Hazmat Santa's Coming Early

The Hazmat Santa's making a premature delivery to the Summersverb household this week to fullfill Babe's Christmas request of new slippers for the both of us...

Since our slips do double duty as driving mocs they get considerable wear and tear. Toss in the fact that mine are actually hand-me-downs from Emma and you get a hint at the severity of the situation. Bad enough, that Babe brought home a pair of temps from the Palace last weekend...

Sooo, Hazmat Santa should be here any day now with a pair of UGG Dakota slippers in deep cobalt pour moi...

Annnd a pair of UGG Ascots in China Tea leather for Monsieur slipper snob whooo will kindly not look a gift Hazmat Santa in the nose by gripping about the price...

Kindness of Babe who will now resume all nightly foot rubbing when home. That ole stinky slipper excuse has run it's course dear sir...XXOO

Business Class Stock List

Another one of the many habits I picked up in C'ville is my obsession for AG Angel cords. Nearly as comfy as sweats and waaay more flattering...

Looking to add a pair in Super Black to my repertoire and, as luck would have it, Shop LA Style is offering 25% off them (and everything else) through tomorrow with the code TGIBF. Free shipping's the cherry on top...

Also, on the hunt for an affordable Gwynnie style worthy look to accompany me across the pond next month...

J. Crew's Satin-Lapel Tuxedo Jacket is a close enough piece of the outfit puzzle which would be perf for the plane and versatile enough for a week's worth of Paris mileage...

Throw in Johnstons of Elgin's black cashmere stole and I'd be hot on GP's tall, black, sure to be Hermes riding boot heels...

I drooled over her tweed hacking jacket too but, alas, I'm pretty certain that would involve calling on Maxminusabudget for a peeksie at his li'l black book of bespoke...

And, since Babe would bewoop my bespoke butt, I'll comprimise with Crew's Velvet Schoolboy Blazer in darkest indigo, swank it up with the Johnstons of Elgin blackwatch cashmere shawl I already own, and call it a draw...

Kindness of my mom who can expect me to swing by later this week for a quick pillaging of her closet. There's just GOT to be a Ralph Lauren tweed jacket or four I've cast off over the years waiting to be resurrected in there...XXOO

KEP Designs Sale

Quickie pooh check in to disseminate some KEP Deisgns Black Friday savings...

I know a certain bff that will be scooping up the Maggie Earring with this eleventh hour 20% off newsflash...

Kindness of said bff for not minding if I happen to get the same pair....XXOO

Wishing Everyone A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Looking forward to a long, blissful weekend with Babe, Pilgie and that crazy Cakers. See ya'll on Monday...XXOO

Report Just In From The Fairy Shoe Godmother

I hope you're well Alice! I'm not sure if I told you, but I'm in London on secondment now so, please let me know if you to come visit. Anyway, my new commuting lifestyle has caused me to already destroy several pairs of flats along the way - very sad, actually. Picture water coming in through leather and re heeled Reva's falling apart on the street. I've always loved ballet flats but, never found them terribly comfortable....until yesterday! I recalled something a doctor had mentioned to me during my induction at work about her shoes being more comfortable than bare feet. So I got them and am obsessed! They're called Bloch and are made by the same company who makes ballet shoes. You may have already heard of them but, in the event you hadn't, I had to let you know!!!!

Hope to see you soon!
Gretchen

Actually, Gretchen, I had not heard of Bloch ballet flats...

But, your credibility in the shoe department was solidified two Christmases ago with the Ferragamo peep-toe rec that sent Amy and I scurrying to the NYC store...

That, coupled with this exciting bit of Bloch intel Gretchen, and I have no choice but to bestow you with the title Fairy Shoe Godmother...

Annnd I suspect, that once our dear friend Amy reads this particular post, our day trip to Brussels next month may be replaced with a Chunnel ride...

They remind me so much of the Lanvin flats I have lusted over for sooo long but, somehow manage to always find myself in the company of the shopping chaperon whenever the opportunity presents itself...

But, in Paris, said chaperon will be outnumbered by myself, Amy and, our shopping big gun, Amy's mom. I'm betting good manners end up trumping killjoy chaperon duties. I bet the farm. And, a pair of ballet flats or two...

Kindness of Fairy Shoe Godmother Gretchen Berlin for the fabulous shoe find. Fingers crossed for a London Bloch rendezvous over Christmas. Now that further due diligence has revealed Suri Cruise as a fan I can not allow myself to be out fashioned by a blankie carrying five year old...XXOO

Lolly And Her Bag O' Tricks

There are certain concessions I have learned to make over the years for my Ti-Babes...

Such as...years of investing in Simon Pearce has really been for the masses. And, that's our water...

Using the bathroom is like having an audience with the Pope. Every time...

Annd, all electronic devices are fair game as heating pads in the cold months and, ya better learn to never turn your back on your toasty laptop keyboard unless you are extremely versed in the F1-12 keys and have a disposable hour in your day...

But, sweet li'l Miss Lolly Cakes has just unveiled a whole new bag o' tricks that is keeping Mummy on her toes...

So, if I want to continue indulging the orchid habit I picked up in C'ville, I'll need to keep all the King's horses and all the King's men on the payroll...

Oh, and the fancy Sabon Aroma oil and sticks Lucile brought me from NYC that I use to keep the bathroom litter closet smelling lovely?

Yeeeaaah, I'll never have to worry about smelling litter EVER again within a 500 square foot radius of that closet...

But, the pièce de résistance in that bag o' tricks...

The one that draws a crowd...

The one that maintains an exhausting schedule of three shows per day annnd a matinée on Sundays..

The one that regularly scares the dickens outta ya in the shower as your line of sight suddenly picks up a flying ball of fur...

The one that means to draw Mummy's attention away from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and squarely on the true starlet...

Is theee one with a short shelf life cuz it's one week and counting til we bid those front nails adieu...

Yup, the playing field's about to be evened out...

But, ya had a good run while it lasted Cakers...

Kindness of our precious Lolly who gets off scott free from all offenses for being such a joyful addition to our family. Also, to Babe's med school friend and occassional NYC dinner date, Nelly Schottel, for alerting us the the fact that Pilgie's name reads as Pil-ghee (hard g, long e's) and not how it's actually pronounced, Peel-chjaaay (soft j, long a's). Although, these days he's rockin Papillon (said with a French accent, as in, papi-YAAAN) in honor of our looming Paris trip...XXOO

ps...be sure to check out Nelly's sister's hysterical blog Marg's in the City. Tina Fey outta watch her back.

Oyster Dressing It's Baaackkk...

My parents are just now making their way home from Mexico so Babe and I were elected to make the past weekend's pilgrimage to Chincoteague and secure the holiday oyster supply...

Like I said last year, if I were on death row, and requesting my last meal, at theee very top on the menu would be my family's oyster dressing. And, since we're mere days away from Thanksgiving, I thought I'd reshare the recipe in hopes of giving ya'll enough time to develop a game plan for acquiring your own top notch oysters...

*1 pint Chincoteague oysters, drained and chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 cup butter
8-9 cups hand cubed soft bread crumbs (cheap loaves white bread works best)
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage leaves (I am very generous with the sage)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves (and, equally as generous with the thyme)

In a large stock pot, cook and stir onion and celery in butter until onion is translucent and tender. Turn off heat and stir in about half the amount of hand cubed bread crumbs. Turn into a deep bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss. Amount of bread cubes used will depend on how moist the oysters are so, add in stages. Cook in a covered dish At 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

*Be sure to use quality, salty oysters (preferably Chincoteague) otherwise it's just not as delish.

Kindness of Babe for letting me know our morning 9 miler burned over 1000 calories which freed me up for a guiltless fried oyster sandwich and onion rings indulgence while our oyster supply was being packed on ice for the long ride home...XXOO

Bridesmaids Gift Series: Alice Indelicato of North River Outfitter

Alice Indelicato of North River Outfitter and I connected through our mutual friend Abbi. It's only a matter of time Alice before we finally meet in person. I am champing at the bit for Babe to land a study in Boston so I'll have an excuse to visit you at NRO. And, lemme tell ya...I ain't leaving without one of those large leather foot stools. Even if it means buying TWO train tickets for the ride home...

Jewelry or a wrap is always a good bridesmaid gift however, a bit predictable. I think I've received a strand of pearls three times now. Sometime its nice, once you've been in several weddings, to get something a little different. Something just for you and not for wearing in the wedding. Preferably something monogrammed...

For this I suggest our Jon Hart products like the Holiday Tote...

Since this Texas based company allows you to choose from a variety of colors, with hot stamp or gold leaf monogram styles, the gift could be unique to each girl...

Another stylish, colorful option would be the best-selling JPK Paris Bucket bag...

And, so many colors to choose from...

A fun jewelry option would be a couple Lilly Pulitzer Ms. Bo-Bangles. Finally, a bangle you can wear if you have little hands or wrists. Cute on everyone!

And, you couldn't go wrong with Stephen Bonanno's Emma monogrammed sandal. The possible color combinations are endless...

Best wishes from North River Outfitter!

Kindness of Alice Indelicato of NRO for all her stylish suggestions. Can I just tell you Alice, I met my friend for a morning workout last week and shrieked when I saw her purse. I recognized her JPK Paris Bucket bag from your email! I was so proud. Until the envy kicked in...XXOO

*All you DC gals and guys don't forget the Junior League of Washington's 52nd Annual A Capital Collection of Holiday Shops begins today and runs through the weekend. Lotsa preppy merchants with loads of fabulous loot...

Bridesmaids Gift Series: Meg Carter of Meg Carter Designs

Less than a year after meeting Meg Carter, she has become quite a beachhousehold name round these parts. My sisters, mom, the bff, the nieces, their friends...we all speak Megese. Texts and calls full of "do you think my Sea Candy dangles would go with my blue Calypso dress?"..."may I borrow your big pearls tonight?"..."but, if I get the navy one think how great the green Alice dangles will look with it"...pass with regularity between us. I think it would even be safe to say, that through sheer osmosis alone (it's not easy being the lone male in a household forever teaming with females) even Babe could get by without a translator if dropped in the middle of Megland...

It is a real treat for Meg Carter Designs to work with a bride, and a thrill to a part of her special day. And, with the internet as it is, it is also a snap...

I like to start by getting a sense of the whole event - the setting, time of day, time of year, bridesmaids dresses and flowers, and the bride herself...

We have worked with brides in all sorts of fabulous venues. For a city wedding in London, bridesmaids in floor length midnight blue gowns with bouquets of soft pink peonies were treated to the Pink Drop earrings...

While bridesmaids in the Hamptons received the Henlopen bracelet...

And Blossom Pearl stud earrings...

Further south, in Hilton Head, lucky bridesmaids went home with the Fenwick Double necklace (which was also featured in InStyle)...

I understand your stylish reader has planned her day in the rolling hills and horse country of North of Baltimore (where coincidentally I will be having a trunk show this Thursday and Friday at J McLaughlin). Her special day in June will begin with the ceremony at 2:00pm followed by outdoor cocktails and a reception at a club in the country...

I love the palette she has selected to mirror the setting - sage green bridesmaids dresses with flowers of white and cream and a touch of shell pink. The bride will wear her family pearls down the aisle. So, in keeping with the timeless style and natural setting, I offer the following suggestions for her Bridesmaids gifts...

One of our most popular Bridesmaid gifts, featured in Brides Magazine, are the Bloom Pearl Drop earrings. These come in a variety of colors, as your bride has indicated an interest in a unique but similar piece for each of her girls...

Since some brides choose a bracelet to go with the earrings, I think the Henolopen...

The Antibes Pink...

And, the Antibes Pearl are all timeless choices...

Or, she might opt for the Audrey Drops earrings...

Also in available in semi precious gemstones of a variety of colors...

Lastly, just for fun, if there is that one bridesmaid who is infinitely more at home by the sea than near a horse, with a wink she might celebrate their differences with the new Nanny's Seahorse dangles...

We are happy to offer a discount to large bridal parties, and the discount extends to the bride's entire order. So she may need to pick up a little something for her trousseau and honeymoon, or to wear to the rehearsal dinner...

Or, lest we forget honoring the mother of the bride and her future mother in law, perhaps with the Babe blister pearl studs...

Best wishes to the Bride for a lifetime of happiness!
Meg Carter

Kindness of beachhousehold name Meg Carter for always being availabe to help a blogger in need. I've always wished I had an identical twin and I think the Universe finally responded with your entry into my life. Love of the sea...Belgian Shoes...Charlottesville...Christalle and Lauren perfumes...vintage mink stoles...Pucci...Hermes...why, it's like we were separated at birth...XXOO