happy hour thursday!

The Salty Dog

4 oz. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 oz. Hendrick’s gin
1/4 teaspoon salt mixed with 1/8 tsp sugar, for rimming

Pour all ingredients over ice cubes in a highball glass rimmed with salt/sugar mixture. Stir well & serve. Serves 1.

Outstanding in the Field

Outstanding in the Field is an organization that does large scale dinners in beautiful outdoor locations. (Basically a huge version of my pop-up dinner parties.) The locations are always pristine, as you can see from some of the below pictures. The idea is pretty genius. The tickets are now on sale (although some cities are sold out - like New York.) If you can swing the money for the tickets, go buy them before they sell out.

a diary of lovely...

as the chilly ny weather calms down... and i incorporate some spring into my wardrobe, i couldn't help but repost this AWESOME outfit from A Diary of Lovely. i've been dying for a chloe bag, and this carryall is both practical and chic. i've also been on the look out for a leather bomber, and all saints has multiple trendy yet affordable jackets. my favorite, the dvf scarf, is the perfect accessory for spring! warm weather can't come soon enough. enjoy lovelies!

chewing the cud

reuseable, organic AND affordable fabric wraps... how cute are these! perfect for gift wrapping and giving.

wedded bliss...

Prospect Hill Plantation in South Carolina was the perfect place for a wedding. The menu included Southern favorites like pimento cheese spread, mini sweet potato biscuit with ham and apple-horseradish chutney, quartered deviled eggs, as well as Chicken Country Captain, a traditional lowcountry dish.

images via Snippet and Ink

and i'm outtie...

happy hour thursday!

Given the snow, hail and rain going on in New York City at the moment, I thought that this sparkler could lighten everyone up. Enjoy! xoxo

Grapefruit Mimosa

1/4 cup cranberry juice

1/4 cup pink grapefruit juice

Champagne

Pour cranberry & pink grapefruit juice into a champagne flute or thin glass. Top with your favorite champagne or sparkling wine. Serve immediately. Serves 1.

images via coco and kelly

happy spring!

"Its spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so."

mark twain

when you love me...

There are a million little ways to tell or show someone you love them. So if you do, let them know.

 

all images via When You Love Me

SXSW - Austin, TX

As a first time Texas visitor, I must say I was highly impressed with everything Houston and Austin had to offer but I was extremely excited to be heading to visit my lovah during the South by Southwest Musical Festival, one of the biggest in the world. I was able to bar hop, dance, and listen to great tunes by up and coming artists. The weather was perfect, the people chill and laid back... and I got to spend the day with a pretty amazing guy. Highly recommended and hopefully I'll get to attend next year. xoxo.

happy hour thursday!!

Cucumber-Mint Gimlets

2 large cucumbers (1 1/2 pounds total)
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/2 cup gin
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup ice cubes
4 lime slices

Slice four 1/4-inch-thick slices from 1 cucumber. Peel and coarsely chop remaining cucumbers; transfer to processor, add mint leaves and purée until smooth. Pour through fine strainer set over large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer. Discard solids in strainer.

Mix 1 cup cucumber-mint juice, gin, lime juice, and sugar in pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. Add ice; mix well. Immediately strain mixture into 4 small Martini glasses. Garnish with lime and cucumber slices and serve.

How to: Four-Leaf Clover Swizzle Sticks
You’ll need: light green card stock, dark green cardstock, 1″ circle craft punch, four-leaf clover craft punch, glue, bamboo skewers

Cut circles out of card stock with a 1-inch circle craft punch.

Using a four-leaf clover craft punch, randomly punch clovers out of the light green stock.

Pairing light green and dark green circles, glue together onto a skewer.

images via Camille Styles

happy st. patricks day!

image via Camille Styles

Cape Cod Love

i've always have been in love with cape cod, which is why when i saw this adorable wedding on 100 Layer Cake, i just had to re-post. for anyone who has never been, cape cod is such a whimsical place. sand, beach, sun, seersucker, picnic tables, children... its just lovely. if by chance you book a weekend getaway, i would recommend staying at any one of the lovely bed and breakfast inn's located a close distance from the water.

for fellow fondue lovers...

who doesn't love a fondue party?!? this uber chic fondue party by the queen of sweets styling, Amy Atlas Events, is fantastic for any random get together.

daily inspiration...

Irish Love

If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough! <3

to find the delicious recipe for the fabulous st. patty's day cake, head over to I Am Baker (feel free to check out all of the amazing recipes , while on the site!)

Finally Friday!

hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! xoxo lovelies.

happy hour thursdays!

And I always say, one should match the evening’s cocktail to one’s mood. A little bit of this, and a snippet of that - voilà, one set of sunny sparklers to go around!


Rosemary-Peach Sparkler
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 sprig rosemary
2 ripe peeled peaches, cut into 1” cubes
1 bottle Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
(8) additional rosemary sprigs as garnish

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. Strain rosemary syrup in a sieve over a bowl & discard solids. Cover & chill at least 1 hour.

Place rosemary syrup and peaches in a blender, and process until smooth. Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl. Cover & chill at least 4 hours. Spoon about 2 Tablespoons peach syrup into each of 8 champagne flutes. Top each serving with about 1/3 cup champagne. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

images via Coco and Kelly

Los Barriles Destination Wedding...

First up is a dreamy destination wedding held on the beaches of Los Barriles, Mexico. The bride took a classic, less is more approach to all the gorgeous details and they couldn’t be a more perfect mix with the sunny locale and Jose Villa’s eye for the best photographs. Plus, we are major suckers for a great pair of sparkly shoes. Seriously, does it get any better?

images via Style Me Pretty

brilliant!

i came across this exceptional idea on the blog Everything Fabulous and i think its genius! i am actually looking forward to hosting a party, just to put my cooler in one of these fabulous wicker baskets (you can find inexpensive baskets at Ikea). easy to use indoors, or out, your guests will be sure to think it was your very own brilliant idea! xoxo

in love with... zara's spring 2011 line.

simple spring basics is all i'm looking for and Zara has them all. simple lines, and basic colors. i plan to tie several of these pieces together with my love for ikat! spring/summer... hurry up and get here! xoxo

newly obsessed...

with all things ikat... enjoy my lovelies! xoxo

surprise. surprise.

i must say that i haven't always been a fan of surprises... i like surprising friends and family, but being surprised isn't really my thing. maybe this is because i've never really been truly surprised. well, that was until this past weekend. i had plans all week to meet my best friend for happy hour... but when i walked in my best friend was no where to be found. instead, i found my lovah (who flew in from africa...) waiting for me. not only was i speechless, i was completely and utterly delighted. i learned this past weekend that some surprises really are worth it. <3

sur·prise (sr-prz)

tr.v. sur·prised, sur·pris·ing, sur·pris·es

1. To encounter suddenly or unexpectedly; take or catch unawares.

2. To attack or capture suddenly and without warning.

3. To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated.

Finally Friday...

enjoy a glass of persecco this weekend... its delicious! xoxo, lovelies

bike-cycles.

Pashley, Klassic Paula, Birdcage Wooden Basket, Round Basket