Happy Halloween!

Chapin and I had fun dressing up this Halloween as... brain-eating, blood-dripping ZOMBIES!

Although I was hesitant about the zombie idea -- I figured that, with the success of shows like The Walking Dead and other news about the zombie apocalypse, everyone would be dressing as zombies -- Chapin eventually talked me into it. Since he is growing his hair out, he wanted a costume where he could do something crazy with it, and a decaying zombie would be perfect.

I am actually an Undead Teacher's Pet, so I got to be a sexy zombie. I guess that's why Halloween is one of my favorite holidays... because, for just one night, you can dress crazy and provocative (and get away with it). The skirt on this costume was so short that I could not bend over to grab some candy corn, but hey, it's Halloween!

Chapin is actually a character from Shaun of the Dead, a zombie spoof movie that still scares me, which should tell you that although I like dressing up as a zombie, watching movies about them is another story. I refuse to watch The Walking Dead, and scenes from 28 Days Later still haunt me. (And, no, that's not a sequel to the Sandra Bullock say no to drugs romantic comedy of a similar name.)

I did have fun doing the makeup for our costumes, though. I got to do a crazy, smoky eye on me, and Chapin let me make up his eyes as well. (The "blood" on his face is all him.) I also got to use a lot of hair spray on Chapin's head. His hair was so sprayed that my 11-year-old self from 1989 would have been proud.

Speaking of 1989, I watched Teen Witch for the first time in years during ABC Family's Halloween movie marathon this weekend. What a terrible movie, but somehow that "Never Gonna Be... the Same Again" song still got stuck in my head.

And finally, since I could not find a zombie costume for George, he ended up being a Halloween pumpkin. Doesn't he look happy to be in his costume?

Sale Alert

It's finally Friday, and there are some amazing sales going on this weekend that I want to bring to your attention:

Nanette Lepore: Friends and Family Sale

October 7 - 10, 2011
Enter Code FFF11 at Checkout for 20% Off Your Order!
Code will not work on sale items.

Tory Burch: Friends and Family Sale

October 7 - 10, 2011
Enter Code FRIENDS2011 at Checkout for 25% Off Your Order!
Code will not work on specific items like the Reva Ballet Flats, but will work on sale merchandise!

Several retail sites are also marking down Summer items as we go deeper into the Fall season, including:

ShopBop.com
Featured Pick:
Shoshanna Sweetheart Strapless Dress
Was: $385
Now: $115

EvesApple.com
Featured Pick:
Tracy Reese Contrast Dress
Was:  $257.40
Now: $  77.22

Dillards.com
Featured Pick:
Max & Cleo Sleeveless Tucked Dress
Was:  $148.00
Now: $  51.80

Happy Columbus Day Shopping!

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."