Mellow Yellow

Anthropologie Skirt (similar here) | Zara Bag & Denim Shirt (similar here) | Nine West Heels

It has gotten to that point. Where the gray winter days have to be lightened with bright colored pieces as I long for the summer months. What do you do to combat the cold weather blues?

Warm Pear & Raspberry Bruschetta

I came across this fruit bruschetta recipe when I was looking for an appetizer for Book Club this past weekend. Unfortunately, I was under the weather and missed Book Club but figured I had all the ingredients so why not make it anyway. And believe you me, I am so happy I did. I think I'm going to start putting mascarpone on my cinnamon sugar toast on the regular. Overall a fairly simple recipe that is so, so yummy. A must try!

Ingredients

1 teaspoon cinnamon

6 tablespoons sugar

8 slices Italian or French bread, cut diagonally

3 tablespoons butter

2 ripe but firm pears

1 juice of lemon

1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup raspberries

Directions
1. Combine cinnamon and sugar in small bowl. Toast bread until golden and spread with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar and spread with mascarpone.

2. Peel, core and slice pears into 3/4-inch thick wedges and toss with lemon juice. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears and remaining cinnamon-sugar and cook until caramelized and tender, 10-15 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water and swirl until caramel in pan is saucy.

3. Top toast with sauteed pears, caramel sauce and raspberries.

Pink & Navy

Zara Top, Pants & Bag | Steve Madden Booties | J. Crew Neckalce | Michael Kors Watch | Sportstaff Coat

A pretty standard work outfit that I've worn on days with client meetings by simply throwing on a suit jacket. I typically try to jazz up boring old suits with my favorite color combos, in this case pink & navy, and fun necklaces/bags. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Stripes & Dots



Dress | Shirt



Trench | Trousers | Dress | Maxi Skirt

Flats | Blouse | Shorts

Forever 21 strikes again. So much cute stuff right now, particularly all the stripes and polka dots. All of these are under $25 notwithstanding the $37 trench. Not a bad deal.

Also I want to extend a big, huge THANK YOU to all who voted and helped me win the J. Brand 'Style Showdown' contest. J. Brand will be sending me an email Monday with details on the winner of the $300 gift certificate so stay tuned. Have a great weekend! xo.

Metallic Pleats

H&M Skirt, Silk Shirt and Gold Cuffs (similar here, here and here) |  Forever 21 Heels (similar here)

You would think by now H&M is sponsoring me, right (see exhibits A, B, C and D)? Unfortunately that is not the case but perhaps if I post enough outfits wearing their brand head-to-toe it will happen.

Chocolate Covered Kettle Chips

I wanted a sweet & savory treat this weekend and rather than going out to buy something, I looked to the things I had in my cabinets: sea salt kettle chips and hershey's semi-sweet chocolate morsels. The result a sweet and salty crunchy delight that lasted a whole 48 hours through Fat Tuesday. How fitting.

{Ingredients: sea salt kettle chips, semi-sweet chocolate morsels and, if you wish, kettle popocorn or other garnish to add an extra crunch}

{Melt morsels in microwave in 30 second incrememnts, stirring each time. I added a little bit of canola oil to make it easier to stir.}

{dip kettle chips in melted chocolate and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. I sprinkled some with kettle corn pieces to change it up}

{place cookie sheet in freezer for 10 minutes or until chocolate hardens}

High Shine

Metallic Peplum Top (similar here) | Zara Coat & Clutch (similar here) | Seven for All Mankind Jeans | Nine West Booties

H&M, if you haven't been lately, killing it. This metallic leather peplum top (similar here) is a recent purchase along with this polka dot peplum top, this leather skirt...you get the drift. It's really a shame that there's one of these stores on practically every corner. I toyed with the idea of giving up shopping for Lent but that might lend itself impossible if Hennes & Mauritz keep this up.

1 Year

Hard to believe but today marks the one-year anniversary of Shanelé. Something I started on a whim with intentions of posting maybe once a week grew into so much more and now consumes a fair portion of my time. Looking back, I wouldn't change that for a second but there are some changes I look forward to making to the site in Year 2. The first, and perhaps largest, of those is the name.

After attending IFB and other blogging events, it's plain to see that a yiddish slang word (and also nickname from my boyfriend's family) that means 'lovely, beautiful, etc.' is hard for people (including myself) to pronounce and understand. In looking at the overarching theme of a significant portion of my posts, it's clear that value shopping / cooking / diy-ing is a very large part of my content and therefore I am between a couple titles that convey that message. This is where I would love to hear your thoughts on the following names and am open to any other suggestions:

1. 'Sheena's Cents of Style' or more simply 'Cents of Style'
2. 'Fashion Cents'
3. 'Cheap & Chic' or 'Cheap & Sheek [to keep part of my current url]'
4. 'Style on a Shoestring'

Which one do you like best? Any others come to mind? And finally, I'm praying to god today is the last day of this J. Brand 'Style Showdown' contest because it's about to give me an ulcer. Please hop on and vote as many times as you can today (you can vote, refresh the page, and vote again) to keep me in the lead and be in the running for a $300 gift card to one lucky follower/voter. I'm counting on all of you because I will be at work sans Facebook. Thank you, thank you for a great year and looking forward to many more to come! xo.

{chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes}

{diy marble manicure}

{lots of diy projects for my friend Alexa's birthday}

{diy ombre wine cork heart}

{my favorite four-legged fashion accesory}

{Hampton's back drops always make for the best outfit posts}

{an end to the year just like it started, at Fashion Week}

Runway Recap: Farah Angsana Fall 2012

I simply cannot believe another Fashion Week has come and gone. Always such a whirlwind between planning outfits, hosting guests, finding ways to get into shows and sneaking away from work if I'm successful. The super sweet and generous Kiley of A Sequin Dress at Breakfast hooked me up with tickets to Whitney Eve and Farah Angsana on Wednesday. My Whitney Eve photos didn't turn out but here are a few from my front-row seat at Farah. Her pieces ranged from structured suits and peplum tops/dresses to flowy colorful fabrics that literally danced down the runway. Simply lovely. 

Finally, it's the end of the week & that means one thing: this is the last time I'll ask you to head over to J. Brand's Facebook page and vote for me (as many times as possible) in the 'Style Showdown' contest. Voting ends Monday so I need your support to help keep me in the lead and, in the event that I do win, one lucky Shanelé follower will get a $300 J. Brand gift card. Thank you so much for your votes & support! Have a great weekend. xo.

Double Dot

H&M shirt, tights & leather skirt (similar here and here) | Michael Kors Fur Vest (similar here) | Street vendor scarf | Zara Lace Clutch| Nine West Booties

I paired this sheer polka-dot sleeved shirt with these big polka dot tights to pull together the second of my NYFW looks. I then broke it up by mixing fur and leather textures (similar vest and skirt) and threw on a blue scarf for a pop of color. And thanks to this lovely lady, I'm heading back to the Lincoln Center for a couple shows today (yay!).

And just like that, fashion week is almost over. Not to worry, you still have 5 days left to vote for me (as many times as you want) in J. Brand's 'Style Showdown' contest to help keep me in the lead. As a reminder, one Shanelé follower will get a $300 J. Brand gift card if I come out on top!