'If only, If only': A Wishlist for February

1.  OPI Holland Collection, $8.50 each.

Every time OPI announces the lineup for its next collection my heart skips a beat.  This spring it's all about the OPI Holland Collection, a line of shimmers and cremes inspired by the Dutch homeland.  My personal favorites are Vampsterdam, Dutch 'Ya Just Love OPI? and Wooden Shoe Like To Know?  Take a look at these swatches and you'll want to get your hands on a few bottles yourself!

2.  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, about $16.

Known for her portrayal of the fabulous Kelly Kapoor on NBC's The Office, Mindy Kaling can now add book author to her resumé!  Reminiscent of Tina Fey's 'Bossypants,' 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)' is a collection of essay about Kaling's early life and career, intertwined with short observational essays about her friends, family, and relationships. As if her hilarious screenwriting wasn't enough to impress me--I eagerly await my chance to read her comic memoir!

3.  Midnight in Paris, about $18.

A must-have for anyone attached to the arts, Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy film, written and directed by the one and only Woody Allen, that centers on a small group of Americans visiting the French capital for business and pleasure. The protagonist, played by Owen Wilson, is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his fiancée and their divergent goals due to his magical experiences in the city beginning each night at midnight. Attention literary/art enthusiasts: Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, T.S. Eliot, Henri Matisse and F. Scott Fitzgerald all make an appearance.

4.  Torani Sugar-Free English Toffee Syrup, about $10.

This year Santa (or should I say Mom and Dad) brought me my very own espresso maker and milk steamer.  Needless to say, I've been experimenting with various syrup combinations ever since.  Starbucks offers what I originally thought was seasonal: the inexplicably delicious Toffee Nut latte.  I'd love to add the sugar-free syrup to my collection.

5.  A Zombie Ate My Cupcake: 25 Deliciously Weird Cupcake Recipes, about $11.

On a recent outing to Barnes & Noble, I stumbled across this very 'interesting' cookbook.  After any extended length of time with me, you'll find rather quickly that I have quite the sweet tooth, especially when it comes to baked goods.  Cupcakes, my personal favorite to eat, are also one of my favorites to make.  The unorthodox recipes appeal to my morbid fascination with calaveras, gravestones and vital organs.  Check out this website for a few photos of the wonderfully creepy cupcake creations.

A few of my favorite things

This week's Valentine's Day-themed Glee showcased the beautiful Rachel Berry in this little number. Unfortunately, the Movie Moment Dress will cost you a pretty penny (about $190) but my goodness, is it adorable! I'm a little disappointed I don't have the means to make it a part of my wardrobe.

During the holiday season, I discovered Starbucks' toffee nut latte. A cozy classic that's smooth and satisfying, I recently discovered the tasty drink is actually available all year long! What a pleasant surprise for me.

During winter break, my mom and I tried our hand at making cake balls and although it wasn't necessarily the easiest project to carry out, the pay-off was more than worth the labor. The lovely Bakerella has several recipes and tutorials that break down the process rather nicely. I own Bakerella's cake pop book and would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of giving cake pop making a try.

I'd be lying if I said part of me didn't want to be best pals with Emma Stone. Although I'm not exactly sure how possible that is, at least there's the movies. The other night I watched Easy A for the first time in quite a while and I'm hoping to give Crazy Stupid Love a re-watch this weekend. Meanwhile, Zombieland is sitting in my Amazon cart.

Recently started series five of Doctor Who on Netflix.  Still facing separation anxiety from Ten but Eleven is definitely growing on me.

Office fans rejoice!  The adorable Jenna Fischer signed up for Twitter.

Wrote a paper this week about Horacio Quiroga's short story 'Los mensú.' 20th century Uruguayan playwright, poet, and short story writer, Quiroga dabbles in the supernatural, covering the most intriguing aspects of nature, often tinged with horror, disease, and suffering for human beings.

Sorry Pandora but you've been replaced by my new favorite app, Spotify. A very handy way to put together playlists and look at artist discographies. Plus, it's quite fun to eavesdrop on what your Facebook friends are listening to.

My newest obsession as far as blogs go, A Cup of Jo is the hub for all things fashion, design, photography, bikes and of course, the musings of moderator, Joanna Goddard. So many cute friends and amusing entries... I found myself scrolling back all the way to June 2011.