Cravings

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I don’t think of fancy dinners, red roses or expensive gifts (though I strongly encourage those things any other time of the year). Instead I tend to embrace the sweetness of the “Hallmark” holiday. I personally love the decorative hearts, romantic movies, silly-but-cute cards, and last but not certainly not least – the sweet chocolate treats. Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers; it’s a time to be enjoyed with friends and family too. I decided to make these Brownie Heart Cupcakes to share with all the special people that I love. The sweet treat combines both my love for chocolate and decorative hearts. They’re pretty delicious too.

A girl’s first love? Chocolate. Her second? Butter.

Melted chocolate to help create rich fudgy brownies that will melt your taste buds’ heart.

A pale shade of pink buttercream frosting creates a pretty tasty touch.

Tiny cutout brownie hearts are the perfect way to top this treat.

Cupcake, I love you.

Two cupcakes are better than one.

The Wildfox Sparkle Heart Baggy Beach Jumper definitely makes my heart go pitter-patter. It’s been spotted on Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Its sparkly heart and off-the-shoulder style make it easy to love, don’t you think?

(Available at Revolve Clothing, Boutique to You, Couture Candy)

Some would call him the father of fashion. Others -mainly my husband- would call him an interesting Beethoven-Neo hybrid with his powder white hair and black Matrix attire. Either way, Karl Lagerfeld’s personal style and designs are both iconic. He’s the epitome of fabu. So naturally I and other devote fashion followers squealed in delight when Net-a-Porter launched KARL, the cult fashion icon’s covetable collection of downtown classics. Tré cool.

I drool. And so should you. There’s a tasty mix of fashionable goodies to suit your style needs. Sweatshirts and tees, leather sneakers and sandals, canvas and leather bags, sequin shorts and biker jackets – oh my! Dorthy, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. We’re in fashion heaven.

While there are some uber-fabu and pricier items, there’s also a lot of very affordable pieces which have you say “shut up” with glee. My personal faves include the (a) Jacinda Karl-print jersey T-shirt (b) Sequined poplin collar (c) Printed canvas shopper

If someone would have told me a few years ago that adding oil to my hair would make it look healthier, I would have uttered a “coo-coo” while rolling my eyes and motioning my finger in a circular motion. Crazy as it may have seemed, using argan oil on my hair has today become one of my favorite beauty must-haves for achieving and maintaining healthy locks. A couple of years ago I started using Moroccanoil Oil Treatment and have in recent months added Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment to my arsenal. Both help restore my hair’s moisture so that it looks shiny, feels soft, and smells heavenly. The Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment is super convenient to use with it’s spray nozzle, and I love using it after washing my hair to help detangle and quickly dry it. I tend to use the Moroccanoil after blow drying or straightening my hair, and also find it ideal for freshen up my tresses. Both will keep your hair looking and feeling beautiful.

I’m kind of obsessed with chocolate chip cookies. The classic cookie is a sure thing in the eyes of my tummy. It’s probably the only cookie that universally enjoyed by everyone. And while it’s always a treat, I really love finding new recipes that reinvent the traditional chocolate chip cookie. In this recipe, I turned to my inner child and opted for the joy that comes with a jumbo-size cookie. These huge cookies have perfect crispy edges and irresistible soft baked centers. Besides satisfying the belly, I also find satisfaction in just saying I only ate one cookie.

In your mixer, cream together butter and sugars until well fluffy and well blended. Add eggs (one at a time) and then vanilla. Mix until blended.

Add flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix just until all the goodies are just combined. Then carefully fold in about 2 cups of chocolate chips.

Roll the dough into balls into about 4 ounces or half a cup portions. Bake cookies at 375 degrees on a cookie sheet pan lined with parchment paper for about 15-2o minutes (the timing will depend on your oven)

The last and most important step: stuff face.

Don’t forget a tall glass of moo juice.

Sometimes big is just better. Case in point: this larger than life Dannijo Coco Ring. The gold-plated ring features crystals and raised edges, which happens to remind me of the jumbo cookie’s chocolate chips and crispy edges. It’s completely delicious in all it’s jumbo-size glory. I like to picture myself wearing the gorgeous statement ring while holding a jumbo chocolate chip cookie in the same hand. Every girl should have a craving fantasy that tasty.

(available in gold and silver at Shopbop, Singer22, Charm & Chain)

There once was a time when I would only wear my favorite perfume on days deemed “special” or those few and fleeting “fancy” occasions. I was like Gollum and only wore my coveted scent sparingly; afraid to use it for fear that it’s pricey beauty would be spoiled on something unworthy. However, I’ve long since abandoned that silly notion and now favor the idea that every day is special and I’m worth the scent splurge. Now I spritz on a favorite fragrance even if my day simply includes a comfy pair of sweatpants. Oh yeah, super fancy . . .

I actually tend to rotate fragrances depending on my mood, and one of my current faves is Chance by Chanel. I received the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Toilette Spray (thanks to a loving husband) for my birthday last year and then the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Sheer Moisture Mist for Christmas (thanks to my thoughtful mom). The mist bottle is a wonderful way to freshen up your scent during the day since it’s super convenient to just throw in your handbag (or even your gym bag).

It’s a dreamy and delicate scent that is both sweet and seductive. I get compliments and “what are you wearing?” every time I wear it. If you’re looking for a new scent, I recommend taking a chance on Chanel Chance. You won’t regret it, and you’re worth the splurge.

(available at Sephora, Saks, Nordstrom, Macy’s)