Handmade

Our talented friend Suzanne hand knitted our baby boy-to-be this beautiful bunting  (complete with a hole for use with the car seat buckle).  We are so touched!  I can't get over the hood and the buttons.  So sweet.   That is some serious knitting!

Adorable Baby Shower Brunch

Its been way too long since I posted!  A couple of weeks ago, several of my lovely friends threw us an adorable shower at Old Town Social.   Delicious comfort food, gorgeous flowers, crafty paper goods, football for the boys and even a signature cocktail in honor of baby!  On the menu were biscuit and egg sandwiches, hash brown casserole, mac and cheese, beignets and the restaurant's house made sausage.  Yum.  The tables were covered in lots of little pumpkins for our pumpkin.  Could not have been cuter. 

Happy Weekend

Am sure just about everyone is ready to have this week over with.  Hang in there NY and NJ friends!  Best wishes for lights coming on and hot showers for all.  
I am looking forward to co-hosting a friend's baby shower tomorrow.  In the down time created by the storm, I did some crafting this week and can't wait to surprise her with a cute table (and cookies on sticks!).   xo
*flowers by saipua

Fall = Apples+Pumpkins+Doughnuts!

We spent a great fall weekend in Cleveland, visiting my friend Katherine and her very cute family.  On the agenda- ballet class, apple picking, pumpkin picking, apple cider doughnut eating and a football game!  

I'm back!

We've just returned from a beautiful week of touring and eating in Bordeaux, San Sebastian and Biarritz, with a quick stop in London on the way home.  I am in full croissant withdrawal.
Can't wait to share photos, hopefully will be able to get them up soon.  I can't believe its September already and am sad to see the summer go, but happy to be enjoying this not too hot, perfectly sunny weather we are having right now!
Photo from St Emilion, France. 

Green and Plum

Love this farm to table inspiration board from Snippet and Ink! 

xoxo

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! 
Photo by Gerber Scarpelli, August 22, 2009.

Happy Friday!

From Pinterest

Rustic and green

Loving the floral and details from this Ojai, California wedding.  So green and natural in such a pretty setting.  Her bouquet looks like something that could have been plucked out of a Tuscan garden.  From Once Wed.

Julia

Happy 100th birthday Julia!  If you haven't read her book "My Life in France" yet, you should!  Her joy and enthusiasm for French cooking is evident, even though she arrived in France not speaking a word of the language or knowing much of the culture.   Her advice on how to survive a French dinner party- "Just speak very loudly and quickly, and state your position with utter conviction, as the French do, and you'll have a marvelous time!"  
Photo by Paul Child/from the LA Times.

Happy weekend!

White dahlias + blueberry branches from Green City market.   Looking forward to the last bit of the Olympics and some nice cool weather here.  xoxo

Scenes from the weekend

Target + Neiman Marcus

This sounds fun!  According to WWD, 24 CDFA designers will be creating more than 50 limited edition gifts for a holiday collection that will be available at all Target and all Neiman Marcus stores (plus both websites), beginning December 1.   The collection will range from $7.99 to $499.99 and will include categories beyond men's, women's and children's wear such as sporting goods, pet acessories, and home decor.  Some of the designers (photo above) Alice + Olivia, Band of Outsiders, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Proenza Schouler, Rag & bone, Rodarte, and Tracy Reese.   I think its going to be an early morning if you want to get in line to actually buy any of this!
*image from WWD.

LWD

I hope everyone had a lovely 4th yesterday!  It was too hot to do much of anything here so I spent the day thinking of cool mid-summer wardrobe pick ups. These little white dresses from Gap look simple but pretty and easy to wear (plus, machine washable).   Perfect for hot summer days and possibly cute with a jacket or a colorful scarf for a casual evening.   Going to the store to check them out today!

Recently

Ok, its been awhile, but here is a quick rundown on June!  I don't know how the summer snuck up on me but its hot, sticky and almost the 4th of July!!  

Rhubarb cocktails that match the lovely peach peonies from Green City

 Hickory smoked pulled pork sandwiches

 Dark coral peonies, from Green City- loved these!

 More pork!  Pork chops with apple and peach mostarda, from "Cook Like an Iron Chef" on the Cooking Channel. 

 Yes, that chicken is "sitting" on a beer can on our grill

 Trapeze lessons in Oakland, CA

Homemade pasta with asparagus and morels.  MMMmmmm...

Scenes from Sedona

We spent a wonderful long weekend in Sedona, Arizona, about two and a half hours north of Phoenix for my birthday.  Nothing takes the edge off gaining another year like a trip to a naturally beautiful place and a stay at a fancy resort!  We arrived late at night, so the only scenery we saw the first day were the zillions of stars in the very dark, very clear sky.  When we woke up and looked outside, we discovered that we were in a canyon, surrounded by huge, rugged red rock mountains.  We stayed at the lovely, Southwestern-style Enchantment Resort, the canyon location of which lent itself to enjoying the landscape at every possible moment.   We had a view from our room, our deck, at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, from the pool- you get the idea.   Even when I was at the spa, there was a full wall of windows so I would not miss another moment of gazing at the surrounding red rocks.   Great hiking in Sedona was close to our resort, easily accessible and again, all about the views.

*all photos courtesy of my husband/photographer except the last one, from Enchantment's website.

Happy weekend!

I will be relaxing and reading this gorgeous new book, Bringing Nature Home.  About arranging flowers in a way that reflects nature, not an overly formal or forced look, the few pages I have leafed through so far are breathtaking.   The featured arrangements are by Nicollette Owen, half of the genius duo behind Brooklyn's Little Flower School.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Let the Games Begin!

Am very excited about the June Vogue cover featuring Hope, Ryan and Serena.  First, because its a nice break from the recent parade of starlets in clothes that make no sense for most occasions.  Second, because its a lovely nod to athletes and a different type of physical ideal than we usually see from a fashion magazine.   True, it does look more like the cover of Shape than the cover of Vogue, but I think that is progress!  (I was a little dissapointed that last year's Olympic issue featured a professional basketball player and Gisele.  What exactly does Gisele have to do with the Olympics?  And why chose someone from a sport that does not need the Olympics for visibility?)  I personally can't wait for the games to start.  Goosebumps.

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mom and I were discussing this week how her mom used to grow and use rhubarb, which inspired me to hit the farmers market yesterday and try making a strawberry rhubarb pie!

Happy Friday

via 79 Ideas.

Mix and match

I have always liked the idea of individual dresses on bridesmaids and especially love this particular mix of neutral colors and the pop of coordinating pattern!  via Pinterest.

HELMUT

Can't wait to see the rest of Helmut Lang's new diffusion line, HELMUT, launching in May.   More styles here, via The Cut.

Mushroom Soup

We made this delicious soup a couple of weeks ago.  The splash of soy sauce gave it a nice bit of saltiness.  Mine did not seem to be as silky as the photo, it should possibly be strained before serving.  From Tasting Table. 

Glass Lanterns

Pretty, vintage-y alternative to a chandelier. From NYMag.

Boucle Biker

Biker jacket in soft boucle with leather accents. Would be easy and awesome with a white T and a pair of jeans. from Otte.

Club Monaco

Finally!! Club Monaco is now available online.