Spring Desserts

Now that spring is finally here, I find myself gravitating away from my usual dessert recipe choices like rich cakes and chocolate tarts. Don't get me wrong, I love all things rich and chocolate, but when the weather warms up and berry season starts, it's hard not to crave something a bit lighter.

 All I seem to want when I crave something sweet is fruit with ice cream or home made whipped cream. Is anyone else feeling this way? 

I also noticed that on Pinterest, I am seeing much lighter desserts as well. A lot more fruit and a lot less cake. I guess I'm not the only one switching to more seasonal dessert options.

I hope to make all of these recipes by the end of the spring season, but first up will be the lemon ice box pie, because my Dad is a huge fan of lemon and he is perfect to test the recipe out on.

Strawberry Napoleons

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes

Lilly Pulitzer: A Tribute to an Icon

The iconic fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau passed away yesterday at her home in Palm Beach at the age of 81.  As the women who brought the classic and colorful Palm Beach style to the entire world, I believe a tribute is in order. 

Spring Wedding Attire

Well ladies, the spring wedding season is officially upon us! I know some people hate weddings, but I love them because it's a good excuse to buy a brand new outfit!

The issue with spring weddings is that the weather can be so unpredictable. It can be 75 degrees and sunny one day and then 55 degrees and rainy the next. You want to try and strike a balance between dressing for the season and dressing for the weather.

First things first. We need to break down the dress code rules. I am pretty good at deciphering a wedding dress code based on the invitation and location of the reception but,  just to be safe,  I am going to reference the experts at The Emily Post Institute. 

Formal Wedding

Daytime: Cocktail or dressy afternoon dress

Evening: Depending on local customs, long evening dress or dressy cocktail dress; gloves optional. 

Semi-formal Wedding

Daytime: Dressy afternoon dress, suit or pantsuit

Evening: Cocktail dress, dressy pantsuit

Informal Wedding

Daytime: Afternoon dress; dressy skirt or pants and blouse

Evening: Afternoon or cocktail dress

All Information via Emily Post

Pink Lipstick

When people talk about lipstick, the first color that comes to mind is red, which I love. Unfortunately for me, my lips aren't exactly luscious, so red lipstick doesn't do too much for me. Pink I find to be much easier for most women to pull off and the lighter shades can actually add fullness to the lips when applied correctly.

There are just as many shades of pink as there are of red out there, so every women can find a shade that suits them best. I am loving the neon pink look above, especially for spring, but I am  not sure I can pull it off. I think I may need to get a serious tan first. 

Pastel Jewelry for Spring

I know that the super bright jewelry, like neon green and orange are all over the place right now, but I can't seem to get on board with the look, at least not on me. Other people seem to pull the look off beautifully.

Luckily for me, with spring here, so are tons of great options for pastel colored jewelry, which suits my tastes a much better than the neon.

Leftover Ham Recipes

Ham is a very popular choice for the Easter holidays and 9 times out of  10, we end up with plenty of leftovers. Here are a few recipes to help you use up the extra meat.

Ham & Broccoli Braid

Black Eyed Peas & Gumbo

Ham & Potato Soup

If you are too lazy to think about cooking, do what I do. Grab a leftover roll, a few slices of ham and some spicy mustard. No recipes or pans, just a tasty ham sandwich.

Brightly Painted Front Doors

So most front doors are painted or finished in some way, but I love the idea of a bright front door. It adds so much character to a home that you don't get from typical door colors.

It's as if you could say "We're number 242, but if you can't find us, just look for the bright red door."

Happy Easter!

For those of you who are celebrating, enjoy the day!

Image via Martha Stewart

Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn

In the 50's and early 60's, so many women aspired to look like Marilyn Monroe, and rightfully so. She was so beautiful and had amazing style. Don't get me started on the hair and makeup!

The only problem with Marilyn was that so few girls had the platinum blonde hair and amazing curves that it took to emulate Marilyn. I can relate to this because I am one of them. I have always been short with a tiny frame and dark hair and eyes. No matter how hard I tried, I could never look like Marilyn. And then I discovered Audrey!

Audrey Hepburn has been one of my biggest style inspirations since I was a little girl. She is the image of good taste and elegance. She never tried to be over the top or flashy and she knew how to dress for her figure. Her looks are timeless and that is why so many of us are still trying to emulate her style.

Spring Fruits & Vegetables

Now that spring has finally sprung, I am starting to think about lightening my cooking for spring. All winter long we stick with hearty, filling meals because that is what we crave when it's cold outside. Now that more fruit and veggies are in season, I can try and lighten things up a bit and cut down on the carbs and fat (hopefully!). This is what is on my grocery list:

Spring Fruits

Cherries
Strawberries
Blueberries
Figs
Raspberries
Currants
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