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As awards season continues, we explore the trends going on there. What was hot at the 2012 SAG awards? Other than Modern Family (that show is unbeatable at any awards show) and The Help (which I still haven’t seen) there were hair trends, color trends, and beautiful dresses.
Hair braids were huge. I’m glad because I thought I’d been seeing less hair braids out and about and I love a side hair braid for an easy style that can hide greasy hair for those days you don’t shower. Now if only I could really get the fishtail braid down.
 Kaley Cuoco, Dianna Argon, and Busy Phillips from people.com What’s black, white, and red all over? These lovely ladies on the red carpet. Taking a more formal approach to a classic black skirt white top look, they rocked it and looked sophisticate.
 Paz Vega, Emilia Clarke and Maya Rudolph in classic black and white from peoplestylewatch.com Here are some of my favorite looks of the evening,
 Glee's Lea Michele in Atelier Versace gown from peoplestylewatch.com  The women of The Help wearing white, black, and gray  Rose Byrne in Ellie Saab from nydailynes.com  Michelle Williams in Valentino, love the dress not crazy about the shoes And for some hot couples,
 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - she is looking awfully skinny these days!  Emily Blunt and John Krasinski looking so adorable  Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, the real life couple also play a couple in Bridesmaids are too cute together  My new fave style couple, George Clooney and Stacy Keibler
In today’s Stuff We Love we’re highlighting our favorite makeup. It’s Laura Mercier’s Mineral Powder and concealer and it works like a dream. Available at Macy’s, Sephora’s, and Nordstrom, this miracle concealer works great and is great for you skin. It also contains SPF 15 (many of the moisturizers have SPF 20) to keep your skin looking fresh and prevent aging.
If you’re interested in giving your makeup a makeover, try Laura Mercier.
Do you have an upcoming Super Bowl party that needs some entertainment for kids? Yeah, a however many hours game may not hold their attention so try some of these fun games from Disney’s Family Fun. My personal favorite is Wall Football! A twist on the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey (which kids do not play enough of these days!) it involves footballs instead of tails and a field goal instead of a donkey.
 Wall Football from familyfun.go.com
- What You Need
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- Poster board
- Brown card stock
- White opaque paint marker
- Instructions
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- For the game pieces, first create a goal post from two-inch-wide strips of poster board. (The uprights and the crossbar are each 20 inches long, and the post is 6 inches tall.) We attached ours to the wall using poster tack.
- For the footballs, cut 5-inch-long shapes out of brown card stock. We found some in the scrapbook aisle of our craft store that looks like football leather. Use a white opaque paint marker to decorate and add players’ names to the footballs. Put a blob of poster tack on the back of each one.
- Players line up about six feet away from the goal. One at a time, each player is blindfolded, spun around three times by another person, and set loose to try to stick their football between the uprights. (No reaching out your empty hand to feel the wall.) Play several rounds with 3 points awarded for each field goal. Highest score wins.
William and Kate added a new adorable friend to their family. The picture below is them on a beach in Wales with the cutest little puppy. And what’s the cute little guy’s name? No one knows yet!
 William and Kate with their new cocker spaniel Here’s some exciting news for Sex and the City fans. Looks like Mr. Big and Carrie will be reuniting! But not in a new SATC film but a different movie they’ve both been cast in. Lovelace, a new film about adult film star Linda Lovelace, stars Amanda Seyfried, James Franco as Hugh Hefner, and Chris Noth as well as Sarah Jessica Parker (previously a role cast with Demi Moore). Unfortunately, the two may not have any scenes together. Here’s to hoping!
What is going on with X Factor? It seems Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid are the only ones staying. Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones, and Paula Abdul aren’t coming back for the next season.
Who is excited for the Super Bowl? I know I am! And whether going to a party, throwing one yourself, or simply just watching it with the family, there will be food involved. So don’t just have a chips and chicken wings, spice it up. Try some of these tasty finger food ideas and you’ll be all the talk of the party.
Gorgonzola Spinach and Artichoke Dip from Rachael Ray
 Gorgonzola Spinach and Artichoke Dip Rachael Ray never disappoints. And this creamy spinach and artichoke dip is so much better than anything store bought.
Ingredients;
- 2 boxes chopped frozen spinach (10 ounces each)
- 1 box frozen artichoke hearts
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- A pinch of ground nutmeg, or to taste
- 1 cup Gorgonzola crumbles
- 1 1/2 cups shredded (a little larger than grated, available in tubs) Asiago or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- Thick sesame bread sticks, for dipping
- Celery hearts, trimmed for dipping
- Pita crisps with Parmesan and herbs, such as Stacy’s brand
Directions;
Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
Defrost the spinach for 10 minutes on the defrost setting in the microwave, then drain well by wringing out in dish towel. Defrost the artichokes as well, 6 minutes on defrost in the microwave, then wring out and finely chop.
Heat a saucepot with butter over medium to medium-high heat. Add the garlic to the melted butter and stir for 1-2 minutes, then sprinkle in the flour and combine for 1 minute more. Whisk in the stock and milk and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Thicken for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and melt in the Gorgonzola. Stir in the spinach and artichokes and half of the shredded cheese, then transfer to a small casserole and top with the remaining cheese. Brown and bubble in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Serve with bread sticks, celery hearts and pita crisps for dipping.
Yum!
Stuffed Mushrooms
 Classic Stuffed Mushrooms I love making stuffed mushrooms. They’re easier than they look and so easy to set on a platter and serve. I’ve used a lot of different recipes over the year but this basic, classic one from simplyrecipes.com is easy and will appease any guest’s appetite.
Ingredients;
- 18-24 button or cremini mushrooms, scrubbed clean, stems separated from the caps
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 2 small shallots, minced, about 2 Tbsp
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
- Salt
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme
- 2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp sherry or chicken stock
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Directions;
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Finely chop the mushroom stems. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped mushroom stems and the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and walnuts and sprinkle with salt. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, herbes de Provence and breadcrumbs. Pour the sherry into a food processor, then the rest of the stuffing. Pulse several times to get a fine mixture, almost a paste.
 
Toss the mushroom caps with olive oil. Fill each mushroom with the stuffing. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over each mushroom and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese browns a little. Allow to cool for 5 minutes or so before serving.
Deviled Eggs
 Every Day Deviled Eggs Another great party food idea is deviled eggs. They’re also easy to set out as an appetizer and taste delicious. Like stuffed mushrooms, there’s a lot of recipes out there but I love this one from Rachael Ray. She keeps it simple but the spices used give the flavor an extra kick.
Ingedients;
- 12 large eggs
- Ice water
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper
- Paprika, for dusting
Directions;
In a large pot, arrange the eggs in a single layer and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 10 minutes. Drain, then cover the eggs with ice water. Let stand until cool to the touch.
Peel the eggs, halve lengthwise and scoop the yolks into a medium bowl, reserving the egg whites. Mash the yolks with the mayonnaise, mustard and cayenne; season with salt and black pepper. Spoon the yolk mixture into the egg white halves and dust with paprika.
Happy Game Day!
So it’s almost February, still cold, and you’re sick of the same old coat you’ve been wearing all winter? Try a new style. Buckled Jackets! I’ve always loved toggles but buckles are a new and classy way to spice up your outer coat wardrobe and change it up. How much do you love Pippa’s dark green jacket with earth tone complements?
 Nicky Hilton, Ashley Tisdale, and Pippa Middleton in buckled coats from mystyle.com Check out some of the looks you can get for way less. Love the camel color! Such a nice change from the typical black you see.
 Jessica Simpson Coat, Knit Collar Faux Leather Clip Front Walker  MICHAEL Michael Kors Faux with buckles  Reversible Buckle Vest  Via Spiga Petite Coat  Black Fur Buckle Coat  Navajo Coat Happy Friday!
Huge shout out this week to the Dumb Friends League! They do such a great job helping cats, dogs, and other small animals find new homes and so much more for the community like educating and returning lost animals to their owners.
The Dumb Friends League is the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region, welcoming tens of thousands animals to its two shelters in Denver and Castle Rock. They turn no animals away – meaning they accept all animals whether they be sick, injured, or not immediate candidates for adoption.
And now through February 29th, adoption fees are waived completely for cats that one year or older! And remembers- always spay and neuter your pets!
Looking for somewhere to take the kids during the winter? Try visiting some local ice castles! Here in Colorado, there’s an amazing ice castle located in Silverthorne. Open Monday-Saturday and for $10 for adults and $7.50 for kids, the ice castles are a fun playground to take the kids. It could add to a new and enthralling date night (it’s open til 10pm on Friday and Saturday).
At nearly an acre in size and with an ever changing shapes of ice castles due to snowfall, this ice castle is a great outing on its own or on the way back from the mountains. So change up your usual winter routine and find an ice castle near you!
Some big news is that Heidi Klum and Seal have split up. So sad! They seemed like such a strong couple. And after 7 years of marriage and 4 kids, I guess they made a good run.
 Heidi Klum and Seal at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show What’s new in baby news? Kristin Cavallari is expecting! The former Laguna Beach star and her fiance, Jay Cutler, quarterback for the Chicago Bears, are expecting baby number one. Though, by the looks of the recently snagged photo below, she isn’t showing anything yet.
 Kristin Cavallari debuting her 'baby bump' There’s more great news out there! Elizabeth Smart is engaged. The 24 year old was famously kidnapped in 2002 from her home at age 14 for 9 long months, is now a college graduate and child advocate. Congrats!
 Elizabeth Smart c/o people.com The Oscar nominees are out. I just can’t wait to see the dresses. The countdown ’til February 26th begins!
Our friends at Fashion Forward Maternity are celebrating their grand opening, and have been kind enough to share the love with us!
Based on the idea that all women should feel POWERFUL- BEAUTIFUL- COMFORTABLE- and STYLISH during pregnancy, Fashion Forward Maternity is an online boutique where savvy professional women can rent high quality and designer maternity fashions at a fraction of the price of new. Their unique model lets women choose the subscription level that allows them to maintain their style and fashion-sense during “all four trimesters.”
Fashion Forward Maternity is gifting a 20% discount to ALL Amy Michelle fans that “like” their Facebook page. Simply follow the below steps:
1) “Like” Fashion Forward Maternity
2) Visit www.fashionforwardmaternity.com, and comment on this post by telling us what item catches your eye.
3) Keep your eyes open for a message from us containing your discount code!
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