Fabulous Friday!

It truly is a fabulous, fabulous Friday. For tomorrow I will be in the happiest place on Earth...DISNEY WORLD!  I'm so excited; I haven't been there since I was eight.  I can't wait to go on rides, visit the different countries at Epcot and have an overall fantastic time with my family.  I leave you with Disney themed pictures by Annie Leibovitz.  So beautifully magical!

I'm Just Mad About Saffron

Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

In case you didn't know, I go bananas over anything made with bananas (see here and here for proof).  The latest and greatest banana recipe is very drool-worthy and sinfully sweet...introducing Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies.

I discovered the recipe out of sheer laziness.  Every year for Easter, I love to make Giada's Lemon Ricotta Cookies.  Last Saturday night, I began to make the cookies and I realized I forgot to buy the ricotta cheese...obviously one of the essential ingredients.  Not wanting to drag my butt back out to the store, I noticed I had a few very ripe bananas...bingo!  I found this recipe and tweaked it a bit to my liking.  The cookies came out incredibly moist and the banana & chocolate together is heavenly.

1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup of sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 cup of very ripe mashed bananas (about 2 1/2 bananas)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of all spice
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup of walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until light and fluffy.
2. In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas and baking soda. Let sit for 2 minutes.
3. Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and spices. Gradually combine the flour mixture with the banana mixture, stir until well blended.
4. Fold into the batter the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes about 30 cookies.

My Three Favorites

Photo via Verde website

#1. I have a new favorite shoping mecca in Center City. The super cute boutique/chocolate shope Verde.  A place where I can purchase unique clothes, accessories, perfume AND decadent Marcie Blaine chocolates?  I've died and gone to heaven!




#2. I never get tired of watching this beautiful commercial for Miss Dior Cherie perfume.  Wouldn't you just love to live in that world?  C'est magnifique!

#3. Darling's Diner in Northern Liberties.  Very retro-chic vibe minus that dingy diner feeling. It's open 24 hours, has a full bar and serves breakfast anytime.  I had the chicken salad club with sweet potato fries and both were phenomenal.

Fabulous Friday!

Hope everyone has a fabulous Friday and a candy & Jesus-filled Easter!  I leave you to ponder over these Victorian Easter cards...aren't they frighteningly fascinating? 

Look Ma! I'm Eating Veggies.

I have never been a fan of Brussels sprouts. As a kid I would have rather spontaneously combusted than let a single sprout touch my lips.  But now that I'm a super responsible adult and trying hard to eat more veggies, I decided to give them another shot.

 

I'm a firm believer that any vegetable tastes better roasted with a little olive oil, salt & pepper.  So all I did to make delicious roasted Brussels sprouts was preheat the oven 400 degrees, open a bag of frozen sprouts, drizzle olive oil on top, and sprinkle liberally with salt &  pepper.  About thirty five to forty minutes later, I enjoyed nutritious globes of roasted goodness.  And now, so can you!

Well, Smell You

On my way to work this morning, something felt a bit...off.  Like I forgot to do something before I left the house.  Did I unplug the straightener?  Check.  Did I lock the door? Check.  Did I put on deodorant?  Oh crap.  I forgot to put on deodorant!!

I am a repeat deodorant-forgetter offender.  So much so, that I keep an extra stick in my office drawer.  Or I did at my old office.  But since I started my new job I haven't bought my emergency stick yet.  Crap again! Thankfully, I now work in the Wanamaker building.  Macy's to the rescue!

As soon as the doors opened, I high-tailed it to the fragrance department.  I asked a super chatty perfume-spritzer lady if they sold deodorant, any kind will do.  She went on to proclaim how fabulous Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant is, and it's the only kind she uses.  Being it was an emergency, I paid 20 bucks for the alleged fabulous deodorant and went back to work.*

Surprisingly, this deodorant is pretty fabulous!  It smells amazing, and lasts way longer than my usual Dove deodorant.  Nice recommendation, super chatty perfume-spritzer lady.

* I don't want to hear any crap about how I spent 20 bucks on deodorant.  I buy all my makeup at the drugstore and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day.  Sometimes a girl has to treat herself, even if it's her pitties.

If I Could Turn Back Time

I love me some Cher. She happens to be my all-time favorite actress; largely in part to her performances in Moonstruck and Mermaids.   And what a bod!  If only I was that tall & thin, even for one day.  But what I really admire about Cher is her amazingly eclectic sense of style.  Sure, she's had some wacky wardrobe choices over the years (hello biker babe with exposed butt cheeks!).  But nevertheless she always manages to pull off any look, all while exuding confidence.  I especially enjoy her glamorous styles from the sixties & seventies.  As you can see, Cher-esque looks have recently been reinterpreted.  And the beat goes on...seriously!

Psychedelic swirls then...

And Pucci now.

Fur coat then...

And Forzieri Fur now.

Sexy sequined dress then...

And Topshop dress now.

Turquoise jewelry then...

And Ranjana Khan necklace now.

 

Wide Brimmed Hat then...

And Arden B hat now.

Feathers then...

And Promiscuous heels now.

My Three Favorites

#1 . The Shopping Strike is over!  Thank the Lord.  Celebratory purchases were made at Target.

#2. My neighborhood restaurant Cassizzi's.  The former funeral home turned super cute Italian joint has a fantastic menu & a super accommodating staff.  It's fab!

#3. The new Showtime series The Borgias.  Very juicy story line & fabulous costumes.  Love!

Fabulous Friday!

Well, it's about that time!  Bring on the much needed cocktails and have a fabulous weekend!

Pretty Pretty Picnic

As I think of springtime and all the warm weather activities I want to partake in, a lovely outdoor picnic instantly comes to mind.  I haven't actually picnic-ed since my childhood years...what a blasphemous thought!  With that said, a gal can't go on her first picnic in decades without proper attire...right?  Or at the very least a super cute picnic basket.

From the top: D & G dress / Teresa espadrille / Emily Elizabeth bee earrings / Willow picnic basket / A Good Day For A Picnic book

Currently Coveting...

Kate Spade Tropica Jezibel Tote

Dear Mrs. Spade,

You are a genius. I would love to rock your flamingo bag on my upcoming trip to Florida. Can you please send me one...for free? Come on, I'll be your best friend! Think about it.

Love,
Gina

The Call Of The Wild

I have always been a fond admirer of leopard print.  Over the years I have owned just about everything you could possibly slap a leopard print on: car seat covers, fuzzy dice, pants (ooh boy), a check book cover, a day planner, shoes, purses, belts, undergarments, etc.  Something about leopard fashion items is impossibly chic and amazingly timeless.  In my humble opinion, wearing leopard the right way is an art form.  Too much at once can look trashy and cheap, but a sprinkling of leopard print among a simple ensemble can be very seductive.  Meee-ow!

From the top: Givenchy handbag / Chico's cuff / Tolani Infinity scarf / Tory Burch flats / Roberto Cavalli bra / Too Faced Powder