pink rickshaw

may super six

Stewie: Mom. Mom. Mom. Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Mama. Mama. Mama. Ma. Ma. Ma. Ma. Mum. Mum. Mum . Mum. Mummy. Mummy. Mumma. Mumma. Mumma.
Lois: WHAT?!?
Stewie: Hi.
-Family Guy 

In addition to that macaroni necklace you might be giving Mom this Mother's Day, May's Super Six gives you a few more last-minute ideas to consider. And if you have ever been even half as annoying as Stewie, you may want to try a few.

1. Clarisonic Mia 2
Moms of all ages will love this beauty must-have.
2. Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Cards
3. Succulent arrangement
Yes, I know, flowers for Mother's Day, yawn. But you just can't go wrong with some gorgeous flowers for that special lady and succulents add the perfect unexpected twist.

 

4. Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum To Go
5. Stackable Tea Tower
A playful set for Mom to enjoy her relaxing tea time.
6. Time
I know number six looks like you should give your Mom a cute watch, but really she would just love to spend some time with you. So, whether it's a quick Skype chat or brunch and a mani, 8 out of 10 moms would just love to hang out. 2 out of 10, would like this watch.

To my own lovely and awesome mom and all the moms/mommies/mamas/mas/mums/mummas, Happy Mother's Day! 

image sources: clarisonic.com, riflepaperco.com, tulipina.com, sephora.com, uncommongoods.com, anthropologie.com

-SD

december super six

"An optimist stays up till midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."-Bill Vaughn

Good-bye 2011 and hello 2012! I hope all of you are looking forward to all that the new year has to bring. Before bidding adieu to this year and starting 2012 with fresh new ideas and enthusiasm, it's always fun to look back (cue sappy flashback sequence music, please). 2011 was a fabby and fun year at Pink Rickshaw. We loved writing about the newest trends, trying (sometimes successfully) delish recipes, learning about some awesome new lines and websites and of course sharing some favorite things.Thank you so much for reading and your support. 
For December's super six, here are some of my favorite posts from 2011.

 

1. Trend Friend: Statement Nails
2011 brought plenty of interesting fashion and beauty trends. Some that may stick around in 2012 and hopefully some that will go away. The statement nails were amongst my favorite this year and other noteworthy trends were animal silhouette prints, ombre hair, neon and neutrals and statement tribal necklaces.

2. Super Six: April's Royal Edition
Like most of you, I woke up at 4am to watch the fairy tale wedding and am excited to see what Kate, William (and Pippa) are up to next. So it' is probably no surprise that one of this year's fave super sixes is April's which discussed all things royal wedding. Other favorites included June's Flora and Fauna and October's Fall Fashion Must Haves.

3. Oh My Blog: Hair Tutorials

4. Art: Fatakra
This year, we had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing some fabulous peeps doing some awesome things. Amongst the most popular in 2012 was the interview of director/writer Soham Mehta for his short film, Fatakra. If you missed any of them, be sure to check out the interviews with the talented founders behind UK home decor line Plum Chutney, 3 Bees Paperie, fashion rental website Luxemi.com, kids clothing line Ode and dating website Two Mangoes.

november super six

"Instant gratification is not soon enough."-Meryl Streep

Recently when I was at a drugstore, I walked by their (very not busy) photo center and had a flashback to the days of yore. You know, the days of dropping off film and waiting eagerly to get back your glossy or matte 4x6 prints.  There was the dreaded period which ranged from anywhere from 1 hour to gasp! seven whole days to get back those precious photos. Albeit there was probably no greater joy than getting handed that envelope and looking at the pictures right at the counter. Flash forward to November 2011 and the three seconds it takes my photo to "process" on my Instagram iPhone app seems like an eternity. How easily we forget. Here's a glimpse at how November looked like via my Instagram. It's an Insta-PR Super Six.

 
 


1. Insta-Paris: Petits Pain au Chocolat
I used this recipe to make this delicious and super simple pastry that's just the right amount flaky and oh so chocolaty. It is the perfect winter weather breakfast treat. Close your eyes and your instantly in a bakery in Paris.
 
2.Insta-Dri: Ring finger statement nail
Still loving the statement nail. I think the other nails are starting to get jealous. One of my favorite polishes right now is Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri. It's borderline concerning how quickly it dries.

3. Insta-fashion: Stylemint
Like many, I was intrigued to hear about Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's new site, StyleMint, but of course slightly skeptical as well. Thoughts that came to mind--membership: boo!! and $29.99 for a fabby tee: too good to be true. Here's how it works. The members only site sends you a t-shirt for $29.99 (shipping included) monthly. You take a style quiz when you join the site and every month there are recommendations for you based on your fashion profile. You select your tee from that month's chic collection designed by the duo and voila! you get a piece from the twins' fashionable empire. So, what's the verdict? I received my first tee this month (the Broadway T in Royal Blue stripe) and have to admit I'm hooked. The shirt is a nice heavy 100% pima cotton (perfect for winter) and the perfect stripe and cut. You can see it styled here. It's blasphemous I doubted fashion royalty like the Olsen twins and am pretty excited to see what they come up with every month. (If Stylemint has peaked your interest, also check out Jewelmint and Shoemint which are the same concept with jewelry and shoes designed by other fashionable celebs).

4. Insta-notes: Rifle Paper Co. notebooks
Love these pretty notebooks to write down all my holiday to-dos. Rifle Paper Co. is fast becoming one of my favorite stationary lines. Check out their adorable holiday card collection.

october super six

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."-The Great Gatsby

 
 

PR: Yes folks, fall is finally here.
You: But SD, it's been fall where I live (insert your favorite fabulous Northeast or Midwest city here) for weeks. I've been rockin' my skinnies with tall boots, watching the leaves change to all the beautiful autumn shades of gorgeousness and sipping on my pumpkin latte.
PR: Umm...fall is finally here in Texas...
You: Oh....that's sad..

Yes, sad indeed my non-Texan, I experience real seasons friend, but fantastic because it finally feels not weird to do a fall fashion super six. Typically, when it's still 95 degrees outside in September (that was just last week), the only indications I have that fall has arrived are the return of some favorite tv shows. Thank you television, for reminding me that I will be able to wear boots soon. So, to celebrate cooler temps and the return of new tv programming, this month's super six is all about chic fall fashion must-haves inspired by some awesome tv ladies. Grab a sweater, it's a must-see-tv-fall-fashion-super-six extravaganza.

Fall Must Have Number 1: Polka-Dot blouse
Who Would Wear It: Leslie Knopes (Parks and Recreation)
Polka-dots in all size, shapes and forms are officially a big trend for the fall. A polka-dot dress can be a bit too Minnie Mouse, but I am loving the silk blouses like the Zara one featured above (in case you've missed the news, Zara now has online shopping...super dangerous for my wallet). Other great tops include this silk one  from J. Crew and this sleeveless one which are great to wear on their own or layered under a sweater. I can just see Leslie sporting one under a blazer while dealing with all of Pawnee's shenanigans.

 
Fall Must Have Number 2: Wide-legged jeans
Who Would Wear It: Rachel Zoe (The Rachel Zoe Project)
So, don't donate your skinny jeans quite yet (you'll still need to tuck into the fabulous boots..see #5), but it is a welcome change to see the return of some variety in the denim front. The perfect pair to look for is dark, slightly high-waisted and perfectly flared a la Rachel Zoe (who made this part of her signature look)  A great pair to try to get the look are these JBrand jeans. Pair them with a loosely tucked in blouse for a chic, go-to fall uniform that Rachel would go ba-na-nas for.


Fall Must Have Number 3: Statement Necklace
Who Would Wear It: Serena van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl)
There's a simplicity about fall with neutral colors and basic pieces that are easy to layer. But a gal still needs her slightly fancy and frilly baubles too. Take a fashion cue from Serena who rocks a fantastic statement necklace in practically every episode of the college drama. To get the look, pair a neutral sweater with a gorgeous statement necklace like the Kate Spade Pearl Street necklace pictured above.

 

august super six

"Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."-Benjamin Franklin
 
I have and probably will always have a mild obsession with pouches of all sorts (I think like all great obsessions, it started innocently and when I was young..probably with some cool pencil pouches). Now I have all kinds of pouches: big, small, leather, funny-looking. Each that was purchased with some sort of justification for what it will hold (i.e. pens, a Flip, smaller pouches..it's a sickness, I know). My pouch obsession became slightly more fashionable recently with all the lovely pics of the drool-worthy Celine Lambskin Clutch Pouch that seems to be one of the bags du jour (There's a steal version of that coveted clutch below..don't worry, we'll get to that).  So, this month, to spare you from a super six about my pouch collection, we'll instead pay homage to the pouch through her chic cousin, the clutch. Here are six fantastic clutch types that are perfect for late summer and fall. So, lose that bulky handbag, gals. Give your shoulders a rest and grab a clutch. It's a clutch super six.  

 
1. Fold-over/Pouch
If there is one accessory I am completely loony about for this Fall, it is the Clare Vivier fold-over clutch. Where have you been all my life? My only issue is with all the colors to choose from, it's difficult to narrow the selection down to one. But, I have narrowed them down to five. That's a start, right? Other great pouch clutches include the steal version of the Celine pouch from American Apparel. It also comes in a ton of colors and you can even add some high-fashion pizazz with some DIY tips from fashion bloggers.

 
2. Animal Style
Animal prints are going to be all the rage this Fall. But before you go out and buy some leopard print jeans, ease yourself in with with some accessories from the animal kingdom. On trend are these clutches such as the Jimmy Choo Carine (splurge) or this Zara Snakeskin clutch (steal). For a DIY snakeskin version, check out this tutorial.

 
 3. Vintage Kimonos
Both in the spirit of being green and adding something with a little history to your ensemble, these clutches made from vintage kimonos does the trick. I found these from Kazue West on Etsy and they add some Japanese glamour with the intricate and gorgeous fabrics they are made from.

july super six

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos."-Don Kardong

Due to recent current events, the term willful blindness is popping into conversations. If you haven't heard the legal term yet, it is defined as "if there is knowledge that you could have had or should have had but chose not to have, you are still responsible." This got me thinking. In this unbearable summer, don't we all have a tad bit of willful blindness when it comes to frozen and not exactly the healthiest treats?  I could read the label on the ice cream container and see how many calories it is and I should have posted today about healthy alternatives to ice cream and popsicles like fruit but chose not to. Therefore, I am responsible, if by reading this month's super six, you gain 10 pounds. Sorry. This July's sinfully delicious Super Six is all about cooling off with sweet, frozen (and slightly unhealthy) treats.

 
1. Homemade Ice Cream
The best purchase we have made this summer has to be an ice cream maker (more on that in number three: tools). Homemade ice cream just tastes so delicious and making it is like a little science experiment. One of the first ice creams I made using my new toy was coffee ice cream using this recipe from David Lebovitz. It's just the right amount of sweetness with a wonderful rich coffee flavor (to avoid the caffeine, it tastes just as good if you use decaf beans like I did) The result is a creamy delight that you have to avoid eating right out of the container.

  
2. Kulfi
If you're feeling slightly exotic and don't want to bother with tools like ice cream makers, this frozen treat is the perfect lazy gal's ice cream. Kulfi is a popular, milk-based dessert from India. Think of it as regular ice cream but just denser (it is not whipped like western ice cream). There are tons of variations, flavors and recipes you can find, but I grew up every summer eating this simple version that my mom makes. In our family, there would literally be fights for who would get the last kulfi, so you can imagine that if you follow this recipe, you won't be disappointed. (As an added bonus, this literally can be done in five minutes)

SD's Mom's (super easy) Kulfi
1 (14 oz.) can of condensed milk
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups evaporated milk
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
rose water (available at most Indian or Middle Eastern stores or here) (optional)

1. Blend condensed milk, evaporated milk and ricotta cheese to a smooth, liquid consistency. (I watched my mom do this and she blended for about two minutes)
2. Pour into popsicle molds. Place approximately half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of chopped pistachios at the top of the kulfi mixture in each mold compartment.
3. Freeze for a minimum of eight hours.
4. If desired, sprinkle with rose water when serving and enjoy.
 

june super six

Merryweather: I'd like to turn her into a fat ol'-hop toad
Fauna: Now, dear, that isn't a very nice thing to say.
Flora: Besides, we can't. You know our magic doesn't work that way.
Fauna: It can only do good, dear, to bring joy and happiness.
Merryweather: Well, *that* would make me happy.
-Sleeping Beauty

Design gurus and innovators often say that when creativity hits a low, turn to nature for inspiration. To add some accents to your home or wardrobe this month, June's super six turns to our friends in the plant and animal kingdoms.

 
1. Flora: succulents
The minute I laid eyes on the man and woman busts with cascading succulents (via Oh Joy!), it was love at first sight or shall I say first succulent? Succulents are the perfect low-maintenance but interesting houseplant for the anti-houseplant gal like myself. It seems that they have really grown in popularity in the last few years for their ease and interesting shapes. I especially love the combination of sleek white vases and succulents..it's just so Cali desert chic.
1) Male and Female Bust Vases
These vases with succulent hair pieces from Floral Art LA have gotten the spot light in Joy's blog, Anthology magazine and on HGTV's Secrets from a Stylist episode. If you're in the LA area, you can actually buy the vases with the succulents potted but if you order them online, you can create the look by potting your own succulents. See #3 for more on that.
2) For inspiration, a lovely succulent arrangement on Main Street in Fredericksburg, TX.
If you're ambitious and have the backyard space, try this DIY vertical wall of succulents.
3) My own little baby succulents
This easy DIY centerpiece currently sits on my dining room table. I picked up a few small succulent plants at Lowe's. The gentleman who was helping me kindly reminded me "if you can't keep these alive, you do not deserve to live" Challenge, accepted, sir. It has been about two weeks and the little guys seem to be doing okay. I planted them in a white ceramic pot, similar to this one in cactus soil. You just have to water (spray bottle suggested) every ten days or so.

 
2. Fauna: antlers
I would normally cringe at the thought of antlered friends for home decor, but I have to admit that after seeing them in all the home decor blogs, they can be quite kitchsy chic. Think less taxidermy fright above the fireplace and more animal-lover friendly, touches of blissful Bambi.
1) Brass touches
Vintage inspired brass pieces are perfect for adding some fauna (and metal) to a bookshelf like these antelope bookends from Pipe and Pepper. On the lookout for a slightly similar look for years, but not exactly bookends, I found the brass gazelle above (or maybe they are deer? I have to brush up on my antler shapes) at an antique store in downtown Plano.
2) Cardboard fun
There seems to be two schools of thoughts when it comes to these cardboard animal "trophies": a) crazy town or b) an unexplained love for the irony. I picked up a white Buck at Red (also available at ModCloth and Urban Outfitters) and have to say it's pretty eye-catching. (Ladies, if you are co-habitating with a boy, you can justify it by saying it adds a great masculine touch to your space). Made by e-tailer Cardboard Safari, the recycled cardboard pieces fit together like a puzzle and you can jazz them up since they are flat pieces with decorative paper (like the one pictured in the kitchen above). It's always cool to see how people have incorporated them into their homes via Apartment Therapy such as in the kitchen or as part of a bookshelf display.
For a similar look in a different medium, try this porcelain deer head .

 
3. Flora: colorful prints
Floral prints from the 90's have gotten an update for this summer with bold colors and breezy silhouettes. Some current favorites are the Winter Kate Roque Shrug, Zara skirt and Parker strapless dress. I picked up the skirt above from my local Zara and I have to say the online picture is slightly deceiving in a good way. The skirt is actually made of a heavy cotton, which keeps its shape nicely and the best part is: it has pockets.

april super six

 "Marry Prince William? I'd love that. Who wouldn't want to be a princess?" -Britney Spears

If you are tired of hearing about the royal wedding on Friday, I apologize in advance. You will not be getting a break here. Call me predictable, call me romantic, but there's just too much excitement and inspiration to not discuss. It was only fitting to dedicate this month's super six to Wills and Kate and ways to celebrate their matrimony from your couch early Friday morning (most TV coverage starts around 3am CST). Ahem (insert very British accent), ladies and gentlemen, you are cordially invited to the April (Royal) Super Six.

 
1. Cake and a spot of tea
London: One of the first reveals about the wedding was that Fiona Cairns' British bakery would be making the royal wedding cake. From the look of her cute website, the multi-tiered fruitcake with cream and white icing inspired by the Queen's own wedding cake is sure to not disappoint. At $134 per slice, let's hope it tastes as good as it looks.

Living Room version: If you're watching the wedding live, you'll probably feel more like Fruit Loops than fruit cake. Make things fun Friday morning, by making these royal fruit cake cupcakes the night before and enjoy them with a spot of Earl Grey tea. If you're like me and not a fan of fruit cake, the blogosphere has plenty of alternatives like these lovely champagne cupcakes with strawberry filling.

2. A fabulous fascinator
London: It's just not a British wedding without hats (and fascinators). Hat designer to the stars Philip Treacy will be making many of the headpieces that guests and maybe even Kate will be wearing. SJP is just one of Treacy's famous clients to rock the fascinator.

Living Room version: Eugenia Kim shows you how to make your own royal worthy headpiece for under $20 on Daily Candy in this video. It will look fabulous with your pajamas.

 
3. The route
London: The procession is going to go past all of London's most famous landmarks. The official royal wedding website shows you pretty pictures of all the landmarks on the route. Note: Take a look because seeing the real deal on Friday may be difficult with all of the tall, souvenir Union Jack hats that might be in the way.

Living Room version: Follow the route and remember the day with this lovely illustration from The House that Lars Built. It's also available printed on a cute tote.

 
4. The dress
London: Bruce Oldfield announced he's definitely not designing Kate's dress which leaves Sophie Cranston and Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen. Apparently, there's some money to be made if you can guess the designer correctly. My bets are on Sophie Cranston who designed Kate's velvet number above.

Living Room version: If you are planning on hosting a viewing party with your girlfriends, here's your first activity. Inspired by the toilet paper wedding dress game played at many a bridal shower, give each guest a roll of toilet paper. After the first glimpse of Catherine's dress, pause the wedding on your DVR and recreate the dress with tp. The girl that gets somewhat close to resembling the look (I use close very loosely) gets more cupcakes. Remember, don't forget to accessorize like Kate will with diamonds, pearls and jewelry borrowed from the Queen.

march super six

"The things that we love, tell us what we are."-St. Thomas Aquinas

There are so many big things that make this month lovable: Spring Break, Carnaval, Mardi Gras, St. Patty's Day and gorgeous Spring weather. Here are some smaller things to love this month as well:

Things we love


The inspiration for this month's Super Six is one of my go-to sources for all things colorful and stylish: The Things We Love feature in Kate Spade's Behind the Curtain. It's fun and just full of glee. Now, Kate Spade has captured all that goodness into a keepsake pocketbook (check out the preview) that will be available soon. Pocket sized inspiration to-go, now that's something to love.

Things that shift

Shift dresses for day and night are oozing with Spring appeal. Love this dot number from EmersonMade and for a more glam look, this bell sleeve dress from Asos.

Things that bark (well kind of)

Chinese foo dogs have been in the decor world for a while (Chinese mythology says the dogs symbolize fortune, protection and wisdom). After seeing them over the last few years in my favorite design blogs, I finally caved in to the ugly critters this month and purchased a turquoise pair to use as bookends to add a pop of color to a bookshelf. (If the turquoise ones seem familiar even if you don't browse decor blogs, they were seen in Carrie and Big's living room in SATC 2.) While the mainstream trend has died down (in the past two years, foo dog ceramics had popped up at Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and even Home Goods), you can still find a pair to give a good home with a quick search on eBay.

Things inspired by other things

Fortune cookie coin purses and pencil flats. Who says accessories have to be so serious?

Things that twirl and curl

When looking for a return address stamp, nothing quite hit the spot until I remembered tagging this Primele calligraphy stamp ages ago. So pretty and romantic yet modern. Just the perfect look for sending out Spring correspondence to loved ones.

Things that bloom

Bringing the beautiful colors of Spring indoors is definitely something to love. Chelsea Fuss from Frolic made this gorgeous watercolor inspired arrangement as a wedding bouquet (tutorial available at Project Wedding), but it would look just as awesome on your breakfast or dining table. You can get more flower inspiration in Design Sponge's Flowers A-Z series.

image source: katespade.com; shift dresses: emersonmade.com, asos.com; foo dogs: madebygirl.com, morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com, livebreathedecor.com, ivanka trump's apt from stylecourt.blogspot.com; fortune cookie coin purse: dianaeng.com via ohjoy!, pencil flats: modcloth.com; rubber stamp: etsy.com (Primele shop); bouquet: frolic-blog.com

-SD

february super six

"February, sweet and small, greatest month of all."-Eric Lies

I may be a little biased, but February is always my favorite month. Fancy, fabulous and fun..here are six things to be happy about.

F is for....fashion week

 
Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week wrapped up on Thursday. There's just too much fashion goodness to discuss, but definite stand-outs were The Row (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's line), Jason Wu, Lela Rose and Peter Som.
 
F is for....fancy feet

 
If you're lucky to be in certain parts of the country where pleasant weather has arrived, this month you get to transition from your glam boots to sweet flats. I love the ballerina feel of these Jimmy Choo flats and here's a more wallet friendly version at JCrew.

F is for....a French treat

 

 

 

 

Paris is no good in February with freezing temperatures and empty streets. So, why not try some French sweet treats in the comfort of your own home instead. The most famous French treats of all are the delectable Laduree double-decker macaron. While, re-creating the deliciousness of the Laduree treats in your own kitchen is not easy, it is not impossible. David Lebovitz provides tons of resources for recipes and tips for making the perfect macarons. If you're still a bit worried about the effort involved, why not just start with an easier but just as sweet treat: good ol' french toast. 

F is for...feeling sweet

 
Just because Valentine's Day is over, doesn't mean you can't remind your honey or yourself of your love all year round. The print featured above and other love themed prints from Made By Girl are chic and add just a touch of color and amour to any room. Don't worry tea lovers, there's a version for you as well. I also really dig Made By Girl's simple Love Candy print.

F is for....fantastic films


Sure, you've been inspired by The King's Speech, kept up with the witty banter of The Social Network and been disturbed by Black Swan in order to get Oscar ready. But there's a whole underviewed (made up word, by the way) category of the upcoming Academy Awards: the shorties. Most Oscar viewers could care less in the past about this portion of the awards (usually reserved for snack time or bathroom breaks) often because there was not an opportunity to watch these films. But this month, in many theaters nationwide, you can catch the short films nominated this year. The five films in the live action category are God of Love (pictured above) about a young man and his mysterious passion-inducing darts, The Crush about a school boy and his quest to win the love of his second grade teacher, Na Wewe about the civil war in Burundi(a small country in Africa), Wish 143 about a dying 15 year old boy's very interesting wish and The Confession about a boy's confession and the tragic aftermath. The other categories in short films are animated and documentary which are also playing in many theaters. At a total running time of 106 minutes for all five live action films, its less of an investment than most features and you'll walk away with an appreciation for keeping things short and sweet.

F is for....festive whims


Confetti Systems garlands and other handmade works just scream glee. Who says festive decor is only for the holidays? February needs a little sparkle as well. The company designed installations that were featured in JCrew windows during the holiday season last year and their garlands are a fave in the blogosphere. I'm finding the perfect corner in my home to add this bit of delight to. The garlands would be great for a home office, dorm room or even as some glam decor if you're having an Oscar party.

image source: fall 2011 fashion week (left to right: the row, jason wu, lela rose, peter som) from style.com, flats-neimanmarcus.com and jcrew.com, macarons from adam goldberg's blog and boozy french toast from smittenkitchen.com, i love you, blogs and coffee print from madebygirl.com, God of Love film publicity still, garlands from confettisystems.com

-SD