For The Love Of Chocolate (Heck Yeah!)

I learned today (while reading the Whole Foods Market Holiday Magazine) that the Hershey's Kiss came to be in the year 1907. This blew my mind apart. I never thought of these perfect little morsels of deliciousness as an antique sort of thing. I always thought they were more of a 1950s thing, in fact.

I also learned that the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (my favorite unassuming candy) came to be in 1928 by H. B. Reese himself.

While this Whole Foods Holiday Magazine is not the topic of this post, it's well worth a look. "For the Love of Chocolate": the article that bestowed upon me so many great bits of chocolate trivia, today...on this (our very first), very cold day in New England. Here, here!!!

P.S. After proof reading this post I noticed no typos or missed grammar, but I did notice that it's written in a very old fashioned-ish, proper-ish sort of tone. Not sure where that came from, but it sort cracks me up.

Snow People Cookies On Etsy

I am totally loving these adorable snow people cookies handmade from scratch by Debra Buker of Etsy shop Yummy Delicious Cookies. The cookies themselves are a special cream cheese/sugar recipe (yum!) and they're decorated with royal icing.

I love the details of these little snow people. The scarves. The ties. The hats. Perfectly wintery and just in time for Christmas!

Debra is an artist, designer, and baker (of course!) Thank you Debra for creating such fun and festive confectionary delights!

To see more deliciousness visit the Yummy Delicious Cookies shop on Etsy!

Happy Thanksgiving From Fussy Gussy

I love this pilgrim pinup girl! She's such a classic.

I hope that you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! My sister is making cheesecake. Yum.

Ice Cream On Etsy!!!

I'm getting more and more into Etsy treasuries these days. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Etsy vernacular, a "treasury" is group of items curated on a theme or color by a member of the Etsy community. This holiday season I've really enjoyed searching the treasuries for things like "gingerbread" or "peppermint swirl". I'm loving it. And I'm finding lots of new shops along the way!

Today, my treasury find is this ice cream themed treasury put together so perfectly by Sarah from Morebees. I love the pastel colors and general yumminess. I also love how many different kinds of goodies there are. There's an ice cream cone lamp (for example) next to a deliciously kitschy vintage ice cream advertisement. Love it!!!

Thank you Sarah for creating such a uniquely sweet treasury!

Another Yummy Christmas Soap On Etsy

I just had to write about this super delicious Christmas cookie soap that I found today on Etsy. Doesn't it look good enough to eat!?! Those sprinkles, the "buttercream frosting"!?! (I use quotes because it's soap!) And the scent of this perfect-for-the-holidays soap: fresh baked sugar cookies! Yum. Super Yum.

I will most certainly be shopping for my family and friends at Lippicott Soap Co this holiday season. Love their soaps!

Candy Canes + Peppermint On Etsy

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Christmas! And I started my season a week ago by making my Christmas mix and hanging my Christmas tinsel (I make this distinction because I also have Halloween tinsel).

But you know the Christmas season has really begun when you start to hear Christmas music on your local oldies station. Or at the mall. When Williams-Sonoma starts playing Bing Crosby you know it's official. Or better yet, Judy Garland's deliciously heart breaking rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", one my personal faves.

One of my other favorite things about this time of year are all of the candy canes and peppermint! I also love red and white, which of course make pink (my all time favorite color). And so, I thought I'd peruse Etsy (my home away from home) for some red and white and peppermint goodies. I found lots of goodies, but these two really make me happy.

The first (top photo) is a very special candy cane soap from Etsy shop Lippincott Soap Co, a long time fave of mine. I ordered a bar of this soap last year and I am definitely going back for more. It's high quality, handmade soap with beautiful packaging. It also looks exactly like a swirl of candy cane! But for me, the scent is the real zinger. Fresh but sweet, and super cozy and Christmasy.

The second is a collection of highly detailed, simple yet adorable yet charming yet beautiful (and on and on!) peppermint candy vintage buttons from Etsy shop Andie's Specialty Sweets. I read their featured seller interview not too long ago and was so inspired and impressed by their confectionary delights. It's apparent that a lot of love and care goes into each confection, and each and every detail.

Stay tuned for more Christmas features throughout the month, and into December of course. And enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookie Deliciousness

Does it get any yummier than this!?! These peanut butter sandwich cookies are made using organic peanut butter and spices, and are turned into sandwich cookie perfection using a peanut butter and sea salt filling. Yum. Double Yum. And perfect for the holidays!

Check out these cookies and more at Whimsy & Spice, one of my favorite shops on Etsy!

I ♥ LOVE Cupcakes + Cakes

Isn't this shop window the greatest!?! While exploring the London neighborhood of Chelsea, I found this shop aptly called LOVE, and fell in LOVE with their extravagant cakes and cupcakes. Oh the magic that a select few can do with cake and frosting! I especially like the High School Musical cake. Very cute. Their cakes are tasty too! I left the shop with four of their mini cupcakes in tow. Yummy!!!

If you find yourself in London, and walking the King's Road in Chelsea, definitely pop into this kitschy gem of a cake shop.