tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47059753436172132502024-03-05T10:44:54.973-08:00The Humble Home"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware." -Henry MillerThe Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-83928226969295454602012-04-21T08:52:00.003-07:002012-04-21T08:54:10.762-07:00Garden Update- Two Weeks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another wonderful update on my backyard garden god of a husband- all the news on our beautiful new garden, as well as some photos of the progress!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kyle reports: </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two weeks have passed now, the garden keeps growing and expanding. The growing refers to just about everything in the garden. The vegetables are growing so fast, it is amazing. I expect the cucumbers to start overflowing within a few more weeks. The Patio Tomato in the container has two little green tomatoes coming to life. The growing also refers to the weeds and grasses. This is likely because I only tilled the sod instead of removing it or placing any barrier down before installing the raised beds. To make up for youthful mistakes, I have laid down a layer of newspaper wth a layer of dirt on top. Hopefully, this will keep the grass at bay. The expansion refers to the fourth raised bed built, 7 ft by 1 ft, for the peas and extra plants that need a home. This time, I laid down two layers of cardboard and then installed the raised bed. The peas have a nice trullis built from bamboo, twine and staples. We are not planning any more expansion, but it is great to see the plants grow!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And now for the photo updates:</span></span><br />
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The new bean & pea trellis set-up, with second half of the bed open for more tomatoes</div>
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Deck pots and seedlings, including recently transplanted sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos</div>
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First 3'x5' bed with tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, basil and peppers</div>
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Second bed with cucumbers, summer squash and zucchini</div>
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Third bed with herbs, cantaloupe, and watermelon, and a complete view of the entire garden!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-83102629230011514822012-04-17T10:33:00.000-07:002012-04-17T10:33:38.353-07:00The Humble Garden<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm going to skip over the standard list of lame excuses as to why it's been so long since my last post, and get right back into posting- ok with you? Excellent!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In all honesty, I didn't even write this post. This is a "guest post", if you will, from my awesome husband about our newly planted and cultivated backyard garden. This is the first time we've had our very own backyard, so we were thrilled to finally have some space to till a little land and see what sorts of fruits, veggies and herbs we can produce. Kyle very lovingly constructed three 3'x5' raised beds in our backyard, giving us 45 square feet to play with, in addition to some deck pots and hanging baskets. Enjoy his post below, and be sure to check ba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ck for updates on our garden, and the subsequent culinary inspirations it springs forth over on <a href="http://www.cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Humble Table</a>!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"> <!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal">Partially to celebrate Easter and partially to celebrate the great weather in Lousisiana, we built ourselves three raised gardens. We choose raised gardens because our soil is dense and is will remain very wet for several days after a rainfall. The location is in the backyard and gets partial sun in the morning, direct sun during mid-day and shade in the afternoon. Prior to installing the raised beds, the lawn was broken up and tilled. The beds are 5’ by 3’ and constructed with 2” by 6” pressure treated timbers screwed together with brackets reinforcing the corners. After installing the raised beds and planting the seedlings, we discovered the <a href="http://www.lsuagcenter.com/" target="_blank">LSU AgCenter </a>has great guidance on this sort of topic. We might not have chosen the best veggies for our April garden in Louisiana, but most should survive and produce wonderful ingredients for my wife’s great meals. Below is a diagram illustrating how we have filled our three new raised beds:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgtfto6C2Ocrs2CPcSZU78U7PdNAOoYYqJd7krpoT6TJyv6xPk2jLXG_VTUMMNq6KPNI547aQKM85Zu7tHePAEaiXOYmcj-HFOVy8W1nUOIocuK-DmcZ8GOj0DJQxrHN7gTX4HVZJTtZo/s1600/GardenDiagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgtfto6C2Ocrs2CPcSZU78U7PdNAOoYYqJd7krpoT6TJyv6xPk2jLXG_VTUMMNq6KPNI547aQKM85Zu7tHePAEaiXOYmcj-HFOVy8W1nUOIocuK-DmcZ8GOj0DJQxrHN7gTX4HVZJTtZo/s320/GardenDiagram.png" width="275" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--></span>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-51039075955504298632011-05-11T10:46:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:34:09.564-07:00A Mother's Day Weekend in Pictures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I absolutely adore when my Mum is able to come down to Newport for a visit, and I was thrilled when she offered to come down for Mother's Day! I had originally wanted to go up to Maine to visit her, but with getting into 3rd trimester and traveling/hosting guests the past two weekends, and this upcoming weekend, I just wasn't sure I would be able to swing another car trip. I'm so grateful for the time that we get to spend together- she's my best friend, a pillar of strength, a giver of sage and sound advice and someone who can make me laugh until I cry! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We completely indulged our girly side throughout the weekend, starting with a casual pasta dinner I whipped up on Friday night. Saturday we took in a helicopter tour of the island, did some baby window shopping, picked up some supplies for the upcoming baby shower and got our lobster on with fabulous twin lobster rolls from</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.eastonsbeach.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Easton's Beach Snack Bar</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. We headed back to the apartment to put our feet up and catch the Kentucky Derby (what a great race- hope you caught it!), and closed out the night with decadent gourmet ice cream and fresh berries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sunday we took in a long brunch at our favorite spot,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.cafezelda.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cafe Zelda</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(mentioned many, many times here) where Mum had what was arguably the BEST deep dish lobster quiche either of us had ever tasted in our lives. I could go on for days about the incredible texture, flaky pastry and perfectly cooked lobster! We took a post-brunch stroll through town and hit up the antique armory and some other shops before reluctantly heading back to the apartment so she could make her way back home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I might not technically be a Mama yet, but I can't imagine a better way to spend Mother's Day, or better company to share it with! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReMj4Sbvf82a1c8cu4GcSkwz1jQU87kvWvy-_kfOYrl86H_Tw2kfPKHVhy9aeMeeU3R5bDbs2vzY_OcD9Q553OQMMyyGuAS2z5xJoUZypzRnzJtFVYPY5NupAdNuvc8jc-jZByhO7ul04/s1600/Ergo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReMj4Sbvf82a1c8cu4GcSkwz1jQU87kvWvy-_kfOYrl86H_Tw2kfPKHVhy9aeMeeU3R5bDbs2vzY_OcD9Q553OQMMyyGuAS2z5xJoUZypzRnzJtFVYPY5NupAdNuvc8jc-jZByhO7ul04/s320/Ergo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A Mother's Day present to myself- my ErgoBaby!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(complete with Ninja giving it the once over in the corner)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLliXI4FRWZaCGeMGTsmdfC53GM1fXOUDkcMEWc4oITJNF2YJjEiBSjzfLDgJQplRW6q0Biaccaq0deVtAifFsbsZouJlM3Yqns25O3tfzhpfV9m0rpbPcWJ6GYLiApluiYQfTNXS8_pL_/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLliXI4FRWZaCGeMGTsmdfC53GM1fXOUDkcMEWc4oITJNF2YJjEiBSjzfLDgJQplRW6q0Biaccaq0deVtAifFsbsZouJlM3Yqns25O3tfzhpfV9m0rpbPcWJ6GYLiApluiYQfTNXS8_pL_/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mummy preparing for takeoff on her first ever helicopter ride!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp-eE-0rTPjXG-j3VK_hAHaoYfWYHMOrjhoFbq3pCG9T53lO4_gfZrvykOhl9TSa5kuota-bPo_T5RuGaFw7LblnKkfLD_XAfW2iRujmLm1IYgsh8aK-FBUHD5zplRjqQkePAO0iplvUI/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp-eE-0rTPjXG-j3VK_hAHaoYfWYHMOrjhoFbq3pCG9T53lO4_gfZrvykOhl9TSa5kuota-bPo_T5RuGaFw7LblnKkfLD_XAfW2iRujmLm1IYgsh8aK-FBUHD5zplRjqQkePAO0iplvUI/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A beautiful day to take in the sights- over Fort Adams</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi3fTHmCR7WfyW4QwhpBrdUduoejSMPHp7uEQrcgSIzCsjUeGDovIkHgrKfObY-4USPvVUQgNRCoAqV3DhWUYloD4BJPgSRYyPPFOb1vh3GMOIUQK1jpmnr6jOvDDoOAJaUU38ayfISoi/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi3fTHmCR7WfyW4QwhpBrdUduoejSMPHp7uEQrcgSIzCsjUeGDovIkHgrKfObY-4USPvVUQgNRCoAqV3DhWUYloD4BJPgSRYyPPFOb1vh3GMOIUQK1jpmnr6jOvDDoOAJaUU38ayfISoi/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mum & I post-flight, totally amused with ourselves</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUBppv_E7hLij5Wa3tjhv4F30Zwhexcat5D066SoKej_WJjrAIga4lwt3RQfWOOnmd6o41wtBTDj4eK6-JyGoa7G-_OIhT5v-zwLUh3YjAxaRs-YBKQqMyuFhRSVTR5B5y49aNsNCpLk0/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUBppv_E7hLij5Wa3tjhv4F30Zwhexcat5D066SoKej_WJjrAIga4lwt3RQfWOOnmd6o41wtBTDj4eK6-JyGoa7G-_OIhT5v-zwLUh3YjAxaRs-YBKQqMyuFhRSVTR5B5y49aNsNCpLk0/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Waiting on our lobster rolls at the snack shack, windy but beautiful day!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnd0IDwrThk-Wg15wZNSpaCa0WO9PnwZGIiD9okk3llQiXYW7jYkYjMdsQ1yExva5RHIofRRloRLfluZYK1VPznsCUhuHt9YvvCqlq4TRH4H0oFJuwssNy-Dm_5SWSV-fXEpwGWuJNV3x/s1600/Lobi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnd0IDwrThk-Wg15wZNSpaCa0WO9PnwZGIiD9okk3llQiXYW7jYkYjMdsQ1yExva5RHIofRRloRLfluZYK1VPznsCUhuHt9YvvCqlq4TRH4H0oFJuwssNy-Dm_5SWSV-fXEpwGWuJNV3x/s320/Lobi.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The inaugural lobster roll feast, enjoyed in the car overlooking the ocean at Brenton's Point</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxX9tebD9bMBQFMFuAqjUWYUJ7x7QpqhdL1Db2v2Vv-1BiG8i-lN5NEKZCC2qDPXBjBiniv23B19luarnRIyxQF_sMp4TfOsv7v0bnU3yE3bZMVOlpsO-ccUC-SSzx38wqNdMSLBiVkv0/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxX9tebD9bMBQFMFuAqjUWYUJ7x7QpqhdL1Db2v2Vv-1BiG8i-lN5NEKZCC2qDPXBjBiniv23B19luarnRIyxQF_sMp4TfOsv7v0bnU3yE3bZMVOlpsO-ccUC-SSzx38wqNdMSLBiVkv0/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful flowers from Mum, they still look amazing days later!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36_SJWtxhf5yByqZ6n4e-X0X20lqmhbRTigQ-CTnGS_Ekf0q-3nN71_mJvnglolnIRkwj9geU7pcmN6bfMLB-3F6FWcS5xh5RQgd-WOk-3attsXK6uWiSrGUlOT10Rg6dqJBChlv-XVLo/s1600/Zelda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36_SJWtxhf5yByqZ6n4e-X0X20lqmhbRTigQ-CTnGS_Ekf0q-3nN71_mJvnglolnIRkwj9geU7pcmN6bfMLB-3F6FWcS5xh5RQgd-WOk-3attsXK6uWiSrGUlOT10Rg6dqJBChlv-XVLo/s1600/Zelda.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I can still taste the deliciousness...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</span>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-767742799703618562011-05-10T11:13:00.000-07:002011-05-10T11:21:17.858-07:00Mama-to-Be Style<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHICbxeoGHWX7MGXyfixs0pujXck8-RgeK-MDJbvt6a-FrH2VV1sa9ebjjj-Yt0dsvT65vbJFvLjT0P6pqmMAjqg5WJh9g1lWSHIQZlbg_L1k2LYZ304_uqbUU9KDV3Vhg_X97n5K9Ew-2/s1600/mail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHICbxeoGHWX7MGXyfixs0pujXck8-RgeK-MDJbvt6a-FrH2VV1sa9ebjjj-Yt0dsvT65vbJFvLjT0P6pqmMAjqg5WJh9g1lWSHIQZlbg_L1k2LYZ304_uqbUU9KDV3Vhg_X97n5K9Ew-2/s320/mail.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's the latest Summer 2011 fashion accessory!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cardigan: J.Crew, Top: Old Navy, Leggings: Poof, Sandals: Steve Madden, Scarf: Forever 21</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">I have been thinking a lot recently about maternity/pregnancy posts for the blog now that I find myself on the cusp of parenthood (yikes!), and how exactly I wanted to “break the ice” with the topic. Since I spend a fair amount of this blog writing about adventures in general and some of my favorite style pieces, I thought kicking it off with a “Mama Style” post would be a good start.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">It took me a while to finally find my “Mama Style”- as those of you who have been through pregnancy know, there are a lot of physical ups and downs to go right along with all of the emotional ones. Throughout my first trimester, I was very tired and quiet honestly not all that concerned with my look. It was October through January, so comfort really reigned supreme. Once my initial bloat (ugh!) died down, I really didn’t have much of a bump to dress until around the 20 week mark- a fact that I was not pleased with. I was <i>dying</i> to have a cute little bump to show off, but my lovely babe did not seem interested in introducing itself to the world. Alas!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">After a terrible early spring weather-wise, the sky gods seem to be smiling upon us, and true springtime weather seems to be here, hooray! With that, I have been inspired to adorn my ever-growing bump in bright outfits and comfortable layers. It’s amazing what a pop of color and a pair of open toed shoes can do for your mood! Fashion and style-wise, it is a great time to be pregnant, since tunics, flowy tops and light fabrics are quite in these days, even for the not-with-child set. Because of this, I lucked out big time and have been able to incorporate a lot of my pre-pregnancy pieces into my current wardrobe. Anything with an empire waist, some stretch or drape has been seeing a lot of miles in my attire, and I am grateful for not having to shell out crazy amount of money to maintain my comfort and style. I finally caved and picked up a couple of pairs of maternity jeans on the cheap, and I will admit they are well worth it. While I skated by for a long time with some low slung Joe’s Jeans Jeggings (yes, I know the word is evil, but they are crazy stretchy and comfy!), having that extra “give” in the waistline of my maternity jeans is a thing of beauty. I also got myself a couple of lose, comfortable maxi dresses (non-maternity) that would help me transition into summer for both pre and post baby, as my due date is smack dab in the middle of July, and they have already paid for themselves a million times over. So by purchasing these pieces and a couple other maternity friendly items (long layering tanks, t-shirts, etc), I have created what I feel is a great maternity wardrobe without breaking the bank or compromising my own style. The best advice I could give another mama-to-be is to not run out too early and stock up (you have no idea what your pregnant body will really look like, trust me), don’t bother with designer pieces (unless you are one of the lucky few who has a sweet disposable income), and have fun with it! After all, who really would have the testicular fortitude to walk up to a pregnant woman and tell them their look is a mess?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">So here you go- a show and tell for some of my recent maternity looks (bonus points for spotting my fashion stylist, Ninja kitties in some pictures)….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyiEz0jtFXl6PyMCkv4bawHTtgB4KxnCN9NqK7nag-sRGnt-o3jEALcYwZPAme-YE0RZp0LUMmCe-ggLAr2Mj4-IFd6phm03cZfuyDxoHMe9gl5GgmAuQenaIXexZc2hAMcbF9ItgHwFN/s1600/IMG00731-20110414-0804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyiEz0jtFXl6PyMCkv4bawHTtgB4KxnCN9NqK7nag-sRGnt-o3jEALcYwZPAme-YE0RZp0LUMmCe-ggLAr2Mj4-IFd6phm03cZfuyDxoHMe9gl5GgmAuQenaIXexZc2hAMcbF9ItgHwFN/s320/IMG00731-20110414-0804.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="88" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Tank: Poof, Cowl Neck Top: Anthropologie, Cardigan: J.Crew, Skirt: Old Navy, Boots: Aerosoles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvkM3LFPkXZcywE82M7WU-GR2pPAAny0oVUDlBW6pIVXIoLfkH24DoKfpA3IhKfxNIEkZNKLecaLYOBg5heI6Ur3IVKZB51vezcDMyHPVVTy616bGTaDWP2uBZns7YSRySExSN4bt_NM-/s1600/aa+preg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvkM3LFPkXZcywE82M7WU-GR2pPAAny0oVUDlBW6pIVXIoLfkH24DoKfpA3IhKfxNIEkZNKLecaLYOBg5heI6Ur3IVKZB51vezcDMyHPVVTy616bGTaDWP2uBZns7YSRySExSN4bt_NM-/s320/aa+preg.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="111" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Top: Angie, Cardigan: J.Crew, Scarf: Gift from my Mama!, Jeans: Old Navy maternity, Shoes: Qupid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx15h4ooi1c_GEa0aYU3Usvwwum9oRMrt7CvxmeUzelwEDLSu4l0ektFmvZM3j_h3P3WLspIA2cLVM55Aw_6W1K3U8Du3L_bRf5m8T4IifhkMm3lEhLsDE-UHETcp4IHAcovA8U5qZfji/s1600/polo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx15h4ooi1c_GEa0aYU3Usvwwum9oRMrt7CvxmeUzelwEDLSu4l0ektFmvZM3j_h3P3WLspIA2cLVM55Aw_6W1K3U8Du3L_bRf5m8T4IifhkMm3lEhLsDE-UHETcp4IHAcovA8U5qZfji/s320/polo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="97" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Oxford: Ralph Lauren, Sweater: Vineyard Vines, Jeans: Old Navy Maternity, Shoes: Banana Republic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk6UlgwXn9rfmVf_OPd__f-w6XbFe_bdb05Jit2LwNnDSib7NphorPJv9i0vVi9-_fhaVfpJCiELeDjvqZcoullXwpohk7Jg619-AjA5LhPdwldVo-H0LFMhMcU8PHi3mI90OcA0-aE_X/s1600/IMG00761-20110421-0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk6UlgwXn9rfmVf_OPd__f-w6XbFe_bdb05Jit2LwNnDSib7NphorPJv9i0vVi9-_fhaVfpJCiELeDjvqZcoullXwpohk7Jg619-AjA5LhPdwldVo-H0LFMhMcU8PHi3mI90OcA0-aE_X/s320/IMG00761-20110421-0822.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="115" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Top: Old Navy, Necklace: Boutique out on Block Island, Jeans: Old Navy maternity (notice a trend???), Shoes: Old Navy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8kPjbZhMh3dSKApgvb6pxOZLedYm0lJG8ZILPXUUCg-bY1NRJ81H2g6umn9r6DuynwtTp_FHWfnzJOIPMMrTUPTClx1AEBYN0JBELelkT_gA2hPld-YM5V20KRYMO4jRUzTCAja9zwx/s1600/lilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8kPjbZhMh3dSKApgvb6pxOZLedYm0lJG8ZILPXUUCg-bY1NRJ81H2g6umn9r6DuynwtTp_FHWfnzJOIPMMrTUPTClx1AEBYN0JBELelkT_gA2hPld-YM5V20KRYMO4jRUzTCAja9zwx/s320/lilly.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="109" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Dress: Lily Pulitzer, Long Sleeve T: Boden, Belt: Vintage, Boots: Steve Madden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPEuG-OYs7Ip1oN2dQ_grmRzXh0ZwUSemhmZsfAuevVuajcFZuL5PKtIrO3cnDvzWV52A9D0Xxq3r2ayzyb1cMGRifbhtD8ogVBMi_xIUX6F7tsL3LUomEI11Q-6blgVXDVWUpm3OOIHV/s1600/orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPEuG-OYs7Ip1oN2dQ_grmRzXh0ZwUSemhmZsfAuevVuajcFZuL5PKtIrO3cnDvzWV52A9D0Xxq3r2ayzyb1cMGRifbhtD8ogVBMi_xIUX6F7tsL3LUomEI11Q-6blgVXDVWUpm3OOIHV/s320/orange.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="108" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">My Mother's Day outfit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Sunnies: Vintage Ann Klein II from Mum, Dress: Old Navy Maternity, Cardigan: Vineyard Vines, Boots: Steve Madden, Necklace: Old Navy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">So there you have it- a couple of snippets of my Mama-to-be Style, now get on down and rock your bump ladies!</div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-33461135783490964992011-04-26T11:48:00.000-07:002011-05-10T11:30:13.569-07:00Just Can't Get Enough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju60KHX63x-LOzz4wXsNDZw16n_hzgPVcm7AJyM_kD7ST32KeWasmddq2ktpJqHOvoUR2Nh7PqzJ-89nARy4HOgOGFrKpbF6oqGuMe5xfJEaFPgpFczBD3Qh4RXQpAort3nSb0Lqvj8bub/s1600/IMG00759-20110420-0830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju60KHX63x-LOzz4wXsNDZw16n_hzgPVcm7AJyM_kD7ST32KeWasmddq2ktpJqHOvoUR2Nh7PqzJ-89nARy4HOgOGFrKpbF6oqGuMe5xfJEaFPgpFczBD3Qh4RXQpAort3nSb0Lqvj8bub/s320/IMG00759-20110420-0830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Books. I love them. I love absolutely everything about them. I love their weight in your hand, their distinct smells and the feeling of the paper. Some (ahem, my husband) would say that I am a bit of a book packrat, and I completely embrace the title. I come from a family of readers who covet the written word- the house that I grew up in literally has a library room, and the shelves are stuffed with volumes of both old and new. It's a place I consider a sanctuary, with large windows and a leather couch that tempts you to slide in and enjoy an afternoon lost in pages. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I have been thinking about books a lot recently in light of the new generations of e-readers that have come out. While conceptually I appreciate the e-reader, I’m just not sure it is for me. If I were someone who was traveling frequently and needed a space saving, efficient way to travel with my novel du jour, I think I would invest in a Kindle or Nook in a heartbeat. Since I am unfortunately not employed as either a travel writer, salesmen of medical equipment or author, I’ll stick think I’ll be sticking with the vintage style.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8RXIeMIS-5Qew9QXVZHduvSsrWWVk0mg_-rqjaS93pg6jrR_12IkDtGLJ_P4OvJAw1Rq18u030NAmgO6kO4fXbyBMUhawqikpSjxt4pRpOO0WrUXeEM6QFLDEI63Izcyx8vJdN9YPddO/s1600/IMG00757-20110420-0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8RXIeMIS-5Qew9QXVZHduvSsrWWVk0mg_-rqjaS93pg6jrR_12IkDtGLJ_P4OvJAw1Rq18u030NAmgO6kO4fXbyBMUhawqikpSjxt4pRpOO0WrUXeEM6QFLDEI63Izcyx8vJdN9YPddO/s320/IMG00757-20110420-0829.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In addition to the reasons mentioned above, I also love book styling. I’m one of those readers who wants to know why a certain font was chosen, who the cover/jacket artist is, the whole nine yards. Yes, I understand that the Nook is offered in a color version, which allows the reader to have access to all of this information, but to me, it’s just not the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">same.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I also absolutely adore used books and used bookstores. Not only can you score some pretty incredible and rare finds, but I feel like I’m doing a small part to be environmentally friendly with my need to devour literature. Very rarely will I pick up a book “hot off the press” if I can find a used copy somewhere- it usually comes down to something that is new in print and I am dying to pour through it. There is very little I find more soothing than strolling lazily through a used bookstore on a rainy day in search of treasures. I love finding books that may have inscriptions or notes tucked away in the margins, underlining of witty phrases and other signs of love from past readers. It’s no different than the feeling of success I get when I find a great piece of vintage furniture or clothing at a great price, and I can’t wait to get home and enjoy my new find. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpbVY4KJ8y5Cf5-ZKUNQzQJstUyFAf3V66o4_XP5S0H-N-tmkanNP1_dRQ8EyXQCLVf22jvFlaHhniJMJUJsLxxJfSO4Bmg5ORzojSL1koy1B-HR9EQhEioR9LsV2aKfbE3GqfPxzqgW_/s1600/IMG00756-20110420-0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpbVY4KJ8y5Cf5-ZKUNQzQJstUyFAf3V66o4_XP5S0H-N-tmkanNP1_dRQ8EyXQCLVf22jvFlaHhniJMJUJsLxxJfSO4Bmg5ORzojSL1koy1B-HR9EQhEioR9LsV2aKfbE3GqfPxzqgW_/s320/IMG00756-20110420-0829.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Again, while I appreciate all that the e-reader has to offer, I just don’t think that it will ever replace the pleasure I take in actual, physical books. Maybe it stems from my general disinterest in hopping on board with the newest items in technology, but I’ll stick with my overflowing shelves of the good ol’ paper and print for the time being (sorry Kyle!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-89852999127102162332011-04-18T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-18T13:26:09.823-07:00Enjoying Newport LifeAs we eek closer and closer to leaving this area, heading to Maine for the birth of our first child, and then beginning our adventure down South in Louisiana, Kyle and I have vowed to spend the weekends he is home enjoying as much of the area as we can, and this weekend was no exception. After sitting on a package we purchased through <a href="http://www.buywithme.com/">BuyWithMe</a> almost a year ago, we finally booked our first helicopter ride for Saturday afternoon! The folks at <a href="http://www.riaerial.com/">Bird's Eye View</a> are really awesome, they were incredible accomodating and made us feel totally comfortable. The weather was a bit dicey this weekend, so our pilot Jeff booked us for Saturday with the assurance that if we weren't comfortable with the weather, he would take us up on Sunday. Although it was blowing stink, Jen in the office assured us that we would have a great time, and we went for it. Jeff is a seasoned pilot, who has been flying aircraft since he was 18, so we were more than confident in his abilities. It wasn't the sunniest trip, but we had an absolute blast!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-n8H3orPI8iLcSsWF902yhjoLpj01fOqRXcWVyDaT1UFcd7wIGhQSZAV8ka0mhfYmSLRnA7juHwq3n2-ODXIIEtOGim2LwBA8LUfbKc0m9m_9CbHB7myBwbz-f2l9xL896PcPWxvtAYG/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-n8H3orPI8iLcSsWF902yhjoLpj01fOqRXcWVyDaT1UFcd7wIGhQSZAV8ka0mhfYmSLRnA7juHwq3n2-ODXIIEtOGim2LwBA8LUfbKc0m9m_9CbHB7myBwbz-f2l9xL896PcPWxvtAYG/s320/IMG_0214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITNsvBSuEu9zmrRdc_-rmVMiQ2wLK6Tx0VCEh_g6QTt3BNQRsCv3as8yA39M-BkrAj71Pcg-GQDqIp1mkK0UDX_oKak_EI9dlkxhDuKAz-fwItEoEiKyp9TZb8pBem-hqdojC54L7Iz7Z/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITNsvBSuEu9zmrRdc_-rmVMiQ2wLK6Tx0VCEh_g6QTt3BNQRsCv3as8yA39M-BkrAj71Pcg-GQDqIp1mkK0UDX_oKak_EI9dlkxhDuKAz-fwItEoEiKyp9TZb8pBem-hqdojC54L7Iz7Z/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So much fun! As part of our package, we also recieved two passes for a tour and wine tasting at <a href="http://www.newportvineyards.com/">Newport Vineyards.</a> We saved the passes for Sunday afternoon (which turned out to be beautifully sunny, but windy again!) and headed over for the 3 o'clock tour and tasting after taking a leisurely drive around the island. It's a small vineyard with a very friendly and knowledgable staff- very fun (and yes, I had small samples of a couple of the wines, such a badass, I know)!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nZc4vfsYcTVBYeojjgIvWFHPyjrCCQXKfktAJETXFyqfLH4CAtQZSGpYYF2Rma-oCLCROC9vLRM1LrTJ6Dqg-GkrZC9wLOwtLqZqh4LfajoGfIQ_kviBZu_QD5TR55ShtTEt3NNDZiXe/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nZc4vfsYcTVBYeojjgIvWFHPyjrCCQXKfktAJETXFyqfLH4CAtQZSGpYYF2Rma-oCLCROC9vLRM1LrTJ6Dqg-GkrZC9wLOwtLqZqh4LfajoGfIQ_kviBZu_QD5TR55ShtTEt3NNDZiXe/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf48hlKmkJEycu-aSj0kuzS67SzlQMxI02jNKzcmcqL-R95OBx034NfKyUWEuxpUwrBZQ3sOCuZuWtJpB_hw4azh96fYjhnMX_l9ABVKTLF8mhMvUKOjnAkBdo-Fv-W7ioVcHB32NowB8d/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf48hlKmkJEycu-aSj0kuzS67SzlQMxI02jNKzcmcqL-R95OBx034NfKyUWEuxpUwrBZQ3sOCuZuWtJpB_hw4azh96fYjhnMX_l9ABVKTLF8mhMvUKOjnAkBdo-Fv-W7ioVcHB32NowB8d/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was a fantastic way to spend a weekend together, as we know that the weekends we have left with just the two of us are numbered. As I've said before, we are beyond anxious for the arrival of our lovely first-born child, but I think it's so important that we take advantage of this time together before the arrival of the babe to strengthen our bond, and enjoy all that Newport has to offer before we leave town for the next set of adventures. <br />
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Now, what will the next weekend bring...The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-44264792174592879632011-04-04T11:41:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:41:48.025-07:00Oh, Go Fly A Kite!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpmz-jcfw9y44yVna6eCgnR7WMOmVhD3ZEK7xkTceGziYx87Ac58FrUY670CuThxLEdsehAlWAhLHTd98mKco8G9VzRIfL3VG-ZLuY8ixZ8KYEVRkvR8rW5Qr20X9oLPyuQHY1efNJljo/s320/IMG_0189.JPG" width="240" /></div><br />
What's a couple to do on the first fully nice weekend in Southern New England? Get out and enjoy the town! <br />
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We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend around Newport, taking advantage of the mostly sunny skies and mild upper 40s temps by walking all through town and seeing the sights. We did a huge loop of town on foot Staurday- going down through America's Cup Blvd, out Thames and then up to Bellevue to pick up part of the Cliff Walk on our way home. We had a mini picnic at the head of the Walk and enjoyed the view out over Easton's Beach in the lee of the land. <br />
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Sunday we took a ride out to Ocean Drive to watch the sun dance off of the water. There were dozens of cars parked out on the point, and people seemed to be everywhere- walking, taking photos, lounging in the (brownish) grass and worshipping the sun. Love it! We decided to head out to Second Beach over in Middletown to christen the packable kite my mother had given Kyle for Christmas. Although the winds were a bit strong for our little prisim, she toughed it out, and we had a great afternoon on the beach- even getting the chance to chat with a couple of young kite enthusiasts. <br />
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A great afternoon in fresh air was capped off by a tasty lunch downtown (catching the tail end of Newport's Restaurant Week and $16 three course lunches!), and another walk through downtown before heading home to nap, read and relax for the rest of the day. <br />
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Now I find myself more eager than ever for spring to finally make her presence known!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87_vl_5wbq-Lmk1uWfiy1PX1I4E3J6Ipaqm94ZnO5KGZjKzxZIbHXpp8UI9_Qa46GAvoOF3paepH2eLv5u-pPBpzdYBk0Ke7fJuYsdpDnWEryx4P8b6QzTB__xNLUKKi9_x7AYw6Ed3WC/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87_vl_5wbq-Lmk1uWfiy1PX1I4E3J6Ipaqm94ZnO5KGZjKzxZIbHXpp8UI9_Qa46GAvoOF3paepH2eLv5u-pPBpzdYBk0Ke7fJuYsdpDnWEryx4P8b6QzTB__xNLUKKi9_x7AYw6Ed3WC/s320/IMG_0199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCWoN55jt2OiqdfHT-YjidOzK9Y-BwxKLb9QEUVUG2V7bPhBMip2qLWCPBIznVuAwJKMJ7YUrIeNN1polXUJzr_o2ugGnUkJNAy59gRnEbxuY5pWRhw-9zw-XEt8kzWr96jQkK7c46mj/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCWoN55jt2OiqdfHT-YjidOzK9Y-BwxKLb9QEUVUG2V7bPhBMip2qLWCPBIznVuAwJKMJ7YUrIeNN1polXUJzr_o2ugGnUkJNAy59gRnEbxuY5pWRhw-9zw-XEt8kzWr96jQkK7c46mj/s320/IMG_0190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAPQB53taXYf6Zkqo8X3FGYa-aHB5H6eprj1MFoga9SSy5ibUD7i2Jj1PCEhPA4uv4PGJRdicwKOELpRFfOcjiw5bpjw10TTpG7QiZ2amUEGjVkiH3XHCcG6q1TE0i9kleyZ3NlYP7Ffq/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAPQB53taXYf6Zkqo8X3FGYa-aHB5H6eprj1MFoga9SSy5ibUD7i2Jj1PCEhPA4uv4PGJRdicwKOELpRFfOcjiw5bpjw10TTpG7QiZ2amUEGjVkiH3XHCcG6q1TE0i9kleyZ3NlYP7Ffq/s320/IMG_0196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-29096040516545194172010-11-04T12:05:00.000-07:002010-11-04T12:12:30.266-07:00Cold Weather Beauty TopsIt’s been a little while since I last did a favorites list or review, and as I’ve been trying out a fair amount of new health & beauty products it seems like a perfect excuse to share with you all! I think my recent experimentation has been caused primarily by the changing of seasons- as colder weather begins to creep in around the edges (it snowed in portions of Maine this weekend while I was home, crazy!), I am harshly reminded to boost up my skin and body care routines to ward off the onslaught of winter’s dry skin, brittle hair, and cracking nails. This crusade to protect my fragile, pale skin and fine hair has lead me to discover some new products, as well as re-acquainting myself with some old friends. In no particular order, my tops for beauty & skin care finds:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpboDzQwQUwOtk1DfILVh8OgbH0jx4GCGitjw8evBtwW57LFRgyYU6-Hpas9t8J8XbOgvwxvBUK2LwlrKvSQqRZNVhZk09XcVwwqCPOXapfVLkbF-PXLF5beDGviQ6qJMNAC6tyUNNLKO/s1600/Biomega.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpboDzQwQUwOtk1DfILVh8OgbH0jx4GCGitjw8evBtwW57LFRgyYU6-Hpas9t8J8XbOgvwxvBUK2LwlrKvSQqRZNVhZk09XcVwwqCPOXapfVLkbF-PXLF5beDGviQ6qJMNAC6tyUNNLKO/s200/Biomega.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>1) <a href="http://aquage.com/BIOMEGAproducts/3Regimens.aspx">Biomega Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner</a>: My wildly talented hair stylist, Megan, at Ki-Ra Salon recently switched me from Moroccan Oil to Biomega during my last salon trip, and I am never looking back. Although I loved the smell and hydration of the Moroccan Oil products, it just seemed to be too heavy for my fine textured hair. I’ve never had a problem with having oily hair, and it seemed if I didn’t wash it every day, I would be left with a lot of oil build-up, not cool. Moroccan Oil seemed to weigh my hair down significantly, causing it to have a lot less of its usual body, and as a result I would just end up throwing it up in a ponytail and ignoring it. After consulting with Megan, she recommended the Biomega products, as she had done for other clients with similar issues. The products smell incredibly fresh and light, moisturize perfectly without being weighty, and come in significantly under the price of Moroccan Oil. I knew it was a perfect match when after washing my hair at home for the first time and doing a thorough towel dry, my hair was already picking up a little volume. I actually did a little photo shoot with my good friend, the very talented Earl Brewer, the next day and even he commented on how fabulous the volume was, and the proof is in the pictures: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmhQaL-u3l-3ZpOF_WbsL6IMPYQ1z5vcFSEshYmVnp743YDo-yKEhJdDh4rYHtR9tXYOGob6h1yktSIgUTqwPW5IprHN7ZDgDBf_9bClS10UA-SUwOavsUralqvZbR-Nu9g-4pQ4hgDa0/s1600/74880_168382779854125_100000472118912_509820_1279201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmhQaL-u3l-3ZpOF_WbsL6IMPYQ1z5vcFSEshYmVnp743YDo-yKEhJdDh4rYHtR9tXYOGob6h1yktSIgUTqwPW5IprHN7ZDgDBf_9bClS10UA-SUwOavsUralqvZbR-Nu9g-4pQ4hgDa0/s200/74880_168382779854125_100000472118912_509820_1279201_n.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br />
Another great selling point? I’ve always had pretty strong gripes with the hair care industry for selling shampoo & conditioner in the same size bottles. Unless you have very long hair, you’re more than likely using ½ the conditioner as compared to shampoo usage, which can be a pain when replenishing your supply. The smart cookies behind Biomega sell their shampoo in 10oz. bottles and conditioner in 5oz tubes. Love it! And if you need another reason to check them out, the parent company, Aquage, is a partner with Susan G. Komen for the cure in the fight against breast cancer and raising breast cancer awareness!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4DQY3JtmibG-GrgqiQ60H_tXB0U0NG196aG9CW6jKNPc9JEGm34bv-c5YaUKzh6jRM1EeUmHAS2MCQlR_QK5CUCfBOnVLz49S-90sxuhwrAs8DckQ7vkgp6eNnXHpoLZHzCfWduyEgnU/s1600/Bare+Minerals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4DQY3JtmibG-GrgqiQ60H_tXB0U0NG196aG9CW6jKNPc9JEGm34bv-c5YaUKzh6jRM1EeUmHAS2MCQlR_QK5CUCfBOnVLz49S-90sxuhwrAs8DckQ7vkgp6eNnXHpoLZHzCfWduyEgnU/s200/Bare+Minerals.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>2) <a href="http://bareescentuals.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BareEscentuals-Site/default/Home-Show?brandId=BM">Bare Minerals Cosmetics</a>: I think the last time that I wore a liquid foundation would be right around the era of 1999-2000, and for just reason- I could never find one that I like! I have very fair, sensitive skin (thank you, Irish roots), and I would continually feel like I had a layer of frosting on my face any time I attempted to wear it, so I gave up on foundation all together. Fast forward almost ten years later to when my mother discovered Bare Minerals just before my 2008 nuptials. She had been looking for lightweight coverage, and stopped by a great little boutique make-up shop in Boothbay, <a href="http://www.aboutfacemaine.com/default.html">About Face</a> for a consult. The owner was very helpful and gave my mother a wonderful custom consult with the Bare Minerals products, which she was so happy with she went ahead and purchased. After test driving her products a few times, I bit the bullet and purchased my own. The powder foundation is ridiculously light, you don’t even feel like you have anything on, and any unevenness or blemishes are evenly covered. The blush is very subtle, and their make-up brushes are incredibly soft (I’m a very tactile person!). I have since expanded out to their Buxom Lip Gloss line (all with cheeky stripper-esque names), fortified with lip plumpers, their Prime Time base (gives skin and crazy smooth surface and is super light), and their mascaras that are always feathery and light. I don’t worry about the blemishes that would undoubtedly pop up when using other bases and the coverage is light and flawless. They even recently re-designed their loose powder pots with sealable internal lids, which avoid the ever-popular powder explosion that used to happen upon opening up the pot for the first time after it had been shaken about in your travel bag. Bare Minerals has made me a proud convert to the “Swirl, Tap, Buff” mantra. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY-TMt7sz5stQwqonUhk7Wsgskfh0pNSgQWUqY4j0as6tVoIq-m867_BA9AcsxW3wd7DT8EbbkKOH1EtB0OLfFlMyaasr_Bvl-_R60iqZ75Rm-5B0XWO1z0CJl3EVmeHx2LVYCBQ2h63v/s1600/Clinique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY-TMt7sz5stQwqonUhk7Wsgskfh0pNSgQWUqY4j0as6tVoIq-m867_BA9AcsxW3wd7DT8EbbkKOH1EtB0OLfFlMyaasr_Bvl-_R60iqZ75Rm-5B0XWO1z0CJl3EVmeHx2LVYCBQ2h63v/s200/Clinique.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>3) <a href="http://www.clinique.com/products/CATEGORY14112/3_step/Step_3_Moisturize/index.tmpl">Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion:</a> If you are a woman between the ages of 17 and 100 and you have yet to discover or try Clinique face lotion, do it now!!! Seriously. This is yet another product pass-down from my mother, and in the 15 or so years that I have been using it, this lotion has never done me wrong. It is totally hypoallergenic, fragrance free and gentle, but tough enough to stand up to winter’s bite. I would honestly guess that one of my first memories as a young girl would be the simple yellow bottle with its polished silver top standing on my mother’s bedside table- a residence it still upholds today. While trends and new revelations in skin care come and go, there is a reason why this little genius has stood the test of time for so many women for years, and for our family, generations. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4s0itXb71lbGLEiWMTJBICZ2n-MxV7XYDLkYD4uU9Khy_uYMYt2Jxd1IDZwZv5rdti1DdwIXyVo1SjYQ1cGXy_4SRpd9RXTFj8frjvWu-RQ4cVN6IiBK_GhgyFSout8Hm0ApFZIRxTF2/s1600/SH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4s0itXb71lbGLEiWMTJBICZ2n-MxV7XYDLkYD4uU9Khy_uYMYt2Jxd1IDZwZv5rdti1DdwIXyVo1SjYQ1cGXy_4SRpd9RXTFj8frjvWu-RQ4cVN6IiBK_GhgyFSout8Hm0ApFZIRxTF2/s200/SH.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>4) <a href="http://sallyhansen.com/product.cfm?product=75">Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear</a>: I am an insult to woman-kind when it comes to my nail painting skills, and I openly admit it. I have always lusted after the girls who were capable of slapping on a perfectly painted manicure in minutes and would stare longingly at their perfect polish applications. I think my fault lies in one simple characteristic: extreme lack of patience. While I love the look of painted nails, I hate waiting around for them to dry, and 90% of the time I end up assuring myself that my nails are “dry enough” before deciding to re-pot all the house plants or clean the bathroom tile grout. This always results in my nails looking like they were done by a four year old wearing a blindfold, and I swear off polishing my nails until the next time I convince myself I can master the task. A few months ago, I discovered the Xtreme Wear line, and shockingly, we’re now BFFs. The colors are all very saturated, go on smoothly and dry quickly- score! Not only do I love the way my nails look just after a fresh coat, the color stand up to everything I put my hands through- cooking, cleaning, slamming around on keyboards and general mayhem- and still look pretty damn good. There is a huge selection of colors as well, and with minimal upkeep, this strengthening polish can look great for a full week, if not longer. Finally, I’m a true girl! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6R0C3bxICfDH3ncAAoE2bW9qN909JXro0ZiRyVV7DMtuQYxb5Fh-S8oc2uI-DnAoib071eNkkCAGkhEcZBSQAgwXyWofnZOTrL40VOveDKFX203ACm7YWWQWJ7k4mZmPdVoiphk1r0SP/s1600/Burberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6R0C3bxICfDH3ncAAoE2bW9qN909JXro0ZiRyVV7DMtuQYxb5Fh-S8oc2uI-DnAoib071eNkkCAGkhEcZBSQAgwXyWofnZOTrL40VOveDKFX203ACm7YWWQWJ7k4mZmPdVoiphk1r0SP/s200/Burberry.JPG" width="139" /></a></div>5) <a href="http://us.burberry.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3555517&cp=3965372.3493596.1862198&parentPage=family">Burberry “Weekend” Cologne</a>: Ok, so not really a beauty product per-se, but I felt it was worthwhile to pay homage to my favorite of scents. Technically, I believe this is a men’s fragrance, although I’ve taken to wearing men’s scents for years now. As I am not usually attracted to flowery smelling perfumes, this Burberry scent is the best thing I’ve ever found. It’s a little crisp laundry, a little shaving cream fresh and fully relaxed and subtle enough for everyday wear without overpowering (there is nothing that makes me crazier when you can smell a person’s- male or female- scent spray when you’re more than 5ft away). It evokes exactly what the name is all about: a casual, comfortable scent that’s just as good when worn with a LBD as it is with jeans and an old Hanes. Classic, a little preppy, and perfectly comfortable in any setting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-GK_asEXjdlEiUaDRyIpKaJFZwKUJqQ6TIRijxa9evJiKe5brgM251SN7EYALYPIr5IvWkEqpMGE4NAaCHgBusNu3Ac0XD2PMhjRjy0_BB52XY1xFuQ0Xp1-_JVBawHoGF4V-lFb3juo/s1600/pd_bodybutter_brazilnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-GK_asEXjdlEiUaDRyIpKaJFZwKUJqQ6TIRijxa9evJiKe5brgM251SN7EYALYPIr5IvWkEqpMGE4NAaCHgBusNu3Ac0XD2PMhjRjy0_BB52XY1xFuQ0Xp1-_JVBawHoGF4V-lFb3juo/s200/pd_bodybutter_brazilnut.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>6) <a href="http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/body-butter?&ingredientId=&selectedHowMany=22&selectedSortBy=outOfStock,marketingPriority&viewAll=true">The Body Shop Body Butter</a>: What can I say about The Body Shop’s Body Butter that hasn’t already been said??? This heavy duty moisturizer is like a gift from heaven for those of us that are stricken with dry, sensitive winter skin. I have been using their Brazil Nut Body Butter for at least ten years (I was devastated when they discontinued the Soy version- the Brazil nut was a great consolation), and it has never done me wrong. I keep a pot of this wonder product on my bedside table (right next to my YogaToes) and I love the feeling of the deep moisturization after a post work shower. It relieves cracked hands and feet, takes away the “alligator skin” that sneaks up on your limbs, and doesn’t clog pores in the process. While I don’t personally use this as my everyday moisturizer, I love treating myself to a little extra body hydration once or twice a week to keep my skin healthy and protected from the harsh New England winter weather. <br />
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So that’s my list of beauty go-tos for colder temps- what products do you rely on to get you through the frostier months?The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-76594418589455215322010-10-26T08:41:00.000-07:002010-10-26T08:41:06.063-07:00MADly in LoveOnly recently have Kyle and I discovered Mad Men, and become completely hooked. Yes, I realize that the show just wrapped up its fourth season on AMC, but I am notorious for being slightly behind the times when it comes to good TV. I also happen to really enjoy when you get your hands on an entire season of a show on DVD so that you can watch at your own pace, even setting aside and enitre weekend to consume every last bit of entertainment. There isn't much I can say about Mad Men that hasn't already been said, and probably noted a couple years back- the writing is sharp, the costume and set design are exquisite, and the entire ensemble cast are a force. <br />
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The other day I was parousing my Google reader and came across a posting on the <a href="http://sweetnothings04.blogspot.com/">Sweet Nothings</a> blog showing off the Mad Men inspired "Save the Date" cards made by the smart cookies over at <a href="http://www.theweddingchicks.com/">The Wedding Chicks</a>- brilliant! Naturally I had to make my own:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz-0_fMd_zTNAvbGluR7I7NXyle0oi4gOH8OZO7m3oDOodsG-M4mO_xzlbaphC0-3zoi2Ro0KqFy_5t-rBFXozJi-xOnV0ilLIba636YEXVsG18RYFCXxTyjHS-ar0-JwFR3OeO55Dpz1/s1600/monogram.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz-0_fMd_zTNAvbGluR7I7NXyle0oi4gOH8OZO7m3oDOodsG-M4mO_xzlbaphC0-3zoi2Ro0KqFy_5t-rBFXozJi-xOnV0ilLIba636YEXVsG18RYFCXxTyjHS-ar0-JwFR3OeO55Dpz1/s320/monogram.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> While they are presented as "Save the Date" cards, I think they would work perfectly for just about any occassion for a couple: anniversary party invitations, wall art, a wedding gift to another couple (say, for a first anniversary, since paper is the traditional gift!)- the applications are limitless.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While I go back to making moon-pie eyes at Don Draper, check out The Wedding Chicks website for lots of cute custom ideas, and you can even make your own Mad Men card <a href="http://www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/custom-goodies/mad-men-inspired-save-the-date/">here</a>, just pick out your colors and text, fill out the email address portion, and they'll mail you your custom card proof and you can place an order for your own custom cards. Tres chic!</div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-55106267067080360902010-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:002010-10-17T07:31:07.319-07:00Block Island Holiday<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo3TQvMGhtrN9bz1qeMbEiDI5K3BjMmKwnVwuJX6x8jwLOofjs98fHT3jnhJsUtaw6Onj_yaeg8pkQjRzMuBIsGdKtlRbYqZRzgY3MIs142j2eUYdNnvNscMDHP6J7kytUshoyArQx4AC/s1600/Road+Map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo3TQvMGhtrN9bz1qeMbEiDI5K3BjMmKwnVwuJX6x8jwLOofjs98fHT3jnhJsUtaw6Onj_yaeg8pkQjRzMuBIsGdKtlRbYqZRzgY3MIs142j2eUYdNnvNscMDHP6J7kytUshoyArQx4AC/s320/Road+Map.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This past weekend, Kyle and I took the <a href="http://www.blockislandferry.com/">ferry</a> out to Block Island for an extended birthday/Columbus Day weekend. There we...</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBT2yWJuDV7oAGTMrra9giX1JMr78Sm8Op2CldxmUOd6HBnnytgkMc8lUs6FlcKIbzFod6pzJuum2msgqavxFBkxuBRIPYmqSp9Fan7juYiPz28ydFaZLqonsj3X2QTqbjHcAbSWJTH-f/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBT2yWJuDV7oAGTMrra9giX1JMr78Sm8Op2CldxmUOd6HBnnytgkMc8lUs6FlcKIbzFod6pzJuum2msgqavxFBkxuBRIPYmqSp9Fan7juYiPz28ydFaZLqonsj3X2QTqbjHcAbSWJTH-f/s320/IMG_0142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Stayed at the lovely <a href="http://www.blockislandreservations.com/">Harborside Inn</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzly_lqdtFhe4W7_94BQId76j9pl191kqRbK972h0uJC2hONuU9zIUv-DeumijkkHTtu6tvQvNBNLsA5kwNVc0EkpYoZsozrOMSM5wgF9-t-G42zeFdG3eV8mjWfO-kc-lh3zocbEZ1qoG/s1600/Coffee+@+Payne's.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzly_lqdtFhe4W7_94BQId76j9pl191kqRbK972h0uJC2hONuU9zIUv-DeumijkkHTtu6tvQvNBNLsA5kwNVc0EkpYoZsozrOMSM5wgF9-t-G42zeFdG3eV8mjWfO-kc-lh3zocbEZ1qoG/s320/Coffee+@+Payne's.JPG" width="320" /></a>Enjoyed coffee & bagels from Java n' Juice on Payne's Dock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaXy4F9_5Tpt7u5VOaFmj4nbLegjb-nrIepdZ5Kf-hfrFpOR_DNf2elT-pg4VAoPfFNjkl7MCTjkD_xriRokALx_x0zSUfsIlnEiEjvzkXE3qcYc5FgWnzhC2wkbSBMoE074BAngyiE-T/s1600/Biking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaXy4F9_5Tpt7u5VOaFmj4nbLegjb-nrIepdZ5Kf-hfrFpOR_DNf2elT-pg4VAoPfFNjkl7MCTjkD_xriRokALx_x0zSUfsIlnEiEjvzkXE3qcYc5FgWnzhC2wkbSBMoE074BAngyiE-T/s320/Biking.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wanna go ride bikes?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhd5jnUstm-WaDf7RWWhY36YPzHRT9NPjHnv95xLQdidoqk_B6yaYW1pr2e9rC1miblAM2pLZtWKXWhJXJwSliyJHC_wlIc3-5ZNjhIn3kmRVbvnKvfOphHfECpuH5x1dX840ES3JoFQM/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhd5jnUstm-WaDf7RWWhY36YPzHRT9NPjHnv95xLQdidoqk_B6yaYW1pr2e9rC1miblAM2pLZtWKXWhJXJwSliyJHC_wlIc3-5ZNjhIn3kmRVbvnKvfOphHfECpuH5x1dX840ES3JoFQM/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9Ers6s8XiWiF5SzBay7r5wJytRqnKzi_5KH8xMabvhLI3laGXcFWFDLE2YXxxd8b6_87V9uag5Qpz0FTB-Cn1B8Sqpjj8Sl4lVR5gWFKpQlvAGLUX2u5xdRu2LMwQKMu-3RhoT6zGSoF/s1600/Bluffs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9Ers6s8XiWiF5SzBay7r5wJytRqnKzi_5KH8xMabvhLI3laGXcFWFDLE2YXxxd8b6_87V9uag5Qpz0FTB-Cn1B8Sqpjj8Sl4lVR5gWFKpQlvAGLUX2u5xdRu2LMwQKMu-3RhoT6zGSoF/s320/Bluffs.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAqKfuzCAKJqa1_usKXqsTLmIjpsx-QQnJcxv6BMBDx5alUxkowewn42NhYnlh8DSuhycC4J3TM8DcVvpeeDE0ysXaTrVZ4oIWvbDVgGhpWbk2jpJBFpW32IUgmDGWO1uGjIiRwuWo40I/s1600/Wheelhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAqKfuzCAKJqa1_usKXqsTLmIjpsx-QQnJcxv6BMBDx5alUxkowewn42NhYnlh8DSuhycC4J3TM8DcVvpeeDE0ysXaTrVZ4oIWvbDVgGhpWbk2jpJBFpW32IUgmDGWO1uGjIiRwuWo40I/s320/Wheelhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYljWvVKjdMryNQfnVfCZlKsPdi-wYc_3BQxiHZqqrz4sTi45H0K4ejckvWrHvDGZJomvAjqi2C8f_hO6eKwkJNrkcSaL_gtsScf8M9F_oe5aKXBzgko0dC0P_JbmtQeTAyaUIMKsKcmCZ/s1600/Hollow+II.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYljWvVKjdMryNQfnVfCZlKsPdi-wYc_3BQxiHZqqrz4sTi45H0K4ejckvWrHvDGZJomvAjqi2C8f_hO6eKwkJNrkcSaL_gtsScf8M9F_oe5aKXBzgko0dC0P_JbmtQeTAyaUIMKsKcmCZ/s320/Hollow+II.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC57CIjXK0dj0_Vw4aGH2QZYP0g_F5wYE3M3coTgqGcXafl_bFLwfVbxppJSQXVjEsHA45OnazzaDdY2Ua45jgr3kzJ_hdlX2oWrlpfhG8Z3Bw7VSGyQjeVSCvKUaqEqMPsCZx17wngRqV/s1600/Bluffs+II.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC57CIjXK0dj0_Vw4aGH2QZYP0g_F5wYE3M3coTgqGcXafl_bFLwfVbxppJSQXVjEsHA45OnazzaDdY2Ua45jgr3kzJ_hdlX2oWrlpfhG8Z3Bw7VSGyQjeVSCvKUaqEqMPsCZx17wngRqV/s320/Bluffs+II.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5yTeNcyznzQ2_AUj8BwXMyv3GbWmqyAcX4nLlxNiZMpFVcFjGpt8jrwUo7YehAF2LATirf1V2pchLpUUY4xSqgB2QS7S4pRYXFRORbiRi12sqlL7XXVK_Sfo_EopoHKXDKriefGGZ6S3/s1600/Lighthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5yTeNcyznzQ2_AUj8BwXMyv3GbWmqyAcX4nLlxNiZMpFVcFjGpt8jrwUo7YehAF2LATirf1V2pchLpUUY4xSqgB2QS7S4pRYXFRORbiRi12sqlL7XXVK_Sfo_EopoHKXDKriefGGZ6S3/s320/Lighthouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr19T-Fl3R5hoBhMwVI5E9dYgWENshLdIKNK4XfDW0VJNNK7NGL0Bucm6JiIAdtXPnH2Uni96RosHLj0Hl0d1wkltHDk4HaKmar1Ty0o9DRaqw3T_3VzN032qsExu4B_r75T4rcwLaUCUq/s1600/Rebecca.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr19T-Fl3R5hoBhMwVI5E9dYgWENshLdIKNK4XfDW0VJNNK7NGL0Bucm6JiIAdtXPnH2Uni96RosHLj0Hl0d1wkltHDk4HaKmar1Ty0o9DRaqw3T_3VzN032qsExu4B_r75T4rcwLaUCUq/s320/Rebecca.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Did a lot of sight seeing and playing tourist...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_6uAkncn-n2Uvwf8T7sacdSh1F6DiLgjVJC577qOWremuN0h2u9U4GZ31M3P5200BalUI9Y397PfDIhvJyQqrnC4xsjmFzmb1T0w1SvtadfcYWM4lNUxuRKrDBfy7HQwISdsyBhiXpGV/s1600/Mudslides.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oPAgKPPZGHFv7HH6GCAJjhOr28zSju5bqH_yPJufrq7gqv7xmr5-B5XkLvq7HUC7OORlSqQVx5kR0LfEBQtP2VaoIxz0HGTqhM9PRSZy7f6uU7mLdvQPbO9XaeO5QTMN18IC-RxspDMz/s1600/Mojito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oPAgKPPZGHFv7HH6GCAJjhOr28zSju5bqH_yPJufrq7gqv7xmr5-B5XkLvq7HUC7OORlSqQVx5kR0LfEBQtP2VaoIxz0HGTqhM9PRSZy7f6uU7mLdvQPbO9XaeO5QTMN18IC-RxspDMz/s320/Mojito.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU22bk1PZvmztDlsO5SDYg4XATIiJV_FmWRNgmBeBfLuOA_Y2qFYKlA0gD28gNpK5c6B8pd0qWdacVpiEqFJ5cpFPmGqxnWyzfL7i-016E2I9x8L_6QVFyMBcCqYHfbDfQmd0XpUFrAqMO/s1600/Capt+Nicks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU22bk1PZvmztDlsO5SDYg4XATIiJV_FmWRNgmBeBfLuOA_Y2qFYKlA0gD28gNpK5c6B8pd0qWdacVpiEqFJ5cpFPmGqxnWyzfL7i-016E2I9x8L_6QVFyMBcCqYHfbDfQmd0XpUFrAqMO/s320/Capt+Nicks.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCol6ZPndt2My3YBhEqM1P2LZtm3BEc_fbczoIsDVMwbZRv96wU3W9uI297ThYuJZppAdz2I5wsBa6b0ayF_8O_8D0Fey4TqUFEsnsHnzmNDN0B_guG_hfNkBL_14kMK7edOIY0VAz5AN/s1600/Oars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCol6ZPndt2My3YBhEqM1P2LZtm3BEc_fbczoIsDVMwbZRv96wU3W9uI297ThYuJZppAdz2I5wsBa6b0ayF_8O_8D0Fey4TqUFEsnsHnzmNDN0B_guG_hfNkBL_14kMK7edOIY0VAz5AN/s320/Oars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoyed libations & relaxation at The Oar, Mohegan Cafe & <a href="http://www.captainnicks.com/">Captain Nick's</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWGFFd1S67bajlBfluqSFtLjWGqwjIDJsZ27MzlX6Cl208vuB_Ojf4bIO09Lmt7FP2pSBylLh-saru57U7Y5y-TfKdAE38fJ1dKYo3YEuOnacHSXiT_G1f1Ag-8-yhDZjav9Nvvya49F_/s1600/Will+&+Carolyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWGFFd1S67bajlBfluqSFtLjWGqwjIDJsZ27MzlX6Cl208vuB_Ojf4bIO09Lmt7FP2pSBylLh-saru57U7Y5y-TfKdAE38fJ1dKYo3YEuOnacHSXiT_G1f1Ag-8-yhDZjav9Nvvya49F_/s320/Will+&+Carolyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And found Will & Carolyn's oar! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_ecLdMJSZbfTV_9bKV-NaRqbqcKQR6Ee2e42IipTku4lEnDIqhgC6aVSMTY26Rc2mREpsDeEo1t8QHXXvfHGYpl4qU3Lly3qEDP2abGR6IfS7KpL7ykpJGKSj3HwSf_lQYsVJU5cqP6f/s1600/Birthday+Champagne.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_ecLdMJSZbfTV_9bKV-NaRqbqcKQR6Ee2e42IipTku4lEnDIqhgC6aVSMTY26Rc2mREpsDeEo1t8QHXXvfHGYpl4qU3Lly3qEDP2abGR6IfS7KpL7ykpJGKSj3HwSf_lQYsVJU5cqP6f/s320/Birthday+Champagne.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJshJ1yCE1pW_HijyWVXO_dUZCd5N6K-L1gncHE89YOB3dQ404PYPJ1RsFZ9EqcwTDkD97FhddEV33ET9OUBFMaGvBGmR8jtWA83B5tpgXBMfcBl4rfNmaIyfDVxMG0NDoodQMgKOX9EZ/s1600/Cribbage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJshJ1yCE1pW_HijyWVXO_dUZCd5N6K-L1gncHE89YOB3dQ404PYPJ1RsFZ9EqcwTDkD97FhddEV33ET9OUBFMaGvBGmR8jtWA83B5tpgXBMfcBl4rfNmaIyfDVxMG0NDoodQMgKOX9EZ/s320/Cribbage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Champagne & Cribbage on the hotel porch on my birthday!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSxPFFfQcvksgrBaPLwXDT5fTvx-nQEFGiR37XebyYReD8y_92MQBavQ5N8E6V_3QuZ92NW3UCjqILf9Pyv7QlogWqRfQBGsmW8lsUjb4ismYTSxAb3R_QkoHW82g7rbXSw4razo8ISrz/s1600/Ernie's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSxPFFfQcvksgrBaPLwXDT5fTvx-nQEFGiR37XebyYReD8y_92MQBavQ5N8E6V_3QuZ92NW3UCjqILf9Pyv7QlogWqRfQBGsmW8lsUjb4ismYTSxAb3R_QkoHW82g7rbXSw4razo8ISrz/s320/Ernie's.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDDtVZUeLNvYSgrFVj9h_71TQEEx4iVlTN5lYM90UU07Lio2Xt6-rPW8W8v0Rb4TgAQuXCVqFacOHWG9_TqPED6g8d8nvitSljxuoEYL9VfIvz6BTktHZ1o7BFWjgKFbAZfc66Z4v7UsD/s1600/Breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDDtVZUeLNvYSgrFVj9h_71TQEEx4iVlTN5lYM90UU07Lio2Xt6-rPW8W8v0Rb4TgAQuXCVqFacOHWG9_TqPED6g8d8nvitSljxuoEYL9VfIvz6BTktHZ1o7BFWjgKFbAZfc66Z4v7UsD/s200/Breakfast.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> Insanely large (and delicious!) breakfasts at Ernie's</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2WLCy_XPuJgZ5sx8ODrDpisN_rWDQ6o3GmxHh1WBIPiGvt2NFVQl1xsaVplxNTKA1sIutQuQpb2EGq1rrpAHCE6UcBud65Wiuaacgoab5dLypwGWFwTlk6H6F0evCepkECYg4EaQ5UaB/s1600/Blanco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="height: 240px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 296px;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2WLCy_XPuJgZ5sx8ODrDpisN_rWDQ6o3GmxHh1WBIPiGvt2NFVQl1xsaVplxNTKA1sIutQuQpb2EGq1rrpAHCE6UcBud65Wiuaacgoab5dLypwGWFwTlk6H6F0evCepkECYg4EaQ5UaB/s320/Blanco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrJ5y1kqe8yi8f0zVY0iyldvX0ANxHAlx6uARgXNiG-940IHu6gfMZi1pkgMBh4PYtwfi46X2MZRm-x_ngbOaMgj-ZVZWYmvjS7UPMN9f7A9R5ydFNBmDwOiLqxknpyF4EF9yOt3V1pP4/s1600/Birthday+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="height: 210px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 296px;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrJ5y1kqe8yi8f0zVY0iyldvX0ANxHAlx6uARgXNiG-940IHu6gfMZi1pkgMBh4PYtwfi46X2MZRm-x_ngbOaMgj-ZVZWYmvjS7UPMN9f7A9R5ydFNBmDwOiLqxknpyF4EF9yOt3V1pP4/s320/Birthday+Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">An exceptionally well prepared birthday meal at <a href="http://www.blockislandresorts.com/dining/">Hotel Manisses</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG-tD3y_A27zQg7RVAcR01Q8aCkLLNNDOJrxif502fV7AwV2xNSq-XemH246hMmeOaYWhyn87zOcohZNGFak-hIDUN5McU3i7kFL7HUPU431HvCBgj68lvV0QPwz5Sj1E1cxDXuTPlCj9/s1600/Camel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG-tD3y_A27zQg7RVAcR01Q8aCkLLNNDOJrxif502fV7AwV2xNSq-XemH246hMmeOaYWhyn87zOcohZNGFak-hIDUN5McU3i7kFL7HUPU431HvCBgj68lvV0QPwz5Sj1E1cxDXuTPlCj9/s320/Camel.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDV0vf80gOZEzjLj-A2fNi3SInsN1d2ezoT10SFmtVzWajr2zqYYIO_LtxP-RqHfGdasggJcj26u39xE_NoH-AF2UIiTk82Ev3wnKBd5mGwgK_nbgoPkjQLt2WchaX6oB3wrbT6SUqX-5/s1600/Bull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDV0vf80gOZEzjLj-A2fNi3SInsN1d2ezoT10SFmtVzWajr2zqYYIO_LtxP-RqHfGdasggJcj26u39xE_NoH-AF2UIiTk82Ev3wnKBd5mGwgK_nbgoPkjQLt2WchaX6oB3wrbT6SUqX-5/s320/Bull.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwy15Y8cus42q-ETl19Pfqin8t-KXcjDxcdzUQlORiHNraJDqOz0kSC_88ZtHgZLYoCYjcNT7YkfapLSz8dEVc6PW0S2uRbN4PekxJEWf0orbjYiYEsZ32YFQ4hyphenhyphenQXOfDUQZlPlE7aWeP/s1600/Donkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwy15Y8cus42q-ETl19Pfqin8t-KXcjDxcdzUQlORiHNraJDqOz0kSC_88ZtHgZLYoCYjcNT7YkfapLSz8dEVc6PW0S2uRbN4PekxJEWf0orbjYiYEsZ32YFQ4hyphenhyphenQXOfDUQZlPlE7aWeP/s320/Donkey.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8wCeVCWa2CpBg2jC7UEaJcoj4t1IZPMMFcMhF2GsvyU8Bepa_IgzKwzUUsRU_nsbnLVU72xD3dDGZ84Z3eORNcCF17Ie6EfHCra3txlpG9TM7PJ7MDtiodGVC2A6wRlv1HVP4qNwxXmi/s1600/Emu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8wCeVCWa2CpBg2jC7UEaJcoj4t1IZPMMFcMhF2GsvyU8Bepa_IgzKwzUUsRU_nsbnLVU72xD3dDGZ84Z3eORNcCF17Ie6EfHCra3txlpG9TM7PJ7MDtiodGVC2A6wRlv1HVP4qNwxXmi/s320/Emu.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wSpRPzKRNSj69v2lsN-oKrfP2my6IX2iIXQz2aIjlGhRkS017Uf_izZbUXgv52uahsZxeqrFG4mG8aHxtX2HdK7OnjKbybIwU9L9niRAO0AVoefyPGN7z_OH1kb4Y_PdEfmXroiFSyL_/s1600/Zeedonk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wSpRPzKRNSj69v2lsN-oKrfP2my6IX2iIXQz2aIjlGhRkS017Uf_izZbUXgv52uahsZxeqrFG4mG8aHxtX2HdK7OnjKbybIwU9L9niRAO0AVoefyPGN7z_OH1kb4Y_PdEfmXroiFSyL_/s320/Zeedonk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Zee-donk: He's so punk rock, check out that mohawk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0N7F0pAI6Athk3VDaR-QGX_1aQU_a6pw5GuDCZrptUIyAu1MAj-XEwwjlr3psuPa8aAvMFomALy_RNCoyUu-Zqa4pyE6m__qaL-rCpOAt_MQCq7fExJZcvmfY9lWYjyBjGIBvS8sQE5l/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0N7F0pAI6Athk3VDaR-QGX_1aQU_a6pw5GuDCZrptUIyAu1MAj-XEwwjlr3psuPa8aAvMFomALy_RNCoyUu-Zqa4pyE6m__qaL-rCpOAt_MQCq7fExJZcvmfY9lWYjyBjGIBvS8sQE5l/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycjcts8BGP_MNe03QEuLo1V0UxwW9Xu-hsO5zNFxJULutNX0gos_TKslPKeJVhRj11MY0kbd9l9BR8lrjMCWNOllY4c_RDvApvrqJa4jMTzZ9qmaMwKbmcW7k7ujj64snFYaAE0XbNL8g/s1600/Turtle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycjcts8BGP_MNe03QEuLo1V0UxwW9Xu-hsO5zNFxJULutNX0gos_TKslPKeJVhRj11MY0kbd9l9BR8lrjMCWNOllY4c_RDvApvrqJa4jMTzZ9qmaMwKbmcW7k7ujj64snFYaAE0XbNL8g/s320/Turtle.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course BI has a petting zoo full of exotic animals and a giant tortise fountain...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH36iMK0CokB7yQYl2u1hcOmgmA0Q9QCqPWOZ6BImnKZVHYoX8U28JDjDOoYqxr2Td579CIYxe2QrmUVArM63e2CnDWgjbnVh83LR59hHyoFr6wc7tUyanWXSFm24GHmtQjtdNTp-gJn-3/s1600/Hollow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH36iMK0CokB7yQYl2u1hcOmgmA0Q9QCqPWOZ6BImnKZVHYoX8U28JDjDOoYqxr2Td579CIYxe2QrmUVArM63e2CnDWgjbnVh83LR59hHyoFr6wc7tUyanWXSFm24GHmtQjtdNTp-gJn-3/s320/Hollow.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnNdlOJQTus6PE53ZNSpG1BuDhoJP_x_9ffFI5hRcsDMp5eQn4M2A7Xlzhg-ReH-cKaLIv4zFoADYyHSKhi5saxO6JhjhLsHEhW8_QhhHF-gl_D0Pn4DqTQW5g2u5JxUznhOk6BE5EP0p/s1600/Sunset+Pier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnNdlOJQTus6PE53ZNSpG1BuDhoJP_x_9ffFI5hRcsDMp5eQn4M2A7Xlzhg-ReH-cKaLIv4zFoADYyHSKhi5saxO6JhjhLsHEhW8_QhhHF-gl_D0Pn4DqTQW5g2u5JxUznhOk6BE5EP0p/s320/Sunset+Pier.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTaY7zx_HzQ04qbIsvAAEgqp7ElzSeBjwb122EqjnWFPYF4takpZS52O5Rs0vKcJTZr_QNFhu0NzMlsBMYeiaVYicH6d8-iiJs3bxd9LnyF6rk5fwirlQddNU13HVO6O9dytmdZpnTG4u/s1600/Red+Bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTaY7zx_HzQ04qbIsvAAEgqp7ElzSeBjwb122EqjnWFPYF4takpZS52O5Rs0vKcJTZr_QNFhu0NzMlsBMYeiaVYicH6d8-iiJs3bxd9LnyF6rk5fwirlQddNU13HVO6O9dytmdZpnTG4u/s320/Red+Bird.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An abosolutely perfect birthday weekend adventure, and surely not the last time we will be out to the island. Anyone up for making this an annual trip- we could rent a house next year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvig0mUu3i7IWbO2nALKb_JVtFyvstWbRvcM52134i7qQEBAe5ifZ4B1x6UnRO_3H3VJKro31TbYRlnoVV0z5Bqknet63NW-RvsRDmlZW03mC_tIzRKXAGCwblX8sqAd-IZ096KD6lufA/s1600/Ferry+Home.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvig0mUu3i7IWbO2nALKb_JVtFyvstWbRvcM52134i7qQEBAe5ifZ4B1x6UnRO_3H3VJKro31TbYRlnoVV0z5Bqknet63NW-RvsRDmlZW03mC_tIzRKXAGCwblX8sqAd-IZ096KD6lufA/s320/Ferry+Home.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sigh, back to reality...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-77957082711441082922010-10-06T10:02:00.000-07:002010-10-06T10:02:58.491-07:00Well Hello There, Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIh3dkQIhEQeQo6FsDQTLTmcrJId5swQz4LF7yDSIzccpAAL-eUww7hf7fnD8QeTElFbMboh6Vy5qRHrHGFjJ1QR7jnZT53KMKMH77ee60YQGWmJKQ9u-e55CZq-k0Xnaj0-Z8F2h3mfs/s1600/Walkabout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIh3dkQIhEQeQo6FsDQTLTmcrJId5swQz4LF7yDSIzccpAAL-eUww7hf7fnD8QeTElFbMboh6Vy5qRHrHGFjJ1QR7jnZT53KMKMH77ee60YQGWmJKQ9u-e55CZq-k0Xnaj0-Z8F2h3mfs/s320/Walkabout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hands down, fall is my favorite season, due in no small part to my Northern blood and desire to bundle up. While spring is the season of re-birth, summer the time to make the most of the outdoors and winter was made for Hot Toddies, fall seamlessly combines the best of all seasons for me. The air is crisp and dry, the skies are clear, and all of my favorite cool weather clothing comes out of hiding for the long haul. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite five components of Fall in New England: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHSJ2G9Za9jgT3Su9Mu5srARW3WTpf9o5E6EjCMfZqc3KgW1Wm1QXl6hkYoThUJXAvqmgHS1vPDzdwZN9HGVBxvBy9XhQ3jMQtiAXppzaP8jskVX7ghpxLTvUplYL3nSlbjEqnMSH6_YB/s1600/Turkey.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHSJ2G9Za9jgT3Su9Mu5srARW3WTpf9o5E6EjCMfZqc3KgW1Wm1QXl6hkYoThUJXAvqmgHS1vPDzdwZN9HGVBxvBy9XhQ3jMQtiAXppzaP8jskVX7ghpxLTvUplYL3nSlbjEqnMSH6_YB/s320/Turkey.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>1) Fall Cooking & Food:</strong> It’s an obvious given in my world of food obsession, but fall food encompasses all my favorite flavors. I love it all- pumpkin lattes, Hungarian mushroom soup and rich chowders, hearty fresh-baked loaves of bread (preferably made by my husband!), slow cooked roasts with seasonal vegetables, and of course the quintessential Thanksgiving feast- the foods of autumn represent time spent with loved ones and memories made. There is a sensory intoxication that seems to overtake the self when you walk into a warm home wrapped in the smells of a meal cooking, are handed a glass of red wine, and invited to just unwind and enjoy. I tend to want to linger over these relaxed fall meals, kicking off my boots and listening to stories told by others, finding a good soundtrack to the meal, and afterwards, falling into sleep full, warm, and happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTpPI6_9reNOIigGtY6q2qDLWGqMfKWpioL0PTEVBJ5kXMEi3oa0auUmaBNkM9mltUFQB1ETzgzm_rmTfOTjIc0xXXNdEP3nZVKwHYZdPMhJ1UVQ8IQYBuy4ONiVbbwsUAeo0XmRO5L37/s1600/Boots+Scarf.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTpPI6_9reNOIigGtY6q2qDLWGqMfKWpioL0PTEVBJ5kXMEi3oa0auUmaBNkM9mltUFQB1ETzgzm_rmTfOTjIc0xXXNdEP3nZVKwHYZdPMhJ1UVQ8IQYBuy4ONiVbbwsUAeo0XmRO5L37/s320/Boots+Scarf.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><strong>2) Boots, Scarves & Sweaters:</strong> When I can get away with it, I do my damndest to wear boots year round. My collection is relatively utilitarian, with the ability to be both work and personally functional. My two favorite pairs are both of the brown knee-high variety- one a flat soled riding boot(pictured above), and the other a pair with stacked wooden heels that belonged to my mother in the 70s (even better!). They go with anything from jeans to pencil skirts, and never let me down. There is nothing like the comfort of a soft, snuggly sweater on a brisk fall day! Merino wool or cashmere in any color is always a perfect choice, and if made well will last a lifetime. As mentioned in my previous post, my Brooks Brothers merino cowl necks are what I usually reach for. And nothing says “Hello October!” like a well layered scarf!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvEuPi9Fbfa7MiJfjvw7wa61VQWMQFYfzT-sxCX_d2gmAxdK8Y8Owc1zm4Xw2xqKB-eVceX3ykx0LBhrFg15Q4YzbZv6yfoycKup9fp_vkxb9toU2BHIeSj1pqyy1IXQ_Xqca5kZxXCrA/s1600/Getaway.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvEuPi9Fbfa7MiJfjvw7wa61VQWMQFYfzT-sxCX_d2gmAxdK8Y8Owc1zm4Xw2xqKB-eVceX3ykx0LBhrFg15Q4YzbZv6yfoycKup9fp_vkxb9toU2BHIeSj1pqyy1IXQ_Xqca5kZxXCrA/s200/Getaway.bmp" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>3) Fall Getaways:</strong> I adore fall travel! Prices drop after Labor Day, and even more so after Columbus Day, making it much easier to visit some of the best seasonal destinations during the skirt season. A lot of hotels off getaway specials during off-peak times, and it’s a great way to see a favorite destination or discover a new place without breaking the bank. If you’re not able to get away for an extended period of time, there are so many fairs and festivals come fall time (around these parts we have the Foliage Festival, Oktoberfest, Newport Boat Show, Food & Wine Festival and my favorite back in Maine, the Common Ground Fair), that a day trip is a great way to take in the best of the season, enjoy a beautiful drive up or down the coast and sample the local tasty treats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4orYfE_H-Jajhz0MVQqTpZZg2j2_ghuUZoDxmPxVCM_Mc0b_zaeYHlC-J8fy33TPqoaJF8Y6e9f0Rdq4RGqkTNlvxWzRQtAaBbPuQ1aHjFTgo2y4DnXQ3utneziaZpsCJweQ1OMj3so2/s1600/Thanksgiving+2009.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4orYfE_H-Jajhz0MVQqTpZZg2j2_ghuUZoDxmPxVCM_Mc0b_zaeYHlC-J8fy33TPqoaJF8Y6e9f0Rdq4RGqkTNlvxWzRQtAaBbPuQ1aHjFTgo2y4DnXQ3utneziaZpsCJweQ1OMj3so2/s200/Thanksgiving+2009.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqEIC83-DifkHJppYMif4Qg8xyOy17lhp3o5levY_PGXNYp6UQpohp11b5D69pu4JHUbPzEs8zrBXD3wbOpinhFmiBjNgVGjD98EO7DFoResFsYgqHgMwO1BVbZVd7Os6zcgsR4AePDh9/s1600/Birthdays.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqEIC83-DifkHJppYMif4Qg8xyOy17lhp3o5levY_PGXNYp6UQpohp11b5D69pu4JHUbPzEs8zrBXD3wbOpinhFmiBjNgVGjD98EO7DFoResFsYgqHgMwO1BVbZVd7Os6zcgsR4AePDh9/s200/Birthdays.bmp" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>4) Birthday & Holiday Celebrations:</strong> All of my immediate family’s birthdays fall between the end of September and end of November, so it makes it easy to remember them all. When we were all living in Annapolis, my brother, husband and I would have at least one big fall party to celebrate birthdays while it was still warm enough to be outside, but cool enough that the A/C wasn’t cranking obnoxiously in the background. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday of all, due in no small part to the loads of homemade food, the gathering of family, and the kicking off of the fall/winter holiday season. Kyle and I really enjoy hosting Thanksgiving for family & friends in our home, inviting them to kick back, watch some football, maybe take a walk to two around town and eat to capacity. This mantra is repeated at least three or four times over a the long weekend.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>5) Fall Sports:</strong> I am a dyed in the wool New England Patriots fan, so September marks the start of the greatest sports season of the year for me. Beyond my fanatical dedication to my beloved Pats, I am crazy about the entire culture of football- watching games with friends, dreaming of going to the live show @ Gillette (still working on this one!), tailgating, late Sunday and Monday nights glued to the last moments of the 4th quarter, the whole rig! It’s the only time of year where pre-gaming on a Sunday at 10AM is acceptable and bowing out of plans because “the game starts at ________” is completely understood. Just thinking about next week’s game against the much loathed Ravens makes me giddy. The start of football marks the winding down of Red Sox baseball, my second favorite on the sports roster. Fall games bring a crispness to Fenway, and on occasion a pennant chase or two. This year I crossed one of my biggest sports “to-dos” off the list by attending my first Red Sox/Yankees home game. As an added bonus, I went with a great crowd of old & new friends, and it was the farewell game honoring Mike Lowell. Although they weren’t quite able to pull out a win, it was a hell of a fun time to go and be a fan. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y9kwD7MoWXrARk9rpWcjePKTQmikncDN18WEbbj83Ee2XH-PmvaLjMLyJhBPlH_jtxN0QTujdm1tCDOHT9sNhhNQ0ZXH3r39bGQFfzruNqz3cPQVRy7NMreC5JCSjEFLK9pVZy_eLF06/s1600/Fenway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y9kwD7MoWXrARk9rpWcjePKTQmikncDN18WEbbj83Ee2XH-PmvaLjMLyJhBPlH_jtxN0QTujdm1tCDOHT9sNhhNQ0ZXH3r39bGQFfzruNqz3cPQVRy7NMreC5JCSjEFLK9pVZy_eLF06/s320/Fenway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This week is truly the culmination of all that fall has to offer for me: Sunday I saw the Red Sox play at Fenway, Monday the Patriots stomped the Dolphins (squish the fish!), today is my incredible mother’s birthday, and this weekend Kyle and I take off to Block Island for a long weekend to celebrate our birthdays and get away from the world for a while. I can’t wait to climb around the island, sample the best of what Block Island has to offer, and breathe in the salty, crisp air. I’m only apprehensive that I might burst into flames from overexposure to awesomeness. </div><br />
What are the finer points of fall that draw you in? Your favorite fall memory or traditions?The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-63206832325143957372010-09-22T12:36:00.000-07:002010-09-22T12:43:49.479-07:00Brunch is a State of MindThe past two weekends, I have made a conscious effort to take some personal time to just kick back and relax. It might sound a bit ridiculous to schedule time to relax, but it sometimes, it just needs to be done. Although I admit to taking plenty of time recently to travel to Maine to visit family, make dinner dates with friends and attending various social outings, a lot of that time is spent with other people. <br />
During one of these recent times home, I had a conversation with my mother where she mentioned that for at least an hour a day on the weekends, she forces herself to stop whatever project she is working on and just kick back for an hour on the porch or in the backyard and just enjoy her surroundings- whether it is with a book, a magazine, a cocktail, a mug of coffee or a snack. Taking this “personal time out” allows you to really pause and appreciate what is around you. This seemingly simple concept and conversation snapped me into the awareness that I rarely take that sort of time, and considering how much solo time I have, it seems ridiculous not to. From last weekend on, I vowed to follow my mother’s advice, and take some time to just stop, breathe and appreciate- televisions, cell phones and distractions aside. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDoFPCQ02RyPf3fdUoxmd4pjXwgQiaHE0cwBJ4mVv0v1yqgPSm1reE0cxE8NSgX6OoThDG0GGx8BMyQYWQ6wYdBFTgMbqc5yJUE3aHMSMTpH3rsFPohIK86PhiKQbP7rWMin4Tb9VV3lc/s1600/IMG00191-20100820-1739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDoFPCQ02RyPf3fdUoxmd4pjXwgQiaHE0cwBJ4mVv0v1yqgPSm1reE0cxE8NSgX6OoThDG0GGx8BMyQYWQ6wYdBFTgMbqc5yJUE3aHMSMTpH3rsFPohIK86PhiKQbP7rWMin4Tb9VV3lc/s320/IMG00191-20100820-1739.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It started during that first weekend back in the treehouse after Ky had gone back to sea. Friday evening was absolutely beautiful- the weather sunny & warm without humidity. I made myself a little tapas plate with olives, hummus, feta and crackers, poured a glass of wine, grabbed my book and headed for the hammock swing on the front porch. Between chapters & nibbles I watched the world pass by out on the sidewalk, let my mind wander, and took in my landlord’s gorgeous flowers. By the time the sun set, I was drenched in a delicious sense of relaxation, and felt completely unwound from my week. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC76beRN9dqDHaQXPLv9h25ukNZraqja7IXUGsYfAX_HEH9CGME1VCtH7kB3a81XE_kK-tILSuLZu1xt6J_XUcoafunKW1FtFp9vDGiNGEDs46g63XDAHtCQ8rYVo1CXj5lFj6B7DMGI_/s1600/IMG00245-20100911-1406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC76beRN9dqDHaQXPLv9h25ukNZraqja7IXUGsYfAX_HEH9CGME1VCtH7kB3a81XE_kK-tILSuLZu1xt6J_XUcoafunKW1FtFp9vDGiNGEDs46g63XDAHtCQ8rYVo1CXj5lFj6B7DMGI_/s320/IMG00245-20100911-1406.jpg" /></a></div><br />
That Sunday, I woke up early to get errands out of the way, and was back home by 11- just in time for brunch! Before scooting back down to the porch I made myself a grilled English muffin topped with sautéed mushrooms, onion, garlic & thyme and a poached egg. I settled into the hammock swing with my brunch and latte (if you are not familiar w/ the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bialetti-Express-Cappuccino-Polished-Aluminum/dp/B000A8C0XW">Bialetti</a> stovetop cappuccino/espresso maker- I would highly recommend checking out the site & getting one, they’re amazing!!!), and proceeded to spend the next couple of hours just relaxing and enjoying the brunch mentality that seems to escape us all during the week.<br />
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It seemed appropriate that the week after implementing her practice, my mother would be down for a visit, and I think we did a damn fine job of keeping up the observance. We got up when we felt like it, had a leisurely late lunch (with wine) and took ourselves out to an extended brunch and walkabout on Sunday. As wonderful as it is to spend some time alone, it’s also just as good to spend it with someone who knows you so well that no explanation is ever needed, and the occasional silence isn’t considered awkward. <br />
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Whether alone or with others- linger over that meal, read in bed for that extra 10 minutes in the morning, take the longer drive home, fall asleep in the hammock and treat yourself to a little cocktail hour on Friday afternoon. Life is busy enough as it is, so we might as well take advantage and savor the moments that provide that “Brunch Mentality” when they happen- banking those sentiments comes in handy for the times when life forces you to strap on your big kid pants.The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-6447528639093488932010-09-01T13:04:00.000-07:002010-09-01T13:05:48.803-07:00My Picks- Best of Newport County, Dining Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FT0LD6OP4GiLNAi8g86FijJ76jNmsYTvM06kN33dIa9wnMoQ_Ae8y8CP3ModNaepzHeGUmzTaAQOKfeDW2Tsv61m3myW7s6_0xKj5G42IdxxK7CpOTonH1l-zvZ0mrGid36OJnOTNMS8/s1600/goblet.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FT0LD6OP4GiLNAi8g86FijJ76jNmsYTvM06kN33dIa9wnMoQ_Ae8y8CP3ModNaepzHeGUmzTaAQOKfeDW2Tsv61m3myW7s6_0xKj5G42IdxxK7CpOTonH1l-zvZ0mrGid36OJnOTNMS8/s320/goblet.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Man, that was a lot of food- here lemme wash 'er down...</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Although this is a food related post, I thought it would be a better fit for The Humble Home, as opposed to the Table, since it’s a review not a recipe. Like any other self-proclaimed foodie, I adore going out to eat and trying new restaurants, it is a very close second to making a fantastic meal at home. For being considered a small town, Newport has some really outstanding restaurants, so I’ve compiled a review of the places we frequent, and those we’ve only recently tried, so if you ever find yourself in the area, you’ll at least have an idea of some of the offerings of our local culinary teams. I'm shooting to make this a two-part post, with the first half dedicated to my favorites in the region, so let's start off with the brightest stars.<br />
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Unbeknownst to us at the time, we ended up living in a great neighborhood for food. The upper Broadway area of Newport has arguably some of the best restaurants in town. As an added bonus, it is a bit off the main drag, so the tourist traffic is less than the America’s Cup/Thames St. area down on the water. We’ve made a pretty good go at checking out the restaurants in this area, and it plays host to our favorite go to spot, which is where I’ll kick the list off:<br />
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(A quick note: I've included links where possible to the webpages of these restaurants, but I do not have any photos of the meals I've enjoyed. It's a bit of a personal issue with me, but I find it extremely distracting to take photos of a meal when out with friends. Most of the sites have menus & photos, so you can get the idea from there on the offerings!)<br />
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1) <a href="http://www.salvationcafe.com/">Salvation Café</a>: This is easily my favorite place in all of Newport. It has a very funky, eclectic style, and the food is always outstanding. Almost every time we have guests in town, we’ll take them to Salvation. They run a well thought out, seasonally inspired menu with offerings for any taste- their hanger steak & frites is outstanding, the pad thai (offered with chicken, shrimp or tofu) is generous and fresh, and the offer rotating specials that are always spot on. Their appetizer/starter selections are on par with the rest of their menu, and their beet salad and mussels with frites are a personal point of obsession (they ran out of mussels the last time we were there, and I was completely crushed, but was well consoled by the hanger steak in homemade Worcestershire sauce), and eat well as a meal. I sampled a friend’s calamari a few weeks ago, and it did not disappoint. Cocktail, beer and wine offerings are all great, and their infamous Sangria lives up to the hype. On the last visit, I tried their Tiger Tea (a mix of sweet tea vodka and house made lime aid), and am now hooked! Service is usually very good, but being the hotspot that it is, it can get a little spotty at times. As an added bonus for year round residents, they run a lot of weekday specials after peak season, including Taco Tuesdays and the Real Winos of Newport County. The place is packed most any night, so getting there early is a good idea, and if you’re waiting, the back yard tiki bar is not a bad place to hang out with a cocktail. <br />
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2) Norey’s Star (fan page available on Facebook): Located a couple of doors down from Salvation, Norey’s was a great stumble-upon find. Looking for a place to grab a beer and an appetizer while my Dad was in town, the three of us ended up at Norey’s, and have been back many times as a result. Norey’s has a funky modern diner sort of aesthetic, with an extensive offering of beers and wine (cocktails are not available). They pride themselves on having the most extensive offering of bottled beers from both national and international breweries. Similar to Salvation, their menu seems to change seasonally, although staples can be found any time of year and also have a great offering of fresh raw bar selections. A standout on the appetizer menu is their Fried Goat Cheese plate, which pairs a disc of lightly breaded goat cheese with their incredible fried spinach and toasted baguette slices. The combination of the warm goat cheese with the crispy spinach is absolutely outstanding. Other great offerings include their mussels (which were on the winter menu and show up occasionally as a special), the bistro steak w/ blue cheese, lobster mac & cheese and their burgers. Full service is available at the bar, and I have found that the bartenders are a bit more attentive than the floor staff. The food at Norey’s is thoughtfully prepared, and makes for a great out of the way spot to grab dinner and catch up with a friend. <br />
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3) <a href="http://www.pourjudgement.com/">Pour Judgement</a>: I love Pour Judgement not only for their witty name, but their unpretentious approach great bar food. From the outside, it looks like your standard bar, and in part, it is. PJ offers a great lineup of 17 beers on draught, as well as bottled offerings of some lesser known brew houses. They also boast a solid wine list and full cocktail service. Their menu has everything from standard chicken wings and burgers to hand cut fries with smoked Gouda cheese sauce, nori of the day, and an impressive offering of entrees. I habitually order their Portuguese Littlenecks- steamed in white wine with chorizo, onions, peppers and garlic- and they are always perfection. Kyle has adventured further, and their nightly specials are always well prepared, the fried shrimp Po’boy was a remembered standout. As an added bonus, I just found out that they do a Sunday brunch, and I’m looking forward to taking a stroll down the street for further research soon. The staff is always on their game, and with a constantly changing draught beer lineup and nightly specials, it’s hard to get bored. <br />
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4) <a href="http://thefastnetpub.com/">The Fastnet Pub</a>: Fastnet is exactly what you would expect out of an Irish pub- well poured pints, a good selection of standard drinks, and pub fare. Fastnet certainly isn’t looking to re-invent the bar, and they do a great job at bringing a little of Ireland in Newport. The food selection is pretty standard- burgers, deli sandwiches, wings and the like, and my personal standout would be their homemade curry sauce for their Curry Fries and the Fish & Chips, two staples of any good pub. I’ll go just about to the ends of the earth for well done Fish & Chips and Curry Fries- luckily for me I only have to go to the end of the block. And there’s nothing like a freshly poured Magners for refreshment, which is enough to keep me loyal for years. The interior of Fastnet looks like something right out of Dublin, with dark wood, a good sized bar and hi top tables. On Sundays they have live Irish music, and in the summer they roll open the shutter windows for an open air, relaxed feeling. They’ll also open early for televised international rugby games (on the projection big screen), and you’re sure to find crews from far and away sporting their motherland’s jersey and enjoying a pint. <br />
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5) <a href="http://www.newportbubbletea.com/">Empire Tea & Coffee</a>: Although not really a restaurant, per say, Empire is a fantastic coffee house. My brother-in-law Brandon and his wife Ugne were actually the first to discover Empire during a visit this past winter, and I am eternally grateful to them. The crew at Empire really knows what they’re talking about when it comes to tea and coffee, and they are more than happy to share their knowledge with their customers. While they have the standard coffee/espresso/latte/tea offerings you would expect, they can also broaden your horizon with their extensive selection of loose teas and unique beverages like their “Third Degree Burn” which pairs espresso with spicy (as in hot pepper) Mexican chocolate for a unique and delicious combination. They also carry one of my favorite guilty pleasures- Bubble Tea!<br />
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6) <a href="http://www.a1pizzanewport.com/">A-1 Pizza</a>: Well made, fresh pizza is a thing of unbridled beauty. My family prides ourselves on being quite the pizza connoisseurs, and thinks nothing of driving ridiculously out of our ways for a good one. Lucky for Kyle and me, we found a fantastic place literally around the corner from our apartment. A-1 creates incredible Greek style pizzas (thicker, pan style crust) out of their humble little shop, with offerings to suit any taste. It’s not just my personal accolade for the best pizza in Newport- they have won the “Best Cheese Pizza” in Newport County award for years- and the proof is in the pie. Their extensive menu of specialty pizzas takes up two pages on their menu, and thus far, I haven’t been disappointed. Favorites in our house include the Pizza all Bubba (pepperoni & sausage covered in a mix of sautéed onions, garlic & peppers), Grecian Delight (Tzatziki sauce, spinach, black olives, feta & tomatoes), Gyro (marinated slices of lamb & beef) and the Buffalo Chicken. During a visit from my brother, who is not shy about his passion for great wings, we threw in an order of their Italian Wings, and they were outstanding! Fried extra crispy, the wings are tossed with Italian herbs, chopped garlic and olive oil- unbelievable! The meat was juicy, and the flavors worked together beautifully. While A-1 is not your typical $8 pizza joint, they’re well worth the money, and have stood the test of time for the past 34 years for a reason. As a matter of fact, after writing this list, I went straight home, called my husband, and told let him know that I had place an order for takeout, if he would be so kind as to swing by A-1 on his way home from the base.<br />
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7) <a href="http://www.cafezelda.com/">Café Zelda</a>: I know I’ve mentioned Zelda’s a couple of times before, and with good reason- they are consistently great! Like many of my favorites, we stumbled on Zelda’s while wandering around downtown in search of a place for brunch on Sunday. The interior has a bit of split personality, with the dining room reminiscent of a seaside French bistro with white tablecloths and attentive servers, and a rich wood-laden, no frills bar that is full of the sailing crowd at any given time washing down pints and trying their hand at the well-known Virgin Island “ring game”. Food at Café Zelda is always spot on, and they stay true to their Bistro roots- offering such favorites as Pissaladiere (a French tart with caramelized onions, black olives and anchovy paste), a classic Savoyard sandwich, Eggs Benedict, Truffled Foie Gras “Crème Brulee”, Steak Frites and what is arguably the best burger in all of Newport. Although I’ve only made it to Zelda’s for lunch and brunch, I am looking forward making the trip downtown for dinner once the crowds start to die down- their Bouillabaise and Braised Short Ribs sound like the perfect thing to take the chill out of a fall night!<br />
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8) <a href="http://www.restaurantbouchard.com/">Bouchard’s</a>: Interestingly enough, I had heard about Bouchard’s long before I even knew I would be a resident of Newport. Once we had established residency, I knew Bouchard’s would be the sort of place for a truly special occasion, as was such for our 2 year anniversary. Set in an old converted house which also plays host to a small Inn, Bouchard’s main dining room is warm and intimate, a place where you don’t feel crowded or rushed. One look at the menu and you know that the chef and namesake, Albert Bouchard, knows his trade. I had a difficult time narrowing down my selections to anything past “the entire left page, please”. Our server was wonderfully attentive without being overbearing, and when the wine Kyle selected was no longer offered, she pointed us to a similar option without trying to “upsell” us on our price point. As we placed our order, our server let us know that they had a Grand Mariner Soufflé for desert that evening, and if we hadn’t had it before it was not something to be missed (it was advised to place that order with our entrees, as it is a bit time consuming). Done and done. We started off with the Pate de Foie du Chef and the Filet Mignon Carpaccio, each of which set the tone beautifully. For mains, Kyle had a Bone-in Veal Chop from the specials and I had the Duck Breast with Coffee Crust- there is a reason for the price point on these dishes. Chef Bouchard is thoughtful not only of each component in his dishes, but of the entire flow of a meal. For us, it was a grand slam. While clearing our entrée plates, our server inquired as to what we were celebrating, and we informed her it was our anniversary. Minutes later she came back wih two glasses of complimentary champagne, which we enjoyed over dessert. The soufflé arrived with its head held high before our server cracked the surface and poured in the crème angliase. It was an absolute perfect note to end a memorable meal on. While clearly not for the everyday (at least not on my salary!), Bouchard’s is not to be missed when toasting a special occasion. <br />
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9) <a href="http://www.eastonsbeach.com/">Easton’s Beach Snack Bar</a>: On the absolute opposite side of the spectrum from Bouchard’s, you will find Easton’s Beach Snack Bar. Why did it make the list? Two words: Lobster rolls. I’m pretty sure this has got to be the best kept culinary secret in all of Newport County, and I’m apprehensive to even put it on the list, for fear of word getting out! I would have never even known of the Snack Bar’s existence, had it not been for my friend and IYRS colleague Jill, who slyly turned to me one afternoon while finishing up a shift at the library and asked “Do you know about the Snack Bar???”. She proceeded to give me the full story of how this little seaside cash-only snack bar was producing the best lobster rolls anywhere (big claim, I know!). I came to find out you get not only one but two fresh-made lobster rolls to an order, served on a bed of Boardwalk Fries for, wait for it, $10.99!!! Insanity! After my first experience, I was a complete believer. The lobster meat is fresh (as in off the boat fresh) and well picked, served the right way, on a butter grilled hot dog roll and mixed only with a little Hellman’s mayonnaise (I’ll save my ode to Hellman’s for later), with just the lightest line of shredded lettuce running down the bottom of the bun for a little crunch. There is nothing like it, and I think I’ve gone every time I can come up with an excuse. As a testament, I got them once when my mother was in town, and she was even floored. Now if only there was a way to convince them to stay open through the winter…<br />
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10) <a href="http://www.projo.com/yourlife/menus/oysterbar/pages/1_gif.htm">Jamestown Oyster Bar</a>: Although not technically in Newport, this little seafood restaurant on neighboring Jamestown Island is a great spot if you’re in Jamestown exploring. We had spent the day over at Beavertail, and were looking for a place to grab a light bite. Since we had walked by the Oyster Bar a couple of times in the past, we decided to give it a go. The interior is simple and clean, with a long bar running against the right wall, and bright white dressed tables scattered throughout. It was a hot night, and one of the servers recommended we take a table by the window, so we settled in and looked over the menu. Their appetizer/small plate offerings are quite extensive, and we picked out a couple to try. They have an extensive by the bottle wine list, as well as a complete bar, and their daily by the glass offerings are listed on the large “Specials” blackboard in the middle of the dining room. We started off with an order of mussels in white wine and garlic (shocking, I know), and the escargot sautéed with sweet onions and served over toast points- we were looking forward to trying the freshwater smelts, but they were out. While I admit to being a relatively adventurous eater (especially when it comes to seafood), I had yet to ever try escargot for some unknown reason, but went with Kyle’s excitement. The escargot were delicate and subtle in flavor- well complimented by the butter and sweet onion sauté- and I am thrilled to have finally had the chance to enjoy the little guys! The mussels were simple and well prepared, with the focus on the freshness of the product. For our second round, we went with 9 oysters on the ½ (our server informed us it was 2 for 1 on oysters on Sundays!) and Clams Casino. At most establishments, Clams Casino consists of Cherrystone clams topped with buttered breadcrumbs and crisp bacon. At the Oyster bar, their twist replaces the bacon with baby Maine shrimp, and it was a welcome change, even for a bacon aficionado. The oysters were of good size and notably fresh, served simply with lemon, cocktail sauce and extra horseradish- perfect! We had a fantastic night of sampling , and really enjoyed the relaxed, yet polished atmosphere of the Oyster Bar, something that will definitely draw us back again. <br />
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Phew! So that rounds out my list of “tops” in the area for dining and drinks- I think that should take care of it! I’m shooting to have my less than stellar reviews up in the next day or so, although I think it will be a shorter list. ;) If you do find yourself at any of these spots, I’d love to hear your thoughts, as no two palates are alike! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHxsYY60kmo_1WS6KS0RuX9gzM5P8BRu3KzA953eOP3BwgdafQBqidBdbrdbZp7T2oGcC30lkj0EsfdkG_hpnbMTHvzWmABQGu5U6_JTflmQs2cC7Ap747p3IPwJE0xHVBHyFPr4mtg8v/s1600/MoY.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHxsYY60kmo_1WS6KS0RuX9gzM5P8BRu3KzA953eOP3BwgdafQBqidBdbrdbZp7T2oGcC30lkj0EsfdkG_hpnbMTHvzWmABQGu5U6_JTflmQs2cC7Ap747p3IPwJE0xHVBHyFPr4mtg8v/s320/MoY.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for visiting Newport!</span></em></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-73211655156778245942010-07-30T08:03:00.000-07:002010-07-30T08:03:20.542-07:00Spin, Spin Sugar...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lBeaZx3udsAo_0c256BMS047VwlSTf7mMcgKg2vMH1_P1UmOxlL0qT1bjLWutYS_RfQn1gyMqlyJ9ycDl4BXwvDbufBx4vI29P3tU_Jljhm_ks0UmznLJ2-UPSIIv8CgrhSjys9NqEkP/s1600/Spin+Pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lBeaZx3udsAo_0c256BMS047VwlSTf7mMcgKg2vMH1_P1UmOxlL0qT1bjLWutYS_RfQn1gyMqlyJ9ycDl4BXwvDbufBx4vI29P3tU_Jljhm_ks0UmznLJ2-UPSIIv8CgrhSjys9NqEkP/s320/Spin+Pin.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As someone who works in a predominantly male (ok, <em>all</em> male) office, I do my best to keep my look professional and clean, without a lot of girly bells and baubles. In the past few years, I've become somewhat burned out on the standard ponytail for keeping my hair out of my face (unless exersizing), and I will openly admit to being hairstyle challenged- I can't count how many times I have stabbed myself in the scalp or lost large sections of hair before some sort of formal affair due to sad attempts at bobby pin/product use. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I saw the first adverts for the <a href="https://goodysimplestyles.com/styletips.php">Goody Spin Pin</a> pop up, I was a bit wary- I've seen a fair amount of products tout ease of use for making great updos, even for those of us that are hair style challeneged. After a week or so I finally caved to my own curiosity and bought a set. Having spent most of my adult life either in the aforementioned bland ponytail, the sadly messy and sophmoric "pile it on top of your head and wrap a band around it a couple of times til it sticks" look or the "the hell with it-hand me a banana clip" surrender, I was cautiously optimistic about the potential of these little corkscrew mysteries. Following their basic bun instructions, I gingerly spun the pins into place and slowly removed my hands from the bun. Much to my surprise (and utter delight)- the bun stayed perfectly in place. I followed up with a couple of rigorous bounces in place, and when they continued to hold their ground, I went for the full head shake, bun still intact! Sheer joy took over, and I pranced into the living room to show of my new creation and sing (literally, I think I freestyled a little ditty) the praises of the Spin Pin to my less than enthused husband. After a few minutes of this performance, he finally humored me and asked for a demonstration, which I proudly obliged with yet again a perfect bun outcome. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've had my pins for about two weeks now, and they continue to make me beyond thrilled. They're easy to throw in a bag, reasonably priced (around $5-6 a set), painless, hold all day, can stand up to a weight training workout, and best of all, don't leave that elastic bump on your hair after you take them out. As a matter of fact, I've used them for putting my hair up when it is still a little damp after a shower and when dry and pins are removed, I get these great soft waves, something not easily achieved with my normally flyaway locks. Why and how no other company has come out with these before, I don't know, but I'm guessing they're all kicking themselves now. I have a pretty strong suspicion that I will still be a firm believer in the magic of the Goody Spin Pin far into the twilight of my life! </div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-86499528938789884622010-06-28T13:28:00.000-07:002010-06-28T13:28:33.508-07:00Book Review: Stern Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnLfu12BQQ2nYf9a1FomFLm06y-6L2h_eSpVUclKmsPcMZ1_NM5HVMYK-BSLD0FhFCFCi6yiKP3O6TcoH4ZTIbUpiZs3TWhDy1ULEsF5Ia-2gGRGNqMYo1Ky-51MFvQrvQ04dwhyphenhyphensc-7S/s1600/sternmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnLfu12BQQ2nYf9a1FomFLm06y-6L2h_eSpVUclKmsPcMZ1_NM5HVMYK-BSLD0FhFCFCi6yiKP3O6TcoH4ZTIbUpiZs3TWhDy1ULEsF5Ia-2gGRGNqMYo1Ky-51MFvQrvQ04dwhyphenhyphensc-7S/s320/sternmen.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few years ago, everyone I knew seemed to be reading "Eat, Pray, Love"- I somehow missed the boat on it. I had heard great things about both the book and the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, but it just happened to come across my radar when we were in the midst of moving and some other significant life events, so it slipped by the wayside. It wasn't until I was in a local shop that I happened to notice (and immdeately pick up) Stern Men, Gilbert's first novel published originally before the phenomenon of "Eat, Pray, Love" took off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Upon reading the synopsis on the back cover, I was immdeately hooked: Ruth Thomas, a snarky, smart-mouthed girl from the fictitious Maine island of Fort Niles returns to the island at the ripe age of 18 in the 1970s after being sent away to a boarding school in Delaware. SOLD. The book had me at Maine- I fully admit to being a sucker for books written about my homestate. The story itself is witty- written in a very dry-humor style, apropriate for the genre. Her father refuses to take her on as a stern men on his own boat, and not being able to find work on any other boats, Ruth spends her summer roaming the island and generally "stirring the turd". She is forced to visit her mother in Concord and deal with their strained relationship, she take solace the the beautiful (and fertile) Mrs. Pommeroy for days on end, assists in Senator Addam's quest for an elusive elephant tusk buried in the island's mud bog, and becomes mesmerized by the preacher's nephew and his quiet, shy strength. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interwoven in Ruth's own story is a telling of the island's own history, and the ever evolving lobster wars fought between it's own fishermen and those of the neighboring island Corne Haven. It is a near perfect adaptation of what so many fishing communities go through along the coast of Maine, but told in such a captivating way, that it is difficult to put down. The way Gilbert tosses in pieces of vital, occasionally shocking twists in the narrative left me turning pages late into the night. Her portrait of this rural island community is spot on, witty- you can see all the characters loud and clear. The engaging matter of the book makes for a quick, satisfying read- one that I am already sad to have finished! </div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-60014070425460327232010-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:29:52.856-07:00Container Garden Update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG7ZbSR-e0-D2O9HJzzJI3CTUcv7UVRS9Td5pn4jI6em6xdeQVrEIyg4JO5dBmE0ydAq8UfUJmsMUuEoJQgMDzyDmJIb-luPmAY-WG4S3n3FQrFzhOlJtRAnjuCy8QLn61IfqZ94ayoa5/s1600/DSC00620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG7ZbSR-e0-D2O9HJzzJI3CTUcv7UVRS9Td5pn4jI6em6xdeQVrEIyg4JO5dBmE0ydAq8UfUJmsMUuEoJQgMDzyDmJIb-luPmAY-WG4S3n3FQrFzhOlJtRAnjuCy8QLn61IfqZ94ayoa5/s320/DSC00620.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NsfJgFwRzJ66eZJwf_bXW6t7s2Ihktx8idGVgeQKn56d2c8rv3Ap5egjPfbjEuxVdBjA0sxxnaBxm88sopXz-YIyWBUVCRg7xn_3v2mOnHSXNC2taw0sPSw6G-4BqE5gbqZF26XQU0qJ/s1600/DSC00626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NsfJgFwRzJ66eZJwf_bXW6t7s2Ihktx8idGVgeQKn56d2c8rv3Ap5egjPfbjEuxVdBjA0sxxnaBxm88sopXz-YIyWBUVCRg7xn_3v2mOnHSXNC2taw0sPSw6G-4BqE5gbqZF26XQU0qJ/s200/DSC00626.JPG" width="150" /></a>I have been meaning for some time to post an update on my container garden experiment for some time now, but as per usual, the kickoff of summer has had me running all over the New England coast! Not to say that I’m not having a blast doing it, but it has certainly kept me busy! So far the results have been predominantly successful, and Kyle and I have been able to enjoy some wonderful fresh herbs in a lot of our cooking (see <a href="http://cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/2010/06/fresh-from-sill.html">Toasted Almond Pesto</a> over on The Humble Table). My arugula didn’t fare as well as hoped (it may have been over exposed to sun & over crowded in the pot) and I had to restart my sugar snap peas (same problem w/ over crowding- I have a tendency to do that!), but all in all I’ve been very happy with my results! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGw74T_s0CAnkz1mqABGKTyDpnNYGaDS6Nxb0fDFvkWvS9ES-rw61P13pYFvcGoaURsNEEas43CZANnEdGpqflw97XCnUgaHATP_zGE8B7GiNO2UdZcICtDVMCa4VeUdx1c4_zdbyrw1U/s1600/DSC00631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGw74T_s0CAnkz1mqABGKTyDpnNYGaDS6Nxb0fDFvkWvS9ES-rw61P13pYFvcGoaURsNEEas43CZANnEdGpqflw97XCnUgaHATP_zGE8B7GiNO2UdZcICtDVMCa4VeUdx1c4_zdbyrw1U/s200/DSC00631.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Since the first post on the garden experiment back in April, I have also added tomatoes to the windowsill and they are just starting to give off signs of fruiting. I couldn’t believe how quickly they shot up, and I just staked them on Sunday, so they should start producing any day now! I planted four heirloom cherry tomatoes (in one very large pot) that have beautiful curling new leaves with a vibrant green hue. I also planted four heirloom Lemon Boy yellow tomato plants, and I can’t wait to start enjoying these beauties- the stalks are already so tall! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQC7cNK9iImB_1zknFvDl3es2A9iwCpXQrHth-06ZzpaFBv35B6KGAj4-p6SuHNCTPlVQp9akxszreCYPfxhPXVRIPOAN8OLfsAPL4L8hyphenhyphen49JE9__osnKJy-02b1ZZlwSwJLCWsHizvj_/s1600/DSC00632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQC7cNK9iImB_1zknFvDl3es2A9iwCpXQrHth-06ZzpaFBv35B6KGAj4-p6SuHNCTPlVQp9akxszreCYPfxhPXVRIPOAN8OLfsAPL4L8hyphenhyphen49JE9__osnKJy-02b1ZZlwSwJLCWsHizvj_/s200/DSC00632.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I think I may also pick up a small pepper plant (a little too late to start from seedling @ this point) over the weekend to take the place of the arugula pot, as I really enjoy fresh hot peppers in all sorts of applications. Hopefully I’ll be better with updating in the future, and I can’t wait to work with my homegrown produce in the kitchen!The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-81837788778466848352010-06-15T13:37:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:30:08.201-07:00Two Years Ago Today...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXzUWMFa-NqV4aP8oZBzz1biJ2EoIYCbcR7SNrorfl_ANXONsmB3IPzlH7bT3MRRWKJiuFZJ777T9hRS-ApXKoP5shZpQXJTobeouA4PcYmS9QllTckX8DwszGmNq4XuM4oQ08CRSeOwX/s1600/Wedd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXzUWMFa-NqV4aP8oZBzz1biJ2EoIYCbcR7SNrorfl_ANXONsmB3IPzlH7bT3MRRWKJiuFZJ777T9hRS-ApXKoP5shZpQXJTobeouA4PcYmS9QllTckX8DwszGmNq4XuM4oQ08CRSeOwX/s320/Wedd.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Two years ago today, I was sitting on the floor in the sun room of my family’s summer house opening gifts and cards with my newly minted husband, getting ready for a three hour sunset cruise to celebrate with friends and family. Just 24 hours before that, I married the love of my life, and looking back today, I couldn’t be more in love with him now.<br />
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The first two years of our marriage haven’t been the easiest- we’ve experienced job loss, two moves, financial stress, the loss of friends, and the start of a new life together. Looking back at the tough times, I realize that there is no one else that I would want to have my back through all of it. Through all of the less then celebratory moments, the brighter times have far outweighed the difficult, and we have grown together (and independently), strengthening our relationship and looking towards the uncharted territory with bright eyes. <br />
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It seems like it was just last summer when I met the Argo captain who was fresh out of college and full of swagger. I was just a bartender in a coastal town, and he was exactly what I never knew I was looking for. Who else could have convinced me one month into dating that I should move with him to the Virgin Islands??? And who would have predicted that it would only take those six months in the tropics to show me that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8ZoM5RTtH16J4p53qP-N7UyPclhVzdqKxGtPubSe9d9kereBSu9Y7QMgZ8uPF5434IdAlJCwMfX6zwJWNnGFlXmuBOeWRISQcapBgoQ3TMKJPGcLMUHYATPw7IuiFHRVQyRjTR4RXaSV/s1600/VI+Anniversary.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8ZoM5RTtH16J4p53qP-N7UyPclhVzdqKxGtPubSe9d9kereBSu9Y7QMgZ8uPF5434IdAlJCwMfX6zwJWNnGFlXmuBOeWRISQcapBgoQ3TMKJPGcLMUHYATPw7IuiFHRVQyRjTR4RXaSV/s320/VI+Anniversary.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(One of the first photos taken of us, celebrating our six month anniversary in the VI)</div><br />
It goes without saying that our wedding (and the following celebration) was one of the most incredible and joyous moments of my life to date. The stars seemed to align- the weather was beautiful (early June on the coast of Maine can be touch & go), the venue was perfect and the celebration put on by friends and family was epic. I don’t think we could have hoped for a better day that was just so perfectly “us”! <br />
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Five years later- after many points on the chart, one adopted cat, a boat sold, one huge blow out wedding celebration, numerous jobs and great ideas, we’re still going strong. Kyle is my favorite person to laugh with, my shoulder to cry on, my safe harbor, and my favorite person to just do nothing with. We challenge each other to be better people, and never stop learning something new. <br />
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I feel so fortunate to call him my husband, and believe that he feels the same for me being his wife. For whatever the future holds for us- bring it on, because we can’t wait for the next adventure!The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-92083860913347357822010-05-12T08:03:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:30:28.939-07:00The Humble Closet Essential PiecesFollowing up on my previous post discussing the five things I have implemented to help green up my day to day life, I thought it would be fun to start doing weekly “Top” lists. I got thinking about this week’s list as the weather has been getting more spring like in the Northeast and I am starting to switch my closet over from heavy sweaters and wool pants to skirts and linen tops. As our apartment is very small, and closet space is limited, it is a necessity to switch out some seasonal pieces to make way for more weather-appropriate wear. Even though the switch over is usually quite extensive, there are always a few pieces that stand the test of time for just about any season, and have made it through years on their classic styling. I have always been a big champion of finding great deals on clothing and accessories, but for some pieces, I really feel like it is well worth spending a little extra on something that is timeless and classic, as classic looks never really go out of style, and a well made piece can last you for decades- I should know, I still have some of my mom’s vintage pieces! So without further ado, my Top Closet Staples:<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScQAiNZn8_smqvYvn0p3lq8JkXcFb_E7UhXBfrNPNiFqTe_4ChYW7vl4WmSjvY5wA1ECK4QgiCg7ZMlTV5R6EBcudQiqCOc99olNe3ZrL7TUD0TMhPQ0Q7EJTBo-rduhah0NSTscMLgqc/s1600/bttndwn.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScQAiNZn8_smqvYvn0p3lq8JkXcFb_E7UhXBfrNPNiFqTe_4ChYW7vl4WmSjvY5wA1ECK4QgiCg7ZMlTV5R6EBcudQiqCOc99olNe3ZrL7TUD0TMhPQ0Q7EJTBo-rduhah0NSTscMLgqc/s200/bttndwn.bmp" width="200" wt="true" /></a>1) <strong>Oxford Buttondowns</strong>: No matter what your preferred brand (Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Vineyard Vines), a well made Oxford will never let you down. They’re easily layered, can be worn year round, and always look crisp and fresh. Although I have more than my fair share of these collared beauties, if I could only have two, I would have to go with the classic white and light blue for their versatility.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2) <strong>The Black Dress</strong>: It is impossible to make a wardrobe staple list and leave the illustrious black dress off! Through the years, I have had various renditions of the LBD through the years, and have loved each one dearly. My favorite for a long time was a simple satin strapless a-line; I think I cried the day that it finally gave up the ghost. I currently have two, one knee length in wool with a square neckline, and the other is an off shoulder in satin and falls just below the knee. They really are the most timeless piece of women’s wear- everyone looks good in black, and there is no limit as to what you can pair it wth to keep it fresh. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT_ocBFDZQnOt9ao4Md0OdtxioYZzbfsUFDqL6rkJeC-c8lO20lhcdiuk3KaELAjI6pOuouHQpxoR_1rAjZtmQX0aC86PdBpO2T3uwCbe8ppJXQRn7_xGWR5MIgL_vxaF8SrlNMh-eMIH/s1600/trench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT_ocBFDZQnOt9ao4Md0OdtxioYZzbfsUFDqL6rkJeC-c8lO20lhcdiuk3KaELAjI6pOuouHQpxoR_1rAjZtmQX0aC86PdBpO2T3uwCbe8ppJXQRn7_xGWR5MIgL_vxaF8SrlNMh-eMIH/s200/trench.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a> 3) <strong>A Classic Trench Coat</strong>: The trench never goes out of style, and for good reason. Although many times I can be found in a foul weather jacket when it turns rainy outside, a trench makes a bit more of an adult statement. They are the perfect cover up for an evening out, and can be worn daily. Many makers offer detachable wool liners, creating more versatility for your trench, and allowing you to get more out of the wearing season. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jKfZba8xcaLfNxbGatVRvD_O1QVYVMtC9g-uJ2CeWpVLSG00mu43iihXgyscRi4r56THDE04fgcRDHsBfiftANtKJc645ZY_tyZavyrryLeVvC6wUd6_sY1MFFD51IqiJOhbYDB1C7tI/s1600/CH+Moc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jKfZba8xcaLfNxbGatVRvD_O1QVYVMtC9g-uJ2CeWpVLSG00mu43iihXgyscRi4r56THDE04fgcRDHsBfiftANtKJc645ZY_tyZavyrryLeVvC6wUd6_sY1MFFD51IqiJOhbYDB1C7tI/s200/CH+Moc.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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4) <strong><a href="http://www.colehaan.com/">Cole Haan</a> Driving Mocs</strong>: These are probably the most comfortable shoes I own, next to flip flops. They are easy to slip on, made of beautiful, buttery leather, are great for driving (as intended), and comfortable for the office. I currently have them in navy and black croc and will probably wear them until they fall apart.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrhDW4gLSWHM_zy1eF2c3_VTsIEY4XbuUJD-PMob-GRZAU4CX_Vy2PN7a5Jx6QQjPZWwgYxgxoH42S8i2z4mrHhiy6-LIcD1MZWbPj1YhGiArM5LeIao6ORhZp0RkNfUG4UZxSyHULTxM/s1600/BB+Polo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrhDW4gLSWHM_zy1eF2c3_VTsIEY4XbuUJD-PMob-GRZAU4CX_Vy2PN7a5Jx6QQjPZWwgYxgxoH42S8i2z4mrHhiy6-LIcD1MZWbPj1YhGiArM5LeIao6ORhZp0RkNfUG4UZxSyHULTxM/s200/BB+Polo.jpg" width="152" wt="true" /></a>5)<strong> Brooks Brotters’ Golden Fleece Polo Shirts</strong>: Much like the Oxford, these pique polos go the distance. Some years ago while my brother was a salesman at <a href="http://www.brooksbrothers.com/">Brooks Brothers</a> I stocked up on these polos, and they still look just as fresh. BB is renowned for their attention to fit and detail, and their polos are no exception to that rule. They’re perfect for spring and summer, and hold up well to frequent washings. </div><br />
6) <strong>High-Waist Khaki Skirt</strong>: I actually have two of these, one in twill with sailor style buttons and pockets and the other in plain-front linen, and I now that the weather is warming up, I find myself constantly reaching for them. Even in cold weather, I’ll pair them with a great sweater and knee length boots and they work well. They’re perfect if you’re headed out after work and don’t have time to change as they go from day to night effortlessly, and look just as great with heels as they do with sandals. For many women, the area just under their ribcage (where the natural waist is) is the narrowest part of their torso, and a high-waist skirt is a great way to accentuate this. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfDAqisMUYvWVl9ycXtB7D6_PMFXclezf9EKa_5cxRCmO8JJS4yqCe25zedqG2wiEZdsr5tzCmEYNRn-74_0xKXdm7Q9_H1rOKXei6lF0-uTRvMpoBBLUmb4wHsgnX1sQ3saGdh5ZezzW/s1600/JCRW+Skinny.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfDAqisMUYvWVl9ycXtB7D6_PMFXclezf9EKa_5cxRCmO8JJS4yqCe25zedqG2wiEZdsr5tzCmEYNRn-74_0xKXdm7Q9_H1rOKXei6lF0-uTRvMpoBBLUmb4wHsgnX1sQ3saGdh5ZezzW/s200/JCRW+Skinny.bmp" width="200" wt="true" /></a>7) <strong>A Great Jean</strong>: There are so many jean styles out there, that it literally makes my head hurt, and I have tried just about all of them. I would have to argue that of all the denim I’ve tried,<a href="http://www.jcrew/com"> J.Crew</a> has got to be the tops, for both their skinny and bootcut versions. Being that I am no longer 18 (or 21, or 25…) the super low cut is really not a flattering look on me, especially given my short leg line. The J.Crew jeans sit at a comfortable rise that don’t leave you worrying about “exposure”, are offered in regular, tall and short inseams (score!) and stand up well to wear and tear year round. </div><br />
8) <strong>All Day Heels</strong>: Ahhhh- the elusive “comfortable” heels. Many think that this is an urban legend, but there is truth to this tale. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a great connoisseur of shoes in all shapes and sizes. It really is a weakness, and I am always working to resist temptation when it comes to purchases. I love a heel with a little personality, but no woman should be without a great pair in black and brown. I’ve had a pair of <a href="http://www.kennethcole.com/">Kenneth Cole’s</a> in black patent leather that I swear by, and my brown <a href="http://www.colehaan.com/">Cole Haan’s</a> are a dream. Both sport a subtle internal platform to give a little added height boost (great for those of us under the 5’5” mark), and the Cole Haan’s have the added bonus of the Air technology- as in the same stuff used in Nike sneakers, making it the most comfortable heel to wear. You may scoff, but I would run a 5k those little beauties.<br />
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9) <strong>Long Waisted Cardigan/Sweater</strong>: For a while, cropped and short cardigans were extremely popular. While they work well for a lot of folks, I’m a bit long in the torso, so they make me a little disproportionate. I first came across <a href="http://www/vineyardvines.com">Vineyard Vines’</a> Capeside Cardigan at the Newport Navy Exchange and fell in love, subsequently picking them up in both navy and green. These simple four button cardigans are a bit longer than many traditional cardigans and aren’t clingy- a huge plus in my book. The silver whale buttons add a touch of whimsy, and they pack well for throwing in an overnight bag. Sadly, I believe they have been discontinued, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed they bring them back! For a traditional pullover, I have relied on a pair of Brooks Brothers cowl neck merino wool sweaters that I would probably fall apart without- once again in navy and green. They are great for layering, and being from the Northeast, it’s never a bad idea to have a good sweater close at hand for chilly spring and summer nights. I can usually be found in one of these at pretty much any given time (as in I’m wearing the navy version right now while I write this list!), and their simple leather toggle button at the neckline adds a little classic charm. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">10) <strong>Scarves</strong>: Although it’s more of an accessory than an actual wardrobe piece, a great scarf is a ridiculously easy way to add a splash of color or dress up an outfit quickly. I think my husband is overwhelmed with the amount of scarves I have, but I get a lot of miles out of them and can be found wearing one most days. I’m guessing I inherited this love of scarves from my mother, as she has a beautiful collection of scarves for all occasions. Long scarves are great for cooler weather, and a couple of well made silk scarves are perfect for warmer weather (for great designs and colors, my personal favorites are Brooks Brothers and Liberty). If you’re short on hanging space, here’s an easy way to store them and keep wrinkles at bay: Using a paper towel (or toilet paper, depending on the size of the scarf) tube, secure the edges of the scarf to the tube with plastic coated paperclips and roll up, securing ends in the same fashion. This will save your space and make it easy to grab one on the way out the door without ending up with a big tangle of scarves. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVot66YR3DOCqA1UtXAbFGAouykFpodoQTZYD9hlWY27v-jxJt38G2PkkVQKNmhO3_IGIrbYyqZglWtmTW_t5lETiJdU1oepB0nTIJHEQHe_4YP7ppggymz2DAa6E__NGiwd7oNqPX2Z/s1600/scarf+II.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVot66YR3DOCqA1UtXAbFGAouykFpodoQTZYD9hlWY27v-jxJt38G2PkkVQKNmhO3_IGIrbYyqZglWtmTW_t5lETiJdU1oepB0nTIJHEQHe_4YP7ppggymz2DAa6E__NGiwd7oNqPX2Z/s200/scarf+II.bmp" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Anna and I love a good scarf set!</span></div>So there’s my Top List on style and wardrobe basics. I’m looking forward to doing more lists as time goes by, and look forward to hearing any thoughts you might have, or what your go to pieces are in your closet. What’s that one thing that you absolutely can’t live (or get dressed) without? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT_ocBFDZQnOt9ao4Md0OdtxioYZzbfsUFDqL6rkJeC-c8lO20lhcdiuk3KaELAjI6pOuouHQpxoR_1rAjZtmQX0aC86PdBpO2T3uwCbe8ppJXQRn7_xGWR5MIgL_vxaF8SrlNMh-eMIH/s1600/trench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-51429303101565143942010-05-11T07:33:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:30:52.438-07:00The Whales of Stellwagen Bank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CWUVwOj5wat-nZxvOBsBQAxaZOP_NN9EX-hFoSv0Gix9k7yPUHMaN5WKatBgp8APg17jSj6ON3-T1_5bYGD9ryfsb0DneM6pLDaYnAR1sG3SCUHBBt7pmX6IO5u5RHBM3Vn-QeDF654v/s1600/DSC00551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CWUVwOj5wat-nZxvOBsBQAxaZOP_NN9EX-hFoSv0Gix9k7yPUHMaN5WKatBgp8APg17jSj6ON3-T1_5bYGD9ryfsb0DneM6pLDaYnAR1sG3SCUHBBt7pmX6IO5u5RHBM3Vn-QeDF654v/s320/DSC00551.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>When my husband prompted the slightly eyebrow raising text question of “what do you have planned for Saturday?”, I was slightly apprehensive about answering. Unsure of whether his plans involved cleaning out the guest room, going for a 12 mile sprint or cleaning out the cat box, I cautiously answered back that I thought our schedule was open. “Great!” he responded, “Wanna go see some whales?”. I was thrilled and jumped at the chance. Through his job, he was offered the chance to assist in taking out a BBC documentary crew to film the whales off of Stellwagen Bank for part of a program they were doing. He got the green light from the powers that be to bring me along to help with general boat handling, and so we spent Friday night packing provisions and getting ready for our adventure.<br />
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At 4:30AM the alarm sounded, and we pried ourselves out of bed. I kept repeating the mantra “It’s worth it to see the whales” as I one-eyed the world and shuffled about getting ready. We hit the road around five and pointed the car North towards Scituate, Mass where we would be meeting the rest of the voyagers for the trip out to the Bank. We made good time and were introduced to the marine sanctuary that would be guiding the trip and headed down to the docks to load up the boat. We were taking a 50 foot aluminum cat out to the banks, with about an hour and a half ride time to get to the sanctuary. Driving up, we had ridden through a couple of hearty thunderstorms, but the skies looked as though they might break, so we kept a positive outlook, and our raingear within arm’s reach. <br />
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The film crew showed up in high spirits, and Captain Bob gave them a brief safety and operations talk before departing the docks. I was given the chance to bring us out of the harbor, and I eagerly took position behind the wheel for a while before relinquishing back to the Captain. We had a good laugh as the head scientist Dave pulled out bags of fresh baked treats from a local bakery and watched the film crew pounce on the offering. Being the old school boaters that we are, Kyle and I had packed 5 sandwiches, 3 bananas, 3 water bottles, 2 bags of chips, half a bag of grapes and a few other small snacks, and the rest of the sanctuary crew hand done likewise. Apparently, no one had told the film crew that you always pack like you’re going out for a week when boating, because you just never know. They had looked a bit concerned while taking into account their non-existent provisions until they realized that the scientists had all intentions of sharing, and they gratefully dove into the confections.<br />
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After our jog out to Stellwagen Bank, Dave gave a brief interview to the film crew, and we began our search for a pod of whales to film. We spotted a fair amount of dolphins as we circled the bank, and it wasn’t long before the telltale flock of low hovering seagulls gave way to a couple of water spouts, and we made our way over to the whales. Denise, one of the scientist on board counted approximately 10 humpbacks grouped together bubble feeding. The Captain dropped the engines down and we nosed up to the group. <br />
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I have lived my entire life on the East coast, and much of that in the Northeast, and I don’t think I have ever seen anything this incredible. We literally had one big fellow right off our nose, and he was continually bubble feeding- a trick they use where they will dive down and circle around blowing out bubble to force the fish to the surface in order to feed. It was amazing! They were so close that we could have just about reached out and touched them, although not something you want to do with a wild animal! All of us- scientists, film and boat crew- were out in on the deck in 6 foot seas and sideways rain just to get closer to these incredible animals. As we were heading back into the harbor, there was a pair of humpbacks breaching. Sadly, I wasn’t at the ready with my camera, but it is a sight I will never forget- those great bodies coming clean out of the water and landing with a spectacular splash- a perfect way to cap off our trip! <br />
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The work that they are doing at the Stellwagen sanctuary is truly outstanding, and I am grateful I got an up close opportunity to witness their efforts first hand. Whales have always had a special place in my heart, and it is incredible to see the hard work put in by the entire team to protect the population. I would encourage anyone who gets a chance to get out to the bank and witness the whales for yourself, even in pouring rain and high seas, it is well worth the effort. To read more on the valiant work of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, visit their <a href="http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/">website</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVODAn30-n3ON7XYDiA4u9rIbCgd5MyTO5wFfB_KTlaiqz2pK17Gv50UmnggWeNzki23SBmW9wJ2Oa_aw4go3cZ1SlZwyKi-sdiWwKpwlYImXpHf7q92xfFBViJ1DuvzW8qLYVMPqL6jR/s1600/DSC00524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVODAn30-n3ON7XYDiA4u9rIbCgd5MyTO5wFfB_KTlaiqz2pK17Gv50UmnggWeNzki23SBmW9wJ2Oa_aw4go3cZ1SlZwyKi-sdiWwKpwlYImXpHf7q92xfFBViJ1DuvzW8qLYVMPqL6jR/s320/DSC00524.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-15951068259682071292010-04-29T13:28:00.001-07:002010-06-24T13:31:12.132-07:00Crazy Heat on DVD!I had first heard of the movie “Crazy Heart” sometime in the winter when it had first come out and was gaining some recognition. On a random weekend evening I happened to catch Conan, and Jeff Bridges was on to promote the movie. Being the great Bridges fan that I am, I bounced up and down in my seat like a kid at an amusement park. Conan convinced Jeff to sing a part of the song “I Don’t Know” from the movie, and I was in love. The next available opportunity, my husband and I went to the <a href="http://www.janepickens.com/">Jane Pickens Theatre</a> here in town to see “Crazy Heart”, and I am still gushing about how wonderful this movie is.<br />
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As I mentioned, I absolutely adore Jeff Bridges, from “White Squall”, to “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” to “The Big Lebowski”, I would pretty much pay to watch him read the back of a cereal box. His performance as Bad Blake, the aging, alcoholic musician was nothing short of phenomenal and moving, and he more than earned his Oscar in my eye. Putting him opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal with a little Robert Duvall thrown in, and it is cinematic bliss. The story is powerful and gritty and will sit with you long after the credits roll. If you didn’t catch this in the theatre, do yourself a favor and rent it tonight, you won’t be sorry. <br />
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As if the film could get any better, the music and accompanying soundtrack knocks it out of the park. Between Bridges’ exceptional (and unknown, at least to me!) singing, the use of classic country and western tunes, and the movie’s theme song “The Weary Kind”, I can’t get enough of it. If I had this on vinyl, I surely would have worn it thin by now. <br />
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I’ve grown so tired of Hollywood re-making and re-engineering old movies and recycling dull plot lines, and “Crazy Heart” was like a breath of fresh air. Well acted, powerful, at times humorous, and above all a beautiful work of film. I would like to personally thank Jeff Bridges for his outstanding performance, and tell all those up-and-coming actors that this is how the old boys do it, so you better step up your game.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezrgYmVVsujt6ZBxEr5nYKwGWVYpCo_60oj2qkvqtcsKjuPzJhOzNEz49PvRgF0mTlv4bh-npV4Y9HraycokaRY3Vkn9X1eDIPLpjH0NL6vq5ZG_p_XVc1e2oIJBZM4rwrjBAPuWxJOEC/s1600/crazy_heart_poster_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezrgYmVVsujt6ZBxEr5nYKwGWVYpCo_60oj2qkvqtcsKjuPzJhOzNEz49PvRgF0mTlv4bh-npV4Y9HraycokaRY3Vkn9X1eDIPLpjH0NL6vq5ZG_p_XVc1e2oIJBZM4rwrjBAPuWxJOEC/s320/crazy_heart_poster_01.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-6472111125166026872010-04-23T10:02:00.000-07:002010-04-23T10:04:57.723-07:00French for Grapefruit?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xPv-iXbUwL7bDvs4nY_vc1Aj3mpq1hIRQ58lUfPg1UTPmAqxpd_mSn3ozkzN9PYN4ThOFhiOEUjIo6MuqMokdVgBr2OPXeUM6aKUJpIZdIyYpd50CStAJ2S2uqLTHMNAkxUW3g_ErDDT/s1600/tributetofamouspeople.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xPv-iXbUwL7bDvs4nY_vc1Aj3mpq1hIRQ58lUfPg1UTPmAqxpd_mSn3ozkzN9PYN4ThOFhiOEUjIo6MuqMokdVgBr2OPXeUM6aKUJpIZdIyYpd50CStAJ2S2uqLTHMNAkxUW3g_ErDDT/s200/tributetofamouspeople.png" tt="true" width="200" /></a>I recently discovered the unique, quirky and whimiscal stylings of the musical duo Pomplamoose thanks to NPR, and am in love! The duo (not quite a band) of Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn are out of California, and first gained noteriety on YouTube with their "Video Songs", which in a nutshell are their live action music videos- no lipsyncing, not music played over the motions, what you see is what they are actually singing/playing. They are most known for their covers and re-working of both classic and current popular songs with their own indie/jazz flavor. Nataly's voice is very sweet and soft, and the use of just about any instrament to be found is refreshing. After hearing about them on NPR and subsequently checking out their YouTube postings, I ponied up the cash and downloaded their album "Tribute to Famus People" on iTunes (they have never actually pressed a record, their recordings are only available digitally), and I LOVE IT. The covers of "Single Ladies" and "Telephone" are the Converse wearing cousin to the original. Nataly's voice on "Vie en Rose" makes you swoon, with thoughts of springtime in Paris' dancing through your head, and "Makin' Out" is sweet and lovely in it's subtle presentation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their take on the music industry and their stripped down approach is refreshing in an era that has seen music culture pushed to the point of extremism. If you get the chance, visit their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pomplamoosemusic">MySpace</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic">YouTube</a> pages and give them a shot. It's the perfect soundtrack to warm spring evening and drinks with friends in your backyard.</div>The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-69836729764681355252010-04-22T07:10:00.000-07:002010-04-30T09:07:49.388-07:00Small Changes, Big ImpactHappy Earth Day! It’s amazing that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the celebrating of Earth Day, and I thought it would be a perfect topic for a Humble Home post. In this day and age, almost everyone has made some sort of changes to their day to day routines to live a more eco-friendly life, and I think my husband and I have a pretty good “green routine”, and I wanted to share some of the things we do to help eliminate some of our waste, and do our part to protect the environment. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBR-DrCVZtDgqFWr7os9oEn9GQLeXTIgevcJNQN6bmBdVLR0J8UKgE_Ouj3XsSJD2upDg9vHCCtOG61WBpMsXt9u4PYzaZiylk-zaV7YBaoMn0-ixorZCl3doJ08Hn3b8FIN-Y73WRhWz/s1600/BHB_01_LUC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBR-DrCVZtDgqFWr7os9oEn9GQLeXTIgevcJNQN6bmBdVLR0J8UKgE_Ouj3XsSJD2upDg9vHCCtOG61WBpMsXt9u4PYzaZiylk-zaV7YBaoMn0-ixorZCl3doJ08Hn3b8FIN-Y73WRhWz/s200/BHB_01_LUC.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. Reusable Shopping Bags: This habit actually started with my parents back in high school when Shaw’s started to offer a $0.05 reimbursement for using a reusable bag. At that point, they were selling really well made heavy duty canvas bags in their grocery stores, and ours are still in use today (I've been a bit dissapointed with some of the filmsy bags sold today, not as durable!). My husband and I have a variety of reusable bags- such as the one shown to left from b.happy bags that I purchased on the <a href="http://www.reusablebags.com/">Reusable Bags</a> website- and I try to keep one in my work bag or car at all times just in case. I also wrote up the Flip & Tumble reusable produce bags over on The Humble Table, and have been really pleased with their durability and also keep those tucked in my car for quick sprints to the market.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSg1V1kQRt0t9pRvP106WVDZtK2_yPp4ca1hD4mQ1CuZIJ8HRXRYzJRPnN1E39ZbzHGYEr-htVOgNiorkHkCqcXDGTkCisQ8fDkkB8JuH_hFkTjBFpIYu3gKZLbZxpMoYmaSzyXRVfIar/s1600/K27PPL-RB_cart_preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSg1V1kQRt0t9pRvP106WVDZtK2_yPp4ca1hD4mQ1CuZIJ8HRXRYzJRPnN1E39ZbzHGYEr-htVOgNiorkHkCqcXDGTkCisQ8fDkkB8JuH_hFkTjBFpIYu3gKZLbZxpMoYmaSzyXRVfIar/s200/K27PPL-RB_cart_preview.jpg" width="90" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
2. Travel Mugs & Water Bottles: I think this is probably the most popular eco-friendly option, as almost everyone I know uses a travel mug for their coffee in the morning. Somehow, we have ended up with a plethora of travel mugs at our house, but I find they’re great to offer guests if you’re going out for a walk in the morning or a trip around town. There’s usually at least one rolling around in my car, and after a trip out to sea, Kyle usually comes home with 3-4 that have put in good hours up on the bridge. I was a huge fan of Nalgene bottles in college, and still have most of them (I checked to make sure that they were the BPA free models), and I also have a Kleen Kanteen metal bottle that I use most days to take to the office. They’re super durable, and the 27oz. model holds enough water that you’re not running to fill it all the time. <br />
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3. Reusable Food Containers & Cloth Napkins: Almost every home probably has a couple of reusable food containers (Tupperware and whatnot) in their cabinets, so this is a bit of a no brainer. Additionally, many households probably have implemented washable cloth napkins into their dining routine as well. This is a habit that is standard in our house, as both my husband and I grew up in homes where paper table settings weren’t really used. Beyond just your table though, tucking a cloth napkin into your work bag is an easy step for when you’re eating in your office. It’s easy to reach for a paper towel or napkin when eating at work, but if you make a habit of keeping a cloth napkin at your desk, you can cut down on a lot of wasted paper products. The same goes for your kitchen towels- instead of using paper towels to clean and dry dishes and the like, keep a stack of good quality, absorbent kitchen towels on hand to cut down on waste. And if you can’t quite break the habit of using a paper towel for some tasks, switch to a towel made of recycled materials, such as Small Steps or Seventh Generation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfbA_pj-RX7jwtRSqlqiQ3cQdfMr63Zm0Gq5zk1ACi3jTSmL4ID0vxPmT4neNpaBOcEc0XvjlxQ0VYotDwl9xf8U5Fv6kAmzCNUsqi58SXXNrvIy4bsVSyxuosTr6qp4Mvr4gVseVPdHO/s1600/FPress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfbA_pj-RX7jwtRSqlqiQ3cQdfMr63Zm0Gq5zk1ACi3jTSmL4ID0vxPmT4neNpaBOcEc0XvjlxQ0VYotDwl9xf8U5Fv6kAmzCNUsqi58SXXNrvIy4bsVSyxuosTr6qp4Mvr4gVseVPdHO/s200/FPress.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>4. French Press Coffee Makers: This might sound a bit strange, but think about how many pots of coffee you make in a year, and how many paper filters that get thrown away. On top of that, if you’re using an electric coffee maker, it probably stays plugged in most of the time, and is left on the “warm” setting all morning, which is a slow drain on electricity. I adore our stainless steel insulated French Press from Thermos- it has a 34oz capacity (great for a house with two coffee lovers), is vacuum insulated to keep coffee hot, and since it’s stainless steel, it’s pretty indestructible, unlike it’s glass sibling. Granted, the glass version is lovely to look at, but I think we went through two of these before we realized we need a bit more rugged of a model. To be quite honest, I think French Pressed coffee tastes best too! As an added bonus, used coffee ground are great when used as mulch for flower beds, cutting down even further on what goes in your garbage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvOlOprlEwp2Tj0ZuapoKUMmU1YZv1hT1c_TvYL85DSEPCqlAVJbp0Ii9VMGUjLgKrDQPVXDxG6aI-xgqaMNJNDC7HjnhLDIdjm0lQq17fob5bxzmVS_cjYM97ZrLRPsMAOlIfVoXICrG/s1600/Dryer+Balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvOlOprlEwp2Tj0ZuapoKUMmU1YZv1hT1c_TvYL85DSEPCqlAVJbp0Ii9VMGUjLgKrDQPVXDxG6aI-xgqaMNJNDC7HjnhLDIdjm0lQq17fob5bxzmVS_cjYM97ZrLRPsMAOlIfVoXICrG/s200/Dryer+Balls.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>5. Switching to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products: Whether is going with a company like Seventh Generation, Field’s Organics, or even making your own cleaners at home, changing up this routine can make a big difference. I recently invested in a set of fabric softener balls, which soften clothes, are reusable for 100s of washes, and don’t contain any harsh chemicals and I’m really impressed with their softening capability when tossed in a load. If you’re making your own cleaners at home (there are plenty of websites out there that provide you with instructions- <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving">Care2</a> is a great resource for a lot of green ideas), you can make them in reusable bottles, cutting down on your waste even further.<br />
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So there you have it- a couple of simple ideas for making changes to support a healthy environment. Now, on your next sunny Saturday, you can take a walk to your local Farmer’s Market with your travel mug of French pressed coffee and reusable bags in hand and pick up some locally produced treats knowing that you’ve made changes to help protect the environment for the future. Well done!The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-33845947492806663942010-04-15T13:56:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:29:10.325-07:00A Little Patch of Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXfabmqBLFfXFJbPF2AObSZLVNPlTTP8RpTtLc1ipI99XdcTax5Zqa53VPc-URGPoRqpQQbhnkCx0CFkYs8CvCRSPNf6PzTdtMN3sFPp8V4qjAudsI0EC0Sl6XPnU8dV59pjCKRUA25pG/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXfabmqBLFfXFJbPF2AObSZLVNPlTTP8RpTtLc1ipI99XdcTax5Zqa53VPc-URGPoRqpQQbhnkCx0CFkYs8CvCRSPNf6PzTdtMN3sFPp8V4qjAudsI0EC0Sl6XPnU8dV59pjCKRUA25pG/s320/DSC00456.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>Last spring in Maine, I came down with a major case of the gardening bug. Kyle and I had just relocated from Annapolis to my father’s house for the summer while Kyle was in officer training, and I found myself with a fair amount of spare time on my hands. The house has a beautiful 3-tierd stone garden in the backyard, and I had visions of tomatoes, herbs, sugar snap peas, eggplants, peppers and anything else I could sow flourishing in the space. When the weather began to warm, I went to the local greenhouse and stocked up on seedling trays, seeds, stakes, and planters, ready to make my mark on the land. I spent weeks tending to delicate seedlings, repotting and replanting as I went along, and soon enough it was time for the big transfer. Everything looked perfect as my father and I took to the earth over the course of weekend, setting my little guys into the earth. There was a solid week where all I could dream about was fresh produce. We kept a watchful eye on watering and the soil, and the plants began to grow, showing signs of flowers and the fruits to come. And then it happened. One of the wettest summers in Maine. Almost everything in the garden succumbed to root rot from oversaturation, sans a few peppers, the peas and the herbs. Sadly, nothing more could be done on our parts, and I savored what few yellow tomatoes I could scare up like they were manna. <br />
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This year I was determined to take matters into my own hands and outsmart the elements. This may also have a lot to do with the fact that we live in a third floor walkup with no outdoor living space. Thus, the birth of my wonderful new container garden. Bearing in mind the heartbreak of the year before, I vowed to make this a success, and enlisted the help of container gardening experts McGee & Stucky and their book “Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers”- it is the bible of container gardening, as far as I am concerned, and I have become a happy student of their theology. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnE9VRxwC0zfWruI29bQzBu1WekQADCijGI3V9T9JPtkpOVlE_piFJonEY4Ob4N-kcbubPXzLqtxjRVhUf5RBvy89rNg0eXqo-z0NRCbaEP6VbQWbuGH3-QNz7CV7FDik8k4ZRgQhXzQp/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnE9VRxwC0zfWruI29bQzBu1WekQADCijGI3V9T9JPtkpOVlE_piFJonEY4Ob4N-kcbubPXzLqtxjRVhUf5RBvy89rNg0eXqo-z0NRCbaEP6VbQWbuGH3-QNz7CV7FDik8k4ZRgQhXzQp/s320/Cover.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50Xb10hSZToleK8A8Zwn96BV2FAj6RdVtpHxK4Iv9j1oSEmpeagQo0QB9gxWIXkySW1QLKK1pyCGT9u_9tJu4WNrP1-u-FdUrPiyOZ67i7A-Toml7gN93Vdmki7W7WUoCUGjyv-c-SjdL/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50Xb10hSZToleK8A8Zwn96BV2FAj6RdVtpHxK4Iv9j1oSEmpeagQo0QB9gxWIXkySW1QLKK1pyCGT9u_9tJu4WNrP1-u-FdUrPiyOZ67i7A-Toml7gN93Vdmki7W7WUoCUGjyv-c-SjdL/s320/DSC00458.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>Following their advice, I started small and simple- an array of hearty herbs, a pot of sugar snap peas, arugula for salad greens, two heirloom cherry tomatoes, and two yellow tomatoes. I planted seeds using Scott’s Miracle Grow Organic Choice and placed the pots on a long board over our radiator in good sunlight. It didn’t take long for things to take off. Last week I successfully transplanted all of my herbs into larger pots, and am getting ready to do the same with the tomatoes and peas. It’s been wonderful to have fresh herbs for cooking (we recently used the parsley and arugula in homemade fresh sausage- amazing!), and it is rewarding knowing that you were able to coax these plants from seeds yourself- it may even make them taste better. It’s been great for the cat as well, as he’s now enjoying his third pot of cat grass, and spying on the birds outside through his makeshift jungle. <br />
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Through creating this container garden it’s reaffirmed to me that no matter what your living situation, be it the middle floor of a high rise or a small patch of land in the county, there is always room for a little garden, and there is nothing like the pride of enjoying something you created with your own hands.The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4705975343617213250.post-40329578176783170472010-04-15T13:53:00.000-07:002010-04-15T13:53:20.242-07:00Come On In...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr3sJWbIFatixdJRdUCVH4JpBR_Wnnr168z4de-lLF1rEU-CxL8zx_YrZCkyJwacfP2i9dr4TfPCnx18eJPW_SgvI3_CX1PRM2fLiURFaq63rjij0C83pzbnUxsi6m5TZFV0aKD7ie_0C/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr3sJWbIFatixdJRdUCVH4JpBR_Wnnr168z4de-lLF1rEU-CxL8zx_YrZCkyJwacfP2i9dr4TfPCnx18eJPW_SgvI3_CX1PRM2fLiURFaq63rjij0C83pzbnUxsi6m5TZFV0aKD7ie_0C/s320/untitled.bmp" wt="true" /></a></div>I have been working on my food/recipe blog now for a couple of months and have found it to be a really rewarding experience. I love the idea of writing about the food that I love to create and the memories wrapped up in each dish, and I figured why not get a little deeper into my life? Although it’s true that food and cooking are probably my top pursuit, there is much more in my life that I want to catalogue and preserve, and hopefully share with others. So as with The Humble Table, I’m using my new platform, The Humble Home to not only record the happenings in my life, but share stories and ideas contributed by others. I’m also striking out with the goal of simplifying life, using my cooking philosophy of simplicity to better my lifestyle in general, and taking time to appreciate all that I have and the things that are coming my way. Make no mistake, I am no perfectionist or Zen master, there is certainly a fair share of disarray and chaos in my life, to say the least! However, perhaps through working through things on “paper” I can gain a better sense of myself as a person, and incorporate others experiences into enjoying a less complex life. And with that being said, away we go…!The Humble Tablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328461869941367326noreply@blogger.com0