Blossoms

Who says petal pink can't be perfectly pretty in early fall? This week I'm excited to show off an unexpectedly color palette that works beautifully against the reds and oranges of autumn! 

We were joined in our traditional Friday night dinner (which even Frank Bruni praised in this recent NYTimes article) by our regular companion's Mom; with her sharp wit and affinity for Indian food, she makes an excellent dining companion. It was a fairly early night, and John and I were delighted to find our heads hitting the pillows before 11pm. 

With such an early bedtime, regular readers would imagine that my guy would be up at the crack of dawn–but I woke us both up a bit later than usual! We roasted Russian Bananas and poached two eggs, which were perfect over slices of French bread with avocado, and after a second pot of French press coffee and an episode of Frasier, John was out the door and headed to work. I spent the day reading a nearly indecipherable book on ballet history, pouring over lovely weddings and running a few errands. I stayed in the neighborhood so I could stroll through Golden Gate Park while I stopped at the bank and filled our monogrammed grocery totes with goodies at Andronico's, then headed home for a late afternoon of Handel research and Ted Talks. For supper we had a simple salad with roasted corn and avocados, and a curried butternut squash soup, which we enjoyed along with Silver Linings Playbook–just a year behind on most movies and tv shows!

Exhausted, we both slept in on Sunday morning and hustled to our favorite coffee shop, only to find it completely full. We took our to-go cups and empanadas to a shady lawn in Golden Gate Park for a picnic, then walked home for a few lazy hours curled up together. Eventually we got to work–me with editorial calendars and history books, and John with the Windex and Schubert songs. We ordered a Mediterranean feast before I settled in for a long yoga practice, and after an early supper, caught up with John's younger brother (and started making holiday plans!). We settled into bed before 9 with an episode or two of Newsroom–my favorite way to start a new week! 

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Did you catch the finale of Breaking Bad, pick up a pumpkin spice latte or treat yourself to Sunday brunch?

Image by Vicki Grafton Photography, bouquet by Holly Chapple Ltd.

Three Bs

Beer, bourbon and honeycomb–could anything be more delicious (or seasonally appropriate)? John just picked up a set of snifters and I can't wait to put them to good use this weekend!

Three Bs

1 oz bourbon

6 oz IPA

honeycomb

Pour bourbon into snifter glass, then top with IPA and add honeycomb. 

Notes: At Harlan Social, bartenders use a honey-flavored whiskey, but your favorite bourbon would be equally lovely (and a bit less sweet). They also recommend Goose Island's IPA, but we're fans of Deschutes and Samuel Smith's offerings, too–cheers!

Image by Melissa Hom, styling by Ian Knauer, recipe from Harlan Social.

Honey Bee

This week I'm loving all things honeyed (including my Constant Comment tea, and this gorgeous invitation suite) and plaid, surprises of every sort and these beautiful celebrations!  Tell me, what are you loving this first week of fall?

This picturesque fall wedding photographed by Charlotte Jenks Lewis and featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs will be responsible if I book a leaf peeping trip this fall.

Yellow looks cheerful and sophisticated in this classic Charleston celebration captured by Tim Willoughby from Grey Likes Weddings. 

Patricia Lyons.

This incredibly stylish celebration by Stacy Newgent and Austin Warnock featured on 100 Layer Cake is chock-full of inspiration for your holiday tables–and one adorable Frenchie!

Why not celebrate your nuptials in a rustic Chamonix lodge–and bring along Alexander James to capture the day?

Pippin Hill Farm hosts a colorful celebration photographed by Patricia Lyons that is simply lovely!

Honey Bee Invitation by Oscar & Emma for Minted.

Monica and Drew

I adore elopements, but celebrating with your nearest and dearest can't be beat–so what's more perfect than a surprise celebration if you're looking for the best of both worlds!

Monica and Drew were high school sweethearts, and though they initially planned to elope, they decided to use the groom's upcoming 30th birthday as cover for their wedding! With just a few guests in on the surprise, the couple planned their sweet and simple celebration in three short months; Toronto-based designer Karina Lemke helped the bride and groom make speedy decisions during their brief engagement.

Monica wore a stunning Elizabeth Fillmore gown paired with white pumps, drop earrings and a romantic updo; a simple white bouquet finished her bridal look, while Drew looked handsome in a charcoal gray suit and classic brown brogues.

After the couple's guests learned about the true nature of the evening's celebration, they made their way to St. Thomas Aquinas where the couple was married by the bride's father, a Catholic priest, in a traditional ceremony. Then it was off to The Harbord Room, where the celebration continued in their charming back garden. Dinner was delectable, Champagne flowed freely and the couple was able to share their joy with the people most dear to them–I can't imagine a more perfect evening! 

A big thank you to Tara of Tara McMullen Photography for sharing her gorgeous images!
Tell me, do you have a favorite photo from this charming celebration?

Crystallized

Can you imagine anything more exquisite than a lace high heel covered in crystals? I certainly can't!

Crystal-Coated Lace Pumps by Valentino.

Laced

Autumn is officially upon us, and I couldn't be more excited–not only do I adore all things spiced, plaid and pumpkin, but I have so many gorgeous weeks of fall loveliness to come! 

Friday in San Francisco was foggy and cold–the perfect weather for our traditional Friday night supper–although I'd say that about any kind of weather! After dinner we took a stroll through the neighborhood, and though we'd planned to get another beer, we ended up popping open a bottle of brut rosé at Inner Fog with no complaints from me. Over bubbles we made grand plans for our next brew project, then we tumbled into bed feeling excited!

John was, as usual, up early on Saturday; his slight hangover was quickly remedied with an espresso and coconut from Trouble Coffee, and I was all too happy to stay curled up in bed. After a breakfast of poached eggs, roasted rosemary potatoes, chicken apple sausage and a fresh green salad, we curled up in our coziest sweaters and wrapped our hands around big mugs of mulled cider–we take our all-too-rare rainy day very seriously in San Francisco, since it was spectacularly sunny just a few hours later! John headed to the distillery while I dug into academic articles about ballet (and my messy closet); when I'd had enough, I took a stroll through Golden Gate Park and caught up with my Mama. As I was saying goodbye, my baby brother called to say he was just a few minutes away; he swung by the house to take me for a spin in the Tesla Model S he was driving for the day just as it was getting dark. John made it home a few minutes later, and after a quick trip to Andronico's for supplies, we settled in with grilled ham & Swiss sandwiches (with Dijon mustard and honey) to watch Django Unchained.

Sunday proved to be as beautiful as Saturday afternoon, so we beelined to Hollow for empanadas and espressos before the crowd arrived. After some fall shopping for John (hello, J.Crew discount...) we settled in for a studious day of vocabulary practice and Schubert arrangements. We decided to take a stroll in the early afternoon, and after a loop around our favorite pond, we headed home for an early supper. We made up two heeping bowls of pesto, then curled up together for a few episodes of Frasier and a whole lot of nothing at all–it was heavenly! Eventually we pulled our papers and projects into bed, and I squeezed in a little workout while John diligently arrangement. We were both in our pjs and ready to turn out the lights by 9pm–the perfect start to a new week!

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Savoring apple cider, watching your favorite team or catching up on current events, perhaps?

Image by Juliet Elizabeth Photography, cake by Jim Smeal.

Gin Punch

John and I used to poo-poo punch, certain that freshly squeezed and shaken drinks were superior. We kept forgetting when it came time to host a party that these made-to-order cocktails kept John in the kitchen all night long, and more often than not he'd never get a drink of his own! So we're punch converts–because they let John enjoy the party, look darling in our milkglass punch bowl and they taste delicious.


Gin Punch

2 lemons
2 limes
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, strained
1 750 mL bottle of gin
4 oz maraschino liqueur
mint
soda water 

Peel the lemons and limes, avoiding the white pith; muddle peels with sugar in a pitcher or punch bowl and let stand for 30 minutes. Remove peels, add lemon juice and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add gin, maraschino liqueur and stir. Immediately before serving, add fresh mint and citrus slices, ice and soda water. Serve in punch or highball glasses.

Notes: The best thing about punch is that it can be made in advance–you can whip this up the night before a festive brunch or in the afternoon before you slip on your party shoes. Any type of gin will perform nicely in this punch; I'm partial to Plymouth, Miller's Westbourne and St George's Botanivore gins. Straw-wrapped Luxardo is my favorite mascharino liqueur, and will look fabulous on your bar cart. Cheers!

Image from Fete Press.

Art Deco-ed Out

This week I'm loving my Ray-Ban Clubmaster's (John surprised me with a tortoiseshell pair after I kept stealing his!), crisp new Moleskine notebooks and so many gorgeous celebrations!  
What are you loving this week?


This elegant beach wedding is an absolutely dream, photographed by KT Merry and featured on Snippet & Ink.

I've never seen A Bryan Photo wedding I didn't adore, featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs.

This coral wedding photographed by Stacey Hedman makes me want to pitch a big white tent in Golden Gate Park and throw a fabulous party, via Ruffled.

Inspiration for an over-the-top but intimate vow renewal (or elopement!) from Katherine Stinnett Photography and event planner Alexandra Hansen featured on 100 Layer Cake.

This gorgeous Healdsburg fête by Kurt Boomer Photo featured on Grey Likes Weddings is all farmhouse meets frosting, and absolutely lovely.

A sixties-inspired wedding that makes me wish I had a vintage dress and a big backyard, photographed by Dixie Pixel from Southern Weddings Magazine.

Image by Love Me Do Photography.

Gemma and Mark

 

After a wintry London proposal, English-born Gemma and South African Mark scoured the world for the perfect destination–and Italy, where they manage to spend at least one week every year, seemed like the perfect choice. They planned a three-day celebration at Tuscany's Villa Fontelunga, the perfect venue for a relaxed fête and hours of dancing, with the help of Rossanna Sapori of Weddings In Italy!

Gemma wore a stunning Jenny Packham gown, the “Alessia”, paired with metallic Jimmy Choo sandals and a simple veil tucked into a loose chignon; her bouquet of white blooms was appropriately accented with sprigs of olive. Bridesmaids wore Grecian-inspired petal pink Dessy gowns and gleefully carried the fuschia Mulberry bags Gemma gave her girls as gifts after the ceremony. Mark looked handsome in a slim navy suit from Dress 2 Kill, and all the gentlemen wore petal pink ties from Hawes and Curtis.

After exchanging their own vows at the Monte San Savino town hall, guests enjoyed glasses of prosecco in the cobbled streets while the newlyweds captured their first moments as husband and wife. The lawn of the villa was the perfect place for a large white tent, filled with piles of white flowers tucked into silver vases, Chiavari chairs covered in gauzy white tulle and etched crystal stemware. A five-course Tuscan supper and a mille feuille cake brimming with cream, chocolate and strawberries was following by hours of dancing; guests twirled under the stars until one in the morning, then brought the celebration inside where a piano (and a dance floor) was waiting. In the wee hours of the morning, Gemma and Mark were certain it was the best weekend of their lives!

Images by M&J Photography–do you have a favorite?