{Recipe} Holiday Treats - Pretzel Kisses

It's the holiday season and along with it comes the bountiful treats from cookie exchanges, the box of chocolates from coworkers, the plates of homemade Italian cookies from neighbors, even the unwanted fruitcake from your aunt with 6 cats on Christmas.   

As much as we complain about our unwanted pounds and unwillingly add another notch to our belt, we love it :)  

One of our fav treats that are always a staple at our holiday parties are the "Pretzel Kisses" treats.  Gail introduced this to our family a few years back and since then, its been part of our tradition to make them together with the family over the holidays.  Not only are they addicting, they're super easy to make.  

We wanted to share the salty and sweet goodness with you so here's the easy, no hassle recipe for you :)  Enjoy!!!

(Image courtesy of Spoonful )

Recipe:  Holiday Pretzel Hugs and Kisses

Ingredients:

Bite size waffle shaped pretzels (we find the buttered flavored ones by Snyder's to be the best)

Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Hugs

Holiday colored M&M's candy

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 170 degrees F

- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay down individual pretzels all over the sheet

- place an unwrapped Hershey's kiss or hug on top of each pretzel

- Bake for 4-6 minutes (note that white chocolate melts faster) until the chocolate feels soft when touched with a wooden spoon

- Once the chocolate is soft, take out the cookie sheet and quickly press an M&M down onto the center of each kiss/hug

- Let the treats cool for a few minutes and place in the fridge for at least 10 minutes or so to set.  

Note:

 -make a LOT!  WE always find ourselves making a second batch, underestimating how fast these really go so save yourself the time and make a large batch from the beginning

- these make great giveaways and presents so get creative and think of all the fun ways to package these bite  sized treats.

The Office

Happy Monday, loves!  We wanted to give you a little peek into our worlds today :)  We all live in different parts of the country, we have different tastes, different styles, and of course, different offices.  So, just for fun, we figured we'd show you how our work space looks on a daily basis - OK, maybe we tidied up a bit for these pics, but none-the-less, you get a visual of how our daily life looks in our different Cayetano Legacy offices.

Karen, who lives in Atlanta - handles all of the creative and production aspects of the business so you'll find tons of jewelry samples, colored pencils, and magazines laying around.

Gail, who lives in Los Angeles - handles all of the marketing and PR for the company so you'll find her office right in the heart of Los Angeles with her plush purple chairs ready to meet potential clients, her business books and her motivational quotes framed for the world to see what she is about.

Christine, who lives in New Jersey - handles all of the operations which includes managing our CLC inventory - so you can say her office is literally swimming in jewels, aka - "The Treasure Chest." She's an avid collector of designer coffee table books and her little shih-tzu, Sumo, oversees her to make sure she doesn't take any of the jewelry out of inventory for her own personal use.  :)

{Birthday} We're 1 years old!!

   (one of our first CLC meetings via Oovoo last June 2011)                                                                    

                                                                

Can you believe it's our first birthday???  What a year!  It feels like these past 12 months have flown by so fast and it was just yesterday the 3 of us were in the Philippines plotting our new business venture together, yet so much has happened with Cayetano Legacy Collection that we often feel like we’re old pros at this.  We've been blessed with the progress and the growth of the company, and we are thankful to all of you because we know we couldn’t have done ANY of it without you. 

This past year we've garnered press through morning shows such as The Daily Buzz, CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, CBS WISH-TV Indianapolis;major publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Scrubs Magazine, Little Black Dress; and our pieces have been seen on television shows such as "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" on BravoTV and most recently, on NBC's "The Voice", among other great features we were lucky to be supported by.    

Not only are we selling our pieces through our e-commerce site (www.cayetanolegacy.com) and our traveling trunk shows in boutiques across the country, but our designs will soon be available on major retailer Zappos.com! We were lucky enough to be chosen out of  hundreds of applicants to be a part of their emerging designer program.  You can find us there this August, and that, hopefully is the start of our major retailer sales (where will you see CLC next?!).      

We've also grown our family to include our Creative Strategists in select major cities.  In addition to the 3 of us founders, we've added these 4staffers (Jessica, Lisa, Raquel, and Bridget – all fabulous, beautiful and freaking amazing!) to help publicize Cayetano Legacy Collection in their markets, showcase our styles, and spread the word on how we're working to help local citizens of the Philippines, with the goal of raising theeconomic status there.  

While some of these opportunities and our newly appointed staffers came through traditional outreach, even more of them came because you all opened your network of colleagues and friends to us that have helped us grow. (Quick shoutout to those that we bug on pretty much an everyday basis with all of our CLC requests: Stace, Josh, Eddie, Wil, Jim and of course mom and dad.)  We couldn't have accomplished any of this without your love and support in our first year.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

If you know us personally, then you know us sisters have a big sweet tooth - so of course, celebrating CLC's birthday was a good reason to indulge in some birthday cake!   As a thank you, and so you can celebrate this feat with us, we wanted to share this sweet treat: for all orders made throughout the month of June, our birthday month, we will ship you yummy cake treats, in partnership with "Half Baked Co."

Happy birthday to ALL of us!   Cheers! 

Lots of love and thanks,

Karen, Gail and Christine

(Happy 1 year birthday Everyone!!)

{Introducing} Our Creative Strategists

We are so happy to introduce to you the newest members of our CLC family - our Creative Strategists.  We have searched far and wide to find these amazing girls!  Read on to hear more about who they are and you'll see why we fell in love with them.

Jessica Healey

Philadelphia

@CLC_Philly

How would you describe your style?

I love sequins & sparkle, playful & feminine prints, big statement jewelry, anything with gold shimmer/hardware and dresses, dresses, dresses! If I don't have a bold outfit on, I'll wear a bright MAC lipstick in red or hot pink to compensate for it. I really love to experiment with the newest trends and I'm always in something that will make me feel super confident.  Cayetano Legacy Collection really resonates with my style because each unique piece adds instant glamour to so much of my existing wardrobe!

What do you like to do in your free time?

First and foremost, TRAVEL!  My husband and I just got back from an unforgettable two week trip through Thailand and Bali.  We have promised each other that no matter what happens in life, we will always make a solid effort to keep discovering new cultures and exploring this beautiful world together!  I also love to run for fun;I have completed 5 Ten-Milers (including Philly's Broad Street run twice) and will continue running to keep my mind clear and my body healthy!

Favorite spots in Philly?

Where do I begin?  There's so much to do in this great city!  I appreciate good food and you get just that at any Stephen Starr or Jose Garces restaurant (Philadelphia restaurateurs) around the city.  Some of my favorite restaurants are Amada, Jones, Buddakan and... Pat's Cheesesteaks! For cocktails, we love to go to Parc on Rittenhouse Square or The Continental for what are formerly known as "Buzz Aldrins".  

I'm also a huge Eagles and Phillies fan, so I can't forget about the stadiums in South Philly.  Sports and tailgating are such a part of our culture in Philadelphia! 

Lisa Atia

Los Angeles

@CLC_LA 

How would you describe your style?

I’d like to think of my style as ever-evolving, although it mostly evolves with my mood each day! I’m always on the hunt for new styles, new things to add to my daily wardrobe that gives it a little extra funk, boldness or sexiness. Overall though, I’d like to think of myself as a laid-back tomboy by day, bombshell by night kinda girl. I like pushing the boundaries of people’s expectations when it comes to fashion. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m all about being creative and following my heart, regardless of the time of day, so to say ‘free time’ wouldn’t really be accurate – which is why I’m with CLC!  It’s something I believe in and am passionate about and that’s what I want to spend all of my time doing – only the things that have significance in my life.  Life is too short to be unhappy. But aside from CLC, I’m a beauty and fashion blogger, a contributing writer for AND Magazine and at heart, I’m a musician – a singer and writer. I’m also an avid traveler and love to meet new people, try new things and experience life outside the bubble of LA (although, it’s not a bad bubble to be in at all!). 

Favorite spots in Los Angeles?

LA is home for me. I grew up here, explored many different parts of this town, so I’d like to think I know my way around some of the lesser known places. There are so many ‘spots’ in LA but for now, I’m going to narrow my selection down to just three:

I’m a total foodie, so some of my fav places around LA combine the two things I love most – music and food. I’ve spent more than a few hours at a family-owned, hole-in-the-wall place right down the street from me – Chego. It has the most laid back, hipster atmosphere (in a good way) with great music, spicy food and some pretty cool peeps. They play music off their iPod so you can usually request a station. You can even bring in your own alcohol with no corkage fee (don’t tell anyone I told you) and the liquor store next door will give you a discount off their wine if you show them your receipt from Chego! That’s what I call small business partnerships. I was even fortunate enough to meet the head baker (Beth) and have her create my engagement cake! (Let me tell you, the tres leches cake here is orgasm-in-your-mouth good). Ok, I’ve said too much already…next!

One of the best kept secrets in Santa Monica is a small little bar/dance spot called Zanzibar. They play world music (think Afro-Cuban) mixed with (good) hip-hop and R&B jams. I hold this place in high regard because it’s far enough away from the Hollywood hooplah and yet close enough in the mix of things to give you the real LA experience. (I really only go to Hollywood when showing friends around that haven’t been here before). I prefer to find the hidden gems around the rest of LA instead.

Now, this last spot is not like the others but it is one of my favorite and most special places to me by far. It’s the Self-Realization Lake Shrine right off of Sunset and PCH, in Pacific Palisades. You wouldn’t even know it’s there unless someone told you about it (which is how I found out about it). It’s a lake with a path to walk around it, with gorgeous flowers and plants from all over the world. The best thing about it? It celebrates all religions. Even if you’re not religious, it’s much more of a spiritual place anyway. Interestingly, some of Ghandi’s ashes are buried there. It is sacred ground – you can feel the shift of energy when you are there. It’s really quite powerful and calming all at the same time. There is even a Buddhist temple at the top of the hill with Sunday services offered. But for me, I usually go just to be silent and reflect. I would say this is a must-see if you are visiting LA, but beware, they close early (4pm) and have weird hours of operation so check their site for info. http://www.lakeshrine.org/

Raquel Flores

Chicago

@CLC_Chicago 

How would you describe your style?

My wardrobe is pretty versatile.  I love blending styles,especially the classic and the trendy.  I tend to lean towards 70's inspired pieces - bold, colorful, dramatic, fun.    

What do you like to do in your free time?

You u can find me getting lost in the city, and exploring new shops.  When I'm home I'll watch terrible romantic comedies on Netflix.  Or else I'll be partying, dancing, and laughing with friends!       

Favorite spots in Chicago?

There are so many, but if I had to pick my top spots, they would be North Avenue Beach/ Lake Michigan, Southport Corridor, Armitage-Halsted District. 

Bridget Riepl

NYC/NJ

@CLC_NY

How would you describe your style? 

My signature look is classically chic.  I keep my foundation simple with quintessential pieces like ballet flats, camisoles, blazers, cardigans and oversized sunglasses.   From there, I bring out different aspects of my mood, personality and lifestyle with accessories that make a statement.  This allows me a lot of freedom to evolve, take on new influences and experiment with new trends.    

  
What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love laughing with my husband, spending time with my family, lingering in eclectic coffee shops, practicing yoga, finding inspiration in antique shops (for my home and my wardrobe) and figuring out how to revamp old school recipes in a healthy way.  I also love entertaining!  There is nothing more exciting than a room filled with lively conversation.

Favorite spots in NYC/NJ?

I feel really lucky to live where I live in NJ because it puts me in a great position to enjoy the City, as well as the beach and boardwalk.  My favorite spot in NYC is definitely Soho, one of New York's most fashionable neighborhoods.  It has been my go-to spot for more than 10 years, since my sister attended the Aveda Institute and regularly met my family for dinner at Peep- my all time favorite Thai restaurant!  As far as shopping goes, I never miss Anna Sui, A Second Chance (amazing vintage finds), Marc Jacobs, Chanel (window shopping of course!) and Sabon NYC. 

In NJ, I spend the majority of my time riding my beach cruiser through the tiny towns that line the beaches.  You can find me eating sushi at Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park, practicing and teaching yoga at Evenflow in Long Branch, shopping in Pier Village and Red Bank, and sipping coffee at Rook in Oakhurst.  

{Limited Edition} Mother's Day Special 2012

Catch this beautiful necklace combo and show the important women in your 

life how much you appreciate them. Limited quantities so please order fast.

Holiday Treats

Ghiradelli peppermint brownies

We love baking-especially at this time of year.  (Incase you didn't realize by now, the three of us have  BIG sweet tooth) There's always a cookie swap, a cookie decorating party, a house party where we want to bring something, or something going on where we get to bake something fun.  This year, we wanted to bake some goodies for our neighbors and we found this delish recipe online that we wanted to share with you from http://www.allrecipes.com/  They fun and festive and absolutely perfect for the holiday season.  Its also something fun for the whole family to do together.  Hope you enjoy :)


Ghiradelli peppermint brownies

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Ghirardelli 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate baking bar, broken or chopped into 1 inch pieces
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 (5.32 ounce) bag Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with White Mint Filling Squares™, unwrapped
• 4 small candy canes, crushed

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and dust with flour, tapping out any excess.
2. In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool to room temperature
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or whisk, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt until combined. Beat in the chocolate mixture. Gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the brownies comes out clean. Arrange the mint squares on top in one layer and return the brownies to the oven until they are just melted, about 1 minute. Evenly spread the chocolate with a spatula and sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

The Cayetano Force

(clockwise from the bottom, Christine, Gail, Karen from 1985)

Just for fun, we wanted to let you in on who we are - some of fav's and our advice to our future leaders.  Feel free to comment and share what advice you would give. 

Gail Cayetano- the middle sister 

-  fav dessert:A snickers bar

- fav food my favorite dish is crispy pad thai from Brown Sugar Café in Boston

- if house was on fire and you can only take one material thing, what would you take? My blackberry

- how would you describe your style California laid-back.  I wear a lot of flow-y tank tops, jeans and flats

- what is your one makeup essential that you can't live without Liquid eyeliner

- if you were to give a piece of advice summarized in one line to a high school graduating class, what would you say? “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”  Work hard for what you want. 

Christine Cayetano Brigino - the youngest sister 

 - fav dessert- warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla icecream

- fav food- anything sweet

- my favorite dish - fried eggplant from penang

- if house was on fire and you can only take one material thing, what would you take? my chanel bag 

- how would you describe your style- modern sophisticated

- what is your one makeup essential that you cant live without - my bronzer

- if you were to give a piece of advice summarized in one line to a high school graduating class, what would you say? " dont do something because you think it makes everybody else happy. do what makes YOU happy"

Karen Cayetano Leano - the older sister 

favorite dessert:  tiramisu

fav food - over all i LOVE thai food

favorite dish - you can never go wrong with linguine in clam sauce

If house was on fire and you can only take one material thing, what would you take? my passport - i'm so proud of that thing

how would you describe your style - trendy but comfy, i love rompers in the summer and faux fur vests in the colder months.  

what is your one makeup essential that you can't live without - my mascara

if you were to give a piece of advice to a high school graduating class what would you say, "the sky is the limit for your dreams, don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't do something. Write your dream down.  If you visualize it, you can make it come true."

Road-trip

So, we're back tracking a bit....we've been traveling non-stop these past few weeks so we haven't had a chance to update this.  What we thought was going to be a whirlwind tour on a jetplane started off completely different.  Because of weather, all of our flights got delayed/cancelled to Indianapolis.  We had to be there in 24 hours for our morning show segment with Indystyle TV so, we had to resort to a 10 hour drive with all 3 of us in the same car. 

We're not going to lie, we were sure one of us was going to throw at least one sister out in the middle of the trip.  But honestly, it was a blast.  Since we all live so far away, it was one of our few chances to spend time together, just the 3 of us.  So instead of our fun carryon bags, our "new bag" consisted of jumper cables, cans of Monster, glass bottles of Starbucks Frapps and our savior, our IPOD. 

Here's a sample list of our songs.  Can't you just picture us blasting these songs and singing outloud??

NKOTBSB - ummm yes, we love boybands. 
Another Night, Real Mcoy
On the Floor, Jennifer Lopez
Time of My Life, Black Eyed Peas
Livin' on a Prayer, Bon Jovi
Take on me, A-ha
Rolling in the Deep, Adele
Lazy Song, Bruno Mars
Hey Soul Sista, Train
When You Say Nothing at All, Ronan Keating - maybe we were hinting something to each other......

Welcome!

Thank you so much for following Cayetano Legacy Collection, Inc!!

 CLC was founded by three sisters Karen Cayetano Leano, Gail Cayetano and Christine Cayetano Brigino, after recognizing a need for women’s jewelry and handbags showcasing the beautifully sourced material from the Philippine Islands.  As first generation Filipino Americans these sisters wanted to bring worldwide attention to the beauty coming from this lush country, while also giving back to the nation that has given them their heritage.

Follow our blog to keep up with our daily musings, sneak peeks to new designs, invitations to secret sales and shows, and anything and everything related to fashion and of course, family!!