I vividly remember going to Pinot Bistro in Studio City for lunch several years ago with my co-worker, our Director of Sales and the General Manager.  It was our “incentive” for having exceeded our sales goals the previous month.  Pinot Bistro is one of those lovely places with linens on the tables, proper place settings (you know…too many forks to know what to do with), and VERY attentive servers that just appear out of nowhere when you need something.  Being fresh out of college, going to LUNCH at this joint was just a weee bit intimidating.

So, as we sat down to order I carefully eyed the menu because I didn’t want to pick anything I would have trouble eating.  It was French inspired cuisine so there were a few dishes on the menu that I was not brave enough to try at the moment (like the duck…which I know love).  Several other dishes sounded delicious, but as I considered HOW I would consume the meal I was quickly deterred from ordering one plate over the other.  Mainly because most of the dishes were accompanied by French Fries.  I thought to myself…how am I going to eat French Fries in this joint?!  It wasn’t exactly a place that screamed “finger food.”  So I ordered the Salmon which did NOT come with fries or anything that would appear to pose a dining challenge.
My co-worker, on the other hand, did not put such thought into her meal selection and ordered a dish with fries.

So as we were chatting and served our plates I noticed my co-worker carefully eye the delicios meal in front of her.  And I noticed her eat her main entree but not touch the fries…until the Director of Sales and General Manager started to eat their fries….with their forks.  And so she did the same thing.  Can’t blame the woman!  I probably would have done the same thing!  It was, after all, a business lunch.  And when all else fails the best thing to do is mirror your “superior” or client.

Later, at the office she and I were recapping the meal and she says, “I didn’t know what to do!  I was about to pick one up with my fingers but then realized that probably wasn’t right!  So I waited.”  We shared some giggles over the whole thing, but I did learn a valuable lesson.  There are occassions that require you to fork your fries…or any food you would usually dive into with your fingers (pizza, onion rings, chicken wings, all that good stuff)!

Happy Monday!

P.S. If you have tales of your dining adventures to share…comment!

The Ballet flat trend has ridden its wave and is on the way out.  I was never really a fan.  I LOVE the aesthetic of a proper ballet shoe but ballet flats never hit that note for me.  And then…I was going through the March 2009 issue of Elle Magazine and was re-inspired by these photos from their “Through the Looking Glass” spread.

Elle Magazine (March 2009) - Photographed by David Armstrong & Styled by Aleksandra Woroniecka

I just fell in love with the shoes! And while real pointe ballet slippers are not intended to be worn as “casual” footwear I could not help but covet them. So I tried to find pointe style ballet flats…not easy. For some reason footwear designers have something against preserving the lovely aesthetic of the original ballet shoe. But, here’s what I managed to find!

Left:
The Original Pointe Shoe from Capezio…lovely but impractical for non-dance floor wear.

Top Right:
The Street Style Pointe Shoe from Repetto of Paris…tough to find for purchase!

Bottom Left:
LOVE these Black Leather Ballet Slippers by Alan B Schwartz!

If anyone knows where else to find a lovely street-style pair of ballet shoes, please leave a comment with the details!

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day I felt it was appropriate to pull together elements for a Kelly Green Wedding.

Kelly Green Inspired Wedding

From Top Left & Across
The Bouquet: I love the variety of greens and textures in this bouquet. And if you are Irish you can sprinkle shamrocks throughout! Found on TheKnot.com / Credits: Bridal Bouquet by Andrea Soorikian, Santa Fe Photo By Jane Bernard, Santa Fe

The Jewels: Also known as the Emerald Isle, its only appropriate to sport an Emerald if you’re going Irish for the day!  Found on Ice.com

The Decor: No need to overdo it, but if you’re trying to bring in Irish pieces then also sprinkle some shamrocks through your centerpieces.

The Cake: If you haven’t figured out my love of cupcakes by now then shame on you!  I loved this cupcake / cake combo in a lovely shade of green.  Found on LaDivinaEvents.com

The Bridesmaids: Flirty & Fun…a lovely dress choice for any bridesmaid!  Found on DonnaRicco.com

The Invitations: Again, no need to overdo it.  I love the simiplicity of this invitation that still bring the color theme front and center.  Found on WeddingPaperDivas.com

THE SHOES: I do have a thing for shoes…which is why almost every board features a fab pair!  This time is the Alexander McQueen Peep Toe Heels in green!  So beautiful.  Found on BrownsFashion.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

A Traditional Three Leaf Clover

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow.  It could also be appropriately called “Let’s Wear Green and Get Drunk Day,” since that’s what most folks do.  And if you happen to be one of the poor souls not wearing green because you missed the memo about it being St. Patrick’s Day, then you best steer clear of any and all bars.  Unless you enjoy being pinched by random drunken obnoxious strangers.

But why, oh why, do they do this?  What in the Irish tradition is this pesky pinch tied to?

Actually….its not tied to anything!  Its one of those things “modern traditions” pinned upon the holiday upon being hijacked from its origins.   Because in Ireland, the “wearing of the green” and the pesky pinching is not actually a tradition.  They do sport pinned shamrocks on the St. Patrick’s Day, but the color green is a coincidence.  The shamrocks are actually representative of St. Patrick having used them to educate people on the Holy Trinity.  Yes.  I did just make a religious reference.  Because SAINT Patrick’s Day is of a religious origin.  In fact…back in the day they actually used to mandate that pubs in Ireland be closed!  Can you imagine?!  No pub crawls on St. Patrick’s Day.  The horror!

So, while you and I may now know that wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day really has nothing to do with the dang holiday, I am sure the random drunken obnoxious stranger in the bar does not know that.  And trying to explain to said Obnoxious Stranger why he (or she) should not be pinching you is simply a waste of your time.  So don’t chance it.  If you intend to hit up a bar tomorrow, sport some green and avoid that pesky pinch!

And for those of you who are pesky pinchers…give it a rest.  Just enjoy your green beer and have a good time!

And me?  I’ll be drinking a black velvet (Guinness and Cider) and sporting a green scarf somewhere (better to be safe than sorry)!

Girl Scout Cookie time is a highly anticipated time of year… its practically its own season!  And with their popularity its only natural that people begin to incorporate them in their own weddings.  I loved this idea from Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites!

Photo Courtesy of Weddings by Socialites

Its such a fun DIY idea and you can be sure that no favors will be left behind! And since it is a DIY idea you have the freedom to change it up however you like!  Me….I LOVE Milano Cookies.  So taking this idea and using the Milano cookies would be a little more me!

Thanks for such a fab idea, Kelly!