The Plan

Valentine's Loves

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Love Beets

2012-01-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

Or, really, for me they should be called Lazy Beets since they contain all the deliciousness of fresh-roasted beets without the hassle of peeling and cooking them. The tasty flavors are a bonus!

Your local WFM should carry Love Beets by the pre-cut fruit. Perfect to throw on salads, sandwiches, or toss with crumbled goat cheese! Yum!

PW's Hot Chocolate

2011-12-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

I'm battling a serious post-holidays cold here, and nothing sounds better to me right now than the Pioneer Woman's Hot Chocolate.
If only I had all the ingredients here at home.....

Last Minute Shopping

2011-12-21T08:54:00.002-05:00

Loving these ideas on last minute stocking stuffers for the kiddos....

Things We Love: December

2011-12-14T08:04:00.000-05:00

Oy, the holidays never cease to amaze me with the chaos they bring on.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. Combating winter dryness everywhere. Plus, the fun samples you get when ordering online are a bonus!

Holiday Cards. The mailbox is such a fun place, lately. Although, I have sent out 141 cards and received only 21? Come on, people! Thank you, USPS for finally issuing a holiday stamp that is both modern and secular (good-bye Holiday Knits!).

Pan Am. Loving this "new" show. Almost as good as American Dreams (RIP).

Gearhart's Chocolates. An assorted box arrived this week - a gift from a client (way to go supporting local C'ville businesses!), I have had to limit myself to one piece per night. Personal favs include: Earl Grey and Brown Butter Caramel.

Cheers to Twilight

2011-11-18T07:38:00.000-05:00

Breaking Dawn, Part 1 is finally here! (insert eye-roll from all you non-Twilight fans).
In celebration, work these cocktails in to your weekend repertoire:

New Moon

1 oz. vodka
1 oz. triple sec
1 oz. creme de violette

Stir contents in a shaker and serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with a piece of citrus cut out with a star-shaped cookie cutter.

The Edward

1 ½ oz. Plymouth gin
½ oz. Licor 43
½ oz. Plymouth sloe gin
½ oz. lemon juice

Served on the rocks with a lemon twist

Maybe for a child's room?!

2011-11-18T07:34:00.000-05:00

You can find it (and some cool state options) here, at Old Try Press.

Wedding Wednesday: Fall Florida Wedding

2011-11-16T07:00:00.002-05:00

Design*Sponge in Richmond

2011-11-14T19:29:00.000-05:00

For those of you in the Richmond area, Grace Bonney will be leading seminars and giving a talk during lunch on Wednesday. The event is sponsored by Richmond Home. Click here to learn more and buy tickets.

Wedding Wednesday: Fall RD Centerpieces

2011-11-09T08:00:00.005-05:00

From this past weekend in Florida.

Skinny Soup

2011-11-08T13:14:00.000-05:00

My go-to meal for cooler weather is soup. This lightened up version of an old-school classic hit our menu plans last week. At 300 calories per serving, it was a hit!

Light French Onion Soup

2 pounds yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp unsalted butter (I have also used OO)
2 tbsp flour
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 cup Cognac/brandy
1/4 cup white wine
9 cups light beef stock
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
sliced, toasted, crusty bread (Italian, etc)
sliced RF swiss or gruyere cheese(if you can find it)

In a large pot, sauté the onions with the butter, until soft and golden, about 20 minutes. Add flour, mixing well another 2-3 minutes. Add thyme, bay leaf, wine and brandy, and simmer uncovered for 10 more minutes.

Add the beef stock, salt & pepper to your liking, reduce heat. Cover and simmer gently for about 25 minutes. Remove bay leaf and ladle 1.5 cups soup into oven-safe bowls or cups. Place bowls on a baking sheet. Place sliced toasted bread on top of soup and top bread with cheese. Broil 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is golden.

Fall Cheese Board

2011-10-30T14:35:00.000-05:00

It's been perfect weather lately to stay inside, light a fire, pour some vino, and enjoy something like this.....

Crock Pot Habits

2011-10-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

After a good ten years of being advised to utilize a crock pot, I have finally paid heed. Last night we had sausage and pepper pasta and tortilla soup is on the menu tonight. I am obsessed with this thing. So my question is...do you leave your crock pot unattended? All day? Usually I'm home but I left it for a while today without really worrying about it. However, some people do (and, admittedly, that is one of the reasons I never used it in the past). They say it uses as much electricity as a lightbulb, but I don't put a gallon of liquid in my lamps...

October Birchbox

2011-10-18T06:25:00.000-05:00

We're back with another Birchbox review.

This month our box included: a new mascara (really great, although a little odd coming off), an organic facial scrub (great for your travel bag), a Redken shine spray, all natural lip exfoliator, and some fun mints. I am loving the fact that a lot of the items we've received are great for travel -- things we would buy anyway for our weekends away!

What did you think of your Birchbox shipment this month?

The Red Cups

2011-10-11T09:12:00.000-05:00

Living in a college town, I had to share this article. Solo cups are a college staple, in so many ways.

I actually once heard of a foreign exchange student who was asked "What are you most looking forward to experiencing during your time in America?"
She replied, "Going to a party with the red cups!"

Dinner Tonight

2011-10-09T18:25:00.000-05:00

excuse the camera phone photo

Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas....Yum.

Baby Boy Gifts!*

2011-10-05T12:23:00.001-05:00

*not for either of us

Tailgate Recap

2011-10-03T07:31:00.001-05:00

Charlottesville ushered in Fall weather this weekend, and the 'Hoos added another win to their record.

The tailgate was a win, per usual. This week, our menu included:
Crudite with hummus and spinach dip
Fresh Fruit
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Traditional 7 Layer Dip with 6 layers (we are not an olive loving group)
Cedar Planked Grilled Brie with Peach Chutney
Pork, Veggie, and Chicken Kabobs
Pasta Salad with Feta and Roasted Peppers
Cornbread
Apple Slab Pie
Other assorted desserts, and, of course, cocktails!

Do You Birchbox?

2011-09-26T07:01:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about Birchbox? We have. From one of our readers, actually. What a great gift (to yourself or someone else on your list).

Launched by two HBS grads, Birchbox brings upscale beauty samples to your doorstep for only $10/month.

This month's delivery brought Befine Night Cream, Jouer Lip Enhancer, Jurlique Hand Santizer, and Ferragamo perfume. The super-cute packaging is also a plus!

Love

2011-09-21T10:58:00.001-05:00

How gorgeous is the new copper collection from Simon Pearce? It stopped me in my tracks when I was casually flipping through the latest catalogue.

No thank you

2011-09-19T08:24:00.000-05:00

One of my friends has the inside scoop on all the big estate sales in the area. Last week I made plans to meet her at 10am in Scarsdale, NY. When I pulled up it looked like this:

The turnout seemed impressive for a Friday morning. Hopes were high. When we walked in there were some nice linens and pieces of silver. We got the giggles when we came across four cans of PBR, still in the six pack casing, labeled $2. However, things took a depressing turn when we went into the kitchen and one of the organizers was labeling food in the pantry. And we fled when she tried to sell a jar of peanut butter to my friend, with the inside info "it's creamy." In 50 years you can bet I will tell my children that they are NEVER to sell my foodstuffs when I leave my home. (Talk about dark humor, right?)

Hopefully we will have better luck this week in Greenwich.

Dog Alert

2011-09-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

Farrell and I are what I would call practical dog lovers. We aren't terribly indulgent- dogs need structure- and we don't lose sight of the fact that dogs are not human. Which isn't to say our dogs past and present don't have pretty cushy lives- they do and we love and appreciate them very much. After working in the thoroughbred industry in Kentucky I also think I'm realistic about the overbreeding situation (of dogs, cats, and horses) in this country. However, I was extremely shocked by some information I found on the website of L.A.B Rescue and Adoption Network. According to their page entitled About Our Organization, approximately 30-40% of the animals put down in Texas pounds are purebred. Isn't that crazy? Can you imagine paying $900+ for a dog only to realize that maybe you don't have enough time for it? Clearly there are some very uninformed people out there, and I have to say I partially blame the breeders. I recently called a reputable breeder about a Rhodesian Ridgeback, which is a rather high maintenance dog, and I was shocked by what she didn't want to discuss before launching into her sales pitch. In addition, this throw away attitude is creating a false market for more purebred dogs and more breeding. But I'm getting off track. This information about Texas (and its dog gas chambers) really got to me. If you live in Texas or Connecticut, please consider working with this organization through fostering, adoption, or donation of goods and services.

Loving for Fall

2011-08-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

Essie's new Fall Collection.

My fingers and toes are ready for the change in seasons, for sure!

Hurricane Irene Party

2011-08-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

We housed a few hurricane "evacuees" over the weekend. Cue impromptu dinner party, completely comprised of items we already had in the house. Not too bad!

We started with baked brie topped with onion jam, rosemary, and pecans, as well as peppered goat cheese, served with flatbread and Trader Joe's Raisin Rosemary Crisps. Drinks included Pimm's Royales and Pumpkin Ale.

Dinner came together to featured oven-roasted garlicky broccoli, a salad highlighting tomatoes from our garden, and Peach-Whiskey Barbecue Chicken (with a few modifications) over Israeli CousCous. Red and white wines from Napa were served, as well.
All in all, not too bad!

Distracted by Irene

2011-08-25T19:58:00.000-05:00

Farrell and I have been glued to the hurricane coverage today. With family and friends up and down the east coast and the crazy possibility of a NYC evacuation, we can't turn away. However, I did take a little time to make my weekly blueberry and peach crumble, adapted from this Barefoot Contessa Recipe. Here are the differences between her recipe and mine:

For the fruit:

1/4 cup of sugar instead of a 1/2 cup (which I found to be too sweet)
About two tablespoons of brown sugar
A good sprinkling of cinnamon

For the crumble (I completely scratched her crumble- it seems like a lot of work):

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 egg
Whatever amount of butter you like, cubed (I probably use about two tablespoons)
More cinnamon if you like

Mash the crumble ingredients all together with a fork/potato masher/whatever works and sprinkle on top of the fruit. Here are some pictures of the deliciousness in progress.

I just bake in a regular dish.

Now, back to the news.

Heirloom Tomato Pie

2011-08-22T06:35:00.000-05:00

In an effort to use some of the bumper crop of tomatoes our garden is yielding (we started the weekend with 23 in the fridge, and are down to 9 thanks to this and a few other recipes), I made this Tomato Pie/Tart this weekend for a lunch gathering I hosted. I made a few modifications based on what I had on hand, and it was a big hit. I think we'll be seeing it served around here again soon....

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 teaspoon fine salt

1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons shredded manchego cheese (I used Fontina because I had it on hand)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 1/4 pounds mixed heirloom tomatoes

Kosher salt

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup mayonnaise (I used fat free)

3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (I used basil because our garden is producing it at a rapid rate)

Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Make the crust: Pulse the flour, cornmeal and fine salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and 3 tablespoons manchego; pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Drizzle in 4 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough comes together; add 1 more tablespoon ice water if necessary. Turn out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

Put the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll into a 13-inch round. Transfer the dough to a 9 1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate. Fold the overhang under itself and crimp the edges. Pierce the bottom of the crust all over with a fork. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line the crust with foil, then fill with dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and continue baking until golden all over, 10 to 15 more minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Make the filling: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool. Meanwhile, thinly slice the tomatoes; toss with 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a colander. Let drain, gently tossing occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Combine the remaining 3/4 cup manchego, the mozzarella, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons each chives and parsley, the thyme, 1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt and pepper, and the sauteed onion in a bowl. Spread in the crust. Arrange the tomatoes on top. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with pepper. Bake until the tomatoes are browned, about 50 minutes. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon each chives and parsley.

Congressional Wedding

2011-08-18T06:14:00.000-05:00

We headed up to our old stomping grounds for a wedding last weekend. The rehearsal dinner at Sequoia kicked off the weekend. The ceremony was at the chapel on the grounds of Georgetown Prep, followed by a reception at Congressional Country Club. It was a great weekend, spent surrounded by old college friends.

RD centerpieces and favors lend homage to our alma mater

the cake was outstanding as far as wedding cakes go. almond with raspberry filling. (same as ours!)

wedding day table decor

butter tastes so much better when in the shape of the capitol

the groom's cake highlighted the groom's signature beverage

The end of summer produce...

2011-08-17T09:04:00.000-05:00

Summer is winding down here in New York and I'm trying to take advantage of the ease of throwing some vegetables together for dinner. Last week I picked up one yellow squash and one zucchini without really knowing what to do with them. After a little research I found this recipe for yellow squash ribbons on the Cooking Light website. The result was a colorful step away from the veggies we normally eat. I also made another new favorite- steamed green beans with a dash of olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Yum. What vegetables are you eating now? And what are you looking forward to as the season changes? I can't wait to experiment with apple crisp.

Wine + Jelly Beans

2011-08-12T07:04:00.000-05:00

In the last month, we've both hit the big 3-0. Yikes.

While I much prefer to plan parties for others, some pesky family members convinced me to have a little birthday gathering of local friends that involved one of my favorite activities -- wine tasting!

As part of the weekend, we assembled gift bags for all the ladies that contained "A Few of Farrell's Favorite Things." As you will note from the bag decor, my birthday falls on a certain patriotic holiday.

Now, we couldn't get queso into the bags (don't worry, we did have it during the course of the weekend), but we did get a few fun treats in there, including these Jelly Bean Wine Shooters.

Check them out. The Jelly Bean Wine Bar (great customer service, by the way) puts together these fun little "test tubes" that contain jelly bean flavors which, when combined, taste just like your favorite vino. In our gift bags, we featured Blanc de Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. So fun.

I'd definitely recommend these as a fun addition to your next favor bag, girls' weekend, or wine themed event!

Paperless Post

2011-08-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to bring up Paperless Post for a while now. From the way my email inbox is looking, it seems to be the new evite, with the added dimension of "not just for invitations" -- they do birth announcements, thank you notes, etc.

The cute designs offer something for everyone, although I have heard some unhappy feedback about there being a cost involved. I love all things paper, so usually default to printed collateral, especially when it comes to invitations, but am always game for exploring something new.

Does anyone have personal feedback on Paperless Post?

A Different Kind of Bar

2011-08-08T08:28:00.000-05:00

We are dying to try to the Braid Bar at the John Barrett Salon. You can read about it here. Now I just need to come up with an excuse to go before summer ends...

Picture from the John Barrett Salon website.

My New Philosophy

2011-08-02T07:34:00.000-05:00

Clearly I'd never give up sunscreen, but this article also indicates a reason (however feeble) not to give up wine, either.
I'll drink to that!
(anyone catch the gratuitous Broadway reference in the title of this post?)

Sea House

2011-08-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

My taste in decorating is very schizophrenic. I've decided the only way to deal with this is to have a beach house and a country house. When I win the lottery and buy my house on ~~Shelter Island no scratch that I would never pay NY State property taxes~~ Sea Island, Victoria Hagan will be on my list of possible interior designers. Look at how light and bright this is:

Okay, fine, maybe she is a bit more Hamptons than Low Country, and definitely a bit too formal for the dogs and children that would be running around. But since I'm pretty sure none of this is going to happen, it can't hurt to browse her portfolio for fun...

Seersucker: Not Just for Suits

2011-07-28T08:00:00.010-05:00

These Kim Seybert napkins would be perfect for your next outdoor gathering or simple summer wedding.

The color combinations lend a bit of modern to a Southern summer staple.

Whaaat?

2011-07-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

I was alerted this morning by Page Six that Martha Stewart is about to turn 70. How is that possible? She looks great. Also, I thought only younger people could make you feel old. Incidentally, she has the same birthday as both of our husbands.

Jersey Wedding

2011-07-26T08:02:00.000-05:00

Hot Recipe for Hot Days

2011-07-25T14:08:00.000-05:00

Not like anyone needs any more heat these days, but if you are interested, this lightened up version of stuffed jalapenos is great. It's an easy, make ahead recipe, and a little bacon never hurt anyone. Just throw them on the grill right before your company arrives!

**If you are going to make 20+ of these like I did, I would recommend wearing gloves while de-seeding the peppers. Otherwise, when you attempt to put your contact lenses in a few hours later, you will be in for a serious surprise.

Antique Show

2011-07-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

Last week I went to the Brimfield Antique Show near Sturbridge, MA. It was an interesting experience, but we heard from others that it wasn't quite as good as in years past. There were a few nice linen dealers, and I picked up this cool star made out of license plates:

The dealer is based out of South Carolina and he'll use plates he has or ones you supply. There was a nice star with lobster decorated Maine plates, but it was gone by the time I went back to buy this one. I like the idea, and it adds a little edge to a traditionally decorated space.

Cville City Market

2011-07-14T07:32:00.002-05:00

I've posted about our local farmer's market before, but finally remembered to take some (phone-quality) photos this past weekend.

Going to the market is one of our favorite summer Saturday morning pastimes when we are in town-- usually motivated by the want for something delicious for breakfast (Mexican food at 8am, anyone? Don't mind if I do!). We like to head over there early - sans shower - before it gets too hot and too crowded. I enjoy buying local produce when I can, although I am not fanatical about it (I won't lie and tell you I don't go to Sam's club for bulk TP or buy milk at my local grocery store), and the market makes that easy.

Enjoy some shots from around the market!

$10 for this large Mason jar of purple and blue hydrangeas. 6 days later, they still look great on my mantle!

Tequila peppers and Blanco peppers (google them). We grilled up some Tequila peppers and put them on a grilled pizza Saturday night. Delish!

Japanese eggplant

Jalapenos and tomatillos. Jalapenos were transformed into grilled stuffed jalapenos for Sunday Porch Drinks.

Local peaches -- used in salads earlier this week.

The famous "Mexican Tacos" (insert inside joke). Chicken quesadilla and chicken tamale featured here.

Pitty Pan Squash. SO good on the grill.

Casual yoga in the middle of the market. NBD.

Wildflowers, $6 a bunch.

Her Royal.....Hosiery?

2011-07-13T06:10:00.000-05:00

As a rule, I don't do nude hosiery. Honestly, it just doesn't seem to come in a shade that works for people of my color (read: very, very fair), and I am not a fan of orange gams on a fair person. This phobia may all stem back to the fact that the tights required for my high school dance team ensembles were "one color fits all" -- and that color was not for moi. Although I am NO fashion expert, I've also cringed many times over the years when I spot any type of hose worn with open toed shoes (bonus points if they are reinforced toe!).

Enter my trepidation when I read this article yesterday about Princess Kate rocking sheer hose out and about. Admittedly, the hosiery Kate is wearing is a far cry from those dance team tights circa 1997, and her legs look great, but....I don't know if I am sold on this trend for the general population.

What's next? A comeback of slips (which Lauren and I both agree are way under-utilized)?

Thoughts from the crowd?

Too Hot to Cook

2011-07-12T07:32:00.000-05:00

With temps reaching the triple digits this week, slaving over a hot stove or grill is not high on my list.
Inspired by a salad a friend told me about last week, we whipped this together last night.
Perfect summery deliciousness, eaten on the porch.

Field greens, cucumbers from our garden, peaches and heirloom cherry tomatoes from the Farmer's Market, thinly sliced red onion, shredded faux rotisserie chicken, goat cheese crumbles, and homemade raspberry balsamic dressing.

Easy Summer App

2011-07-10T18:53:00.000-05:00

Hosting a low-key summer get together (or porch drinks) and need an easy app? Martha's Tomato Tartlets worked perfectly for me this afternoon. Hers were a little prettier than mine, but they were delicious nonetheless and were quickly gobbled up on our back deck this afternoon.

All-purpose flour, for rolling

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

2 1/2 ounces grated sharp white cheddar (2/3 cup packed)

3 medium tomatoes, cut into ten 1/4-inch-thick slices (I used heirloom tomatoes from our local farmers' market)

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (I went with basil OO from Oil and Vinegar)

Ground pepper

1/3 cup small basil leaves, for serving

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and middle thirds. Lightly flour a rolling pin and work surface and roll out puff pastry to a 14-by-16-inch rectangle. With a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 10 rounds and transfer to two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets; with a fork, prick each round all over. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese on each, leaving a 1/4-inch border, and top with 1 tomato slice. Brush with oil and season with pepper.

2.Bake until pastry is deep golden at edges, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let tartlets cool completely on a wire rack. To serve, top with basil.

Patriotic Partying

2011-07-06T08:54:00.000-05:00

Some individuals in our household partied a little TOO much over the long weekend....

Dirty foods here and there, dirty foods everywhere...

2011-07-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

It seems that I can't click anywhere on the internet without being inundated with information about the dirty dozen, salmonella, and the dangers of e. coli. There is always a segment about the dangers of raw eggs. This has made me think the last few times I've baked. When I was little I always licked the spoon when my mother was making cookies, muffins, etc. When we were in college we ate raw cookie dough at least once per week. But now I think twice about doing this, even though I love it. Do you? When did we all get so scared of raw eggs?

New Tailgate Apparel

2011-06-30T05:43:00.001-05:00

With football season right around the corner, Brooks Brothers is moving into the collegiate clothing arena. If you're an alum of one of these schools, you're in luck:

Harvard
Princeton
Stanford
Cornell
Georgetown
Vanderbilt
Boston College
Notre Dame
The U.S. Naval Academy
Auburn
University of Virginia (!!)
New York University
Ohio State University
Universities of Alabama
University of Georgia

Keep your eyes peeled to see what BB comes out with....

More Things to Love Right Now

2011-06-29T12:04:00.001-05:00

My Patagonia shorts. The ones below are from about 1997 and still going strong. (I wore them stand up paddle boarding over Memorial Day- very fun, by the way.) I finally bought a new pair in gorgeous blue butterfly. And I really like the updated cut- I had to go up a size but they are still a bit more streamlined and flattering.

My Eileen Fisher tank dress and Bernardo Madonna sandals. Both are so comfy.

Johnson's No More Tangles Detangling Spray. For days at the beach or pool.

Creamy Avocado Pasta. SO DELICIOUS. I didn't even use a blender- just chopped everything up very finely and then used a hand held mixer. Oh, and I added a bit of parm. Of course.

Million Dollar Decorators (Lauren) and Top Chef (Farrell) on Bravo. Please note that Nathan Turner has a dog named Nacho.

Reader Request: Summer Entertaining

2011-06-28T06:58:00.000-05:00

One of our readers is wondering...

With all the 4th of July cookouts coming up, I was wondering: Do people prefer to see their hosts serving up traditional fare (burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, etc) or getting a little more creative with some more "upscale" items?

Thoughts from the crowd?

Sunday Night Ribs

2011-06-27T08:16:00.001-05:00

Last night was a very successful meal at home, thanks to My Mama Made That from the Junior League of Hampton Roads. This is far and away my favorite cookbook of the moment. Everything is delicious, easy, and recognizable. Some of the recipes may be things that you ate growing up but don't quite know how to make yourself. Something I have noticed is that while Junior League cookbooks from the 80's have things I want to make, the ingredients are often outdated or unavailable in New York (Old English Cheese Spread?). On the other hand, newer cookbooks often call for a loooong list of ingredients that I may not have in the kitchen and am unlikely to use again anytime soon. My Mama Made That is the perfect solution- classic southern family recipes, slightly updated for the modern cook.

Half eaten ribs, roasted potatoes, baked vidalia onion.

Oven Baked Ribs (a summary)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Put boneless beef short ribs in a shallow dish. Cover with tin foil and bake for an hour.
Cover with barbecue sauce of your choice (I used bottled, but the cookbook has a recipe that I'll try next time). Bake for another hour, still covered.
Remove tin foil. Bake for 30 minutes, turning ribs and basting with sauce occasionally.

I can't wait to make these during football season. Delicious!

NYT Guide to Porch Drinks

2011-06-23T06:18:00.000-05:00

Check out the New York Times' recent feature on Summer Drinks. It covers everything from frozen drinks to pale ales to bitters to wheat beers and beyond.

This is the perfect guide for the upcoming holiday weekend, complete with the requisite parties.

Shirts

2011-06-22T07:59:00.002-05:00

Farrell and I were talking about shirts yesterday. Both of our mothers patiently washed and ironed our fathers shirts when we were growing up, yet this is not something either of us have done thus far in our own marriages. One of our friends told me that her mother is outraged that she (my friend) sends her husband's shirts out to the cleaner. Now that I have some time on my hands I'm going to see if I can perfect the ironing of a dress shirt in the hopes of saving a bit of money. In the end the $2 it costs to have a shirt done professionally may be worth it (ironing has never been a strong point for me), but I'm going to give it a try.

Do you send shirts out to the cleaner?

Summer Read: Bossypants

2011-06-20T19:02:00.000-05:00

I just finished Tina Fey's Bossypants, and it's a great, quick memoir/comedic interlude/how-to guide.

Fey touches on everything from her childhood to her time at UVA to SNL to child-rearing to playing Sarah Palin. She even glosses over her much-discussed facial scar.

I'm not a huge SNL fan, but really enjoyed this one.

Do You Goop?

2011-06-16T06:16:00.003-05:00

Do you follow Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop? One of our friends recently mentioned Goop's latest post on cheese boards, and after *finally* visiting the awesome cheese section at the new Whole Foods last night, I am feeling inspired. Check out Gwyneth's tips on The Cheese Board before your next party or porch drinks gathering....

More Curtains

2011-06-15T05:57:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure that this room

would benefit tremedously from these curtains. The checks wouldn't clash with the stripes on the couch and they would pull together the tan/blue color scheme, since it appears the La-Z-Boy is going to be part of my life longer than anticipated...

10 Most Intriguing Blogs We Read Daily*

2011-06-13T17:02:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Limestone
Dooce
Perry's Plate
Pioneer Woman
Scout Charlottesville
Noble Pig
Summer is a Verb
Reggie Darling
The Daily Prep
The Sartorialist

We only overlap on one...

*excluding ones written by friends and family

Whole Paycheck

2011-06-09T07:43:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, a brand spanking new Whole Foods opened in my town, and a frenzy ensued. As much as I would love to check it out, I'll wait at least a week to head over there, in the name of self-preservation.

Admittedly, I've been stalking it on Facebook, and can't wait to check out the new features that our antiquated, 20+ year old Whole Foods just didn't offer: a "pub" boasting 8 taps, mobile coffee bar, wood burning pizza oven, food trucks, etc. It is so tempting to do all of our shopping there (and now go for dinner and drinks?), but it just isn't economical.

Are there any staples that you insist on getting from stores like Whole Foods, Fresh Market, etc vs. the normal market?

the new store has part of the floor from the old UHall

amazing bulk foods area, including oils,spices, etc.

Holy Cuteness

2011-06-08T10:48:00.001-05:00

Lauren was in Cville (again!) this past weekend for her husband's reunion, and we found time for a quick pedicure and Starbucks outing. If you heard a sigh around 4:30 on Friday afternoon, that was our feet. Let's just say the pedis were MUCH needed.

Imagine our mutual delight when our afternoon treat came in such cute packaging. We're totally suckers for great wrapping, and this did not disappoint.

Wahoowa

2011-06-06T11:49:00.000-05:00

A sophisticated take on orange and blue found, appropriately enough, at Caspari in Charlottesville, VA:

Summer Lovin

2011-06-02T07:07:00.000-05:00

The temps are seriously rising on the East Coast, and summer is rolling in. Our lives are a flurry of travel, houseguests, work, and generally trying to stay on top of things.

Admist all that, some things I am loving lately.....

Barboursville Cabernet Blanc. Especially very chilled and consumed on the porch.

Bobbi Brown SPF 50 Face Base. My go-to everyday, under make-up sun protection. You really can't mess around with the sun, people.

Words With Friends on my iPad. There's something refreshing (nerdy?) about being up at 5am to get a headstart on work, and mindlessly scoring 100+ points on the word ZAP.

My black Rainbows. Summer staple.

To be continued.....

Green Cleaning Part II

2011-05-31T18:55:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that my natural housekeeping wasn't going so well until I found this book at the library:

organic housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck

The best thing about this book is the assumption is made right off the bat that housekeeping is not fun, even if the results are nice (and necessary to good health). The second best thing is that the author goes into the science behind cleaning methods, which is reassuring. Sometimes when I read "green cleaning" blogs I wonder if the writers have any clue about what they are actually recommending. In particular I have found the kitchen, bathroom and laundry sections of this book helpful. The most unexpected thing I've learned is that wooden cutting boards are actually preferable to plastic ones:

Cliver and Ak...found that all the wooden cutting boards killed bacteria, while all the plastic ones encouraged bacterial growth. Wood fibers absorb and kill bacteria...While new, unscarred plastic boards can be successfully cleaned with hot water and detergent...used plastic boards cannot be successfully cleaned. Vigorous scrubbing...does not remove or kill the bacteria that have lodged in knife scars on plastic boards; running contaminated plastic cutting boards though a dishwasher simply spread bacteria around... (p. 119

My father, a horticulturalist, confirms that trees have antimicrobial properties. Who knew? This whole time I was avoiding using wooden spoons when cooking meat. I think I'll be investing in some wooden cutting boards before too long.

Farmer's Market Bounty

2011-05-26T05:51:00.000-05:00

Farmers' Markets are in full-swing here in Cville. One of our favorite Saturday morning activities is to head to the City Market, walk the aisles, have some amazing Mexican food (don't judge, it is tasty, even at 7:30am),and stock up on produce and other treats for the week.

Last week, we picked up some kohlrabi, mini green squash, and striped beets (how gorgeous are these?). All were delicious sliced up, tossed with OO, salt, and pepper, and grilled outside.

Modern Gargoyle

2011-05-25T07:48:00.001-05:00

When we were walking around Savannah I had to stop when I saw this at the end of a down spout:

While doing research to try and find a name for this, I learned that gargoyles were the original roof gutters, used to divert rain water away from a building. How did I not know that? Anyway, I thought this was a fantastic decorative touch, especially in an urban setting.

Bridesmaids

2011-05-23T06:15:00.000-05:00

I think I see about two movies per year in the theater, and this one was WELL worth it. Bridesmaids was hilarious (although about 20 minutes too long); the entire theater population was laughing out loud nonstop.

Having been bridesmaids 15+ times ourselves, some of the situations were all too familiar....

Savannah Wedding

2011-05-19T07:28:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I went to Savannah for the first time. The wedding was on Isle of Hope, which is a lovely place full of lowcountry architecture.

The reception was at a private club in Savannah and I have to say the food was amazing. It was hard to get to the shrimp and grits and roast beef on a biscuit, but I could have been happy for the rest of the night once I found the gorgonzola mousse- DELICIOUS. I really need to find a recipe for it- light as air and a bit milder than I would have expected. Of course I left with pictures of the cake and flowers.

Savannah has wonderful trees that keep the squares shaded and cool. We had a great time wandering around looking at the restored houses. There is also a definite New Orleans feel down by the river, and I now understand how they have the largest St. Patrick's Day party in the world! We stayed at the River Street Inn, which looks right over the water- very fun!

Mercer-Williams House, made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Pimm's...Jello Shots?

2011-05-18T05:40:00.000-05:00

We're big fans of Pimm's Cups, especially when you throw in all the fruit and cucumbers!

Bon Appetit's recent article about the transformation of this typically English drink into Jello Shots had me giggling. I am not above trying it out this summer...

Spring Signature Cocktail

2011-05-11T13:12:00.000-05:00

How pretty would this Grapefruit Margarita be as a signature cocktail at a Springtime wedding? Perhaps served from a Mason jar?

Whip one up!

1 qt ruby red grapefruit juice
10 fresh mint leaves , torn in small pieces
2 shots orange liqueur
8 shots tequila

Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher, and stir to combine. Rim your glasses with a turbinado sugar/salt mixture. Pour over ice and serve.

Perfect Bloody Mary

2011-05-10T09:58:00.001-05:00

Keeping with the theme of the month...

Not traditionally a huge Bloody Mary fan (some are too bland, some are too watery, etc), we've found the perfect version at our local brunch haunt. It can be ordered spicy (!!) or mild and comes topped with pickled green beans that can't be beat! The perfect hair of the dog....

May is Themed Drinks Month

2011-05-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ole!

2011-05-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Coincidentally, this is my favorite holiday -- no pressure to visit family, no sporting events on TV, no stressing over gifts, and I LOVE the food (and drinks).

Right now, I'm craving a Brown Sugar Margarita from our favorite local watering hole. They are not a Mexican establishment, but they've perfected the margarita, and their nachos aren't bad either.

Cheers!

Spring in New York

2011-05-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

Prior to dating my husband I had never been to New York unless you count driving through it on the way to Maine. When people think of New York, they think of the city and for good reason- around eight million of its 20 million residents live in New York City (if Wiki can be trusted). Close to another million people live directly north of the city in Westchester County. Although not nearly as "New England-y" as Connecticut, Westchester is in many ways worlds apart from Manhattan. Last month I shared an experience I had on the western side of the county. This week I am going to focus a bit on the eastern side, next to the Long Island Sound.

What surprised me most about the village where I live now is that it has the small town feel that I previously associated with the south (unfortunately the rural south seems to be losing the battle with suburban sprawl, another issue altogether). There are lots of porches. Fewer than 10,000 people live in the village itself, which is 1.1 square miles. People can walk everywhere. Crime is nearly nonexistent. Residents are working hard to keep small businesses alive. Of course there are problems too. The cost of real estate is exorbitant. Traffic is worse than expected. There is a 35 minute commute into the city every day for most professional residents. Many older houses in the greater area are being knocked down to be replaced by BIG houses.

Regardless of the pros and cons, this is a wonderful place to be when flowers start to bloom and the promise of being on the water is right around the corner. This week I took advantage of the nice weather and photographed some of my favorite houses and sites (click on pictures to enlarge).

A dog waits for its master at the library.

An eccentric planter...

in front of a very large house.

Most houses are Victorian, but I think this may be antebellum.

Big porch!

My husband's favorite dream house.

My favorite dream house. (Can't you picture a captain's wife looking out over the water?)

The harbor- my husband's grandfather used to ice skate across here to go to church.

Another creative planter (what sailor's do with old boats).

Side porches make me think of Charleston, but there are some up here too. These are my two favorites.

Law School Reunion

2011-05-03T10:10:00.001-05:00

While Farrell was enjoying nice weather at Foxfield, I was braving my husband's law school reunion. Just kidding, it was fun. Here are some pictures from the Saturday evening dinner- someone enjoyed putting together these creative tables:

We're Back

2011-05-02T14:44:00.000-05:00

Apologies for our hiatus! Things have been busy: trips, Easter, work, Foxfield Races, Law School reunions, the list goes on...

But we're back now, and apparently it is May. As we creep towards warmer months, I wanted to share a recipe I made on Easter that could serve as a side for many a Spring dinners. This Minted Pea Puree, made with fresh peas, mint, and Greek yogurt was the perfect sub for traditional mint jelly with our herb-crusted rack of lamb on Easter. Plus, it looked SO pretty on the plate and was super easy. I would highly recommend it!

Coke!

2011-04-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

When I was in middle school my mom would always take me to Phil's for a milkshake after school. Once I reached high school we switched to picking up Cokes. Phil's had the best fountain soda, mostly due to their use of crushed ice. In college the highlight of the morning after a party was a bagel and a Coke from Bodo's Bagels. And anytime we could scrape together the money, we were off to Take It Away for delicious house dressing and the grand poobah of fountain sodas (32 ounces of amazing restorative power.)

Fast forward five years and I am perplexed to find that it's impossible to get a fountain Coke in Manhattan. Very quickly I begin to realize a possible reason why (hello rodents and pests) and I shy away from any location that offers them. I assume everything will change once I move to the suburbs. But unfortunately that is not the case, and I can only begin to think that it is a regional thing (so sad, because what would be more complementary to an authentic Italian Combo?). And so like a typical New York resident I drink coffee six plus months of the year (convenient since it is usually freezing) and Starbucks iced tea otherwise. BUT, I am heading south tomorrow and I plan to pick up a drink every day, particularly at Libbie Market in Richmond, which is the place to see and be seen. And if the Coke pounds start to pile on (I'm afraid my metabolism might go into shock), I can always get a great iced tea there. Cheers!

Wedding Wednesday: Let Them Eat Cake

2011-04-20T08:14:00.000-05:00

We headed to Richmond this past weekend for a wedding. It was great to see all the UVA Sigma Nus reunited and enjoying each others' company. It was equally reassuring to know their dance moves haven't changed in the past 10 years or so.

The reception at the Country Club of Virginia featured a gorgeous cake in two flavors: Spice and Red Velvet. Sadly, I only had a quick bite between dances (someone requested two playings of Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the USA??' from the band).

I did have more than my share of dessert at Friday night's Rehearsal Dinner at the Boathouse. In addition to key lime tarts, Pearl's Cupcakes were served. They did NOT disappoint. I sampled the Candy Cup and the Deep Dish Apple.

Is it wrong that I could eat one right now for breakfast?

Upstairs Downstairs

2011-04-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else been watching Upstairs Downstairs on PBS? It's been really interesting, especially after seeing the same time period in The King's Speech. I think I really am going to have to order Downtown Abbey on dvd now.

Cooking Update

2011-04-19T19:17:00.002-05:00

This is our last week of "no restaurant April" due to travel plans next week. Things we have been eating:

Chicken Enchiladas adapted from 1001 Ways to Cook Southern (basically this recipe). More appetizing than my version looks- yikes.

Chicken Piccata, roasted asparagus topped with parmesan, baguette.

Variation of the chicken piccata dinner.

Using up that asparagus- rissoto with asparagus, peas and parmesan (disaster).

Lessons:

Chicken and parmesan should be my best friends.
Cilantro adds a nice kick of "fresh" to even the least healthy Mexican food.
Lasagna goes a long way.
When in doubt, make it a taco night and impress everyone with homemade tortilla chips. (Throw some cilantro on the tacos and you are really in business.)

Typically Dutch

2011-04-18T06:22:00.000-05:00

I'm just returned from a 9 day work trip to Amsterdam. Thanks to Lauren for keeping up with the blog while I've been on the road! Although, I was in the hotel 98% of the trip (such is the life of an event planner), I did get out for a few hours before our flight home to do some power-sightseeing.

On the must-see list was Keukenhof -- home to the most amazing array of Dutch tulips imaginable. A few shots are below, but it was hard to even begin to capture how gorgeous the flowers were.

Computer Meltdown

2011-04-15T08:17:00.000-05:00

Hope to have my computer back from repair by the end of the day. If not, have a great weekend!

The Ultimate Local Food Experience

2011-04-11T17:13:00.000-05:00

Last night we were lucky enough to eat at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. We had the eight course farmer's feast, which reintroduced us to a lot of foods that I dismissed long ago as unappealing (radishes, beets). We had some foods that I knew I liked without realizing how much more amazing they can be when fresh (homemade ricotta cheese, carrots). We also had a few things that pushed me way out of my comfort zone (pig liver). It was an extravagant meal, but truly an amazing experience all around. If you are in the area I highly recommend stopping by to see the operation and maybe pick something up at Blue Hill Cafe.

Flash photography isn't allowed inside, but I was able to get some pictures around the farm. It's amazing that this is only thirty miles outside of Manhattan!

Wedding Pictures: One Year Later

2011-04-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

Last year Farrell posted pictures of my amazing flowers (go Flower Girls!) and delicious cake when I was on my honeymoon. Now that everyone has recovered (ha!) I thought I'd share a few more pictures that never made it onto the blog:

Interior detailing on my Coren Moore dress.

The full effect of the dress (with my father).

Detail of sash with my grandmother's pin. You can also see the dotted tulle overlay on the dress.

Bridesmaids! Also in Coren Moore.

On the back of the trolley: a Richmond tradition.

First three pictures by Farrell, fifth by T. Spelman.

Wedding Gifts

2011-04-06T08:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday is my first wedding anniversary (!!) and we have recently received a few more gifts. Technically guests have one year to send a present, and I have very much enjoyed finding something on my doorstep these last few days- it reminds me of last year's excitement! These wedding gifts have also turned out to be some of the most thoughtful ones I've received:

Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home and 1001 Ways to Cook Southern could not have come at a better time.

My mother and her mother both chose Towle's Chippendale silver pattern when they were married. Other silver patterns in my family include Fairfax (Gorham) and Repousse (Kirk Stieff). What I like about Chippendale is that is a perfect middle ground between the other two. It has the clean lines of Fairfax and the more feminine feel of Repousse. And so I determined that Chippendale would also be my pattern, but I chose not to register for it. Lucky for me, a family friend was thoughtful enough to track down this serving spoon and have it engraved with "O'C". I'm so pleased to add my own piece to the silver set I've inherited- a nice mix of the old and the new!

In other news I finally made something for dinner last night:

Veggie lasagna- YUM! Good thing I liked it- I estimate that it will be on the table for dinner and lunch until this weekend!

New Vice

2011-04-05T07:21:00.000-05:00

Things have been busy around here - lots of work, little sleep. As such, I have been enjoying the occasional (okay, occasionally more often that occasional) afternoon caffeine in addition to my morning coffee. I have to tell you, I might just been hooked on Starbucks' VIA Iced Coffee.

It is so easy - take the packet, mix with 16oz cold water, stir it up and serve over ice - with a splash of skim milk if you are me. All the deliciousness of Starbucks without having to leave home or change out of your pjs. I may be totally late jumping on this bandwagon, but if you are, too, I suggest giving VIA a try immediately if not sooner.

Yes, it is pictured here with a few of my other vices: giant monogrammed Tervis Tumbler, OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark, and my very over-worked computer on a very chaotic desk.

No Restaurant April

2011-04-04T19:33:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned before, our household is experimenting with a no restaurant April. The rule is that we can only eat meals that do not involve tipping a server. This allows us to indulge in some takeout on weekends. However, the spirit of the experiment dictates that we eat homemade foods as often as possible. I was sick the first week, and fear of my germs preventing us from doing this as much as I would have liked (Cosi tomato soup was a big part of our diet). This week one member of our household will probably be working late a few nights (sad) so I don't have much to report. In fact, I've mostly been eating what I ate before when alone:

Quesadilla, refried beans and New York magazine.

Hopefully I will have a better report later in the week. The good news is that I'm sure we've already saved a ton of money AND I've lost a pound.

In other news, we have our first married plant. It's a pothos, because apparently they are hard to kill. I say "we'll see." I've never kept a plant alive, but maybe it will happen this time. To encourage the proper care of said plant, I've give it a name: Pot. Pot is enjoying his new home by the window.

Pot the pothos

Doesn't he look nice in his blue container?

Spring Salads

2011-04-01T07:18:00.002-05:00

With Spring allegedly around the corner, we're looking forward to lots of fresh, delicious produce coming our way.

After discovering some fun ingredients at Charlottesville's local Oil and Vinegar store, we've been whipping up some Springy salad dressings already. Do you have a local shop like Oil and Vinegar? I love it -- if you are getting a gift from me any time soon, it is likely coming from here. They have all kinds of fun ingredients and treats, but the giant selection of - you guessed it - oils and vinegars in the back of the store available for taking home in a selection of cute bottles are so tempting.

Our favorites for salad dressings right now: strawberry balsamic vinegar and tomato balsamic vinegar.

Summer Dress Picks

2011-03-29T20:00:00.000-05:00

Calypso La Paz Embroidered Dress

Calypso Crochet Yoke Dress

Farrell and I have not traditionally posted much about clothing. I think the underlying reason is that we have slightly different personal styles. While we are both somewhat traditional/classic, we have a different approach. In the future we may post side by side comparisons of our picks for various things, and I think this will become more clear at that point. In the meantime, we found our perfect dresses (for both of us!) for a hot Virginia day. Now which one of us picked which dress??

Spring?

2011-03-28T07:12:00.000-05:00

Although recent warm temps had us dreaming of the impending Porch Drink season, instead we woke up to this yesterday in Virginia:

Snow on daffodils? I feel like this is an oxymoron.
I did not mind one last chance to wear my wellies in the snow, but enough already!

Happy and Healthy Spring Cleaning

2011-03-24T18:52:00.000-05:00

We are back from Vermont, which made our car look like this:

It was a great trip. On the way to Boston we ran across the Simon Pearce factory in Windsor, VT, where we were able to view glassblowing in progress. It was fun to see the origin of many of our wedding presents.

We also came across The Vermont Country Store, "purveyors of the practical and hard-to-find."

It was perfect timing, because I was able to buy Kirk's Castille Soap, the missing item in my "natural cleaning" arsenal. It is my goal this year to be about 75% green in my cleaning. We live in a coastal area and it just seems like the responsible thing to do.

Of course Sherry and John at Young House Love have a great series of comprehensive posts about just this topic. One thing I learned is that there is some controversy regarding the safety of Borax, so it may not be wise to jump right into using that on dishes unless you have done your own research. For the record my favorite book on this topic is Green Clean (pictured above)- the recipes are easy to follow and everything is broken down by room (bathroom, kitchen, etc).

Happy scrubbing!

Wedding Wednesday: Playlists

2011-03-23T08:22:00.001-05:00

Among our college/sorority friends, we have a few favorite wedding playlist songs...one of which is "Like a Prayer" (ahem, Lauren).

Yesterday, one of our sorority sisters posted this country version on Facebook, and ever since I have been stalking iTunes to download it.

What are your wedding must-plays to get everyone out on the dance floor?

Go Green

2011-03-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends!

Some "green" things that we're loving lately....

Erin Condren Planner (2011 Planners are 35% off now!)

Longchamps Le Pliage Briefcase in Palm Green

Flirty, Springy Skirt from Lands' End Canvas

Le Creuset's new Fennel hue. Picturing personal servings of spring soups and decadent baked pastas in this Petit Cocette

Wedding Wednesday: Summery Invites We Love

2011-03-16T12:38:00.000-05:00

With 80 degree temps expected in Virginia on Friday, we're looking towards Summer. These invites from Minted bring to mind the warm-weather, Southern, outdoor wedding under the stars (which neither of us had, coincidentally), complete with margaritas served from Mason jars.

Summer, hurry up!

Luck of the Irish: Whiskey, Cheese and Dessert Pairings

2011-03-15T12:26:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for Thursday, people? Living in a college town, I cannot TELL you how excited the general population around me is for St. Patrick's Day. Green beer abounds.

We'll be doing the usual corned beef, cabbage, and homemade Irish Soda Bread in this household, but after reading this article on the Top 5 Irish Whiskeys, we may make a few additions to the menu. I've rarely met a cheese I haven't liked, and dessert, well, that's apparently the themeof the blog of this week!

This probably calls for a trip to our favorite local cheese shop for some goodies. You know, in our spare time.

Pi(e) Day

2011-03-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

Did you know today was Pi Day? You know, it's March 14, so 3.14.

Nerdiness aside, this lends itself to the dessert theme of the past few posts. Some of my favorite childhood memories center around my grandma's apple pie (no, there's no written recipe, and it never tastes as good when I make it as when she does). Lauren channels her Southern roots and makes a mean Chocolate Chess Pie. Recently, my mom has been baking a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie at Thanksgiving that gets rave reviews.

What's your favorite pie? Any fun memories around it?
And by all means, share the recipes.

Cheesecakey Goodness

2011-03-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

Continuing with the dessert post trend, here's one I made recently that is really to.die.for. After stalking it for almost a year on Perry's Plate, I used weekend guests as an excuse to whip up a Cinnabun Cheesecake. You know, then I could make something totally sinful under the guise of "we're having company and they'll help us eat it." I suggest you do the same very, very soon.
Although I am a cheesecake lover (I don't really love traditional cake, so we often had cheesecake at my childhood birthdays), I'm quite sure even those of you who prefer cake of the usual variety will love this.
Chef's Note: Use a waterbath when you bake this cheesecake. Instead of submerging the springform pan in water, I just used an additional baking sheet filled with water on the lower rack, and there were no cracks in the cake.

Weekend Treat

2011-03-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

I spent some time with a friend who gave up chocolate for Lent. In an effort to redirect her sweet tooth, she tried Chick-fil-A's Banana Pudding Milkshake. By association, I got to try a bite this week, and Oh.My.God. Almost as good as the Banana Pudding at Coastal Flats, it even has crumbled vanilla wafers mixed in. I don't even want to start to think about the caloric damage of the milkshake, but if you're looking for a splurge this Spring weekend, I would highly recommend it.

Heading to VT (That's Vermont, not Virginia Tech)

2011-03-10T19:36:00.000-05:00

While sane people in the northeast are heading off to warmer destinations, I am doing tons of laundry in preparation for a week in Vermont. We went in on a ski house for the season, but due to work commitments we haven't actually spent much time there. To make up for this, we are heading there for vacation, just around the time that it's hitting the upper 40's here in New York. Oh well. Really, it should be lots of fun. I had never spent any time in Vermont prior to this, so it's been very interesting. Our house is in Winhall, right at the base of Stratton Mountain. Despite being a very quiet resort (ie, there aren't taxis to take people home from bars like at Killington), it stays extremely busy on the weekends. Busy with twelve year old male snowboarders from Greenwich. They are so thoughtful and polite on the slopes. (That's sarcasm). During the week it is retirement central, which is a little more comfortable for this Virginia bred "skier." Anyway, the point is that I will be back blogging with Farrell around the 21st. Everyone have a good weekend!

Pictures from our last trip up to Vermont:

Covered bridge!

Favorite house on the way there.

Second favorite house.

Our house!

Check out that icicle!

The local gourmet market/wine store/coffee shop. (We go there ~~once~~ twice per day.)

Make Mine a Venti (Trenta?)

2011-03-10T09:15:00.001-05:00

This may not be news to you devotees, but in celebration of their 40th anniversary, Starbucks is rolling out a whole new branding approach, among other new treats.
Although the new green sleeve was a little "in your face" for me this morning, I have to admit I am excited about the promise of this new beverage in the line-up:
Cocoa Cappuccino, combines fresh espresso, bittersweet mocha sauce, just the right amounts of steamed milk and foam, and topped with a signature mocha drizzle.

Is it bad that it's 9:12am, and I am contemplating my second trip of the day to the in-office Starbucks? Does it help the validation approach if we consider that I have been up since 3:45am? Sigh.

Dreaming of Pillows

2011-03-09T21:16:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I like toile. I have posted about it in the past, specifically my discovery of Town Toiles. When we were on hiatus I saw an article in The Richmond Times Dispatch about an artist who started sketching local landmarks to create the city's own toile design- I guess she figured it would take a while for Town Toiles to take an interest in Richmond. You can see the results here. At $70+ per yard (yikes!) the fabric is a real splurge, but it could be used to create thoughtful gifts for special occasions- maybe a pillow for a graduation or engagement present. Now what I really need to do is go in with someone on the design fee for a Charlottesville based toile...that would be a real hit.

Wedding Wednesday: Shabby Apple Dresses

2011-03-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

We're always on the lookout for finds that are both adorable and a deal. Shabby Apple is a great example. How cute is the dress below for bridesmaids in a casual wedding? Finally, something that your maids really could wear again.

With an incredible pricetag, Shabby Apple's lines offer some great options for spring for special occasion and everyday wear.

Spring Closet Cleaning

2011-03-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

In an effort to lend some organization to my life, I recently completed a major closet purge. Shoes, clothes, bags, you name it. I tried to stick to the "if I haven't worn it in two years, it's time to get rid of it" mantra, with a few exceptions for high-end classic pieces and special occasion dresses. Over 8 bags of cast-offs later (some pictured here), I have to admit, I was quite happy with the results.

Curtains Part II

2011-03-03T21:01:00.001-05:00

After posting about some pretty, feminine curtains here I waited too long and found that the blue ones were gone when I went to order them. Then I went to a Junior League meeting last night in the most consistently decorated house that I may have ever personally seen. I marveled at the uniformity of the owner's taste and noted that I will probably never be able to commit that fully to a decorating scheme. And while I was not out to prove that point when I went to Pottery Barn Kids tonight, I managed to do so by buying these:

A far cry from toile (am I a six year old boy?) and I didn't have to commit to a color palette : ) But the best thing about them is that they make me happy, and I guess that is the point of decorating.

PS- Please ignore the tension rod. We live in a rental with plaster walls. I am basically too scared to install and/or hang anything.

Wedding Wednesday: Spring Shoes

2011-03-02T13:04:00.001-05:00

It's March. When did that happen?
We're loving these shoes that Kate is featuring for a springtime wedding.