The Magic of Macy's Fall Fashion Events - 2012

This fall, Macy's is bringing the runway to you, featuring fashion icons and stylists from stage, screen, and print, at their Fashion Events of the Season!  Not only can you get some great hints to start building or expanding your autumn wardrobe, but, time permitting, many of these stylists will share some do's and don'ts, and help you shop!

What?  You need more encouragement?  How about this...after each of these Fall 2012 Macy's fashion events, with every purchase of $50.00 or more, you will receive a special gift, courtesy of Macy's!  Ahhh...the magic of Macy's!  Well, I certainly didn't need any more encouragement than that to shop at Macy's and preview some of the upcoming fall fashions!

A compact manicure set  - FREE -  (!!!)
with my purchase of Anne Klein Zyo Leopard Pony Print Pumps
(on sale! $62.30)

Last weekend I was lucky enough to score a front row seat at the Macy's Fall Fashion Event in the Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury, CT, where Robbie Laughlin, Host of E! Entertainment's Who Wore It Better, was our Master of Ceremonies and guest stylist.

Here are some photos of Fall Fashion 2012 brought to you by the good folks at Macy's!  You'll find that this season is full of deep rich color tones, faux fur, pops of animal prints, and great heels, boots, and booties!

INC InternationalConcepts Jacket, Three-Quarter-Sleeve Snakeskin-Print 

Sizes XS - XL $66.99  This jacket was amazing!

                                                Classic Navy Blue Wrap Dress below

One of the best parts of the show was that Macy's addressed the MANY shapes and sizes of American women, and featured a plus size and petite model, in addition to the typical willowy tall model.

Bright blue and black below - one of my favorite color combinations! (And Robbie's too!)

INC International Concepts Dress, Three-Quarter-SleeveColorblock Sweater Dress pictured above available in sizes XS - XL $99.50

Beautiful faux fur vest and purple blouse with classic jeans below!

Calvin Klein's Sleeveless Zip Front Cape Sizes S/M L/XL $79.99 below

 My favorite of the day:  Tahari Jacket, Three-Quarter-Sleeve Faux-Fur-Collar $170.00 in S/M and L/XL (also comes in Garnet and Black)

 ...and more faux fur in a little True Blood  scarf and coordinating trousers.  Love the contrasting chartreuse jacket!  Check out the riding boots!

Another show stopper - this Bar III Front Row, Lace Zipper Pencil Skirt in sizes XS - XL for $59.00.  Guess what the color is called?  Starry Night!

 Love this biker jacket mixed with INC International Concepts Pants, Ponte-Knit Skinny Tuxedo-Stripe for $69.50 in sizes 4-16.

 Shopping for a holiday outfit?  How about this Calvin Klein Dress, Sleeveless Zipper Sheath in bright rouge only $129.50.

 These Else Coated Denim Metallic Copper Skinny Jeans in sizes 25-32 were to die for at $78.00.

 And you can never go wrong with a classic winter white coat and black and white checked skirt.  The bright blue silk blouse is just the right pop of color!

 And finally, more sparkle!  A black sequined blazer to finish your fall and holiday event wardrobe!

And Macy's goes one better!  After the event - all items featured in the show were clearly marked around the store for ease of purchasing!

Feeling like you missed out on something special??? There are MORE fall fashion events taking place this year:  Check here for a listing of upcoming events in Texas, Indiana, Arizona, and California!

Follow them on  Twitter at @macysevents

HAPPY FALL SHOPPING!!

****

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy's Fall Fashion Events. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.  

And the icing on the cake?  I got to meet Robbie Lauglin!

What are your favorite looks and colors for the fall? 
I'd love to hear what you're wearing this season in the comments section below.

Apple Harvest Festival in Southington, CT

Update: The 45th Apple Festival in Southington CT will be held over two weekends in 2013
October 4-6 & October 11-13, 2013. 
Theme: "A Harvest of Memories".

We had an APPLE - LICIOUS day at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival!  

Just look at this Apple Crisp!

The Town of Southington CT certainly rolled out the APPLE-red carpet to celebrate the 44th Annual Apple Harvest Festival!   What a festival it is!  Probably one of the best of the year, this festival takes up at least three city blocks surrounding the town green and features great crafts, great art, great food, and...of course, everything APPLE!  All are easily accessible with free parking via a shuttle bus, and some great lots nearby for only $5.00!

There are APPLE eating contests, APPLE fritters, APPLE sundaes, APPLE crisps, and more!  Everything and anything to celebrate the fall season and the apple harvest!  This festival is so phenomenal that it actually takes place over the course of two weekends, typically the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October.  The PERFECT time to take a drive in Connecticut and view the beautiful fall leaf colors changing on all the trees.

The theme of this year's Festival is "Ripe with Possibilities"

We arrived at around 12:30 and the festival was in full swing!  This festival does get crowded so it's probably a good idea to get there early if you can.

Here's some pictures of the booths that we stopped at, some items we liked, and other things that caught our eye!

The sweet pink folks at Dunkin' Donuts were out 

offering free samples of their new Pumpkin White Chocolate Lattes! 

Thumbs up from these two coffee lovers!

Row after row of crafts in every shade of autumn

Some of my favorite items were found at Dee's Handmade Crafts pictured below 

where I purchased this Christmas' Mantle top Reindeer!

See something you like?  Contact Dee at dshomemadecrafts@aol.com

What's that you say??? It's too early for Christmas?  

I think not!  There were lots of 

Christmas items available!

There's handmade scarves

Beautiful objects

 lots and lots of jewelry

 beach themed Christmas decor

There's also live demonstrations!

Potter Justin Gerace

and Metal Sculptor Kyle Haines of The Big Purple Barn

Art galore!

and other fun items!

But...what's a festival without food??

And what's this Fest's best offering?  Apple Fritters, of course!

Photo Credit  Calcagni Associates

These delicate and delicious morsels have lines forming early.  Be prepared to wait to enjoy!

The best way to get some?  Enter the Fritter Eating Contest!

There's piping hot apple crisps - with and without whipped topping

 Hot Apple Sundaes! Veggie platters and fried onion rings!

And delectable bakery and pastry offerings! 

...and of course, some yummy chocolate, from my friends at Sweet Cioccolata!

 (Pssst: Remember when we Cash Mobbed them: read here!)

This is one of the best fairs in Connecticut especially when it comes to craft vendors and APPLES!

A festival not to be missed!

Apple Harvest Festival
On the Southington Town Green

Southington, CT 06489
Phone: 860.276.8461 

 Email: ahfestival@southington.org

For additional pictures click here: Home Place Apple Festival

Columbus Day Weekend at Tre Scalini on Wooster Street

Where can you get a taste of "Italia" this Columbus Day Weekend?

How about trying Tre Scalini Ristorante in New Haven's own "Little Italy"?

Located in the historic Wooster Street Restaurant District in New Haven, CT, Tre Scalini Ristorante features rustic Northern Italian fare that is deliciously prepared.  Filled with atmosphere, presentation, and flavor, to put it quite simply, Tre Scalini's restaurant and offerings have it all!

The restaurant walls are lined with magazines they have been featured in, as well as the numerous awards,  superior restaurant ratings, and countless accolades received over the years.  In fact, Zagat has rated them as "Excellent" for over a decade!

I recently visited Tre Scalini  for lunch and have been waiting patiently for this Columbus Day holiday weekend to share my time there with you!  What better way to celebrate the 520th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' accidental discovery of America! (?)

Both Tre Scalini's lunch and dinner menus are quite extensive, and extremely affordable with dishes ranging from $8.00 to $29.00.  The menu includes several types of antipasti, soup (zuppe), salad (ensalata), pasta (farinacci), chicken (pollo), veal (vitello), beef (carne), and fish (pesce).  They also feature a four-course "Prixe Fix" menu Sunday through Friday with a wide selection for only $29.00!

Most lunch entrees are served with "marinated on premise" kalamata olives...

and home baked peasant breads and focaccia, (a flat baked bread)

and house dressed salad (ensalata) 

For lunch we ordered

Scalloppine alla Giuseppe:
Veal medallions, Italian sausage,
caramelized onions, red peppers, roasted potatoes, mozzarella, roasted garlic marsala sauce
(Lunch $14.00)

Rigatoni al Finlandia con Schizzo di Pomodoro:  

Rigatoni in a pink Finlandia vodka sauce. 

(Lunch $12.00)

Pollo Ripiene: 

Boneless chicken breast, prosciutto, 

and fontina cheese stuffing, marsala demiglaze. 

(Lunch $13.00)

Each was wonderfully delicious!

And our wonderful waitress shared the restaurant's secret to their parmigiana cheese.  After grating they simply run it through a sifter.  This ever so subtly changes the texture and flavor from good to absolutely wonderful!

Grated -AND- sifted parmigiana!

Although I rarely order dessert, and when I do, I usually "share" - for this special occasion we each ordered our own.  (Diet? Anyone? Anyone? Hmmm...I guess not!!!)

White Chocolate Crème Brûlée

A rich and creamy white chocolate flavored custard 

beneath a crispy caramel layer

($7.00)

New York Style Cheesecake:

A creamy New York style cheesecake 

served atop a Oreo cookie crust.

($7.00)

Tiramisu:

Lady fingers, espresso, Kahlua, Amaro Averna, 

mascarpone cheese, whipped cream, chocolate shavings
($7.00)

And, of course, we ordered them all with a Cappuccino!

                                                Tasteful and comfortable dining.

An expansive bar

with lounge seating

                                 and a roomy patio for seasonal dining alfresco!

There's even a large room available for private parties

And what does Tre Scalini mean - Three Steps, as in the three steps to the dining room

If you are ever in the New Haven area Tre Scalini is a must stop! 

Tre Scalini Ristorante

100 Wooster Street

New Haven, CT 06510

(203) 777-3373

Valet parking on weekends

Entrance in Rear