For the Love of Beauty

My love of beauty products has been fickle over the years. It would wax and wane, and my desires and opinions seemed to be ever changing. I would read about something new, buy it, think it was great, use it religiously for a month or two and then POOF!  All of its appeal would vanished as another product would come into the limelight. I have to assume this is a pretty common occurrence amongst us ladies. We're constantly in search of the right products - Products that have magical powers to balance, heal, and enhance.

I've written before about my journey into the land of clean products and just how drastically it changed my perspective on beauty and the kind of products I wanted to use. I've since, painlessly and without breaking the bank, found products that I absolutely, whole heartedly love! I have not, in almost a years time, changed course on any of these products. It's love, folks - the real deal!

Cones of Cake

I was cruising marthastewart.com this afternoon with ice cream on the brain (it was sunny and 60-something outside so you can see why). I came across this ridiculously cute recipe that I've gotta share - Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. 
Um, awesome! 
You bake the cupcake inside the sugar cone! What a novel idea - Why can't I ever think of these things? Leave it to Martha.
Then, in normal cupcake fashion, you top 'em off using your icing of choice. Decorations? The sky's the limit! 
Aren't they adorable?!  

Yellow Fever

Picture this: A tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade; A bunch of beautiful daffodils; An adorable set of newly hatched chicks... Yellow is one of the friendliest colors, in my opinion. Whether you're accessorizing with it or rocking it in full force with a dress, top, pant or skirt, you can't go wrong with this warm and inherently cheerful color! 

Get the look:

Jeunesse Sleeveless Blouse ; Clare Vivier Clutch; K. Jacques Sandals; A.L.C. Sweater; Rag & Bone Zipper Capri Jeans; DVF Double Wrap Belt; Deborah Lippmann nail polish - Yellow Brick Road; Alice + Olivia Canvas Sandals; Nixon Chrono Watch

images via & via

Blazing Pickles

There aren't too many things that I can recall loving in both childhood and on into adulthood, but one thing come to mind. Pickles. I have loved them wholly and consistently my entire solid-food-eating life.

As a kid I used to sidle up to my Great Grandpa (that's right, GREAT Grandpa - I was a real youngin' at the time) and ask for the whole jar. Not just a few or a handful, but the whole dang jar. Now that's love!

For the record, my favorite brand of pickles has changed over the years. I used to love Vlasic dill slices back at Great Grandpa's house, then my favorites became Clausen's, and now that I've discovered McClure's pickles... Well, let me just say: McClure's you trump them all! This tiny, friend and family, Brooklyn based operation produces the finest, freshest pickle around.

I was first introduced to McClure's pickles by my brother at Wilfie & Nell in the West Village. I had grown up with a Mexican Mom who fostered a love of spicy foods in all of her children, so when I met my brother for a beer and some Shepherd's Pie he told me about these amazing spicy pickles that we had to order... Spicy pickles?! "Sounds spectacular", I said.

Out came a dish of sandwich friendly slices that had a look about them that reminded me of Great Grandpa's house and my Vlasic dill slices. I popped a slice in my mouth and POW! The spice hit me like a ton of bricks. It's the kind of spice that hurts, but it hurts so good! As a lover of red pepper flakes, tabasco sauce, franks red hot and sriracha sauce I'm going to declare these pickles not for the faint of heart or those of you with a sensitive-to-spice palate. One slice led to another, and before we knew it we had demolished the lot of them and ordered another.

I went home that night raving about them to my husband who also shares my affinity for pickles as well as all things spicy. I wasn't sure if they we're a Wilfie & Nell exclusive or if I would be able to run out and get a jar somewhere, because that's exactly what I wanted to do - Needed to do! He had to try them! I checked the online menu and saw that these pickles were dubbed 'McClure's Spicy Pickles'. Thanks to a quick Google search I found their distributors and the very next day I was off to get a few jars of my own - One for me, one for my husband and one for "later".

If I've peaked your picking loving interest the Williams Sonoma in Chelsea carries jars of McClure's (which are also made in non-spicy form for those of you who are not a fan of spice) and the Whole Foods on Houston in the Bowery carries them as well (click here to find a distributor nearest you). If you are a lover of pickles I say this earnestly, you MUST try McClure's - You will fall in love, for I have never come across a better pickle.

GGL - this one was for you!

Shopping with Mario Brothers on the mind

You've gotta love New York City - You never know what you might see! 

Ode to a French Bistro

French bistro, I love thee.

You are my respite 

From the storms of everyday life. 

With unsurpassable casual coolness,

And a croque monsieur that rocks my world 

I choose you above all others. 

Yours is a cappuccino that melts my heart. 

Okay, so I'm no poet, but when I saw these bistro inspired goodies from Williams Sonoma I couldn't help but think of lazy afternoons spent sipping frothy cappuccinos from these cups and nibbling on a pain au chocolat street side in Paris. I'm no Paris resident, though I wish I was, so thank you to Williams Sonoma for letting me have a little taste of Paris in my Stateside kitchen!

Best Pancakes EVER!

It was 5 years ago when I was first introduced to the wonder that is the Clinton Street Baking Company.
This tiny, unassuming establishment located on the lower east side of Manhattan oozes charm. The menu is chalk full of creative comfort foods, and did I mentioned that everything and I mean everything is utterly delicious? Because it is! Incredible food, crazy cozy atmosphere - If it wasn't for the two hour shut down between 4PM and 6PM used as a shift change, menu change and to dim the lights for the evening crowd, I would probably find myself becoming a permanent fixture there from breakfast thru dinner.

On this particular afternoon I made my way over to Clinton St. during my late afternoon lull and snagged a seat at the bar, which quaintly sits only two. Man, oh man - What to get? I hadn't been there in a while and I was dying for their blueberry pancakes but their buttermilk fried chicken is to die for as well so... What was a girl to do? 3PM? ... Pancakes!





I had also been eyeing up their shakes, made from ice cream provided by the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (YUM!). I settled on Butter Pecan.

I put in my order and with lightning speed a warm stack of fresh, fluffy, wild Maine blueberry pancakes with a side of hot maple butter (a delicious mixture of maple syrup and creamy melted butter) appeared before me. Heaven.

These pancakes are literally the best I've ever had in my long pancake loving life. I wish I could tell you exactly what it is about them that makes them perfect, but I can't. Maybe it's the farm fresh ingredients, or simply a genius recipe by the chef, or it might just be the amazing maple butter; Either way, whatever it is, I contend that they are hands down the best pancakes known to man.

The owners of Clinton Street Baking Co. assert that their goal is to make the best version of the most classic foods with the freshest ingredients.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

A sign hanging in CSBC urging you to EAT. Gladly, I say!

{Hint: The wait on the weekends for brunch is ridiculous for a reason so go early!}