Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Macarons OR Macaroons???

First, let me start off by saying that I am unsure when the spelling m-a-c-a-r-o-n is appropriate or when to instead use m-a-c-a-r-o-o-n. I was always under the impression that macaroons were the cookies made from shaved coconut and that macarons were the little colorful French sandwich cookies. I wish I knew if I were in fact correct in that distinction or not, but alas I may never know because I find contradictory information around every turn.

Now let the jealousy ensue…

In July my best friend and her new husband went on their honeymoon to France. And because she is very sweet and thoughtful, on a stop to the famous Laduree Paris, they picked me up a box of French macarons (as you can see I am choosing to use this spelling…even though Laduree’s own website uses the alternate spelling).

One magical day in the middle of July I received a package in the mail. And inside that package was the most lovely little box I have ever seen.

DSC08580DSC08585

(amazingly lovely Laduree Paris macaron box)

Isn’t it amazingly lovely?

Opening that lovely little box was like opening a present inside a present. Everything was so unbelievably beautiful that I wanted to be very careful not to rip anything and ruin all its prettiness.

DSC08587DSC08592

(carefully working my way to the macarons inside)

When I finally succeeded in carefully opening that lovely little box, it was filled with some of the most beautiful cookies I have ever seen. A little worse for the ware due to traveling in a suitcase back from France, and then traveling through the mail from Wisconsin to my doorstep, but still beautiful (just a tad crumbly).

DSC08595DSC08599

(macarons from Laduree Paris, plus a few crumbs)

That didn’t change how yummy they were. I slowly worked my way through the box of colorful macarons flavor by flavor, having one cookie a day (sometimes two when I just couldn’t resist). I wanted these special decadent cookies to last as long as possible.

Until one day when I was left with one last lonely single macaron (and some crumbs).

8) Pistachio?

(the last macaron, pistachio flavored I believe)

That was a sad day. But I took photos of each of the lovely little cookies and tried my best to determine the flavor of each along the way.

1) Rose?7) Chocolate

(Rose? Chocolate.)

4) Coffee3) Blackcurrant Violet?

(Coffee. Blackcurrant violet?)

5) Vanilla2) Raspberry

(Vanilla. Raspberry.)

8) Pistachio?6) Lemon

(Pistachio? Lemon.)

I wonder if some day I will have the pleasure of enjoying more of these gorgeous macarons. Perhaps if I ever visit Paris again (*crossing my fingers*).

For more reading regarding Laduree see:

And to see my entire Laduree macaron flikr set see:

Credit: All photos taken by me. Beautiful French cookies made by Laduree Paris.

signature

Monday, August 30, 2010

Crushin’ On Color: Teal

008 - Copy

Is it the gorgeous shoes or the scrumptious teal color that I love so much about this photo?  I think it’s a toss-up.

Credit: London wedding photographed by Marianne Taylor via Style Me Pretty

signature

Monday, August 23, 2010

Birthday Cards

Here are birthday cards that I made this lovely warm month of August…for my cousin’s wife and for a long-time friend.

Grrrreat Birthday - FrontGrrrreat Birthday - InsideWish. - FrontWish. - Inside

Credit: All photos taken by me.

signature

Crushin’ On Color: Hot Pink

6a00d8341c6a0853ef0133f2ffc453970b-800wi

I’m normally not a ‘pink’ person, but this shade of pink made me go, “wowza!”  And it’s found in nature nonetheless!

Credit: Dragon fruit via oh joy! eats

signature

Friday, August 20, 2010

Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn - "Relator"

It's almost the weekend! Check out this happy little song and video by the duo of Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn. I already LOVE him and pretty much ALL his music...but Scarlett Johansson isn't too shabby herself. Here's to a great weekend!




If only I had all the money in the world…

Here are some lovely things I have seen lately.

Isn’t this little striped dress just so cute?  Perfect for an everyday summertime outfit.  And I just love how it looks almost nautical.  I have such a thing for stripes.

sailboatdress_1sailboatdress_1_01sailboatdress_1_04

{ Oh Barnacles! Dress via Spotted Moth, $32.99 }

These pens are not only super adorable, but they can write 2 meters a day for 7 years!  I can’t decide which design I like the best.

coffee_detailcoffeeFork_detailForkIceCreamIceCream_detail

{ seven year pen by Seltzer Goods, $7.50 }

Not only are these glasses vintage-inspired, but majorly affordable too.  Warby Parker refuses to deal with the few large companies that have kept prices artificially high.  By offering their glasses directly from their own website they cut out the middleman, and can offer great prices to the consumer.  Even better, Warby Parker works with non-profits, such as RestoringVision.org, to deliver one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that they sell.

Huxley200-FemaleFF-zoomRoosevelt101-FemaleFF-zoomColton210-FemaleFF-zoomJaphy210-FemaleFF-zoom

 { Frames and Prescription Lenses by Warby Parker, $95 }

Every single time I watch Project Runway, I am in awe of the designers TouchSmart computers.  I want to be able to draw directly onto my computer screen too!

_HP_tm2t_246x232_JPEGHP-tm2t-500x420tm2-on-Runway_HP_hp-project_246x232_JPEG

{ HP TouchSmart by HP, $829.99 }

I saw this chair yesterday via my email inbox, and instantly I fell in love.  Problem is, I can’t find any information about where to purchase it or how much it costs.  Whatever it costs, it looks like it would be worth every penny.

081710_mastersuites_em

{ Anthropologie }

I saw the top stamp awhile back, and I have been dreaming about owning my own ever since.  Oh, the many projects I could use this baby for!  So far I’ve scoured the Internet, but have not found anything quite like it.  The bottom stamp is the closest I have found.

4810314817_53c35d468b6a00d8358081ff69e20133f32c73a5970b-400wi

{ Giant Dwarf and A Beautiful Mess }

Ever heard of a butter bell?  Well I hadn’t either, until yesterday when I read about it on Prudent Baby.  It’s a place to store your butter, that isn’t in your refrigerator, and the butter keeps for a long time.  Genius for bakers like me that always forget to take butter out ahead of time.

41cmffzuMAL._AA300_31yeP1LyNoL._AA300_

{ Butter Bell available via Amazon, $9.99 }

signature