Summer Reading List

One of my favorite things about summer is the publication of new books by all my favorite chic lit authors. What's better than lounging on the beach with a great read? I can't wait to dive into all of these, the hardest part is saving a few for our vacation week in August!

The Rockstar in Seat 3A, Jill Kargman - May 22nd

Spring Fever, Mary Kay Andrews - June 5th

Summerland, Elin Hilderbrand - June 26th

Summer Breeze, Nancy Thayer - June 26th

The Next Best Thing, Jennifer Weiner - July 3rd

When In Doubt Add Butter, Beth Harbison - July 17th

Where We Belong, Emily Giffin - July 24th

Happy Reading!

Dry Blow Dry Bar

I LOVE this idea - a salon that does pretty much only quick and affordable blow outs! I had a friend who broke her wrist and couldn't wash her hair so she became completely hooked on Blow Bar in the city. Now I'm so excited that we'll have our own version in CT! At just $35 a blow out you can almost justify this for just a dinner out with girlfriends! You can also buy "bar tab" packages and save up to $60. They're calling it 'the new manicure' since it's that fast, easy and inexpensive!

My favorite is their cute menu of options:
Smooth - sleek & straight
Shaken - wavy & beachy
On the Rocks - lots of loose curls
Southern Comfort - big hair with volume

You can also add flat ironing, damage control treatments, updos or even extensions for a la carte prices. Give a gift card for an awesome treat!

3397 Post Road, Southport
203.292.8543
You can even make appointments online

The only thing that bums me out is that this isn't closer to Greenwich!

http://www.dryblowdrybar.com/

**Update: Some lovely readers have tipped me off that my wish was granted TODAY (perfect timing eh?) PlushBlowDryBar opened their doors at 18 Lewis Street in Greenwich with $40 blow outs. No website yet but you can check them out on Facebook.

Summer Trunk Show

Now that summer is officially here it's time to stock up on your 2012 summer must haves! Always on the top of my list is Roberta Roller Rabbit - whether for a new dress, a new tunic, beach cover up, or even great gifts!

Be sure to check out a local trunk show on Wednesday from 9-4 at 29 Tory Hole Rd in Darien featuring all of Roberta Roller Rabbit and Roberta Freymanns newest items. Cash and credit cards accepted, friends and children welcome. Please email me for further inquiries.

Here are a few of the items on my wish list!


Always need a new Kurta - love this new multi pattern style!

Love this take on the Tory Tunic, perfect for summer!

Stock up on great summer hostess gifts - fill with sunblock and add a fun towel

A summer must have!



Cutest little dress!

www.robertarollerrebbit.com

Happy Memorial Day!

We're off to Chatham to celebrate with a little golf, a little beach and hopefully lots of delicious food! Here are some of my favorite summer images from Pinterest to inspire everyone for a patriotic weekend! Happy Happy! xx

Parfait!

Vintage

Lobster Bake

Set Sail

A Perfect Holiday Table

Berry Patriotic Pie

Summer Farmers' Markets

With the holiday weekend quickly approaching it seems the perfect time to share this summers farmers' market schedule - since what makes it finally feel more like summer than strolling your local market picking up delicious corn, ripe tomatoes and bright beautiful wild flowers!

Rowayton Farmers' Market - my personal favorite! Featuring nearly two dozen vendors plus music and kids activities. Starting Fridays in June from 12-5pm in Pickney Park, a great way to kick off the weekend!

Darien Farmers' Market - winner of the "Best of the Gold Coast", open every Wednesday from 11-4 through Christmas! Located in the municipal parking lot behind the Darien Firehouse.

Fairfield Farmers' Market - kicks off in June at 75 Hillside Rd, every Saturday from 12:30-4 until the end of October.

Greenwich Farmers' Market - for the early birds, Saturdays from 9:30-1 through November. This large market fills the commuter lot off exit 3 on I-95.

Cos Cob Farmers' Market - open twice a week, visit this market Tuesdays and Fridays from 10-2. Located at the Greenwich Historical Society, 39 Strickland Rd.

Old Greenwich Farmers' Market - kicking off May 30th and open every Wednesday following from 3-6pm. At the Presbyterian Church of OG - 38 West End Ave. Be sure to check out fan favorite Wave Hill Breads.

Westport Farmers' Market - offering cooking demos or tastings as well as prepared food vendors, they have much more than just produce! Thursdays from 10-2 beginning today in the Imperial Ave parking lot, adjacent to the Westport Young Women's League.

New Canaan Farmers' Market - join them Saturday from 10-2 for live music as well as great local vendors. Located in the Old Center School parking lot at the corner of South Ave and Maple St.

Happy Memorial Day!

Periwinkle Pop Up

It's the week of the Pop Up! Greenwich girls, if you're not hitting the Town House party tonight then join one of our favorite websites - www.periwinkleonline.com - to celebrate the opening of their Greenwich Ave Pop Up Shop!

Wednesday, May 23rd - store opens at 10am with sipping and shopping from 6-8pm!
371 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich

If you haven't been to their store in Delray then you definitely want to make a trip to check out this store. So many more items then their website - especially great affordable dresses! I got this one shoulder number from them last year and it's one of my favorites.

Happy Shopping! 

'Pop Up' Party in Darien

Hit the town in Darien tomorrow for the opening of another fun new 'pop up' store - Town House Finds & Designs, offering an amazing collection of vintage modern furniture and home accessories! The party kicks of at 6pm at 29 Tokeneeke Road and we can't wait to check out their great finds!

Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Townhousefindsllc

Who's Your Daddy?

A fun new restaurant is opening soon that will bring smiles to the faces of those young and old - because no matter your age who doesn't love a delicious plate of macaroni and cheese! MacDaddy's Macaroni and Cheese Bar offers cheesy creations to your hearts delight. Available in three sizes - the snack, the mac and the macdaddy! These macs are prepared with fresh ingredients in cast iron skillets and serves piping hot and oozing cheesy goodness. They offer 25 different selection plus weekly specials, also offering whole wheat and gluten free pastas. They run from the classic - Mac Doggy, traditional mac and cheese with chedder and sliced hot dogs (yum!) - to the chic - Mac Mushroom, crimini and shitake mushrooms, porchini emulsion and manchego, drizzled with truffle oil. You can also add a salad, snack or dessert. I'll certainly be making the trek to Fairfield to check this out...and I hear when the Darien I-95 rest-stop is complete it will include a MacDaddy's! (ps have you noticed the Moe's at the new I-95 rest-stop in the 40's? Highlight of my summer!)

Must try!

http://macdaddyrestaurants.com/
2449 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield
Continue to watch them on facebook for updates on opening day! FFC411 hopes to be there : )

Nantucket Bound

I'm beyond excited as we are headed up to Nantucket today for Wine Festival and to celebrate my lovely mom's 55th bday! She was born on Nantucket so it will be an extra special way to celebrate her big day as well. I also think I'm going to get a chance to grab a glass of wine or two with the sweet KGB from Monograms and Martinis, very fun!

If you've never been to Wine Festival it's a great event and a much more enjoyable weekend for the older set than rowdy Figawi the weekend to follow. 200 wineries head to Nantucket for a Grand Tasting as well as many special wine dinners, lunches and brunches! There will also be food tastings, chef lectures and much more!
Check out all the great events at http://www.nantucketwinefestival.com/events.

I am so excited to finally kick off summer! (Although I am sure it will be in jeans and fleeces this weekend!)

Design Market New Canaan

Join Serendipity to celebrate a night of shopping in New Canaan tomorrow from 6-8pm. Stop in participating stores for cocktails, appetizers, book signings and more! FFC411 favorites Togs, Island Outfitters and Pimlico are joining in the fun. Also an after party being hosted at Le Pain Quotidien at 8pm - why not grab a tasty dinner at Carpe Diem, Cava, Sole, Chef Luis or another tasty NC restaurant while you're there!

Great Gift for Mom

I just loved this adorable Mother's Day gift that my cousin helped her daughter make for her grandma! So trendy with the neon paint and too cute a keepsake for a loving Ninny. A super easy DIY project - just pick out your favorite colors in acrylic based paint, use a paint brush to paint your childs hand to keep the paint application even and to avoid drips, place hands on the bag in desired pattern, wash hands and repeat! If you have multiple little ones get all their little hand sizes in there, or mix in a few feet if you'd like! They used an LLBean Boat & Tote but any cute canvas bag will do. Who's making this next Mother's Day??

Smooch A Pooch at Lilly

Another opportunity to "Smooch A Pooch" at Lilly Pulitzer in The Westchester Mall! Saturday May 12th from 10-4 stop by Lilly to have your picture taken with yellow lab puppies with a donation to ECAD. Dads, bring your little ones to take an adorable picture for mom and grab something for Mother's Day while you're there!

Read more about my "Smooch A Pooch" experience here, such a great organization!

Lilly Pulitzer

The Westchester Mall

125 Westchester Ave, White Plains NY

April Showers

Update: When I finally got around to ordering my shoes Orvis was sold out! I was so bummed so I searched around until I found them on shoes.com. I was a little skeptical but with 15% off and free shipping I figured I'd give it a whirl! Best $36 I ever spent!!! A quick 30hr road trip to Chatham for work these past two days and this was the only thing that kept me dry in the pouring rain! You can order them here, no longer at a discount but still free shipping. They only had my size in the orange but I love them!

***

Although we've been incredibly spoiled this week by the summer-like weather we can only assume that there is still a day or two of true spring left in our future. And when those days roll around I just found myself the perfect new footwear!

Ever since I found those two great Orvis sweater ponchos this winter I've been receiving their catalogs. I usually give them a quick glance and recycle them but today these little darlings jumped right out at me from the cover!

Adorable! And then I look inside and they are even more cute because they are $49 !!! I must have these. My hunter boots are way too hot for this time of year and I have ruined more pairs of shoes sloshing through puddles. And these are so cute I might even just wear them on non-rainy days as well. I find myself in a similar puzzle I had over my Orvis poncho - which colors??

Navy...

Or Orange??

Orvis Nomad Drizzle Ballet Flats

She La La

A new boutique opened this week in New Canaan just in time to offer some fun treats for Mother's Day! She La La, located at 120 Main Street, offers "Jewelry and Accessories for the Charmed Life!" Stop by this weekend to find something fun for mom - jewelry, clutches, scarves, makeup bags, robes, hats and more!

Love these nautical accessories! 

Located next to bluemercury

Follow them on facebook for more store info! www.facebook.com/Shopshelala

They will be having a Devon Baer trunk show June 7th, stay tuned for more info! 

Sweet Dreams

I was doing a little web surfing the other day and stumbled across all these great new patterns from lulu dk for Matouk! They made me desperate for a beach house, or at least some beachy weather! Luckily we're headed up to Nantucket next weekend and if I'm super nice to the hubby maybe he'll let us swing by the outlet. You can read my post on that here, so worth the trip! Here are some of the new styles I'm coveting...

If I could have a Beach House in Chatham with this in my guest room then all would be right with the world : ) I just love the cute little sailboats.

And these towels wouldn't hurt to round things out!

Cuteness

What little girl wouldn't love this room!

This is what's on my bed right now and it makes me dream of the beach!

www.luludkmatouk.com

DIY for Mom

I love this idea for a Mother's Day craft made with dad! Little Sparklers in Greenwich is offering a father/daughter workshop on May 12th to create a one of a kind piece of jewelry for mom! Each one hour session includes two pieces of jewelry (one for mom and one for the crafter), lemonade, snacks, a "mid-construction" photo to accompany the gift and a goodie bag to go! How much fun is that? And as an added bonus all you mom's will get an extra hour of me time on Saturday!

$68/pair, $32 per additional child (boys welcome)
Call 203.622.2991 or email littlesparklersct@hotmail.com to make a reservation, sessions run on the hour from 10am-5pm.

Not up your husbands alley? Grab some gal pals and your daughters and go together as a group!

www.littlesparklers.com
85 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich (thru Ella Vickers)
From the creators of Femmegems!

Little sparklers also offers great childrens birthday parties with jewelry making, red carpet fashion show, snacks and a dance party! Check their website for more info.

Summer Reading

I've been meaning to post a new summer reading list (obviously I've had one written in my planner for the last 4 months) but I still need to get it typed up...so in the meantime I figured I'd share the new book by one of my other cult favorites. Have you ever found an author really early in their career, fell in love with their style and then felt a personal connection to their success from that point on? Tried to convince people to read their books and then when they do and love them you're all "well I knew her before she was famous", as if you're actually friends? Believed that if you could just meet in one chance encounter (other than when you go to all her book signings) that you might actually be friends? Well I do and mine is Jen Lancaster. She's hysterically funny and she writes memoirs which is even better because then you can actually see what being friends with her would be like, and it would be very very entertaining.

She writes a great blog www.jennsylvania.com where you can read about many of her antics but I highly encourage people who like humorous memoirs to start with the two of her earliest books. You can't appreciate her humor as greatly unless you know the background to her stories and as they are laugh out loud funny they are the perfect summer beach read. Be sure to buy the print copies, the footnotes are often the funniest part, and they don't work quite as well on ereaders.

I read 80% of Jeneration X, her newest book, yesterday and got a lot of strange looks from my husband as I giggled and snorted while he tried to watch golf. You can find a list of all her books here but if you read Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass you'll be pretty caught up to speed and you can read any of her books from there. Happy Reading!

Right? How cute is she, AND she loves dogs!

Treats for Mom

With Mother's Day just around the corner I've been trying to keep my eyes open for great ideas for moms. I've already purchased gifts for my lovely mommy but I can't post them here as that would spoil all the fun for her.

Here are a few fun other items that caught my eye that I know my mom would enjoy!

Turkish-T: Hand Loomed, Environmentally Friendly Turkish "Towels"
These can be used as blankets, scarves, beach towels, table clothes...the uses are endless and they have something for every type of mom.

For the easy going mom - The Basic Bath: can be used as a beach towel, pareo, picnic blanket and it's quick drying and won't mildew. Perfect for mom's beach bag - $29!

For the luxe mom - The Luxe Stripey: extremely durable with a heavier weave, great for blankets or new moms! $45

For the eco mom - The Linen Bath: light weight high quality linen creates the perfect bath towel for your nature loving mom. A favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow. $45 

All available at www.turkish-t.com 

Treat mom to some much deserved quiet time with a great book and a pair of these wonderful pajamas by Marigot Collection. We love their absolutely beautiful 100% cotton sleep sets and we know your mom will too! A great gift for new moms or moms to be! 

The Lorient Pajama Set - $105 short, $120 long, $80 nightshirt  

All available at www.marigotcollection.com and The Linen Shop and Good Food, Good Things 

Tell mom how you really feel about her with a decoupage plate from Ben's Garden. Share her words of wisdom or a cheeky nod to the woman she's helped you become. 

Available at www.bensgarden.com and Hoagland's