Even though I had the pleasure to visit St. Martin back in January, the warm weather has inspired me to write about it today.

St. Martin (the French side of the island, not to be confused with St. Maarten, which is the Dutch side of the island) is one of the most beautiful & fabulous places I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Orient Beach/Bikini Beach isn't just a site for sore eyes; it's an EXPERIENCE. With the sounds of the sensual & eclectic mix of Island, Middle Eastern & French music playing, laughter & the ocean washing ashore, one is immediately transported.

The restaurant & bar is conveniently just a stone's throw from any lounge chair on the beach. There's even a FABULOUS & very reasonably priced clothing boutique. The array of clothing, jewelry, handbags & shoes was overwhelming to take in. I wanted to buy everything! Turquoise encrusted belts, necklaces, bracelets & earrings; v-neck tunics made in the lightest of cotton; leather sandals reminicient of the boutiques in Rome; the most exotic bikinis. It took my breath away! It reminded me of the Calypso clothing boutique in New York City. The clothing was clearly French, with an island vibe.

The beach was beautiful as well. The white sand, dotted with turquoise & orange parasols & lounge chairs & the water the shade of aquamarine. It reminded me of the beaches of Naples, France. Everything & everyone were so chic, stylish, beautiful & sexy! There were young women & men from Brazil, who happened to be absolutely stunning. They had such amazing style & guts! All of the Brazilian girls were wearing thong bikini's & the guys were wearing Speedos. They wore them quite well! There were also men, women & children of all ages from, France, Italy, Germany, India, China, Canada & the U.S.

Personally, I'd love to go back. Whether one is single or married, I highly reccommend visiting the Orient Beach/Bikini Beach in St. Martin. It's pricier than the other islands, but it is well worth it!

The Power of Scent

So some of you reading this may think that this is a biased opinion; but I assure you it isn't. For those of you who know me, you know that I only compliment someone or in this case something, sincerely. If I love something, I'm very enthusiastic. If I don't like something, I just don't say anything at all. It's that simple.

Enough about me. I'm writing about this candle. It smells amazing. No exaggeration. Seriously, a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Every day that I work at the Kat Burki Home store (when I'm not working with Kat herself, on product development), I light this candle, customers walk in & rave about the scent of it. True story.

It's Kat Burki's signature Tuberose scented candle. The aroma is so beautiful & soothing, it completely transports you. Once considered to be an aphrodisiac, now the scent of Tuberose is known to stimulate serenity & creativity.

Come by to see for yourself at 35 Old Post Road, Southport, CT 06890, or buy one online at KatBurki.com. Tell them Christina sent you! ;)

Gnocchi Queen

Now, I don't consider myself a Gnocchi Queen, it's just a nick name I've earned over the years from my family.  The reason being, is for no other than for making home made Gnocchi.  For those of you who don't know what Gnocchi is, it's just a pasta made of potatoes & flour.  For enthusiasts, the sky's the limit.  From the basic recipe, one can add, as I have, eggs, cheese, fresh herbs & any other spice or ingredient that floats your boat.

So, cut to this past weekend, when my brother came home from Miami.  After rigorous & non-stop begging, I caved and made it for him.  Since I only had sweet potatoes on hand, I made Sweet Potato Gnocchi.  It sounds so impressive, yet it's so easy to make.  Boil a potato (or sweet potato); peel skin while potato is still quite hot (ouch, ouch, ouch); mash quickly & thoroughly & season w/salt & pepper to your liking (or it will be bland); add/sprinkle SOME flour on top & work it in; add some more flour & work it in.  Flatten the dough to about a half inch.  Sprinkle a tiny bit of flour onto top & bottom.  Cut into 1/2" strips & 1/2" pieces & press down on each piece with a fork.  Gingerly throw into a pot of boiling water, boil 2-3 min. max/until they float to the surface, remove, add sauce, mix gingerly & serve.

Your friends and family will think your the next Top Chef!