Sweet Basil's Cafe: Lifestyle Leak

There is nothing I enjoy more than a nice weekend brunch and usually I travel into NYC for it. I'm on a mini-mission to find amazing places right in New Jersey and this past weekend I scored big! I visited the re-opening of Sweet Basil's Cafe in West Orange for brunch and it was great. Luckily, my party of four just managed to beat the rush. We were immediately greeted and seated.

The first thing we noticed about the menu was that it was lacking waffles, which was a bit of a disappointment until the pancakes and french toast arrived. With pancakes and french toast like Sweet Basil's you don't need any waffles! The french toast is flavored with Madagascar vanilla and a very tiny hint of orange zest, now my boyfriend usually doesn't go for Challah bread but he loved every morsel of this french toast. It was perfectly cooked and delicious.

I ordered the eggs benedict but next time I will have to get the Poached Pear Vanilla Bean French Toast, doesn't that sound amazing!?! Plus, the smoothies are made from fresh fruit and I don't think they have added sugar which is healthy and yummy!

Try for yourself:

Sweet Basil's Cafe

641 Eagle Rock Ave

West Orange, NJ 07052

973.325.3340

Meyer Lemon Tree Update: Lifestyle Leak

Last year, I got a Meyer Lemon Tree and it did fantastic giving me plenty of medium sized bright yellow lemons. It started out pretty healthy and did really well, I watered it regularly and pruned when needed.

Once it got cold, I moved the tree inside where it got plenty of sun while staying out of the cold. Around November, the fruit began to change to yellow and I started picking them off 1 by 1 to use them or just give them to people who wanted to try them. Anyway, over the winter more and more leaves began to fall off until it was just branches.

It was so sad to watch, I keep watering it and making sure it was getting plenty of light but despite my best efforts it continued to look dead. I didn't give up on it and now I have a few leaves! I'm so excited, but I doubt I'll get as much fruit as I did last year but that's okay as long as my tree isn't dead!

Get Your Own:

Try your local Nursery

or Meyer Lemon Tree.com

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market: Lifestyle Leak

New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market is excited to welcome The {NewNew}, a local collective of independent Etsy artists, on Sunday, April 10, for a weekend injection of the DIY-spirit with their one-of-a-kind and hand-crafted goods including clothing, jewelry, accessories, handbags, housewares, toys and unique baby gifts.

“Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market is best known for treasure hunting for mid-century furniture, antiques, and vintage clothing, so we are super excited to welcome a local group of artisans like The {NewNew} to the eclectic mix at the market” –Tatiana Sy, Marketing Associate, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.

Featured The {NewNew} vendors include: Hanky Blanky, Better Than Jam, LuCrafts, New York Clocks, Brooklyn Belinda, Aperture Agog, Coinicopia, Melianna A, Groundsel, HYC Creative, Nemesis Jewelry, Ellef Bijoux, Yaniamor, Nordea Soaperie, Purty Bird, SDV Designs, Muppetloon, Enchantra Girl, Susan Helene Designs, Knock Knock Studio, Lola Falk Designs, and Kimmchi.

The market will simultaneously be hosting the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar on April 10 from 11am to 5pm. Be at the crossroads of flea market shopping and the best of NYC's gourmet food trucks including Kimchi Taco Truck, Schnitzel & Things, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Cinnamon Snail, Kelvin Natural Slushy Truck and non-food truck Luke’s Lobster, Little Cupcake Bakeshop, and more to be confirmed, with select food trucks offering spring specials in their menu!

Go See it For Yourself:
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (open year-round)

running the block of West 39th Street between 9th & 10th Avenues

every Saturday & Sunday from 10am- 6pm

Pen It: Lifestyle Leak

With cell phones, internet, and the fast paced lives we all have seemed to pick up hand written notes, cards, and letters are something that has been ditched. Personally, I love the Hallmark Store. Standing in the aisles reading all the cards and picking the perfect card for the recipient just thrills me. But there are some occasions that require a hand written note and I think that every lady should own stationary and a beautiful pen.

Spritzing your letters and envelopes with your signature scent is cute, but come on it's a dated thing to do. Instead pick up a scent infused ink pen, the one I just ordered? The limited-edition Hollywood Signature Pen by Michael Kors. It's a beautiful pink and gold pen with ink that is infused with the Very Hollywood scent, plus it's just $25.00

A great place to get stationary is Etsy.com Visit the site and do a quick search for note cards and voila! There you have it.

Thanks to Miss Whoever You Are for putting me onto this pen!