Oh So Ali

alifreeman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:45:04 +0000

A simple cheese board has become the Sunday evening dinner menu at our house. While winding down from the weekend and gearing up for productive work weeks, we treat ourselves to some of our favorite cheeses. For easy entertaining or quiet evening snacking, a cheese board is the perfect way to impress or selfishly indulge.

Tellagio (a Northern Italian cheese made since the 9th century), Gorgonzola Mountain (blue cheese from Lombardi, Italy), Sartori Sar Vecchio (an American version of the Italian Parmigiano Reggiano), Dried Turkish Apricots, Italian Herb Olives, Mixed Berry Jam, red grapes, honey (for the blue cheese), and crostini.

Here’s to Dad

alifreeman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:45:18 +0000

Here’s to the man who taught you to be a princess, throw a baseball, catch a fish and never stop dreaming.
1. Collard Greens Bow Tie
2. Rebel Rocky Road
3. Monogrammed Forged Steak Brand
4. Golf Garmin
5. Streamline Fly Rod and Reel Combo
6. Ultimate Burger Kit – no longer available, but similar here

Trolley

alifreeman — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:00:01 +0000

If I told you the number of hours I’ve spent searching for the perfect industrial-styled cart for our eclectic living room, you’d roll your eyes and call me crazy. But here’s the thing about decor in my home…I need my furniture and accessories to speak to me. Just like the mannequins who spoke to Rebecca Bloomwood in Shopaholic, I must connect with every piece that comes into my little castle. While on vacation this past weekend, the communication lines were definitely open! For starters, I knew this metal trolley would have a passenger seat on our drive home the minute I saw him! Then, I met baby turtle in a store appropriately titled Hissyfits. I wanted mama turtle, too, but J put his foot down and I decided I’d do us all a favor and forget the tantrum I felt like throwing. And oh did I cave when I saw the Turkish towels as Patchouli’s.

So the trolley has found a new home nestled in between our vintage wingback chairs, replacing the bachelor’s chest that will have it’s own new spot (to be announced soon).

Styling the cart requires balance, and making baby turtle a focal point was a priority. John’s Gentleman books and his great-uncle’s vintage pocket watch were the perfect combination for his whiskey collection. Nothing says Southern like a mint julep cup filled with peonies.

The Turkish towel pops with its bright blue against the industrial grey.

Trolley:Tracery, Rosemary Beach; Wooden Turtle Shell: Hissyfits Boutique, Rosemary Beach; Turkish Towel: Patchouli’s; Coasters: Kate Spade; Wine Bottle Coaster: Pottery Barn

Disclaimer: No baby turtles were injured in this process. Killing sea turtles is illegal, people. Baby Turtle is handmade, carved from wood and stained to replicate an actual shell.

SPF

alifreeman — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:45:13 +0000

John and I took a long-weekend road trip to Rosemary Beach this weekend, and I didn’t realize how much a mini-vacation was just what I needed until my toes touched the sand. From great weather to fine food to market shopping, the weekend was absolutely perfect, and I am so glad we talked ourselves into driving South at the last minute.

Dress: Kate Spade (currently on sale); Earrings: gifted; Necklace: Stella & Dot (old, similar here); Bracelets: Kate Spade; Ring: David Yurman; Watch: Michael Kors; Clutch: Tory Burch; Shoes: Diane von Furstenberg (also seen here); Sunglasses: Old Navy / First Photo: Dinner at V Seagrove

Striped

alifreeman — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:07 +0000

Dress: Ya (Similar here); Cardigan: Talbots (Similar here); Belt: Talbots; Shoes: Seychelles; Earrings: Stella & Dot; Bracelets: David Yurman, Kate Spade, Alisa, Stella & Dot; Bag: Louis Vuitton; Watch: Michael Kors

Simple Statement

alifreeman — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:30:29 +0000

My workday calls for conservative dress, so getting it right takes extreme balance. The LBD is a staple in my closet, as are accessories in fun prints like the leopard belt here or a punch of red lipstick. I find that some of the simplest pieces, combined together can make the perfect statement of “responsible, hard worker who loves to squeeze in a bit of fun.” Besides, I am only 29 (at least for another month)!

Dress: Zara (similar here); Belt : Talbots (currently on sale; similar here); Shoes: Christian Louboutin; Purse: DKNY (gifted); Watch: Michael Kors; Earrings (gifted); Sunglasses: Target

Orange You Berry Loved

alifreeman — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:30:42 +0000

Valentine’s Day is just another day around our house. We don’t do flowers or presents or fancy dinners. It’s not that we’re anti-Valentine’s Day. We just live life as John often sums it up, “I tell you and hopefully show you that you are very loved every day of the week. I, on the other hand, have had so many work projects and volunteer commitments lately that I’ve been MIA, which leads me to deal with extreme guilt when I walk in the house at night and see everything cleaned, laundry folded and dinner plate waiting on the stove. Knowing that I likely haven’t expressed ample amounts of my love and gratitude toward my husband, and knowing we have a strict no gifts policy, I decided to take the tried and true route cleared by so many women before me. You know, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” It’s true. A wise woman once told us before marriage that love starts in the kitchen. A favorite around our house is anything with oranges and cranberries, so this little muffin recipe dressed up in parchment cups from Paper Chef was the perfect “You are loved today and every day” gift for my valentine.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you. I hope you feel so loved.

Be My Valentine

alifreeman — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:00:22 +0000

As a little girl, I always made handmade cards for each festive occasion for my parents and brother. While much cheaper than a fancy Hallmark card, the sometimes crooked letters and loose glitter of a handmade card have much more sentimental value to me than a generic poem. So this year, I decided to let my inner little girl spend a rainy Sunday afternoon with glue and glitter.

Martha Stewart Ribbon, Glitter, White and Pink Card Stock, and Trusty Elmer’s Glue

A steady hand is not a requirement (obviously). You’ll be amazed at how much glitter can hide.

Neighborhood Safari

alifreeman — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:30:02 +0000

Chambray Tunic: Talbots (currently on sale); Pants: My Tribe; Hat: Old Navy (similar here); Earrings: Anthropologie (old); Scarf: H&M (old, similar here); Watch: Michael Kors; Bracelets: Kate Spade, unknown; Necklace: gifted; Sunglasses: Target; Boots: Zara (old, similar here)

Southern Sweetness

alifreeman — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:45:09 +0000

Pecans are a staple in any Southern woman’s kitchen, and each year, my dad picks, shells and packages pecans for me to freeze and use throughout the year. As I was looking for a sweet treat last night, J grabbed a bag of pecans from the freezer, and a few minutes later, we had the perfect fall snack.

I started with a 1/2 cup of butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Then I added 1Tablespoon of sugar and 1 Tablespoon of ground cinnamon – mixing for a few seconds until both dissolved into the melted butter. Then I added the pecans, stirring continually for about 4-6 minutes. Once finished, I poured the pecans onto a pan and tossed them on and off for about five minutes.

To top it off, I sprinkled a touch of cinnamon and sugar over the caramelized pecans to give them a bit of added sweetness.