French Macaroons at Starbucks!!! Limited Time Only!!

Open package of Starbuck's French Macaroonsdifferent flavored macaroonsme at Laduree 2 yrs ago

During my last visit to Paris, I was in a vehicle and passed by a shop with a line a folks outside all carrying small mint green bags. The shop's windows were stacked with pastel colored baroque like boxes and I knew something edible was being featured as an art form inside. I made a mental note to return that spot on my free time to see what all the fuss was about.

The shop turned out to be LADUREE a very well known bakery and cafe/ Patiserrie. In fact, Laduree was the shop commissioned to make the cakes for Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film. On that Parisian trip I fell in love with macaroons.

When I returned to the US I tried to get macaroons from Paris here and it was futile. Laduree has opened some shops in other global cities and there were plans to open one in NY, but that still hasn't come to fruition. For my fortieth birthday I discovered that there are places in our east coast area that make delicious french style macaroons like Dean & Deluca and my new favorite bakery La Promenade here in Tenafly, New Jersey (they placed macaroons on my BDAy cake for me!!)

Package is $9.99 for 12 French Macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc

So yesterday I was on line at Starbucks (to get myself my fave seasonal Caramel Brulee Latte) and lo and behold sitting in the refrigerated counter section were four boxes of French Macaroons! For a box of 12 macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc you'll pay $9.99. They are slightly smaller than typical French macaroons but you'll get 2 of 6 flavors -Chocolate, Coffee,Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Lemon.

BUT DON"T GET TOO EXCITED rumor has it that these babes will only be around from Dec. 13th - Dec. 24th - So GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!! They make an awesome gift too!

-Amarettogirl

Mai Sweet Shop Treats Return - Craft Fair '09!

There is a small annual faculty craft fair at the

Dwight Englewood School: 315 east palisade avenue,englewood NJ 07631 on Sunday December from 2-5pm

that I participate in - if you're around swing by and get some one of a kind, hand-made gifts! Some of my new Mai Sweetshop line products for Craft Fair '09New Mai Sweetshop Lipgloss!The return of the hot-cocoa ring!The Classic CupcakeThese rings were so popular last year they sold out in the first hour and half!

Tis year I also made some ZAKKA style cases, that I like to call the Bunny Pouch! Direct from one of my favorite craft books Zakka Sewing comes this bunny case pattern. I made 15 different fabric styles. Their tales are the closed sipper pull, they fit pencils and pens, sewing supplies, your glasses, etc.,

Zakka Style Bunny Pouches by m.diazOne of my faves...might keep this one...more Bunny Pouch styles

So if you're around Bergen County NJ -stop by! If not,

NO WORRIES you can always contact me via this site or check out my ETSY shop for pieces your interested in!!

- Amarettogirl

The National Assoc. of Indep. Schools People of Color Conference

This was my 7th year attending the People of Color Conference and the fifth time I have presented at the conference. Every year the conference is at a different city, I've been to Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans with the conference. Last year we exceeded 3,000 participants since the conference also runs along side of the Student Diversity Leadership conference for highschool students. This year the conference was in Denver Colorado. My presentation was enttled: From Hottentot to Barbie: Dismantling the beauty Standard for Girls of Color. Powerpoint Title Screen by M.Diaz>

The presentation was on the following:

In an attempt to teach wholeness, inner strength, and fortitude, we must ask: How do young women of color internalize the beauty standard of our society? This presentation will demystify the roots and contradictions that affect the self-esteem of young women of color. Partcipants will look at the historical roots and transforming standards of body image, cosmetics, and beauty via power point. They will also see a short movie of young women of coor dissecting the role of self-esteem at their schools and in their lives. This presentation is meant to encourage educators to use new forms of teaching that include character development and interdisciplinary activities. We will seek to empower educators to broaden, the very standards by which we instruct and dissemniate knowledge in and outside the classroom.