I often cringe when spotting the cowboy tuxedo — denim-on-denim … eegads.  But navy on denim is totally chic, and when paired with chunky metal accessories, it’s completely preppy and glam.  And just in case you feared the illustrious fashion pitfall, pair light denim with dark navy – no tuxedo confusion there.

A few of my favorite navy + denim picks:

Madewell Armona Polka Dot Dress

Current/Elliott The Perfect Denim Shirt

Current/Elliott The Stiletto in Indigo Polka Dot

Yves Saint Laurent Tribtoo Suede Pumps

AG Adriano Goldschmied Sleeveless Marine Top

7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Skinny Jeans

Theyskens Theory Navy Aki Ziggy Pumps

Maison Martin Margiela Elbow-Patch Cardigan

ASOS Navy Tights

Images via Guerreisms // StreetFSN

I miss breakfast in Paris. Everything was covered in cheese and came with coffee.

(And since it’s currently really early in Paris right now, it’s totally justified … my crazy craving for cheese bread + more coffee, at 7pm on the East Coast.)

I love music. I mean, really love music.  And I’m pretty open to all types.  But LMFAO, it kind of burns my ears.  (SO sorry, if LMFAO is … like … your favorite boy band ever.)

Until my new favorite teenager covered “Sexy and I know It” and made it palatable … okay, awesome.

I was SO not this cool in high school …

Listen to a few of my favorite mixtapes while you’re at it!

Via Gawker

But I’m forging on.  I NEED these glasses.

Above: the object of my affection.  House of Harlow 1960 Chelsea Cat Eye Sunglasses.

Image via Late Afternoon

Sukha carries apparel, books, accessories, gifts and unique handmade products, a.k.a., an all around-awesome shop. And the stores’ design, though it’s props are constantly changing, has stunning high ceilings, crisp white walls and a grey painted concrete floor that I want.  Plus, there’s a tent/tepee.

Don’t you just want to throw crochet cushions on the floor and a vintage lace tablecloth over your dining room table?

Images via Vosges Paris // Jeltje Janmaat // Sukha Amsterdam

Thanks, Mom.  For everything.

Image here

If you’re a last minute gift shopper (ahem … Mother’s Day is on Sunday), go with the quirky – free printable mom tatts – or get to shopping with a handy dandy check-list.

For a bit of eye candy – love Kate Spade’s new online city guides.

Still on the wishlist.

Thinking of adding bows to my heels, Man Repeller style (sans Louboutins).

Not that I have any need for one, but I really want a rad photo-booth backdrop.  (err, Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  I got you a decorated wall!)

Okay, what about an outdoor cinema party?

It’s settled – homemade graham crackers, it is.

My first birthday was a Strawberry-Shortcake-Themed party.  And though at the time I was all about the sweet-smelling pink-haired big-headed doll (oh did I love Strawberry Shortcake!), I was also a huge fan of the actual cake.  It was, in fact, my first birthday cake.

So as summer rolls around and strawberries are fresher than ever, I’m clamoring for a plate of old-fashioned from scratch strawberry shortcake.

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups halved strawberries
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons chilled stick margarine or butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• Cooking spray
• 6 tablespoons whipped topping (I used sugar-free)

Directions

1. Combine fresh Dole strawberry halves, 1/3 cup sugar, Dole orange juice, vanilla, and lemon juice in a pan, and simmer on low until desired consistency. Place in air-tight tupperware, cover and chill.
2. Preheat oven to 425°.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; cut in margarine with a pastry blender or 2 knives (or a potato masher!) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 times with floured hands. Pat dough into a 6 x 4-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 6 squares (or use a cookie cutter and cut into circles). Place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
5. Split shortcakes in half horizontally using a serrated knife; place each bottom half on a dessert plate. Put a dollop of whipped topping and about 1/4 cup strawberry mixture over each bottom half. Top with shortcake tops; spoon a bit more whipped topping and another  1/4 cup strawberry mixture over each top.

By the way, the biscuits are simple, soft on the inside, and perfectly chewy and buttery soft on the outside.

I cooked down the strawberry filling, then stored in an air-tight container and chilled, to get that syrupy consistency.

Seriously, amazing.

See my full recipe on Foodie.com.

Recipe adapted via Cooking Light, JUNE 1998

Enter your own favorite summer recipes in the Dole Facebook Contest + Dole Facebook Sweepstakes, using at least one cup of Dole product, for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to participate in a celebrity cook-off contest.  Prizes include, $10,000 and $1,000 awards, and if cooking is not your thing, but you’re a fan of good food, enter the Dole sweepstakes drawing to win a chance to be a Dole Fan judge where you’ll join Chef Ben Ford and his panel of judges in the Dole California cook-off, which also includes a $500 cash prize.

*Compensation was provided by Dole via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Dole.

In case you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a huge fan of body scrubs, creams, and whatever other skin softening products I can get my hands on.  I obsess over my skin – gotta have that bare confidence, and it starts with your skin, and I seriously hope it pays off in spades when I am old and [less] wrinkly than my friends.  Ha.  Okay, I kid.  I’m going to make all of them scrub, exfoliate, and hydrate away, so they can be [less] wrinkly, just like me!

So let’s talk scrubs.  There are oh so many scrubs available at every price range, but all have two common elements - a moisturizing liquid and a coarse exfoliating agent – and, lo and behold, the mix can be recreated at home without much trouble.

One of my latest “swoon list” participants (oh yes, I have a laundry list of products I swoon over!):  Brown Sugar Body Scrub.  So to the grocery store I went.  At first I thought I’d make a brown sugar scrub, but I quickly realized none of the brown sugar options had the coarse-ness I was looking for.  In the end I chose an unrefined sugar (and it worked beautifully!)  Did I mention everything I needed was at the grocery store?  Score!

DIY Sugar Scrub:

• 1 cup Coarse Sugar (or brown sugar for a less coarse version)
• 2 Tbsp. Honey
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Any High Grade Oil such as Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil (I used Sweet Almond Oil)
• 1/2 tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice or Lemon Oil (If using oil use 1/8 tsp.) (Optional)

Pour the brown sugar into a bowl and add in the oil until the brown sugar is moist, but not over-saturated.  Next, stir in the honey and mix.  Finally, add fresh lemon juice, stir again, and voila!

On a side note, the lemon keeps the scent light and fresh, but it’s not necessary, so if you’re looking for warmer tones – the sugar and honey will smell buttery sweet on their own.

The scrub leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft and the scent is amazing!

I stored my sugar scrub in an air tight container and quickly realized with a bit of ribbon, your homemade sugar scrub would make a great gift too (hint hint: mother’s day!)

Do you have any DIY beauty tricks?  Do you ever make your own beauty treatments?

And for a chance at winning a $1,500 shopping spree, designer clothes, and the best in beauty, enter the Style Your Spring Sweepstakes at www.beauty.philips.com!

Philips Satin Perfect is an innovative solution for women who are looking for a simple, at-home hair removal tool to ensure they are ready for any outfit at a moment’s notice. Satin Perfect is a cordless, total body epilator that removes even the shortest hairs in one stroke, so skin stays silky smooth for up to four weeks. It includes an extra-wide epilation head with textured ceramic discs to remove even the finest and shortest (.5MM) hairs.  Visit www.Beauty.Philips.com for more information on Philips female hair removal products.

Compensation was provided by Philips via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Philips.

So I’m going to be industrious, and force our butts outside – Martha Stewart style.  The plan: dining al fresco.  I love the idea of a picnic – they look so lovely in pictures; then again, I’m not exactly “one” with nature, I’m more “allergic” to nature.  So I’m thinking baby steps – -we have this great outdoor set-up on our little deck and we never ever use it.  Operation, dinner outside, in motion.

Do you do dinner outside?  Do you ever just plop down on the grass and enjoy the great outdoors?

I’ve got to get on this, or else we’ll wind up just purchasing one of these crazy picnic table contraptions via Architizer and calling it a success …

Images via: Classy in the City // Pinterest // Architizer