Ahh January. As we head into February and burrow in for the chill of winter, I am loving the neutral palette with a hint of sparkle and a waft of chimney smoke (in a pre-packaged candle- if only I had my own chimney).

Cocktailian Eric Alperin’s Southside Royale is a refreshing champagne cocktail that’s just the ticket for the winter doldrums. If you have read this blog, you know I am always in the mood for anything bubbly and especially in January. Gin, simple syrup, a splash of fresh lime juice, champagne and a sprig of mint make this cocktail a zippy delight.

I just picked up some of these pehr tea towels for a recent dinner party. I love the print and the neutral palette- good with any season and every table.

How much do you love this print? It’s all I can do not to buy it. Budgeting is a… well, you know. Thomas Hammer M10 print at One Kings Lane through Friday.

I recently re-zhuzhed my makeup and added this Naked Basics shadow palette. Love it.

I pretty much wear these everyday. They are pretty with an edge, I feel kind of tough wearing them- which I love- and they go with everything. Loren Hope Isis studs.

“Bent-backed tulips, smoldering chimney smoke, dried vines and brick walls”- with a description like that, I had to buy this. In the high priced world of luxury candles, this one’s a steal at $14.95. I am a fan. Tatine’s Tisane candles come in a few different scents and the thick votive is reusable. And they burn clean- a must now that I’ve got these littles crawling around. I found them at my favorite shop here in Alexandria, Red Barn Mercantile. I can’t walk in there without buying something. I love to support local business, what can I say.

Always a fan of Heather Moore’s textile designs at skinnylaminx, I love her Mini laMinx line as well. The Orla dress pays homage to Orla Kiely’s lovely stem pattern. Not that your Mini can wear this now but spring is not far off… I hope.

And lastly, how much do you love this room! It’s the perfect spot for a private dinner party. A group of us are throwing my friend Katy, of Katystyle, her baby shower here in this lovely room at ISA in Brooklyn, scouted by my stylist pal Erin. Very much looking forward to it- it will be dreamy and candlelight for her chic shower.

How does January inspire you? What are you eating, drinking, wearing? What are some of your favorite things during these wintery days?

{Image Credit: Southside Royale photo by Dave Lauridsen}

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It’s time to don that gay apparel, sip those martinis, crank the swanky Christmas tunes and hold your dear ones tight. Love this photo of Nancy Sinatra and her papa.

Have a wonderful holiday. My best to you all and to all a good night!

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Ahh, the West, can’t wait to get out there. We leave this week for 3 weeks of holiday tidings- seriously the most wonderful time of the year- thank you Andy Williams, R.I.P. And it’s my Minis’ 1st Christmas- so special.

We start in Texas with a side trip to Austin to see my brother and sister-in-law, with a stop at Vino Vino’s Oodles of Bubbles Champagne Tasting on Saturday. I haven’t been yet but have heard great things. Bring on the bubbly.

Then we’re off to Santa Fe to spend time with more family and soak in the Southwest scenery. Love that town at Christmas. I am looking forward to hitting Harry’s Roadhouse for some blue corn turkey enchiladas and maybe do some tequila tasting. Maybe we’ll take the twins on a walk down farolito-lit Canyon Road and definitely stroll the Plaza. Jackalope is a must for last minute stocking stuffers. I will definitely do a getaway post, post trip. I’ve been going to Santa Fe for years with my family and hit the jackpot when I married a man whose sister lives there & added bonus: I have an aunt and uncle that live there too. Great reasons to go back, and as often as possible.

Then back to the ranch where we’ll just relax, cook, eat, drink, bake, watch Christmas movies, play charades, watch bad movies (one of my all-time favorite things to do with my brother who is a master at Mystery Science Theater-speak) and REPEAT.  Life doesn’t get much better than that.

Lonesome Dove- Tim Love’s highly rated Fort Worth restaurant. I have not yet been and looking forward to a meal there this year.

William-Sonoma’s Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail recipe. I made this last week for a cocktail party without the Grand Marnier (because I didn’t have any) and it was a big success- my simplified version below- I look forward to making it again, this time with the Grand Marnier. They key to this is, just a few pomegranate seeds, they are sweeter than you think.

Coronaritas- what a great invention! The Exhausted Mom’s recipe here.

Ina Garten’s Fleur de Sel Caramels. I’ve never made caramels and am salty-sweet crazy, so I look forward to attempting the Contessa’s recipe.

The Ref. If you have not seen this movie- netflix it, order it, download it- whatever, IMMEDIATELY. Hands down my favorite Christmas movie EVER. Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis and Christine Baranski are all brilliant. Seriously- what a crazy cast. The mother from Mary Poppins, Glynis Johns, even makes an evil appearance. So many great one-liners that I find myself repeating year round- “Slipper socks… Medium.”

And of course, Christmas Vacation. The holidays just wouldn’t be complete without the Griswalds. “Squirrel!!!!”.

My mom wants to tackle an easy seafood paella recipe. She’s got a bottle of Domaine de Cabasse Rose de Marie Antoinette that should go great with it. Mas de Daumas Gassac Rose Frizant would be killer with seafood paella too.

I’ll attempt to read 2 books, Where’d You Go, Bernadette and David Nasaw’s new Joe Kennedy biography. This is slightly ambitious as I just finished Gone Girl after 4 months of reading basically, 1/2 a page every night. That’s about all I can stay awake for these days with the twins still not sleeping through the night, so we’ll see how this plan shakes out.

Here’s my easy peasy Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail recipe:

Totally foolproof, this couldn’t be easier:

1. Fill your glass almost 3/4 full with Cremant (I use this as opposed to a champagne as it is very tasty and a lot less expensive)

2. Drop in 5 pomegranate seeds (no more as they infuse more sweetness than you would think)

3. Add a tiny splash of POM juice (because that stuff is potent)

And, Voila- a foolproof Christmas Cocktail (or Chanukah or Kwanzaa or whatever- everyone will like this little diddy)

CIN CIN!

{Image Credits: Farolito-lit by Diane Brumberg, Fleur de Sel Caramels by Gimme Some Oven)

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1. Egly-Ouriet Brut 1er Cru NV Les Vignes de Vrigny, $59. You seriously cannot go wrong with a bottle of this. Anyone in their right mind will adore it. 100% Pinot Meunier, unusual for a champagne. All of Egly-Ouriet’s wines are special. I’ve been holding on to their 2008 Ambonnay Rouge for years now. I’m thinking I’ll give it 6 or 7 more years, if I can stand it.

2. Apato crescent bottle opener $50. Just cool.

3. A giant gold wishbone from Jayson Home, $48. Because it looks great-would be a cool addition to a centerpiece.

4. John Robshaw bone tray, $198. Beautiful and sparkly. Great for the holidays or anydays.

5. Dwell Studio petrified wood cheese plate, $105. Stinky cheese + petrified wood- ok, I buy it- something about those two together really kind of works.

6. Mini martini glasses, $2.50- for that mini negroni she’ll serve as an aperitif. Because really who needs a huge cocktail before dinner. Ok, maybe some do… but I love the idea of a mini before that first glass of wine.

7. I am jonesing for one of these vintage champagne buckets, $65. No one is alike. Jayson Home will email you photos of available buckets when you order.

8. I just love these little chalkboard napkin rings, $15. A great way to personalize your table without too much effort, and reusable to boot.

9. Marble salt + pepper bowls with gold spoons, $108. These are just pretty & cool. Great looking on a snazzy table.

10. I am loving the Verve flute from Crate & Barrel, $12.95. Champagne glasses are always so delicate, which I like, but it’s nice to switch it up and give some heft to those bubbles.

11. Tear-off gold-flecked confetti placemats for the no-fuss hostess, $25 for a set of 50.

12. Another badass bottle opener, $50.

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It’s that time of year again in Alexandria when Scots and Scotophiles alike gather to march down King Street in their finest Highland dress- kilts, tartans and ghillies galore. Spectators come out in droves and bring their adorable pooches adorned in their Scottish duds to trot around Old Town. Here is an image of the bagpipers on break, from last weekend’s walk. We almost missed it (I still haven’t quite gotten the hang of a quick and easy departure with the twins) but caught the tail end. It was almost more fun- just the sight of all the kilt-clad folks just hanging around and chatting.

Here are a few peat-intensive pairings for this festive Scottish walk.

1. Elements of Islay Ar2, – this one is hard to find, $80. Spicy, smoky and sweet- this single malt beauty sings with butterscotch and citrus notes in addition to the notes above. Not too peat heavy but enough to place it from Islay. Love the bottle- this would make a great gift.

2. Bruichladdich Octomore 5.1, $174.99. A cult peat-heavy scotch. You’ll either love it or hate it. For some old school whisky connoisseurs, this style of whisky making is just not kosher. It’s almost experimental- the ppm (parts per million of peat phenol) dialed up to 169- the highest concentration in a known whisky. Others are gaga over it, making it sought after and expensive. The flavors and notes attack and almost obliterate your palate. A single malt for a Parker palate.

3. Lagavulin 16 year old single malt scotch, from the 182 year old whisky house- $69. Again, heavy on the peat-smoke, this one is a delight. It gives you a bit of everything. Complex and rounded with a long and beautiful finish. Sweet yet smokey- a great combo. Kind of the perfect peat-heavy whisky.

All 3 smoky single malts are very distinct. If you like whisky but haven’t yet tried a peaty delight from Islay, one of these should peak your inner peat geek.

[Image Credit: Smoke Roll-Up by Eddie Mayda]

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Don’t judge, I didn’t drag my 6 month old kids across the country so that I could play craps and whoop it up Hangover-style. My mom got married last weekend in Vegas. Wow- that looks pretty wild in print. She did, she got married just outside of Vegas in the Valley of Fire State Park. It. Was. Awesome. One of the best parts about the weekend was bringing the babies to Vegas despite the face that: Las Vegas- not exactly baby friendly. I can’t tell you how many dirty looks I got while wheeling my double stroller through the casino just trying to get from the lobby to the elevators. I was kicked out of the coffee bar in the hotel immediately upon arrival. Overtired and under caffeinated from the cross country flight, the barista took one look at us and said, “Babies- no no no no no no, you gotta get them outta here. No babies allowed here.” It was kind of hilarious. I was totally confused, after all I was ordering a latte not a martini. “I just want a coffee.” To which he replied, “No, you can’t have babies here, this is part of the casino- you gotta go… NOW.”  Coffee-less and a little more weary for the wear, I took my brood on up to our room on the 27th floor where we stayed for the most part, with the exception of the wedding excursion and a few meals-our room service bill was quite impressive.

Turns out, you really can’t do much in Vegas with babies. I wouldn’t have known. I lived there as a 22 year old, performing in a show at the MGM Grand, my 1st real gig. I spent plenty of time playing blackjack downtown at the Binion’s Horseshoe and hanging fireside at the Peppermill, but I wasn’t exactly paying attention to new moms with babies. Oh well, it was quite the adventure and I kind of love that our kids went to Vegas before they were a year old.

Well, it’s not the real one, but it’s a pretty hilarious alternative. Oui, oui Paris.

Aww yeah- limo rides, bubbly and bottles. Keepin’ it real.

Sleep tight my little Vegas baby.

Fedoras- check. Where’s Deano?

The Wedding Party.

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I’m a sucker for Hitchcock- the style (which may be more Edith Head than Hitchcock), storytelling and images of his pictures are so memorable and nostalgic. This collection is extensive with 15 movies including the biggies- Psycho, Rear Window and The Birds.

Go Macy’s! I love that they commissioned former graffiti artist and current art world darling, KAWS, to design a Companion character balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kind of ballsy Macy’s. Love it.

Kir Royale- the perfect little drink. My sister in law, Lauren, reintroduced to me to love of a good kir royale- my new favorite and seriously divine. But done wrong, they can be absolutely terrible. I like mine light on the creme de cassis and heavy on the champagne. To be exact 1/4 oz. creme de cassis and 2 1/4 oz. sparkling wine.
*For Holiday Feting: add a little red decorating sugar around the rim and drop a couple of cranberries inside the flute. Voila.

Ok, I know it’s been out a while now but I just saw it and loved it. I love the intensity that Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes bring to this Bond. He’s a completely different animal but- dare I say- Daniel Craig rivals Connery in the badass department. Connery- yes, more smooth and debonair, but Craig- a total badass.

Falconwright’s handmade clutches are graphic and spot on. I would love to find this under my tree.

I have one of these Lucky Strike smoking Santa ads framed and proudly displayed on my credenza every Christmas season. It just makes me happy- so wrong yet so right. I figure I have a couple more years before the kids are really aware, then I’ll put it away until they’re old enough to share in my appreciation for this ridiculousness.

{Image credit: Kir Royale by oprah.com)

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Back in the day, I was a showgirl in Sin City (the top-wearing kind) and I returned there for a couple of days last weekend.  I was both inspired and a little miffed by the changes since the late 90s, but some things never change.
Here are my picks for a razzle dazzle Vegas weekend.

1. The Bellagio- most of the rooms here have been recently renovated and have a great modern feel. Swanky, Classy (dare I use the word- not sure it belongs anywhere, especially Vegas), and centrally located, the Bellagio is always a great place to stay. Dale Chihuly’s 2,000 hand-blown blossoms still shine over the lobby. Other great lodging options are the Cosmopolitan, next door and the Golden Nugget downtown where you get more bang for your buck- although taxis to the central Strip will cost you.

2. A great tip from our blackjack dealer- when ordering your complimentary cocktail while playing at the tables, be sure to specify a top shelf liquor. Hey, it’s the one time the house actually pays and it only costs you a tip to your cocktail waitress. Grey Goose vodka tonic, please.

3. Cirque Schmirque- if you want to catch an old school Vegas review, head over to the Planet Hollywood hotel to see Vegas the Show. My pal, Tiger Martina is the talented choreographer. They’ve got showgirls and Sammy Davis- seriously, what more could you want.

4. Love this cute little cutout sheath from Club Monaco- would look great at the craps table.

5. Loving this glittery number from Club Monaco as well- shines next to the slots.

6. We had a great meal at the Vegas outpost of LA’s Comme Ca at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Great wine list with a bargain basement section where you can find fantastic bottles for a deal. The beet salad with whipped feta, sunflower seeds and arugula is a must. The view  makes you feel like you’re in Tokyo- the Strip’s bright lights sparkle outside its windows.

7. Big fan of all of Kevyn Aucoin’s matte lipsticks- especially the Forever shade. I wear this one for day and night.

8. Scoot down to the Chandelier Bar after dinner at Comme Ca and if you’re lucky, the Jennifer Keith Quintet will be jivin’ up the joint. This is one of the best swing bands I’ve seen and I lived in LA during the overblown Swingers era. Great people watching to boot as Vegas’ Swing-hards hold court in the bar’s booths. Dressed to their hipcat nines with some talented moves to boot, it’s a pretty fun scene.

9. Get outta dodge for a few hours and head up to the Valley of Fire State Park. This Land That Time Forgot-like landscape is album cover worthy. After you soak in its beauty, turn your excursion into a photo shoot. It doesn’t really matter what you look like, with this radical backdrop, you’ll look like a badass in every shot.

10. The Peppermill Fireside Lounge is one of my favorite spots in Sin City. While I’m not a fan of its most recent update with its flat screen tvs, it still maintains its 70s charm. Sit around a fire pit and sip a giant exotic cocktail.

11. Do yourself a favor a B.Y.O.B. when it comes to champagne. Vegas will take you for all you’ve got in more ways than one and to get a decent glass of bubbly will really set you back. Bring a luxe grower’s champagne like this Vilmart Grand Cellier 1er Cru Brut NV and feel like a King even if you do lose your butt at the roulette wheel.

12. Get your Showgirl on with these Gasoline Glitter Flame heels from Topshop.

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My brother Matt had us over for Thanksgiving this year and my father in law, Jacques drove down from NY to be with us. It was a tasty good time and conversation about the Absinthe documentary- appropriately named Absinthe- sparked our curiosity to do a tasting, Matt just happened to have a bottle on hand- tastes kind of like ouzo to me. The Sea Smoke Southing ’09 Pinot was really a stunner with our bird- it was complex and subtle all at once, a really beautiful wine. I had been waiting to drink this one and it was a good time to break it out. I received it earlier this year after waiting for a spot on Sea Smoke’s mailing list for about 6 months. It was worth it. The vintage is showing nicely and was enjoyed by all.

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I recently headed out to Union Market DC where I found a charming assortment of food shops, farmers and a few local eateries.  You can shimmy up to the bar at the Rappahannock Oyster Co. for shellfish and a cocktail created by J.P. Fetherston of The Columbia Room, grab a new dill pickle to rival Russ & Daughters at the Oh Pickles! counter, pick up a flaky and perfectly crusted DC Empanada to go, and sip a beautifully swirled latte from Peregrine Espresso, all in a few strides. While the market aims to lead the artisanal DC foodie brigade, what’s really interesting is the neighborhood.  Industrial and rough around the edges (unlike the meatpacking district of NYC), this neighborhood’s still got grit, great signage and a genuine local flavor. The market is pretty polished and chock full of hipsters but because it is still finding itself, it feels authentic and is certainly flavorful.  I’m interested to see how it develops- good on ya, DC.

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