M&M's World

At 1600 Broadway in Times Square this 25,000 square foot, three-story colorful sensory-enticer has the largest display of M&M's in the world! M&M's World features a "Mood Analyzer" with help from a few colorful characters, a 17 foot Green M&M Lady Liberty and a just as large Blue M&M Elvis-impersonator, along with over 4,000 one-of-a-kind gifts and souvenirs. One of only three stores in the nation, the other two in Las Vegas and Orlando, NYC's store is an entertainment destination the whole family will love. Introduced to the world in 1941, M&M's have been a tasty pop culture icon for almost 70 years. With adorably quirky characters, fun-loving commercials, and a variety of delectable flavors and colors M&M's have become a favorite treat for generations. And at M&M's World they come to life right before your very eyes. The walls are lined from the ceiling to the floor with clear tubes filled with varieties of colorful combinations of M&M's. The entire store is filled with bright-colored paintings and murals of America's favorite candy personalities. And the music is always jamming, making this the place to brighten up anyone's day! From collectibles you can't find anywhere else, to clothes, home decor, toys and games, to the cutest aprons and kitchen utensils, and, of course, the tasty treats themselves, this store has something for everyone. Whether you're an M&M's enthusiast or just looking for a colorful sweet, M&M's World is the place to go.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Located on the east side of 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in midtown Manhattan stands one of the most beautifully decorated historic landmarks in the United States, Saint Patrick's Cathedral. It is the largest Gothic-style Roman Catholic Cathedral in the U.S. and is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The cornerstone of the cathedral was laid on August 15, 1858 but construction was halted during the Civil War and resumed in 1865. The cathedral was completed and opened it's doors in 1879 and, today, accommodates over five and a half million visitors who come to visit and pray each year. Aside from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome which I am fortunate enough to have had the chance to visit, this is definitely the most beautiful church I've seen. The detail is exquisite, the stained glass windows inspiring, and there are marble altars for dozens of saints in which you can light candles and pray for intercessions. Whether you are Catholic or not, this is a place you definitely need to visit in the city. All are welcome and it is a place that will offer you serenity and peace in the midst of the hustle and bustle of crazy city life. We can always use a moment to be reminded of the presence of God in our lives and from the moment you step inside St. Patrick's that divine presence is undeniable.

Baked by Melissa

After a big meal most people crave something sweet but don't always have room for a full-sized dessert. But wouldn't it be great if there were a place where you could order a bite-sized treat? Well, I'm here to tell you there is and it's called Baked by Melissa. Melissa Bushell realized the temptation dessert lovers have when  walking into a bakery wafting with deliciousness. They want to try one of everything but couldn't possibly without being guilt-ridden for days. So Melissa came up with an ingenious idea: bite-sized filled cupcakes! Literally the size of a quarter, these mini cupcakes pack quite a punch of flavor. From Red Velvet to Cookies and Cream, to Peanut Butter and Jelly and Mint Chocolate Chip, these cupcakes put the "bang" in "bang for your buck". At just $1 each, they fulfill all of your cravings, minus the guilt. There are just two locations here in the city, one in Soho and a new one just opened at Union Square. They offer a variety of 10 permanent flavors and 1 special edition monthly flavor. This months flavor is Sundae--imagine hot fudge sundae meets cupcake. But my favorite flavor of them all is the Tie-Dye, as pictured in the center above. It tickles your taste buds with a fist-full of flavors packed into one bite-sized delight!

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!