Give the Gift of Nespresso

"Open this one first!" Give the gift of Nespresso this holiday season.

I am all about practicality these days. Kevin and I love our Nespresso VertuoLine machine, the Evoluo, when we are back home in New York. Our schedules move at different paces throughout the day and some days I might want an afternoon pick-me-up, and other days he wants that extra cup in the morning without committing to an entire pot of coffee or french press that goes to waste.

Where it really shines is at parties. Guests may have an after dinner espresso or coffee (with or without caffeine) made to order without taking me away from the gathering or creating another thing to clean up after all the fun.

There are a variety of Holiday Grand Crus to choose from such as gingerbread and pumpkin spice cake which make it especially fun for the holidays! I like to keep mine in a beautiful pearl and silver box which makes each capsule seem like a little treasure plucked from a jewel box. I typically have my coffee black on the day to day basis for I find the rich, generous foam crema Nespresso is known for silky enough for me. If you prefer to have some milk, the Aeroccino milk frother is an amazing hands free way to make creamy foamed milk or preferred mixer for yourself or guests to stir in if they so please.

So when I came back this holiday season to do a little Christmas shopping and attend some friend’s holiday gatherings, I just thought about how practical the Nespresso Evoluo has been in our life and what great host gift it would be for friends not only in their personal lifestyle but in that moment, at the event they are hosting! “Open this one first” might be the most fun and exciting way to enter a loved one’s home and surprising them with a gift perfect for their lifestyle and which they can use right away for guests.

I can speak from personal experience to the peerless quality of Nespresso. Not only in the crema, and the coffees sourced from around the world but also in the sleek and sturdy design of the machine, which is important because it’s something you have to look at on a daily basis. We have enjoyed ours to a great extent and have gifted it to friends and family who have all reported back great pleasure especially in the practicality of meeting each person’s individual desires at the push of a button. Nespresso also has a painless recycling program which is a must for a capsule based coffee machine.

This holiday season let’s pay thanks to the amazing hosts from family members who spend days decorating and cooking, to friends who open their homes and hearts to us, to work colleagues who spend more time with us than almost anyone in our lives. I feel that it is important for people to feel appreciated by saying as sincerely as possible ‘thank you’ and if you are able, giving a gift fit for a great hostess. From a simple bouquet of flowers to wonderfully aromatic candles, or a special bottle of wine are all great starts but if you really want to give them something that will be a great addition to that night and all their days to come, think about Nespresso. It’s quite literally the gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Holidays to all the hosts and may we all give thanks in the coming together.

  "Open this one first!" Give the gift of Nespresso this holiday season. "Open this one first!" Give the gift of Nespresso this holiday season. Continue reading “Give the Gift of Nespresso”

Swarovski Sparkles at Bergdorf Goodman

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With great anticipation every year New Yorkers and tourists alike flock to the sidewalks of 5th ave to see the dazzling window displays that leave you believing in holiday magic. These little boxes of wonder are always a true testament to imagination, creativity and a childlike wonderment hidden in us all.

This year Bergdorf Goodman and Swarovski collaborated in their holiday storytelling by incorporating millions of Swarovski crystals into their dazzling display. However! It’s not limited to just the windows. Inside the aspirational fashion dreamland of Bergdorf Goodman more enchantment awaits. Have you ever seen a crystal Christmas tree and a gown to match? Swarovski sparkle is all over the store from the crystal wall curtain to magical hanging bespoke sculptures so brilliant you believe you are living inside a snowflake.

The collaboration between the iconic department store overlooking Central Park and Swarovski, the world-renowned crystal company who is celebrating their 120th anniversary, is not limited to display fantasies only! They also partnered with designers to create an exclusive selection of gifts, including couture gowns with crystal embellishment by Badgley Mischka, Naeem Khan and Alexandra Vidal, crystal dress by Tanya Taylor, crystal jumpsuit by Alice + Olivia, crystallized clutches from Atelier Swarovski by Edie Parker, Atelier Swarovski by Arik Levy rock formations and Swarovski covered accessories, ornaments and home décor items from some of the top names in contemporary fashion and design.

I love going to Bergdorfs and I had to see it all for myself, to bring the special edition fashion pieces to life with a gorgeous muse and wander around one of the most beautiful stores in the world with everything glittering around me, filling my soul with that special feeling you only find during the holiday season…magic.

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Above~ Placing the star atop the Swarovski Crystal Tree in a Swarovski crystal CD Greene Dress & Jimmy Choo Shoes

Below~Wrapped in bespoke crystal sculptures in a Swarovski covered CD Greene Dress on Bergdorf’s 3rd floor

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Continue reading “Swarovski Sparkles at Bergdorf Goodman”

Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso

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Tis the season, as they say. With all the up coming parties and family get togethers, I thought it would be fun to do a classic twist on the simple pleasure and ease of  Nespresso coffee as either a sweet delectable treat or seasonal cocktail to keep the party going. Whether it’s through holiday entertaining in good taste among family and friends or savoring a moment alone on the couch, these are great ways to be a stylish host without too much effort but maintaining the best quality. 

The new VertuoLine Evoluo Machine creates both a splendid cup of coffee or shot of espresso with Nespresso’s signature layer of naturally-formed crema. My friend Molly who is a food writer and stylist developed two holiday coffee cocktails based on these functions of our machine. Of course, it would be a great idea to gift an Evoluo for the holidays and break in the machine with a fun treat like these! 

Hot Mocha

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1 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1 shot Nespresso espresso

handful marshmallows, to serve

dusting of white sparkling sugar & edible silver stars

to spike (optional)- add a shot of whiskey or bourbon

Heat the milk, cocoa and sugar in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat until steaming. Whisk to combine. Make a shot of Nespresso espresso in a large mug. Pour hot chocolate mixture over the espresso and top with marshmallows. Serve immediately. *Makes 1 Holiday_Coffee_Cocktail_Nespresso_03 Continue reading “Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso”

A Southern Holiday Party

Holiday party with Ecco Domani Merlot and Pinot Grigio

It feels like only a moment ago we were hosting last year’s holiday party for friends. My how fast a year comes and goes with so many new memories to stowaway in the vault. For this year’s get together in our new Upper West Side home I wanted to bring to life a piece of my past to make the meal even more personal and intimate by taking our friends on a culinary trip down south, to taste my southern roots and warm comfort food.

When I think about southern food I always think about BBQ and biscuits. A saucy slow cooked meat rolled in spices and balanced by the buttery softness of a warm biscuit. It’s sinful and wonderful and went beautifully with Ecco Domani’s full bodied Merlot. For the non-meat eating guests we offered southern catfish baked and served in my cast iron skillet my grandmother passed down to me which is seasoned with love, as I like to say, and a great compliment to Ecco Domani’s Pinot Grigio.

Of course, any time I host friends or family I like to start with a cheese plate for people to graze on while we finish preparing the meal. Following my simple rule I outlined in this post, I chose a wonderful soft goat cheese, aged gouda, manchego cheese to be accompanied by roasted almonds, apples and artisanal crackers. Wanting to start with a crisp and light wine, we opened Ecco Domani’s Pinot Grigio for the cheese course though it goes perfectly well with the Merlot too if you prefer.

In the end, no matter what you serve or what you wear, it’s about making memories with friends and loved ones, sharing stories, being at peace and above all, loving one another this holiday season. Cheers….

See below for entertaining tips and southern recipes created for this night by my friend Jared who is, as we call him, the cookie monster. Everything was served on handmade pottery (a wedding gift from my parents!) by Clayworks in the East Village and another very personal, homey touch to this intimate gathering.

Holiday party with Ecco Domani Merlot and Pinot Grigio

For last year’s holiday party we set individual photographs I had taken of each guest at their place setting to not only arrange the seating in a beautiful visual way but for each of the guests to take home a gift from the evening. This year I decided to create individual bouquets for each place setting that the guests could take home and enjoy for the days to come. Living in New York City this is a wonderfully easy way to play with your creativity. On 28th and 7th is the most fabulous flower market where you can find anything your heart desires. I love more than anything exploring in and out of these shops and creating my own story though flowers.

Above, setting the table in Maud Heline’s Arlanik white button up shirt dress made in Brooklyn  (ps- it’ has pockets!!) 

Holiday party with Ecco Domani Merlot and Pinot Grigio Holiday party with Ecco Domani Merlot and Pinot Grigio Continue reading “A Southern Holiday Party”

ROE Caviar

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I recently entertained for the first time with caviar. Of course I’ve had caviar on many occasions at parties, but in very small amounts and without a story of what it is or where it came from. It’s funny, every time I think about caviar served at a party I remember the scene from “You’ve Got Mail” where Tom Hank’s character takes all the caviar garnish at a party during the middle of a quarrel with Meg Ryan.

I’ll be honest, I never really knew what all the fuss was about with caviar. Maybe I just never had good caviar? Or maybe it is the fact that I was raised in Texas, far from the glittering crowd that would appreciate such a delicacy, instead, as children, making fake “chocolate pies” in the mud with my brother.

When my friend introduced me to ROE Caviar, a sustainably farmed California caviar only available in November & December,  I decided it was time to focus and decide where I stand on this glossy little black wonder.

Well… now I know.

It’s heavenly. Salty, delicate, fresh, delightful… it’s like the joy of champagne in solid form. It was thrilling to try and even more delightful to serve. How shall I decide on a beautiful way to present it and what to serve it with! Our guests loved it. To my surprise, they loved it more than I even expected, and I think more than they expected as well.

One of our dinner guests is Swiss-German, something I like to call him when he begins to fix anything broken in your apartment or builds the perfect autumn fire, taught us to put a dab of caviar on your skin between your thumb and pointer finger and taste it off the flesh. Sounds weird at first but hey, I didn’t get to where I’m at in life by not trying new things. So I did and tasting the nuances of the caviar was pure luxury and experiencing the cold, wet texture of the caviar against the contrast of your skin and wetness of your mouth was frankly… sexy. I am thankful I do not have a drug habit but I am fearful I might have a caviar one which could possibly be worse!

So here’s to trying new things and sharing it among friends. Below is the recipe from our friend Jared (who also makes Salt Box Cookies) for homemade blinis we served alongside sour cream and chives for the perfect holiday hostess platter of my new love, caviar.

Caviar Blinis

1/4 cup potato starch

1/2 cup flour

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

1 tbsp melted butter, plus more for skillet

In mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In separate bowl, lightly whisk buttermilk, egg and melted butter.  Pour wet ingredients into dry and whisk batter.

Place a skillet over medium/low heat and brush with butter.  When skillet is hot, spoon scant tablespoons of batter on to the skillet about 2 inches apart.  Once pancakes rise and bottoms are golden brown, flip and brown the other side.

Ralph Lauren Holiday Bloody Mary

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I love this time of year, the seasonal cocktails you sip by the roaring fire and if you’re like me, Nat King Cole’s Christmas song filling the room. Tomorrow I head home to Texas to be with my family and I look forward to the mulled wine, hot toddies, and yes, even egg nog. I like indulging a bit during the holiday season, and there is always something fun about the idea of having a bloody mary with breakfast.

When Ralph Lauren Magazine sent us on assignment to the historic King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel to direct a short piece about a holiday twist on the traditional bloody mary I was all in. I mean, to learn from the original creators of this classic cocktail was such a honor, which you can read all about here.

Kevin and I had such a fun time filming this at the King Cole Bar which is one of my favorite places in Manhattan to have a dirty martini after a day of mid-town meetings. I also love any chance I can get to see behind the scenes of how a place operates and to have such a legendary bartender make nine bloody mary’s for us… for filming purposes obviously.

So cheers! And mom if you’re reading this, can you pick up the ingredients before I get home? 

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See the full story and recipe at Ralph Lauren Magazine  & Happy Holidays! 

Happy Holidays

Holiday_Party_cover00How lucky are we that we get to work with our best friends? My friendship with Kelly began 3 years ago on a shoot in Malibu where we shot all day, and dreamed all night. Fast forward to now, another year in our friendship. We shared a house in Amagansett, she threw me the best birthday party of all, we collaborated on shoots from CHANEL to golden goddesses, cool kids to Victoria Secret models. Before we each go home to our real families Kelly and I had a Holiday Party here at the studio for our little New York family, the ones that buy you a drink after a hard day or make you laugh when work is stressful or keep you inspired though all forms of collaboration… and the occasional selfie.

Of course we had to go big and by go big we mean we decked the entire party out in Ralph Lauren from the table tops to the shoes! …so it was basically my dream party. Zach, Kelly’s boyfriend (who just opened a new restaurant in Manhattan!) made the most beautiful dinner of Coq au Vin (recipe HERE!) while Kevin welcomed our guests with a Suburban cocktail (see his story & recipe below!).

Kelly took care of the table with a focus on personal touches, my favorite being the way she did the place settings by using a small silver frame and having me print photos that I have taken of us through the years (which was super easy using THIS), as a way to mark each person’s seat at the table. I loved this touch. I thought it really represented our friendship and collaboration and was an amazing way for everyone to re-tell the story behind the image.

While she sat the table I thought it would be fun to put the photo studio in use even for a dinner party! I threw up a gray seamless and put some warm gels over a couple of kino flo lights and had the camera ready to go to take portraits of each other, to remember this time in our lives together, and this holiday season. As the night progressed the portrait studio turned into a candid riot of laughter and dancing and all out friendship silliness. I cherish this night, these real moments of laugher and wine, photography and art- all the passions that brought us together in the first place.

So here’s to the holiday season. I hope you find some inspiration in our intimate Ralph Lauren inspired dinner party for your own this December and remember to be with the ones that you love….

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Kelly has a method to her table-setting-madness! See here entertaining tips here

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Above~ keeping it classic in a Ralph Lauren Collection Cashmere Chunky Knit Turtleneck (I order a size up to make it extra cozy), Collection Pencil Skirt and Suede Blamina Sandal

Continue reading “Happy Holidays”

Ann Street Studio Holiday Party

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When a photo studio become the perfect event space…

A few weeks ago I was a bit under the weather so I relaxed by watching the moving “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” (FYI, the Mercer-Williams house is my DREAM home). As the story goes, Mr. Jim Williams throws the most epic Christmas parties; so, inspired by the movie, I tweeted my dear friend @jessicakausen who organizes the events for Squarespace and asked if we could get a piano and space heaters for the balcony. She replied with “you can get anything in NYC” and the Ann Street Studio Holiday Party planning was underway…

What ended up happening was a wonderful night celebrating an exceptional year with our dearest friends, our creative collaborators, people who inspire us and people who keep us happy and healthy. I learned a lot of things about hosting a party – so it took 4 guys and an overseeing landlord to get the piano up the stairs to be played by Chris Pattishall but it was totally worth it! So the three tier red velvet cake we ordered was actually one level, but don’t panic, we had our friends at Elan Flowers give it a special topper of roses and hydrangeas! So the white lights we ordered for the garlands were actually twinkling lights… throw ’em up on the skylight instead! It looks like shooting stars! And of course there were surprises…our friend Bess sent a delivery of red bouquets and endless strands of garland that made the room wonderfully beautiful, people brought hosting gifts (our liquor cabinet is stocked now!) and one dear friend even made a painting for us which is one of the most touching things I have ever received.

It was so nice to stop, raise a glass, say thanks and give a kiss to the people in your life.

 While I worked on the guest list Kevin sketched the invitation while on a shoot down in Charleston, little pieces of our neighborhood, the cityscape we know so well, and our little studio tucked away on a street in Tribeca…

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Old School Photography

Much of what we do at Ann Street Studio is with digital technology and I do love digital. I think it’s important to know the newest technology because that will forever shape how we shoot and see tomorrow. However, I was not raised on digital, but on the slow pace of film… the time it takes to load it and think about your exposure, never knowing if you got the shot until hours or days later. For our studio holiday card this year I wanted to step back, slow down, and enjoy the process of photography. It was amazing how much longer everything took, such a contrast to the enormous amount of content we can quickly produce these days.

We wanted to print an edition of 200 and started with the concept of shooting a simple still life of peonies to represent romance: the romance of mine and Kevin’s marriage this year. I went down to the Chelsea flower market and bought a variety of options.

It took 6 me hours to photograph 20 plates of 4×5 film.

Each sheet of film is carefully processed in pitch-black rooms with large dipping tanks. We then reviewed the contacts sheets of the film to choose our select for printing. I used red and green filters on the flowers when photographing to lighten and darken the greens and reds of the image and add more tonality to the end black and white product.

My favorite photo lab to use is actually LaPete in Boston. It’s large, clean, quiet and Bill (the owner) is an encyclopedia of photography and old school techniques. I go there partly to pick his brain.

30 sec exposure to light on warm toned fiber base paper, 2 mins in developer, 30 secs in stop bath (stops development), 5 mins in fixer (makes it not light sensitive), 30 mins in wash baths. It took two full days of printing to produce the 200 prints.

Using fiber based paper is a longer drying process than RC; each print was dried and pressed in 3 different machines, then cooled under weighted glass to flatten the print.

We headed down to Savannah and spent three days in Gallery Espresso spot toning each image by hand, since dust spots sometimes occur in the printing process. Signed, dated, and numbered – then sent for shipping.

It was, for me, like taking a deep breath. Although we always strive to create the best work we can possible create, I had an overwhelming since of pride looking at the photograph after all the time and detail and days it took to create it.

“Flower #7”, 2012

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Happy Holidays!

What a year we have had together. From New York Fashion Week to London, Paris and Malibu you all have been here as witness to one of the most extraordinary years of our lives and I can not thank you enough for the support.  Happy Holidays around the world, a very Merry Christmas to you & yours and Happy New Year…. From Me To You.

Recreated vintage dress by Sandra Murphy 

10 Great Gifts for the Man in your Life

Guys are hard to shop for right?! That’s why this list is curated with his help! I can tell you, I live with most of these dude things around me so they are From Me To You approved and even at times borrowed because I like them myself!

Here we go:

1. Brompton – Guys love transformers and this is that in real life. A bike perfect for a city dweller meaning you never have to leave it chained up outside to inevitably be stolen. #HardFacts

The best place to buy it from in the US! NYCeWheels

2. Rare Beer Club – Make your beer guy happy at least once a month. This beer club (I mean, can’t you already hear the men grunting) will send your guy 2 rare beers a month… hopefully he will share.

3.  Pro-Ject Debut III – the simplest record player on the planet (from a woman’s perspective) but men love it…. at least mine does

4. Of a Kind – Falling line tie bar by Nikolai Rose, make him your modern day Don Draper. Enough said.

5. EVRT – City Towel – some men like to cook and these are designed smartly by a man who does. OR perhaps if he doesn’t stir the pot then having cool kitchen towels will get him in there with you….

6. Bosca – Old leather toiletry kit – uber classic so he can use it forever. Psst- have it monogrammed for extra umpth somewhere local or Things Remembered can usually monogram anything.

7. Brooks Brothers –  Monogrammed cuff links… I gave him a pair as a thank you gift after this because I told him he will wear them 20 years from now and think of me.

8.  Echo – Echo Touch Gloves because men love gadgets and this way they can look up directions to dinner in the cold while on a date with you 🙂

9. Marshall Minor – Earphones guys love because they are “comfortable, sound great and easy on the drums… of the ears that is”.

10.  Restoration Hardware – Artisan Leather Laptop Sleeve. Makes him look like money. 

I’d love to hear what your guy’s favorite gifts are!…

Now let’s get back to shopping for the girls. 

10 Great Gifts for your Budding Photographer

I know this is categorically dorky but I can’t tell you how exciting it is when you have an interest in photography and get a new toy to play with. Over the years I’ve seen and done it all and these are 10 of my favorite fun photography gifts to date! Perhaps perfect for that someone who also likes capturing life through a lens this holiday season…. 

1. LomoKino 35mm film Movie Maker– you know, like how your grandparents made home movies but with 35mm film (much easier to buy & process)

2. Handy Dandy Hand Strap – because neck straps are not boss.

3. Lensbaby – because it makes the world a dreamy place.

4. IMPOSSIBLE – anything from the Impossible Project! Find an old camera, pick up a couple packs of film and photography goes back to one of those magical & innocent times.

5. Fuji Instax 210 – Because sometimes you want to point & shoot, watch it appear, then pass it around.

6. ONA Camera Bag – Chic. That is all.

7. 50mm Lens – If I could shoot with only one lens, a 50mm would be it.

8. Old School – Nothing is more fun than an old 35mm film camera (that’s how I got started!) and some good old fashioned black & white film.

9. Polaroid GL10 – How I like to print my Instagrams so I can actually hold them.

10. Mini Diana – Takes 35mm film and ever since I saw her pictures with one I’ve loved it.

Happy Holidays from my camera to yours!