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)

Related posts:

  

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.

Related posts:

  

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.

Related posts:

  

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.

Related posts:

  

My mom and her longtime beau got married last weekend in the Valley of Fire State Park, just outside of Las Vegas. We did it up- took the babies to Vegas and had a swingin’ time.  More posts to come but one of my favorite moments was stopping at the Moapa Truck Stop just outside of the Park, to load up on champagne and other tasty treats. We had heard good things about the place, but were more than pleased and surprised to find that they stocked Veuve in their fridge. Veuve has never been a personal favorite, but it has found a new place in my heart and in the middle of the desert- what an oasis! Beats the Andre that came with our limo.

The photo op was too good to be true. The American desert is one of my favorite landscapes- so much expansion for the eye to see. It conjures images of John Ford heroes galloping through the desert off to save another damsel in distress or burning western town, perfectly worn down 1950s roadside signage and just plain Americana. I did my time in Vegas as well, as a showgirl in my youth (the top-wearing kind), so am very nostalgic about the desert.

Walking into this truck stop was a weekend highlight- a bevy of us donned in our Vegas bests clicking and clacking our way through the truck stop grabbing beef jerky, Ruffles and champagne. The best part- no one batted an eye.

What happens is Vegas (or just outside of)…

Related posts:

  

Related posts:

  

Weekend in Winnetka with the Wilsons

That’s a lot of W’s and there were lots of kiddos.  My mom and I took the bebes up to visit our friends in the northern suburbs of Chicago. We’ve all known each other since the 70s- that always sounds so funny- Carrie and I have been friends since we were 1.

It’s all too easy not to make the effort to visit friends that live a plane ride away- especially with little ones in tow- but time spent with loved ones is kind of what life’s all about. We were treated to a beautiful roasted pork tenderloin dinner prepared to perfection by Carrie and Patty, using one of Ina Garten’s recipes along with Patty’s famous twice baked potatoes (just think boatloads of butter and sour cream with some seriously whipped potatoes in a crispy skin shell-mmmm!), which we paired with an ’07  Casanova di Neri Brunello-awesome.  We also ventured out into town and shared a Dr. Frank Dry Riesling at lunch with a stop at the amazing local accessories and design shop, Maze Home and the beautifully edited neapolitan boutique.  I bought the colorful wool Christmas garland above for my tree this year at Maze and lusted over a vintage 70s necklace from House of Lavande- unsigned but looks like a Courreges to me- on the wish list.

When we returned home to VA., we went to a birthday party for a lovely little 3 year old where Rocknoceros was playing.  Straight from their Austin City Limits gig, we were psyched to hear them jammin’ out live.  I loved the little handwritten signs that the birthday girl’s mom posted all over the walls.  The one above was my favorite- it’s so true isn’t it!

Related posts:

  

Jessica’s Biel’s Giambattisa Valli Haute Couture wedding dress is spot on.  What a bold choice- splotchy pink and white brush strokes, classic lines with a modern edge- it’s like a little candy confection and an abstract painting made a baby (or a wedding dress).  I just want to eat it.

Olive and Sinclair’s Salt and Pepper artisanal chocolate is one of my budget busting vices. I would eat a bar of this every day if I let myself, and I almost do.  I discovered it in Nashville last year while having brunch at Marche. I brought home a couple of bars and was thrilled to find them at my local eatery, Society Fair, here in Alexandria. Made by native Nashvillian Scott Witherow, it is a stone ground, slow roasted, small batch, handcrafted bean-to-bar confection. With all of those adjectives, its bound to be good- and it is. The perfect mix of pepper spice, salty tang and subtle sweet.

Sugar Paper presses these friendship cards.  A perfect little spot of glamour and love.

Domaine Tempier is a long time favorite.  I love every wine they produce.  I am partial to it because when I first started studying wine, I read and was completely romanced by Kermit Lynch’s Adventures on the Wine Route. This led me to the Tempier Peyraud family. While working at Balthazar, I attended a staff tasting with Kermit and heard stories about the family firsthand. I became fascinated with Lulu Tempier Peyraud- but more on her in a later post- and bought her and Richard Olney’s cookbook, Lulu’s Provencal Table- a must for Francophiles and lovers of Provencål cuisine.  Her recipes are not exactly short and sweet but well worth it in the end. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so proud of making a dish than when I attempted (and sort of pulled off) her Roast Chicken with Ginger, Macaroni and Roasting Juices recipe.

Lulu’s father gave her and her husband, Lucien Peyraud, the Tempier vineyard as a wedding. Lucien led a tireless quest to put Bandol on the map and resurrect the Mourvedre grape to noble status, and in turn is now beloved as the Godfather of Bandol. Tempier’s blends are now among the finest in the world and have achieved cult if not iconic status. Not just a great rose but a great wine, it is well-crafted and complex. The full-bodied rose sings with bright fruit, garrigue notes and wild spices. A great fall wine as its spices pair beautifully with roasted vegetables and fall dishes. I am a fan of drinking it all year long especially well into the winter, when you really need that splash of pink to pick you up.

No wedge has any business being this comfortable.  Tom’s Desert Chestnut Wedges are a fall must for anyone that values comfort as much as style.

I love this print by Anne Harper.  Its splotchy burst of colors make me any room happy.

Related posts:

  

With New York, New Jersey and Connecticut still suffering from the aftermath of Sandy, this video below of Casey Neistat’s trip through Staten Island is worth a watch. If you are able to donate, please do so. The latest from friends in the area is that Staten Island is inundated with physical donations, the best thing to do now is to either volunteer your time and/or donate money or blood. Great places to donate: Food Bank NYC, Red Cross, and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NY.

In other less important news from the weekend, I’m always in the mood for a good C.I.A. movie or show.  One of my all time favorites is Three Days of the Condor and I am totally obsessed , like the rest of the country, with Homeland. I used to think I wanted to be in the C.I.A. and had visions of meeting with men in trench coats on benches along the National Mall, speaking to each other with our heads facing front. But me in an interrogation room would not exactly be useful to the intelligence community.

In any case, I was psyched to go see Argo. It was our 1st official date night with a babysitter and with a pit stop at our favorite local restaurant, Hank’s Oyster Bar, this little outing was definitely worth the babysitting fee. I have to give it to Ben Affleck- he has slowly but steadily resurrected himself from a borderline cheesy actor (post Good Will Hunting, of course) to a really good, solid and thoughtful director. I have to say, his movies in the last couple of years have been some of my favorites and I rather dig his new subtle style of acting too.

Argo is a great, what I like to call “adult movie”. I feel this way about Alexander Payne’s movies- especially Sideways. Hard to put into words- just really good adult movies. The story is unbelievable and it being true just makes it all the more compelling.  I’m not sure if the drama really unfolded to the minute the way it is harrowingly portrayed (it is a dramatization after all) but nevertheless, it is seriously unreal. I don’t want to spoil it by giving away details but the concept that Tony Mendez came up with to rescue 6 Americans from Iran during the hostage crisis is hair-brained and inspired all at once.  It’s pretty fantastic to watch it unfold. Ben Affleck manages to infuse the right amount of comic relief (anything with Alan Arkin AND John Goodman and I’m in!) into the suspense and does a good job of fleshing out the characters, a tribute to the screenwriter Chris Terrio as well. I dug it.

We also watched Happy, the documentary, on netflix. Really nice to ruminate on what’s really important especially during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The documentary takes a look at people from all walks of life: an Indian rickshaw driver, a fishing family on the Bayou, working men in Japan and centenarians from Okinawa (with the world’s largest population of people ages 100+ per capita). Happiness it seems basically boils down to, surprise- the usual suspects: family, community, nature, giving back- it’s a recipe for happiness no matter what your situation. The idea that the difference between making $5,000 and $50,000 a year is a huge disparity, while making $50,000 or $50,000,000 is not- is really interesting.  If you’re not poverty stricken and homeless, you’re really just talking about more stuff. A good reminder. There are some tear jerker stories in this one that really warmed my heart.

We have started feeding our little ones solid foods and my little T-Man had a terrible diaper rash- the very first one, so I was up to my eyeballs in rash cream. I love Mayron’s diaper cream but we also had to go in for the heavy stuff and use Boudreaux’s Maximum Butt Paste. It did the trick.

And lastly, Michigan managed to hang on to the Little Brown Jug this weekend in its yearly matchup against Minnestota. Go Blue!

Related posts:

  

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.

Related posts: