A Little Bit of Paris...

I've been a little bit obsessed with Paris lately. I think it's because the setting is prevalent in two novels I am currently reading: The Night Circus and The Story Sisters (only $1.99 for the Kindle), which I actually finished this morning. (Am I the only one who mourns novels once I'm done reading that last page? You get to know the characters so well, and then suddenly, they're gone from your life. Sigh...)

Chapin and I are hoping to take a trip to France and Italy next year, but for the time being, we're making do with French restaurants like Bistro Niko, where we ate dinner this past Wednesday night. Since George was with me at the office most of the afternoon, we didn't feel guilty going out for the evening, and I hate missing out on any opportunity to dress up.

Here I am before we left for dinner. (I wanted to show a picture with Chapin, but his head was cut off in all the shots!) I'm actually wearing a dress that I have never worn before. I've owned it for probably close to four years, and for some reason or another, just never wore it. (It's terrible to admit, but I think I actually forgot about it.) The dress is a corset dress from Nanette Lepore, one of my favorite designers.

I am so in love with everything in her new collection for Fall, especially this dress, which I have already told Chapin I plan to buy as soon as it goes on sale. Brands like Nanette Lepore and Rebecca Taylor really turn out feminine, sophisticated looks, and that's probably how I would define my style. I also like looking sexy, and I think this dress I wore for our dinner out definitely fits the bill.

Since Chapin and I usually eat dinner in front of the TV, going out for a leisurely evening is such a nice change of pace for us. On this particular night, the weather was clear and the temperature in the mid 70s, so we sat outside to enjoy our food and wine.

On the menu:

For me:
I wanted to get something definitively French, so I decided to start with the Vichyssoise, which I enjoyed saying as much as eating. This Chilled Leek & Potato Soup was delicious, and  I especially liked dipping my bread into the cold soup.

Oh yes, the bread. I'm not one to stay away from carbs, otherwise I would be much thinner, and this bread was just divine. The outside was crispy but not tough, and the inside was like puffs of soft air hitting my tongue. When we first walked in, we could see baskets of French bread in the open kitchen, and knew we weould be in for a treat.

For my entree, I decided on the "Sole Aux Cherries de Tomate": Maine Lemon Sole, cherry tomatoes, tomato lobster broth and polenta. The fish was a bit bland for me, so I made sure I had enough tomato, polenta and fish on my fork for each bite. (It reminded me of how Barbara Streisand's character in The Mirror Has Two Faces ate her salads... "the perfect bite," she would say.)

For Chapin:
Chapin did not have an appetizer, instead having two pieces of buttered bread, and got the Magret de Canard Rôti a L'Cumquat (Pan Roasted Breast of Duck served with cumquat marmalade and red cabbage) for his main course.

We were both so full, and it was almost 10 p.m by the time we finished our entrees, that we decided to skip dessert. Since Chapin and I both love sweets, that's saying a lot!

A Necklace Made From Polymer

As I mentioned in one of my latest posts, I purchased a new necklace during our recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee. You should know, dear readers, that I like jewelry very much, but I tend to like fancy jewelry... in other words, real diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. I don't have too many costume pieces, but I saw this polymer necklace at the TACA Craft Fair (Tennessee Association of Craft Artists) at Nashville's Centennial Park, and had to have it.

The necklace is designed by Wiwat Kamolpornwijit -- try saying that name five times fast -- and you can read about him and his work on his website. Although the necklace looks heavy, it is made with polymer, so it's light as air. Although it's hard to see in the picture, the necklace is black with small gold flowers, meaning it goes great with this Cynthia Steffe Holly Chain black dress. (I wore it for the Fashion Challenge back in December 2010.) I love discovering new accessories to spice up what would normally be a bland outfit. I also added these teal pumps for a little color.

Project Runway Fashions for Sale on Piperlime.com

If you watched last night's episode of Project Runway, you'll know that you can find two designer's outfits online for purchase at Piperlime. (Piperlime is sponsoring this season's Accessories Wall, and if you look closely you will see my own Kate Spade Bixby Bag as one of the featured items.)

I really like Bert Keeter's Color Block Dress, and it's not too expensive at a price point of $98. I'm thinking about buying it for myself. With the cut and color, it seems like a perfect dress to wear on a hot day. You can dress it down with flats or dress it up with some strappy sandals, and it goes perfectly with a little clutch. Since we are going to Puerto Rico for an upcoming vacation, it might be just the thing to wear to a more casual dinner.

I wasn't too crazy about the winning design from Anya Ayoung-Chee. This printed jumper, inspired by the fashion of the 1970s, will probably make someone with wide hips like me look even wider. This is generally one of the reasons I try to stay away from prints altogether. Although I like the color scheme in this particular print, and the back of the dress is just beautiful, I don't think it's for me. The price is also higher, $198, even though we know Anya made it with a budget of just $50!

Noshing in Nashville

This past weekend, Chapin, George and I made the four-hour drive to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit with my sister, Gail, and her husband, Rich. Since Gail went to Vanderbilt for her undergraduate degree and now lives right in the heart of the city, I have been to Nashville several times over the years. During this last trip, though, I felt I connected with Nashville and its inhabitants for the first time. It may be because we crammed in a lot of  different activities during our 24 hours there. (By the time we were ready to go on Saturday, it was already 2 p.m.! Chapin and I are used to leisurely Saturday mornings and this was no exception.)

Chapin (in a Hugo Boss shirt and jeans) and Michele (in Black Halo)

The drive to Nashville did not start off well. Just after we got on the highway, I called Gail to tell her we were on our way. I mentioned that I had packed a nice dress to wear out that night, and then I looked around at what we had packed in the car. I didn't remember bringing our hanging bag down... Yep, we had forgotten it, and had to turn around and head back home. I think we finally, officially started our drive just after 2:30.

The drive went relatively fast considering our false start and the extra minutes it added. Chapin and I had decided to start a new book: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. The book has been getting a lot of good press, so after I made Chapin read Entertainment Weekly's recent review, he agreed it would be a great one for me to read aloud to him on the drive. I downloaded it that morning on my Kindle -- I love my Kindle! -- and it's an interesting read so far. (We are about 40% of the way through.)

When we finally got close to Nashville, Chapin realized we needed gas... desperately. We drove around awhile trying to find a gas station, which delayed our arrival at Gail and Rich's apartment. But, at last, we were parking and unloading the car.

After hanging out for a bit, we changed and headed out to dinner at a local restaurant called Bound'ry. Chapin was very happy when I told him that I had decided to wear my Black Halo Eva Mini Ruffled Shoulder Dress. I had not worn it since the previous January, and it's probably the dress he likes best out of all my dresses. The dress is no longer available online, but the Black Halo Hanna Mini Dress is very similar.

Chapin, Michele, Gail and Rich

Once at Bound'ry, we ordered a bottle of red wine and some salads. Gail and I both had the Peach Salad to start, which was a good choice even though I had to pick off the bacon on top. (In case you're a first time reader to my blog, I want to mention that I don't eat any mammals. Did you know that pigs wag their tails like dogs do?)

Chapin had the Magret Duck Breast, which came with baby turnips, pomme frites and a red wine chocolate orange emulsion. Chapin let me try a bite, and I'm glad I did -- it was so flavorful. Chapin is usually a "good order," and that night was no exception.

Rather than order off the menu, I decided to try one of the day's specials:  a roasted half chicken with fried oyster leek bread pudding and hazelnut cranberry velouté. It was delicious, though I think I enjoyed the side item most of all. It reminded me of the oyster stuffing my in-laws make during the holidays.You can see the full menu for Bound'ry here. I highly recommend it if you're ever in Nashville. Gail and Rich also enjoyed their meals (shrimp and grits for Gail, veal cheeks for Rich). I think I remember Rich saying it was "one of the best meals he'd ever had." Since they recently went to Greece and Italy, I think that's saying a lot.

After dinner, even though we had gone through two bottles of wine, we went to a local pub called Tavern to hang out and have drinks. It was very crowded and loud, though, so we did not stay long. The TVs were blaring games and the DJ was spinning some random music, like the theme from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. It was funny how we all knew the words!

Everyone was exhausted after our time at Tavern, so we headed home in a cab and decided to call it a night. The next morning, Gail mentioned that she had been wanting to try a local breakfast place called Monell's, and our visit gave her and Rich the perfect opportunity to try it. It's not for everyone, even though the food was hearty and tummy-rubbing good!

With George at Centennial Park (TN)

It's a very different concept for a restaurant, and some people may have a hard time with it, but Chapin and I both had a great time. There are no menus, and you sit at a long table with other people in a sort of "Grandma's House"/ cafeteria style. Then the food starts: cinnamon rolls, biscuits with white gravy (Chapin's favorite), eggs, pancakes, fried chicken (for breakfast!) corn pudding, cheese grits and more. I ate so much that I was very glad to be wearing my shorts that are three sizes too big. (I don't like it when shorts barely cover the butt, but no one sells them in a good length, so I buy shorts that are too big and wear them very low down on my hips. I'm weird, I know, but that's how I'm comfortable!) I think Gail and Rich were the only ones at our table actually from Nashville. There were two different parties from Ohio, randomly. I guess it's a good place for tourists to come eat breakfast and experience some real Southern cooking.

After we were all so full we could barely move, we headed back to Gail and Rich's apartment to get George. Gail wanted us to see the nearby park, and we thought it would be great to give George some exercise.

Centennial Park is a beautiful area, home to Nashville's recreation of the Parthenon. Here I am standing in front of it in my baggy shorts:

There was also some kind of fair going on, so we walked around for awhile looking at all the crafts, Amish butters and jams, and much more. I ended up buying a cool necklace. Stay tuned for my next post to see it.

Afterward, we stopped at Tasti-D-Lite (Atlanta still doesn't have one) and then headed home. I also have to mention the wonderful shots of George that Rich took while we were there. Here is my favorite:

Compliments Come in Unexpected Places

This past Friday, I ate lunch at one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Atlanta: Tomo. I go there so often for lunch that the waitstaff knows my order by heart. I always get the Three-Roll Lunch Special, which comes with Miso Soup, Salad with Ginger Dressing, and Three Rolls: eel, spicy tuna and a California roll -- all for $11. (I usually substitute eel for a second spicy tuna roll for a few extra dollars, though. It's worth it!)

The waiter on this particular day decided to ask what I do for a living, because he said he thought I was a "fashion designer." I laughed and told him I was "just in marketing," but it made my day nonetheless. At least someone is noticing my fashion forward sensibilities!

Afterward, I stopped by Piece of Cake to pick up some cupcakes to treat the employees at my company. I love cupcakes, so it's always fun for me to try new places. Piece of Cake had a wonderful peanut butter cupcake, so I will have to go there again. It may be a little too convenient that it's in the shopping center right next to Tomo...

Writing this post has given me a chance to reflect on my sushi background. I didn't east sushi for the first time until I was 21 years old. Yes, I led a very sheltered upbringing. Now, it's one of my favorite meals. I also really want these sushi pajamas for Christmas this year (hint, hint Chapin). I remember seeing them on SMG (Buffy) and Debra Messing (Will & Grace) back in the day. The cupcake pajamas I have from The Cat's Pajamas are so comfortable, I definitely want a second pair. I think it's only something like 90 days until Christmas!

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy in the Season 4 episode, "Goodbye Iowa":

"That probably would have sounded more commanding if I wasn't wearing my Yummy Sushi pajamas."

Breakin' All the Rules

I'm not sure who decided you can't wear white after Labor Day, but it's a rule I had a lot of fun breaking today in this Laundry by Shelli Segal White Ponte Dress.

I'm in love with this dress, the latest addition to my closet (or Fashion Nook), for many reasons, but mainly because I think the whole look is very modern and on-trend. The white dress with black lace detail has been spotted in several designers' collections, and I especially love this Jason Wu that Reese Witherspoon donned a few months back at the premiere of Water for Elephants. (I never did see the movie, but I loved the book.)

If you have a few thousand dollars lying around, you can get a more simpler version of the dress online at Neiman Marcus. (You might remember that Jason Wu designed the gown Michelle Obama wore for the inaugural ball. It was fabulous.)

This particular dress is sold out online -- I bought it a few weeks ago on Bluefly.com, along with these darling P.J. Salvage Puppy Love pajama shorts featuring French bulldogs -- but here are some similar styles:

B.B. Dakota Cayla Lace Dress

Cynthia Steffe Gretchen Lace Dress

French Connection Black Lace Dress

Nanette Lepore Carmen Lace Dress 

APART Lace Contrast Slip Dress

As you can see in the photo above, I like to spice up a typical black and white dress with some red, hence the red shoes (BCBGMaxAzria Holiday Red Pumps), bold red lips and ruby/diamond earrings.

Chapin and I went to the nail salon over the weekend, and so I am sporting Smurf blue nails and toenails. It's my last attempt to hold on to summer...

Channeling Jackie O

I have been wanting the famous Black Halo Jackie O dress for a while now, but I could not find one on sale... until a few weeks ago! I guess it's fitting that I wore it during a week when Jackie O herself is back in the news.

I got this Black Halo Jackie O dress in Peacock Blue from Nordstrom.com for half off (the dress has since sold out). I love getting a good deal, especially on clothes that are both fashion forward and professional. I got so many compliments when I wore the dress, and I love the vibrant blue color.

Celebrities love Black Halo, and especially love this Jackie O style. Katherine Heigl, Tyra Banks and Kim Kardashian -- to name just a few -- have been spotted in the dress in various colors. You can get your own at sites like ShopBop.com and BlackHalo.com.

I paired my own Black Halo Jackie O dress with my L.A.M.B. Quincy D'Orsay Pumps in Black.The shoes are an older style, so you may not be able to find them anywhere but eBay.

I have to mention that my husband actually picked out the photo for this post. I usually take about 8-16 shots of each dress, and then try to choose the best one. Chapin likes to make fun of me for doing the same poses over and over, but gave me props for the pose in this picture. Is he hilarious or what?

Remembering a Moment in History

Today is the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States. Like those who lived through other major events in history -- President Kennedy's assassination, for one -- I'm sure I will always remember where I was when I heard that the first World Trade Center tower had been hit.

It was the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, and I was working as a Project Manager at a small website company in Atlanta called Definition 6. I had been working there for about a year and a half; it was the first job I had taken upon graduating from Emory the previous Spring.

I remember the day before, September 10th, Chapin and I had both actually taken the day off work. I needed to see a movie for a junket I was to cover during the upcoming weekend: Big Trouble. (I was still freelancing for INsite Magazine at the time. The junket was later canceled and the movie, though a comedy, wasn't released until the next year due to a subplot with a bomb.) I think we also ran some errands that day, but I don't really remember now.

One of my favorite movies, Working Girl, was filmed in 7 World Trade Center, and you can clearly see the towers in the opening credits:

So the morning of September 11th, I came into work ready for the week ahead, energized after our little three-day weekend. I think our 8 a.m. morning meeting had just finished when someone sent out an email saying that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. I remember thinking it had to be a joke or some kind of weird prank. What was happening?

Everyone gathered downstairs and someone brought out a television so we could turn the news on. This was in the days before Twitter and Facebook, so CNN connected us to what was going on in New York City. We were all sitting there staring open-mouthed at the television when the second tower was hit. It was like watching a movie, only we all knew it was real, and that it was happening on U.S. soil.

Our manager gave everyone the option to go home if we felt too emotional to work, and since I knew I would most likely not get anything done that day, I gathered up my things and headed home to our little apartment. (Chapin and I were living together at the time. We weren't even engaged yet!) I quickly called my mom as soon as I got home. She told me how upset she and my grandparents were, especially since my grandfather had worked on the construction crew that built the Towers, and she tried to update me on everyone we knew who lived or work in New York City. Fortunately, everyone was ok. (My Uncle John was working in the area at the time, and I think he got stuck in Staten Island, but eventually ended up home.) I spent the rest of the day glued to CNN, like most of the country. I also reached out to friends and family via e-mail, since many phone lines were not working.

Here are some snippets from emails I received that day and in the days afterward. (I keep everything, even old emails.)

From my Dad:

Dear Michele,
This is the worst thing that has happened to America since I have been alive, since the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  Please continue to pray and concentrate on your driving when going home.  There is nothing more we can do.
Love Always,
Your Dad.


From my cousin, Alicia:


Hey, our family in NY is ok...right?  I was a little worried for awhile b/c i couldn't remember if Uncle John worked in the trade building or stock exchange, plus I had no idea where Jeff, Bob, Uncle Tom, Aunt Cathy and the girls were during all this. Man, I was definitely scared. Plus, to watch as those buildings went down... I was so sad for the fact that all those people had to lose their lives and b/c grandpa worked on them.  I feel the same way... Are we in [the movie] Independence Day?

From our friend, Rahul:

Hi Michele,
What happened today was an absolute tragedy. When I heard it on the radio this morning, I thought it was some kind of prank that 99x was pulling. I changed stations, but they were the only ones saying it, then
others started saying it also! When I got to the office, I saw the CNN web page and just couldn't believe it! I am glad that your family is fine!

From my friend, Erin:

Michele,
No, I can't believe that any of this is real. I feel like it is a movie too... I don't understand what is wrong with this world. What are people thinking?!?!?!?!

From my friend, Crissy, on the day after the tragedies:

Hey. How are you doing?  Yesterday was a day I will always remember. What a tragedy to say the least. I was so upset all day long... I just kept thinking about those people and their families. And the worst part was the fact that they had no idea or warning. It is a shame it takes something like that to put things into perspective.

From our friend, Laura, in Birmingham, on September 13th:

Dear Michele,
Thanks for your email Tuesday. Ben and I feel the same way you did. I cried when I heard the news reports on the radio. It was a few hours before I saw any footage, and it is worse than I imagined it in my head. Now that they are finding out more about the terrorists, I start wondering what in the world would make someone, or some group of people, have no value whatsoever on human life. This is clearly the worst thing that has ever happened in American history.

From my husband, one week later:

I'm glad that nothing has happened today.  I really thought that something would.
I love you,
Chapin

I wanted to leave you with one story that actually has a happy ending. This blind man was rescued from the Towers with the help of his seeing eye dog:

Shopaholic Strikes Again

I purchased this Jay Godrey Rowell dress recently -- on sale, of course -- thinking it might be a few months before I could wear it. As you can see, the dress has long sleeves that go to the elbow, and it's made with a heavier, double-layer jersey, so it's definitely not ideal for hot summer days. Well, fortunately for me, the unseasonably cool weather meant I could break it out of my closet that much sooner.

This Jay Godrey dress is from the designer's Spring 2011 collection. I love the turquoise and chocolate brown colors together, as well as the simplicity of the color blocking style. Since the dress is several months old, I couldn't find it available online, but you can check out these other Jay Godfrey dresses, which I am just drooling over!

Jay Godrey Prost Colorblock Dress

Jay Godrey Rothschild Colorblock Dress 

Side Note: SJP loves red and pink together, and this dress does a great job of combining two colors that seem to clash... but don't.

Jay Godfrey Manet Ombre Leopard Print Dress

Of course, Chapin says I had better not buy any more dresses until 2012. I am really trying not to give in to my inner shopaholic, but she's very persistent!

What Month Are We In?

Today, I am actually wearing a sweater. I can't believe it. Usually, September in Atlanta just feels like an extension of August with temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Today, the high is only about 70! I just about froze my butt off yesterday morning walking George in shorts and a t-shirt, but I learned my lesson today and had a warm sweater on hand. Back in high school, I distinctly remember my friend, Crissy, and I talking about how we wanted the weather to cool off so we could wear all our new back to school clothes. I think we were in 10th grade and had recently been shopping at Express, GAP and The Limited. I'm sure we would have loved this crisp weather so early on in the school year. (I still shop occasionally at these stores for more casual items, and Express surprisingly has some great suits for working women.)

Although Chapin yelled at me, I did buy a few new dresses last month. As a consequence, he has decided to completely redo our bedroom/ closet area, creating what he has deemed "Michele's Fashion Nook." I love it so far. There are even shelves for my shoes and one for all my purses. Is he a good husband or what?

One new dress I actually wore last week: this Jay Godfrey Erica Color Block Dress, which is no longer available online.

I love the cut of this dress; as I get older, I have found myself embracing my body and wanting to show it off. I am not stick thin and never will be, so the body conscious dress has become one of my favorite silhouettes.  I am also a huge fan of the simplicity of color blocking, especially when you are dealing with such bold, beautiful colors. The turquoise at the waistline really helps bring the whole look together, don't you think?

Today I'm wearing another body conscious dress: the Trina Turk Concetta Dress in Orchid. It is still available online, but hurray, because it's on sale for a great price. I actually got mine for under $50. Score!

Someone once told me that this color looked great on me, and that I should wear it more often, and I've always remembered that. Orchid is a great color, and this dress has undertones of blue and purple that work great with it. I wore blue shoes to help highlight those undertones a little more, although it's hard to tell in the picture.

The dress also comes in other colors, like sunshine yellow and turquoise.

You may also notice a new frame in the background of today's photo. We are doing some rearranging with our wall art as Chapin builds my fashion nook, so we are trying this picture out in our main hallway. The frame contains three photos: George, me and Chapin, and our beloved Izzie, who passed away over a year and half ago. She will be gone two years in January. I can't believe that.

And please excuse my hair in this photo. With the drizzly rain and lower temperatures, it was hard to do much with it today. I also ran out of my finishing serum and had to use some from another brand, which doesn't work as well. My hair is also getting longer, and I can't decide if I want to keep it this length or take another few inches off. I guess I will have to decide soon: I have a hair appointment at my salon in a few weeks!

Dinner Out on a Difficult Wednesday

The last day of August this year wasn't a typical day for me, although it started out just like any other weekday. I got up at my usual time (5:15), but instead of heading to the gym for a workout, I immediately started getting ready for my day. At 6:30, I left home and headed to Alpharetta, where I would be spending the day at my parents' house taking care of my 90-year-old Grandma.

In this photo from 2008, my Grandma Marie is being silly, putting on my Fendi sunglasses.

She was visiting this past week, and my father was due to fly her back to New York on Sunday... but Irene hit and changed everyone's plans. Their flight was canceled, and my dad would need a full day to shuttle her to New York and then head back home to Atlanta, so he rescheduled the flights for this coming Saturday.

Since she can't be alone during the day, my parents had to scramble to find suitable arrangements to accommodate the extra week my Grandma would need to stay in Atlanta. My mom took off Monday and Tuesday to be home with her, my dad arranged to work from home Thursday and Friday, so I volunteered to keep an eye on her on Wednesday. It just happened to work out that aside from two conference calls, one that eventually was pushed to another day, I didn't have any in-person client meetings. Lately, work has been crazy, filled with meeting after meeting with both current and potential clients, so this type of day was an anomaly for me. I'm glad that it allowed me to help out my parents when they needed me, though. They are always so good to me, how could I not offer to help out.

My Grandma has lived a wonderful life, though this past January, she lost her husband of over 60 years. Since then, she has had a lot of upheaval: she moved out of her home in Texas, where she had lived since 1979, and moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in New York. She also has dementia, or Alzheimer's (we are not really sure), so most of the time she doesn't seem to know where she is or whom she's spending time with... made all the more confusing lately with her visits to Texas and Georgia to see her other children and grandchildren. (We all wanted to help celebrate her 90th birthday.)

Another photo from 2008: My Grandma, me and my Grandpa.

Most of the day, my Grandma thought I was my mother. She called me Linda and asked question after question about where she was, what was happening to her and why she couldn't remember so well. I was able to get a lot of work done while answering and soothing her, but it was still upsetting to see my Grandma that way, and to fully understand that she didn't know me. When my mom finally came home, she seemed to realize her mistake, but of course I still felt (stupidly) hurt. She seems to have become even more frail in the months since she lost my Grandpa, and that was also upsetting. She is one of the sweetest, kindest women you will ever meet, so it was heartbreaking. I guess I'm just glad I got to spend a day with her (11 hours)!

When I finally made it back home, I felt so exhausted, but I convinced Chapin that I still wanted to go out to dinner as we had originally planned. We had a gift card we needed to use because it expired that day, and after being stuck inside all day, I was itching for a night out.

I put on one of my favorite fancy dresses: this black and silver polka dot dress from Shoshanna. I just love it, and I paired it with similarly sparkly shoes and a black and silver purse. I was very matchy-matchy, as Nina Garcia would say, but I didn't care. I felt beautiful!

Me with my sweet hubby: August 31, 2011

Chapin bought me this dress for Christmas several years ago. (Here is a similar black and silver Shoshanna dress, though not as sparkly.) I remember thinking it looked like the Celine dress that Carrie wore out to dinner with Aidan in the "Just Say Yes" episode (Season 4) of Sex and the City:

Chapin and I went to Veni Vidi Vici for our dinner, and it was wonderful. This restaurant is actually one of the few in the Bucklead Life Restaurant Group that we have never eaten in before, so it was a great experience for us. Chapin had the appetizer portion of the Pappardelle dish to start: wide pasta ribbons, rotisserie duck and mushroom ragu. I tried a bite and it was so delicious, I might have to come back just for that. For dinner he also had duck: the Anatra entree, which was half maple leaf farms duck, lentils, wilted spinach and dried cranberries. He didn't finish it all, so he will have the leftovers for dinner tonight.

Our visit to Veni Vidi Vici actually coincided with Midtown Restaurant Week, so I ordered off that menu. My dinner included:

• Indivia ai Ferri: Grilled Belgian Endive, Citrus and Raisin Vinaigrette, Gorgonzola, Candied Pistachios
• Gnocchi alla Romana: Roman Style Baked Semolina Gnocchi, Spicy VVV Marinara, Crispy Guanciale
• Merluzzo: Pan Roasted New England Blue Cod, Parsley and Olive Oil Yukon Gold Potatoes, Caper and Grained Mustard Salsa Verde *I actually got mashed potatoes instead. Yum!

Midtown Restaurant Week ends September 4th, and it is a great opportunity to try trendy, popular restaurants in the Atlanta Midtown area for a very reasonable price. Of course, if you order an expensive bottle of wine like Chapin and I always do, then your bill might not be that beneficial to the wallet, but I needed it after my stressful day.

Side note: If you look closely at the picture above, you will see a little pug! I love seeing George in this pic... I think it makes me love it even more.