My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Paris. He extended a business trip into a vacation and we were able to “unplug” from the world for a few days in an amazing city. What a blessing!
Tops on my itinerary was to hit the organic market at Boulevard Raspail in the 6th Arrondissement. I had read a review of it by Ina Garten and knew I needed to check it out.
We decided to go to the market late morning and pick up some items for a picnic in nearby Jardin du Luxembourg. I salivated over the amazing bread, produce, cheese, and butcher stands. There is something about the freshness of the ingredients in France that doesn’t seem to compare to the U.S. (though we are certainly beginning to hold our own here).
We picked up an amazing baguette, some goat cheese, fresh strawberries, and some jus du pomme and headed to the park. We set up a little picnic on a bench with a lovely view, including active Parisians playing tennis, practicing tai chi, and learning martial arts moves. Just another Sunday in Paris!
I had packed some picnic essentials from home — knives, forks, napkins, cups… — so we were able to have a lovely meal and relax in the park for a while.
Summer picnics are one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice. It doesn’t take much to create a little feast to enjoy on sunny day with friends: a blanket, some victuals, a few beverages and voila! Al fresco dining!
A great place in DC to picnic is at Wolf Trap. What could be better than reclining in the grass on a breezy summer evening listening to great music?! Here are some ideas for setting up a great picnic at Wolf Trap this summer.
I am sorry to have been missing-in-action from the blog for over a week. But I promise I have a good excuse! I just got back last night from a trip to Paris and after I fight off a bit of this jet lag, I promise I will return to my regular posting schedule. Until then, here are a few shots from the trip!
Traveling overseas for your honeymoon? Keep your passport safe and stylish in this lovely passport cover from Smythson — one of my favorite leather goods stores. The cover comes in a variety of colors; I am partial to cerulian.
Bon Voyage!
Smythson passport cover, available at net-a-porter
I just got back from a quick trip to New York City where I made a stop by Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery. I think I left ten pounds heavier, but it was totally worth it. Like many other top tier, artisan bakeries, Bouchon is tinkering with the past — serving nostalgic treats that take us back to our childhood.
Two of my favorite nostalgic treats offered at Bouchon Bakery were the TKO and the Ho-Ho.
Thomas Keller's version of the Oreo with chocolate sable dough and a white chocolate ganache filling
TKO from Bouchon Bakery
Bouchon's take on a Ho-Ho
If you are in Yountville, Las Vegas, or New York, be sure to check out Bouchon’s playfully tasty treats!
Welcoming out-of-town wedding guests with a gift bag at their hotel is a thoughtful gesture and one that is an increasingly standard part of most weddings. A welcome gift need not be extravagant — a thank you note, an itinerary and map, and maybe some water and snacks would certainly suffice. But for those who may wish to add a little more pomp and flair to their guests’ arrival, the following ideas may get your creative juices flowing and, if assembled, would indeed constitute one incredibly luxurious SWAG bag!
The ultimate out-of-town gift bags will help your guests…
1. …stay hydrated.
Water is a critical element to any welcome gift. Voss (sparkling is my fave, but it is also available in still) is not only great H20, but it’s packaging is also very sleek.
Voss water
2. …fight back a snack attack!
To satiate those late night snack attacks, be sure to include some treats — both salty and sweet — for your guests. To reflect your wedding location, consider including snacks with local flair (e.g. Virginia peanuts, Maine blueberries, etc.).
Kettle Chips are a great option for a salty snack.
Lightly salted Kettle Chips
For a sweet snack, consider these options from two of the best artisan chocolatiers.
Knipschildt's chocolate-dipped pear slices
Recchiuti's Black Box
3. …keep their breath fresh.
Jila gum and Choward’s mints are not only a refreshing treat for guests, but the smart packaging will be visually appealing, as well.
Jila Sugar Free Gum available through CandyDirect.com
Choward's Spearmint Mints
4. …know where they are going.
One of the most important things to include in a welcome gift is information about the timing and locations of the weekend’s events. Three great options for wedding maps include:
Help guests make their hotel room feel more like home with thoughtful touches like travel diffusers or monogrammed slippers. For beach weddings, consider adding flip flops or a beach towel. For cooler climes, a cashmere throw, ski hats, or monogrammed scarves would be a nice treat. Guests will also appreciate other small items like asparin and a mending kit.
Travel Diffuser from Archipelago
Hermes printed beach towel
Williams-Sonoma Home Cashmere Throw
6. …capture the moment.
Yes, your professional photographer will be there to capture the key moments of your wedding. But don’t miss those behind-the-scenes moments that only your guests can capture. Single use cameras can be fun for guests; those cameras with black-and-white film are particularly cool. A luxurious option for capturing moments on film would be to provide guests (or even just your wedding party) with Flip cameras. You can even personalize the camera with a picture of the bride and groom or the bride/groom with that particular guest.
Kodak's Black & White Single Use Camera available through Amazon.com
The Flip MinoHD camcorder
7. …feel welcomed and honored.
A welcome back is not complete without a personalized note from the bride and groom thanking the guest for coming and for sharing their wedding with them. While personalized notes do take time to write, they will make each guest feel even more honored and welcomed and know how much you appreciate their presence and friendship.
8. …pack it all up.
Once you’ve assembled all of the special welcome treats for your guests, you’ll need to present the items to them in lovely packaging. This is a wonderful chance to incorporate your theme (e.g. gifts at a beach wedding could be packaged in canvas beach bags). Keep in mind that your guests will have to pack up these items and to take them home with them, so try not to make the packaging too bulky or awkward. Fun tote bags like the ones below or beautiful Kolo boxes can be good options.
City Out-of-Town Totes available at Blissweddingsmarket.com
For the past few days I was in the Boston area, which is where I am from originally. Going back there, regardless of the length of stay or reason for the trip, always feels like being home again.
I arrived Saturday night and stayed at The Eliot Hotel, which I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a boutique hotel in the Back Bay. With less than 100 rooms, the Hotel’s luxurious charm feels stately without being stuffy. The staff were exceptionally accommodating. Newbury Street is within walking distance which makes it a great spot for a weekend shopping getaway (sadly, I did not get to engage in any retail therapy on this trip!).
I had dinner at Clio, which boasts a James Beard Award-winning chef and innovative dishes (my “laquered foie gras” first course was incredible).
From Boston I moved to the North Shore to stay at the Inn at Castle Hill (no, not the one in Newport, RI, which is also fabulous…). The Inn is so blog-worthy, that I guarantee to share more about it in future posts.
The Inn at Castle Hill
Staying at such gracious accommodations reminds me again of what is like to be an overnight guest and the little touches I appreciate when I am staying at a hotel, an Inn, or at friend’s home. I strive to make my home comfortable for overnight guests that stay with my husband and me and have set up our home and particularly our guest bedroom and bath to be as relaxing and convenient as they can be.
A few simple details can make your home a luxurious getaway for your guests:
In the Guest Bedroom
An assortment of books and magazines
A notebook and pen for guests to jot down reflections, brilliant ideas, or just a to-do list
Closet space, drawers, and hangers — be sure to make ample closet space for your guests, provide them with a variety of hangers, and ensure that there is space for them to set folded clothes either in a drawer or on a shelf in the closet
A luggage stand
Water carafe (or bottled water) with glasses (I adore these bedside carafes from Juliska)
Bedside Carafes from Juliska
Extra blankets and pillows of different firmness
alarm clock (Williams-Sonoma Home has a great selection, like this classic silver bamboo option)
Silver Bamboo Clock from Williams-Sonoma Home
flashlight
fan (even if the climate control is spot on, some guests prefer sleeping with the white noise of a fan)
Diffuser in a calming, neutral scent to create an even more peaceful space
In the Guest Bathroom
Always, always stock the bathroom with ample toilet paper. No one wants to ask for an extra roll.
Sets of plush towels
Shampoo and Conditioner (my favorite is Kerastase. Their Bain Satin product is versatile enough for most hair types.)
Shower gel, soap, body lotion, moisturizer (you can’t go wrong with L’Occitane, Kiehls, or Bliss for these items)
Hair dryer
Other little necessities like cotton balls, q-tips, a nail file, a shower cap, toothpaste, aspirin, sunblock, and mouthwash are also important to keep on hand
Elsewhere in the House
A House Fact Sheet – create a manual containing important information about your home. Our Fact Sheet includes our contact information and instructions on how to use our complicated entertainment system and espresso machine, among other things
Local Guides – maps, brochures from local sites of interest, train schedules, etc. You can even put together a little “suggestion” list of things for them to do or places to visit if they are not familiar with the area.
If your guests will be staying a long period of time, putting together a quick schedule might be helpful. Let them know when you are busy working (and/or attending other obligations) and when you will be home. This will enable them to feel comfortable making their own plans.
Snack station — create a tray of snacks (fruit, crackers, muffins, cookies…) and beverages that guests can easily help themselves to when they get hungry. Be sure to also orient them to the kitchen and pantry so they know where to find other items they might need or want
Above all, make time and space to relax and enjoy visiting with your guests. Plan ahead to make sure your schedule is clear and responsibilities at home and office are taken care of so that you don’t miss the opportunity to be with your friends or family.
I just returned from a trip to Las Vegas where Rex & Regina planned a 50th birthday celebration at Green Valley Ranch Resort for a fabulous woman named Grace. She’s the kind of woman that, if you meet her, you can’t help but instantly love her. She’s dynamic, bold, inspiring… and she has an enormous network of dear friends who all wanted to celebrate her birthday with her. What a testament to her and how loved she is!
Over 100 people came from around the country to Vegas for a weekend celebration. Grace wanted guests to come to celebrate not just her birthday, but also all of the exciting milestones that have occurred in people’s lives this year. Her friends were invited to bring their friends, and the weekend became a wonderful opportunity to visit with longtime friends and make new ones.
A destination event like this is a wonderful way to catch up with friends and celebrate life’s blessings, big or small. What fun it is to host a reunion of college friends, of special co-workers, of family — or better yet: all three. Bring your social circles together and celebrate… Vegas style!
An informal cocktail party was held on Friday evening so as people arrived at the resort they could mix and mingle. We chose a particular bar at the resort for the gathering because it had four 8-bottle enomatic machines that allowed guests to sample a variety of wines. (I love enomatic machines! They are so fun and interactive and great for a party. Stay tuned for a future post on chic party ideas at bars and restaurants in DC featuring this new trend in wine tasting.)
Mixing and Mingling...
We rented cabanas during the day so that guests could enjoy lounging by the pool. The cabanas also served as a convenient central meeting place for everyone.
Cabanas at Green Valley Ranch Resort
The party took place Saturday evening at The Pond at Green Valley Ranch Resort. The space looks very chic at night and did not require a lot of extra decor.
Seating area at The Pond
Well-placed candles added to the glam ambience of the space
A waterfall and lighting made the pool a dramatic focal point
A logo was created for the party and was used from start to finish to create cohesion for the event. It was incorporated in the invitation and all guest materials. At the party, we featured the logo in the ice sculpture/vodka luge and in a gobo at the entrance door.
A gobo was projected on the ground just inside the door, greeting guests as they walked in
Ice sculpture and vodka luge
The guests really enjoyed the vodka bar and ice luge. Rather than selecting just one signature drink, the vodka bar allowed guests to be creative with their cocktails. We also served a sorbet bar and encouraged guests to mix the two: the result was a refreshing “vodka float” with sorbet, vodka, and perrier. Absolutely divine!
Finally, as a surprise for the guest of honor and as a way to commemorate the weekend, we framed old records by her favorite artists and asked guests to sign the records with a gold paint pen. (This idea was inspired by Second City Soiree!)
The framed records and their album covers were set on the DJ table for guests to sign
At 50:1 odds, betting on Mine That Bird really paid off for those that went for the longshot. If you cashed in, treat yourself and your friends to an unforgettable trip to the newest luxury accommodations in Nantucket.
The White Elephant Hotel, one of my favorite places on the island, will unveil its newest addition to their hotel family on May 14, just in time for the 2009 summer season on the island. The White Elephant Hotel Residences offer one-, two-, or three-bedroom accommodations perfect a getaway with friends.
White Elephant Hotel Residence
Inside one of the White Elephant Hotel Residences
The Residences offer all the benefits of staying in private quarters, while still being able to enjoy the full amenities of a luxury hotel.
While there, show some traditional Nantucket hospitality to your friends with a lobster boil or clam bake. And be sure to toast the success of Mine that Bird!
