Yes, you read that correctly. If I had to pick the perfect food, a meatball just might be it. I’ll take them in just about any variety: beef, chicken, pork, venison… whatever. I’ve even dragged my husband all the way out to the Ikea in New Jersey under the guise of needing a new throw rug or coffee table. But in reality, all I wanted was a plate of Swedish meatballs and a side of ligonberries. Yep, I’ve got it bad!
So now that you’re aware of my condition, I’ll let you in on another little secret. You can catch me almost every other week at one of my favorite casual dining spots in the city: Meatball Shop. My husband and I have been regular fixtures pretty much since the day opened their first location on the Lower East Side years ago. We’ve tried just about every combo (including chicken with mushroom sauce, beef with classic tomato, pork with parmesan cream sauce, etc…), and it’s hard to choose a favorite because they’re all SO GOOD.
I was recently invited to the Greenwich Village location to try our their all-new menu and was instantly impressed. They’ve expanded their offering to include vegan and gluten-free options, seafood balls, and even more great salad combinations. My friends and I like to dine out together, so it’s awesome that one of my favorite restaurants can suit just about everyone’s dietary needs. On this visit, Eric and I made it a family affair and brought Christian along. The restaurant staff were very accomodating – allowing us to bring in the stroller and offering a high chair. Right now, we just give Christian tiny nibbles off our plates to sample, but I can’t wait for him to try the kids menu when he’s older.
On this visit, we tried the Thanksgiving Platter with turkey meatballs, stuffing, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce. It was everything a comfort meal should be. We also got a few appetizers, including mozz balls, risotto balls, and mini buffallo balls (hubby’s favorite). Meatball Shop has a great selection of craft cocktails, and my personal favs are the Devil’s Juice Sangria (pictured above) and Fool-Aid Punch.
Oh, and did I mention they serve custom ice cream sandwiches for dessert? My all-time favorite combo is one chocolate chip cookie and one peanut butter cookie with caramel icecream in the middle.
If you’re ever in the mood delicious food in a warm and friendly atmosphere, I highly recommend checking them out. Meatball Shop has locations throughout NYC and recently opened a new spot in DC. And if you can’t make it in person, you’re still in luck because they have a cookbook available for purchase on their site. I got mine a few years back, and it makes a great holiday gift for folks who know their way around the kitchen.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry. The opinions and text are all mine.
Full Disclosure: I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #JaredTimelessMoments campaign, sponsored by Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.
This year, Mother’s Day holds special importance for me as I rapidly count down these last few weeks of my pregnancy. While my husband and I have spent years dreaming and planning for this moment, I still sometimes find it hard to believe that very soon I’ll be a mommy. My heart is filled with so many emotions – ranging from nervous apprehension to pure joy and excitement – as I think about parenthood and the kind of mother I’d like to be.
Luckily, I have a fantastic role model to emulate. My mother and I may not always see eye-to-eye, but one thing I’ve never doubted is her love for me. She is truly a woman who would sacrifice everything for her children and always worked hard to make my brother and I feel protected and loved. I hope that as I raise my own children I can provide them with the same unwavering and unconditional love and support that I received from my mom.
As a kid, you think your parents are invincible, but my brother and I recently came very close to losing our mother after she suffered a massive stroke early last year. It’s been a surreal experience having to switch roles and take care of the woman who raised us. Her recovery has been remarkable and a true example of faith, willpower, and determination. Her feisty and outgoing spirit has also returned along with her physical strength, so this Mother’s Day will be a special one that we get to share as we both eagerly await the arrival of her new grandchild.
I’m very thoughtful and meticulous when it comes to gift-giving, and I’ve always enjoyed celebrating special moments with jewelry because of its longevity and ability to provide a lasting memory to its wearer. Since this will be the first Mother’s Day that I get to celebrate as a soon-to-be mommy, I wanted exceptional pieces to commemorate the occasion. That being said, I was ecstatic to collaborate with Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry to find something truly memorable. While browsing and trying on different jewelry, I discovered tons of gift ideas for both my mom and myself like this unique heartbeat necklace, these statement-making hoop earrings, and this absolutely gorgeous diamond choker.
The strength of diamonds – and in particular how they are created under pressure – comes to mind when I think of my mother.When I explained my vision and preferences to the staff at Jared’s, they were a dream to work with and provided tons of options and insight while helping me choose the perfect pieces to express my feelings on Mother’s Day.
I wound up selecting this stunning diamond pendant necklace and beautiful triangle bolo bracelet for their simple elegance and dual meaning. For me, the three diamonds and three points on the triangles represent the past, present and future, as well as my mother, myself, and my unborn child. Both pieces are great for special occasions as well as casual everyday wear, and I couldn’t wait to show them off at my baby shower this past weekend where I wore them with the gorgeous blue maxi dress you see above.
My husband and I were both impressed at the range of selections at so many different price points as well as how patient and attentive the associates were throughout the entire selection process. If you’re in search of the perfect gift (either for yourself or the mother-figure in your life), I highly recommend checking out Jared’s helpful Mother’s Day Gift Guide. It’s full of wonderful selections that are sure to bring a smile to any mom’s face.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’d love to know how you all plan to celebrate. Let me know in the comments, as well as what you think about the pieces I selected from Jared’s!
While I would love nothing more than to teeter around in sweet mary janes, killer stilettos and delicate sandals all-year-round, there’s this pesky thing called winter – often accompanied by an even peskier phenomena known as snow – that manages to throw a wrench in my plans every year like clockwork.
Rather than run the risk of catching frostbite (or perhaps even worse, ruining the suede finish on my beloved Manolos!) I turn my sartorial tastes to more practical shoe fare from roughly November through March. Growing up in Michigan and spending my entire adult life in New York State, I’ve grown to learn a thing or two about what makes a great winter boot collection. And below are my top selections that have stood the test of time in keeping my tootsies warm, toasty and dry through even the bleakest of seasons…
{Left: TIMBERLAND; Right: COACH}
If you live someplace that ever gets more than an inch or two of snow at a time, then you’re gonna wanna go ahead and get some real deal, heavy-duty snow boots. Sorry to break it to you kids, but there’s just no way around it. Luckily, styles have come a long way since the dorky moon boots that were forced upon my feet as a child in the 80s.
I’ve had both these Timberland and Coach pairs for going on 8 years now (does that make them almost vintage?), and they still manage to keep my feet just as warm and dry as the day that I purchased them. I’ve worn them in -40 degree temps and ankle deep snow and lived to tell about it. What you want to look for here is something with a flawless traction (‘cuz you know… ice), a warm fleece-y lining, and a fully gusseted tongue that prevents water from seeping into your boots. Trust me on this – getting water or snow into your boots is NOT fun.
The pair on the right are a little chicer thanks to the glossy finish and fuzzy trim. But in serious weather conditions, I very much appreciate the taller shaft height of the pair on the left. In fact, these are my go-to apres-ski boots that I always take with me on our annual trip to Mount Snow in Vermont.
{Left: HUNTER; Right: SALVATORE FERRAGAMO}
Next up is a good old-fashioned pair of rubber wellies. Now I know all of my peeps who live in true snow paradises like Minnesota, New Hampshire, Maine and the like will probably scoff (if not sneer) at the idea of wearing rubber rain boots in the snow, but I still hold firm that boots like these serve a crucial function in your winter arsenal. As the temps warm, and the fluffy white stuff turns into a slushy grey mess, you’ll be glad you have shoes like these at the ready. I usually reserve my wellies for when the temps are above 30 degrees Fahrenheit. But to be honest, I’ve gotten away with wearing them well below freezing with my secret weapon: FLEECE BOOT SOCKS! Seriously, these things are a game-changer. Getchu some!
Hunter is of course the gold-standard (at least in the fashion blogosphere) when it comes to rainboots, but rest-assured there are other viable options out there as well. Some folks even have a whole kaleidescope of colors to match their many outfits and moods. But this pair of trusty matte black Classic Tall boots have served me well since 2010, and I haven’t felt the need to branch out to other hues.
Now if you’re fancy like me (or like her), you may want to consider a pair of designer rain boots. If you’re initial reaction to that statement was something like: “Spend $200 on a pair of rubber boots..? Girl, you crazy!” – just hear me out for a second. Yes, I absolutely realize that this can be viewed as a frivolous purchase. But from a cost-per-wear standpoint, these Ferragamos are easily my most practical designer shoe purchase ever. I bought them on a whim in 2015 and still get compliments to this day every. single. time. I wear them. I’m not even exagerrating. In fact, a lot of people don’t even realize they’re rain boots at first. These are my go-to shoes whenever the weather is downright nasty, but I still have to look polished and put-together. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing more confidence-bursting than walking into a meeting with an important client looking like a schlub. These pretty little things allow me to put my best foot forward (see what I did there?) while braving the elements.
{Left: L.L. BEAN; Right: J. CREW}
Next up, we half your ankle-high boots. Shorties are great for those casual days when the snow isn’t too deep, but it’s still nasty enough out where you don’t wanna take a chance in ruining your regular shoes. In fact, if you live in warmer climates or places that just tend to get much snow, you can probably get away with just a pair of these.
As far as classics go, you really can’t go wrong with good ol’ Bean Boots. They’re a surefire way to put a little prep in your step (if you’re into that sort of thing). My husband’s had his pair for close to eight years, and he finally convinced me to jump on the bandwagon in preparation for our trip to Alaska back in 2015. I personally don’t find them great for snow, because they don’t have much of a lining. But they do offer versions with shearling on the inside as well. Just beware – each pair is made by hand, and they tend to sell out quickly once the temperatures begin to drop. Luckily, I bought my pair over the summer and had no problems getting the exact style I wanted.
The pair of boots on the right are a more recent acquisition that I wish I would have embraced sooner. These rubber chelsea boots serve a similar purpose to my Ferragamo’s, but in a more casual style and much more wallet-friendly price point. I also love my little shorties for travel, because they fit into my luggage nicely without taking up too much room.
{Left: UGG; Right: WOOLRICH}
So the last two pairs are what I like to call my wildcards. I didn’t know I needed either one until they were placed upon my feet…
First off, we have your Classic Tall Uggs. While I’ve successfully managed to keep any visual evidence off of the interwebs until today, I’ve been quietly rocking my Uggs offline since 2004. This is only my second pair in that time span, and I can’t even remember how long ago I purchased them. While not exactly a fashion statement (while Cardi B. might have you believe differently), the fact of the matter is these bad boys are WARM. A suede brush and water-proofing spray is a must if you want your Uggs to have staying power. And if possible, never ever ever ever wear them in the rain or extremely slushy conditions… unless you don’t mind your boots permanently smelling like a wet dog from there on out.
And last, but not least, we have my beloved insulated hiking boots – purchased over the summer for my trip to Switzerland. I added the red laces to make them a bit more festive, and I gotta say – I’m in love! The great thing about these is that they’re multi-purpose. I’ll always be a city-slicker at heart, but I do like to venture out and explore nature from time to time, and these help keep me stylish while doing it.
True story: I’m addicted to meatballs!
Full Disclosure: I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #JaredTimelessMoments campaign, sponsored by 
