Why not come back to the blog today to celebrate & commemorate something oddly special....?
image via Flickr
Apparently, the McDonald's 'Shamrock Shake' is this bizarrely elusive fast-food leprechaun milkshake that only comes out for St. Patrick's Day, and in recent years is even regulated to select McDonald's venues.
It's a big deal, people.... image via MOCNI
So if you're looking to fill this fix for yourself at home (which I highly suggest), try this surprisingly easy little recipe!
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups high quality vanilla ice cream 1 3/4 cups skim milk 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 1-3 drops green food coloring
DIRECTIONS:
Blend all ingredients together until smooth, thick and cr-aaazy delicious.
Top with homemade whipped cream and green sugar sprinkles, if desired.
New Yorkers are used to chaos, but perhaps not the kind of chaos that Mother Nature has brought this week.
On Tuesday, I perched myself on a fluffy chair in the D&D building waiting for some samples at the Schumacher showroom. And, as I watched the fabrics in the wings quiver and ever-so-slightly billow, I caught myself thinking that the floor seemed to quiver as well. Then, the windows creaked and the shades atop those windows banged against the panes. I thought to myself, "No way, Jose. Manhattan is an island on granite bedrock, and it's gotta be geologically impossible for an earthquake to shake this town." But, the building kept on shaking. And then my California-girl instincts kicked in and I booked it out of the building down the stairwell. Out on the sidewalk of 3rd Avenue, people clung to their cellphones, desperately glad to hear that it was 'just an earthquake' and not something threateningly sinister.
And just as we're all recovering from the excitement of the earthquake, now we're all preparing for Hurricane Irene to slam us on Saturday night. And we're not used to hurricanes up 'round these parts. New Yorkers may think Manhattan is the center of the universe, but it's the outer edge of the Atlantic's hurricane alley. The last time a hurricane legitimately touched New York's shores was Gloria in 1985.
Hurricane Irene's tropical storm-force wind field is larger than both Hurricane Ike (2008) and Hurricane Katrina (2005) at maximum size. Besides the surf and the wind, the wicked rains are supposed to be the biggest problem for NYC. It means that New York City will likely break the previous wettest month record dating back to 1882. Uh yea, I'm a bit of a weather nerd. Jim Cantore is my favorite meteorologist. He's like the Bear Grylls of weather.
via TWC.com
While I'm not at all worried about myself, my mind is with the elderly who live alone or in nursing facilities near the coastlines. How scary for them. If you have an older relative living on the East Coast, please call them today and make sure they are safe in case floods and/or power outages occur in their area. Panic is common at times of disaster, and preparedness is key. I know, I know, I know; one can never be too prepared, but I had to giggle at the sight of a young woman buying 4 gallons of milk at the grocery store yesterday. Unless she has a bunch of teenagers at home, I doubt that 2% milk will save her if NYC is flooded on Sunday.
So if you're holed up at home this weekend, clutching your flashlight batteries and side-eyeing your transistor radio, might I suggest a little fun stuff to occupy your worried mind...
Let's all sit for a moment and think about what we would do with this 56-drawer bad boy. I would build a kitchen around it for a client with lots of dish wares. For myself, it would be the landmark area for fabrics and accessories at the WID offices. Wouldn't that be nice?!
Do yourself a favor and make this. Baked French Toast from Jenny the Great.
Feeling crafty? Grab your kids or nephews or neighbors and try this or any of Babble's adorable activities.
The Pioneer Woman has a show on The Food Network premiering Saturday morning. I'd watch just to see Walter the basset hound pretend to be a cattle dog...
If I had longer hair I would rock this style often. Not just for weddings.
The wonderful Mrs. Blandings nears her 1,000th post by way of vacationing back to her early days of blogging.
I keep finding excellent deals at One Kings Lane's Downstairs. Have you checked out their clearance section?!?
If Tim Burton designed a bathroom in a vintage Amsterdam apartment, I think it would look like this. I just pinned this to my Pinterest board titled 'BadAss Bathrooms,' on which I'm gathering inspiration images for an upcoming bathroom reno.
Last night I said to my husband that I am sort of excited about the storm. So I kinda sang, 'Come On, Irene!' and thought of this song and brought me into a fit of laughter thinking about this dorky dance party and horrible lip synching from the Dexy lead singer.
Be safe this weekend, even if Irene isn't on your tail.
I found a wealth of goodies on the internet today. I share this wealth because I'm a generous soul who knows that you, like me, feel fantastic when new design/architecture/décor/real estate/entertaining brain candy is handed to you on the silver platter that is a glowing laptop monitor. Mmmmmm.
I've been away. Have you noticed? I'm out of the hideous heat wave, away from my City. Not that I'm bragging. But, really, I kind of am bragging.
During my travels, waiting at various airport terminals, I developed a hardcore crush on the iPhone app Camera+. It's a photography dummy's best friend forever, and ever ever. Developed by a a brilliant team of technicians and photographers, the program allows me to take pics on my iPhone and tweak them afterwards, as if I had masterly planned out the aperture and exposure settings beforehand. Pretty darn nifty.
Below are three pictures of the same scene, with three different post-treatments.
Did you have too much fun last night? Are you hosting brunch this morning but you hate champagne? Do you just love tomato juice? Then order up a savory and spicy Bloody Mary, often called the "world's most complex cocktail."
There shouldn't be anything so complex about vodka and tomato juice, but elaborated recipes have been challenging bartenders to create opulent and wild versions for decades. Common ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt, all served in a tall glass, often over ice. Garnishes include celery stalks, limes, lemons, carrot sticks, huge jumbo shrimp, basil, crabmeat, parsely, cherry tomatoes, green beans, olives, hot peppers and even scotch eggs.
A classic Bloody Mary (also known as a Red Snapper) at the King Cole Bar, NYC
The Bloody Mary was invented by a French bartender named Fernand Petiotin in Paris in the early 1930s. He came to New York and brought the recipe to the King Cole Bar where it became an instant cocktail star. A visit to the King Cole Bar (in the equally-elegant St. Regis Hotel) will grant you the pleasure to see the famous three-paneled “Old King Cole” mural by Maxfield Parrish. If you're in New York City this summer, treat yourself to a Bloody Mary and a huge basket of sugared almonds at the King Cole.
If you're looking for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink to serve at a party -- especially a daytime event -- consider the wonderfully fun and complex Bloody Mary.
I'm working out a plan for a late springtime party. I like to do highly seasonal menus at my parties, so I'm thinking that we'll celebrate the onslaught of summer's bounty by doing a lot of fruit dishes. Desserts, if you will. Okay, I guess I'm really planning a big ol' dessert party. With libations, of course!
Of course I think about décor when I see all these vivid fruit colors. Rainbow hues can be easily overdone in an interior, but when the balance of bright color and neutrals is done right, it's awesome.
via Elle Decor
via Elle Decor
via Elle Decor
via House Beautiful
DVF Home
via House Beautiful
via Vogue Living
Once I get a better plan for the party, I'll share my planned recipes and decorations. You're all invited!
Whitney
