Fall

I've said before that the best way to experience seasons in San Francisco is to drink them in–and this cocktail is perfect for fall! In the last year I've gone from turning up my nose at whiskeys to opening up a bottle of bourbon when I'm at home, so in celebration of my expanded palette, a cocktail that's both bracing and bubbly!

Fall

1 1/2 oz applejack

1 1/2 oz rye whiskey

1 tablespoon maple syrup

orange bitters

Champagne

blood orange rind

Combine applejack, whiskey, maple syrup and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, top with Champagne and garnish with orange rind. 

Notes: As usual, no need to use Champagne with a Capital C in this cocktail, although if you have some leftover from an indulgent Thursday night dinner, feel free to top your cocktail off with it! Applejack is something you might not have in your liquor cabinet; it's an American apple spirit, and was used in New Jersey to pay road construction crews during the colonial period–I like to imagine that's how my childhood street was first paved! Cheers!

Image by Thayer Allyson Gowdy for Martha Stewart Weddings. 

Pony

Remember that fabulous Louis Vuitton Fall 2011 ad campaign featuring Christy Turlington, Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova? Obviously I do, and so did this bride–her pert pony could be pulled from Steven Meisel's photos! I love its spunky irreverence, but it's still perfectly appropriate for her sumptuous ballroom celebration–and if you simply must try it out this weekend, Glamour has step-by-step instructions!

Image by Sara Wight Photography.

Loredana and David

 

Love at first sight may sound dubious to some, but when Loredana met David in a law school class, she went home and told her mother she'd met the man she was going to marry–and marry him she did!

Gorgeous stationery from Laura Hooper Calligraphy hinted at the loveliness of this modern, classic celebration; the couple juxtaposed the gorgeous fall weather with a fresh white palette and lush floral arrangements. The bride wore a custom gown by Luci DiBella, paired with drop earrings from Stephanie Browne and white Badgley Mischka peep toes. Bridesmaids wore blush gowns from Imoda Emporium and carried delicate pink garden rose posies from Flowers by Entwine at Local Shop that matched the dresses (and the bride's white bouquet) perfectly, while David and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos.

Enchanted by the romance of garden weddings, the pair married in the Parliament House Gardens in East Melbourne, Victoria beneath a oak tree in a ceremony officiated by Jason Tuazon-McCheyne that combined Jewish and Italian traditions. After they exchanged Michael Herman New York rings, they walked through Melbourne with their guests to The Italian for their reception. Glasses of Prosecco were passed during the courtyard cocktail hour, and enlivened the guests sufficiently to dance the Horah before sitting down to an intimate dinner and a sumptuous cake from Cake Ink.

A big thank you to Adrian Tuazon-McCheyne of Adrian Tuazon Photography for sharing his spectacular photos–I can't imagine a more beautiful way to celebrate the first week of fall! 

Tell me, what's your favorite detail from this gorgeous celebration?

Luminous

In a world full of $1,000 patent leather peep toes, I love finding a gorgeous pair that won't affect my personal credit–in this case, the Enzo Angiolini "Vitizzo" pump. There's a rose gold version too, for those who are interested!

Image by Lane Dittoe Fine Art Photographs.

Warm

We knew it was coming, but now it's officially fall–did you do anything special to celebrate Saturday's autumnal equinox? 

If I'd had my way, my weekend would have been a little different–John was working Friday, Saturday and Sunday night–but I like to think that I made the most of my time with him and on my own! After a cocktail hour (or maybe two!) at the office, I headed home for a few of my favorite things–dusting, scrubbing and sweeping, along with a delicious dinner, and a few chapters of The Poisonwood Bible. I picked up John late that night and we were both sound asleep before our documentary about worm holes got to the good stuff! 

Despite our late bedtime, John and I were up early and snagged two seats at the copper-topped bar of Chez Maman's Hayes Valley outpost for poached eggs and garlic potatoes. After a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood and a stop at school, we headed home to make sure our early start would also be a productive one–even if we did need an afternoon nap. After dropping off John at work, I took to the aisles of my favorite grocery store, soaked up the gorgeous afternoon sunshine, then headed home to indulge in some decidedly seasonal goodies–a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin spice bread and a cider-bourbon cocktail! After a few episodes of The West Wing, it was finally time to collect John and dive headfirst into bed! 

We were up early again on Sunday morning, and while John grabbed an espresso at Trouble, I stayed in bed reading the news. We skipped a traditional breakfast in favor of a Vietnamese feast, then headed back home for an afternoon that was equal parts snuggling and to-do lists. After a short nap (two in one weekend is definitely a recent record for us!), I headed downtown with John in tow to meet a cousin for drinks–if only I'd paid attention to the Folsom Street Fair closures! We ended up stuck in traffic for a while, but there was a glass of lambrusco and a fig and goat cheese cheesecake that made it all worth it. Eventually I left John to preside over the bar, and headed home to catch up with a best girlfriend and relax in the tub–a divine end to a delicious weekend. 

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? 

Image by Gia Canali.

Sparkle

Arguably there are few things better than a weekend–but diamonds almost certainly make the cut. And there's nothing quite like gems delivered to the office after a very long week, so a big thank you to the lovely people at Anjolee.com for sending me just such spirit-lifting sparkles!

I'd already seen plenty of their pretty pieces before Anjolee reached out to me a few weeks ago, and I promptly started drooling over customized tennis bracelets before I wrote back, confident that a company that made lovely, eco-conscious jewelry and I would get along just fine. I simply adore the studs they sent (and they're a pretty fabulous alternative to my usual pearls), but what I can't wait to shop are Anjolee rings–let's just say I'm hoping for a sparkly band in my future!

French 75

After sharing Reclaiming Provincial's French 75 Popsicles a few weeks ago, I realized that I had never posted a traditional French 75–and I claim there are classic cocktails to be found here! To right this wrong without delay, may I present:

French 75

1 1/2 oz gin or brandy

3/4 oz lemon 

1/2 oz syrup 

Champagne

Combine base spirit, lemon juice and syrup in a shaker with ice; shake for 10-15 seconds, strain into a flute or coupe glass and top with Champagne. 

Notes: There is much debate between gin or brandy in this cocktail, but it really boils down to what you prefer. John likes brandy, but I'll pluck the Miller's Westbourne from our liquor cabinet tonight. Cheers!

Image by Nick Carbone for Time.

Monogrammed

I would argue that nearly everything benefits from the addition of a monogram–from sheets and towels to signet rings and slippers–but this delicate lace-inspired monogram was a revelation! It's a lovely way to pay homage to your new last name (if you're changing it, of course), and its understated execution makes it a hidden treasure to those who spot it!

Image by Juliet Elizabeth Photography, cake by Jim Smeal. If you're in the mood for lace, there's loads of it at this Charleston celebration!

Angela and Ben

 

 

Gorgeous, right? Trust me, it gets better.

Angela and Ben decided to marry at the Peppers Coorabell Retreat in Coorabell, New South Wales where Ben proposed, and wanted their wedding to reflect both their romantic spirit and modern sensibilities. Designed entirely by the bride and her mother, there were sweet touches like a tulle-covered ceremony altar, petal cones and tissue paper pompoms that worked perfectly alongside Angela's structural Nicola Finetti gown, the understated florals by Jan of Passion@Flowers and the pair's observance of only the traditions that were meaningful to them.

The pair exchanged their own vows, kept secret until the big day, and during the ceremony, Ben's son Lewis read, “I believe in fairy tales, Where rainbows have pots of gold at their end, Where good wins over evil, Where love conquers all, Where the good guy always gets the girl and where they live happily ever after. I wish all that for Daddy and Angie.” 

Now if that isn't the very best thing you've read all day? 

A huge thank you to Calli B Photography for sharing these amazing images, and capturing this pair so beautifully!