WHO SAYS FASHION FOLKS DON'T EAT...

We don't know if it's her Southern upbringing or if it was lesson's in her mother's kitchen but either way, designer Lela Rose is one heck of a great cook! We are crazy obsessed with anything that comes out of this lady's kitchen. Last night we were introduced to her homemade biscotti. Let's just say we wasted no time asking how we could make this in our own home.

In a large bowl...
- Put 2 Cups of Sugar
- Zest 3 Lemons over the sugar and knead with hands to combine
- Add 2 3/4 Cup White Flour and 1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour plus 1 heaping tablespoon Baking Powder

Mix with a fork to combine all

Make a well in the center of the flour/sugar mix
-Crack 4 Eggs into the center
- Fold Flour onto Eggs with hands and combine all
You must knead by hand until the mix is all combined

Preheat the oven to 325
-Put wax paper onto 2 cookie sheets and split the dough into 2 parts (one on each)
- Press dough out evenly to almost edge of cookie sheet
- Press lots (no, we mean LOTS) of raw almonds into every little space of dough

Bake for 12 minutes
Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes
Put back on cookie sheet (without wax paper) on side (so cut side faces up)
Rebake for 10-12 minutes

*Biscotti are best when NOT overcooked and have time to harden, which is about 2 hours after baking and will last for days.. well, assuming you don't eat them all... which we always do.

Rumor has it Lela sells her homemade ice cream from her living room window each summer. You know as the temps keep creeping up we're going to be asking for that recipe too!

-AK

A-LIST CELEBS PARTNER WITH BOCHIC TO BENEFIT CHARITY: WATER

We love to watch a good red carpet- the glitz, the glam and sometimes even the occasional fashion faux-pas. But this year's flash bulb processions have been especially impressive with Bochic's unique charity initiative.

With the help of Bochic baubles some serious Hollywood favorites are turning their red carpet appearances into water. Bochic will be auctioning pieces worn by celebrities at all red carpet events during 2010 for the benefit of charity: water. Actors Sandra Bullock, Rachel McAdams, Jennifer Carpenter and Ashley Greene each chose to partner with Bochic to support this philanthropic endeavor.

The auction will take place at the acclaimed auctioneers and appraisers Doyle New York on Wednesday, April 21. The celeb-donned Bochic pieces will be auctioned alongside Antique, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Retro and Modern era pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, David Webb and Tiffany & Co. Proceeds raised from the auction of Bochic will be donated to charity: water specifically to fund their efforts to provide clean water solutions on the ground in Haiti.

A GIANT CUPCAKE FIT FOR THE KRUPP CAKES

We just adore our interns... especially when they bake us up a tasty treat like this.

SKETCHING IN THE SUN

We've come back to the office yesterday and today kicking and screaming. Who can blame us? With this amazing weather outside and the sun, sun, sun... we're definitely wanting another Sunday. Around the Krupp-dom, the start of spring is celebrated only after the official opening day at our favorite homemade Italian ice and ice cream stand, Uncle Louie G. Alas, Sunday was an absolute dream.

With our Bubbly Bubble Gum Italian ice in hand, we headed out for some serious spring shoe shopping. We're ready to bare some pale skin, well on our feet of course, and these brushed gold metallic Vince Camuto Rito gladiator sandals are definitely going to hit the spot.

We love that Mr. Vince Camuto is asking all aspiring designers to submit a sketch of their dream shoe for a chance to get it produced and sold in the fall 2010 collection! Posted on the Vince Camuto Web site, visitors will vote on which designs they like best with the top 10 voted designs judged by designer Vince Camuto and President Louise Camuto along with an editor from Lucky. The best shoe design will then be highlighted in the September issue of Lucky and the designer wins a trip to New York City to meet Vince himself!

So grab your sketch pads cupcakes, and let's head to the park to sketch in the sun!

SNOWY DAY ACTIVITY #ONE

It's a serious blizzard today in the Krupp-dom and half our Krupp Cakes got caught in the snow.

It's the kind of day you order from your favorite Chinese restaurant, like Suzie's and curl up in your favorite Inhabit sweater.

Catch their semi-annual cashmere sale today for up to 70% off your favorite cashmere styles, like the cropped cardigan for only $88.

BOOKMARK & READ TWICE... DR.'S ORDERS

Well let's just be honest, Krupp Cakes. We've been majorly kind of crazed with New York Fashion Week about one minute away and are currently suffering from a bit of an RSVP-induced fever. You know the signs... an online bookmark to the Mooncakes order form, complete email conversations at 1 a.m. and living in a constant rotation of your favorite five Inhabit sweaters. Don't say you aren't going through the same thing, right?

The only cure, well besides the Mooncakes' Miso-Glazed Salmon plate, are these amazing photos and completely snowy day necessary story shared by Aloha Rag New York's Vicen Akina of a recent trip he took back home to Hawai'i.

Bookmark and read twice as soon as the fever sets in - Doctor's orders.

Getting out of the city is always great, especially when it's going home to Hawai'i; nothing but white sand, clear water and great food awaits. It's funny to be in a blizzard one day and on the beach the next; Christmas in Hawai'i always seems so contradictory.

My top priority is to be in the sun as much as possible, enjoying the 80-degree weather and trying to tan my pale winter skin. My favorite beach is Lanikai, only five minutes from my house, it's absolutely gorgeous and peaceful.

One of my goals this vacation was to catch up on my reading, with such books as "The End of Fashion" by Teri Agins and "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Luster" by Dana Thomas. The best thing after a day at the beach is an Açai bowl from Lanikai Juice. This über-healthy treat was once featured on Oprah and is topped with fresh mixed berries, banana, coconut, granola and honey.

The nicest most convenient way to get around my town, Kailua, is often by bike. Especially when President Obama is in town also on vacation, causing the worst traffic Kailua has ever seen. With the combination of locals and tourists trying to catch a glimpse of the President and the Secret Service blocking off major roads.

A favorite destination- and road trip by Hawai'i standards- is a day spent on the North Shore, notorious for its large waves and surf competitions during the winter. One necessary stop along the way is Leonard's Malasada truck to pick up some of the delicious Portuguese fried pastries. The North Shore is very rural and laid back, lined with many hidden surf spots as well as touristy villages.

One of the best lunches I had was at Neiman Marcus Honolulu Mariposa restaurant. My entrée was the Seared Scallops dish, which included potato gnocchi, smoked prosciutto, kahuku corn, fava bean purée and roasted lobster jus. My dessert was a beautifully presented Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Pudding Cake with Starfruit and other fresh fruit.

Not far from Neiman Marcus is the original Aloha Rag. I always make a point to visit the Hawai'i store when I'm there to say hi to the staff and check out their inventory since it's quite different than Aloha Rag New York. It's nice to see other Aloha Rag members such as Makoto and Ken, whom I usually only communicate with via email. ARHI has the same clean, organized and luxurious aesthetic that AHNY has, yet it has quite a different feel due to its largely European and American merchandise. Versus ARNY's Japanese-heavy stock.

By the end of my two-and-a-half-week vacation I was a bit restless. Sometimes the only thing better than leaving New York is coming back. - Vicen Akina, Aloha Rag New York

OUR HAPPY PLACE

With all the burrr and lazy snow falling outside here in NYC, we're already dreaming of the days when we can skip away again and enjoy a magical beach-side adventure filled with tons of sun, cocktails and late night swims.

Sounds like we're not the only ones...

A Krupp Cake fav, Fashionista's Abby Gardner, has picked out our perfect big surf wardrobe spread to play beach vacation dress-up in the St. Barth's backdrop from Geren Lockhart of Geren Ford's new year's eve bliss.

Naturally, we asked the designer if she would share some snapshots from her holiday jaunt to get us through it. Enjoy!