pink rickshaw

insta-PR

2013-04-19T03:47:24-05:00

"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?" -Albert Einstein

Folks, it goes without saying that it has been a tough week around the nation. (Just a reminder, here are ways to help both Boston and West.) When things in the world are sad and gloomy, I sometimes escape to my Instagram and remind myself of all the very very small things that can bring some cheer. Albeit some of the items are trivial but it's about appreciating these small things that have unexpectedly turned that space for me (and others) into a little happy journal. What little things are making you happy today? Here's mine:

1. Spring inspired ombre cakes in the Society Bakery window. Spotted them when I was picking up these guys.
2. Triangles have always been my favorite polygon so I was excited when I found this necklace at Francesca's.
3. Celebrating Earth Day a little early with my first terrarium. I don't have the best track record with succulents but hopefully this time we have a winner. Learn how to make your own terrarium here and here.
4. Did you know the grapefruit was first described in 1750 as the "forbidden fruit"? In Texas, it is peak forbidden fruit season so, it's fitting that my favorite beverage is Trader Joe's refreshing Rio Red Grapefruit juice. (Striped paper straws are from Paper Source)
5. After months of remodeling, we finally have a functional kitchen. There are still some updates to be made, but I'm pretty happy with the results so far. If you're interested in the materials and what the "before" looked like (can we say hello 1998?), it will all be in an upcoming post.
6. Having a functional kitchen means being able to eat something that didn't come out of a microwave (that's been in my living room!) or a takeout box. Finally fired up the stove to make some Thai veggie green curry (similar recipe here).

image source: @pinkrickshaw

-SD

the well dressed man

2013-04-12T18:40:44-05:00

And as long as I've got my suit and tie
I'mma leave it on the floor tonight
And you got fixed up to the nines
Let me show you a few things
-Suit and Tie, Justin Timberlake

I do not keep up with men's fashion as much as I should but I was intrigued to read this article in the New York Times blog last month about the rise of the well dressed man. "Designer fashion is no longer just for gay men and Europeans. Welcome to the age of sartorial enlightenment, in which the average male has shed schlumpiness for style," writes Guy Trebay. He goes on to say, "Thus the frumpy Dockers and the men’s version of mom jeans and the oversize shirts billowing like jibs have been bagged up and shipped to Goodwill. Even dot-com geeks have slowly begun moving away from the hoodies and sneakers, knit-hat-and-sweatshirt Smurf look. In Silicon Valley these days, the stealth signifier of status is that throwback to the glory days of haberdashery: brightly patterned socks."

I have to say I agree. Observing friends and even a few minutes of people watching around the city and you'll see your average dude has embraced designer duds and a reasonable fit for his clothes. Hopefully gone are the days where being a manly man meant not caring about your garments. Here are a few chic (but classic) picks to add to any well dressed lad's closet.

Go custom
Most men are quickly learning how key design and fit are to looking debonair. That probably contributes to the popularity of men's online custom clothing stores. Some of the best sites are Blank Label, Proper Cloth and Indochino (Indochino's checkered shirt is pictured above). Most of the sites have shirts in the $100-$200 range and the process is fairly easy (usually there are simple instructions on how to take your measurement or you have the option to just use your known dress shirt size) with numerous combinations for fabric, collar and cuff style and fit.

Murse
Step one in achieving well dressed status is ditching that company issued laptop bag. Replace it instead with something classic (and not too flashy) like this J.Crew Billykirk Schoolboy Satchel.

All Tied Up
Ties don' t have to be just if you work on Wall Street or as a basketball coach, a casual tie is a nice way to make a statement and in a lighter color almost seems scholarly. This wool tie from Pierrepont Hicks is a great seasonal transition piece. Remember to also keep that tie accessorized and neat with a tie clip like the one pictured above from J.Crew.

Boy Beauty
A well dressed man, no doubt is also well groomed (which means having good skin and hair products). As a Birchbox addict, I was excited to see the company expanded with a men's version. I know my hubby has to get a little jealous when I get my monthly box of goodies. Now he can get his own filled with manly grooming and lifestyle products. The subscription is a little bit more expensive than the women's beauty version ($20 for the men's box versus the $10 for the gals) but the products also seem a little bit more substantial. For example, April's box includes fun socks, a portable wood speaker, lip balm and cologne. At a minimum, gifting your guy a subscription means he'll always have travel products on hand.

Wooden Sunnies
No look is complete without some cool shades, right? Eyewear made from eco-friendly materials like sustainable wood are all the rage. To keep it on trend but classic, these Proof wood sunglasses have a fun light look but are balanced with a traditional shape.

image source: indochino.com, jcrew.com, pierreponthicks.com, birchbox.com, iwantproof.com

-SD

bites: bread pudding whoopie pies

2013-04-09T02:34:12-05:00

"If you do your fair day's work, you are certain to get your fair day's wage, in praise or pudding, whatever happens to suit your taste."-Alexander Smith

Sometimes when life is moving fast, you just crave something traditional, simple and comforting. For me, that is some good old fashioned bread pudding for dessert. Historically, bread pudding has very humble beginnings as a simple way to utilize stale bread but over the years has evolved into many gourmet variations. (Most of you know bread pudding as a well-known Southern dessert but forms of it are also popular in Latin, German and British cuisine.) One of the most delightful and creative takes on bread pudding has to be Dallas' Society Bakery's bread pudding whoopie pies. It's a modern (and cute) update to a traditional favorite and the best part is that it is perfectly packaged for comfort on-the-go.

Society Bakery 's cake is moist and flavorful and the perfect complement to their rum and vanilla bean filling. As far as I know , the handheld dessert is unique to the Dallas bakery but if you are not in the area, do not despair. Here is a similar recipe inspired by the treat for your bread pudding fix.

image source: SD

-SD

holi moly

2013-03-27T20:30:11-05:00

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ” -Oscar Wilde

Today marks the Indian/Hindu spring festival of Holi. Holi has to be hands-down, one of my favorite holidays ever. It's messy, crazy and you get to throw colored powder. Can you think of anything better? The festival celebrates the beginning of spring by paying homage to the colors of the season while saying goodbye to the bleakness of winter. Although it is mainly a fun and festive (and often wild) party, the celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. In addition to welcoming the start of spring, the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil because of the death of the evil demon Holika and is also often associated with the Hindu god Krishna.

If you're not familiar with Holi, the popular festival is marked with people throwing colored pigment at each other. You show up to a Holi festival in the whitest garments you can find to get doused in color by friends and family. The holiday has become an iconic symbol of Indian culture. Sadly, I won't be throwing any brighly hued powder today so I thought I could pay tribute to the colorful occasion virtually. Here are a few ways to get the Holi experience today or any time of the year.

DIY like it's Holi
I was so excited to see this awesome DIY tutorial on how to make Holi inspired posters on one of my favorite blogs, Design*Sponge. To make your own poster, colored pigments can be purchased on Amazon as D*S suggests but you can also purchase them at many local Indian grocery stores. It is a fun and creative way to make your own colorful and gorgeous art pieces.

Run like it's Holi
Color runs have become extremely popular all over the US. There is one in Dallas next weekend (no joke about the popularity as sadly it sold out very quickly. The race's website does tease another one in the fall). The run is a 5K where you get doused with a new color every kilometer you run. I can't think of a more fun 5K. The Color Run has upcoming dates in April and May in numerous cities including Austin, Orange County and Baton Rouge.

Sing (and dance) like it's Holi
Holi makes its way into most Bollywood movies but there's nothing more famous than this song. To get more of your color throwing music fix, check out this dramatic Linkin Park video inspired by Holi.

image sources: top collage (an Indian boy celebrates today in Mumbai via usnews.com taken by Rajanish Kakade/AP, Holi powder unknown photo credit and a Holi celebration in Berlin last year taken by Oliver Lang/DAPD), DIY poster: designsponge.com; thecolorun.com

-SD

insta-PR

2013-03-23T14:15:24-05:00

"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."-Lily Pulitzer

Although it's chilly, overcast and slightly gloomy here in Dallas (and far worse around the country), it is still exciting that it is the first week of spring. Here's to dreams of warmer temperatures, sunshine and fun spring colors. A few things that are getting me excited for the new season are...

1. Pretty pink tulips
2. Fun coral Kendra Scott earrings from my husband..perfect for any spring outfit
3. Secretly happy the neon trend is not over yet. This neon yellow belt from Madewell adds the perfect pop of color (bonus: it's on sale. I can't find the yellow one online anymore but there are several glossy colors in store). I plan on wearing it with everything.
4. Anthropologie hardware like these vintage style mother-of-pearl knobs and silvered mirror knobs that will add some glam and spring freshness to doors and cabinets
5. Spotted this fabby cas Spring outfit in the Artizia window and plan on shamelessly copying it.
6. Spring head gear: Pretty pastel and glitter hair ties from a quick Anthropologie run and Tortoise shell Ray-Ban Wayfarers courtesy of my brother.

image source: @pinkrickshaw

-SD

4 minutes: the girl effect

2013-03-08T17:18:01-06:00

"It's not what you call me, but what I answer to."-African proverb

Today marks the annual celebration of International Women's Day. It is a great time to reflect on the achievements women have made along with the numerous challenges women continue to face on a daily basis. I received a link to the video above a while ago and thought it was fitting to post it today. It's a powerful reminder of how empowering a girl can be the key to changing the world. Your four minutes to save the world is easy today: take three minutes to watch the video above, 45 seconds to read an article on The Girl Effect site like how the world is uniting to end gender based violence and 15 seconds to make a difference by pledging your support demanding global action. Happy International Women's Day.

video source: girleffect.org

-SD

bites: thai pastries and desserts

2013-03-01T18:43:04-06:00

"Just think of all the women on the Titanic who said, 'No, thank you,' to dessert that night. And for what!" -Erma Bombeck

One of my all time favorite desserts (as seen here) is classic Thai coconut milk sticky rice and mangoes (Khao Neeo Mamuang). In my book, it is not only a must after a Thai meal but sometimes the main reason to even get Thai food. But I'm usually so fixated on getting this sweet treat, I had no idea how many other delicious Thai desserts and pastries I was missing out. This all changed after an eye-opening experience visiting Bhan Kanom Thai in Los Angeles. The unassuming yet famous (you may have seen Anthony Bourdain stop by on No Reservations) small shop in the city's Thai Town is filled with delightful sweet and savory treats that has made me even more fond of Thai cuisine.

While I wanted to try everything, I limited myself to some of the best sellers including kanok krok (fried coconut pudding) which is a common Thai street snack. Full of coconut flavor, it is a rich, custardy mini-cake that I craved long after my package was done. Mud Ta is wrapped sticky rice with taro (they also have it with banana). It's grilled which gives it an unique flavor. The bakery is famous for its "crispy sweet taco" or crispy crepe like creations that comes in a sweet and savory variety. The sweet has an interesting floral taste and the best part is getting them fresh off the griddle where they are prepared in front of you.

image source: SD

-SD