I’ve really loved the look of long-sleeved dresses lately. They’re perfect for colder weather, immensely flattering and this one just happens to be utterly charming with its flirty bright pink hue and swingy skirt. Plus, I love its versatility: wear it with tights and ankle boots or heels, or go bare-legged with sandals or Audrey-esque ballerina flats; it’s also great for the office and for drinks after.

It also just might be the perfect dress for an appearance on a show that I’ll be a guest on in a few weeks (bright solid color + defined waist + comfy). Yes, I believe it is. Okay, I’m getting it (at $70, how could I not?). How about you? It comes in navy, too… And I love the free shipping & free return shipping, too, in case it doesn’t work out.

Available here.

The Blog

Twelve years ago today…

A dozen scarlet roses arrived at my doorstep.

The card read: “Sender did not leave name.”

Four days later (four days, quel beast!), it was revealed who they were from…

Fred Baby, I couldn’t be happier (or luckier) that they were from you! Here’s to seeing what adventures the next 12+ years (and four days) hold, my mystery valentine… I love you xx.

 And to you, my darling dears, wishing you unimaginable love today and always.

[Photos via Rare Audrey]

The Blog

Every time I go home, my Mom makes her Famous Chocolate Fudge Cake. It’s so delicious (the frosting tastes like fudge!) and always reminds me of my childhood. If you want to bake your valentine a treat, Mom has generously shared her recpe with us.

Mom’s Famous Chocolate Fudge Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease & flour a 13″ x 9″ pan

In a mixing bowl,  combine:

2 Cups flour
2 Cups sugar

Bring to boil:

2 sticks butter or margarine (16 Tbsp or 1 Cup)
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 Cup water

Once brought to a boil, pour over flour & sugar mixture and combine.

Next, combine:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 Cup sour milk (see below)

*Sour milk: In a 1/2 Cup measuring cup, add 1/4 Cup evaporated milk & 1/4 Cup hot water, then 2 tsp white or cider vinegar to curdle; Set the 1/2 cup measuring cup into a 1 cup measuring cup filled with hot water to help it curdle. Then, add 1 tsp of baking soda to the sour milk mix. (Note: The mixture will foam up and possibly over so be over your bowl when you do this part!)

Pour mixture into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

 *Note: The cake doesn’t rise much, so not to worry when it doesn’t!

Icing:

In a mixing bowl:

Pour in a 1 lb. box of confectioner’s (powdwered) sugar

Bring to a boil:

1 stick of butter (8 Tbsp or 1/2 Cup)

4 Tbsp cocoa

1/3 Cup milk

Once brought to a boil, pour over confectioner’s sugar and add:

 1 tsp vanilla

Mix to combine.

Pour over cake and enjoy!

*Note: Icing will not be thick; just pour it over the cake and then let your favorite person lick the beaters and the bowl (my favorite part!).

Thanks, Mamala xx!

Do you have a favorite family recipe? I’d love to know what it is!

[I hate a recipe without photos. Apologies, I've been sick for days and unable to bake, but will get one up ASAP. For now, Lucy will have to do. This is one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes ever. Yours, too?]

Food, The Blog

Darlings, are you ready to get your Grammys on and rate the red carpet? Smashing.

Let’s start with Carrie Underwood’s twinkling, snowy Gomez-Gracia frock. While demure from the front, the back was a fun surprise! I loved her dazzling diamond earrings as well as her espresso clutch and feathery lashes.

There were a lot of neutrals on the red carpet (whites, blacks, metallics), so seeing Fergie’s blood-orange Jean Paul Gaultier couture gown felt very fresh. Not many can pull off a peek-a-boo dress, but Fergie managed to do it with flying colors (er, color) — and it still felt rather ladylike. Bravo.

I also swooned over Katy Perry’s powdery blue Elie Saab, which oozed 1950′s glamour. Of course, she kept it cool and true to herself with a matching blue ‘do. Russell who?

Gwyneth Paltrow looked polished and modern and in a floor-length Stella McCartney black dress and shiny gold belt.

She wasn’t alone, as Paris Hilton (why hello, Paris, fancy seeing you here) cinched her ladylike Basil Soda cap-sleeved frock with a gold belt, too. Do you like this trend? I do!

While most Grammy attendees flaunted long dresses, Corinne Bailey Rae’s swingy ruffle-hemmed Christian Siriano number charmed and delighted and felt both girly and glamourous.

Speaking of glamourous, Adele’s sparkling black custom-made Armani gown was perfection. The cinced waist was figure-flattering and her vintage-inspired hair, makeup and jewels are all I’ve been able to think about since seeing them. A glam slam, indeed!

Well, this is a first, but Taylor Swift’s golden Zuhair Murad gown dazzled  – and fit her to a tee – making her a Best Dressed nominee!

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p.s. Which of these dresses would you most like to wear? Color me surprised, but I’m leaning towards Katy Perry’s dress! How about you?

Polls, The Blog

Darlings, I wanted to share one of my favorite DIY Valentine’s Day gift ideas with you, in case you are racking your brain trying to think of a way to show your Valentine how you feel (like I am!). I call this a Love Jar or Love Bucket and you simply fill a handsome jar with tiny heart-shaped love notes.

Here are the steps:

1. Find a jar and/or bucket in which to put your love notes. (I used a vintage decanter {similar} and silver bucket {similar} from my fave store in San Francisco, Past Perfect, but you can use whatever vessel strikes your fancy. I chose both a jar to put the love-note hearts in and a silver bucket so that my valentine, Fred Baby, had a place to put the notes he had read.)

2. Pick up a sheet or two of pretty paper. (I used Paris map wrapping paper from Paper Source. Papyrus and Kate’s Paperie also have great options. Be sure one side is blank so you can write on it!)

3. Cut out tiny hearts! (Or, use a heart-shaped punch, which is probably much easier. The number is up to you. I used our anniversary, 2/18, and cut out 218 hearts, which admittedly is a lot, but you could do whatever number means something to you and yours. Or, add a twist: Start with 14 for Valentine’s Day and then add a new one each day – that would be such a fun tradition!)

4. Use a pretty pen to jot down your favorite memories. Ideas of what to include: things you love about your Valentine, special dates, adventures, nicknames, inside jokes, or whatever you want to express (our Love Jar is filled with a lot of food references and travel adventures – big surprise!). It’s amazing how writing something as simple as “ancho fudge pie” or “San Marino snow” can bring back a flood of memories.

5. Deliver your Love Bucket to your love bucket! While it’s technically a gift for your valentine, it’s really such a gift to yourself, too, as you get to travel down memory lane with your favorite travel partner.

Do you have any favorite Valentine’s Day or anniversary gifts that you’ve given or received? Do tell, lovelies xx!

[Photos by BussBuss; art print by Shelby Healey]

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