“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.
It’s not warm when she’s away.
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And she’s always gone too long
anytime she goes away.

Wonder this time where she’s gone,
Wonder if she’s gone to stay
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And this house just ain’t no home
anytime she goes away.”

BILL WITHERS

a while back i shared the cover of
….MODELE WEDDINGS….
i am now so thrilled to share the full spread that
just came out in this new wedding magazine….xoxo

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photo shoot credits:

Gowns & Shoes by DELPHINE MANIVET
Available @ THE LOVELY BRIDE
Location: THE UKRANIAN INSTITUTE NYC
Styling: Jacqueline Weppner @ MERCI NEW YORK
Flowers: Kathleen Hyppolite @ KAT FLOWER
Hair: Michelle Lo Conte @ PINK COMB SALON
Makeup: Lauren Iavarone @ EXPERT MAKEUP ARTISTRY

half way through the week…seems
like a celebration is in order….xoxo

true confession = the bachelorette is my guilty pleasure….

now, i never thought i would publicly admit that i am rather
hooked on the show….but this episode is a little different….

West (who was voted off the show last night) is a very close friend of
my brother’s…he was in fact the best man at my brother’s wedding…

he is an absolute southern gentleman…funny & easy going…i really
appreciated he willingness to hold a basket of flowers or the wedding
bands for me…a job not all grooms-men are so willing to perform…

West tragically lost his wife at a very young age…i remember when my
brother had called and told me what had happened, my brain could not
quite imagine the incredible sadness & loss he was going through….

upon leaving the show last night West said…

“You can’t replace someone that you really loved and was taken from you.
That’s not what I was trying to do. I’m trying to move on. Life is love. If you don’t
have it, you could be happy on so many levels, but it’s so much more satisfying
deeper if you have someone to share it with. Hopefully one day, I’ll find it.”

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wishing West all the best in everything…xoxo

friendship is a wonderful thing…xoxo

GRACE CONNELL DESIGNS

if i could only write this beautifully,
then i think my life would be complete…
GRACE CONNEL DESIGNS
is absolutely amazing…xoxo

yup…i have a serious sweet tooth…so do my little ones…every year between august 6th & september 6th we have four birthdays in our house…that’s right 4 out of 5 of us were born during that one month period…so every year we over indulge our collective sweet teeth during that time…i have begun to plan for the chocolate mayhem that is about to come…that’s right i am planning what cakes & sweets i will make for each celebration…as you probably know, i also insist on photographing these adventures in sweets before anyone can enjoy them…so here is a recipe for one of my favorite ever chocolate cakes…it’s really almost like fudge…a little messy & sure to satisfy any sweet tooth…..

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FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

ingredients

4 ounces bitter sweet chocolate
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
(plus a little more for sprinkling)

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Preheat oven to 375°F & butter an 8-inch round baking pan.
Line bottom with a round of wax paper.

Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust.

Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes & invert onto a serving plate.

Dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve.
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your sweet tooth is gonna love you…xoxo

& hugs…xoxo

for peace…xoxo

xoxo