Wanderlust

I come from a family that is so in love with food that we often talk about dinner as we wrap up lunch. Its a trait that I know drives my husband up the wall.

For some reason I tend to be doing that with our upcoming (much needed) Mexican vacation. To say I am excited about it would be a drastic understatement, I am counting the days till we get to go, however it has gotten me wondering where the next vacations will be...

South Africa is at the top of our list, we have already begun the very tentative planning to embark during the winter of 2012.


My sister swears that they only reason my husband and I want to go to India is because we adore Indian food, but I swear it is much more than that.


A trip to ANYWHERE is France is a must for me. I have been devouring everything and anything by Peter Mayle these days and have always fantasized about spending a long weekend in Paris (doesn't that just sound glamorous).



A trip back to Sicily to see, spend time with and (most importantly) eat with family is a must.


Greece, Prague, Amsterdam, Argentina, Morocco....yea would not be saying no to a ticket to any of those destinations as well :)

Friday Inspiration

It is a gloomy day in the District with a wet weekend on the forecast and I needed to find something to inspire me to make the best out of rain.......

This picture even makes me feel a-ok about running out the door sans umbrella this morning. Have a wonderful weekend!

Girl Crush + Clothes Crush = Love

Dear Madewell,
Please promote whomever had the idea of not only collaborating with the ever amazing and stylish Alexa Chung, but also having her illustrate a shirt that I literally need to breathe.

Love,
T


Perfection - her new collection with the brand launches today! Get it before it goes all Target/Missoni on us.

Photo Courtesy of Madewell Blog

Downton Abbey Style

Thanks to the Emmys on Sunday night a whole slew of us were introduced to the utter wonderfulness that is the PBS mini-series Downton Abbey.

After watching it win award after award and my obsession with anything taking place during the earlier 20th century (and in England to boot!), I was THRILLED to see Netflix had it available streaming instantly. Thank you Netflix, you managed to do something right since your ridiculous division of streaming vs dvd.

I am two episodes in and utterly mesmerized by it all. The plot, the characters, the accents, the dying class system they live in and the fashion are all swoon worthy. The dresses that the women of the show wear, particularity those by the wife and daughter of the Lord, are amazing and the silhouettes are timeless.

I did my best to pull a few pictures of the ladies outfits, but kept getting nervous I would stumble upon a spoiler....

Enjoy!





Photos Courtesy of PBS

Dinner Party Planning

Last week was a big week in our household. After over a year of eating off of a nice, but very small table, we have finally upgraded to a big "adult" size table.

Our previous table made it near impossible for four people's plates, wine glasses and maybe a wine bottle or 3 to all live on the table at the same time. Our new table gives us ample room to have all of that and more - which I am overjoyed about!

So now all I can think about is what will the menu be for the first time we have friends around the new table.....

I have some old stand-bys which are great and filled with fall flavors. Enjoy!

Appetizer: Cheese plate, really does not get easier than this, esp with this tutorial


Soup: Mango & Tomato has this ah-mazing soup and it could NOT be easier to make. I highly recommend trying it and listening to her instructions to not use low fat coconut milk.

Main Course: Eat It. Drink It. has a curry lamb quiona recipe that I am it love with! The lamb lends the perfect earthy texture to this dish.


Dessert: French Apple Cake via David Lebovitz via Dorie Greenspan. Simple, elegant and the touch of dark rum makes it sublime.


Dessert Photo Courtesy of David Lebovitz Main Course Photo Courtesy of Eat. Drink It., Appetizer Photo Courtesy of A Cup of Jo.

Friday Inspiration

Michelle Williams is not one I often gush about when going on and on about my girl crushes (Anne Hathaway and Zooey Deschnal anyone?). Yet I am always oddly drawn to articles about her and her films. It goes without saying that I am looking very forward to her turn as Ms Monroe in My Week With Marilyn.

Vogue has done an ah-mazing spread of her and it is uncanny how much she resembles the legend.
This picture above is my favorite. An article I once read about Marilyn said that she loved to be photographed reading as it was a favorite pastime. She always felt uneasy with the "dumb blond" image she portrayed in her movies.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Photos Courtesy of Vogue

Beach Packing

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I passed up a Georgetown Cupcake at work and for the past week I have been starting my day with the delightful people over at Washington Sports Club.

These two events are not a mere coincidence but rather evidence that I have a trip to Mexico on the horizon (t-minus 6 weeks).

Despite the modified "Biggest Loser" style lifestyle I have in place due to wearing a bathing suit in front of my peers, I am looking very very forward to the trip. Two dear friends are getting married, my sister will be there and my in-laws (who I adore) will also be attending.

And of course with a beach vacation must come beach accessories. I am digging brown and turquoise for this trip and a big glam hat and aviators are as necessary as the sun block!

The swimsuit will make me happier than any g'town cupcake ever will.......ok maybe not their salted caramel one....

Malvin embellished top, £48
Herme, $300
L Space l space swimwear, $139
Zara shoes, $16
Gold handbag, £19
Lisa Stewart metal earrings, $85
Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized aviator sunglasses, $98
Straw hat, $13
Bobbi Brown beach Body Oil, $30

Pinterest Saves the Day

Anyone who knows me has been recently inundated with my constant praise for the site Pinterest.

It is a godsend and one of those things that, similar to flat-bottomed tacos, makes one say "Why didn't someone think of that before?" With its easy way to categorize anything I find on the web it has helped the way I cook, shop and organize my life.

Below are a few gems via pinterest for home organization that I absolutely love. Enjoy!


Use bread clips to label cords



I am forever wrapping my sugar and flour in flimsy plastic grocery bags to keep them from getting all over the place. VERY MUCH looking forward to trying this out.


I am always saving ribbon for wrapping presents and always annoyed with how messy they get in their big container. The only real challenge is going to be deciding which flavor of tic-tacs I want to consume for this. Do they still make the orange flavor?


(electric cord picture courtesy of unplgged, flour picture courtesy of Rarebirds, ribbon picture courtesy of instructables)

Where does Ikea get off not looking so "Ikea"?

The husband and I recently moved into a new condo at the beginning of the summer and have been slllooowwwlllyyy decorating it to fit a nice blend of our tastes.

We really want to seek out original furniture that matches our style and avoid the ikea furniture that has populated our post college apartments for the past several years...however a recent peek at the new items on their website seems to have thrown a (funny unpronounceable Swedish word named) wrench into that plan.

I am absolutely lusting after that gray chair like it is Brad Pitt circa 1998, its shape and color would be perfect in our living room.

The console table, rug, lamp, throw - all absolute perfection. An Ikea trip is most likely in our near future...I can taste the Swedish meatballs now!

Ikea Ekenäs, $299
Ikea Ikea Stockholm Rand, $199
Ikea Jondal, $50
Ikea Ikea Stockholm, $199
Ikea Eivor, $20
Ikea Aläng, $40

Bucket List for Cooking

A friend brought over cake pops for a BBQ that we had on Monday. Cake pops, being a food that I have always been meaning to make, got me thinking about my Food Bucket list.

This consists of dishes I have always always been meaning to take a shot at making. They aren't the hardest thing to make in the world. Just something I have been looking forward to eventually attempting.

Yes yes I have a real bucket list too (learn another language, run a marathon, write a book), however my food bucket list is fairly simple and something that, if I wanted to, I could tackle in a weekend.

Enjoy and I look forward to hearing yours!















Ricotta. Who knew it is easier to make this than it is to spend money at a Kate Spade Sample Sale?


Limoncello. Ok so not really a food.....however I love it and always wanted to try! In Sicily each of my relatives makes their own special version and each one insists (and will be offended if you didn't) that you try it. Fortunately for me, my mother and sister did not care for it so I was often passed their glasses on the sly to consume quickly.


Grilled Pizza. Such a fun concept that enjoyed a burst of popularity last summer. Still want to give it a go!


Gazpacho. This is slowly fading out of season, but all summer I enjoyed Pret a Manger's amazing version and have been DYING to make it myself.

-T
(Ricotta Picture Courtesy of Yum Sugar, Grilled Pizza and Gazpacho Photo Courtesy of The Kitchn)

Zebras had it Right all Along

I woke up this morning craving stripes like a mouse craves cheese (do they really though or is that just a myth?).

After putting together a decent outfit that included them I set out for some more. Above is my stripe lust list. The green and white dress will make the perfect transition to from Summer to Fall (and even Winter with black tights and a cozy black cardigan).

And I am the last person I know to own Toms. This needs to be fixed asap.

- T
Dorothy Perkins waist dress
Saint James nautical shirt
Stripe tee
H M print skirt
TOMS brown canvas shoes
Michael Kors striped scarve

Antique Violet Loafers, Why do you Torture Me?

When I see a particular piece of clothing, accessory or pair of shoes I often utter the phrase "I need these to breathe" as in "my life will stop without these".

Yes this is both an incredibly inaccurate and dramatic thing to say and I receive tremendous amounts of flack from whomever is with me to hear this. Yet, I keep saying it and upon seeing these shoes from J. Crew I said it again.

How perfect would they be with jeans, a crisp white tee and a neutral colored statement necklace? OR the pop of color in an all black ensemble? The price tag is just not where I need it to be yet, so I shall lust and yes...still be able to breathe.


* Photo Courtesy of J.Crew

Welcome.

Welcome to Morning Person Tina, a blog dedicated to everything I enjoy. This includes (but by no means is limited to):

Embracing the day bright and early. Nuetella. Books set in Europe. Chicago. Champagne. Shoe Shopping. Musicals. Reading food magazines while drinking red wine. Talking to my sister. Brunch. Kate Spade. Traveling anywhere in the world with my husband. Laughing. Saturday Mornings. Mad Men. Leaves in the Fall. Benefit Lip Gloss. Art Galleries. Crying during a really really good movie.

And lots more.

Thanks for reading! :)

- T