I know, I know- it’s summertime and my pinterest page is blowing up with images of beachy inspiration, impossibly picturesque and twinkly outdoor dinner parties, and school’s out for the summer blah blah, but a few weekends ago we went back to school with my niece as she was finishing up her freshman year.

I’m a sucker for college, any college- ok, specifically Michigan (Go Blue!)- but truthfully any college campus makes me swoon for those days of idealism and debauchery. It’s a good mix.

We got the grand tour of this pretty Annapolis campus and as we strolled through the campus, I longed for the days of notebooks and chalk dust. St. John’s College is so interesting to me because its curriculum is based on study through the classics. The students read literature in its original text and study science as it was discovered and developed through time. For example, the students will study things that have since been proven wrong or irrelevant to give them a context for history and our advancement as a civilization. Fascinating. Heady. I’m into it.

Added bonus: one of my favorite winemakers hails from this campus as a former professor- it’s got to be interesting.

How great is all of that chalkboard wisdom. And Kilroy is still here. The classrooms were old school and inspiring, like something out of a photo shoot. I love the old fashioned student mailboxes and that mid century font on Mellon Hall.

Overheard as we walked through the campus, “The concept of infinity is inconceivable to the human mind.” Ahhh, College…

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Happy Monday. Nothing like talk of cocktails and characters to start off the week. Ever wonder what your favorite characters of literature and film are drinking? Ever cementing his fate as the true black sheep of the Corleone family, Fredo prefers a banana daiquiri. With a drink like that, you can tell he’s toast. It’s altogether a new kind of character study- method acting to its cocktail core.

A fun little chart by the kids at Pop Chart Lab. If I had a bar, I might have to hang this up- a great conversation piece.

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Happy Weekend all! I have been a trifle bit absent this week as it is a wee bit crazy over here. It’s spring concert time for the dance program that I direct, so there is lots of drama swirling in the air. I may be a little spotty with my presence here until the end of the month, but I will try my best. We are house hunting (yay- a backyard may be in our near future) and I just have to say that we saw the craziest, scariest trinket-filled house yesterday. I kind of loved it but know in my heart that it’s bound to be a money pit. I had visions of Shelley Long and Tom Hanks dancing in my head as we walked through the house. Not the one for us. I love a project but this one would be a life’s work, not sure I’m up to that challenge with 1 year old twins. Oh well, the search continues.

What are you all up to this weekend? We’ll be watching the Tonys and rooting for my brother in law, Terrence Mann to bring home the prize for his amazing portrayal of Charlemagne in Pippin. Woot woot- go Terry. I can’t wait to see what Charlotte wears! We have a fun little dinner planned in Virginia wine country, so hopefully I’ll capture some nice moments to share. Have a beautiful summer weekend!

A little link love:

1. This is a little big genius- Brian Williams does Snoop. Jimmy Fallon, you rock.

2. This essay by David Sedaris killed me!

3. I’m obsessed with this farmhouse renovation. Clean, simple and classic. I might add a dash more modern but I love it.

4. How to make your living room look larger (provided you have adjacent outdoor space)- a good tip.

5. Revealing portraits of models and their moms.

6. And I’m totally making these. Chocolate Chunk Blondies c/o the Barefoot Contessa. Come on!

Images: {Illustration: Nishant Choksi, Kitchen: BH&G, Living/Outdoor: Mi Casa Revista, Models and Moms: Howard Schatz, Blondies: Lark + Linen}

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Today I’m couch tripping in the land of the Baja’s newest sensation- the Valle de Guadalupe- a killer wine country led by pioneering winemakers churning out some terrific juice and serving it alongside innovative eats. It sounds more like California than Mexico. But this is the Baja baby and winemakers like Hugo d’Acosto have arrived equipped with years of experience in France, Italy and Napa, determined to make a name for Mexican vino. As if I’m not already totally geeked out, add this hotel to the mix and I’m sold. Faux ticket bought, faux reservation made and I’m off.

The lobby and winery are the first things you see upon entering the hotel. Talk about dramatic- well done, Endémico. To top it off, they hand their guests a glass of their house wine upon arrival. Ok, I know this is a simple and small detail but man does it go a long way. If I ever own a hotel, I will be passing out drinks all over that lobby. Nothing makes a weary traveler happier than a fresh, free cocktail or copa di vino.

My shoulders drop just looking at these photos.

Here’s what I’m packing:

All I want to do on this couch trip is traipse around in fabulous caftans and dresses with great heels (thank you Emerson Fry for dressing me on this faux vacay). I’ll read Bruce Berger’s travelogue about the Baja and throw on my floppy straw hat poolside in my one piece- ha, sounds good, right- all the while sipping on local vino from the region like this little beauty:

Cin Cin!

Hotel Endémico, doubles from $167

{Images from Hotel Endémico}

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I am just loving these illustrations by Margaret Bloy Graham from Gene Zion’s 1956 book, Really Spring. These drawings make me swoon for springtime in NYC. We’ll be there come May- can’t get there soon enough. I love her drawings of the rooftop gardens and water towers. One of the first things I do when I get to the city is look up at those friendly water towers that dot the rooftops- the skyline from Houston and Lafayette is prime viewing- there are tons of them in all different shapes and sizes, each with their own personality. So pretty on a April evening.

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