Piper-Jacque

Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet Piper-Jacque! I can’t believe it has already been five years. After my first year of college, I decided that I wanted my own pet. A dog probably would have been too much to handle at that time and I never could keep fish alive, so I was set on getting a cat. They are low maintenance, less expensive and just as lovable as a dog. A friend of mine had gotten a kitten from Chateau LaFayette in Tallahassee and told me there were still some left that needed a home. The next day, I drove over and picked out the cutest tuxedo kitten. Minutes later, the “crazy cat lady” was born. I had always been in love with the name Piper and since my kitten was a girl (or so I thought) I named her Piper. A few days later we had our first vet appointment and she was actually a he. I wasn’t willing to sacrifice the name Piper so I added a hyphen and he was now known as Piper-Jacque. After all, much like myself, PJ loves all things french! Piper-Jacque is my sassy, French cat and always makes me happy. He loves to window watching, playing with his toy shrimp and has the daintiest meow ever! Today we are celebrating with extra treats and his favorite canned cat food.

{Piper’s first day home}

{First Halloween: Cutest Prisoner on the block}

{Always finding the best places to lounge}

{So majestic in his favorite chair}

{Playing with my favorite toys: canaries and goldfish}

{Mommy and PJ in the snow}

Happy Hour

TGIF! The weekend is here and I am implementing a new editorial segment on my blog known as Happy Hour. My Happy Hour post will showcase a favorite drink recipe, beer or wine that I have indulged in lately. I did name my blog Ashes & Wine to represent my love for libations. If you know me then you know I fancy a good cocktail! I will post Happy Hour every Friday afternoon because let’s be honest-Friday happy hour is the light at the end of a long work week. To kick off Happy Hour this week, I present to you the Lemon Basil Martini! It’s a light and refreshing twist on the traditional martini. The citrus flavors mixed with fresh, muddled basil are the perfect combination of sweet meets sour. This drink is a great way to usher in Spring!

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle chopped basil leaves with 2-3 slices of lemon. Add 1/2 oz. of simple syrup, crushed ice, and shake vigorously. Strain mixture into a martini glass and serve. Enjoy!

Bedroom Essentials

Before moving to Atlanta, I was on a redecorating kick. I purchased a few items in hopes of re-doing my bedroom, but I never had the opportunity to do it. Moving gave me the jumpstart I needed to make my plans a reality. I spend the majority of my time in my bedroom so it was important that I create a tranquil, elegant space to enjoy. The first item I purchased was this adorable print from SS Print Shop. It’s a quote from one of my favorite songs and was my main inspiration piece. For my color scheme, I went with a neutral palette of gray and white to compliment  the light pink in the print. Once my base colors were chosen, it was easy to accessorize. I found the yellow rug at West Elm which added a nice pop of color to the room. All other accessories came from the Threshold Collection at Target. I still have a few more personal touches to add throughout but my room is now the perfect, stylish space I was looking for.

Details:

1.  Paint color: Benjamin Moore’s Pelican Gray

2. Rug: West Elm Andalusia Wool

3. Bedding: West Elm Organic Pintuck Duvet

4. Sweetheart Print: SS Print Shop

5. Mirrors: Target Threshold Collection

6. Lamp Shade: Target Threshold Collection

7. Lamp Base: Target Threshold Collection

Mini Lemon Cupcakes

This upcoming Sunday is Easter and though I may be too old to decorate eggs, I’m not too old to bake holiday themed sweets. I debated for a while on what kind of festive treat to make. First it was egg-shaped sugar cookies, then it was a bunny cake or carrot cake cupcakes, but when I found these cute, little egg cartons-I knew what to do! I made these adorable “hatched chick” cupcakes. A regular sized cupcake would not fit in the egg carton so I had to improvise and make mini cupcakes. Plus, you don’t feel as guilty every time you eat one 😉 I thought a lemon flavored cupcake would be perfect for Spring. I used this recipe and topped them with my own lemon cream cheese frosting that I dyed yellow to look like baby chicks. Once the cupcakes were done, I decorated my cartons for Easter and they were ready to serve!

Tribal Print Bikini

Spring breaks are in full swing and I can’t help but dream of warmer days. March in Atlanta has been more of a lion than a lamb. With that said, I have been preparing my closet for bikini season. I recently came across this Mara Hoffman bikini and fell in love. The tribal print and bright colors are perfect for summer. I could totally see myself lounging poolside, cocktail in hand, with a good read in this little number. However, it comes with a price-$218 dollars to be exact! If you are not willing to spend that kind of cash, Target has some great bikini options. I found this Xhilaration bikini in a similar tribal print at a third of the price. Both suits offer a fun, tribal print with vibrant colors. Would you rather splurge or save?

Spring Bucket List

Happy first day of Spring! I always welcome Spring with open arms. The days are officially longer, the temps are rising and everything is starting to bloom. It’s the perfect time to take advantage of outdoor activities and I can finally break out my open-toed shoes. My sandals and wedges have been hiding in my closet all Winter. There are so many things I want to do now that the weather is getting better, so I put together a “Spring Bucket List.”

1. Go on a picnic.

2. Spend a day at  Piedmont Park with friends.

3. Go to the Zoo. I have been wanting to see the pandas at Zoo Atlanta for many years and a nice Spring day would be the perfect occasion.

4. Have more dinners on the patio. With sangria, of course.

5. Go on a brewery tour. Atlanta has several micro-breweries that offer tours and tastings. I couldn’t think of a better time to drink a cold beer than on a beautiful spring afternoon.

6. Attend a Braves game. Baseball season is my favorite!

7. Do a little Spring cleaning. I need to have a garage sale and get rid of all things I’ve been hoarding. There is nothing more refreshing than a good de-clutter.

8. Make my own frozen yogurt. I love fro-yo. I really want to attempt making my own.

9. Host a High Tea. I love the idea of getting together with my girlfriends for tea and scones.

10. Grow strawberries. I’ve never had a green thumb but I’m going to try my best to start a small garden. Strawberries will be my first crop.

These are just a few things I plan on doing this Spring. What is on your Spring Bucket List?

Savannah

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Our weekend in Savannah was everything I expected it to be: perfect! The weather was gorgeous, River street was a sea of green and there was not a sober person in sight. The day started around 7:30am with a big breakfast at the house followed by the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown. Once the parade was over, we headed to River street for green beers, shamrock punch and jello shots. The night ended in City Market with Irish car bombs at The Bar Bar. Enough said. Savannah was the perfect atmosphere to celebrate St. Patrick’s day with live music, lively bars and a wonderful river view. I’m already planning for next year!

{Ready to take on River Street with this Irish stud}

{River view}

{Drinks on River Street}

{Cheers!}

{Part of the crew}

{Green fountain in Wright Square}

St. Patrick’s Day

It’s finally Friday! We are en route to Savannah to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The weather is predicted to be 70+ degrees and sunny, a much welcomed change from the cold and rain we have been experiencing. I’m looking forward to spending time with great friends, bar hopping on River Street and drinking green beer. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone, or as they say in Ireland, “Erin Go Bragh! ” Here are just a few things making me excited for this weekend:

{Breaking out my shamrock scarf}

{St. Patrick’s baubles that adorn my new chalkboard}

{Drinks at two of my favorite spots in Savannah: Moon River Brewing Company & Congress Street Social Club}

{Candy apples decorated for St. Patty’s from Savannah Candy Kitchen}

{Even the horses in City Market are ready for St. Patty’s}

Minted

Xhilaration Dress, D&G Sunglasses, Forever 21 Necklace, H&M Belt, Michael Kors Watch, OPI’s Green Gargantuan Grape Polish

When it comes to holidays, I do my best to always dress the part. Saint Patrick’s Day is no different. Yes, I’ll wear green to avoid getting pinched, but it’s no excuse to wear a cheesy, novelty tee with a shamrock on it. I put together this green ensemble that is feminine  and chic, without breaking the bank. I found this green lace shift dress at Target and as fate would have it, it was the only one left and in my size. I snagged it right away! Mint, my favorite shade of green, is trending right now for Spring. I incorporated some mint accessories, which really pulled the outfit together. Not only am I ready for St. Patrick’s Day, but this is something I can wear all season.

Lucky Charm

When it comes to jewelry, I usually gravitate towards  bright, bold, statement pieces. I love how they can take an outfit from drab to fab, but sometimes a simple piece adds just the right detail to make an outfit fabulous. A few weeks ago, my mom gave me this gold charm necklace as a welcome home present and it’s become my go-to piece ever since. Not only does it resemble my home state, but  its simplicity makes it perfect when paired with a patterned blouse. I can even layer it with other necklaces. This necklace has become somewhat of a good luck charm and it’s like I’m carrying a little piece of home with me every time I put it on.