty gifts and eat wildly sexy food and nosh on expensive (or not) chocolates with your significant other, share the gesture with others. Tell them you appreciate them. It doesn’t have to be with a gift. Your words followed by long-term action will show them your love. So while I don’t really get into the hype of Valentine’s Day, I still enjoy watching everyone else relish in the moment. I’ve come up with a few gift ideas in case you are in the last minute hunt for something super special for that special somebody in your life. Love, friends, love! Say it often. And then jump with excitement when the feeling bites! It’s a beautiful thing. B! Inspired. Con amor, B-
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
BrenHerrera.com Jumping out of sheer love. Seville, Spain, July 2013.
DailyB! ‘‘ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1st Corinthians 13:8-13
Daily B!
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
Flanboyant Eats
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
www.flanboyanteats.com
Rose Petal Risotto & Oysters For Valentine’s Day Ingredients: 3/4 cup Risotto with Strawberries & Rose Petals 3 cups chicken broth 1/4 cup Pinot Grigio or a dry white of preference 8 oysters, uncooked (you you may buy them in a can from your preferred specialty store) 4 cups Swiss chard, rinsed. 4 Tbsp. butter Petals from 3 fresh roses salt to taste Method: Rinse and pat dry oysters. You may buy them in a can at your local specialty store. In medium skillet, heat butter but make sure not to brown. Brown oysters in butter. Sprinkle salt to taste. Cook until preferred doneness. Blanch Swiss chard. To plate, scoop one cup of cooked risotto in deep white bowl. Place two oysters on fresh rose petals. Garnish with several Swiss chard leaves. For risotto, follow instructions according to package. Adjust water as needed. Serve with a green vegetable. * Chef’s note: you may substitute oysters for clams, scallops or salmon. Swiss chard may also be substituted for spinach.
www.flanboyanteats.com Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Flanboyant Eats
Espresso Bars My friend Dawn, blogger over at Vanilla Sugar, makes the most amazing desserts. I literally have been begging her to send me some in the mail. In the meantime, I just drool over her posts! These bars look scrumptious and perfect to share with your loves on Friday. Check her out at VanillaKitchen.blogspot.com To get really flat bars, I find it works best to smooth them over with an offset spatula, using gentle pressure, just after they come out of the oven and before you apply the glaze. bars: 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed (I used light brown) 1 TB espresso powder (I used 1 Starbuck’s Via) 1 ts vanilla extract
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
2 1/4 cups flour (I used 2 cups) 1/2 ts baking powder 1/2 ts salt (I added 1 ts cinnamon) 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I used 1 ½ cups) Get a Free Apple Butter e-Cookbook glaze: 2 TB milk (I used half & half) 1 TB butter (I used 3 TB) 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 tsp. cinnamon Preheat the oven to 375 F with the rack at the middle level. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Line a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan with baking parchment or grease lightly. Cream together the butter, brown sugar, instant coffee, and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture, until just combined, no overmixing. Then stir in the chocolate chips by hand. The mixture will be very crumbly, with barely enough dough to hold together the chocolate chips. Use your fingers, palms, and heels of your hands to press the dough evenly into the pan. If necessary, cover the dough with wax or parchment paper and use a small rolling pin to flatten the lumps. Bake 5 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until the edges are just starting to brown (watch carefully). Cool in the pan 5 minutes before spreading with glaze. For the glaze, put all the ingredients in a small saucepan on medium heat. Whisk until smooth and barely bubbly. Drizzle the glaze evenly over the bars and smooth out to the edges and corners with a rubber spatula. Cool until the pan is just warm to the touch and cut into bars with a sharp knife Should make 28-32 bars.
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Flanboyant Eats
Queen Bee Royale This right here is sexy. It speaks to the sweet spirits between two lovers. I’ve not had a drink in forever, but if I were to indulge this Friday, this would be it. Featuring honeycomb, honey liqueur, and sparkling wine or champagne with make all your friends feel fabulous. Toast to your amazing relationships, especially the one with the significant other! Here’s to long-lasting love!
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
www.flanboyanteats.com
www.flanboyanteats.com Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
“The heart wants what it wants. There’s no logic to these things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that’s that.” – Woody Allen
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her Every woman loves to receive gifts that reflect her personality. On this Valentine’s, think about the pretty things that make her smile. I love all of the offerings below for two simple reasons: they live up to their hype and they’re super pretty. That simple. Doesn’t take much to make her smile. Do it. You won’t go wrong with these. By Terry Baume de Rose 10 Year Anniversary Edition
A fancy limited ed. jar of the classic, Baume de Rose, the little lip balm is full of creamy, rose-scented texture leaving your lips smooth, plumped and protected. I love applying this right before a sweet, gentle kiss! I’m so addicted to it. Barneys.com
$59
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
Elemis Top-to-Toe Skincare Collection
A perfect gift from your other half or even great as a little something for you, this limited edition, five-piece collection comes in a luxury vanity bag in a pretty lilac color. Great for the luxe traveler. TimetoSpa.com
$104
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her
Bobbi Brown Uber Pink Illuminating Bronzing Powder
Let her make pretty and bold statement this Valentine’s with Bobbi’s lush bronzing powders. The colors are gorg, but the embossed statement is what counts. I love my “Be Pretty!”
$38
BobbiBrown.com
Orico London Bust & Neck Enhancing Elixir
I’m so glad I found Orico London sometime last year. I’m totally obsessed. This elixir is everything. It tones and firms the bust area. And what girl doesn’t like that idea! Orico.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$47
Erno Laszlo Institute Spa Membership
This doesn’t require much convincing. Every hard-working lady deserves some serious facial pampering. An annual membership to this uber luxe spa in NY will do the trick. It’s the expert go to spot. I have an appt. next month. Go ahead, splurge on her! ErnoLaszlo.com
Call for Price Inquiries.
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her
Lancome Vernis in Love Red Lacquer
Kind of standard, but no girl ever failed with a luscious red nail color. Stays on for more than a week. We love that.
Lanc么me.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$25
Clinique Cheek Pop Blush
She’ll love the embossed flower detail on this super cute clear cased blush. It gives no trace of makeup buildup, the kind the guyin her life doesn’t like. And so awesome for the travel makeup stash. Love the ‘Berry Pop’ the most. Clinique.com
$21
Betsey Johnson Silver Pave Bow Earrings
I’m obsessed with bows and love them in jewelry. These dainty ones are classic and go with anything she’ll wear. A perfect gift for any woman in your life. Age-proof! BetseyJohnson.com
$30 Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her L’Occiante Rose 4 Reines Eau de Toilette
A bit cliche, but I love the smell of roses. It makes me feel so feminine. Truly a sign of pure romance. And L’Occitane just always gets it right. A delightful scent for her to wear while she clutches his arm. LOccitane.com
Velas by Iris ‘Lavender’ Hand Poured Soy Candle
I love, love candles and anything lavender. So when my Sister-in-Law gifted me this one, I was so tickled. She makes them all by hand and with lots of love. Many more to choose from for the lady in your life. Etsy.com
$22
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$50
Tiffany ‘Poppy’ Zip Continental Wallet
Just love. Not much to say other than it’s pure fabulous. Grain leather and 24k gold hardware make the price tag worth it. And it’s Tiffany & Co. What girl doesn’t love Tiffany? TiffanyandCo.com
$425
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her Lancome ‘Pink Glam’ La Laque Fever Gloss
Love the the entire collection, but this is so appropriate to wear when she wants to feel super feminine. Lancôme.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$25
Tory Burch Cheetah Print Scarf
I’m mildly addicted to scarves and think every other working woman is also. This TB one is uber chic with its color combination and speaks of confidence. ToryBurch.com
$122 Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Her Laura Mercier ‘Peony’ Lipstick Stickgloss
Inspired by this year’s Pantone color ‘Orchid,’ this lipstick screams luscious and moisturizing. Love, love. Not so pink, not so red. The perfect finishing color. LauraMercier.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$22
Shiseido ‘Nebula’ Lacquer Gloss
This liquid lipstick is glorious. Has great pigmentation and luster. Definitely an every bag keeper. She’ll pucker up after dinner with this pretty color, also inspired by the ‘Orchid’ color of the year. Sephora.com
$25
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Him Even the darling men in our lives should be catered to and pampered. I relish in it. There’s something sweetly sexy about taking care of your man. Even if the extra special care and attention is inspired by Lovers’ Day. He’ll appreciate it. The below items all have a special appeal and will make your man feel he is everything to you!
Barneys New York Purple Chevron Zigzag Sock
I love it when a man wears happy socks. It means he’s confident, cool, and knows I’m probably looking at his shoe game. Happy socks make a happy girl. Made in italy. Barneys.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$42
Le Couvent des Minimes Eau Aimable Botanical Cologne of Love
A sparkling and delicious Botanical Fragrance that will transport you to a springtime stroll through the fields of Mediterranean Orange trees while evoking the fresh and juicy scent of summer fruits. I’m kind of liking the idea of my man leaving these aromatic whiffs behind as he whispers past me. LeCouventdesMinimes.com
$38
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Especially For Him
Garmin Forerunner 10 Watch
This stylish GPS running watch tracks your distance, pace and calories. It’s so easy to use you can start your run by pressing one button. Forerunner 10 has a Virtual Pacer™ feature that compares your current running pace to your target. Give it to him and watch his body shape right back to that 20-year-old college man! RadioShack.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$129
L’Occitane Star Gift Set
This perfect set for the sweet man in your life is inspired by the worldly men of Provence. Soothingly scented of Lavender which deepens into peppery woods includes Eau de Toilette, Shower Gel, After Shave Balm, and Shaving Gel. Wonderful for the choosey yet sophisticated fella. usa.loccitane.com
$38
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Sexy Items For Him & H These are sexy and fun gifts both together. I’ve tried them all and love the mutual feelings of love and emotional intimacy they invoke. After all, sharing is caring!
Emily & Tony Massage Candle Fougere
Set the mood for both with this sexy candle. It’s sophisticated with musky fragrance with opens with notes of licorice and cardamom, followed by sexy middle notes of cedar, vetiver, patchouli, amber, and nutmeg. Finished with base notes of vanilla, bourbon and licorice. I mean, you can not tantalize each other much more than with this amazing scent. Or can you! EmilyandTony.com
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
$38
Her Palais des Thes Les Amants Miniatures
After dinner enjoy a relaxing candle lit ambiance in your home while sipping this aromatic and romantic tea. This limited edition gift set from romantic Paris features mini-tins with three variations of the sensual, spicy Lovers’ Tea. All the day’s woes will surely be long forgotten. PalaisdesThes.com Four mini tins.
$27
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
Sexy Items For Him & H TypoGraphy SketchBooks by Heller
I love whimsical gifts we both can enjoy. I’m a font snob and fell in love with this book when I got it. It makes for great conversation among the two of you as you try to figure out your own creativity in penning letters. Because email will disappear one day! Amazon.com
$32
B! Inspired Jan. - Mar. 2014
Her AHAVA Honeysuckle & Lavender Mineral Botanic Duo
Pamper yourself and your lover with Dead Sea minerals and organic plant extracts. The velvet cream body wash and body lotion in hibiscus and lavender, my favorite herb, leave you feeling calm and fragrant. AHAVAUS.com
$26
Luxe Valentine’s Gift Guide
B!Inspired ThankYou! Gracias! !
Merci!
Socialize witth me @BrenHerrera
BrenHerrera.com | FlanboyantEats.com | BeeSoChic.com For advertising inquiries, please email info@brenherrera.com for more information and rates. We’d love to show off your products and have it in front of over 1 millions viewers and readers. Next Issue: On Being a Mother... A Special Look Into Being an Amazing Mami
Jan.--Mar. Mar.2014 2014 B! B!Inspired InspiredJan.