London: Hour-o-freedom
Portabello Market, Notting Hill
The Big Easy Part 2
Bourbon Street
Magazine Street Antique Mall
I'm headed back on Tuesday for trip number three. Stay tuned for more...
Big Easy Here I Come
I am off to the Big Easy (again) this week. Blog posts may be spotty, but I'll do my best.
The Big Apple + The Big Easy = Love
Beignets and Coffee at Cafe Du Monde
Longue Vue House and Gardens
A few vintage finds in the French Quarter
Most Importantly...New Orleans: One Year Later
Organizations you can volunteer with: Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, Common Ground and ACORN
Uh Oh
Looks like Mom's leaving again
Posts will be spotty over the next few days while I head to the Big Easy on business. Full photo documentation when I return.
If you are looking for the Tea Cup Swap, you can sign up by clicking HERE.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
First Stop: Zehnder's
(I ate: two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, rolls, "mom's dressing" and a double order of noodles)
Second Stop: Nickless Hubinger General Store
(I am SUCH a sucker for a good general store)
CLICK HERE for other places to visit in Frankenmuth, MI
Views of Mackinac Island, MI from the Ferry
No two rooms at the Grand Hotel are decorated alike. All of the textiles are super cool and there are flowers everywhere. It's a mix and matchers dream come true.
Margaret's Garden Shop at the Grand
(The lady who reigns over) Carlton's Tea Store
(Note the plate of cupcakes she's holding)
Also see: Afternoon Tea Menu
The Jaunting Cart
(Oodles of adorable tea cups, tea imports and more)
London Square Ltd
(I bought that estate sale peacock dish and bargained $10 off the price)
Mackinac is FULL of fudge and other yummy goodies
The view. From pretty much everywhere on the island
My slow-ass horse, Jake (a view from the saddle)
My wonderful parents, for whom I am exceedingly grateful
Other fun places to visit in Mackinac not listed above:
The Island Bookstore, Caddywampus Toys, the Mackinac Island Butterfly House, and Jack's Livery Stable
FUN FACT: Did you know that Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed at the Grand Hotel?
Blogging Mini-Break
I'll be taking a blogging mini-break until next Thursday while I enjoy a family vacation at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, MI
Here's what I'll be doing:
horseback riding
swimming
playing tennis
eating fudge
sleeping
bike riding
reading
taking time to smell the roses
I'll be back next week with pictures and oodles of stuff on fall fashion.
Until then,
xo
Emma recommends: "The Essential Francisco Sosa or, Picadou's Mexico City"
C.M. Mayo unearths hidden side of a storied neighborhood as she personally reads her lively account of a stroll through Coyoacán with her pug. "The Essential Francisco Sosa or, Picadou's Mexico City" is a warm, witty and inviting traveling companion for an intimate journey through a vibrant, richly patterned historic neighborhood of that megalopolis, Mexico City. Innovative and informative, the audio version of Mayo's award-winning essay delights the imagination and inspires listeners to take a closer look at their own surroundings while offering a captivating peek into a world that revels in both the exotic and the everyday.
A portion of all proceeds goes to benefit Presencia Animal, a Mexican dog and cat rescue organization.
Learn more at cmmayo.com
Road trippin' and Cracker Barrel
This road trip started out like any other:
MeeAe's eyes on the road and my Ugg's upon the windshield
Everything you need for an 8-hour drive: cash, coffee, blackberry
A sleepy Pug
and a sleepy friend (buried amidst Christmas loot and Trader Joe's grocieries)*
And then....Cracker Barrel!
If you aren't familiar with CB, I totally feel for you. Comfort food + country gift gift shop. What more could a girl want?
Here is what we ate (LOVE the monochromatic food choices!!)
And here is what you can BUY at Cracker Barrel
*Heather, please don't disown me!
Special Paris Edition
With guest correspondent, (co-worker and total babe) Mahnaz, who won airfare to Paris from a silent auction at last year's Shop Well with You Holiday Accessory Sale Benefit!
Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Louvre...all to be visited! However, as this was not my first trip to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I decided to dedicate my four day trip to walking around, shopping, Parisian cafes, people watching...you get the picture.
Voila! C'est moi!:
My travel companion, Celine (Truly French. Her accent proves it!):
Our hotel was located in St. Germain des Pres (on the Left Bank), which is a fashionable, literary area:
They say Paris is for lovers:
But not for Celine and I. Celine separated our beds each night (Should I be offended?):
Anyway, I am in search of my Monsieur Charming, as I have found my wedding cake! It's made entirely of les macarons! (I may have a mini version for my birthday):
Celine and I walked, shopped and brunched around the Marais (Right Bank), a lovely little area:
This graceful street was located directly behind Notre Dame de Paris. Here are some Parisians enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon:
So we joined them and did some people-watching:
I met many memorable people for serene soirees. Here are Caroline and Eric, a very charming couple:
Ghada and Matthias...les newlyweds!:
Yoann, Arnaud and Celine at Cafe Parisien:
A handsome stranger from Denmark. Celine and I talked with him for about ten minutes...until we found out he was leaving the next day (zoot alors!):
Many of my friends requested that I eat and drink for them (as if I needed to be reminded to do this):
"Fumer tue" (Smoking kills. So harsh):
We drank lots of champagne (Celine's favorite) and lots of red wine (my favorite):
We went shopping and did Major Damage. But the one thing Celine really wanted was not on sale: The Jimmy Walker Statue:
All in all, what a lovely trip!
Exploring NY State: The Catskills
This weekend, the Girls and I picked up and headed for Dodge (or the Catskills in our case).
(Inspired by my new sister-in-law,) I had new footwear for the occasion:
Unfortunately, what I needed were Uggs. Because there was S-N-O-W when we arrived:
(Color Us COMPLETELY Unprepared)
So we did what any normal people would do in our situation:
We ate...
...and ate...
...and ate:
Then we watched TV:
And blogged:
And made a fire (well, I made a fire, everyone else tried to make a fire):
I forced Joy to let me where her ring (Don't worry, Bob! I was careful.) When Joy asked for it back, I got a little mad at her. She needs to learn how to share.
Then we went to a farm:
Where we saw pigs - 15 piglets to be exact. (I was told I wasn't allowed to bring one home, much less all 15. Bastards.)
And a cow named T-Bone. (My attempts to free T-Bone were unsuccessful).
And a couple of horses:
And I got a kiss from a Totally Cute Boy:
Then, some antique-hunting:
By Sunday, the snow had melted and I made Emma pose for about 38201 pictures in the leaves:
(**PS Having Typepad problems. Full size pics will be back soon!)
Margaritaville
Blogging from the Catskills, people (and I have Joy with me!) Back soon with more...
Exploring the USA: Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio is a very cool town. It's young and vibrant and most importantly, home to the North Market
Wild flowers
Produce
Antiques and such
Bread
Ravioli
Fiesta ware
A whole lot of goodness
Kelly + Tom = Love
This weekend, my colleagues and I attended the nuptials of Kelly + Tom.
This is where we stayed:
Before the ceremony, we decided to get our drink on. You know, just in case:
Here's the bride. What a beauty!
Here is Kelly and Tom leaving the ceremony. Their dog Percy was in the wedding. Emma will DEFINITELY be in my wedding:
Here's me working on improving my cheekbbone structure:
Here is my dinner before...
...and my dinner after:
My dessert before:
...and my dessert after:
(I actually regret not finishing it, BUT I had to save room for dessert number 2)
Before...
...and after...
Wedding calories totally don't count. DUH!
Every time Anna and I finished a glass of wine, we did this until they came around and gave us more:
After the wedding we came back and had an exorcism...or something:
...and paid homage to the full moon:
In the morning we decided to burn some calories on the row boat. Mahnaz rowed and I watched. Mahnaz looked like she was working really hard, so I feel like I burned a lot of calories.
Summer 2005....Fall 2005
If you live in New York City like me, and are a little overwhelmed with what seems like yet another election, here is a great grid from the Gotham Gazette that lays everything out.
On another note, today Daily Candy proclaimed that it is "time to drop the 'iced' from your morning coffee order, lengthen your shirt sleeves, and trade in breezy summer jams for something a little heavier..." Thus, I have decided to summarize my summer:
SUMMER 2005
Movies seen: A Very Long Engagement, Crash, Love Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Grizzly Man, Broken Flowers, March of the Penguins, the Corporation, A Lot Like Love, 3/4 of the Aviator, Cold Creek Manor, Batman Begins, Wedding Crashers, Kinsey, Meet the Fockers, The Door in the Floor, Collateral
Books read: Birth of Venus, The Best of Everything, 1/2 of Tipping Point
Weddings attended: 1 (thus far)
Engagements: 3 (Joy, Jenna, Lori K)
Bridal showers attended: 1 Bridal showers hosted: 1
Travel: Riverhead, Cleveland, Margaretville, Ellicotville
Days served on jury duty: 1/2
Favorite purchases: green peep toe heels, yellow t-strap heels
Failed romances: 1
Accomplishments: became official Esq!
Regrets: Missing the Basquiat exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum
Things there is still time to do: Coney Island, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo
...and lay out my goals for Fall 2005:
FALL 2005
Movies to see: Going Shopping, Nine Lives, Proof, Team America, Finding Neverland, Life Aquatic, Hotel Rwanda, Born into Brothels [yes, I am a little behind]
Books to read: Custom of the Country, House of Mirth, Time Travelers Wife, Bobbed Hair and Bathub Gin
Things to do: Buy a pumpkin, carve a pumpkin, fall in love, pick apples, vacation upstate, turn one year older, attend nuptials of brother and soon-to-be-sister-in-law, come up with idea for own business or write book, find way out of identity crisis, bake a pie of some sort, vote, take photography lessons, brush up on French
Food to Eat: pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, hearty soups, cider
Paumanok
Returned from vineyard BBQ and feel fantastic. Here are some of the highlights:
# of bottles of champagne consumed on Sunrise Express: 1
# of times we almost got kicked off of Sunrise Express: 2
# of bottles of wine consumed (among the group): 657393
# of cheese platters eaten (among the group): 2
# of dumb questions I asked on the wine tour: no less than 4 (Two highlights: 1. Have you seen Sideways 2. Are these the same grapes you can get in the grocery store?)
# of lobsters eaten (me): 1 (why do I always get the girls?)
# of grilled corn on the cob eaten (me): 2 (so sweet and delicious it didn't need butter, can you even believe that?)
# of goat cheese and olive tart apps eaten (me): 3
dessert: too full
# of outfits Andrea and I lusted after: 1 (printed Marni tops with leopard print skirt combo and brown leather belt)
# of guns Andrea and I found in our sleeping quarters: 1
# of minutes spent sub-bathing on sod farm: roughly 30
# of bottles of Gatorade consumed the morning after: 1 (large)
# of Extra Strength Tylenol taken the morning after: 3
(look at all of the arms reaching for more vino)
I'm off!
Off to Hamptons Vineyard for Labor Day BBQ....It sounds glamorous because it is!
10 Things I want to do in Margaretville, NY
10 Things I want to do in Margaretville, NY:
1. Buy homemade jam and other goodies
2. ride a ferris wheel (but not it is it fast and only if it has passed its inspection and adheres to all NY State Safety Guidelines)
3. eat only summer / picnic related foods like macaroni salad, hot dogs (uncured nitrate and antibiotic free) and lemonade
4. make happy hour last all day
5. take a romantic ride in a row boat
6. watch scary movie (on VHS) and eat Whoppers during a thunderstorm
7. get a sun tan
8. have prize won for me at Fireman's Fair
9. watch fireworks
10. make fireworks
