marie claire 2011 august Olivia Wilde

This is the best stuff I gleaned from this issue.

What tennis star Maria Sharapova keeps in her carry-on

• Cole Hahn Ballet Flats
• Stella McCartney roll-on perfume
• Kanebo Sensai sunscreen SPF 30
• Sharpie for signing autographs

Horoscope says that I will be hooked on a new fitness regimen.
Samara O’Shea’s essay on her condition, limerence.
There is a such a thing called sex headache. Happens pre-orgasm. Solution: pop an aspirin before sex or wear socks to bed.
Study found that looking at art gives people a physiological thrill in the same way that gazing at someone you areal attracted to. ( I wonder if the reaction is the same while looking at bad art.)
Sexsomnia exists.
Bone marrow matching essay
Eat bamboo shoots
Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil
Makeup for ladies with Jet-Black hair : shades of berry and violet
Burt’s Bees Milk and Shea Butter body wash.
Victoria’s Secret red pencil skirt
Coach watches in bright colors
Plum and bright yellow
Olivia Wilde
Music: Que Que by Dillon Francis and Diplo, The Look Metronomy
Lisa Kudrow’s web series, Web Therapy
An ad for Manilla.com
New book, I Killed Scheherazade by Joumana Haddad
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair
Where to buy button down shirts for plus-sized women: Land’s End, Marina Rinaldi, Lauren by Ralph Lauren , Talbots
Alexis Bittar jewelry
Look: flirty dress with parka
White sunglasses for fall
Bees are the new owls.
Varsity Jackets

I picked up a copy of the July 2011 issue of Glamour which has Blake Lively on the cover.   I used Evernote app on my phone to take notes while on a long subway ride last weekend. These are my notes.

Polka dots
Arm wrestling/thumb war for flirting.
Horoscope says network
Southern recipes inspired by the Help.
Funny celebrity prophecy -Danzy Senna
What is my happy place?  Rocking chair on a porch on MV.
Get funky manicure.
Chakras
Remember the last time I felt joy.
Nair Roll-on Wax Milk and Honey
Men’s chests are sensitive.
Take B-12 if not getting enough protein.
Eat more veggies.
No sulfate shampoo
Hard Candy Lash Tinsel
Milani baked eyeshadow
H2o plus night oasis sea sphere
put deodorant on feet, groin or under breasts
Shave at end of shower.
Colorful bangles
JC Penney for shorts
Artist Sonia Delaunay inspired fashion designers.

I played Bingo last Saturday at Le Poisson Rouge. It was fun. I highly recommend it.

Three sites I am loving right now:

1. Fab. It is like Gilt Groupe for design, furniture and home accessories. It is curated very well. How did they get that domain name?

2. Speaking of Gilt, I so so so love Gilt Taste. The layout, the pictures, and the gourmet content is fantastic. Gilt Taste is what Gourmet Live should have been.

3. Did you know you can recycle your flip flops? You can if you check out UniquEco.

Yesterday I went to the famous French Culinary Institute for a meeting. I am happy to say that I am volunteering to be on the social media/local pr committee for next year’s IACP conference. The IACP is the International Association of Culinary Professionals and I am honored to be assisting with next national conference which will be in New York City from March 29-April 2. If you have an idea for a panel topic, you can submit an idea.

After the meeting  I got a brief tour of the French Culinary Institute. Instead of a “walk of fame” with footprints there is a wall with the hand prints of the most talented chefs in the world.

Good news! My site got a little makeover thanks to ArtDeal Designs.

What’s on deck?
July 9: Philadelphia Vendy Awards
July 13 through July 17: I will be in Montreal on vacation.
July 18: Cupcake Meetup at Brooklyn Charm in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Last Saturday was the second annual TECHmunch NYC. It was so amazing with the space, the food sponsors and the panels and presentations. Everyone who attended left with the full belly and full of ideas of how to make their blog bigger and better. Thanks to Babette of Bakespace.

Here are some of the blog posts recapping the event:

Danielle Gould from Food And Tech Connect,  Jackie Gordon of The Diva That Ate New York, Shoshi of Modern Courtesan, Constance Koral of  Two Grape Nuts,  Chelsea Grant of  The Food Buff,  Tricia Okin of PapercutNY and Chobani.

Thanks to all the sponsors at TECHmunch NYC 2011.

• Chobani Yogurt (also smoothies and dips) – @chobani
• KitchenAid – @kitchenaidusa
• The Harvard Common Press – @hcpdishes
• Driscoll’s – @driscollsberry
• Four Roses Bourbon – @4rosesbourbon
• Wichcraft -  @wichcraft
• Brooklyn Brewery  – @brooklynbrewery
• Brooklyn Gin – @brooklyngin
• Robicellis – @robicellis
• Jacques Torres Chocolates – @jacquestorres
• Tasty Morsels Bakery – @tasty_morsels
• Danny Macaroons – @dannymacaroons

Also thanks to Brian Quinn for bartending and to all the volunteers for helping out during to make it a success. See you next year!

I am co-producing three events this month.

June 11: I am so happy to co-produce the second annual NYC TECHmunch. TECHmunch is a food blogger conference where we talk about what’s new in food and tech, making videos, building your brand, SEO optimization and working with brands.
Jacques Torres will be speaking as well. Astor Center. Register here.

June 16: Bloggers Delight. Monique Valeris of Decor Musings and I have created a fun mixer for lifestyle bloggers. It will be at Linger Cafe 553 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Free. Register.

June 18: The Fourth Annual Cupcake Picnic at Central Park. Rain or shine. Bring cupcakes and picnic gear.

I never took a women’s studies class in college. Also, I didn’t know what first, second or third wave feminism was until after moving to New York City where I met many writers and such who did. In 2004, I came up with the idea of starting an all-female stand-up comedy show after asking a friend if one already exists. I had no experience in producing a show, nor was I a comedian. I did know how to organize events, so I just did it.  I first started with securing a venue, then scouted comics, and then came up with a name for the show. In May of 2004, Chicks and Giggles was born.  The show ran for nearly four years and got press mentions in The New Yorker, The New York Times and BUST magazine.  The one thing about running Chicks and Giggles is that it made me into a feminist.  In promoting my show, I found myself constantly defending and/or winning over some people who had  preconceived notions about women comedians.  Not every female comic is going to talk about their periods, ex-boyfriends or their mom. The diversity and talent of women who performed at Chicks and Giggles was amazing. The show was great, but it got to be exhausting.

Flash forward to May 2011- there has been a strong campaign for every woman breathing to go see “Bridesmaids” on its opening weekend as if their life depended on it. I am all for a good comedy and will go see “Bridemaids” soon, but the push of the movie via social media was so heavy handed with promotions with Yahoo Shine, Groupon and Living Social.  I actually don’t mind the social media targeting in as much that there was an undercurrent of FOX News-like fearmongering.  It implied women have to go see “Bridesmaids” or there will NEVER be another comedy starring women ever again. IMHO, going to see “Bridesmaids” was not a feminist act like participating in a Slutwalk. “Bridesmaids” is a major Hollywood movie, and the box office receipts over the weekend ($24 M) prove that Kristen Wiig and company will be alright. Going on stage to tell a funny story,  doing an open mic, producing a one-woman show or just laughing as loudly without worry are better ways to support women in comedy.

Yesterday, I attended Fashion140 conference at Alice Tully Hall. What drew me to the conference was the location-Lincoln Center and the subject matter-fashion.  I am not a fashion blogger but I love clothes and I love to shop.  Single topic conferences can be really enlightening because speakers can hone in on their expertise without explaining the basics. However, this was not the case for all the speakers at Fashion140.  Given that the most in the audience were experienced in blogging and social media, it is boring to tell people how to tweet, use Facebook or Tumblr.  Some speakers were too pitchy by doing little more than reciting their bio and explaining how their site works.  I would have liked to hear more examples of “social media serendipity”, advanced social media advice and what is coming next.   The excitement came from engaging speakers like Tom Guarriello, Yuli Ziv, Joe Zee, Robert Verdi, Josh Kilmer Purcell, Brent Ridge and Carole Rodie. I think conferences should also encourage speakers do presentations that more like Pecha Kucha or Ignite so that the attendees remember them which makes seek them out online later.  One of the best thing about going conferences is seeing old friends like Sarah and Lauren.

Some sites you may want to check out: HauteLook, Where To Get It, Lyst

A few days ago, someone recognized me from Cupcakes Take The Cake and said, “You do that cupcake blog; why aren’t you famous yet?!”  In some ways I am famous. Some of the fans of the blog ask to take photos with me. Some people have hugged me and told me that Cupcakes Take The Cake brings a little happiness to their life daily.  I feel good when I hear that but I don’t feel famous. I am not sure if Cupcakes Take The Cake will ever make me famous, and that’s fine.  I appreciate that it adds to my income and that affords me access to food events and meeting cool people in the food industry.  Is there pressure to be a top blogger when you didn’t initially set out to be?  I don’t feel it.  I am not competitive with other bloggers.  I am generous. I give people blogging and social media advice because I want them to do well.  Success breeds success. Keep on keepin’ on.

Natural Gourmet Insitute invited me to one of their Friday night dinners. In celebration of Earth Month, a percentage of the proceeds benefited Green Guerillas.  Chef Jay Weinstein planned a delicious and healthy three course meal.  The Natural Gourmet Institute has lots of public classes including a vegan cupcake baking class.

Asparagus Salad with Grain Mustard Vinaigrette and Spring Greens.

Chickpea Spinach Croquette over Parsnip Puree with Baby Carrots and Foraged Ramps and Mushrooms.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Cinnamon-Coconut Ice Cream and Fresh Mint

Buy Tickets today for the Vendy Awards which will be Saturday, September 24. I am on the social media committee for the Vendys, I am managing the Facebook Page for the Vendys. Please “like” Vendy Awards, and send tips of delicious street food from all over the city.