Oh Audrey

We'll call this one girl crush. An Audrey Tatou spread in Marie Claire Russia- need I say more? Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with Audrey in Amelie. I think she has the best mingling of girlish charm and  womanly sophistication. Don't you?

(by Shayne Laverdiere) 

P.S. Before she was Chanel, she was Coco.

Patchwork

The Memorial Day weekend proved to be a lazy haze of sleeping in, poolside cocktails, delicious seafood and seaside sunning, but I did mange to snap a few shots.

(1) Mimosas and guilty reading pleasures (2) Betcha you were just waiting to see that- ow ow! (3) A sunkissed brunch 

A garden party

We're having a few friends over on Friday evening for cocktails, hors d' oeuvres and desserts, so I'm on the hunt for simple, quick recipes. With the backyard all trimmed and light strands sprinkling the porch, this is well on its way to become a garden party. That being said, this cake would be perfect. Don't you think? 

 

(via Manger, but originally scouted on Cup of Jo) 

Or how about this lovely pink ombre cake? It's in style, no?

(via Espresso and Creme) 

Time Capsule

I like to consider myself a minimalist and to a fault, sometimes. I constantly check myself to not over-purge my life as I have a tendency to not keep sentimental items- cards, certificates, letters and the like, around for too long. I toss things away with ease reminding myself that I have the mental memories and images, and it suits me just fine. I attribute it to my various moves when I had to fit my life's treasures in a few bags or a car load.

But, a few of my memories are hidden in a silver canister buried in Virginia soil somewhere. On Valentine's Day last year and after an elaborate gift giving from boy, I handed him a single water bottle for his gift. I went on to explain that he said he wanted to get to the gym more, and I thought he could use a new water bottle. As you can imagine, he wasn't too impressed. But, I jest- underneath the bottle were some of my favorite memories of us that I had collected and kept along the way- photos, restaurant matches, show programs, napkin notes. 

A few weeks later, we drove to the town we met in years ago and hiked to a secluded spot that we hope (fingers crossed) will prove to be recognizable years from now. We shall see . . .

(on our way to find the perfect spot) 

(buried but not forgotten) 

(carving our initials to serve as a marker) 

P.S. A real collector and one of my favorite books and movie. 

How do you say thank you?

I am a firm believer in thank you notes and hostess gifts. It may be from my stint of living in southern Virginia, where hospitaility never goes unnoticed, but I'm sure my mom just raised me right. Boy and I were invited to a friends' home in Virginia Beach this past Memorial weekend, and since the trip was planned in a moment's notice, I'm scrambling around today to find the perfect thank you gift for our gracious hosts before the week's end. This is truly a classic case of what do you get for a couple that has everything. Well, here are a few of my ideas . . .

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkeys soap set via The Spoon Sisters. A fun, quirky gift that's sure to make their future guests giggle.



A Virginia state cutting board. Check out the Etsy shop, Aheirloom for other states- such a neat idea!

Laughter

On our road trip to the coast last weekend, boy and I listened to talk radio in between my various needs for stopping (ahem) and mandatory North Carolina BBQ.  And by talk radio, I really just mean NPR's Radiolab. I usually moan and whine when he puts it on, wishing that we could use that time for sweet talking or blaring music, but about 10 minutes in, I end up shushing him if he tries to get a word in. We listened to the podcast Laughter, a series answering the questions of why we laugh and if animals laugh,  and interviews with Tanzanians trapped in a contagious laugh for days and weeks. That's right- you heard me! In 1962, a laughter epidemic broke out in Tanzania, starting at a girls' boarding school in a rural village- so very interesting!

If I want to have a doubled over, can't breathe kind of laugh, then I call my bestie Leah. We live in different cities now, so we try to have the occasional wine dates over video chat.  She's absurdly hilarious.

P.S. A documentary on laughing, featuring the Tanzania epidemic: Laughology 

Patchwork

(old snapshots from the last 1.5 years) 

                        

(1)Last Memorial weekend at the beach (2) A baseball game in the sun (3&4) Exploring (5) A day at the sea (6) Creme in my coffee (7) Red lips en route to a wedding

                

Baz and Leo

Baz Luhrmann and Leonardo DiCaprio meet again! The trailer for the Great Gatsby was just released, and I am beyond excited to see it. December seems so far away! This was one of the my top favorites for required reading in high school. I would take a Mr. Gatsby over a Mr. Bennet any day. And maybe it's just me, but Leo's prolific career seems to get better with every film. His roles deliver fascinating characters again and again. Don' you agree?

P.S. Have you ever listened to Baz Luhrmann's graduation speech to the class of '97?

(the young Leo) 

Six Rules for Dining Out

 (photo by Leif Parsons) 

A few weeks ago,  I read an article by Tyler Cowen (economist and everyday foodie) in the Atlantic, “Six Rules for Dining Out.”  Prior to reading the article and unbeknownst to me, boy and I aced two of the six rules on a random Friday evening date.

Six Rules for Dining Out

Number 1- In the fanciest restaurants, order what sounds least appetizing.

Now unfortunately, the author is referring to dinner plates over $50, and as a struggling 20 something year-old, I can’t say I indulge in a lot of those meals! He instructs to look past the comfortable roast chicken, and choose a dish sounding less appetizing, since ‘fancy’ restaurants offer well thought-out menus with good reason for their specialty dishes.

As a girl who continually orders Spaghetti at any and every Italian restaurant, I can certainly use this advice!

Number 2- Beware the Beautiful, Laughing Women

Apparently, restaurants with great social scenes will often focus on creating a chic, energizing environment, rather than provide interesting recipes. So stay away from the yammering and high priced restaurants, and gravitate to where the sulking, not so attractive people are choosing to dine.

Summer Must Haves (2)

I am a huge fan of audacious, dangling earrings, but I'm not a fan of the wind whipping my earrings around on blustery days at the beach. I adore these geometric studs by Moonlight for Violet.

This top is slightly elementary- rhinos! But, I think it would look rad with a semi sheer, black maxi. Don't you? 

The girl has soul

Kimbra's new album "Vows" is out today-eek! Take a listen.

Photo Patchwork

{from the phone of I as of late}

Boy and I headed to the North Carolina coast to meet the new nephew and remind the -big brother- nephew that he will always have a special place in my heart. Those little gents do make me melt. 

Home in Morocco

Just stumbled upon this lovely Moroccan country home via Freshome. It's the perfect fusion of eccentric and minimalist, vintage and kitschy, and antique and modern. This home seems so 'in fashion' with all the Aztec prints springing up this season.  Although, it's  slightly circa Flintstones, I adore the concrete enclosed appliances and those bookshelves. More here. 

Cue boy

Last week, boy and I attended a fun whisky induced event, hosted by a charity I work with closely- more on that later. Unfortunately, not all our photos look this good as we really can't afford a  photographer to follow us around, but wouldn't that be nice? Oh, the many sides of girl and boy.  

Summer Must Haves (1)

The weather here in Washington D.C. has been rather, shall we say, temperamental, but I think summer is right on our heels. And I love summer just as much as anyone- grillin' out, lazy pool days, impromptu beach trips. And with that, here's a roundup of a few things I'll be acquiring as "summer essentials."

Summer is on our heels, and so is the wedding season.  Every time I turn around, someone in my life is preparing to walk down the aisle. And what a better way to congratulate the happy couple than with a  "Just Married" bottle o' vino! I'll definitely be toting this to all the summer weddings, via Swanson Vineyards. 

Everybody is doing it- bright and bold pouts! Whether it's haute pink, cotton candy or rose, I have to get my hands on the perfect vibrant pink for the summer months. Don't you agree? 

A postcard from 1952

“Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence, and whereto.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson