Camelot Revisited: The Presidency of John F. Kennedy

Tumblr

The newly released interviews that Jacqueline Kennedy recorded in March 1964, barely five months after the murder of her husband, President John F. Kennedy have provided historians and Kennedy fans across the globe with a fresh insight into the legacy of Camelot. I recently wrote an article on the release of the Jacqueline Kennedy's interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., and they can be read here. I'd love to hear what you think, and listen to your perspective on this fascinating insight into the Kennedy Presidency.

Wine & Cookies.

Hello! Happy Monday everyone and Happy Halloween! Hope your weekend was fabulous. We haven't dressed up but we usually change our minds at the last minute and come up with some ridiculous costumes. We'll see. We might even get trick or treaters this year! I did already watch "Hocus Pocus" so I kinda feel like Halloween is over already. BRING ON THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. I'm sure you won't hold it against me if I decorate for Christmas tomorrow, right?

Here's my comfy outfit for another nice fall day. :)








Wearing:
Blouse: Fancy Treehouse
Skirt: c/o Romwe
Velvet Platforms: Asos

I've never shared a recipe with you before but I really love to bake and cook. Now that I have a large, functional, comfortable (finally!) kitchen I can have fun in, I'll be sharing more recipes if that's alright with you. :) I had to share this cookie recipe with you as I have made tons of cookies in my day and these were my very favorite. You basically follow the toll house recipe but with a few important changes. The main difference is tripling the vanilla extract and meting the butter instead of it just being softened. I read this somewhere online years ago and it seems to make a difference. I also added mini mallows and corn flakes. These are real good, guys. Real Good.



Chocolate Marshmallow Crunch Cookies.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup chocolate chips (I don't like the chocolate chips to overpower the cookie so I halved it)
2 handfuls semi crushed corn flakes
2 handfuls mini marshmallows

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels, corn flakes, and mallows. Drop by rounded tablespoon (mine are about 1.5 tbsps) onto parchment lined baking sheets (less dishes to clean afterwards!).

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

The marshmallow gets toasty and the corn flakes add a nice cruch. Ok, gotta make these again.





XO Coury

Lots of Leather

This is one of my favorite outfits, containing everything I love: leather, a loose tee, boots and shoulder pads! Sometimes I find myself wearing more bold outfits for mundane activities like running to the mall or grabbing a breakfast sandwich just because I put the outfit together and I can't wait to wear it for something more exciting. Beyond running errands, I did grab dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Lansing on Saturday, Michigan Brewing Company in this before changing into my lame-o Halloween costume.

[jacket by BCBG, tee by Wildfox, leather pants by BB Dakota c/o Lori's Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell boots c/o Lori's Shoes, sunglasses from Zara, dusty rose beaded bracelet c/o 31 Bits, gold bracelet c/o Kristin Hassan]

For Halloween, I dressed up as a cat. Lame I know, and next year I'm going to put more effort into it. My gorgeous friend, Jenn dressed up as Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction and her hubby dressed up as Vincent Vega while my boyfriend dressed up as a pepper shaker, which he spent two weeks designing and building himself, complete with a hat that actually dispensed pepper.

 
To see more photos from Halloween, click here! 

Photo of the Day: The Great Unknown

Tumblr

Wilbur Chocolate Factory

photos by Tom b.

- Alexa Chung for Madewell sweater
- vintage button up shirt
- vintage 60s skirt
- Topshop boots
- vintage Coach purse

My plan for posting photos today was to show you my Halloween costume that I wore yesterday. That plan was thwarted by a freak snowstorm that dumped about 5 inches of heavy, wet, sticky snow all over the region. My costume wasn't as elaborate as last year's but I was still dressed up as a character from a movie. Perhaps I'll recreate it later this week and snap some photos so I don't want to give it away just yet. Do you have any guesses?

Earlier last week Tom and I stopped in Lititz by the Wilbur Chocolate factory and snapped these photos. You can tour the factory and visit a little gift shop where they sell all sorts of chocolaty treats but it was all closed when we were there. The smell of chocolate in the air was such a tease coming out of the factory! I didn't get a treat but there was a little vending machine selling food for the ducks so I figured I'd give them a treat.

Halloween at the White House

Getty

The President and First Lady, accompanied by Marion Robinson handed out Halloween goodies and treats at the White House yesterday. Children from the local area, the Boys and Girls Club of America and from military families were among the lucky recipients. A box of White House M&Ms, and some White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookies were in the goody bags.

For this event, Mrs O wears a ASOS Body-Con Dress in Metallic Stripe, paired with knee high boots and her Sonia Rykiel Inauguration Coat.

---

The White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookie Recipe

1 lb Sugar                                                        1 tsp Vanilla

2 lbs Butter                                                     1 tsp Salt

3 Eggs                                                             3 lbs All Purpose Flour                                                            

Mix the butter and sugar till soft and well beaten. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt and half the flour. Beat on slow speed till mixed, then add the rest of the flour and mix until incorporated.

Push flat onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight. Roll out to one quarter inch thick and cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter.

Bake at 350F for 14 minutes and then allow to cool. 

The National Italian American Foundation Gala Dinner

Getty

Established Prep: Kate Spade

We love Kate Spade and everything she stands for! Some of our favourite picks from the recent collection can be seen below!

Sidewalks of New York Scarf

Essex Small Scout in Purple

Broome Street Red Jeans

Spade Tee

Rosie Cardigan

Oak Room Gara Top

Leena Heel

Enamel Garden Drop Earrings

Signature Spade Jacket

Kate Spade

Featured: Guest Editor at Forever 21!

Forever 21 challenged me to select one piece from there store, my choice, to style three ways and when I discovered this pretty mini with the long sheer sleeves, I had many ideas of how to wear it before I even tried it on. Visit Forever 21's blog to see the other two ways I styled it!

Photo of the Day: At the Yacht Club

Etsy

We got it.

So, I have a big house to fill with art so I can't buy every print I want on etsy right away.
This is a fun, very inexpensive way to decorate and have your art say something personal.
Yes, my song lyrics are from Judy Garland and Bryan Adams and yes, they both mean a lot to me. What an utterly strange coupling of two performers. So go my tastes. :) Gabe is a musician so he doesn't really even hear lyrics. The actual music is what rules his ears. To me, lyrics are everything.

Anyway, these Ikea frames were about $3 each, the iron on letters were $3, and the backing paper was $.59 so you have a framed piece of "art" for under $7. All you have to do is pick a quote, line your letters up, and iron them right on. Easy absolute peasy!















Wearing:
Sweater: c/o Willow and Clay
Butterfly Dress: Fancy Treehouse
Pumps: c/o Nine West

Hope you enjoy your weekend! Anyone gong to any fun parties/pumpkin patches/etc?
We're doing fun house stuff like always....maybe some painting. Last night we went out with friends to Indian food and it was such a treat. I hadn't had Indian in so long. It's one of my faves.
Ok, have a nice Saturday!


XO Coury