You know my friend Alejandra? She of the fabulous cake recipes?

Awesome news for those seeking culinary advice: she's offering dinner-party cooking classes starting next week in Hell's Kitchen. Class sizes max out at 8, and for each class she'll teach students how to cook a full menu using fresh, seasonal, and mostly local ingredients (plus entertaining and professional cooking tips).

All the classes will feature unlimited paired cocktails or wine included with the price, and of course will end with a delicious meal. Also, everyone will get their own chef's knife and apron to use during the class, and will go home with a gift bag full of treats, kitchen stuff to keep, and a recipe booklet.

The classes are $125 per person, and RG readers get 10% off (just email Alejandra directly at alejandra@alwaysorderdessert.com after you've signed up, and she'll refund you the discount).

I'm totally into dove grey these days, especially when mixed with dark browns and natural wood (like this beautiful interior), and the Bedbuggs Big Grey Bow Pillow ($24) is a stunning way to add a hint of the shade to your decor without blowing your budget.

Isn't that beautiful? I love the idea of using soft colors and bows to add a touch of femininity to otherwise masculine decor (how gorgeous would this be on an antique leather couch?), but this pillow would work with everything from pastels to neons.

On reader Jennifer's recommendation, Kendrick and I spent part of our rainy Saturday afternoon at Stonewall Kitchen. They're the ones who make those gorgeous jams and sauces you find in fancy shops, but the store sells all kinds of fantastic stuff, from coastal-scented candles to gold starfish door-knockers (!) to Sodastreams and Le Creusets.

My favorite finds:

Lavender Laundry Sachets (toss them in your dryer with wet clothing to leave it beautifully scented)