We LOVE Tates cookies. They are probably the best cookies I have ever had. During the summer we spend a lot of mornings at Tate’s bakery in South Hampton. I love their coffee and I look forward to getting one of their cookies straight out of the oven. The other day I saw on the site Delish a recipe for Copy Cat Tates cookies. I am so excited to make Tate’s cookies right out of my own oven! Bon Appetit!!!!
(adapted from Delish)
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Eggs, room temperature
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips (about 12 ounces)
coarse sea salt (for topping cookies)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. As it heats, combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to beat the two together, whipping them until the mixture is a pale yellow and has a creamy texture. Slowly beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- Stir in the flour mixture, adding a little at a time until fully combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Form into 1-inch patties and place about 1-2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle each with a little coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the cookies are warm, golden brown and look crispy on the edges.
I love fashion…I know SHOCKER!!!! I arrange most things in my closet by outfit, so I am always ready for whatever comes my way…..Sadly the past 14 months have really put a damper on getting dressed up and going out. The pandemic cut short many celebrations last year, a year when me and all of my good friends were turning 50. Trips and gatherings were canceled, get-togethers canceled, outings canceled. I know you get my point because we are all in the same boat. The other day, my Vogue magazine came and on the cover, it said, “Fashion We Have Miss You”. I kept that magazine in my kitchen and stared at that cover for a week..Of course, there are so many more important things to focus on in today’s world than Fashion but you know what, we really did miss it. And we really do need it. We need to get dressed. When you look good you feel good and that is not happening in loungewear and pajamas. During this pandemic I promised myself when we did get out of this, I was always going to be overdressed from here on in. We maybe not over-dressed but definitely dressed up….speaking of dresses, it’s been so long that I featured dresses, going out dresses, seeing people dresses. So I am going to start today. A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the brand English Factory. I loved all the styles and found them to be really well priced. Somewhere between Zara and Veronica Beard!!!!! Sweet Dabney Lee here on Purchase St carries a lot of English Factory so check her assortment first but here are some great options that I found while partnering with Shop Bop.
This is really the perfect summer dress….the belted style is really flattering…and the print subtle.
There is something about yellow this season..I am really dying for a yellow dress..
I know I keep talking about this great shop in Larchmont, Taaru Majeure but it because I keep going back to check out all of the new wonderful things they add each week. The store has the most beautiful dresses and now cover-ups for the summer. I am so in love with every single one. It’s so hard to leave without something and I love trying every piece on. I went back last weekend to the shop on Larchmont Ave, just to look around again….You have see some of my favorite things:
OK this clutch is literally drop dead..this photo does not do it justice. It is the most incredible piece in person!!!
I love how they layer these beaded necklaces. When I was there they were flying out of the shop.
I cannot forget all of the awesome home accessories. The rugs are soo cool and I really need that grateful sign..I just love it…
Onto the cover-ups. I wish I had one of these a few week’s ago for my trip. They are so pretty. The scalloped neck and sleeves are perfection. There is also an rainbow of colors…I cannot decide which I would love more for summer!!
Ok, now this dress is perfection. I love the blue and that bag!!!…I am all about mixing prints, especially if one is leopard!!!!
These are their picnic baskets for the summer…..The shape is so great…I cannot wait to take one with me to the beach…hmmmm also hard to choose a color..
There is a large selection of woven beach bags. These would make such great gifts for all my spring/summer bestie’s birthdays!!!
Another cover-up…and more bags….Again, it is so hard to decide which is my favorite…everything looks so tempting!!!
I thought it was time for a thriller..I ready about this week’s book, The Push by Ashley Audrain, and decided it would be a great choice. I always get requests for psychological thrillers…This book is definitely going to “hook” you…So…..
Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had.
But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter—she doesn’t behave like most children do.
Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well.
Then their son Sam is born—and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she’d always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth.
The Push is a tour de force you will read in a sitting, an utterly immersive novel that will challenge everything you think you know about motherhood, about what we owe our children, and what it feels like when women are not believed. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
I am so happy to introduce a new sponsor, Cortney Wood Photography. I started using Cortney on a few projects with me this year. Cortney is professional, personable and more importantly VERY patient. She has a great eye and really provides top quality photos. Cortney manages to capture the spirt of her subjects. She is truly a joy to work with and has a knack for making everyone look beautiful while capturing the moment with a natural relaxed look.
A session with Cortney is the perfect gift for mother’s day. She will make you feel save and comfortable with the covid precautions that she has put in place. You will leave your session confident that your photos will truly exceed your expectations.
Cortney is booking now until Mother’s Day and has a few spot for our readers. CONTACT her for more information or to book an appointment.
Since the Fall, over and over again, people have been recommending The Lila Rose, at Harbor Point in Stamford. I started following them on Instagram immediately and was in awe of the vibe and how incredible the entire restaurant was. I was dying to see the decor in person, and try the food, and fancy cocktails. It seemed like literally every day, there were more and more posts about the restaurant, from my kids, my nieces and nephews, other bloggers, and friends. Everyone LOVED this place. I had such FOMO and was desperate to try it out. I luckily was introduced to one of the owners, JJ and we made a plan.
First of all, when you walk into the restaurant, the entire decor is the most playful and pink with cool artwork on the walls. It reminded me of the Gallery dining room at Sketch London and if you know you KNOW. So already I was completely in LOVE.
I had seen the cool drinks that they served via all the Instagram stories, posts, and tic toks. Their cocktails come in whimsical glasses and each one was more exotic and delicious than the next. And I hear this is nothing compared to what they are planning for the summer!!!!
I have to say, they have also done a great job with keeping their patrons safe with outdoor dining and plexiglass barriers between every well-spaced table.
The menu is primarily made up of Tapas so it makes Lila Rose the perfect place to go with a group of friends. We were soooo into ordering a bunch of things because it all sounded so delicious. So JJ brought us some of their favorite dishes. I have to say it all lived up to the hype.
We tried the Gnocchi Pesto, the Calamari Chipotle, the Flat Iron Steak, the Tuna Taco, the Burger ( with melted Mozzarella poured on top!!!), the Lobster Roll, the Blackened Tuna and a few other things. Honestly, everything was really good. I almost want to get in the car and go back tonight!!!!!
We ended our meal with the raspberry cheesecake and an assortment of yummy truffles.
If you get the chance to visit Lila Rose you will not be disappointed. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. There was not one single detail over looked from the fresh flowers adorning the drinks, right down to the pretty gold flatware on the table.
Thank you JJ, we had the most amazing time!!! I cannot wait to come back!!!
PS If you want to make your own reservation, HERE is their special link.
