Beachy Bliss

There is so much I love about this wedding: the adorable couple, her dress, the suits, the beach setting, the flowers, the umbrellas, even those tiny crabs. It makes me long for summer and a glass of mint watermelon juice.

[photography: jamie delaine; spotted on: la belle bride]

City Love

I have love for a lot of different cities and towns, and I like keeping little displays of my affection around my  home as a reminder. These charming and colorful city prints from albie designs are right up my alley. I recently bought the Seattle version and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

The Funny and Famous

A few of you asked about the red carpet event I covered over the weekend, so I thought I'd share a little bit. My day job is writing and producing entertainment content for a website, and I was given the opportunity to cover the first ever Comedy Awards. It was my first red carpet experience, and here's what I learned:

• I learned that a red carpet is chaotic and loud, but you make friends with the reporters next to you. 
• I learned that comedians are really funny, but you shouldn't laugh too much or you'll waste valuable question-asking time.
• I learned that standing in one position for two hours in heels in thirty degree weather leaves you with numb feet. 
• I learned that Will Ferrell is probably one of the nicest celebrities out there -- he talked to every person on the red carpet. 
• I learned that even reporters should smile. That's my face in the background, awkward expression and all, smack between Jon Stewart and Andy Samberg.

[photo courtesy of: wireimage]

Birthday Boy, Brunch and a Book

Today is my husband's birthday. Yesterday, we celebrated with brunch at Terroir in Tribeca, which involved mimosas, a breakfast sandwich, French toast and two life-changing cider-glazed doughnuts. Seriously, New York Magazine named them the year's best and they weren't lying. The weather was a little cold, but it was beautiful and sunny out, so we walked all over lower Manhattan. His present? An edition of his favorite book, Huckleberry Finn -- perfect for me to display and him to read. Happy Birthday, Jonah!

Thoughts of the Week

I could probably watch a two hour movie about this chocolate cake.

I want to live in a home that looks like spring.

A pale swimsuit might go better with my pale skin. So very pale.

I didn't need another reason to love eggs, but I found one. Then I found another.

A dining room table is capable of stealing one's heart.

Macaroni and brownies? I would never leave.

So that's what happened to unicorns.

Happy Friday! I'm covering my first red carpet event for work this weekend, and I'm nervous! Plus, I have to dress up on a cold New York night. What are your weekend plans?

Salmon Made Simple

I never had much use for salmon until I lived in Seattle and got a taste of the good stuff. Now it's one of my favorite things to cook when the husband and I are feeling a little fancy. This recipe is pretty impossible to mess up, and I love the tangy, caramelized flavor that you end up with.

Broiled Sockeye Salmon with Citrus Glaze
Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown

1 side, skin-on, sockeye salmon, 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, pin bones removed
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Position a rack in the oven 3 inches from the broiler. Line a half sheet pan with aluminum foil and place the salmon on the pan. Place the sugar, zest, salt, and pepper into the bowl of a small food processor and process for 1 minute or until well combined. Evenly spread the mixture onto the salmon and allow to sit for 45 minutes, at room temperature.

Turn the oven on to the high broiler setting for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, place the salmon into the oven and broil for 6 to 8 minutes or until the thickest part of the fish reaches an internal temperature of 131 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the salmon from the oven and allow to rest, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately. Yields 4 to 6 servings.

Teatime

I've decided to start taking teatime during my work day. It sounds so much cuter than a coffee break. Consider this Pinterest board, with all its charming tea-related prints and paraphernalia, the catalyst.

Weekend in Photos

I spent a few lovely, far too brief days in my hometown of Savannah. It was perfectly relaxing, complete with a French lunch, azaleas in bloom, days at the beach, breakfast at J. Christopher's, sleeping amongst mom's latest works in progress, grandma's Italian cream cake in honor of all the March birthdays in the family, and quality time (followed by a haircut gone wrong) with my favorite girl.

For Japan

Give.

Food Trip: Doughnut Plant

Last weekend, I paid a visit to Doughnut Plant's newest shop next to the historic Hotel Chelsea. It's larger and more cutesy than their original location on the Lower East Side and the wait time was cut in half. Waiting in line for food is something that I usually resent, but trust me, it's worth it for these.

The Doughnut Plant uses natural ingredients and rotates their menu on a daily basis. Their most famous, and in most people's opinion, most delicious doughnut is the tres leches. It's rich, gooey perfection. Unfortunately, they were out, so we opted for a cream cheese frosting-filled carrot cake (one of my personal favorites), pistachio, and a creme brulee doughnut complete with burnt sugar crust and vanilla custard-filled center. This is the stuff that dreams are made of, sugary, glazed dreams.

Like Velvet

 

Have you heard of Velvet Clothing? Don't worry, the clothes aren't actually made of velvet. It's a fairly affordable, casual line by Graham & Spencer. I fell in love with the brand a few years ago, probably because I was wearing one of their jersey dresses in a gorgeous shade of plum the night I got engaged. It was simultaneously flattering and comfortable, which seems to be the case with most of their designs. Their latest collection looks like it would go nicely with a summer vacation. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to test that theory.

Cook and Cover

I'm not exactly sure what I would do with this tagine, but it sure is pretty.

Weekend in Photos

My in-laws were visiting all last week and over the weekend, so there has been a lot of eating lately, but that's how we do. Hopefully, some of our long walks through the city made an impact. Brunch two days in a row, Arnold Palmers coupled with Saturday sunshine, a walk through The High Line, sand art in Union Square, and trips to Magnolia's and Doughnut Plant. More on those doughnuts later this week because they are definitely worthy of it.