red hip mama

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

(LA Times / wireimage.com)

Did they or didn't they? I am obsessed with entertainment news and often come across photos of celebrities looking "different", prompting me to wonder...is this the use of clever makeup, the effects of good lighting or results from a possible nip and tuck? From the Summer: The LA Times ponders celebrity noses. Be sure to click through the photos!

My favorite celebrity plastic surgery websites:

Make Me Heal News

Good Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Awful Celebrity Plastic Surgery

The best sippy cup ever!!

I love the Nalgene Grip-n-Gulp!! Great water bottles that NEVER leak and are dishwasher safe. Best of all, they are BPA-free. I had originally bought the Nalgene for my 2-year old but my 7-year old liked it so much that I bought her one as well. It doesn't really look like a sippy cup which is a plus. Others I tired...

Thermos Foogo: These Leak! With 4 pieces to the top, it was a PAIN to put together and I could never get everything lined up properly.

Sigg: Cute designs but hard to clean and dent when dropped.

Found the Nalgene at my local REI and had to share with my fellow hip mamas!

Hip mama uniform

Back in my single city-girl days, I wouldn't be caught out in anything less than the perfectly coordinated, "oh look what I just threw on" casually stylish outfit. Picking up dry cleaning, grocery shopping, dropping off mail...you never knew when you might run into a potential date. The number of "going out tops" I had was endless!!!

Well now that I'm a mommy, I haven't suddenly turned in my designer denim for sweatpants and baggy jeans. Okay, I have banished the high heels to evenings out only but I did replace them with a cute and comfy pair of metallic Nike trainers for running around during the day. So what exactly is my hip mama uniform?

Denim: I am a denim junkie! The only problem is finding the right fit. I am a mere 5'2" and most designer denim comes with an obnoxiously long inseam. Luckily, a few brands have launched petite sizes which makes life a whole lot easier. I have a couple of pairs I love by Paige Premium Denim, the Laurel Canyon and the Midnite Rocker. My absolute favorite pair of the moment though is the J Brand low rise skinny which has only a 29" inseam so they are perfect to wear with flats or tuck into boots. Tip: J Brand sizes run small and I had to buy a size larger than usual.

T-shirt: I was introduced to LA Made T's at Urbanity, a stylish consignment shop in my neighborhood that also has a great selection of new basics. These T's are soft, pre-washed and come in a nice range of seasonal colors but the best thing about them is that they are VERY forgiving around the midsection. Revolve Clothing has a nice selection online. The shift tunic tee and long cap sleeve tee are my favorites.

Outerwear layer: Here in the Bay Area, we are never without an extra layering piece. Pick your favorite - a cozy cardigan, stylish sweatshirt, tailored blazer or a fitted fleece jacket. I'm currently sporting a great black blazer that I picked up at last month's Nordstrom Sale. It's fitted and tailored but made of sweatshirt material so it's perfect for foggy mornings.

Statement handbag: I splurged on the Balenciaga Arena Giant Brief at Barneys when I visited New York this past summer. I can't say enough about how much I adore this bag...it's big enough to hold my essentials, including the odd Barbie or sippy cup my youngest is toting around but it's not overbearing or too wide. Definitely a great investment and dresses up whatever I am wearing.

The rest: Flats or stylish tennies, my favorite white gold hoop earrings, vintage Rolex to keep me on schedule and of course, my handy dandy iPhone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!

My best turkey ever!

It's turkey time

Is anyone else freaked out about hosting?? Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I have been searching the web for the best turkey recipes. I've heard that brining makes for a yummy, moist, flavorful turkey. Found a great Alton Brown recipe at the Food Network and can't wait to see how it turns out!

Ingredients
1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1/2 tablespoon allspice berries
1/2 tablespoon candied ginger
1 gallon iced water
For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil

Directions
Combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot, and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Early on the day of cooking, (or late the night before) combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area (like a basement) for 6 hours. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining.

A few minutes before roasting, heat oven to 500 degrees. Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes.

Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine.

Place bird on roasting rack inside wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels. Add steeped aromatics to cavity along with rosemary and sage. Tuck back wings and coat whole bird liberally with canola (or other neutral) oil.

Roast on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil, insert probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and return to oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees F. Set thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let turkey rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.

Coming soon!

Please visit again soon for the latest tips, news and advice for all you hip mamas out there!