What Started the Cupcake Craze

This post is a response to Ana B.’s at on dressing up, which asked the question, “where did this cupcake obsession come from?”

Ana is right, desserts are subject to trends just like anything else. As a matter of fact, the New York Times ran an article today about the newest dessert trend, the whoopie pie, which the NYT describes as “a cake-like sandwich, or perhaps a sandwich-like cake.” Either way, the whoopie pie is rising up in the ranks of desserts, spreading out from its original home in Maine across the country.

So here’s the answer to the cupcake question:

Last fall, they [whoopies] even cracked the lineup at Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan, which helped turn cupcakes into a national craze thanks to the bakery’s exposure on “Sex and the City.”

Although whoopie pies look delicious… I just can’t see them being the next fashionable dessert like cupcakes are!

gold earrings, art print, Juicy Couture necklace, Tiffany & Co. charm

What do you think? Are whoopie pies the next cupcake?

Photos from the NYT, YouTube, flickr, and flickr.

Bed of Flowers

Mrs. B at She’s Star Crossed posted a few days ago about this beautiful bed and breakfast in the Netherlands. What a find! I just had to share some of the pictures.

The Perfect Spring Dress [if I owned a money tree]

See by Chloé dress, Halston clutch, Miu Miu sandals

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

net-a-porter.com, my-wardrobe.com, swarovski.com, piperlime.com, heavenlyhostess.com, sephora.com, mainecottage.com, adorevintage.com, zappos.com, chanel.com

Ruche Spring Update!

Ruche has finally put up their spring lookbook, and it’s beautiful!

Although it doesn’t really feature any new items, there are a few new beauties, like the sailing stripes button dress,

the blue baguio festival dress,

and, my personal favorite, the pink hostas empire tank top!

Bright and Sunny Spaces

It has been cloudy and rainy here all weekend and shouldn’t let up until tomorrow afternoon. It’s making me wish I was somewhere like this…

Pictures from here, here, here and here.

Mall Report: Numerous Neutrals

So, I spent 4 hours in the mall yesterday… I scored a few really great deals. I really hit the department stores hard, and didn’t spend much time in smaller stores. I’m thinking that’s the ticket if you can handle the scrounging.

I bought this Nine West bag for $30 from Macy’s, although I can’t find it on their website now. It’s filling the spot of the messenger bag that' I’ve been wanting and looking for forever now:

I got a pair of a.n.a. skinny jeans from JC Penny for $21. So far, so good! I really like the fit and the style.

I also saw an I ♥ Ronson terry-like blazer on sale for $30, but can’t find it anywhere online. It’s worth checking out in the store, as well as the Allen B Boyfriend jacket, which has a really nice fit and was on sale for $50. I’m not sure I’m really a fan of the plaid lining that shows when you roll up the sleeves, though. I think I’m still on a a quest for a perfect boyfriend blazer without any sort of lining on the inside.

I also bought this apostrophe top from Sear’s. I’m glad I tried it on, because they run a little small. The colors also look different from how they are displayed on the website. I got the fossil color, but it’s really a lot lighter and more brownish than it looks online. I love the way it fits and feels, though.

I also spotted these shoes from Aerosoles: Splurge and Gin Rummy. I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but if a shoe is even halfway cute, a heel, and COMFORTABLE, I’m sold. As the sales lady told me, and as I wholeheartedly agree after trying them on, you could stand in these shoes all day long! I hope Aerosoles continues to include even more cute shoes in their collections.

I think I squealed out loud when I saw the Apostrophe 3 in 1 topper mentioned in this post in the color pink. However, after I felt ridiculous fooling with all the voluminous fabric, buttons and bows in the store, I decided that it wasn’t the spring coat for me. I also realized that I could never get the bow to be as pretty as they have it in the picture. Someone could pull it off, but I think the smirk on the lady windexing the jewelry case answered the question for me.

Finally, although I didn’t see this skirt since we don’t have an Anthropologie (YET!), I am in love: