Woopie Pie Wednesday!

We have been having food themed days at work this week to keep us all sane while we are busy with Holiday 11 briefing. Today was Woopie Pie Wednesday! I made these little darlings last night. They weren't as cake-y as I would have liked, but still very delicious! Recipe to be posted. In the meantime here are some photos.

Tabitha's Magic

In love with these heels by Tabitha Simmons on TheOutNet.com

Adorable!!! They remind me of some I'd found in in Hong Kong last year and didn't splurge on....maybe now is the time?

Back to the Blog

The weather is getting colder, and with that comes more baking for me! After a great apple picking trip with some of my favorite friends- I tried a new Apple Pie recipe. This pie is not your traditional Apple Pie, but it has so many of the same elements, just used differently. It was received very well by co-workers and family members, and they keep asking for more.

Here is the recipe for Grandma Ople's Apple Pie:

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar DIRECTIONS: 1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. 3. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes. Side note: I was nervous about the apples in there all by themselves, so I added about 1/3 of the sugar/butter mixture to the apples before pouring them into the pie crust.. Then I topped with the lattice crust, then topped as directed with the mixture. I also added a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to the apples. Warning: your house will smell like heaven when this is baking! Caution: When this first comes out of the oven, its very liquid inside. Allow to cool before cutting! ENJOY <3

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Garden Party!

All of my friends are growing up. This summer alone I will be attending 5 weddings for friends- 3 of which are some of my best girlfriends! In addition to weddings, we have new babies on the way and homes being purchased. I'm headed to a house warming party this weekend and was trying to figure out an outfit when I came across these babies- Valentino Floral Patent Leather Wedges. So pretty. Sadly, at $295 on sale, I will probably not be planting my stems into these this weekend. But its lovely to dream...

Locals vs. Tourists

As summer approaches and tourism in Boston rises, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some maps which show tourist vs. local photos taken of the city. check out the source of the image and more cities here.

Love for spring!

Loving this corset top by Anna Molinari!

And I am head over (these amazing) heels from Chloe.

That's all for now.

Beach Bound!

On my way to sunny Florida for a weekend of sun and fun :-)

Back on Tuesday! Stay dry Bostionians.

xox

Michelle

Coachella 10

Those of us anywhere but the desert this past weekend were probably wishing we were there among the 70,000 music fans, stoked to see the likes of the Gorillaz, MGMT, Muse, Jay Z, the XX, etc...

And now, the week following a weekend surely filled with amazing music moments, drunken dance moves, and the like...we browse the reviews. So far the outcome has been mixed. Aside from performance and atmosphere reviews, below is one interesting piece on how Coachella almost didn't have a place to house its festival.

When Coachella almost wasn't ....from the LA Times

More to come as reviews pour in.

xo

M

Deerhunter with Spoon at the HOB Boston

Almost 2 weeks ago now- Katie, Lindsay, and I decided to get out and see The Big Pink at The Paradise....mostly because Spoon was sold out. Then, as luck would have it, an angel appeared and with silvery wings proclaimed, "they shall have spoon" and so we went.

The HOB is a great venue for a show like this and I was glad to be there. To make our night, cute boy selling t-shirts got all of the members of Deerhunter to sign albums for us.

It was a great show and a great night, which ended in a major dance party at the under-rated An Tua Nua.

Bradford, you were great, and we hope you have a great summer too.

xox

Michelle

XX @ the Paradise 4.2.10

The young indie rock band from South west London made their way to Boston again, to two sold out shows at the Paradise.

More “performing” this time around, compared to their last Boston show when they opened for Friendly Fires.

Both he and she seemed more comfortable with the audience and their stage.

Songs were kept close to the studio sound but were clearly a bit looser (in a good way) then their last show.

Seeing the XX live is like one long, deep breath. I cannot wait for their next tour.

Check out Katie's clips from the show here.

Congratulations to the XX for an amazing performance on their first headline tour in the US. Come back soon.

xox

One sweet world...

Peace, Love, Chocolate

I came across "Haut Chocolat" yesterday while browsing around Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville. with a name like "Haute Chocolat" I just couldn't pass it up! I picked up a Barcelona Bar for me, seen here. It's flavored with hickory smoked almonds, sea salt, and deep milk chocolate. And for Katie I picked up a Goji Bar with Tibetan Goji berries, pink Himalayan salt and milk chocolate. YUM.

Haut Chocolat comes from the brand Vosges, check out their full range of deliciously different chocolates here!

Enjoy.

The sun is coming.

Check out founder Katrina's blog Peace, Love, Chocolate

Sweet Savings

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a great bargain! So, naturally I was excited to learn that a co-branded Syms/ Filene’s Basement will be opening in Norwood this week.
Sym’s bought out FB last year and opened their first mashup store together in Connecticut. The new store will open at the existing Sym's location on Rt. 1.

I’m looking forward to checking out the selection this weekend and seeing how it compares to the selection at FF (my secret local for favorite brands like Ted Baker, splendid, and French Connection at killer prices) down the street!
Check out the full article from the Boston Globe here. And check out the store this weekend! Doors open Thursday!
Happy savings

-M

Freelance Whales + SXSW - Me

Freelance Whales came into my life some time ago and quickly made its way into my music rotation in a "I'm sick of snow and so ready for spring" mix. I wasnt able to cath the band at Great Scott when they came around a few months ago, and I'm still bummed about it. On a better note, some friends of Canvas made it to SXSW this week for "work" and caught Freelance Whales performace yesterday. Below is a shot Jed took at the show. That was only day 1. Looking forward to more news and pics from SXSW this week.

Spring showers

Liberty of London for Target Wellies

It rained for 4 days straight. My living room became an indoor pool. On the bright side…these are signs of spring!

What does spring mean for the fashion conscious Bostonian? It means time to give those shearling lined nubuck (Uggs or hopefully some updated form of winterized footwear) a break and break out your Wellies!
I stomped into mine this past weekend, dressing like a dolled up version of a fly fisherman to head to the grocery store and other various errands. The tall rubber footwear has been taking up too much space in my closet for years now, and I tend to do everything to avoid putting these monstrosities on. However, after their necessity this weekend brought us back together, I realized just how cute they can be.
Some new styles out there with a bit of a varsity/Americana update are even cuter!
What is your favorite necessary footwear?

How To...

I shop. I love to shop. It's a passion. However, each week I survey my closet and think, "I have so much stuff, and nothing to wear." This is not a new concept, I know. However, to solve this problem, lately I have been turning to pairing new favorites and old classics together in strange ways. Today I am wearing a hand-me-down strapless sundress from a friend. Under it, I have a short sleeve shirt, rain boots, and topped with a new Madewell sweater- this helped make the sundress a bit more seasonally appropriate. I love making new outfits out of old stuff.
Check out the site I came across today- with more ways to use old stuff- particularly the 1 million hoodies you have floating around your closet, drawers, and trunk. My favorite is "How to turn your hoodie into a strap bag"
Test these out- its like Origami for your clothes!

Match Maker

You know the feeling when you take a risk and get two of your single friends together...you wait through first and second and third dates with your fingers crossed. You listen to both parties talk about how great the other one is...then low and behold- they fall in love?! That's sort of what it felt like the day I introduced a division of Converse.com called "Play" to my good friend Dave of Stadiums & Shrines. There was the introduction, the courtship, and finally....Dave went live on Converse.com. It's a match made in blog heaven. So happy to see them together and enjoying eachother. Check out Dave's very first post below. And keep checking back- this is first offspring from the beautiful couple, but certiainly not the last. He'll be posting 4 more this month.


Dave Sutton: On the Headphones in 2010

Posted using ShareThis

The Mad Hatter and Sunset Rubdown

I just came across a great interview with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. As the two talk about their cinematic collaborations over the years and being societal "weirdos" Depp reveals his use of Sunset Rubdown's music to prep him for his role of The Mad Hatter for Burton's most recent film Alice in Wonderland. Check out the article by JAGJAGUWAR and the CBS video here.

Some deserved praise for the best part of my wardrobe...

I absolutely love this image done by mydeadpony

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

Give me Liberty!

I'm beyond excited about Target's latest collaboration. Let me start by saying that on my recent trip to London, I had the pleasure of staying at the Hilton Courthouse on Regent street, which intersects the SoHo and Carnaby areas of London, and also houses one of the most beautiful retail buildings in the world (in my hunble opinion), Libery of London.
The pictures I've included here can explain better then any of my words, but still don't quite do this magical place enough justice. It's spectacular. Liberty is to me what The Plaza is to brides...just perfect. Everything you didn't know you longed for, right there in 5 floors of glory.
And its not just about the clothing, no no that's just the tip of the iceberg. The real beauty at Libery is the textile floor, housing the most beautiful prints and blends and washes. It's textile heaven, and I haven't even mentioned the rugs.
Ok, enough drooling. Back to my point....Liberty pour Target! Yes, the delicious signature prints of Liberty, taken down a notch for the regular world to swallow, right in our own back yards. While the prints are a bit "dummed down" for lack of better explaination- they are still Liberty beauty and definitely closet (or pantry, or bike rack) worthy. The collection drops the first week in March and will include clothing (bathing suits are ADORABLE), dishware, accessories, and even a beach comber bike- which I am seriously considering. Check out the collection here.
Mark your calendars kids, the British have given us LIBERTY.

Pondering "Soft Power"

Recently I came across an old copy of Harpar's Bazaar, while dining in a little cafe in London. While flipping through pages, the quote pictured here caught my eye.
Now I know the term "soft power" is nothing new to us anymore, but a little refresher in just exactly what it implies, gave me a lot to think about....
I found an interesting definition on Wikipedia..
"Soft power is the ability to obtain what you want through co-option and attraction. It is in contradistinction to 'hard power', which is the use of coercion and payment. Soft power can be wielded not just by states, but by all actors in international politics, such as NGO's or international institutions.[2] The idea of attraction as a form of power did not originate with Nye or Lukes, and can be dated back to such ancient Chinese philosophers as Lao Tsu in the 7th century BC, but the modern development dates back only to the late 20th century."

"Let's change the subject"- the mad hatter

I'm so excited to report that Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp is coming to Imax on March 5. The plans were set yesterday, and i have to say this is one calendar item that I am most looking forward to!
if you haven't gotten lost in the dreamy trailor yet...check it out!

16mm

I had the pleasure of dining at the 16mm Cafe for my last night in London. I was mesmorized by the atmosphere in this tucked away little gem of Soho. Monochrome white decor popped with fresh tulips and swanky french tunes made me feel every bit of elegant that a girl could want. I browsed through an ancient copy of Harpars Bazaar while indulging in my favorite meal of the trip.

Located on D'Arblay Street in the heart of London's Soho neighborhood, this little place is must!

London & Manchester at a glance

Some of my favorite photos of my market trip to the UK last week. Enjoy :-)

Good Habits

South Boston boutique Habit is offering an AMAZING deal. The store has paired up with BuyWithMe.com to offer $75 dollar Habit gift certificates for just $25....um can you say Happy Tuesday?! If you havent been to Habit- this is a great way to be introduced. A Best of Boston winner, this little shop has lots to offer the stylish Bostonian!

All you need to do is go to the BuyWithMe.com website and purchase a voucher. Its that simple people. Go there. Do it.

On a side note, I've used BuyWithMe many times on countless deals for spa treatments, salons, restaurants and have always had positive experiences. Its a great way to experience the finer side of Boston, with a discount!

Recap

Just returned from my week long trip to London.....yes it was amazing.....no I haven't shaken the jet lag yet (its only been 10 hours)

I took millions of pictures and will be sure to post the bests asap.

By far and large my favorite shopping experience of London is Liberty of London (seconded by Portobello Road, but that's for another day). Liberty is full of the most amazing fabrics and designs, not least of which is their collaboration with 10 Corsco Como- check out the images pictured. Just beautiful...

I was so caught up in the the death of the Great Alexander McQueen (click here for a beautiful tribute to him), that I totally ignored the rest of the blogosphere. Turned out I didn't miss much- everyone getting musy over the Valentine's holiday. I'm not much for mushy these days. Give me chocolate and call it a day.

Gucci Smoochie

Just purchased a vintage 1960's Gucci Doctor Bag, similar to the one shown here.

I'm SO excited for my little love to arrive!

Will post pics of mine when she gets here :-)

A little fun fact about Gucci: Notice the stripe down the belly of this bag. Guccio Gucci (who founded the label) developed this striped webbing based off of a saddle. Read more here

Feeling a little OFF

And he describes my mood so perfectly :-)

Hopefully tonight's INSANITY (my new workout program, with Katie) will help me feel better, and less round like my little man here!

Kiss of Death

Just looking at the picture of this drink is making me uneasy....It's called "La Perla" perhaps because after 2 of these you may be showing off some of your own La Perla! These babies are served at The Enormous Room in Cambridge- where we celebrated my good friend Katie's birthday this past weekend.

Luckily- I only made it through half of one before my head began to split and I made for the door.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Smell the roses

Even in a crappy phone pic these roses are beautiful! I bought them as a little treat for myself this past Sunday- and today they have fully opened and are filling the kitchen with beautiful spring aromas.

Fashion + Heritage + Music = good secrets

This is a GOOD ONE....no word yet on the validity of this Tweet by Len Peltier, creative director of Levi's. Apparently the tweet happened, was spotted by folks at Rumor Mill...and then it mysteriously vanished..but not before below screen shot was taken. Oooooo
If the tweet is for real, which I hope, then I will be first in line to see this vid. Pictureplane <3Levis<3OpeningCeremony<3

More on that here...

Psssst.....

Overheard at New Bramin..... Lady Gaga named Polaroid creative director. Read full article here

Boston....meet Fashion

Ladies, stylemakers....get your shop on! Boldfacers is hosting an event tonight and tomorrow featuring some of Boston's best dressed and fashion editors. I really should be cutting back on the spending, considering my upcoming car purchase.....but this is too good to pass up!

She was a damn good dancer but she wasn't all that good of a girlfriend.....

In 2010- love yourself.....flaws and all, before you fall for someone else.

Grey Balloons

I love this beautiful billowy grey top found here....

Also think it looks great with the model's arm ink ;-)