Saturday, January 30, 2010

Custom Made Diamond Jewelry


All self respecting TWT's know a thing or two about diamonds (and the smart ones have made sure that their SO knows a thing or two about which diamond they want...if you know what I mean.) And although looking at diamonds online is about as satisfying as looking at picutres of chocolate and cheese, there's nothing more entertaining than the idea of buying a diamond online and having it show up at your door a few days later. I happen to know that all of us hopeful TWT's have spent guilt filled hours on Blue Nile; the equalivent to video games for SO's. What could be more fun than picking and choosing the shape, size, color, cut, quality, and setting of your fantasty engagement ring? Well I think I have found something even more entertaining...even more sinful...and it's called Langerman Diamonds. Instead of the run-of-the-mill machine cut diamonds, you can play with rough, polished, and colored gems ranging in price from $150 to 2 million dollars. There are hundreds or shapes and sizes to choose from (and you can even choose what region you would like your diamond from...) and since it's family owned, the descriptions are helpful and insightful. You can purchase the diamonds on their own, or even custom create a piece of jewlery for the gem of your choice. Can you say TWT in a candy shop???? Run TWT's....DONT WALK!!

Friday, January 29, 2010

How To Throw a Dinner Party


Here at TWT, we are big fans of "The Nest," an online magazine dedicated to newlyweds that teaches you how to adapt to sharing your life. They have great basic tips and recipes, no frills or strings attached. I found this great article on how to throw a dinner party that is a great outline for any TWT who needs a bit of guidance for that special night. Here are the basics according to The Nest editors:


Start with a Theme
Get the ball rolling by choosing a motif. Pick a destination (India) or a passion (salsa music), and use it to tie all the elements of your evening together -- from the decor to the drinks, dinner, and dessert. Doing so will add some panache and ensure all the parts complement the whole. (FYI: Egg rolls don't mesh with spaghetti and meatballs.)
To set a cozy French bistro tone, for instance, dole out plenty of red wine. As your table's centerpiece, place lots of votives around breadbaskets filled with sliced baguettes. Instead of a tablecloth, use large sheets of white paper. For the menu, serve a coq au vin for the main course, followed by the salad (as they do in France), and then offer cheese for dessert. Have Edith Piaf or Maurice Chevalier warbling in the background.

Create the Menu
The earlier you sketch out your course of attack, the better. Try to nail down your theme and preliminary food options at least 14 days in advance -- this is really important if both you and your fellow chef have 9-to-5 gigs and time is limited. Part of being a good host is ensuring that your guests enjoy themselves and go home with full tummies.
If a guest is vegetarian and you end up serving roast beef, chances are he or she will go home unsatisfied and grossed out. So play detective and call each guest as you're planning the menu to learn about any special requirements or food allergies. After you've sussed out any diner particularities, you're ready to finalize your carte du jour.

Take Inventory
Once you have your menu planned, make a shopping list of ingredients you need and a checklist of things to do; stick these lists on the refrigerator door. Check off items and tasks as you go along. You'll definitely have to run to the grocery store at least once, and you'll need to stop by a wine or liquor store to pick up the booze. Remember that all the elements of your feast, including the munchies, should complement one another. Go with fares that are relatively simple to prepare, like lasagna, and include dishes that can be prepared a day or two in advance (you'll have enough to do on the day of the party, so go easy on yourself).

Advance Prep
Starters like cheese and crackers or sliced veggies and dip, sides such as couscous or potato salad, and desserts like pies can be made ahead of time and stashed until the dinner. You don't want to be slaving away in the kitchen while your guests (and your partner) are enjoying cocktails and snacks in the living room. If you're not a seasoned pro in the kitchen or have too much on your hands to prepare everything from scratch, don't sweat it. In this day and age, it's absolutely acceptable to buy prepared foods.

Trial Runs
One rule of thumb to keep in mind when drawing up your meal strategy: Never use your guests as guinea pigs for a recipe you've never made before. If you live on the edge and want to try your hand at something new, absolutely do a test run to get all the kinks out.

Seven-day Countdown
Ensure you have enough place settings for the number of guests you're expecting and make things really official with a tablecloth and cloth (not paper) napkins. For decor, hit a thrift store or discounter to get cheap mood enhancers like candles or knickknacks to create the centerpiece (which every well-dressed table includes). And don't forget to pick up some fresh flowers the day before. If you plan on putting a bouquet on the table, keep it low and not monstrously huge so guests won't have to crane their necks to talk to the person sitting across from them.

Preliminaries
The cocktail hour (notice the operative word "hour") shouldn't last more than 60 minutes. Your guests will probably arrive hungry, and having hors d'oeuvres at the ready is essential. Plus, you don't want everyone sloshed by the time you sit down at the table. (This is supposed to be a memorable meal, remember?) Snacks are designed to stave off starvation, not to kill appetites, so beware of portion control. Doubtless, you or yours will be in the kitchen fussing over last-minute details, but try to avoid spending all your time at the stove. The whole point of this happy hour is to give everyone a chance to break the ice, get to know one another, and relax.

Dinner Time
Having a blast hanging out sipping martinis? Tough. Always start your dinner on time (no more than one hour after the first guest shows up). If no one is budging, gently coax them to the dining room regardless, or you run the risk of ruined appetites -- and tipsy friends. If someone is MIA, too bad for him. Begin the meal without him. Delicately mention to a perpetually late pal, when calling to invite her, that dinner starts at such-and-such a time and you want everything to go smoothly, so please show up for drinks on time to offer support.

Enlist Aid
Though you no longer have to juggle a hundred tasks (like sweating over last-minute prep work, pouring drinks for guests, and answering the door) alone, don't be a control freak and take advantage of your mate. Assign tasks. Put one of you in charge of making dinner and the other in control of the cocktails, greeting the guests, or running to the store for any last-minute items. The more evenly the work is spread out, the smoother your party will go.
And remember, friends love to help, so keep a couple of easy tasks -- arranging the hors d'oeuvres on a platter, lighting the candles -- available for them to do. Though, ultimately, everything may not turn out exactly the way you want it to, the point is to have a good time and socialize with your guests.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Today's "IDI!"


Every now and then, we are going to feature TWT "IDI!" items. (An "IDI!" item stands for "I deserve it!") These will usually be items that while they are splurges, are completely necessary to the following; your well being, mental or emotional state, and most importantly, you path to becoming a Trophy Wife. They are items that your SO will roll his eyes about, but he will secretly thank you later on when you are at an event and looking totally fabulous (and when you keep catching the VIP table staring!) Our first IDI! is an exclusive to Neiman Marcus, ('nuff said!) and made by makeup artist phenom Bobbi Brown. The Bobbi Brown Exclusive Black Plum Beauty Trunk $1,000, includes the following:

• NEW Chrome Patina Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow
• Bone Long-Wear Cream Shadow
• Black Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
• Black Perfectly Defined Mascara• Brown Lip Color
• Rose Shimmer Brick• Pink Beige Lip Gloss Compact
• Italian Rose Creamy Lip Color
• Tawny Blush
• Pink Sugar Shimmer Blush• Bone Eye Shadow
• Lilac Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow• Mahogany Eye Shadow
• Six-Pan Palette
• Hydrating Eye Cream
• NEW Cleansing Oil
• Intensive Skin Supplement
• Hydrating Face Cream
• Two-Pan Refillable Eye Shadow Palette with Naked Eye Shadow and Brown Stone Metallic Eye Shadow

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Breakfast Every TWT Should Know How to Make..


Few things are more important than a TWT (Trophy Wife in Training) who can cook. Of course, when you become a true Trophy Wife, the possibility of a chef or cook may present itself, but until that time, it's very important to have good kitchen skills. You will need to not only know the basics of culinary information, but the ability to present food in an impressive manner. The time will come when your SO (signifigant other) needs to host a dinner for somebody important at your home. Naturally it would be easier to just pop on by to Dean and Deluca and pick up a few cheese trays with a nice bottle of wine...but your true skills are being tested. A TWT should be able to create a sophiscated menu, and execute it perfectly, meanwhile being a great host and staying fresh and coiffed. This can all be very daunting, but I promise that with the right organizational skills and time, it should be no problem at all (maybe even enjoyable, especially if you have a friend who volunteers to help cook in trade for a glass of vino.) I am going to start off our cooking section with the first meal of the day; breakfast. Now the chances of you having SO's boss over for breakfast is very low, however, being able to prepare a gorgeous breakfast for SO while he sleeps is a huge accomplishment. Anybody can fry up some pancakes and slop on some maple syrup, but not everybody can whip up Eggs Benedict first thing in the A.M. Here is a recipe (but feel free to add smoked salmon or bacon to it):


Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce

ingredients (serves 6) :

3 egg yolks
1 tbsp cream
250g unsalted butter (i used only 1/2), diced
1 tbsp lemon juice or white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
dash of cayenne pepper
directions :
1. place egg yolks and cream in double boiler or set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and whisk lightly with a wire whisk until the yolks are thickened with the consistency of cream.
2. add the butter bit by bit and stir until well corporated.
3. add the lemon juice or vinegar a drop at a time and remove from heat. add in salt & cayenne pepper.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sample Sale Wesbites


If you have any Trophy Wife traits at all, you know how important it is to dress a certain way. Trophy Wives in Training (TWT's) know that there are several reasons why we have to look a certain way; and the number one is because whatever image we project is a direct reflection of our signifigant other and their successes. The way we dress says to the world what type of Trophy Wife in Training we truly are; it defines not only our personality but our lifestyle. That being said, if you are a TWT, chances are that at this point in your life, you can't spend like a Trophy Wife just yet. But it's not time to give in and buy your clothing at Target (God Forbid.) It is still important to wear the best and to wear it as if your personal shopper picked it out for you...you just don't need to pay full price. There are fabulous sample sale websites that offer the very best designer clothing and accessories for a fraction of the original cost. The trick to a sample sale is to keep track of them on your calendar and become accustomed to visiting them daily (sometimes hourly if it's a truly fabulous sale.) The most important part of sample sale shopping, or any sale shopping for the matter, is to never let anybody else in on your secret. If "Head Mean Girl Trophy Wife" (and there always is one) finds out that your Gucci was half the price of hers...a jealous fit will surely follow. And if you are at a loss for an answer when somebody asks you where you purchased something just say flippantly "Oh gosh...I can't keep track of these things. If I had a penny for every tag still on something in my closet...I could have a new pair of Louboutins!" End of story. Here are my favorite sample sale websites:


(bag above, Furla- originally $995 now $427)

Become a Connoiseur this Valentine's Day


We all know that Valentine's Day is about love and chocolate, a perfect pairing. Chocolate has been proven to releases the same chemicals in a woman's mind that sex/being in love does. But a true Trophy Wife in Training (TWT) doesn't surprise her signifigant other with something tacky like chocolate body paint, which isn't even high quality chocolate. This year, take your Valentine on a sensory experience that is both erotic and stimulating (to the mind, that is.) Vosges Haut Chocolat is one of my favorite chocolatiers (and one of the best in the US in my opinion.) They take chocolate to the next level (and they also make fabulous gift boxes for when you need to send classy gifts to everyone in your signifigant other's office, not to mention great party favors for all of your dinner parties) with new and exotic flavors and ideas. But since you're a TWT and not just anybody, a single chocolate bar just won't do, of course. Opt for the "Chocolate and the Nose Sensory Collection" $375 and get ready to be entertained for hours. Here is the gift description from Vosges:


"Our extensive Sensory Collection is both a connoisseur's guide to chocolate tasting and an intricate game of smell and taste to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Designed to develop your sense of smell and your ability to recognize and articulate the aromas of varietal chocolate, the experience of uncapping vials, inhaling essences and nibbling chocolate will engage and intrigue any crowd. Have a party, gather with friends or family and unlock the mysteries of Mother Earth's magical cacao."


Each Sensory Collection includes:

• 28 dark, 6 milk and 6 white single origin chocolate bars from Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad, Java, Ghana, Madagascar, Venezuela, Grenada, Bolivia, Tanzania, Peru, Costa Rica & Santo Domingo, 15 countries in all.

•42 aromas with the essences of dried banana, cocoa butter, tobacco, earth, cocoa powder, leather, charcoal, orange blossom, jasmine, asparagus, burnt sugar and more…

• A comprehensive chocolate guidebook that chronicles the history of chocolate, the making of chocolate from bean to bar, the science of taste, recipes and more…

• A flavor wheel to help you describe each chocolate• A notebook for your thoughts and inspirations

• A blindfold for party fun (and no cheating!)

Top Five City Hotels in the World



If you are a Trophy Wife in Training, (TWT) then you should be more than familiar with the best hotels in the world. When your signifigant other travels for business and he asks you where you would like to stay, you should produce a list (because chances are that your top three will already be booked.) One of my favorite blogs, The Luxist, had their readers nominate the best city hotels in the world this week and I wanted to give you ladies the chance to vote (and more importantly, learn about these international hot-spots for when the time comes.) Here are the top five nominees:

Here is the link to vote on your favorite:
http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/wintertravel-awards



Claridge's, London: Considered to be the most glamorous in all of London, Claridge's has been the destination of choice by Kings and Queens alike, not to mention a smattering of Hollywood stars


Four Seasons, New York: Designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei, the Four Seasons, New York rises high above Manhattan and offers stunning views.


Four Seasons George V, Paris: A historic hotel, the Four Seasons George V, Paris is only a few short steps away from the Champs-Elysées.


Hotel Cipriani, Venice: A tranquil, lush getaway amid gorgeous manicured gardens in Venice, the Hotel Cipriani is accessible only by boat.


Hôtel de Crillon, Paris: A breathtakingly beautiful property, the Hôtel de Crillon was originally a palace commissioned by Louis XV.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Spa Glossary



Here is a list of spa terminology that every trophy wife in training (TWT) should be familiar with (courtesy of Spa Magazine):

Some Shoes...

Here are some shoes from Neiman Marcus all trophy-wives-in-traning (TWT) should consider for spring (remember ladies; springtime includes garden parties, Easter, tea time, and a chance to show off your tanned legs again):



Above: both Miu Miu
Below: left, Fendi, right, Christian Louboutin



Below: left, Christain Louboutin, right, Rene Caovilla