A Coffee Beer Float- genius, right? This, your brunch guests will love. How can they not? It’s a little meal in a cup and a yummy one at that. We recently had brunch with the bebes at the newish Maple on DC’s 1 1th St. restaurant corridor. The food at Maple is very good, the place itself is chic and relaxed- but this brunch friendly float was the standout. It’s so easy to make, it’s almost ridiculous. Here’s What You Need:  Flying Dog’s Wild Dog Coffee Stout Black Raspberry Chambord Vanilla Gelato- as a New Yorker I’m partial to L’Arte del Gelato[…]

  

Ok, it’s official. The New England Journal of Medicine states its latest findings in the quest for a long and healthy life and concludes that the Meditteranean diet is the way to go ya’ll. What you say is in this magical diet? Why, tree nuts, veggies, lean meats, olives- the usual suspects. But wait, what’s that- the Meditteranean diet suggests at least one glass of wine a day? Hey, you just made my year. Thank you and Good Night! Read The Atlantic article here. Related posts:Tartans and Ghillies and Peat Moss- Oh My!Blind Sparkling Tasting: Cocktail Party StyleFirst Crush: A[…]

  

There were lots of purty dresses on the red carpet Sunday night but I quite liked all of the metal that was happening. Jennifer Lawrence swapped her Dior couture for a metallic Calvin Klein number and the rest of the ladies above donned their metal for the awards. I absolutely loved the bold lines of Naomi Watts’ Armani Privé gown- so strong and modern. Wearing this gown must have made Ms. Watts feel like a total badass- a feeling you’d like to be armed with with a billion viewers staring on. Stacy Keibler looked like a statue herself with a[…]

  

A very contemplative Faye Dunaway the morning after she won the Oscar for Network. Could this be Jessica Chastain come Monday morning? Perhaps but I’m going with Jennifer Lawrence. I love Oscar night. Growing up, I used to watch it every year with my parents. I remember the highlights and even more fondly, the lowlights. I’ll never forget a singing Rob Lowe and Snow White circa 1989. A serious WTF. Even as an 8th grader, I knew this was probably a junk food-fueled late night brainstorm in the writers’ room gone bad. Memorable though. Go Rob for sticking your neck out[…]

  

On a recent trip to my friend Carrie’s house in Chicago, I discovered this amazing wallpaper. Carrie did her small powder room in the pretty jade colored Lotus paper by Farrow and Ball. The photo on the right is of her space. The lighting doesn’t really do it justice but it is chic and dynamic all at once. I found this photo of a galley kitchen using the black and white Lotus paper in Lonny. Such an easy fix for a small space. What a difference some spectacularly dramatic wallpaper makes in a small space! {Image Credit: Lonny Mag and[…]

  

Ok, I’ll bite. Let’s face it, most celebrity wine is pretty much schlock and more importantly, a bad idea. Everyone and their dog has jumped onboard the vanity wine train from the likes of Ramona Singer of the Real Housewives franchise to Jason Priestley and Mike Ditka. Hell, even Nancy Pelosi owns a couple of vineyards. But some of the stuff is actually quite good. I’m a fan of Dave Matthews’ Blenheim Vineyards out of Charlottesville, VA., some of Coppola’s stuff and I’ll always have a soft spot for Fess Parker’s wines as it was one of the first wineries[…]

  

I always wanted a winter wedding. I actually got married during a downpour in the middle of August- it. was. awesome.- and I wouldn’t change a thing, but there’s something about a winter white wedding that is so fresh and fabulous. I love this look for a winter wedding. It’s very Carrie Bradshaw Goes to the Rockies. If I were getting married in the winter, I might have to wear this. My friend Molly eloped this weekend to Aspen with her soon to be hubby and twin boys. It’s going to be a beautiful private and small ceremony in an historic[…]

  

Around this time last year when I was prego, I read Pamela Druckerman’s Bringing Up Bébé. While I did take issue with some of the author’s thoughts as I thought them a bit lofty and unrealistic, I largely found it to be a good read and pretty useful. The main theme and lesson I took from the book is the idea that by teaching your children the art of patience, you are ultimately helping them in their life’s journey.  It does make sense. ‘Tis a virtue, that patience- it sure is. In any case, one of the chapters focused on the French[…]

  

Sometimes I really do Heart social media. This is really cool. Tweet your Valentine using #jamaicavalentine and it will be written in the Jamaican sand and posted to the Jamaica Valentine Pinterest board. Ok, so it benefits the Jamaican Tourist Board, but hey- it’s super fun and creative and if you forgot to pick up a card, try a tropical tweet instead. Justina Blakeney’s tweet to her Valentine via the Jamaican Tourist Board on Pinterest. What are you up to tonight? We are headed to the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse for a wine tasting and a showing of The Princess Bride.[…]

  

A fun idea for Valentines Day. You can either make this sparkling tasting a small intimate affair for yourself and your partner, a fun cocktail party tasting for a few friends, or a couples tasting with 2 or 3 other couples. Bubbly is always a good idea. Period. Double Period. But there is something about this time of year with the holidays and Valentines Day that really sweetens the deal. I set up a blind champagne tasting, cocktail style, for my family on Christmas Eve. It was such a fun way to kick off the festivities and really got everyone[…]