Currently Craving: Charlotte Olympia

charlotte olympia

If there is one shoe designer that comes to mind when I think flawless, it is Charlotte Olympia. Not only are her shoes insanely creative and unique, but they are also very comfortable, which I find rare in shoes that aren’t designed for running or lounging around the house. Charlotte Olympia’s 2013 Pre Fall line consists of amazing shoes and clutches that were inspired by Hollywood. Called ‘Hollywoodland,’ I am obviously craving this gorgeous collection and loving how the different aspects of Hollywood appear throughout her designs.

Whether you are gazing at the iconic Hollywood sign, working behind the scenes, indulging in Old Hollywood black-and-white films, or enjoying a night out to the theater, this British shoe designer has you covered. While her shoes and accessories are insanely expensive, they are the best kind of eye candy. These are some of my favorites…

1. Box Office Pandora Clutch
2. Girls on Film Heels
3. Hollywood Wedges
4. Movie Night Bag
5. Take Pandora Clutch
6. Liz Pump

{All photos via Charlotte Olympia}

About these ads

A Dash of March

ice cream disco

In lieu of the typical Friday That’s a Wrap! post, I thought it would be the perfect time to launch my A Dash of March Food and Film Campaign given that it is the 1st day of March! Every morning I will tweet a plan of action to help get us through the last leg of winter and into spring. I’ll be using the hashtag #ADashofMarch, so follow me on Twitter for your daily dose of all things food and film. Along the way I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Of course, I’ll still be blogging three days a week – this is just a fun way to engage and bring delicious food and entertaining films back into our lives. Check my Twitter later today to find out the first daily dose of inspiration!

{pic}

Gifts for Any Occasion

 1. World’s Largest Gummy Worm / 2. Kissing Beagle Salt and Pepper Shakers
3. Donut Pool Float  / 4. Custom Jones Soda Label / 5. Customized M&M’s

 Sometimes when I am looking for gifts for friends, family, or for a host/hostess, I cannot for the life of me figure out what to get them. Unless I find a gift far in advance that is perfect for someone, it takes me a lot of brainstorming to come up with something special. Though there aren’t as many gift-giving holidays in the summer as there are during the winter, there are always birthdays, graduations, BBQs, just because, and thank you gifts that are waiting to be given. I laughed out loud when I saw the 3 pound gummy worm…I am a major fan of all things gummy (and sour), but this is just too much! The pool float is also hilarious. I saw it in person at a random store last weekend and it is even better in person – it’s also perfect for these hot summer days. Customized gifts can be pricey, but if the situation calls for it, I think it can be really meaningful with limitless opportunities to include inside jokes.

Eat & Watch: Apple Crisps & Snow White and the Huntsman

In just a few days, Snow White and the Huntsman will be released in theaters. While I am not really a Kristen Stewart fan (Team Theron all the way), this movie has admittedly caught my attention. I was not planning on seeing this movie in theaters, but as the release date nears, I may have to make a trip to see it after all. The cast seems to have great chemistry and I am interested in how this classic story is retold. In honor of Snow White and the Huntsman, I thought apple crisps would be a fun snack to pair the movie with since there is a poisonous apple included in the original fairy tale. However, unlike the fruit in the story, this snack will pose no danger to your health. The only downside: it takes a couple of hours until the apples become dry and crispy, so have patience!

Ingredients

· 2 apples
· 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
· 3/4 cup sugar
· Aluminum foil or parchment paper
· Paper Towels

Pre-heat the oven to 210 degrees F. Wash your apples and core them. If you don’t have an apple corer, take a tall, thin knife and carefully cut around the core of the apple until and use your thumb to push the core through.

Slice the apples using a mandolin or a knife. Try to make your slices as thin as possible.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Rub each apple slice (on both sides) in this mixture until coated in the sweet sugar and cinnamon combination.

Place the slices on aluminum foil or parchment paper and blot the slices with paper towels until they are dry. Heat in the oven for about 2-3 hours, flipping the apple slices every hour. Don’t turn up the heat in the oven - allow the slices to slowly crisp.

{food photos by a dash of cinema} {snow white via}

Pinterest: A Dash of Cinema

I’ve created a board on Pinterest for my blog pictures! When I have a bit of free time I like to spend some of it pinning funny/pretty/random pictures and finding inspiration. Do you pin?

The Food Group

1 | Vanilla Mascarpone Coeur a la Creme with Edible Flowers
2 | Spring Cupcakes with Sugared Flowers
3 | Grilled Scallops with Ginger and Orange Sauce (recipe in French)
4 | Prosecco with Hibiscus Flowers
5 | Carnival Flowers (recipe in Spanish)

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and as we transition into April, flowers are one of the beautiful things we have to look forward to. We just have to get through the rain first.

When May’s flowers are in bloom, there are multiple ways to make use of them in lieu of a colorful bouquet. For one, some flowers are edible and make for excellent dessert and dish toppers. Here is a chart I found for you to reference, just to be safe. Certain flowers, such as hibiscus and rose, complement bubbly drinks or ice cream. Whether you choose to eat the flowers or not, they are a lovely spring dish, dessert, and drink addition that contribute a little something extra to your meal.

That’s a Wrap!

movie: New York Stories / {snack & snapshot & food city photos by a dash of cinema}

Earlier this week I spent a bit of time in the fabulous city of New Orleans. I had never been there before but was blown away by how welcoming and charming the city is. I ate incredible food, experienced serious thunderstorms, and absorbed the culture of the town. There are some pretty great restaurants in New Orleans (one of which I will share with you next week!) and it is safe to say that I gained a couple of pounds just from the beignets I ate daily. Yes, daily. They were covered in powdered sugar – see “snack” above.

During my time in New Orleans, I heard a street band playing in the middle of the road (see “snapshot” above) and quickly became addicted to their music. I bought their CD (titled: Shine – I am having trouble finding them anywhere on the Internet…) and while I usually just walk by and appreciate what musicians are singing, I actually stopped to listen for a good ten minutes with this band. A truly talented group with unique voices – I would categorize their music as folk, for lack of a better genre. Now that the week is wrapping up, all I want to do is curl up with one of my new books and listen to Shine playing in the background. Here’s to a great weekend!

Food La La

It’s common to see pictures of kitchens from around the United States, but what do kitchens look like in other countries? I’ve always been curious what kitchens look like in homes around the globe, so when I found theKitchn, I was thrilled to find pictures of just that – kitchens from a different part of the world: France. It is interesting because while a kitchen may just look like any other kitchen, if you look closely, you’ll notice subtle differences that make each one unique. What do you like best about these French kitchens?

Images via theKitchn

Friday Features

{Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier}

I can’t express enough how odd it feels for the weeks to be going by so quickly. It feels just like yesterday I was at the Santa Monica Pier looking out into the horizon at the sunset and crashing waves. I love piers/beaches because not only are they relaxing, but everyone around you seems to fade away. All the kids splash around in the ocean acting like there’s no tomorrow. That kind of innocence and genuine “I don’t care who’s looking” is refreshing and inspiring. Here’s to a spontaneous and carefree weekend!

{Avocado Pesto Pasta…this is going on my to-make list!}
{A great poster that I would like to hang next to my desk}

{Pick a color, any color}

 {I’m a sucker for inspirational quotes – I couldn’t resist sharing this one!}

{top photo by a dash of cinema}1 / 2 3 / 4
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