Famous Objects from Movies

This is a fun game (although, I totally disagree with some of these, they made me think of completely different movies), "Famous Objects from Classic Movies" - how many can you guess right? BTW we started this game and had to finally stop because it seemingly goes on forever. I have no idea how many levels there are. If you have somewhere to be, I would recommend you don't start this until you have hours of free time!

Uptown/Downstairs Abbey

Remember when we watched Downton Abbey? This is a super silly spoof on the show...there really are a lot of "looks" on the show. Wish I could say the line, "Oh I'm SO EVIL!". Ha. Anyway, can't wait for the next season!

My New Favorite Fashion Blog

When I was searching for pictures of fabulous pajamas for my things-I'm-excited-about post, I came across this completely enjoyable and completely time-wasting blog that goes over, in detail, the fashion of Gossip Girl. Now, if you, like me, not-so-secretly totally watch that show, you know very well that it is 90% all about the clothes. I love that they give you stills of all the outfits and discuss them with witty comments. Sometimes I'm watching that show and I'm all "holy crap what on Earth is Chuck wearing" and I need to get a better look. This blog totally calls out all the details. They also have re-caps for other teen shows that I'm less interested in, but still. If you watch a little Vampire Diaries or whatnot, you can check out that fashion too.

Here they describe Chuck as "peacockin'" - so true! Check it out, here: You Know You Love Fashion.

Downton Abbey!

Ahhhh, the good ole days! When you had a mansion and keeping it's integrity was #1. Downton Abbey is a miniseries on PBS and it stars none other than a totally hot manse. So I HAD to see it of course.

Our friend Josiane got her hands on this highly sought-after DVD from the library and holeee-crap this show is so good! We decided to make it a viewing event and theme-out our eats:

Those would be English Tea Sandwiches of smoked salmon and dill, and the classic "Cucumber Sandwiches". YUM! Also tea cookies (naturally) and some berries for a non-carb :) I'd like to tell you we drank the tea we had but we had Summer Beers instead (thanks Bethany for introducing me to this - you are brilliant. Also note: using cheap beer is crucial).

Check it:

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

You Guys: Thank Jeeze there is a 2nd Season coming of Downton! I have to know what happens to hot Matthew!

Red Carpet Faves

My friend had a superfun Oscar Viewing Party yesterday! This is "the red carpet". I'll spare you the pics of us walking down it in our old bridesmaid dresses, but lemme tell you, I had a ball :)

I made some "Snowy Brownies" with meringues on top for the festivities. There were also some undocumented amazing cheese and chocolate fondues - I say undocumented because we polished them off before there was time!

Y'all know my favorite part of award shows is watching all the Red Carpet fashion...so I thought I'd highlight a few of my favorite looks again!

Lets start with Natalie: this color is fantastic. I kindof wish her dress went all the way to the floor in the front, but other than that I love the color and shape and her tassel earrings.

This is soooo not my style, but Gwyneth was undeniably hollywood in this dress last night. Something about this fabric that looked so great on her.

Also not usually my style with the simple, sporty look but omg how flawless is she? Also LOVE her totally California Barbie hair.

More Barbie hair! Reese's look was so simple but it fit her perfectly and looked so great on the carpet. And basically the more Bardot the hair, the better, imo ;)

LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I love lace, and also this wine color looks so fabulous on her.

More lace! I thought it looked like cool cut paper artwork, and it was really flattering on her.

What'd y'all think? Happy with the winners? I didn't see Black Swan or The King's Speech in time for the show but now I have to catch up on them!

First "real" cooking in the new house...

So I'm finally getting a little more comfortable in our new kitchen, and it was time to attempt something a little more ambitious than heating up soup, and the other day I saw this crazy Italian lady on PBS was making "Chicken in Beer", and it looked super tasty and easy.

Here's how my Chicken in Beer (aka Classy Beer Butt Chicken) turned out...

It turned out darn good! She used parsnips in hers and I used red potatoes instead and they got a little overdone so I would probably choose a heartier veggie next time. I also added mushrooms :) I loved the cider & beer combo - totally made our house smell awesome too!

My RecipeMogul adaptation of Lidia Bastianich's recipe.

Mad Men

Check out this Rolling Stone slideshow of pics from the set of Mad Men. Lawd GET ME THESE leopard print heels!

"Woman of Style" - LOVE her.

You guys know I love me some Martha (she never breaks character). She used to be a model back in the day (what didn't she do?) It was fun taking a peek at these photos from her modeling days on the Tory Burch site. {via MirrorMirror}

Bad Blogger!

I know, I've been a bad blogger. Would you believe me though if I said I will have been in 3 different states this week?

Tomorrow morning we fly to DC for Keene's bone marrow donation week. Yee-haw! Savin' lives! I hear it's humid and hot out there, oh joy. But I admit I've missed our capital city a bit. We get to stay near Georgetown this time, which means that for once we might be able to go out to eat and have fun there! There's no metro station in GT, so usually we just consider going there a hassle. I hear they have good pizza and cupcakes in that hood so stay tuned for a full report :)

So for today I have a collection of items. First off: would you like a guide for 1960's cocktails? Or perhaps a MadMen desktop? I'm getting amped for the new season.

Second: since John sent me this article I've probably told at least ten people about it because it's such a rad concept - Dumpster Dips. Some guy turned a bunch of dumpsters into a chic swimming pool hangout in an otherwise unused space in Brooklyn.

Third: Megan just alerted me to these incredibly decadent hot new condo manses on Capitol Hill. We're hoping to find time to take a tour of the showroom - they are ridiculously gorgeous with all that stained glass.

And I just had to post this pic the Merkles sent me of a sandwhich they ordered at Claim Jumper called "The Motherload." Yeah, I'd say that's a good name for it! I could totally eat that.

Carrie's Re-designed Fabulous Apartment

An interview with set designer, Jeremy Conway, about the inspiration behind Carrie Bradshaw's apartment re-design for Sex and the City. {via CasaSugar}

Khaki Wishes and Cookie Dreams!

Name Marfa's New Cows

Marfa wants people to help her name her new "Miniature Herefords" (aka tiny cows). Oh, to be Marfa for a day. {vote here!}

Heaven is Martha's Prop Room

I am in a pedestal phase right now, too. Drool.
{Peek inside Martha's Prop Room}

6 yr old piano prodigy

I'm stealing this one too along with Vacuum Kid, and we're takin' that show on the road! Her little fingers can't even go fast enough to play - so cute!

Global View

Go Rick Steves. That guy is crazy!

Cupcakes

Yo Megan: check out these really awesome "high hat" cupcakes from the book, Cupcakes!. Martha has a pretty boring demonstration video of it on her site. But it really showcases how crazy and totally square she is.
All hail Martha.

It's time to get Buckwild! Again.

Vote for Becky Buckwild aka "the blackest white girl" for Flavor of Love III....{vote}

Very bad

Site with a ton of tv shows so you can watch at work...ahem, I mean, during your free time. {endless tv shows}

Time to get Buckwild!

Bad tv is so good sometimes. Buckwild from "Charm School" is my hero.

VH1.com Blog

I usually only reserve props for Target commercials...but the new Honda Odyssey ad is pretty great.
{the Van is Back}

Remember THIS skit on SNL?

The bibliochaise, via StyleFiles.