Monthly Archives: February 2016

In the Kitchen

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I’ll admit it. I skip breakfast from time to time. But I have a feeling those days are long over now that I have found this simple and easy recipe for Overnight Oats.

I was first introduced to overnight oats about a year ago while staying at a little b&b. I asked the inn keeper for her recipe. When I returned home, I gave the recipe a try and was disappointed. No bueno. Last week, Nectar and Green* included a recipe in their weekly email from Darling Magazine and I had to give it a try. Second time must be a charm as they were delicious and super easy.

Overnight Oats

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cups of oatmeal
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 2 Tbs. chia seeds (I opted for a little over 1 Tbs.)
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • handful of yellow raisins
  • handful of slivered almonds

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar (I used my Wreck .5 L glass jars), stir well and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. Next time, I’m going to add some fresh fruit to the top.

*I met Laurel through my dear friend Abby last year. Laurel is the creative genius behind Nectar and Green, a weekly distributor of small batch almond milk. Not only is her product delicious but the nutritional benefits are impressive. She has pick-up locations throughout the city (we pick up our milk at Urban Grape). Check out her website for more details.

 

 

Write On

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Today I wanted to share with you a really cool campaign that is underway from two amazing companies: Egg Press and Hello Lucky! As I’ve shared on several occasions, I obsessed with all things paper. I receive tremendous joy sending a letterpress card that has traveled back with me from one of my favorite paper stores (Sugar Paper in LA, Gus + Ruby in Portsmouth and Parchment on Nantucket, to name a few).

The Write_On campaign‘s mission is to promote joy, creativity, expression, and connection through hand-written correspondence. Technology, whether we like it or not, has changed the way we communicate with each another. The mission of this campaign is to bring back communication through the art of sending a handwritten note. The Write_On campaign encourages people of all ages to write more letters, challenging each person to write 30 letters in 30 days. Inspired by Egg Press founder Tess Darrow’s challenge to herself to write a letter daily, the campaign launched two years ago in April, which just happens to be National Letterwriting Month. I’m adding that to the list of things I learned today!

Two years later, the campaign is looking to be bigger than ever and has set a goal to raise $60,000 to help cover our costs of sharing Write On kits with 10,000 individuals. Every dollar donated will go directly into the campaign.

Donation levels range from $10 to $2500. As a thank you, you get some really cool paper gifts too. I contributed at the $75 level and thus the cool calendar pictured above is on its way to me.

Interested in receiving 1 of my 30 letters this April? Leave your address in the comment section (don’t worry, I’ll delete for privacy purposes) and I’ll send you a note. And speaking of notes, you have to check out my sister’s Letters from Nantucket Instagram feed. Isn’t she amazing? Truth be told, my letters won’t be as cool but it’s the thought that counts… right?!

So let’s join together and #writeon!

Places

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Happy Tuesday, sweet readers! Today, I wanted to share with you one of the coolest places I’ve been to so far this year. Ponce City Market in Atlanta.

Housed in the historic Sears Roebuck distribution center originally built in 1926, Ponce City Market was inspired by Chelsea Market in NYC (the same developer, in fact) and recently recognized by The National Trust for Historic Preservation as “history in the making.”

At the heart of Ponce City Market is the Central Food Hall. James Beard Award-winning chefs are working side-by-side with Atlanta’s up-and-coming makers and restauranteurs to offer everything from Georgia and Carolinas-caught seafood, to fried chicken and biscuits, cold-pressed juice, and killer Mexican. Just check out these tacos.

On the second floor, you’ll find Citizen Supply, an artisan marketplace that brings quality handmade and small-batch goods to Atlanta in a truly unique retail experience.

In 2014, Travel + Leisure listed Ponce City Market as one of the 25 “Coolest New Tourist Attractions.” I completely agree!

Planning a trip to Atlanta, you must add a visit to Ponce a City Market. Still in need of some travel tips? Check out a few of my favorites here.

Love

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Valentine's

For all you love birds out there, I wanted to share some of my favorite gifts to shower the one(s) you love with.

  • Art is always the way to my heart and this MAGIC neon sign is awesome!
  • Silky pj’s… yes please!
  • Pyrrha jewelry, handcrafted in Vancouver, will certainly score you some points. Their love collection is timeless.
  • A gift for everyday of the year. Gathered Truths.
  • You can never go wrong with a leather pouch. Especially this one from Cuyana’s partnership with my girl Garance Dore.

My girl and I are keeping it easy this year. A home cooked meal on Valentine’s Day followed by a morning at The Mandarin Spa.  Remember, that it really is the thought that counts when selecting a gift. As Van Gogh said “What is done in love is done well.”

Tuesday Travel

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Sometimes you just need a night away to reset… and that is exactly what we did this past weekend! When I saw the Lark Hotels had two properties in Portsmouth, I knew exactly where to run away for the night. Portsmouth, a quick 50 minute car ride from Boston, is a place I have spent many an afternoon but never an overnight. I certainly have been missing out. Here are just a few of my musts in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Stay

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The Hotel Portsmouth is a B&B dream. Built in 1881 by a wealthy ship merchant, this gem located at 40 Court Street showcases quintessential Queen Anne Victorian architecture. The mansion opened as an inn in 1985. Fast forward to 2014, the property underwent an extensive and historically sensitive renovation prior to its official opening at The Hotel Portsmouth. We stayed in a King Suite on the 3rd Floor with ample space. The bed was cozy, the pillows heavenly and the morning light perfection. And the nautical decor reminded me of my little island (the yellow phone almost came home with me). Our only complaint was that the bathroom was a little small for a suite.

The Ale House Inn is the second Lark property in Portsmouth. The next time we escape to “Live Free” land, we are staying here!

Eat

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Several former New Yorkers have made their way north to add a bit of edge to the food scene in Portsmouth and neighboring Kittery, Maine. My top picks include:

Row 34 – The sister restaurant to her namesake here in Boston. Their oysters are always delicious and the chocolate mouse for dessert, you can’t go wrong! Oh and the corn bread. Order the corn bread!

Bubby’s – A New York style deli in the heart of a historical port. The challah french toast was worth every sinful bite. My girl opted for the bagel egg sandwich, which was equally as good. Their whole menu is available for take-out too.

The Friendly Toast – A Portsmouth, New Hampshire institution. Luckily, their third location just opened around the corner from Melrose Place so it will now be our weekly breakfast spot!

Street 360 -While at dinner at Row 34 we kindly ask both our waitress and the host where to go for Sunday brunch. Without skipping a beat, they all agreed on Street. Sadly we couldn’t squeeze but it is on the top of our list for our next visit. Looks like Lena Dunham is a fan too!

Lil’s Cafe – Just across Memorial Bridge and the Piscataqua River is Kittery Maine, home of Lil’s Cafe, which proudly brews Maine’s own Tandem Coffee Roasters. With a wonderful selection of pastries, sweet treats and sandwiches, Lil’s is the kind of cafe I wish I had in my neighborhood.

The Wallingford Dram – A speakeasy in Kittery that should not be missed. The owner and founder hails from NYC, where he worked with Tom Colicchio at Craft and Frank and Frank behind Frankies 457 in Brooklyn. Having grown up in neighboring NH, he always knew he would make his way home. And how glad we are he did.

Black Trumpet – On my list for next time!

Shop

Gus and Ruby Letterpress – A dream of a paper shop that is near impossible to leave empty handed. I dare you to try!

Folk – Located right next to Lil’s cafe, this store is one not to miss. The curated collection of goods is impressive. Japanese writing instruments, Ace + Jig, and locally made ceramics. Folk is the place to find a gift for that someone special or you.

Movie Monday

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I’m a sucker for Nancy Meyers films. Baby Boom, Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated, The Holiday. And now I can add The Intern to the list. At first, I heard so-so reviews and thus didn’t rush to the theater. But last weekend, while K was at the gym, I was searching On Demand and decided to give it a try. And I’ve gotta say, I loved it. The story line was sweet, the cast delightful and the set design, swoon worthy. Just take a look at these spaces.

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The office space in Brooklyn where Robert De Niro becomes an intern. I’d work here in a New York minute!

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Ann Hathaway’s kitchen… l die. Looks like I need to become the founder of a fashion company ASAP!

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The dining room and seating area in Hathaway’s Brooklyn brownstone. That mirror needs to find its ways to Melrose Place (my home).

Looking for a light and feel good film? Give The Intern a try!