Places to Go: Bien Cuit

If you are looking for an authentic Parisian boulangerie experience, look no further than Bien Cuit in Cobble Hill.  The aroma of the bread takes me back to the magical experience of waiting in line for a baguette at Maison Kayser on Rue Monge in Paris.  They have a plethora of fresh baked crusty breads, croissants and croque monsieur, not to mention other gorgeous confections that pair perfectly with one of their frothy cappuccinos.    

(A great selection of hearth-baked breads)

(Puddles of chocolate dolloped in a sponge cake and finished with a sugar-coated raspberry)

(A lovely cappuccino)

As seen through Instagram

Dior: Pre-Fall 2012

The Dior Pre-Fall 2012 presentation, rather stagings in the  Jardin des Tuileries and Palais Royal, were utterly feminine and seriously glamorous.  From the cinched waists, to the pencil and peplum skirts, this collection was Parisian chic at it's finest.  

All images from here

Hazelnut Cinnamon Rolls

Nothing is quite as tempting as the smell of cinnamon and sugar fragrancing the house on a cold weekend morning.  I typically stick to eggs, toast and fruit on a Saturday morning, but recently I was craving something just a bit more comforting, like cinnamon rolls.  I wanted to make a  more grown-up recipe that was just a little different than the rolls I used to eat growing up, so I settled on the Italian inspired hazelnut cinnamon rolls. They were absolutely divine.  Between the nutty, almost chocolate tasting hazelnuts, the caramel-like consistency of the filling, to the fluffiness of the bread, this was quite the breakfast treat.  

A Few Things: I chose to make my own dough (actually, it's my boyfriends unbelievable secret recipe, I am working on him to share it) and frosting, just because I had all of the ingredients on hand. You can choose to make the recipe version, which calls for mascarpone cheese and buttermilk, but I wanted something just a little lighter. 
I whisked the following ingredients together:
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon milk (I used skim)
1/4 teaspoon organic pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

(The ultimate breakfast treat)

Lady in Waiting

There are some photographs that are so jaw-droppingly stunning that they must be shared immediately. When I saw this 50's inspired shoot in Elle's January issue, it literally took my breath away.  There is such a mood in these photographs.  They evoke the dream of an era that was just utterly glamorous.  

Elle, January 2012

Gallery Walls

I am in the process of creating a gallery wall in our living room. It has taken me quite some time to settle on a frame design. I needed to choose between antiqued (gilded in gold, of course) or modern (white frame and white matting), or a mixture of both.  Next there is the search for what to include inside of the frames - luckily, I have quite a few ideas, one being my cherry blossoms photographs. Then after these two important decisions are made, you need to decide on the arrangement, which is where I always struggle; luckily, I have compiled quite a bit of inspiration below that I think will guide me in the right direction. I can't wait to share the results. 

All images from here and here

Haute Couture - Giambattista Valli

All images from style.com

Places to Go: One Girl Cookies

 I have heard so many amazing things about One Girl Cookies, a jewel box of a bakery nestled next to rows of gorgeous brownstones on Dean Street in the heart of Cobble Hill. Upon opening the door you are practically blown away by the aroma of espresso and sweet treats like whoopee pies and intricately decorated cupcakes - it literally makes your mouth water.  I settled on the chocolate whoopee pie. It was cakie, but also light and fluffy with an almost almond flavored icing; paired with a cup of coffee on a cold weekend afternoon was perfection. 

 (An orange blossom cake that looked divine)

(A delightful treat)

Haute Couture - Elie Saab

The Elie Saab couture presentation was nothing but gorgeous, gorgeous gowns walking down the runway. I absolutely love the floral textures and color palette - ranging from nearly translucent to soft pastels. These looks have 'Oscar' written all over them.  I can't wait to see what happens.

All images from style.com