All Roads Lead to Maggie Smith

As I'm sure the news has informed you, the East Coast has spent the week preparing for and cleaning up after Irene. Fortunately, the most I suffered was having to stay inside, which is actually the best possible situation when you have Downton Abbey to watch. It got me thinking, and I realized that all of my favorite FBM&Ms (Fabulous British Movie & Miniseries) can all be brought back around to the illustrious and incomparable Maggie Smith.
So here's a quick game of Six Degrees:

Let's start with a movie that cemented m&k's friendship,







Nicholas Nickelby
Sophie Thompson takes us to the next movie:





Gosford Park
This does have Maggie Smith in it, but for funzies, let's keep going with Michael Gambin, who leads to:







The Kings Speech
Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle then bring us to:





Pride and Prejudice
Where once again Lydia (Julia Sawalha) reigns supreme, bringing us to:







Larkrise to Candelford
At this point I have a confession. We could have jumped right here from Gosford Park thanks to Claudie Blakley (below). I just wanted to get a Larkrise mention in here :)






So it is Brendan Coyle (right) who then takes us to where it all began:






Downton Abbey
If you haven't watched this series yet, you should. Right now.
Or else, Maggie Smith will make this face at you:





-k

Getting Ready for Fall

I don't know about anyone else, but fall is by FAR my favorite season to dress for. The boots, the sweaters, the colors- I love it all. I'm especially excited for this year, because it's my first year here in New York during Fashion Week (aka, my high holy days). Here are some looks that are quintessentially fall, fabulously, and totally my style.




From {this is glamorous}, citified.blogspot.com



From the Doctors Closet, thedoctorscloset.com



From Refinery, refinery29.com



From TLo, tomandlorenzo.com
-k

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

LOVE this candle from, of all places, Target.  Only $10 for this huge size, and it smells like walking in a vegetable garden in the summer.  Honorable Candle Mentions: the Mint Basil scent and the Lilac scent.

Reeses Peanut Butter Blondies.  That's right, you heard me.  Although I've been living a low-carb lifestyle since May, I broke my rules for these delicious treats - my roommate and I found the recipe in Cooking Light magazine (so supposedly they're not that bad for you? or something).  We had friends over for a board game night and this entire platter (once we cooked it) disappeared.

Taken from a much larger mural at MOCA's "Art in the Streets" Exhibit, about the history of graffiti. I just love this little guy!

Beautiful flowers from this Sunday's farmer's market. I need to learn some Spanish (yes even though I took 3 semesters of it at USC) because my flower guy always tries to talk to me and I just can't say anything that doesn't turn into French.  I live in LA, what is wrong with me??

-m

Recent Acquisitions

I have just returned from a lovely trip to London, my favorite place in the world, and I brought a few treats back! There's a pair of luscious shoes, some wedding keepsakes, some lingerie (of course), and, last but FAR from least, the much sought-after, deeply loved Pippa bag!






Shoes, L.K. Bennett.
They feel like a dream- and have gorgeous leather solstice, so I will have to get them resoled to make them last. I love real shoes!



I couldn't resist this little ceramic box. I'm not ashamed to say I am obsessed with the new Princess, as is much of the world I'd imagine. This sweet little thing is so delicate, and makes the most cheerful clinking sound when opened and closed.



Had to.










From top to bottom: Disco Pistol Panties; Marks & Spencers Limited Collection; Marks & Spencers Limited Collection.
I couldn't resist the patterns and colors. I do have such a weakness for matching sets, and M&S never let's me down.

Finally, The Bag:



I wish this picture would do it justice. It's really gorgeous, and fits everything perfectly. Best of all, it makes absolutely any outfit instantly chic; not too ostentatious, just detailed enough. I think this is what true love feels like...

-k

Cocktail Hour

"Tipsy Berry Lemonade" and "Picante Pineapple Margarita"from Granville Cafe.
The Margarita was muddled with a little bit of jalapeno so it had a kick!

The "St. Martin" Martini from Cafe Pinot - made with rum, beet juice, lemon juice, and St. Germaine. OMG. Yum. 

Homemade Strawberry Peach Sangria.  Made with strawberries and peaches (duh), lemons, oranges, white wine, dessert wine, peach liqueur, and strawberry liqueur. A lot more alcoholic then originally intended.  

-m

Some Little Birds, from A Little Bird

Thanks, M!
I love them. And I've named them Fred and George.

-k

Pedicure

This summer I've been bright pink, bright red, bright orange- all brights. S today I decided to slow it down and go for a calm neutral color: OPI Not Tonight, Honey! Pretty AND sassy, just my style.






-k

Bedroom colors

So I am moving into my first apartment, and therefor decorating my first-apartment bedroom. It's one big blank slate, ready for the painting. Only question is, which color?









-k

Polish it Off

As a compulsive nail biter/picker (yes I know I need to stop) I never get manicures since I ruin them within hours.  And since I'm actually pretty good at doing my nails myself, I've developed a very serious addiction to nail polish (mostly Essie brand).  My roommates and I made a No Shopping in August pact (maybe more on that later) so I can't buy these amazing colors, but maybe you can help me decide which ones to get when September (finally) rolls around!

First, summer corals: 

"Haute as Hello"

"Tart Deco"

fall greens:

"Going Incognito"

"Pretty Edgy"

So what two colors should I get?? Help me, people, I only have until September 1st to make up my mind!

-m

Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies

This is always my favorite part.

-m

Meredith's New Career Path

While eating sushi at the beautiful Americana shopping center, my roommates and I were serenaded by two children's songwriters.  And while they were both pretty good (with the exception of an ill-advised "rap" song) all I could think was "Hey! I could totally do that."  So as a team we brainstormed what I could write about and here's what we came up with:

• Noises you hear on the street
• Naming a new puppy
• Having lots of best friends
• Hats
• Helping Mommy find her keys
• Staying awake in the car (aka, how hard it is)
• Being as tall as a tree vs. Being as tiny as a mouse
• Sticky velcro
• I can use the potty (I can, in fact!)
• Making cupcakes

Would you buy my children's album? Any song suggestions?

Packing for London

This week, I get to go on a great adventure. I'm splitting this banana stand and popping over to London with my family and dear friends. This is more like a homecoming than a trip for me; I lived ere for just over a year when I was little, and have maintained some great friends. So in the midst of the flurry of plans and Facebook messages, the eternal question pervades: what in gods name am I going to wear?

It sounds insane, but I always have to pick a color pallet. Once I do that, I can focus, pear down and make outfits. This trip, it's blues, black, and gold with shots of red and pink (so I can bring my Hermes scarfs)

Here is the result:




Skinny jeans, Target. grey leopard skirt, two tanker dresses (black, navy), Forever 21. ballet flats, Lower East Side. Black boots, Marks & Spencers.






Gold crop top, Victorias Secret. Grey short sleeved sweatshirt, Target. Pink sequined top, H&M.






My go-to tops: striped henley, J Crew. Metallic sweater, Silence + Noise. Open knit sweater, Old Navy. Pink silk shirt, Forever 21.






My trusty rain coat and chiffon maroon blouse. Coat, Pearl River. Blouse, Forever 21.





And last but not least, the dresses. Black lace, Express. grey long sleeved, blue, blue shift, and gold strapless, Forever 21. The gold can double as a skirt.







Hermes scarfs. Necklaces top to bottom, Kate Richbourg, vintage, Old Navy, Kate Richbourg (katerichbourg.com)
As for makeup and jewelry, I'm bringing the essentials.






Coco mademoiselle, MAC powder, Nars lip lacquers in Eros and Chelsea girls, MAC viva glam lipstick in Cyndi, cover girl lip and eye liners in passion and black onyx.

So with all this and armed with a fresh pedicure, I should be ready to take on dear old London.

-k

Tasteful Photography

I've started this bizarre habit of taking pictures of my food when I'm particularly proud of it (and usually sending those pictures to Katie so she can salivate over what I get to eat).  Here are my last few culinary masterpieces:

Farmer's market asparagus, fried egg, crumbled bacon, pine nuts and (secret ingredient) a tiny bit of white truffle oil.

Farmer's market butter lettuce, Point Reyes blue cheese, pine nuts, rotisserie chicken, and cherry tomatoes (when I made this for dinner the night before, I also put a green apple in there).  Dressing: Walnut oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, dijon mustard and I put a basil leaf in the container overnight. YUM!

I love when I get to go to the farmer's market on the weekend!!

-m