Fa La La La

Can you BELIEVE Christmas is just four days away??!? Crazy. I have been decking the halls all month long for wedding, Christmas, birthday and engagement celebrations. Last night was my annual secret santa gift exchange and have included two fan favorite recipes below. #tistheseason

Jukes's Christmas Cocktail:
Directions:
-One cup Prosecco
-Add a splash of Ginger ale
-1/2 shot of Cointreau
-Mix together
-Garnish with frozen cranberries and a sprig of rosemary on top!

Taylor's Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread:
Ingredients:
- 1 baguette
-1/2 cup butter, melted
-1/2 cup pesto
-1 1/2 cups Italian five cheese blend, shredded

Directions:

1. Using a serrated knife, make 1" diagonal cuts across the baguette while leaving the bottom intact. Repeat by cutting it again in the opposite direction
2. Pour the melted butter in between the cuts of the bread and distribute evenly
3. Using a spoon of butter knife, spread the pesto along the cuts
4. Transfer to aluminum foil and generously stuff the cheese in between cuts
5. Wrap up completely in aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes
6. Open up the foil to expose the bread and bake for another 10 minutes to make it crunchy
7. Remove from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes
8. Dish and serve hot

Hostess with the Mostesss

Gooble gobble! Hope you had a great turkey day! I spent the long weekend out in Wisconsin visiting family, drinking cider and overdosing on cheese..... when in Rome. 

December 1st is this week which means its time to break out the twinkle lights, ugly sweaters and peppermint bark. 

We all know how crazy the month of December can be, so in the spirit of thinking ahead, below are some of my favorite hostess gifts for all of your upcoming holiday party needs. 

xo

Santa.

1. For the friend with a sweet tooth
2. For the cook
3. For the party boy
4. For the ugly sweater party
5. For your Martha Stewart friend
6. For the pumpkin spice latte girl
7. For the health nut
8. For your trendy friend
9. For the photographer
10. For the bartender

You Dainty Little Thing

When it comes to jewelry I am very minimalistic. I believe in investing in a few staple pieces and wearing them everyday. 

I have been wearing this Maya Brenner asymmetrical "M" necklace  and this Adina Reyter solid pave disc necklace in gold everyday for the last year. They are classic and can easily transition from day to night. I have also found that because I am very active I opt to keep them on when I work out, shower and sleep to save myself from what can be hours spent untangling the dainty chains.

When it comes to earrings I am a big fan of hoops. They bring an element of sass and fun to an everyday outfit, without looking like your trying too hard. The Paige Novick pave hoops are a personal favorite (and great gift!) as the diamonds dress them up for a night out. 

In terms of bracelets you can never go wrong with a cool metal cuff or set of cute stacked bangles. 

Remember less is more. Happy shopping!

xo

Hair of the Dog

I have always been a big bloody mary fan.

Yesterday my world was changed after hitting up one of my favorite NYC brunch spots Bubby's in Tribeca and trying out their "Good and Evil" cocktails which combine homemade cold pressed juices with booze. I know, I know, it sounds disgusting but trust me on this one. Not only are both cocktails delicious but the vegetable goodness seriously helps limit your chance of waking up with a hangover the next morning. Try it for yourself!

Green Giant:

• Vodka (Titos)
• Celery
• Kale
• Green Apple
• Lemon juice

Beet It:

• Gin
• Beet
• Carrot
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Ginger

I'm back, back in the New York Groove

Hey there stranger! 

I am going to apologize upfront for my two month posting hiatus. I know, I know poor form on my part. I promise to be better.

ANYWHO. After a pretty crazy two months of travel I was finally able to spend this past weekend enjoying fall in NYC and as always, it didn't disappoint. The highlights included trying a new gluten free restaurant By Chloe, posting up for the Giants game at Fools Gold and taking a cocktail making class at Havens Kitchen. This is the third class I have taken at Haven's Kitchen and highly recommend checking it out if you haven't been yet-- the classes also make for great wedding gifts :) Below is a step-by-step guide for making a Whiskey Sour. Enjoy!

WHISKEY SOUR

Ingredients:
1. Bourbon
2. Lemon
3. Simple Syrup
4. Egg White

Directions:

1. Crack an egg and pour in only the egg white
2. Pour in 3/4 of an ounce of simple syrup
3. Pour in 3/4 of an ounce of lemon juice
4. Pour in 2 ounces of bourbon
5. Shake with a shaker tin
6. Add ice cubes to the top of the cup
6. Shake with a shaker tin
7. Use a hawthorn strainer and pour into a rocks glass
8. Add orange slice and cherry garnish
9. Enjoy!

YOU'RE WELCOME SAN DIEGO

Over the last year I have been lucky enough to spend eight weekends out in San Diego and can honestly say I understand why locals say there's San Diego... and there's everywhere else. It is a tough place to beat and here is why:

1) Near perfect weather. On one of my first visits out West a local cab driver told me he had moved from Philadelphia to San Diego about 20 years ago and would never go back because "it's always 75 degrees" and I have to say he's right. 

2) Outdoor Activities. Pick your poison. The San Diego area has tons of hiking and biking trails that make for a fun way to spend a Saturday with friends. So far the 3 Sisters Waterfalls and Devil's Punchbowl are my favorite hiking trails. I would also recommend renting a bike from Holland's in Coronado to explore the island and waterfront trails. If you are looking for water activities Stand Up Paddle Boarding is always a good idea.

3) Surfs Up. This almost goes without saying but San Diego has some of the best beaches in the US. If surfing is your thing I would recommend heading to Pacific Beach to find the best waves. For any beginners I would highly recommend Pacific Beach Surf School I took a semi private lesson there and had a blast!

I would also highly recommend spending a day in Coronado on the beach in front of the Hotel Del. If you are visiting around the holiday's you will most likely find an ice skating rink on the hotel property right in front of the beach.... only in San Diego. 

Lastly, checking out the beaches in La Jolla is a must. If you have some time you can hike down to Black's Beach which is known to many as San Diego's nude beach.... you have been warned. Scripps Pier is also a La Jolla must see, I like to call it the tunnel into the pacific. ALSO go see the seals and sea lions lounging in the La Jolla Cove-- it your feeling really adventurous kayak through the sea cave.

4) Dinner with a view. From the more formal George's in La Jolla to the super causal Wonderland Ocean Pub in Ocean Beach you can almost always find a restaurant with a view. I celebrated my 26th birthday at The Prado which is a restaurant in the middle of Balboa Park. For those of you who are looking for a more liquid dinner the Pacific Beach Shore Club and The Wood have a great happy hour view.

5) Guac guac guac. There are as many Mexican restaurants in San Diego as there are sunny days in the year. If you love guacamole you are in the right place.... As of now Oscars is my favorite.

6) The people. San Diego is full of attractive, fit, low key people looking for a good time. Need I say more?!?? Time to book your ticket.

xo.

SO FRESH SO CLEAN

Over the last few years my skincare routine has become basically nonexistent... unless Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes count??

LUCKILY, I stumbled upon Heyday when walking to Madison Square Park over the weekend and was immediately drawn in to book a 50 minute facial for the next day. Their value proposition is simple: Building a healthy skincare routine today is difficult. And it shouldn't be. 

When walking into Heyday you will quickly notice the unique open space with facial stations divided by curtains all in a row. You can choose the 30 minute targeted treatment for $60 or 50 minute comprehensive treatment for $95 #doneanddone. After my facial was over I received a personalized email with my recommend Home Care Routine and a link to where to purchase the products online...... lets just say I will be back and recommend you all check it out soon!

xo

THE END

Helllllllllo Friday. 

I don't know about you but it has been a long week and I am ready to break out of the cage. Thankfully, I am heading out to Montauk, NY. (also known as The End) with some girlfriends for the weekend which always promises to be a good time.

The agenda consists of grabbing some breakfast from the tried and true Joni's Kitchen (I love the Berry Bliss Smoothie and Egg White Cali Style Wrap on a GF Tortilla), soaking in some sun at Navy Beach and heading over to Cyrils Fishhouse for happy hour. My favorite drink is the Bailey's Banana Colada aka BBC...... basically a milk shake. If you haven't tried it yet I suggest getting on the train.. recipe below.

Bailey's Banana Colada (BBC):

Ingredients:

-1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream

-1 oz. Rum (Preferably Dark Rum) 

-1 oz. Banana Liqueur 

-1 Banana 

-3 oz. Pina Colada Mix 

Instructions: Put banana and liqueur into blender until it is a thick paste. Add Bailey's Irish cream, pina colada mix and rum. Blend well then add 1 cup of ice and blend again until smooth.

Cheers! 

SUMMA SUMMA TIME

June 21st is just around the corner which marks the first official day of summer. With that comes the coveted 2015 NYC Summer Guide by one of my favorite restaurant review sites The Infatuation.

I just printed mine out and have circled all the new spots I can't wait to try. You can check them out on my NYC Eats Pinterest Board or view them below.

• Conrad New York
• Pier A Harbor House
• Ambrose Beer & Lobster
• Grand Banks
• North River Lobster Company
• Narcissa
• Montmartre

What are you waiting for!?? Bon Appetit! 

RUGGIN' IT

I have always had a sweet spot for patterned rugs. My first purchase was for my apartment right out of college and obviously from Anthropologie. They are still killing it and I recently recommended this and this to a friend moving looking for a "boho chic" rustic vibe in her new studio apartment.

My other go-to's are Lulu & Georgia (I have had my eye on this tribal girl for a while) and the ever practical and affordable West Elm. I actually used to have this navy rug in my living room. For those of you looking to splurge Jonathan Adler will also never disappoint....

Shop on!

AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A PIZZA PARTY

There is nothing worse than the Tuesday after a long weekend. Woof. 

[Enter Pinterest]. I spent the better part of today trying to find a recipe to recreate the Clam Chowder Fries (yes, you read that right....) I had Sunday night at Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar in San Diego. Lets just say I will never look at Clam Chowder the same way again....

I also searched through my favorite food blogs Domesticate Me and Deliciously Ella for the perfect #glutenfree pizza recipes. Below is one of my favorites I adopted for all my Celiac sisters out there.

Gluten Free Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:
Whole Foods Gluten-free bake house frozen pizza crust
2 thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts (about ¼ lb each)
½ cup tomato sauce
3 ½ tbsp Buffalo Wings Sauce
¾ cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded
¾ cup reduced-fat cheddar, shredded
2 tbsp fat-free ranch dressing (optional)

*Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Place a baking sheet in the oven while it heats.
*Place chicken breasts in a grill pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

LIVING OUT OF A BAG..

Over the last few months my travel schedule has been pretty insane. Enough so that I decided to ask for some "adult" luggage for my birthday coming up..... it was a tough decision because I really had my eye on this awesome Mignonne Gavigan necklace but decided turning 26 meant it was time to be a bit more practical with my needs versus wants..... this week at least ;)

After doing some research I feel in love with Bric's luggage... specifically the Safari Collection because it is the perfect combination of business appropriate and chic. I personally found a lot of the Tumi, Rimowa bags to be too masculine and buttoned up which was why I was drawn to the Bric's bags. I also got a Cargo Duffle which is perfect for short overnight trips or as a carry-on. 

Cheers to traveling in style!
xo