So I started perusing my favorite gifty sites and I thought I’d share them with you!

1. Someone Spoil Me

This?  Is my go-to.  It’s great.  At someonespoilme.com, you can shop by price, by recipient, by personality, by occasion, by theme, whatever!  This is always my first stop.

Disclaimer: Lately, some of the gifts have been a little too cutesy for my taste, but it’s always worth a scroll through first.

2. Incidentally, SSM.com is how I stumbled upon Harvard Sweet Boutique…my FAVORITE cookies by online order.  They are DELICIOUS and the customizable packaging is absolutely precious.  Witness:

However, if you’re giving a sweet-toothed loved one a gift here in town, you really MUST call up Cari at Sugar Sugar.  I swear the chick is part magician.  Her desserts are absolutely amazing and unbelievably creative.  Please see Lindsay’s previous post here, one from dear ol’ FoodieBuddha here and “Like” her on Facebook here.  The girl is a genius.

Sugar Sugar's signature Cupcake Bouquet

3. MoMA Store Online

The Museum of Modern Art Store was my favorite gift spot when I lived in NYC and nothing has changed.  From sleek and original to quirky and fun, MoMA is a good place to peruse when seeking a memorable gift.  I found this beautiful Alessi olive oil pourer for the aforementioned couple: I would LOVE to have this not just for olive oil, but also for dressings, etc, so I figured they would too.  (My barometer for good gift-giving: Am I having a hard time not ordering one for myself?)

4. For Baby: Hip LittlesOr RuffleButt personalized ruffle bloomers and such:

5. Newsflash: They are actually still selling things in stores these days.  So if online shopping isn’t your thing, here in town my favorite gifty places are Fragile in Sandy Springs, Belle Chambre in Buckhead, and Star Provisions on the Westside for wedding/showers and Precious Cargo in Vinings, Izzy Maternity in Buckhead (and Alpharetta), and Dabberdoo in the Highlands for baby/maternity gifts. (Don’t forget there is a Scoutmob available for Dabberdoo through almost the end of July!)

Precious Cargo storefront in Vinings. Say hi to Dana!

Happy gifting!

xx, L

Here’s the Q+DD: Tonight, Wednesday, June 23rd, Neiman Marcus will host a Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm with live entertainment, cocktails, and snacks to welcome Stacey and her stylists who have been traveling across the country in a vintage airstream!

This awesomeness will be parked outside the Neiman Marcus entrance to Lenox

RSVP to 404.279.5860 or RSVPATLANTA@NeimanMarcus.com

Bonus: you can enter to win a makeover by emailing thetour@aliceandolivia.com. In related news…

PICK ME!  PICK ME!  I LOVE A+O!

And A+O loves me!  Witness:

Me in A+O Santa in...elf?

Welcome to the Dirty Dirty, A+O!

xx, L

(P.S.  We totally got the “plus sign is the new ampersand” memo, too!  xx, L+L)

rendering of the facade

All of the caterers I regularly work with, Bold American Catering, Dennis Dean Catering (my fav!) + Affairs to Remember, were there to mingle + fatten us up w/ treats in hopes of sparking our interest in using the space.  Success.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  It was like something right out of a 1920’s movie with its breathtaking grand chandeliers!

rendering + construction photo

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to take any pictures of the space because I was too busy balancing stuffing my face with tasty hors d’oeuvres in one hand, and sipping cocktails + hugging vendor-friends with the other – but you HAVE to see it, particularly if you are planning a large event anytime soon.  (Frankly, I’m not even sure that a picture would do it justice.)

Here’s a link to its website: http://200peachtree.com/grandatrium_interior.html

Now, I just need to see the newly-renovated Buckhead Theatre, and I should be good to go for my next event season!

xx, L

"Revelotion" by DuWop

It. Is. LOVE.

I love it so much I almost didn’t tell you about it. (Shame!) but then I realized I love it so much I HAD to tell you about it!

It’s a moisturizer, a SPF 15 lotion, and bronzing body makeup all in the same magical tube. It goes on totally sheer and gorgeous and you can buy it in the shade closest to your skin color.  Perfect over your St. Tropez (or, if you must, real tan) but I swear it gives you enough color to use it in lieu of your faux tan! Amazing!

Trust me, you will not regret dashing out to Sephora and get a tube today or buying it online here ($28) to get that glow!

You. Are. WELCOME. (seriously.)

xx, L

we are wearing fancy pants

On the actual day of our anniversary, we had an amazing dinner at Bacchanalia.  I love the Star Provisions restaurants, of which Bacchanalia is my favorite.  In fact, it is my favorite restaurant in Atlanta.  And, you can quote me.

are you my mother?

Dinner at Bacchanalia is an incredibly fancy meal, but somehow it feels laid back.  It’s white tablecloth, but jackets are not necessary in the restaurant – in fact the folks sitting next to us were wearing jeans.  The service and food are both incomparable in Atlanta in my humble opinion. 

bacchanalia

Quinones, Bacchanalia’s private room, is an outstanding meal, but the restaurant and the overall dining experience felt a tad geriatric to me when I had the honor of eating there a few years ago.  Personally, I prefer the youthful energy at Bacchanalia.  Without further adieu, here’s what we ate…

Cocktails:
Predictably, I ordered a vodka Gimlet (Would have gotten an Aviation, but they said they didn’t have maraschino cherry liquor…)  Slick got a filthy martini.

Appetizers:
Gulf Crab Fritter, Citrus, Thai Pepper Essence
Wine Pairing: Riesling, Waterbrook, Columbia Valley 2001

Kumamoto Oysters
Compressed Cucumber, Caviar
Wine Paring: Champagne, Piper Heidsieck, Cuvee 1785, Reims, France

Entrees:
Local Berkshire Pork Loin, Crispy Belly, Anson Mills White Grits, Fresh Andouille Sausage, Summerland Farm Greens, Pot Likker Jus
Wine Paring: Pinot Nior, Archery Summit, Premier Cuvee, Williamette Valley 2007

Wood Grilled Lamb Loin Chops, Morel Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Fiddlehead Ferns, Pickled Onions
Wine Paring: Merlot, Chateau Preuillac, Bordeaux 2005

Cheese + Compliment:
Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, Medjool Dates

Chantal, Jumbo California Asparagus, Soft Farm Egg, Bread Crumbs Chervil

Desserts:
Orange Souffle, Tarragon Custard, Pistachio Florentine

Valrhona Chocolate Cake w/ Mint Ice Cream

anniversary dinner @ bacchanalia

The meal was so wonderful.  In between each of the prix fixe courses, the chef sent out a little intermezzo course.  So needless to say, when we left the restaurant we were stuffed beyond belief.  It was a super special evening. 

thank you, BY!

To make it even more memorable, Slick, who knows by now that I’d much rather have an “experience” gift over a “material” gift, surprised me and told me that we were going to continue the celebration over the weekend at my favorite hotel in town, the gorgeous St. Regis!  To say that I was very excited would be a gross understatement…

We’d stayed at the St. Regis in September for the Shapiro’s wedding and I fell deeply in love with it. 

@ the st. regis for the shapiro wedding in september

The rooms are gorgeous and everything is incredibly luxurious about it - but my heart truly belongs to the beautiful pool piazza.

st. regis pool piazza

Slick was on a roll.  On Saturday, we checked into the hotel and when I went up to the room it was filled with surprise goodies for me.  Pirate’s Booty, a nice bottle of wine, gorgeous flowers, champagne, truffles + strawberries…Slick had been very sneaky planning all of this! 

waiting for us in our room

starting off the weekend just right

We threw some champagne into our OJ and almost immediately made a B line for the pool.  We spent the remainder of the morning and afternoon poolside enjoying the gorgeous weather. 

@ the st. regis pool

Later that evening, we had dinner at Lobster Bar – which is walking distance from the St. Regis.  It was my first time at the restaurant and I really enjoyed my meal. 

We had an enormous amount of food from the prix fixe lobster menu.  I mean, there was probably enough food to feed four people – and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t make a serious dent in it. 

lobster bar

As much as I enjoyed stuffing myself with lobster, I have to say that the desserts were the highlight of the meal for me.  We had the bread pudding, the toffee cake and the creme brulee.  (Don’t judge…)  They were all divine.

desserts @ lobster bar

Unfortunately, though, I think I may have recently developed a lobster allergy.  For the third time after a lobster-heavy meal (not sure why it’s taken me this long to admit it), I got pretty violently ill.  I still thought the meal was great, though!  However, I’m officially OFF of lobster…

@ lobster bar prior to my face-in-toilet episode

On Sunday, we ordered brunch into our room and watched Nat Geo to our hearts content.  Mid-morning, we made our way downstairs for a couples massage at the St. Regis’ spa, Remede.  I’ve been to spas all over Atlanta, Blue Med Spa is my favorite, but the massage I had at Remede was the best I’ve ever had in my life.  I’m not exaggerating.  If you are in the mood for a super luxurious spa day, I strongly recommend Remede.  It was as close to heaven as I’ve ever been.

paradise

Slick had to leave shortly thereafter to play golf with some buddies, but I wasn’t ready to leave quite yet.  Instead, I parked myself at the pool for the following four hours or so. 

exactly how i spent the remainder of my time @ the st. regis pool...

Pretty much, it was the greatest weekend ever.

i'm a v. lucky girl, indeed

Happy one year anniversary, Slick!  Thank you for such an amazing celebration! 

xx, L

Bacchanalia
1198 Howell Mill Road NW
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.365.0410
www.starprovisions.com

Lobster Bar
70 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.262.2675
www.chopslobsterbar.com

St. Regis Atlanta
88 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.563.7900
http://bit.ly/KZyph

Yes, it’s true. Since 2004, Studio Todd G has also been the home of the E•Weber Gallery, which showcases gorgeous artwork by local, regional and international artists.

I love it because it gives me something nice to look at instead of my Blackberry or the inside of a Cosmopolitan Magazine while I sit with 54lbs of foil on my head. Usually when I am there, I am laser-focused on my hair. Everything else is secondary. (Dead serious about my highlights; not apologizing for it.)

Tonight and Sunday, however, the artwork will take the lead!

The show is tonight, February 26th from 6:30-9:30p and Sunday, February 28th from 12:00-5:00p.

I’m not going to tell you what to do, but you know? I think you should go. Great art, great prices, great people.

You can visit the website here, the Facebook page here, and the blog here

Happy Friday, y’all!

xx, L

"life is like a box of chocolates..."

Godiva has been my standard for chocolate for many years.  That is, until I received a box of chocolates + truffles from Norman Love Confections last week!

I seriously became Augustus Gloop from Willy Wonka + The Chocolate Factory.

me

Sexy, I know.  “Oompa loompa doompadee doo!”

Well, as it turns out, I love chocolate!  Although, I’m pretty sure it’s only Norman’s…  (I may need to conduct a bit more research to be sure.)

25pc Signature Chocolate Gift Box

I even love the box.  So artful! 

When I took off the cover, I was shocked at how colorful each chocolate piece was!  They look like mini pieces of Venetian glass!  I carefully studied the accompanying guide to correctly identify the wide array of flavors…and I went to town. 

i'd appreciate y'all ignoring the missing pieces...

It is very difficult for me to choose, but if pressed, I’d say that my five favorite flavors are:

Vanilla Cupcake- Sweet cream and vanilla frosting ganache mixed with tiny cake pieces in a perfect little bite.

Key Lime Shell – Classic and simple, made with fresh key lime juice and the feeling of a little Florida sunshine with each bite.

Caramel Apple - Peanut butter caramel ganache is the perfect enhancement to fresh tart apples covered in a white chocolate shell.

Cinnamon Roll- Buttery cinnamon swirled with pure sugar icing in white chocolate ganache – casted in milk chocolate.

Cookies ‘n’ Cream – The fine dark chocolate crunch and smooth white filling you’d expect from this all-time favorite treat.

If you are a serious chocoholic, need to send a corporate gift or just want to make someone’s day w/ a gorgeous + delicious box of chocolates, I strongly encourage you to send it from Norman Love Confections.  Keep in mind that these chocolates do not contain preservatives, so they are best enjoyed w/in three weeks.  (Or you could follow my lead and eat them all almost immediately…) 

Check out Norman Love Confections @ www.normanloveconfections.com.

C’est Magnifique!

xx, L

Norman Love Confections
11380 Lindbergh Boulevard
Fort Myers, Florida  33913
239.561.7215
www.normanloveconfections.com

Alternate title:

“An Open Letter to Anyone Who Wants to Buy Me a Present”

Or:

“Irresponsible Purchases I am Seriously Contemplating”

1. I ADORE my “play” watch. It’s the gold menswear Michael Kors:

Boss.

BUT: since I purchased it, he’s come out with one I want a little more:

I had been eying the tortoise shell version for a little while, but the deal was sealed for me on Saturday night: I developed a somewhat serious girl crush on one of The Ginger’s superchic and fabulous girlfriends visiting from Nashville.

f.a.b.

When she mentioned this watch, I decided it was love. Peer pressure works every time…

So, yesterday, I went to go visit the watch in the MK store with my mom and almost convinced her to buy it for herself (with the old bait-and-switch in mind) but, alas, she was on to me. So with a stick of the MK Leg Shine in my bag……and the watch still in the case, I made my way out the door. Ssssssigh.

2. As you may remember, I wear 2 perfumes. Either Ralph Lauren Blue or Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey. I have big bottles at home and small bottles in my purse and honestly? That’s more than anyone needs to be spending on fragrance, in my opinion. However, I am seriously considering the following as an addition:

Vintage Gardenia

It goes great WITH my current two, or alone, as Jo Malone is designed to do. It’s floral but not sickly sweet and I WANT IT.

3. Louis Vuitton  Speedy 30
I officially covet this classic bag. Before my mother starts hyperventilating while reading this post, I need to mention that I WAS once in possession of one. DK had one in the late 80’s – early 90’s (as many stylish suburban housewives did) and generously (and, as it turns out, foolishly) bequeathed it on to me while I was in college.

Since I am an idiot and and since I was overly concerned with ridiculous teeny tiny baguettes at the time, when I moved to Manhattan, the bag somehow stayed in Austin. (Sidebar: To whatever Hill Country Hippie or Spoiled Sorority Girl who is currently sporting my….well, DK’s… Speedy – YOU’RE WELCOME.)  Although, if I were to purchase one now, I’d go with the Damier:…but wouldn’t turn down the monogrammed version if you wanted to buy me one

OK. Other than an appointment with local Atlanta Dog-Whisperer, Ian and a standing blow-out appointment with Wael at Jamison Shaw, that is it for today.

“If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, we’d all have a bowl of granola.”
- Strangers with Candy

xx, L

McQueen with SJP

McQueen was immensely talented and served an important voice in fashion. Obviously, it is devastating to lose such an influential designer in his prime…and if you’re looking for some carefully crafted words about McQueen, please, allow me to Google that for you: LMGTFY. (Thanks, Linds.)

Now let’s look at some pretty pictures of his work:

“Clothes and jewelry should be startling, individual. When you see a woman in my clothes, you want to know more about them. To me, that is what distinguishes good designers from bad designers.” -Alexander McQueen

RIP to the self-proclaimed “pink sheep” of his family.xx, L

But I have to tell you, I couldn’t have been happier with the 5th annual LK/EZ Birthday Bash. Party Preppy was DEFINITELY the best one yet!

Witness:
It. Was. Spectacular! We packed Whiskey Park with popped collars, pearls, cardigans, top siders, even seersucker in the dead of winter. Erin and I were tickled pink (and green!)

Thank you so much everyone! I am SO lucky.

Special thanks to my amazing, supercool (and handsome!) cousin Rob Goldstein who took care of EVERYTHING for us.  If you ever want to book a party at any of the Ws, I strongly suggest getting in touch with him at rgoldstein@gerberbars.com. He’s the bomb.com

Now, I think I am officially DONE celebrating this particular birthday. (Well…after Birthday dinner at Repast with Seth tonight…)

xx, L

P.S. For the record, the only thing that party was missing was my seestah. Next year, KT!