Coquette

Spring #RANBonusBox: Featuring Jus by Julie, Links of London + More

Some of the goodies in this spring's #ranbonusbox from @rakutenaffiliatenetwork. Tap on photo for info. (Not pictured @jusbyjulie juice cleanse and @dawgsfootwear) Reviews to come soon on Coquette!

A photo posted by Natalie Zee Drieu (@coquettenatalie) on Mar 7, 2016 at 1:20pm PST

My Rakuten Affilate Network Bonus Box arrived for spring a few weeks ago. This one was spectacular in that it included wellness/fitness items that we on track with my health goals for this year.

Here's what was inside:

Jus by Julie 1 Day JUS Cleanse ($50) and Vanilla Probiotic Cold Brew Coffee ($8)

I got a voucher to go online to have the 1 day juice cleanse freshly delivered to my home and to also get to choose one of their probiotic cold brew coffees. I had never done a juice cleanse before so I was a little nervous. I read some tips online on how to adjust your body before a cleanse and picked a Sunday when I would be home to do it. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. There were 6 bottles of juices that came fresh in a box filled with ice packs which I immediately put into the fridge. I drank the 6 bottles throughout the day (about every 2 hours or so) and each one of them were delicious. I have a NutriBullet at home so I was used to drinking full juices and I liked that it made me feel full after I finished each bottle. There are instructions that come with the juices and you should follow the number order of each juice flavor. The #2 Spicy Lemonade was delicious! Since it had the cayenne pepper I couldn't really gulp it down but I enjoyed taking my time to drink it. My favorite juice out of all the juices was #4 Chia Berry. Overall, I didn't feel hungry in the day and I did feel a renewed sense of energy once Monday started. I really recommend the 1 day cleanse if you are looking to try this out before you move onto 3 or 5 day cleanses.

As for the coffee -- what can I say? Simply delicious! Their cold brew coffee is infused with 1 billion CFU's of vegan GanedenBC30 probiotics that can help improve your immune and digestive system.

You can read more about all of their healthy products at JUS by Julie.

Sweaty Betty "Knock Out" Avesha Yoga Tank ($90)

I try to do yoga at home twice a week. This super soft, lightweight tank has been so comfortable to wear during my practice. I love the "Knock Out" text as it gives me a motivation to just go for the day.

Six:02 Gymsack Bag (pictured at top)

I received a Six:02 powered by Foot Locker gymsack bag. This is a site for women's athletic wear and the drawstring bag is perfect when I need to go to the gym.

Links of London White Topaz Pearl Drop Earrings ($150)

These beautiful earrings feature white topaz posts set in 18K yellow gold vermeil. i've worn them out last week when I went to a dinner gala with my husband. They are delicate and elegant. Just so gorgeous!

Folly Follie Happy Nugget Bracelet ($75)

Perfect for my spring outfits is this Happy Nugget Bracelet. I love the rose gold with the white leather. It's so adorable by itself or stacked with my other gold bracelets. I'm kinda obsessed!

Dawgs Girls' Loudmouth Kaymann Loafers ($34.99)

I received a gift certificate from Dawgs to purchase whatever I wanted there. I decided on getting a pair of cool shoes for my daughter for spring/summer and she picked this colorful pair. The loafers are so comfortable for her and she loves the colors and print.

Review products were provided by Rakuten Affiliate Network

Giveaway: $100 to #ShopLocalSF - 12 Days of Gifting with Six Doors

I've teamed up with 11 SF bloggers to bring you wonderfully curated gifts from local boutiques in San Francisco with Six Doors. The free Six Doors app lets you shop locally from the comfort of your iPhone/iPad and have the goods delivered to your door the very same day! Pretty cool, right?

Featured above is my curated list of Handmade Gifts from local San Francisco boutiques:

Stitched Paper Bowl ($24) from Whistle / Kris Nations Gold Fill Charm Bracelets ($37) from Bell Jar / White Flower Bouquet ($35) from Verde / Peanut Butter Blossoms ($6.75/half dozen) at Batter Bakery / Winter Woodland Diorama Kit ($18) at Fiddlesticks / Krochet Kids The Margo Hat ($25) at BeGood Clothing / DODOCase Solid iPad Mini with Cardinal Exterior ($74.94) at Create More / Fleur de Sel Caramel Box of 8 ($10) at Park and Pond / Jess Brown Doll ($180) at Half Hitch Goods / Porcelain Hanging Pot ($45) at Whistle

Guess what SF folks? I have a giveaway for you! In support of #ShopLocalSF , I'm giving away a $100 credit towards this gift set, or any items you desire via the Six Doors app with same-day delivery in San Francisco. There are also 11 other giveaways you can enter from my fellow SF bloggers in the schedule listed below.

San Francisco friends can enter the giveaway through the widget here: (Please note you must have an SF address for hand delivery of goods.)

Today through December 16th, you can head to a different SF blog each day to win more and discover great boutiques and gift ideas around the city:

Day 1 - GIFTS TO PAMPER A FRIEND: Visit Victoria of SF Girl By Bay on Friday, 11/29 to find perfect gifts for pampering.

Day 2 - GIFTS FOR THE TRENDSETTER: Visit Kelli of Leopard and Lavender on Monday, 12/2 to find stylish, of-the-moment gift ideas.

Day 3 - GIFTS FOR CITY KIDS: Visit Kate of Style Smaller on Tuesday, 12/3 to discover picks for the little ones in your life.

Day 4 - GIFTS FOR THE NEWLYWEDS: Visit Allison of Engaged and Inspired on Wednesday, 12/4 to find gift ideas for your favorite new couple.

Day 5 - HANDMADE GIFTS: Visit Natalie of Coquette on Thursday, 12/5 to find items made lovingly by hand.

Day 6 - GIFTS FOR SAVVY HOSTESS: Visit Melissa of Savvy in San Francisco on Friday, 12/6 to find gems for your favorite in-the-know gal pal.

Day 7 - HOSTESS GIFTS WITH A TWIST: Visit Paul of Urbanite Suburbanite on Monday, 12/9 to find a little something unique for your holiday hostess.

Day 8 - GIFTS FOR THE FOLKSY FOODIE: Visit Ana of Fluxi on Tour on Tuesday, 12/10 for yummy, giftable treats.

Day 9 - GIFTS FOR STYLE SAVVY FAMILIES: Visit Janette of Fashion Loves People on Wednesday, 12/11 for unique gifts for parents and kids.

Day 10 - GIFTS FOR THE FRENCHIE FOODIE: Visit Andi of Misadventures with Andi on Thursday, 12/12 to find great gifts for the Francophile in your life.

Day 11 - GIFTS FOR THE STYLISH GOURMAND: Visit Marcia of Tablehopper's The Sugar Mama on Friday, 12/13 to find great gifts for your favorite foodie.

Day 12 - Visit Adelle of Fashionista Lab on Monday, 12/16 to find high style items for you or your favorite fashionista.

Enter each giveaway and discover some amazing, San Francisco based blogs and shops this holiday season! Check out all of our hand-picked gift sets and #ShopLocalSF by downloading the SixDoors app.

Book Review: The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

I have lived with my French man (aka my husband) for nine years. I now understand the nuances of French cooking which I have learned from both my husband and my in-laws, on our many travels to France. French cooking isn't as complicated as most people think. Their dishes incorporate lots of healthy vegetables and stews.

This is why I love Rachel Khoo's new cookbook The Little Paris Kitchen: 120 Simple But Classic French Recipes ($19.88 on Amazon), published by Chronicle Books. First off, who can resist a stylish Brit who sautés while clad in red lipstick looking like she jumped out from an Anthropologie catalog? The Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef grad who has her own BBC cooking show of the same name, cooks her French cuisine in her teeny-tiny Paris kitchen with only a mini oven and two gas rings. It makes you amazed that if this young gal can cook in such a small space with limited equipment, I too can whip up French fare in my "big" (compared to hers) apartment kitchen.

(Photos: Chronicle Books)

Rachel brings in the home-style of French cooking but brings in her own twists which I love. Pot au Feu is an essential soup in our household. We have it a lot in the winter or when someone in the family is sick. Usually by the third day of the big pot of beef soup, we devour it on the first day and by the third day, everyone is over it. Rachel provides some fantastic additional recipes such as sauces and a fajita recipe for the leftover meat and veggies. There is also a classic ratatouille recipe that most will love. For me, it's a great way for me to get my daughter to eat veggies. (I also love how she tries to teach me how to say "ratatouille" in a perfect Parisian French accent.)

Since Rachel is a trained pastry chef, dessert recipes are included in the book, but for me the main entrees and side dishes make this a must have book for everyday cooking. I have read this book cover to cover which I can't say I do for most cookbooks. (The photos of her around Paris are divine!) A lot of the wisdom that Rachel brings in her book, I can hear my father-in-law, Jean-Marie say as well. But I love how Rachel brings her own voice to this with a touch of originality by suggesting or adding other ingredients to create a different twist. My advice to you is to start with some of the stews, seafood and veggie dishes in the cookbook. You definitely won't go wrong. Then work your way up to the more advanced recipes featuring meats and the desserts.

(Photo: EasyLiving UK)

My first recipe I tried from this book was the Spring Lamb Stew (Navarin d'Aagneau Printanier). I know it was delicious because everyone in my family devoured it without saying a word.

The next recipe I am going to try is this Cassoulet Soup. Watch the video above from BBC Food.

I also love what Alexis Watts of Chronicle Books is doing on the Chronicle Books blog. She's trying out recipes from The Little Paris Kitchen over the course of the next few months just like the Julie/Julia project.

Making Artisan Bread

(Photo: coquettenatalie on Instagram)

I have edited quite a few of bread-making articles when I was editor of CRAFT. My mom even had a bakery for years while in my teens. Yet surprisingly, as crafty as I am, I had never attempted to try to bake bread myself. Last week, while crafting at Nancy's house, she presented us with her homemade bread. I couldn't believe that the crust had that wonderful crunch just like from a bakery and there was the wonderful "fresh from the oven warmth" that melted the butter oh so perfectly on top of the bread. I assumed it was complicated, after all I grew up seeing racks and racks of loaves of bread being shuttled in and out of a large brick oven. Nancy assured me it was so easy. She brought out this book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois ($16 at Amazon) and let me borrow it. Let's just say it changed my life.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day ($16 at Amazon)

I started with the basic artisan boule. The authors talk about how to make the full recipe for the dough and to refridgerate the rest in a container for up to two weeks. (You can also end up using part of that dough to create a sort of sourdough starter for the next batch a few weeks later.) I love that it's no knead. The key, I found is using a baking/pizza stone in the oven to get that crisp outer crust. I bought this Bialetti pizza stone ($12.60) at Target last friday. I didn't get a pizza peel as I took Nancy's suggestion to use just a wooden cutting board but sprinkled with cornmeal. As you can see my technique needs a bit of help as the round loaf got a bit smushed when I tried to quickly flick it onto the pizza stone in the oven.

The basic ingredients you need are all purpose flour and yeast. I used just regular Fleischmann's ActiveDry yeast and not the "instant" kind. The recipe will give you around four one pound loaves. You can cut or double the recipe if you want.

The title of "5 minutes a day" is a bit misleading. I am sure someone added that in because we are always so crazed to do things in just 5 minutes. The process of making the bread is really fast but you do have to account for times for the yeast needs to rise and a half hour for it to bake in the oven. All in all, if you have the dough pre-made and refridgerated, you will have fresh baked homemade bread in about an hour!

(Photo: coquettenatalie on Instagram)

As the loaf cooled down, we enjoyed it with brie and pâté while watching the Emmy's red carpet. I am looking forward to trying out making mini-baguettes (we never finish full baugettes and they always get so hard in a day), as well as brioche. Nothing smells better for your home than fresh baked bread. This is also a wonderful gift for friends, dinner parties or just because.

Crafty DIY Roundup

BurdaStyle features eight new patterns inspired by the roaring 20's. I love this color block dress that features lots of panels and a low waist band. All of the dress patterns look fresh and modern for today's gal. Time to dust off your sewing machine!

My crafty friend Meg Allan Cole shows you how to make this driftwood wall garden that is a beautiful decor piece for your home. Subscribe to her awesome DIY videos on You Tube on her channel, Meg Allan Cole Crafts.

I don't know what it is about summer, but I love making at eating guacamole. Katie Goodman from GoodLifeEats was one of my favorite food contributors when I was editor at CRAFT. She always has great Tex-Mex recipes and her Roasted Salsa Verde Guacamole Recipe is perfect for summer lunches and snacks.

Also a quick alert to Bay Area peeps that the Renegade Craft Fair will be coming to San Francisco on the weekend of July 21-22, 2012 at the Fort Mason Center.

Crafty DIY Roundup

I'm missing the craft community a lot lately and just had a great catch up call with Erica from P.S. I Made This... which made me remember all the fun fashion-related crafty projects I loved to read about. I'm going to try to do a roundup every other week. It's a reminder that fashion is fun and doesn't always have to be bought in a store. I also love food and new recipes so I'll try to include those as well.

I always encounter people who think they aren't crafty but it really just takes one project to make to get you hooked with the crafting bug. Find an easy one to tackle and just give yourself a hour or a few to have fun with it and not worry about the end result. For starters, I love Erica's Knot Rope Necklace (inspiration board here) which is oh so very easy to make and is totally on trend with the rope detail and bright colors. Enjoy making it and wearing it around town while the compliments pour in.

Dip Dye Ombre Ballet Flats by Amiee Santos of Swellmayde, as featured on Unique

Geek Chic iPad Case (sewing project) by Lisa Lam of U-handbag.com from her new book, A Bag for All Reasons, as featured on How About Orange

Cerviche de Vegan by Joseph Shuldiner from the book Pure Vegan, as featured on the Chronicle Books blog.

The OCD Chef Cutting Board

Do you ever wish you could chop your veggies more evenly? I love this Fred The OCD Chef Cutting Board
($17.29 at Amazon). It's the perfect way to practice your fine julienne dices to impress your friends. Just line up your veggies in the grid and chop away. As a crafter, I love the precision you can get with the detailed grids. The beechwood board is 9 X 12" and also makes the perfect gift for your favorite newbie chef.

I can't help but recall Phil Hartman's classic SNL skit of the Anal Retentive Chef. Watch it now if you haven't seen this.