Trendy Wednesday - Crescent City Creations

You would think that two days later my post-MNF victory smile would have worn off by now, but it hasn't!! While I was reading a ton of articles on nola.com about the game, I was intrigued by their other publication, Wish, a magazine related to shopping and goodies found in or inspired by NOLA. They had a few really great features on some items created by big name designers/brands who were inspired by New Orleans. So I thought I'd pass along a few of their favorite things along with a dew of mine!!!

I love every bit of Mardi Gras folklore and tradition, but none more that the King Cake. I love how it weaves the city's rich Catholic history with it's French foundations and it's food centric ways. I have never had a King Cake better than the one you can make yourself with this box of Mam Papaul's King Cake mix. It is to die for, and it is such a fun project! I order several boxes at the start of every Carnival season (January 6th!!).

Bryan Batt, who plays the handsome Salvatore Romano from Mad Men, lives in New Orleans and has the most precious boutique called Hazelnut in this great shopping area on Magazine Street. He has started carrying a line of products designed around his take on a New Orleans Toile. They have waste baskets and pictures frames, bed linens and butler trays.

For my birthday my sister got me the most perfect t-shirt I have ever owned. It is from Dirty Coast tees based in NOLA, of course. The graphic is below and it depicts the oak trees lining the parade route that are drenched in beads on the days following Mardi Gras. I have never been a fan of tees that are super tight (can you say muffin top!) but this one is just perfect and the jersey is soooo soft. I could go on and on about how much I love it. They have some really great patters that just have to check out!

I have always loved walking through Saks and seeing the rainbow of perfume bottles that make up the Bond No. 9 perfume display. I love how the scents are named for different streets and neighborhoods in Manhattan. Until recently, the brand had reserved the names only for NYC, but after attending the grand re-opening of Saks after the storm, they decided they must name one for New Orleans as well. Isn't the bottle just beautiful?? I just have to have this!!!!!!!! You can learn more about the company and how they came up with the NOLA scent here.What do you get when you cross jewelry designer David Yurman with the world's greatest quarterback Drew Brees - no ladies, not the perfect man. You get an amazing New Orleans inspired Fleur de Lis charm bracelet. Would it be too cheesy to say this could be my "lucky charm?" For the launch of this product local jewelry store donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the bracelet and 10% of all Yurman proceeds to the Brees Dream Foundation. Amazing!

What is your favorite New Orleans product???