Current Favorites

This week was busy, but it wasn't. Do you know what I mean? Not a lot of things on the calendar, but the days were filled with to do lists, errands, cleaning up after the kids, and after bedtime chores. And because my mind is on lame things like how to get rid of the fruit flies in my house, my creativity for writing was shot. But I at least wanted to leave you with some things that are making me happy. 

1. I have been craving this sausage and kale soup so much. Cannot wait to make a big pot of it this weekend. 

2. My mother in law dropped off some of this wine, Imprimata, for us and it is AMAZING. If you see it or looking to order some red, it is delicious. 

 3. So loving my new Splendid jumpsuit. Think I might sport it to my high school reunion next weekend (15 years ack!). But I love that I can also wear it with flats to run errands and feel chic. 

4. Our current Netflix binge watching obsession is Damages. Have you watched it? If you like Scandal or Law & Order, it is kind of a mix of the two of them. And the clothes are impeccable. 

5. If you need a laugh this weekend, start following The Fat Jewish on Instagram. So so inappropriate, but so hilarious. Here is a recent NYT story on him. 

6. Fashion week(s) are ending soon and I usually just watch snippets on Instagram (follow Miraduma, anna_dello_russo, and ninagarcia) to see the shows. I thought Fendi was so lovely. Especially this leather pleated dress.  

7. I literally have like ten of these Clinque Chubby Sticks in my bag and I love them. Part balm, part lip color, and so easy to put on. 

8. Got to break out my favorite loafers this week. These Minnetonkas are basically like wearing slippers in public. 

I hope you have the best weekend and get to enjoy all your favorites too. 

xo

Erin 

Summer Wine Night

I am far from a wine expert, but there have been many glasses in my life. At this age, I know what I like and I also know when it is worth it to splurge on a bottle. Which is kind of all of the time. But, there are plenty of well priced wines that you can enjoy time and time again, here is a few of my current favorites that you can find at most markets and if you are lucky, Costco. 

Lunatic Red Wine: A smooth, very drinkable red even for those that do not like them too full bodied. 

Honig Sauvignon Blanc: I have actually been to this vineyard and was psyched to see it carried my local market. It has that bite that you would expect from a sauv, but goes down smooth. Great with summer salads. 

Miraval Rose: Picked this up at Costco and it was a great discovery. Bonus, Brad & Angelina are the owners. Makes it super fancy. ha

Decoy Zinfandel: Zinfandel (no white zin!) has seriously grown on me this summer. Full bodied, but still great on a hot day. 

I have also been looking for some wine glasses for the patio that do not look plastic, which then spiraled into this outdoor place setting. Now I want everything... 

1. Chic white beaded melamine plates from Pottery Barn $17

2. Modern bamboo tiered serving tray from Nordstrom $68

3. Gold flatware is such a fun statement. West Elm $29 per set

4. So I can relax on the patio with the kids and no worry about glass. World Market $13 for set of 4

5. Block print is on my radar right now and this tablecloth is gorg. Furbish $70

6. Pretty outdoor tumblers from World Market $4 for set of 2

7. This is such a cool take on the lantern. West Elm $29 (on sale)

8. Obsessed with this copper pitcher from West Elm $29

What wine is your fav find right now? Would love to hear. 

xo

Erin 

Weekend List

What are you up to this weekend? 


We are having friends over for brunch both Saturday and Sunday, so I am going to make this strata adding my own twists. Love that I can make it in advance. 


We are also going to a party and it is going to be hot, so I am going to wear this dress (on sale) to keep cool.


I have still made no progress on the house, but I will at least try and hang my favorite nursery prints up in the little man's room. 


And maybe, just maybe, I will make a rug decision for the family room. Leaning towards this one, since it seems durable, soft, versatile, and the price is right in case I change my mind and have to move it to another room (probably happening).


I found the perfect room for inspiration for the master. A great mix of masculine and feminine. 


I am also shopping around for moving announcements and love these postcards. 


Already have the Opening Ceremonies set to DVR tonight. Fast forward is crucial for the hours long parade of athletes. 


Looking forward to slightly cooler temps so I can pop open a bottle of one of my favorite wines and actually sit outside.


Wish I had this table, it's genius. 

I hope you get to enjoy yourself and relax. 


xo
Erin 

Chalkboard Wine Glasses

I am not exactly a DIY kind of girl. I have all the aspirations in the world to be crafty, but when it comes down to it, I usually just order something online that is already crafted up for me. 

If I was the kind of girl that wanted to do something Martha-esque and totally usable this holiday season, it would be to make these chalk board wine glasses...

A clever girl came up with the idea and another very clever girl actually put a tutorial up on her blog. Looks pretty darn easy and I may get around to it by the next party I throw. Inexpensive wine glasses are easy to find by the box and with some paint and tape you are in business. 

So perfect for a wine fest at your house, right? 

xoxo

Erin 

Destination Burgundy, France: Abbaye de la Bussiere

Last year, this very week, I was at one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. As a true fan of France (I know, not everyone is), I was excited to venture to Burgundy for the first time. Known as one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, it did not disappoint. If you are looking for a place to venture to on a trip to Europe, I can not say enough about this tranquil and gorgeous place. 

When researching a place to stay, this monastery dating back to 1113 seemed enchanting. Owned by the well renowned Relais & Chateaux hotel group and run by a very nice English couple, the Abbaye de la Bussiere is rich with history and high on luxury. 

The hotel itself has only 16 rooms of differing sizes and decor. We stayed in the Marcilly Superior Room, which had plenty of room and a large bathroom. The hotel has two restaurants, a more casual bistro and a fine dining restaurant. Both were delicious and offered traditional French food with a modern twist. The breakfast pastries still linger in my dreams.

When visiting the local wineries, the hotel set us up with a lovely guide who drove us to some of the regions most exclusive vineyards. No big crowds, just private tastings in some of France's oldest caves with some very snarky French wine makers. She was able to set up all the delivery of the wine we purchased and advise on what to buy from the particular vintages. Burgundy grapes produce mostly pinot noirs and light chardonnays, which makes for very fun wine tastings. 

The surrounding area is great for bike rides, motor sport driving (the hotel has some sport cars you can rent), exploring ancient villages, and general wine consumption. Beaune is the largest town nearby which is worth a trip and lunch. 

The Abbaye is located 124 miles Southeast of Paris. You can rent a car and drive or take a train from Paris to Dijon, then hire a car to take you to the Abbaye. All arrangements can be made through the hotel. 

If you are lucky enough to be venturing to Europe sometime soon, this could be the escape that will help you fall in love with France. That is if you were not already. 

xo

Erin 

Mix and Matched

cocokelley.blogspot.com/

There is something really special and girlie about using a mix matched set of vintage glasses for a party. I have been lucky enough to receive a few fun sets as gifts and hand me downs over the years and I love the idea of using them for a sunset cocktail party with friends.

The best place to shop for these glasses is flea markets, antique shops, and estate sales. While usually finding an entire set is impossible or outrageously expensive, you can have fun picking one or two of your favorite patterns out to mix in with other finds. 

Mixing crystal, pink glass, silver rimmed, etched, long stemmed, and goblets is great. In my opinion, the less matched the better. 

Anthropologie always has a great selection at their stores and I found a few other vendors with some options to get you started.

1. Horta champagne glass, small from Anthropologie $12

2. Set of 12 Vintage Cut Crystal glasses on Ebay bid at $75

3. Vintage pink floral glass tumblers by 1GlassyDealer on Etsy $50 for 2

4. Rippled coupe champagne glass from Anthropologie $14

5. Helianthus Goblet from Anthropologie $8

6. Kate Spade New York "Gardner Street" Stemware at Bloomingdale's $40-$45 

7. Vintage etched glass goblet set by OldNewsCollective on Etsy $10

Cheers! 

xo

Erin 

Weekend Wish

It is time to lay in the sun and soak up some Vitamin D. And although I will be coated in SPF 60, my wish is that I still get a slight bronze.

How I miss the days of slathering on the oil and baking to a medium brown.

Getting older takes the fun out of it a bit, but with these summer essentials I can still enjoy my time in the sun.

There is something about summer that brings out my girlie side. Wearing a super femme bikini, hot pink cut offs, and sipping a cold can of sparkling blanc de blanc out of a fuchsia can sounds glorious. The bubbles will be even greater as I giggle through funny girl, Tina Fey's, new book Bossypants.

I hope you have a great weekend and find some time in the sunshine.

xo
Erin