Ooohhhh Baby!!!!!

Hi all! In case you're wondering why it's been all-about-me for the last couple of weeks, there's a simple and happy explanation. Our fab assistant home editor, Aimee Morgan had a baby girl!
Little Molly McKenna joined the home team on February 8 at 3:15 p.m., and has already made an appearance last week! Cute as a button, weighing in at a little under 7 lbs., we're all thrilled she's here, and that mummy is healthy and fine and learning to live on a little less sleep. Big congrats to Aimee and daddy Brian McKenna.

Posted by Monica at 11:24 a.m.

Summer Cocktails

With summer right around the corner, what girl doesn't love to enjoy a calming cocktail to kick off the weekend? Or even to escape an ultra-exhausting day of wedding planning? Well I'm here to offer a quick and easy fix: Rose's, a staple in cocktail mixes, is introducing 3 delish mojito mixes: Traditional, Mango and Passion Fruit. Here are recipes for each that will get your party started.

Mojito Ginger Splash
2oz. Light rum
3oz. Rose's Traditional Mojito mix
3oz. Schweppe's ginger ale
Combine in a highball glass over 1 cup ice and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Mangojito
1oz. Light rum
3oz. Rose's Mango Mojito mix
Schweppes club soda
Pour Mojito mix and rum over ice in a rocks glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Simple Caipirinha
2oz. Cachaca*
2oz. Rose's Passion Fruit Mojito mix
Dash Rose's lime juice
Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass. Pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and cherry.

*I had no clue what Cachaca was but according to Wikipedia, it's 'the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil' and 'differs from rum in that it is made from sugarcane juice while rum is made from either molasses or sugarcane juice then aged in oak barrels.'

These are truly mojitos made easy. They are $4.99 per 21-oz. bottle and available at grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target and independent liquor stores. Thanks Rose and cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 3:02 p.m.

A New Look

New York, New York...it is a state of mind. Or at least a constant state of searching for the next best thing. A boyfriend, a husband, a job, a nanny, or in my case, an apartment. It's like a lover you can't quite commit to. sometimes your heart's in it and sometimes, not so much. That has been my love-hate relay with finding a new apt. Finding a new home. whether it be an apt, house or condo. is a pain in the derrière. Fact. In NYC, it takes on a life of it's own. So while I've been meeting with realtors for months (Granted, I have very specific necessities: Elevator, high ceilings, lots of light and dog/baby friendly), I got some wild hair up my you know what and decided to rearrange my entire apt...on Sunday night and on my own!

To recap: I live in a well-lit, high-ceiling studio in Gramercy. Unfortunately, it's a 3-floor walk-up (hence the need for the elevator). We have a dog and a daughter that pretty much rule the roost and I've driven myself crazy to make the space work. Here's my latest remodel to hold me over until I find a new space. If you want to check out my digs prior, take a look here.

I pulled up the rug and everything. couch, tables, toys. is in a new spot. Now there's more space for Molly to play, and as you can see, Jack has already warmed up to the new arrangements.

I moved the table to the corner, partly to block Molly from getting into things and partly because it's nice to eat by the window. Too bad the air conditioner is there. That's such an east coast thing that I'll never get used to.

My house is like romper room…toys, toys, toys.

Molly's corner.

This is under my bed and is housing all the things that have yet to find a home. It looked so good until you turn around! Luckily, a lot of it is things for Molly that she's outgrown and we're giving to families in need. So, I'm not totally done but happy with the progress so far. Hopefully, you're settling in with your man with ease. Till next time, cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 11:58 a.m.

Have a Drink

Between in-laws, seating charts and the bridesmaid that's suddenly MIA, you need a cocktail. STAT. As in this is a potential medical emergency. Luckily, Baileys lrish Cream liqueur has a new flavor that is sure to take the edge: Baileys Irish Cream with a Hint of Coffee.

It can be enjoyed on the rocks like an iced coffee or blended with ice and served up like your favorite frappe-with a kick. For those b-to-b's that don't enjoy coffee, like myself, they also carry a caramel and mint chocolate flavor. D-lish.

Here are 3 popular ways to enjoy this classic liqueur; all recipes courtesy of Baileys.

Baileys Cool Raspberry

Serves 1
2 ounces Baileys Original Irish Cream
8-9 raspberries
Crushed ice

Place 4-5 raspberries at the bottom of a rocks glass and lightly muddle them.
Top with crushed ice.
Add Baileys Irish Cream.
Garnish with 3 speared raspberries.

Baileys Velvet Mocha

Serves 1
2 ounces Baileys with hint of coffee
4 ounces hot chocolate
Fresh whipped cream
3 coffee beans

Pour hot chocolate and Baileys into coffee mug.
Top with dollop of whipped cream.
Garnish with coffee beans.

Baileys Irish Margarita

Serves 1
11/2 ounces Baileys with hint of coffee
3/4 ounce Don Julio Anejo Tequila
1 scoop of vanilla ice cream (softened)
3/4 ounce half & half
3-4 ice cubes

Combine Baileys, tequila, ice cream, half & half and ice in a blender until smooth.
Pour blended contents into a tall glass.

Hope you enjoy, ladies. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 2:35 p.m.

The Greener Side of Things

This past February the Green Products Expo was held in New York. Luckily for me and Aimée, we were able to see what's on the up and up with green products. I've put together a list of “What's Hot in Green.” These five companies have a new spin on some of our everyday “green” items and ways to stop using those horrid plastic bags!

#1 - Green Veranda: One company you should keep an eye out for. From news trays to clocks and even cool new clutches, this company makes recycling look good. All of Green Veranda's products are made out of 100% recycled newspaper, which gives them a unique eco-friendly flare. They can even take some of your favorite fabrics or bridal memories and incorporate them into their designs for you.

#2 - Blue Avocado: Make your grocery shopping just as environmentally friendly as the foods you put in this bag. Blue Avocado is introducing their “Gro-Pak – It Holds, It Folds.” The bag consists of a 6-bag collapsible system that will help you eliminate the waste of over 1,000 plastic bags a year. Holding up to 100 pounds of groceries, the Gro-Pak consists of the Pak, to hold all of your groceries; the Chill, which keeps food either hot or cold for up to 3 hours; the Gro, a multi-task bag; the Pod, ultra-light bag to take everywhere; the Veg, mesh bag for fruits and veggies; and the Rap, which holds multiple bags and enhances shoulder bliss. Say no to plastic bags and yes to the Pak!

#3 – Green Girl: Now the eco-girl can shop with style. Ranging in function, these totes, pouches and jutes are made out of 100% jute or cotton, and they're helping women say “No, thank you” to plastic and paper bags with style! The totes are fully washable and recyclable with multi patterns on either side and can hold an unbelievable amount of goodies for your everyday use. a chic girl's fave travel accessory. They come in five black-and-white prints and can simply roll up to keep them handy from work to the car. An eco-jute bag gets the message across. In a black-and-white theme, these bags let the world know that these women are saying good-bye to paper or plastic!

#4 – Epicurean: Loll Designs has taken the idea of thinking outside of the box one step further and actually used the box with their line of cutting boards. Made out of 50% recycled cardboard and 100% post consumer paper, these eco cutting surfaces are dishwasher safe, won't harbor bacteria and are easy on your knives. They can be used for chopping, dicing, carving and even to take your pizza out of the oven. They're slim, which makes it easy for storage, and light in weight compared to those bulky wood blocks. Be sure to keep a look out for their furniture collections too!

epicureancs.com

lolldesigns.com

#5 - EarthLust: Now these are water bottles that symbolize who you are and what style suits you best. Earthlust has made a line of food-grade stainless steel bottles that gets you to stop producing waste and start designing your water. All bottles are custom designed and have a limited-edition nature-inspired design. And it even comes with a clip so you always have it with you. Not to mention they also have coffee mugs and bottle insulators. If we're all going to go green, we should most definitely be doing so with style.

The Chicken Story

So, this may not be my most shining moment, but as a writer, I feel it's my job to tell the good, the bad and the ugly. This def falls into the ugly! Plus, anything that makes me look ridiculous is probably a good story to share and really funny. Let me start from the beginning...a couple of nights ago, I decided that I was going to make an amazing dinner for someone special. Now, Martha Stewart I'm not, but I can read and follow directions fairly well so I did not anticipate any problems roasting a whole chicken. even though, at 30, I'd never attempted this before. After all, isn't that why you have dinner with the rents?

My first issue was the gimlets. And unfortunately, I'm not talking about the kind you drink. Before cooking, you're supposed to stick your hand inside the chicken's butt and pull them out and clean the inside. Heart, liver, kidneys. Gross! That alone caused a 30-minute delay because I was disgusted by the thought. I had a similar situation when I unknowingly ordered shrimp that weren't devained. Who knew shrimp had feet? Well, finally, I brought myself to do it. wearing a rubber glove! Google kindly suggested that I could cook them or save them. Right!

My next problem was that to cook properly, the chicken needs to sit on a roasting rack in the pan. I searched all of my cabinets, only to remember that I had this problem before with cookie sheets and that I had used the dish drain. Note to self: buy a roasting rack. Back to google. Ahah! If you set the chicken on a layer of veggies, you can go sans rack. Here's my little chickie all rubbed up and ready to go.

Here's his close-up shot.

While I was slaving in the kitchen, Molly was getting into everything she's not supposed to. I guess a love of mags is genetic.

The recipe said that I should truss the chicken wings with string. Of course, I didn't have any string and couldn't find anything that wouldn't melt. I tried using this ribbon but thought better of putting fabric in the oven. Back to google: Do I really have to truss a chicken? No! Turns out its purely cosmetic and only important if the chicken is on a rotisserie.

The whole process took so long that Molly passed out. She'll just have to enjoy the leftovers.

The whole process also took so long that my camera battery died. But this is close to what it looked like! Surprisingly, it came out delish and was a complete success. I'm telling you ladies, this dish really is a way to your man's heart. Hopefully (unlike moi), you'll do your homework first and have all your supplies on hand. So good luck and cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 4:40 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Danielle Mirizio, Bridal Guide Intern

Bloomin' Stationery

Hi there ladies! Well if anyone out there loves stationery as much as I do, then do we have a treat for you. The Lucky Flowers collection by Amy Butler was just sent to us, and we can't stop talking about it. The bold colors and botanical prints are a great way to start your spring. With note cards that you can personalize yourself and envelopes that can be sealed with a style that suits you, this makes the perfect thank-you card for anyone. And another great item in the collection is the journal. Each page has a floral detail that makes each page pop. It's a great size for your bag or desk and a chic way to keep your thoughts in line. Available at amybutlerdesign.com.

Posted by Danielle at 4:24 p.m.

Color at Home

I picked up a great new book called Color At Home by Meg and Steven Roberts of the Echo Design Group. The book itself is stunning and the perfect complement to your coffee table, and the ideas offer up endless inspiration for decorating your home. It's especially useful to flip through if you're nervous about choosing a bold color palette for your home; there are pictures using every color of the rainbow, plus neutrals and black and white. Pick up a copy from echodesign.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 12:10 p.m.

Gifts for Your Guy

It's that time again...photo shoots! I'm really excited about this story because it's different than what we usually cover. We decided that your man needs a little lovin' too and covered the best of the best in electronics, barware and outdoor gear. Here's a peak at what we shot.

What girl doesn't love to unpack 40+ boxes at 9:00 a.m.? Luckily, the art department sent their intern, Alicia, to help. Unpacking the boxes isn't nearly as painful as trying to get everything to fit back in.

First shot of the day was for the Tech guy. Here, Alicia is plugging an iPod nano into the Vers bamboo docking station.

Alexandra, photog extraordinaire, shoots one version. The final version that ends up in the magazine is one of many options that were taken. That's why, unfortunately, some products don't make it in.

Lindsay taking a picture of me taking a picture of her with Fujifilm's Instax instant camera. It's their take on the recently deceased Polaroid. It was fun to use but didn't make the shot...I thought I was getting the white version and it came in black and blue.

Some of the products we had to choose from...Nintendo's Wii gaming system, the Avatar gaming mouse, Vers iPod docking station (I love the bamboo finish), Sling Media's Slingbox allows you to access your TV cable through any internet connection on your laptop or phone and Garmin's GPS navigation system is the perfect companion for road trips. Can you see why it was so hard to narrow down my choices? I want most of this stuff!

More products: I especially loved Fujitsu's ScanSnap scanner. It's the small silver gadget on the under Sanyo's yellow dual camera/camcorder. It's portable and scans practically anything and files it in your computer. So want one!

Lindsay on the other hand, went gaga for the Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones.

This was the last shot of the day and the trickiest. It's all the things your man uses outside: grilling equipment and sporting goods. For some reason, I didn't get a shot of the bar set-up so you'll just have to buy the issue when it hits stands in May.

Posted by Aimee at 5:23 p.m.

New on the Scene

Hello there, my name is Danielle, and I am the new intern in the home department working with Aimee. I am currently a senior at The Fashion Institute of Technology studying Home Products Development. I have always had a passion for the home and after getting my degree in interior design I truly realized that the home is where I needed to be. I am more than excited to be working with Bridal Guide, I mean what girl wouldn't be! I have always wanted to further my knowledge of media, especially print. I look forward to bringing you the latest news on what's hot and new!

Posted by Danielle at 10:54 a.m.

Tools of the Trade

The lovely ladies from OXO Good Grips, Gretchen Holt and Charlotte Pinelli, stopped by my office to show me all the hot new tools they're rolling out in 2009. And I have to say, they were absolute troopers; not only did they have to set up in my office, but it was filled with boxes for my photo shoot this week. Here are a few of my favorites:

These are an organizer's dream! Clear, interlocking bins, available in 6 sizes, interchange with each other so you can organize any drawer in the house. regardless of its size or shape. They are also stackable and have non-slip lining on the bottom to eliminate slipping. With a retail price ranging from $2.99-$9.99, I'm likely to run out and buy 20!

The Stack & Slide Bin Set (center) and the Divided Organizer and Shelf (left and right) offer an easy solution to maximize your medicine cabinet space, especially now that you'll be sharing with your new hubby. All pieces have non-skid bottoms, are a cinch to clean and will ensure that you won't be fighting over bathroom space. Now your closet, that's another thing.

The classic OXO salad spinner is celebrating its 10th anniversary and a new color: Green. With the push of a button, you'll be whipping up gourmet salads with crisp, clean lettuce that will leave your beau wanting more. The basket and non-slip bowl can be used separately and all the pieces come apart for easy cleaning. The lettuce knife has a plastic serrated edge that will easily cut through any type of leafy greens without browning or bruising. As a bonus, this knife is safe for non-stick pans that you would use to bake brownies or lasagna.

Each of these elegant knives is designed for a specific type of cheese, while the cheese fork allows you to keep the cheese in place as you cut, eliminating any mess. How can you not love something that's functional and attractive.

Posted by Aimée at 5:47 p.m.

Best of the Best

Yesterday, I faced a dilemma: Do I attend the 6th Annual Housewares Design Awards from 11:30-2:30 or do I watch the historic inauguration of our 44th President. Ultimately, I struck a compromise between my inner-patriot and work ethics and booked over to the hotel just before Obama started speaking. The organizers graciously waited to begin until the ceremony was over. Whew! Crisis diverted. So back to the show...

The Housewares Design Awards honor the best products in 13 different categories based on 'superior design, appearance, function and originality.' They said it so well, why change it. This independent panel of industry leaders also awarded an eco-friendly Green House and three 'Best of the Best' awards. Here are a few of my faves:

OXO Good Grips POP Container: These containers (available in 11 different sizes) are the answer to your organizing prayers. They are airtight, stackable and ideal for use in any room. They received the bronze award for the 'Best of the Best' and best in the kitchen and barware category.

CorningWare SimplyLite glass bake ware: These are made from a revolutionary glass laminate material called Vitrelle. Basically, they are made of three layers of glass that give them the durability of ceramic stoneware dishes but at half the weight. Plus, the lids stack and nest in the dishes freeing up precious cabinet space. These won the best in the cook and bake ware category.

Meco Corp. Nichola collection folding table and chairs: When space is at a premium (like mine in NY!), portable, fold up furniture is ideal for last-minute guests. Usually, though, it's so ugly and cheap looking, I would never consider it. That's why I love this set: It looks like stationary furniture, it's beautiful and it folds flat for easy storage when my guests leave. Perfect. This won the best in the furniture category.

Check out the other winners and finalists at housewaresdesignawards.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 1:16 p.m.

Creating Inspiration, Part 2

Hi all! I'm back with the second half of my behind-the-scenes look of our Registry photo shoot. If you missed the first part, just scroll down or click here.

Well look what decided to show up...the MIA box of dishes. To Haviland's credit, they did send them and UPS never delivered them and couldn't even track them when we called! Of course to make it worse, the warehouse was in Jersey, it was the first snow of the year and the Friday before X-mas so Haviland was closing at noon. Luckily in NY, you can send a messenger almost anywhere to pick something up. I could've hugged the guy when he rang the buzzer.

Just a couple more adjustments...we want the shot to be perfect for you!

This napkin wouldn't lay straight no matter how much we (meaning me!) ironed it. I'm telling you, I've never ironed so much in my life...I thought that was what the dryer was for. So Mary Cate used photo clips to weigh it down. We have all kinds of tricks up our sleeve.

Most photographers are riding the digital revolution and David's no diff. He even has a live camera feed so that we can see minor adjustments immediately. It looks kind of creepy when people are moving on-screen but it's such a time-saver!

Aren't these so gorgeous? Alas, they didn't work! The teapot and sugar/creamer are from Room Service Home and the pretty pink napkins are from Couleur Nature. When I called these in, I was working around another pattern that ended up only being available in Europe. Damn!

Shoes, shoes, shoes! David was shooting an Aerosoles catalog the same week as our shoot. All I can say is that I'm glad I wasn't in charge of that inventory.

Did I mention how much I love packing? I feel even worse for the guy who has to open the box after I packed it!

Flowers of the World designed each of the four centerpieces. I brought them swipes of the product and told them what feeling I was looking for and like magic, they delivered exactly what I wanted. This one was for the fun and flirty table. If your nups are in the NYC area, you should check them out.

Oh, I thought you'd want to see the infamous dish up close that almost didn't make it. I would love to see this set at a garden party table.

Okay, not that you can really tell by the photo, but that's my hand with a towel wrapped around my thumb. One of the vases broke in my hand. But the show must go on!

More of the flower arrangements. The pink roses made for a chic centerpiece after the shoot...at my house! Taking home leftover props is one of the perks of my job.

Here's a close-up of the city chic setting. We were playing with different napkin options.

Still not the final shot but getting close. I originally envisioned a black tablecloth but it was too dark to shoot against. However, I still think that on a real table (that doesn't have to be perfectly photographed), it would look so sleek.

End of day clean-up...fun, fun, fun. It's so NOT Morgan and Mary Cate's job to help pack and pick up, but they were there till the final scrap was in the trash. I work with great gals. Hey, don't think I didn't help! Someone had to take these shots!

It's 7 o'clock and we're finally done. Look at those smiles! Even though shoots are a TON of work, when I get the shots back, I'm just giddy. Then, of course, I think of 10 other things I could've used in the shot or that maybe we should've done this or that...the creative process never stops! Well, you'll have to check out our May/June 09 issue to see the full story and to get some registry ideas of your own. So, is it quite what you thought it would be? Any suggestions for my next installment? I'd love to know what you're curious about. Until next time, ladies, cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 2:46 p.m.

Creating Inspiration, Part 1

Hola B-to-B's! December was crazy busy: Two big photo shoots to get organized, prepping for my little one's first X-mas…oh, and the little things, like dog-walking, eating, showering, housekeeping and sleeping. Whew, I'm exhausted all over again. But more like that exhilarating, delirious kind of on-the-run exhaustion. exciting but when you look back, you can't believe you got it all done. Probably exactly how you feel planning a wedding!

Ever wonder what work goes into the pages you are ripping out for inspiration? Me, too! This issue, I had a two-day registry shoot (with all the coolest and least costly updates for the living room, bath and kitchen) and a one-day tabletop shoot. Fine. No biggie. Piece of cake. The only kicker was they were back-to-back: Registry on Wed/Thurs and tabletop on Friday. Seriously, ladies, what was I thinking when I agreed to those dates!

Call time is 9am, pretty standard. Mary Cate and Morgan, two of the artistas that design our fab pages were there to style and thank my lucky stars, to help unpack the 40-something boxes of product. This photo shows about, oh, four boxes worth. Not my favorite part of the job. Ever.

Okay, make that 40-something plus one. Photog David Lazarus and his best pal, Stanley, greet the UPS man with another delivery for the shoot. He must have treats in his pocket for such a warm welcome.

First shot up: an eco-friendly table that is gorgeous and NOT green. In color, that is. Wait, rewind. It would help if you knew what the shoot was about! It's a round up to show your inner-hostess four different ways to dress the dining table: Eco-conscious, modern, classic and flirty-fun.

Who says it's not your grandma's china? Traditional Spode china (on right) dates back to the 18th century and is still one of the most popular for brides. I mixed it with rattan chargers from Williams-Sonoma and fun topiary place card holders from Ballard Designs to give it a more relaxed feel.

Colored glassware from Lenox and Gorham are perfect for the more whimsical bride. Notice there is no china on this table? That's because it never arrived! This was the beginning of a round of urgent calls between the PR company and the china company. While I was playing phone tag, I jumped online to see where I could buy the dishes myself if push came to shove. And return them, of course! I don't make that kind of dinero.

Black and gold were a huge trend at Tabletop Market this year so a mod tablescape was a must. Are you beginning to understand what 40-something +1 boxes looks like?

Morgan and Mary Cate tack up wallpaper for the first shot. Did you think we had people to do it for us? Right!

Elegant recycled flatware doesn't really exist. And plastic is not an option with your finest wares so I went with chopsticks. reusable and made from a sustainable material. I tried to incorporate these cool, rechargeable “candles” from Candela but in the end, they didn't work. You really never know until you're onset and can see all the products together.

Poor flameless candles with the rock sculptures from VivaTerra that also didn't make the cut. I'm telling you, it's a ruthless biz. Okay, not really. Most companies really understand and I try my best not to call something in unless I'm going to use it.

Mary Cate and I headed to the prop table to set up the next shot. With one day to shoot four full-page composed (meaning not individual silhouettes of each product) shots, things have to keep moving.

Shoots are def a jeans or workout pants kind-of-environment. Here, Mary Cate cops a squat (I'm a sucker for Pretty Woman lines!) and checks out product next to the camera.

You would never know it, but every dish has to be turned just right to catch the perfect lighting. That is a lot of what the art directors are on set to do.

My favorite setting…so bizarre because I've never been drawn to this pattern. Play with your tables and don't be afraid to mix and match. You never know what you'll like in the end.

This looks like a good place to end for today. Check out Part 2 of the photoshoot to find out what happened to that missing box of dishes, why you should always handle a glass vase with care, and to see how this long day finally ended. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 5:58 p.m.

A Day in the Life of...

Ever wonder what a typical day is like at a magazine? Head over to Weddingbee.com and check out my guest post, 'Just an Ordinary Day,' to find out what goes on behind the scenes of Bridal Guide. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 3:07 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Melissa, Bridal Guide Intern

Sleep Tight

Hi everyone! Last week Aimee and I went to an Ikea event, which we were very excited about! I mean who doesn't love Ikea? The event was all about getting a perfect night's sleep. I know for me this was super interesting because I need a good night's sleep if I am going to be able to function the next day. The Ikea sleep experts walked us through how to find the best mattress, pillow and comforter. It doesn't seem like a hard task, but there is a lot more to think about than I thought!

Our first stop to finding the perfect night's sleep was to see and test all the mattresses! The Ikea sleep experts developed all of the mattresses we saw and made sure to keep you and me, the consumers in mind. Although there are many styles of mattresses there are only one or two for everyone. The mattresses are tailored based upon your body shape, the way you sleep (side, back, stomach), and your natural body temperature. Based on these characteristics, the mattresses are contoured to your body and developed in a way to give support and relieve pressure on your body. Ikea's web guide, can help you determine which mattresses are best for your body. You can find the ones that are right for you then go to the store and try out only the ones that are best for you!

Next we got to try out Ikea's line of pillows. I never knew that there could be so many different types of pillows. Ikea was able to study the way people sleep and develop four main pillows that support your head and neck based on the way you sleep. Depending whether you are a side, back or stomach sleeper you need a different pillow to support your neck so that you can have a relaxed night's sleep. Each pillow varies in firmness, which is what provides the best relaxation. Also, all of their pillows come in standard, queen and king sizes. Ikea also developed a support pillow for those that like to read or watch television in bed. These pillows are designed to let you sit up or recline comfortably in bed. The best way to pick these pillows is to figure out which way you most often sleep and then try them out in the store!

Our last stop to finding the best night's sleep was to find a comforter. Staying warm or keeping cool was emphasized over and over by the sleep experts. In order to get this point out there, the sleep experts came up with a clever tag that shows a picture of a thermometer that indicates the temperature of the comforter. If you are warm at night, you can find the comforter that will keep you cool, and if you are cool at night, you can find the comforter that will keep you warm.

Here are two great beds Ikea put together:

Now that we can choose the right mattress, pillow, and comforter for our own body, everyone can have the perfect night's sleep!

Posted by Melissa at 11:53 a.m.

It's Magic!

I make Jack's dog food. I know...ridiculous. He's a DOG! I hear it from friends all the time. So of course now, I HAVE to make Molly's food. What kind of mother would I be if the dog got fresh food and my daughter didn't? Plus, I have an issue with something that's been preserved and processed so much that it has a shelf life of two years. That's baby food, ladies, even the organic variety. Gross!

Now, keep in mind, this is NYC where most kitchens (well, mine for sure) are smaller than a walk-in closet. I just don't have counter space for a gigantic food processor, nor do I want to drag it out of a cabinet every day. I tried an immersion blender from a company that shall remain nameless and quite frankly, it sucked. Luckily, I discovered the Magic Bullet Platinum Pro from Homeland Housewares just in the nick of time.

This all-in-one appliance blends, chops, purees and dices anything you can think to put in it...in less than 10 seconds! No really, it does. I use it every day to make Molly's food, and it takes up less space than a coffee cup. I've pureed chicken, steak, veggies, fruit and made smoothies and frozen cocktails for guests in the four individual party mugs that come with the blender. I have two blender cup sizes to choose from and all I have to wash is the cup and the blade component. There are no buttons to mess with-simply place it on the stainless base and push down. If I'm making something, like salsa, that I want chunkier, I tap the cup down (for less than a second) a couple times and I'm done. It basically does the job of a blender, food processor, juicer and mixer. Plus, it's microwave and dishwasher safe. For $99.99, I can't think of a better item to add to your registry. Visit magicbulletplatinumpro.com to order. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 11:34 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Melissa, Bridal Guide Intern

Sustainable Home Products

Aimee and I attended a media event for sustainable home products at the Marriott in Times Square. While we saw many innovative products, there were two that we absolutely loved.

One company that really stood out was EcoLife by Lifetime Brands. They have every tool your kitchen needs, from cutting boards to cutlery and shears, to can openers and ice cream scoops:

What makes this product a must-have? Well not only are they tools you need but they are extremely environmentally friendly. All of the products' handles are made from a blend of 30% plastic and 70% renewable plant starches. This special blend is produced in a factory that emits less CO2 and greenhouse gases than factories producing all plastic goods, and uses 70% less fossil fuels than regular plastics. All the labels are minimal and are made from recycled paper that is printed with vegetable-based inks. Not only is it good for the environment but all the products are dishwasher safe and FDA approved, not to mention super cute!

Another company that had some interesting new products we adored was Zak Designs featuring their Walt Disney Signature Collection. Who doesn't love Disney? I certainly love Disney, and their collection of tableware, drinkware and serveware captured the essence of what Disney is:

The designs are not only fashion forward and great for any dinner party or luncheon, but they are environmentally safe. The dishes are made with melamine and infused with pieces of Rattan (a wood that's similar to bamboo). This organic material helps to significantly reduce the amount of petroleum-based plastic used in the product without compromising its durability. Zak Designs is the only company to carry products using these materials. What's better than environmentally safe and stylish home tableware? Nothing that I can think of!

Posted by Melissa at 3:00 p.m.

Power Cleaning

I don't know about you, but my house won't make it until spring for a thorough cleaning. With the holidays right around the corner, family and friends will soon be traipsing in and out of the house, bringing along mud, grass and who knows what else they picked up in the city. Plus, Jack's grubby little paws bring their fair share of dirt inside on a daily basis.

So if I must clean, I want to use the best and most efficient. Most recently, I tested out the Oreck XL Power Team series of lightweight, portable vacs:

There are 4 models (Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and they range in price from $299-$799. Each model comes with a 5 lb. handheld vac for above-the-floor cleaning, perfect for upholstery and stairs. Here are the highlights:

• Direct suction (102 mph!) concentrates dirt, dust and allergens directly into the vacuum and not back into the air, making your job quick and easy.
• Specially tipped bristles on the roller bar are safe and effective on even the finest carpets, rugs and hardwood floors.
• Lays flat for easy maneuverability to get under furniture and kitchen baseboards; also great for storage.
• IntellaShield technology neutralizes the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew on and in the vacuum so germs are a non-issue.
• HEPA-hypoallergenic filtration system eliminates 99.9% of dirt, dust mites, allergens, pet dander, mold and pollen.
• Self-sealing inner disposable bags are easy to change and keep the dirt where it belongs-in the bag.

To learn more about each model and its specific features, please visit oreck.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 2:43 p.m.

Trendy & Efficient

And the appliance finale...

Refrigeration-Kenmore Elite Trio Hidden Dispense Ice and Water: Others were in the running but again, Kenmore had the best bells and whistles. French door models with bottom freezers are a hot trend right now and they took it aesthetically one step forward with a 'hidden' water/ice dispenser that opens when used and 'hides' when you don't. I also loved the tilt and take freezer door that allows easy access for items that get buried in the freezer. Call me vain, but I'm all about the look!

Laundry-Electrolux 27' front-load washer and dryer with Wave-Touch controls specifically in Turquoise Sky: Yes! They don't just make vacuums! This duo not only has the fastest wash/dry times (18 minutes each!), 22-settings to match your specific laundry needs, energy-efficient water usage and an ultra-quiet motor, but also Kelly Ripa has paired up with Electrolux to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. For every washer and dryer in Turquoise Sky (inspired by the ribbon that represents the fight against this cancer) that is purchased, Electrolux will donate $100 to the cause and have committed to raising $500,000 in the next 2 years. If you're in the market for a washer/dryer, why not contribute to a good cause at the same time.

Like I said last time, ladies, big-ticket items CAN be added to your registry. Parents and in-laws become especially generous during the nuptials, and group gifts are on the rise. For more info on the above and so many more, log onto sears.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 1:23 p.m.

Smart Appliances

Part deux, ladies, of my appliance extravaganza. The Sears peeps highlighted 4 main categories: Dishwashers, cooking, refrigeration and laundry. Since I would have to write an epic novel to cover ALL the amazing things they showed us, I've chosen my favorites in each category.

Dishwasher-GE Profile 500 Series Stainless interior dishwasher: All the units I saw were fab but what grabbed my eye from the go with this baby was the sleek, panel-free design. The control panel is fully integrated into the top of the door so no ugly buttons to look at. With this hi-tech cleaning machine's SmartDispense feature, you can pour in an entire bottle of detergent (good-bye goo!) and it will dispense it in the right amount when needed. It also has adjustable racks, a steam-clean mode, single rack wash for smaller loads without wasting energy and a deep-clean cycle that can off even the most baked-on brownies.

Cooking-Kenmore Elite Dual Oven Range: This was a toughie; the induction models cut cooking time dramatically and are super stars for energy efficiency but I just love the idea of being able to cook two completely different types of food at the same time. It's available in both gas and electric models, and has a picture-window door design so you really see what's going on without opening the door. The electric range has digital temp controls for greater control, and both units feature a 5-element cooking surface, self-cleaning and a true convection oven (with fan and third heat source for even, faster baking and roasting times). And did I mention it's gorgeous?

I don't want to overwhelm you, so I will give my other two top picks next time. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 12:39 p.m.

Time-Saving Appliances

Greetings busy b-to-b beauties...I know if I am, then you MUST be! Now, I'm not a travel guru like the lovely Miss Jenna (a b-to-b herself), so I was like a kid in a candy store when Sears invited me to Chicago to see the hottest must-have-makes-me-shed-a-tear-because-I-have-no-space-for-them appliances.

Despite a late start and ridiculous traffic after dropping Mol at the sitter's, when the driver picked me up, I was calmed, composed and...were you thinking collected? I did the happy dance all the way down the stairs! I arrived at the hotel just in time for the cocktail reception where I was cordially greeted by Caroline and Dorthea (from Euro PR) and introduced to the top dogs from Sears. Let me tell you, not only do these guys (Bruce, Larry, Steve, Mike and so many more) run a company that creates and sells the BEST appliances on the market, they are gracious, charming and know how to make a girl laugh (well, all the guys were laughing too).

In addition to seeing drool-worthy stoves, fridges, dishwashers, washer/dryers and countertop appliances, one of my favorite parts of the day was touring the lab. Yes, they have a lab-like a scene out of Willy Wonka with test contraptions and sound-proof rooms and mad scientists (Not really! Just passionate peeps) that strive to create better, faster, more beautiful products every day. What also hit home was the staff's passion-I thought appliances were cut and dry; they do a job and that's it. Not at this company! They research, they test, they even go into people's homes (yeah, like you or me or Joe Schmo next door) and watch the wife/mom/housekeeper/working superwoman who just needs to get things done-fast.

Still drooling, I became more and more impressed with their knowledge, passion and attentiveness to MY needs. I live in Manhattan so I can't use these products...yet. Someday I will and I'll remember that they aim to create the 'want to' moments, not the 'have tos." This means, for example, everyone HAS to eat (and when take-out is not an option), induction ranges (73% more efficient than gas) actually shave 20 minutes of cooking time off your day. Which, in turn, means you can spend an extra 20 minutes a day doing the want to's-cuddle with your man, watch your fave TV show, play with the pup, call your bff, look at Bridal Guide, whatever your little heart pleases.

Info overload? Sorry! That's why next time I will get into the stats and pics of what you MUST register for. Remember, a lot of people chip in for gifts so big-ticket items are NOT off limits. Listen, ladies, if you have the space, go for quality, design and convenience; you will own these items for 7-10 years. That surpasses any relationship I've had yet! Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 12:22 p.m.

Uncommon Goods

What do you register for when you and your beau already have some really nice things??? This is the time, ladies, to think outside the box-the gift box, that is. A great resource (that I use myself all the time for gifts and my own home) is an online retailer called UncommonGoods. If you haven't been on their site, run, yes run, to your nearest computer to find funky, fresh and eco-fashionable options to spice up your registry. Here are a few that I love:

Eco picnic basket for two: So cute and is soo a handy helper to keep the romance revving. Whether you're dining in Central Park or the middle of your living room, this hand-woven basket, made 100% of renewable resources, is a must-have. $120

Etiquette bowls, set of 8: I'm not sure if Miss Manners would agree but I love these little gems of wisdom, such as 'Never hesitate to take the last piece of bread or cake; there is probably more.' A def conversation piece and dishwasher and microwave safe. $100/set

Come In, Go Away doormat: Remember the book, Angels & Demons? Same concept. The rug has an ambigram that reads, 'come in' upon entrance and 'go away' when exiting. Every guest loves a good laugh and it's resistant to mold and fungus. $24

Soup and sandwich ceramic tray duo: This clever combo is perfect to indulge those childhood comfort foods cravings. With the soup bowl securely nestled into the tray, you can even have dinner in bed with your beau without the spills. $30/set of 2 trays and 2 bowls

Memory quilt kit: Hard time letting go? This handy-dandy set lets you transfer your fave old tees (you know, the ones with the huge holes in them) and apply them to the quilt. Combine yours with hubby's and poof!, your first family heirloom. It's just hipper than grandma's quilt. Everything you need is pre-cut and included. $75

This sampling is just a teeny-tiny peek but I do have other work to do, you know! Check out uncommongoods.com and as a bonus girls, they have gorgeous jewelry-just request a catalog and strategically leave it (bookmarked, of course) for your man to find. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 3:27 p.m.

Outdoor Fun

I look at furniture all day long but it's not often I see comfy couches and coffee tables set up in the middle of a park-unless you were at JCPenney's launch of Linden Street home furnishings at Sara D. Roosevelt park in NYC last week. The event started at 5:30 and children were welcome, so I rushed home, grabbed Molly and cabbed it over to the lower east side.

In addition to highlighting their new collection (tons of options for any home!), the event unveiled improvements to the basketball court area in the park. Dozens of kids from the local YMCA enjoyed a game of hoops, some swanky hors d'oeuvres and a dose of music straight from my high school days! Molly was by far the youngest attendee and despite all the excitement happening around us, she passed out after about twenty minutes.

Here are some shots of the furniture staged in the park:

The photos don't do the furniture justice, so log onto jcp.com to see the entire line. There's everything from lighting to bath decor to window treatments and more! Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 4:58 p.m.

Here Comes the Press

Hey ladies! I'm going to be incognito for the rest of the week because I'm traveling to Chicago for my first press trip EVER! I know...so exciting! I don't want to spoil all the details but upon my return, I promise to share all the hot registry must-haves I saw and hopefully (I mean definitely)
some funny behind-the-scenes moments. I also went to a JCPenney event last night with Molly that was very cool, complete with chic products and a great community component for a local NY park. Like I said, details to follow. In the meantime, enjoy the first week of fall. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 1:23 p.m.

A Fresh Look

One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to update your home is with a fresh coat of paint in a new color. In my living room, I chose a soft yellow shade for three of the walls and nutmeg for the accent wall. Olympic Paint recently came out with a line of eco-conscious interior paints and primers that dry with no lingering odor (so no headaches) and contain zero VOC's. Quick Bill Nye the Science Guy moment: Volatile organic compounds are toxic and strong enough to vaporize into the air-not good for you or the environment. You spend a tremendous amount of time in your home so why not make it beautiful and more healthy at the same time.

Courtesy of the experts at Olympic, here are some eco-friendly painting tips:

1. Buy only what you need: Measure your surface area and keep in mind that a gallon of paint will cover about 400 sq. feet.
2. Use 'green' paint: As in theirs, not the color!
3. Dispose of paint correctly: Never pour paint in the trash or drain. Instead, empty it onto absorbable materials like kitty litter or newspaper, let dry and then throw out.
4. Donate leftover paint: Ask friends, family, charities or churches if they could use the remainder.

With over 1,200 color options and prices starting at $17/gallon, the possibilities are endless. You can buy Olympic paints at Lowe's or olympic.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 10:30 a.m.

A Vacuum that Works!

Even though my apartment consists of hardwood floors, tile and a few rugs, a thorough daily cleaning is necessary to reconcile Jack's white dog fur and Molly's recent crawling adventures. My old vacuum, a company that shall remain nameless, in a word. sucked! The filter would always get clogged and even though it said it worked on hard surfaces, it didn't do that great of a job.

When the fab girls that rep Dyson, Danielle and Valerie, offered me a sample vacuum to test, I was thrilled. After considering my lifestyle needs and space-issues, they decided the Dyson Ball DC24 would be a great fit. It's super compact (about 2/3 the size of other uprights. perfect for utilizing what little closet space I have) and ultra-lightweight (only 11.6 lbs.!!!), and the innovative ball system allows for extra-easy maneuverability. Traditional vacs have 4 fixed wheels that can only go in a straight line and are usually too bulky to fit under sofas and other furniture. As the Dyson folks like to say, their vac “turns on a dime.”

It also features technology that spins dust and dirt out of the air so it won't lose suction, while the air it does expel has up to 150 times less bacteria than when it went in; it also comes with a washable lifetime HEPA filter that traps the most microscopic bacteria. There are no bags, belts or filters to buy and it's guaranteed for five years. It retails for $399.99 and its sister model, the DC25, goes for $499.99 (it's a little bigger and inclined for high-reach cleaning). Go to dyson.com to see these and other models, and to also read about the founder, James Dyson, and his struggle to get the company off the ground.

Cleaning is never really at the top of anyone's list, so I'm all for any product that gives a little ease and convenience to one of life's necessary evils. The only thing the Dyson failed to do was stop Jack from attacking it! Oh well, dogs will be dogs. at least the floors are spotless. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 1:32 p.m.

A Quilt to Remember

When I was a little girl, I used to watch my granny and my grams make quilts. They didn't spend a lot of money on the fabric. usually it was a hodgepodge of leftover material from this or that. but the end result always seemed like the pieces went together perfectly. At the gift show, I had the pleasure of visiting with fifth-generation quilter, Donna Sharp and checking out her newest designs.

Donna has been in the quilting business for 20+ years and is recognized for her dedication to quality and value. her fabrics are handcrafted with the very best materials she can find. In the years she has spent traveling the world for inspiration and honing her craft, Donna has expanded her business to include baby accessories, placemats, runners and a line of quilted hand and tote bags.

Here are two examples of Donna's bedding: Fleur de Lis and Gypsy Patch.

Here are a couple of her more contemporary totes: Limeade and Pink Lemonade

While Donna's company is based in Louisville, Kentucky, she manufactures her quilts in China, and has worked to establish fair living wages and working conditions there. These are the kinds of companies I want to give my business to, and I hope you agree. You can check out donnasharp.com to find a retailer near you and to learn more about this company. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 9:30 a.m.

Paper Cloud

Even though the gift show was in the middle of August, I'm just finally sorting through all the fabulous finds and press materials I grabbed. And I mean bags full of paper and catalogs. Talk about a workout! So in the coming weeks, don't be surprised if I'm still saying, 'And another thing I saw at the gift show...' There is just that much cool stuff you need to know!

You may not realize, but the gift show has literally thousands of booths so I'm always thrilled to fall head-over-heels for a company with adorable products that I didn't even know existed. One such find this year was Paper Cloud. It's a husband and wife team based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, that began creating handmade cards and journals, and has now expanded to pillows, lighting and apparel. The simple silos and line drawings are absolutely charming, and mostly nature-inspired.

Pillows and lampshades are an easy and inexpensive way to freshen up a room-especially seasonally. Go to paper-cloud.com to buy and see even more designs...I for one, am LOVING the Sunflowers pillow! Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 5:33 p.m.

A New Addition

I'm Melissa and I'm a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I'm majoring in Fashion Merchandising Management and absolutely love everything to do with fashion. I've always been interested in magazines and was thrilled to get the opportunity to work at Bridal Guide. Since I'm always focussed on fashion, I decided to try something new. home design! Now that I'm here I can't wait to start working on the magazine and bringing you the latest from the home front!

Posted by Melissa at 10:20 a.m.

It's Electric!

I don't consider myself an in-the-know-cool-kind-of-chic and I'm definitely more old school than new so school so I was shocked when I fell in love with the Oral-B Pulsonic electric toothbrush. Most things electrical freak me out, especially if I'm putting it in my mouth, but this little gadget is awesome. It's super light, feels good in your hand and is rechargeable. I prefer the sensitive mode because it's gentler and the automatic 2-minute timer is a great reminder to brush effectively. It also comes with an attachment brush that is designed to remove stains and plaque in between your teeth.

The Pulsonic is available September '08 and retails for $69.99 (hello, what a steal!). Visit oralb.com for more info and stats. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 12:32 p.m.

Carry It All

I see so many great products that it's hard to share all of them with you. That said, here's one I'm loving: MY oilcloths by Michele & Yvette. I have the teeny-tiny ID and credit card holder that is a godsend when I'm switching purses for different outfits.

They also do larger totes that are great for carrying groceries or maybe a couple outfits and a pair of Jimmy Choos. Even though I forget sometimes, I try to bring my own bag with me when I shop. It's such a simple thing but so big for the environment.

Check out their website for more styles and info on where to buy. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 10:21 a.m.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Is it really so that Labor Day is fast approaching and these long, leisurely days of summer will soon end? Ah, life in the fast lane...how time flies. Here's another behind-the-scenes peek at our Registry Report for January/February 09! Yes, I said 09, as in 2009. You thought you were the only ones planning ridiculously far in advance. We shot with Alexandra Grablewski once again and this time, I'm showing you all the cool, quick and easy-to-use cameras and camcorders that are must-have items for your registry and honeymoon. Trust me, between the 14 (yes, 14!) cams that we shot, there will be something that you and your man will L-O-V-E!

Here is Alex and Lindsay, the associate art director, trying to figure out the best angle to suit this particular camera. I can't really say which one because it's that new so you'll have to pick up Jan/Feb 09, out November 16.

Checking out another camcorder. Lindsay's future is so bright that she's gotta wear shades!

This was my assembly line of open boxes. In all my time at BG, this is the LEAST amount of boxes EVER. When I messengered them over the day before, I kept recounting and going back to my office to make sure I didn't forget something important...you know, like a whole camera.

Alex's work station. Digital photography really gives us a clear idea during the shoot of exactly what products will look like on page. You wouldn't think photographing items rather than people would be that difficult but it can be pretty tricky. Kudos to Alex because she rocks.

Yum...lunch is served. In New York, take-out is a way of life. Now I actually appreciate all of mom's home cookin'.

Alex, with the help of her lovely assistant, Todd, make adjustments to the camera. We only want to show its best side. All the cameras were shot as silos (just them alone) on a white background so Lindsay can play with the color palette later. See how sneaky we are?

This is a super sneak peek because we are shooting this next week! Here are some of the products for the composed opening shot. I called in lots of different options to play with. The worst part of photo shoots is that once you get on set and set up the shots, you realize some products don't work. Not to worry, though, ladies. Whatever I don't use, I'll be sure to chat up here at bridalguide.com.

Posted by Aimee at 10:50 a.m.

Canvas on Demand

I'm a photo junkie-we've established that. My office has more photos up than most people have in their homes. So you know I was over the moon when I received an email from Nicole Vance (of adVance Public Relations) offering to turn one of my photos into a customized canvas from Canvas On Demand.

Let me give you the how-to rundown before I gush about why I really love this company. Basically, the brains behind this operation-Tom and Joe, who I'll get back to later-figured out a way to make personal photos into gallery-worthy works of art. It's quick and super easy: Go to canvasondemand.com, upload your fave photos, choose what style and size you want, and your canvas will be shipped in 2-3 days. You can choose stretched canvas (like I did) or a gazillion different framing options. If you don't love it, and I mean tears-in-your-eyes-love-it, they will redo the entire job. They are that kind of company.

Now here's the back story that really won me over...Tom and Joe apparently epitomize the guy that you want to bring home to the 'rents. Both of their fathers were businessmen ( the old school, honest kind) and both sons followed suit. A dose of fate brought them together at just the right time, and voila! Canvas on Demand was born. There have been many ups and downs in the process, but somehow they found the right formula to make an amazing product that caters to the buyer...aka you and me! Here is the kicker: the boys witnessed their FedEx rep, Meghan, sitting in her car outside their office, and she was literally sobbing that her canvases were SO gorgeous. Ever since, they have treated customers as friends and have strived to elicit Meghan-worthy happiness.

A great way to display your wedding memories

Of course, I did my canvases of Molly but there are so many different things you can do. A trio of three fave wedding or engagement photos on a wall would make for a classy display, and if I were a bridesmaid, I'd love to get one of these as a gift. And you know your parents would be all over this. You're the bride and it's all about you. Now don't your pictures deserve the same star treatment? Cheers and happy photo-making!

Posted by Aimee at 11:47 a.m.

Shop with a Purpose

I was strolling home from a photo shoot a couple weeks back, and stumbled upon an awesome little shop. It's called Sustainable NYC (sustainable-nyc.com or 212-254-5400), and to take a quote directly from them, they offer 'eco-friendly versions of everyday products and gifts.' I'm still obsessed with all things green, and it's so refreshing to find companies that covet attractive products without the heavy carbon footprint. Here's a sampling of the store and some of the eco-licious products they carry:

As you can see, they offer house wares and decor, and also beauty, cleaning products, clothing for all ages and a hodgepodge of other hand-selected goods. Dominique, of Sustainable NYC, thinks that the most original wedding gift would be their worm bin composter. Now talk about making a statement! The other cool thing about them is that all the furniture and fixtures are recycled and for sale, as is the wallpaper and paint. They use an alternative energy source and their sign is lit with solar power-even the building itself was made with 300-year-old reclaimed wood! I gotta give credit where it's due.

Unfortunately, they don't retail online yet, but will be soon. Nowadays, though, it's easy being green and is a trend that can be found in any city. I challenge all you b's to b to seek out the local shops in your area that support organic, recycled, re-purposed and biodegradable wares. And don't forget, bg.com has a registry resource to keep all your cool picks in one convenient place. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 11:31 a.m.

A Quick Update

Hey Ladies! I've been busy, busy, busy...well, actually, I was on vacay in California but nonetheless, I know I've neglected you. Not to worry! I have some great products to tell you about that both you and your beau will love, and in between BBQ's, baseball games and Molly's 6-month half b-day, I still managed to scour some amazing registry-worthy stores on the West Coast (all with online retailers, of course!). Just give me a moment to catch my breath and finish unpacking, and I'll fill you in. In the meantime, enjoy the long summer nights and hopefully a little vacation yourself!

Posted by Aimee at 2:56 p.m.

'Tis the Season

These days, believe it or not, editors' calendars are crammed with holiday events because some of us are working on November/December issues! And since Christmas is my most favorite holiday of the year, I am thrilled to RSVP yes to all of them! So I'm happily humming “dashing in the snow” but leaving the scarf and gloves at home (well it is 88 degrees here in NYC!) as we stop by the slew of Ho-Ho-Ho events hosted by department stores like JCPenney, Sears and Kmart, and home supply companies like Lowe's and The International Housewares Association.

For those of you registering for a wedding during the holidays, there are lots of things in stores and online that fit the bill. At JCPenney, I got a peek at great giftable eco-friendly items that have the seal of approval of their lifestyle expert Danny Seo, like the cozy Simply Green basket weave textured bamboo blankets ($59.99–$89.99). There were so many other great products you could add to your registry like their COOKS line of colorful kitchen appliances ($49.99 for a 4-slice toaster) and a stand-out-on-the-conveyer-belt red American Living wheeled carry-on suitcase ($240).

And to keep going with environmentally friendly gift giving, at the Sears/Kmart “Grant A Wish” holiday event there was a fabulous line of the new eco-darling material, bamboo, fashioned into trays, towels and bedding designed by Ty Pennington of TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

I also really loved that my favorite ornament company Christopher Radko has come out with a new brand of ornaments “Celebrations by Radko.” It includes 48 contemporary figure and ball designs. A few years back I bought two of his gorgeous, delicate ornaments, and even wholesale they were pricey. Those two, a hand-painted mermaid and the harlequin hang at the tiptop of our tree, far away (for the time being) from my little Max's boy-hands. In the take-home bag from the event they put in a fun Santa ornament, and this one (at $9.99) will be one I'll let Max hang this year.

At the Lowe's holiday preview, the store took over the huge penthouse suite at the super stylish Hudson Hotel uptown on 68th street. Christmas was everywhere: wreaths in the dining room, blow-up Santa in a helicopter on the outdoor terrace and even strands of holiday lights all around the big deep-soak Jacuzzi tub. Lowe's is a great place to register year round for useful items like the 18-volt tool kit from Black & Decker ($69.97) and group-go-in-gifts like Char-Broil's gorgeous stainless grill ($499).

My favorite holiday item was the lovely frosted white LED light strands. These bulbs are cool to the touch (safer!) and use 80% less energy, which really appeals to my always-turning-lights-out nature-energy-saving (in stores in October). I smiled when I saw gardening gloves tied up in red ribbon! I asked for gloves last holiday, I guess a lot of people do, and even if gardening for most means flowers in window boxes, gloves sure protect those manicure investments ladies!

Finally, a trip to theInternational Housewares Association's “Hot Housewares for the Holidays” event, which gave me lots of gift ideas for foodies. My friend Lisa Lochner, manning the Lifetime Brands booth, showed beautiful ornaments, silver frames and a great roaster and turkey lifter set ($59.99) from KitchenAid.

The “sweetest” product was the Winterberry Family and Friends Plate of Sharing. Next time you bring over a dish of homemade gingerbread men to a friend, present it on this dish with a lovely holiday saying printed on it. Then leave it behind as a gift, which could be used again as your hosts attend their own future parties ($19.99; available Fall 2008). Saeco introduced a great portable 25-cup coffee urn. perfect for serving a wake-up-for-the-drive-home cup of joe to guests.

My friend Richard Braun was showing a lot of fun and modern new patterns for Corelle. And I really LOVED their new SimplyLite bakeware. These handsome bakeware pieces in six styles/shapes were made for consumers who loved Corningware cookware features like durable, easy-to-clean material, but weigh a lot less ($9.99–$24.99; 800-999-3436).

Mary Beth Dukes of Hamilton Beach showed me a lot of great things. My favorite? Proctor Silex' 1.5 Qt. Slow Cooker p-u-u-urfectly sized for appetizers and dips. A great appliance for those of us challenged on storage space. And another great item to bring with a yummy recipe in it for a pot-luck holiday get together. Then when you say adios, leave the tiny slow cooker behind as a gift. At $19.99, it's perfectly priced to register for or to get for a holiday gift for a neighbor.

Happy Holidays!

Posted by Monica at 12:32 p.m.

Fire Up the Grill

For me summertime = barbecue. Although July 4th has come and gone, there's plenty of summer left, and delicious meals to come. On vacation earlier this month, I hosted a barbecue for 16 (!!!) of my nearest and dearest. The whole family pitched in-my wonderful brothers Curphey and Jack prepped all the veggies and hamburgers for the grill while Kerry made a last-minute run for charcoal fuel.

And when it dawned on all of us that my itsy bitsy barbecue wouldn't come close to holding all the meat and the veggies, my inventive brothers and dad built an extra one out of old bricks and fashioned a grinding wheel into something to hold the grate in place. It wasn't pretty but it sure did the trick!

Then the five of us all took turns food flipping and trying to feed seven kids who preferred to be walking on the sunset beach. If you're looking for something pretty and very practical to register for, consider the new tools from Cuisinart (cuisinart.com): stainless tongs, chef's fork and spatula have Dutch blue Santoprene handles with grey accents, contoured for a super comfy grip.

The tools all do double duty; the spatula has a bottle opener on the handle and serrated edged for slicing meat, the stainless tongs have a scooper for veggies and sauces, while the fork has 3 prongs with a middle prong designed longer to pierce food easier.

The platters safely hold delicate food items, from tilapia to fruit kabobs. And the grates on the grilling surface feature a reinforced stainless steel finish that helps prevent pieces of food from falling through the grill top ($29.99-$39.99). The four-inch deep grilling basket has a large 12' x 7' grilling surface designed for faster, even cooking ($29.99). Finally, the round grilling wok is 3 1/2' deep, designed for safe shaking and turning of stir-fry fish, meats and vegetables ($39.99). Clever detachable handles on the wok and grilling baskets/platters means you can close a grill on them.

Tool sets range in price from the Master Set, $119.99, to the Essential Grill Set, $59.99, or individually for $19.99 each, and $24.99 for the Cleaning Brush. So why not go for the tool upgrade and wrap your hands around a set of tools you'll be proud to flip a burger with. Pass the ketchup!

Posted by Monica at 10:24 a.m.

Year-Round Flowers

I must be all about the coveted press release lately, because I have another product to share that crossed my inbox. This one, however, came through DailyCandy.com (an amazing resource for city events, travel and dare I go there, kids!).

Maestro, drum roll please...Flat Flowers! Yes, I said flat. As in no dimension, not real. This clever little idea is the brainchild of Suseela Gorter, a graphic designer from the Netherlands. At first glance, they look like a real bouquet of flowers. She is genius at introducing photography into interiors in unconventional mediums. They are visible on both sides of the window and the clarity is amazing. I feel like I'm looking at something on a fancy-smancy hi-def TV. Also, they stick by static electricity and can be moved and reapplied endlessly. The only work on your part is to clean the windows first! Who doesn't love seeing a fresh bouquet every morning, even if it's not real? I for one am happy for the low maintenance.

I put these up on Molly's window because they are fun and colorful, but I can see them fitting into any room that works for you. Perhaps in a kitchen window overlooking the backyard? It's so funny, because when I Iived in CA, every room had a window. My apartment now only has two and there happens to be an air-conditioner propped in one. hence pretty flowers only on one side!

Visit flatflowers.com to see more designs and to buy. If you love Suseela's design sensibility, check out suseela.nl. Like Suseela says, “Dress up your window!” And like I always say, cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 11:29 a.m.

Anti-Oopsie Device

Ever drop a camera and broken it? Me too! Ever have a camera sit in a puddle of water at the bottom of your beach bag? Hey, me too!

Well BuiltNY has come to the rescue of this klutz with a cool, padded little digital camera case, called the Hoodie, that I've been using for a week now. I LOVE it! I got it in a chic green, but it also comes in fun dot and striped patterns. My Kodak EasyShare digital camera gets dragged everywhere I go these days, chronicling life in New York and interesting things I get to look at. During work hours, I endlessly see things I want to share with you guys, and on the weekends my son Max (and hubby Kerry) can't stop doing the cutest things-I just have to record them.

The rigid Eva core on my Hoodie takes the brunt of all the bangs, dings, drops and bounces while the soft terry-feel lining helps keep the screen from getting scratched. The squishy, stretchy neoprenene material accommodates to fit many brands of slim cameras and helps keep moisture and splashes from hitting it. Plus, there's an inside pocket for storing a memory card (ever lose one? wahhhh!) and extra charged batteries. A handy strap keeps it-hopefully-on your wrist. And at $15 (BuiltNY.com) it's a perfect bridesmaid gift! Lights, digital camera, action!

The Hoodie Camera Case

Posted by Monica at 5:40 p.m.

Artful Giving

I was sorting through my emails today, and came across an interesting press release from Stray Dog Designs that I want to share with you. Let me start by saying, this company rocks! Not only are their lamps, furniture and other home decor accessories beautiful, they are also handcrafted using materials that are completely recyclable or sustainable. Jane Gray, designer and co-founder (with her husband, no less!) strongly believes that environmentally responsible materials should be used whenever possible and that artisans should be paid a fair living wage. This alone makes them awesome, but Jane is taking it to the next level.

Look at some of her gorgeous designs:

Now here's the really exciting news: Effective immediately, SSD will donate a portion of the purchase price of EVERY product to local charities in the communities where their products are made. This includes feeding and housing the homeless, and medical care for animals. The new giving program, aptly called Stray Giving-!Vaya con Perros! (Go with Dogs!) stemmed from holiday overload that Jane experienced in 2007. Not only did it look like Santa's elves took over every store (immediately after Halloween. Do I really have to look at this stuff for two months?), but she noticed that her children received a ridiculous amount of gifts-most unappreciated and only played with a few times. So she encouraged her family to buy each other less gifts (but perhaps more thoughtful), and use the money they saved to give to those in need. To her surprise, everyone loved the idea and from that, Jane realized that she could give back even more using her company as the vehicle. Basically, you get the best of both-beautiful items to add to your registry and good karma.

Go to straydogdesigns.com to check out these wares and to learn more about Stray Giving. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 1:54 p.m.

Luxe Linens

One of the perks of my job is that I get to attend fabulous press events and see new products before they hit the market. I went to a Sferra event a couple days ago, one of the oldest and most luxe Italian linen companies in the world, and was treated to the best of both!

The Sferra Crystal Cloth Pure linen towels (available in black, butter, cadet, claret and kiwi) immediately caught my eye. When Paul Hooker bought the company from Gennaro Sferra in the late 70's, Mr. Sferra asked Paul what he used to clean his crystal glasses with. He responded that he used a regular cotton cloth, to which the elder informed him is a big no-no in the world of glassware. To leave crystal sparking and lint-free, a 100% pure linen towel must be used.

Sferra towels

These towels are ultra-absorbent and super durable; the more you launder them, the softer and smoother they will get. These are a great add to your registry and your guests be wowed with the savvy treatment of your crystal stems. Check out sferralinens.com to find a retailer in your area. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 11:14 a.m.

My Home

Hey Ladies...Want a sneak peak into my life??? Check out my guest blog at Weddingbee.com.

Posted by Aimee at 10:43 a.m.

Cookie Emergency

This is how so not Martha Stewart I am: This weekend I baked cookies for Mol's other Mommy, a.k.a. the sitter, because she's amazing and we all love her. Here I am, all Betty Crockered out, apron and all, and I take out the first batch of picture-perfect chocolate chip cookies. Cool-mentally patting myself on the back. I grab the spatula, scoop up the first cookie and put it on the oh #%&@!!! I. Don't. Own. A. Cookie. Rack. I live, breathe and eat home decor every day and I don't even own a cookie rack. You've got to be kidding me.

The reason the wire cookie rack is necessary is so that your delectables get exposed to air to cool and not continue to bake on the pan. Even just a minute or two could turn the bottoms from golden brown to black. If I'm going to consume 100+ calories in three bites, it better not be burnt.

I looked around my kitchen in panic mode. What can I use? I consider the soda rack in the fridge. No, the slots are too far apart. Maybe the wire fruit basket on the microwave? No, too small. Damn. And then, the baking gods smile on me and my eye catches the empty-and already clean-drying rack in the sink. Perfect! I throw out the bottle holder and start shoveling my treats onto the make-shift rack. Not conventional, but it totally saved my butt. Conventional has never been my style anyway.

For you b's-to-b working on your registries, check out williams-sonoma.com or crateandbarrel.com for all your baking needs so you won't end up in a pinch like moi!

Posted by Aimee at 11:13 a.m.

Tool Time!

Monica, Cassie and I headed down to the Lower East Side on Thursday to do a photo shoot with one of our favorite photographers, Alexandra Grablewski and her awesome assistant Todd. It was for Monica's registry story on all the best bar tools. Here is a sneak peak of what you will see in the Nov/Dec 08 issue with cool photo captions courtesy of Cassie!

Check out all of these products! We dumped everything we had on this table so we could see what we had to work with. It was pretty crazy trying to figure out where everything went when we had to pack it back up-talk about bar tools galore!

Aimee attempted to make lemon peel curls for the edge of a martini glass in the opening shot. Despite her years of bartending experience in college, she was not too successful. Luckily, our photographer Alex figured out how to do it and curled the peel just right!

Our awesome photographer Alex checked how the pictures were coming out throughout the day on her computers. It was super cool to see whether products photographed well or if they needed to be moved around in the frame.

What a day...Get me a drink! Monica jokingly handed me the sour apple martini after we photographed it. She took a picture of me pretending to start Happy Hour early! Too bad we had only just finished the first shot of the day...

Packing and unpacking, packing and unpacking. Lots of the bar tools were really fragile so we had to be extra careful when packing them into the boxes. We had packing peanuts everywhere! I think I'm still finding them in my purse two weeks later.

I loved the way Alex used natural light in her photographs. We set up the products next to a window in her studio. The sun created a really beautiful tone in each shot, but also a pretty picture here-with Alex's camera silhouetted against the light.

This picture in particular was quite difficult. We were trying to feature two sets of bar tools, but also trying not to have the frame be too crowded. We kept taking things out, putting them back in, rearranging. You'll see in the magazine that we didn't end up keeping nearly as many of these items in the shot.

...And we're done! Overall the shoot went really well and we were surprised with how easily we got everything done (unpacked, set up, photographed, repacked, etc.). It was finally the end of the day, and time to start thinking about our next photo shoot, which was going to be in...3 days! Uh-oh...

Posted by Aimee at 3:25 p.m.

Fantastic Finds

My first purchase on eBay was a vintage Fisher Price toy. I was taken with the idea of my son Max playing with these charming toys that my four (yes four!) brothers loved as children. They included a barn with a separate silo, a schoolhouse, and a parking garage with an elevator that went up and deposited cars on an upper level. There's still a part of my brother's barn in dad's country house, and the old garage is on the front porch of his house in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Never mind that my sister told me years later that these toys had been taken off the market, because the wee narrow characters were dubbed choking hazards.

Then the other night I was invited to an eBay event. Shawn Henderson, eBay's very charming design director, wanted to introduce himself to some new folks and show us some of the amazing finds he's bought on eBay. So off I went to learn more. The event was held in Shawn's design studio (his main job is interior designer), a nice-sized room a few blocks from our mid-town office. He showed me the table of curated items he'd put together, and I was surprised. Who knew you could find such amazing stuff outside of a very expensive mid-century modern antiques store?

I was blown away by this mirror festooned with welded metal disks from the seventies attributed to a well-known Californian metal artisan, Curtis Jere. And a cool Scandinavian lamp Shawn found for $350 and a Hermann Miller clock. Although I've had to step away from the mouse and force myself to stop bidding on eBay in the past, I am reminded by this visit what an amazing resource eBay is to pull off a design look of modern, eclectic items that I am passionate about.

My own living room has a fifties sideboard that hides all our DVDs and bedding, which I bought from my director friend Tamra Davis (a big eBayer), for a steal ($450) when she was moving, a two-year-old Design Within Reach couch, a 70s lamp my husband had in his youth, and several pieces of our collection of outsider art. So if you find yourself trying to buy a funky 70s vase and you can't seem to shake some other bidder, it might be me. I think I just got bit by the eBay bug again.

Posted by Monica at 5:19 p.m.

Gadget Gals

Hi all! The other day I had a fun deskside visit, and I'm excited to tell you all about it. Tara Steffen, the National Marketing Manager for kitchen equipment and cookware companies Cuisipro, Mauviel, Emile Henry and Rosle, came by the office with their PR person (and old friend) Susan Jardina to show me all their great new tools (two heavy suitcases in fact) for baking, general cooking and the upcoming holidays (amazing new gravy fat separator).

All their products are super-high quality. Case in point: their new $40 grill brush (which will be available in September) has brass bristles that turn so a different side is exposed, extending the life of the replaceable cleaning head. This is the ultimate tool for your guy if he's master of the grill in your home. And I love the new colors for Emile Henry stoneware dinnerware: slate, sky and sand...they scream BEACH, which is on my mind these days.

Later, they invited me and my dear friend Sharon Franke, Kitchen Appliances & Technology Director at The Good Housekeeping Research Institute, to have dinner with them at the gorgeous Southgate restaurant in the Essex House Hotel on Central Park South. We all sat in the large, modern room, which had a fireplace burning on one wall and a 70's-inspired wall of pieces of mirror hung in a three-dimensional random order. I ordered the pea flan with morrells as an appetizer, as I'd heard the Executive Chef Kerry Heffernan was famous for his flans, and it didn't disappoint-smooth and flavorful. For an entree, I had a hanger steak that was served with three delicious raviolis.

To finish up I had a passion fruit meringue tart that came with a passion fruit mini-soda, served in a shot glass, and coconut sorbet. Passion fruit is my weakness, so if it's on the menu, I will order it. It was so good, I secretly vowed to come back and have it at the bar with tea (and get out for under $20). Since we are all moms, of course the conversation started with a round of showing baby pics (Tara's nine-month-old Clark is such a gorgeous child!). Sharon wins the award as the most organized with pics of her granddaughter arranged in a mini album from every stage of her life up to now (she's two). It was a lovely night-thanks again Tara and Susan.

Posted by Monica at 3:04 p.m.

Garden Party

I love my neighborhood! Two weeks ago, the Stuyvesant Square Community Alliance hosted a fab little fundraiser at our local park. They sold flowers that you could plant in the park and yummy baked goods donated by neighborhood businesses and residents (Fred, your brownies were delish). The highlight, even for the adults, was an amazing marionette puppet show rendering a hilariously entertaining version of Cinderella:

Molly and I volunteered at the bake table and I can't even tell you the poor-me-look that Jack gave us as we were leaving. We had so much fun and it was a great opportunity for Molly and I to give back to a place we spend so much time in. At 4 months, I do believe that Molly is officially the youngest member of the group! Phyllis (the neighborhood guru) and Christy, the head gardener, did a fantastic job and I can't wait to see the flowers in bloom. I sorely lack a green thumb but Christy was kind enough to share her five must-have tools for gardening:

• Atlas©Garden Gloves: Breathable, liquid-proof and available in lots of colors and seasonal versions. Christy has separate ones for summer and winter. You can buy them at lfsinc.com.

• Dramm Watering Tools: These tools give your plants a proper shower with the perfect flow and water pressure levels. They come in every color and size under the sun and cater to novices and pros alike. The founder, John G. Dramm, was actually a florist looking for a better way to care for his greenery. I love stories like that. Check out rainwand.com for more product info.

• Sturdy wheelbarrow: Make sure it has wheels in the front and back to prevent tipping.
• Good fertilizer: Christy recommends PHC Plant Saver 4-7-4 or Osmocote Classic. Both are suitable for most plants and readily available.
• Hori Hori Weeding knife: This is a traditional Japanese gardening tool that Christy says is the 'best tool she ever owned.' It can be used for weeding, digging, cutting-you name it, it does it. She didn't recommend a specific brand but you can definitely find one at amazon.com or your local garden supply store.

I hope this helps make your thumb a little greener than mine!

Posted by Aimee at 10:38 a.m.

A Little Help

Every season, we in the Home department are lucky enough to have great new interns who want to work with us. This summer we have a 'bumper crop' of three talented and lovely young ladies to help us out with research, at photoshoots, and yes, with some filing. I'd like to take a moment and introduce you all to the three ladies we are lucky enough to have on board through August.

I'm Penelope and I come from Sydney, Australia, where my mom, dad and sister are all lawyers. I wanted to do something different, and since I love to write, I'm thinking about a career in journalism. I love to travel and am having a great year exploring America. Back in Sydney I study at the University of Sydney, but have been studying abroad at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, where my focus of study is Media and Communications. It's so exciting for me to be in New York for the summer, and I'm having a great time at Bridal Guide .

I'm Cassie and I'm a junior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where I'm majoring in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Print Journalism and a minor in Art. I'm working at Bridal Guide for the summer and am really enjoying this opportunity to see 'behind the scenes' and get some experience in the magazine industry. Living in New York City couldn't be more different than my home in Howard County, MD, but I'm getting to know it and love it more and more every day.

I'm Casey and I'm a sophomore at New York University studying Pyschology, English and Communications. From a young age I was drawn to the field of journalism. In high school I began to do a lot of writing and it soon became a part of me. Because of my experience in high school, I began looking for an internship at a magazine. I'm very excited about working in the Home Design section of Bridal Guide because I'm very interested in unique interior design products, and it's a section that appeals to everyone.

Posted by Monica at 6:01 p.m.

My Hair Experience

Hi everyone! Check out my guest post, "Treat Your Tresses," at our Fashion & Beauty blog. I found a great hair salon that I absolutely love, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Posted by Aimee at 4:44 p.m.

Supper Club

Every week my little family is involved in a great lower Manhattan tradition: the playgroup. The mummy group I'm lucky to be a part of has been meeting once a week for over four years. In the early years, those once-a-week get-togethers with other mummies helped us all keep our sanity sense of humor, and gave us the chance to discuss kid (and by that I mean raising boys) issues, swap recipes, do impromptu taste tests, let our hair down, etc...

Last night we (me, my son Max, my husband Kerry and babysitter Tasha) were up for hosting supper club. On the menu: quesadillas and steamed broccoli on the side. The quesadillas were made by Tasha and fellow mummy and friend Tamra Davis (TamraDavisCookingShow.com), who is a big foodie and creates online cooking shows.

Before dinner there was a game of music-freeze-dance to the Beastie Boys' rock out tune 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn,' a game of 'surfing' as my Kerry dragged the boys around on a huge drop cloth and waterguns without water, playing with dinosaurs and story reading by Tasha.

The food was yummy. The boys (five came over last night) ate it up. And more boy games followed. A fun, impromptu taste test happened because I was sent a box of a new food product: tasty flavored tortilla chips by FOODSHOULDTASTEGOOD. We worked our way through the multigrain (with quinoa, sesame, sunflower seeds), jalapeno, olive, chocolate and the sweet potato versions.The winner, hands down, for interestingly textured flavor, crunchiness and good salt amount was the multigrain ($2.99 for 6 oz bag; foodshouldtastegood.com). The olive and sweet potato winning some favor.

And later, after all our boys were tucked away, I dropped by Tamra's, who was making like a mixologist and whipped up mango margaritas. Three mummies of the group, Christine Sciulli (awesome light installation artist), Roanne Kaplan (awesome jewelry maker; rokajewelry.com) and Tamra (awesome home cook and TV and film director) went up to her roof deck with an incredible view of lower Manhattan, sipped margaritas and discussed projects people were working on, summer plans, recent vacays and end-of-the-school-year craziness. And of course there were the DELICIOUS drinks. As Tamra said, 'We were like Sex and the City gals.'
Subtract the Manolos and add comfy sneaks. We have small boys to chase. We need traction.

And here's Tamra's recipe (which will be in her upcoming cookbook):

Mango Margarita
(serves 4)
'After we put the kids to bed on vacation in Mexico, I learned how to make this killer Margarita,' says Tamra.

2 jiggers of Tequila
1 jigger of Contreau
2 jiggers of mango juice*
3 limes, squeeze the juice out
2 cups of ice
1/2 cup fresh mango or from a can (optional)

Put all this in a blender. If you're making a lot of these, I suggest you get a lime squeezer. Also, if you are making these in Mexico, use purified water for the ice cubes. Blend it super well on high so it's frothy. Pour into pretty glasses. Enjoy!

*substitute pineapple juice and fresh or canned pineapple for Pineapple Margaritas.

Posted by Monica at 2:02 p.m.

Special Blooms

Hello ladies-I'm back! Sorry for the long hiatus. The end of my maternity leave became more hectic than I expected, and I wanted to spend every possible second with my little boo. Thank goodness for Monica keeping all of you brides-to-be in the know with her cool finds!

Now back to the business at hand. Today I want to talk flowers with you. Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to arrive home to a sweet bouquet-gerbera daisies, which are one of my favorites. And for no reason at all other than just being me! While the thought was lovely, the poor blooms only lasted a few days. That's why whenever I need flowers, I always use Flowerbud.com.

I stumbled upon them last year when Monica and I needed flowers for the Bride of the Year photo shoot and loved them immediately. Everyone at the company is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, and the buds arrive on time and are absolutely stunning. Most of the flowers are cut and shipped within 24 hours of being ordered. What's also unique is that the flowers are snipped in their bud stage (hence the name, Flowerbud!), so that you can enjoy them as they bloom. As a bonus, all the packaging is recyclable and made specifically to protect your precious cargo.

Sunflowers are my personal fave (lucky for my guy that they aren't so expensive), but all of their varieties are sure to please. And nothing brightens up a room better than a beautiful bouquet of your beloved buds. Go to flowerbud.com to see the full collection or call 877-524-5400.

Here's a sample of some of their beautiful blooms:

Special note to guys: Flowers from the deli are only an option in emergency situations. Otherwise, plan ahead and give your special lady the very best.

Posted by Aimee at 4:26 p.m.

Hang Ups

Simple, innovative home organizational improvements are a not-so-secret passion of mine. I can't get enough clever new products that help me organize my busy world. Recently, three new items came into my life that I immediately put in place, and three long-term naggin' problems were gone. Poof!

My first issue was my 6-year-old son can't really hang his jacket on a hanger and reach up into the closet to put it away on the rod, so I needed strong hooks for the back of a narrow closet door made of particle board. Command hooks to my rescue! Made by 3M ($6.99-$10.99 depending on size; containerstore.com), these handsome brushed nickel and bronze metal hooks have a super stickin' backing that don't seem to fall down. They also come off cleanly (if you change your mind about positioning) and leaves no surface damage. They do get a little tuggin' punishment from Max, but they're 'still standing.' I wound up putting three different-sized ones at varying heights on the back of our closet door for a backpack, coat and playdate-pal's coat. It helps to keep the doorway from becoming a dumping ground and teaches a 6-year-old to put things away. Might even work on a fiance.

Another issue I had was I'm always desperately needing to put my hands on a pair of scissors or a note pad or pen in the kitchen, but seem to spend too much time running around finding these things. Command just came out with clever enclosed organizer baskets (Walmart and Target), which, like the hooks, adhere to the inside of a cupboard or closet door with strong adhesive backing. I put the small one inside a high-up cupboard, and in it I keep a pair of scissors, small notepad, pen and pencil.

Finally, my kitchen fridge was a messy hodgepodge of snaps I take of, well, mainly Max. These super cool framework magnetic 'frames' by FRAMEWORK from Working Class Studio make a beautiful gallery display of cherished snaps on your fridge door. The outline shape is based on vintage frames, yet the patterns and colors are hip and fresh. Interior Sizes vary to fit snaps from 2' x 3', 3" x 5' and 4' x 6' ($5 for one 4' x 6', $5 for two 3" x 5" and $5 for four 2' x 3' frames; shopscadonline.com; 912-525-5180).

Ease-of-use bonus: When you take another snap you can't live without seeing every time you reach for the milk, these frames take two seconds to change out.

Genius ideas!

Posted by Monica at 2:17 p.m.

The Long Shot

As you might have read in earlier blogs, I had the amazing opportunity of going on safari the week before last. One of the many things I was very grateful for about the whole experience was being offered the loan of a new digital camera, the LUMIX TZ5 with a Leica DC lens ($349; panasonic.com), from Panasonic a week before I left. It couldn't have happened at a better time and turned out to be the perfect camera for this (and I imagine any) type of adventure holiday or honeymoon you might have planned that involves extraordinary landscapes, scenery-or dangerous animals.

Up to now pretty much everyone I know (well maybe just my husband) would have called me a luddite when it comes to all things camera-technical. And I would have no argument. I had an Elf Canon for years, and I loved it because it weighed nothing and took really good pictures. My second one, that I purchased second hand on Ebay, finally died a couple of months back. It used film. Please stop laughing. Not ringing a bell? Film comes in these little plastic tubes that hold cellulose film that you pop in and out of a camera. When the roll was finished you'd take it to a photo developing shop and then you go back and get the pictures. And in the past when I was at events or at markets and I'd reach the end of the roll and it automatically started to rewind, people would do a double take and say, 'Is that film rewinding?' as if they'd uncovered a prehistoric species. Your aunt Fanny might still do this. If she can still find film for the camera she owns.

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ5 digital still camera (and the impending trip of a lifetime) was my inspiration to get photographically techno-savvy up to speed quick. The features that blew me away about this super compact and lightweight camera were the powerful 10x Optical Zoom, which allowed me to get up close and personal with animals that you really don't want to cozy up to. Like the female lions, for example. When we came upon the pride of lions, I hadn't realized we'd found them as I was taking my turn in the third back seat. I was able to safely adjust the zoom and get shots of the lionesses' surprisingly large heads poking out of the grass.

What's amazing about this camera is the double whammy of 28mm wide lens angle plus a 10x optical zoom, which lets you take wider-framed shots. It meant that when we came upon an amazing animal, we didn't have to get dangerously close (not that trusty head ranger Steve Fly would ever put us in danger), but we could all sit back and shoot photos and observe from a safe distance. With its 3-inch LCD screen in the back, even at the delirious hour of pre-coffee 6 a.m. for the morning game drives, I could make out images on the screen.

Some cool features that helped me come home with some pretty impressive shots (if I do say so myself) were:

• The LEICA DC lens unit which has an EA (extra-high refractive index aspherical) lens and four lenses with five aspherical surfaces. Did I lose you? Just means that this advanced lens design ensures your images are high in resolution, low in distortion, and clear from corner to corner.
• The intelligent Auto Mode, adjusting itself to different photo situations, like our evening game drives where we were often driving back to the lodge in pitch darkness.
• The MEGA O.I.S. feature meant that gyrosensors detect hand shake (which you might get as an elephant comes right at you-for example) and the lens system automatically shifts to compensate, helping to keep you from getting blurry shots.
• Intelligent Exposure meant that photos wouldn't turn out under- or over-exposed. The camera instantly analyzes the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark because of dim lighting, backlighting or the use of the flash.

Oh, and FYI, it does also shoot 720p HD video.

Plus, it's small, lightweight and tucks into a wee 4' x 6 1/2' camera case, which meant I didn't look like some of the other guests at the hotel packin' huge cameras with mega-zoom lenses. (Same guests wore ruched khaki pants and pith helmets-I kid you not-not to be a little catty or cheetah-ey).

And I have to give hubby Kerry mucho credit for walking me through the Panasonic manual, charging the two batteries the Panasonic comes with (brilliant!), going and buying me two HUGE space-capacity memory cards and going through some of the you're-going-to-be-using-this features. He's simply the best...

Officially loving the digital age.

Posted by Monica (former luddite) at 2:33 p.m.

The Sweet Life

There are a lot of things that go on during a shoot, (some stress, some highs, some lows, some worries, some laughs, some moments of artistic satisfaction) but a constant sugar high isn't usually one of them...that is until now. A couple of weeks ago, April 28 to be exact, I did a tabletop shoot (Just Desserts), which will appear in the Sept/Oct 2008 issue of Bridal Guide. The idea of the shoot was to focus on tableware for serving desserts. To go along with all the sumptuously beautiful tableware I got to work with on this shoot, there was the star-the sweets.

We wanted the story to look over-the-top yummy so we sought out super pretty treats. Our FIT intern Giovanna Coluccio called in cupcakes that her family personally orders for all her family's birthdays and celebrations in Brooklyn. A dozen pastel-toned cupcakes from The Little Cupcake Bakeshop (LittleCupcakeBakeshop.com; 718-680-4465). So good! I broke down and scarfed one down before lunch. Our NYU intern Nicole Trifilio couldn't get over the enormous layer of frosting-it looked an inch thick! She noted these are the perfect cupcakes for people for whom 'it's all about the frosting.'

Next up, the cookies from Eleni's; exquisite high heels, which they had specially made for us in pastel tones and pretty flowers.

And then there were brand new 'Celebration Chocolates' designed by Sylvia Weinstock for Godiva ($20 for a 4-pack; godiva.com; 800-9-GODIVA). They were to die for-truly melt-in-your-mouth delish. Each piece is intricately designed with multiple tiers of scalloped edges and detailed beading, topped with a delicate flower. Its rich milk chocolate shell is filled with one layer of velvety chocolate ganache and one layer of creamy vanilla. We gave one to the photographer Anastassios' assistant Alex, who dubbed it a delight.

Then there was the cake. A pastel two-tiered confection made by Bijoux Doux bakery in Brooklyn. Well, this wasn't actually edible, it was a faux cake made for photography, but it sure smelled good. That cake became the drama of the shoot, the will-it-arrive item, as it was stuck in Brooklyn in the torrential rainstorm we HAD to have the day of the shoot. It never rains, it pours the expression goes.

Then there was the four huge bags pf candy hearts that Necco (the company that makes them) kindly sent to us.

And finally there was the awesomely delicious ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery; mint, strawberry and vanilla. I filled the enormous pedestaled bowl from Orrefors with these creamy delights, and we shot quickly before it melted. It nearly killed me to throw it out as we broke down the set and cleaned up.

The old expression, good things come to those who wait came true as we all got to enjoy some sweets as we packed boxes.

Posted by Monica at 11:45 a.m.

On Safari

Apparently when one goes on safari, you have to be prepared to not necessarily see all the animals that you've ever dreamed of seeing, because it might not happen. Our guide, Paula, kept saying, "I can't believe how lucky you guys are to have seen almost every animal here in 2 1/2 game drives."

Although we spent much time driving around to find the elephants and water buffalo, some animals literally came to us at the Phinda Mountain Lodge at Pindha Game reserve. A family of cheetahs (mummy, four cubs and a male) hunted and killed an impala between two of the cabins. And after having spent an hour tracking a male lion (and seeing him ) the same lion followed us back to the lodge and circled outside of the fenced in area where we were having barbecue. We were all inside the fenced-in area, unaware and enjoying a nice pinotage and venison. Apparently the barbecue aromas appeal to lions as well!

We were lucky enough to participate in tagging a three-year-old white rhino. One morning a veternarian was brought in and we got to watch (up very close) as they sedated the rhino and notched his ears with a marking designed to make him easy to identify. Being able to identify the animals on the reserve helps to protect them in the future and chronicle their movements around South Africa if they happen to be sold.

The rather large group of people involved in the tagging treated the rhino so lovingly and declared the procedure as having gone completely textbook. All the possible things that might have gone wrong, mainly that the rhino would get aggitated and run wildly into the bush and we'd have to find him to tag him, never took place. He walked a little woozily, then cooperatively sat down on his haunches. We all had the opportunity to touch him. A few minutes after the rhino (#113) was given an anitdote to counteract the sedative, he got up and sauntered off to join his mother and the other rhino.

Me and my white rhino friend during the tagging.

Our ranger guide, Steve Fly, was extraordinarily good at his job, knew everything about all the animals we saw, had amazing stories about previous sightings of interest, knew local plants and had a wicked sense of humor. Our tracker, Sithembiso, was critical in helping to spot tracks and finding all the amazing animals we got to see.

Lead Ranger Steve Fly and tracker Sithembiso

Phinda Mountain Lodge, owned by CCAfrica Group, has just reopened after a complete renovation. This eco-conscious lodge is an unexpected, modern, hip destination in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of low mountains and grassy fields and beautiful bush with iconic Umbrella Thorn trees around every turn in the rough roads we drove over. The staff is admirably dedicated to conservation, putting animals first.

Even as we were driving out of the reserve, a giraffe family was in the middle of the road. Papa sauntered off to the left, and baby was left close to the road on the right. Then baby panicked and started galloping back to mummy up ahead on the right. Watching the way his little feet moved was beautiful. Baby giraffe went directly behind mummy, who stared us down. Hey, we were just trying to mosey on by to get to the airport on time for our journey to George on the Southern coast.

Next report: Beach time-South African style.

Posted by Monica at 2:19 p.m.

World Traveler

Leg one of an amazing trip of a lifetime for me was the 14-hour flight from New York City to Johannesburg. Made it! All things considered, not nearly as uncomfortable as I thought. Scored an empty seat next to me and fashioned a sort of bed and got five hours of sleep.

Johannesburg is another world. We were immediately whisked from the airport to the sumptuous WestCliff Hotel, which overlooks the city and an extraordinary zoo! Since being in South Africa brings animals to mind, it's appropriate that you get to actually see elephants from your hotel balcony your first night here.

Because I am here representing Bridal Guide, I was put up in a bridal suite-yes, it's pretty palatial. You feel like a princess in the exquisite blue toile wallpapered and curatained room with it's dainty French-style furnishings and exquisite botanical prints on the walls. Here, the toile walls and elaborate matching curtains all worked together gorgeously. 'Toile's real beauty lies in its fine detail and soothing repetition," explains Gina Shaw, Design Director, York Wallcoverings, "so you can cover a room's every surface in toile, and the effect is always that of a room enveloped in calm.' The perfect choice for a room designed for relaxation and quality time for a couple.

The only upside to taking a honeymoon solo is the opportunity to catch up on sleep-that is when jet lag wears off a bit, in a day or so. The staff at the Westcliff is extraordinarily kind and accomodating and
funny.

Must dash, off to breakfast then on the plane to safari. Much more to report in my next dispatch from South Africa.

Posted by Monica at 11:56 a.m.

Tool Time

I'm a little obsessed with home improvement (hey, it's my job) so I was thrilled to get a visit this week from the PR team at Lowe's, Abby Buford and Amanda Monteleone, and poured over a huge binder of amazing stuff that Lowe's carries. Lowe's has a bridal gift registry now (lowes.com/registry), which makes complete sense with all the DIY and home improvement projects that newlyweds are inspired to do when they set up their first nest.

Abby told me 'my first toolbox' has become a huge alternative theme to 'traditional' bachelor parties. It makes for a fun, possibly outdoor, relaxed atmosphere kind of party-something truly guy-centric...finally! Custom tool aprons with the bride's and groom's names on it are a fun item to have made for the party (they can be used for barbecuing or gardening of course).

At Lowe's, tools are the number one item that people put on their registry. Most popular is the DeWalt Compact Cordless Drill/Driver ($179). I smiled when I heard that because for our second anniversary my husband Kerry asked me to get him that for a gift, and I did, and he was so-o-o-o happy. He said it was the best quality tool he's ever owned and it still makes me a little weepy to think about how happy he was about that drill.

The joy of tool ownership and a meticulous garage is something my husband and I witnessed for the first time (hey, people don't own garages in New York City) at our across-the-street neighbor from our family's summer shack in Nova Scotia. The two-story shingled garage Jonathan Taylor built rivals his house in size-and is bigger than our house for sure-and the interior is spotless, with every tool meticulously in place on the wall. We have a hammer and a screwdriver at our house, I think. And, I recall hanging up a picture using the heel of a shoe, before we got that handy hammer. Kerry would amble over to Jonathan's and just come back saying I wish I had a .....insert any one of 120 tools here.

One item, amongst the 40,000 Lowe's has in stores, I particularly thought might float Jonathan's boat (being a lobster fisherman, he actually owns a big boat) is the little over-the-top $1,700 Kobalt tool chest, which has a built-in 1.6 ft refrigerator and a Pioneer AM/FM CD stereo with iPod controls (June 2008 availability). The danger is your sweetie might never come out of the garage.

Posted by Monica at 10:31 a.m.

Shark-Infested Cupcakes

That's what my six year old requested for his birthday party last weekend. I immediately thought, 'oh no,' because I've made these before; a year ago for his pre-school bake sale. And I struggled making the candy dough fin part. (I made them too thick and they didn't harden properly or absorb the black food coloring.) I did finish them, though, and carried them to school in the handiest cupcake carrier I have made by Rubbermaid. They were the hit of the bake sale, and sold out in 20 minutes. The principal/owner of Washington Market Schools, Ronnie Moskowitz even brought someone down to buy some after they were sold out and asked me where they were. The all-organic no-nuts nothing-unhealthy-about-these cupcakes stood by unsold, while my blue food-dye-iced creations flew out the door. Go figure.

I told Max that with the sandwiches and fruit and vegetable trays I had to put together, I didn't have time to make them, wouldn't plain ones do? Max said, ok. But later at The New York Cake Baking Center I slid the blue food dye in my basket. Maybe I'd try to find time.

And Saturday morning, I just couldn't not make them. Hey, you only turn six once, you should have the cupcakes you want, right? I told myself I'd just make five or six, and 15 shark cupcakes later I had enough to put the whole pack of 6 year olds on a sugar jag for the rest of the day.

I made the actual cake part the night before with Max and our babysitter Tasha. We saved time and used cake mixes-one of them was organic. (Yup, feeling a little guilty about the blue frosting). I was semi dreading the response of my friend Tamra at the party, as she is into very healthy cooking. When she saw them she said, 'You made these?' She seemed impressed. Several other parents who got a taste told me the cupcakes were delicious.

This frosting/construction recipe came from a book I've turned to for two of Max's birthday parties, Hey There, Cupcake! by Clare Crespo (Melcher Media). Her design ideas are original and hilarious. For his fourth birthday, I had made the cubcakes; little panda, koala and brown bear faces, which were a huge hit.

Putting your own personality into food for an event, be it your next poker night or a bachelorette party, can sometimes be tricky to do affordably. But whipping up a batch of cupcakes can work out to an economical, and highly original thing to do. Maybe sharks won't fit a future party theme of yours but Clare's pretty Cupcake Pearls, Citrus Cupcakes or the Cupcake Village might.

Baking for people you love is a gesture from the heart. Let your love show, and slather on the frosting. And, not to worry, they're all natural.

Tools that helped me a lot:

• Ateco's (No. 1384 size) straight spatula I bought at The New York Cake & Baking Center (nycake.com; 212-675-2253) to use for frosting the cupcakes. It has a perfect, nice flexible shape for icing a small flat surface.
• Cupcake carriers; I used Rubbermaid's but it's no longer on the market. These looked great though; Cupcake Courier ($24.99; target.com) has a locking base, airtight seal and holds 36 cupcakes. Or Onieda's 24-Cupcake Carrier ($19.99 from Linens 'n Things; lnt.com) carries 24 cupcakes and comes with non-stick cupcake pan.
• Non-stick 12 cupcake SilverStone Simply Baking Series pan makes for an easy clean-up easy if cupcake batter happens to ooze out of the liners. The pan is made of heavy weight carbon steel for even heating and browning.

Pool party or beach party anyone? Why not make these?

Cupcake Sharks Recipe

Ingredients:
Blue paper cupcake liners
1 recipe batter for any kind of cupcake Note: I used an organic chocolate cake mix to save time.
1 recipe for candy dough for fins (see below) Note: I substituted making fins of stiff black poster board.
Black food coloring
Small clean paintbrush
1 recipe Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting (see below)
Blue food coloring

Method:
1. Line cupcake tins with the liners. Fill the tins two-thirds full with the batter and bake the cupcakes as directed in the recipe.
2. Mold a piece of the Candy Dough into a triangle shape about 1 1/2 inches tall and about 1 inch wide. The thickness could be around 1/2-inch thick at the center of the triangle, but slightly thinner around the edges. Make the top point of the triangle bend back facing one side. Make about 20 fins (as many as you have cupcakes). Wipe a little black food coloring on each one.
3. Reserve a couple of spoonfuls of the frosting and set aside to create 'whitecaps' for the waves. Tint the remaining frosting blue like the ocean. Frost the cupcakes, pulling some of the frosting upward to make waves in your ocean. Let this harden for a couple of minutes, then with a toothpick, decorate the waves with some white frosting to make the whitecaps and sea foam. Place your shark fins in the water.

Candy Dough Recipe

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons of evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Method:
In a large bowl, gently mix together the evaporated milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar with a fork. When the mixture becomes too thick to stir, use your hands to knead it until it's smooth and easy to handle, adding more evaporated milk if necessary.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (yummmmmy!!!!!!)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:
In a large bowl, cream the butter until smooth.
Add the powdered sugar, salt, milk, vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.

Posted by Monica at 3:42 p.m.

French Flair

How happy was I to be invited to check out a new 90-seat bistro-style, restaurant, Bagatelle, which opened in New York City in the meatpacking district in December 2007. (In my past editorial life I did a LOT of restaurant reviewing, always fun and educational.) There were so many design elements to the dining room that I found tres charming I had to tell you about them.

First-the big mood setter-the room is bathed in candlelight, and sparkly lights from pretty ornate chandeliers that hang around the room. On a shelf over the bar are about thirty white pillar candles warming the room with their soft, flattering light, while over the waiter's station sat the only light source, a two-armed silver candelabra. The mainly all-white room has the charming look of a Parisian apartment with pretty decorative carved wood panels on the walls. The ambience makes you feel relaxed and sexy the minute you sit down, not a bad thing for a special date! Another memorable design idea I loved were the black/gold damask patterned floor tiles in the bathroom, subtle and fun.

As I sat down the waiter said 'bonjour,' I replied in French (my 8 years spent in all French school in Canada from kindergarten to 7th grade flooded back usefully), and the waiter smiled, 'Ah bon, vous parlez Francais,' which immediately made me feel like an insider. He said, 'Voulez vous eau sans ou avec bules (with or without bubbles) and I smiled and said, 'Avec, s'ils vous plait.' (OK, I'm a sucker for an accent.) And yes, the food was really good. Executive Chef Nicholas Cantrel hails from Bobo, while one of the two owners, Aymeric Clemente, has history working the front of the house at iconic La Goulue restaurant.

I asked about the chef's specialties and the waiter recommended the truffled leek ravioli, which was delicious. Three delicate ravioli with shells that were thin and light, and the irresistible taste of truffle oil blended with leeks. For an entree, I tried the recommended fish dish, Grilled Branzino, moist and delicious. I couldn't pass up my favorite French dessert indulgence: profiteroles, which were decadently delightful with perfectly prepared pastry shells-puffy on the inside with a crust that is firm yet absorbs the ice-cream/sauce combo-filled with ice cream coated with warm chocolate sauce. Chamomile tea, served in, it has to be said a tricky teapot that singed the hand of my companion who poured, rounded out the meal.

The meatpacking district launched with a famous French restaurant Florent (whose lease is up at the end of March after a 23-year run), and Bagatelle admirably picks up that baton and runs with it.

When in New York, check it out, but definitely call ahead for a reservation. There wasn't an available seat and there were four people deep at the bar by 8 p.m.

Oh, and sadly yes, I left with a crush on the waiter. C'est la vie!

Posted by Monica at 10:56 a.m.

Say Cheese!

I have always been a ham for the camera, ever since I was a little girl. Call it only child syndrome, I suppose. As I got older, I turned into that girl-you know, the one that is always asking perfect strangers to take pictures of her and her friends doing the most random things. Armed with black and white film and my good ol' shoot and load, I was ready to document my life's most memorable moments. And I was absolutely, positively, 100% against the digital revolution. I mean, what's the fun of picking up your pictures if you aren't surprised when you see them?

Against it, that is, until I used a friend's PowerShot camera by Canon. The 3-inch screen makes snapping photos a cinch and it's completely user friendly-I am sooo not tech-savvy. I'm actually on my third! One was donated to a cabbie on St. Patty's Day, the second had an unfortunate collision with the floor (always put your camera in a case! It's worth the money and the 2 seconds it takes to do), and I currently am sporting the PowerShot SD750. Like the saying goes, ladies, third time really is a charm! If I bought three, you know I must really love this camera.

It wasn't until Molly came along that I got into all the cool features and now, I use it everyday. As a new mom, I think everything she does is adorable and should be documented, so I find myself snapping away like the paparazzi following Britney. The Kid/Pet mode is great for catching subjects that tend to move, and we use the 10-second timer for self-portraits all the time. At the end of the day, I plug it into my laptop, hit the 'load new images' key and I'm done. I can also adjust the pixel size so that when the photos upload to my computer, they are ready to be emailed or attached. It also came with easy-to-use software for photo editing. And that's a definite plus when many of my friends and family are 3000 miles away and I want to share photos with them. Now if only I could teach Grams how to go online!

For every bride wanting to document this exciting time and share it with their fam and friends, this is a must-have item and a great investment for you and your hubby for all your future special moments.

Canon is always coming out with new models and technology so I chatted up their PR team to get the 411 on the latest addition to the PowerShot family. The newest model is the PS SD790 IS digital camera. A couple features I didn't gush on already are the anti-blur technology, automatic face detection (adjusts the lighting and focus to the individual), the easy image review and the small, sleek design. It is actually smaller than a deck of cards. Click here for more info on this model and other fab Canon products.

With a price tag under $300, it's a wise investment. And if you are strapped for cash, add it to your registry. You'll be glad you did. Now look at me and say cheese!

Posted by Aimee at 11:48 a.m.

Green Day

Hey ladies...I just want to remind you that our first 'green' issue (May/June '08) is on the stands now and it's filled with beautiful, chic and eco-conscious goods and tips for your home. Danny Seo offers some great advice on how to throw an environmently-friendly, yet stylish shindig. Danny is JCPenney's Green Living Consultant and the images feature products from JCP's fantastic new green/organic line. An interesting little tidbit is that the photos were actually shot in Danny's Pennslyvania home-and his house looks like something straight out of a catalog! For more on Danny and all his projects, visit dannyseo.com.

Designer Profile is a little different this month, which was especially exciting for me. When I was researching way back in November, I just couldn't find one designer that stood out as 100% green and had developed an extensive enough line that I wanted to share with you. What I did find, though, was a San Francisco-based (of course, West Coast!) online retailer called Branch. Their website (branchhome.com) is like eco-eye candy, and co-founder Paul Donald gave interesting insights on the growing concern of consumption and living green.

For Registry Report, Monica serves up a bucket (actually, a beautiful hand-carved wood basket) of the healthiest cleaning products, in addition to the best new tools to keep your home polished and germ-free. I was particulary impressed with Halo's UV-ST Ultraviolet vacuum that uses ultraviolet light to kill up to 99% of the bacteria and dust mites in your carpet-not just moving it around. Have you ever seen a dust mite? Halo's PR team showed us a video of them during an in-office demo, and it's pretty disgusting. It was actually part of the reason I chose to switch to hardwood floors before my daughter was born. But had I stayed with carpet, the Halo vacuum would have been at the top of my baby registry! For the tabletop spread this month, Monica shows you that being green in the home absolutely can be beautiful and there are stylish options for every room in the house (we covered six). Fun fact: Look for Monica's adorable son and my pup in the photo frames in the living room shot.

And don't think the fun stops there. BG also produced an exclusive fashion CD-ROM where yours truly is one of the models rocking the latest in bridesmaid dress options. It was especially fun for me because I was six months pregnant and loved getting all dolled up and styled by our fantastic fashion duo, Alison and Dana.

So curl into your comfy chair...you have a lot of reading to do!

Posted by Aimee at 9:32 a.m.

Best of Show

Finally, I've had a chance to look through all my notes from the Housewares Show in Chicago (I filled an entire notebook, cover to cover-including writing on the covers!). Although some of these products won't be in stores for a few months, I thought I'd show a few sneak peeks. From the hundreds of things I saw (some of which I got to test myself), here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Karim Rashid, a designer of epic proportion, has expanded his Designer Series line of small vacuums for Dirt Devil to include the KWIK desktop vac ($29.99; available Sept '08)). Designed for your office desk area for dry spills and getting dust out of your keyboard, it also comes with a crevice tool. His last offering, a hand held vac KURV, looks a little lava lampish and comes in tons of bright colors. Karim's all about inventive (often award winning) shapes and colors. Interestingly the PR gal talked about homeowners are moving away from wall to wall carpeting to hardwood floors, so there has been lot of development in vacuums for carpet-less surfaces and alternative use, like these two puppies.

2. Pear was the new home color. KitchenAid showed this fresh, happy hue in a line of kitchen electrics, including their stand mixer, hand mixer, 5-speed blender and food processor. Described as a blend of avocado of the past and chartreuse (in feng shui lingo it's the color of creativity) it fits in perfectly with everyone's new green attitude.

3. Colorful bakeware in loaf pans, bundt shapes and spring form pans from Kaiser. Also loved Alfi's 18/10 stainless 'ISO' personal water bottle ($35; alficarafes.com) fits the green theme well, by eliminating the need to continually buy plastic bottles of water. If you put ice cubes in this lightweight baby your drink will still be icy cold hours later.

4. The Salad Chopper bowl by OXO International is the perfect tool for those who eat salad every day. You just toss your rinsed lettuce leaves into the bowl, and with the handy rolling chopper, slice up your greens directly in the bowl you can then serve out of.

5. Sea Salt shaver ($24.95; microplane.com; 800-555-2767) from Microplane, fits in with a trend of using exotic ingredients for cooking. Rock salt is an exceptionally hard substance, and this high-performance grater is engineered to maintain a sharp blade for shaving even the hardest rock salts. It comes with a chunk of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and is designed with an ergonomic, soft touch handle for comfort, in a pretty seaworthy aqua color.

6. The Mid Century modern style Legno scale by Soehnle ($69.95) is the most beautiful bathroom scale I've ever seen. (I might have to buy this for my husband who's crazy about this era of furnishings). This stylin' digital scale is covered in a natural wood veneer with a rich espresso grain accented with stainless trim. Your tootsies won't get chilled with this warmer to the touch surface that's also extremely water proof and scratch resistant. It turns on and off as soon as you step on or off the scale, and has an easy-to-read 1.1-inch LCD display.

7. Ratchet-style safe edge can opener from Kuhn Rikon is easier on the wrist to use than previous safe-not-sharp-edge can openers. I also loved, for a splash of kitchen rainbow color, their multicolored silicone whisk ($14; factorydirect2you.com; 866-233-6587), an eye-catching budget priced color accent and heat resistant to 450 degrees.

8. For a small kitchen, the new colorful dish drying racks by KitchenAid from Lifetime Brands that expand to fit over a sink are great counter-space savers. It comes in great cheerful colors like red (shown), yellow and turquoise.

9. Watching the Beater Blade by New Metro Design in action was a why-didn't-someone-else-think-of-this-before moment for me. It's a traditional flat beater blade attachment for a stand mixer, with an inventive and useful spatula scrapper attached to the edges. This allows you to incorporate butter and sugar into your recipe 50% faster than was previously possible with a flat mixing blade. It comes in different sizes and styles to fit all the different styles of stand mixers on the market.

10. I loved the steam flat iron from Conair. I watched it in action, and for those of us addicted to the flat hair look, this tool will get the kinks and bumps out of your locks, without excessively drying them out.

11. I drooled over Mauviel's beautiful crate of high-end copper cookware, perfect for bridal gifting. The 5-piece set is packed in a beautifully crafted white pine wood crate embossed with a black Fleur-de-lis. The 5 piece M'Heritage set (shown) includes 6-inch Sauce Pan with lid, 9.5-inch Saute Pan with lid, and a 10.25-inch fry pan. Made from 2.5mm of copper, they are the best conductors of heat, heating up and cooling down quickly. Why does this matter? Well, since the pans cool down quickly, food stops cooking when removed from the heat so sauces aren't overcooked and meats keep a crisp, brown surface and juicy interiors. The pans are made of 90% copper lined with stainless steel and feature cast iron handles.

12. Pinguino portable air conditioner (model PAC W130) from De'Longhi is one of the first 'greener' units. It not only draws less power to operate, but uses a new eco-friendly refrigerant gas as a coolant.

Posted by Monica at 5:13 p.m.

Puppy Love

Anyone who knows me can be certain of one thing-I love my dog, Jack. L-O-V-E him. So of course when he arrived, I sought out only the best and most stylish products for my young pup. After all, it's in my house and I have to look at it, too. Here is what I found and what Jack has tested and come to love.

First and foremost, I had to take care of the housing situation. Like many pet owners today, I chose to crate train my dog. For those of you who don't know what that means, it's like putting your kid down in a crib, except crates have a door that shuts them in until you decide they can come out and play. But the contraptions that most people use resemble a jail more than a comfy place to hang your hat-I couldn't possibly put my dog in a cage! Luckily, I found what we have now used for the last two years. It's a crate that actually looks like a house, with a sturdy metal frame and hinged door. It's a great blend of form and function that looks just right in my living room. Plus, it's easy to clean and leaves me guilt free when he's in it. Best of all, there is extra storage in the 'roof' for toys and treats, which will become especially important when my daughter starts putting everything in her mouth! For a crate similar to mine, go to improvementscatalog.com. They offer three different sizes and are reasonably priced.

Next up, a pup needs a cozy place to nap and a couple sturdy dishes for food and water. I headed over to my local pet shop, Trixie & Peanut, and happily picked up the Twiggy pet bed and the Zen bowl and mat set. The branch-patterned cover is a lovely shade of sage green with brown and white accents, and is machine washable. Once Jack realized it was a place to rest and not an oversized chew toy, he fell in love with it. And I love that it's always fur-free and doesn't smell like a dog. Helpful hint: a lint brush is a quick fix when your pet's bed (or the couch!) doesn't need washing, but is littered with a few stray hairs.

As for the feeding situation, I wanted something that could be left out, wouldn't break and didn't scream boring. The Zen bowl and mat set were the perfect combo of all three traits. The bowls are weighted to prevent spills, and the mat can be scoured with hot water in the event your four-legged friend gets a little overzealous at dinner time. And they look like something I would choose to serve my guests in! For those of you outside of Manhattan, browse trixieandpeanut.com for these and other equally chic options.

Last, but probably most important for the salvation of your furniture, are the treats and toys you provide your little one, especially when you're not around. Although he has claimed more than his share of Jimmy Choos, he has never chewed on a piece of furniture, and I owe that to a line of durable, rubber toys from Busy Buddy. Their signature purple toys come in a variety of shapes (we own them all!) and can be stuffed with your canines favorite snack. Jack loves peanut butter, any kind of cheese and when I'm feeling particularly ambitious, I grill up some plain chicken for him. I give him one before I head out for a hot date or an afternoon of shopping on Fifth Ave., and-voila!-a happy pup and intact furnishings. (A big thanks to Glenn for turning me on to these. What a lifesaver!).

He also loves Buddy Biscuits and the homemade (and healthy) treats from our favorite shop on the west coast, Wiskers. It really is a bicoastal world that I live in. Even Jack has headed west several times! And whenever I go home to visit, I head straight to Second Street in Belmont Shore and stock up. Best of all, you can order them online at wiskers.com.

Now that you got your best friend all set up, bask in love and kisses that you're sure to receive for all your efforts. Woof!

Posted by Aimee at 12:35 p.m.

Field Notes from Chicago

Hi everyone, I'm just back from covering the Housewares Show in Chicago. Although the days walking the halls of the enormous McCormick Center wears down the shoe leather, I love covering this show. It only happens once a year in March when 22,000 buyers from all over the world fly in to check out all the latest trends and nifty new products in categories ranging from kitchen appliances, cookware, gadgets, storage products, cleaning tools, tableware, small decoratives, and on and on.

I never fail to be fascinated by the staggering amount of new products, color trends, and amazing inventive ideas for things that will save people time and effort in the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms of the house, help them get organized, or fix their hair with a fabulous new tool.

This year I arrived on Saturday, March 15, also the day Chicago chose to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and the parade was lining up as I drove in from the airport. Later, the pubs on every corner you walked by were packed and spilling out into the street with festive folks sporting green somewhere on their bodies. And I had to take a stroll to the river, which is famously colored green in honor of the day. And folks: It's really green; the color of unset-lime green Jell-O to be accurate.

It's a time when I run into old friends I've known for years at different companies. And I even ran into my home intern from last Spring, the awesome Caitlin Devereaux Bart from FIT:

She's working at Cuisinart now, and was in the secret room where they show editors a preview of products which will launch a few months away. And Caitlin told me her exciting news: She's engaged!

A quick roundup of some trends I spotted:

The Green trend was everywhere, and many manufacturers showed the passion by revealing cookware that had been a couple of years or more in development.

• For example, Scanpan showed new cookware, Green Tek, which took them two years to develop. Scanpan had their factory come up with a replacement for PFOA and find an emulsifier that is both environmentally friendly and biodegradable, and all their cookware has been manufactured with this new compound since Spring 2007.
• Meyer introduced a line called the EarthPan which doesn't use PFOA's in the production process.

• Cuisinart introduced The Green Gourmet line of hard anodized cookware, which is produced without the use of petroleum or harmful solvents and is PTFE and PFOA-free. It also uses 70% recycled stainless steel for their handles and packages in recycled boxes printed with biodegradable soy inks.
• Ming Tsai leant his charismatic presence to the TRU BAMBOO booth, where they showed some great new introductions he endorses, all which fall under the green umbrella.

Lots of celebrity product endorsements.

• The biggest news? Paula Deen's 200 different products launched with Meyer Corporation. There were fabulously fun, pretty and practical pieces that spanned categories from cookware to knives to baking tools. I was told Paula was really nice and great to work with.

• Rachael Ray added a couple of new products to her line with Meyer Corporation.
• Chef Devin Alexander (of The Biggest Loser Cookbook and show fame) introduced a line of cookware with Meyer as well. And I got to have dinner with her, which was a LOT of fun! Devin sure knows a lot about cooking healthy food, and revealed some tips I'm going to try to implement! Plus, she gave me a copy of her book, so I can really test some of her recipes at home.
• Famous British tea authority, Jane Pettigrew hopped over the pond to help launch Bonjour's amazing new electric tea maker 'Fine T'. It's a fascinating appliance for people who really love tea, and in this appliance one can prepare different types, like green tea, by heating the water to the perfect temperature and brewing it the right amount of time. I had the extreme pleasure of sitting next to Ms. Pettigrew at another dinner, and she was brilliantly knowledgeable about tea ceremonies, tea varieties and how and where tea grows. Coming from a family of big tea drinkers, I soaked up the information. And realizing that the tea business has exploded to a $6.5 billion business, there is certainly room for an upscale tea appliance to help brew different varieties to perfection.

• Mario Batali had a huge booth with hundreds of products from Copco from cookware to bakeware to dozens and dozens of gadgets.

Color! Big news was bright color on cookware, bakeware and tools of all shapes and sizes. From metal cookware that slides into bright colorful melamine square bowls to go to the table to bright yellow and green bakeware from Kuhn Rikon, splashes of color were seen everywhere.

Spanish culinary tools. Lifetime Brands scooped up distribution on another huge company, Vasconia, which has an old history in Mexico. The most exciting thing was seeing all of these tools now able to be bought in one place, hopefully. They had everything from enormous paella pans to a Molinillo (a wooden dowl-like tool that one spins in your hands to froth milk in an aluminum pot used to make hot chocolate). There were so many useful tools, like a double lime juicer tool and an avacado knife.

Next up: My top 10 favorite items from the show (with pics).

Posted by Monica Forrestall at 1:15 p.m.

In Full Bloom

I went to a fabulous event this week called 'In Full Bloom' at Bloomingdale's. They featured tabletop collections from six top designers. The designers themselves actually chose what pieces to showcase and decorated the tables. I was particularily interested in three: Thomas O'Brien for Reed & Barton, Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton and Michael Aram for Waterford. I interviewed Thomas about his new line in the Nov/Dec 07 issue (if you missed it, you can read it here), and Monique and Micheal will be featured in the next two issues (so keep an eye out!). All three were such a pleasure to work with and it was fun to see what they created for the tables.

I also briefly stopped by Paul Wilmot Communications where Cathleen and Christine showed me a sneak peak of Michael's private collection and Monique's newest pattern for Royal Doulton that will be shown at the Tabletop market in April. Thanks!

Posted by Aimee at 5:43 p.m.

My Rock 'n Roll Nights

Hi all! I have to dish a bit about the pretty fabulous rock star gallery opening party I was at Saturday night, here in New York. Kim Gordon, the lead singer and guitar player for the alternative and influential rock band, Sonic Youth, is also an artist who does amazing portraits of faces seen from the stage during performances. On March 8 Kim opened a show of these beautiful watercolors at KSArt Gallery (full disclosure, my husband owns the gallery). Kim actually went to art school in California, and the music world was something she fell into when she moved back to New York after graduating from school.

Watercolor is a difficult medium to work with (I know because I've worked with these paints for years). It's unforgiving-in that it dries quickly and you can't 'cover up' a mistake-you either decide you like it (and it isn't a mistake) or you set it aside and make another. Kim's abstracted portraits 'depict people in the audience from onstage, looking at them reflected in the light'. Beautifully blurred images appear to be the product of using a lot of water with her paints. They're also silvery from special metallic inks that she uses.

Kim also created a special soundtrack for the show with her husband Thurston, (since they both constantly love creating music and sound pieces) and is selling those as a limited edition. Sure, Kim has some famous pals and actor Chloe Sevigny came to the opening as well as the model Christie Turlington who mixed with a packed room. If in New York, stop by and see the show, it's up through April 9.

And if the idea of registering for a piece of artwork as a wedding gift has crossed your mind, give it some serious thought. Living with and looking at an original piece of art versus a poster or print is a completely different experience. Gazing at a watercolor or oil painting, you can see an artist's hand and brush strokes and light reflected off the textured surfaces that a print or reproduction simply doesn't have.

Maybe it would be fun to check out some artwork at a local gallery and put it on your wish-I-could-own-that-list. (At bgregistry.com you can set up a registry that includes anything, including artwork from local art galleries). Or maybe you have a talented friend who you might ask to make you a painting for your new home instead of getting something off of your registry. Or maybe you might want to register for a nice set of paints and try your hand at creating something yourself for your new home. At this moment in your life, anything is possible.

Rock on.

Posted by Monica at 5:02 p.m.

Perfect Lighting

I'm a romantic at heart. I just can't help it. And when I set out for an evening in with my honey, I am all about setting the mood. And in my dictionary, that means lighting every candle in the house...literally dozens, especially the tea light versions that can be strategically placed almost anywhere. I mean, come on ladies, who among us does not look better (and feel sexier) in the soft glow of candlelight? I will actually spend a good twenty minutes lighting candles, even in the bathroom, and I only live in a studio!

Unfortunately for me, and the furniture and carpet in my house, with candles comes wax, and with wax, comes the inevitable spill. Especially for me. Case in point: the $800 chair that has green wax dribbled down its back and the television armoire with similar splatters at the base from candles left unattended or burning too long (oops...I guess we weren't paying attention). And before we recently replaced the carpet with hardwood floors, there were several not-so-subtle patches of various colored spills that just couldn't, or stubbornly wouldn't, be swept under the rug.

Well, thanks to the innovative team of the designers at Vessel, my plight is solved (and future furniture saved!). Their patented line of Candela lights are a godsend to the girl who wants to set the mood, but not the house on fire. Sleek and sexy in design, these portable, rechargeable and completely eco-friendly electric lights come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to fit in with any decor. When not in use, they sit on their charging platter and even come on automatically in the event of power failure. I also like the Luau line of portable lamps that can be strung in the backyard or used to line a walkway. Not that I have a backyard or a walkway in New York, but I did once upon a time when I lived in a little cottage in California, and these would have been just perfect to illuminate my weekly game night bashes. Yes, I did actually live in a cottage. With a backyard that had a cobblestone walkway. And it was the cutest 450 square foot house ever.

Candela Glow

Candela Flare

Vessel also carries unique and stylish furniture, table top and home decor and children's toys. Check out vessel.com to order or to find a local retailer in your area. And, ladies, use that extra twenty minutes you used to spend lighting candles to get a little more dolled up for your man. I know I will!

Posted by Aimee at 10:15 a.m.

Add a Little Charm

For some women, walking the New York Gift Show at the Javits Center when they are nine months pregnant might not be an ideal situation. But did I mention how much I love my job??? The gift show happens twice a year, and for me, it's like having Christmas in February and August-and I wasn't about to let something like a pregnancy get in the way of my fun. (Plus, it's given me a ton to share with all of you in the three months that I will be home!).

On the last day of the show, cutting through the jewelry section to grab a much deserved pretzel, I passed a booth with tote bags hanging on the wall that said things like 'Your plastic bag can kiss my canvas!' and 'What would Al Gore do'. It was enough to make me laugh, put my pretzel mission on hold, and go in (I'm still eco-obsessed).

Well, I'm so glad I did because I discovered the most charming 'jewelry for the home' collection called House Blessings. Basically, they have 20+ brass charms, in an array of designs, which bring good thoughts and fortune to your home. I especially liked the Kitchen Blessing (a wish bone), Happiness (keys) and Celebration (a humming bird searching for the sweetness of life). They are a great addition to a bottle of wine, a plant or even just a handwritten note, and elevate a mundane housewarming gift to a more personal level. Plus, long after the vino is gone or the plant wilts (maybe that's just in my house with my lack of a green thumb!), they have a beautiful reminder of the good wishes you sent them.

Dogeared is based out of So Cal, my hometown, and is a favorite among celebs. To check out their complete line of gifts and jewelry, visit dogeared.com. Happy shopping, ladies!

Posted by Aimee at 10:30 a.m.

Faking It

Ever wonder about being in those pretty rooms you see in magazines? Well, the truth is a lot of them aren't rooms at all! They are often empty spaces in studios that some stylists/photographers/art directors/editors and hardworking interns have taken hours to build into rooms to showcase fabulous products. Case in point, the shoot I did last week for a story on real couples' registries (Wish Lists in Bridal Guide's July/August '08 issue) where an amazing team, including the awesomely talented photographer Anastassios Mentis, his opera-loving assistant Alex, a couple of our deeply fabulous home department interns, Allison Imparato, from FIT and Giovana Coluccio, from NYU, and yours truly, built out several faux rooms. These included a beach house dining area and a modern French-style bedroom, both seen below.

When you build a room from scratch you have to think of every detail ahead of time, and make sure you bring everything you'll need from wallpaper to baseboards, decorative accents, flowers and garbage bags because once you get to a studio there is usually nothing there. And the days are lo-o-ong. You start early and end late: I was painting wallpaper at 7a.m. and printing out return labels at 8:30 at night. But it's a highly creative process that I look forward to doing for every issue. And getting to collaborate with talented photographers to make the most beautiful shots you can is the best!

For the bedroom shot, we first started by wallpapering the wall area with pretty lace-patterned paper. Intern Allison proved to be an expert in this field so we let her take charge. Then we set the heavy headboard in place. Anastassios and I decided we were going to crop in the shot on the bed so we faked a base for the bed-note the cardboard boxes holding up the mattress I'm easing into place. As long as it's not in the shot, you can use whatever makes sense to safely prop things up. Then we laid on the gorgeous Martha Stewart bedding from Macy's, eased the curvy Brocade Home bedside table next to the headboard and propped with pretty flowers, Allison's watch, a French wooden bed tray and a good book (mine) to round out the pretty scene.

For the dining scene, Anastassios suggested we shoot in the early morning to catch the pretty light coming in from the window. We had to tape the legs of the table in place because they were a little wobbly. I covered the table with a beautiful linen fabric I found in a local fabric shop, and Giovanna helped unpack. Anastassios and I laid out the pretty blue casual tableware by Noritake and fun dot-patterned glassware by Mikasa, loaned from Bon-Ton store.

In the end we created some beautiful rooms I'd personally love to live in, if only they were real.

Posted by Monica at 10:41 a.m.

Talking Trash

Our kitchen garbage can died a few weeks ago. We're not wasting tears mourning its demise, because, frankly we had a hate-hate relationship with it. We hung onto it because it was pretty (never a good reason to hang onto the useless) shiny stainless steel and was an expensive wedding gift that I registered for-but have never been happy with it.

What exactly inspired the deep dislike of our Brabantia bin begins with its deeply flawed tall, narrow design. Bags fell down into it, and in order to get those bad boys out, one literally had to lie the can on its side on the floor, get down on your knees, wiggling and pulling the bag out sideways. Then there was the flap-open-happy lid with a tiny plastic snap closer that became moody about whether it would choose to stay closed or not.

I've been fantasizing about getting a new one ever since the one I covet was introduced. OXO Good Grips 10-gallon Stainless Steel Rectangular Trash Can has a motion control device for smooth and quiet lid-opening action. And to keep me from doing the horizontal mambo with garbage bags, the rectangular shape has tapered sides and an extra wide 14-inch mouth, which help you pull out a bag in a snap. Keeping your can clean is a breeze with their bag lock at the top, which holds trash bags around the plastic liner rim in the upright position, helping to keep garbage in the bag, not slopping up the bottom of your can.

To make sure of my choice, this weekend I went with my pal Cady (who was happily also on a garbage can mission) to the Container Store where we spent a half hour in the can dept stepping on pedals, waving our hands over motion detector sensors (we live life on the edge) and closely inspecting the various inner workings of several different brands, and I came away confident that this new can will pass muster. Oh, and Cady took home a can as well.

Posted by Monica at 11:16 a.m.

Coffee Fix

Two important things you need to know about me. I need coffee the instant I wake up and I will only use a French press to make it. There is something deeply satisfying about the full flavor that is extracted from the beans in this somewhat sloppy way. While my husband and son snooze on, there is clumsy maneuvering in my kitchen that usually involves coarse grinds everywhere, as I struggle, half awake, to clean used grinds out of my press (I use Bonjour's 8-cup Maximus French Press; $39.99; bonjourproducts.com) and fill it with coarse grind. It has a great filtering lid that keeps sediment out of my favorite mug.

My bean du jour has just changed. For the last two years I went along with my husband's favebrew, a highly hyper-caffeinated nationally available brand, which wasn't cutting it. The harsh joe left me shaking and the flavor was frankly, not great. Over the holidays though friends (thx Connie & David) gifted us with a bag of La Colombe coffee (lacolombe.com) and forever changed my a.m. habit. If the fact that chef David Bouley in New York uses it exclusively in his restaurants doesn't register for you, how 'bout it's so smooth you can easily drink three cups of and still be even tempered, awake and focused.

Nicolas Capes, a manager at La Colombe explained that the small farm fair-trade produced Arabica beans they roast are grown at a high altitude and don't produce as much caffeine as other beans might. He aptly described the drinking experience as a gentler one, not the rush of caffeine I've experienced in the past. I picked up two bags of their Phocea blend ($13.95 for 1lb bag) last weekend, and am already so addicted to this kinder, gentler brew that I'm bringing some on my visit to my in-laws this weekend. And at the risk of appearing like a huge coffee-geek freak, I'm packing my French Press. Love Maralyn and Bob, and can't wait to see them, but they drink hazelnut-flavored coffee made in a percolator whitened with soy milk. Just not my cup of...well...coffee.

Posted by Monica at 11:03 a.m.

Swiss Miss

For those who agree that there can be nothing wrong with anything that involves melted cheese, I can highly recommend giving this wintry dining experience a try. Last Saturday, my husband and I had artist friends from Brooklyn over for the perfect February dish-fondue. I was given a sturdy fondue set awhile back, a pretty red cast iron model, the Montblanc by Swissmar ($90; swissmar.com; 877-947-7627).

It might not actually seem like melting cheese = cooking, but one can screw up a fondue. How? Add too much kirsch, it gets too boozy. Or boil the cheese mixture on the stove and the texture is ruined. Leave out the cornstarch and the dry wine and the cheese could separate. The recipe I used called for freshly ground nutmeg, a nice touch. I adapted the recipe mixing two main cheeses, Ementhaller with Gruyere.

My ultimate fondue experience was in the famous ski town of Stadt, Switzerland several years, and a marriage ago. Sitting in a little chalet restaurant on the edge of a mountain is where one should eat fondue, and the memory of that dinner with my then artist husband and a handful of other artists and gallerists there to ski, was a scene from an Audrey Hepburn movie. Not part of a script I would have written, was being firmly told by a Geneva gallerist, who also happened to have been on a Swiss ski team in his youth, that if I tried to ski I would surely die-so I abstained.

I happily lived to eat more fondue in a New York apartment with artists, a gallerist and my 5-year old son, who loves cheese. Some things don't change that much.

Posted by Monica at 5:41 p.m.

Open Wide

The more technical help I can get in the morning (especially before I gulp my first cup of stand-a-spoon-in-it-strong coffee) the better off I am. I was therefore ridiculously happy to get the new Oral-B Triumph electric toothbrush that helps the a.m. challenged by visually telling you when you have sufficiently brushed your lower right tooth quadrant and should move on to the uppers. It has a separate LCD Wireless SmartDisplay that counts up to the magic two-minute mark-the amount of time dentists recommend you brush-and communicates whether you're brushing too hard (can lead to early gum recession) and which of the four brushing modes you're in (clean, sensitive, massage and polish). I've used electrics versus good old hand-powered brushes after I got married and my sparkly toothed husband touted the long-term benefits of the massaging of the gums action that electrics do as they clean. I've used a $20 Oral-B electric ever since, but this kisser cleaner ($149.99; oralb.com) is a major upgrade.

Posted by Monica at 5:41 p.m.

Affordable Art

I loved The Museum of Modern Art's exhibition of Martin Puryear's mainly wood abstract sculptures that combine an observation of nature with an interest in industrial shapes. I went with my husband (and five-year-old son) and Max took a brochure of the show and made a game out of finding the sculptures pictured in the brochure.

Then a week later, lo and behold, I was at an editor's preview show of products to launch at the International Housewares Show in Chicago in March, and I heard a PR pal, David say, 'Yes this pan scraper was designed by Martin Puryear.' I did a double take! iSi's Basics Pan Scraper is designed to help clean stuck on stuff without damaging surfaces of cookware-even non-stick coatings. The sharp edges gets under food residue while the blade itself rotates to access all the corners and edges of a pan.

It's a rare opportunity to own a minimalist, practical-and bargain priced-tool designed by a world famous artist. And if you can see the show I'd recommend it, although it closed at MoMA January 14 it will travel to San Francisco and other cities in the next year. ($15. momastore.org).

Posted by Monica at 12:27 p.m.

Go Green

Working on the latest Bridal Guide (May/June 2008), our first Green issue, changed my life. My eyes were opened to all the possibilities of updating one's home, for the betterment of the planet, by incorporating more energy-saving, recycled and earth-friendly products. I saw the 'green' light, so to speak, and will forever feel differently about using paper towels and cleaning products that contain bleach, not to mention embracing home decoratives made using reclaimed materials.

Perhaps once upon a time, earth-friendly home products didn't exactly scream high style, but eco-design has taken a big step forward in recent months. Case in point; one super cool new product I didn't get to include in the green issue, is the Garbini desktop holder, for pencils, pens and scissors by Umbra.

The design is an award winner by Karim Rashid and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. And it's made of degradable corn plastic! Never heard of it? OK, me neither, but it's an amazing new compostable and renewable resource. (4 1/2' x 5' x 6', $ 5.50; umbra.com). Once one of these containers winds up in a landfill, the plastic will break down, causing less harm to the environment. I'll raise a recycled glass to that.

Posted by Monica at 12:00 p.m.

Housewares Design Awards 2008

Howdy all! I gotta tell you about the fun I had at lunch yesterday. I was invited to 'Housewares Design Awards 2008,' an annual design award given at a luncheon in New York this time of year. It's like the Oscars of home design, if you will, and awards are given in 13 categories like Cookware & Bakeware, Kitchen Hand Tools and Lighting and Outdoor Living. The winning products are chosen from 320 entries for their innovative appearance and function.

I sat with my friends from the Lodge Mfg. Company, who make the wonderful, famous cast iron cookware. And very nice for them, the first award given out was for their nominated 12-inch seasoned cast iron skillet with stainless steel handles:

It's a first that a company has been able to rivet a stainless steel handle to a cast iron pan, and they hold a patent on this design. Henry Lodge, Lodge Mfg. President, was there to collect the award himself.

Other cool products that took home awards yesterday were a small magnetic light from Outset, Inc. that attaches to a spatula to guide your burger flippin' once the sun sets and the Flipper 4-in-1 Measuring Spoon by Trudeau, made of rubber, which flips over into different-sized spoons. Luckily, I got to take home the BBQ light in the swag bag, and I can't wait to try it when summer finally gets here.

Posted by Monica at 6:35 p.m.

Earth Friendly

Since wrapping up our first Green issue (May/June 2008 which hits the stands on March 18), Monica and I have been obsessed with all things eco and recycled. Until now, I didn't realize that being environmentally conscious had become so chic and so incredibly easy. So of course I was thrilled when this fantastic new product came across my desk-the Mini Max Shopper ($7) by Reisenthel. It's a stylish little tote, available in over 20 colors and designs, that comes in its own tiny carrying case that can be attached to your key ring or stashed in your purse, and can be unfolded to carry all your daily purchases when needed.

I have to admit, it sat in my purse for a couple days (I am a creature of routine!) but once I remembered to use it, I love it and keep it with me constantly. With its 22 lb capacity, it easily carried my produce from the Farmer's Market and biscuits for my pup, still with plenty of room to spare. Check out their website, reisenthel.com, to buy and see what other cool products they have. Being a city girl, I also really like the Foldable Trolley cart for toting larger purchases. Come on ladies, for seven dollars, how can you resist some earth-friendly karma???

Posted by Aimee at 5:08 p.m.

A Romantic Boudoir

Valentine's day is coming! It's one of my favorite holidays. My husband of six years forgoes buying chocolates (he knows me well) and focuses on roses-long stemmed and not from the corner deli-and lingerie. If you're looking to ramp up romance, start with the look of your bedroom and think about adding items that will appeal to all of your senses.

My three quick fixes to change the mood: A set of new silky sheets to snuggle under. Buy now, and bust them out on February 14th. Super silky, vine trellis patterned Witney Italian spun Egyptian cotton sateen jacquard bedding by Sferra, is both elegant and sensuous feeling on the skin (Full/Queen duvet cover $765, Standard sham $155 each, Cecily Queen flat $295, Queen fitted sheet $150, Standard pillowcases $165/pair) sheets (sferralinens.com).

And let's face it, everyone looks better in the flattering warm light of a flickering flame. Some super aromatic candles don't always agree with you, so opt for some gentle scented varieties like PartyLite pillars and ball-shaped candles (partylite.com).

Finally, pop open a bottle of Mo?t & Chandon champagne (moet.com) and pour liberally into sexy champagne flutes, like Nambe's, designed by Eva Zeisel, which keep bubbles bubbly in a curvy, modern shape ($39.95; nambe.com).

Then shut off all the phones, put on some romantic tunes and hit the sheets.

Posted by Monica at 1:27 p.m. | Comments