I have a wedding to go to this weekend and the ceremony is going to be in Central Park. It’s exciting because the end of this week’s weather has been gorgeous, so hopefully that sticks around until Sunday, but also because I have never been to a wedding in the park — I just always pass by others and watch! Have a sunny weekend!

I’ve never had a case on my iPhone because I like how slim and pretty it is and how easily it slips into my back pocket or a small little clutch. But lately I have had the worse butter fingers and I have been dropping my phone left and right. I think that’s a sign that’s time to get a case on my pretty baby to protect it. This watercolor/cloudscape case is gorgeous and Society6 is an awesome site I found via Pinterest!

I get my nails done pretty often. Mostly because it is insanely inexpensive at the place across the street from my house but also because I don’t do anywhere near as good a job as the professionals. But lately more and more awesome nail tricks are popping up (especially on Pinterest) and every time I see something awesome I am so tempted to try. This DIY french manicure, with a twist, seems easy enough that even I can do it! Who knew that they still made reinforcements though?!

I love a challenge and there’s something about cooking in the spring that requires me to be extra creative with colors and textures and mixing comfort food favorites and healthy eating options. I am totally feeling the idea of using pizza as the vessel for this challenge and this Spring Pizza, with peas, fava beans and asparagus, is a bonafide spring bounty!

Spring Pizza (makes 2 pizzas)

For Jim Lahey pizza dough:

• 3 3/4 cups (500 grams) bread flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons (10 grams) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) sugar
• 1 1/3 cup (300 grams) water, room temp’
• XV olive oil

• For the spring topping:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• salt and pepper
• 1 creamy Robiola cheese
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup fresh peas, blanched
• 1/2 cup fava beans, blanched
• 1 handful asparagus tips, blanched and sliced
• 1 bunch basil, leaves only
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 or 5 slices of Coppa or Proscuitto
• 6 quail eggs

• For the pizza dough:

• In a bowl, stir together the flour, yeast, salt and sugar. Add the water and, using a wooden spoon mix until blended, at least 30 seconds. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature until the dough has more than doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Remove the dough from the bowl onto a floured surface, divide into two halves and cover with moistened kitchen towel for 30 minutes.
• When ready to cook, roll out the dough on a floured surface to the desired size and thickness. Place on a floured pizza peel or the back of a baking tray. Brush olive oil over the whole surface.

• For the pizza:

• Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500′F.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted. Add the flour and stir until smooth. About 2 minutes. Add the milk and bring to a boil while whisking. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Cut the Robiola cheese in half, remove the rind and discard, dice the cheese and melt it into the hot bechamel. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the egg yolks until smooth.
• Bring a small pot of water to a boil and blanch the basil leaves for 15 seconds. Drain and cool in cold running water. Squeeze out the excess water. Place in a blender with the garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper and blend while adding the olive oil until you obtain a smooth puree. Add a few tablespoons of water if necessary.
• Top the pizza dough with a layer of Robiola bechamel. Top with asparagus tips, fresh peas and fava beans. Slide the pizza into the oven for about 12 minutes. When the crust is golden, carefully break the quail eggs on the pizza and bake for 3 minutes more, or until set. Remove the pizza from the oven and spoon some basil puree in spots. Top with sliced coppa or proscuitto and serve.

Mother’s day is on Sunday and as excited as I am to see my mom, the way I feel about Mother’s/Father’s day is very similar to the way I feel about Valentine’s day. It’s fun and all but if today is far from the only day I am telling my mom I love her, in fact I tell her almost every single day!

Happy Mother’s day Mom, I love you!

For me, no matter how much I eat at dinner, and sometimes even lunch in the summertime, I always have that little bit of extra space saved for a sweet treat. Just like my freezer growing up, I always have some kind of popsicle, or fudgesicle, on hand. And now there’s a fudgesicle upgrade! Made with coconut milk and bananas (with a peanut butter option) these ‘sicles are “healthy” so having more than 1 is totally allowed!

Creamy Chocolate Fudgsicles

(makes 5-6 pops)

• 2 T cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk (see below link, for lower-cal ideas)
• 2 small, very-ripe bananas (200g)
• scant 1/16 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• optional: feel free to add peanut butter!

Combine all items in a blender. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

I am once again professing my love for the Olsen twins and this time I am giving Mary-Kate serious props for turing it out at the Met Gala. Wearing a gown for her own line, The Row, Mary-Kate looks amazing. I know the twins get slack for wearing ill fitting clothes and looking homeless but I think this look, while messy and minimalist is far from boring and damn near perfect! Love!

Saturday was the Derby and the party at Eleven Madison Park was great. The summer dresses, seersucker suits and hats made the day all that more fun, and who can possibly resist fried chicken and multiple bars stocked with more bourbon than possibly imaginable. The bluegrass bands rocked out while I grazed on the tasty treats, delicious drinks and few hand-crafted cigars. Bottom line, I will definitely be back next year!

Tomorrow’s the Kentucky Derby and I am ready to don my new hat and my linen dress and party the day away at 11 Madison Park’s Derby Days party. Fried chicken, bourbon, cigars….what more could a girl ask for?! Have a winning weekend!

I talked about wearing a ring above my knuckle back in August (before I knew it was even a thing!) but I had actually not found the right ring up until yesterday. My friend got my back on track by getting me this awesome small heart band to wear on my ring finger and that got me to looking. I found this arrow ring and I think it’s true love. It’s ajustable, which is good because I don’t know my exact size and I think it’s interesting, chic and down right cool. Pictures to come!