Things I learn from reading Teen Vogue

I'm going to have to say that Victoria Traina is my fashion icon. Thanks.

Cool website

Reprodepot.com is a really fantastic resource for reproduction fabrics. I like to cover canvases in interesting fabric and use it as wall art, and this is definitely the best fabrics I've found yet (in stores and online). Although I haven't tried it, I think the ribbons and trim here would make cute belts if you just sewed on a D ring. It's all well-priced, too. Reprodepot is just a really cool and useful website. Click to go there.

Spring

The Milly Spring 2008 collection is everything I want for summer. Here are some of my favorites but the whole collection is here. It is sort of J. Crew meets Tibi. I think I might try to recreate the second look for Easter Sunday 2K8.

Food, glorious food

Last night I made a 4-layer chocolate cake. And it was excellent, but still doesn't even stand up to my mom's chocolate cake. It's just a sheet cake, but it is the best you will ever have for sure. This is how you make it (excuse the mom-lingo):

CHOCOLATE CAKE

Mix together: 2 cups sugar and 2 cups all purpose flour. Set aside.

Mix the following in a boiler pot and let come to a boil: 1 cup of butter (I use half oleo and half butter), half cup of water, half cup of Port wine but I use half cup of COKE, 3 tbsp. cocoa. Watch carefully.

Pour this hot mixture over the sugar and flour. Beat together (mixer) and then ADD:
1/2 cup of buttermilk
2 eggs unbeaten
1 tsp.baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all together and pour into a 11x17x1 pan (rectangle) and bake 20min.at 350. Watch carefully. Use a toothpick or cake tester to see if done.


FROSTING:
1 stick of butter or margarine (can mix the 2)
3 ½ tbsp.of cocoa
6 tbsp.of milk....whole is best

1 box of confectioners sugar, sifted. I use a little less.
1 tsp. of vanilla
Bring butter, cocoa and milk to a boil. Stir. Remove from heat and add sifted sugar a little at a time. Then add vanilla. Beat well. SPREAD this over the hot cake. Good with ice cream.
This is a real moist cake and freezes well

Call if need help.

Fresh

Mary Coleman is really talented and made me a new title! I love it! She can do the same for your blog, or website, or stationary or billboard. And if you mention this blog, she will give you 10% off. Email me and I'll hook you up.

Sandals (not the resort)

All the warm, sunny weather lately makes me want to wear sundresses and sandals. Too bad it's raining now... these are really cute though and only $12.80. I know I'm supposed to hate Forever21, but it's just so CHEAP. Look at others here.

Birthday

I really want a cool new bracelet. I like these alot. The first one is Chloe and the second is Matthew Williamson, and you can get both for me at net-a-porter.

Kara Walker

Lately I've been intrigued by Kara Walker's silhouettes. She went to school in Atlanta, and alot of her work deals with the Antebellum South. I love how, at first, it looks like light, playful artwork, but when you look closer, the subjects are pretty intense. This is her recent exhibit at the Whitney.

Misery loves company

I'll start with what's important: food. Basically, I love finding out-of-the-way restaurants and I HATE chains. Yes to Horseradish Grille, no to Brio. My friends in NYC don't think Death and Co. looks cool. But I'm planning a trip possibly just for this restaurant/bar. I think it's quite lovely. "To those who shine after dusk, we warmly embrace. Welcome to the new golden age. Welcome to Death and Co." Very dark. Take a look.

New blog

The events of our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves, they find their own order...the continuous thread of revelation.