Category Archives: eats

friday finds

i have to say, i love these ‘friday finds’ posts…they really do turn out as random as my week typically seems.

these beautiful new chocolate bars from vosges chocolate showed up on my doorstep this week (i love my job!), and wow.  a belt notch later, i can tell you they’re positively amazing.  vosges makes some of my favorite chocolates – they do an amazing job of creating seriously unique, unbelievably delicious flavors.  the pink peppercorns in the white chocolate/lemon zest bar might have been a tad strong, but utterly unlike anything i’ve tried. and there’s nothing at all wrong with blood orange caramel!  count me in.  next on my list to try is their new bacon chocolate chip pancake mix…yum!

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i ran into this skirt from the tucker for target collection during a target outing this week, and dear readers, it is utterly fantastic in person!  i am now scouring my local targets to find my size, as it’s totally sold out online (reviewers have said it runs small, so beware).  this gold and navy brocade looks so, so much more luxe in person than it gets credit for being online.  it reminds me of something j.crew or kate spade would have produced, but the $39 pricetag is no lie.  wear it now with a drapey silk top and navy belted blazer, or a sleek cream cardi…and just try to imagine the holiday potential here!

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speaking of j.crew, i was actively coveting one of the chunky bracelets from their fenton/fallon collaboration, but it sold out before i could justify the expense.  lucky for me their sister brand, madewell, has come up with a style i might even love more…and at half the price!  at $58, i’m having a very hard time finding the willpower to stop myself.

and last but not least, couldn’t resist sharing the friends & family action going on at hayden+harnett.  now through october 15, take 20% off any online order (including sale items, and pieces from other designers!) with code FALL10FRIENDS.  i checked with their designer, toni hacker, before i shared, and she assured me that she thinks of all you shoppingsmycardio readers as dear friends of hayden+harnett, so spend away!  i’d splurge on these tomtom pyramid stud earrings ($80) and the mystery scarf ($160), but i haven’t even gotten to the bags yet…

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have a great weekend, everyone!

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random friday finds

i’m resurrecting this end-of-the-week mishmash of my latest favorite things…but i think we need a better title, don’t you?  suggestions?

to start, i can’t forget to tell all of you that bloomingdales is having its annual friends & family sale through sunday 3/28.  you can nab 20% off just about everything with code BFF.  there are just too many finds to post, but trust me…it’s worth a look!

british chef jamie oliver makes my favorites list this week not just because i have a huge tv crush on him (and i do).  it’s partially because of his new cookbook, jamie’s food revolution, which is full of some great recipes that are easy and fast, including loads of excellent curry recipes, which are hard to come by.  but also, my tv crush is coming back to tv!  he has a new show coming on that starts tonight on abc, and i can’t wait!

speaking of crushes, i have an official crush on this dress by eskell (courtesy of the always-enticing le train bleu):

normally, i am thoroughly unenthused by warm-weather attire.  but this dress is utter perfection. for those of you dying to try the bold layering/color contrasting trends that are so hot this spring, this dress is a foolproof way to go about it.  it would so easily go from office to weekend with just a change of shoes, and it has the most flattering cut i could imagine!

i’m almost embarrassed to show you this scarf by yigal azrouel, because it is so hideously expensive ($380.  i know, i know.):

but then, it’s soooo beautiful, how could i not share?  oh scarf, the lovely things i could do with you…all my jeans and tees would suddenly be chic and perfect. (and by the way, yes, the expression on that model’s face does make you think that maybe you accidentally slept with her boyfriend.)

as penance for making you lust after a $400 scarf, i’m going to show you my favorite bag for the summer (ahem…well, so far, at least), which happens to be an utter steal.

i love everything about this bag from mothology – the rough cotton/hemp cloth, the nautical french stripe, the leather handle…it’s total warm-weather perfection, and it’s only $82.  it reminds me of something elegant ladies would carry to the seashore.

have a fabulous weekend, all!

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because easter really is all about the candy, right?

(editor’s note: ooh, looks like vosges is on sale at gilt groupe this morning.  so, um…hop to it! grab an invite here, and the sale’s right here.)

you know how most people complain about weight gain over the thanksgiving-christmas-new year’s eve time of year?  personally, i have no trouble passing up yet another plate of fruitcake or turkey.

but easter.  ohhhh, easter.  ’tis the season for chocolate, hot cross buns, and all of those yummy egg-shaped candies (cadbury, i’m looking at you!).  plus all of those macarons (and macaroons) being baked up for passover (oh yes, i’m an equal opportunity binger).  and everything’s so cuuuuute!  pink speckled eggs, little bunnies and lambs…it’s too much to resist.  most of these fabulous treats are only around once a year, so naturally, i start stockpiling like a squirrel in winter as soon as the valentine’s day candy leaves the shelves.  my house right now is a diabetic coma waiting to happen.

but even with my extreme expertise in the realm of easter treats, i’ve come up with some new loves this year.  most of them are from vosges, whose chocolate is wonderful any time of year.  but when besides easter can you get bacon and eggs in candy form?

yeah, they’re at least as good as they look.  okay, who am i kidding….they’re way, way better.  if you’re skeptical (as i was, believe me), just remember how good bacon tastes dipped in maple syrup.  now imagine it’s caramel instead.  with a chocolate shell.  i know.

and i can’t really be expected to resist bunnies stuffed with toffee and pink himalayan sea salt either, can i?

then there are the absolutely adorable little truffles my mom sent me (how cute is she for sending me an easter basket?) from another favorite chocolatier, moonstruck chocolates, based right here in portland.

i haven’t been able to bring myself to eat them yet…in person, the cute factor is just overwhelming.  but don’t fear…i’m sure my sweet tooth will win out.

you’re totally craving chocolate now, aren’t you?  yeah, sorry about that.  my advice is to just give in…after all, easter only comes once a year.  grab any (or all…hey, it’s the holidays!) while you can!

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