Furminator Breach Of Contract

This unseasonably hot weather has been exhausting for lil Pilgie who was still sporting his handsome winter coat...

His good looks may have helped land him his "face of FURminator" gig but, they were starting to cramp his cusp of summer style...

We'll have to read the fine print to see if his new "lion cut" doo is a breech of his modeling contract...

Maybe it'll end up being a career making move like when Linda Evangelista cut off all her hair...

Or, he can become a swimsuit model in Iceland posing in bikinis and knee high fluffy white fur boots...

The downside of his new svelte look? Being hounded by the Paparazzi...

The upside? Access to new and exciting places...

That you maybe couldn't get into before. Ahhh, the pitfalls and perks of celebrity...

Kindness of Ellen Garrity for encouraging Pilgie to enter the world of modeling. If FURminator doesn't tear up our contract Ellen we promise to send a finder's fee. Do you like your Greenies in single or three packs? XXOO

Mother And Maybe Daughter's Day

A couple of months ago Summer in Newport mentioned the beautifully illustrated book Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad and I immediately made two mental notes...

One, throw a copy into my virtual shopping cart for moi...

And two, add one for my mother-in-law Lillie for Mother's Day...

Now, my mom has been dying to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo so, my Mother's Day plan for her included an afternoon of popcorn and film for us her. Whatever possessed me to think our dated theater at the beach, where you can see still The Blind Side annnd gum under the seat from 1980, would be showing a foreign movie with subtitles can be chalked up to a momentary delusion of locale grandeur...

Plan B, the Escali Primo Digital kitchen scale, was put into play. Now my Mom can make the Goat Cheese Cheesecake recipe with the wierd measurements. The fact that I would potentially benefit from this gift as well was realized after the fact. Cross my heart...

Kindness of my Mom and Lillie for being great mothers to Josh and I both. These small gifts hardly represent our gratitude and love...XXOO

Hold Onto Your Wallet Daddy

Daddy again Skip Brooks at Alex Grant is running a series asking some of us female bloggers to pick an outfit for his so scrumptious you could eat her with a spoon daughter Avery. Well, hold on to your wallet Daddy and welcome to Babe's world...

It's never to early for a girl to learn early that, even though only she knows it's there (til marriage promise!), nice underwear makes you feel special. And, if you can find the Skivvydoodles panties with the days of the week, even better...

I suggest Lilly right outta the gate, natch...

And, a Papo de Anjo cardi for those cool summer evenings and church. Avery should work on her around the neck sweater tying skill set well before those tiresome laces enter the picture...

First come Marie Chantel gold gladiator sandals then comes Louboutins...

Like Mother like daughter with the child's Van Cleef and Arpels Sweet Alhambra mother-of-pearl and gold bracelet. But, Mummy first please...

This child's Nantucket basket purse will be certain to become an heirloom...

And, will be a perf stand in til Daddy springs for the real thing at an appropriate age..

You're in luck cuz Melissa Odabash makes teenie weenie cutesy bikinis for your beach baby...

And, back to Papo de Anjo for a swanky tunic coverup cuz modesty at the proper times is most little ladylike...

We want to make sure your darling's good taste is subliminally ingrained from a young age so make sure her surroundings are beautiful...

And, instill culture whenever possible...

Lastly, speak to her now of Paris and promise her that one day you will take her there for a father daughter weekend. Because, according to Gwynnie, the first time she sees Paris should be with her Daddy, a man that will love her forever...

Kindness of Skip at Alex Grant for inviting me to contribute. Babe is available for sympathy and a "better you than me" pat on the back. And, I'm available for shopping play dates...XXOO

Work Wardrobe

Now, before you hasten to judgement, let me just say in my defense that beginning in a few weeks I'm pretty much in a bikini from sun up til sundown. So, it's only practical that I build a excessive modest wardrobe of swimwear to get me through the summer...

Of course, we have theee white contender sure to get so much wear that it'll be forced into an early August retirement...

And the "once I see results from my grueling P90Xhaustive workouts and not a moment before" teenie weenie number...

I had this in white last year and wore it into the ground so, this year I'm test driving it in black which is sure to look smashing against the background of an Hermes beach towel, if one should land on my lap...

And, the pièces de résistance, are the two Pucci numbers I snagged during the unsupervised portion of my NYC trip...

But, once I sashay out on to the beach in this...

...or this all bronzed, blonde and lubed up in Bain De Soleil gelee, Babe will likely be past any protesting. That 'tis my plan I'm I'm holding to it...

And, just in case I find myself in need of another bikini before summer's out, I have this skimpster cued up in my virtual shopping basket ready to be called into the game at a moments notice...

Kindness of Babe who will hopefully, before choking on his Morning Dew, take under consideration the fact that I am promising to hang up my shopping spurs for a couple of months. Gifts, however, are always welcome...XXOO

Eating My Way Through NYC

Babe and I had a great 24 hours together in NYC and managed to pack in a couple of fabulous meals on Sunday...

As soon as we arrived in town, we dumped our bags at the W Union Square and hightailed it over to our hot spot Ippudo where we warmed up with yummy pork buns. I drrreeeam of these going the way of White Castle burgers someday...

As soon as I picked out the floating chunk of pork my Ramen was scrumptious. If I lived in this town, Ippudo would be my heroin...

Babe's meat heavy Ramen (shudder). But, the broth was delish...

You'd think I'd be stuffed after that late lunch but, nope. Still had a spring in my step as we hustled over to Momofuko's Milk Bar, home of the infamous Compost Cookie, for dessert...

Yes, Anderson Cooper, Crack Pie is all that...

Later that night it was off to Quality Meats where Babe had a romantic dinner a deux planned but, it ended up being pour quatre cuz we were seated intimately close to Monica Lewinsky and her date!

Right there, in the middle of the banquette seating, our purses touched and pleasantries were exchanged. Thank goodness for Babe and his keen eye cuz otherwise the sighting would have gone right over my head. I was too busy admiring her poreless skin to realize who she was...

By Monday afternoon I was back on the train headed home to one lonely puss. The report from my sisters was that Pilgie had been standing post at the front door from the moment I had walked out and was even refusing treats. T. Anthony better get crackin on a cat carrier...

Kindness of Babe for whisking me away to NYC for some TLC and good eats. You are the best Dil! XXOO

Flags On The Field

Since Babe had such a rough week at work I tried to make his short weekend home special...

There was a present awaiting him annnd I made Mad Hungry's Grilled Baby Back Ribs. His response; "what are you buttering me up for?". Moi? Can't a wife make a generous overture without such an accusation?

Apparently, there are "recognizable flags" that are thrown when I want something and, according to Babe, the entire color guard was on the field. Pshaw! Can I help it if I had a sixth sense about a looming invite to NYC and all it's shopping glory? It's a psychic gift...

Richie's Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Serves 4

This recipe is cooked on the grill, but if you're cooking the ribs in the oven (see below), you'll need to add more seasoning to assure an authentic taste, to approximate the deep flavor of barbecue smoke, add one tablespoon each of cocoa and instant coffee to the rub. You can serve your favorite homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce on the side, although these ribs are so tasty when cooked properly that no sauce is needed.

2 racks baby back ribs (4 lbs total)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika (if available)
1 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons granulated brown sugar
1 cup favorite barbecue sauce

Sprinkle the ribs generously with salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, combine the sweet and smoked paprika, sage, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, and brown sugar. Rub the mixture into the meat and let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or refrigerated for up to 2 hours.

Prepare a charcoal grill for indirect heat. (If oven-roasting, see below)

Place the ribs on the grill, on very low heat, 250° or less. Remember, don't cook ribs over direct flames. Cover and almost close the vents. Every 20 minutes, turn the ribs around to cook evenly. They should be perfectly cooked within 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Oven-Roasting as an Alternative: Place rub-seasoned ribs on a baking sheet and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 350°. Increase the heat to 425°, brush over barbecue sauce, and cook for 15 more minutes until caramelized.

Kindness of Babe for graciously accepting my bribe gifts in the spirit in which they were given. The fact the we were soon to be in the vicinity of an Hermes was PUUURE coincidence...XXOO

Team Of Doctors

Pilgie and I struggled through our first week alone and were kept emotionally afloat by an outpouring of support. Dr. Babe only received a single 911 call chock full of histrionics from us during his grueling work week...

Fortunately for us, and an overwhelmed Babe, Dr. Meg Carter was also on call...

The timing of this script's arrival couldn't have been more karmic as it was moments after I fell through the open wood beach house stairs nearly going into shock from the trauma...

Not to be outdone as my "specialist" physician, Babe has whisked me back to NYC with him for some TLC which includes a ressie at Quality Meats. (whispered) I have big plans to ply him with Porterhouse so as to receive his shopping blessing. Shhh...

Kindness of my world class team of doctors and Pilgie R.N. for all their care. Later this afternoon I'll be heading home from the train station, cranking my Bad Day tunes, happily eying my shopping bags in the rear view mirror and feeling much on the mend...XXOO