Category Archives: Family

Simple Things

Posted on September 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

I was off the computer yesterday and in a way being detached from all of the technology that surrounds me was a welcomed break.

So in a moment of reflection I thought of some of my favorite things, that happen everyday, and that don’t ever go out of season or style.

10. The first fall breeze
9. A sweater that’s too big so you can pretend it’s a blanket
8. Holding hands
7. Soup, any kind but really by any kind I mean matzo ball or chicken noodle (which is really the same thing)
6. Grilled cheese sandwiches
5. Touching toes in bed
4. Old pictures
3. Popcorn and m&m candy
2. My family’s support
1. My husband

Surround yourself with your favorite things, I am.

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

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Are You Ready for Football?

Posted on August 31, 2010 | 2 comments

The other day I mentioned that something I love about fall is the start of the football season.  Growing up in Florida, and more specifically with my parents it is difficult to escape football fever.

Football has been a part of family life since the beginning, I was born on a Monday, before the kick off of a Dolphins/Jets game. In high school I went to every single University of Miami home game, spring practice, fan day, etc with my mom.  The running joke is that my dad declines going because my mom is just that intense.  
We’ve stood in the rain, amongst drunks, amidst the chaos, rattle and decay that was the Orange Bowl, stood in the 4th quarter, shaken when the canons erupt for touchdown after touchdown, and have cried with the stellar victories and crushing defeats.

I love football, a good sports movie, and sports montage in my book, is the best.  I keep my loyalties to three teams, the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Dolphins and my husband’s fantasy team.  It’s the best way to spend an afternoon in the fall.   

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Posted in Family, Her Inspiration, Personal

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Realizing Resolutions

Posted on August 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Tradition tells us that on New Year’s Eve in addition to making plans, finding an outfit and getting ready you should also take some time for reflection and resolve to do better in the new year.  For me something has to give, and it’s usually the resolution part.  However, this year was different.  

This New Year’s Eve Mark and I were getting married a few weeks later and so charting the year with goals, and plans seemed to be more natural than before.

I will share with you some of my goals for the year, and the progress so far:
  • Continue yoga practice so that I can finally touch my heels to the ground in downward dog 
This isn’t me, but that’s the goal.
  •  Read 1 book a month, this seems fairly achievable, but I need to work on it.  I picked up a few duds that derailed this goal…
  • Run 5 miles without stopping, this goal was designed so that I could seriously treat myself to a new pair of shoes, at the time it was the Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps
Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps    
  •  Bake more and take chances with my baking.  This has been a success, as evidenced here, and here, here, and here.  A large part of this goal was that with baking, more so than cooking, if you make a mistake it’s obvious; there is no denying a deflated souffle, a dry cake or crumbly cookie.  Baking forces you to take a risk with every open and close of the oven door.  
  • Be published again.  This has been perhaps the most personal goal.  In my former job I had been establishing myself as an expert in the fashion/premium denim field when it came to fits and what celebrities were wearing.  I had been quoted for the AP, In Style, Life & Style and Real Simple – and with every snippet of an article, it was always a thrill. Today I realized that thrill again when I got to write for the DC Ladies blog.  This blog is a community of women in their 20’s-30’s-40’s who write on events, travel, food, fitness and life in general.  I will be writing there every two weeks about food. 

Thank you for being a part of this journey so far, and I’ll keep you updated on that downward dog thing, as I continue…

Things to look forward to this week: The magic of oven dried tomatoes, seriously wow!, homemade pizza party, some more sweet treats, Wedding Wednesday and more!

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Posted in Her Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal

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Enjoying the Bounty

Posted on July 28, 2010 | 2 comments

For the past few days my home Internet has been down – which means I haven’t been able to share pictures I have taken, or any new recipes.  I’m overflowing with sweets and savories!

As an appe-teaser, enjoy some of the bounty from our trip to the Bloomingdale Farmer’s Market.

Parsley, Sage and Basil from our Friend’s Backyard Garden
25 Pounds of Sauce Tomatoes – lots of chopping for lots of delicious homemade sauces.
Beets and Radishes that were used for Sunday’s Lunch
Shots of Espresso to end the day

The table is set for a Sunday feast – recipes to follow!

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Posted in DC, entertaining, Family, Her Home, Her Kitchen, Seasonal, summer

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Sweet surprises

Posted on July 23, 2010 | 2 comments

Yesterday I got a pedicure.  And in between coats of Essie “Sugar Daddy” and flipping the pages of August’s Food & Wine Magazine, I mentioned to the technician that tomorrow (today) is my six month wedding anniversary.  She was really happy for us.  


She went on to say that she has been married for ten years, and her step son also has been married for a few months.  She said she has friends who ask, “how do you make it work?”  and “how has your marriage lasted so long, (when others do not)?”.  And we agreed together that it works, and not just works but thrives, when you continue to make the effort, celebrate the “montha-aversaries”, and continue dating like you did when you were just boyfriend and girlfriend.

So as if Mark was a mind reader, last night when I got home my husband had made dinner, which smelled delicious, and sitting on the table were these:
I am a very lucky girl.  

Happy Six Month Wedding Anniversary to my wonderful husband.  I love you, always.

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Posted in Her Inspiration, Marriage, Personal

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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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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