My Favorite

I thought I wouldn't post again until I got back from Europe but I just had to.  Chris took me Justus Drugstore in Smithville, Missouri and I just have to talk about it again. This is only the second time we've been,  but I can say it is my favorite place to eat. This food is life-changing good. Everything is unique, a wonderful mix of flavors and you can taste the passion of the chef in every bite. Tonight I got the Camp Lindo Roast Chicken which has a black pepper lemon herbed creme fraiche, duck egg pasta, morels, asparagus, and spring garlic. It is amazing.  Chris got the Kobe Braised Beef that came with these wonderful vanilla glazed carrots. The head chef, Jonathan Justus came out and spoke with us for a bit, telling us about their new addition, the outside kitchen that has recently opened and will be in full swing this summer. He told us it would be more casual, burgers and beer, not necessarily a three hour dinning experience like the main restaurant. I love this restaurant not just because the food is wonderful, but because they really care about where their food is coming from. Chef Justus told us tonight that he gets all his beef from one farm that is primarily grass fed then finished off with barley. This farm only processes five cows a week. The back of their menu lists where they get all their ingredients, raised at local farms. If you get dessert, check out their Strawberry Trio, delicious! Make reservations for their main restaurant, and check out their outside kitchen for more causal dinning. Also say Hello to the bartender (the bar is the old soda fountain from when this building was an actual drugstore) he looks like a mad scientist behind that bar, mixing drinks with fresh fruit and herbs! 

See You Soon!

I am so excited for my vacation but I also have something to look forward to when I get back. My lovely boyfriend, Chris and I will be moving in together! We just went to look at an apartment today and we both really love it.  It has my mind on overdrive with all things domestic.  The apartment we looked at today has TWO patios! Container gardens, patio sets, sipping tea. Baking cookies and muffins, knitting and sewing blankets, pillows, and quilts. What a great thing to look forward to after vacation. I don't know if I will have time to post tomorrow, as I will be spending time with my lovely mother on Mother's Day, and some time with my wonderful boyfriend, who is taking me out for a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, The Justus Drugstore . So if I don't get to post again before I leave, just know, I'll be back soon and I'll have lots of wonderful pictures from Italy and France to share with everyone!

European Vacation

A week from today I will be on a plane to Rome. This is a trip I have dreamt about my whole life, it is coming up so fast now, it feels surreal. I cannot wait. My best friend and i will be going all over Italy as well as visiting Paris. Here are some pictures of the tourist attractions we will be going to see. The Colosseum, The Parthenon, a lovely view of the city of Florence, this awesome hide out on the Mediterranean my friend found, Cinque Terre, and of course the Arc de Triumph in Paris. Two glorious weeks of Europe. Can't wait!

Mind Your Manners

I have a weird fascination with Etiquette Books. In this day and age where people are constantly checking their blackberries for new text messages and emails during a conversation with their grandmother, there isn't a period of time where we need these books more. I wouldn't say that I am an authority on perfect behavior, but I really do love to read these books. I find them interesting because they really say something about culture, it is intriguing to know what is considered correct. Books like these can come in really handy. Many of them have chapters on international etiquette if you're traveling to another country, they can tell you what is appropriate for a wedding, funeral, or a business dinner if it's been a while since you've attended, they will tell you what to wear for semi-formal, formal, or black-tie events. Some even have chapters on personal style and will give you a check list of what to pack on a week end away so you can still travel without looking like a slob or forgetting to bring some nice shoes and wind up wearing your New Balance Trainers the whole time. The Etiquette Grrls have a funny take on etiquette and a New England perspective on all things correct. How To Live Like a Lady is almost a pocket guide, its small and includes the essential information on Life, Manners, and Style. I own all three of the these books, but if you want just one comprehensive guide, Emily Post is definitely the authority, her book is bigger than Webster's Dictionary. 

Anna Maria

Anna Marie Horner's blog has been so inspiring to me. I am hoping to buy a house this summer and I am constantly dreaming about ways to make my house feel like a home. These pictures from her blog give me that feeling of what I will be aspiring to. I hope to turn a bedroom into a sewing room, full of shelves with folded fabrics, I love this great chair by the window with a knitting basket full of yarn. What a lovely way to spend a rainy day (or any day really.) I also love this idea of using an old ladder as a way to display quilts. I would love to have a quilt for every rung. Ms. Horner has a couple of books out with patterns for sewing. She just came out with a new book, check it out!