cadbury confections

There are two times during the year when I look forward to eating candy more than ever. One is Halloween, for the Brach's Mellowcreme Pumpkins. The second is Easter, for the Cadbury Creme Eggs. Because they are limited to a season, I somehow manage to justify eating them in extreme excess during that short period of time.

Photo: bon appétit

This year I have come across a whole new way to indulge in my springtime sugar-fest. The first I had ever seen a Cadbury Creme Egg used in a recipe was earlier this week in this picture from Zoey Cakes.

Uhhh... yum?

So after a really quick search, I've discovered that these crave-worthy cupcakes are not alone in their Cadbury creativity. Here are a handful of other recipes that make me want to go and buy up the creme egg stock at the A&P down the street.

april showers

Wow! How creative, New York! You've given us another nice and gray, rainy day.

Photo: WhatDidYouExpectDarling

Now don't get me wrong, I love the rain--but only under two conditions. 1. It's warm weather and the sun is still shining even though it's raining. OR 2. It's cold and gray and I have the luxury of staying curled up by a fire, warm and dry, inside all day. Since things don't seem to be going in either of those directions lately, here is an April Showers Survival Guide to get you through the wet-weather-wardrobe season. Just because the weather is dull doesn't mean your outfit has to be too! ;)

I've always had qualms with outerwear. I feel like it can so easily muddle up your perfectly selected outfit, especially when it comes to rain gear. These jackets are functional and fun so you won't have to cringe as you put on your old, puffy, might-as-well-be-a-trash-bag slicker. 

From top left, clockwise: Yellow Pac-A-Parka, Topshop; Burberry Mint Green Pack-Away Parka, Net-A-Porter; River Island Leopard Trench Coat, ASOS; Jones and Jones Pink Paris Trench Coat, Topshop; Mackage Short Zip Rain Coat, Bloomingdale's

Sure, anyone can buy a pair of Hunter rain boots and call it a day. (Not that I don't adore my Hunters.) But let's get slightly more original.

From top left, clockwise: Loeffler Randall Lace-Up Rain Ankle Boots, Saks Fifth Avenue; UGG Australia Belcloud Rain Boots, Bloomingdale's; Tommy Hilfiger Women's Canaan Rain Boot, DSW; Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip-Ons, J. Crew; Sperry Top-Sider Hingham Rain Boots, Nordstrom; Tangerine April Showers Rain Loafers, Ruche; BCBG Max Azria Willis Rain Boots, Heels.com

Here are a few cute, little, rainy-day pieces, just for fun. A hat is always a good idea when it's raining out, particularly for the purposes of covering up the crazy hair the weather is giving you. This tote bag is especially cool because it's a PVC-covered cotton, so it has a shiny, plastic-y finish and it won't get ruined if it gets wet!

From left: Gray Wool Floppy Hat, American Apparel; Navy Cath Kidston Spot Rain Hat, ASOS; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Dress, Bergdorf Goodman; Wear the Rainbow Hair Clip, Modcloth; Antipast Silver Bee in the Rain High Socks, Bird; Antipast White Bee in the Rain Socks, Bird; Bottega Veneta Blue Ombre Cashmere and Silk-Blend Scarf, Net-A-Porter; DKNY Aqua Metallic Raindrop Cap-Sleeve Tie Blouse, My-Wardrobe.com; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Side-Zip Capris, Saks Fifth Avenue; Pastel Prism 'What Color Is It?' Watch, Modcloth; English Rose Cath Kidston Carry-All Bag, ASOS

Of course, no rainy day can be weathered without an umbrella.

From top, left to right: Blue Sky Printed Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Dusty Pink Bunny-Print Crook-Handle Umbrella, Topshop; Black and Cream Striped Umbrella, Kate Spade; Red Hearts Umbrella, Moschino Cheap and Chic; Marc by Marc Jacobs Jumbled Birds Umbrella, Net-A-Porter; Neon Geometric-Print David David Blocker Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; English Rose Tiny Umbrella, Cath Kidston; Blue Geometric Print David David Carousel Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; Burberry Regent Double Umbrella, Bloomingdale's; Orange Regimental Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York; Clear Purple Bubble Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Yellow Vintage Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York

There is no morning too busy or rushed to stop and throw on a ring or two... or three. And a pair of earrings, naturally.

Sterling Silver Raindrop Ring, LuttrellStudio on Etsy; Umbrella Ring, PaperBiscuit on Etsy; Cloud Ring with Brass Drop, luckyduct on Etsy; Acrylic Sun and Cloud Rings, CupOfSea on Etsy; Sleepy Raincloud Ring, KimberlyDanielle on Etsy; Sterling Silver and Copper Spring Showers Ring, MintyFreshStudio; Gold April Showers Adjustable Ring, eelizabeth on Etsy; Rainbow Charm Ring, CsCharms on Etsy

Vintage Blue Canary Green Umbrella Earrings, Steven Alan; Happy Cloud Earrings, Cute-Plush; Partly Sunny/Partly Cloudy Earrings, LivCreatively on Etsy; She Draws Umbrella Earrings, Hannah Zakari; Air Elements of Nature Necklace, Modcloth; Alassin Sane Necklace, Modcloth; In the Name of Love Necklace, Modcloth; Sad Storm Cloud Necklace, Cute-Plush; Little April Shower Necklace, loubijoux on Etsy; Carrie Saxl Cloud and Star Pendant Necklace, Max & Chloe; Wooden Umbrella Girl Necklace, Stolen Thunder Boutique; A Bracelet For a Rainy Day, RMichelle on Etsy; Rain on a Sunny Day Necklace and Earring Set, robyny83 on Etsy

So hopefully these April showers...

Photos: oO-Rein-Oo 

will bring some May flowers.

Photos: Goodmorning&Goodnight; Studded Hearts

And soon!



-S.

singin' in the rain

Elyse Saunders for Elle Italia, April 2011, shot by David Burton.

 

-S.

charming bows & cherry blossoms

If you haven't already browsed through The Cherry Blossom Girl blog, you should do so ASAP. Her site is a pastel confection of all things cute and girly. It's a daily stop on my blog-roll! So naturally, I think it's simply divine that she has collaborated with Etam to design a collection of lingerie. Think French chic meets Lolita. I've posted the video campaign that accompanies the first two released themes of the line below. It's adorable. Oui?

Continue on for the rest of the images from 'The Cherry Blossom Girl pour Etam.'

-S.

coachella chic—and the not so chic

What could be better than a weekend of music, sunshine and a warm weather wardrobe? Well definitely not a weekend of thunderstorms and gray skies like we had here in New York. Nevertheless, I shall pretend and dream up an alternate reality in which I too basked in the West Coast wonderland that is Coachella this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Capitalizing on such a golden opportunity, I would've worn something appropriately bohemian and free-spirited. Maybe a bit of fringe, or some crocheting or feathers. 

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea; Drink the wild air's salubrity." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a look under the cut for some of my favorite looks seen at Coachella this year. And also, a few what-were-they-thinking moments...

Photo: Fashion Toast

gilding the iris

Talk about ornate... Alexander McQueen Gold Iris Platform Sandals.

 

Photos via Z Fashion Blog.

-S.

it's not a purse, it's a satchel

The good thing about my hefty bag sized purses? I can carry my laptop and magazines and an alternative pair of shoes when I can't make up my mind in the morning. The bad thing? I can carry my laptop and magazines and an alternative pair of shoes when I can't make up my mind in the morning... If I have the space in my bag, I WILL fill it up with something—anything. So lately I've been in search of the perfect solution, the satchel. You can get a satchel in all different sizes, but unlike my usual hobo bags, satchels have a bit more structure so things stay organized instead of disappearing into the infinite, black abyss.

Hermès Birkin Bag

Proenza Schouler PS1 Large Croc Bag

Marc Jacobs Camille Satchel

Ladies and gentlemen, I have found the satchel I want (and sadly, no, I didn't even bother seriously looking into any of the fancy-schmancy ones in the pictures above). Not only is it available in four different widths AND four bright and summery fluorescent colors (or the standard browns, blacks, reds, etc. if you prefer something less flashy), but it can also be monogrammed. Perhaps it was my undergrad sorority days that did it to me, but I love to have my initials (or back then, my letters) on everything from my bath towels to my stationery. It's available online at The Cambridge Satchel Company. Now all I need to do is choose: yellow, orange, green or pink? 

-S.

blushing non-bride

Part of me is a bit hesitant to post this entry for fear I'll look absolutely bat-shit insane. I'm not engaged. I'm not getting married anytime soon. But for some unknown reason, I love wedding gowns. Ok, maybe the reason isn't so unknown... I mean, they're gorgeous! Frothy, frilly, floaty layers of creamy white fabric confections sewn together with accents of glitz and lace--what's not to love? So I've decided to throw caution to the wind and risk looking like a psycho and tell you about these gorgeous gowns. 

There was a marathon of that show Say Yes to the Dress on TLC yesterday, and I'm a sucker for a marathon. So I sat and watched as the brides-to-be tried on dress after dress in preparation for their big day. And somehow I ended up browsing online looking at more pretty dresses. I noticed a few brands that I was consistently drawn to, only to find out they were all part of the same overarching design group. Apparently, I have a type. See what you think...

-S. 

Aire Barcelona

Rosa Clará

long story

I am so so so into maxi dresses right now. It's amazing how a dress that is so forgiving and so comfy can be so sexy and dramatic at the same time. Perfect combination! Whether long sleeved or sleeveless, a print or a solid, dressed up or casual and easy, the maxi dress is always stylish. (Did I mention that I am SO into maxi dresses?) Here are some of my favorites... and sorry, but I have a lot of favorites. :)

-S. 

Skinny Strap Chiffon Maxi Dress, ASOS

Missoni Rona Jersey Maxi Dress, Net-A-Porter

sketchy

Wednesdays are always super boring for me, so last week I decided to go with my mom to her art class on Wednesday nights. I've been sketching and drawing for a few years now, but this whole painting thing is entirely foreign to me. So far all I have completed is the blocking of the figures on the canvas--and even that needs some serious editing. It'll be interesting to see how things start to unfold once I add a bit of color and paint into the mix! I'm one of those ridiculous people that want to be good at something from the start  and dive right into the deep end. I get the feeling I have a harsh reality check coming my way... Wish me luck! Here's the photograph I'm going to paint. And continue on to see some of my old sketches. :)

Happy Sunday!

-S.