Post Office Goodies

There's nothing better than going to get your mail and finding not one, but two surprises! Thanks to my mom and Tiane for sending some fun stuff my way. I can't wait to check out Dexter. My little sister loves that show!

Currently Dreaming Of...

coffee and chocolate.

And more specifically, how I'm going to celebrate by incorporating them back into my life in just over two weeks. Sixteen more days and counting!

all images via we heart it.

My Growing Library

I was so happy to come home from my trip home to a stack of new magazines and another book by Steve Martin (gifted from M, of course)! I've been a fan of his ever since he starred in Father of the Bride (and the subsequent sequels). I just finished reading An Object of Beauty and I must say, Steve Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. The newest book in my collection is actually a memoir that Steve wrote about his own career in stand-up comedy. I'm only a few pages in and I can already tell I'm going to love it. Side note: doesn't Kate Winslet look amazing on the cover of Glamour? Love her hair!

Weekend Sweet-Cap

My weekend was full of...sugar! I had an insatiable sweet tooth, which happens from time to time. Here's what I indulged in (thankfully not all at once):

freshly baked cookies from a local sandwich shop



flavorful cupcakes from a cute spot on Federal Hill



my favorite flavor was the rich choco dream



espresso frozen yogurt break after browsing at Nordstrom



It's back to the gym for me tonight! Did you enjoy any special treats this weekend?

Midday Snack

blood orange swirled with original & topped with fruit. so good!

Cookie Exchange

After reading about Joanna's old fashioned cookie swap, I haven't been able to get the idea out of my mind! It seems like such a fun, relaxed way to get together with a group of friends. Plus, as a hostess, you really only need to provide some cold milk (or wine) and a batch of your favorite type of cookie. That's a pretty simple party in my book (if you like baking, that is). I think this would be the perfect pre-holiday fete so that you'd have lots of new recipes to try once December arrived! I'd probably whip up one of the goodies below, or these amazing sweet potato whoopie pies from Sprinkles Bakes (a favorite baking site of mine). I think whoopie pies might just be the next big trend once macarons and cupcakes fizzle out. I've been seeing more and more variations of them popping up in magazines and blogs. What do you think?

images via tumblr, beauty in everything, and we heart it

Pinkberry Bliss

Ever since I got my first taste of tart frozen yogurt at Red Mango back in June, I've been dreaming about the cups of swirly goodness. Luckily, Pinkberry finally branched out and opened a shop outside of Boston. Last weekend I managed to justify the drive (after a stop at Nordstrom to lust after some fall clothes) and waited in line for fifteen minutes to see what all thy hype was about. I decided to stick with the original (although coconut sounded good too) and topped it with fresh raspberries and blueberries. I have to say, it was tasty and totally worth the detour! I can't wait to go back and try some more flavors, especially because it's a somewhat healthy option as far as desserts go. The pumpkin spiced granola bits sounded perfect for fall!

What's your favorite Pinkberry concoction?

Cupcakes Gone Wild

Love these adorable animal print cupcake liners! What a fun way to dress up your baked goods.

Sprinkles Galore

I love sparkly sanding sugar and confetti sprinkles, so naturally I was drawn to these amazing shelves. They're so colorful and aesthetically pleasing as part of a kitchen's decor. I mostly love the sheer number of options. From rainbow jimmies to those little metallic spheres that break your teeth, every single one has a great purpose. The containers remind me of beakers in a chemistry lab and the possibilities are virtually endless. Eat your heart out, Martha.

photo source unknown

Office Space

Lately, I've found myself daydreaming about having a more well-defined work area for my laptop, stationery, and inspiration board. Right now I rely primarily on the couch and miniature coffee table for blogging and e-mailing and it's getting old. I've had my eye on the following items to spruce up my boring spare room. Let me know what you think!


A sleek and simple Parsons desk with lots of space to spread out



An antique-inspired swivel chair



A stylish and glossy table lamp to provide ample lighting



A pretty metallic vase because fresh flowers are so uplifting



Magnetic strips for snapshots, ticket stubs, and other little goodies

A bright and cheery print to add lots of color and inspiration to the room

What are your home office essentials?

Turtle Power

Three Baking Sheets to the Wind is quickly becoming one of my favorite cooking blogs, and not just because it has a fabulous name! Ali is an incredibly talented and creative baker who also has a soft spot for unique craft beers. I heard about her blog when I was reading an article about a DC cupcake design contest. She came up with the amazing metro map cupcake (pictured above) and I was mesmerized! I loved her idea and immediately Googled her blog.

I've been happily going through the archives over the past couple days. Ali's ability to write as if she's having a conversation with the reader is sheer talent and she's very relatable (important in the blogosphere). Anyways, I wanted to share this with you so you can check out her blog and see some of her fun projects yourself. I am absolutely smitten with those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle caramel pretzel bites. Too clever!

Do you have a favorite foodie blog?

Creative Cupcakes

These triple salted caramel cupcakes look amazing. Seriously, my mouth is watering just looking at them. They're pretty to look at and just the right amount of fancy. I can only imagine how good they taste! Check out Sprinkles Bakes for the recipe and other yummy photos.

Aren't the orange cupcake liners adorable, too?!

Portable Pinkberry

Dear Providence,

Please open a Pinkberry asap. I'm longing for a miniature frozen yogurt cone. It's just so tiny and cute! Yum.

That is all.

Obsession of the Moment

Time for my favorite new snack: Kashi dark chocolate coconut bars. They are full of fiber and whole grains and (best of all) chocolate and coconut. The bars are tasty mid-morning treat or good for when you need a little something sweet after dinner. The best part is you definitely don't have to feel guilty about enjoying them. I've been trying more of the Kashi bars lately and this one is definitely my favorite one so far. Yummy!

What's your favorite Kashi snack?

Lilly Pulitzer Goes Wild

To this day, Barnum's animal crackers are still one of my favorite snacks. Half the fun is eating them out of the red circus-train boxes! Well, the familiar red cars have been replaced (in limited edition fashion) by Lilly Pulitzer's pastel palette. The collaboration between Lilly and Barnum benefits the World Wildlife Fund and their commitment to protecting tigers in Sumatra. One million of these boxes are going on sale throughout the U.S. and will be available only while supplies last. I can't wait to look for them this weekend at Target! This is a great project that promotes the environment, fashion, and yummy childhood snacks!

What do you think of the Lilly Pulitzer-designed snack boxes?

Whooooo Has My Paperwork?

I feel like these little owl magnets are just what I need to spruce up my desk! I'm always looking for fun accents to add to my cubicle to give it a little more personality (even though I rarely spend any time there). I love the bright pop of color they would bring. If you haven't checked out Mod Cloth, I highly recommend you do so. They have so many fun knick knacks and accessories and they update their inventory daily. Love it!

Cupcake Attire

I love these cupcake t-shirts from Dressing on the Side. They're so cute and a perfect way to express your love for the tasty treats. Check out their shop on Etsy. Even their non-cupcake related shirts are super creative. Their photo shoots look like a blast, especially the one at the carnival!

Which one is your favorite?

Liberty for All

Everyone is jumping on the Liberty bandwagon! The latest company to debut the floral-print pieces is J. Crew and they really did a lovely job. The cardigan and blazer are my two favorite pieces in the collection. I wish they had more of the peacock feather pattern. It's so pretty!

New Obsession of the Moment

So last week it was orange Pellegrino (which I still love), but now there's a new obsession: dark chocolate yogurt-covered raisins. Specifically the ones by Sun-Maid. They are so yummy. And I don't even feel too guilty about eating them because they have fruit and fiber. It's better than eating a handful of chocolate chips, right? The funniest part is, I hate plain raisins. I actually only like raisins when they're mixed into cereals like raisin bran or granola. Well, now I know I like them covered in chocolate yogurt (which seems odd). I've never seen chocolate yogurt next to strawberry and raspberry at the grocery store. Oh well, they sure are tasty. You should try them!

I feel a weekly post coming on about my current favorite drink and/or snack.

Scout it Out

I have to share this site with you because I think these products are amazing! Scout bags are durable, versatile, and adorable and can serve a variety of purposes. I have at least three of them (in different sizes) and I find myself using them all the time. I just recently got a large collapsable storage bin to keep in the back of my car to corral all the stuff that accumulates each week. I love the selection of patterns and bright colors that you can choose from, and the price is right! Plus, Deb Johns (the creator) has been a family friend since before I was even born. I know! She is one clever lady! I can't wait to get my hands on an insulated lunch tote to add to my growing collection. So go check out their site and become a fan on Facebook, too!

What's your favorite pattern?