On the road again

OUT TO LUNCH: It's not summer yet, but I'm off on a road trip up north. Ain't no time like the present to get a new perspective on life, and of course to do some shopping in someone else's neighborhood.

Greenlight for green thumbs

If you're like me, you're more used to watching your plants die than watching them grow. But despair not! I think the secret to a green garden is keeping it simple. Herbs are perfect for this, as they're fairly hardy and don't need a ton of fussing. Plus, the reward for your hard work is that you get to eat them. Basil is the most versatile herb, but it's the most finicky, as it loves a hot summer day and needs someone to pick the flowers off of it as they grow. My favorite herb is rosemary, which is great with olives, parmesan cheese and mushrooms, and is incredibly hardy. Another favorite is sage, whose leaves, when fried, are delicious with pasta. Also good are oregano and marjoram, which can be interchanged and yield enormous flavor. Happy herb gardening!

Tune in

I think I'm one of the few who loved "Top Design," but it's true, I definitely had a crush on the program last year. It was a welcome distraction during almost a full year without "Project Runway," and was better than Bravo's other reality try: "Shear Genius." So it is with great joy that I can say it's coming back! No word yet on when, but Jonathan Adler has signed on to be the host once more. Hopefully he'll lose his catchphrase though, I wouldn't miss never hearing "See you later, decorator," again.

Style on the go

Everyone knows by now that plastic bottles of water are bad for the environment and possibly bad for you. Reusing them over and over to try to help the environment isn't a good solution, because there's some scientific evidence to suggest that the chemicals in the plastic bottles seep into the water over time. So what's a girl to do if she wants to stay hydrated? We love this bluebird and trees carafe. At one liter it's plenty big enough to get you through your day, and it's totally cute to boot.