Walk in Wednesday

To kick off my new weekly series, Walk in Wednesday, I thought, what could be more legendary than Vogue's Fashion Closet?  In the 60 Minutes video below, Sylvana Soto-Ward gives Morley Safer a tour...and while there is no doubt, in my mind, that I could post daily regarding new & inspiring images of fabulous closets I will reserve Wednesday's for this inspiration obsession.  Don't miss Walk in Wednesday each week for your dose. 

If it's in style, then it's in Vogue's legendary closet. Sylvana Soto-Ward gives Morley Safer a tour.

Happens Every Day

I sometimes long for enough time to really settle in to a good book but being a full time mom with a full time job doesn't always allow this little luxury.  That being said...there haven't been too many books in my life that have really taken hold of me and had a lasting impression.  Isabel Gillies, Happens Every Day, is one of those books.  My sister, an avid reader, told me about the author & book.  She had actually had the pleasure of meeting Isabel on several occasions.  I remember not wanting the book to end and after finishing; searching and hoping to see if the author had written any other books.  Happens Every Day is Gillies debut memoir (March 2009) and I am so excited to learn that her second book A Year and Six Seconds will be available August 2, 2011.  All I will say is: READ IT!!!  I will not pretend to play book critic so below are some reviews from those in the industry.


"A memoir so raw you feel like it's your best friend telling you her story." Glamour ("Must Read" pick)


"This is another favorite of mine. I started this book on a plane last week and did not stop until I'd finished. What I really admired about this book is the way Gillies is brutally honest, even when it comes to certain moments that are less than flattering for her. Fans of "Eat, Pray, Love" will devour this book."
-John Searles, book editor, Cosmopolitan magazine


"I couldn't put the book down. Gillies' memoir is so disarming, especially given that she's not a writer. But therein lies her charm... you're on her side. Gillies comes off as a genuinely peppy, uncomplicated woman. For those readers who've endured similar seismic shifts of the heart, Happens Every Day will offer the comfort of solidarity. For the rest of us who've been, so far, spared, it makes for compulsive and, frankly, chilling late night reading."
– Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air, NPR


"It's a surgical reconstruction of her marriage's sudden collapse, and it's utterly honest and painful. It's a tart book, a universal book, which is to say completely human, and eminently worth reading for both men and women."
-Palm Beach Post


"As intimate as if it came from your best friend." 
—Parenting magazine


"Happens is an emotional train wreck you gobble up, rooting for the engaging Gillies."
-USA Today


"[Gillies] brings to life the town of Oberlin, Ohio, complete with organic market, eccentric academics and insanely quaint coffee shops."
—Kirkus


"Emotionally involving...There's a redemptive grace in her struggle."
—Entertainment Weekly


"This is a memoir that reads like a gripping mystery and a moving coming-of-age tale."
-David Auburn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Proof


"A smart, rueful memoir of love, betrayal, and survival."
-O, The Oprah Magazine

Summer Friday Cocktail Series

For my first, Summer Friday Cocktail series...drum roll please - the Electric Eel - the refreshing signature drink of Ruschmeyer's in Montauk, NY.  I will definitely be picking up some fresh sage at the farmer's market on my way home.  If you want to be super simple; pick up a bottle of Simply Limeade and mix in a couple of ounces of Vodka. Delish!  Don't miss next week's Summer Friday Cocktail feature.  You are sure to be the star of your July 4th soiree when you serve your guests the most delicious Sangria recipe ever!!!

Nostalgia

I have recently given a little bit of thought (truly, just a bit) in regards to eliminating meat from my diet (beef, pork & chicken and just for a little while...to see if there are any, major or minor, effects in my overall feeling of healthiness) and then I ran across this picture of a JG Melon cheeseburger - an NYC institution.  JG Melon is always on my list when visiting New York - it is one of the tastiest cheeseburgers I have ever eaten!!!  This also got me thinking about another favorite spot on the Upper East Side that still brings a feeling of nostalgia - Sant Ambroeus - the almond cookies take me back to my childhood and to family trips to New York City.  I can taste the homemade cookies & pastries now.  I am certain that part of this feeling of joyfulness also comes from the wonderful packaging of these little delights - who wouldn't fall in love with that lovely printed peach colored paper?  On my last visit to the city my mom and I stopped in for some petite sandwiches, gelato for dessert and, of course, almond cookies for the stroll back to our hotel.  Sant Ambroeus - I heart you!  Another favorite is Fred's at Barneys for the Penne di Farro al' Arrabiata (spicy, heaven!) and Estelle's Chicken Soup - described on the menu as "grandma's recipe to cure colds and stay thin"  Oh well, so much for the no meat idea...it is summer, after all, and one can't possibly do summer without burgers & BBQ on the grill.  There's always fall...have a wonderful weekend!
xo,
Helen

jg melon cheeseburger

box of goodies from sant ambroeus, packaged just as i remember :)

gelato, sant ambroeus nyc

estelle's chicken soup, fred's at barneys 

Summer's Bounty

Last weekend my husband and I took our daughter to Foster's Market in Durham for lunch - Sara Foster has created the ultimate oasis for food lovers like ourselves.  The place was packed both inside and out with friends and family enjoying each others company and conversation.  You can find it all here.  I saw delicious sampler plates from the cold case, casseroles, homemade soups, cookies, homemade, fresh fruit Popsicles, etc.  I, myself, had the Cobb Sandwich which was simply amazing, my husband enjoyed the Cuban sandwich and Kate quite liked the squash bisque.  Our visit reminded me of a favorite, Sara Foster, cookbook, FRESH EVERY DAY, a wonderful resource for the summer months (all year long, really!)  Our visit to Foster's Market has inspired me to make weekly trips to our state farmers market to take advantage of all of the wonderful, local, fresh fruits & vegetables (as well as fresh pastries & fresh bouquets of flowers) that the summer months produce.  I have also included a few additional cookbooks that are on my shelf and one by Gwyneth Paltrow that I will soon be adding to my collection.  While My Father's Daughter is Gwyneth's first cookbook she certainly is not a newbie in the kitchen.  One of my favorite picture cookbooks, Spain, by Mario Batali features Gwyneth Paltrow - the two take you on a culinary road trip, meeting old and new acquaintances along the way.  The book is a true feast for the eyes.  And last but, certainly, not least...what screams summer more than fresh blueberry pie & lobster rolls - YUM!  Lobster Rolls, Blueberry Pie is a gem of a cookbook offering three generations of recipes + stories from summers on the coast of Maine.  I cannot wait to plan my menu for July 4th.  The coast is calling my name!  Happy Wednesday!
Best,
Helen

entertaining

peek inside: my father's daughter

peek inside: my father's daughter, gwyneth cooking with moses and apple

peek inside: my father's daughter cookbook: sweet potato ravioli

from gwyneth's, my father's daughter cookbook: duck ragu

JENNIFER FISHER JEWELRY for every mother counts

jennifer fisher jewelry

 In April - I wrote about the Every Mother Counts initiative founded by Christy Turlington Burns.  Here is another,  fashionable, way to support the campaign.  One of my favorite jewelry designers - JENNIFER FISHER JEWELRY - www.jenniferfisherjewelry.com - has designed a piece specifically for the cause.  The 14k Rose Gold Heart ($130) would make a special gift for any new mom, your #1 & only mum and certainly don't forget, YOU.  $50.00 from each charm sold will go directly to Every Mother Counts. 

"Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase support for maternal and child health.  Every Mother Counts seeks to engage new audiences to better understand the challenges and the solutions while encouraging them to take action to improve the lives of girls and women worldwide. The keystone of the campaign is www.everymothercounts.org, an interactive platform providing the tools to raise awareness, education, and action."

Children's Book for Grown-ups

Go the F*ck to Sleep (released today) is a children's book for grown-ups and already an Amazon.com bestseller through pre-order sales.  Click the link below to place your order on Amazon.com.  Recommended for those with a sense of humor :)  A funny & thoughtful gift for any mom and/or dad in your life who is going through the often frustrating rituals of bedtime.  I know someone I will be ordering this book for right away! 

cover

a peek inside: go the f*ck to sleep

Book Description from Amazon.com:


Go the Fuck to Sleep is a bedtime book for parents who live in the real world, where a few snoozing kitties and cutesy rhymes don't always send a toddler sailing blissfully off to dreamland. Profane, affectionate, and radically honest, California Book Award-winning author Adam Mansbach's verses perfectly capture the familiar--and unspoken--tribulations of putting your little angel down for the night. In the process, they open up a conversation about parenting, granting us permission to admit our frustrations, and laugh at their absurdity.
With illustrations by Ricardo Cortes, Go the Fuck to Sleep is beautiful, subversive, and pants-wettingly funny--a book for parents new, old, and expectant. You probably should not read it to your children.

Editorial Reviews from Amazon.com:

"Total genius."
--Jonathan Lethem, author of Motherless Brooklyn, father of two

"A children's book for grown-ups! I really did laugh out loud--hilarious!"
--David Byrne, musician, father of one

"I wish this book had been around during my daughter's overly protracted sleep rituals! Finally, someone tells it like it really is. This is no-guilt funny and a godsend!"
--Cristina Garcia, author of The Lady Matador's Hotel, mother of one

"This is the most honest children's book ever written. And it's f*cking hilarious."
--A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically, father of three

"Go the Fuck to Sleep is the secret anthem of tired parents everywhere. Adam Mansbach's homage to the tropes of bedtime stories is pitch perfect, and Ricardo Cortes's stunning illustrations will keep grown-ups and kids alike returning to these pages again and again!"
--Bliss Broyard, author of One Drop: My Father's Hidden Life

sweet steal

zara.com, tricolour vamp shoe with heel $70

Father's Day Gift Guide 2011

Father's Day is Sunday.  If you haven't picked out the perfect gift for your fella here are a few ideas that are sure to make him feel special.  Click the link below each picture to be directed to the company's website for additional information & to place your order.  All of the Williams-Sonoma picks are 20% off until June 19 and also include free shipping.  Enter code OUTDOOR20 at checkout. 

big green egg, world's best smoker & grill

williams-sonoma granite pizza stone w/stand, $74.95

williams-sonoma steel grill wide chef's pan, $49.95

williams-sonoma regional bbq sauces. $9.95-$49.75
 

franks swim trunks, $100, openingceremony.us

vineyard vines excursion pants

vineyard vines summer twill club pants $79.50

t.anthony beveled leather frame $85-$125

amazon kindle

hermes,chakor trays-lacquered wood & chamonix calfskin. perfect for loose change $225

 the complete pirelli calendars:1964-2007, rizzoli $75.00

escazu artisan chocolates, handmade in raleigh, nc

Mortography

Jack Morton has the gift of photography in his genes.  Jack has shot thousands of pictures for WRAL of UNC (his alma mater), Duke & NC State athletics as well as other major sporting events including the US Women's soccer team vs. Japan.  He will also be photographing the upcoming Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow concert at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh - his wide subject range is a testament to his photographic skills.  Jack has expanded his portfolio to include portraits and weddings.  For most weddings and larger events he and his wife Adrienne (also a photographer) get to work side by side capturing a bride and groom's special day and all of the moments and details that make their day unique.  When I decided that I wanted a professional to photograph Kate's baptism I knew I could trust Jack.  I didn't have to worry about capturing that special February morning in photographs because Jack was behind the lens.  His talent is apparent as you can see in the photographs below.  Enjoy and I hope you all have a wonderful week!  If you have a special event and you want beautiful photographs that capture moments in time be sure to contact Jack Morton.

 www.mortography.com

photographs courtesy of jack morton

MISSONI for Target

MISSONI for Target will debut Tuesday, September 13, 2011.  Mark your calendar as the pieces are sure to sell out quickly.  The collection is said to include 400 + pieces of apparel and accessories for women, men, girls and baby as well as home goods.  It seems the cat was let out of the bag when Margherita Missoni, brand ambassador, was photographed on location in Milan for the Missoni for Target photo shoot.

Click the bulls-eye to be directed to Target's website for more information and to place your order once available.

margherita missoni on location in milan for missoni for target photo shoot; photo courtesy of bauer griffin