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The 2016 U.S. Open is stirring up happy feelings as I reminisce over our trip to the U.S. Open last year. It was SO MUCH FUN! A huge thanks to our friends for filling us in on all the deets and the "how-to's." We'll never forget our first U.S. Open or Honey Deuce drink ;) Take a walk down memory lane with me and get a glimpse of our fun-filled day!         Even though I have only been one time and don't consider myself an expert, my friend Santhi is... so here's a list of her tips for conquering the U.S. Open: -Monday (Labor Day) is an excellent day to go -Buy grounds tickets -- you can walk all over the property, and you have access to everything but the Arthur Ash stadium. -Check the schedule before hand and plan out who you want to see and where. Many of the famous players can be seen on the warm-up courts, and that's a great way to catch a glimpse without paying the price for an Arthur Ash seat. -The famous Honey Deuce cocktail is a MUST! -Collect as many U.S. Open cups as you can -Be sure to eat well and stay hydrated...it can be a long, hot, fun-filled day! P.S. - I would personally recommend this to anyone for Labor Day plans; so put it in your calendar NOW for next year-- we already have! Thanks for reading y'all! Cheers to the long weekend ahead!! XX-Molly
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I think everyone probably has a favorite thing that their grandmother makes! And you also probably think that no one else makes it just quite the same... I was so glad when we moved back to Charlotte to be able to use all of the wedding gifts we received over a year ago (we left most of them with my parents as they wouldn't fit in our 600 sq. ft. slice of Manhattan). I grew up making pound cakes with my Gammie. She would pull up a chair, so I could see over the counter. Then she would help me scoop, measure, and stir the ingredients. For my bridal shower, she surprised me with my very own pink Kitchen Aid mixer! So, it only seemed fitting that the first thing I made with it would be her Sour Cream Pound Cake! Take a peek at both my first attempt at baking Gammie's pound cake on my own and the delicious recipe.  First, gather all of your ingredients together before you start. Also, measure any ingredients at this point, so everything is ready to go as you need it.  First, beat the softened butter at medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Once the butter is soft and creamy, you'll add the sugar slowly on medium speed for 5-7 minutes. Next, add eggs one at a time to the mixture beating just until the yellow of each disappears. Be sure to stop the mixer every now and again throughout the process and scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl. This ensures that everything is being evenly combined.  Now combine your baking soda and flour. Add these dry ingredients to your mixer alternately with the sour cream. Be sure to add the flour mixture one scoop at a time at a slow speed. Always start and end with the flour. ATTENTION - DO NOT LEAVE MIXER RUNNING WHILE ADDING FLOUR - trust me...it doesn't end well. You and your kitchen will end up looking like there was a snow storm.  While the flour is mixing in on the lowest speed, add your flavorings: vanilla extract, almond extract, and Gammie's secret ingredient... amaretto!! Be sure to taste the batter and add more flavoring as you wish.  While your batter finishes mixing, prep your tube pan by giving it a good coating of Baker's Joy, or by greasing and flouring it well.  Now it's time to add your batter to the pan. Be sure to make the batter as even as possible, but remember that the "top" of the pan will be the bottom of the cake.  Next comes the BEST part of all...licking the batter bowl!! Be sure to leave yourself a little treat! My paw-paw and I used to chase each other around the house with spatulas trying to get some of the batter from the other (Sorry Paw-Paw, this one was all mine!)  Place your cake on the middle rack of your oven. Be sure it's pre-heated to 325 degrees. Set the timer for 1 hour and 20 minutes. When the time is up, check the cake with a cake tester. If the tester comes out clean, the cake is done. It may need a few more minutes depending on your oven. Once the cake is done, take it out of the oven and place on a cooling rack for 10 minutes (in the pan). Then remove from the pan and cool completely.  And just like that you have "Gammie's Sour Cream Pound Cake"! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It certainly is a special family tradition, and I hope that it can become one for you too! Recipe: 1 cup softened butter (2 sticks) 3 cups of sugar 6 large eggs (room temperature is best) 3 cups of all-purpose flower 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda 1 cup sour cream (1- 8oz. carton) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/3 cup Amaretto (adjust to taste!) Bakers Joy spray Tube pan Wire cooling rack Cake tester or tooth pick Cheers y'all! Thanks for reading XX - Molly About two weeks ago it was our last official weekend spent in the Big Apple as residence...so bitter sweet!! Take a peak at what adventures we got ourselves into... 
 We walked the Brooklyn Bridge!!! We crossed from the Manhattan side to the Brooklyn side and spent the afternoon in the Dumbo area. Dumbo is situated right on the East River with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. It is full of charm, adorable old buildings, and beautiful parks. We grabbed pizza at Ignazios and Ice cream at the famous Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. It was a perfect afternoon! 
 We took the East River ferry back over to Manahattan! It was a perfect way to end our New York City adventure! We were sad to say goodbye but are excited to welcome a new chapter. Stick around for new adventures in our new city! And...by the way...if you're planning a visit to the big apple, this one is a "must do"! Thanks for reading!! Cheers - MM Summer is HERE!! With the weather getting warmer it's time for a beauty bag re-fresh...check out below to see my favorite beauty buys for summer!  First - Lets talk makeup! One of my new favorite products for any time, not just summer, is Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer. It has no tint or color to it; its purpose is to reduce puffiness and dark circle. It's perfect for those of us that don't get enough sleep...which is probably all of us, let's be honest! It's important to protect your skin with sunscreen always but especially in the summer months when you have more intense exposure to the sun. My favorite options for light, airy coverage while still providing sunscreen is Smashbox, Camera Ready, CC Cream. It comes in tons of different shades and has SPF 30. It can be worn alone or with a light powder for extra coverage. With summer comes the inevitable outdoor bbq's, pool parties, and ???. Being from the south I'm used to hot humid weather which often causes running makeup which is why I love Stay, by Benefit. This product is for the eye area in particular. You apply it before your make-up and it keeps your eye shadow and concealer from from "straying". And I promise, it really works!!  Now let's talk cleansing! Between sweat, sunscreen, beach days, and outdoor activities our skin certainly gets a workout so cleansing is extra important! I like to use Cetaphil Cleansing cloths to take off the first layer of grime. I then wash with the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. After rinsing throughly I breakout my Clarisonic Mia, with another dollop of the cetaphil cleanser I my face another whirl. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Mia; it provides a gentle way of exfoliating. Another great tip for keeping clear, healthy skin, is to make sure you're changing out your face towel often!  Once you've cleansed now you need to hydrate! I absolutley hate wearing a heavy cream in the summer time! The new Neutrogena, Hydro Boost Water Gel is PERFECT!! It is light weight, cool, and refreshing yet still provides excellent moisturizing. I also like to apply it to my neck and the backs of my hands. In addition to a traditional moisturizer I also like to use an eye cream. I have tried several different brands, all generic drugstore finds, and Roc Retinol Eye Cream has been favorite. I can truly tell a difference in the fine lines and less puffiness. Also, I'm convinced that it has made my eye lash grow longer - which is a huge plus!!  Taking care of our hair is also just as important especially if you color treat your hair! Two of my favorite products for protecting color treated hair are Pureology's Color Fanatic spray and Perfect 4 Platinum Miracle Treatment. Both of these are must haves for your pool/beach bag and medicine cabinet! They help keep your color protected and your hair healthy while being exposed to the sun, chemical elements from the pool, and harsh salt water and elements from the beach.  And of course we can't forget about our summer tans!! As we all know, tanning is bad for us...but most of us feel better about our selves when we have a "healthy glow". A great solution to this predicament is the St.Tropez Gradual Tan Tinted lotion. Not only does it give you a healthy glow but it helps smooth out imperfections and gives a flawless looking finish to your skin! Happy summer ya'll!! Cheers to fabulous skin and hair!! Thanks for reading! XX-MM 6/6/2016 0 Comments MM Favorite Things: Long Weekends, Cocktails with a View, & Warm Weather...My Memorial Day Weekend Re-Cap!First, I would like to say "thank you" to all of the men and women who have served and protected this country for our freedom. May we all remember the true reason for Memorial Day. While we celebrate Memorial Day with grateful hearts, it is also often known as the "unofficial start of summer" and the official kick off weekend of backyard BBQ-ing. This year, our Memorial Day consisted of a few different traditions--we spent the weekend in the City checking off some of our bucket list items! Take a peak below at our Memorial Day weekend festivities... Saturday  Memorial Day weekend means you can officially wear WHITE. So...I took full advantage of the opportunity! Saturday was arguably the prettiest day in the City this year. We decided to take a hop, skip, and a jump over to the west side of the island and spend the afternoon at The Frying Pan. The Frying Pan is an old barge that is docked to an old railroad bed; it has been turned into basically a "party barge". Buckets of Corona's are plentiful, sangria can be found on tap, fish tacos & burgers are a staple, and a good view is guaranteed!
Sunday Sunday morning was surprisingly quiet in the City, so I took the opportunity to enjoy some time alone on the roof top. It was the perfect spot to get a little work done and soak up some vitamin D!  It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to go to a Met's game at Citi field, and Sunday night that dream came true!!
 Monday Any Monday that's a paid day off deserves a cocktail! One of my favorite places in the City is "down south," between the start of the financial district and the tail end of Tribeca. It's right on the water with great views of Jersey City, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and, of course, the yachts; who could miss those!? The St.Tropez is one of my favorite summer time cocktails, and my goal is to figure out how to re-create it at home!  Cheers to an excellent start to the summer!! Thanks for reading! XX-Molly  Photo courtesy of: Inside Out and Backwards - https://smartard.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/charlotte-n-c-skyline/ WE'RE MOVING BACK TO THE QC!!! Conner and I could not be happier to announce that we are moving back to Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is my hometown; and it's where Conner and I started our married lives together. After a fun year in the Big Apple, we have decided to return to our roots. In all of my excitement, I started reminiscing about all of our old favorite places; so I thought why not turn it into a blog post! Take a peak at our old stomping grounds... If you're a local friend, we hope to see you soon at one or many of these places; and if you're a long distance friend, come visit!!! Sports & Entertainment  Restaurants & Dining  Breweries Shopping I could go on & on.... Be sure to check out these places if you haven't already. Once we are back, I will be posting about our new favorite spots & finds. Stay tuned! Hope to see you all there soon! Cheers to moving...again!! -Molly Sweet tea is a staple in the South; but since moving north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I have had no choice but to make my own at home. I pride myself on being a Southern girl, and as every good Southern girl knows, you must know the proper way to make "real" sweet tea! So today I am sharing my Southern sweet tea recipe. Enjoy...  Here's what you'll need: - Tea maker (or a tea kettle will also work) - Regular tea bags - Sugar - Ice -Tall wooden spoon - Lemon - Serving glasses (mason jars are my favorite!) - Straws - Separate serving carafe or pitcher - optional  Get all of your goodies out and ready to go!  Place your tea bags in your tea maker, or in your tea kettle of boiling water. I use 8-10 small tea bags, 2-4 medium, or 1 large. The more tea bags you use, the stronger the tea flavor.  While your tea is steeping, prep your glasses. Fill each glass with ice, slice your lemons into wedges, and get your straws ready!  Lots of sugar is a key ingredient when making sweet tea... I use 1 full cup per pitcher. Yes, you read that correctly!  Now here 's the true secret to "real" Southern sweet tea...so listen up! You must add the sugar while the tea is still HOT, so it melts completely.  Once your sugar is fully melted and combined, add ice and stir!
And there you have it... Simply fill your glasses, add a lemon wedge, a straw, and you're ready to serve! Thanks for reading today! Make sure to stick around for more Southern specialty posts! Cheers to sweet tea y'all! - Molly For most of you, today is just another day... But for my adorable hubby, Conner, and me, it's April 11th...and today we celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary! One year ago today we embarked on the most exciting and magical time of our lives. So, today I thought I would share some of my favorite moments from our special day. (I'll list all of the details at the bottom of the post.)  
      
  
 
 
 I want to thank our parents for hosting a beautiful wedding weekend for us! It was everything we dreamed of and more, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our wedding day & weekend the most magical time of our lives. Thank you to all of our family and friends who traveled to Savannah to celebrate with us. You all mean the world to Conner and me, and it wouldn't have been the same without each and every one of you. Thank you to our bridal party for standing by us on the most important day of our lives! And thank you to my husband, for choosing me to live this wonderful life by your side, for always encouraging me, challenging me, and loving me unconditionally. Now that I have been overly sentimental, here are all of the details. Click on each to be linked directly to more information: Destination - Savannah, Georgia Church - The Lutheran Church of the Ascension Reception - The Charles Morris Center Gown - "Maude" by Lea-Ann Belter from Ladies of Lineage, Charlotte, North Carolina My Shoes - Badgley Mischka Bridesmaids Dresses - Alfred Sung Groom & Groomsmen Suits - Jos. A. Bank Wedding Planner - Vanessa Saturday of Spectacular Saturdays Florist - Amy Harvey Designs Floral Ribbons - East Coast Trimmings, New York City Caterer - Savor Savannah Cake - Mollie Stone Rentals - Amazing Event Rentals DJ - VIP Entertainment Trolley - Old Savannah Tours Photography - Dragonfly Photography (no longer doing weddings) Picture Locations - Forsyth Park and Chippewa Square Hair & Makeup - Joli A. Get-ready location - The Marshall House Wedding night accommodations- The Brice, a Kimpton Hotel Bridesmaids Luncheon - Olde Pink House Rehearsal Dinner - Vic's On The River Thanks for reading & for reminiscing with me today! Cheers Ya'll - Molly One of my favorite things on earth is Snail Mail... and I'm doing my part to make sure this dying art form lives on! So, I thought I would share some of my favorites with you...  Tips and Tricks 1- If you're challenged at spelling, like I am, use technology to your advantage. Type up what you want to write first and run a spell check! 2- What you write doesn't have to be long, just meaningful. It's not about quantity; it's about quality! 3- Cute stationary is not always expensive. Check out the Target and Michael's dollar sections! 4-Write in whatever medium you're comfortable. I prefer the Extra Thin Sharpie pack-- the colors are great, and I can control my writing better than a ball point. 
Shop all of my favorites from this post here, and be sure to check out my favorite stationery spots... -May Designs -Paper Source -Papyrus -The Stationery Studio I promise you that you'll make someone's day by simply sending a piece of snail mail! Let's help make the world a happier place one note at a time--spread the cheer! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly Spring is upon us, and with that comes WEDDING SEASON! Having attended many weddings, been in many weddings, and even planned my own wedding, I have a few tidbits of advice ...  If you're attending a wedding as a guest there are a few simple courtesies to follow: -RSVP...I'm serious! Having planned a wedding, it is IMPERATIVE to RSVP by the indicated date. No bride has the time to track down all of the folks who haven't responded, and it is incredibly hard to give caterers and rental companies numbers and deposits by the deadline. -If you have replied "Yes" then you must attend (barring some horrible emergency). If there is a legitimate emergency, be sure to contact the bride to let her know and offer to pay for your portion. - Send your wedding gift instead of bringing it with you. It makes it much easier for the bride & groom, and as the guest it's one less thing you have to remember. - DO NOT WEAR WHITE...ever...for any reason!  If you're an attendant in a wedding, make sure to keep these things in mind: - Do not complain about anything, ever! If you need to vent about something, call your mom. Do not spread gossip throughout the bridal party. It will get back to the bride. - Do your best to communicate with the bride and ask her if she needs help with anything, this simple gesture goes a long way! - If you are having a financial or commitment issue, do reach out to the bride to handle the situation with her personally - Do your very, very best to make it to all of the pre-wedding events: showers, engagement parties, bachelorette weekends, bridal luncheons, etc. While it may seem overwhelming, it will mean the world to the bride for you to be there to celebrate with her. If you can't make it to something, let the bride know in advance and send a card just to let her know that you're thinking of her. - The bridesmaids luncheon and rehearsal dinner are not optional events. Plus, who wants to miss out on the festivities and have FOMO? - You should still get the happy a couple a gift, even if it's something small. - If the bride asks you to get your hair, nails, and/or make-up done a certain way...just do it...with a smile! She has a vision in her head of her big day; and if something this menial helps make it what she's always dreamed of, then so be it :) - Don't leave the reception early. You are apart of the wedding party and it is expected that you stay until the bride and groom make their grand exit. - Remember to have fun & enjoy the time and the journey! You obviously mean the world to the bride, and she asked you stand with her on the most important day of her life..it is an honor & a gift!  If you're hosting a wedding, consider these tips while planning: - Remember that even though it is YOUR big day, you are the host to all of your guests. - Make sure you're guests are comfortable * Comfortable accommodations should be made available * Make sure there is easy access to information * Provide a schedule of events, so your guests know where to be when - Make sure that the time, money, and effort you're asking of your bridal party and guests is reflected in the style of your wedding and reception. Example: If you're expecting your guests to attend your wedding in Black Tie attire, then the tone of the wedding and the reception should reflect the formality: fine food and drink, seated meal, live band etc... - Cash bar is never acceptable. Open bar or no bar. A good way to stay budget friendly and still serve alcohol is to offer beer & wine only. - You should feed your guests. There are many options - heavy hors d'oeuvres, buffet, stations, plated meal. Choose whichever one suites your budget and style best. Trust me your guests will thank you :)  I hope these notes of advice help...whether you're the bride, a bridesmaid, or a guest! And always remember...weddings are FUN!! Enjoy the time with your special friends & family...that's the most import thing of all! Happy Wedding Season! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly |
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