When You Wish Upon A Skirt

Today I would like to tell you about a miracle.

What happened was, I was drooling over this Alpine Skirt from Anthropologie.

And I kept seeing it and I kept wanting it. But I kept being unwilling to pay $98 for it.

And the, a week or so ago, just doing some online window shopping, I saw that the skirt of my dreams was on sale! For $19! And I snatched it up right away.

It came yesterday and I could not be more thrilled. I am already planning to wear it out and about this Memorial Day weekend, probably with a tucked-in blue graphic tee and some gladiators. Swoon!

So, the moral of the story? Retail dreams really do come true!

What was your last retail miracle?

Bathing Beauties

Memorial Day is nearly upon us, children! Will you be spending it in the sun, in one of our new Queensland swimsuits? I sure do hope so.

And just so you're extra prepared, here are a few more tips for getting swimsuit ready.

Ban Bread.

Stop crying. It doesn't have to be forever. (Pot calling all you kettles black here, though. I looove bread!) Gluten can cause bloating, which is the last thing we want when we are in our skivvies. If you get a real craving, try an alternative like 4:9 Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Bread. It's high in fiber and also highly digestible, so it won't cause weight gain or water retention.

Get Awesome Arms.

Overhead raises are a sure-fire way to sexy arms. (They work the deltoids, if you are into knowing your muscle groups and where they are.) Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height with your elbows pointed down. Lift the weights until your arms are fully extended. Do three sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Tan Looks Toned.

You know how sometimes in movies they paint on people's abs? (I'm looking at you, Freddie Prinze, Jr., circa She's All That.) A little tan can also help your muscles look more defined and give you a healthy summer glow. No need to soak in harmful UVs, though. Try a bronzer instead.

Dessert Down Under

Thirsty for more Australia? In honor of Shabby Apple's new line of swimwear, Queensland, we continue our tour of the Land Down Under.

A disclaimer up-front that today's post is not going to help you get ready for swimsuit season. But it is going to teach you how to make the most delicious dessert you have ever had in your life. So, you win some, you lose some. Consider yourselves warned.

Pavlova is a floaty, ethereal heaven of a meringue-based, Australia-created dessert. (Well, New Zealand claims credit as well, but we are not talking about New Zealand today, are we?) I ate my first pavlova sitting in the warm breeze, gazing out over the pier in Port Douglas, Queensland. It was fairly perfect, if I do say so myself. But, never fear. Here is everything you need to create a perfect pavlova experience of your own.

Pavlova Recipe (makes 8 to 10 pavlovas)

Ingredients

Meringue:
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar OR distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup (6 ounces, about 6) large egg whites, preferably room temperature
Pinch salt

Topping:
2 pints fresh or frozen berries
1/4 cup sugar
Whipped Cream for topping

Directions

1. Place rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 275°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the vanilla and vinegar (if using) into a small cup. Stir the cornstarch into the sugar in a small bowl.

2. In a large bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites, cream of tartar (if using) and salt, starting on low, increasing incrementally to medium speed until soft peaks/trails start to become visible, and the egg white bubbles are very small and uniform, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Increase speed to medium-high, slowly and gradually sprinkling in the sugar-cornstarch mixture. A few minutes after these dry ingredients are added, slowly pour in the vanilla and vinegar (if you didn't use cream of tartar.) Increase speed a bit and whip until meringue is glossy, and stiff peaks form when the whisk is lifted, 4 to 5 minutes.




4. Pipe or spoon the meringue into 8-10 large round mounds that are 3 inches wide on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon liner. With the back of a spoon, create an indentation in the middle of the mound for holding the filling once meringue is baked.




5. Place baking sheet in the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 250°F. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the meringues are crisp, dry to the touch on the outside, and white -- not tan-colored or cracked. The interiors should have a marshmallow-like consistency. Check on meringues at least once during the baking time. If they appear to be taking on color or cracking, reduce temperature 25 degrees, and turn pan around.




6. Gently lift from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. Will keep in a tightly sealed container at room temperature, or individually wrapped, for up to a week if your house is not humid.

7. Served topped with your favorite filling - lemon curd, raspberry or blueberry sauce, and freshly whipped cream.

Mouth watering yet? Give the recipe a try and let us know how it goes!

A Sydney Walk-about

Today we continue introducing Queensland, Shabby Apple's new swim line, with a little stroll around Sydney.

The airplane ride to Australia is impossibly long. Owing to time zones and the space time continuum and physics that I do not care to understand, an entire day actually just disappears while you are flying over the ocean. I left the U.S. on a Tuesday afternoon and touched down in Sydney on Thursday morning. Good riddance, Wednesday. It was trippy.


So, after all that consecutive siting, a walking tour seemed like the best way to get started. Sydney is just like every city you have ever visited and totally different from anything you have ever seen, all at once. You think you are looking at a run-of-the-mill palm tree, and then you realize there is a flock of wild cockatoos living in it. And that regular looking meadow? It is no doubt home to wallabees.


Exploring on foot is the best way to ensure you don't miss a thing, so here is a great loop that takes you past all the very best Sydney has to offer. The whole route is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers, if you're into that) and should take you about two-and-a-half hours. Plenty of food and drink can be found along the way.



Hop the train to Circular Quay (pronounced "key") and start your morning on Observatory Hill, near Watson Road.




The copper-domed Sydney Observatory, and the Hill itself, offer a stunning vantage of Millers Point and the harbor. You might be interested to know that Observatory Hill was the site of the fledgling Australian colony's first windmill, erected in 1796. These days, Observatory Hill is a favorite destination for dedicated joggers and lunchtime crowds escaping Sydney's nearby Central Business District (CBD).


Once you have soaked in all the loveliness, take a winding walk down to Argyle Place, a charming English-style village green lined with equally charming terraced houses. Also worth noting: any Australian has the legal right to graze livestock here. (Pass it on!)



Across the road and slightly to the west, you'll find Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel.




The "Nello" started life in 1836 as a private residence, and was converted to a pub in 1841. It might be the oldest continually licensed hotel in Australia. But others make the same claim so, then again, it might not be. Test out an brewed-on-site stout or ale, if you'd like, and then head back down Argyle Place and hang a left at Lower Fort Street.



At the corner of Windmill Street you'll come to the Hero of Waterloo, another contender for oldest pub in Australia (we'll let you be the judge). Come back at night for some piano, folk, jazz or Celtic music. And, if you're brave enough, head downstairs to the original dungeon where drinkers would sleep it off before shipping out to the high seas.


If you take another left, you'll find yourself on Ferry Lane and at the foundations of Arthur Payne's house. He has the distinction (?) of being the first victim of the 1900 bubonic plague outbreak. Poor guy.


Next, double back along Lower Fort Street to Garrison Church, also known as Holy Trinity, the colony's first military church.



Australia's first prime minister, Edmund Barton, also attended school here. If you head left back down Argyle Street, you'll walk through the Argyle Cut, a convict-excavated tunnel that was finished off with a few sticks of dynamite in 1867. Ah, technology!


Just past the Cut you'll see a set of stairs on your left. Head up and along Gloucester Walk to Foundation Park, settled in the preserved ruins of an old tenement building and now filled with oversized furniture by artist Peter Cole, evoking the cramped conditions once experienced by working class families in the area.



Continue along Gloucester Walk, turn right into Atherden Street, and then right again past the terraced houses of Playfair Street. Cross Argyle Street into Harrington Street (still with me?) and then jog left into Suez Canal, a notorious lurking point for 19th-century goons. I think it's pretty safe now, but no need to linger.


Instead, turn left onto St. George's street (Syndey's oldest road), and head down the stairs to the right to Cadman's Cottage. Originally constructed in 1816 for Governor Coxswain John Cadman, Cadman's Cottage is Sydney's oldest house. The Sydney Water Police detained criminals here in the 1840s, and it was later converted into a home for retired sea captains. These days it houses the Sydney Harbor National Park Information Center, but there is also a small museum with a few exhibits.


From there, follow Circular Quay east and to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Admission is free, so it's a good place for a quick art fix, or a quick coffee at the cafe. The constantly rotating exhibitions at the MCA are well-known for raising eyebrows and controversy.


Once you've had your fill there, cut underneath the Circular Quay train station and you'll find yourself at the newly renovated Customs House. The harborside edifice houses the three-level Customs House Library, with a great selection of international newspapers and magazines to browse. Keep your eyes peeled for the swastikas in the tiling in the lobby, as well as a plaque describing their symbolism. If you are famished at this point (and I imagine you might be), head to the Cafe Sydney on the top floor for can't-be-beat views of Sydney Harbor and delicious seafood and wood-fired dishes.



Back down at the Circular Quay ferry docks, take a quick walk along the Sydney Writer's Walk, marked with circular metal discs bearing the innermost thoughts and ruminations of Australia's most prominent writers, Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer, Peter Carey, Umberto Eco and Clive James among them.


And then you will find yourself at Sydney's piece de resistance, its shining glory, its crown jewel. The Sydney Opera House.



I am not exagerrating when I tell you that I came home with nearly 100 pictures of just this building. You simply cannot take your eyes off of it. (Though try to tear your gaze away long enough to take in a great view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge off to your left.) I highly, highly recommend investing the time and the money (about $35) in a guided tour. The history of the Opera House, from its salvaged design to its over-time and over-budgeted construction, is endlessly fascinating. Plus, a tour means an inside look at some of the Opera House's six auditoriums. And, if you flash your tour ticket at the box office, you can score majorly discounted tickets to current performances. I saw the Puccini opera, Tosca, for $20. It was heaven.



Finish up your stroll by following Bennelong Point along the water's edge to the gates of the Royal Botanic Gardens.






The garden is free, and visitors are invited to sit on the grass, smell the roses and hug the trees. It is a very inviting place, indeed. The exotic plants and flowers will captivate you for as long as you care to stroll, and be sure not to miss the rare Wollemi Pine, an ancient tree only discovered in 1994 in the nearby Blue Mountains. Other highlights include the rose garden, the South Pacific plant collection and the prickly arid garden. Guided tours are free, last for one-and-a-half hours and leave from the Gardens Shop. And you can eat the best meal you might ever have on the whole continent at the Gardens' restaurant. If you are in or near the Gardens at dusk, you'll be keeping company with the large and rather vocal colony of bats that feeds there every night. They totally creeped me out at first, but appear to be harmless.


And then, I would say, you will have done Sydney right.

Beach-y Keen

Australia is basically massive, and getting your head around it can be a little daunting. But the beach is always a good place to start, don't you think? Especially if we are talking about places to sport amazingly stylish swimwear. Which, lest you forget, we are.

And so, just for you, here is a little guide to some of Sydney's best beaches.

Bondi Beach



First thing to know: Bondi is pronounced Bond-eye. I have just saved you a heap of tourist embarassment. You're welcome. Second thing to know: Nicole Kidman is often to be seen wandering about Bondi. So keep your eyes peeled. You're welcome.

Bondi is the closest beach to Sydney's city center, and is one of the best places for gnarly waves. Be prepared to fight the surfing crowds though; Bondi is a popular destination for boards and their owners. If youy're looking to become a surfer yourself, Bondi is a good place to start. Just do yourself (and the beach patrol) a favor and stay between the flags positioned to mark the most dangerous riptides and holes.

And be prepared to see plenty of budgie smugglers. Those would be speedos. You're welcome.

Bronte Beach
This stretch of sand is the winner for family-friendly beach real estate, and is also home to the oldest surf life-saving club in the world. There is a kiosk and changing pavilion attached to the surf club, but don't expect to find parking anywhere nearby.

Coogee Beach



The locals pronounce the double-o in Coogee as in the word "took." Coogee is Bondi without Nicole Kidman, complete plenty of green space for barbecues or tossing a frisbee around.

And if you are the parent of small children and/or paranoid about shark attacks, Coogee also has a string of manmade ocean pools, perfect for more mellow soaking. Best news of all: most of them are free!

Manly Beach



Just a short and highly scenic ferry ride across the Sydney Harbor, Manly is the site of my own surfing triumph, and is definitely worth a visit whether you are down for catching some waves or not.

In addition to the beachfront, Manly also boasts The Corso, a part-pedestrian mall lined with surf shops, pubs and restaurants. (I found a heavenly post-surfing gyro.) Nearby you can also find Oceanworld, where you can get up close and personal with some sharks. Better here than in the surf, right?

Manly Cove, right next to Manly Wharf, offers shark-protected, surf free swimming.

Has your Australia appetite been whetted?

What beach sounds the best to you, friends?

Introducing: Queensland

Imagine, if you will, a young girl off on an adventure in the wild and wonderful land of Australia. Imagine her, if you will, frolicking in frothy waters, delighting in delectable, exotic fruits, and enjoying her first kiss with a studly Australian rugby player. On the beach, no less!

I wish I could tell you this girl was me. (Alas, my first kiss was in a stairwell. A good kiss, but the location could have been better.) I can tell you, however, that it was none other than Ms. Athelia Woolley, your Shabby Apple owner and designer extraordinaire.

And, all these years later, those magical months in the Land Down Under have inspired Shabby Apple's new swim line, Queensland.

Are you hungry for more?

Here's another sneak peak:




And so, we are off to Australia! For the rest of the week we'll be bringing you all things Oz, from beach guides to how to master a surf board, to how to speak Australian. And probably a lot more.

In the meantime, here are three more tips to get you in shape for these amazing suits.

1. Add seafood to the menu.
Fish is no-calorie and high protein, so shoot for five servings a week. And some seafood, like salmon and tuna, are also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that make you feel fuller and help regulate hormones for optimum weight loss.

2. Tone your body.
Work on big muscle groups. Adding muscle burns more calories than fat and helps your body look more tonesd. Try some squats, and use machines with pushing or pulling movements, such as a rowing machine.

3. Do exercises you love.
Maybe it's hip hop dancing, maybe it's biking, maybe it's the flying trapeze. As long as you are active doing what you love, you'll keep doing it. Keep your energy up with small meals throughout the day.

Beach Body Countdown

How are we doing on our bathing suit body preparation?

I'm only asking because Shabby Apple may or may not be releasing a line of swimwear, oh, perhaps next week. And I am guessing that you and your (hot!) bathing suit body are going to want to be ready. Because the suits might be something adorable like this:



I am going to make you wait until next week for all the juicy details but rest assured, you are going to want to check back here first thing Monday because we will be off on another adventure before you can say, "tan line." Can you guess where we're going?

In the meantime, here are a few more tips for getting into tip-top swimsuit shape. (Thanks again, OK! Weekly. You really never let me down.)

1. Skip the soda.
"Anything with high-fructose corn syrup will increase appetite and make you feel bloated-- this includes soda," according to celebrity nutritionist Oz Garcia. Instead, sip on water of unsweetened iced tea. "If you need sweetener, try honey or stevia."

2. Tone up your bottom half.
"For a hot butt and legs (Editor's Note: Yes, please!), try Stiff Leg Deadlifts," says DavidBartonGym owner David Barton. Lean forward from your hips with a weight in each hand, held in front of your thighs. Keeping your legs straight, rise to a standing position, squeezing your glutes as you come up. Do three sets of 10-12 reps.

3. Beat stress.
Exercise has benefits beyond just looking hot (Editor's Note: Yes, please!). It's a stress reliever, too!

Keep yourself busy through the weekend with that, and we'll set sail again on Monday morning!

Paris, Undiscovered

We wrap up our whirlwind week in Paris today with a guide to some of the city's hidden gems. Keep reading all the way to the bottom because I have a little surprise for you down there!

I did not see Notre Dame, the Arch du Triumph, or the Eiffel Tower up close until the last day I lived in Paris. My life was packed in boxes and I was staring at my empty little loft wondering how to kill the final hours before my flight when it occurred to me that I should probably go visit some major landmarks, you know, just so my mother wouldn't harass me for it for the rest of my life.

It's not that those places aren't impressive, important, or worth your time to see; my Paris was just one of a different kind. For our last 24 hour guide to Paris, I'm giving away all my secrets. Proceed with caution: it's a brave new world out there.

Drag yourself out of bed early, lace up your most comfortable walking shoes, grab a cafe au lait and croissant to go and take the metro all the way to the end of the 4 line to Porte de Clignancourt and follow the crowds of people moving towards the Puces de Saint-Ouen—the largest, most treasure-filled flea market in Paris.

Be prepared to dig through stands of West African Hip-Hop paraphernalia, bits of electronics or hardware in order to get to the good stuff: antiques, vintage clothing (the likes of which Americans have never seen), beautiful handmade leather luggage from North Africa, old photographs, maps, and jewelry. Bargain hard, watch your purse, and whatever you do—no matter how smart you think you are or how many times you guessed right without putting money down—DO NOT play any betting games with men playing in the market. You will lose your money.

Once you're back from the market, take a trip to Rue du Bac and visit Deyrolle. Part curio cabinet, part entomological museum, part turn-of-the-20th-century parlor, Deyrolle has been a delightful neighborhood fixture for more than 100 years.



The elegant parlor is full to bursting with a unique collection of taxidermy from all over the world, and is usually filled with wide-eyed French children and their doting grandparents reassuring them that the tiger won't eat them. Spend an hour or so digging through the drawers full of butterflies and beetles, which the delightful, helpful staff will gladly help you form into a framed arrangement that may be your favorite treasure from the City of Lights.

Take an hour or so in the Marais at the three might-miss-them-if-you-blink gems of the neighborhood: Sandrine Bourg (31 bis rue des Tournelles 75003) for Vintage millinery items that will take your breath away; Aspic Basilic, in case you didn't get enough of the natural world at Deyrolle; and 8 Analog Collector for all your favorite vinyl needs.

Eat like the intelligentsia of the 1920s and 30s at Lipp where James Joyce himself dined on a regular basis with the likes of Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. The art-deco decor is breathtaking as is their tuna steak.

In the evening, take a walk from Place de Clichy metro station up to the Montmartre Cemetery. One of the oldest in the city, it is a quiet, uncrowded place to see the ancient tombs and raised mausoleums that tourists flock to the bigger cemeteries like Pere Lachaise for. Pack a few sheets of newsprint and some charcoal or crayons to make rubbings of graves from as far back as the 1600s. From the south-east corner of the cemetery walk up Rue des Abbesses, stopping in the little shops along the way. Along this road you'll find an oddities shop selling hundreds of glass eyes and old wooden type, a small spice market, a shop dedicated to decanters and perfume bottles, and several wonderful second-hand clothing shops. Once you walk the length of Abbesses, you'll come to the funicular that will take you to the top of Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica, arguably the best place to watch the sun set on yet another beautiful day in Paris.

And that wraps it up, folks. Sort of feels like we've been on an amazing vacation together all week, doesn't it? I, for one, am definitely feeling some of the end-of-a-great-trip blues. But, never fear! You can have a little piece of our Paris adventure with you always! For starters, have you ordered your dress from the Oh La La line? That should be your first order of business. Once you have your perfect Paris-inspired dress picked out, head over to Armelle Jewelry and pick out a Paris-inspired bauble to go with it.

With one of these darling pieces around your neck, it will be as if our magical journey never ended.

Eat Around the Clock: A 24-hour Guide to Dining in Paris

Now that your appetite has been whetted with that delicious gougeres recipe, we continue our stint in Paris with a little more for all you foodies, from Ms. Erin Brown.

I remember my first night out with friends after moving to Paris: we gathered in a little Bistro on Rue du Commerce in the 15th, full of smoke and the chinking of wine glasses, and a menu of entirely unpronounceable cuisine on a blackboard placed next to our table. After staring blankly at the menu for 5 minutes, I asked my friend Jean-Edouard to order something for me—something good and typical French. When my food arrived, I found a perfectly molded mound of precisely sliced raw beef on a little bed of greens—steak tartare. He had ordered me the steak tartare. Raw beef, do you understand? This is not sushi-sized bites, but a whole pile of it! Not wanting to be ungrateful, wasteful, or hungry, I crossed my fingers, gave myself a little pep talk, and dug in.

It. Was. Blissful.

Each bite melted in my mouth, bursting with flavor and tender, juiciness. I was sure I would never eat another thing again in my life that would be so delicious…. until we went out again the next weekend.

Paris is a city of awe-inspiring cuisine. Whether you're sitting down to a seven course tasting menu at the finest of restaurants or simply grabbing a crepe on the street, you're sure to be delighted and inspired. In our 24-hour guide to Paris for the foodie, we'll take you to a few choice places for inspired cuisine, fresh produce, and impeccable comestibles of all sorts.

So, off we go!

Start the morning off right: head to the closest Boulangerie early and buy a fresh baguette or croissant. You don't need to hunt down the "best in the city" for these fresh delights. Everyone will tell you the best place to buy a baguette is the place closest to home. Indulge in the perfectly raised, perfectly crisped, crunchy on the outside, light and chewy on the inside texture of a french baguette and you'll never be the same again.

Next, make a stop at Rue Mouffetard, where you can shop one of dozens of little cheese shops, fresh produce stands, and shops hawking specialty goods. Oliviers & Co. is an absolute must—try the combination of their mint-infused olive oil with the white wine vinegar with honey and ginger. It's to die for. They sell a wide assortment of rare foods as well (white truffle salt, anyone?), which make lovely and impressive hostess gifts. (GOOD NEWS: you can also shop Oliviers & co. online!)

For lunch, take a trip across the river to the Marais for lunch at L'As du Fallafel (34 rue des Rosiers), a decidedly unrefined kosher butcher with the best falafel sandwiches and lamb shwarma in town.



Much of modern Paris' cuisine is influenced by the many immigrants from North and West Africa and the Middle East, and L'As du Fallafel is one of many eating establishments that have become cultural centers in the city. Be prepared for cafeteria style seating, electric overhead lights, and a permeating smell of frying oil—it's worth it once you sink your teeth into a perfectly prepared, piping hot ball of chick-pea goodness.

Spend the afternoon exploring the 180 square foot Barthelemy(51 rue de Grenelle)—arguably the best cheese shop in Paris.



Every inch of the shoebox-sized shop is used to display their collection of more than 200 cheeses, most of which are produced locally in France. Expertly curated by one of the preeminent experts on French cheeses, Barthelemy touts particularly pungent camemberts, bitty buttons of creamy chevre rolled in tarragon or rosemary and an astounding assortment of bloomy-rind beauties.

Be sure to stop by Laduree, the place for the best Macarons in town. Crisp on the outside, and perfectly moist on the inside, Laduree's macarons have been delighting Parisians on the Champs-Elysees for close to 150 years.

For dinner (are you stuffed yet?) plop yourself down in a local bistro and order a cup of onion soup. No, I'm not joking. Though there are hundreds of restaurants with extravagant menus, nothing beats classic, perfectly prepared, perfectly authentic french bistro food. If the soup isn't enough for you, order the steak tartare… You'll be glad you did.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

We continue welcoming the new Oh La La line of Paris-inspired dresses today with a little taste of French cooking (don't panic, it's an easy recipe!) from Ms. Nicole Hill Gerulat. Put on your apron and enjoy!

French cuisine is by far my Number One, but I don't always have the time to make thefrench dishes I learned in school. Gougeres are a delicious favorite that don't take much time, and their cheesy flavor is irresistible!

This recipe is adapted from the Williams-Sonoma's Bride & Groom cookbook and serves 4 of your favorite culinary friends.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
3 T butter
3/4 c. + 2 T flour
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups Gruyere cheese
one pinch ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Line one baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Prep all mise en place because you'll need to work quickly through the next steps. (Editor's Note: "mise en place" is a French phrase defined by the Culinary Institute of America as "everything in place", as in set up. It is used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients (e.g., cuts of meat, relishes, sauces, par-cooked items, spices, freshly chopped vegetables, and other components) that a cook will require for the menu items that he or she expects to prepare during his/her shift.)

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring water and butter to a boil.

Add all flour and quickly stir with wooden spoon until the mixture forms into a ball and no longer sticks to the sides. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly add the eggs, one at a time, combining each one well before adding the others.

Stir in cheese, cayenne and salt.

In a piping bag with large round tip, pipe small 1" balls onto prepared sheets, leaving 1/2" spacing between.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Serve warm!

Sounds delicious, right?
Give this recipe a try and then come back and tell us: How did it go?

Art Around the Clock: 24-hour Art Guide to Paris

In honor of our new Paris-inspired line of dresses, Oh La La, we continue our series of tours of the City of Lights with a little something for you museum crawlers. Enjoy!

There is not a better city for the lover of Art-with-a-capital-A than Paris. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Louvre, and you'd still have half of the museum to get to! And while the Louvre is grand—in every sense of the word—there is so much more to see in the Paris Art scene than just the beloved old standby. For a 24-hour extravaganza of Art in its european capitol, we'll take you to some of the lesser-known but worth-the-trek art hideouts around the city. Ready to get your art on? Let's go.

Take the morning to explore the Musee D'Orsay, with its grand collection of Impressionist and early Modern works from the likes of Monet, Manet, Klimpt, Degas, Picasso, Matisse and other big-hitters from the late 19th and early 20th century. These are pieces you'll be hard pressed to hunt down in the Louvre. The D'Orsay itself is a repurposed train station with remarkable architecture—exposed steel beams and glass everywhere, with a great old clock at one end—worth seeing just for the feeling of being transported back to the turn of the 20th century.

Insider's tip: start on the top floor for the Impressionist collection. The other floors house ancient and early Roman works, and in the interest of the time-and-tiredness-to-impressive-art ratio, we'd suggest skipping over them. If ancient artwork is your thing, then by all means, take a meander through the other three floors.

Before breaking for lunch, scoot over to the Rodin museum, located close to the Invalides metro station. There you can wander the garden of the beautiful old house and admire the statues of one of the 20th century's greatest sculptors.

Pack a small picnic lunch with you (a wedge of brie, a baguette, some fresh fruit) and meander as you snack, enjoying the grand bronzes and marbles, and marveling over the pristine landscape architecture.

After lunch, take the trip across town to the Picasso Museum , housed in the Hotel Sale, the beautiful 1659 Pierre Aubert mansion-turned-museum in the Marais. There you will find a collection of more than 3,000 works by Picasso (presented in a very well-curated, rotating display), which the artist donated at the end of his life.

This collection is balanced and complemented by Picasso's own collection of works by other artists, including Degas, Seurat, and Matisse. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Picasso museum is the amount of clear and informative information that accompanies the works of art, providing ample context and insight one might not encounter elsewhere.

Take a wander through the Marais, and stop for a bite to eat, gather your energy and prepare for the Pompidou.



Open late, the Centre Georges Pompidou is one of the largest Modern Art Museums in the world. Home to an epic collection of work from the 1880s through the present, the Pompidou has a reputation for curatorial excellence, as well as risk-taking. Whether you catch an exhibition of feminist art or a retrospective of Yves Kline, you'll be sure to walk away with a new appreciation of Modern Art. If you're a die-hard art lover, you should stop by their tremendous library on the 2nd floor. There you'll find almost any Art book ever published, and a slew of helpful librarians to assist you in finding whatever you need. Take a trip up the hamster-maze-esque escalators to the observation deck for one of the most breathtaking views of paris, from Montmartre to Montparnasse, and everything in between.

Before you start in on the museum's collection on display, ask the sales attendant about screenings of art cinema or live shows and concerts happening that evening. Tickets are very reasonable, and all of the shows there are designed to delight and inspire. Stop to refuel before the show at the museum's cafe, or step outside for a crepe at a nearby stand. Once the show is out, wander down to the river to Point Des Arts, where young people gather at night to sit with a bottle of wine or a guitar and friends for an evening on the bridge. Find your own corner and rest your museum legs.

Giveaway from Petunia Pickle Bottom

Have you sent your mom a Mother's Day gift yet? What about something for all the other mothers and mothers-to-be in your life?

No?

Well, here are two options for you.

1. Overnight delivery from the U.S. Post Office. Really. You can't beat it.

2. The Petunia Pickle Bottom and Shabby Apple joint give away extravaganza!

Petunia Pickle Bottom, for those of you not in-the-know (it would be really cool if there was someone out there besides me), is the end-all and be-all of fancy and stylish diaper bags. They are made from eco-friendly, organic cotton, but don't sacrifice anything in the way of sass and style. And the lovely Turkish Twilight touring tote could be yours for free!

But it doesn't end there. This is also a Shabby Apple giveaway, let's not forget, so in addition to the tote, you also have a chance to win the Beauty Mark black dress from Shabby Apple.



Let me guess: enough talking (typing) already! Give us the details!

All right, all right.

1. Head to the Petunia Pickle Bottom Facebook page, where the contest is currently patiently waiting for you.

2. Post a short story about a woman you admire as a mother and why by May 9th. Time is short, so you better hop to it! Three finalists will be chosen and voted on by the fans. A winner will be named May 31st.

And it's as simple as that. If only we could say the same about Motherhood, right?

Easy as Trifle

There are plenty more fantastic Paris-themed posts coming your way, including a guide to all things foodie, but as I was sitting out on my office roof deck eating lunch today in the gorgeous sun (have I made that experience sound appealing enough?) I started day-dreaming about fancy summer picnics and gorgeous summer fruit...







... and I was reminded of this trifle recipe, which is a perfect fit for both of those things. So I thought I would share.

I actually made this trifle for Easter dinner. It was my first trifle ever and not a single thing went wrong, which gives me the utmost confidence that absolutely anyone in the world could make this without any problems. The trickiest part is getting your hands on a trifle dish. I got mine at Crate and Barrell.

And the rest is easy as, well, trifle.

Here you go.

Three-Berry Lemon Trifle

Ingredients:

1 (14 ounce) can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) carton non-fat reduced sugar lemon yogurt
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 (8 ounce) container reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed, divided
1 (16 ounce) package angel food cake mix, prepared and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted


Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the milk, yogurt, lemon juice and peel. Fold in 2 cups whipped topping.

2. In a 3-qt. trifle bowl or deep salad bowl, layer a third of the cake cubes, a third of the lemon mixture and all of the strawberries. Repeat cake and lemon mixture layers. Top with blueberries and remaining cake cubes and lemon mixture. Sprinkle with raspberries.

3. Spread remaining whipped topping over berries; sprinkle with almonds. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

See? Simple. Easy. Done and Done.

My final result looked like this:




Give it a try and let us know how your final result comes out!
And tell us, what is your favorite summer recipe?

Shop Around the Clock: 24-hour Shopping Guide to Paris

Paris is a city of many, many superlatives: the Most Romantic City in the World, the Most Cultured City in the World, the city with the Best food, most beautiful women, most forward men or best crepe nutella. While some of these are up for debate, even the snobbiest New York or Milanese fashionistas will concede that Paris is the fashion capitol of the world.

So how can you possibly soak in all your shopping wonders in one day? You can't, but this guide will give you all you need to come back (to reality?) glowing and gloating with delight and a perfect find. From the big-hitters to the best of the little guys, strap on your comfiest pumps, because you're in for a wild ride.

Start off the morning with some inspiration (and a cream puff or eclair) from Angelina, the legendary tea room Coco Chanel frequented throughout her life. Located right in the heart of Paris on rue de Rivoli, it is the perfect launching point for a fashion-infused day.

Just down the street is the first shopping stop of the day, the Palais Royal. The once-private-theater-turned-shopping-monument is full of upscale boutiques and things you will never be able to convince yourself to buy. However, the surprising and delightful Dider Ludot is worth stopping by. Dider's impressive collection is divided into three smaller shops: one for museum-quality vintage pieces from haut couture designers; one for ready-to-wear Givenchy and Dior as well as accessories (be sure to check out the handbags and hats); and one called La Petite Robe Noir, for the perfect little black dress.

Now that you're salivating over the dresses, but cringing at the prices, get on the 1 train (yellow line) and head a few stops over to St Paul, where you can hop off and explore the boutique-y Marais neighborhood.






It is full of shopping wonders from stark and elegant jewelry design shops such as Satellite to shoe boutiques where you can buy toe-supporting Japanese-inspired footwear(?!) and hand-crafted canvas satchels at L'Echoppe a Sacs Ets Richard (28 rue Charlot). And then there is my personal favorite, Vintage Desire, (32 rue des rosiers, 75004) where you can come home with an entire wardrobe makeover for under $100. Look for the unexpected pair of boots or the fur coat you've always wanted but were never willed by an elderly relative tucked in among shirt dresses and silky polyester blouses. But don't spend your money all in one place, there's more vintage to come….

Grab a crepe with ham and cheese, and rest your feet for a few minutes, because the afternoon will leave you breathless.

Next up is the 9th arrondissement, where of two of the largest department stores in Europe, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, duke it out almost side-by-side on Boulevard Haussmann for your business.




Take the 3 or the 9 trains to Metro Havre-Caumartin or the 7 or 8 to Opera, and head up the Boulevard until you see the two hulking bundles of shopping joy looming on the horizon. Swing by Galeries Lafayette for some basics, like that Marc Jacobs handbag you've been saving up for since childhood, or some lacy underthings hand-tailored by a slew of curt-yet-eager tailors in the intimates department (we won't tell). If nothing else, appreciate the entire floor of shoes at Printemps. Go on, you know you can't resist.

From there, walk around the corner to Le Jupon Rouge, situated at 9 rue de Rochechouart in the 9th, where you can find an eclectic, colorful collection of consignment pieces artfully curated by owner Tania. If you are looking for a statement piece to add to your wardrobe without breaking the bank, this is the place. Signature Agnes B jackets go for €50, and beautiful vintage boots come in around €40-70.

Tired yet? Yes, so are we. Hunker down for dinner at a nearby bistro (this isn't the eating tour, what do you want, restaurant recommendations, too?) order yourself a bowl of onion soup and revel in your victorious fashion finds of the day.

No trip to Paris would be complete without a walk down the Champs Elysees, the boulevard-turned-catwalk of Paris' fashion elite.



Lucky for you, most stores on the promenade are open late, and the whole street is more magnificent when all its garish lights are aglow. Walk from the Arch de Triumph at metro George V or Charles de Gaulle Etoile down the Champs Elysees to the Seine and enjoy the beautiful view of the Eiffel tower all lit up from the Quay. Yes, your feet hurt. And yes, your bank account hurts even more, but nothing can take away the sense of satisfaction from finding that one great dress or bag or pair of Prada pumps.

Now go home and flaunt it.