herbs

I knew I wanted to do something special to thank my fabulous co-hosts from last week's Reclaim Childhood event, but I was having the hardest time thinking of something good.  I love flowers, but they're dead before you know it.  And jewelry is so personal and with these girls having style to the max, I knew I couldn't nail it.  And with one lovely lady pregnant, a bottle of wine just wouldn't do.

So I did what they always tell you to do when you're giving a gift: think about what you would want.  For months, I've been yearning for a big box of herbs for my kitchen.  Not only would it brighten up the sometimes dreary white locale, it would help me season my lackluster dishes to perfection.

Because I was feeling all Martha-Stewart-y last week, I decided to pull a DIY.  And I had just the box(es) for the job.

Remember these wooden guys from our big day?
Despite attempting to send them home with EVERYONE, Stefan and I ended up with no less than 10.  And while friends of ours still have boxes-a-blooming, I've managed to kill almost all 10 of ours, leaving me with lots of pretty boxes hungry for greenery.

So I headed to the store, picked up organic potted herbs galore (rosemary, thyme, sage + basil) and then got busy in the garage.

I know, I know - you're totally jealous of my gardening area,

especially with that extra can of gasoline on the right there...

I was super pumped to see one girl post a pic of her morning eggs with fresh thyme from her new kitchen addition:

And I am definitely not complaining about the box I obviously had to make for our kitchen as well.

xoxo
KK

wacky wednesday

My absolute favorite book growing up was Dr. Seuss' Wacky Wednesday.  Have you read it?  You need to.

The premise is simple: a baffled youngster awakens to find that everything is not quite right, but no one else seems to notice.  It's a wonderful read at all ages, but especially when you're little and find great satisfaction in spotting each of the wacky things that fill Seuss' colorful pages.

But lately, it seems as though I'm living in my own Wacky Wednesday -spotting all sorts of things that seem "not quite right" in my real life.

For example, watching the morning news this morning, I stumbled upon Jos A. Bank's latest promotion:

Buy One Sport Coat, and get:

• 2 pairs of pants;
• 2 sweaters;
• 2 sportshirts +
• Android Smartphone (w/2 year contract).

At first, I was thinking: they can't be serious, this has got to be an ad for SNL's latest skit.  But as the promo ended and moved on without a nod to the joke, I thought it might actually be for real.  I quickly looked it up online, confirming its ridiculous existence.  Apparently next week, if you buy a pair of socks, you get the rest of the store for free.   

Then as I was driving into work and listening to the radio, I heard Roku's latest ad campaign:

click here to listen!

The entire ad focuses on how Roku's TV lovers just sit around and do nothing (other than watch TV, that is).  They're not the people who discover new medical procedures or develop new innovative technologies - no, no: Roku's TV lovers are - well - lazy.  As the ad says,
"Let's face it TV lovers - you weren't the leading candidate to patch the ozone anyway!"
Meaning you should just throw in the towel and watch Roku all. day. long.

I'm sorry, but does this ad make anyone else never want to watch TV again?

And then finally, as I sipped my morning coffee and perused my favorite daily deal site aggregator (www.yipit.com), I stumbled upon the following deal:

All the way over there to the left - see it?  

Saline breast implants!  40% off!  

Oh goodie!  I would LOVE to get breast implants at a place that needs to offer a 40% off coupon on a daily deal site! 

And it's only 9am.

Anything wacky in your life these days?

xoxo

KK

the new tubberware

Not too long, I hosted a stella & dot party.  Think: your mother's Tupperware party but with a whole lot more style and a whole lot better economics. 

The concept is simple: any woman can sign up to be a Stylist.  For $199, that woman gets $350 worth of product as well as a hefty discount on any additional purchases made within the first month or so.  She then asks others to "host" parties for her - she brings the stylish jewels to show off while the host provides the seasonal beverages, snacks and locale.  Guests wine, dine and shop - ordering items that will arrive within a few days in beautifully wrapped packages.  While the stylist earns a commission on her sales, the host earns free product.  A pretty good deal for just chilling and shopping with friends.

Our party was perfection.  My friend (and Stylist) Kara Chase arrived about two hours beforehand (while I was slicing baguettes for crostinis - more on those deets tomorrow) to turn our humble little abode into a styling palace.  
 

Sad you missed out?  Well, don't fret - you can still shop it here.  To help you choose, I'm bringing you my top choices from the collection.

their celeb-worthy necklaces

like katherine hiegl's fav: the bahari necklace

the easy way to dress up a classic white button-down

($98)

stack-able bracelets

their wrap bracelets are an easy way to get the layered look

($59)

fun and festive iPhone covers 

keep all your calls and messages merry and bright

($29)

their amazing candles are perfection for a hostess gift

($29)

their amazingly cozy and colorful scarves 

are an easy present for any and all gals on your list

($59)

their adorable wallets are the perfect way 

to keep your pennies organized

($79)

 

 

Which goods are your fav?

 

xoxo

KK

to rsvp

After deciding on Kunde, we knew we wanted to build a wedding that highlighted and complemented the site's beauty and character. We wanted an approachable, rustic, not-too-many-frills type of affair that represented as much about the two of us as we could possibly squeeze in.

When we stumbled upon the plain yet playful brown-and-white kraft paper invites from Paper Source, we knew they were The One.

 

 

 

We decided to do a version of their invite (with our own version of the text), but with one side in German and one side in English. Because such a feat had never been done (nor could they double-print on their precious cardstock), we had them print two and mount them together - making the invite extra-thick and special.  

 

 

 

 

With so many out-of-towners, we decided to also do a little schedule of the weekend and all its happenings.

 

 

 

 

My favorite part of the invitation suite, however, was the RSVP.

We included boxes for guests to mark off which events they'd attend (drinks, wedding, brunch) because if you know me, you know how much I love checking off boxes.

We allowed guests to specify what they'd like for dinner by circling their icon of choice (cow, fish, vegetable).

AND we asked for a song request!

 

some fun responses that made us smile

While you may not be planning a wedding anytime soon, you likely will be attending one sometime down the road.

 

So some words of advice on wedding invitation/RSVP etiquette from my recent days as a bride:

 

1. RSVP!!!!

You would not believe the number of people we had to go chasing down to find out if they were really attending or not.  You may think that mentioning that you're excited for the big day over coffee counts as a formal response, but it really does not.  Even if you're the bride or groom's very best friend, do the right thing and send in your response.  It's already stamped for you!  And if you really can't get yourself to a mailbox, just shoot the bride or groom an email ASAP to let them know your plans.

 

2. RSVP early!!!!

My mom and I were always so excited to check the mailbox each day and so appreciated all those who let us know early.  It's amazing the amount of decisions that depend on one's guest count and the earlier the bride and groom know, the better.  I guarantee your prompt response will be very much appreciated.

 

3. RSVP with love

I was so impressed by so many of the adorable cards we got sent as RSVPs in return - little notes, little pictures, even some done up in red and white stripes!  It takes you just a minute or two to jot down something extra to add spice to your response, but it will bring the soon-to-be newlyweds much, much joy.

 

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: pop purification

When we ate out while I was growing up, there was an unspoken rule that the Kriegs do not order drinks.  No soda or milkshakes or lemonade for us kids; water was just fine.  And so knowing that was that and there was nothing to be done about it, we drank water and it was just fine.  Delicious in fact.

Over the years, however, I developed an affinity for non-water beverages. (I'm talking non-alcoholic here, although you all know my love for the Napa Valley nectar cannot be denied.) 

It started innocently - ordering a little lavender lemonade to compliment my lunch-time sandwich, or swinging by the corner store for an ice-cold Diet Coke mid-afternoon, or picking up a six-pack of Sprite Zero to quench my thirst after a long run (yes, I hate to admit it, but my favorite post-work-out drink was such) - but after enough time, my taste for water - straight up, on the rocks - disappeared. 

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Anytime I was thirsty I went for a soda: Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, Fresca, Diet Cream Soda, you name it.  This habit wasn't only hurting my wallet, it was hurting my health.

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So two weeks ago I went cold turkey: absolutely no soda. 
(And no artificial sweeteners either.  And let me tell you: I was a heavy-hitter when it came to those little yellow packets.)

At first it was excruciating - what DO I drink? 
But then I realized that was that and there was nothing to be done about it, so I drank water and it was just fine. Delicious in fact.  Especially ice-cold out of a beautiful glass pitcher straight from the fridge with some fresh lemon and a bit of mint.

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And two weeks later, I must admit, I can totally feel it.  It could be just mental, but I feel lighter, fresher, more pure.  And there's no doubt I've saved a boatload of cash.

So if you're a soda junkie like me, consider taking the plunge.  I promise it will be worth the (temporary) pain.  Your body and your bank account will thank you. 

xoxo
KK

thrifty thursday: wallet wear and tear

I have a wallet I absolutely adore. 
It's black patent leather, so it hides dirt and is super easy to clean.
It's nice and long, so I can put my bills in flat and neat.
It's got lots of little hiding spots, so each and every card has a slot all to itself.
And it's Tory Burch.
Need I say more?

But him and I have been together for quite some time - almost four years to be exact - and so his gorgeous shell has been subjected to a little wear and tear.  And because of it, that gorgeous, signature TB logo has started to peel itself off.

Now I could ditch this first love of mine and trade him in for a brand new version...

Tory Burch Patent Continental Wallet

...but that would run me $195 + tax at my local Neimans (or TB supplier of your choosing).  Instead, I decided to work with what I got.

At first, I just fashioned on some scotch tape and called it a day (which lasted for no less than three months - yes, I used a scotch-taped Tory Burch wallet for more than 90 days), but eventually I decided to make the repair permanent.

Enter: super glue. 
(Approximately 2 bucks at your local drug store.)

As good as new!

So the next time you're ready to ditch your slightly damaged goods, consider repairing instead of replacing.  You'll save money AND space at the garbage dump.

xoxo
KK

weekend, unplanned

It's been a long time since Stefan and I have had a weekend free of any to-dos or travel.  It's felt like we've been rushing from one thing to another with very little time to spare these past few months, so while a weekend with very little on the schedule would normally drive this plan-ridden girl mad, I couldn't have been more thrilled.  

And it didn't disappoint: the few short days were packed full of simple, yet delightful surprises.

We kicked things off with an impromptu celebratory dinner at Sociale Thursday night.  I've been running past the place for months, but we had yet to give it a shot.  It was charming, romantic, and delicious.

1, 2

There's nothing like a good half bottle of Dry Creek 

with donuts + a milkshake for dessert.

Then it was a Friday evening journey to the much-anticipated flour + water.  Everyone who has ever been there raves about their unreal homemade pasta creations, and a good foodie friend of mine (who has studied at Le Cordon Bleu and has eaten more of the world's most delicious foods than anyone I know) has a standing Wednesday night reservation at the spot.

Problem is: it is next to impossible to get a weekend reservation, and if you want to walk in, you have to be ready to sacrifice 2+ hours of your time to waiting. 

Which is exactly what we did.  

Luckily, there was a dive bar around the corner and we were with two friends whom we hadn't seen in ages.  The evening was positively lovely.

And the food?  

Think: cappellacci dei briganti with rabbit sausage, asparagus & green garlic, campanelle with tesa, snap peas, cured egg & pecorino, garganelli with pork sugo, broccoli di ciccio & calabrian chili.

It did not disappoint.

Saturday it was brunch at La Boulange and a long run in the gorgeous San Francisco sunshine that was here in full force all weekend long.  

And even my usual running route was in for a treat as I watched them tear down Doyle Drive to replace it with a gorgeous new entrance into the city.

And then Sunday, we had coffee with a potential wedding photographer and decided to hire him!  

(I know, I know - we're totally late in the game, but we were waiting for the right one.  And we've totally found him!  They're a husband-wife team who couldn't be more perfect.)

I won't spill the beans, but I will share some shots.

Now that's what I call a wedding.

The perfect low-key weekend to get me excited for some action-packed ones in the months ahead, starting with my mom, dad, and sis in town for some fun in just four more days!  It's amazing how rejuvenating just a few days of uncoordinated hours can be.

How do you like your weekends?  Unplanned or packed full?

xoxo

KK

on collecting

I've always had torn feelings about collections.

On the one hand, they're a nice hobby and way to remember things in your life.  My mom - who goes through a half a pack of Diet Coke a day and sleeps with a can on her bedside table - has a festive collection of cans from each country she's visited decorating the top shelf of her office. 

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But on the other hand, collections can empty wallets, don't serve any real practical purpose, create clutter, and sometimes lead to people falling just a bit off their rocker.  Like here: 

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Despite these many obstacles to the hobby, however, I have developed a little collection of my own:

Matchboxes!

Not only are the little guys cheap (and by cheap I mean FREE!), they're incredibly practical - especially when you love eating dinner by candlelight as much as Stefan and I do.

Plus picking up a pack grants me an instant moment of memories:

my college days drinking beers and eating burgers at the Water Street Grill,
champagne and dessert at The Modern when my mom and Kaka would come visit me while I was living in NYC,
late night drinks with colleagues at MATCH in Boston while working my first real job,
staying at the Hotel Europe in Davos for a Swiss mountain-top wedding,
some romantic (and delicious) dates at fleur de lac and cafe des bains when Stefan was still living in Switzerland,
I could really go on and on and on and on.

Finally, the collection is (fairly) clutter free.  I pop all my boxes into an empty vase which serves as decor on our built-in bookcase.

Do you have any collections?

xoxo
KK