sip and see

If you're in the Birmingham area, a bride-to-be, or just like a good champagne party come to Chickadee this Saturday for our first ever bridal event! I wonder where they got that beautiful wedding flower picture?!

cheers~

how does your garden grow?

Two weeks ago we traveled to Tallahassee for a quick weekend to visit with family and friends, but most importantly to help host a baby shower for sweet Lane! It was a beautiful Saturday brunch with Florida blue skies and spring temperatures - it can't get much better. Lane looked fabulous and it was so fun to be around her infectious laughter and smile again. We hosted the brunch at Carrie Anne's house (formerly, where Adam, Lane and Camp lived and where we became fast friends) so it brought back lots of fun memories.

On Saturday afternoon we drove over to Jacksonville to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Nick and Amanda, and on Sunday we had a big Radcliffe/Mica lunch before heading back to Alabama!

Now without further ado...

think vintage garden...

welcome!

the delicious garden inspired spread -

roasted tomato, spinach and feta frittata, mixed berries, orange cranberry scones, savory ham rolls with dijon, sausage cheddar balls, carrotcake cupcakes, and sugar cookies

hostess beth

icing on the cookie sugar cookies from birmingham

beatrix potter cupcakes from dreamcakes

utensils wrapped like carrots

david made the delicious frittatas and they were a huge hit!

thank you david!

what's a brunh without punch?!

we sipped mimosa punch and mint famer's tea from mason jars

I loved carrie anne's collection of vintage florida plates

lane, carrie anne and ivy

I miss all these girls so much!

lane and beth

collins got a lot of handsome gifts

the best gift notetaker ever!

gift from the sisters

our sweet lamb painting for the nursery

lane and the hostesses :)

we love baby collins!

lane, can't wait for your sweet family to welcome collins~

signs of spring

I can't believe it's almost the end of February...and that it's been so long since my last post. Life has gotten the best of me and although it's been hectic it's been a lot of fun! The weather has been quite warm and then we'll have a cold snap. It's not looking like snow this winter. But the flowering trees and bulbs are starting to blossom and that's enough for me to sing!

The second weekend of February we met David's parents in Atlanta for the weekend. Our mission was to conquer Scott's Antique Market...and that we did! {I regret not taking any pictures but I was just in awe over everything that I didn't want to ruin the moment!} It was my first time there and I was completely overwhelmed and in heaven. We came home with a few new treasures and I'm itching to go back! We had a wonderful time with the Micas and it was a much needed getaway.

David and I celebrated a great first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. He made me a delicious meal at home {see photos below} and bought me a beautiful orchid.

This past weekend my family came to Birmingham to visit and we had a great weekend with them! We hadn't seen Sally Kate since she turned 3 and she's getting so big and quite talkative. She is still head over heels for David and they had a ball playing this weekend. I miss all of our family and friends in Florida but the past few weekends have been so refreshing.

my valentine cupcake :)


david made butter and sage gnocchi and was simply divine

we had more dreamcake cupcakes when the fam visited last weekend

sk picked out these sassy accessories at smith's variety store

best friends.

we had sunday brunch at klingler's german bakery and it was fabulous! michael got the most colorful dish and wanted to document it.

the edenfields.
we were so thrilled that marcus was able to finally visit!

the mike rads

david {ruining the picture!}, mc and momma

big easy birthday

Last weekend Sister, Heather Lane, and I headed toward the bayou for Sister's birthday getaway! It just so happened to be the weekend of Heather Lane's birthday and a week after mine. In other words, good timing. Coincidentally, none of us had been to the Crescent City since 1992! We had a fabulous time strolling/eating our way through historic New Orleans.

Laissez bon temps rouler...

we stayed at the quaint park view guest house in uptown

here are a few pictures of the beautiful interior...

our cozy room. it was so fitting with framed prints featuring the new orleans nutcracker and camellias
I loved all the details especially the original fireplace surround tile with fleur de lis

our watercloset

upon arrival, heather lane greeted us with famed georgetown cupcakes sent to her from dear friends in d.c.

birthday treats

we all arrived on saturday afternoon and ventured straight down mansion lined st. charles and headed towards magazine street

the birthday girl!

we spent the rest of the afternoon shopping along magazine street. I was so bummed that this store was already closed for the day.

we stopped at sucre for a little lagniappe

their famous macaroons were not only fabulously iridescent but yummy too!

saturday night we headed to the french quarter for cocktails and dinner, but first a stop on bourbon street! {the next few pictures are from my iphone...not the best quality but they will do}

we felt like true steel magnolias ;)

we enjoyed cocktails at arnaud's french 75 bar. home to the original french 75...a drink first mixed for ms. scarlett o'hara herself!

cheers to birthdays and hometown homies!

sister and her french 75

we had dinner reservations at bayona. we chose this restaurant because of the soup below but started our meal with a stormy monday! all the waitress said was "elder flower and violet liquers"...we'll take it!

cream of garlic soup
so. worth. it.

on the veranda at parkview

we headed into the heart of the garden district sunday morning...

...for the jazz brunch at commander's palace!

the recently renovated interior was gorgeous. my favorite detail was the colorful embroidery on the upholstered walls of the entrance.

the jazz brunch and ambiance was everything we expected and more. the service impeccable and the food divine.

balloons were tied to the backs of each of our chairs to signify we were celebrating our birthdays!

I had a delicious alabama peach bellini - cheers to me and my new home!

the best bread pudding in new orleans. and it was my absolute favorite thing I ate in new orleans. it takes 40 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to devour. it's not too rich and the most fluffy piece of heaven you could ever eat.

...after

the jazz trio sang happy birthday to us!

{with cp's james beard awards framed in the background}

I loved the mississippi river facade of his guitar

following brunch, we headed along the great river road to oak alley plantation

look familiar?!
{not sure why the picture is so hazy}

we took a brief tour of the grande plantation and decided we wanted to be as southern as possible {and we wanted the very cool souvenir cup!}

the view from the second floor balcony...looking towards the mighty mississippi. the oaks are around 300 years old, only half their life expectancy!

we spent sunday evening exploring the french quarter

dinner...and so glad we did. we saw darryl hammond from snl here!

sister and I had a twist on the classic muffaletta...with turkey instead. it was so good!

lane eating an entire crab

gumbo

we headed back to bourbon street {just couldn't get enough!} for some beignets, more chicory coffee {we consumed a lot}, and a little live music

beignets at cafe beignet
featured on food network's "best thing I ever ate"

soooo good

on monday morning we continued our tour de food and had more beignets and chicory at cafe du monde. then we were off to purchase olive salad to take home and get a glipse of the jolie-pitt home in the heart of the french quarter. check and check.

more please...we didn't want to leave!

this trip truly was the icing on the cake!