Sometimes I think I drive myself crazy on purpose. I saw these shoes and now I want them so badly that I’m willing to sell peeled oranges in baggies at traffic intersections. The Christian Louboutin Rhonda Dina Platform Pumps are to faint for. Price tag? A wee steep at $1025.00. I want them though. In my mind I’m justifying where I’d wear them, but owning them is 90% of the pleasure when it comes to shoes. They are so feminine and that’s my signature style when it comes to fashion. I want to look and feel like a woman in my clothes.

You know that you have a really special shoe when the back is just as fabu as the side view and the front. Group swoon shall we? Then we’ll pause and read the stats:

Lace up a ladylike look in Christian Louboutin’s bi-colored satin platform pumps. Slip them on with leather pants and a slouchy tank to bring a delicate touch to downtown separates. Heel measures approximately 140 mm / 5.5 inches with a 40 mm / 2 inch platform.

I’ve filed this post under “gimme that!” shoes I’ll probably never own and under “shoe fetish” shoes I actually do own, because, well, you just never know when a blessing will fall in your lap!

Follow @Zoya_NailPolish – and if they hit their goal of 5,000 followers by August 3rd, you’ll receive a promo code redeemable for 3 polishes: America, Ali and Paz!

Offer valid in Continental U.S. only. Offer is not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or offers. No purchase necessary.

Since launching her House of Harlow 1960 jewelry collection Nicole Richie’s designs have turned up on many of her famous friends, including Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. The Indian- and African-inspired pieces were so popular that stores started selling out as soon as her pieces hit the shelves. Now, Nicole is gearing up for her second House of Harlow 1960 collection, which will extend to clothing and shoes. Despite the success of her first line, Nicole says that her new collection is “going to be a totally different line.” While the first one was inspired by her personal vintage jewelry collection and her travels to flea markets around the world, Nicole says the next one “is focusing more on old English, equestrian and more sophisticated looks.”

When I first saw these I thought they were cuff bracelets, but they’re rings and soooo adorable! I love things that are unique and thanks to Rachel Zoe I am becoming more and more smitten with rings with big stones although I normally only do a minimal amount of jewelry and accessories. Building a serious wardrobe that you don’t want to look dated? Buy one of these! I highly recommend them.

Gunmetal-plated ring with leather cover and crystal detail. 1″ wide. Price: $70.00.

House of Harlow 1960 Black Leather & Crystal Cocktail Ring
House of Harlow 1960 White Leather & Crystal Cocktail Ring

Mmmm. More cupcakes lovely people. Trust me, you never can get too many ideas when it comes to cupcake recipes, especially when it comes to Martha Stewart. The book is $16.49. Give it as a gift to yourself or send it to someone that you know loves cupcakes!

Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes features 175 ideas and includes recipes for the cakes, frostings, and fillings, along with a trove of suggestions for tastefully decorating and embellishing them. From classics such as devil’s food cupcakes to sweet surprises like peanut butter and jelly cupcakes, and from elegant delicacies like tiny cherry-almond tea cakes to festive showstoppers topped with piped buttercream blossoms or candy clowns, each cupcake is accompanied by a gorgeous color photograph. They will inspire home bakers of all skill levels, who will find a cupcake for every occasion—birthdays, holidays, and special days such as weddings and showers—as well as for everyday fun.

Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes also includes templates and clip art for decorative flourishes, an equipment glossary, and step-by-step instructions for basic and advanced decorating techniques, plus ideas for presenting and packaging the cupcakes in Martha’s trademark style.

Martha’s Meyer Lemon Cupcakes

The mild and sweet flavor of Meyer lemon is one of Martha’s favorites; these zest-flecked cupcakes are filled with Meyer lemon curd, which peeks out from the tops. The fruit, which is actually a lemon-orange hybrid, is generally available at specialty stores in winter and early spring. If you can’t find Meyer lemons, use regular lemons instead. The recipe yields a lot of cupcakes, so you may want to consider these for a bake sale or large gathering, such as a shower or special birthday celebration.

Cupcake Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Meyer lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice (from 1 to 2 Meyer lemons)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 3/4 cups (3 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 7 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
• Lemon Curd (made with Meyer lemons; ingredients and directions below)

(Makes 42)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, zest, baking powder, and salt.

2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in cream cheese. Reduce speed to low. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three batches, beating until just combined after each.

3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

4. To finish, dust cupcakes with confectioners’ sugar. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a coupler and a medium round tip (#8) with curd. Insert tip into top of each cupcake, and squeeze some curd below top to fill the inside, then lift the tip and squeeze more curd in a pool on top. Filled cupcakes can be kept at room temperature up to 1 hour (or refrigerated a few hours more) before serving.

Lemon Curd

A high proportion of lemon juice gives curd its intense flavor. As an acid, the juice also prevents the yolks from curdling when heated (unlike when making pastry cream, which requires the extra step of tempering). You can substitute an equal amount of juice from other citrus, such as lime, grapefruit, or blood orange.

Lemon Curd Ingredients

• 2 whole eggs plus 8 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature

(Makes about 2 cups)

Directions

1. Combine whole eggs and yolks, sugar, and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Strain through a fine sieve into another bowl, and cover with parchment paper or plastic wrap, pressing it directly on surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).

GET IT HERE.

My bestie reminded me that I almost missed the sale, and if I almost missed it you know that means you almost missed it too. Here are the deets!

I discovered Casadei on Rue La La and just had to share! Rue La La is filled with the designers we love at private sale prices. It’s Members-only, and I’m inviting you! LOVE, LOVE Casadei. The leopard print wedges pictured above are to drool for. Wipe your mouth and log on. Sizes sell out fast!

This boutique is by invite only. CLICK HERE FOR YOUR INVITE.

Please note: The boutique closes at 11 am on July 29, 2009. Don’t Miss It!