She La La Discount

Blogging's been hard since I don't want to ruin my Christmas gifts for anyone so I can't share anymore gift ideas until the New Year! But I have some great ideas for everyone for 2014! 

We did get our tree up and running - I think we should have Christmas trees up year round, they make everyday so much happier!

One great shopping deal I wanted to share was from Suzy Said - 30% off any single item at She La La in New Canaan or Westport. {Valid until 12/19, just mention Suzy Said} I love this store for gifts for the girls in my life: great home goods, jewelry, fun accessories, monogrammed items and so much more! Even gifts for children, babies and pets! 

Two locations: 

120 Main Street New Canaan 

And their new location, 

Playhouse Square, 281 Post Road East, Westport 

Now open Sundays 12-5 as well! 

www.shopshelala.com

Love this cozy window display

All ready for holiday gift giving! 

Give Thanks in Style

We are communally hosting Thanksgiving this year in Chatham so we're keeping it super low key since we'll be in a rental - paper plates anyone?! But it's fun to daydream about how you'd celebrate if you were pulling out all the stops. Maybe I'll find a way to bring a few of these details up with me! Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

For the centerpieces:

I adore everything about this arrangement - especially the birch vase

Pheasant feathers always play heavily into my moms holiday decor - I think she'd love these

For the placecards:

Loving these gilded mini pumpkins - so chic!

Rosemary always reminds me of Thanksgiving {and how much I hate it}
but these placecards are too cute

Show your family you are thankful for them - I love this idea!

Use these as placecards or send your friends and family home with a party favor!

For dessert:

These just make me smile 

Mini apple pies - darling!

I would make these as my own personal dessert
as a reward for hosting :)

To remember what matters:

Start a great table conversation 

All images thinks to Pinterest - and my "Fall for Fall" board 

Dough & Co to the Rescue!

Let Dough & Co take care of all of your holiday baking needs! Locals, place your order by Monday Nov 25th and pick up your Thanksgiving treats at Flea on Thursday Nov 28th btw 10am-Noon. 

Looking for treats to send to your loved ones around the holidays, check out the items available to ship as well (my favorite featured above!)

Also be sure to swing by Flea in Rowayton to check out their adorable gifts!

Thanksgiving menu!

Treats to ship!

Juliska Party Recap

I had a great time last week at the Juliska Holiday Hostess event featuring blogger Catherine Tompkins of My Life in Parties! Tasty treats from Dough & Co. {more details on their Thanksgiving orders tomorrow}, beautiful flowers from Greenwich Orchid, great gift giving ideas from Juliska and fun paper goods by Catherine. Here are some of my favorite photos from the night! It was also really fun to finally meet Lindsay from Vineyard Loveknots! We realized we were buying all the same adorable gift tags and notecards from Catherine, see below! {I also just saw her post on this event when I linked her blog and realized we pretty much wrote the exact same thing about each other : ), hi Lindsay! Her photos are also much better so check them out}

Amazing flowers from Greenwich Orchid. I loved the elephant place cards and the mix of Julikas bamboo styles with the feather napkin rings, perfect for Thanksgiving!

Mmmm, Dough & Co cookies! {more details tomorrow}

Another great table setting, I especially loved the furry owls!

One of my favorite vignettes, the guys gift guide - such a good idea and great gifts for the men in your life. Didn't think you'd find guy gifts at Juliska right?

Christmas is coming! Love the burlap with plaid placemats, the charming Juliska holiday china and the cute pillow in the background!

Letterpress stationary - stocked up on gift tags and notepads! Available at Juliska while supplies last. 

Juliska will be putting their amazing Christmas ornaments out this week as well, a must shop! 

465 Canal Street, Stamford CT 

www.juliska.com 

The Enchanted Forest 2013

Help support one of Greenwich's largest fundraisers - The Enchanted Forest! This years theme is Celebration of Sweetness and it's sure to bring many sweet treats to all who attend. Enjoy breakfast with Santa, tea with Clara, a gingerbread workshop, sweet soriee cocktails, biding on beautiful Christmas trees and much much more!

One of my favorite events is the Friday night shopping preview from 6-9. Leave the kids at home, free entry and plenty of libations! Enjoy shopping without anyone yanking on your leg and get a jump start on your holiday gifts! There will also be early access to the trees and gingerbread houses for sale this year. 

Another highlight is the Saturday night event - always with a wonderful silent auction, signature cocktails, live band and plenty of delicious food. Grab a group for a fun night out. Last year we left with blue brothers sunglasses for all, plenty of hysterical photobooth film strips and a ski house for ten - party success! 

Learn more at www.jlgreenwich.org. All proceeds help fund the charitable works of the Junior League of Greenwich. 

Donahue's Madison Beach Grill

Looking for a fun weekend road trip to enjoy some football and tasty treats? Head north to Madison CT and the new location of an old Darien staple, Rory's, at the Donahue's Madison Beach Grill. 

A big bar with tons of great booth and hightop seating and plenty of TVs to view all your favorite sporting events - hmmm are you in Giants or Patriots territory? 

Great appetizers for sharing while you enjoy some afternoon cocktails - crab cakes, pub nachos, popcorn shrimp and the cannot miss beer battered avocado fingers {top ten most delicious things I've ever eaten!}

Start with french onion soup, chili or clam chowder. Amazing burgers, meggin, french connection or steak sandwich. Or if you're in the mood for seafood try the fried oysters, fish & chips or one of the many fish entrees. Everything is just as delicious as the original Rory's and you'll have tons of room to spread out and enjoy a leisurely afternoon!

The perfect guise to take the hubby out to watch football and perhaps you'll just stumble across the Clinton Crossings Outlets on your way : ) 

1320 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT

203.318.8362

http://donahuesmadisonbeachgrille.com/

Zeppole Me Please!

I was beyond excited to see one of my favorite restaurants, nessa in Port Chester, is opening an Italian Coffee Shop, specializing in zeppoles....mmm I'm sold!

A favorite of customers, the warm little Italian doughnuts with vanilla, nutella and buttercream sauces certainly warrant their own shop! However they will also offer their famous coffee, hand cut and pressed paninis, healthy salads and wine on tap!

Highlights include half price wine Wednesdays, local catering, delivery and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week!

Check out their menu, hours and more details at zeppoleme.com

Zeppoleme
321 North Main Street, Port Chester
(directly next door to nessa)

Rive Bistro

We had a wonderful dinner out celebrating my parents 35th wedding anniversary at the new french kitchen, Rive Bistro in Westport. As I uploaded the photos from my phone I realized I didn't have a single shot of anything we ate - the true benchmark of a good meal as I was too excited to dive in to take any pictures! 

Rive Bistro has lovely views of the Saugatuck River, especially as the sun was setting and the shells were rowing by. They offer indoor dining with huge picture windows as well as a large covered outdoor dining area. Come winter they also have a big cozy fireplace and a full service bar. 

Enjoying the beautiful river view!

Indoor/Outdoor dining

Everything we ate was delicious and we were sure to sample many menu offers! We started off with Whispering Angel Rose and the warm fresh bread. For appetizers we enjoyed the mini lobster rolls (the perfect bite size and delicious tangy flavor!), the crab cake (wonderful and crispy with a curry remoulade!), the lamb meatballs (juicy meatballs with red sauce over a bed of caramelized vidalia onions - amazing!) and roasted beet salad with goat cheese for some veggies (tasted more like sweet dessert - mmm!). We had to stick to the french bistro staples for dinner, all of which were wonderful - Duck Confit, Steak Frites, Moules Frites Provencale and Trout Almondine! 

However after all that fabulous food the absolute stand out, best thing I have ever eaten was the bread pudding with warm carmel sauce! After we took the picture below I don't think anyone spoke while we devoured this amazing dessert. Of everything we sampled this will have me running back the quickest!

Family photo op!

A wonderful lunch menu as well - would be great for an warm fall afternoon on the patio. Check out photos and detailed menu at rivebistro.com. 

299 Riverside Ave 

Westport CT 

203.557.8049

101 Dinner Date

Looking for another casual dining option with your family? Everyone knows we love Brendan's 101 for breakfast and lunch but it's also one of our new favorite easy dinner spots! Their full menu available for dinner - highlights including the lobster roll, california burger {so delicious!}, sweet william special burger, filet mignon steak sandwich and of course some ice cream for dessert! Your little ones can still get all their lunchtime favorites. It's also BYOB, and BYO glasses for our family! A great Sunday night stop after a long day at the beach or come by boat and walk from the town dock. We're definitely looking forward to some fun dinners on their deck in September when the cool Fall nights roll into town!

Brendan's 101
101 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton
www.brendans101.com

Had to bring our own Soundview Millworks cups!

Crazy for Cronuts!

Who wants to go on a road trip? I'm DYING to try the very famous "Cronut" from Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho. Voted Best Bakery 2012 and Best New Bakery 2012, Dominique Ansel Bakery launched the Cronut in May of this year. Half croissant, half doughnut, this tasty treat can only be scored one of three ways. Visit the bakery where lines start up to two hours before opening {8am Mon-Sat, 9am Sun} and shoppers are limited to two Cronuts per guest...I love these rules from their website

"As a rule of thumb, if you arrive prior to 6:45am on a week day, you have a great chance of getting a Cronut™. Please note there is a 2 person limit for in-store purchases. When in line, please do be considerate of the residences in the neighborhood and the others in line. Do not cut or reserve spots for friends and we hope you don’t endorse any scalpers you may see. Please do try to keep the sidewalk clear of obstruction so there is ample room for passerbys and keep your voice level to a minimum."

Any food that involved scalpers is something I have to try! You can also call Mondays at 11am when the pre-order list opens for up to two weeks in advance, lists are currently full until mid-August and the limit is 6 Cronuts per order. Lastly if you want 50 or more you can find notes on their website for how to place an order, however the soonest pickup is currently September. All Cronuts must be picked up, shipping is not possible due to their short shelf life, and eaten immediately. 

Learn more here!
http://dominiqueansel.com/cronut-101/

Dough & Co.

A note from one of our favorite companies - now known as Dough & Co! Be sure to stop by their adorable store Flea in Rowayton at 158B Rowayton Ave (behind Sails) - they are now offering a new Toast Bar with tasty sandwiches and treats too! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rowayton-Flea/176975649001688

Happy St Patrick's Day

A little St Paddy's Day love from Pinterest! Erin go Bragh!

Guinness Cupcakes

Andes Mint Cupcakes - yum!

Ombre Shamrock Cake - too cute 

A summer dance party in Ireland with my Pop Pop!

Have a great weekend!

Love Is In The Air

With Valentines' Day just around the corner I can't stopping pinning all these wonderful images of hearts and pink sugary treats! They just make me smile on a rainy cold Monday. Happy {almost} Valentines' Day everyone!

National Pancake Day

Mmmm what better holiday to celebrate than National Pancake Day - delish! Whip up a few of your own or even better head to IHOP to help them raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Today enjoy a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes courtesy of IHOP in exchange for your consideration to leave a charitable donation. Help them reach their goal of raising three million dollars today!

www.ihoppancakeday.com

Tasty Fall Treats

I love this idea for a fun fall taste treat - perfect for a pumpkin picking picnic, a cute little dessert or something more unique for your trick or treaters. I think the little guys in your lives are going to love these, especially with the sugar, sugar, sugar!

Sweet Acorns

Pick up your favorite glazed donut holes - mine are the honey glazed holes from Donut Delight. Dip the top portion of donut into nutella, roll in chocolate jimmies, then break off a small section of a pretzel stick and add to the top as a stem, voila! Adorable, delicious, chocolate acorns. 

Yum!