February Photo Project: Treasure

February has almost come to a close, which means it's time to share the photos you took this month of the things, places and people you treasure. I chose to photograph a ruby ring that belonged to my Grandma Hazel. Her daddy gave it to her, and she decided that I should have it a few years ago. It's nice to look down at your hand and immediately think of someone and what they mean to you. Here are a few more images from fellow bloggers.

Kayla of Exquisite Banana captured these gorgeous roses and said flowers are one of her most treasured pleasures.
Jessie of Sweet Thing celebrated her 10-year love affair with Los Angeles.
And all this gorgeous sparkle is courtesy of Kelsey at Pinegate Road.

If you want to share one of your treasure photos, just leave a link below! I'll announce the March photo theme next week. Thanks for participating!

Dessert and Decisions

It's been one of those weeks where I'm all caught up in my own head wondering what I'm doing with my life. But then I'm faced with the question, "Which flavors would you like?" and it becomes clear that in macarons and in life, there are no wrong answers.

In Stitches

There is something so sweetly homegrown and old-fashioned about embroidery. These pieces have that same charm but with a modern spin. I love the use of fabric swatches and bold colors and the oh so very hipster vibe each one captures. Plus, the name of the shop is Cheese Before Bedtime, which could also be the name of my autobiography.

Weekend in Photos

Jonah's parents arrived in town, and so far we've had meals at Otto and Peels, two of our favorites. At this rate, I'll have gained 5 pounds by the time they leave. On Sunday night, we watched the Oscars, which was made far more enjoyable by good company and a table full of puns. We decided the tastiest dish would determine the Best Picture winner, and the Argo Stuff Yourself French Toast proved victorious, so congrats to Ben Affleck for that as well. How was your weekend?

Thoughts of the Week

As if a cake weren't wonderful enough, here's one filled with secret goodness.

A beautiful reminder to pay more attention when I'm walking around the city.

I forgot how chic all black can be.

A trick for bringing a baguette back to life. I tried it this week, and it worked!

My closet is eager to spring forward.

Wallpaper to go along with your tea parties.

I need more fancy footwear in my life.

Let's ALL open bakeries.

The question is how many tiny tacos would I eat.

Happy Friday, dear friends! As always, thanks for stopping by and sending kind words my way. What are you up to this weekend? I'm having a little Oscars gathering on Sunday, and Jonah's parents are headed to town, which means lots of restaurant meals next week!

Season Shift

There aren't enough sweaters and jeans to go around during winter, and I've had it with them anyway. As the temperature climbs (please start climbing, temperature), I'm turning to colorful tights to transition to warmer weather, cover my pathetically pale legs and put a little spring in my step.

Also, here's my favorite way to store tights.

[found here: fishbone pattern; pink hearts; floral fishnet; sheer dot; mint; violet stripe]

Mixing up a Milkshake

When KitchenAid asked me to try out their 5-speed hand blender, I said yes, please! I love the fact that it can do the job of several appliances, which is important for tiny New York kitchens where counter space and storage is a precious commodity. Since the hand blender purees, whisks, chops and more, I wanted to put its multiple uses to the test with the best and most delicious way I could think of: a milkshake.

With the blade attachment, I made a chocolate banana shake. It was great for keeping an eye on the consistency and getting those bananas smashed up. I used the whisk attachment to quickly whip cream, and I crushed a heath bar with the chopper attachment. The blender is easy to handle and served all of its purposes well. I'm looking forward to using it for soups, smoothies and sauces but maybe just one more milkshake first.

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup of milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 banana, sliced
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
whipped cream, optional
candy bar, optional

Combine ice cream, milk, cocoa, banana and vanilla with hand blender until combined and smooth. Top with whipped cream and crushed bits of your favorite candy bar.

Thanks to KitchenAid for sending me their 5-speed hand blender.

What's on Your Walls?

My apartment walls are covered with a mix of my personal photos, paintings that my mom did, some screen prints ordered on Etsy and one framed poster of James Dean. I'm thinking of adding a little more professional photography to the assortment, and these black and white prints available at Art.com have just the right blend of beauty and personality. What's hanging on your walls?

Speaking of photography, be sure to join in on this month's photo challenge!

[photos found here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Weekend in Photos

Doughnuts, fun packages in the mail, take-out, music and conversation at a friend's place and brunch in Brooklyn. All good things on a windy New York weekend. What did you find yourself up to?

Just Chillin'

Update: Lena of A Crimson Kiss is the winner!

I have a fun product to tell you about. It's called the Corkcicle, and it's a sleek and simple way to keep your bottle of wine at just the right temperature. Wouldn't it make a great hostess gift? It was one of Oprah's favorite things last year, so you know it's good. And in keeping with Oprah, one of you gets a Corkcicle of your very own! (I do really wish I could say "You get a Corkcicle" and "You get a Corkcicle!") Just leave a comment below before noon on Friday, February 22nd, telling me your favorite way to relax or what your favorite wine is. One winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

Lovely Love Songs

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a little playlist of some of my favorite songs about love. What's your favorite love song? Note: Kiss from a Rose is not an acceptable answer. Sending flowers, music and love your way today. 

Strawberry Cake for Your Sweet

This cake idea has been bouncing around in my head since last Valentine's Day. It's a strawberry cake with white chocolate frosting, so you end up with a tasty, out-of-the-ordinary cake and a cutesy pink and white color combination. I think my cake could still use some tweaking, since it was a bit dense, but this is the recipe I used, halving the gelatin and using unsweetened frozen strawberries. I'm curious to try this recipe too.

As far as the frosting goes, this cream cheese and white chocolate blend is just right. I'm already imagining it on top of carrot cupcakes for Easter. I really like the sweet strawberry cake paired with the more subtle frosting. It would be great for a girly birthday party or a shower, and of course, for sharing with those closest to your heart on February 14.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), softened
6 ounces white chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until blended. Add melted white chocolate and vanilla extract. Measure 2 cups of powdered sugar, then sift. Add sifted sugar to mixture gradually until combined.

Frocktails: Think Pink

It's February frocktail time! I went for a happy, little pink drink called a Paloma since it's in the Valentine's Day color palette and because grapefruit is just the tropical dose I'm craving when there's snow on the ground.

This Gap shirt dress is coral with a pink zigzag stripe and is just what my fashion sensibilities are craving mid-winter. It's bright, comfortable and feels like a dress I'd wear on vacation ... even a mental one in my living room.

Pink Paloma

1 1/2 ounces silver tequila

1/2 oz. of lime juice

3 ounces freshly squeezed pink or ruby red grapefruit juice

1/2 oz. agave

2 ounces club soda

Combine tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice and agave. Add ice and top with club soda. Garnish with

wedge of lime or grapefruit. Serves one.

Dress found here and belt found here. Frocktails is a monthly feature for fashion and libation inspiration. See past pairings and see another favorite Valentine's Day cocktail.