Merroir has been on my hit list ever since tasting the Rappahannock Oyster Co.’s beautiful little bivalves last fall at DC’s Union Market. These guys aren’t messing around. After reviving their great-grandfather’s oyster business by googling (yes googling) oyster farming, the Croxton boys are off and running. The ever-handy tool of the mighty interwebs has done them well. Ryan and Travis Croxton run a thriving oyster farm with a lovely tasting room, Merroir, right on the banks of the Rappahannock River and have since opened two more restaurants in DC and Virginia within the last year. Oh, and their first[…]

  

To quote my pal Huey- and yes, I can actually call Mr. Lewis a pal if you can believe it- (I did Chicago with the frontman of The News and enjoyed a post-show shot of Jack Daniels in his dressing room 8 shows a week- ahh, those were the days) – a little love and positivity can go a long way baby, “that’s the power of love”. I’m not talking about the starry-eyed, dreamy kind of love (although that’s nice too), I’m talking about the deliberate act of love and positive living that promotes happiness and a healthy well being- quite literally. Case[…]

  

I always know it’s fall when CiCi (my mom, as she is now lovingly referred to by my kiddos) busts out the pumpkins. She always has the prettiest front porch filled with freshly-picked pumpkins from the local patch. Today was the day. It is officially fall. Woohoo. Related posts:Birthday BloomsHappy Weekend!Pastel & Personalize Your Presents

  

Some things are sacred. There are a few words in the world that simply cannot be translated. I have always been fascinated by these words and love that they are what they are and we cannot (try as we might) translate them. My favorite word of all: Mamilhlapinatapai. I mean, is that a word or is that a word! Derived from Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego (I have always wanted to visit just because of this word), it means “a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other will offer something that they both desire but are unwilling to suggest[…]

  

Hi all and Happy Monday! I have been hard at work on a new project where I am back to my creative first love- theater. I’m working with a dear friend and super talented Broadway director/choreographer Lisa Shriver. We met years ago on my first big NY show- Susan Stroman’s A Christmas Carol. She was Stro’s (as the Bdwy world lovingly refers to her) assistant and I was the swing. I learned 12 different tracks in less than 3 weeks and went on for nearly all of them- total baptism by fire. Despite the fact that I thought I was[…]

  

Happy Weekend dear readers. I’ve been eyeing these darling French prints by Double Merrick for a couple of years now but am newly enamored with them- aren’t they so cute. I’ve been away from my bebes since Tuesday and I finally get to see them this weekend. I’m out of town working on a show which has been great except that being away from my kiddos is really tough- too long. My mom is headed into town this weekend and bringing those little ones with her- yay! We’ll be down in Williamsburg so we’ll make the rounds probably at Busch[…]

  

C and I recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. This was a quiet one. We have both been traveling and working too much so we just stayed in and popped a bottle of ’03 Iron Horse Brut LD (a close up of this divine sparkler above). My brother Ben and my sister-in-law, Lauren gave us this yummy bottle after their recent trip to the winery. I usually go in for old world bubbly especially when I’m going vintage, but this bottle is delicious and really interesting. Layered, zippy, creamy, biscuity, floral and well-balanced, this American vintage sparkler is a new[…]

  

I am working like crazy for the next couple of weeks, so my posts will be short and sweet- just quick little bursts of inspiration here and there. I spied these dreamy prints on etsy’s tastesorangey shop- the handiwork of the talented California painter, Clare Elsaesser. I love these two prints in particular and would love to display them side by side just like so. What do you think? Housed in two beautiful oversized white gallery frames- I like it. Who are some of your favorite etsy artists? I am always on the lookout for interesting (and affordable) work. 16×20 prints by Clare[…]

  

Another imprecise recipe from yours truly. No exacto proportions here, just some chopping, tearing and sprinkling. Take advantage of those juicy, ripe peaches while they are still marvelously in season. This salad is absolutely delicious and surprisingly filling. I had it last night for dinner with nothing else (which is trés unusual for me as I am a hearty eater). Peachy Basil & Mozzarella Salad Serves 2 What You Need: 3 small or 2 big peaches Handful of fresh basil 1 big ball of fresh mozzarella Sea Salt Ground Pepper Olive Oil What You Do:  1. Place your peaches on[…]

  

I love when I see beautifully displayed children’s artwork in a home. Really- what is better than a child’s eye and a little insight into his or her mind? Above is my first official piece of artwork from my son. He is 15 months old and managed to make this exquisite little image in under a minute. I’m not sure what it is but I love it. I looked over my shoulder and saw him editing like mad via Instagram. He had somehow managed to open the app, shoot a photo, and crop and filter within seconds (kids these days)-[…]