Get your sweet on....

As with Christmas, there is only one other time of the year that pigging out on sweets in acceptable – Valentines Day! Here are some mouth watering sweets for your sweetheart.

As always, William Sonoma can not be beat for tantalizing treats. Just like at Christmas time, WS is another great spot for treats on Valentines Day.

Here are a few sure to tickle your sweet spot!

Sweet Pies

Pure edible nostalgia, our heart-shaped treats recall the whoopee pies we all loved as kids – but with a decidedly sophisticated twist. The sweet valentines come to us from a bakery in Maine that uses local butter and free-range eggs to make the individual rich, moist red-velvet cakes.

Filled with creamy butter cream in three delicious flavors – chocolate, raspberry and classic vanilla – they arrive in a ribbon-tied box. 19.2 oz. Set of 12, four of each flavor. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Double Cherry Pops, Set of 15

Clusters of ripe cherries were the inspiration for these whimsical double lollipops, a favorite in European confectionery shops. Grown-up sweethearts can share one as a prelude to a kiss, while younger lollipop lovers will find it fun to break the twin pops in half and make a wish. Bursting with cherry flavor, the charming Dutch sweets come individually wrapped, ready for Valentine’s Day celebrations. 7.1 oz. Set of 15 pairs. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

I love how they are double ended – clever – no….brilliant!

Message Cookies, Set of 9 Made with equal measures of love, skill and premium ingredients that include dark Valrhona chocolate, our heart-shaped chocolate butter cookies from Sweet Guy Cookies will charm your valentine. The cookies are prepared, rolled and cut by hand, then decorated in green, pink, aqua and orange and yellow icing, each stamped with the words “Kiss Me,” “Cute,” “Love” or “Flirt.” The 2 1/2" x 2" cookies arrive in a reusable tin. 7 oz. Set of nine. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

How about these rich and delectable hearts?
24K Smore Heart – from Neiman Marcus

Marshmallow with graham cracker hearts soaked in chocolate – yummy!

Martha’s Mini Heart Cakes – who could not fall in love with the decadent version of the classic sweetheart candy! Lip Smackers

Ingredients
3 packages (3 ounces each) red gelatin (pick your fav flavor!)
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
Pink icing

Directions
1. Place all the red gelatin in a large bowl. Pour in 3 cups boiling water; stir to dissolve gelatin, about 3 minutes. In another bowl, sprinkle 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin over 3 cups cold water. Let gelatin sit to absorb water, then stir to combine. Pour clear gelatin into red gelatin, and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

2. Dip lip-shaped cookie cutter into hot water, then cut out shapes from set gelatin. To make it easier to remove "lips" from pan, place bottom of pan in hot water for 5 to 8 seconds, then remove the cutouts with a thin spatula. Pipe outline of lips using pink decorating icing.

Meringue Kisses

Ingredients
3 large egg whites
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup each pink, purple, and red melting wafers
1 -1 ½ tsp. vegetable shortening (divided)

Directions
1.Heat oven to 200°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with wax paper. In large bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, and salt. Place bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, and whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture feels warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.

2. Remove bowl from water bath. With mixer on high speed, beat egg-white mixture until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Spoon meringue into a large bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe 1-1/2-inch-size kisses onto baking sheets lined with wax paper. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven, but leave in meringues until completely cool, about 1 hour.

3. Place melting wafers in 3 separate bowls, with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening in each. Microwave 30 seconds, stir, and microwave 30 seconds more, until melted. Line counter with wax paper. Dip cooled kisses into melted wafers, place on wax paper, and cool completely.

And to wash it all down…….

French Kiss

Ingredients:
1 part vodka1 part Chambord1 part dark cream de cacao 1 1/2 parts half and half

Directions:
Shake ingredients with ice and strain.

Cheers to a decadent night!

WOW is right!

It's always fun to see what people (with no budget) will buy for as Christmas presents. So I like to go to Nieman Marcus for a little glimpse of the "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous". Here are this year's line up:

Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle $110,000.00

It's the street-legal sci-fi dream come to life, in the form of the limited-edition Fighter Motorcycle courtesy of Confederate Motor Company®. The first ever Fighter packs 190 mph of performance into its cutting edge carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum chassis. There's the 64" wheelbase, 27"H seat, integrated braking system, lots of high-tech bells and whistles, and custom NM edition features. But, honestly, ride it once and you'll be too jacked up on adrenaline to remember all the details.

Dallas Cowboys® Texas Stadium® End Zone Package $500,000.00

The new digs will be state-of-the-art, of course, but Texas Stadium is where America's Team paid its dues ... and grew its heart. It's where a dynasty was built and where the Boys fought their way into seven NFL® Championships. To honor battles won and heroes lost over 38 glorious years, you can put 530 square yards of sporting history into your own backyard: An entire Cowboys Texas Stadium end zone. This exclusive package also includes the VIP treatment for the last regular season Cowboys game in Texas Stadium. Your crew gets pre-game photos in your zone with Jerry Jones, a luxury suite for the game, and a once-in-a-lifetime post-game tailgate party on your soon-to be new backyard (with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, no less). There's also autographed memorabilia from Cowboy legends, and a VIP package to attend the opening of the new stadium in 2009. Better yet, the Jerry Jones family and the Cowboys organization will generously donate the entire purchase price to The Salvation Army®. The perfect gift for envious buds?
Thirty-Five Year Collection of Top 100® 45 RPM Records $275,000.00

In this age of soulless digital downloads and MP3 mumbo-jumbo, turn to that treasured icon of pop culture childhood: the 45 RPM vinyl single. This gift contains each and every 45 RPM vinyl record that was listed on the Billboard Top 100® Rock and Pop charts from Jan. 1, 1955, through Dec. 31, 1990. Absolutely every disc for 35 years, every No. 100 up to every No. 1. There are some 18,400 records total. Some are even autographed. How about the Beatles' 1964 hit "Ain't She Sweet" with picture sleeve, worth a cool $500; or the Beach Boys' 1961 hit "Surfin' Luau" worth $200. There are literally hundreds of extremely collectible 45s — Elvis, Joplin, Hendrix, you name it — and the collection in its entirety is priceless.

Medieval and Renaissance Era Rings $25,000.00 - $45,000.00

So it's the holiday season and you're scouring the realm for the best way to pledge eternal fealty to your Lord or Lady. We've teamed up with Les Enluminures of Paris to put history in your hands, quite literally, with our exclusive collection of extremely rare original medieval and Renaissance rings. Back in the day, Viking chieftains gave braided rings to warriors heading off to battle (check out the Queen in Beowulf). Hand-braided 11 centuries ago, our gold ring is a museum-quality. The 15th century England signet ring bears an engraving of the faithful and vigilant pooch; the16th century Western European ring graced a maiden's hand with a sparkling, mysterious 13mm step-cut tourmaline. It is set in enameled gold. Each arrives with its pedigree spelled out in writing.
M-Velope® Transformable Structure $100,000.00

What if your workshop was a convertible? What if you could move your yoga studio walls as easily as you roll up your mat? What if you could rebuild, rearrange, and reassemble your garden retreat as quickly as you rearrange furniture? Step inside our M-Velope and you can! It's a massively cool 15-foot high by 14-foot wide by 17-foot deep creation of functional art built with a steel frame. All its hinged wood panel frames open, move, and close at your whim. Michael Jantzen, an internationally famous architectural pioneer/artist, thought it up and he is crafting just 10 structures for us exclusively. He's a leader in rethinking how we live, and he's been green since '71. He builds each M-Velope with new Accoya® wood products that are durable and completely sustainable.

HIS & HERS: Life-Size Replica in LEGO® Bricks $60,000.00 (this is the most outrageous thing I have ever seen!)
Acclaimed artist Nathan Sawaya is obsessed with LEGO® bricks. He fills his New York studio with more than 1.5 million of the interlocking toy building blocks, and he can sculpt anything out of them — a full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton or a 7-foot-long scale replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, for example. Given the skill and depth of his devotion to his art, it makes perfect sense to immortalize your own magnificent self with our 2008 His & Hers gifts. Send in detailed photos and measurements, then Nathan gets to snapping and BOOM! One-of-a-kind, life-size sculptures of yourselves in LEGO bricks. Neiman Marcus priced this exclusive gift individually, so Nathan can "brickalize" you and the S.O., the kids, Granny and/or anyone else you obsess about.

Jack Nicklaus Custom Backyard Course Package Beginning at $1,000,000.00

Go ahead, re-read it. Yes, THE Jack Nicklaus, Golfer of the Century turned world-renowned course designer. Yep, your very own custom-designed three-hole course. Uh-huh, for your backyard. Jack will study topography, aerial photos, and landscape maps for the site, then send his team to survey the property. He'll create a formal design plan and color renderings for up to three holes and a practice area, depending on the size of your back forty. Your construction crew builds from it, with supervision from Jack's world-class design team (the same team pursued by premier club owners worldwide). Now to sink the winning putt; when your course is finished, the Golden Bear himself will stop by to play the first round with you, personally. More? He'll sign his club and ball for your collection and throw in a custom set of Nicklaus clubs, including a personalized bag.
Harlem Globetrotters® On-court Experience $110,000.00

Whistle a little "Sweet Georgia Brown" anywhere in the world, and you conjure up the infectious basketball magic that is the Harlem Globetrotters. Here's your once-in-a-lifetime chance to play on your dream team, joining stars like Scooter Christensen and Special K Daley on court. This gift package includes a personalized official uniform, guaranteed playing time in a U.S. 2008-09 season game, introduction as a special guest, and insider access to the team. Behind the amazing hoop wizardry is an 82-year heritage that includes Basketball Hall of Famers® Wilt Chamberlain and Meadowlark Lemon. Those precision routines aren't as easy as they look; back in the day the Globetrotters played the best pro teams and regularly took 'em down, baby.

Luxury Destination Wedding Package at The Resort at Pelican Hill® Beginning at $1,300,000.00

It seems like just yesterday she was staging a backyard wedding with her Teddy bear and favorite doll. There is a rare opportunity to make her grown-up nuptials the stuff of family legends, with our exclusive turnkey luxury wedding experience at The Resort at Pelican Hill. The ultimate resort setting on the breathtaking coast of Newport Beach, California. A personal event coach to take care of every detail. A couture wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses custom designed by Carolina Herrera. Up to 40 private ocean-view guest villas. Every detail exquisitely executed from the magical cake to the perfect flowers to the private celebrity entertainment at the reception. The experience also includes resort events for the bridal party, a rehearsal dinner event, an after-reception party, and gourmet breakfast the next day for family and guests. Naturally, a wedding this grand could never be one size fits all. This exclusive gift experience can easily be customized to fit their tastes, interests, and romantic quirks.
Authentic Guinness® Home Pub $250,000.00

There are plenty of reasons to raise a pint to the Irish. One of the greatest occurred in 1759 when young Arthur Guinness founded a brewery at St. James's Gate, crafted a hearty, distinctive stout, and won a place in our hearts forever. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of that first delicious keg with our exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime gift. The folks at RiRa Pubs will design a fully functional, traditional Irish pub and build it in your home in 2009. It will be crafted from historic Irish architectural elements and authentic Guinness artifacts. There's also a VIP trip for two to Dublin with first class airfare, luxury accommodations, and insider access to the magic still being made at the historic working St. James's Gate brewery. (All members of your party must be at least 21 years of age.) Plus fresh Guinness Stout for your pub-for an entire year!

NM Limited-Edition 2009 BMW® Individual 7 Series Sedan $160,000.00 Really what more is there to say – oh wait. The deal sealer (as if you needed one): A once-in-a-lifetime European adventure to meet your new BMW and the engineers and designers who helped create it. This exclusive trip includes two business-class tickets on Lufthansa® from New York, gourmet meals, luxury hotel for four nights including Munich and the French Riviera, and rare insider access to BMW. The adventure is scheduled for April 2009, so there's plenty of time to clear your calendar.

Three Chimneys Farm Thoroughbred Racing Stable Package $10,000,000.00
You want the best, you go to the best. You want a working, turnkey, in-the-running thoroughbred racing enterprise right out of the starting gate? You go to Three Chimneys Farm. The legendary Kentucky farm has managed some of racing's winningest thoroughbreds, including history's only undefeated triple crown winner (a little guy named Seattle Slew). For this exclusive package, you get the works because Three Chimneys means business. They will build you a stable of 12-15 thoroughbreds and with your input will train them, house them, select races, enter them in races, provide you a personal racing concierge, and manage the entire enterprise for the next four years. As the owner, you get to name your stable and any unnamed horses, design your own silks, attend races, pose for pictures, give quotes to the media ... and keep all the purses and trophies.

So leave me a comment and let me know which luxury gift you got this year? (hee...hee..hee)