I’ve decided to round up a few of my favorites from around the web- full disclosure that some of these are OBSCENELY expensive. But you know it would be worth it. I”m having a hard time deciding between the red feathers and the GIANT blue bow as a favorite…

And as an added bonus, one of my coworkers gave me his favorite recipe for a Mint Julep so I’m sharing it with you here. What really sets it apart I think is the minted simple syrup- so worth the extra effort! I hope you make several this Saturday because, I mean- can you really drink anything else on Derby Day???

Proper Mint Julep

• 2 cups crushed ice
• 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 1 oz. of minted simple syrup
• 2 bunches of Kentucky Colonel Mint (crucial – not spearmint or peppermint)
• 1 thoroughly chilled julep cup

Minted Simple Syrup

First, make your simple syrup. In a heavy medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, stir together 1 cup of sugar and one cup of water until dissolved.  Increase heat slightly and simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, add 1 bunch of Kentucky Colonel mint leaves, and let steep for 15 minutes.  Strain through a cheese cloth, bottle the syrup, and refrigerate 3 hours before using.  This will keep for up to 1 week, so you can prepare it ahead of time.

Making the Mint Julep

Add 1 oz of simple syrup, then 1 cup of the crushed ice, then 2 oz. of Woodford Reserve bourbon, and a splash of water.  Add enough of the remaining crushed ice to almost fill the cup.  Stir well and garnish with a sprig of Kentucky Colonel mint.

It’s a powerful image for sure- a collection of shoes from runners of the Boston Marathon coming together in one heart. There is an incredible story about how it all came together on their website. My favorite quote:

“To me the cover is about two things: perseverance and unity. By itself, each shoe in the photograph is tiny, battered, and ordinary. Together, though, they create something beautiful, powerful, and inspirational. Remove just one shoe and you begin to diminish, in some small way, the overall effect. Collectively, they are the perfect symbol for Boston, and for our response to the bombings.”

I also wanted to share the image because its not everyday your boyfriend makes the cover of a magazine- and Nick was lucky enough to be one of the shoes included (his are the grey and green ones below the O-S of Boston). Maybe a small consolation for not finishing the race? Probably not in his mind, but still very special. Its interesting to see how his is literally just one piece of the puzzle- thousands of stories joined together by one event.

back cover

And I know that next year they will all definitely finish the race.

Which is why I am really excited that Nick and I are headed to St. Louis this weekend for our 5 year college reunion. I think the change of scenery will really be good for us. It would be hard not to be uplifted by reuniting with friends we haven’t seen in so long and visiting places where I have some of the happiest memories of my life. St. Louis is the city I called home for 4 years, and our campus is still one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. (The main buildings were built as part of the 1904 World’s Fair- and the Collegiate Gothic architecture is repeated in nearly every campus building)

So I’m signing off until next week! Hope to have many fun updates about my adventures.

I then spent the day with my family, driving to different points along the race course to cheer him on. It was exciting and SO FUN! We first spied him in Natick with the enthusiastic pep in his step, cheered him on in Wellsley at the half marathon point, and followed him all the way to Newton, to catch a glimpse of him struggling up the top of Heartbreak Hill.

And then, well, he didn’t get to finish. MONTHS of training cut short at the 25.3 mile point. Instead our day ended in confusion, chaos and sadness. I can’t really describe the roller-coaster transition from one of the happiest highs- to one of the worst lows. We didn’t have a celebratory dinner like planned, instead we hustled home and glued ourselves to the TV, watching for updates while the sound of sirens and helicopters surrounded our apartment.

Marathon Monday is one of the biggest days in Boston. Heck — it IS  Boston. I think the only day that might be considered a bigger deal is when we have a duckboat parade after our sporting teams win a championship or maybe the 4th of July. Running is such a big part of our city and the marathon is our once a year celebration of that passion. We line the course with our banners and signs and SCREAM our hearts out for the people running and inspiring us.

I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around how much worse it could have been for us. If Nick had run a little faster we would have been right there across the street fr0m the explosions.

So today I’m sad for so many reasons. 1. for Nick who was robbed of his first Marathon finish, 2. for my City- which was kicked down and ripped apart on its most celebratory day, and of course 3. for the families who weren’t as lucky as mine to be safe from the danger. My heart breaks for them especially.

I woke up this morning to another beautiful sunny Spring morning. But it was different. And while I KNOW we will bounce back even stronger – it will certainly take us some time to be back up and running.

Nares was born in London in 1954, but moved to New York City in 1975. He was quoted as saying the motivation behind his move was the fact that  “All I did was read American art magazines. I felt like a real loner in London, being interested in all these artists that nobody else seemed to have heard of.” And from the moment he moved here, he began immersing himself in these artist circles, gaining respect from many of the painters he once admired. But it took some time before his work truly started to gain broader popularity. Now it is found throughout the world in private collections and major museums such as the MoMA and Whitney Museum.

While Nares’ paintings are most certainly unique, he especially stands apart in his methodology. His work is most often created in a SINGLE brushstroke with unique brushes of his own design. The brushes are created with a variety of everything from foam to feathers, and there is quite an experimental process to finding exactly the right one. He applies the paint while suspended over the canvas in an acrobatic harness that he created to achieve a gravity free painting environment.

The painting process is one of erasing and recreating line-work before finding the perfect balance between improvisation and intent. Nares likens this artistic routine to hitting a home run in baseball, sometimes achievable in one go but more often requiring multiple attempts to accomplish.

Nares’ unique process results in these fantastic ribbons of color. They have been likened to visuals such as swirling storm clouds, birds in flight and ocean waves. What do you see? Are you as mesmerized as I am?

Image Credits: 1 //2 // 3 // 4 // 5 //

Also link 3 is very cool interview with James Nares about  his early years in New York, and his process of creating and experimenting with the brushes he uses today.

I also read that recently Nares has further expanded his art into the realm of photography and film, with a film currently streaming at the Met.

1. This Skull Bracelet would look cute on its own OR stacked up with other bracelets
   
2. Madewell has ELEVEN different washes of chambray shirts this season. Such an easy breezy Spring look!
3. I love the unique shape and mix of materials of this Felix Rey clutch
   
4. Tortoise frames in a classic shape- these Ralph Lauren Sunglasses have to get some use in the sun sooner or later!
5. J.Crew came out with a great line of watches this season- especially this vintage-esque aviator watch
6. I don’t know if I’m “cool” enough to pull off this parka jacket- but I’m in love either way- added bonus that it converts to a vest!
7. I can’t never own enough Bloch flats. They are a ballet shoe company which means they are SO soft and comfortable.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, mostly because it signifies the true start of Spring. So I really wanted to celebrate that! I tried to keep things fairly simple, but of course ended up going a little overboard. The table was a theme of blues, pinks and greens. I folded the napkins into cute rabbit ears and used hard-boiled eggs as placecards- then used napkin rings to prevent them from rolling off the plate. The result was whimsical but elegant:

For the food, I probably bit off a little too much to try to cook AND serve in my tiny kitchen. I went with a nontraditional choice of Brisket over an Easter Ham- but it ended up being a huge success. And everyone LOVED the chocolate Mouse- with freshly made whipped cream and raspberries.

The Menu

White Lillet Cocktails

Frisee, Radicchio and Fennel Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Braised Brisket with Bourbon Peach Glaze

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Mustard Mashed Potatoes

Chocolate Mousse

As you can imagine we were STUFFED by the end but it was all so worth it and the festivities lasted late into the night. Once everyone had gone I had a little time to unwind- finishing up the wine and tidying up the kitchen. I’m not gonna lie that the triumphant feeling at the end of the night is very addictive- I can’t wait until my next excuse to plan a party.

Problem is, while we aren’t polar opposites, we can’t seem to agree on what direction we want to go. We both love neutral bedding and carpeting but while I’d like to stick with light/ white furniture, Nick prefers the dark contrast. It shoudln’t be giving me so much stress- but once we commit there is no turning back! I”m only dealing with the service elevator/ furniture delivery woes ONE TIME.

The lighter version:

And now with darker furniture:

Actually I am really drawn to the indigo hues in the last photo….maybe I’m thinking TOO neutral?

Either way I want your opinions! Which do you prefer? Or do you love the little bit of color? And please for my sake, don’t quote that scene from Devil Wears Prada where they fight over WHICH turquoise belt to use because they are SOOOOoooo different. Because its been running through my head on repeat and I”m wondering what kind of crazy person I’ve become that THIS is the biggest anxiety in my life…..

Well, at least I can have the cake. And not just any cake- breakfast today is the very special chocolate sour cream cake of my youth with layers of raspberry jam and chocolate frosting. I’ve already cut you a slice