Spring 2010

This Easter, Giorgio Armani's 5th Avenue flagship will be selling Armani Dolci-branded chocolate eggs for your most discerning friends and family. The dark, milk, or white chocolate eggs come in two sizes, all stamped with a giant "A" and gift wrapped in navy and fuchsia packaging with a cherry blossom charm. For those not in Manhattan, no need to worry, as these high-fashion treats can be shipping anywhere in the US until the end of May.

In other fashionable Easter collection news, Ladurée's pastry chef has designed little edible rabbits in a variety of springtime hues.

If, like me, your thumb resembles the color of coal more than grass, the best way you can Spring-ify your living/working space may be with the addition of fun, fresh office accessories. I love Japanese and Korean stationery stores because they are always bursting with bite-size stickers, playful paper, and everyday supplies in unexpected shapes and colors. Online arts and craft shop Cute Tape carries everything from puppy-shaped post-it notes ($10) to envelopes with smiley faces ($6.50) to an impressive selection of that colorful Japanese masking tape I love. See some of the pretty goodies below.

Scrubbing the handle on your fridge and all the light switches with germ-killing cleaners may be on your to-do list when Spring cleaning this year, but those aren't the only germ-infested areas in your house. Prevention magazine has a list of places you don't want to skip when scrubbing:

1. Kitchen faucet. The screen on your faucet is perpetually moist and dark — the perfect environment for bacteria. It doesn't help if you accidentally touch the screen with food or your dirty hands. Once a week, it's recommended to "remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution — follow the directions on the label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using."
2. Garbage disposal. We all know that we let all kinds of things go down the disposal, from raw meat to cucumber peels to leftover milk from our cereal bowl. The disposal and the bottom of the sink are full of bacteria, "about 1,000 times more than the average toilet has." So whatever comes in contact with it, whether it be utensils, dishes, or your cutting board, can become contaminated. At least once a week you should "clean the disposal's rubber stopper with a diluted bleach solution — soap and water aren't enough."
3. Welcome mat. This was a surprise to me, but it makes sense. It's a place where people wipe their shoes off, and one study found "that nearly 96 percent of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria." The solution? "Spray the doormat once a week with a fabric-safe disinfectant (such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray). Leave shoes at the door, and avoid resting bags and groceries on the mat, too."

Curious to know where else germs are lurking in your home? Then read more

Spring is here! Daffodils are in bloom and ready for the picking. I just purchased two bunches of the sunny yellow flowers for only $3, and I'm intent on keeping them around as long as possible. Usually, the bouquets will wilt after about three days, but there are a few things you can do to make them last up to five.

• When you're picking your daffodils, either from a grocery store or from the wild, avoid choosing any petals that look discolored or crumply, or have signs of translucency.
• Before you put your flowers in a vase, hold the stems in bowl of water and trim off the bottom half inch of the stems. Then arrange as you see fit!

Read on for a few more helpful tips!