Year of Style: Memorable Outfits of 2013...

Wow...wow.. wow... 2013 is going going gone! Two things hit me about looking over this last year's outfit posts.. 1)  A lot has happened in a year! 2) I miss those aviator sunglasses... wish I could find them...They are probably hanging out with half of my socks.. It's a conspiracy... 

I don't know about you but when I think about a year in reverse I'm always shocked in how fast a year goes by! You'd think I'd be used to this by now... But when I stop and think about wow, so much has happened and I'm so thankful! I'm thrilled that you've been with me all the way! Thanks for making 2013 are truly great year... here's to making 2014 even better!! Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!

What to Wear, Christmas Party: A little red lip...

A little red lip... by hchdesigns featuring a black dress

In this season on Christmas parties and endless fashion options... try a little red lip!  It's the perfect little pop of red to your look, a little black dress, gold accessories and a gorgeous white coat.. it's the perfect look that says I'm classic, don't underestimate me and I like to party...  This is almost the exact look I wore to a Christmas party this last Saturday night (except the bag & different white coat and earrings).. to where I had sincere plans and aspirations to get documented in an outfit post..rolling my eyes.. however, I did not get ready in time to catch the daylight... When did I become so high maintenance?

Holy green eyes batman...thanks Instagram for saving the day like you always do...

Here's my tip for wearing a bold lip color, if your doing a bold lip do a simple eye... You don't want your face competing for attention... bold lip = subdued eyes... want to make your eyes pop? Do a nude lip with a slight gloss....Normally I'm an eye girl and lips are usually very basic, but my look by itself wasn't super glam so to step it up I did a nice bold red lip... I'm wearing True Red- L'Oreal Colour Riche... Gorgeous color and great if your like me with fair skin and red tones in your hair... This Christmas don't be afraid to go bold... pair with classic pieces such as black, white & gold and believe me you won't be sorry... you might even get stuck under some mistletoe! 

Pinterest, Ebay, Stretchy Pants.. Oh My....

Oh Pinterest... how you seduce me... Life lately has been a whirlwind of  family time, overeating, stretchy pants and burning my tongue consistently on hot cocoa... It's the price I'm willing to pay for the Holidays! It's officially here, my favorite time of year... and these are some things I've pinned on my Pinterest lately... the hub of holiday and fashion inspiration....

Lately I can't get enough of slouchy sweaters and anything ski lodge related I mean isn't that picture of Audrey Hepburn divine? It's like a combo of all things awesome.. fashion, Audrey, snow & fabulousness...
I think love affair with all ski lodge things comes from being raised in NY and a winter without snow is just unheard of ...California fail... and even though I do not miss those 4 feet of snow winters.. for realz.. I do miss hearing the crunch of snow under my boots and stepping outside to hear the silence the falling snow makes... it's just magical... Also currently obsessed with any thing Christmassy, such as ice skating or plaid or a Christmas tree on top of a car... I cant resist it... Along with my Christmas obsession is flare jeans... for some reason right now I'm dying for a great pair of high wasted flares.. channel my inner Rachel Zoe... well kinda... Picture this, high wasted flares, red plaid button down, faux fur vest & wide brim floppy hat or just another slouchy sweater.. to hide the inevitable food baby.. I mean it's so perfect!

My trick for finding some great designer jeans is Ebay.. I have found some great deals on there and I always plan on getting alterations to ensure a good fit & length...I do not have any delusions about this, a 34 inch inseam isn't ever going to work... My tip for buying jeans on Ebay is (especially if your picky about the fit) buy only something that is in amazing condition and  in case it doesn't fit well,  you can re-sell... I bought a pair of JBrand jeans for a steal ($30 after alterations) but I wasn't certain on the fit.. so I planned on if they didn't fit I could re-coup some money back by selling to Plato's Closet (unaltered)... If that isn't an option for you or they simply wont give you enough money just pop them back on Ebay! Done and done! Personally I always calculate the shipping along with the cost of alterations added to the list price to determine if I'm getting a good deal... Then I also give myself a cap on bidding an easy way to do that is setting it with the auto bidder... It's really easy and it will keep track of your bids so you don't have to! And that's it, with those tips I'm sure you can find some seriously awesome denim for a bargain! Now I'm on the hunt for either some Hudson or JBrand high wasted flares... I know they are out there... Come to mama!

Swedish Apple Pie...

 In a recent blogpost I mentioned how I made a Swedish Apple Pie and a couple of you asked for a post of the recipe! Well in the spirit of giving here it is... I may or may not have touched up my manicure for this...

Peel and slice as many apples as you need, I slice them into the baking dish I'm using so I know I've got enough... I usually make this into a pie plate but I took it to a dinner at friends so I needed more than usual.....

Once you have enough apples toss with 1/2 tsp Cinnamon & 1/2 tsp sugar (you can just eyeball it).. Mix and put back into the baking dish...

In a seperate bowl mix 1 Cup of Flour & 1 Cup of Sugar.. 3/4 (1 stick and half) I used more since I was making more.... and 1 egg.

Pour melted butter into the flour mixture and stir quickly so you dont scramble the egg.. mix well and it will look like the picture below...

Pour the buttery sugary glob mixture on top of the apples, try to distribute as evenly as possible... and bake 350 for 1 hour....

Prepare yourself for the amazing smells about to come from your kitchen... and this is the end result!

If you having a dinner party or supposed to bring a dessert to a group gathering or even Thanksgiving Dinner... this recipe is sure to impress! Simply top with vanilla ice-cream and indulge... I'm not sure where I got this recipe and I realize that this is really more of a cobbler than a pie... however I like to call it a pie, it makes me feel like I've accomplished more! Between apples, cinnamon & butter you really can't go wrong and this recipe has it all! I hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

~Swedish Apple Pie~

• As many apples as needed (peeled & sliced)
• 1/2 tsp of Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of sugar (less if apples are really sweet)

Mix put in the baking dish. 

Top

• 1 Cup Flour
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 3/4 Butter (melted all the way)
• 1 Egg

Mix, pour over filling and bake for 1 hour at 350

Gift Guide For The Guys...

Gift Guide For The Guys... by hchdesigns on polyvore.com

It's that time of year! Time to get shopping! Ya know, you would think that buying gifts for our guys would be easier... but honestly it's so hard.. My husband he seriously is the greatest however whenever he wants something he plans on buying it himself ... which to me is like "seriously??!"... I love surprising people.. actually I love surprises just in general... so when I can find a present for someone and it's not something they told me they wanted it almost makes it better... like I get extra points or something for finding a gift he'll love that wasn't on his list... It's a complex I'm pretty sure...

My husband has been really into hunting these days, so for our Anniversary I thought (all on my own) of getting him a hunting cookbook... Found a perfect book and with my very proud self I ordered from Amazon and boom! I was a gift giving GENIUS!! Eat your heart out Santa.. Then the thought occurs to me... Uh oh, the confirmation email... Seth is going to see it.. Nah... I think "he never checks his email and I'll just delete it when I get home before he sees it... and that was the end of that... Not even 30 minutes go by and Seth is in my office (we work together and yes I made an online purchase at work... I know I'm a terrible employee... blah blah blah...) Seth is in my office and asks "did you buy me a book?" to which I'm like "seriously? How did you know that?" "I got the email while I was on break"... dang it, stupid technology...  "Uh, well yeah.." to which he responds, "well I thought it was fraud so I canceled it... " Cue look of disbelief... So then I had to go back in and reorder the same book and then tell Seth to disregard the confirmation email... Ugh... trying to surprise my guy is hard work! That my friends is why we now have separate Amazon accounts... he loved the book by the way and was looking at something similar that morning without my knowledge... #worldsgreatestwife that apparently is challenged in the art of surprising her man...

So I've created three different sets of gift possibilities for the guy in your life, hopefully it will aid to inspiration... if you want to see the individual item details simply click on the picture... Do you have any gift giving bumbles?  I'd love to know!  Good luck and happy shopping!

Be The Leading Lady Of Your Life...

Be The Leading Lady Of Your Life...

Lately I must confess, I've been behaving like the "best friend"... I've been down on myself for lack of blog posts and lack of outfit pictures... we're getting real here folks! It's not for a lack of wanting, oh the desire has been there but find myself thinking thoughts like "get it together Hope".. and "can you really do this?" To which I say, "what the?" I've got a real grown up life going on and when that happens.. well.. sometimes the inspiration doesn't always flow.. ya know? But beyond that I've allowed myself to think about me not as the leading lady but someone who is off to the side... not cool.. 

It's not a good thought pattern and it sneaks in so quickly, in this world of beauty, trends and fashion statements those are all amazing but a complete waste if I'm not thinking of myself in the real light... a positive light...  "in the movies there is the best friend and a leading lady, you I can tell are a leading lady but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend..." 

It's true.. and when I realized this I'm inspired to change..has anything changed in my circumstances? Obviously not since there is a video up there and not pictures of me trying pose.. posing is hard work... however my attitude has gotten a nice swift kick in the behind... exactly what it needed... Everyday is a red carpet moment and wherever you go it is your runway... you are the leading lady of your life... and when you  believe it, others will too...  What do you do when you hear those thoughts that bring you down or say you aren't amazing? I have ignore it and listen to the voice that says "you're beautiful, you're amazing... you are strong and that when you smile it shakes the world... " That's the voice I have to listen to and if I can't hear it then I remember what I've heard before... because all it takes is just a second of quiet and you'll hear it.. that positive voice that says.. "You're amazing..." It's what completes any look and makes me be the most beautiful version of myself... that my friend is the necessary accessory to any outfit! 

My Pinterest Christmas Wishlist...

Christmas Wishlist... by hchdesigns featuring DeLonghi

Black top / Hunter knee high boots, $145 / Sole Society bootie boots / BaubleBar multi row necklace / Tinley Road faux fur loop scarf / Tildon scarve / DeLonghi kitchenware dining / Sugar Paper Gold Stripe Notebook / Porcelain cup / Hot Tools Big Bumper 1 1/2" Prof. Spring Hair Curling Iron #1102 US..., $72

It's officially now feeling like fall is over and winter is almost here.. where I'm getting cozy on the couch with a blanket, hot cocoa & happily pinning everything on Pinterest... I'm not sure what it is about this time of year that makes me glued to the visual buffet that Pinterest is, but wow.. it's a problem.... One of my favorite ways to use "this wonderful waste of time"  is to create a Christmas Wishlist! My family loves this, it gives a visual for what I like... You know that phrase a picture is worth a 1,000 words.. yeah...I kinda think mine are worth a little bit more... As my good friend Karen would say... "I need a Pintervention"....


So, I designed a little board of a few things on my Christmas list and since it's two weeks away from Thanksgiving... yeah I know.. cray cray....

One of the great things about Pinterest is it's availability to anyone... I usually start creating my wishlist right around November and when I've got a few items, I email the link to my family and voila! Instant visual wishlist for anyone and it's instantly updated when I add new things, they can see my style,preference and I can make a note on what size to order! No one wants to return something because of it being the wrong size...awkward... 

This year I'm all about coffee, green & scarves... I honestly can't get enough... Oh gosh, that faux fur scarf? I think I need it in my life, it's gorgeous...  Hunter rain boots, sigh... need I say more? Ok.. we've all decided they're amazing.. and what would an honest to goodness Christmas Wishlist be without a sweater? I never need a reason for more sweaters.. but I'm thinking, a relaxed tee, that sweater, leggings & those hunters... Holy moly it's a perfect look for overeating and hiding the evidence... uh.. not that I ever do that... All I'll need then is spiked hot chocolate.. Which did not make it on Pinterest wishlist.... but hey, there's always next year...

Feel free to follow along for the fun here...