Going with the flow, or going with the crowd?

This is going to be a bit of a different post - so if you're not a blogger yourself, or actively involved in the beauty blogging community, the following might not be of any interest. But for those in a similar conundrum: the blogging blahs have settled, and in my experience if I don't air out whatever is currently bothering me, there may be here for good. So here are some random observations about the state of the beauty blogging union, and my place in all of this.

When I started this blog back in 2009, blogosphere was very much a different beast altogether. Reading blogs was still a relatively niche past-time, being a blogger was very alternative - or simply weird for non-blogging people. Blogs seemed more personal, and intimate, and the community was tight but open to newcomers. That's why it was so enticing to be a part of it; I wanted a space to let the creative juices flow and show my point of view, and I wanted likeminded friends to discuss all things beauty. To a lot of you, it might still be the case - but I feel like something HAS changed.

In 2014, many of those beauty blogs are now competitive buisnesses. Sure, businesses with a strong focus on writing, product photography and social media presence - but so are women's magazines. It's all about the New! Just Released! Limited Edition!, PR samples, press events. Churning out swatches and a review the minute you lay your eyes on a product, because it's all about who can be the fastest, who has the freshest trend. Posts at different blogs featuring a newly released product come all at the same time like a huge wave, and it's really rather interesting (dare I say, annoying?) to see five subsequent Instagram photos from different bloggers featuring the exact same eyeshadow palette that has just landed on their doorsteps. The more posts and YouTube videos about the same product, the more hype around the product, the more people are frantically trying to purchase, now now now, before it's gone.

Now, for a necessary disclaimer: I absolutely do not begrudge successful bloggers' success, or the fact that they have been able to make a career out of something they love. I also understand that what beauty blogs focus on are essentially commercial products, and so brand relationships form and have to be maintained. But - it IS walking a thin line between being truthful to yourself and fearing a cold shoulder from a big company, and no amount of disclaimers is going to change it. Some pull it off with more aplomb than the others, and that's were my readership preferences lay - but that's something you absolutely have to judge by yourself.

What I'm trying to say is that the beauty blogosphere is not what it used to be, and I don't regard is as something pejorative - call it progress or necessary evil, it just is what it is. My feeling though is that in the new blogging landscape, there's a certain paradigm choice to be made: are you going with your own flow, or are you going with the crowd? What's your focus? New collections, swatches and lightning fast reviews, or staying true to your unique perspective, true time-tested favorites, less popular products that really work and deserve a mention? I'm going to be quite blunt: the latter approach is not going to generate as many page views, or give you as many readers - you know, what most people would call blogging success. But is carving your own niche worth it for YOU?

It is worth it for me. I'm not a big player - there, I said it. What I get from beauty blogging are not free samples of the newest products, invitations to press events, external motivation in the form of readers and page ranks; although I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the rare brand outreach, or am not overjoyed over gaining new followers or seeing some nice stats for the month (thank you!!!). The reason I have been blogging for so long and do not intend to quit (come on, I'd be like abandoning my own baby!) is that I get a tremendous satisfaction from the very process of creating, from post ideas, through product photography, to actual writing - about something I love and feel passionate about. And still, the sense of community: so many wonderful readers, friends on and offline. You really are my tribe.

Practically, it means that you won't see many newest product releases, reviews and swatches here on Rocaille Writes. That might be a disappointment to some of you - and I understand. But from what my gut is telling me (and from what I can gather from your very enthusiastic response to the Anti Make-up Phase post), a lot of you are not here for it. What you will see on Rocaille Writes are products I'm truly enthusiastic about, be it old or new, from small or big brands, product comparisons so you don't need to spend your hard earned cash on everything that gets the hype, my own interpretations of current trends, thoughts on the blogging process, quality over quantity of posts, my struggles, experiments, randomness; whatever is on my mind as a writer. If I'm not going to sit with the popular girls because of that - so be it.

And yes, observing the current state of the beauty blogosphere can sometimes be quite depressing, and frustrating, and blogging blahs-inducing; but we shall withstand the storms and persevere. And maybe try not to look at those stats too often, and not compare myself - in the end, I can only be me, but I strive to be the best me that I can. Love you, my unique, fearless, no-bullshit readers. Friends.

Spring Beauty Wishlist

Happy First Day of Spring! Still going strong on that make-up low-buy, peeps - which also means my wishlist is growing exponentially. Making wishlists is a great way of keeping your beauty spending in check; it's like bookmarking products for later consideration so you can avoid impulse buying and focus on things you really want (no, I mean - really really want. Including every new limited edition collection does NOT help). If your current lemming is still high on that list after a couple months - great, it might actually be worth treating yourself to. I might be alone in this, but adding things to my wishlist, deleting things, editing, rewriting, umming and aaahing over it - in short, delaying gratitude - makes me appreciate my new products a lot more when I decide it's finally time to pull the trigger. Plus, I can also shop around and wait for the best deal.

So here's a look at what's on top of my skincare & make-up wishlist at the moment:

1. By Terry Rouge Terrybly Age Defence Lipstick in Torrid Rose #303 ($49.50 for 0.12 oz/ 3.5g)
I've only ever sampled a face moisturizer from By Terry, but the brand is widely known for its fantastic lip products, with Rouge Terrybly formula coming highly recommended by many of my favorite blogging pals. Torrid Rose looks like a gorgeous deep rose pink, bright but not too much for every day. Not gonna lie though, I'm absolutely balking at the price - so I'm not going to buy unless I can find a nice deal.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads ($45 for 60 pads)
I'm still on the hunt for the best acid exfoliant for my skin - and while I've recently tried the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads and I'm in LOVE, I'd like to compare these ones from Peter Thomas Roth (both are Caroline Hirons' approved) so I can get back to you with my favorites. I originally wanted to save on these by getting the almost $10 cheaper Complexion Correction Pads but a quick look at the ingredients list convinced me otherwise; the latter are loaded with alcohol and an artificial peach bellini scent, so Un-Wrinkle it is.

3. Chantecaille Lip Chic ($35 for 2 g)
Again, on recommendation from some fabulous bloggers - and apparently, Chantecaille's best-selling lipstick formula. Lip Chics claim to be emollient, comfortable and glossy, with collagen for plump but not stinging lips. I haven't quite decided on the shade, but I like the look of Sunrise, a bright coral-pink, or Rose Delice, a bright pink.

4. Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Ash Blonde ($26 for 0.3 oz)
I have actually just finished my eyebrow pencil, and the drugstore replacement by Revlon is just not the right shade. Gummy has recently put the Precision Brow to the test and liked it, and I've never tried anything from Kevyn Aucoin... so why not? The capless design seems a bit scary, but hey ho, living on the edge, and all that shiz.

5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly ($29 for 0.22 oz/ 6 ml)
'Cause I've run out of the darn concealer as well. Kind of (says she, picking through three unsatisfactory back-ups at the bottom of the drawer). Though in all seriousness, my BECCA Dual Coverage Compact Concealer might be on its last legs - I still have plenty remaining in the pan, but lately the texture seems dry as a bone, and looks even drier on the skin. So you know. The NARS is a necessity. Or at least justifiable.

6. Paul & Joe Face Powder S, Secret Garden ($45 for 1.2 oz)
Now here's something that's completely UNjustifiable - I have way too many face powders, including the somewhat recent acquisition of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused. But... look at all the BIRDZ!!! And the pastel pretty BALLZ! I haz to have them *closes website for fear of accidentally adding them to the cart and speeding through the online checkout*

7. Kahina Giving Beauty 100% Organic Argan Oil ($36 for 30ml)
I'd be totally skeptical about paying this much for pure argan oil if I haven't tried a sample of this Kahina one - it absorbed like a dream, giving me beautiful, even-toned, glowing skin in the morning. This paired with FAB Facial Radiance Pads gave me a couple days of some of the best skin I've had in a long time, and that's something I don't say easily. I don't know, you guys - I might cheap out and get a less expensive brand, like Aura Cacia. Or I might not. It's amazing, anyway.

8. Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow Refill in Iridescent Pink ($15, available in 25 shades)
Driveller Kate dedicated an entire post to Shu Uemura glitter eyeshadows, and while most shades she featured are discontinued/unavailable in the US, this is the single one that we can still get our grubby little mitts on. And so I shall, one day - I might also try some other favorites from this previously unexplored brand; I hear from Larie their lipsticks are also amazing.

9. Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BE213 Nude ($33 for 1 oz)
Another brand I've never tried anything from - and again, beauty blogger recommended. I've been on a very subtle eye make-up kick, and I think this should fit the bill nicely. Speaking of Japanese eyeshadows, I would love to check out Suqqu eyeshadow quads some day, but I just can't stomach the Ichibankao mark-up or the Selfridges.com shipping fee; so in the meantime, I'd be more than happy to experiment with Shiseido.

Ooof, that's a lot of wants - all that wishlist dissecting has really made me hungry. You might notice a prevalence of high-end and luxury brands, as well as some Japanese inclinations; I guess this year I'd really like to try products from brands formerly unbeknownst to me, and since the number of my purchases has drastically decreased, I don't mind paying more for the few things that look interesting.

What's on your current beauty wishlist?

A Month In Nail Polish: Early Spring 2014

I haven't shared any nail swatches in a while, right? Well, you might remember that in January, I decided to give my nails a break from constant polishing to see if it would help with breakage and general dryness. What resulted, however, was a little bit different from what I expected - without the extra protective layer of base coat + nail polish + top coat, some of my nails started breaking even worse! You know, kinda like when you get this tiny crack at the side of your nail that's sticking out, and then it catches on something, and before you notice half of your fingernail is GONE. Yeah, that.

So I obviously decided to stop that nonsense and went right back to painting on some pretty pretty early spring shades.

Essie Nail Color in Chinchilly, two coats. A cult classic for a reason. Chinchilly replaced a bottle of Essie Hot Coco in my collection; while Hot Coco was a bit too warm and brown on me, Chinchilly has a perfectly cool purple undertone. I accented my ring nail with a coat of Zoya Jules, a taupe with gold shimmer.

A sparkling snowy manicure for the last days of winter! This is Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in Calla Lily (three coats), topped with one coat of Zoya Nail Lacquer in Mosheen from their Winter 2013 collection. Mosheen is such a cool shade: a very sheer light blue base with small opalescent glitters and larger light blue bar glitters. On top of the Revlon shade, it brought out some yellow undertones in my nails I wasn't overly fond of, but now I really want to try it again on top of blue or some darker shade nail polish.

And Zoya strikes again! This beautiful medium orchid purple with white gold shimmer is Zoya Nail Lacquer in Hudson (two coats) from the Spring 2014 collection. I actually won this plus one other shade in Zoya's weekly Twitter giveaway, Tune Tuesday (you can learn more about it here). I definitely recommend checking their giveaway out - it's a lot of fun, and who can say no to some new Zoya polishes?

Lastly, a quintessential warm weather shade - Essie Nail Color in In The Cab-Ana from last year's Resort collection (two coats). This medium turquoise blue (it appears lighter in my photo) was a little thick for my liking, which caused some gaps and dragging, but overall applied opaque in two coats and has lasted with just some tip wear for six days now. This is actually my first time wearing this shade and I like it a lot more than I thought I would!

What nail polish shades do you favor this time of the year?

Angelic White Eyes with Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost

It's such a stunning, warm, sunny, SPRINGY day today in New York City! I don't care that it's going to be below freezing tomorrow again, for now I'm definitely feeling spring - so I whipped up a semi-simple angelic white Face Of The Day to share with you.

White eye make-up is very much in at the moment, and while usually I can't really be bothered with trends, I thought this was quite 'me'... and a chance to feature a previously undiscussed Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Sugar Frost. You might remember from my older review of the shade 'Grey Pearl' (clickety click!) that I'm a huge fan of the Caviar Stick formula, and 'Sugar Frost' is no different; although compared to Grey Pearl, the texture is a bit less refined and the finish more frosted. On its own, it does give a beautiful, glossy, almost 'wet' look to the lids though, and has since made its way into my current make-up rotation.

For this delicate eye look, I decided to use 'Sugar Frost' as a base on the mobile lid, and a tiny dab in the inner corners. I then applied the shade 'Virgin' from the Urban Decay Naked 1 palette over the Caviar Stick on the lid, and very lightly defined my crease with 'Naked' from the same palette. For my pop of pure white, I pressed some NYX Single Eyeshadow in 'White Pearl' on the inner corners and on the centre of the lid above my pupil, blending out the edges. I finished the eyes with a generous coat of Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in Black.

On the rest of my face, I'm wearing Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum foundation (reviewed here), BECCA Dual Compact Concealer on blemishes and the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque under my eyes. I applied some NYX Powder Blush in Angel (sic!) onto my cheeks and set the whole face with Make Up For Ever HD Powder. Lastly, I applied a couple swipes of Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink (more swatches here) on my lips and tapped the color in with my finger for a more natural finish.

L-R: NYX White Pearl eyeshadow, Urban Decay Virgin, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost, NYX Powder Blush in Angel, Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink

This look is a bit of a throwback for me - in highschool, I used to apply the exact shade of white pearl eyeshadow to highlight the inner corners of my eyes almost every single day. Nowadays, I feel that pure white can be a bit too much for everyday, although with my current very pale skin, I can almost pull it off. I wouldn't however recommend using a pure white eyeshadow if you're much darker than me, unless you're going for a more mod/rocker look. I also completely skipped eyeliner, because I felt that would look too harsh against the white and the eyes would lose some of that subtle, dreamy quality. In this version, I opted for light, cooler pinks on the rest of the face, but I think the white eyes would also look fantastic with a light peach cheek/lip combo.

Have you tried wearing the white eye look already? What is your favorite spring make-up trend?

Fine-tuning My Skincare Routine

For the past two months or so, I'd noticed the condition of my skin gradually deteriorating into the hormonal, congested, flaky, irritated territory. I was at a loss - I was already using gentle, quality skincare products, taking supplements, spending time pampering my skin; surely there's little more a woman can do, right? Wrong! About a week ago I chanced upon an old 'Routines Cheat Sheet' by the indelible Mrs Hirons (whom I've adored and silently stalked on social media for what... 4 years now? Holla, #TBT!) and it spurred me to really fine-tune my skincare routine. Mind you, it's not that I didn't read the cheat sheet when Caroline first posted it... but turns out, I didn't really really read it.

So here's a little overview of my skincare bad habits, some changes I've already introduced into my routine and more changes I hope to incorporate in the near future. I'm already seeing results from these tiny tweaks: my skin is calmer, less red and congested, plumper and more hydrated. I'm hoping there's something here you too might have overlooked and could change in your skincare routine!

1. Cleansing. If there's just one thing Caroline will impress on you, it's the importance of properly cleansing your skin. We're talking absolutely no foaming cleansers, nice balmy textures applied on dry skin, removed with a hot washcloth (stupidly in the past, I thought she was referring to flannels as an actual fabric... and bought some baby flannel wipes that I still need to replace with just your plain old terry washcloths), as well as double cleansing. I have chucked most foaming face washes a while ago but I sometimes failed at double cleansing and using a cloth to remove it all, like when I'm using my TATCHA One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. I'll now make sure to always remove it properly, and follow up with another cleanser (currently the Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe) when I'm wearing make-up and sunscreen... and really throw that cloth in the wash when I'm done with it.

2. Toning. Incorporating an exfoliating toner into my routine has probably been one of the best things I've ever done for my skin. But, I'd fallen a bit behind since I first started using my Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner; Caroline suggests using one twice a day, morning and night, but due to some dryness and irritation, I'd been using it only at night. I now think that maybe I actually wasn't nourishing my skin enough afterwards, and also I might be sensitive to the grapefruit extract in the product (which is why I'll be replacing it with another acid toner in the near future). In the mornings, I've now started to mix a little bit of the MB Glycolic Acid Toner with some of the La Roche-Posay Physiological Soothing Toner, and I have to say my skin is now brighter, evened out and much less congested, without the redness I was getting previously.

3. Hydrating serum. Well... I just didn't always apply a serum, to be perfectly honest. If I was using the Murad Pigment Lightening Serum at night, I'd skip it for fear of the serum interfering with the efficacy of the lightening product. In the mornings, I'd skip it for fear of getting shiny too quickly and overloading my skin. Yet, I was still getting dry patches and flakes. Now, I've started to use this Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Moisturizing Concentrate for Very Dehydrated Sensitive Skin every morning, and I layer it over the Murad hyperpigmentation treatment at night, or alternate them every other day. So far, no flakes!

4. Facial massage. Following Caroline's recommendation, I got this little facial massager from The Body Shop, and use it in the evenings with my second cleanser. I haven't noticed any results from it quite yet, but it's quite fun and pleasant to use - the knobbly bits really feel like they're doing something extra compared to just massaging your skin with a cleanser in circular motions with your hands. I'm hoping the massage will help drain some of the toxins causing deep breakouts on my neck, jawline and chin.

5. Supplements. I've been taking fish oil capsules on and off for about a year now, but now I'm trying to step up my game and make sure I'm taking it every single day. Another supplement I'd like to try in the near future is quercetin, which Caroline recommended for acne-prone skin. From what I've gathered, quercetin is a natural, plant-derived antioxidant that may help with inflammation as well as allergies; in fact, some people call it 'the natural anti-histamine'. I'm planning on getting the Quercetin & Bromelain capsules from Vitacost (referral link) next time I place an order.

6. Other tweaks. I used to always apply my eye cream as the last step in my routine; however, even small amounts of serum or moisturizer may prevent it from being absorbed fully, thus making it less efficient. Now I try to make sure I whack it on as the very first step. I also focus on bringing my skincare down onto my neck; because firstly, I do get some breakouts just under my jawline that could use some exfoliating, and secondly because I want to ensure it's getting some anti-aging action - nobody wants a smooth, unwrinkled face and a lined, sagging neck! I've also kind of gotten away from using spot treatments - I feel like they weren't helping much to actually heal the spot, they were just making the area dry and flaky. Now when I see a spot coming up, I smear some tamanu oil on it to soothe the angry offender.

That's it for now; obviously, my skincare routine is ALWAYS a work in progress, so I'll be introducing more changes in the future, especially by way of replacing some products here and there. I still need to find some good exfoliating toner options to alternate (I'm thinking of trying REN's Clarifying Toning Lotion and First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, which are currently on their way to me!), as well as a lighter cream/milk cleanser to use in the mornigs (maybe REN's Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk, or Anthony Logistics for Men Glycolic Facial Cleanser?). I'll definitely review new products as I try them, well if they're worth mentioning anyway.

Have you introduced any changes into your skincare routine recently?

You're a Doll, Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly!

Oh, Buxom. Buxom, Buxom, Buxom. You and your lip glosses... I've mentioned before that I'm more of a lipstick than a lipgloss gal, and then I'm DEFINITELY not into shimmery glosses - but I'll make an exception for you, Buxom Full-On Lip Polish formula! Yes, you're THAT good. (I'm not alone in talking to my lip products, am I? Am I?!)

The Full-On Lip Polish ($19 for 0.15 oz, deluxe sample size pictured here) shimmery lip glosses are one of three gloss formulas available from Buxom; the other two being the non-sparkly Full-On Lip Creams (I've raved about the shade 'Cherry Flip' here) and the shimmery, but non-tingly Full-Bodied Lip Gloss, which I've yet to try. Both of the Full-On lines claim to have a gentle plumping effect, on top of being smooth, shiny and moisturizing with hyaluronic spheres and Vitamins A & E.

The plumping effect manifests itself via slightly tingly, but mostly cooling sensation on the lips, which lasts for about an hour on my pout. Interestingly, the Full-On Lip Polish does not smell minty/mentholated - it actually has the most delicious scent of crème brûlée when applied to the lips. It comes with a standard, fuzzy doe foot applicator that deposits just enough gloss to cover my entire lips. The gloss smooths over any vertical lip lines, gives intense shine, hugs the lips for a non-sticky, cushiony feel. It's so, so comfortable! The micro shimmer feels weightless and non-gritty, my usual pet-peeve with any shimmery/glittery lip product.

'Dolly', the shade of a deluxe sample I received with some Sephora order, is a warm pink mauve shot through with delicate golden shimmer. I refused to try this gloss for a while because I thought this shade would be all wrong on me (too brown, too frosty...) - but it's actually very pretty! It's definitely in the 'My Lips But Better' family and on me adds a hint of depth and warmth to my paler, cooler lips. The fine gold sparkle adds some dimension without being too noticeable.

Clockwise from the top: MAC Viva Glam V, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up, Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige

L-R: Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige, Maybelline Warm Me Up, MAC Viva Glam V

As for the moisturizing claims: the Buxom Full-On formula so far has been one of the most easy and comfortable lip gloss I've ever tried, tied only with the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector. It's obviously not as moisturizing as a lip balm but does not dry out my lips in any way. The wear time is standard for a gloss, meaning it doesn't withstand earing or drinking, but doesn't wear off or fade otherwise. Gosh, I'm now kicking myself for not picking up one of the holiday mini sets Sephora releases every year! Maybe next December...

Have you tried Buxom Full-On gloss formula? What is your Holy Grail lip gloss?

Current Favorite Teas and Dark Chocolate

While the Anti Make-up Phase is still going strong (and by the way, thank you for all the amazing comments - you guys are obviously my tribe!), I thought I'd entertain you with a little non-beauty favorites post, focusing on my favorite teas and dark chocolate bars of the moment. Because let's face it: if I don't blog about them now, there soon will be nothing left to blog about in the first place :)

You may know from my '30 Random Facts About Me' post that I'm a discerning coffee drinker, but I actually drink more tea than coffee, and my tea consumption reaches about 4 mugs a day in the depths of winter - I just like hot drinks in my cold, cold belleh! I do try to moderate my caffeine intake, so some of the teas you'll see here are of the herbal variety. Recently, my husband also got me really into dark chocolate (I used to be a milk chocolate kind of girl, and Lindt's bars are still among my favorites) and now a nice hot cup of tea with some dark chocolate is my all-round favorite treat.

Let's start with the ever-so-popular David's Tea. One of the benefits of moving to New York is that we now have access to a physical David's Tea store and are able to smell all the goodies in person. My general impression of David's is that while they do have some wonderfully tasty teas, unfortunately some of the varieties they carry smell better than they taste (looking at you, chamomile-laden Mango Lassi!), but you know, there's always a bit of trial and error with previously untested teas.

David's Tea Organic Cream of Earl Grey (black tea with vanilla and bergamot flavor) is my ultimate favorite for the mornings. I think Earl Grey is a bit like Marmite in that some people love it and some people hate it, but if you enjoy this classic variety, try to hunt down something with a touch of vanilla as well. I also like Adagio Tea's Earl Grey Moonlight, which has the same taste profile.

Next up, a little night time treat: David's Tea Jessie's Tea, which is a rooibos blend with coconut and lavender. Jessie's Tea is a case of something that sounds pretty weird on paper, but tastes really good in reality - you get the slightly sweet, grassy notes of rooibos, creaminess of coconut and a bit medicinal, relaxing lavender finish.

Lastly from David's Tea, the unassumingly-named Citron Oolong. We bought it to replace sadly discontinued seasonal Tangerine green tea, and I love it just as much. Oolong ('black dragon' in Chinese) is a variety that sits somewhere in between green and black tea, and this blend is scented with jasmine (those are actual jasmine flowers you can see in the photo!), lemon myrtle and citrus essences. I'd also like a matchng perfume, please.

Now for an old favorite: Adagio Tea's Thai Chai. It's a comforting, warming black chai tea blended with coconut, lemongrass, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. This particular blend differs from most chai teas in that it has the light freshness of coconut and lemongrass. I don't usually take my tea with milk, but I find that this benefits from a little splash to mellow out the spice and bring out the Thai flavors.

Now for the newest favorite: Mountain Rose Herbs Hibiscus High Tea. This is obviously an herbal tea (or what the French like to call 'tisane') - a blend of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, mint, rose petals and orange peel. It tastes sweet, fresh, fruity, slightly cooling with lemongrass and mint; I actually need to try it as iced tea, I bet it would be pretty fantastic. It's a good substitute for fruit juice in the winter months, but quite difficult to get hold of (only available online from Mountain Rose Herbs store, and I found the shipping to be pretty extortionate), so I might move on to a diffrent hibiscus infusion after I finish this box.

Time for dark chocolate noms! Gourmet dark chocolate can get very expensive very quickly, so here's a little online shopping tip: I get my dark chocolate bars from Vitacost (this is my referral link, if you care for it*) - I find their prices a lot lower than any grocery store around me, Whole Foods included, and they have a very nice selection of fair trade, single origin, oftentimes organic dark chocolate. Their customer service is pretty outstanding and they have lightning fast shipping!

Madécasse is a Madagascar chocolate brand we've been buying for a long time now.  My older favorite is Citrus & Pink Pepper (63% pure cocoa) for it's bright, subtle spiciness, but now I've been cheating on it with Sea Salt & Nibs (63% cocoa) - it's a bit bolder, less sweet, with the delightful saltiness and crunchy texture from cacao nibs. Yum! Husband also really likes hot Cinnamon & Chili Pepper variety.

Our favorite inexpensive discovery: Equal Exchange Chocolates in Organic Very Dark Chocolate (71% cacao content) and Organic Panama Extra Dark (80% cacao). I used to dislike very dark chocolate because I often found a strange bitter/sour taste to it; these two have none of that, just super intense, concentrated cocoa flavor with a hint of vanilla bean. You really have to let a piece melt in your mouth a bit to savour all the amazing chocolate-ness of these... no rushing! Between the two of us, we go through a couple bars a week.

Let's wrap this up with a little bonus treat - my current favorite pastry. This is Tarte Framboise Meringuée from Maison Eric Kayser bakery here in New York. So far, I've found this international bakery chain to be the only one to properly execute a French tarte pastry; the crust has to be buttery and uhm, crusty, and this version (not to be confused with the regular Tarte Framboise, which comes with vanilla cream filling and no meringue) has a sweet and sour lemon cream, meringue AND fresh raspberries on top. Simply indulgent. Get their Torte de Meule, a large sourdough bread, and some Mini Cereales bread rolls while you're there.

Let me know in the comments your favorite teas and dark chocolate of the moment, or any other treat for that matter! I love discovering new things through your suggestions, and I need to replete my stocks pretty soon :) Also, if you're craving more tea reviews, especially of the bagged variety, check out my older tea favorites right here.

*Disclaimer: If you use my referral link to make a purchase at Vitacost.com, we will both receive a $10 coupon off of a minimum $30 purchase. You don't have to use my link - but it IS a nice deal. I'm not affiliated with or sponsored by Vitacost, I just genuinely like their service.