what's cookin'

my Rebecca Minkoff morning after clutch.

it was such a beautiful day.  finally some nice warm, sunny weather.

Theory romper, misc. rings, unknown necklace, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Michael Kors watch, Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges.

love love looove these shoes.  so comfortable.  i walked around in them a good portion of the day, and never once had to complain that my feet hurt.

delicious things to come!

just your classic vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting.  never disappointing.

Cynthia Vincent for Target

i would like to thank my wonderful friend Alyssa for being compulsive enough to drive 40 minutes to the next closest Target to pick these up for me, and pair for herself of course.  i'm a lucky girl, because Cynthia Vincent's line for Target sold out immediately online, and is basically nonexistent in Target stores.

for $29.99, i can't get over how beautiful they are.  just trust me, wait until you see them on.  well done Cynthia, well done.

it takes real talent to be able to design a pair of wedges under $30 when most Cynthia Vincent shoes are $300 or more.

the top restaurant

one word.  delicious.

yes, and many more good times to come.  i plan to eat here frequently.

cute little lobster pager they give you to let you know when your table is ready.

corn nuggets.  fried ooey gooey goodness, with a side of creamy garlic for dipping.

southwestern chicken sandwich with chicken, pepperjack cheese, bacon, peppers, spicy mustard, peppers, and other good things i can't remember.  notice the cheese oozing out the one end.  with a side of sweet potato fries.  mmm.

the majority of desserts were sold out, so we opted for the vegan chocolate cake.  i don't plan on becoming vegan any time soon, or ever really.  but trust me, this chocolate cake was delicious.  it was moist and dense, and the frosting was the perfect sweetness and very chocolatey.  i would eat this again in a second.

Lucky Brand t-shirt, Silence + Noise blazer, Hudson jeans, unknown necklace, Lucky Brand bracelet, Calvin Klein platforms, and Tory Burch bag.

i've made note to take photos before the sun goes down.  nighttime is not the right time for such photos.

the magical world of fashion

loving Ulrich Schroder's interpretation of the world's leading fashion designers as Disney characters in Elle Spain's April issue.  here are a few of my favorites.

Karl Lagerfeld.

Sonia and Nathalie Rykiel.

John Galliano.

makes me want to break down and buy Chanel flats, and then walk around Magic Kingdom all day wearing them.  all the while eating Mickey Bars.

aluminum or plastic?

i bought my first SIGG bottle about two years ago in an attempt to be more "green".  you know, to do my part to cut down on plastic water bottle consumption.  however, i now have a new reason to love these bottles.  it has just recently come to my attention there's  another, greater benefit of using a SIGG aluminum bottle, or any other BPA-free bottle for that matter.



the hazardous bisphenol A, or BPA, is used primarily to make plastic, and has been linked to negative health effects such as obesity, neurological issues, and cancer.  BPA can leach into the water you drink when your plastic water bottle is exposed to heat or to harsh detergents and hot water.  so if you leave a plastic water bottle in your car on a hot summer day, do not drink out of it.  if you wash a water bottle on the lower rack of your dishwasher, do not drink out of it.  capeesh?

when my SIGG bottle that had been with me just about every day for two years mysteriously "vanished" (it has a unique dent on the side, and if i see you drinking out of it there will be severe consequences), i knew i had to suck it up and buy a new one.  although these bottles are a bit pricey at about $20 a pop, you're doing your part to help out the environment, protecting yourself against BPA exposure, and in the long run saving a lot of money that would have been spent on those ridiculously heavy cases of water.  plus, they're extremely durable, and come in a ton of different colors and designs.  i chose the plain white because i liked the sleekness and simplicity of it.

so let me ask again, aluminum or plastic?

what's a pizookie?

a warm, doughy peanut butter cookie with two scoops of chocolate ice cream.

did i share?  of course not.

on the topic of wedges...

i found these Deena & Ozzy Colorblock wedges for $38, which are still $80 in stores.  at 3 inches, they're the perfect height, and very comfortable.  i'm loving the contrast of grey and black, the peeptoe, and the cutout detailing.

worn with Silence + Noise boyfriend blazer, Reformed dress, Floral and Polka Dot locket, Michael Kors watch, and Banana Republic clutch.

high heels, hard times

according to a recent CNN article, heels tend to get higher during economic recessions.  "we have entered a moment of heightened impracticality in footwear," Elizabeth Semmelhack, author of  "Heights of Fashion: A History of the Elevated Shoe," said.  so this must be why my recent shoe searches yield results of 4 1/2 inch heels.

while some are spraining ankles, suffering blisters, or complaining of foot cramps from torturous footwear, i'm experiencing a whole different type of discomfort.  mental discomfort.  i'm 5'7", and when i put on 4"+ heels, i tower over most people, men included, whenever i go out.  being one of the tallest people in a room makes me feel very uncomfortable.

nonetheless, i love my heels.  and will continue to endure the pain.  just as most women do.  here are some killer wedges that i'm dying for.

Cynthia Vincent, Daryl.  4 1/2" wedge, 1/2" platform.

Pour La Victoire, Tula.  4" heel, 3/4" platform.

Elizabeth & James, Swoon Woven Wedge Booties.  3 3/4" heel.

girl in the blue scarf

if you have read any of the Shopaholic books, then you know the impact a silk scarf can have in a girl's life.  it changes everything.  which is why i had to purchase this Christian Lacroix one.  i told myself i would wear it everyday, that it would light up my face, that everywhere i went, people would refer to me as the girl in the blue scarf.  alright, i exaggerate, but you see where i'm going with this... i needed this scarf.

my first Gilt purchase.  Christian Lacroix silk scarf, ailes de papillon.

in 1978, Hermes hired Lacroix as a color scheme and hands-on design assistant.  the colors used in this particular scarf are beautiful.  it's mostly composed of shades of blue, but one corner of the scarf has a wave of gold and magenta.  the movement and colors of the design remind me of the northern lights.  Lacroix then went on to work with Jean Patou's fashion house, and later Emilio Pucci.  he has since created his own collections.

Peach Valley for lunch.  Dior sunglasses, American Apparel tank and skirt, Christian Lacroix scarf, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Michael Kors watch, and Tory Burch flats.

snails!

i recently enjoyed a meal at Manuel's Vintage Room here in Gainesville.  nice wine, and good food... what more could you want?  maybe good bread.  which we had.  but i guess bread falls into the food category.  it came out warm, was crunchy on the outside, and nice and soft on the inside.  perfect for dipping in oil.

i tried my friend's escargot,  simmered with butter, garlic, and herbs.  it was my first time, and i will definitely eat them again.  i mean, let's be honest... anything simmered with butter is sure to be tasty.

next course, fried vegetable risotto cakes with a pesto aioli sauce.  creamy, yummy goodness.  it was a last minute decision, and i had to wave to get our waiter's attention to come back after we had already ordered.  there are three cakes to each order, which makes it a perfect primi to share.  and, they are kind enough to plate each one separately.  you must order these if you eat at Manuel's in the future.

luckily the two friends i was with cringe at the thought of gorgonzola, so i didn't have to share a bite of my salad.  this rustic salad was a spring mix with gorgonzola, red onions, prosciutto, fresh chopped tomatoes, and pine nuts tossed in a lemon-pesto vinaigrette.  one of my biggest pet peeves at nice restaurants is when there is so little dressing, that the greens are still dry.  i'm happy to report that Manuel's was not frugal with their dressing, and this salad is a must have.  that is, if you like gorgonzola.

the main course... capellini with shrimp.  angel-hair pasta with sauteed shrimp, chorizo, onions, and tomatoes in an oil and garlic sauce.  i will order this again.  it was so light and flavorful, which was exactly what i needed after several courses.  i'm not a fan of leftovers, but this warmed up perfectly for dinner later that weekend.

we ended the night with a piece of chocolate cake.  i said i didn't want it, because it seemed too heavy after already over indulging myself.  but, somehow i managed to be the one eating the last bites and scraping the chocolate ganache off the plate.  so pathetic!

oh, Buffalo

to be honest, i've been a little homesick.  usually being away doesn't bother me.  but lately, i really miss buffalo.  i haven't been home since the beginning of January, and will not be again until the first week of May.  in the mean time, i will continue to compile my list of things to do/eat while i'm back in the City of Good Neighbors.

1.  snuggle with my 4.5 pound dog Sophie, and watch Criminal Minds marathons with my mom.

2.  get chicken wings, with an extra side of blue cheese, from Bar Bill Tavern.  this little gem of a spot has by far the best wings in Buffalo.  don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

3.  order the scallop tostados from Ricks On Main.  homemade tostados topped with guacamole and a scallop.  the middle of the plate is a heaping salad of greens, salsa, corn, beans, and what ever other delicious things they pile on there.

4.  stop at Spot Coffee on Elmwood for the grilled cheese.  this is a photo of their chicken focaccia sandwich, which looks very similar to the grilled cheese.  the grilled cheese is colby, cheddar, dijon mayo, and tomato on focaccia.

5.  drive-thru at Tim Hortons for a cafe mocha and sour cream glazed timbits (aka doughnut holes).

6.  order the spaghetti parmesan at Chef's Restaurant.  yes, that is a thick sheet of melted parmesan on top.  you're given a side of their famous pasta sauce for extra dipping.

my list can go on and on of restaurants in Buffalo that i love, and miss.  but, these few items are the comfort foods from home that i always seem to crave.  it should go unsaid that i look forward most to my mother's home cooked meals.  i was raised by a woman who has a lifetime subscription to Bon Appetit.

pura vida

as promised, here are a few photos from my recent trip Costa Rica.  i went with my best friend from home, Claire, and friend Tara, along with six other girls.  we stayed in Jaco Beach and took a boat to Tortuga Island one of the days.  the mountains throughout Costa Rica were beautiful.  the ride from the airport in San Jose to Jaco was close to two hours, and it was the perfect opportunity to take in the landscape and see the little restaurants and fruit stands on the side of the road.

the view from one of the tree stands i was on during our canopy tour.  i almost didn't make it due to the one too many margaritas i had the night before.

not so smooth landing.

guacamole at The Backyard.

the guacamole in Costa Rica exceeded my expectations.  i made it my mission to order it every time we ate out.  it was so much lighter and creamier than the guacamole i'm used to.  the chips were delicious too.  they always came out fresh and warm, and were thick and crunchy.  they were the perfect vehicle to deliver each bite of goodness.

The Vista Mar.

we stayed at the Vista Mar, which was conveniently located right on the beach.  the hotel had its own restaurant and served in the open, just as the majority of restaurants in Jaco do.  so, every morning,  i ate my dos huevos with rice and beans looking out at the Pacific Ocean.

breakfast of a champion.

Tortuga Island, where Jurassic Park was filmed.

view of the water while laying on the beach at Tortuga.

gift store in Jaco.

unfortunately, there weren't as many treasures, in the form of jewels, as i had hoped for.  gift shops in Jaco were filled with candle holders, bowls, and other nick nacks carved from mango wood.  i bought myself a couple of bowls to hold rings and other jewelry.  the one bowl is actually made out of a coconut shell, and some how has swirls of cinnamon carved into in it.  when you hold the bowl close enough to your face, you can smell the spicy cinnamon.

Claire and me.

chalupas at Wishbone.  by far, the best meal i had in Jaco.  i was stuffed after eating the first one, and still managed to eat the second.  they were simply that delicious.

enjoying a piece of pineapple upside down cake that i saved for the plane ride home.  i have little self control, and ate it before i even went through security.