Mansur Gavriel Sun tote review

valentino tango shoes mansur gavriel sun handbagmansur gavriel sun tote review mansur gavriel sun tote pink patent medium mansur gavriel sun handbag mansur gavriel sun tote bag

Pictured: Mansur Gavriel Sun tote in pink patent leather / iPhone 7 case / Lipstick / similar wallet / cat eyes beauty case / Chanel sunglasses

Leave it to Mansur Gavriel to design a simple, chic, and perfect handbag for the fall season! The new Mansur Gavriel Sun tote, or Sun bag, has been introduced for the fall 2016 season, and will be part of the iconic handbag designing team’s ongoing, classic collection. Love it!

The Sun handbag by Mansur Gavriel is offered in four sizes; mini mini, mini, Sun, and large. The Mansur Gavriel Sun tote I am reviewing, is the regular or “Sun” size in pink patent leather. I have not seen the Sun bag on the street yet; neither here in the San Francisco Bay Area, or in New York during fashion week, so the most popular size is still to be determined.

Although Mansur Gavriel’s Sun bag has not been a sell-out in under a hot minute, as the bucket bag was in its’ hey-day, this sweet little tote bag is proving to be a coveted handbag for the fall season and beyond. The Mansur Gavriel Sun tote is gaining traction on social media, and it is becoming a highly searched bag on the Internet. This handbag will gain IT status as we enter the new year, and the spring 2017 season; just watch it! That being said . .  if you love this feminine, sweet little tote, I highly recommend snapping one up now, before they become hard to find.

Mansur Gavriel’s Sun tote is a feminine contrast to the current crop of handbags which are popular on the streets right now. The Pierce bag is edgy yet chic, Chloe’s line of bags are boho and carefree, while Gucci is going for a street-meets-upper-east-side vibe. The Sun tote by Mansur Gavriel is not trying to fit into any “trend” mold, it is standing alone as a simple, easy to wear tote bag which is lightweight and comfortable. Isn’t that why we love Mansur Gavriel? They take the gimmicks out of handbags and offer simple, functional bags which are beautiful and easy to wear. Love that!

I originally pre-ordered my Sun bag by Mansur Gavriel back in February when Moda Operandi featured a trunk show of the designing duo’s fall 2016 collection. When the bag arrived a month earlier than I expected in early October, I was thrilled! The “Sun” size is a traditional medium handbag, and the bag’s simple construction, and sweet bow, have made it an instant favorite. I love the open top as well as the wide interior pocket which fits my iPhone 7, lipstick, and keys. There is also a detachable shoulder strap which adds to the versatility of the bag. Perfection!

This has become my go-to bag on the weekends when I need a little bit more in my handbag than I get from a shoulder bag. The extra space is perfect for carrying odds and ends my kids hand me, as well as for storing snacks to keep my kids from getting “hangry.” The patent leather is nice this time of year since it resists the occasional drizzle and rain we receive here in the Bay Area. It is also easy to keep clean if my kids touch it with dirty hands. The patent leather simply wipes clean. Love that!

The Mansur Gavriel Sun bag is a beautiful handbag which is easy to wear daily, and fits into a busy girl’s life. Since I love this bag so much, I am now eyeing one of the smaller sizes in cobalt blue. It would be fun to have a smaller bag for days when I don’t need so much room.

You can find the Mansur Gavriel Sun tote in stock for now, online here, here, and here.

Happy handbag shopping! Stay fabulous 😉

Mansur Gavriel Sun tote in stock

pink patent mansur gavriel sun bag

Apple Crisp recipe for the holidays

how to make apple crisp holidays

One of my favorite desserts during the holiday season is this Apple Crisp recipe! It is so yummy when the soft apples meet the crispy brown sugar. Another thing that makes it the best holiday dessert, is that is it warm and toasty! Love that!

Since the holiday season is coming up, I thought it would be fun to share this delicious Apple Crisp recipe with you. This is an easy Apple Crisp recipe which can be made at home in your kitchen with a few simple ingredients. Of course, there is one key ingredient which makes this Apple Crisp recipe special for the holiday season; the Sparkling Ice! Sparkling Ice is a yummy sparkling water infused with flavors. The Crisp Apple flavor is perfect for this easy Apple Crisp recipe.

If you are planning a huge party, and need to do some prep ahead of time, you can assemble the crumble the night before and just let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The apples can be cut and cored the night before too.

best apple crisp recipe easy holidays

Apple Crisp

Yield – 6 servings

Cook Time – 25-35 minutes

Ingredients:

For The Crumble:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

For The Apples:

  • ¾ cup Crisp Apple Sparkling Ice
  • 8 red apples (Gala or Fuji preferred)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ tablespoons cornstarch

For Serving:

Directions:

For the crumble

  1. Combine brown sugar and flour in a mixing bowl, and cut in the butter with your hands.  Mixture should look coarse with some chunks the size of peas.
  2. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden up.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the crumble on.
  5. Bake for 12-18 minutes or until light brown.
  6. Place baking tray on a wire rack to cool.

For the apples

  1. Core and cube the apples and place in a large bowl of cold water to avoid browning.
  2. Whisk together the cornstarch with Sparkling Ice in a small mixing bowl, set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of the butter.
  4. Add the apples, salt, and cinnamon.  Sautee over a medium flame for 3 minutes.
  5. Pour the Sparkling Ice and cornstarch mixture into the pot, stirring continuously.
  6. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  7. Turn off the heat and stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter.

Assembly:

  1. Break the cooled crumble up with your hands to desired size.
  2. Scoop the warm apples into 6 small ramekins or an 8 inch square serving dish.
  3. Top with crumble.
  4. Serve immediately.

If you are in need of Ramekins, here are a few fabulous ones I found online which are perfect for the holiday season, and beyond! I need to buy several new ones, so I am deciding between this one and this one. Which one is your favorite?

There you have it! I hope you love this Apple Crisp recipe as much as I do during the holiday season. This is a fabulous dessert to serve during holiday parties, dinner parties, and anytime you want to celebrate life! Yummy! Enjoy!

*This recipe was created by Sparkling Ice and reprinted with permission. Enjoy!

how to make easy apple crisp recipe holidays

Fall horizontal stripes

stripes for fall bay area fashion bloggerjw anderson pierce bag san francisco style blogger casual fall outfit idea

Wearing: gold sculptured earrings / Chanel sunglasses / MAC lipstick / striped fall blouse / dark wash flare jeans / sculptured gold ring / Chanel Gris Obscur nail polish / JW Anderson Pierce bag / black boots (old, love this pair under $200)

Horizontal stripes have always been a pattern I have been drawn to, so when they appeared as a strong trend for the spring 2017 season, (see spring 2017 trends from the runway online here), I was really excited! This short sleeve blouse with horizontal stripes for the fall 2016 season, instantly caught my eye; not because it is a spring trend, but because I loved the stripes pattern and silhouette!

Our weather during the fall season in the San Francisco Bay Area is mild. Temperatures swing between eighty degrees and sixty degrees, so a short sleeve top with jeans on casual days is perfect. If the fog rolls in, simply top the look with a lightweight jacket, and you are ready to take on the fall weather! Love that!

I love how this top has a swing silhouette which is reminiscent of the 1960s, and a colorful pattern with a 1980s vibe. This season is all about transitioning from a strong 1970s vibe, to a mixture of 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s influence; so this mix is a great way to go from fall 2016 into the new year. In the spring season, the 1980s will rise to become a more important influence then the 1970s on fashion and style. Start thinking ahead when you shop for next year!

When the spring season hits, I am looking forward to wearing different type of horizontal stripes. What is your take on the emerging trend?

 

Photos taken by my beautiful twelve year old daughter 🙂

Thanks for stopping by:

XOXO

Cathy

 

bay area style blogger