Monthly Archives: July 2010

Splurging on the walk

Posted on July 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

I love shoes. 

More specifically, I love looking at shoes; Ferragamo, Louboutin, Jimmy Choo.  These are the shoes I can’t afford, or cannot justify splurging on.  For our wedding I certainly looked at all the designer favorites, but I couldn’t bring myself to splurge.  My logic was, I’d rather go all out on a pair of shoes that I can wear more than one time and will not be hidden by the layers of tulle in my wedding gown, than on a pair that will be hidden for the night. 

The WIC (Wedding Industrial Complex) would probably have preferred I splurge, but I couldn’t do it.  Luckily for me, and for many other brides there are similar replicas, and discounts galore.

When I first started wedding shoe shopping I fell in love with these:
Valentino Sequin Peep-Toe Pump – they are no longer available, but they retailed in the $800 range

Here’s an alternative:

I also loved the  Jimmy Choo ‘Clue’ Glitter Slingback Pump (Nordstrom Exclusive), and in fact tried them on, walked around the shoe floor and was told by the salesperson that I could definitely wear them with jeans and on the weekends.  But the price tag deterred me, especially when I found a very similar style by Enzo Angiolini.
Of course who could forget the most famous “wedding shoes” and perhaps the pair that really gave birth to the trend of wearing colored wedding shoes?  The Manolos spurred a million knock-offs but probably no knock was better than these.



So, where did I end up on my shoe search?  Well, after trying on a pair of Jimmy Choo, ordering Badgley Mischka online, and browsing at length online and in person, two weeks before getting married I still had no shoes…  

This is where the MOB comes in.  The mother of the bride (my mom) found these beauties on sale at a Macy’s store – and that was that!


And wouldn’t you know it, they very much resemble these beauties by Christian Louboutin, but for much less!
I wore my wedding shoes for easily 12 hours on our wedding day – I liked mine so much I wore them for hair and makeup time too.  I had to make sure that I not only loved the shoes, but that they loved my  feet.  Your wedding day is not the day to get a blister and sit out from the dance floor.  (Although, to be fair, when you dance for that many hours, the blisters are sort of unavoidable, but totally worth it!)
I won’t discredit the difference in materials and quality when buying premium designer shoes, so if you want to splurge go for it, after all, it is your day!  And if you don’t, check out bluefly.com, zappos.com, Martinez Valero (for very, very close copies) and Nina Shoes for the classic bridal footwear.

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Posted in Her Weddings + Events, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Inspiration

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It’s Easy Being Green

Posted on July 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Moving has really made me think about what we use, and how we use it.  We have always been  very conscientious about not overusing paper towels, recycling, bringing our own bags to the store and shopping at our local farmer’s market so we have produce without packaging.  

But, now that we live in a bigger house there is even more to be aware of and I am thinking twice about what items we buy to equip our new kitchen.


We got the Bamboo Cutting Board with Colander as a shower gift and it has proven to be a great item.  It is a space saver by not having two have two separate pieces of equipment and the bamboo serves as a great cutting surface while also being a more readily renewable resource.

Moving to DC meant no more tap water, this is something I hope is resolved in time, but in the interim we are using the Brita Green Grand Water Filter and Pitcher.  This eliminates the use for bottled water which is a major save for the environment – plus the green is so cute!

If you’re heading to the store in DC you’ll be wise to bring your own bag and save the $0.05 tax, and of course by bringing your own you help the environment too.  This Envirosax “Planet Green Series Bag”  is a great green option, while also being compact and chic. 
Now this canvas tote I couldn’t resist, since our new neighborhood is called Bloomingdale (not Bloomingdale’s) I thought the “In Bloomie’s We Trust” Recycled Cotton Canvas Tote would be a great bag to bring to Bloomingdale’s Farmer’s Market; I’ll show some neighborhood pride and be acting green.
Something else to consider when planning a greener lifestyle is length of use.  I apply this thinking to my fashion choices as well.  I prefer to spend more on an item that will last me years and years that and won’t soon end up in a landfill or worse the ocean, and won’t contribute to our general collection of excess stuff.

These are great investment pieces that will pay dividends:

As you know I am an avid baker and every time I bake I put a piece of tin foil, wax paper or parchment paper down on the pan.  Those days are over!  As a housewarming gift (thank you!!!) I got a new Silpat mat, these French pastry mats are time tested and will last nearly forever, saving lots of foil and paper.

The Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Cookware might be the holy grail of cookware.  These pieces are built to last and therefore not need to be replaced for a very long time.  We also got a few of these pieces as a wedding gift and are happy to get cooking.

Each of these choices are based on what works for our lifestyle.  But for me, just like when I cook I want to use the best ingredients I have access to, I want to use the best equipment and tools too.

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Posted in Decor, Her Home, Her Kitchen

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Everything is sweeter when small

Posted on July 19, 2010 | 4 comments

These are cutie pies. Pies are pretty much my favorite thing. Small things also rank pretty high on the list of favorites.

I’ll share some Joey Tribiani logic with you,
Pie = butter + flour + sugar = delicious
Small = handheld + portable + more fun – plates = cute

Small + pies = cutie pies = good

I didn’t always get in “A” in Math class, but I am pretty confident with that equation.

So the key to any good pie is good dough.  I told you I preferred to make my own dough, so I am glad I was able to share this with you on such a cute, summer, recipe.  I learned this recipe at Smitten Kitchen.
Pie Dough – makes two doughs or approximately 10 cutie pies with lattice tops.
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (8 ounces, 16 tablespoons or 1 cup) unsalted butter, very cold
*With a naturally sweet filling like peaches I might add just a touch more salt.


So, you could make this dough with a food processor, but then you can’t really control the texture, or with a pastry cutter, but I can’t find mine, or with two butter knives, or forks…

Then I put my hands in there and really work it through.  If I remember I take my rings off first – I rarely remember – that’s a good thing.  I shaped it into a nice, big, buttery ball.

The magic with pie dough is all in keeping the butter cold so that when it’s rolled and then baked the crust is rich, flaky and amazing.  Now that the dough is a pretty smooth ball I divided it and wrapped in plastic (or parchment/wax paper) and stored it in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

For the filling I followed my intuition – that often seems to work.  
Peach Filling for 6 Cutie Pies:
5 Peaches
1.5 tbsps granulated sugar
2 – 3 shakes of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of corn starch
**I probably ate a peaches worth of cut up peaches after making the pies…

To remove the fuzzy skin – I boiled a small pot of water and dunked the peaches in the boiling water on the stove for about 15 seconds.  After their spa experience they all get dunked in a bowl of ice cold water so that they don’t continue cooking.  At this point the skin peels right off.

For Cutie Pies I like the fruit pieces to be a bit on the smaller side, since the container is smaller too. Once everything is chopped I sprinkled in the sugar/cinnamon/corn starch and just let it hang out for a little while.  The fruit loves the sugar – it doesn’t need much but, when they’re together they make some really delicious things happen. 


Time to get rolling…
So, you caught me.  I don’t own a rolling pin.  I love pie and I don’t own a rolling pin.  We used to live in a considerably smaller home, with a significantly smaller kitchen and therefore I have grown accustomed to using a Chopan Vodka Martini mixing bottle as a rolling pin.   It’s a bit silly, but it works.

Anyway, throw down some flour on the work surface and keep some handy for the bottle/can/rolling pin/whatever.

I use a muffin tin as the pie pan and a juice glass to cut out the circles.  The pan doesn’t need any additional grease as the dough is already pretty deliciously buttery. 

I put in generous servings of fruit – it makes it more fun to get a sweet bite of peach in every, single, juicy bite.

With the excess dough I cut out little strips and made a mini lattice for the tops.  With my fingers I rubbed a bit of skim milk, but you could use an egg wash or water in a pinch, and sprinkled some raw sugar on top. 

I forgot to mention… you’ll want to bake these at 350 for about 20 minutes.  Due to the small size, and the sensitivity of different ovens – keep an eye on these babies.  Also, if you’re not into cleaning ovens, (and really who is?) try layering the muffin tin on a cookie sheet so that any extra bubbly juices land on the sheet and not the oven or racks.


And then it’s time to eat.  And eat we did! 

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Posted in Baking, Dessert, Her Kitchen, summer

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Come Sale Away

Posted on July 16, 2010 | 2 comments

My friend Jaci, of EverydaySassypants.com fame, and I often talk shop in our gchats throughout the week. This week we stumbled across the Nordstrom Annual Sale, we played what I like to call “What would I like on this page?” and what she and her sisters called “that’s me”. The point of the game is that you shop with a friend/sister and know so clearly what matches their personal style that you could pick it out for them.

After many years of shopping at Loehmann’s throughout college and then on Shopstyle together, Jaci and I know each other’s style. I was inspired by her own virtual fall sale shopping spree and decided to share my own for the Nordstrom sale.

What I love about Jaci’s style is her ability to play with a variety of textures and materials and unique hardware to create a look that is playful, colorful, but always really well put together and sophisticated. We’ve determined, my style is “classic”, and there’s no denying that here.Calvin Klein Split Neck Knit Sheath – I am liking this because the fit looks fantastic (the knit fabric is going to continue to hold it’s shape) and because I feel like it could easily be dressed up for a day to night piece.

Halogen Draped Dolman Sweater –So, this is something I would wear anywhere. I’d wear it with leggings and boots, jeans, with a black pencil skirt for a playful twist on workwear. I think this might be a winner.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Quilted Knit Jacket I see this jacket and think I should find a way to wear this in the fall to pick apples, drink cider and sit by the fire… and probably should wear it with the Vince Ponte Knit Riding Pant.


Having a glamorous moment? These sunglasses might do the trick. Check out the
Burberry Oversized Sunglasses.
So I really don’t wear a watch, but if I was this would be it, Michael Kors Runway Watch . It’s a great play on the men’s watch and fairly affordable for a watch (sale or not.)

Fall is all about the boot. As I have become a more practiced city commuter I have grown more aware of the need for practical, comfortable, flat boots and these are a favorite for fall, Stuart Weitzman Hammer Boot.

The Valentino ‘Small’ Nappa Leather Satchel is not on sale. But, Mr. Valentino if you want to become friends/family and do a special, I’m all for this number.

Happy Shopping! Fall will be here before you know it!

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Posted in Accessories, Budget, Her Closet, Shopping

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A belated 4th…

Posted on July 16, 2010 | Leave a comment


We moved on the weekend of July 4th.

No matter what anyone tells you, moving is exhausting.

The three day weekend proved to be a the perfect time to pack, haul and move across town.

So that Monday off was critical! And on Sunday we were able to finally sit back and enjoy our independence from moving trucks, packing tape, and boxes and celebrate our nation’s independence too!

Our very good friends, and now new neighbors, invited us over for 4th of July BBQ. In full disclosure it is probably the first time I have ever gone to someone’s house for a meal/party/celebration without bringing something, but with the exception of ice cubes, and some beer we were saving for later, I had nothing to share. Not to worry – we were well fed and imbibed. Yum! Real coconut pina coladas. I’m not a fan of coconut, like at all, and these were pretty damn good!

BBQ’d sliders with a toppings bar? Uhm, hello Summer! I am officially in food heaven. These were delicious and we all enjoyed eating them, a lot!

That’s me in the background – can you tell how happy I am over the bacon/swiss/sliders? Glee!

After dinner we managed to climb up, feeling very full, to our roof for the most spectacular fireworks show I can remember ever seeing. The neighborhood effort definitely rivaled the National show. It was like a welcome party just for us!

Our friends taking in the view!

We can’t wait to celebrate more!

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Posted in DC, entertaining, Her Home, Holiday Food, Holidays

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“Mule!” “Nag!”

Posted on July 14, 2010 | 1 comment

Today my sister moves back to Washington, DC.

Like me, she went to college in the DC area (Maryland), and as far as college goes, that’s where our similarities end. She participated in Greek Life, I did not. She has a huge group of girlfriends and is easily the life of the party, I enjoy planning the party. She is truly the youngest child, and I am the oldest child.

In growing up though I have always admired her, her sense of self, joy, the energy and enthusiasm she brings to her life and the way she encounters all people without an ounce of judgment.

As little girls we would plot our next business venture; we sold painting on the boardwalk, lemonade on the corner, hand beaded necklaces to anyone who was interested and started a local baby-sitters club. Watch movies, a favorite for many reasons was a League of Their Own, and if we were ever punished and sent to our adjoining rooms, we’d each sit in our closets and talk to each other through the shared wall.

During our overlapping college time, it’s fair to say that for a period we did not hang out as often as our grandmothers would ask if we did, but somehow, magically, we became two fairly similar girls. We’re both likely to roll our eyes a little too freely, cry a bit easily, smile widely, and cherish the same moments.

Personal photo

Somehow we’ve both grown up. She can call me out (and does), and usually I can do the same. She looks out for me, and I will always look out for her. She is selfless and so spirited as she proved in the last year by putting others before her (myself included) during the year of wedding planning and Maid of Honor-hood, as she was going through all the trials and travails of her senior year of college.

Image by Ashley Colhouer Photography


And, somewhere a long the way our sisterhood became a true friendship, still a little competitive, but always my best friend, and now housemate?!

Yes, she get’s her own room in the new house while she begins to navigate post-college life in DC and we’re so excited to have her here! I can’t wait to share in this new stage of adult hood with her.

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Posted in DC, Family, Her Home, Her Inspiration, Personal

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It’s the extras…

Posted on July 14, 2010 | 3 comments

I can’t stress enough that the wedding we had was perfect for us. It was our dream wedding. It is my favorite day.

However, that doesn’t mean that in the process of wedding planning I didn’t see many other things that I would have liked to have had. I sometimes joked that I could have planned ten different weddings and each would be unique – but since we’re only doing this once, those other designs and inspiration boards will have to wait for friends’ weddings, renewals and theme parties!

I am a long time fan of the beautiful calligraphy work of Laura Hooper. So much of a fan that at one point I attempted to make “Laura Hooper style Save the Dates”. We obviously went a different route, you can’t beat the real thing. I love her work for the whimsy, and unique heart each piece gets.

Designed by Laura Hooper Calligraphy


Doesn’t this make you feel like you’re about to find a Secret Garden? I love, love, love this lush aisle runner of multi-colored petals. The delighted flower girl seems to agree with me!

Image: Rebecca Thuss

We didn’t serve a signature drink, that was a trend we didn’t jump on. We did serve Champagne immediately after the ceremony. If we went signature, it would have been a mojito (we’re both big fans) and in little glasses like this. I love the idea of miniature food and drinks – and of a drink that reflects the location, or the couple.

A wedding we went to on the Big Island of Hawaii served Champagne with dried hibiscus flowers inside – it was a beautiful, subtle touch of Hawaii.

Here’s a little known secret – you can’t do this look if you’re getting married inside of a hotel, conference center, or restaurant. As devastating as that is, it’s an obvious fire hazard. I love the look of tall tapered candles, so I’ll have to figure out an occasion to incorporate this into eventually.

Image from Martha Stewart

Ever since I saw Father of the Bride, I was smitten with Chivari Chairs. To me they scream wedding. I am really loving them in the soft gold for a classic look and lacquered black for a dramatic, high glamor style.

Image from The Lace House

The sparkler exit… This is something Mark really wanted. I think if our ceremony and reception hadn’t been 4 feet apart this is something we would have done. It’s a beautiful site and totally classic. Ultimately, we didn’t miss it, we had plenty of flash bulbs popping.

Swensen Photography

In wedding planning it’s often the extras and details you really sweat and agonize over. At the end of the day you need three things: a partner, an officiant and a witness, in that moment you’ll find all the sparkle you (or your planner) could ever pay for. The rest is just extras…

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Posted in Advice, Family, Her Inspiration, Her Weddings + Events, Life Lessons, Marriage, Personal, Wedding Inspiration

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King and Queen of America

Posted on July 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

There is no American icon I enjoy more than Jackie Kennedy, and by extension John F. Kennedy, Caroline, John Jr, and the brothers Robert and Teddy.

I think my interest stems from my dad’s tendency to tell stories of the 1960’s glamour and coming of age, (before his stories of civil rights, civil unrest and the Viet Nam war – but we’ll save that history lesson for another day), and also because I don’t think there is any American, or otherwise, woman who has personified timeless style better than Jacqueline Kennedy. Besides, who doesn’t love a square jaw and sharp features 🙂

I stumbled on this picture today on another blog, Snippet & Ink and had to share it.

This photo and many, many more amazing photos of the entire Kennedy family can be found at here. You’ll love it, I very easily lost track of time.

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Posted in Family, Her Inspiration, Personal

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The International Language of Love

Posted on July 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

I met my husband in October of 2006. In the early stages of dating when we’d be in the car I would often catch myself playing with a sweat band wrapped I found in the center console that commemorated the four World Cup championships Italy has won. He was still feeling proud three months after watching his countrymen (his mother is Italian) win the World Cup in Germany (his father’s birthplace). I am not much of a soccer follower, but as a fan of the spirit of all sports I delighted in the stories of Mark and friends running through the streets of Georgetown with a “forza azzurri” spirit!
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Four years later, and now married, we watched the World Cup together. We texted over morning games and watched the replays at home after work. This time we cheered on Italy, Germany and the USA. For me the highlight is not the goals, penalties or the bravo acting but the pure emotion these champions and underdogs express for the love of the game and love of country.

Sometimes though, it is just for the love of love, and I’m glad I got to share this World Cup and the future ones with my mine:

Spain’s Goalie Iker Casillas and his girlfriend and reporter Sara Carbonero

Roughly translates to: (reporting to J)
Sara: “J, all the principal players are leaving but Iker is staying… well how did it all start & look now?”

Iker: “What do you want me to say?”

Sara: “How are you? How do you feel?”

Iker: “Well this a wonderful day. I’m very happy. I think we deserve it in the end. I dedicate this to the people that has supported me always, (looks into her eyes) my parents, my brother” (voice starts to crack) *both get emotional*

Sara: “It’s okay. We’ll talk more on the match & then we’ll return back…”

Iker: “No.”

Sara: “No?”

Iker: “I’d rather kiss you.”

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Posted in Family, Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Marriage, Personal

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It’s in her Jeans

Posted on July 12, 2010 | 2 comments

My first job and first love was fashion. I modeled as a kid, sketched dresses as a pre-teen, and worked retail throughout high school. Shortly after graduating college I joined an online retail company and contemporary boutique (National Jean Company/ NationalJeanCompany.com) in the DC Metro area to provide the creative direction for their first of many websites.

This was a great opportunity for me to see the inner workings of a start-up, a fashion company and a tech company all in one day – not too many jobs give you that opportunity!

One highlight of my time was to run and style the photo shoots for our various websites, and when we were a model short I eventually stepped in as the denim/pants model. Handling and wearing the denim and many of the other items really gave me the best kind of knowledge (*first hand) to write descriptions for all of these items and also an in depth fit guide.

On him: Diesel Viker, on Me: J Brand Love Story in Dark Vintage Image by Ashley Colhouer Photography


It is a conservative guess to say I have tried on hundreds of pairs of jeans. I know jeans and I know them well. How does a J Brand differ from a Joe’s? What’s the difference in the denim weave on a pair of 7 for all Mankind vs. Citizen’s of Humanity? What if I am looking for a pair of jeans that knocks ’em dead? I know what pair that is, and by extension I know the answers to those questions.

One of the biggest hurdles for an online shopper is being able to take that leap of faith on an item without trying it on, the fit guide does a really fantastic job of alleviating that denim anxiety. That’s why I am especially proud that the site I worked the hardest on, was recently recognized by People Style Watch as a website to bookmark because of their exceptional denim selection (great job, buying team!) and the amazing fit guide, (if People Magazine [and I] say so, it must be true)! Congratulations to the entire NationalJeanCompany.com team!

I’ll be dispensing more denim buying tips in the future, because really, truly, I swear, there is a perfect pair of jeans for everyone – no matter your genes.

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Posted in Her Closet, Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal, Shopping