Mad Men

Do you watch Mad Men? Are you ready for season 6?! Last spring, boy and I got hooked as we plowed through multiple seasons. I cannot wait to see what they will come up with this time around.

Wedding: Ladies Getting Ready

When someone asks me how the wedding went, I exclaim that I would totally do it again (with the same man, of course). It wasn't just the ceremony, but the moments leading up to it. Moments with my family, friends, and my bridesmaids.  

After a solo drive to finesse my vows, I spent the morning sipping mimosas with my ladies.  Whoever said that weddings are stressful? Not here! 

Design: Dining Table

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As you may remember, we finally found a dining room table. After much determination, boy found a steal on Craig’s List and after many hours of maneuvering, we nudged it into our jeep late last Friday evening. It’s a gorgeous black farm table with the perfect amount of wear and tear. Now the question is . . . what shall I do for seating? 

Over this past weekend, we found a wooden bench at a local thrift store for six dollars (!). Take that World Market! Now I just need to figure out what chairs will complement the best. Since the table is so rustic and classic, I’m considering a mid-century aesthetic for the chairs. Here are some of my design inspirations . . .

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Recipe: Homemade Marshmallows

Remember those homemade graham crackers? Well, here's the recipe for homemade marshmallows to complete your s'mores experience. Thank you Lemons and Lima Beans for sharing with us!

Springy, Fluffy Marshmallows
Yield about 96 1-inch cubed marshmallows

Entertaining: A Dinner Party

“What else is a dinner party besides a comic operetta without a score?

But they also orchestrated every element of the evening, arrival to departure, most crucially directing the conversation, which they either allowed to follow a traditional serve-and-volley pattern (20 minutes right, 20 minutes left), or else commandeered for so-called “general discussion” as provocateur hosts like the television journalist Barbara Walters still do.”

(quoted from the NYT article, Guess Who Isn’t’ Coming to Dinner?)

So . . . we've decided to host dinner parties every Sunday evening, or at least try to host a few times a month if we can. Ambitious, I know.  But with new restaurants popping up everywhere and the burgeoning foodie culture, it seems that dinner parties are a dying art. Wouldn't you agree?

Life, as of late

oh hello Friday

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It's Friday! What are getting into this weekend?

Boy and I are unexpectedly heading to a Wizard's basketball game tonight as some very good tickets were gifted to us. So sport-sy of me, I know. We have some dinner and cocktail plans with friends, but other than that, we'll probably be laying pretty low. Especially since it's our last weekend of this.

Just some links from the interwebs . . .

Tunes: The Call

Do watch Parenthood? Well, you must!

Wedding: The Setting and Details

Well, let's kick off these wedding photos, shall we? We wed at King Family Vineyard right outside Charlottesville, VA. What a sunset to commence our wedding!

King Family was in a long line of potential venues, but I sure did have my heart set on it. They were tireless in ensuring that our day went off without a hitch, and not to mention, their wine selections are amazing. 

Originally, I had planned to arrange my own flowers,  but a lovely friend introduced me to the creator of The Arrangement Company. I sent her photos of my inspiration, and she replicated it perfectly. The flowers were, hands down, one of my favorite aspects of the wedding. 

Would you . . .

 . . . wear shiny leggings? I think some brands call them "wet leggings." Still trying to figure out how I feel about that name. I'm coming around to the look, and I think it can add some rad dimension to your outfit. As long as you don't over do it and stick to basics up top. Here are a few looks I'd dare to wear . . .

(source unknown) 

Valentine's Wish List

Is it too early for a Valentine's Day wish list? Forget the flowers and chocolate, here are some things on my wish list.

I cringe when I have to buy fresh herbs at the grocery store, and all the while knowing that I could be growing my own herbs on my wee porch. Herbs in clay pots via the Growers Exchange.

Every season, I try to change my everyday purse, and V-Day seems like the perfect milestone. To get through those wintry blues and to store the copious amounts of winterware, I'd love this Helen Beauty Purse by Ruche. 

DA Valentines

Last year, boy found these amazing Downton Abbey Valentines cards. The creator's wife became quickly obsessed with DA, and he came up with these brilliant cards, asking only for donations to download them. I do hope he brings them back this year. Can't wait to see what he comes up with!

Wedding Photos

Psst . . . wedding photos are coming later this week.

A Lifetime

(source unknown, but originally from here)

I have to tell you, friends  . . .

Since getting married, I am, in a very odd way, more emotional. It’s not a “crying for no reason” emotional, but rather a sweet moment in a film, moving lyrics to a song, a kind word from a friend will bring me to sentiment. This comes as a shock to me as I’m sure it does to my friends. They joke that I will never let myself cry with others present, and I’m the friend that slaps others urging, “pull yourself together.” I’m sure boy would say other things about my emotional habits ;)

oh hello Friday

(source unknown)

A round up of things from the world wide web. Have a great weekend!

*Anna Bond from Rifle Paper Co. is now crafting iPhone cases (!).

*Really fascinating article on how online dating has stretched our content into discontent with too many options.

Tunes: Sweater Weather

Stumbled upon this great tune, via a friend. I love that drum beat; perfect jam for a quiet Friday at the office. 

Bar Cart

Aside from other important furniture for our home (i.e. bed and dining room table), I am on the hunt for a metal bar cart. I'd love to transform a flea market find into a sleek bar cart. A Beautiful Mess has a great redo of a rickety find into quite the statement piece. Look how pretty . . .

To accessorize, I adore these vintage liquor bottles with art decals via re.invintage. 

Would you . . .

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 . . . wear boots with a maxi skirt? I've seen this look so many times, and I can't decide if I like it or if it's too Dr. Quinn. I like the ankle boot with the long sheer maxi, and unless you have a jaw dropping slit, I'm not sure knee high boots work the best. But, what do you think?

The "Burning Bush"

I like to think that this is exactly how I cook. Abundantly rhyming and ever so poetic.

Gorgeous Ring

(via Etsy, Specimental)

I love this ring. Absolutely gorgeous. I'll take a roughly cut stone with a hammered gold band any day.  Considering I was just gifted a shiny somethin' somethin', I wont' covet, but what a great Valentines gift, eh? 

Addictions

(white noise, by Matthias Heiderich)

Do you have any addictions? Do you ever just crave something so bad you won't rest until you have it?

Embarrassingly, I do. You see somewhere throughout the years, I started turning on a fan or heater, depending on the weather, before I went to sleep. You're thinking "space heater on all night? Well, that sounds unsafe." Yes, I know, and a complete electricity whore.

Guilty, as charged.

(source unknown)

We're starting week 3 of the January Resolution Experiment, and . . . I cracked yesterday. A lazy and rainy Sunday afternoon found us at a local cafe ordering lattes and croissants. Shameful, I know. To finish out the afternoon, we meandered to a local bar for afternoon cocktails. Rue and regret over here. Some friends graciously took us out Saturday evening, and I think it just wet our palate, wanting more "dining out" the next day.

Design: S.F. Apartment

I'm not a huge fan of white walls; I'd rather saturate my rooms with deep hues and bright neutrals. But then again, I've not been in many apartments that have interesting shapes, hard wood floors, and modern lines. Just like this darling San Francisco apartment on Apartment Therapy. 

Oh hello Friday

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Just a quick roundup of finds from around the web. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Tunes: Don't think twice

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My love affair with Bob Dylan began from an episode of Mad Men. We played this song in the prelude at our wedding. I like to think it's so quintessential to us. . . "but don't think twice, it's alright."

A Tomboy Kind of Day

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Some mornings, I’m fairly ambitious. I wave-curl my hair, perfectly pair jewelry to my look, and meticulously spread every lash with mascara (well, that’s exaggerating). Then other days, I’m lucky if I find matching socks. Philip likes to poke fun at how I wake up to a different routine every morning. Just keep things spicy around here!

Would you . . .

 . . . wear a fur vest? I was on the hunt for one for weeks, and then lo and behold, I spotted it at a Goodwill pop up shop in downtown D.C. Boy hates it, and refers to me as an Alaskan fur trader whenever I wear it in public. It is a bold look, don't you think? Here are some of the looks I like . . .

 

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Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa and Goat Cheese

This recipe looks amazing, and I had every intention to make it this week, fully documenting my escapades. And, well further proving to you that I really do cook. Thanks Lemons and Lima Beans for sharing this delicious recipe. 

Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa and Goat Cheese
Yield 4 servings

Dress Candy

Isn't this dress GORgeous? I just can't stop staring at it. Oh to not have to rub my pennies together for such a beauty as this.

Etsy Finds

Along with the below (this morning's post) . . . 

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I have busied myself on Pinterest and Etsy, and I am swooning over some Etsy finds. 

These photographic pillow covers are so dreamy, and I want to get my hands on one for our living room, via Caroline Kollektart. 

Saving my Pennies

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Well, it's day 8 of the January Resolution Experiment, and it's actually going quite well. Ironically, it has been so liberating. Instead of saying to myself, "do I buy the shirt or go out to eat this Saturday, or can I do both?" It's a definitive no that I can't have either.

Rather, I'm digging through my closet to find wardrobe pieces of yore to create a new look, and we have been busy cooking up interesting meals together. To keep myself preoccupied from loosening the purse strings, I have . . .

Photos: Apartment

(via April and May)

We've been busy, busy over here the last few weeks to get our apartment just the way we want it. There is still a ways to go, and with 800 sq feet you really do have to be clever. Every piece has to deem some sort of functionality in such a small space, but I still get to have fun with the decorative pieces. These are some of my favorite corners of our home.

Downton Abbey Season 3!

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Did you watch it? Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about!

For all my American readers, the premiere of Downton Abbey's season 3 was yesterday evening. What did you think? Lost in DA world, I'm scouring the interwebs for anything Matthew, Mr. Bates, and Lady Crawley.

P.S. Isn't the above photo, wild? It's our favorite post Victorian characters uprooted in a 1990s style  night club, don't you think?

P.S.S. Jessica Brown Findlay is absolutely stunning, no?

P.S.S.S. A DA style secret.

On Heated Discussions

Let’s get personal, shall we?

This past Sunday morning, I headed to the gym in anticipation of seizing the New Year with regimented fitness. Along with exercise discipline, I want to have spiritual discipline. So, when I returned home, Philip and I digressed on attending church that morning.  You see with traveling, wedding planning, and the holidays, we haven’t been able to attend any type of service in months. Not to mention, we really haven’t been able to find a church and community that we enjoy here in D.C. And with that, our decision to go to church resulted in a heated discussion about where to go and truly why we were going at all. Why on this Sunday did we think we could find a church we like?  

You see, from what I can tell, Philip and I grew up in similar environments. I had a wonderful family, but my childhood was rooted in a traditional upbringing, in school and church. And, in these Christian circles, the flag of religious legalism flew high.* As in, girls should have long hair, wear skirts all the time, alcohol is sinful . . . you get the picture.

Now I can’t speak for Philip, but in a time when my family needed our church body the most, they did not reach out to us. There was a time when my parents were the preschool teachers, the creators of Christmas pageant costumes, the home to rebellious youth, and well, just downright beautiful people; our church community adored them. Time passed though, and my parents slipped further and further into separation from each other and the church. The families that we had grown up alongside for so many years in Sunday school, choir practices, and potluck picnics, turned their backs on my parents. Not because there wasn't love for us, but because, I believe, they didn't know what to do with this struggling family. It was a ‘family matter’, and one that my parents would have to figure out themselves behind closed doors.  

Would you . . .

 . . .wear leopard print? As a product of the late 80s and early 90s, my natural instinct towards animal print is disdain. Those decades taught me that such prints can only be paired with teased bangs, solo lip liner and slinky pleather pants, but tell me, do you think animal print, particularly leopard, can be classy?

Well, more and more, I think it can. The fashionista extraordinaire and my good friend, Ashley, has taught me just that. She dons breezy leopard print blouses buttoned all the way up with black cigarette pants, and somehow, comes out looking so chic. I apprehensively put on leopard print yesterday, but I think the feline and I braved the world together just fine. Here are some of my favorite looks . . .

(Huafeng) 



(Colin Stuart via Victoria Secret)

Sweet Potato, Lentil and Goat Cheese Salad

It’s January 3^rd, and chances are,  you are sweating your tookus off at the gym, watching those calories, and saying your “Hail Mary's” as you hop on the scale, post the sugar cookie coma of Christmas 2012. No? Perhaps that’s just me.

Well,  a salad recipe sounds so appropriate right now, and it’s a salad with goat cheese no less (!). Goat cheese can make anything taste better, don't you think?  

Thanks Lemons and Lima Beans for sharing with us! 

New Years Eve

Just some quick snapshots of our New Years Eve party . . .

January Resolution Experiment

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I decided to post what would be today's recipe post, tomorrow, so I can share the "resolution experiment" with you. What is this you may ask? Well, if you head over to Lemons and Lima Beans, you'll discover that Ashleigh and I used to do monthly resolutions to bridge the geographical gap between our friendship. She in Virginia; me in Boston. Many moons ago, we would hop on the phone every few days and update each other on how the resolution for the month was going. For February, we didn't eat chocolate, for March we didn't complain, for April, we worked out rigorously . . . you get the picture. Well, she had the brilliant idea to start our resolutions again and chat about the process on our respective blogs.

Life, as of late