Papabubble

In 2004 in Barcelona with a vision to revive the beauty of authentic hand-made candy, one of the most unique candy shops in the world came to life, calling itself Papabubble. Today Papabubble has expanded to Tokyo, Amsterdam, Seoul, Lisbon, Taipei, and right here in NYC. Each store offers something different and unique but they all share the same delightful spirit; the magic and art of sweets! Sweets and flavors are reinvented every day to awaken in you new sensations, excite your imagination and stimulate your memory. And the candy is hand-made right in front of you while you shop. It is personally mixed, poured, rolled, stretched, and shaped right before your very eyes. And these candies are nothing short of extraordinary. They are intricately decorated and molded into everything from traditional lollipops to rings and even toothbrushes, or anything else you ask them to make. Their pillow candies come in more flavors than you could possibly imagine including ones filled with actual soda pop. And the "regular" hard candies are made with artistic designs featuring pictures and text and you can even order them to say whatever you would like. And the best part is you get to witness their old-fashioned yet innovative candy-making with all of your senses: the smell of melting sugar, the mix of a beautiful array of bold colors, and the deliciously delectable taste of the sweets, as they offer samples while you shop. In short, this candy shop is a mix of art and sweetness, making it a candy experience like you've never had before!

With Love, Dreams Really Do Come True

This one's in honor of my husband and I's 1st Anniversary. Thamer, I can honestly say I love you more today than I did that blessed day one year ago. Thanks for making my dreams come true!

"This day I will marry my best friend. The one I laugh with live for and love." It's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since that forever blessed day August 1st, 2009 when my husband and I took the most sacred of vows. We've had some ups and downs and have gone through our fair share of obstacles. But our love today is so much stronger than that forever memorable day just one year ago. 

When we speak the word "love", which too often rolls off the tongue with little to no thought of the actual meaning, we should really take a deeper look at ourselves. Perhaps, unravel our heart and listen to what it's trying to tell us.

Love is the most thought about, written about, talked about, and overly analyzed emotion in the world. It is both incredibly joyous and notoriously terrifyingly painful. Love, as they say, is what makes the world go round! But, to me, love is exposing one's most inner part of the soul for just one person to see. You reveal your biggest insecurities, your most personal of flaws. You uncover the masks, the barriers to your soul, tearing down your guard piece by piece. It requires undying faith, eternal strive, and the commitment of the purest of hearts. It is said that hope sets us free. But, what I have learned is that love, not hope, truly sets us free.

And today, just one year later after fully committing my love to my husband, Thamer, I feel more blessed and lucky than I did that very day. More blessed in the fact that now I truly understand what we gave each other that day. And, in essence, what we did for ourselves. For, we set ourselves free. Free to live as we truly are and give our whole being to the one and only person who we would ever trust with our hearts: our one true love!

Papatzul

Mayan for "food for the lords," Papatzul is also the name of a traditional Mexican dish: an egg-stuffed tortilla baked in pumpkin seed sauce, as well as the most unbelievably delicious restaurant in NYC. And this restaurant located at 55 Grand St. in the fabulous Soho area serves food that is nothing short of being fit for a king. Combining the most savory flavors of Mexico City, Papatzul is by far the most incredibly delectable authentic Mexican food I have ever tasted. It is also my new favorite restaurant in all of Manhattan. The atmosphere is casual, cozy, and colorful, with an incredible collection of festive masks hanging from Mango-colored walls. The lighting sets a perfectly opulent ambiance, featuring beautifully decorated wall sconces with glowing candles and an exquisite skyline lining the top of the back wall. But the food is what will definitely keep you coming back for more! The Ceviche combines the most succulent flavors with the perfect balance of spice and tang. The Flauta's de Pollo (chicken flautas) were divine. And the Sopes con Calabaza, Hongos, y Queso, which are a combination of mushrooms, spices, and goat cheese, is the tastiest sensation your mouth has ever enjoyed and my most highly recommended dish on the menu! And for a heavenly sweet treat, you have to try the Aqua de Jamaica. It's a non-alcoholic drink from Mexico made with the dried hibiscus flower of Jamaica. It is so sweet and luscious you won't be able to have just one! But no matter what you order and try, I promise you this, this is a restaurant you'd absolutely be crazy to miss!

Rice to Riches

All desserts beware! This incredibly irresistible treat will make you re-analyze what you thought you've come to know and love as desserts all together. Rice to Riches is the hippest, trendiest place I've found in the city yet. Located in Nolita, just east of Soho on 37 Spring St., this delectable rice pudding shop specializes in a world-changing new dessert phenomenon, giving rice pudding an extreme makeover! With over 20 flavors, ranging from Sex, Drugs, and Rocky Road to Coconut Coma and Promise me Passion Fruit, this shop has scientifically combined optimum hand-picked ingredients from around the world into the most tantalizingly flavorful rice pudding you could imagine. And to top it off, they have 10 topping choices like Tender Loving Jelly, Oatmeal Coconut Crumble, or Toasted Buttery Pound Cake, to name a few, to, how should I say it, put the icing on the cake! And, even though this unique find is only here in NYC, they offer overnight delivery to anywhere in the USA. Just check out their website (www.ricetoriches.com) and click away. But, it's one of those places you almost have to see to believe. The metallic store-front with alluring bright orange and yellow lights, followed by the technologically advanced set up with lit up comic-like bubbles featuring quirky jokes and sayings along the walls makes this place an incredible find that literally jumps out at you. The tables inside lure you to them with florescent lighting and lusciously-cushioned seats and the packaging of the rice pudding is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen, featuring colorful plastic bubble bowls with snap-able lids and matching spoons. So, even if you never thought you'd set your sites on a dessert such as this, you have to try it. It's an experience for every sense and, if you have any sense at all, you don't want to miss it!

The Legacy that is Yankee Stadium

Located in the Bronx, this incredible newly built stadium is the ballpark of the New York Yankees. Home of the most successful sports franchise in history, it opened its doors April 2, 2009 replacing the previous stadium which was built back in 1923. The capacity of the new stadium including standing room is an incredible 53,325 and there's typically not an empty seat in the house. Yankee Stadium has become one of the most famous stadiums in the world, having housed the most legendary baseball players of all time, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, and today's most popular stars, Alex Rodriquez and Derek Jeter. When you walk in the gate you instantly feel like you're in the presence of greatness. And you have to wonder if some of the greats are up above watching down. Sadly, there are a couple more to add to that list, as the Yankees recently lost two of the most influential men in Yankee history. Bob Sheppard, the most famous sports announcer of all time, known as the "voice of God" at Yankee Stadium, died July 11 at age 99.  And then George Steinbrenner, principle owner and managing partner, who was known for building the Yankees into a powerhouse, died just two days later after suffering a heart attack July 13 at age 80. The loss could be felt while sitting among the fans and the two were remembered and honored. It was touching as a recording of Sheppard's voice announced Derek Jeter every time he was up to bat. And their memories will surely live on in both fans and players alike. Yankee baseball is an American pastime and a legend that will continue to grow. But we all must remember Babe Ruth's famous words: "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."

South Street Seaport (Pier 17)

The Seaport and Pier 17 have a rich history as impactful to NYC as Times Square, Central Park, and Wall Street. Featuring some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, the South Street Seaport includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th Century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sail ships, and the former Fulton Fish Market. It also has a modern twist, including a tourist mall, putt putt golf, phenomenal seafood restaurants, shopping, music, great nightlife, and the most spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge in the city. In fact, this cultural marketplace along the breath-taking Lower Manhattan waterfront is a gateway to the harbor and one of the greatest places in the city for shopping, dining, and listening to live music. The Seaport even offers free concerts all summer long, making this place the destination that literally has something for everyone. And you don't even have to break the bank! You can make it a family affair putt putting along the waterfront, a girl's night out of shopping and dancing, or a romantic evening for two enjoying great dining and an intimate walk along the pier.

Why "30" Has Become the New "20"

Having worked in the beauty industry for over a decade, I've come into contact with my fair share of women looking for the miracle-worker of everlasting youth. Today more and more women are spending thousands of dollars a year and going through a multitude of products looking for a miraculous over night make-over. And, sadly, many, not able to find this imaginary ghost of a product, are turning to botox injections and plastic surgery. Well, being a huge advocate of not physically altering our God-given bodies, I'm here to tell you that there are ways of keeping your skin youthful and glowing without such extremities or a hefty price tag.
#1)The key is moisturization and you must be consistent! It doesn't matter how expensive the cream is, just be sure you use a brand you trust and be sure it has an SPF of at least 15, but most importantly, apply it daily, both in the morning and at night. This is the most important thing you can do for your skin to avoid wrinkles. I love Estee Lauder and Lancome but for a more cost-effective brand try Neutrogena. #2)Exfoliation. Two to three times a week you need to exfoliate your skin in order to slough off dead skin so that the moisturizer can penetrate all the way down to the root of the problem. If you put cream on top of dead skin cells, which accumulate on our skin daily, it just sits on the surface and does absolutely no good. #3)NEVER go to a tanning bed, ever! If you currently do, STOP! The UVA rays put off by them are detrimental to your skin, causing it to look crapey and aging you at a much faster pace. Also, never lay out in the natural sunlight without an SPF of 15 or higher all over your body and face. And make sure the SPF isn't outdated or it loses all it's effectiveness. And the average product with SPF only has a shelf-life of about one year. #4)Lay off the caffeine which prevents your body from making good use of the vitamins and minerals in your food and leaves you looking tired. Drink plenty of water instead which helps keep skin hydrated and looking fresh. And get plenty of sleep, preferably 8 hours each night. Lack of sleep can cause the appearance of unsightly puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. #5)Stop stressing!!! Stress can cause your body to do a frenzy of things, including some pretty serious medical complications. And it can also impact how you physically look. If you have a lot of stress in your life, take up yoga or start an exercise regime that will help you release negative energy. Remember, the better you feel on the inside reflects how you look on the outside. All in all, after having just celebrated my 30th birthday myself and having followed these 5 simple steps, I feel and look better than ever. My skin looks and feels better than it did 10 years ago and I'm confident and more ready than ever to show my fresh face to the world!

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza

Featuring more than 40,000 shells exploding at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute, Macy's definitely agrees bigger is better as far as fireworks are concerned! And with fireworks reaching heights of 1,000 feet in the air, they could be seen for miles in the perfect night sky on this year's 4th of July holiday celebration. Between 24th and 50th Streets on the west side of Manhattan, Macy's displayed six barges from which fireworks were shot into the sky with the ever-so beautiful New York City skyline as it's magical backdrop. "American Harmony" was the theme of this years 2010 fireworks spectacular featuring The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and some of America's top vocal groups all perfectly aligned with the fireworks extravaganza. It was like nothing I've ever seen or heard before! It was basically every big city's fireworks display times six, literally. From the vibrant colors and designs to the most riveting soundtrack around,  New York City just keeps proving to me that it's "the" place to be.