I just love this. Not sure why- maybe it’s the whole idea of having limits in such vastness or maybe it’s just cool. In any case, happy weekend to you all! I hope you enjoy the first days of June. We’re throwing a tiny birthday party for the tiny bebes. They turned one this week so they’ll be smashing some cakes and opening some presents- yippee.

I’m making this Banana & Blueberry Cake and this Carrot Cake- I just can’t go the full monty yet with the sugar and the ice cream. If you’re rolling your eyes at me as you read this, I don’t blame you. But they’ll be on to sugar soon enough and besides I’m in full on preservation mode. I absolutely love watching them grow but will so miss the tiny babe stage.

I hope you all have a most excellent weekend.

A little link love:

A winemaker’s favorite places around the world.

Next time I’m in Paris (please let it be soon), I’m hitting this place up for the cutest kids’ clothes ever.

Calling all bike loving crafty waftys- DIY your own super cute bike crate. How great is this.

The best wedding party photo of all time?

Ikea makes a really cool pharmacy cabinet. I would love this for my bathroom.

For anyone that has the time, here are some super cute DIY cocktail sticks to make your party pinterest perfect. My parties these days are definitely not darlingly designed, it’s more of the throw it all together at the last minute or let’s just have an impromptu picnic but hey- whatever works.

And next time I’m in San Fran (please let it be soon), I’m hitting this place up for fantastic curios and oddities.

Haven’t we all danced around our bedroom in our underwear to the Dixie Chicks, “Landslide”? I know I have. Check out Tyler Marcum dancing alongside his 20 year-old self. This is awesome, he was pretty inspired in that dorm room.

My new favorite wine label.

Animals that you didn’t know existed- love that Irawaddy Dolphin!

Wow. There are so many things to say about this and I really can’t tell whether it’s for real or a spoof but after it’s all said and done, it’s really all about that camel toe and that gallup. Wow.

Mario Batali’s way of welcoming the weekend- Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

A life sized prairie dollhouse gone- so sad.

This is absolutely hilarious- a conversation between a dad and his 2 year old daughter reenacted by adults.

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I’m starting a new series called “According to Jess” where my Southern, sassy and opinionated (in the best way) pal, Jess Hartman shares her lifestyle and travel tips. She’s a New Orleans native who splits her time between NYC and Baltimore, where she, her hubby Jason, and soon to be little girl dwell in a cute little row house. Jess and I did our first Broadway show together, The Boy From Oz- you really bond with someone when you originate a show together, not to mention sharing a tiny dressing room on the 4th floor of the Imperial Theater- ahh, those were the days!

We recently met for brunch in this historic and ridiculously cute waterfront Baltimore neighborhood and I fell in love with Fells. Fells Point- According to Jess:

EAT:
Sofi’s Crepes for authentic crepes, Salt Tavern for inspired American food, The Black Olive for tasty Greek food in a a rustic and romantic setting, and Pitango for great gelato.

SHOP:
Sound Garden for vintage LPs, Killer Trash for killer vintage, AMuse Toys for beautifully crafted toys for your tots and Poppy and Stella for darling shoes.

PLAY:
One of the highlights of the year in Fells is the Films on the Pier series. Watch classic movies outside on the dock- how swoonful is that photo!

Our day in Fells:

The pier is so pretty and those big beautiful boats make want to jump onboard and yell Ahoy Matey! Jess does her best bevel in front of the Bond St. building- once a showgirl, always a showgirl. These pirate guys were killing me- they absolutely live for these weekends. That cute baby bump- can’t wait to meet the little Miss.

Jess’ Cabo Citrus Punch Mocktail direct from this dreamy place:

Don’t you just want to jump into that picture and order yourself a cocktail (or mocktail)? Calgon- take me to Cabo.

A Momma’s Mocktail-According to Jess:

P.S.: I love Jack Rudy’s Small Batch Grenadine Syrup- the best.

{Images: Olives: wiseGeek, Pitango gelato: Shootfirsteatlater.com, Fells Point Pier: Ken Adams, Mocktail: MarthaStewart.com}

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I love this image from Audrey Simper’s “Wake Me In Another World” series.

Happy Weekend and Memorial Day to you all, dear readers. What’s on the list for your weekend? Do tell. We are staying put this weekend and laying low after enjoying some time at the beach.

A little link love:

Have you guys seen the 6 second recipe food app, Vine? I love it. Here are 10 of their most popular 6 second videos.

Speaking of apps, I’m loving my new A Beautiful Mess photo app! Great fonts and cool effects. Totally worth the dollar.

If you’re thinking about a kitchen reno, here is a step by step process with a budget breakdown. This homeowner lives in San Francisco, so her labor is on the high end but it lays it all. I love the finished product, especially that zinc countertop with those barstools and that vintage hutch- clean and modern with a vintage bent. Love it.

And while we’re talking reno (can you tell what’s on my mind- if only I had something to renovate- ha) Holy Smokes- this renovated convent is rocking my world. I love it! The cement floors might be a wee bit hard for the bebes but it’s stunning.

Clever cookie cutters like:

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The bebes are bound for their first beach today. And we get a little beach up in this too- Hoo-Ray. It has been way too long since I’ve seen sand much less an ocean, I’m so looking forward to it.

We’re headed to Siesta Key, Florida. Recently voted one of the best beaches in the land by Dr. Beach himself- apparently the nation’s foremost beach expert (who knew)- this beach wins awards all over the place, from tripadvisor to the Travel Channel. I grew up in Florida and have yet to step my toes into its award winning sand and thought that rather shameful, so I was inspired to plan an quick getaway.

I’ll let you all know if I agree with Dr. Beach. Happy Monday.

P.S.: Did you hear that this portrait of a topless Bea Arthur by John Currin sold for 1.9 million at a recent Christie’s auction? Painted in 1991, the Golden Girl never actually sat for the artist and it was controversial then and still is now. I kind of love it, I’m a big fan of Currin’s portraits and I think this is an interesting piece- it’s definitely a conversation piece. Whoever has this hanging in his or her house will have an instant icebreaker, “Bea Arthur Nude”- I mean come on.

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My mom and I spent Mother’s day together this year- the first time since I can remember. We took in a fabulous brunch with bebes at Bryan Voltaggio’s Volt. Tremendous. T.J. the wine director, paired us up with some amazing wines to boot. A tasting note on my favorite of his picks is below. Here are a few scenes from the day in lovely Frederick, Maryland.

Volt’s beautiful 19th century Frederick mansion.

The bebes go to brunch. The housemade breadsticks with a bit of Vermont butter and sea salt were a big hit, as were the grits and the eggs and the dessert and… well they pretty much loved everything and so did we.

A little Gruner, some Sonoma Chard (delicious with only minimal French oak), a 1er Cru Chablis and of course bottles for the bebes.

I try not to take too many pictures of my food as at the end of the day, it’s not actually all that interesting to look at, is it? And as I just read, obsessive food photography could actually indicate an illness- read the article here- ha. But, with this meal, it was so perfect, I had to share.

I started with a deconstructed clam chowder. The sourdough starter in the spaghetti replaced the bread bowl and the smoked potatoes, and tiny olde salt clams were topped with a zesty breadcrumb and fresh herbs mix for crunch and pretty chive blossoms for a little kick. I loved this dish. I had an amazing almost orange-colored omelet with cheddar, ramps, shitakes and asparagus for my main course and this meyer lemon custard with white chocolate, ruby grapefruit, celery, bitter cocoa and cardamom. Pretty killer.

T.J. paired us up with a Chablis to accompany my pasta and a lightly French-oaked Maldonado Sonoma Chardonnay for the omelet. The asparagus is always tricky and I tasted a Gruner which I loved as well, but the Chard was a bit more weighty and nice with the fresh farm eggs and cheddar. My favorite wine of the day though was my mom’s Nicolas Rossignol Pinot Noir that she sipped with her poached eggs and pork belly- really a sublime pinot, one of the best I’ve had in a while.

Strolling through pretty downtown Frederick. With Carroll Creek running through the center of town and lots of great shops, restaurants and Civil War history, it makes for a great day trip.

If you go, don’t miss:

Silk & Burlap: a really well edited boutique filled with vintage and modern apparel and home wares. I love these Italian mint booties and this pillow, but they were a bit out of my budget. I did find a killer statement necklace here- big fan of this place.
The Tasting Room: 40 wines by the glass with a great list.
That Cuban Place Café: tasty Cuban place in a casual setting. Man, I wish I had this place around the corner from me.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine: an interesting look into the medical side of the war.
Schifferstadt: this little gem of a museum is housed in one of the oldest structures in Frederick. Built during the French and Indian Museum, this is a great example of German Colonial stone architecture and the museum highlights the historic architecture of the area.
And of course, I highly recommend blowing it out at Volt.

My favorite wine of the day- a Nicolas Rossignol Burgundy:

Rossignol is a young winemaker who has recently taken over his family’s operation. He’s making waves in Burgundy by turning out some terrific wine, I’m so glad to have been introduced to his juice. If you spot a bottle on a menu or in your favorite wine shop, I highly recommend picking it up, you will not be disappointed.

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I love you, Kiwi

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How do you document your kiddos’ growth or just your favorite life moments? Do you do anything special? Do you make photo books, print out prints the old fashioned way?

I have been taking a photo of the bebes each month on their rug in the nursery. It is proving to be more and more challenging as they absolutely will not lay flat anymore, one of them is always crawling away. I think I will have to give it up and choose a sitting position when they turn 1- which is in 22 days!!!!  I can’t believe it.

I saw this super cute monthly method on Justina Blakeney’s blog and thought I should share. This is the kind of thing I kick myself for not doing from day one but it’s never too late to start. Such a cute way to put all the milestones and life events into one image. She’s used photoshop after the fact to add in the details of the list, but you could easily write it out on paper. Really cute.

{Photo: Justina Blakeney}

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I’m currently attempting a pseudo detox/cleanse. I’m drinking green smoothies in the morning and evening. My version is pretty low maintenance. It’s basically just Greek yogurt, a few frozen berries, 1/2 of a banana, a spoonful of almond butter, some water, a splash of apple cider vinegar -because Dr. Oz said I should- sometimes an apple, a few Puffins and this green powder. This is probably a better and more delicious recipe but I can’t be bothered to mince. So far so good, except for the fact that I’m constantly hungry. I’m hoping to clean my system out a bit and maybe lose some water weight, we’ll see. I’m allowing myself a regular low carb lunch so I feel like a normal person for most of the day. No dark chocolate though at night- ay yi yi- that is tough. The kicker though is that I’m still having my glass of wine every night, I mean come on- I can’t give it all up. Nothing like a glass of bright, dry and slightly bitter in the best way Vernaccia with my detox smoothie. Hmmm, something’s not quite right there, but I like it.

What are you up to this weekend? We’re watching the Derby and then going bowling with some friends on Sunday. I’m so looking forward to bowling- it’s been a long time, too long. Bowling is one of those happy places for me. A beer and a bowl with good pals- now that’s good stuff. I love those bowling shoes too, I really do.

A little link love:

This is the coolest! A GREAT idea for a Mother’s Day gift- are you reading this, honey? I love the chalkboard box, perfect for writing down the delicious herbs growing in your window. I love how it doubles as a menu/centerpiece for dinner parties as well. Seriously inspired and perfect for city dwellers who long to garden and for the gift of a green thumb. This is black thumb proof. L.O.V.E.! You actually order through their kickstarter website here as they are using crowd funding to finance the product. If you back the company, Modern Sprout, you will receive 30% off retail. Pretty cool.

San Pellegrino lists the top 50 restaurants in the world. This is a drool worthy list.

Check out this great new shelter-centric site.

Wow- a moment in true friendship. This conversation with Marc Maron and Louis CK on Maron’s WTF podcast via Fresh Air. Uncomfortable and kind of awesome. Start listening at 16:27.

A fresh take on the Mint Julep for this weekend’s Derby.

If you’re headed to the Derby this weekend, check out this art lover’s Louisville hotel.

A beautiful passage from Anne Lamott’s Operating Instructions on parenting.

Paris’ perfect picnic spots.

Jimmy Fallon’s Chicken Band- how did I miss this! Hilarious.

Cin Cin and Enjoy your Weekend!

{Image: Honest Fare}

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Meet Lora Anderson, Volatizing’s own Mind & Body Babe. A pal back from my dancing days in LA, Lora and I have always remained good friends. We went to her amazing Sayulita wedding two years ago, truly one of the most beautiful and fun weddings I have ever had the pleasure of attending. There was so much fun going on at that party it was ridiculous. She’s got a lot going on- she just had her baby girl, Lola Jolie, this past year, moved in to a mid-century home in LA’s Studio City (pretty much my dream home!) and runs a thriving Pilates business. Lora is a girl who lives life to the fullest, doesn’t miss a beat and manages to stay centered amidst all the fun she’s kicking up.

A Radio City Rockette for years, she has since opened a little pilates empire with her biz partner, Nichole Martinez-Barreto. They have two studios in LA and a newly opened studio in Austin. These girls kick butt. I look to Lora for tips on how to stay in shape and mostly how to feel good post dance career. She is the queen of living what she loves and is a constant inspiration to me. She surfs (like a fiend!), she spends quality time outdoors, she teaches, she’s a great mom and wife, and she stops to smell the roses and watch the sunsets. She’s pretty much a badass.

Her first easy exercise is a simple stretch to start your day. A great chest opener to help you feel open and ready for your week, it’s also really relaxing, a little like meditation via stretch- I dig it. This is great for moms that are breast feeding, toting around tots, or for anyone who sits at a desk all day long. All you need is a theraband. We dancing folk have drawers full of these things, they are a helpful tool to stretch out those neglected muscles. Pick one up for $10 here and check out a few other theraband stretches here.

Lora’s easy chest opener, of course it helps if you have a backdrop like this (she was vacationing in Hawaii) but your living room floor will do just fine.

Voilà and thanks Lora. If you live in LA or Austin, check out her amazing studios, Pilates Studio City and Pilates South Austin here.

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Jane Birkin in the kitchen with her kids. I love this.

Happy Weekend to you all! We’ll be Amtraking it back from NYC to hang with the grandparents CiCi (aka my mom), Papa Jacques (aka my father-in-law) and the bebes. We’ve got lots of fun plans- brunch at DC’s Tabard Inn, (this place eludes me, got a rezzie a month in advance) another wine class at Grape + Bean (love these guys: this time Brunellos and Super Tuscans including Casanova di Neri- y.u.m.) and a day trip to Annapolis to visit my niece who is studying at St. John’s and partake in some Maryland crabs at Cantler’s Riverside Inn. It is action packed- just the way I like it.

A Little Link Love:

This Brooklyn hotel looks amazing, love the signage.

Talk about a conversation piece. This DIY runner makes for some good table talk.

Sign me up for this wine tasting weekend in Bordeaux!

Suffering from insomnia or just can’t get back to sleep after your little one wakes you? Apartment Therapy names this the most relaxing song ever.

I love these metallic storage bins.

This photo of this darling bambina inspires me to become a better photographer.

This new Sundance Channel show created by Ray McKinnon of Deadwood and from the producers of Breaking Bad sounds interesting.

The stock market gets spooked by social media, this is a little scary.

A mango and strawberry paleta in Tulum- yum. If you’re not headed to Mexico anytime soon, make your own. The Pineapple-Chile paleta sounds fab.

Make your own sparkling herbal water or infuse your still water with Jaime Oliver’s quick and easy recipes.

I’m so DIY’ing this updated take on Julia Child’s pots and pans pegboard in my next kitchen. Love the grey paint with the bright white shadows.

And ok, I just had to include this. This is the most insanely ridiculous thing I have ever read and now heard. Read by Michael Shannon, this is the letter that the University of Maryland sorority present actually emailed to her sisters. What. Is. Happening. This chick needs a hobby. WARNING: big time profanity.

Cin Cin and Happy Weekend! What are you all up to?

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