George's

The all white Alys Beach rooftops

Great Tree at George's entrance

Cup o' George's Joe

Mom ordered George's Famous Grouper Sandwich

My crab and avocado salad, dad's fish tacos were pretty too but I failed to get a pic.

Our first meal together at the beach was lunch at George's, a cute beach "shack" with lots of porches, great wine list, tasty cuisine, and frogs everywhere. Well, not real frogs, frog decor...very cute. We truly enjoyed this meal as it was our first together in a long time. Our service was fantastic and that combined with the food will make anyone a return customer. Check it out if you're ever in the very cool new development known as Alys Beach.

celebrate!

For special celebrations over the past couple of years, my family has made it a tradition to break out a bottle of Sofia. Not sure when we started celebrating with this yummy bottle of sparkling wine, but it's definitely a favorite of mine. We enjoyed a couple of bottles over Christmas and I'm thinking it would be a good idea for New Years Eve as well! Unfortunately we had no champagne glasses down at the beach but we made do with these cute glasses from nearby Modica Market.

A Beachy Holiday

This year, instead of a trip home to Nashville for Christmas, I met my parents down in Santa Rosa Beach, FL where they've recently bought an adorable beach cottage. We layed around in pajamas, ate too much barbecue shrimp, shopped in nearby Seaside, and really enjoyed being together for a few days. My mom and I bond over art easily and tried to get in a few gallery visits as well. There are lots of talented emerging artists from that area of Florida and one is a close neighbor! His name is Justin Gaffrey and not only did we get to see some of his truly unique and cool paintings, but each day when driving by his house, we got to admire this beauty sitting in his driveway! It might be a little too kitschy for some, but it sure made us smile. Nothing says holiday cheer like a beat up old paint splattered truck with a Christmas tree attached to the hood. Merry Belated Christmas to my readers, I hope yours was as pleasant as mine.

been meaning to write about...

This cute wrapping paper from The Container Store...

This yummy meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup...

Seeing my bag of oil paints spread across the floor ready to go...

Another tasty treat-twice baked potatoes, and finally...

My big apartment window decked out for the holidays. I'm down in Florida for Christmas and I'm just missing it a little bit right now...look how cozy!

Wish I Were Here...

Wearing This... And Drinking This...

Fa La La La La....

My new favorite holiday drink

Rolf's, I really can't explain how decked out this place gets!

I truly love the Christmas song "Baby It's Cold Outside." It's nice to hear a duet this time of year and although the lyrics are a bit provocative for a Christmas carol, it still makes me feel ready for the holidays. This past Sunday, KTW and I went to Rolf's so I could try my first eggnog (yummm, see above) and enjoy the spectacle of lights/ornaments/angels/weird dolls that make up their Christmas decorations. While there, this song came on about 20 times. Clearly, I'm not the only one who enjoys it :)

I really can't stay- But baby it's cold outside

I've got to go away - But baby it's cold outside

This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in

So very nice -I'll hold your hands they're just like ice

My mother will start to worry- Beautiful, what's your hurry?

And father will be pacing the floor- Listen to the fireplace roar

So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful please don't hurry

Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour

The neighbors might think -Baby it's bad out there

Say what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there

I wish I knew how -Your eyes are like starlight now

To break this spell - I'll take your hat your hair looks swell

I ought to say no no no sir - Mind if I move in closer

At least I'm going to say that I tried- What's the sense of hurtin my pride

I really can't stay- Baby don't hold out

(guy) -Baby it's cold outside(girl) -ah, but it's cold outside

I simply must go - But, Baby it's cold outside

The answer is no -But, Baby it's cold outside

This welcome has been -How lucky that you dropped in

So nice and warm -Look out the window at that storm

My sister will be suspicious - Gosh your lips look delicious

My brother will be there at the door- Waves upon a tropical shore

My maiden aunt's mind is vicious- Gosh your lips are delicious

Well, maybe just a cigarette more- Never such a blizzard before

I got to get home- But baby you'd freeze out there

Say lend me a comb- It's up to your knees out there

You've really been grand- A thrill when you touch my hand

But don't you see- How can you do this thing to me

There's bound to be talk tomorrow- Think of my life long sorrow

At least there will be plenty implied- If you caught pneumonia and died

I really can't stay- Get over that old doubt

(guy) -Baby it's cold outside(girl) -ah, but it's cold outside

Bumblebeezzz

It's no great mystery to those close to me that I have a bit of a bee fixation. This started a few years ago because I really enjoyed painting them. Then I started picking up little bumblebee trinkets, boxes, jewelry, etc. while shopping. Here are a few bee items I've found worth sharing:

Turquoise calling cards and gold bee and honeycomb print note cards are Crane.

Bee tacks and hooked pillow from Ballard Designs.

I liked this flour sack pillow because it's not all about the bees, it's a little more subtle. You can find them at another blogger's Etsy shop.

Zoe Chicco's 14k gold Bumblebee studs.

A fun lucite catch all tray from iomoi can be personalized.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

Around this time of year, I am always ready to hear those five little words. The Christmas Story is one of those Christmas movies they start playing a couple of weeks before the actual day. And by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, I'm usually a little tired of ole Ralphie. However, tonight is the first night this season I've sat down to watch it and I couldn't be happier.

Snow!

We had our first teeny bit of snow on Saturday night. The huge flakes were gorgeous coming down but unfortunately didn't last (like in the picture above of a previous snow.) I hear we have more coming later this week, fingers crossed! And although I'll likely complain about trudging through the stuff, I'd have to agree that NYC really looks it's best with a fresh blanket of snow covering it's buildings, trees, sidewalks, and taxis.

A Touch of the South

My mom found this guest towel in a shop in Nashville and sent it up to me last year. I am slowly starting to acquire holiday decorations while living on my own and this is one of my favorites to put out when it starts getting cooler outside. It doesn't really match my other bathroom stuff but that's okay with me :) it's cute and it makes me happy. However, I took it down this weekend because now I'm ready for all things Christmas!

Thanksgiving Treats

Wow, this day has flown by! And thank goodness, Mondays always seem harder/longer when they are cold and rainy. Today I want to share with you some of the tasty treats I enjoyed over my Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday morning, my friend and I cooked a big brunch at my apartment that included her very special Southern Breakfast Casserole and a new recipe that I tried, Baked Stuffed Apples. I looked at multiple recipes to try and figure out how to make them but ultimately I just threw together the most decadent ingredients to ensure we would like what we tasted. Sure enough and thankfully, the apples did not fail (recipe-ish below. And please keep in mind, I am no food photographer, but trying.)

Baked Stuffed Apples

Serves 2ppl

2 Granny Smith Apples halved and cored

Brown Sugar
Sugar

Cinnamon

Butter

Orange Juice

Pecans

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Place apples in a casserole dish insides facing up. Put a pat of butter in the center of each (did I mention this is not a "healthy" apple dish?) Mix dry ingredients together and sprinkle a pinch or two on each apple. Place pecans in center of apples. Pour about a cup and a half of orange juice all over apples. Cover with foil and stick in the oven for 45 minutes. About half way through, I took them out and spooned some of the orange juice from the bottom back onto the apples. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the final product, they were eaten too quickly!

With our fantastic brunch we drank lots of coffee and mimosas, more of the latter:). But I do want to recommend the coffee, or rather the coffee maker. I've become a pretty big coffee drinker since living in NYC. It's one of those habits I say I need to stop but know deep down I never will. I particularly love it from a french press. The coffee has a stronger, smoother taste than usual to me. Not only does it taste better but I enjoy making it much more. The process is somewhat cathartic and relaxing to me.

And finally, much later in the day, we scooped ourselves off the couch and made it over to Atlantic Grill for one of the best thanksgiving feasts I've had in a while. Sorry mom, your squash cassserole still reigns supreme! Anyway, in addition to the traditional spread, we had two appetizers and we went big and ordered this:
The oysters were every bit as yummy as they look and the pomegranate seeds gave them a hint of fall flavor. Well done Atlantic Grill! I hope my readers had a great day too!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to whoever's reading this blog! So much to be thankful for this year. Hope you like my turkey sketch, quite an interesting looking bird :)

Chandler, Penny, and Bottletop

My parents are unapologetically obsessed with our doggies. This however, works out well for me because I do miss them a lot and I am constantly getting pictures and sometimes even videos of our three cute canines from Nashville. I'll share with you now, how could this trio not make you smile?

Chandler Bing, my aging but ever-youthful Jack Russell Terrier

Penny (pristine Westie) and Bottletop (our little Mexican perra, we rescued her from the dangers of Isle Mujeres, Mexico)

Miniatures

This weekend, KTW (aka, my handsome boyfriend) and I drove up to Boston. It was my first time and since he's a BC alum, he made an excellent tour guide. We enjoyed two yummy breakfasts at the hotel during our stay and these adorable jars of honey and assorted jams were on every table. I have long loved Bonne Maman for the classic, simple packaging and very tasty jams they contain. I learned from my mother early on that these were the "good" jams and not to bother with Welch's. I know, I'm a preserves snob. My favorite is the raspberry but each one is certainly worth trying!

Organizing

Okay, so perhaps my attempt at an "all special events planning" blog was maybe a little too, hmm, what's the word? Overexcited? Carried Away? Although I would like to add fun event ideas to the mix, I'm still hanging onto the idea of "my favorite things." The two can easily be combined, right? So back to it:

I've lived in 5 apartments in my 3 wonderful years in NYC. And no matter what, the common thread between them all has been...you guessed it, TOO SMALL! Each apartment has of course varied some. But in each of them, it has been either the closets, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, etc., that have left me dreaming of wide open spaces. Maybe it's my Nashville roots, or maybe all New Yorkers have this problem...I'm gonna go with a little bit of both.

Anyway, this is where being resourceful (and the nearby Container Store) come in handy. Currently, I am living in an adorable studio with a huge window for lots of light, exposed brick walls, non-working fireplace, hard-wood floors, I could go on but I'll stop bragging. As soon as I saw the place, I said I'd take it. So now, almost 6 months later, I am still loving the place but not getting along so well with the too-small-to-turn-around bathroom or the very limited closet space and the amount of clothes/shoes/stuff I've accumulated up here. I have taken everything out and put everything back in more times than I can count. I've rid myself of sweaters with holes, pants that don't fit, and anything not worn in the last year. But still, I can't come up with a great solution. However, for an organizer like me, this isn't a problem, it's a fun challenge that I am eager to take on.

Even though my current job is not in the creative field, it does allows me some downtime to explore my creative side and organize, organize, organize. Today, I drew out each of my problem areas to hopefully help me when I do my next clean out/organize/straighten up session. Apologies for the notes on one page, floral arrangements and the John Robshaw sample sale have little to do with my closets...

www.usedeventstuff.com

What a great idea! This website is like ebay for special events. It gives you the option to purchase and sell items you won't ever use again like chairs, candle holders, catering supplies, even floral arrangements. Certainly something to consider on a budget.

Party Time

Although I've enjoyed blogging about items/songs/movies, etc. that I like, I think it's time to give this blog a little more direction. Second to my love of painting is my strong interest in Event Planning, which is what I had been doing since college up until about a year ago. In an effort to continue growing my passion for planning and creating, I'm now going to focus my blog on event ideas big and small including great caterers, fabulous venues, exciting decor, etc. So, without further ado, my first "event-focused" post: (and thank you in advance for reading, I'm very excited about doing this!)

The holidays are such a special time for many. However, for those who might not have the most traditional family (i.e. one mom, one dad, 2.5 kids,) the holidays can be stressful and sometimes uncomfortable. For only $8.00, you can lighten the mood a little with these "new family" cups at your next holiday get together.

Feist

I absolutely love Feist and Mushaboom is one of my favorite songs she does. The lyrics are great and the video is super cute. I'll let them speak for themselves:

"Mushaboom"

Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born oh
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups oh

But in the meantime we've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road,
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house oh
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done oh

How many acres, how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbours and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road,
mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow,
mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Old dirt road rambling rose
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Well I'm Sold...

John Robshaw

I'm a big fan of what John Robshaw is doing with printed textiles. And looking at them all together on his website is like taking a virtual tour through the villages of Asia, Thailand, India, etc. The technique he has developed allows for human error making each piece feel special and unique. Check out some of my favorites below:

Bedding Sets

Pillows

Union Square Artists

I think it takes so much courage to take your art to the streets. Aspiring artists set up all over the city attempting to sell their work and gain a following. Today while strolling through Union Square I had to stop and watch Joe Mangrum create one of his sand installations on the sidewalk. And while they don't last long, it is so cool to watch these "paintings" come together. According to images of his other installations on his website, I caught this one when it was about half way done. He updates his website and Facebook page daily as to where he will be next if you'd like to see him in action.

ABC Carpet & Home

These looked like glittered hydrangeas and I could easily

see them in vases all over my apartment.

If only I had a mantel...

Amazing chandeliers everywhere you look.

Every time I go down to Union Square, I try to pop into ABC Carpet & Home. The multi-floor loft-like space is huge and you can easily get lost exploring. Right now they have Christmas decorations up near the chandelier section and it's just absolutely magical. Check it out if you're in the area.