Beautiful Jewels by Upper East Side Atelier

My very talented and good friend, Mariana is the creator and designer of Upper East Side Atelier.  If you haven't already discovered this divine little Etsy gem, I highly suggest you mosey on over and have a look around.  I promise, you won't be disappointed. : )

Mariana's jewelry is sheer perfection.  Her modern and simplistic style makes her adornments easy to wear whether you're going to the office or a cocktail party. Each one of a kind design is handcrafted with love and made using only high quality materials.

Have something particular in mind?  Well you're in luck because Mariana also offers her services as a personal jewelry designer.  Just request a custom order through her Etsy shop and she will happily work with you to create whatever your heart desires. 

With gift giving season gaining on us, this is the perfect spot to find something fabulous for someone special in your life.  Or hey, you could always pick up something for little old you. ; )

Oh and did I mention UES Atelier is affordable?  Yeah, that's right.  If you weren't sold before, I bet you are now...I know I am.

Below is a sampling of some of my personal favorites.  Happy shopping!

Gold Moonstone Bracelet

Rose Gold Infinity Necklace

Rose Gold + Swarovski Crystal Stud Earrings

Hammered Sterling Silver Bar Necklace

*all images courtesy of UES Atelier

Secret Beauty Weapon #1 - Hair Rehab

For a long time, my hair was dry...like Sahara Desert dry.  It was also brittle and saturated with chlorine that just wouldn't come out no matter how many trips to the salon I made.  I didn't want to chop it all off,  but my hair was screaming for some moisture.

Then, a miracle happened.  I talked to my stylist about my dilemma and he gave me a L'Oreal Expert Serie Powerdose Treatment.  Like magic, my hair was silky smooth and shiny again! I had almost forgotten that my hair had the ability to shine.   I kid you not, this product is a miracle!!!

The treatment doesn't last forever.  You get about two or three washes out of it but, it's perfect if you're in between salon treatments and need a little pick me up or have a special event to go to and you want a quick boost of vitality for your locks. It's also a great maintenance routine for color treated or highlighted hair. 

The best part is, I found a place online that sells it to the general public and it's easy enough to do yourself.    There are a few different powerdose treatments to choose from.  I use the Powercell Repair with Lactic Acid.  There is an applicator sold separately and I highly recommend investing in it because it really makes the product go a long way.

To apply, shampoo, rinse, and towel dry hair, then apply the treatment all over concentrating on wherever needs the most repair.  Leave on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse and condition.  Voila, your hair will be fabulous once again!

Click here for the site I purchase my powerdoses from.  Happy Hair Repairing!

Spiced Ginger Pumpkin Tart

Being as Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to bake something festive.  My husband LOVES pumpkin pie but, I've already made a couple of those over the past few months.  I wanted to try something different yet equally as scrumptious.  Lucky for me, I stumbled upon Claire Robinson's Ginger Pumpkin Tart.  I had to alter the measurements of the crust a little because I had an 11 inch tart pan vs. the 9 inch tart pan the original recipe called for.  Also, as good as Claire's tart looked I thought it might need a little jazzing up so I added a few of my own ingredients to give it that extra flavor.  Bon Appetit!

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups crushed ginger snaps, (about 45 snaps)

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

CRUST:

 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

2. Crush ginger snaps in a food processor until they have a crumb consistency.  

3. Pour crushed ginger snaps into a mixing bowl and add melted butter.  Combine until all the ginger snaps are moist with the butter.

4. Pour crumbs into 11 inch fluted tart pan and with the back of a spoon, press the crumbs along the bottom and sides of the pan until they are evenly dispersed.

5. Bake about 12 minutes until crust is a little darker in color.  Remove and set aside to cool.

FILLING:

1. Whisk pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks until well blended and smooth then stir in salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.  

2. Pour filling into cooled crust and spread until it's evenly distributed.  Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until the filling starts to brown on top. 

3. Take the tart out the oven and set aside to cool until it reaches room temperature and then put it in the fridge for an hour or until you are ready to serve.

4. Serve with whipped cream.

Romantic Homes Feature

I am thrilled to share that an original centerpiece by yours truly has been featured in this year's Romantic Homes Holiday Decorating Guide.  I was given the task of creating a Christmas centerpiece for a modern meets country home in Connecticut.  While I was thrilled at the prospect of being a part of such a beautiful shoot, I was a little daunted by the task of creating something for a space I'd never seen before.  In the end, I chose to wrap the vase in burlap to give it a rustic feel and then combined oxblood reds with bright whites and chartreuse greens to create depth and drama.

Below is the stunning result.

Close Up of the Centerpiece by Meghan Finn Floral & Event Styling

Stay tuned folks, within the next few weeks I plan to share with you some unique and cost effective
ways to decorate your holiday tables.

xoxo Meg

Holiday Traditions

Welcome to Well Styled, the go to guide for all things beautiful and delicious!  Now that the holidays are fast approaching I thought I'd share with you a magical place I visit every year during the holidays.

Since I was just a wee little one, I've been going to Rhinebeck, NY with my parents to cut down our Christmas tree and spend the day shopping in town. Rhinebeck is a little town upstate that's brimming with tons of charm and local flavor.  After we got married, the hubs and I decided to start our own little family tradition and spend one weekend every December there to go antiquing, eat at some fabulous restaurants, and pick up some last minute gifts.

We love the quaintness of small towns and supporting small businesses, which makes Rhinebeck the perfect fit for us.  It doesn't hurt that it's also a foodie haven, with farm to table restaurants on every street corner and shops filled with unique treasures made right in the Hudson Valley.  The coup de grace is of course, The Beekman Arms, America's oldest operating inn located right in the heart of town.  If you ever get to this part of the world, you have to have a drink at this historic place.

I could go on all day about this wondrous little town, but for now a few pictures from last year's trip will have to suffice.