Sweet lover’s delight

{The reddest strawberries I’ve ever seen, at the Farmer’s Market}

If it’s not clear by now, I’ll say it explicitly. I have one, major, gigantic sweet tooth. From fruit to chocolate, I’ll take it all (in one sitting). Really, I must learn to tame myself… Anyway, besides being delicious on a scale of one to delicious, I learned, during a recent walk around the Village in NY, that sweets also photograph well. Don’t you agree? Here, is just some evidence of the food gawking I’ve been doing as of late.

{Teeny, delicious cupcakes in lots of different flavors from here}

{Summer cherries fading from pink to yellow}

{Birthday cake and raspberry truffle cake pops}

Life lately

{Writing in the sand at the beach by Pier Village}

Fridays are (by far) my favorite day of the week. Everything I look forward to all weeklong is only a little bit away. This weekend, though, I’ll be enduring the brutalizing heat that has taken over New York City. I’ll pop outside for a walk around, some shopping, and maybe a picnic in the park. But for the most part I’ll fill my schedule with indoor activities, so I can play in the air conditioning. Until then, here are some pictures from this past week (and weekend) that are keeping me happy.

{My 8-lb dog Hudson acting like a tough guy looking out the window and guarding my family’s house}

{A basket full of striped Soludos from Jcrew}

{A heart full of baubles, pins, and jewelry in a store window}

{Gelato I could never resist}

Leopard and Leather

Haute Hippie skirt  (sold out, but similar here) |  Zara blouse (similar here and here, and love) | Zara pumps (Not pictured) | Vintage necklace (I also like this and this)

Who says you can’t wear leather in the summer? As long as you’re not rocking skin tight leather pants (but then again, when would that be okay), or a head to toe catsuit (again, never okay), I approve of leather always. I love how soft it feels against my skin, and it goes well with mostly anything. So this past weekend, before running my errands around town (morning shopping, lunch and bookstore for a late afternoon lounge session) I dressed myself up. Here, I paired my leather skirt, which sports some lighter shades along with the darker, together with a lightweight leopard top. All in all, comfy and chic.

Berry Ice-pops and stars

Although I’ve been acting like it’s summer for the past few weeks, today is officially the first day. I had approximately 10 minutes of free time to celebrate, and so what better way than homemade ice pops – easy, healthy, and more delicious than the store bought ones. I used blueberries, strawberries, a couple of raspberries, mango nectar, and coconut milk. Turned on the blender, poured the mix into popsicle containers, and popped it into the freezer. I had some extra, so I poured the mix into my star-shaped ice-cube tray (for when a taste is just enough).Later in the day, when I came home, I had a lovely treat awaiting!

Orange you pretty

Orange is the color of the summer for makeup. From coral shades to neon brights, the most fashionable finger nails are decked out in this fashion-forward color. But it takes some courage to stray from more traditional shades of pinks and purples. I, for one, go a little stir crazy in the nail salon trying to choose the perfect shade. (You’d think I was choosing the next president or something.) So being the crazy girly-girl that I am, I’ve put together a collage of my favorite shades that  work well with any skin tone. I can’t wait to try them out.

Clockwise from top left

1. OPI – Bright Lights Big Color  2. Dior Vernis – Riveria 537 3. Essie – Poppy Razzi 4. Chanel – Orange Fizz 5. Essie – Fear or Desire  6. Butter London – Macbeth 7. OPI – Are We There Yet 8. Chanel – Holiday 617

Summer Stripes

 Dress – Anthropologie |  Watch – Michael Kors |  Sandals -Athena Alexandra | Hat – Vintage (similar here and here)  | Bracelet – David Yurman  | Nails – Essie| Toes – OPI

Nothing says summer like playing outdoors in a girly and delicate dress.The weather was beautiful this past weekend, and I finally had a chance to show off my new purchase. I was so excited when I saw this dress in Anthropologie last week, and bonus, it was on sale. I fell in love with the unique key holes, piqued stripes, and navy and white color combination. Not to mention, it matches my most prized of all accessories (my dog Hudson).

Life lately

{My maltese, Hudson!}

Thanks to summer Fridays, I’m already at my family’s house in New Jersey for the weekend. Today I’m excited to enjoy the warm sunny rays and lie out by the pool, chatting away, smoothies in hand and SPF by my side. We’re celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday, and my younger brothers and I put our heads together to come up with the greatest gift idea this year. I’ll share more as soon as the surprise is revealed. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from my life that are keeping me happy. Have a wonderful weekend filled with sunshine and love!

{A slice of red velvet and a glass of pinot grigio, the ultimate indulgence}

{An artist’s set up in Union Square}

{Amazing fresh spaghetti from Eataly}

You can always tell a girl by the color of her nails…

Being the girly girl that I am, I have an obsession with nail polish and pretty designs. Right now, my nails are painted Splash of Grenadine – by Essie, a pinkish purple that reminds me of the most luscious peonies. You can never go wrong with any shade of pink. These pictures represent some nail art I find inspiring. I can’t wait to try them out and show you!

{French nails, classy and simple, with a touch of sparkle}

{I love these delicate flowers on a periwinkle base}

{My favorite color combo right now- silver and coral}

{And of course, glitter}

You can find all these photos, and links to their sources, on my Pinterest account. Click here!

Father’s Day Gift Guide

From the age of 5 – pulling out my splinters with a steady hand and causing minimal pain,

to age 10- cheering for me on the sidelines at all of my soccer games,

to age 15- driving to the local ice cream store at 10pm to just to fill my craving,

 to age 20- picking my friends and me up from the bus station at 2am,

My dad has always been there for me in more ways than I can recount.

This weekend is the one day a year where we get to say thank you to our biggest supporter. So to show your appreciation and love for your number one fan, take a tip from my gift guide.

Happy (early) Father’s Day Dad, I love you!

1.  Jcrew secret wash lightweight shirt in plaid  2. Tickets to a baseball game  3. Cuisinart 10-piece Premium Grilling Set 4. Burberry Cufflinks 5. iPad 6. Sperry Cup Shoes 7. Rock glass set with ice mold 8. A bestseller for the avid reader

Petite Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

Call me a chocoholic and I won’t take offense. I’d choose chocolate over any other option. But I’ve learned to live with my addiction (and keep my tush in line) by substituting quantity for quality… And these bite size cookies I recently made are the perfect ending to a chocolate lover’s dream. They’re reminiscent of a french macaron, but with a little more crunch. I edited this recipe, originally for macarons, by whisking lightly, so the sandwich sides were slightly more dense. But if traditional is more your style and you’re up for the challenge, let me know how it turns out!

{Lots of chopped chocolate}

{The most amazing ganache}

{Going into the oven}

{Voila!}