This week I had the opportunity to briefly hang out in NYC where I travelled for a wedding of two close friends.  My best friend lives in Brooklyn and I was staying in Times Sq so we agreed to meet for half a day to walk around and talk. 

At some point she mentioned we were near the well-known Magnolia Bakery – around for a long time but made even more popular by its showcase during a Sex and the City episode.  Never one to turn down baked goods – or a chance to vicariously bond with my favorite characters from Sex and the City, we made our way there.  Along the way my friend repeated that several friends of hers had said how disappointing it was in real life . . . well they are CRAZY!  The cupcake (okay 3!) I had sitting on a doorstep outside of Magnolia was the best I’ve ever had and I consider myself something of a cupcake connoisseur. 

The cake was moist but complimented the rich frosting perfectly and the frosting was divine.  They called it a Buttercream but it was sweet and creamy without tasting at all of butter or crisco which buttercream frostings often do.  Plus their cupcakes are simply but beautifully decorated with purple, green, pink, yellow coloring making them not only yummy to eat but a treat to behold in the window.

This fabulous bakery – in case you visit NYC is located at:
401 Bleecker Street
New York City, NY 10014
212.462.2572

Just be forewarned  – there is a limit of 12 cupcakes per person so you do have to restrain yourself!
P.S. Just in case you do reach for the 12 per person limit and you need a way to take these yummy cakes back home – or a way to take the cakes you make to your child’s school, check out the cupcake courier, the fantastic new way to neatly transfer cupcakes to and from parties without getting a frosting mess all over!

Who ever imagined that by simply carrying a very “cool” diaper bag I could earn points with my 5 year old son?  Seriously, I earned points due to my diaper bag.  My son is very into skulls and crossbones right now (mind you, what 5 year old isn’t).  The truth is, so am I.  Thus, I am now the owner of a super sharp looking skull and crossbones headband (tres chic – really) .  There is just something about them that I am attracted to and I don’t just think that it is my son’s affection that is persuading me.

Anyway, not so long ago we received our latest shipment of one of my favorite brands of diaper bags: Lexie Barnes.  When we placed our order for the new fabrics and styles I was thrilled to see that there was going to be a fabric that was black, white and pink flowers with the tiniest of skulls hidden throughout.  These skulls are so well hidden that you practically need a treasure map to find them, but they are there and my son and I know it!Now as great looking as this fabric may be – not to mention it escalating my role as coolest mom on the playground even further – the best part about my new bag is the actual bag.  Lexie Barnes does an amazing job of creating well-organized (read: enough pockets to keep you sane without so many that you go insane), extremely lightweight bags that serve a purpose while still looking cool.  The Superstar (a larger bag for 2+ children or for those who are very heavy packers for one child – great for those of you who cloth diaper too) and the Darling (a fantastic everyday size bag that is a great size for those of us with an older child and one in diapers) have been around for a few seasons now and just keep getting better and better.  Her latest bags are the dutchess– a nice size backpack with Lexie Barnes’s unique exterior bottle holders and the ability to attach to a stroller (yup, you heard correctly, a backpack which actual stroller attachments) and the Gem – the-perfect-running-out-for-a-quick-errand-and-all-I-need-is-a-diaper-some-wipes-and-my-wallet-type-bag.All four of these great bags come in Lexie Barnes original fabrics:Baja: the black, white and pink floral with the hidden skullsDutch Treat: a sharp white bag with blue and green modern flowers (tulip like in shape)Bali Hai: an aqua bag with vibrant reds, oranges and greens in a fresh floral patternVerdana: an olive green bag with orange and peach flowers So, whether you too are a skulls and crossbones type mom or more of the floral type, I highly suggest that you check these great bags out…you are bound to find at least one that you need – or I’ll make you walk the gangplank!