{Butter's Holiday Gift Giving Guide}

What's the best kind of present? For me it's something pretty and indulgent. Something I wouldn't ordinarily buy myself but something I just love. Here are some ideas for Butter readers...

Butter's annual Gift Giving Guide

I was first introduced to these special delicious chocolate when a friend gave me the glamorous pink box for my birthday one year. They are the ultimate for lying around in a bed jacket and living life eating bon bons all day. Thanks Teens!

This is the most sophisticated, smooth running and lovely little bike.

What could be more tranquil than a jellyfish tank??

The iconic Baggu in luxe gold leather.

Just pretty.

Always a welcome gift

Rest like Holly Golightly

Cashmere anything is made for gift giving.

The best present I ever bought myself. A pet adoption from the Oakland Animal Services, Sugarbear.

Shop these items: 1. Charbonnel et Walker Truffles/ Neiman Marcus, 2. Public Bicycles/www.publicbikes.com, 3. Mac Lipstick www.maccosmetics.com
4. Desktop Jellyfish tank/ www.jellyfishart.com 5. Baggu in gold leather www.baggubag.com,
6. Diamond Tear edge on headphones/ www.monstercable.com 7. Scratchers/ California Lottery
8. Holly GoNightly sleepmask/www.fredflare.com 9. Raspberry 100% cashmere gloves/ Barneys New York 10. Sugarbear Oakland Animal Services www.petfinders.com

{chocolat}

It's a rainy November evening in Oakland. The perfect setting for my all time favorite...

  
Drinking chocolate is not to be confused with hot cocoa or even hot chocolate. It's a totally different animal. Whereas hot cocoa is made from a powdered mix of cocoa, sugar and thickeners it does not incorporate cocoa butter. Hot chocolate is made directly from bar chocolate, which already contains cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter. Drinking chocolate is that only darker, richer and more intense. Usually made with the finest chocolate available it is broken into small pieces or shaved and melted into a thick and smooth drinking elixir. 

I consider the Queen Bee of drinking chocolates: Maribel Lieberman of MarieBelle Fine Chocolates in New York City. I first came upon her shop by accident while walking around in SoHo. Upon entering it was like I had fallen down the most wondrous rabbit hole into a heavenly French chocolate boutique complete with sparkling chandeliers and light-blue silvery cushions which perfectly matched the square tins holding the chocolate mixtures. The philosophy there is one I strive to live by...

When I'm ready for a night cap I heat up a large cup of whole milk. (Just enough for small bubbles around the edges--no fat rolling ones). Then I add four large tablespoons of MarieBelles Aztec Hot Chocolate to the pot. The ratio should be 2:1. Next I take my whisk and froth it up until it's nice and smooth. I usually like to plop in a homemade marshmallow from Whole Foods with a dash of cinnamon on top OR for a true night cap I add a couple of splashes of Peppermint Schnapps. 

It really helps if you have a pretty cup and saucer. 

Ah the pleasures of LIFE! 

Mariebelle Fine Chocolates NYC

www.mariebelle.com

{I LOVE being a girl}

This is the best post ever written {slightly edited for Butter readers}...thanks Buzzfeed!
16 ways to add *Glam* & *Glitz* to your life...

1. Make chocolate bling 

psimadethis.com

2. OR...! 

Make any food sparkly with edible glitter

Get the recipe HERE

3. DIY Starbucks Glitter Travel Mug

Find out how HERE

4. Glitter Wallpaper

You can buy it HERE

 5. Make a glittery balloon

Here's HOW

6. Galaxy Play-Doh! for the kids 
(OR as a de-stress ball at work!)

Get the Galactic recipe HERE

7. Give yourself diamonds on the soles of your shoes

Learn how HERE

8. Walk on a glitter floor

Get the directions HERE

9. Glitz up your old sneakers

HERE'S the Tutorial

10. Glam up a cake

Find the recipe HERE

11. Glitter your heels

Get the tutorial HERE

  

Learn how to make glitter keys HERE

12. Make your own glitter polish

Get directions HERE

13. Glam up a wall

Get the tutorial HERE

14. Glitter your grandpa sweater

Here's How

15. Bling out your Champers 

www.stylemepretty.com

16. Design a disco ball ring

Want the tutorial? Leave it to MARTHA

{a Sugary Skull}

I guess there are folks who don't enjoy Halloween but I don't know many of 'em. What's not to like? Any holiday who's main focus is on the obtaining and consumption of copious amounts of chocolate is great by me. I was inspired this year by Sugarbear and the iconic Sugarskull of Mexico's Dia de los Muertos. The question was...what would Sugey look like if he were ghoulish and frightful? Impossible to imagine I know...

Here--the final result...similar to a Sugarskull... but more a Sugeyskull.

Hope your Halloween haul fetched a bounty of Snickers, Kit Kats, Butterfingers and Almond Joys..