Youngest of six is headed to university this fall, and first daughter will be married this August, at home. It’s been a bit of a go-go, never really knew we needed heaters and air conditioners and generators and a foolproof rain plan for a tent out in the countryside, yikes. We’ve put on parties and dinners out there for decades, yet this one coming up is out of our ordinary, we’re wedding planning, and sending our youngest off to college, all in a short breath. Spent last weekend on the road to Providence RI, and the week or so before that in Charleston and Greenville SC. Not sure where we really are these days, on the road or in the air.
Husband has been into the Airbnb thing, and that is good. You get to settle in a bit and cook. If there’s a thing or two that can settle the soul it just might be losing your mind for a while and putting dinner out for a dozen or so. Time slows down when you’re at the table, with those you love.
Happy Monday everyone, we’re quickly headed into trunk show mode again, getting on with our other equal passion, helping women find clothing to wear and love.
Six years ago today we put our first post up here, and if we’re completely honest with ourselves we’re looking to reclaim some of our mojo. It’s kind of funny, no one is really out there waiting for a new entry. Yet when we don’t write I feel anxious, and let it go for a while, and then feel more anxious, and then it feels even harder to get back to it. Kind of like the gym, when you’re in the habit it’s a daily do, and you feel better, even when you don’t.
So, here goes: writing and posting here keeps my brain engaged, even if it’s simply content about food and clothes. We’ve had a love affair with both for as long as we can remember, and we’ll need to be fed and dressed for as long as we’re here so content continues. If you’ve been a reader for a while thank you, I like sharing my space.
Several years ago through my professional work with Worth New York I heard Tom Black, entrepreneur and wine collector, speak. Motivational, yes, and since then I’ve subscribed to his Success Quotes for Daily Living. Yesterday, this landed in my inbox:
Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it. – Lady Gaga
And with that, we continue. Every day dress, and every day cook. Food and clothes, in any order, with as much style as we can gather.
of the several group photos this one’s a favorite, as it shows love, laughter, movement, and no perfect posing
Photos here are of recent visit to Charleston, South Carolina. Easter Sunday we brunched at The Obstinate Daughter, Sullivan’s Island, and did a beach walk afterwards, thank you, Lucy. There were eleven of us in total, now ten of us are back in the northeast and we’re all waiting on spring.
Here at the every day love can be celebrated anytime; day, night, holiday, in town or on the run.
Last weekend husband and I got away at Langdon Hall, and really did nothing but lounge, spa, wine, & dine. Property had bikes with snow tires and snow shoes, we did neither. Would have loved to have given those a whirl, still have some tender feet going on. The gym was a yes, that’s an almost every day thing, as changes are easy, home or away.
room service salmon, love the plating technique, always learning
I had room service salmon for one, and they gifted us fresh bread and scratch butter upon our departure, love.
vegetable stock prep
Naturally it inspired me for all things food, and once home immediately started vegetable stock prep.
coconut chickpeas with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes over brown rice
mise en place for pumpkin risotto and roasted broccoli
pumpkin risotto garnished with toasted pecans
Two daughters are now meat-free, and I’m studying plant-based cooking, simply to learn more and to merge more plants into our daily rotations. Not sure we will ever be fully plant-based, way too soon to say, and there’s always that cheeseburger. 🙂
chop chop chop
sea scallops with Thai peanut sauce
local chocolate hearts
spring fattoush, salmon skewers with chimichurri, and cauliflower rice
vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, chocolate mousse with cashew cream
leftovers with a glass of bubbly for the cook, breakfast or lunch next day
Last night we did family dinner for Valentine’s at home, and celebrated at the family table. Food was amazing, and honestly it needed to be, as it required enormous chopping time of plant ingredients, yikes.
Tomorrow five of us head south for another weekend away, this time for some vitamin D, love all around. We’ve felt the food love yet feeling a bit of a style rut, and really hoping some warmer temperatures will inspire all things spring.
Peace and love to all, and wishing you soulful times in your kitchen and good clothes on your body.
I do think women like to know possibilities of what to wear
For three nights second daughter and I camped in at The Nomad, and for three days second daughter, first daughter (bride-to-be) and I shopped out by appointment various atelier for the precious dress.
black cropped denim, oversized sweater, silk blouse underneath
It was sublime, and close to perfection. Each morning we started with eggs and avocado in The Atrium and then walked, taxied, and ubered around town for dress appointments. There was champagne, and chardonnay, joyful tears, and honestly plenty of burgers, and fries.
We took a million iPhone photos, and at the end of it all decided to keep those albums private. Sharing here are a few photos from the Canon Rebel, with none, by design, of the bride to be.
on the floor at JFK while charging the iPhone
feet up on the carry-on, glitter socks, a tote, and a bag
Our world out there is not slowing down, and like most women we’ve been here, there, and everywhere, and packing up yet again in about 36 hours.
Yeah, of course we have a thing for luxury goods, yet also thinking much more about being mindful.
For all travels lately we’ve relied on carry on Louis Vuitton roller, beloved Celine tote, and small cross-body bag that gets tucked inside tote. Louis roller’s been around longer than a decade, and the tote and bag are here forever and all three will definitely get passed down to one of four daughters. White blouse and denim, wardrobe staples.
Of course there’s always a scarf in there too. When traveling whether it’s three weeks long-haul or three days by auto we limit ourselves to a carry-on and a tote, that’s it. So much easier when dealing with less.
Every day dress, now working more towards mindful luxury.
We’ve checked out for a little; travel, cooking, and now upon second daughter’s recommendation have added in the study of wine, oh, boy.
Two weeks in Portugal, at times ten of us in all, and now in Manhattan, give or take a week. My travel mantra is now less is always more, and easier, and went with a carry-on and tote.
Sure, I feel a little style-lost, yet tradeoff is greater.
And cooking? One late afternoon in Porto went street-walking and picked up four fresh chickens, had the butcher cut them into eights, and that trifecta of tomatoes, onion, and garlic. A bottle of olive oil, dried pasta, some butter is love, coarse salt, fresh ground pepper, and copious amounts of Portuguese wine. We feasted.
Later in the week moved into the Douro Valley, toured Niepoort, and was gifted with a garden box of more garden fresh tomatoes, and green peppers, and oranges. Upon our late return to the apartment, all hungry and tired, those vegetables along with some white wine, garlic, onions, and butter, all pan sautéed separately and then combined into one gorgeous pot, divine for late night dinner. More wine, of course.
No photos, we’ve checked out for a little, text will suffice.
Wishing everyone good health and great meals, shared with those you love. xoxo
Wall Street Journal ran a great article about how to look relevant, by simply wearing a shirt. Couldn’t agree more.
As I spend a good part of my day in denim and a striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up above the elbow, kind of loving this spring fashion trend. It’s a good look for all women, no age requirements, and beats the runaround gym look in yoga pants. How easy is it to wear a real pair of pants and a proper, maybe deconstructed, shirt.
Here’s how I wore it last summer, connecting through the Detroit airport, (always with a carry-on and a tote, wherever I go and only), and still wearing this shirt today. Might have to try the mismatched button thing. 🙂
Trunk opens Tuesday, excellent shirting options, for work and play. xoxo
Last day of the first month and honestly we’re having a hard time leaving the house, yet leave the house we do: there’s travel, and work, and life, and a fun little coat.
We like to share resources, and one nice find was a boutique in Coronado, CA, Paris & Me. A mother and daughter team, we love that, with great little European inspired pieces, at great little prices. Lizzie and I were out there sourcing colleges, and of course had to source some new clothes.
Picked up this black sweater for moi, and the fun white coat for her, which we borrowed today for the office run. LOVE both, she also got a fun pair of faux leather lace-up leggings.
Check out their site here, Paris & Me, or better yet, stop in when you’re day tripping, :), the on site collection is quite nice.
We’ve talked about our go-to column of black, and while not original it get’s us out the door.
Spent a week on the west coast, San Diego and San Francisco, and now doing the every day on the east coast. Cooking and dressing.
First morning home ran out to the grocery for supplies and Williams-Sonoma for a new knife. That west coast food culture can sure inspire. Not that I cooked any west coast fare, simply saw a gorgeous knife in a wine | home | decor store and wanted to replicate. Would love a full set yet starting slow, kind of like a good wardrobe, one beautiful piece at a time.
cooled coffee, salad dressing, cake, gift, and flowers before cutting
3 small arrangements, black linen napkins
spinach, walnuts (toasted), mushrooms (sautéed), and goat cheese
forgot to garnish with the gremolota last time we made this
it can be a blur, keep calm
bread and butter is love for Ethan 🙂
For husband’s sixty-second birthday again cooked up some Ossobuco, one of his favorites, and the cover cake of this months Food & Wine. I always pretty much read the directions, yet sometimes the following can get a bit blurry. Thought it was going fine yet simply overlooked the first step, to tie the shanks. Oh, well, keep cool and move on. Last time I cooked this off forgot the gremolata garnish just before serving so thinking things kind of even out. It’s food, and we usually get to do it again in about three or four hours.
picked up these little sparkly candles in San Diego
baked the Food & Wine cover
The cake has almond flour, and coconut sugar, and was advised to simply whip the cream with some cinnamon. Tasted the cake, tasted the cream, and then added some good old white sugar and a teaspoon or two of real vanilla.
As for the clothing thing, wore white denim in San Diego yet not in San Francisco, feel the mood. Black denim biker leather in both locales. Once home, after cooking all day in husband’s button down and an apron, slipped on a little one shouldered cashmere number to sit down at the table in.
Every day dress, read the directions, or not.
Couple of footnotes: started this blog five years ago when working corporate, kind of as a recruiting tool. Have since left corporate, yet still styling, so keeping the blog. Professionally we dress women in beautiful clothing, personally we like nice clothes, nice places, and to cook for and feed others. Passionate about all. Spring trunk show coming February 14th to February 28th, I’ll have that little leather biker number in black and pink. Choices. xoxo
When you love great food and good clothes, or good food and great clothes, replenish is the word.
As we’re about the every day here usually at home we’re at the market like that, every day. As for the wardrobe, our go-to basics like white denim and a comfortable, soft black turtleneck, those too need to be restocked. We like to do them both once or twice or maybe even three times a year as they are basics, worn over and over, kind of like coffee and half and half first thing in the morning.
We’re traveling, and picked up the denim, sweater, and Birkenstocks which eighteen year old daughter kind of dislikes, yet we’re all about them, especially that they are black, and suede.
First three photos from the iPhone, last one from the digital camera. Need to stock the home bar on the kitchen counter kind of like that. 🙂
