Look to the Cookie...

I’ve got a special delivery for all the baking impaired and busy bodies that don’t have time to spend in the kitchen. It’s not a package of Chips Ahoy cookies either! You can still enjoy savory treats even if you don’t bake them yourself. Just let Josh Auerbach, President & Master Baker, of The Black & White Cookie Company handle the job for you. His “Yin & Yang” creations are guaranteed to create a mini-explosion of flavors in your mouth.

Josh’s premium B&W cookies are unique because they are all NATURAL and kosher certified - NO preservatives, NO corn syrup. This gourmet cookie company likes to have fun. So they mixed a few modern twists into their secret recipe... In addition to the original B&W, The Black & White Cookie Company now offers a full range of exotic flavor combinations to satisfy everyone’s palate! I’ve personally had the luxury of tasting flavors such as blueberry, strawberry, bubblegum, mint, and orange. Trust me; these cookies are so delicious that Cookie Monster himself would jump through the TV to get his hands on them! One-of-a-kind cookie creations are no problem either. Josh can create edible custom decorations for any occasion including weddings, birthdays, religious events, corporate events, etc.

The Black & White Cookie Company is dedicated to making the environment a sweeter place one cookie at a time. That’s why they use minimal packaging and highly efficient utilities. Cookies aren’t the only thing on the menu either. You can order handmade truffles, brownies, tarts, scones, challah breads, and more. Check out http://www.blackandwhitecookies.com/ to see what’s baking in the oven! P.S. - Valentine’s is coming up so don’t forget to order your sweetheart some gourmet cookies!

Let’s face it. New Yorkers love the Black & White cookie so much that I think it’s now considered the “unofficial state cookie.” And thanks to Jerry Seinfeld & friends, this vanilla and chocolate creation is a hit across the world – or at least where syndicated episodes of Seinfeld air.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and hear Jerry's words of wisdom about eating Black & White cookies! I think I’m going to look to the cookie to unveil my next sexy topic…

Pretty & Perky with Style

I know I promised to add some delicious short-cuts for the jet setters, but this new discovery was too sexy to wait!

Have you ever noticed how sexy and amazing you feel when you’re wearing beautiful lingerie? You unknowingly exude confidence regardless of how many layers of clothing you have on. Lingerie is the base of a woman’s outfit. It’s the clothing equivalent of the foundation we put on our faces every day. I think all women will agree that finding well-fitted lingerie is very difficult, so you can imagine how incredibly hard it is to find stylish, high quality lingerie made from sustainable fabrics.

Cry no more! I have FINALLY found stylish, sustainable lingerie for all women who desire to look & feel sexy. Belabumbum is the answer. Pronounced as Bellaboomboom – Portuguese for “beautiful bottom,” this lingerie collection holds the key to making your curves look lushes in all the right places. Belabumbum specializes in lingerie, lounge wear and maternity lingerie. These flirty designs originated in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and have quickly become the rage among Hollywood’s elite. A-List celebrities like Halle Berry, Kate Beckinsale, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan are all slipping their bottoms into Belabumbum.

In addition to using innovative fabrics such as bamboo, Belabumbum focuses on a number of environmental and social issues. Co-owners, Heidi Rauch and Alyssa Weiss, believe that creating jobs is the only way to fight poverty and improve people’s quality of life. Factory employees are respected and provided with a safe working environment. Plus materials used are recycled.

Belabumbum can be found internationally and in fine boutiques and department stores throughout the US. You can also check out their affordable collection online at http://www.belabumbum.com/. There you’ll see one of my favorite styles -- the Cotton Candy underwire bra & hipster panty. This girlie combo reminds me of spring and warmer weather, exactly what I’m craving. Now that the foundation is set, all we need are some cute clothes & accessories to wear!

Sweet N' Healthy Night In

OK city girls…it’s time to pull those sweaters and shoes out of your oven and actually put it to use for baking! WOW that’s a concept a lot of my girlfriends haven’t heard in a while… But remember, a “girl’s night in” is all about indulgence. Pampering yourself is good to do every so often, and what better way to indulge than to nibble on something sweet & delicious?!”

Baking can be as fun and sexy as dressing up in high fashion. It’s all about the style and personality you bring to it. So here’s the game plan for baking up a tasty treat for your “girl’s night in”…

First you’ll probably need to make a quick trip to Whole Foods or your neighborhood grocery store for the following ingredients: (Again, feel free to ask each of your friends to pitch in to buy them. I’m sure they’ll be happy to once they know Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Fleur de Sel are on the menu!)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips Fleur de Sel, to taste

**NOTE some people recommend substituting the following:
Use 1/2 cup of Ghee in place of butter
Use 1/4 cup of Splenda and 1/4 cup of sugar in place of 1/2 cup of sugar
An egg substitute may need to be added if dough is still a little dry.

How to Bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder and add to peanut butter mixture, stirring to combine well. Stir in chopped peanuts and chocolate chips. Drop generous spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press each mound of dough with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake until bottom of cookies are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle immediately with Fleur de Sel to taste. Let cookies cool on sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I know that most city kitchens are cramped and ill-equipped. So if you’re in need of mixing bowls or other kitchen accessories, I highly recommend checking out http://www.ecosumo.com/. Ecosumo is the new online, one-stop shop for all things green. Take a look at the beautiful Bambu spoon and bowls I found! Bamboo products are great in the kitchen for many reasons. With a tensile strength superior to steel, bamboo is suitable for both hot and cold foods and clean up is a cinch. Just wash with warm soapy water or a damp cloth.

Not only will the Bambu products be a stylish addition to your kitchen, but you’ll also be helping the environment. Bamboo plays an important role in the reduction of timber consumption because it’s a non-timber, non-petroleum resource that grows incredibly fast.
My mouth is already watering for a taste of these sweet & salty treats. However, if you’re completely baking impaired or you don’t have a working oven, no worries… I’ve got a short-cut on the way!

Quenching Your Skin’s Thirst...

It happens every year…as soon as the frigid air creeps in, our skin becomes dry and scaly. YIKES that’s not a sexy look for anyone! You may think your parched skin is caused by the cold itself, but in reality it’s because of the air’s dryness. Once the moisture is zapped out of your skin, the natural protective layer of dead cells begins to break down thus making your skin prone to irritation, flaking, and redness. Oy ve. Like we don’t have enough problems freezing our butts off as we walk to the subway or our cars?!

Just because our skin is dry doesn’t mean we can spend all winter hibernating like bears. Besides, staying indoors isn’t a solution to the dryness -- it’s a cause. Heated air piped into our homes just causes more dryness. Although there are plenty of over-the-counter lotions and potions that claim to battle winter’s dry skin, they often only provide temporary relief. Who wants temporary relief?! I want the problem solved! I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to be cuddled up with a date & have dry flaky skin. That’s totally NOT sexy…

It looks like I’ve been left with no choice but to research home-remedies that are known to be rehydrating. Get ready to write these tips & ingredients down!

• Honey is an excellent moisturizer. Mix honey with lemon juice and apply it for ten minutes before thoroughly washing off. Remember - we’re not trying to attract bugs here!
• Plain yogurt (NOT the one with fruit on the bottom) mixed with tomato juice is also a wonderful remedy for toning and moisturizing.
• It can’t be said enough…Drinking plenty of water and natural juices will help you to retain moisture.
• Mix extra virgin olive oil (unprocessed oil) with honey and massage it into your skin for a few minutes before washing off with warm and cold water alternatively.
• Mash a ripe banana with oatmeal and honey then apply it to the face and neck for 10 minutes before washing off.
• Avoid regular consumption of alcohol and tobacco and excessive drinking of coffee and tea
• Mix egg yolk, rose water (you can buy bottles in health food stores, herb stores or even delicatessens), lime juice, olive oil and orange juice (1 tea spoon each) thoroughly. Apply the smooth mixture on your face in morning and wash it off after 20 minutes.
• Mix honey, egg yolk, olive oil and rose water and apply as a mask, then wash off.
• Do as your mother says…eat plenty of fruits, proteins, and greens. Eating a diet rich in Vitamin A, B, and E is essential for keeping your skin looking great. o Examples of foods with Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, cantaloupe, spinach, egg yolks, and milk
  o Examples of foods with Vitamin B: bananas, turkey, tuna, lentils and tempeh
  o Examples of foods with Vitamin E: whole grains such as wheat and oats, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, wheat germ, and sardines

As you can see there are numerous natural home-remedies to treat dry skin with. I realize that pocket stings are tight these days and people are trying to budget. So rather than going out to buy all of these ingredients yourself, call up your girlfriends and plan a special “pampering pot luck” night in! Pick a few “remedy recipes” to try and ask each guest to bring an ingredient. This way everyone contributes and still gets pampered!

Also, don’t forget to bake up some tasty sweets to munch on while you’re whipping up these beautifying concoctions. Stay tuned for my next sweet treat...it’s an edible surprise! Yummy.

The Little Black Dress That Could...

The little black dress (a.k.a. LBD) has been a closet essential for women since 1926. The LBD phenomenon began after Vogue published a picture of Coco Chanel’s newest design – a short, simple black dress. This simple, versatile black dress quickly became a “rule of fashion” that is still enforced by “fashion police” today.


Regardless of the style modifications the LBD has seen over the past eight decades, this style locomotive has climbed its way to the top of the fashion food chain and remains perched there. Choo Choo.

“Yea, yea…so what does all this fashion history about the LBD matter to me?” you ask. Well, if you haven’t heard, the LBD has recently experienced its sexiest transformation yet! The iconic little black dress has finally gone GREEN!!! Not green the color… but green as in the fabric. It’s puzzling why it took designers so long to make a sustainable LBD. Luckily for me I have the inside scoop on where to find the hottest sustainable designs.

Christine Marchuska, a fast rising eco-friendly designer, has created a collection of 2009’s MUST HAVE sexy, sustainable LBDs. My favorite design from the cmarchuska line is the luxurious Sylvia Dress. I covet this redesigned 1960’s inspired dress because of its fitted silhouette and asymmetrical off the shoulder neckline. The organic silk/modal blend feels heavenly against my body.

The Sylvia Dress is my #1 pick for any LBD occasion – whether it’s a dinner date at Mr. Chow or a New Year’s Eve party! You’re guaranteed to turn heads as you sashay across town in this dress. Accessorize it with The OC handbag by Ecoist and Monkey heels by MINK and you’re set to go.

Check out http://www.cmarchuska.com/ to see more LBD designs and Christine’s entire Signature Collection. See for yourself how feminine and flattering cmarchuska clothes are. They have become a staple in my closet and my “go to” pieces for any fashion emergency. It’s apparent that Christine has put a lot of thought into her sustainable line and its versatility. Keep your eyes on this new designer cause she’s sure to burn up the catwalk in ‘09!

Oh by the way…I heard a rumor that Brad Pitt got his hands on cmarchuska’s Hunter Scarf. Talk about sexy!

Photo provided by photographer Daniel Brothers.