T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 112 | Men's Fall Fashion

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 112 | Men's Fall Fashion

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Five Friday Favorites | 81 | Best Italian on the UES, North Fork Vineyard, Book Favorite & UES Speakeasy

1. 83 1/2- Alex said this is one of his top five favorite meals of all time. It was absolutely delicious. I had the lobster ravioli with vodka sauce and it did not disappoint. I think Monday nights is BYOB!
2. Swan Song- I have become a huge Elin Hilderbrand fan. I finished the Swan Song a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it.
3. Terra Vite North Fork Winery and Vineyard - I took the day off and my mom and I drove out east to Jamesport for a little wine tasting. Most vineyards on the North Fork don’t have lunch options, but this is one that did. The sandwiches were pretty good but the potato chips were better. Super fun girl’s day trip.
4. Hill House Vivi Dress- Hill House can do no wrong in my book. They have the best dresses. This is the one I picked up this fall (seen above). I will probably wear it for Thanksgiving with a sweater and tall boots. If you really look at the print you will see horses. 
5. Keys & Heels- This is such a cool speakeasy. It is right next to UVA on the Upper East Side. It looks like a key and shoe repair shop, but it’s really a fabulous bar. The drinks were delicious. Great vibes with a beautiful interior. They take walk ins and reservations. 

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 111 | 10 Piece Fall Capsule Wardrobe

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 111 | 10 Piece Fall Capsule Wardrobe

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My Best Friend’s Wedding at Bordes Wine Vineyard in Sonoma, California

 

My best friend, Kate, got married to her best friend in August at Bordes Wine Vineyard in Sonoma, California.

It was the most beautiful wedding. 

Kate has been my dearest friend from North Carolina to France, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, NOLA, New York and everywhere in between, even in California for her wedding. It is such a blessing that we can travel together. I was so honored to stand by her side and I am even more honored that I call her my best friend and she call me hers.

 

Please enjoy these beautiful photos from the best day in August 2024.

Five Friday Favorites | 80 | French, Italian, Mexican and Greek Food in NYC & Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway

1. Le Gratin- My dad took me to lunch one day and I got to pick the spot! This Chef Boulud restaurant is famous for their namesake, le gratin, creamy potatoes. This place was hopping at lunch hour and it did not disappoint. My dad is still talking about it! 
2. UVA Next Door- I met a friend for dinner here. We had a delicious goat cheese pizza with a kale salad. 
3. Molyvos- Before heading to the theater, my mom and I grabbed dinner at this beautiful restaurant. We had all our favorite spreads and dips to start and then we both had the Moussaka. Best Moussaka I’ve ever had. 
4. Once Upon a Mattress- Sutton Foster is the star in this absolutely goofy and hysterical show. She was a joy to watch. Highly recommend! 
5. Toloache- Now that Alex is an Upper East sider we’ve been trying out all the new spots. This spot is upscale yet traditional Mexican food. Alex gave it his seal of approval. 

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 110 | Fall Fashion, Sweater Dress, Brown Boots, Velvet Blazer, Burgundy Dress & More

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 110 | Fall Fashion, Sweater Dress, Brown Boots, Velvet Blazer, Burgundy Dress & More

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Five Friday Favorites | 79 | Brooklyn Sunsets, Mediterranean Food, Neighborhood Bar & More

1. Brooklyn Bridge walk at night- I love walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. You get beautiful views of the city both at day and night. Over the summer Alex and I had dinner in Brooklyn. We tried to get a ferry and a subway back to Manhattan but it was taking too long, arguably longer than just walking ourselves, so that’s what we did. It’s such a beautiful (but deceiving long) walk.
2. Pier 6 in Brooklyn for sunset- Continuing with the Brooklyn theme, Pier 6 has beautiful sunset views. Pier 6 is very far south so you get a beautiful sunset over New Jersey that isn’t blocked by the downtown NYC skyline. 
3. Umami Sushi- This is a teeny tiny sushi spot in the West Village but it’s delicious. 
4. Zaytina- I went here for my birthday! Loved it. Really good Mediterranean food.
5. Hidden Lane- A neighborhood spot with a backyard! Cute spot for a specialty cocktail.

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 109 | Burgundy Tweed Blazer, Camel Wrap Coat, Brown Crossbody Bag & More

T&P's Top 10 of the Week | No. 109 | Burgundy Tweed Blazer, Camel Wrap Coat, Brown Crossbody Bag & More

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Our Love Story & South of France Engagement Photos

France has always held a special place in my heart. My mom read to me the Madeline books when I was little. I quickly became obsessed with the old house in Paris covered in vines with the 12 little girls in two straight lines and obviously memorized the books.

 

My mom promised me that for my 16^th birthday, I could go to Paris.

With that in mind, in 6^th grade I had to pick a language so I picked to study French so I could (attempt to) speak it when I went for my 16^th birthday in 10^th grade.

 

We did a girl’s trip to Paris over spring break my sophomore year of high school. I definitely was not able to speak the language but I definitely was obsessed with all things France.

 

After my trip, my junior year, I became president of French Honor Society. Senior year, I took AP French and continued to be president. 

Apparently, I scored so high on my French AP exam that I was able to skip the beginner level French classes at Wake Forest in the fall of 2016. Wake had a requirement that you had to make it to a 200-level language course to graduate. I started my freshman year in the only French class I had to take, but I decided to keep with it. 

 

My spring semester of freshman year there was this really cute guy from the track team in my French class.

After freshman year it was pretty clear that if I kept with French, I could study abroad in France my junior year and major in French. 

 

The fall of my Sophomore year, that cute guy from my freshman year French class became my speaking partner in our French conversation class.

Alex was so nice, handsome, funny and smart. I invited him to run for Kappa Delta during Hit the Bricks around the quad.

I then thanked him for helping us win by inviting him to our Hometown Throwdown themed date function that I was planning and running. 

He came decked out in Chicago gear. I represented Long Island with a J.Crew dress, big pearls and curly hair. I made him guess where I was from and what state I was representing. He guessed Connecticut… which wasn’t far off, but I told him he was wrong.

I didn’t see him the rest of the night. I was running the function- coordinating the buses, making sure everyone and their dates were behaving and not enjoying myself at all. But a year later I found out he was thrilled that he didn’t really have to spend the night being my date because he didn’t even want to go with me but came anyway.

Spring semester of sophomore year, we were still in French class together. This was one of the hardest classes I took at Wake. This class required a lot of study groups and team effort. 

Most of the kids in that French class eventually became part of the group to study abroad in Dijon, France in fall 2018. 

 

I flew over to Charles de Gaulle in August 2018 with a couple of my female classmates, one of them being my best friend, Kate. From Paris we took a high speed 1.5-hour train to Dijon. 

While boarding the train, Alex appeared in our train car. I was so excited to see him. Alex, polite as ever said hello back and went on his way to find a seat far away from me and my enthusiasm.

 

When our whole group, 12 Wake French Studies students and our French professor from school gathered in Dijon, we checked into our hotel, Hotel du Palais. I had a 50-pound suitcase and there was no elevator in sight. I made a joke to Alex that it would be so gentlemanly if he would take my bag up the stairs to my room with my classmates. 

He didn’t hesitate even though on the inside (I later found out) he wanted to roll his eyes.

When I got to my room with my two girlfriends, they asked if they thought Alex and I would have a study abroad romance. I replied that I doubted it but I wouldn’t be opposed.

Our professor took us on our first trip through France to Provence. We took a big coach bus there and everyone spread out all throughout the rows. Me in the front, because I get bus sick, surrounded by my friends and professor and Alex in the back.

 

The next trip to the Burgundy region, my friends and I invited Alex to hang out with us. There ended up being a street fair in Autun, which was the town we were staying in and one night we ended up crashing into each other in bumper cars. 

After bumper cars and wine, we all walked back to the hotel and Alex said he was going to sit outside and call his mom, I was worried about him and asked if he was okay.  

 

On the way back from Autun, our coach bus stopped at a vineyard to take some pictures. Alex and I stood next to each other.

He also moved his seat from the back of the bus to the row right behind me.

Our next group trip was to the champagne region. Unfortunately, there was no champagne for our class to drink. We were more focused on the architecture and the churches. Alex and I took our first solo photo together in Reims on September 6, 2018. (Last year we went back and recreated that photo)

That trip also took us to Normandy. 

After a big group dinner at our hotel in Rouen, my two girlfriends, Alex and I took a walk to find some (more) wine.

While we are walking, Alex announced to our group of four that he wanted to be honest and confessed that he thought I was “really annoying up until this trip” but that he now really liked me and grabbed my hand.

 

I more insulted than flattered. My mouth was wide open. I questioned if he thought I was so annoying all the years he was my partner in French class and even when I took him as my date to my sorority date function. He said yes.

I appreciated the honesty but was horribly insulted.

I quickly got over it, and that night our group of 4 snuggled in bed and watched That 70’s Show. The next day, September 8, on the beaches of Normandy, Alex and I took another photo together and held hands.

That night our group stayed in a hotel in Mont Saint Michel. My girlfriends told me I had to tell him I liked him back.

Alex and I went for a walk that night and danced in front of Mont Saint Michel.

 

September 9, he held my hand again during a late-night walk around Chartres with our other friends in tow. Kate and I later jumped up and down and freaked out in our hotel room after.

 

On September 12, we started our trip in the Val de Loire. Alex and I got in our first fight. But quickly got over it and frolicked through the gardens secretly holding hands at Chateaux Chenonceau. 

 

By September 13, all of our classmates, professor and even the bus driver knew that there was something going on.

At dinner in Tours, Alex sat across from me and his leg would not stop shaking. He asked if we could take a walk after dinner. He commented on the weather and how beautiful it was out. I told him to cut right to the chase.

He confessed that he called his mom because he couldn’t stop thinking about me and that he disliked me for so long and couldn’t understand how he could now not stop thinking of me.

He confessed his feelings for me. I held his hand and he asked if I was his girlfriend. I told him no, not yet, he had to work for it and take me out on a real date or two first. 

That night he tried to kiss me back at our hotel when he walked me to my room, and I told him that our first kiss would not be at the Best Western. 

The next night, we went for a walk again after dinner and I planted a kiss right on him.

 

We then went to Paris as a group and had the most amazing time, minus Alex’s food poisoning. My mom and sister even came to visit!

 

When we got back to Dijon, Alex and I went on our first real date, to a professional soccer game. 

 

I told him the final test would be if we could travel well together. So, we traveled to Munich for Oktoberfest and met up with my high school bestie, Michelle, and after a successful trip with lots of beer and many trains, we made it official on October 6, 2018! 

Our story came full circle when Alex took me for a walk after dinner in Nice, France and got down on one knee and proposed on September 1, 2024. 

 

There are so many more stories and travels and trips I could share, but our origin story is a pretty good one I think.

 

We are so excited to be planning our wedding for summer 2026!