Hearts Are Floating For...Academy Awards Fashion 2013

I love awards season and the culmination of endless red carpets with the Academy Awards. So it's no surprise that I spent most of Sunday camped in front of the TV taking in every moment. But even more exciting than the show itself is the parade of fashion beforehand. Here are my top three looks. And they belong to two Jennifer's and a Jessica.

Number 1 - Jennifer Lawrence

I know I'm slightly biased because I have a huge girl crush on JLaw. But she really looked amazing in Dior Haute Couture. And what totally sold me was the backwards Chopard necklace. I predict right now that we are going to see this trend everywhere.

Number 2 - Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain seemed to be channeling a cross between Jessica Rabbit and old Hollywood glamour in Armani Prive. I love her hair down in retro style waves.

Number 3 - Jennifer Aniston

Maybe it's because I'm partial to red dresses but I adored the bold Valentino gown Jennifer chose. And her best accessory? Her smile! I haven't seen her look so happy in years.

Honorable Mentions:

Kerry Washington in Miu Miu

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta

Hearts Are Floating For...Winter Birchboxes 2012-2013

December's Birchbox was a celebration of the holidays. The box itself was done up in festive pink and gold stripes. And inside, a fun assortment of products that were each a tiny gift.

* Juice Beauty | Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream

* Kerastase | Nutritive Nectar Thermique - Protect

* ModelCo | SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss

* Thymes | Naia Body Lotion

* Thymes | Lotus Santal Body Lotion

* Rent the Runway $50 Gift Card

January's theme was the "Best Year Ever" packed with products to help kick-off 2013 right. Also included was an inspirational fold-out with 25 ideas on maximizing your happiness. My personal fav: 

"Don't swear off carbs. Go out for a luxurious brunch. 

Wear big sunglasses and your most glam lipstick (tres Audrey.)"

* amika | Color pHerfection Shampoo

* Harvey Prince | Skinny Chic

* My | Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer

* theBalm cosmetics | Hot Mama

* Deborah Lippmann | the Stripper to go

February is all about the Red Carpet. It's one of my favorite times of year and I greatly look forward to an awards show every Sunday night. Speaking of - how excited is everyone for the Oscars this weekend? I hardly have any events to attend of any significance but I'll be breaking out these products for the work week and evening dinners.

* Dr. Lipp | Original Nipple Balm for Lips

* Juicy Couture | Couture La La

* theBalm cosmetics | Mary-Lou Manizer

* TIGI | Rockaholic Fun Times Flexible Hairspray

* Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel Square

Hearts Are Floating For...Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don't know what came over me but I got an incredible urge to bake this weekend. It's actually something I love to do and I find it quite therapeutic. Usually a lack of time, kitchen equipment, and expertise hold me back. But this past Sunday, I felt inspired and had the afternoon to indulge in a creative project. I went safe and simple and decided on classic chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 package of milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a rounded tablespoon onto cookie sheet.

Bake for about 10 minutes - until cookies are golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and transfer to wire rack (or in my case, a plate).

Lessons learned: I really need an electric mixer. (Well, technically I have one but it's in storage back in MA.) I wasn't able to use the right amount of flour by hand mixing. This resulted in thin, flat cookies. I think they still tasted pretty good though and by the crumbs left on the plate, I think everyone agreed!

Hearts Are Floating For...Turntable.fm

Move over coffee, I have a new addiction: turntable.fm. This seemingly harmless music website has now consumed  many more hours of my day than I should admit to. And to make matters worse, this is a website I only use during work hours.

Here's how it all started. In my office, we always have music playing but it used to be one person controlled the entire music selection through their iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, etc. Then someone had the brilliant idea of getting us on turntable.fm where everyone signs up as a DJ and starts "spinning" their picks. At first I was a little hesitant to jump in the DJ booth because people can vote your music up or down. But after a few days, I was hooked. Suddenly I am obsessed with searching for new songs. In the car, the grocery store, coffee shop, at home...I'm furiously typing song titles into my iPhone for future reference. And you get a point for every thumbs up on the song your playing which has caused me to develop a bit of a competitive streak.

DJ CallMissy playing Neneh Cherry

I'm queuing up my playlists for next week so I'd love to hear what songs you all think I should play!

Hearts Are Floating For...Being Back

Poor Hearts Are Floating has taken a backseat to life these days. Now that the holidays and 12-hour work days are behind me, I can begin sharing all those little things that give me hearts again.

It's good to be back!