With Valentine’s Day behind us and March on it’s way, we can’t help but ask- Are you celebrating White Day on March 14th? Most of us know what Valentine’s Day is, but there are much less people who celebrate the correlating holiday that happens a month later.

White day is a holiday most often linked to Japan (though it is also celebrated in South Korea, Taiwan, and China).  In Japan, Valentine’s day is one in which women typically give men gifts of chocolate. There is “giri choco” given to male friends and “honmei choco” which is higher quality chocolate given to someone the woman has romantic feelings for. A month later, on White Day, the male responds to whomever has given him a gift. He may give her white chocolate to represent friendship, chocolate candy to say “I like you”, or chocolate cookies to say “I love you”. Of course strong feelings may also bring a man to give a response of jewelry and other more fancy gifts.

White Day was first celebrated in Japan in the 1970′s as an “answer day” because they believed men should repay the women who gave them gifts. The holiday ended up spreading throughout Asia, but had some variations. In South Korea, this is a holiday celebrated primarily by couples only and in China the holiday’s are flipped- men give the first gift and women respond a month later.

Didn’t get your chocolate fill during Valentine’s Day? Now you have an excuse for more!

The holidays are here! What are you getting your favorite dessert lover? Here are some suggestions from our resident Dessert Obsessee:

For the dedicated baker: Beanilla 2-fold Vanilla extract. Every from scratch baker will appreciate some 2-fold vanilla extract. This extract has twice as much vanilla bean in it than regular vanilla extract! So you only need to use half the amount of vanilla extract called for in the recipe, or use just as much and get a more aromatic vanilla flavor. ($11.99 for 8-oz. bottle)

For the beginning baker: Sprinkles Gourmet Cupcake Mixes. Create Sprinkles famous gourmet cupcakes in your own kitchen! The cupcake mixes are just as easy to put together as any Betty Crocker mix, and include a frosting recipe and the Sprinkles modern dot to create their trademark look. ($14.00)

For the decorator: What’s New, Cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. The authors of Hello, Cupcake are back with new, easy-to-create, cupcake decorating ideas. This whimsical book offers a wide selection of innovative cupcake decorating ideas and instructions, such as sand castle cupcakes, rock star cupcakes, and cupcakes for the holidays. Just take ready made cupcakes and decorate! It’s amazing what you can do with a jar of frosting and some food coloring! ($16.95)

Dylans Candy

For the candy lover: Dylan’s Candy Bar: Unwrap your Sweet Life, by Dylan Lauren. This gorgeous coffee table book features full color photos of whimsical candies and Dylan’s sweet candy filled memories. The book also has a few recipes and fun candy facts and even craft ideas. ($35.00)

For every dessert lover: Chocolate. Chocolate is the perfect gift for every dessert lover! Its fantastic for both baking and eating! For baking, I recommend high quality chocolates, such as Valrhona, and cocoa powders with a high fat content.

Happy Holidays!

FreshEvents' Pamper Me Fabulous brought together some of L.A.'s hottest spas and salons.

I always think it’s funny when people tell me I have a glamorous job. The words “magazine editor” conjure images of exclusive red-carpet soirees and celeb-infused events. Sure, I get a cool invite or two and tons of free products, and I’ve sat a mere arm’s length away from such luminaries as Tony Leung and Ralph Fiennes at one time. But most of the time? I’m just trying to catch up with my email and figure out the day to day. I wish I could clone myself just so I could make it out to all the spas and salons that various publicists want me to check out. Continue Reading »