Weekly Obsession - Habanero & Lime Salsa

So it's no secret that I love spicy food and have been going to Trader Joe's basically every Sunday since the new one opened on California Street - $2 for Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce, yes please! (Although I really need to stop screaming about the low prices at 9 am or I may be banned for life.)

I also love a good salsa. It's so easy to make a quick salsa fresca - dice tomato, jalapeno, onion and cilantro with a squirt of lime - but I always have a jar in my pantry for last minute baked potatoes, dip for veggies, and sandwich spread. Let's hear it for flavor!

Not only does this salsa have a sweet tomato base it has some nice habanero heat. It is more of a mild medium than a medium hot but I have an admittedly high spice threshold.  The acidity of the lime is complimented by the sweet surprise of carrots. I would never think of carrots in salsa but they definitely work and I'm going to start putting them in my homemade version.

Weekly Obsession - Kate Spade Saturday

Everyone knows I'm wild about Kate Spade New York so the launch of their sister line Kate Spade Saturday has me in a tizzy. Although officially launching in full next month, there was a preview on fab.com starting yesterday - Happy Valentine's Day to me!

The line is adorable. It encompasses all that Kate Spade New York is known for - bright, fun, uptown chic - with a more casual vibe and a smaller price tag. On average, you can get apparel for $130, eye wear for $55, accessories for $40, handbags for $130, home decor for $25, jewelry for $30, shoes for $85, small goods for $45, swimwear for $50, tech for $30, and watches for $50.Standouts include the weekender bag (above 6th square) which ranges from $150 to $170 and comes in both solids and patterns and a geometric reversible solid blue or black hooded cape for $210 (1st square).

Adventures in Baking - Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies

For Valentine's Day I made these cute little cookies. A word of warning - People often see chocolate kisses and think of the chewy peanut butter cookie version. These cookies are a shortbread. They are not oversweet or soft. The recipe also called for marachino cheeries but I chose to use wild dark in syrup - less chemicals.

1. Cream 2 sticks unsalted butter with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 tsp salt.

2. Add 2 tsp cheery juice and syrup from jar and 1/4 tsp almond extract.

3. Incorporate 2 1/4 cups flour in small batches. Add 1/2 cup chopped cherries.

4. Roll dough into 24 balls and space on two greased baking sheets. Put thumb in the middle of each cookie and press until there is a small indentation.

5. Bake for 14 minutes at 325.

6. Immediately top with the chocolate kiss after cooking.

Beauty Blabber - GLAMGLOW Super-Mud Clearing Treatment

Lately I've noticed that as I've grown older I am prone to extremes - I like my food spicy, my massages deep tissue and my facials stinging. It makes me feel like whatever I'm getting is really working and my hard earned money is being well spent. That's just one of the reasons why I am obsessed with this face mask.

I ordereded the above kit from Sephora, which came with the Super-Mud Clearing Treatment and two minis of their other product - the Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask. I haven't tried the other product, but I feel good about it based on the Clearing Treatment.

The mask targets and prevents basically all skin concerns - blemishes, discoloration, and black/white heads. You can use it as a mask or a spot treatment and a little goes a long way. It also has a really refreshing tingling sensation when you put it on that itensifies as it dries. (Be warned - I'm also a fan of a pumpkin facial that my dermatologist said has brought others to tears.) The product is also really satisfying because you see results immediately. Your skin looks radiant and smooth and it feels squeaky clean. It's the best thing to happen to me since the Clarisonic.