B Sweet

Tis' the season for everything to be PUMPKIN! I can't get enough of pumpkin spiced lattes at Starbucks, I almost died trying Cheesecake Factory's pumpkin cheesecake and now (in between workouts) I managed to bake pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! I found the recipe from the Food Network's website and have been anxiously waiting to try it out for a few weeks now. So finally I got a try and found them a great success. If you are a fan of pumpkin you will love these, not a fan of pumpkin? I urge you try them anyways! They have a great taste with all the spices of the season and would make a great gift to a host or hostess this Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
• Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.

B Delicious

So we all know that when we have money to spend our first thought is either new shoes, that handbag we've been lusting over or a new top for our night this weekend, have you had a time when your first thought is "I gotta have that cookbook?" I doubt it. But now beware fashionista's this all may change.

Already this year the CFDA brought us Fashion's Night Out, now they're giving us the American Fashion Cookbook! Now just this book over 100 recipes by your favorite designers such as Diane Von Furstenburg, Zac Posen, and one recipe I can't wait to try "Croissant French Toast". Now don't think that is all I'm telling you in this blog post. You think I'm going to let you go into that kitchen without looking fabulous? Don't be silly...

Turn in your "Kiss the Cook" apron and start making a statement in the kitchen. Anthropologie has some of the best kitchen accessories around, now I know I'm biased because this retail store is probably mentioned in every blog but I promise you I am not sponsored (I wish!). The Toile Full Apron is the perfect thing to protect your new Philip Lim dress while cooking up a storm. Also, try Sur La Table for all your cooking utensil needs and of course another cute damask print apron.

Don't underestimate where you could find a great conversation piece. After watching Man Shops Globe, I look at everything in Anthropologie wondering where it came from. For a limited time the retail chain is featuring Paint By Number plates from the print series "111 Reasons Why To Love You" by Trey Speegle. If you are like me you're already wondering how this series got started, now put that on the table and let the conversation begin.

B Reminded

There are certain scents that remind you of the Holidays. It may be a scent from your mother's homemade cooking, or the fire burning in the fireplace or the smell of peppermint coming from the candy canes. So when you don't live at home anymore, don't have a fire place and try to keep candy out of your house, your best resort is holiday scented candles!

I recently just purchased the White Chocolate Mousse candle from Anthropologie and it is heaven. Just last night I was cuddled in my bed, reading a good book and burning my candle. I almost got to pretend there was snow on the ground. If the scent isn't great enough, leave it to Anthropologie for creating a creative tin that makes you want to pull on your cable knit sweater. Holiday season has the best scents such as Wonderful Cookie also for which I purchased for my kitchen. Someone wasn't lying when they said "this is the greatest time of year".

B Caught

I have a bad habit of putting myself in my head and not being able to forget it and till I get it. One night just browsing online at my favorite virtual retailers (never a good way to start) I had this mission to find the perfect leather gloves. I didn't want to be caught red handed (pun intended) in a hideous pair so thankfully I had some inspiration. One of my favorite scenes of the Sex and the City: Movie was when Carrie is running to meet Miranda just in time for midnight, that's friendship. Carrie is shown rocking her iconic fur coat and a pair of white gloves and booties. Who looks this fabulous racing through the snow after they've just awoke? Only Carrie...

Well so I found a lot of options. One of my favorite websites is shopstyle.com because they bring up all your options over the whole internet. Throughout Sex and the City, Carrie has different styles of gloves and I was determined to mind a short cropped leather glove. There were the options that were clearly out of my price range. Such as the $145 Dents Studded Leather Bow Gloves, but seriously if you had the money to spend how to die for are those?

The motorcycle cut off finger tip gloves have been making their comeback to the runway and Alexander Wang even incorporated this trend with his own clutch. You would never lose this clutch at a bar ladies but again $999 was a little out of my price range. So I was waiting for that light bulb moment and then shopstyle did it for me. They previewed a cute pair of studded leather gloves from top shop for only $36. I thought, Top Shop! how could I forget to look there. While I liked the studded leather gloves, I needed ones I loved. And then there, Deep V Kid Leather Glove  in nude was found. I don't white cream or white leather for a couch but in a pair of gloves or hand bag I can't help but imagine luxury. And these are the perfect inspired replica for my Carrie Bradshaw gloves I fell for. All these gloves needs are a new fur vest...

B Sparkling

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Halloween is over and gone with and already this morning both Anthropologie and Nordstrom have announced free shipping throughout the holiday season. Along with free shipping comes my favorite part, holiday look books! If looking through the glossy pages of your favorite retailers decked out with glitz and glamour of the holiday season doesn't get you excited then I don't know who you are. My favorite look book so far and definitely not my last is Henri Bendel! The glorified New York City department store debuted their holiday look book online today and showed everything I may want for my holiday festivities.

I never collected snow globes as a child but if I was introduced to Henri Bendel's snow globe at an early age I am sure it would've been something I'd be asking for. How can you not love snow and a signature brown and white striped bag? The look book was dripped in nothing less of sparkles and was full stocked with all this holiday's must haves. Also featured in the look book, a new Rebecca Minkoff clutch I saw on Luna Boston just last week and raised the standards for my holiday party clutch for 2009. The talented designer was lucky to have two handbags featured on the Henri Bendel lookbook.  If Fall was waiting for Vogue's September Issue, Winter was waiting for Bendel's holiday look book!

B Domestic

I love cooking but sadly don't have enough people to cook for all the time. And I am pretty sure everyone has had the same experience when cooking for one. I am glad to say though that I am finding those gourmet recipes on my own that I can tweak to my one person meal or two that only take no more than 20 minutes! I found the following recipe below and it has become one of my favorites and go to recipe when I am exhausted after a long day of school or work but really want/need something healthy and delicious. I choose to make it without the bacon and use one chicken breast and cut everything else in half. Try it out and let me know how you like!

Grilled Chicken with Brie and Baby Spinach Salad

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about 5 ounces each
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Salt-free garlic and herb seasoning
• 4 to 8 slices Brie cheese, about 1/2-inch thick
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Directions

Heat a stove-top grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat.

Season both sides of chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic and herb seasoning. Add chicken to hot pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat. Place 1 to 2 slices of Brie on top of chicken, cover with foil and place back on grill pan for another 1 minute, until cheese melts.

Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and chopped shallots to the pan and saute. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, honey and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour the warm vinaigrette over the spinach and toss to coat.

Transfer chicken to a serving plate or plate with spinach salad.

Original recipe found at FoodNetwork.com