Happy Birthday Teague and Charlotte

This weekend my family will converge at my sister Mandy's house where she and her husband, Scott, host an annual birthday extravaganza for my niece and nephew.

Teague and Charlotte are true Irish twins, born less than a year apart, with only a couple of days between their birthdays in July.



This year Aunt Alice and Uncle Babe are gifting Charlotte with one of my all time fav movies, Born Free. You know that universal question, "If you could invite five people living or dead to dinner who would they be"? Well, although not technically a "person", Elsa would be at the top of my list. I'd seat her right next to Seabiscuit.

British children of a "certain class" are brought up on Kipling and I still remember begging my mom to read "just one more chapter" before bed when I was very young. Although, I am of English decent, I don't think I fall quite into the aforementioned category but, one can reach. So, in passing on the tradition of Gunga Din and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, it's The Jungle Book for Tiggie. Aunt Allie will either be remembered for introducing a love of classics ooooorrrr....for horrible nightmares involving Shere Khan and big, mean man eating lions. It could go either way and I'm sure Mandy will keep me posted especially, if any loss of sleep is involved...

Margaret Elizabeth Designs

Private jet? Anyone? Anyone? I've got my thumb out trying to hitch a ride to Newport, RI in time for Margaret Elizabeth's Trunk Show at CK Bradley this Friday and Saturday.

I've got my T. Anthony duffel packed...

...and, I'm traveling light.

I figure all I need are a pair of white jeans...

A couple of Ralph Lauren cable knit cashmere sweaters...

A white tee or two...

...and, the Canfora's on my pretty little feet.

That's all I need to provide the perfect palette for all the lovely Margaret Elizabeth baubles I plan to scoop up.

I'll be the Beyonce of Newport swapping out my jewels like outfits as the weekend progresses.

With each stone, pearl and embellishment handpicked by Meg's expert eye, whichever lovely piece I happen to be sporting at the moment will hopefully deflect from the fact that I've forgotten to pack my underthings.

Pshaw! I needed room in the duffel for my new mini Margaret Elizabeth wardrobe that I will inevitably be bringing back with me! Considering Meg is offering 10% off to all Summer is a Verb groupies who show up, it's only natural to assume in multiples.

I'm thinking we should leave Thursday evening to ensure being fashionably early for the trunk show??? Call me...

See you at CK Bradley, July 10th and 11th, 28 Bellevue Ave in Newport, RI. Call CKB at 401.847.9777 with any questions such as, "are there any pieces left after Allie at Summer is a Verb came thru?". And, I suggest checking out Meg's blog to get you in the mood and limbered up for the big event.

Doctor Fancy Pants

A couple of years ago Santa left Babe a pair of Birds of Sausilito boxers in his stocking.

I had read about the family owned company in one of my Daily Candies while still living in Charlottesville. I bought them sight unseen mostly because Megan, of the husband and wife team, had graduated from UVA.

Luxurious custom tailored boxers AND a fellow Wahoo? It was a no brainer.

Doctor Babe was getting some literal fancy pants to match his figurative ones.

The Birds boxers come in a custom fit...

And, a classic fit...

I've been eyeing up the 448 thread count, custom made Pima cotton, single needle constructed, mother-of-pearl pajamas for Santa to bring moi. Puhleeze...I'd be hard pressed to wait til 4pm to don my daily lounge wear. And, I'd most definitely be showing up at Whole Foods in my pj's more than the usual no shame amount.

And now, Birds of Sausalito has co-branded with San Fransisco's "iconic" Mulholland Brothers to offer a handpicked selection of leather goods.

Babe may be graduating from fancy pants to fancy bags.

How I Wiled Away the Holiday

Dropping my camera, lense opened, with my butter fingers and breaking it...

Eying CKB's Calidora Top...

Appreciating a history making Wimbledon match...

Sampling selections of Bon Appetit's Around the World in 80 Hot Dogs at Chez Mom and Dad...

Doing a whole lot of this...

Seeing this three thumbs up (Hilary's, Emma's and mine), don't forget your linen hankie movie.

Annnd...still pursuing my pink Varina Boston lead.

PS...the five selections of hot dogs my parents made included the North Africa, the England, the India, the Spain and the Germany. England was by far my fav with the delcious roasted leeks and North Africa was pretty darn bitter and yucky. So, if we're rating on a 1-3 hot dog scale, England gets "3 Hot Dogs" while North Africa gets "1 Hot Dog...in the trash can".

Happy Fourth!

My July 4th will hopefully involve a little of the following...

I still have a weakness for sparklers and am putting in an official request for a birthday cake covered in them one of these years.

Barefoot Contessa says this was the most requested recipe from her column in Martha Stewart Living magazine. My sister Mandy used to be in charge of making this for us in the past so my fingers are crossed for this year...

Flag Cake
Serves 20-24

18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Icing
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

To Assemble
2 half-pints blueberries
3 half-pints raspberries


Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 18x12x1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.

Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature.

For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.

Spread three fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe 2 rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.

And, this is where my patience will pay off...

Why, it is my patriotic duty to help the economy in any way I can!

Wishing everyone a fun filled and safe July 4th...

Varina, Varina, Where Art Thou Varina?

I'm afraid I'm a day late and a Varina short...

Babe, Amy and I were walking to the theater in G'town to see "The Proposal" when Amy spied them. The Ferragamo Varina Ballet Flat.

Our mark was wearing an orange pair with casual, three inch shorts and a little blouse and she looked smashing.

Of course I was googling my brains out as soon as we returned home but, alas, I fear I have missed the Varina boat.

Has their shelf life expired? Have the candy colors gone into hibernation til next spring? Of course, this only serves to make them more desirable pour moi.

Revas shmevas I want some Varinas!!!

Good eye Amy Fahrenkopf! If I hadn't seen them paired so casually with shorts first hand I would never have made the fashion leap on my own...

Meg Carter Designs

My sister Julie's bff, Stephanie, alerted me to the pretty handcrafted jewelry by Meg Carter Designs. Included in the tipster email sent from Naples was the above pic of Lilly Pulitzer in WWD wearing one of Meg's designs. Now, Steph is a true blue prep and the first person I ever saw thread a silk scarf through her belt loops. Très chic stuff for underage pub crawls on bikes at the beach. If she's giving her prep seal of approval, I'm buying.

The Palm Beach necklace just begs to be paired with a Lilly frock or a slightly wrinkled button down, collar haphazardly up.

While the Positano prefers white jeans, a white tee and a pair of Stephen Bonanno's...

I wish these trinkets had been around when I was outfitting bridesmaids.

How perfect would these...

Or these have been for all my pretty maids?

Talk about two birds with one stone...surrounded by a bevy of pretty bridesmaids AND the perfect gift from the bride? You'll be applauded for your smashing taste and generosity. Never mind how gracious you are in your attempt to have your ladies shine almost as brightly as you.

On the top of my Meg Cater wish list are these Golden Rings dangles. Kind of takes the edge off the boyishly short new do.

The Casey dangle would go with practically everything in my summer wardrobe

But, I also love these...

And these...

Too many beautiful pieces, too little fundage.

PS...Just found out that Sherman Pickey in G'town carries Meg's designs for us lucky locals...

Kindness of Emma's fashionably smart godmother, Stephanie Shockley DeMallie...