let the wild rumpus begin

DAZED AND CONFUSED:






HARPERS BAZAAR AUSTRALIA:


VOGUE UK:




OPENING CEREMONY COLLECTION:





finally saw Where the Wild Things are.. and thought it was absolutely amazinggg althought i cant imagine being a little kid and not being totally dissapointed as the somber tone throughout the film.. since i'm wayy behind everyone else in finally seeing it, im going to be wayy behind and re-post some of the amazing editorials that have come from the movie.. oh yeah, and opening ceremony's incredibly amazing inspired line. enjoy the repetitiveness!

via (vogue uk december, harpers bazaar australia, dazed and confused, opening ceremony)

(always)alanna

p.s. just found this ridiculously amazing statement on refinery29 about lady gaga starting "trends" : "If the pop-star gals can rock them, then why can't we all? Expect to see exoskeleton shoes, lace bodysuits, and shoulders equipped with a full range of cutlery standing in line at the grocery store very soon. We give it a year."

candy, candy, CANDY!

im all about yummy food during the holidays and love sharing it with you guys.. so for the month of december, i guess (always)alanna has become and fashion AND food blog! i adapted/edited this recipe from the FoodNetwork this morning and couldn't be happier with the results. These candy ornaments are meant for decoration (but they are edible) and can be hung on trees, outside of gifts... They turned out absolutely gorgeous and i definitely recommend you try them as they take about 10 minutes per batch.

Assorted Jolly Ranchers
PAM Cooking Spray
Assorted Christmas Cookie Cutters
Parchment Paper

Arrange the cookie cutters on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Place Jolly Ranchers inside the cookie cutters. These jolly ranchers can be all the same color, or various colors for a more “stained glass” appearance. The amount of Jolly Ranchers you use is subjective to how large your cookie cutters are (see pictures below for a general idea). Spray the entire cookie sheet/cookie cutters/candy with cooking spray very generously. Place them in the oven at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Once you take them out, let them cool for about two minutes. Then, with a knife, cut the excess candy from around the cutters that melted out from underneath the cookie cutters. Do this quickly so as not to let the candy harden. then pop the candy ornaments out of the cookie cutters. At this point they should still be flexible. With a knife cut ribbon holes at the top of each shape. There you have it, gorgeous, easy, and even edible candy ornaments! I even enjoyed attaching these outside of gifts and got rave reviews over their beautiful appearance.

just found this on sharon dorram's site and had to share it with you guys- its too true..

10 Commandments of Home Hair Coloring

1. Identify your own natural hair color and determine what you would like your color to be.
2. Never go 2-3 shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color.
3. Try on wigs first, if you want to make a more dramatic color change.
4. Always do a strand test first. Take a section of hair from above the ear (1/2").
5. Check the color strand in half the designated time: i.e. 15 min. instead of 30 min. Make sure to see it dry against a white towel.
6. Always buy at least 2 maybe 3 boxes of haircolor depending on the length and thickness of your hair.
7. Always use baby oil or Vaseline to protect the skin at the hairline from staining before coloring.
8. When doing repeated touch-ups never run the color at one time from root to end. You run the risk of turning blonde hair green, and brunette hair "shoe polishy".
9. Look for hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners which say "color protection" on them. They will extend the life of your color and keep your hair color looking vibrant.
10. Never do your hair color on a friday night, the 1-800 Hotline may be closed.


speaking of; im considering doing pastels in my hair.. that trend is almost too good to pass up. what do you think? maybe in time for new years?




xx
p.s. don't forget to mark your calendars for the rodarte collaboration with target which comes out on the 20th (sunday). you can see some pieces from the collection in the december issue of teen vogue as tavi, style rookie, models them



see the rest of the collaboration's lookbook here

cozy fires; cookies; frank sinatra; and vogue

some food porn.. (butter cookies i baked this morning; recipe courtesy of southern living. and seriously, these cookies are like "melt-in-your-mouth i already ate ten even though its not even breakfast time" yummy)




catching up on the magazines that have been slowly piling up on the kitchen counter..

(zara shirt, topshop corset, diy necklace, michael kors pumps, xoxo jeans, rolex watch, 21 bracelets, 21 sweater)

just got my new shoes! and i am super excitedd! i found them in stores, but couldnt find my size and had them shipped. even though the expected delivery date wasnt until next week, they came early! and snuggling by the fire; i just love cold weather in december
and hopefully this afternooon im headed over to check out some things to add to my list for santa- wish me luck on finding the right things. i promise ill post soon to let you guys know what ive been keeping my eye pealed for- you wont be let down (because its all totally amazinggg!)
good luck on your lists too; and keep me posted. id love to hear what will be under the tree for you guys this year.. its not too late to quit being naughty ;)
xx
(always)alanna

.. and speaking of cozy. fur coats? i was looking for the perfect new one i hoped to find under the tree.. but after my mom saw me on the web, she asked me if i was collecting them which made me a bit concerned that my fur addiction had gone a little bit too far, but when i stumbled upon my brother trying on one of my coats, i couldnt help but wonder if maybe it runs in the family?



i told him he had to let me catch a few snapshots modeling the furry number





interesting fact? in 2003, the security guards at the Jean Paul Gaultier show covered PETA protestors with fox-fur blankets before dragging them off the runway.

shades of glamour

(mossimo top, aa bandeau, h&m tights, michael kors boots)

this simple outfit must have taken me 47 tries to nail just perfectly. i was headed out to see where the wild things are, but it wasnt playing when i got to the cinema for some devastating reason (yes.. im crazy because i STILL havent seen it) so i ended up seeing 2012 instead.. which was not worth the ticket price these days. im way excited for where the wild things are and im dying to see it SOON.. especially after all of the amazing editorials and inspiration that have sprouted from the film adaption of the children's story.
and i know i promised a DIY, and it is indeed coming soon; it's just been very hectic with thanksgiving and everything..
and has anyone seen these blogs; because apparently i had missed the memo! : jason wu's blog and viva vena cava designer blog

besos & bisous
(always)alanna

oh.. and check this out
heres my new feature on bizymoms- be sure to vote for me so i can be featured on the atlanta homepage!

(always)alanna'is a featured blogger in Atlanta moms Click Here To view more

best ATLANTA food

heres the second part dedicated to the food series, but this time for atlanta. as like the others, let me know if theres any places that you'd like me to research/add to the list. i hope you guys enjoy the reccommendations and give me feedback if you try any of them! (many of these recommendations are centered around food and most of the food only reccomendations (not cocktails, taverns..) are recommended for lunch. however, if you're shooting for atmosphere, check out my first food post, "best big-city eats")

best asian food:

Genki Noodles & Sushi
At The Prado: 5590 Roswell Rd, Ste 100; Sandy Springs; 404.843.8319

The menu expands on the original's, with new additions like the Volcano appetizer (mixed seafood in spicy aioli, topped w/ mozzarella & tobiko sprinkle), and the Snapping Samurai roll: shrimp tempura, cucumber & avocado, topped w/ red snapper, sliced cherry tomato & jalapeno. There're also new bottled beers like Oregon's Session, a flight of four sakes, plus 10 new cocktails like the Bacardi Dragon Berry, mint & lemonade "Intoxicating Dragon" -- stealing Puff's claim to fame, and leaving him with little more than strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff.
see the full menu here


best bohemian inspired food:

Amuse!
560 Dutch Valley Rd; Midtown; 404.888.1890

Meat, dairy, and produce come from GA farms, including Asian-inspired orange glazed pork w/ apple slaw and cherry mostarda on ciabatta bread, and crispy ginger squid w/ lime, shisho and chile aioli; for Southern fare, there's organic chicken & dumplings, and pan-fried Carolina bass w/ crispy potato, arugula and lemon roe aioli, or you can swing Mediterranean with the crispy Spanish mackerel with chickpeas, mint, sultanas, and eau de tomate, which if splashed behind your ears, is a step up from Tommy Girl. Weekend brunch delivers Catalan baked eggs w/ Spanish chorizo, Sweet Georgia shrimp & grits, local fried chicken (w/ an English cheddar waffle & apple butter), and Berkshire pork hash, w/ poached farm eggs, and red eye hollandaise, which obviously forgot the first rule when it comes to hash: always bring Visine.
check out the full menu here


best korean-latin infused food:

Hankook Taqueria
1341 Collier Rd; West Atlanta; 404.352.8881

Tacos're orderable straight from the counter, and served two ways: either with green onion, cabbage and soy sesame vinaigrette, or yellow onion, cilantro and lime juice; meat choices comprise "Dak Gogi" chicken marinated in spicy sauce, Korean BBQ-marinated "Bulgogi" beef, "Daeji Gogi" pulled pork, and the panko-crusted, Hoisin tartar sauce-sided tilapia called "Saeng Seon Jeon", also the name of a popular knockoff urban jumpsuit brand. Additionally, they'll fill you with burritos (same protein/garnish choices, but also stuffed with kim chee fried rice), or jack cheese quesadillas with chicken, beef, or pork; tortilla-less tastes include the fried, ginger-scallion pork "Man-Doo" dumplings, "Naeng-Myung" soba noodles w/ veggies, tempura-fried Korean sweet potatoes, and the thick-n-spicy broth, rice and Pusan fish cake "Duk-Pokee", which Donald can't help but text Daisy about whenever he's had a few.
check out the full menu here


best "grill" food:

Lenox Square Grill
3393 Peachtree Rd NE; Buckhead; 404.841.2375


Breakfast starts at 7am and goes all damn day, including humungoid buttermilk biscuit sandwiches (turkey/egg/cheese, chicken breast & cheese...), four-egg omelets like the "Cajun" (shrimp, Andouille sausage, green peps, onion, & "N'Awlins" cream sauce), specials such as skillet hash & eggs w/ seasoned beef & potatoes, and pancakes like the peanut butter/banana "Elvis", spiritually akin to Lenox's "Whole Hog" sausage patties. If you've already eaten two breakfasts, step up to sammies like the "Pot Roast" on French bread, and smokey barbecued beef on a grilled egg bun, or get the footlong "Killer Dog", piled with fries, chili, mixed cheese & onions; they've also got skillets loaded with elbow pasta/cheddar sauce/toasted breadcrumbs, and additionals like beans & franks, cheeseburger (w/ mixed-in ground beef), or pizza (pepperoni, mozzarella, pizza sauce), and entrees like "True Southern Catfish" (blackened, fried, or pan-seared), the six-hour roasted "Giant BBQ Beef Rib", and a the roasted-crisp, "American lager" whole "Beer Can Chicken", presumably killed via shotgunning.
check out the full menu here

best sushi bar:

ZEN On Ten
1000 Northside Dr, Ste 600; West Midtown; 404.879.0999


Things get rolling with Thai apps like Ka-nom Jeebs (steamed chicken & shrimp dumplings), and Japanese starters like baked green mussels and Ahi Poki diced tuna marinated w/ olive oil and balsamic; sushi rolls include Red Dragon (fried Amaebi shrimp tempura topped w/ snow crab), Shrimp Extreme (over tempura & avocado), and the riceless, deep-fried salmon, snow crab, and asparagus-packed Hot Night Roll -- also the maneuver to pull when your midnight kinky blow torch session goes horribly wrong. For bigger bites, you can throw chicken, beef, or mixed seafood into entrees like Pad See-U (flat noodles w/ egg & broccoli), curries including Massaman w/ coconut milk, potatoes, avocado, green bean and cashews, and stir-fried fare like the green bean, red bell pepper, and tangy chili-sauced Pad Prik King -- also the name of the MTV Cribs episode starring Simon Cowell.
check out the full menu here


best burgers:

Fuze Burger
265 Ponce De Leon Ave; Midtown; 404.685.9988


The chef's focus on distinctive ingredients and exotic aromas/flavors (curries, shallots, etc) comes from working in his family's NYC Chinese restaurant since age 16; never-frozen angus burgers include the Mexicana (w/ cheddar, guac, sour cream & jalapenos) and Kung Pow, heaped with red & green bell peps, onions, & spicy Asian sauce; non-angus burgers range from ground lamb (w/ ginger wine sauce, tomato tartare, dill) to turkey, wasabi-glazed Kobe, and pulled chicken, who's just glad he wasn't also choked. For imbibables, you can build your own mojitos, Caipiroskas, and spiked lemonades with standard or flavored vodka, rum, or alternate spirits (Veev, PAMA, Canton); mixologist Jazmine Ho has also created a list of libations repping major ATL streets, such as the grape-Kool-Aid-like "Edgewood Avenue" w/ 3 Olives Grape, orange liqueur, cran & fresh lime juice, and the "Buford Highway", with Herradura, Thatcher's Organic Elderberry, Chambord, sour, and Thai chili slices, which is "violently shaken", as was every Minnesotan's hand on Jesse Ventura's road to governor.
check out the full menu here


best pizza place:

Mulberry St. Pizza
4355 Cobb Pkwy; Vinings; 770.988.8646


Things start off with toasted French Pesto Bread (w/ basil, mozzarella, garlic), and continue with ground beef, Canadian bacon, ham, pepperoni, and sausage-stuffed Strombolis, meat or spinach Lasagna, and hulking calzones; 11" hoagie roll subs include the hot-or-cold ham, salami, capicola, prosciuttini, mortadella, mozzarella, and provolone Italian Combo, and the Sausage Parm, with housemade marinara and Italian rope sausage, which you'll tell nearby women you're already packing, even though they'll assume you're knot. Stone-decked-oven-baked pizzas come in standard slices, dangerously thick Sicilian, or pies with 25 topping choices (top-grade Ezzo pepperoni, anchovies, artichokes, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes...); specialty pies include the Meat Lovers (pepperoni, beef, ham, Canadian bacon, sausage, meatballs), Greek (spinach, feta, black olive, banana pepper), or the red-pepper-flake, jalapeno, onion, and spicy sausage-topped Angry Pizza -- proving indeed that pizza and sex do have a lot in common.
check out the full menu here


best room service food:

Room Service Lounge
1937 Piedmont Cir; Midtown; 404.249.7RSL

the cheeky "Check In" section starts with small bites like Jack Daniels-flavored wings, Angus, Turkey, or Ahi Sliders, and six crustaceans (three panko-fried and three poached) deemed the Shrimp Two-Way, or as your GF calls it, "sex with you". Mains include island fare like Coconut Chicken Curry in mild broth, and Jamaican-spiced Braised Oxtails over rice; for southern dining, there's the slow-cooked St. Louis BBQ Ribs, Chicken & Belgian Waffles topped w/ pecan sage butter, steaks like the Filet Mignon or 14oz Ribeye (each with two sides, e.g., Smoked Turkey Collard Greens, Cinnamon Sugar Baked Potato), or the Grilled Colorado Lamb Lollipops, which're definitely good, but not Pork-Up-Pop good. Temporary hydration comes in the form of bottled beer (Peroni, Red Stripe, Yuengling...), Champagnes from Pearly Bay to "Ace of Spades", and blindingly clever hotel-themed cocktails like the "French Maid" (Hennessey Black w/ lime & Chambord) and the Tres Generaciones/trip sec/passion fruit puree "Do Not Disturb" -- exactly what Musburger said to you at the bar, although you could see in his red-hot eyes that he didn't mean it. Oh no he didn't.
check out the full menu here


best bbq:

Eros Becomes Ixtlan Ultra Lounge
2160 Monroe Dr; Buckhead; 404.549.2433

an all-new menu including "tapa-tizers" like Ixtlan Hot Fish (fried tilapia bites tossed in sweet chili sauce) and fire-grilled Filet Kabobs marinated in garlic, herbs, and the chef's signature tzatziki. Also worthy're char-grilled Sirloin and Turkey Burgers, Chopped Beef, Pulled Pork, and Chicken Breast BBQ Sandwiches, plus BBQ entrees like the Smoked Turkey Drumsticks and the 10oz Boston Pork Steak, aka the Rich Garces.
check out the full menu here


best soul food:

Pointe!
3473 Old Norcross Rd, Suite 100; Duluth; 678.578.4320

The menu's unusually expansive for a club, with apps like the Shrimp Martini (herb-marinated, pan-seared jumbo Gulf shrimp w/ mango pineapple chutney), entrees like Southern Fried Chicken (w/ smoked turkey collard greens, Mama's Mac & Cheese, fries), and Pecan-Crusted Lamb Chops w/ mashed potatoes & sauteed Bourbon Au Jus-drizzled green beans; they've also got Asian fare, like sushi, fusion tempura dishes like deep-fried Chef Special Soy Sauce Marinated Squid Leg, and the fresh-avocado-wrapped Soft Shell Crab Dome, also available at finer Spring Break locations. Naturally, there's a full bar to get you ready for upcoming concerts including Cherrelle on August 16, Roy Ayers on the 23rd, and Carl Thomas on the 30th, who'll probably perform his hit single "Emotional", which only the macho macho-est of men are allowed to sing along with.
check out the full menu here


best carribean food:

G-Rock African Caribbean Restaurant & Bar
723 Sandtown Rd; Marietta; 770.627.2175

They've brought over plenty of traditional Nigerian stews, from app-sized guys like Pepper Soup w/ ground chiles, chopped mint, ugazi leaves, & onion (availble in Assorted Meat, w/ beef, tripe, & crayfish; or Fish, w/ smoked tilapia), to full-bore entrees like the Efo Riro, w/ soko and tete leaves, pounded tomatoes, chiles, onions, crab claws, smoked stockfish, & shelled/washed escargot, served w/ porridges like yam, semolina, or cassava-root-based Garri that's been pounded, forcing him to shamefully change middle schools. Other main courses include rice dishes (w/ beef, chicken, or fish, served w/ fried plantain), Asaro (cubed yam pottage, stewed w/ crayfish), and fish plates like Whole Grilled Tilapia w/ hot pepper sauce; for the exceedingly brave, there're special dinners like Peppered Snail, Nkwobi (cow legs) cooked in spicy African herbs, or Isi-Ewu: a beef stock-mixed stew made of meat from a boiled goat's head chopped into small pieces -- the brains have been discarded, which your friends will also say about you when you order it.
check out the full menu here


best greek food:

Mykonos Taverna
2901 Clairmont Rd NE; Brookhaven; 404.638.6770

Entrees include charcoal-grilled meats like Brizola Moscharisia (an aged ribeye basted w/ lemon, herbs, & mushroom caps); Aegean Sea Pasta w/ sauteed jumbo shrimp & scallops; traditional oven casseroles like Psiari Plaki (tilapia, onions, garlic, & plum tomatoes over wine-sauced rice); and seafood plates like pan-fried codfish w/ Skordalia -- an emulsified garlic puree with punchy taste, not a demand when you're desperate for a flower fix. Mykonos's got a full bar, w/ Sam Summer, 420, Blue Moon, & six other brews on tap right now, plus desserts like Baklava, Chocolate Mousse, and a baked custard pastry in paper-thin dough, also the box office take for the Poseidon Adventure, once.
check out the full menu here


happy eating bloggers!
(always)alanna