At the aforementioned Stephanie Klein book-signing, the food item she had shipped to me was – according to the website – a “baked chocolate dessert.” After tasting it, I realized that this is like calling Michael Jordan merely “a basketball player” or Warren Buffet merely “a stock analyst.”

This dessert, Miles of Chocolate, is beyond. Beyond delicious, beyond ridiculously delectable, just beyond.

If a box of chocolate truffles and a brownie had a child together, it would be Miles of Chocolate. A thin, crispy layer on top, with a decadently fudgy underbelly. Everyone who tasted it at the bookstore was moaning with pleasure.

It’s a bit pricey, plus it has to be overnighted and refrigerated until served. But it is so rich that the portion sizes can be small and it can feed a good many people (as long as I’m not one of them).   And good luck trying to replicate it - they actually turn out the lights when they add the chocolate blend so people can't snap photos.

Miles of Chocolate.... truly a work of art.

Great colors from Banana Republic:

This doens't translate as well on-screen, but it's a close-up of the texture of a Cole Haan purse:

I like all of Lacoste's flying people ads - but this one of the company founder is the best:

I not only fly with Donald Pliner, I like his ads, too.  The shoes are hideos, but the ad is well-done.

For the Ralph Lauren ad below (one page of a two-page spread), the same as above.... don't like the purse, but the ad definitely catches my eye.

The small scale of this Vera Wang ad image doesn't do it justice - it's a beautiful muted palatte:

Almost tacky, but colorful and eye-catching!  Dog food from Cesar:

This Natural cosmetics ad gets the Close But No Cigar award - great concept but it doesn't quite come together.  The text color and layout don't mix well:

Jones New York....  colors: ick!  and the model looks like a mannequin:

It's tough to create a good ad with an ugly product - toilets have the problem as well.  Although this ad tries admirably, I still hate Crocs and this ad even admits how hideous they are:  "It's hard to believe the parents were ugly..."

Since we bought our place furnished -and brought quite a lot of additional furniture along anyway - I must use my blog to ooh and ahh over these pieces since it will be a few decades before we actually buy any.

This Mado bed by Koji Collection is a modern take on the old European-style enclosed beds:

It’s beautiful. I wonder if it comes in toddler size? If so, two please!

And this piece – also by Koji Collection - is supposed to be a pet bed, but wouldn’t it make a most excellent fort for the boys?

I see Jonah spending a few hours each day shimmying in and out of the holes.

And I’ve always loved the idea of bookshelves lining a staircase, but Apartment Therapy put a new twist on the idea of storing books in unused space:

Alas, we do not have a staircase.

Alas, we do not have rafters.

But we do have a heck of a lot of books.

I love cards.

I love mail.

And I love getting the former in the latter.

Here are some of my favorite cards I've seen in my recent web wanderings:

Cute and colorful Parisian Zoo cards from Tiny McSmall (what a great company name!). 

For a vintage look, there are Flying Birds from 12Fifteen (printed on a vintage Chandler & Price press) or Spring Flowers from Mothball Charlie.

And, with one box you've got the whole year covered - an assortment of simple and colorful icons printed on cardstock for birthday, anniversary, sympathy, thank you, etc.   Cards For A Year from Violet:

Or, you can create your own custom box of 20 cards from EnFin LaVoila - here are a couple of my favorites: