memorial day weekend

S and I escaped from NYC to celebrate the long weekend with fam. With sunshine and temps in the 90's, it was the perfect time to ditch the suddenly steamy city!

Here are a few scenes from the weekend.

boats on the Hudson

an adorable red farmhouse

rolling green hills, fluffy clouds and blue skies

melon wrapped in proscuitto

a delicious Peach Ginger Margarita (recipe here).

Hello, summer...

short story

Memorial Day approaches leaving no doubt that short season has arrived. When the temps soar, show off those legs!

Just scored these fun, flirty polka dot shorts by Free People.

(image courtesy bloomingdale's)

These swinging shorts could go from day to night pretty easily...if one is brave enough to pair these with heels.

On that note, here are a few more lovely short stories that beat the heck out of those go to jean cutoffs from last season!

the civil wars

Digging the smooth sounds of The Civil Wars this morning.

This indie folk duo is composed of only two members: Joy Williams (from California) and John Paul White (from Alabama).

Check out the thumping "Barton Hallow" and

and the sweet (and live!) "Forget Me Not."

In edition to great reviews from this year's SXSW music festival, an informed pal told us that Southern-based designer Billy Reid is also a huge fan.

I love this photo of the band playing at the designer's headquarters in Alabama.

P.S. Is it me or does JPW look like Johnny Depp and Jack White's love child?

(images courtesy al, casey hurt music and a continuous lean)

weekend recap

This past weekend, our college pal M ventured north to be with us. To ensure that we showed him an as much of NYC as possible while he was here, we painted the town.

Here is a short list of some of the highlights from our fun-filled weekend. We are still recovering...

1. BLT Burger, West Village

This casual, American offering from famed BLT restauranteur Laurent Tourondel has become our favorite burger stop in NYC. The food is out-of-this-world delicious.

Start with fried dill pickles or the hottest jalapeno poppers you'll ever eat (poor S).

Next, get serious with your burger selection. The "BLT" has bacon, the "Great Hills Blue" has blue cheese, balsamic onions and mushroom and "The Stripper" comes without a bun. Also worth a try? The Yellowfin Tuna burger.

By the by, May is National Burger Month. Finally, an excuse to indulge!

(images courtesy New york mag)

2.Katz's Deli, Lower East Side

The boys left me hanging at the office on Friday while they frolicked all over the city. No fair. Their favorite stop of the day? Katz's Deli for bite of their famous pastrami sandwich.

Go meat! Looking at this photo for more than a few seconds makes me want to do a juice cleanse.

I've never been to Katz's, but let's get real. Salty meats aren't my thing. I only want to peek inside because it's the place where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal shot the famous "I'll have what she's having" scene in When Harry Met Sally.

(images courtesy graveyard shifts, flickr and riding with the top down)

3. Schiller's Liquor Bar, Lower East Side

(images courtesy remodelista and flickr)

Before this weekend, I'd only been to Keith McNally's LES offering for a super late night cocktail (the menu cleverly divides them into 3 sections: "cheap," "decent" and "good") and an order of nachos. The nachos were good, but aren't all nachos good at 3 am?

Having said that, we decided to give the dinner menu a chance. The food was yummy and super casual. I had a Cuban sandwich and several of our companions opted for the fish and chips. The star of the show, however, was AK's beef strogonaff. Who knew?

The lively scene at this place is grand. The black and white floors, white subway tiled walls and soft lighting make for a warm, happy meal.

4. Sheep's Meadow, Central Park

Saturday may have been one of the most beautiful days of the year so far. After a fun night out, the weather made for a great excuse to laze about in Central Park and...have some ice cream?

(images courtesy ysk and just desserts nyc)

5. The Gutter Bowling Alley, Williamsburg

Part bar and part bowling alley, The Gutter has become our new favorite place to bowl (which we weirdly do a lot of these days...). Tucked away on a fairly bleak stretch of warehouses in Williamsburg, this alley's casual, retro vibe is where it's at.

Cheaper and usually less crowded than big name alleys like Brooklyn Bowl and Bowlmor (don't even mention Lucky Strike), this place is perfect for a little friendly competition between pals.

P.S. They have great deals on pitchers of beer!

(images courtesy tap that ny and the gothamist)

mini buns

It's been raining for a straight week here in NYC. While the grey skies make me feel lazy, the humidity has turned me into a frizzy haired grump. After 6 days of simple chignons and poofy top buns, I'm a little over both options.

Solution? This adorable style ( originally spotted on For Me, For You)! Hello, mini buns!


Though it looks complicated, the step-by-step directions actually seem fairly doable.

Wouldn't this style be a great option for a wedding?

Check out the above style and 20 other "twist and pin" variations on the rocking site Hair Romance.

bold baubles

Currently obsessed with Collette Ishiyama's wonderfully dramatic jewelry. A little Cleopatra and a dash Great Gatsby, these boldly designed baubles mean business.

From her statement making necklaces

to these fabulous gold cocktail rings,

her work has such a nifty vintage vibe that I'm compelled to purchase numerous pieces. Hiding. credit card. now.

(images courtesy collette ishimaya)

fleet foxes

Go, beards!

Can't stop listening to Fleet Foxes new album "Helplessness Blues" on this rainy hump day.

Check out a review here and contemplative title track below.

(image courtesy quit mumbling)

famous prints

Barcelona based artist Judy Kaufman's Etsy shop is filled with grand finds. My favorites are her "famous prints."

Choose from Andy Warhol,

Bowie

or Frida Kahlo.

The hubs votes for Einstein.

While, I like Charlie Chaplin.

(all images courtesy judy kaufman)

currently cooking: derby day party

In the spring of the year S and I moved to NYC, we invited a few pals over to enjoy the running of the Kentucky Derby with a classic mint julep.

Now, four years and a half years later, our Derby Day Party has become the sort of lovely "family" tradition that reminds us how much New York has become home over the past few years.

So, on Saturday, our apartment was again filled with friends, flowers, finger foods and frosty glasses. Did our horses win? Nah (but Pants on Fire still has the best name).

Here's a peek at the first round of food on our Derby Day table.

Some of the menu highlights included pimento cheese finger sandwiches, BLT sliders and hot buffalo chicken dip (served with celery). Health food? Not exactly.

Still, the star of the show was, as always, the mint julep.

The hubs and I are what you might call mint julep purists. Our only tweak to the recipe below has to do with the cup in which this sweet concoction is served.

Instead of the traditional julep glass

we opt to serve ours in a set of vintage milk glass goblets we scored at an antique store back home in Mississippi.

Check out our tried-and-true julep recipe here.

(images courtesy daddy o's martini, esquire, and antiques navigator)

Game On!

One of my favorite phrases for the start of something fun is "GAME ON!"

The hubs and I have gotten more than one weird glance when shouting this phrase at various exciting moments in our lives (careful there).

So, without further ado, check out the clip that coined the phrase.

Party on, Wayne (and Happy Weekend)!

seed bombs

How great are these!?

I love the packaging, name and concept of these little treats. Come on. How fun would it be to "bomb" your garden?

These funny little packages come in a variety of flavors.

Start an herb garden for yourself (pictured above) or a cat and dog friendly flower bed complete with catnip.

Finally decide where you land on East vs. West Coast debate.

These would make great little additions to any Mother's Day gift (especially if your mommy in a non-city dweller with a yard).

Bombs away!

(images couretsy anthropologie)

a squeeze of citrus

Oh, mama. I'm sweating Stella McCartney's citrus patterns from her Spring/Summer collection hard.

I especially need this sleeveless tee.

Check out even more citrus-inspired pieces ripe for spring below.

Kate Spade's white-and-yellow scalloped bangle should come live at my house.

(image courtesy fashionista barbie uk and polyvore)