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A Yummy Appetizer: Brie with Fig Jam



New Year's typically means more gatherings and, yes, more food. One of my fave go-to appetizers is brie cheese with fig jam, crisps and walnuts. Not only is it delicious but totally easy to make, too.

There are tons of ways to make brie including different spreads, crackers and bread that people use. Others bake the brie in puff pastry, which makes for a nice presentation but a different taste, I find.



I love Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps in the Rosemary Raisin Pecan flavour. The mix really goes great with the Brie, much better than regular crackers or plain bread (in my opinion!) I can't remember the exact name of the fig jam I use but for those who are local it has an orange top and is available at Longo's (usually in the cheese section or with the other jams).



To make the appetizer I just cut the wheel of brie in half and coat liberally with jam. Then I bake it at about 325 for 5 to 8 minutes in the oven or just put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. When the insides are melted and oozing slightly I remove the brie and top it with more jam and crushed walnuts. I serve on a dish with fun spreaders and surrounded by the crisps. The brie is great with wine too and has always been a hit when served. What's your go-to appetizer?

Wishing all of you a very safe and happy
New Year's Eve! xoxo


Images: 1 / 2 / 3




Happy 2011! :D

I know it's only the 30th of December (the last Thursday of 2010!), but I know many of us are going to be busy tomorrow, preparing for New Year's Eve and all that...

So, I just want to wish everyone a prosperous and happy 2011! :D


I hope 2011 marks a happier and healthier life for everyone! May all our wishes, hopes, and dreams come true this coming year!



Thanks for a wonderful year filled with learning and new friendships, fellow bloggers! :D

Happy New Year!

Spotted: Faux Fur & Mock Croc


I love the casual mix of prints, patterns and fabrics in this outfit.
I guess it's because I've always had a soft spot for some
soft faux fur and mock animal prints. (Photo by Tommy Ton via Jak + Jil)


Which is why I was really attracted to some of the
accessories that Urban Barn has put on sale recently.



Like their faux fur throws and pillows--
such a great way to warm up a living room.



Not to mention their collection of mock crocodile items.
I guess my Christmas wrapping paper this year pretty much
gives away how much I love the glam look of mock croc.



I really love the chargers (which come in a variety of
colours), but the placemats, trays and storage units
like the remote caddy are also pretty stylish.

What do you think?



Etsy Inbox


A recent Etsy email featured two items that are just
calling my name. The first are these gold brick



The second is this fun customized Nutella print
from Sarat Gallery -- great for the kitchen!


How is everyone's holiday going?



Polyvore: New Year's Outfit :D

Hello, everyone! :D

How was your Christmas celebration?

I went to Christmas Eve Mass with my family. Then we ate at midnight (we had beef roast and tons of other yummy food), we opened our gifts, and ate some more. Haha. It was a good Christmas. :D

This is the last week of 2010, it's such a crazy thought!

I've been trying to think of what I am going to wear for New Year's... and putting together outfits is a little bit more fun on Polyvore than in real life. Haha. ;)

Here are two outfits I put together:



I loooooove the dress! I wish I could find something like it. That shade of purple/violet is one of my favorites.

This second set is more casual and comfy:

We can never go wrong with a comfy cardigan-sweater and moccasins. I would add a nice scarf and jeweled headband. :D

Between these two, I would probably go with the second one eventhough I would love to wear that silver dress and purple pumps.

Which one is more your New Year's style?

A Gossip Girl Giveaway from Runway Rundown & Daily Accessory

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED



I guess my love of all things Gossip Girl is well known, because when Kim at Runway Rundown decided to have a GG Week complete with 5 daily giveaways she had a good idea that I'd be up to participating. Runway Rundown is a site that breaks down expensive fashion looks and gives you more affordable options. Yesterday was a Serena outfit and an accessory giveaway on Couture Carrie, today is all about Blair and a giveaway right here!


Now you have a chance to win the glittery, Blair-inspired Daily Accessory Getty Bracelet shown above -- a $60 value!


How to Enter

Giveaway is open to followers of Sogni e Sorrisi.
and leave a comment here.


Extra Entries

1. Follow me on Twitter.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy Tweet this:
Runway Rundown Gossip Girl #Giveaway @SogniESorrisi: Win a Daily Accessory Cuff http://tiny.cc/lml5n


4. For 5 extra entries sign up for Runway Rundown
(just click on the Signup tab on the left of their site)

6. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway.
Just leave the URL in your comment.


Contest open until January 7, 2010.
Winner will be chosen via random.org.



Good Luck!





Merry Christmas!

And the angel said unto them, Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ~ St. Luke ii. 10-12



"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas." ~ W. C. Jones

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!
xoxo



Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Christmas Eve

"Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever."  ~ Bess Streeter Aldrich

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve and a very Merry Christmas. For those that are interested I've compiled a few holiday related links to peruse: 
 
What are yours?
 
 

A religious pilgrimage in Turkey



Do you have any special Christmas Eve traditions?
 

"Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind." ~ Helen Steiner Rice




MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D

Hello, everyone! :D

I most probably won't be able to go on here tomorrow or on Saturday, and I'm sure we will all be busy with our Christmas preparations. So, I would like to do my holiday greetings now. :)

I wish everyone a peaceful and happy holidays!
I hope we all have a fantastic time spending the next few days with our loved ones, our families and friends. :D

Thank you so much to all my blogger friends - for your support and your friendship!

I cannot wait to read all about your holiday celebrations!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D

A Cake Opera

Hall of Mirrors Cake

It's the festive season so desserts are on my brain. Take a look at these gorgeous cakes, macaroons and petit gateaus (not to mention everything from Confection Towers to marshmallows) being served up at the Cake Opera Co. (1136 Eglinton Avenue West).


Not only are the desserts and shop the height of Baroque
elegance, but just check out their website. Love.


Cake Opera will even custom make a sweet table for your event.
 


The shop was founded by Alexandria Pellegrino who, along with
a Fine Arts degree, also attended Le Cordon Bleu's Patisserie program.



Pellegrino's partner is pastry chef Jessica Smith who has been the head
pastry chef at highly regarded establishments like the Four Seasons' Truffles.
Pellegrino says that they "approach cake design first and
foremost as artists" with an intense attention to detail.


Inspired by Valentino red, Christian Lacroix's Spring 2008
collection, and the embroidery on the bride's sari.


A cake decorated to look like vintage milk glass.

A Bohemian Romance themed cake, inspired by
pomegranate red and coral, includes ribbons and brooches.

One of the company's signature 18th century French
figurine cakes.

Ships, pirates, tulips and anemones grace this cake,
which won The Wedding Co.'s 2008 Cake Competition.



Blog for Digs: My Childhood Room & Ideal Girl's Bedroom


In support of the great charity Dwell With Dignity, Claudia Clobes of Stonehouse Love has organized a blog crawl with the theme "my childhood bedroom was..." with the assistance of Beth from Hello Splendor. More than 55 bloggers have or will participate to support Dwell with Dignity, which works to "help families escape poverty and homelessness through design; one household at a time." If you'd like to help check out their website.


I had quite a few different bedrooms and bedroom designs when I was a kid, but the thing I remember most is the freedom my parents gave me to create my own space. Sure, my mother had a strict rule about nothing hung with tacks or tape (if I wanted to put up a poster I could only do so on the inside of my closet door), but they also always let me choose the paint colour and scheme of my room.

[via]

When I was about six or seven my dad took me shopping for a new bed. I think he figured a little girl should have a frilly canopied thing or one of these Cinderella beds. Imagine his surprise when I pointed at a bright blue bunk bed (I had no one to share it with except stuffed animals and the occasional sleepover guest). "Are you sure?" he asked doubtfully. I was sure. We got the blue bed. That room had walls that looked like clouds, decorated with sponge (hey, it was the 80s) flowers, all done by my dad. I loved that room, blue bed and all. And I loved him for not forcing me into something that wasn't "me."

Amanda Nisbet, Oprah at Home [via]


My next bedroom was a decidedly girlie affair. Pink walls and a pink bow border (hey, it was the early 90s). When I was a pre-teen I chose lavender, something like the colour scheme above except that my bed was also black and wrought iron. And so it went, with every new room I got to reinvent myself and my space. I'm thankful that my parents gave me the room to experiment. More recently they didn't even wince when my brother decided to paint his room black and red, and didn't bat an eyelash when my sister requested fluorescent pink and black. "Are you sure you'll be able to sleep with that pink?" was all my dad asked her, with the same doubtful look he'd had about my blue bed. She was sure. And so he painted.

These days if I had to describe my ideal girl's bedroom it would look something like these...

I've always had a thing for daybeds and window seats!

Amanda Nisbit [via]


Tamara Mellon's daughter's room via Elle Decor

I also certainly wouldn't have minded a closet like this...


[via]

Check out yesterday's post at Size Too Small. Thanks to Claudia for organizing this great blogger initiative! For more information or to contribute please visit Dwell with Dignity.

I'd love to hear about your childhood bedroom--or what kind of bedroom you'd always dreamed about.