Happy New Year!

We're ringing in 2011 tonight, and I hope it's wonderful for each and every one of you. John and I will be celebrating in Dallas, and I can't wait for a New Year's kiss, or an excuse to wear the fabulous red lipstick I picked up this week!

It's been a wild travel week, and I promise I'll tell you all about it-just as soon as we polish off a bottle of bubbly! I hope everyone has had a safe holiday, and can't wait to hear all about your adventures!

Photo by Kate Headley.

Happy Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!


Photo c/o Pottery Barn via A Little Sussy.

Agricole Rhum Punch

And a very, very merry Christmas eve! I hope that whatever you celebrate or wherever you might be that you are having a beautiful day. If you're still looking for something to serve at tonight's festivities or during the lull between gifts and dinner tomorrow, look no further than this Agricole rhum punch which everyone in our family agrees tastes just like Christmas!

Agricole Rhum Punch

2 oz of La Favorite Rhum Agricole Ambre
1 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz of cane syrup
1/4 oz of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
dash of Angostura bitters
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg


Combine rhum, lime juice, cane syrup, allspice dram and bitters into a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously for no more than 10 seconds. Grate nutmeg over and serve.

Notes: Agricole rhum lends this drink a unique flavor, but may be difficult to hunt down. Feel free to substitute it with any dark rum you may have on hand. The St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, on the other hand, is not something you can substitute, but should be available at most wine or liquor stores.


Photo c/0 Exposition Universelle des Vins & Spiritueux.

I'll be Home for Christmas

Today's the day-we're off to Dallas! My fingers are crossed for smooth sailing through airport security, and I'm taking no chances-we'll be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before our flight departs! Our bags are packed, our gifts have already been delivered to their respective houses and I can't wait to enjoy a Texan Christmas (followed by a second in New Jersey)!

Tell me, what are your holiday plans?

Photo via weheartit.

Fa La La!

We're throwing a Christmas party this afternoon, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that maybe a carol or two will be sung! John is making up an agricole rhum punch that is sure to knock everyone's socks off that I will be sharing with you all on Friday, and there will be Christmas cookies galore!

Have you attended a fabulous holiday party in these last few weeks? Tell us all about it!

Photo c/o Martha Stewart Living.

The Big Surprise

All right, enough with the secrecy-I can't bear it any longer! While this isn't the story of my engagement, I promise it might actually be much, much more exciting!

When I started my new job in August, one of the first things I learned was that my boss was preparing to propose to his girlfriend, and that I would likely be in charge of planning the big event. After some permutations of the original plan, E decided he would lure S to a small, local restaurant for a celebration of his book deadline. Hiding in plain sight as diners at the restaurant would be a choir, and hiding in not so plain sight in the kitchen would be instrumentalists, poised to pop out for an even bigger surprise! On E's signal, the choir would being to sing "All You Need is Love" in an homage to the recessional in Love, Actually, and the lonely guy eating at the bar would actually be the dapper tenor soloist.

Well, the big night was yesterday, and I was so excited I could hardly keep my heart from racing yesterday! After our regular workday (during which E and I did a lot of whispering and last minute detail-discussing), I headed to the restaurant, where we finally brought together the brass trio and the choir for their very first rehearsal! 15 minutes before E and S were scheduled to arrive, I snuck out of the restaurant and went to their apartment, where I let S's parents, grandmother and friends in to plan another surprise-a little engagement party (I know what you're thinking-the girl is going to have a heart attack with all these surprises)!

After making sure there was plenty of serving ware and adaquate bubbly for the celebration, I left for my rehearsal that evening. While I was waiting for a cab, I saw S and E leave the restaurant, whopping and laughing, announcing their engagement on one of the most auspicious days of the year. It was a joy to plan such a wonderful celebration with them, and a relief that it all went so beautifully. And I promise, as soon as that video is up on YouTube, I'll be sending you all the link!



Photo by Peter Lindbergh for Tiffany & Co.

Glitter

This stunning photo of a sparkly pair of Christian Louboutins is part of an absolutely divine photo shoot featuring the gorgeous Dallas Shaw of Dilly Dallas, captured by the talented Alison Conklin. Styled by the glamorous girls of Styled Creative and Red Balloon, there are more dazzling photographs here!

Silver Bells

I have quite a day planned, and I cannot wait to share the story with all of you-first thing tomorrow! I can't spoil the surprise just yet, but believe me, you won't want to miss this! In the meantime, this gorgeous photo of Doutzen Kroes and Neal Bledsoe photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Tiffany & Co. should tide you over!

Do any of you have a proposal story that makes your heart sing?

Real Wedding: Jodi and Jon

This gorgeous winter wedding has me singing classic Christmas carols and yearning for a perfect cup of spiced cider! After 15 years of friendship, Jodi and Jon realized there was something more to their wonderful camaraderie, and decided to celebrate their love of each other and skiing at Utah's Sundance Resort.

Guests were invited to join the bride and groom with a stunning stationery suite designed by Berkeley, CA's olive-route; the dark gray and burnt-orange invitation pulled out to reveal event details, information on transportation and lodging, and a free lift ticket, compliments of Sundance.

Wearing a custom gown by San Francisco's Jin Wang, a friend's faux-fur shrug and a pair of warm, cozy UGG boots, the bride met her Hugo Boss-clad groom for photos in the snow. Jodi carried a bouquet of ivory ranunculus, parrot tulips and anemones with accents of lamb's ears, blooming cotton sprigs and tiny tallow-berry branches, while the groom and his trusted friends wore boutonnieres of clustered ivory tallow-berry branches decorated with tiny acorns, rosemary foliage and gray silk.

To warm up before the ceremony, which was held in the resort's intimate screening room, guests were served hot chocolate or apple cider; Sigg flasks and warm winter boots were given to each guest with their wintery comfort in mind. After the ceremony, guests joined the newlyweds in one of the resort's stunning spaces for dinner, dancing and dessert. The tables were covered with manzanita branches accepted with vases of ivory garden roses, fringed tulips, ranunculus, tallow-berry branches and cotton, bringing the beauty of Utah's landscape into Jodi and Jon's intimate reception. The couple served cupcakes from Carrie's Cakes, including chocolate fudge and white cream cheese cake with raspberry filling, and danced the night away in celebration. Coordinated by Alison Events and photographed by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, this breathtaking winter affair certainly has me excited to strap on my skis this season!

Featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.

A Dress of Many Sleeves

You've finally chosen the perfect shade of plum for your autumn wedding, and picked a dress that will flatter the various figures of your dearest friends. You've achieved nirvana, or at least bridesmaid dress success, until your favorite cousin adds that she'd really like sleeves and your best friend decides that knee length won't flatter her flawless gams. So what's a girl to do? You can scratch the whole thing, or you can use eShakti, a website that allows you to customize the design of anything on the site! Now adding an extra six inches in the bust or a demure 3/4 length sleeve for the maid with upper arm anxiety is easy. If you're worried about fittings, just use eShakti's custom sizing to ensure that each dress is perfectly tailored long before the big day!

Would you dress your girls in matching dresses, or will you chose a less traditional route?

All I Want for Christmas

I just can't resist this adorable photo by the fabulous Kristin Vining; the snowflake box full of holiday ornaments and the plaid blanket are perfect for curling up on a Saturday morning!

What are your plans for this weekend?

Baltimore Eggnog

I've long encouraged you to whip up drinks with uncooked egg, and a traditional holiday eggnog provides those of you who have resisted with the perfect opportunity. Use the freshest eggs you can find from your local farmers market or organic grocer, and while you're there, you can pick up clementines for your Christmas stockings!

I chose this recipe for Baltimore Eggnog from Gourmet; first published in a Baltimore cookbook in the 1940's, this nog has a potent combination of brandy and rum for what is sure to be a merrier holiday!


Baltimore Eggnog

2 dozen eggs
1 bottle (4/5 of a quart) of brandy
1 pint of dark rum
2 pounds of confectioner's sugar
3 quarts of whole milk
1 quart of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of salt.

Beat 24 egg yolks until light and lemon-colored. Slowly add brandy, rum, sugar, whole milk, heavy cream and salt to the yolks. Beat 24 egg whites until stiff with 3/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, then fold into yolks.

With a drink this rich, you don't have to bring out your very best bottle of brandy; John recommends Osocalis Alambic brandy and our favorite Barbancourt rhum in this delicious cocktail. Just like farm fresh eggs, using cream-top whole milk and lightly pasteurized heavy cream will make a world of difference!


Photo by Romulo Yanes for Gourmet.

White Christmas

Christmas is just over a week away, and John and I will be flying to Dallas in exactly seven days! I couldn't be more excited for the holidays, and this publicity photograph of Elizabeth Taylor has been a major source of inspiration as I wrap up the last presents and listen to a nearly-constant stream of carols. I love the classic colors and the slightly undone quality of the room, but it's Ms Taylor's perfect red lipstick that might just be most inspiring. You can be sure you'll see me wearing a vermilion lip when I'm giving out New Year's kisses!

Cross-Country

As much as I adore a beautiful invitation, my favorites are always the ones that tell the couple's story. This gem, stunningly photographed in a bed of coral peonies, features a sweet belly band that represents the couple's San Francisco home and Pennsylvania wedding in the bride's hometown; who could resist such a charming invitation?

Photo by Art of Love by Marie Labbancz.

Carnation

Another pair of sweet Kate Spade pumps, perfect for celebrating Tuesday Shoesday! Wouldn't the adorable ruffled floret also make a charming addition to a holiday gift?

Photo by Art of Love by Marie Labbancz.

Jingle Bell Swing

It's another Monday morning, and I hope these charming photos will have you smiling. The bride's adorable tea-length lace gown and Kate Spade pumps are simply divine, don't you agree?

Photo by La Vie Photography.

Real Wedding: Lauren and John

It's not often that a wedding this classic, this perfect comes along, and you can be sure that when I first saw it, I gawked for far too long at each gorgeous image. These college sweethearts met as freshman at Providence College, and while they live in Manhattan, they decided to seaside town of Watch Hill, RI would be the perfect place to tie the knot.

The couple was married at the Watch Hill Chapel, a little white chapel built in the 1870s on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and celebrated with family and friends under a tent at the Shelter Harbor Golf Club. Invitations by Cheree Berry and calligraphy by Love Jenna Calligraphy in shade of black, white and gold set the tone for the rest of the event; from the black and white ties the groom and his guys wore to the charming menus, everything was classically coordinated. The invitations also help Lauren chose a neutral shade for her bridesmaids' dresses; after picking a a palette of nudes, the girls chose dresses from favorites J.Crew, Lela Rose and Thread. The bride chose a stunning Vera Wang gown and black Christian Louboutin pumps for her walk down the aisle, while the gentleman sported classic black suits.

Yumiko of Hana Floral Design created clean white centerpieces and a stunning lavender bouquet for the bride, ingeniously combining traditional and modern elements for a look that suited Lauren perfectly. Dinner was all about comfort: beer and cheddar soup, gourmet burgers on brioche buns, buttermilk fried chick and family-style sides were served, and guests enjoyed homemade ice-cream sandwiches for dessert. The bride and groom cut into a small red velvet cake, and everyone took home a bite-sized cupcake from their New York haunt, Baked by Melissa. They danced the night away to the tunes of the Killers, Katy Perry and Journey, and the talented Steve DePino was on hand to capture each moment.