Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Locks of Greatness

Hello Lovelies:


Hope everyone had a fab weekend!  Mine began in what I called a "stabby" mood but was quickly dissolved - amazing what great friends, shopping and some cocktails will do!  Saturday was the PERFECT beach day followed by lil' Tar-jay and Rack time (DSB and I like to call trips to Rack "Rack Rides" and car dance to Rack City. Whaaa?!  Y'all don't do the same thing?!)  Saturday night we went to an impromptu party at friends new gorgie condo and Sunday I slept, packed and cleaned my apartment - yawn.


The best part of my Sunday came at 4P when I made a last minute appointment to get a blow out.  And not just any blow out - a $21 blowout.  Yes ma'am $21!  And where did this magic happen?  At Blo South End - the opening was worth the wait!


SUPER Cheeky Advertising


They had their grand opening on Friday (complete with pink wigs and bartenders - sign me up!) and all day Saturday and Sunday all blowouts were $21!


So I skedaddled my way down Colmbus to their cute white and grey shop with all of the hot pink accents a girl could ask for.  On a arrival I was given their hair menu from which to choose from one of  their signature syles.  




It also did not hurt that they had custom cupcakes and bubs! 






I went with the Red Carpet from the menu - very traditional - as I wanted to rock this style for a few days.


My hair was luckily filthy and my petite dynamo stylist Jennifer went to town.  Her wash/head massage was amazing and the Unite products they used (forget which one was mine specifically) smelled like a minty floral heaven, so yummy! Then the drying began, can we talk about how jacked this chick is?  Arms of steel, crazy!  She did a great job, super efficient and I walked out feeling like a million bucks!




Cheesiest pic EVER!
I am happy to report that as of Tuesday AM the hair 'did is still rocking, yay!


In other news, thoughts on the Bachelorette?  I dislike Emily immensely and did not watch at all, but got sucked into the finale and I have to say I kinda like "Jef with one f"! (But Arie is way hotter!)


I am sweating in NY for the week, try to control your jealousy!


XOXO,
KW

Friday, July 20, 2012

Five Things Friday

My of the moment OCDs:


1. Lilly Pulitzer Briar Skirt in Multi Sailor Patch.  


Picked her up from sweet Marty at Life's a Beach in Duck two weeks ago...color me obsessed, it matches SO many things, though navy is my current fav for a top.  Wearing her today!

2. This weather!  


The heat finally broke and the past two days have been heavenly in the 70s.  Would like to warm up just smidge for tomorrow as DSB and I plan to dominate  Good Harbor all the live long day tomorrow.  One of the few things that gets me on the road at 8A on a Saturday!




3. Kashi 

I have always loved this cereal but often forget about it.  Made a rediscovery last weekend and am eating it in heavy rotation. 


4. Sock Buns

I got on the bandwagon a little late last month and last Saturday I picked up a brill-pad-ish bun-maker (is that a word?) at H&M.  Has changed my life!  I did a high one last weekend and rocked a low one (ala Vineyard Loveknots) yesterday.  I have been "training" my hair to only have to wash it about twice a week (hey, it works for me!) and this (and boatloads of this) has saved me on the days when it gets a little borderline!  OF course I can not get the pics to load, but they follow me on Instagram or Twitter to see them: @kaw3589


5. The Olympics

The fact that they will be here in seven short days rocks my world!!!  I am an Olympic GEEK of geeks and I get a little overexcited every two years.  I have a tradition of watching the opening ceremonies with my mama and MMS in K-town and next Friday night will be no exception.  CAN NOT WAIT!





Hope everyone has an amazing weekend!

XOXO,
KW

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Bad Blogger!

(So yeah, I am not winning at life in the blog department, c'est la vie!  On vacation in Duck with the fam for the week and it gave me a little time to attempt and catch up!)

Sunday June 3 I departed Boston for a ride over the pond that eventually landed me in Barcelona for a unique 15 day work trip (sidenote: flight was EMPTY and such a treat!).

I am in LOVE with Barcelona!  Everyone always raves about it, but I had no idea it was that awesome!  The hotel was right on the beach in Olympic park, great walking area to a ton of restaurants, the beach, gelato (we indulged a few times!) and both Barcelonetta (more on that later) and Las Ramblas were both within walking distance.

Yummy Coke Light

This was after 7PM and it was so light out it appears more like 3PM

I spent five days there working very long days and seeing the city at night.  I always forget the Spanish don’t eat before nine so late afternoon snacks were in order!

Had some awesome tapas at Sagardi Euskal Taberna. You eat your way around the restaurant and pay by the toothpick. 
 

Catalan sausage, tuna with egg white and goat cheese with blueberry  - my favorites!

Also was lucky enough to have dinner at Arola at  The Arts – was incredible!!!  (Sadly my blackberry decided to reject all of the photos, grr!)

My time in BCN came to an end and I began seven days on this bad boy: Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas



I have been on ships before, but never to this enormity!  I knew it was going to be huge, a virtual city on the Med, however WOW - I was a little blown away! 

More to follow on the ship!


XOXO,
KW

Thursday, June 21, 2012

HB to Moi!

May 25th I took the plunge over to the OTHER side of check box.  But whatevs, age is mindset…so that makes me anywhere between 14 (when caught rockin’ out to “Call Me Maybe” and One Direction in my wayfarers) and 25 (when I think I can still drink like that!)

Anyhoo, I hightailed it outta Orlando for a perfect weekend in my happy happy happy place: Duck, NC.  My family has had a home there for close to 30 years and I truly consider it home more than the home I grew up in in NY.  (And along with that consider myself a quasi-southerner...Yankee status be damned!)

I arrived Thursday afternoon and was quickly on the deck, G&T in hand in white pants and Jacks – all things that signal the start of summer!  Soon after two of my favorite nuggets and their parents arrived and the fun began. 

I was awoken the next morning to all of my favorite things…Ducks Cottage iced coffee being delivered, Meme waffles, some tent sale action, a visit to Lilly, their new sister (brother?) store  Untucked (totes check it out if you are in the area, great selection of Southern Tide among others), pulled pork and a blissful afternoon in the sun in my new Marley Lilly hat, a gift from the nuggets! 



That evening all I wanted to was sit on the beach, cocktail and eat Will's fried chicken and okra and my wish was granted! 


How cute are we?!?

THE BEST!


We then had my awesome annual cake of white cake, homemade whipped crème and strawberries.  The perfect day!

The rest of the weekend consisted of more of the same – coffee shop, shopping, beach, cocktails, neighbors and laughs.  GREAT TIME!

My weekend was cut short by the dreaded W word and Monday night I headed up to Chicago for the week.  I was lucky enough to catch an awesome game at Wrigley, make a killer new friend, have a debaucherous evening with an old friend all between entertaining clients and having a majorly productive work week.  By the time I got back to Boston late on the 31st I was spent…and only home for 72 hours!!


More birthday to come!


XOXO, 
KAW

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

It's (one of) the most wonderful day(s) of the year!

HAPPY SUMMER LOVIES!!!


It is no secret that I love me some summer - beach time, jaunty frocks, Jacks, cocktails, you name it!  And today is one of the best days of the season: it is not only the first day of summer, but all National Wear Your Lilly Day! 




I rarely need an occasion to do so, but today is extra special and I wore my new favorite skirt (yes, I am a grown woman wearing a skirt covered in pastel monkeys, sue me!) Skirt courtesy of this rockin' Etsy shop. 


Forgive the janky shot - BB is so helpful *FAIL

In addition to Lilly day it's also Solstice...the looooongest day of the year (a day early, thanks Leap Year!) and the perfect excuse to rock out to some Dar.

Happy day to all and I PROMISE an update from the last month of gallivanting is to follow...currently negotiating photos off a very finicky micro SD card on my phone.

XOXO,
KW



Where in the World?



Oh the places I have been!  

Going to spend this week feebly (is that even a word?) attempting to catch y'all up on where the sam hill I have been the past month!

My journey began way back on May 17th with a work trip to Orlando.  Allow me to please let the record state that I hate Orlando.  HATE it.  Yet I had such and amazing experience there I am a converted believer!  Worked my tail off, but met so many wonderful people and created a ton of great memories.


Spent a lovely night dining and cruising to the fireworks with AS and team.


I am giving my makeup combo for the night an A+!


I had yet to DATW and we had a BLAST and a half during an odd free night. 

Starting it off right, think this was in Norway , all awesome peeps

By far the coolest part was the private event we did at Harry Potter – I have never seen a movie or picked up a book, but SO appreciate it!
It was about 1000 degrees, yet the faux snow did nothing to cool us off, weird, right?

Next up - My Birthday in Duck!!

XOXO,
KAW



Thursday, June 07, 2012

be.designs Giveaway

Hi Lovies:


I know it's been forevs, I have been a super bizzy bee gallivanting all over the place - Orlando, NC, Chicago, Boston for a hot minute and now in Europe for two weeks - sitting in Barcelona as I type.


I love be.designs and Let The Tide Pull Your Dream Ashore is hosting a giveaway for the cutest (not to mention TRES KAW style) pillow that I adore:




This post is securing me an additional entry but feel free to spread the word and get yourself entered.


XOXO,
KAW


Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Cooking Adventure!

Hello Lovies:


Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend a class at Create a Cook in Newton.  It was an event sponsored by one of my vendor partners so not only did I get to spend time with some awesome people, I also got to do one of my favorite things - cook!


It was an Italian feast and I immediately eyed the pasta station as I had never made pasta before.  I have to tell you, it was SO easy!  I will post the actual recipe when I get it, but essentially you aerate flower in a food processor, add eggs and let it rip 'til it forms into a ball of dough.  Knead it out a little, wrap and plastic and let sit for about 15 minutes, quarter the ball and crank each piece through this puppy quite a few times.  


Once thin enough run it through the top part to slice the noodles.  Two keys are LOTS of flour to keep them from sticking and cooking for to al dente for a very short time otherwise 30 seconds too long overcooks them into a gluten-ey mess! 


Some pics of ML and me makin' the magic happen:










Excuse the red faces, it was SO hot in that kitchen!
The finished product! 


Full disclaimer: ML is NOT a cook.  I am the only one who has ever used her gorgeous kitchen so this was huge for her, SO proud! 


XOXO,
KW

Monday, May 14, 2012

Mama's Day Weekend in K-town

I had great intentions of setting this to post earlier in the weekend, but we all know about the best of intentions...#fail.


Anyhoo, headed to the Big K for the weekend and had a fabby time.  HIGHLY recommend Kodomo brand new and SO good, highly unexpected for K-town!  Had a great dinner with the 'rents on Friday night.


Saturday I got a full on dose of Ktastic-ness. Made a schlep out to Stone Ridge for one of these:



(and a hanging basket for Grandma W), a trip to the icky HVM, a trip uptown to Bop to Tottem, stop for some sauce at Dallas and some yummy SW hot dogs followed by some of this Mickey's II with MCS.


This my ALL TIME perfect cone -
small twist with rainbow sprinkles!
Ran around a ton, went to 5P Mass and then went to dinner at Boitson's and we sat outside, was a perfect night!  Dad and I toasted my sister's 5th wedding anniversary (Mom took the pic):


Silly face, amazing his eyes are open!


Went to see Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with Mom and MCS after dinner and I loved it, Mom not so much.  


Sunday was the big show - lots of gifties for mom including some new black Jack Rogers and the Bridier Baubles "Under the Sea" Bracelet that I am glad I bought back in April because it appears to be gone from the site (I bought three!).




We had the usual Deising's carb fest on Lounsbury place did a lot of nothing and then went to pay homage to Kitty and Irene at the bar with the extended "fam"


Slainte Kitty & Irene!


Then we were off to meal number two of the day on Lounsbury for the annual Mother's Day Chinese takeout dinner.  


Back to Beantown for a star turn before the marathon month of traveling begins!


XOXO,
KW



Friday, May 11, 2012

Five Things Friday


Not sure who I am borrowing this from...I think it was originated with 
Hopsy?  Thank you to whoever you are!


1. The "It" necklace.  SO ridic that this thing is $150 on J. Crew!  I saw this post on JGIWC back in early April and did my own little eBay search...and there are tons of them in the $15 range (plus shipping).  I hate to do a knockoff, but rules are made for bending.  It is really great quality,  just took about three week to get here from Hong Kong.


Sorry for the janky tee/crooked necklace!


2.  Betches Love This awesome Revenge Recaps.   (BREAKING NEWS: Revenge was JUST picked up for second season...cue the choirs of angels.)


3. This shirt - I got in coral a few weeks ago and I think I also need navy and white





4. Realizing while in line at Starbucks this AM that my necklace and  Tervis matched - I never proclaimed to be anything less than a dork!





5. My new email bud K over at Pencil Skirts and Pinot Noir - we are going to have illegal amounts of fun DROOLING over Etsy...among other things! 


(Sorry for no not one but two pics of my chest...wth?!)


XOXO,
KW

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Call Me Maybe

(So I set this to auto post today at 4PM EDT and it did not work - anyone know why?)


This is super duper amazing! (via Boston.com ).  I am OBSESSED with this song...what, you didn't know I am really a 14 year old girl?!? 


Can someone hook a sister up and show me how to insert a video?

The James Beard Awards



Some people get starstruck around celebrities, and trust me, I love to see some celebs in the flesh, but it's chefs who really do it for me.  I don't know what it is, but someone (whether CIA trained or self taught) who can put so much love on a plate makes me a little weak in the knees.


So needless to say I get a LEETLE excited for the James Beard Awards.  And I more than geeked out while watching them...I simultaneously had Food Network on the TV on mute, the awards streaming on my iPad while cooking dinner!

I was really touched by Charlie Trotter as I had no idea he was such a humanitarian and did so much for the city of Chicago.  Also super psyched to see two big Boston wins for o ya and No. 9 Park.  I have not had the luck of dining at o ya yet (that needs to be a "someone else's expense report dinner" fo' sho'!) but love me some BL Gruppo - huge fan of B&G and Sportello



I was craving beans for some reason (total comfort food) and made my favorite "clean out the fridge fajita/burrito/wrap" for dinner, the leftovers of which I have been eating all week.  I would post a recipe, but there really isn't one - just chop and saute whatever veg you have (red pepper, onion and a can of green chilis in this case), toss in a protein if you have any (I used chicken), heat some beans (I normally used black, but this time it was veggie refried) and slap between a toasted tortilla.  I had a smidge of shredded cheese left but no sour cream so this was an almost dairy free adventure.  


I will SING the praises of Dorot frozen cilantro...this stuff rocks!  Apparently it's European and I have only found it at Trader Joe's but it'a amazing if you don't have fresh herbs.  (I also use tons of their frozen garlic and basil in the winter. )



Once cooked it looks like a big mess of this:




And the final product, an ugly but tasty treat.  And there's nothing like a tall boy of 'gansett Summer in an RC koozie while watching Jacques Pepin...keepin' it klassy.



Any thoughts on Around the World in 80 Plates?  Saw part of it the first ep. last night, still on the fence.  It is awesome to see Nookie on there representing Red Sox Nation. 


XOXO,
KW

Monday, May 07, 2012

Weekend Part Deux

Oh dear sweet lovely Sunday with zero agenda, yay!  I took my sweet time getting up, caught  up on mindless Bravo and thoroughly enjoyed my favorite Sunday at home breakfast - one slice of whole wheat toast with turkey bacon and cheddar and one slice with raspberry jam - sweet and savory perfection...now if the coffee fairy would only deliver!


I wandered out of the house around 1:00 to head down to the first weekend of SOWA Open Market for the season.  En route I ran into this going on outside of B&G:




Was bummed I missed it for the second year in a row, but there were also tons of other things happening in the South End.  Walking down Waltham Street I ran into a park dedication and finally SoWa Art Walk.  I did some gallery poking around, had some laughs over 90s music with the folks at Patch NYC, did some drooling at M. Flynn and finally arrived at the market.


Poor photo!
I was not only delighted to see Emily at The Fashion Truck but also psyched to check out her new spot front and center at the entrance of the farmers market.  Perfect spot away from the mobs and the smelly food trucks - no one wants their frocks smelling like hot dogs!  I am hoping she will let me do a more in depth post on her fab concept later in the season.

Of course I picked up a few treats 

Black & hot pink are my favs and capped off
a "horsey" weekend.
And this little rhinestone addition to my
arm party - had been dying for one!
(I got the white/beaded one at Patch NYC along with a vintage
postcard with letterpress monograms on it.)
I had a great wander through the craft stalls, lusted after some pillows & jewelry, bought too many cards and then hit the indoor vintage market where I picked up a little treat for MMC.  I kept the food truck indulging to a minimum and had some The FroYo Truck for the first time, thumbs up for the California tart and chocolate with strawberries.  


Made a stop at Trader Joe's en route home and made dinner for KLE and DSB.  Did simple turkey meat balls - ground turkey, one egg, breadcrumbs, fine red onion, salt and pepper (I was out of garlic and forgot the parsley, whoops!).  While they cooked I sauteed 1/8 cup of red onion in olive oil and added sliced portobellos, halved grape tomatoes, 1/2 cup of Trader Joe's organic marinara (a fav, it is their best jarred sauce by far), salt, pepper and a bag of fresh spinach.  Plated up the meatballs with the "stew" in the middle with a dollop of fresh ricotta and fresh shaved parm.  I also did a simple salad of fresh arugula tossed with my go-to dressing of olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh lemon, a little lemon zest and some fine red onion. 


I took a stab at floral arranging and am giving myself a solid C - it's pretty wonky and one of the hydrangeas was wilted within a few hours but will keep trying!


I am fairly certain I won't be putting
Winston's out of business anytime soon!
Sad to see an epic weekend end but psyched for lots of good things on tap for this week - especially the James Beard Awards - I will food nerd it out for sure!


XOXO,
KW

Sunday, May 06, 2012

Weekend Part One

A few things should have tipped me off that this weekend was going to rock.

Exhibit A:
Interofficed eyelashes from KEng...how could that mean anything less than fun?!?



Exhibit B:  
DUH, it was Cinco de Derby!  The Derby alone sets we atwitter as jaunty headwear, gambling and bourbon cocktails are kind of my trifecta (no pun intended).  I was born to get all gussied up and this girl is never happier than when she is perched sipping out of a flute (or a julep cup as the case may be.)  I can thank my Nana Irene for this obsession, 'bet the jockey, not the horse".  God I miss that woman! 


Anyhoo, after work on Friday I met a group at Slate for a little happy hour.  I got there on the earlier side and am glad I did, it was wall to wall people after about 5:30 and still jammed when I left around 7:00.  I give it a C+ - decent drinks, but the they should have made the bar larger and the dining room smaller.  


I scurried home to change as I was late to meet DSB at the bar at Mistral.  It was jammed so we went to Brahmin (sadness on missing out on the tenderloin pizza!).  Neither of us had been yet as the line on weekends is normally ridiculous. It was OK, mostly parties of girls, including one who set her hair on fire!  We had a quick flatbread and cucumber cocktail before meeting the boys and the wretched smell set in.  Per usual we had a silly night full of laughs and galavanting.


Saturday AM I was a rock star and ran a million errands which included finding a new Derby chapeau, a manicure and lugging groceries all over the South End - which I totally counted as cardio.  I grabbed an sandwich at the (not so newly) re-opened Appleton Cafe and it was delicious, though I am not loving how antiseptic the redone space feels, has lost a ton of neighborhood charm.


My  biggest coups of the AM were procuring new hats along with  julep and margaritas delicacies:


Excuse my messy closet/unfinished hair.
Decided this was a little TOO bright for still chilly Boston.
Went with this more subdued option instead.
And of course I had to carry my Saratoga Longchamp - thanks Katch!



Somehow this one got inverted!
Wound up watching the race with juleps at a friend's in Beacon Hill
Note to self: I REALLY need to buy some julep cups.
Post race we went to a Cinco De Derby party.  Super fun hats with some sombreros tossed in for good measure. 


Also got to see the Super Moon - again, janky photo from my BB, was a lot cooler in person, but the clouds were not exactly cooperating. 
On Exeter at Boylston, BPL to the right. 
Weekend Part Two coming tomorrow.


XOXO,
KW