I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
I’m hungry just looking at the photos from our recent team outing to Ribalta, a real-deal, authentic Neopolitan pizza restaurant in the heart of Midtown here in the A. Our glorious long lunch was another notch in the team’s book for a little off-duty fun (you may remember our day making biscuits with Callie and taking a few notes on cooking from GP). I had tasted the Ribalta goodness a few times before, so I knew it was just the place to bring the team for a true, one-of-a-kind pizza experience.
And an experience we had. The Ribalta team showed us the definition of warm Italian hospitality, and it was clear that they didn’t intend for us to leave until we were nice, full and happy. They graciously welcomed us with a glass or two of red and white wine, while inviting us to sit back and share a few of their vibrant small plates (think the freshest bruschetta, delectable fried calamari and a wonderful caprese salad). We all agreed the small plates alone were magnificent, but we all also knew we needed to save room for the main act…the pizza! We were, after all, not just there to eat the pizza, but were given aprons and showed behind the counter for a little lesson in pizza making.
In talking to the staff (with our hands covered in flour), we quickly learned what sets Ribalta apart from the rest when it comes to their pizza making. You see, Ribalta considers itself a traditionalist when it comes to dough; the restaurant only uses a mixture of flours that are certified by the Italian flour mill Le 5 Stagioni and natural yeast straight from Italy. The result? Pizza that’s light, easy to digest for all of you that are gluten intolerant, and absolutely divine.
As we learned a few secrets in rolling the dough we stretched, pulled and crafted our own personal pizzas. Before placing them each in the wood fire oven, we added fresh, flavorful toppings: thick-cut bacon, delicate prosciutto, fresh buffalo mozzarella, juicy tomatoes and fresh basil. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Then into the woodfire they went only needing to cook about 1 minute because of the crazy high heat! The result, quite possibly one of the best pizzas I ever ate.
A big ‘grazie’ to Rosario, Pasquale and the entire Ribalta team for letting us experience the magic that’s in your kitchen. We will, of course, be back soon…and probably on a Sunday when bottles of wine are half-priced. Ha! Truly, MKR
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I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’ve been on a bit of a beauty product binge this summer. Maybe it’s because I’ve been switching over to a lot of natural and holistic products, (think white sage smudge sticks). Maybe it’s because the older I get, the more I truly understand that taking care of my skin should be top priority. But whatever the reason, I don’t see this binging stopping any time soon. So today, I’m sharing a few new binge-worthy picks that have earned their coveted spot on my vanity, with a few oldies that I’ve fallen in love with all over again.
Starting with the newcomers; Sunday Riley, Sapelo Skin Care and Damn Good Face Wash have continued my obsession with oils and the art of a proper daily beauty routine. Aerin, Tom Ford and Morrocanoil have resurfaced, and officially earned spots on my forever list. And on the holistic side of things, I’ve possibly gone off the deep end misting essential oils in numerous rooms, keeping three different himelayan salt lamps burning at all times, and I may or may not be lighting white sage smudge sticks around the house to purify the air. I swear everything just feels more pure. Read on below for a few of my other current faves, and please let me know if there’s anything you’re binging on right now! Truly, MKR
No. 2…Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment. This stuff definitely has a cult following, as you can see from these reviews. I, of course, had to see what all the buzz was about, and I totally get it now. After only a few uses, I felt my skin’s texture dramatically improve (smoothing out acne scars and fine lines), and I swear I do have a little glow about me!
No. 3…Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color. Though the palette looks a bit coral-y, this cream blush would look good on practically anyone. I tap a little bit on my finger and put on my nose and cheekbones. The color is dewy and goes on wonderfully…and a little goes a long way.
No. 4…NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner. I really just love a good blue eyeliner; it makes the eyes pop. This one by NARS lasts throughout the day too, which is good because there’s nothing worse than glancing in the mirror later in the day to find that all of your eyeliner has disappeared!
No. 5…Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Color. Besides the fact that this bronzey-gold is absolutely jaw-dropping, I love that this eyeshade duo is wet AND dry. This duo, however, is not cheap. But what I’ve found is that I use so very little (seriously I only use like one tiny drop) it will likely last for a year.
No. 6…White Sage Smudge Sticks. As I said above I have went full boar and bought into this ancient incense to purify the air in my home. To use, you simply light the smudge sticks on fire and let them smolder, filling the room with the healing scent of sage. If you really have some trouble areas you’re supposed to open the windows and doors and waft the smoke over the troubled area (ie spots with ghosts or bad juju) and out the window or door.
No. 7…Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle. I’ve been a longtime fan of Aerin fragrances, and I knew I had to try this one the second I saw it. I’m thrilled (but not surprised) to say that this one does not disappoint.
No. 8…Bling Brush. I am just so in love with this on-the-go jewelry cleaner. It looks a little like concealer, but it’s actually a natural cleaner for your diamonds! It’s so easy to use, and it truly makes my diamonds shine like they do when I get them professionally cleaned. AND it’s only $18.
No. 9…Moroccanoil Treatment. My hair has felt extra dry lately, so I’ve come back to the Moroccanoil line. I used to use the stuff religiously for years, and am happy to see its luxurious effects on my locks again. I also have the hydrating shampoo and conditioner – which are both game-changers.
No. 10…Sapelo Renewing Serum. I use this heavenly face serum as the first step in my daily skincare routine, after cleansing. Being water-based, the serum gives my face and neck a full hydration one-over, while delivering other essential nutrients that my skin happily soaks up. It’s super moisturizing and super effective; I’ve noticed my skin feels tighter and firmer thanks to boosted collagen and elastin production. The ladies behind Sapelo and its amazing nature-based southern skincare line are SO worth checking out.
No. 11…Damn Good Face Wash The Works. This handmade, all-natural and ultra nourishing facial wash is a recent Etsy find. The face wash is coconut-oil based, and works to pull impurities and toxins out of the skin, while combating blemishes. Love love love. N0. 12…Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. Another find from the brand with a true cult following, the Luna Sleeping Night Oil. I put this oil on my face and neck before going to bed, and have kept at it to shrink pores and smooth out some new lines.
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I know I’ve probably said I’ve had several “favorite shoots” from the past, but this one is definitely on the top of that list. I always find myself drawn to this lush, blooming Easter tablescape from the archives for entertaining inspiration this time of year. There’s something so beautiful in the cheery yellows and greens, and what better time to let them shine than Easter Sunday?
With a floral centerpiece like this, you don’t need to worry about adding much else to your table; the blooms stand alone to make such a stunning statement. You know I’m a big fan of spring, and I love how Lindsay Coletta allowed these spring blooms to cascade onto the tabletop in a bit of an unruly way…very much like fresh flowers growing in the wild. And as if we needed more pretty on the table, in the original post and today, MKR inspires us with her ability to pattern play with stacking complimentary plates (how sweet are these new bunny plates?!) all atop cheery raffia placemats.
I can’t share this gorgeous tablescape without mentioning that Lush Cakery has me drooling still to this day over her fluffy coconut cake. And of course, there’s plenty of room for other Easter treats (like Peter Cottontail Cupcakes and Homemade Pistachio Pudding) to truly celebrate the holiday! Cheers, Kat
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