My recent dessert obsession does not involve some expensive rare chocolate found in darkest Peru.  Nor is it an egregiously priced confection wrapped in edible gold leaf that will set you back a day’s pay.  Nope, it is neither of those thing.  This sweet treat involves cake and a stick and will set you back $3.00.  I wish I could follow this description with some really mouth watering adjectives to lure you into trying one but all I can really say is that it is a ball of some damn good cake on top of a stick.  Simple and sweet.

These wonderful cake pops (Johnny Cake is my current favorite flavor) can be found at Stick&Pop a new shop located in Chelsea, NYC.  The owners are equally as sweet as their desserts and I guarantee you will not be disappointed with whichever flavor you choose!

Stick&Pop Shop

Sweet Treats

I’m a sucker for a good print ad.  You can convince me to try something, buy something, taste something based on how good the ad looks. Case in point: the Chanel print ad for their Perfection Lumiere Makeup.  This is not a new ad. In fact I think I may have ripped this ad out at least 5 times during the late summer and fall when it first appeared in all the women’s magazines all with the intention of writing a post about it.  As I was cleaning my apartment today I came across 3 of these tears so I felt it necessary to post.  The beautiful profile shot with the minimal copy all works perfectly to get Chanel’s point across–”Buy this product and you too will look like this!”

I’ve worked in the celebrity/fashion photography industry so as beautiful as this model is, I know she has been retouched but quite frankly I don’t care.  This ad makes me want her skin.  This ad makes me want to get my eyebrows done.  This ad makes me want to buy this makeup.  It’s beautiful.  It’s a good ad.  That’s all.

While a scoop of chocolate ice cream is always a nice treat and a classic standby, when I really want to indulge  I go a little gourmet and go searching for the Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck.  The sight of this pastel yellow truck serving some of the best organic ice cream around town, always sets my heart aflutter. I usually make a visit to the VL ice cream truck while it’s parked in front of the Standard Hotel in the Meat Packing district.  While hordes of 20-somethings line up in all their “fabulousness” to get inside The Standard Beer Garden to “see and be seen”, I line up in front of the VL truck to get my cup of Earl Grey Ice Cream. For a brief moment, as I savor the taste of my first spoonful, I do not have a care in the world.  With their truck parked in several locations all throughout the city, and shops  in the East Village and 2 more in Brooklyn, it’s easy to get a taste of their delicious ice cream.  The Early Grey (which is currently not listed on their site)  is my all time favorite flavor and definitely worth trying.  Check out their website for more information about their process, flavors, and locations (http://www.vanleeuwenicecream.com/).  When the news of the world gets you a little down and out, just scream for Ice Cream.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream TruckThe VL TruckThe delicious Earl Grey Ice Cream

The delicious Earl Grey Ice Cream

Sometimes I even share with the Hubby

Elsa Peretti® Bone Cuff via Tiffany.com

Sensuos curves and bone detailing on the Elsa Peretti Cuff

 The DH surprised me with this beautiful cuff for our 5 Year wedding anniversary.  As much as I told him not to get me anything, I must admit that finding a beautiful Tiffany blue box with this majestic piece of jewelry inside made me VERY happy.  This cuff is definitely going to be my go-to piece this fall and winter.

The cuff sits beautifully on the wrist

Iconic Piece

This is the Bobble.  The what you ask? The water bobble.  Big deal–a water bottle.  (Go pull the wool over someone else’s eyes Lady L).  However this is not just a water bottle.  Sure, at first sight it looks that way, but this cool bottle contains a portable filter that purifies any water source while you’re on the go.  In my home, we try not to buy water bottles when we don’t have to.  We have a great Brita Carafe  that we use religiously but there was never a way to take this filtered water around and have it last all day.  This water bottle lets you refill your bottle from any good water source and does the job of filtering it while you drink it.  You can continue refilling and drinking while you’re out and about without having to buy those pesky plastic water bottles and pollute the earth.

So how did I stumble upon the Bobble?  The DH (darling husband) and I were walking through Washington Square Park one summer afternoon when we saw two really eager people with bright shirts and a cart showing someone the Bobble.  Curious old me decided to inobtrusively make my way into the conversation (the DH proceeded to shake his head).  One of the bright shirts saw my interest and asked me if I knew what I was looking at.  I told him I thought it was one of those bottles where you can fill water in the middle and freeze it to make ice.  He told me that was not the case and began to extoll the virtues of this new found object.  And then he told me something which made me just HAVE to try it.  He said, “Here take one.  Take one and try it out.” Then he looked at my DH who was standing a few feet away trying to look like he was not with me and said “Here, you can have one too.”  His and Hers—how could I resist?

I love a free gift, but I really love a free gift that works and I can actually utilize.  I pride myself on writing about things and sharing things that I actually like and use.  The Bobble people don’t know me (aside from that sweet bright shirt guy that gave me this bobble), nor do I know them, but I wanted to share with you this great product because I feel it is definitely worth getting.  I used the Bobble while spending the day at Hudson River Park the other day.  It was an intensely hot day and the DH and I were drinking away from our Bobbles.  As soon as we finished we simply went to the nearest water fountain and refilled.

If you want to learn more about the Bobble, check out their story here.  And if you want to learn more about the negative effects that water bottles have on our environment please check out these frightening facts.

Next stop for me…Birkenstocks.  Actually,no, not really ; )

Happy Bastille Day mes amis!  On France’s special day it seems only appropriate that I share some French things that I really j’adore!

My pair of Christian Louboutin heels which I don’t have the opportunity to wear as much as I would like to.  They sure are beautiful and slipping them on makes me feel spectacular!

Beautiful drinking glasses from Paris that we received as a wedding gift.  Any drink tastes delightful in these colorful glasses.  À votre santé!

Scrumptious and amazingly decadent French Macarons.  I’ve already raved about them here

Image via www.davidlebovitz.com

And of course le fromage, especially Brie!  Check out  my Brie and Caramelized Onion panini recipe here.  Perfect meal to celebrate Bastille Day!

Sometimes men can be so hard to shop for.  Take for example my husband.  He never asks for anything and the things he has asked for are usually things he “needs”.   Every year for birthdays, Christmas, Anniversaries I find it hard to find something that is fun, thoughtful, and just plain cool.  So it’s always great when you find something that is a really creative gift idea.   I stumbled upon these great beer soaps that will make a fantastic gift for any man in your life: brother, husband, dad, cousin, friend. 

Image via The Beer Soap Company

These ingenious soaps made by The Beer Soap Company are made with natural oils and butter- pure Olive oil, Unrefined Cocoa and Shea Butter, Jojoba,  Sweet Almond oil and of course, BEER! They carry 95 varieties of beer…er, soap ranging from Ales, Lagers, Pilsners and Stouts.  The soap featured here is the Black Pepper and Lime-made with Corona!  Perhaps you’re interested in a Sam Adams or a Sierra Nevada?  Don’t worry they have those too.  Can’t decide which beer that man in your life likes?  No prob, you can pick and choose in their “6 Pack” set (so awesome!) 

Now, let’s be honest here, these soaps are not just for the man in your life.  They are great for yourself, your mother, sister and any other woman you know who likes a nice cold brewski every now and then.  Check them out:  www.thebeersoapcompany.com.  I guarantee that anyone receiving these as a gift will be drunk with happiness!

I pulled some basic ingredients from my pantry which I’m sure you all have:  Honey, Butter, and white onions

I then cut two panini worthy pieces of bread.  I had a French baguette on hand but you can use any type of good quality, fresh bread

Using 1 or 2 white onions, thinly slice into rings.  I used 2 onions-0ne for each panini.  They cook down when caramelizing and I wanted enough to complement the Brie

 Add about 2 tbsp of one of the most decadent ingredients to a hot skillet or pot….that’s right, Butter (said in a sweet, Southern Paula Deen voice…natch)

 Let the butter melt and add the onions to the skillet. Add 1 tsp of sugar to add some sweetness and to aid in the caramelization process

 (May I also recommend using one of my favorite kitchen tools:  The Wooden Spoon)

While the onions are caramelizing, cut the Brie into slices and add honey to both sides of the bread

Yes, that is a big chunk of bread missing from the end of that bread…Sorry, I was hungry, sue me.

Add the Brie slices to one side of the bread

Once the onions are fully caramelized, add them to the brie and bread

 While all of this is happening you should begin heating your panini press.  I have a wonderful Breville Panini press from Williams-Sonoma that I received as a gift a few year back.  Don’t fret if you don’t have one.  Use an old George Foreman grill (I’m sure you all have one of the “lean, mean, grilling machines” collecting dust somewhere), or simply grill it on a skillet using another heavy pan to weigh it down.  Once whatever contraption you’re using is hot enough, load ‘em up and press ‘em good!

Et Voila!   You have a yummy and decadent brie and caramelized onion panini that is Oh.So.Good.  Serve with a light salad and just surrender.

Red is for this effortless Prairie Girl Maxi Dress from Forever 21

Prairie Girl Maxi Dress via Forever21.com

White is for this sophisticated Summer Hours linen dress from J.Crew which is currently on Sale!

Summer Hours Linen Dress via J.Crew.com

Blue is for this ultra flattering  ‘Camila’ One piece from Miraclesuit

Camila One-piece by Miraclesuit via Nordstrom.com

A great way to pay homage to the wonderful colors of our flag.  Have a wonderful 4th of July Weekend!!

**UPDATE:  For the life of me, I couldn’t remember where I adapted this recipe from.  I go through countless recipes everday trying to find something inventive that will please the palate of me and my husband.  Upon going through a stack of papers today I found the recipe and couldn’t go without giving it a recipe ”shoutout.”  This recipe will provide you with actual measuring but like I stated in my adaptation free feel to eyeball ingredients to suit your tastes! xo

When summer comes around I always try to make dishes that are flavorful and light but that also utilize ingredients that are in season.  I had stocked up on cucumbers - 8 for $1 at the Korean market- (you really can’t beat that) and was trying to get creative with some of my summertimes recipes.  Here’s a great summertime pasta salad that makes a large quantity to last you through the week or to serve at a barbeque or dinner party.  For a cucumber cocktail, make sure to check out one of my earlier posts on Cucumber Martini’s here. Enjoy!

Mint Cucumber Orzo Salad

Ingredients

-1 box of Orzo

-a handful of fresh Mint leaves, chopped (enough to really flavor the salad)

-3 scallions (green and white parts)

-1-2 cucumbers chopped into small pieces

-2 Tbs Olive Oil

-Juice of 1 Lemon

-Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil the Orzo until it’s “Al Dente”-about 8-10 minutes.  Aside from the box of Orzo, use as much of the ingredients listed to suit your tastes.  I just gave you a ballpark but I pretty much eyeball everything.  I really love the flavor that the scallions bring to this dish so I tend to add a bit more.  If it looks like there is too much Orzo and not enough of the other ingredients, simply add more of the scallions and cucumbers.  The mint should be a welcome flavor suprise, but don’t let it overpower your dish.  I found that a “handful” of leaves does the trick.  It’s probably 1/4 cup, so just make sure it’s finely chopped.