Fluffy

Happy Monday, all–can you believe it's nearly July! I for one can't wait for tomorrow, but more on that soon. In the meantime, please let me apologize for today's technical difficulties!

After a company happy hour, I headed home to meet John and one of my dearest friends for Indian food; she and I had eaten there together once before, and everyone in the whole place remembered her, which endeared them to me more than ever before! We ordered a dosa and plenty of curries, and after a veritable feast, headed across the street for gelato and espresso. After a little late night drive, John and I tumbled into bed and quickly fell fast asleep. 

We obviously needed the rest because we slept in on Saturday and woke up to a deliciously foggy morning. I picked up a chai at Hollow before heading to Andronico's for supplies; just as I returned home with freshly baked bread and ripe peaches, John was pulling roasted fingerlings out of the oven.We dug into avocado toast with poached eggs before digging into our respective projects–John with Sibelius and sheet music, me with to-do lists and editorial calendars. After a few hours hard at work, we took a long stroll through Golden Gate Park, then curled up at home with a few episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. I had been craving gnocchi, so I devoted a good part of the early evening to carefully ricing, mixing and forming perfectly billowing pillows of potato. We had them with a fresh tomato sauce and plenty of basil, then put in a few more hours of work before curling up with Dirty Dancing, a summer classic. 

John was up early for a pre-dawn run, and woke me up not long after. I hung out in bed with a book while he cooked up all the fixing for breakfast tacos. Scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, guacamole and salsa kicked off our morning in the best way possible, and before we'd even finished clearing the table, John was working on an arranging project that's captured his attention recently. I wrote and rewrote tomorrow's post (I can't wait to share some big news with you all!) while John practiced in the living room, and after a bit of exercise, we jumped in the car to run a few errands. I tagged along on John's meeting with a soon-to-be wed couple and picked up a few supplies for our upcoming family vacation. Back at home, we threw together an enormous green salad with radishes, Kirby cucumbers and green peppers, and enjoy a late afternoon supper while watching an episode or two of Frasier. With so many hours left in the weekend, we decided to spend a bit more time reading, working and blogging before I talked John into watching an episode of Pretty Little Liars with me–I can't remember the last time we laughed so hard!

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Attending a wedding, trying out a new recipe of planning your 4th of July festivities, perhaps? I want to hear all about it!

Image by Chudleigh Weddings, bouquet by Brown Paper Design.

Ginger Swizzle

Few things say summer like a tropical cocktail, and this slushy Swizzle is one of my new favorites. Though you could certainly use rum, bourbon is an assertive addition perfect for lazy Saturday afternoons.

Ginger Swizzle

1 1/2 oz bourbon

3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

3/4 oz ginger syrup

1/2 oz yellow Chartreuse

Pour bourbon, lemon juice, syrup and Chartreuse into a Collins glass; stir to combine. Fill glass with crushed ice and swizzle. Add more crushed ice to fill, then top with a few dashes of Angostura bitters. Garnish with a lemon slice and freshly slapped mint.

Notes: It's easy enough to pick up a bottle of ginger-infused simple syrup, but if you're in the mood for a fun project, I like David Lebovitz's sophisticated recipe. Yellow Chartreuse, a French herbal liqueur, can be a bit pricey, but drinks simply aren't the same with it (and it's often available in smaller bottles). Cheers!

 

Image by Melissa Hom, styling by Ian Knauer, recipe from The Dutch.

Scripted

This week I'm loving all things classic (navy, calligraphy...), the support of my closest friends and lots of lovely inspiration to keep each day beautiful! Tell me, what are you loving this week?


This romantic Italian wedding photographed by Cinzia Bruschini from Elizabeth Anne Designs is an absolute dream come true.

When I saw this elegant wedding at my alma mater, I squealed with glee; thanks to Brides and Lindsay Hite of Readyluck for making my day! PS–how spectacular is that library?

This sweet farm fête captured by Emily Delamater via Ruffled perfectly blends rustic and classic for one gorgeous day.

Green Wedding Shoes teamed up with Kirsten Ellis to feature a California stunner of a celebration that'll have you buying Juliet cap veils for every occasion.

This San Francisco City Hall wedding photographed by Allison Andres via A Practical Weddings just made my heart feel good–and that's worth sharing.

Coralee Stone Photography,

Image by A Bryan Photo, stationery suite by Mary Baugh of Mariée Ami with calligraphy by Kelly Cummings and Jan Pruitt.

Kathryn & Mike

Classic, timeless and positively brimming with DIY projects, when Midwesterners Kathryn and Mike decided to tie the knot, they did so beautifully. The bride's only childhood wedding dream was an outdoor celebration; after months of searching, the couple stumbled on Morgan Creek Vineyards in New Ulm, Minnesota–the bride's hometown–and knew they'd found the perfect place for their summer fête. When they later learned the venue only hold four weddings each year, Kathryn and Mike felt certain it was kismet. Fab Event Design helped the soon-to-be weds plan a classic alfresco celebration full of charming details and personal significance.

Kathryn wore a simple, full-skirted Wtoo by Watters gown; Vera Wang Lavender peep toe flats, a low chignon and a Cathedral length veil completed her elegant day-of look. Her maids were outfitted in iridescent navy cocktail dresses by J.Crew and diminutive versions of Kathryn's stunning white bouquet by floral designer Munster Rose, while Mike and his men looked handsome in charcoal gray and striped ties from Banana Republic.

Navy invitations emblazoned with an image of the vineyard's welcoming oak tree by Paper Rock Scissor set the tone for the couple's big day, and guests gathered on the lawn to witness their vows. After saying I Do, everyone headed to the large white tent on the vineyard's grounds, where farm tables, white linens and lush blooms arranged by Munster Rose in vintage silver, mercury and etched glass containers lay waiting. Chalkboard menus by the bride's mother detailed the couple's signature cocktails and dinner offerings, while her father build a riddling rack full of wine bottles where friends and family left advice for the newlyweds. A petite white layer cake and a sumptuous dessert spread by Cocoa and Fig tempted those guests who weren't dancing the night away to the groom's playlist, but nothing beat the pause the new Mr and Mrs took before running through the crowd of sparklers held by their nearest and dearest.  

Of course, I'm sure Kathryn and Mike were absolutely thrilled when they first saw the images by Emma Freeman Photography of their big day–aren't they an absolute dream? Tell me, what's your favorite detail from the big day?

Salsa

 When recommending wedding day shoes to a girlfriend recently, I was reminded of the classic loveliness of Badgley Mischka's "Salsa". After all, every bride needs a chic something blue!

Image by Kate Price Photography.

Charming

Our best pal had an audition on Saturday, so we put off our usual Friday night plans for a night and invited by brother and his girlfriend for supper instead. I dashed home with all the ingredients for a classic paella–prawns, chorizo, mussels and chicken–and after a lightening clean up, starting chopping and sautéing. John arrived 20 minutes before our guests to play sous chef, and we welcomed them with Americanos, olives and almonds. After catching up, we sat down to supper with a bottle of Cab we'd purchased on our recent wine country expedition. John poured Sherry while I served fresh berries for dessert, and we enjoyed each other's company before saying good night.

John was up early and decided he didn't want to be without a pal, so he insisted that I start my day with him. We headed to Hollow for our favorite empanadas and caffeinated drinks, cozying up in the early morning fog. After a trip across the park to Brewcraft for beer bottles, we headed home where I pulled out my laptop, editorial calendar and latest reads while John pulled up Sibelius and worked on an arranging project. We took a mid-day break for avocado toast and tea with an episode or two of Frasier, but quickly returned to our to-do lists. After letting John take a quick cat nap, we pulled on scarves and sweaters and headed to dinner with our usual Friday night dates. After spicy lamb jalfrezi, savory chicken tikka masala and a crisp dosa with homebrewed beer, we returned to our apartment to nibble macarons and sip spirits. We were on our best behavior though, and said a (relatively) early goodnight, leaving John and I to curl up with Tiny, a documentary about teeny houses.

John was up just as early on Sunday, but instead of dragging me out of bed, he surprised me with a tray of my favorite things–hot tea, avocado toast with poached eggs and roasted fingerling potatoes. After breakfast, he returned to his manuscript paper while I cleaned house and my inbox. Between exercise, laundry, emails and flights, we had a productive day full of adulthood, with just the right amount of snuggling to break up the responsibility. We made a spicy shakshuka for supper, garnished with cilantro and served with hummus and naan; then we cozied up with The Grand Budapest Hotel and the summer fog for a quiet Sunday night in.

Tell me, what were you up to this first official summer weekend? Did you get out of town, explore the local pool or grill up your favorite foods for a barbeque, perhaps?

Image by Megan Sorel Photography, bouquet by R. Jack Balthazar, gown by Monique Lhuillier.

Pin to Win with Invisalign

There's absolutely nothing more beautiful than a beaming bride–but many of us have lost track of our childhood retainers over the years, or missed that particular rite of passage. With all the events for brides-to-be, from engagement parties to showers, the rehearsal dinner and the main event, there are sure to be more photos of your beautiful smile than ever. Is it any wonder that most brides say their smile is their most important wedding day accessory? But if you're feeling a little uncomfortable with your grin, Invisalign® offers treatment options for all types of teeth straightening issues so that every bride can beam brightly on her wedding day–and all the happy days after. Best of all, thanks to Invisalign's discrete design, no one else will ever know you're using them!

Invisalign® features a series of practically invisible removable aligners made of lightweight plastic that gradually shift your teeth over time. Most Invisalign® treatments take 13 months–the same as the average engagement–so you'll be positively beaming by the time the big day arrives! There are no food restrictions, no clunky brackets or wire, and with just one visit to an Invisalign® specialist, you can start smiling with more confidence. A few of my girlfriends recently confessed to me that they're using Invisalign® to get the straight smile they didn't quite achieve during their childhood run-ins with braces, and if they hadn't divulged their secret, I'd still have no idea!

If you've been thinking about a straighter smile for your big day, Invisalign® is a beautiful place to start. As you may have guessed, this is a sponsored post. That said, all opinions and anecdotes are my own.

Watermelon Smash

Is there anything better than ripe watermelon on a hot day? Well come to think of it, yes–this minty summer cocktail with watermelon ice cubes!

Watermelon Smash

1 1/2 oz rum

1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

3/4 oz syrup

6-8 mint leaves

watermelon ice cubes

In a cocktail shaker or sturdy pint glass, gently muddle mint leaves with simple syrup. Add spirit, lime juice and ice; shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass over watermelon ice cubes. 

Notes: Watermelon ice cubes are really the star of this cocktail. To make them, separate the flesh of a small seedless watermelon from the rind and roughly chop. Purée watermelon until smooth, then pour into ice cube trays and freeze overnight. As for the choice of spirit, any light colored liquor will do–whether you choose rum, vodka or even tequila's entirely up to you. Cheers, and happy Friday!

Image via The Tory Blog.

Watermelon Royale

This week I'm loving punchy shades of watermelon (no surprise there...), checking big projects off my to do list and working on a big announcement I am so excited to share with you all! Tell me, what are you loving this week?


The latest issue of Magnolia Rouge is absolutely gorgeous–no surprise there, either.

Speaking of Magnolia Rouge, this Portugese black tie wedding captured by my pals at Branco Prata is stunning.

This peachy Midwest celebration photographed by Laura Ivanova and featured on Ruffled is pure pretty.

I'd seen just one photo of this boho fête in an almond orchard by Josh Gruetzmacher, and the whole wonderful day via Green Wedding Shoes is even lovelier than I'd imagined.

This Georgia wedding photographed by Jeremy Harwell from Snippet & Ink is chock full of Southern charm.

A backyard has never looked more beautiful than in this Arizona celebration by Brushfire Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

Royale invitation from Smitten on Paper.