Resolve to be Thankful!

Well its time to ring in another year and with that comes the familiar list of resolutions, probably the same ones from the previous year but this time we are really going to accomplish them. We are all guilty of this! As Oprah Winfrey said “Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” I won’t deny I have my list of things that I did not accomplish in the last year that I will be tacking onto this year’s list.

During this final week of the year though I have been recapping 2009 and I have to say I am very thankful and appreciative of this past year. Maybe not everything was great or worked out how I wanted but overall it was pretty good. Unlike many people throughout our country I have a job. I managed to get back in touch with friends and family (thank you FB!). I even made real plans and got together with some of them. I spent the summer going away most weekends on affordable mini-vacations thanks to us buying our new camper. I tried things I had never done before (parasailing, kayaking, white water rafting, zip-lining to name a few) and found some new interests. Who knew I could be ‘adventure girl’?! By the way all of these activities will help me with my most common resolution year-after-year – lose weight!

So if I manage to accomplish a few things then that is good enough. And if you accomplish some of your goals too, don’t forget to reward yourself by going to metrostyle.com. I wish you all a happy and safe New Year! And most of all don’t worry, be happy!

By Izzy

“Are you wearing a girdle?”

OK, I’ll admit it…since Thanksgiving, and leading up to the holidays, I’ve put on a few extra pounds. So for Christmas, I bought myself a pair of jeans with a built-in tummy slimmer.

Honestly, I didn’t have much faith that they would make any difference at all, but from the moment I arrived at the Christmas party, people kept telling me how thin I looked.

I was feeling pretty good about myself until my 85-year-old, hearing-impaired great Aunt asked very loudly, “Did you lose weight, or are you wearing a girdle?”

My face was as bright red as Rudolf’s nose. I then found myself the center of attention trying to explain the concept of jeans with built-in slimming panels – which is light years beyond a girdle!

But seriously, next time I wear my slimming jeans, should anyone ask, I’m just going to say, “Thank you,” and walk away.

By: Ben B

It's that time of year...food, food, and more food!

If you are wondering what to make for the holidays as a quick, easy, and inexpensive dish- Mexican dip with tortilla chips!!!

It's not only easy but it's everyone's favorite no matter what the occassion is!

Here it goes...

cream cheese softened on bottom of dish

layer 1 can of refried beans

layer with salsa of your choice

layer with shredded mexican cheese

Bake for 20 min at 375 and you are ready to go! You can top it off with olives/chopped tomatoes or shredded lettuce if you'd like.

Enjoy!

Tips for Your New Year’s Day Recovery!

1. If you are going to stay out most of the night on New Year’s Eve make sure that you have a place for your children to be on New Year’s Day or at least have a babysitter at the house. While recovering, it may be difficult to relax if you have young children.
2. Pick someone in your group to be the designated driver or arrange some type of transportation.
3. Make sure you have your return to healthy state foods ready in advance such as chicken noodle soup, salad mix, fruits, vegetables, juices and plenty of water. You won’t be in the mood to drive to the grocery store on New Year’s Day.
4. Make sure you don’t have any plans on New Year’s Day. You want to be able to relax all day without any distractions.
5. Resist the urge to get up early. The more sleep you get, the easier it will be for you to recover. Sleep until you feel like getting up.

Happy New Year!

By Diane

Christmas Costume Contest!

Do you dress up your animals for the holidays? Would you like to win a $25 e-gift certificate to metrostyle? We have lots of animal lovers over here and we'd love to see some cute holiday pics!

All you have to do is dress up your furry little friends & submit your pics to metrostyleblog@gmail.com. The metrostyle team will review the submissions and post the winner on January 15th! Good luck!

5 Things NOT to Wear to Your Work Holiday Party:

What Not to Wear #1: Tacky Holiday Sweaters
OK, self explanatory... Sweaters are a great choice for a professional holiday party, especially if you live in a colder region. Even guys can pair a nice sweater and slacks to look stylish and professional for the big bash. But avoiding shirts that showcase holiday animals and characters is the way to go for a professional holiday soirée.

#2: Things That Blink and Buzz
If your outfit requires batteries, look past it and onto something less distracting for adult conversation. If it’s bling you’re after, try getting the same glittery effect on a sweater, shirt, necklace or even earrings.

#3: Barely There Skirts
Think about how your shoes compliment your skirt. The higher the shoe, the longer the skirt should be. The flatter the shoe, the shorter the skirt can be and still look professional. Be careful wearing super high heels and a super short skirt.

#4: Your Child’s Clothes
What really intrigues you about your child’s clothes? Is it the sparkle of the necklace or the funky one shoulder? Take what you like about it and see if you can rework an outfit that you’ll feel good about and flatters you and your best assets.

#5: Santa Suit
Unless you’ve been asked to wear it, the joke is on you. Once the initial “Santa surprise” is over, there’s not much left to say. If feel you need to make an entrance, put on a Santa hat or a pair of antlers. You can take them off after a few minutes.

Impressing people in a pinch…………….

OK the holidays are here and you have been invited to a party. If you are like me you hate to cook and you hate to bake even more. Here is the answer to your dilemma, Oreo Truffles………….Everyone will think you are the best cook in the world
And you don’t even have to turn on the oven.

Ingredients
1 – 16 oz package oreo chocolate sandwich cookies divided
1 – 8 oz package cream cheese softened
2 – 8 oz packages semi sweet baking chocolate, melted

Directions
Crush 9 cookies to fine crumbs – reserve for later use
Crush remaining 36 cookies and place in medium bowl, add cream cheese, mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls about 1 inch in diameter.

Dip balls in chocolate place on wax paper-covered covered backing sheet
Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs

Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour

Enjoy-------------Happy Holidays

By: Crystal Ball

The Science Behind Santa's Yearly Trip Around the World

Ever wonder how Santa does it all? Gregory Mone wants you to know: the real Santa uses wormholes.

In The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve, author Gregory Mone explains the elaborate systems that make it all possible.

"The trick is that he has at his disposal some of the most advanced equipment, devices, and means of transportation in this or any other universe..." says Mone.

For instance...

Santa's red suit: It's designed for the extreme conditions that he encounters while traveling at warp speed and bending space and time. The suit is laden with metamaterials, which have the effect of bending light around a person so that they turn invisible, which can come in handy if there are curious children peeking during his Christmas deliveries.

Santa's reading glasses: They are actually equipped with what's called a "heads-up display" that lets Santa see the residents of the house he's visiting, what presents to leave, directions to the next house and more.

Santa's present detecting device: Santa knows what we want, but he doesn't know what presents our parents have already given us until he gets to the house and looks under the tree. He uses a terahertz wave radiation scanner to see through the wrapping and make out the toys inside. That way, he can leave a different one.

Worried that all this technology takes away from the magic of Santa? Not so says Mone, who cites Arthur C. Clarke, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Q&A: What tops would make me appear smaller and taller?

I'm a 53 year young women, 5'' 2 inches tall and big breasted. What tops would make me appear smaller and taller at the same time, without having too wear 6 inch heels ? I do a lot of walking on my job. Thank you for any suggestions you can give.

- Sharon Douglass-Green


Hi Sharon,

Thanks for writing in. Here's what we recommend:

Try a surplice style top (like item #71823...it's one of our customer favorites). The deep V-neckline of surplice styling is flattering to the bust, while side ruching on the top gives the illusion of a longer torso. We offer a metallic colorway which is good for parties of special events, but we also offer black in white which can be worn to the office or in more casual settings!

Given your height, opt for straight-leg or bootcut pants and jeans. Pinstripe pants and pants with a front crease or seam can also give the illusion of a longer, leaner silhouette. Try our Pinstripe Pants (#66690) for work and Seamed Jeans (#72200) for a casual look.

Last but not least, when it comes to blazers (such a hot look right now for work or weekend), you'll want to make sure you get a style that hits right at your hips for the best effect. A blazer that is too long can make your legs look short, while a cropped blazer may over-emphasize an ample bust. The Seamed Leather Blazer (#13014) might be a good fit for you.

Hope these tips help!
April

Do you have a fashion dilemma that you need advice on? Our fashion experts are here to help. Just send an email to: metrostyleblog@gmail.com

Watch Out World...Here We Come!

Better Baking Creative Cooking

With the holidays approaching everyone is always looking for ways to save time and money (...money saved equals better gifts right!). I’m sure many people will be cooking and baking in the next few weeks making preparations for celebrations. Here are a few good tips for the kitchen that might help during this busy and costly season.

*To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
*To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
*Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins
slip right off.
*Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer.
*Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners’ sugar instead of granulated sugar, it will stay fluffy and hold it’s shape better.
*If you don’t have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1 tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots... this helps preserve the life of your pans!
*To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing
*Spray your tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces, no more stains!
*Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes. (You’ll greatly reduce the fat content!) (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil = 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil)
*Don’t throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces
*Don’t panic if your soup’s too salty: Add cut raw potatoes and throw them away once they are cooked and have absorbed the salt. Your soup’s saved!
*Instead of throwing away a sponge that has a stale odor, simply toss it in the dishwasher and wash it with the next load of dishes. It will come out clean and fresh smelling and will kill any bacteria in the sponge, so it’s a good idea to toss your sponges into the dishwasher often.

As Julia Child once said, ""Life itself is the proper binge." :)

Ever Throw a Shoe At a Guy? You're Not Alone!

While online looking for Christmas fun facts, I ended up stumbling upon some fashion fun facts. The more I looked, the more bizarre the facts became. They were so much fun, I had to share...

40% of women claim to have hurled footwear at men.

Prince Philip, the eldest son of Charles XIII of Spain, adored gloves so much that he often wore 16 pairs at a time.

Pants became a women’s fashion phenomenon only after actress Marlene Dietrich wore them in the 1930 film Morocco.

In the royal courts of India, blue-blooded women used to change their clothes several time a day. And, they never wore the same outfit twice.

In the middle ages, purses were often exchanged between couples as tokens of love and courtship.

The skirt is the second oldest women’s garment in history. It’s preceded only by the loin cloth.

Queen Elizabeth I loved hats so much that she made it mandatory for all females over the age of 7 to wear a hat on Sundays and holidays.

The newsboy cap has been dated back to the 14th Century in England where it was worn by working class men. Today, it’s a casual fashion staple of A-list celebrities!

By Bren B

Gift Giving

There was a recent debate in my family about gift giving this year. It is no secret that everyone is effected by the awful economy and money is tight all around. Everyone is pinching pennies in every way and Christmas is no exception. The debate started because the usual discussion of “what to do this year” came up.

Last year we did a yankee swap for the gift giving and the kids of the family got to pick a kid to buy for. Make them feel part of the process.

Let me just stop by saying, I do not care about the “gift” for Christmas. I care about the fun we have during the Yankee swap! It’s the time during the holiday that we are together and enjoying the moment.

The debate started with …
“Well do we want to just do the kids gift swap and the adults will just do nothing…”
I of course totally disagreed and said that we should just do the typical Yankee swap and if money was the issue then we would have a limit of $10.
Of course some people piped in with “You cant get anything with $10!”

The debate continued like this for quite some time!

I would like to say that I won that battle! We will be doing the yankee swap with a $40 limit… Not sure how $10 turned into $40 but I am not complaining!!

Do you have funny traditions or quirks that gets your family or friends in an uproar during this festive time of year??

by Jani

Why I Prefer Shopping Online!

For the second year in a row, I decided to head to the outlets at midnight
on Thanksgiving night. I was so excited to shop the sales! Has anyone ever done that before? I’ve been doing it for the past 2 years, even though I vowed never to do it again after last year. It occurred to me at 12:30 am why I said I would never do it again. I sat in traffic with all of the other crazy people who wanted to get a jump start on their Holiday shopping. I arrived at the outlets around 2:00 am, exhausted & still stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner #2! I thought I should eat one more late night turkey sandwich for the extra boost of energy. We all know turkey makes you exhausted, but how could I pass it up?

Anyway…finding a parking spot took me 20 minutes & the lines were ridiculous! I bought a few sweaters, 2 pairs of boots and a pair of jeans—not bad for the first hour. The only problem was, they were all for me. I needed to reward myself for the hassles—similar to that last turkey sandwich—at least that’s what I believed! I think I was either delirious or in a food coma. I finally ended up getting a couple things for my family & then high-tailed it out of there because it was just too much. The rest of my shopping will be done online, I suggest you do the same! No LINES, no hassels, great sales, no gas (the kind you put in your car)—just the way I like to shop!

I want to hear your crazy shopping experiences! You all must have a good story to share. In my opinion, the holiday season is the best time to laugh!
~Sally

Black Friday Mayhem

I was just chatting with some of my co-workers about what they did for Thanksgiving and after a few minutes we got to talking about Black Friday. I asked if any of them had waited in line and found out that all of us had opted to sleep in, no doubt recuperating from the large amount of food we had eaten earlier.

In 2003 I worked for a popular electronics retailer and witnessed first hand the mayhem that takes place in the wee-hours on the morning after Thanksgiving. This video is the closest thing I've found to what I saw:



Did any of the readers of the metroinsider blog get up early to take advantage of the big discounts? Was it worth it?

By Jon

Visiting with Friends and Family

Hi! I'm down in Florida visiting my brother and his wife in their new home. He is "demanding" Thanksgiving cupcakes since we are not having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. He is kidding of course...kind of.

My brother is a Wildlife Biologist, so I got to go to work with him this week and watch him give a presentation on the Everglades. Tomorrow I'll get to go on tour with him through the Everglades on an airboat and see all kinds of interesting birds and trees and of course alligators. I can't wait!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, however you choose to celebrate!

-Kyndall

Cranberry Walnut Pie

True story - I found this recipe in the most unlikely of places, a grocery store flyer, about 5 years ago. The first time I made it I got rave reviews, and I have made it every Thanksgiving since then! It is a simple dish, but the blend of cranberries, brown sugar and walnuts with a light crust absolutely melts in your mouth...

Cranberry Walnut Pie

1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

3/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Layer cranberries on the bottom of an ungreased pie plate. Sprinkle walnuts and brown sugar over cranberries. In a medium bowl, beat egg until thick. Gradually add sugar. Stir in flour and butter. Blend well and pour over cranberries. Bake 45 minutes. Enjoy!

by Suzy

Are you girls making cannolis again?

Ha ha ha.... one memory my family won’t ever let my sister and I forgot...

In my opinion Thanksgiving is an American holiday. But the way I grew up, my family might of had me thinking otherwise. My family is Italian, very Italian, and they can’t help but feel comforted by a bowl of pasta next to the potatoes and stuffing. So it is only natural that we have Italian desserts. We usually have the family from New York pick up a box of assorted cookies and cannolis from Arthur Ave before making their trek up north to our house in Mass. But one particular year my mother decided it was be a good idea for my sister and I to make our own cannolis.

My mother, also being a health food freak, wanted “healthy” cannolis so she purchased ingredients such as fat-free ricotta and Splenda. BAD IDEA. (Mom if your reading this, I love you but some things you just got to go big or go home) Desserts aren’t suppose to be all that healthy for a reason that’s why they’re so good!

The filling never thicken and it slid right threw the shells as we tried to “freshly fill the cannolis”. Our family was in hysterics over our efforts but there might have been a slight disappointment in not having them to eat because they seem to never let this story go. Maybe next year...

So here’s a recipe for the good stuff! You can buy the canoli shells at any local bakery cheap.

3 c. very dry ricotta
1 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
Chocolate chips




Drain ricotta in a colander until very dry, overnight or longer if necessary.
Mix with sugar and vanilla.
Beat with electric mixer at high speed for 8-10 minutes.
Fold in some chocolate chips and use to fill cannoli.
Fills about 15-18 cannoli.

Look Who's Coming to Dinner!

One of my more memorable Thanksgiving dinners was when I invited my vegetarian boyfriend for dinner. It didn't occur to me that I should have mentioned this little fact to my mother before we all started serving ourselves. I have two older brothers, who like most boys in their teens, could eat everything in site in seconds flat as if they were competing for a world record. Louie, being the polite guest, didn't get in their way and waited patiently for things to get passed his way. By the time we all started eating, my mother looked at Louie's plate and noticed that there wasn't much on his and told him to help himself to some turkey and not to be shy. Louie spoke up and said that he was all set and did not eat turkey because he was a vegetarian. I saw my mom's jaw drop, as she looked from me, to my brother's overflowing plates loaded with mashed potatoes and veggies and then to the almost empty dishes on the table. By now I was thinking, 'Just run, I can outrun her right?!' She managed not to choke me. She apologized for her rude and gluttonous family and then told poor Louie to take the little bit of mashed potatoes and veggies that were left. I think he was a little embarrassed and still hungry because he ended up having a small piece of turkey. Needless to say I apologized up and down to both Louie and my mom.

To this day, we still tell that story at every Thanksgiving dinner and my mom continues to give me a look that could kill. Do you have any memorable Thanksgiving stories that get passed along each year? I hope that you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and many laughs!

by Izzy

Poll: What will you wear on Thanksgiving?

What is your fashion "must" on Thanksgiving?
- A fabulous festive outfit
- Comfortable casual clothes
- Team colors (hometown or NFL)
- Anything with an elastic waist



Results from the previous poll:
Special thanks to all who voted for the Steal of the Day. The winner was posted on metrostyle.com on Tuesday, 11/17.

Skirtsuit 132 (57%) winner
Knit Cami 37 (16%)
Poplin Shirt (25%)

By: Bren B

Fruit Pizza (Kids Love It!)

How about this as a kids' dessert on Thanksgiving? I love these, and you cut them up like a pizza.

Ingredients
1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice cookie dough and arrange on greased pizza pan, overlapping edges. Press dough flat into pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, soften cream cheese, then fold in the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust. You can chill for a while at this point, or continue by arranging the fruit.
3. Begin with strawberries, sliced in half. Arrange in a circle around the outside edge. Continue with fruit of your choice, working towards the middle. If bananas are used, dip them in lemon juice so they don't darken. Then make a sauce to spoon over fruit.
4. In a saucepan, combine sugar, salt, corn starch, orange juice, lemon juice and water. Cook and stir over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat, and add grated orange rind. Allow to cool, but not set up. Spoon over fruit. Chill for two hours, then cut into wedges and serve.

By: Lisa

My Favorite Thanksgiving Dessert!

Pumpkin cheesecake is a must in my house for Thanksgiving. If you love pumpkin pie and cheesecake you will love this double layer pumpkin cheesecake! Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) packages cram cheese, softened
½ Cup white sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
½ cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In a large bow, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

By Diane

New Addition to this Thanksgiving!!

This is a recipe I found online, because I was craving apple crisp. It seemed to have a lot of prep work but let me tell you… well worth it!!
In my family there ends up being like 5 pies, so I am pretty happy to have something a little different and delicious this year!

Happy Eating!!



Apple Crisp

Ingredients:
10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored
and sliced
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water


1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
3. Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes.

by jani

My Favorite Thanksgiving Dish!!

Broccoli Casserole is one of my favorite side dishes on Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Ingrediants:
2 packages (16 oz each) frozen broccoli florets
1 can (10- 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 can (6 oz) french-fried onions, divided

Directions:
Cook broccoli according to package directions; drain well. In a large saucepan, combine the soup, the sour cream, 1 cup of cheese and 1 1/4 cup onions. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. Stir in the broccoli.

Pour into a greased 2-qt baking dish. Bake uncovered at 325* for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with the reamining cheese and onions. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. 6-8 servings

Vote for next Tuesday's Steal of the Day!

The metrostyle team wants to know what you'd like to see on sale! The merchandising team chose 3 of our top products. The item that receives the most votes will be next Tuesday's steal of the day. For those of you who are not familiar with steal of the day, let me fill you in! Everyday we post a new item that is heavily marked down. The deal lasts for only 24 hours, so you must act fast. The deals are updated everyday between 8:30 & 9:00am.

You'll have 3 days to vote on the products, so don't miss out. At the end of the day Friday, we'll post the winner. Don't forget, the winning item will be next Tuesday's steal of the day. Good luck! :)




























~Sally

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes!

This is my favorite Holiday recipe....my Thanksgiving is not complete without a slice of delicious pumpkin pie!

Classic Pumpkin Pie

3/4 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon ground ginger1/4 teaspoon ground cloves2 large eggs1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shellWhipped cream (optional)

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. 2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice may be substituted for ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
POUR into pie shell.
BAKE in preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Stayed tuned for more favorite Thanksgiving recipes from the folks at metrostyle.

sara

My New FAV Purchase!

I'm fairly new here at metrostyle (okay 3 months, but that's still new!) and a few weeks ago, I made my first metrostyle purchase, the Bubble Hem Topper. I cannot say how much I LOVE my Bubble Hem Topper! It's very warm and comfy, made of a nice fleece-y material but also super-fashionable and I've received TONS of compliments on it. A woman even stopped me in the airport and asked me who designed it, and I was proud to say the company I work for! It's always exciting to be able to show off our products. I think I even convinced some of my fellow co-workers here to get one too!

It's definitely become my new favorite sweater to throw on and can be worn with so many different outfits. As the weather gets cooler here in New England, you'll be sure that my Bubble Hem Topper will get me through it! What are some of your favorite purchases from us?

What do you want from me?

So, it's my turn to write for the blog. I have SO much that I'm working on. I have no idea what I should share with you. What do you want to know? What could I possibly have that would interest you?

This week I got the latest metrostyle catalog. Loving all the clothes as always, but the front cover wouldn't have been my first choice. It was a bit strange. I know, I work here right, I'm supposed to love everything.

Tried on some of our jeans and love the top stitch jeans 13959. That's the bonus of working in the corporate offices. We have all the approved fit samples from the catalog. I'm psyched that you can search by item number now in the new website! Go find them, they fit perfectly and they are a steal!

I'm trying to work-out more in preparation for a trip to Florida. I try to stay in shape, but there will be some hiking and volleyball involved so I need to get even more fit! (I prefer to wear soft pants while working out haha that's "previous post" humor)

Well, gotta go. I have to go shopping actually. Chat at ya later!
-Kyndall

Dressing for the Holidays

As soon as Halloween has passed the Holiday madness starts! The biggest Holiday question...what will you be wearing??? I like to plan cute tops for each of the holidays.

I go for something in a warm, rich color to give thanks. This ruffled lace top is super cute, and should get as many compliments as my cranberry pie!
For Christmas I like to be cozy and conservative. I know that it is a little cheesy, but I like to wear red or green to keep with the season...so I am thinking of this kimono sleeve sweater.Finally, you've gotta have some sparkle and shine for New Year's Eve! This gold top should help me rock into the new year!I have all of my fav Holiday fashions saved on my wish list at metrostyle.com, in case you want to get me an early Christmas present ; )

by Suzy

What were you for Halloween?

So the music has died down, the last pumpkin has been carved and the costumes have been put away... Halloween is officially over for 2009. I don't know about you but I had a blast this Halloween. The best part of it all was that I was able to put together my costume with less than $20 worth of accessories; a hat, a mask, 2 guns with holsters and a scarf (not shown in pic). Everyone loved my costume although more people thought it was "cute" rather than "suave" which was the look I was trying to achieve. What are some of the best and worst costumes you saw people in this year?

by keNzo

which one is your fav?

this week on the homepage, we've featured some of our employees' favorites. while we were narrowing them down, our email team started talking about their favorite covers. it was quite a heated debate! beauty & fashion are so subjective - everyone likes or hates things for different reasons. we want to know - which is YOUR favorite and why?
















there's a tie in our building for the gold top & the blue coat!

This is just silly...

In the spirt of autumn I recently purchased a Yankee Candle “Fall Favorites” 3 pack of Car Gels (yay!). I was soon faced with the difficult decision of what fragrance to go with first, Autumn Leaves, Autumn Wreath or MacIntosh. After much consideration I went with MacIntosh. So foolish I will soon learn, but I hung the gel by my rear-view mirror anyway.

The NEXT day. I get into my car and smell what I think is apples? Did an apple roll out of my lunch box? Did someone leave apples in my car? There are going to be rotting apples in my car if I can’t find them! I’m now checking under the seats of my car, in between the seat cushions and in console compartments.

Ever have one of those DUH moments? WELL sure enough it hit me like a bus in the night. (duh). My car gel! So thanks Yankee Candle :) April Fools came in October for me. Moral of the story... you shouldn’t try to make your car smell like food products anyway.

I Adore Velour

Today is a cold, miserable, rainy day…the type of day in which I’d much rather be wearing my favorite warm, cozy velour set.

Of course, when I mentioned this to my coworker, April, she reminded me that velour is perfectly acceptable for the office…if you style it right!

So in honor of April's suggestion, I looked through our photo files and found several clever ways to style velour...all of which I'd rather be wearing right now!

How far is too far?

Recently I was lucky enough to enjoy a spa day, thanks to a gift certificate I had received. As I browsed through the menu of services, I noticed a whole section of new procedures they offered performed by their “in-house” physician and medical staff. I know we have become a plastic society, but to me this is pushing it too far. Last time I checked this was a spa, not a doctor’s office.

Spas are becoming a one-stop shop, like the super Walmarts. In one day I could get Angelina Jolie lips (callogen and botox therapy), a massage, get rid of any sun spots or fine wrinkles with a blast of a laser (even that tattoo you thought was a good idea on your 18th birthday can be removed), and melt away my fat with Smartlipo. WHAT?! So basically I can ignore any warnings about wearing sunblock, eat whatever I want and and I don’t have to exercise?! Unfortunately these are the messages being delivered.

They reinforce that it is safe because it is performed by a physician or trained medical staff. With the simplest of procedures, there can always be a complication. On Good Morning America a few days later I saw a story about a Florida woman who is in a coma and brain dead after having liposuction (a routine procedure) at a spa. The doctor, who was fully licensed but not formally trained in this procedure, said there were no complications until the end. They suspect that the complication was due to the use of lidocaine, an anesthetic. It also turns out that the spa did not have the proper licenses to be performing liposuction and the doctor’s attorneys claim he was unaware of this.

In another story in NC a college student died from an overdose of lidocaine. She had received the prescription-strength numbing cream with no prescription, no medical exam and no medical directions. She applied the cream to her legs and was on her way to have laser hair removal treatments done when she had seizures and crashed her car and died.

A spa is not equipped, in my mind, to handle medical procedures. After doing some research about this topic I found that some spas will use a physician’s name to qualify as “medical” in which the doctor is awarded a percentage of the proceeds and the physician is not even present for the procedure and it is left to the estheticians with no guidance. Basically it comes down to being a quick money-maker for the doctor and the spa owner.

Forget about the quick-fixes from a pill, laser or scalpel and apply that sunblock, put the bag of chips down and get exercising! So I will never look as fabulous as our Metrostyle models, but at least I can enjoy my pizza and wine (as long as I take my dogs for that extra walk)!

By Izzy

SHOULDER PADS FREAKING PEOPLE OUT ---------------

Yes, the shoulder pad is back.

For some of us they never left.
Remember the 80’s when big hair and even

bigger shoulders were the height of chic?

Do you want to know a secret?
Shoulder pads make you look thinner
they define your shoulders and make your body look sleeker.
Try them you’ll like them………………………
Start out with thin ones and work your way up.
You will love the compliments !!!!!!

Tips on How to Wear Leggings

Afraid to wear leggings? Well below are some fashion tips on how to look your best wearing leggings?

-Do not expose the bottom or the gap between the mid-thighs. Choose a longer length top which hits the mid-thigh. This elongates the torso and gives proportion.

-Choose a good thick quality fabric. This will keep its shape and thicker leggings not only makes you look slim it will add shape and support.

-Go for black or gray for a more slimming effort.

-Make sure you buy the correct size, one that fits comfortably around the middle.

-Footwear should either be flats, boots especially thigh-high boots to look supper sexy or high-heels like the high-heeled gladiators which are great for a party look.

Now you don’t have an excuse not to buy leggings. Have fun shopping!

By Diane

The look for a whole lot LESS!

Although I am an emplyee for metrostyle, I have to say that we have great fashion for a very affordable price!!! Here are a couple examples of the look for less!!!

Pulling out the winter clothes!

Last night I was thinking...it's time to put away the summer clothes & pull out the winter gear! I'm not quite ready for the cold weather, but after the snow a few days ago, reality set in...I don't have a choice. I could pack up my belongings, retire & find a deserted island filled with hot men or I could stop dreaming. I decided to stop dreaming & pull out my sweaters, thermals, hats, scarves, gloves, boots, coats, winter slippers...the whole shi-bang! Since I refuse to turn on the heat, I ended up wearing half of those items last night while I shed a tear putting away the summer clothes.

While I decided which of these winter items needed dry-cleaning and which I could throw in the wash, I happened to over-hear top fall trends on the E-channel. Suddenly, the frozen tears on my face, started to melt away and I realized the one good thing about the changing of the seasons...I get to shop!

The two piles of clothing suddenly turned into 3: dry-cleaning, washing-machine & goodwill. Once that was done, I realized some of the new items I absolutely needed to buy to make it through this cold winter...at least that's how I decided to rationalize things.

Must-haves for fall: new high boots, leather bomber for nights out and the colorful wool coat for days to the office. To see more must haves checkout the links below:
Fall coat trends
Trends & shopping

by Sally

What to do with digital outtakes?

I love my digital camera. My strategy is to take as many pictures as possible in hopes of capturing that one perfect moment! My dilemma is what to do with all of those shots of the not-so-perfect moments?

My husband and my son both blink their eyes at the most inopportune times, like when I am snapping a picture, and lately my little one has learned to shut his eyes tightly if he knows the flash is coming! The result is lots of photos like this..

And last Christmas Eve the camera took a dip in some chocolate frosting and the shutter hasn't been the same since. It will only open half way on occasion, resulting in photos with an unintentional artsy effect...

So what do I do with these delightful snapshots? They are still capturing a moment in time, just not the moments that I want to frame and hang on my wall. For now I will save them...but I would love to hear what you do with your outtakes...

by Suzy

Soft-pants vs. Athletic Pants

I was talking to my friend about the difference between sweatpants and athletic pants. He introduced me to the term "soft-pants" which is just a fabulous word and I think everyone should start using it!

Soft-pants are great, they're versatile, they could go either way with your mood-
"my boyfriend just dumped me and now I need to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's and complain about what a jerk he is while watching Divorce Court" OR "I'm having a fantastic day, I'm going to lounge around with my girlfriends, catch up on Gossip Girl and bake cookies!"
(It's all about eating, no matter what the mood.)

Athletic pants are also comfy, but are more appropriate for public venues; Mostly because they are slightly more flattering. I said slightly! They carry a different meaning- "I might go play tennis or go to my dance class" or "I have a flight later today and these elastic waists are less restricting on my belly when I eat all of those airplane peanuts."

Soft-pants are great as pajamas when visiting family at Thanksgiving. Athletic pants are great to wear when preparing Thanksgiving dinner in the wee hours of the morning.

Soft-pants are truly for anyone to wear. Athletic pants I feel, should really only be worn if you exercise or do some sort of sport. You don't have to exercise all the time, just once a year should suffice for owning a pair. See, we're all set! I had a good friend who owned about 10 pairs of athletic pants and only recently did I realize how hilarious it was that he NEVER did anything remotely sporty. His version of getting "dressed up" to go to a family dinner was putting on jeans! Sorry, I digress.

Wear what you wish, whenever you want, just remember, you never know when you might run into a really hot guy (including your significant other), so make sure you look smokin' hot in whatever you're wearing.

p.s. I LOVE my athletic pants and wear them every Saturday, and I look fabulous!
-Kyndall

What to Wear...on HALLOWEEN

Halloween is such a fun holiday...you can dress up to be something completely different than normal! I rarely buy an actual Halloween costume, I usually try to come up with an idea where I can use regular clothes and wear them throughout the year. Like one time I was the Tin (wo)Man from The Wizard of Oz and I wore this sparkly silver dress that I could have easily worn out again on say New Years Eve. It was really easy, I just added silver jewelry, wore a heart necklace, silver shoes and a little funnel on my head that I spray painted silver! It's always cheaper and more fun when you get creative! I am having trouble deciding what to be this year...any suggestions? Here are some ideas for all of you:

Group idea: Try my Wizard of Oz idea...this is great because it doesn't have to be all male or female...one Dorothy, one cowardly lion, one tin man (or woman) and one scarecrow! Add a Toto and you're all set!

If you're an expecting couple (or even if you're not! just pretend on this holiday!): The wife can be Giselle and the husband can be Tom Brady (so simple if you're from New England...lots of men already have jerseys.) Giselle can wear anything from Victorias Secret.

Group of girlfriends: All wear sparkly dresses and carry a briefcase with a number on it! What are you? Deal or No Deal girls!

Now I need some of your ideas! Let me know!!

by LB