This. Is. Gorgeous.

I want to sit and stare at it all day long. (by Alberto Seveso, via Oh Joy).

Adorable Bats?

As a sidenote, I found this article in looking for a photo for my last post - let me just say this was not our experience, cute as it may be (but that's debatable). 

Cute Animals That are Not Bats

To offset my last few posts, I offer you a few pictures of animals that I feel are cuter than bats, to cleanse your minds of the images I may have put there (though it will take more than these to wipe the sound of their wings flapping from my memory):

Our Housemates

My parents were worried we might get bored. So impossible with so much good company and beautiful scenery around! But if we had any doubts, they were shattered Tuesday night when Dirk and I awoke to hear a noise in our attic apartment, turn on the light and see 2 bats flying around! Needless to say, we settled in another room for the rest of the trip and the exterminators were called (and no bat was harmed, except maybe by the sound of my screams). And the entertainment came in the form of sitting outside at dusk waiting for them to show themselves (complete with drinks, of course).

Gratuitous Niece Picture

Our number one entertainment on the trip was absolutely my niece, who could not have been cuter (but could have asked "Why?" a few less times). The picture above was from a winery we visited - small as she is, she loves dogs and takes every opportunity to pet them (I admit the angle we took the picture from is a bit deceiving, but it was definitely a big dog!). The picture below was the theme of the weekend and every time we get together (shirt custom made by Showroom 64).

Charlevoix

Charlevoix was the most idyllic, picturesque Midwestern town we could have imagined. We stayed in an amazing house a block from the lake (above), fully equipped with requisite front porch so that we could sit outside and watch the world go by. But the rest of the town and lakefront was equally as perfect - see Dirk's pictures below - can you imagine a better example of summer Americana?

The Mushroom Houses

One of the sights to see in Charlevoix are the Mushroom Houses, created by developer Earl Young starting in 1918. They are very cute - I would love to see one from the inside, they look like they would be very dark but that would be the shame because they are on the beach and have amazing views of the water. As my mom put it, they look just like what the smurfs live in (if they were real) - it looks like the owners have a sense of humor about them as well, see if you can spot the troll in the last picture.

We're Back!

Hello there! Dirk and I are back from the Barry Family Vacation in Charlevoix - located in northern Michigan at the 45th latitude, halfway between the equator and the North Pole - and we had so much fun relaxing and seeing everyone! There is so much to blog about, it will probably take me all week. As I gather the pictures, please take a look at the ones here that I'm finally starting to organize, from our Tahitian honeymoon in September. It's so nice to look back, and it reminds me that I always love the pictures taken with Dirk's Yashica T3 - I am going to commit to carrying it with me to take so I can take pictures with it everyday.

All of my favorite blogs repeatedly reference Etsy, "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade" (TM). I haven't had the patience to dig into it yet, but partly it's also because I'm afraid it will also become an obsession. And I get a little frustrated with sites that don't seem to have an ending (thus, my love for linear blogs). But I'm going to devote some time to it, and hopefully get some new goodies in the process. I also am going to devote more time to shopping for vintage jewelry on Ebay - again, a bit intimidating because of its vastness but could be oh so rewarding.

All of this future shopping begs the question - how do you store your jewelry? I have 2 jewelry boxes and various other cubbyholes in my room, and I am still overflowing - any great ideas (besides the hand, of course). 

My Other Favorite Ring

Of course, my favorite ring is my engagement ring (followed closely by my wedding ring), but this Lola Rose faceted malachite ring is a close third! I first spotted it at my favorite London store, Liberty, but in usual fashion had to sleep on it until I got all the way back to New York. Thank goodness my lovely English husband was kind enough to go back to get it for me! 

For Like Ever

There is no shortage of love in the blogosphere for this print, but even though it's hanging in our living room I still love it! We bought it at village, and they have since expanded the design into notecards and a tote bag (which Alyson bought over the phone and reported back a lovely buying experience).

Leather Wrap Bracelet

I do have a thing for bracelets lately..............I stalked this Chan Luu bracelet for months before committing to it - and now I don't know why I waited because it is a great go-to (sometimes I wear it as one long strand necklace as well - I love a versatile piece!). What did it for me was when I walked into Henri Bendel and saw a wall of them in all different colors - there is nothing like the impact of a group of things to convince me that I need it! Of all the colors, I did choose this brown version, but mine is silver and gold, although I've never been one to match metals I like the freedom that this one can go either way.

Faux Silver Mesh Bracelet

I was (so pleasantly!) surprised at how many compliments I received while wearing this bracelet, from Ann Taylor Loft - even my (male) chair masseuse at the local nail place loved it! It comes in gold as well. So what do you think?

Tell Me Your Thoughts.....

Hello loyal readers (all 3 of you) - hopefully this new feature will make the site a little more interesting. I am lucky enough to be complimented on things that I wear (at times - other times Dirk makes a face before I leave the apartment prompting a costume change). I thought it might be nice to post things other people think are nice as well (not meant to be in an arrogant way, but I have been struggling with things to blog about lately). 

So, take a look at the following posts and let me know what you think. Since a lot of the items will probably involve jewelry, I have posted the hand above - not only a symbol of me raising my hand to get your attention, but I have always wanted one to hang necklace from (this one is from the fabulous Living, etc. website that sadly I cannot order from while in NYC. They sometimes sell them at Fish's Eddy as well, but couldn't find it on their site). 

Baked Eggs and Mushrooms in Ham Crisps

We had our inaugural brunch today with Nick, Natalie and Polly and the Baked Eggs were a hit - thanks Allison for introducing me to the recipe! They were really easy to make, and for groups the mushroom mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated. And yes, they work just as well without the ham for vegetarians!

Recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton/The Food Network

Baked Eggs and Mushrooms in Ham Crisps

3/4 crimini pound mushrooms, finely chopped 

1/4 cup finely chopped shallot 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream 
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves 
12 slices Black Forest or Virginia ham (without holes; 10 ounces) 
12 large eggs 
Garnish: fresh tarragon leaves

Accompaniment: buttered brioche or challah toast

Special equipment: a muffin tin with 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Prepare mushrooms: Cook mushrooms and shallot in butter with salt and pepper in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until mushrooms are tender and liquid they give off is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in creme fraiche and tarragon.

Assemble: Fit 1 slice of ham into each of 12 lightly oiled muffin cups (ends will stick up and hang over edges of cups). Divide mushrooms among cups and crack 1 egg into each. Bake in middle of oven until whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 15 minutes. Season eggs with salt and pepper and remove (with ham) from muffin cups carefully, using 2 spoons or small spatulas.

Scarlett

I saw Scarlett Johansson at the Vintage Clothing Show last week - almost ran into her actually. Contrary to popular belief (the belief in our household anyway), she does not always look like she does in the picture above; she looked more like the picture below, but still gorgeous.

Endless Pools

I don't usually pay attention to infomercials, but this was too good to pass up. A machine that creates a "treadmill" version of a pool, so you can swim in place. Brilliant - what will they think of next??

Lunetta

Since Dirk's move to the new office, we have been exploring the Flatiron area for new after-work-dinner places. Last night, we went to Lunetta and it was good - definitely worth a second trip. I will say there were some problems (we sent the bruschetta back because it was burnt, but was great the 2nd time around; the beet salad was dripping with oil). But when it worked - the homemade ricotta, the meatballs - it was great. So we are giving it a second chance, partly because of the really great service and partly because I am obsessed with the lighting fixtures (such a bad picture below, but they are like huge tassles of glowing globes).

Blogging

As you may or may not know, I started this blog to keep in better touch - including pictorially - with my friends and family far away. I think it's doing the trick, and although I would love to have the time to do research and have a design-oriented done as well as, say, Cup of Jo - the likelihood is that this will remain a wonderful showcase for my recipe and restaurant reviews, as well as the occasional cultural post, but not much more. 

I did, however, find the following article very interesting and inspirational - a few favorite bloggers talking about how they got started (if you have not checked out The Sartorialist and A Shaded View on Fashion, I encourage you to). Who knows - someday when I have quit my job to blog full time (Dirk, are you listening?) I might be telling the same story.

PS - WWD does not allow you to read archived stories, so I have cut and paste the article in it's entirety below. Obviously, if there is any issue with me "reprinting" it I assume someone will let me know. The final irony is my posting here given the title of the article......

Memo Pad: Will They Blog About This Too?...

Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008

WILL THEY BLOG ABOUT THIS TOO?: Cathy Horyn, fashion critic for The New York Times, first came up with the idea for a blog in August 2006. She was watching the original "Charlie's Angels" reunite at the Emmys and thought about the little things one wants to write, without turning them into a full article. Soon after, Horyn approached "a digital guy" at the Times and beginning in January 2007, she had a blog. Horyn participated in a panel discussion on Sunday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on fashion blogs, which included The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman and Diane Pernet of Zoo Magazine and ashadedviewonfashion.com. The museum's "blog.mode: addressing fashion" exhibition, located in the Costume Institute, is on display for two more weeks.

Horyn said she reads every single comment about her postings. "I'm motivated by the quality of thought," she said. She also balances her time between the newspaper and The New York Times Magazine. "It's one of the challenges of contemporary journalism," she added. "I can't do enough for it [the blog]." At first, Horyn submitted her posts to an editor, but eventually, she asked for and was granted autonomy from the editing process.

She said one example of how blogs and journalism go well together was the infamous Marc Jacobs show two seasons ago that ran a few hours late. She blogged about it from a restaurant on Park Avenue and at the show and her comments led to several weeks of debate. "People didn't get sick of it," she recalled. 

Schuman talked about how his entry into blogdom came while he was a stay-at-home father. He began shooting more photography when his children were born and eventually expanded to strangers, from Chinatown to the Fulton Fish Market. He noticed that everyone he shot had something in common: they had a style that inspired him. A blog soon followed and it wasn't long before Style.com and GQ came calling. 

Diane Pernet, in her signature tall, black veil, said she began blogging well before the rest of the pack. She now has 15 contributors worldwide and her photographers were granted backstage access at New York Fashion Week. "I post what I like and what I find interesting," Pernet said, noting she particularly focuses on new designers. Aside from blogs, though, several in the audience were buzzing about Pernet's towering headdress. She said she wears it to please herself. "This is how I feel comfortable." — Amy Wicks

Orange Couscous Salad

I just spent the weekend in Michigan, and my healthy-eating friend Jen introduced me to Cottage Living magazine (a great new source for decorating inspiration), and therefore this healthy and really tasty recipe. I substituted Quinoa instead of couscous (PS - does anyone have any info on quinoa? As far as I can tell it's a low-carb, protein-packed grain, but it tasted so good I'm afraid I'm fooling myself), and added pine nuts and shaved zucchini to the recipe. Yum!

Ingredients

1 (10-ounce) box plain couscous (I used 1 cup uncooked quinoa, and followed the directions on the package) 
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste 
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste 
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste 
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup) 
2 oranges 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped (about 1 cup) 
1 cup golden raisins, currants, or chopped dates 

Preparation

1. Pour couscous into a large bowl, and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Cover with plastic wrap, and let steam 5 minutes or until couscous is tender. Fluff with a fork, and stir in oil and next 3 ingredients. Let cool slightly.

2. Zest both oranges; juice one. Peel second orange, and chop. Add zest, juice, and chopped orange to couscous mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and chill 1 hour or up to 2 days. Add more oil, salt, or pepper if desired before serving.

Yield

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Kim Sunée , Cottage Living, JANUARY 2008

JLOB

We have walked by Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar a million times - it's right around the corner on 2nd Ave at 6th Street - but for whatever reason have never gone in. We finally took the plunge last Wednesday, and it was worth the wait! Very similar in a way to Graffiti in that it was a tiny place with small plates, and yet so different. A seafood-oriented menu (oysters, obviously) with meat, veggies and fabulous desserts as well. We sat at the bar to start and liked it so much we stayed there the whole night to watch everything being made - the sous chef Betsy (who was so nice, and damn good as well) said that they change the menu every few weeks. We would definitely recommend it - we'll be back soon!

PS - did I mention that Jack was from Michigan? He and his wife have 2 other restaurants as well, all within a block of one another - Jewel Bako and Degustation. Has anyone been to any of them?

Caramelized Brussel Sprouts

For a kid who wouldn't eat anything but macaroni and cheese, I have become quite adventurous in my old age. One of my favorite veggies these days is Brussel Sprouts, I admit partly because they are usually served caramelized - and with my sweet tooth that's the perfect combination! Dirk made this recipe for me tonight, but even for me they were quite sweet. If anyone has a recipe they love, please pass it on!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds fresh Brussels sprouts
• ¼ C sugar
• 2 T Earth Balance
• ¼ C red wine vinegar
• ½  C water
• ¼ tspn salt

1. Wash and trim ends of Brussels sprouts.  Cut the sprouts in half and remove the center v-shaped core.
2. In a skillet, heat sugar over medium-high heat, until it begins to melt, shaking pan occasionally to heat sugar evenly.  Once sugar begins to melt, reduce heat and cook until sugar begins to turn brown.  Add Earth Balance, stir until melted.  Add the vinegar.  Cook and stir for 1 minute.
3. Add the water and salt.  Bring to boiling and add the sprouts. Return to boiling and reduce heat and simmer, covered for 6 minutes.  Uncover and cook about 15 minutes longer or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the sprouts are coated with a golden glaze, stirring occasionally.

Oh, How They Grow So Fast

This is cute packaging, for that family that wants to track growth but not mark up their walls. Are there any 2 1/2-year-olds out there that might be interested in one of their very own? (Available from Miss Natalie's Etsy Site)

Duffy

We went to see Duffy at the Hiro Ballroom Monday night, and she was amazing! She had the Number One single in the UK (I think she just got bumped), "Mercy". We will definitely be looking for her to come back to NYC soon - check out her official site here.

This Makes Me Smile, Part 1

Not only is this kid adorable, but I love this picture because it just goes to show it doesn't matter how posh your parents are, a 3-year-old will always do what they want (for the answer to this child's famous parents, scroll down). PS - just to be clear, I did not take this picture myself in London, but it goes with the English theme I've got going.....

This Makes Me Smile, Part 2

Off to Iain and Connie's

We had the pleasure of spending a night in the country at Iain and Connie's while we were in London. We always like going to their converted-schoolhouse home and hanging out with them and the girls.

Why I Love Dirk.....

....because he knows the way to my heart is through my stomach, and the fastest way there is on the Cadbury Creme Egg express (this is also another example of great English design).

I Love English Design

I love everything about England, especially the design of everything there. That goes for the groceries as well - now that I visit with a native Londoner, we always make sure to get some favorite foods while there. This is by far not the healthiest assortment, but it is all good and just looks so English to me! Even the Cheerios are more attractive.