When one of my best girls sent me photos of her recent birthday dinner, I knew I had to share. This is not your ordinary birthday dinner folks. Nope. But it can be- and that’s why I wanted to post.

My girl Kristen’s friends asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she told them: “An outdoor dinner- friends, husbands, babysitters, candles, potluck style”. So these girls joined forces to create a spectacular evening for Kristen on their neighborhood beach in Rowayton, Connecticut.

Now let’s talk about Rowayton aka Pleasantville, as I like to call it. This place is crazy. I went to visit Kristen about a year after she’d moved to said Lovely Town, U.S.A. and could not believe its charm. In one afternoon, not one, not two, but three neighbors casually stopped by her front porch to say hi and it doesn’t stop there- they were actually hand delivering freshly baked goods. Yes, it’s true. Places like this do exist. A sleepy little waterfront town in Connecticut, most have never heard of NYC commuter-friendly Rowayton, it is pleasant indeed. I love the local seafood shack, pizzeria and ice cream shops- they’re right out of a Rockwell painting. The town is dotted with lovely homes and shorelines, one of the loveliest of those lines pictured here at their beachy-chic gathering.

So, let’s talk about this dinner party. With the babies in bed, these five couples pulled together a memorable and beautiful night. I wanted to share how easy it is to throw together a gorgeous outdoor evening. Take advantage of the few warm evenings we have left this year and plan a picnic-chic dinner party with a little help from your friends. You don’t need a beach- although it doesn’t hurt- just a picnic table will do.

These guys collaborated to create a delicious menu. Each couple brought either a cocktail, side or dessert while Kristen and her hubby Kurt brought their infamous perfectly grilled salmon as the main course.

The table was effortlessly styled with lovely blue linens, silverware, fresh flowers, and hurricane vases for lots of ambient light (lighting is everything as we all know). They left the fragile glassware at home and kept it simple opting for the trusty plastic cup. I absolutely love the way it looks. Bravo ladies and gents.

The Menu:
Watermelon Cocktails
Mixed Cheeses
Farro Salad
Perfectly Grilled Salmon
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

Yum, right! And simple. And potluck- even better.

Thanks gals for sharing.

{Images: Kristen Schaefer Geisler}

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I don’t want to push summer out of the way just yet but I can’t help myself, I always get really excited for fall. Back to school, the change of season, falling leaves, hayrides and autumn festivals, sweater weather, college football, a new cute coat, boots, boots and more boots, I could go on…

Here are a five simple and pretty things for fall:

1. this coat: because it’s cool and looks comfy

2. this No.2 pencil: because you kind of have to have one for fall, I can at least pretend I’m going back to school

3. this bowl: for the fall harvest

4. this scarf: pretty fall tones and a bright touch of color

5. these boots: because they’re awesome

What are your five things for fall?

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I just love these. The Fifty United Plates project is flooding the blogosphere and Pinterest and I have officially jumped on the bandwagon. I backed these guys on Kickstarter because I absolutely love their work. Kaitlyn and Ryan Lawless are partners in life and design and have collaborated through their cottage industry ceramic and design studio, Corbé Company, to create these beautiful state-shaped plates.

How cute is a homemade pie baked in your home state plate or chips and dip in your football team state on Superbowl Sunday? I love it. Lots of us do apparently, as these guys rocked their Kickstarter funding seven times over. Good on ya.

I’m looking forward to my Virginia state plate although I am partial to New York, my former home and California, my former former home and then there’s Michigan, my college home (you get 2 for 1 with that state) and of course Florida, where I’m originally from and then there’s Texas, where my family’s from. I can’t forget Nevada, where I did a year-long stint as a Vegas showgirl- for real and New Mexico, where I got married. Hmmm. Forever the gypsy, I may just have to start collecting them.

Support The Fifty United Plates project here and get your state plate before anyone else.

{All Images: Corbé Company}

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Oh Jack, you are so cool. This Vanity Fair photo is kind of the perfect way to kick off the weekend, with a wink and a smile. Thanks Jack.

I hope you’re all off to a fabulous weekend. This link love roundup is a wee tad smaller than usual as I am busy prepping for a shoot this Monday with Anthology Magazine. I will be hosting a Virginia wine pairing dinner party for my family at a local Virginia vineyard for the story, so I’m busy planning menus and tasting through lots of VA. wine. So fun. If you all have any suggestions for me, please send them along. We are doing sort of a picnic chic theme. Lots of yummy French inspired food centered around what’s in season, so lots of ripe fruit and produce. Fun. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Just a little link love:

This article speaks volumes about the state of our society with regard to technology. Thank you for writing it, Mr. Wilson and shame, Apple.

This Texas teacher has been keepin’ it real since ’73.

A photo field trip with these guys in Provence- sign me up.

Writers and the cheeses that remind us of them.

The world has gone airstream crazy. Taste some Sea Fog Sauvignon Blanc at The Grade Cellars’ Calistoga Airstream.

Cin Cin!

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If you have any wine geeks in your life, this is sure to put a big smile on their faces at the end of your next dinner party. Any self respecting wino knows that Riesling rocks. It rocks so much that wine impresario Paul Grieco devotes an entire Summer of Riesling at his infamous Terroir wine bars in NYC. If you’re in the city this month and you love your Riesling, be sure to attend one of their classes.

Back to this dish at hand. From the Aussie cook and photographer over at From the Kitchen comes this ingenious dish. Simple and delicious, here’s the recipe:

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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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Bells are ringing and RSVP’s are lingering- put that stamp on it and send it in! What to get those lovely people in your lives who are tying the knot. You could just go off the registry- which they will undoubtedly appreciate- but if that’s not how you roll, here are a few things I thought were really beautiful, creative and fun.

How pretty and cool is this and what bride wouldn’t absolutely love it. Yes, you’ll have to figure something out for the groom because this isn’t exactly up his alley but she will adore it. What a beautiful way to remember and celebrate her bouquet. Lulie Wallace illustrates and creates commissioned renderings based on a photo of the bridal bouquet.

Create a custom crest for the lucky couple with illustrator Happy Menocal. I’m a big fan of her work and I think that her custom heraldry is just too much fun. What a quirky, beloved gift, and a great excuse to commission something from this talented artist. I want one.

Go old school and personalize some hostess linens but with a twist. Mark & Graham‘s typographic linens are stylish and fun. I love all the fonts.

A few fun pieces for the bar. A champagne tub for all that celebratory bubbly, his & hers old fashioned glasses, a topsy turvy swirly decanter and a classic ice bucket from Tiffany & Co.

Personalized stationery- all from etsy, all pretty and modern.

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What do you think? What’s the best wedding gift you ever received?

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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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