March 2010

New Home Design Book: Designers Here and There

March 31, 2010 at 3:30 pm, by cdewet

I am helping a friend redecorate his living room in Brooklyn, so I have been scouring magazines, websites, catalogs and blogs for inspiration. It occurred to me the other day that I hadn’t picked up a single design book—how crazy is that? Information is so readily available these days that we often skip over “good old-fashioned” books. I personally forgot how wonderful it was to flip through the pages of a big, heavy design book filled with gorgeous photography. Want to know about my most recent find? Michele Keith’s Designers Here and There: Inside the City and Country Homes of America’s Top Decorators. I like it because it gives you a glimpse into the tastes and likes of  the decorators themselves—their own personal style. It’s also a fabulous resource because it covers a range of different design styles—every time I pick up the book I notice something new, like the giant photograph of a Pee-Wee Herman puppet on page 16, or the amazing chandelier in Pam Duncan’s Santa Fe home. Speaking of Pee-Wee Herman, my word of the day is “BOOKS” (everyone scream!). Set down your Kindles, iPads, cell phones, and computers and motor on in to an actual book store. Don’t let the technology of today rob you of the tangible and wonderful experince of print. You won’t regret it!

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Ladies We Love: Laura Munson

March 31, 2010 at 1:26 pm, by Sonia Harmon

You might not recognize Laura Munson at first glance, but there’s a good chance you heard about her popular essay in the New York Times’ Modern Love column last summer, Those Aren’t Fighting Words, Dear. She wrote about the day her husband told her “I don’t love you anymore. I’m not sure I ever did. I’m moving out.” Her response? “I don’t buy it.”

That essay grew into Laura’s new memoir, This Is Not The Story You Think It Is…, which hits stores tomorrow. She wrote throughout that rough patch in her marriage (they are happily together today), and now she hopes that her writing might help someone else. Given the overwhelming response to Laura’s essay (at one point it crashed the New York Times comment section) and the buzz surrounding her book, we think she’ll be able to do just that.

What makes me a lady: I like to think that people are the same everywhere when it really comes down to it. Whether you’re at a ladies luncheon, or a third world country open-air market, basic human kindness is our common thread. I think “mean people” don’t really “suck” like the bumper sticker says, as much as they’re just broken and in pain. And I think we can help each other by doing our best not to gossip, but to practice empathy and kindness. Vulnerability too. Read more

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Cookbook Round-Up: New Favorites

March 30, 2010 at 5:18 pm, by Khalil Hymore

You wouldn’t believe the number of cookbooks that cross my desk in a week. While most are forgettable, Tara and I have have been quite taken with a few recent offerings. Here are some of our new favorites:

• For every kitchen, a great new reference - If you miss Sara Moulton on television as much as I do (former host of Cooking Live and Sara’s Secrets on Food Network and Sara’s Weeknight Meals on PBS) then you’ll really appreciate her new book, Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners. It’s full of classic (Chicken Cassoulet) and unique recipes (Fruit Dumplings), as well as useful kitchen tips and tricks.

• For the glamorous “hostess-with-the-mostess” - New York City restauranteur Donatella Arpaia makes the simplest foods chic and fab in her new book Donatella Cooks. Her Mediterranean recipes could not be easier—many call for just a few ingredients! Come Summertime, I can’t wait to try her Zucchini Fritters and Bocconcini with Peaches.

• For the advanced pastry cook who dreams about moving to Paris – If you aren’t reading famed pastry chef David Lebovitz’s blog then allow me to introduce you. He writes about 2 of my favorite things in life: baked goods and Paris, chronicling his sweet exploits along the way. Ready for Dessert, is a gorgeous new offering full of homey (Cherry-Almond Cobbler) and haute (Pistachio-Cardamom Cake) recipes.

• For the young mom looking to add a bit zest to her meals - I love Daisy Martinez because she is a culinary school grad who uses her classical training to help the home cook. This FORR (Friend of Rachael Ray) is famous for her Latin cuisine. Daisy: Morning, Noon and Night, is full of fun recipes like Bacon and Shrimp Empanadas and Avocados stuffed with Crab-Mango Salsa.

• For the sometimes baker – Do you love to bake treats for your office mates? Are cupcakes and cookies part of your baking repertoire? Then you’ll love Whoopie Pies by Sarah Billingsley and Amy Treadwell. This homage to the famous Pennsylvanian treat features recipes for sweet and savory whoopies. We love the classic Chocolate, but can’t wait to try Chocolate Chip or Banana. You know, some say whoopie pies are the new cupcake!

• For the home cook who’s tired of chicken for dinner…again! -Recipes for chicken are some of the most searched for on the web. Chicken is versatile and inexpensive, but it can get boring, so when chef John Torode’s new book Chicken & Other Fowl arrived I was intrigued. His take on the humble bird is truly inspiring and will definitely help you rethink this weeknight staple. Try one of his Curries or Roast Chicken with Tarragon Sauce.

Do you have a favorite cookbook? Share it with us!

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A Peanut Butter Sandwich Worth $25K

March 30, 2010 at 4:32 pm, by nicole

Peanut butter and mayo isn’t a combination I’d normally try, but it sure is creative—so creative that it earned one 10-year-old a $25,000 scholarship from Jif and four other kids a $2,500 scholarship. The kids were competing to come up with the most creative peanut butter sandwich in Jif‘s 8th annual Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest.

Grand prize winner Rachel G.’s “PB & Fruity Say “’Let Us Rap,’” (complete with mother and daughter posing back-to-back after serving the wrap), impressed the judges the most—but she had tough competition from other creations like Stephanie H.’s “Chickenchita” and Lauren W.’s, “Peanut Butter and Banana Quesadilla with Fresh Fruit Salsa.”

During the competition, the sous-chefs (aka parents!) said that cooking together was a good way to encourage their kids to explore their creativity and help parents and children communicate better. After all, how else could Maria M. come up with a “Peanutty Cristo Breakfast Sandwich” if she didn’t have the opportunity to prepare and test different recipes alongside her mom in their kitchen?

Kids often get attached to wacky food combos—what kind of unique recipes have you and your kids come up with?

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Go Ask Gab: The New Shoe Site That Wooed Me

March 30, 2010 at 2:07 pm, by Gabrielle Porcaro

I’m so excited that one of my favorite shoe stores in New York, ShoeWoo, launched their website yesterday. ShoeWoo.com is a one-stop destination for all of Jones Apparel Group’s shoe brands which includes: Nine West, Boutique 9, Rachel Rachel Roy, Joan & David, Enzo Angiolini, AK Anne Klein, Bandolino and Circa Joan & David. It’s a fun, interactive, easy to navigate site with a plethora of gorgeous shoes!  And be sure to sign up for “shoe closet makeover” sweepstakes.

There are also ShoeWoo stores opening in Boston, Virginia and Ohio, in addition to the stores already in New York, D.C., New Jersey and Arkansas. Trust me ladies—this will be your new go-to shoe site!

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Need a Lift? A Better Smelling Workplace

March 29, 2010 at 12:40 pm, by yyang

They say the olfactory sense is the strongest of all, why not use it to your advantage with an awesome scent diffuser that plugs right into your computer? Add one drop of oil onto the “X” and the heat from the USB drive will do the rest. The oil burner comes with lavender essential oil, which is great for de-stressing; I also like mandarin oil for a little pick-me-up.

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Do Good: An App That Gives Back

March 29, 2010 at 12:39 pm, by Amanda Wolfe

We’re psyched about CauseWorld, a cool new iPhone app that lets you donate to your favorite causes—without actually spending your own cash. Here’s how it works: Big-name sponsors donate money to the CauseWorld pool. You “check in” at local stores to earn “karmas,” unlock those dollars and decide where you want your contributions to go to. You can pick from a range of causes: ofsetting carbon, preventing child abuse, fighting cancer, helping students in need, providing clean drinking water, getting aid to Haiti, plantitng a tree, feeding the hungry, saving abused animals, and more. (That’s a heck of a list—there’s definitely a charity here for everyone.)

Download the free app and start sending your good karma out into the world!

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