Pack it Up
When I travel, I rely on a solid packing list to help me remember everything from electronics chargers to a camisole for wearing under a sheer top. I’ve found that cute, yet functional travel cases to hold it all can sometimes be hard to come by.
I swear by my very simple black one from Sephora (similar to this) that’s served me well for many miles. Lately, though, I’ve been eyeing (xo)eco, the collaboration between Lauren Conrad and Blue Avocado. The eco-friendly collection constructed from recycled plastic bottle fabric is both durable and adorable.
With more than 20 different accessories in the line (cases for clothing, cosmetics, and food storage) it makes you want to book a trip pronto just to use it all. My favorites (all pictured) are the weekender (the perfect size short trips), lunch kit (wouldn’t this be great for packing snacks on a long flight?), and beauty kit (smartly constructed with separate compartments). Check out the full line on amazon.com.
Also, when I travel I swear by these mini makeup brushes and a variety of bottles to hold liquids and lotions. These are a bit more sophisticated-looking than the average plastic bottle set.
Happy packing.
Bourbon Apple Pie Bread Pudding
When my husband hands me a magazine peppered with dog-eared recipes, I take notice. Recently he handed me and issue of The Bourbon Review with every other page folded over full of things he’d like me to make him.
This one comes from Louisville chef Anthony Lamas. Because apples and fall go together like white bread and barbecue, I couldn’t resist this boozy dessert as the first recipe I tried in his pile.
Bourbon Apple Pie Bread Pudding
3 green apples peeled, cored, and sliced
2 cups of heavy cream (I used half and half)
6 eggs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 oz. bourbon
¼ cup butter
½ loaf of crusty bread
Mix cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and brown sugar. Sauté apples in butter along with mixed seasonings, then deglaze with bourbon. After the apples are sautéed, let them cool to a nice medium temperature. Then, add the heavy cream and eggs. Whisk until it is thickened. Cut the bread in chunks to your liking for a pudding and add the bread to the mixture. Now that you have your pudding set, butter 6-8 ramekins. Fill the ramekins with the pudding. Cook at 375° for 10 minutes. (I used one medium-sized casserole because I like my bread pudding a bit more free-form. I cooked for about 55 minutes.)
The Pop Five
This week’s pace was much slower than usual for me (which admittedly feels a bit strange). I’m wrapping up a couple of writing projects in preparation for the baby’s arrival next month, but finding myself in a limbo-land of sorts between what’s next versus what is in the here and now. The highlights:
So jealous of this photograph … my husband had a shoot yesterday at the Bellwood Quarry with Anthony Bourdain to promote his upcoming show airing on CNN in 2013.
I was one of several writers that attended a luncheon with Aida Mollenkamp in conjunction with her gorgeous new cookbook, Keys to the Kitchen. She is as smart and lovely in person as she appears on television.
I helped host an event called the Midtown Mommy Mixer at Bobby Berk Home last weekend and it was so much fun! The three of us pictured are all expecting within weeks of each other. It was fantastic to meet other ladies in the same stage of life.
I caught up with friends at this spot … because sometimes you really don’t need a fancy night out, a hot dog and good conversation will do just fine.
Image: Courtesy of Heidi Geldhauser for The Reynolds Group
I stumbled across this gem of a tutorial. Over the top nail art is nothing new (and did you know navy is the color of choice this fall?). But, this sweet and seasonal how-to courtesy of thebeautydepartment.com is beyond cute.
Happy Birthday Playlist
OK, shizz is getting real with this baby on the way. The crib now holds an actual mattress, her cradle has freshly washed sheets lining it, and we’ve got the onesies in every color of the rainbow ready to be filled with teeny baby arms and legs.
It’s tough to say what sort of music I want to bring into the delivery room, so I’ve tried to prepare for everything. I waffle between songs that are soft and sweet and ones that are riddled with angst to hopefully help me pull through the pain.
Regardless, I hope our little one comes into this world to something fantastic playing in the background. Though, I’m pretty certain caring about the music situation will be the last thing on my mind. Here’s part of the happy birthday playlist that will be playing in about four weeks.
Trend Alert: Chevron
Who knew Charlie Brown was on fashion point? The chevron stripe is blanketing everything from apparel to home décor of late. I started noticing the print on summer dresses and flowing tops, then on interior goods like rugs and curtains. It appears to be sticking around way past summertime’s mint and pale pink pastels and into deeper colors for fall like burgundy and midnight blue. I totally get the appeal.
On apparel, it’s a flattering pattern, where a standard stripe can sometimes be tricky to pull off (ever notice how thick prints can weigh you down?). And on home accessories like bedding and accent pillows it’s a no brainer because it has the ability to hide imperfections (like dog hair on a duvet and a red wine stain on couch pillows).
Apparently pushing fashion boundaries runs in the Brown family as Sally, Charlie’s younger sister knows how to rock a polka dot dress like no other.
Images: Tommy Hilfiger Spring/Summer 2013 NYFW courtesy of weloveweddings.omaha.com, Peanuts © United Feature Syndicate
The Pop Five
It’s starting to feel like autumn in Atlanta with nips of cool air on morning dog walks and leaves beginning to blanket the ground. Here are my favorite moments from this past week.
The lobster roll at the new Atlanta lunch spot, Olmsted – unbelievably good.
Up close and personal with the Avett Brothers at Music Midtown.
I recently finished What Remains by Carole Radziwill and it has really stuck with me. The book tackles meaty subjects like love and loss, but is done in such a graceful way. It is as inspiring and insightful as it is well written.
That should be a word. My twin sister’s perfectly made-up definition for the merging of technology with art. As in, “Thank goodness that techarty guy was there to hook up the computer for the video installation.”
The Bowery Presents Bon Iver, so good it gives me chills!
Curried Mango Cheesecake
Not only is my twin sister a fantastic cook, but her methods in the kitchen are also admirable. She wings it. She’ll glance at a recipe, but then tweak it her own way, making meals when she’s manning the kitchen filled with a spread that is as impromptu as it is tasty.
The one recipe she sticks pretty much to a tee for is curried mango cheesecake. She serves the savory appetizer often for work at exhibit openings and has whipped it up pre-holiday meal several times. I love it. It’s different and good, and perfect for all the upcoming entertaining that goes with this season. Plus, it looks like art on a plate. How gorgeous is that?
The Name Game
One of the hardest things I think that comes after you’re pregnant is deciding on a name. I’m not talking about a fruit, animal, or textile (I’m looking at you celebspawn Apple, Blue, Bear, Sparrow, and Denim).
But, naming a baby is tough. In both agreeing on a name and finding one that either A) doesn’t sound like every other person passing by (I don’t want my kid to be their generation’s Jennifer or Michael). Or B) not so weird that the obscure 15th century writer moniker you’ve picked makes your son or daughter sound about a century old.
When I was a little girl, my name for my future child (a girl) was going to be Avery. I got it from the James Avery jewelry catalog at my grandparents’ house. I used to pour over that catalog for hours with my grandmother, picking out charms that I wanted to add to my wish list. Then, as I got older, I assumed (I have no idea why) I’d have a tribe of all boys. But, therein lies the trouble – boy names, mostly. They are so boring to me. Thank goodness we’re having a girl.
We have four ideas for names with one that is our top contender (my tastes have matured beyond Avery). Not to sound all hippie-dippy about it, but I’d like to meet her first and make sure it suits her before we start monogramming her from head to toe.
My parents used the pictured baby book published in 1970 to name each of us four kids (as you can see from the ample wear and tear). Every one of my siblings and their children’s names are all found in this book. And our daughter’s name is as well.
Also, if you haven’t read this article on deadspin published this summer, it’s hilarious.
The Pop Five
I think for most women the baby shower is a very symbolic milestone in a pregnancy. I could so feel the love at mine this past weekend. My mom, two sisters, and best friend went to so much trouble to make the day absolutely perfect. I’m still basking from the energy in that room. Thank goodness there was a camera (or ten) around to capture it all.
The table settings at the shower were so beautiful. Each table was covered with vases of flowers all designed to go with the nursery theme of an English garden. I’ve been enjoying fresh flowers all over my house this week.
An emotional moment – everyone made a big circle and looped a piece of string around their wrist to form individual cord bracelets we’re all wearing until I give birth. Once my daughter is born, we can cut our string. I’m supposed to think of those strong and wonderful women in my life when the laboring gets difficult.
We hosted a Southern-style barbecue at our house the night prior to the shower for out of town guests. This macaroni and cheese is always a hit and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone in a casual setting before the next day’s festivities.
I love this shot of my mother-in-law and mother. They both have already showered this little girl with so much love (and me with incredible advice on mothering).
The afternoon was the most perfect mix of family and friends in an intimate setting. I adore the venue of Sun in my Belly. It was absolutely magical and I’ve always appreciated the sentiment to the restaurant’s name: It has been said that when Picasso was asked what it was that compelled him to create, his response was the ‘Sun in my Belly.’
Best Travel App
This summer, while in the midst of the worst traffic situation I’ve ever experienced, we stumbled across an app called Waze. It was a highway shut down scenario due to a tractor-trailer tipped over with the contents of its load (crates of strawberries) spilled all across the road, and it was awful. I was 4.5 months pregnant at the time with a kangaroo on my bladder, and we were leaving Bonnaroo, so we were stuck in traffic with about 50K folks leaving the fest at the same time.
After four hours, when traffic finally merged us onto a two-lane road in the middle of bum-eff Tennessee, we finally came across a gas station, which was seriously like going to the restroom on the Sultan of Brunei’s gold-plated toilet (or so I imagined) compared the port-a-potty situation I’d been accustomed to for the past 96 hours.
While at the stop, a fellow traveler told us about Waze. This made even the traffic jam (somewhat) worthwhile. Actually it didn’t, but it was cool to discover. This fabulous free app does so much!
Basically this sucker acts as both a GPS and traffic app to tell you situations along your route that could slow you down. Whether it’s the speed trap in three miles or a massive wreck just up the road at exit 18, Waze users report it all. It’s community based, so you can even chat with other users (if you’re the passenger).
In addition to discovering the app, we also named our daughter in this traffic jam. Talk about multi-tasking.
