Back in December of 2000 I had the opportunity to visit my friend in London, who had promptly moved there following our high school graduation 6 months earlier.  That was my first taste of the store Topshop. At the time I was in Awe. I grabbed a bundle of clothes and headed to the fitting rooms. Everything fit magically, and more surprisingly was of exceptionally high quality for the price.  I ended up with all new London-esque clothes to wear on my visit. I was thrilled. For the next several years I would periodically google the internet for any new news of topshop. Then one day, to my excitement I found they had launched an e-commerce site. Unfortunately at that time they didn’t ship to the USA so all I could do is drool over the clothes. I would email them on occasions acquiring about any news of them shipping internationally. A part of me was hoping other people out there were doing the same and would in turn push them to start shipping to the USA. In the summer of 2006 I found news feeds saying that Topshop had plans to start shipping to the USA and not too long after that, they indeed were. Of course, with shipping costs at a flat rate of approx 20 USD per order, it is pricey to have orders shipped here. That affordable 60 dollar top suddenly is 80 dollars. Yikes. Not too long ago Topshop announced that they would be opening a flagship store in NYC, due to open October 8th 2008. It will be on Broadway and Broome in the fashionable and hip Soho district. Today, Topshop launched their official US Topshop site, which now has the prices in USD instead of GBP, and also has specific style features that are more “American” (apparently). The prices are exactly double the GBP amount (60 GBP will be 120 USD etc.) I’m less than thrilled with this because, after checking out the current exchange rates, I found that Topshop is charging quite a lot more for each piece for US shoppers. 1.0 USD = approx .568 GBP which can means an item on the British site that sells for 60 GBP should technically only be 105 dollars, instead we are getting charged 120. This tends to add up rather quickly if you are buying multiple items. Bummer! Before the launce of the US site they simply charged you the current exchange rate and the flat shipping. Ahh well, such is life. At least Topshop is in the USA! Finally!

Oh how I love thee...

I'm not a big "jewelry" person. Almost every piece of jewelry I wear is a gift from someone or a piece that means something to me, either it reminds of a happy moment or reminds me of someone or something.  A part of me is afraid of jewelry. Expensive jewelry at least. I'm always afraid a clasp will break..afraid I'll wash my hands and down goes the rings in the drain....fear losing something so tiny and precious.

Until I discovered Iosselliani. Twisted chains of chaos and beauty. I can't resist. I want the whole collection. Unfortunately, the prices disagree with me. But I shall resist (the disagreement part).

I've also recently discovered Dirty Librarian's line of twisted chain jewelry. The prices are much more reasonable.  They even made a few pieces for Urban Outfitters called "DL by Dirty Librarian". I purchased one of the necklaces and I'm very impressed with the design. The lobster clasp is a bit stiff, but I think good old wd-40 can help me out with that. For 38 bucks, it definitely fulfils my twisted chain obsession....for now.

One day, dear Iosselliani, I shall wear your crown jewels....

I fear my bank account is in trouble.

Or known as the Caprese Salad.

It is my new favorite thing.


In fact, I like them so much that I'm on my computer at 8 am and looking at pictures of them on google.


There are a lot of things about this little dish that I adore. For one it is jam packed full of my all time favorite ingredients: tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and more importantly buffalo mozzarella. For anyone out there who has never tried buffalo mozzarella you are missing out on one of the most delicious things in the world.  There is a difference in taste between the mozzarella made with cow’s milk and that made with buffalo milk. The difference is both in taste and texture. While cow's milk mozzarella is mild, milky flavored with an elastic texture, Mozzarella di Bufala tends to be heavier with a strong lactic flavor and is not as firm as the former.

I think the caprese salad is the ultimate summer dish.  It’s incredibly easy to make and does not need heated or cooked.  Just throw all the ingredients on a plate and tada!  You can get creative with how you stack the ingredients.  You can hollow out tomatoes and stuff them with the ingredients or maybe put cherry tomatoes on a kabob skewer along with little balls of the mozzarella and the basil leaves.  There are so many ways to serve this dish, which is another reason why I love it so much.  It looks very luxurious when served on small plates at dinner parties.

I’m not sure what the traditional insalata caprese recipe is, but this is about the easiest way to make it:

3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
1 pound fresh BUFFALO mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Coarse salt and pepper

Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

I often like to throw the basil leaves, EVOO, salt, pepper, and just a dash of red wine vinegar along with one garlic clove into the food processor to form a pesto.  I’ll vertically stack the mozzarella and tomato slices and drizzle the pesto on top.  Top it off with one fresh basil leaf for the extra wow factor.

I can't wait to make this salad with the fresh tomatoes from my garden!

This last week in Dayton Ohio has been the typical late spring early summer weather. Hot and Humid. Ugh. Being as a stubborn energy saver, I have had all the windows open in my house and I am feeling the heat! Last year I bought a maxi dress from Urban Outfitters to wear around the house on hot days, and even more recently I purchased a plain jersey black one from Old Navy that I really love. I’ve found it difficult to wear anything else as I’ve found them to be wonderfully comfortable and airy.  Yes, I’m obsessed and I need more! Luckily for me, Maxi dresses are one of the ongoing top trends this summer and they are easy to come by. Right now, I’m obsessed with this sunny Andrew Lauren Day Dress.  How perfectly casual and comfortable it would be with a pair of flat sandals, some bangles and a cross body bag.

So what is your opinion on the maxi dress? Do you love it or hate it?