Burgundy

Oh Burgundy, the good life indeed. We explored the Côte D'Or, based in the darling town of Beaune and sampling all the regional specialities.

First, the wine. The Côte D'Or grows two types of grapes: pinot noir and chardonnay, and in Burgundy wine is all about terroir. The small region (with about 1/10 the production of Bordeaux) is justifiably famous for its wines and produces some of the world's most exclusive and expensive appellations (Google Richebourg or Romanee Conti if curious). Fascinating, but not our style. Great wine from Burgundy doesn't have to be shockingly expensive. It's a matter of learning which specific towns / appellations that you prefer, and for example I have an appreciation for Corton Charlemagne, Nuit-Saint-Georges, and Mersault. We learned that some wine makers (particularly those that are smaller and focused on quality) make all their wines exactly the same regardless of the designation (i.e. Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Villages, or regional, in order beginning with the most prestigious) because the appellations in Burgundy are all based on the specific characteristics of each plot of land, not winemaking technique.

Then, the food. It's hearty, rustic fare like beef Bourguinon, escargot, and terrines, plus cheeses like the famously stinky Époisses and the more nuanced Comte. We spent a day learning to cook regional specialties and to appreciate Burgundy's bountiful produce at the Cook's Atelier, which is was a highlight of the whole trip and just heavenly. There's so much to share from the Cook's Atelier that it merits its own post, so tune in next week!  

Seriously, how cute is Beaune?!? It's even darling in the rain (see below), which we didn't mind because, well, you have to keep those rolling hills green somehow.  I would definitely recommend staying here on a trip to Burgundy. The ancient walled city is charming, it's accessible by train (we had a car but you wouldn't need one) and there are plenty of restaurants.

We ate at Le Caveau des Arches (well executed traditional dishes in one of Burgundy's many wine caves), Les Tontons (quirky wine bar), and Le Bénaton (a more haut cuisine take on local fare, with a Michelin star to prove it), all of which we would recommend.  We also heard great things about La Lune and La Dilettante, which we would hope to try on a return visit.  

Above: The Hospices of Beaune, also known as the Hôtel Dieu, which was founded as a hospital to care for the poor in 1443 and operated as a hospital until the 1970s. The original site is now a museum, and annually hosts a world-famous wine auction each November. The Hospices of Beaune are one of the town's main tourist attractions, and a vivid example of a traditional Burgundian roof. 

We spent a day wine tasting along the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuit, and our favorite stop of the day was Domain Chapuis in Aloxe-Corton. The winemaker, Maurice Chapuis, is a gem, and he generously took time during the busy harvest season to introduce us to his wines and provide background on the region and its traditional winemaking methods. He conducted a tasting for us in the domain's 14th century cellar, and we were so taken with his wines (including some Grand Crus, the highest designation, and Premier Crus, the second highest designation) that we couldn't resist bringing some home.  

Above: Vineyards with the town of Aloxe-Corton in the background. Below: Visiting with Maurice Chapuis, the winemaker at Domaine Chapuis, plus wine barrels and bottles being stored in the cave. 

If you were asked to draw perfect grapes, I'm confident that's what they'd look like. 

Hm does that dress look familiar? I told you that I wore it in France! ;)

Above: the town of Vougeot, where we had lunch at Au P'tit. If you find yourself there, the burger with Époisses is out of this world.  

The vines were just dripping with giant clusters of grapes, ready to be harvested in a matter of days. 

Ironwork, enormous windows, and a mansard roof. Le sigh. 

I think the main thing we took away from Burgundy (ahem, aside from wine) was that we hope to return to Burgundy one day. Until then, we'll just have to settle for drinking wine from Bourgogne! 

Moody Florals

{Amour Vert Dress, Keds x Kate Spade New York Shoes, Rebecca Minkoff Clutch}

I find myself drawn to classic, timeless pieces that I can wear in a variety of settings. I got this dress from Amour Vert (also love this one) shortly before leaving for France, thinking that it would be versatile to travel with. I only packed items that I could see myself wearing at least twice (which helped me pack into just carry-on luggage for a 10-day trip) and this dress delivered. I wore it wine tasting in Burgundy and out to dinner for a date night, and the material traveled well without getting wrinkled. Since we've been back I've also worn this dress to a baby shower, so suffice it to say it's in heavy rotation this fall. 

I love the moody floral print (always a fall favorite), feminine cut, and thoughtful details, like the pockets. It's comfortable, effortlessly wearable, and looks chic under a jacket. I love the whole Amour Vert line, which I discovered the old-fashioned way via a catalog in my mailbox (yup, that still happens). I immediately adored the brand's aesthetic (see: timeless, feminine, wearable in real life) so much that I wanted to buy the entire catalog. I also appreciate that Amour Vert clothing is made sustainably and meant to last. I'm not chasing fleeting trends, and I want to consume conscientiously with pieces that I'll love wearing for years. 

The wind made capturing these photos a bit of an adventure, but a fun one to be sure! 

One Whole Year

Sunday will be our one year anniversary, one whole year married. We celebrated with a trip to France and have just returned home, jet lagged but happy. Doug had never been to France, and while I had backpacked around Paris and Strasbourg as a student, I was thrilled to return to explore Paris with him. I will share travel posts soon, but in the meantime you can get a glimpse on Instagram. 

Our trip was partly inspired by the gastronomic map of France we received as a wedding gift from my longtime family friends. They have one hanging in their kitchen which I have long admired, and they searched and searched to track down an authentic one for us. The map lists the various food and wine specialties of each town and region, and provides endless inspiration to explore. Using the French map as a springboard also dovetailed nicely with the traditional first anniversary gift, which is paper. I've said before that while I don't feel confined by tradition, I appreciate the inspiration and sense of continuity that it brings. I always feel comfortable making it my own.    

It's been a full, wonderful exciting first year, from our honeymoon, which still feels like a dream, to an impromptu trip to the World Series, to bringing home the cutest little furry bundle who's now an integral part of our little family. What social media doesn't really capture, however, are the daily joys that make a life together so wonderful and rewarding. While they may not show up on the blog or in my Instagram, it's those moments walking through life with Doug that I'm profoundly grateful for. We'll be spending time with family this weekend and celebrating at home on Sunday, our actual anniversary, with Jeni's sundaes and a champagne toast. I can't think of anything better. 

photos by Red Gallery Photography

Makeup for Travel

I used to be skeptical of makeup sets, partly because I'd read that brands would pair their top colors were those that were underperforming but also because I would inevitably gravitate to certain shades use them more quickly. I'm no longer convinced that sets are a dumping ground for unpopular colors, and I've come around to the practicality of carrying an assortment of makeup in smaller quantities. I'm also an enormous fan of RMS Beauty, as you might have caught on here, here, and here.  I've typically toted an assortment of RMS pots with me when traveling, so I was delighted to discover that RMS has created two "Signature Sets" packed full of their best-sellers. 

The Mod Collection has master mixer (which I wear all the time / can't live without), living luminizer (I have and love), smile lip2cheek, spell lip2cheek and simply cocoa lip & skin balm (which I've used previously). The Pop Collection boasts buriti bronzer (again have it, love it), magic luminizer (my favorite luminizer, if you force me to choose), demure lip2cheek (yup, wear and love this one too), beloved lip2cheek and simply vanilla lip & skin balm. I was sold on the combination of products that I'm familiar with (let's be honest: hooked on) and the opportunity to try a few new shades. I'm also completely converted to the fact that I can carry so many versatile shades in such a slim, lightweight compact. I'm traveling with both sets, and very little other makeup, on my current trip to France, and upon returning home I look forward to slipping one into my pursue regularly for daily touch-ups. 

Pink striped throw shown above is by Fouta Lifestyle, and it's another travel favorite!

Set to Transition

{Rebecca Taylor Blouse (on sale) and Skirt (sold out), J.Crew Wedges, Rebecca Minkoff Clutch}

As you're reading this, I've arrived in Paris earlier this morning (local time) as Doug and I are celebrating our upcoming first wedding anniversary. We'll be spending the final weeks of summer traveling through France, and I am ready to enjoy every minute of. I'm cognizant that when we return to New York, summer will be nearly over, at least officially (if you know me, I like to extend it into mid September). I'm already thinking about the transition to fall, and everything that means, which brings me to this outfit. 

I've packed this outfit and will be wearing it in Paris and in the French countryside as well. The material is the lightest cotton gauze, which remains comfortable even when wandering around the city (whether Paris or New York) on hot summer days but the sleeves make it seem substantial enough that it's not limited just to high summer. I appreciate the versatility of blouse and skirt combos that can be worn together for the effect of a dress, but which also can be mixed and matched separately.

I only packed items for this trip that I expect to be able to wear twice, and I plan to pair this blouse with dark skinny jeans and a killer set of heels for dinner out in Paris. Rebecca Taylor has lots of gorgeously detailed summer blouses on sale currently, including this one, this one, and this one (which I've worn here and also packed for this trip). When I get home, I plan to ease my wardrobe transition by into early fall by rocking this set with a leather jacket over top.