Kings' Carriage House...

Thank you all so much for your warm birthday wishes! It was so nice of all of you :)

I ended up having a wonderful evening, the boyf (MMB) brought me to Kings' Carriage House in our hood on the UES (upper east side). It was very romantical and I had a wonderful time. I have walked past the restaurant a bunch of times and always have wanted to go for dinner. MMB remembered this and surprised me with my birthday dinner there last night! For all of you New Yorker's reading, I would def recommended this place if you are looking for a romantic dinner with your lovey!

It's built right into a brownstone - so charming!

One of the many cozy little dining rooms!

xoxo KAG

Happy Birthday to ME!

I am officially 25 today and proud to report that I am not experiencing a quarter-life crisis! I feel so blessed to have a wonderful family, amazing friends, a loving boyf and all of you wonderful friends out in blogland! Hope you all have a great Monday and enjoy a cupcake - yum!
xoxo KAG

Good Read!

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all had a tres fab weekend, I am still down here in ATL. I just finished a GREAT book. I think I have mentioned that one of my fav authors is Jodi Picoult, well her newest book Handle with Care was amazing! This book def tugs at the heart strings. One of the main reasons I love Jodi Picoult's books is because they make you think, her novels always raise several issues and makes you look at topics from several different points of view. Handle With Care also raises several issues and asks questions like, what constitutes a valuable life? I couldn't put this book down, it's an unforgettable and profoundly moving story.

xoxo KAG

PS - GO NOVA! Such an amazing game last night!!

Friday's Musings...

First off. YAY for VILLANOVA! Such a big win last night! I was out with my 'Nova crew and we were so excited for the win!
LAB and I showing some 'Nova Love!

On another note, I got into GRAD SCHOOL yesterday! I was so happy. But now it's decision time and I am about to make some big changes ahh. I will keep you all posted.

Finally, I signed up for snail mail over at Sweet Tea Diaries, and I got my first note from her - so fun! And I think it's a great idea, little notes in the mail are the best. I am trying to think if we could create a big network of all who would like to be involved. These were my thoughts. Anyone who is interested can send me an email with their home address & maybe your birthday (i heart bday cards!) and email. I will create a big list of all the address' and then email the list out to those involved? What do you all think - has anyone ever tired this before?

Happy Friday! I am off to ATL tomorrow for Market.

xoxo KAG

Pennington & Bailes DISCOUNT CODE!

Yay! The boys over at Pennington & Bailes just extended an awesome DISCOUNT CODE to all KAG readers. They have great products, they are very well known for their Stadium Pants. They also have the most darling children's things! Check 'em out and make sure to pick up a pair for March Madness!

Enter code KAG at checkout and recieve 25% off you order!

xoxo KAG

ps - GO NOVA!

Thank-You Notes...

So I got to thinking about "Thank-you Notes" because I have started writing mine to all my tres fab friends who attended my Roaring 20's Birthday Bash!  Now you are not a bad person if you do not send thank-you notes, but I truly think it is always right to send a note of thanks to show your gratitude, and besides who doesn't like getting a note in the mail?

Food For Thought:

1.) Remember the "3 Day Rule" applies to sending a thank-you note as well as responding to an RSVP.

2.) Of course, even with the best intentions time can get away from us and oops our thank you is going to be quite late. What to do? I say write it anyway! Maybe add a little humor in your note. Write it and be sincere and make sure to send it!

3.) The "Bread & Butter" Letter - this is a note of thanks that originated after someone stayed as a houseguest. Basically a thank you letter from a guest to a host. This is my Mom's biggest pet peeve. She thinks it's horrible manners if someone does not write a thank- you note after spending the weekend at our home!

4.) As tempted as I might be right now to pop onto Shutterfly 

and create a picture/printed thank-you, I just will not let myself. Emily Post said it best,  "An engraved or printed thank-you card, no matter how attractive its design, cannot take the place of a personally written message of thanks."

5.) And remember, sometimes just "thank-you" on a gift card and a bottle of wine sends the perfect message.

When I am not using my personal stationery, I love Kate Spade Thank-You notes!

I love this "thank-you" by Kate Spade - it reads "Small Card. Big Thank You"

This set of thank-you notes by Kate Spade come with great lines like, "it's perfect", "you shouldn't have but I'm glad you did", "how did you know?", and "you've done it again".

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo KAG

My Blog Calling Card!

I am so excited, I had Cassie Adams Designs create a calling card for my blog! It's so fun - I just love it and can't wait to include it in all of my swap and giveaway packages!

xoxo KAG

PS pardon the blurriness - this is just a proof!

HuePhoria Discount!

Yay! The girls over at HuePhoria saw my post and wanted to send a discount code over to all KAG readers. Simply enter KAG at checkout and receive 25% off your entire purchase!

xoxo KAG

HuePhoria...

Have you all heard of this brand, HuePhoria?!

A friend of mine introduced it to me - how cute?

You know I need to order this martini glass for my extra dirties!

They have other cute products like ornaments and salt & pepper shakers!

I think these would make tres fab gifts. You guys

 will need to let me know if you have ever bought this brand before.

How Cute?!

I need these for the cabin in Maine!

xoxo KAG

And the winner is...

And the winner is...Angela over at Sweet Tea Diaries. Congrats Angela, I know you will love whichever designs you go with over at Cassie Adams Designs. She is simply the best! 

Thank you so much to all who entered! I wish 

you all could have won! Stay tuned for more fun giveaways coming up soon. 

xoxo KAG

Dahl House Discount!

Hey Everyone! Wanted to share this Spring Discount from The Dahl House! You know it is one of my fav brands. Get 20% off when you enter Spring2009 at checkout. 

Offer valid until 4-16-09!

Happy Monday!

xoxo KAG

Party Pics!

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a tres fab weekend. I am exhausted from an amazing birthday party but I wanted to share a few birthday party pics! 

xoxo KAG

So fun!

My sister MKG and I

The Boyf (MMB) and I in our "birthday hats"!

Guy Shot

Some of the girls!

MMB (the boyf) and I!

Birthday Party Weekend!

Don't you love 3 day weekends? I do! I took today off to head out to the summer house to get ready for the big roaring 20's birthday bash tomorrow! I am so excited - all my Villanova girls are coming into town, my LI crew will be in attendance also! It's going to be amazing, I can hardly wait for tomorrow night!

I am just in a comfy outfit today because I will be running around all day (see below). I am having so much fun with Polyvore!

I hope you all have a tres fab weekend. I can't wait to share the party pics with you all on Sunday night or Monday AM!

Happy 1st Day of Spring! It's my fav season.

xoxo KAG

Trench Coats are all the rage this spring!

Rain, Rain go away! Well I am gearing up for April Showers and am looking to add a bright fun Trench Coat into my wardrobe. I have my traditional Burberry Trench in a Khaki but I think it would be fun to add a bright coat into the mix. Which one do you all like?

• The double-breasted shiny whitish one is from the Banana Republic Monogram collection


• The Red Double Breasted Jacket with Belt is DKNY at Nordstrom


• The Yellow is the Tahari 'Keri' Trench Coat at Nordstrom


• The Green is the Michael Kors Notched Collar Trench at Nordstom


• The Khaki is the Mossimo Short Belted Trench Coat at Target


• The Blue is a belted trench from Gap
  

xoxo KAG

Cover your assets...

I don't know about you, but I find it so frustrating when I am sitting down at a restaurant and I keep reaching to pull my jeans up because I do not want to expose my underwear or worse my bum to the table behind me! Another problem I HATE layering - ugh - it's just not me. As I was browsing the internet I think I have found a tres fab solution! Have you all heard of Hip-T? It looks cute. Let me know if you all have heard about it or have tried it!

xoxo KAG

PROBLEM:

ANSWER:

Cassie Adams Giveaway!

I am so very excited to announce this giveaway! Cassie from Cassie Adams Designs is the best ever! You need to check her out for all of your stationery needs! I use her for everything from gifts, to invitations to my personal cards! She is so creative and easy to work with and of course so very talented!

Cassie has agreed to do a tres fab giveaway for all KAG readers! YAY! The winner will receive a set of 15 personalized note cards. IT GETS BETTER...the winner will be able to chose the design of the cards from her website!

* this is one of my fav designs*

xoxo KAG

HOW TO ENTER:

• Leave a comment (with email!) on this post by March 20th at 8pm, est (1 entry)


• Add my address in your Blog Roll or become a follower (receive 2 entries)


• Write a post about my giveaway & add me to your Blog Roll (receive 3 entries)


• Add the "Meet KAG" button to your page & link it back to my blog (receive an additional 5 entries)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

This is one of my fav days of the year (it helps that I am 100% IRISH!) - I hope everyone enjoys a green cupcake today. I am in my kelly green JCrew Cords and will be heading out of the office at lunch to skip over to 5th Ave and watch some the parade.

xoxo KAG

Lulu Vuitton's Fav Things!

Lulu (my kitty) wanted to share some of her fav things...

Mommy's Louis Vuitton Bag!

My "princess" food & water bowls!

My fav "nap time" pillow from pottery barn!

xoxo Lulu Vuitton

And the winner is...

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Gemvelopes giveaway! It was such a great turn out - it made me smile :) I wish you all could have won but unfortunately there can only be one winner and that person is...Kimmie! from over at Full Circle!

I'm sure by now you know how fair I like to be but just so everyone is aware how the winner is chosen... I create an excel spreadsheet and everyone is entered with the appropriate amount of entries. I then go to random.org and use the random number generator to pick the winner!

Happy Monday!

xoxo KAG

PS - I am so excited to announce another giveaway tomorrow!

Christian The Lion...

Cutest Video EVER! Check it out...

Christian The Lion

Love this clip...It was even on Oprah this week!

Happy Sunday!

xoxo KAG

Which Girl Are You?!

Which Pin Up Girl Are You?!

Happy Sunday!

xoxo KAG

*Click the picture to see a bigger version*

Another JCREW SAMPLE SALE!

My good friend who works for JCrew Corporate just emailed me this insider info!
March Sample Sale
Dates: March 17-19
Times: 11am-8pm
Featuring: Women’s Spring & Summer Styles from J.Crew & Madewell

April Sample Sale
Dates: April 13-17
Featuring: Women’s, Men’s, crewcuts and Madewell Spring & Summer Styles

Both sales will be held at:
Clothingline
261 West 36th Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Happy Friday!

xoxo KAG

A. Tierney St. Patty's Discount!

Great Discount and who doesn't love a free key fob?! Make sure to visit www.atierney.com

TGIF!

xoxo KAG

Gemvelopes Giveaway!

Linda, the owner of Gemvelopes, has been so generous and has agreed to do a giveaway for all KAG readers! How fun? Her products are so cute and functional! They make the absolute perfect gift. This giveaway gets better...We will be giving away 8-10 pieces to the winner! Perfect as a girls weekend gift or bridesmaid gift right?!
xoxo KAG

HOW TO ENTER:



• Leave a comment (with email!) on this post by March 16th at 8pm, est (1 entry)




• Add my address in your Blog Roll or become a follower (receive 2 entries)




• Write a post about my giveaway & add me to your Blog Roll (receive 3 entries)




• Add the "Meet KAG" button to your page & link it back to my blog (receive an additional 5 entries)
  
  

Carrie Dunham Giveaway WINNER...

And the WINNER is: All American Preppy over at The Monogrammed Nest!!

You are the lucky winner of the Carrie Dunham camera case! I just know you will love this tres fab case!

Thanks so much to all who entered! I will be hosting another giveaway at some point this week! Be sure to check back!

xoxo KAG

Blogger/Lilly P. Event Pics!

SweetPea (in Green) from Horse, Hound and Home and I at the event!

Fun Lilly Pulitzer Water Bottles from the event!

More pics to come soon!

xoxo KAG

 

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day!

Did you know:

Johnny Appleseed Day honors one of America's great legends. Johnny Appleseed was a real person. John Chapman was among the American settlers who were captivated by the movement west across the continent. As Johnny Appleseed travelled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew!

Sweet and Chunky Apple Butter Recipe *idea inspired my Monogram Momma

Ingredients:
2 pounds (1 kg) McIntosh apples, peeled and cored (6 large apples)
2 pounds (1 kg) Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored (4 large apples)
1 cup (250 mL) apple cider
2 cups (500 mL) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons (25 mL) lemon juice

Preparation:

1. Cut McIntosh apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cut Granny Smith apples into smaller dice.
2. Combine apples and cider in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and boil gently for 20 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half.
3. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Return to a boil, reduce heat, and boil gently for about 25 minutes or until mixture is very thick. There should still be some tender apple chunks remaining. Remove from heat.
4. Ladle into sterilized jars.

Variation: Spiced Apple Butter Add 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground cloves and allspice with the sugar.

*This recipe is excerpted from The Complete Book of Year-Round Small-Batch Preserving, by Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard

xoxo KAG

Blogger/Lilly Pulitzer Townhouse Gathering!

Well last night was tres fab! I was lucky enough to attend Hopsy's event at the Lilly Pulitzer Townhouse on Madison Ave and meet lots of my blogging buddies! It was a wonderful evening and it was great to meet and chat with such wonderful ladies! I wish you all could have been there! Pictures coming soon!

xoxo KAG

50 things about KAG....

This is my 50th post! I can't believe it! So here are 50 things about me:

1. I can't snap.

2. My middle name is Ann.
3. I am the oldest of 4 children.
4. I have 2 younger sisters and 1 younger brother.
5. I'm an Aires.
6. I have this abnormal fear of someone breaking into my apartment and killing me (sick I know).
7. I'm a story-teller, it's what I do best.
8. I think one of my favorite foods is dirty water dogs aka hot dogs out of the street carts in NYC.
9. I like swimming pools more than the beach...they have swim up bars!
10. I have wanted to be a mom since I was 5.
11. Like I said I can't snap, but I can tear up the ski slope.
12. I am a total hypochondriac. Really - it's bad.
13. I heart birthdays...mine usually turns into a week celebration - okay a month.
14. YES - i did eat a snickers with mayo on it.
15. The night sky in Maine is the prettiest thing I have ever seen.
16. I want to be an entrepreneur just like my dad :)
17. I hope I can be an amazing one of a kind mother that my mom is.
18. I ALWAYS write a thank you note, not an email but an actual note on stationery.
19. My boyf thinks I am prettier without makeup! That's why I love him!
20. I like how I look with my hair tied back in a wet knot more than when it's blown out.
21. I am the biggest oxymoron.
22. I am a democrat.
23. LuLu Vuitton (my kitten) is the best!
24. I send cards for every holiday, even st. patricks day - lulu is usually the model.
25. I generally always do the right thing.
26. I TALK a lot...
27. I need to remember to THINK before I SPEAK more...
28. I'm opiniated and never compromise my thoughts...
29. Currently I own 17 pairs of Jack Rodgers.
30. A girl can never have to many Louis Vuitton bags, I am up to 5 and the collection is growing.
31. Reading is my fav thing to do. I read about 2 books a week.
32. I want to write a book one day.
33. I have a crazy imagination.
34. I have loved olive juice since I was a kid. Used to drink it out of the jar.
35. Dirty Martinis are my fav cocktail.
36. Real Simple is my fav mag.
37. Jodi Picoult is my favorite author.
38. I always wondered what it would feel like to fall in love/be in love and then I met MMB (the boyf).
39. I have gotten weekly manis/pedis since I was in 7th grade and started babysitting - gotta love extra cash.
40. I'm 24 (soon to be 25) and still love babysitting.
41. I feel so lucky to have lots of amazing friends.
42. I like meeting new people, and always try to take something away from every person I meet.
43. I try to put myself in another persons shoes before I judge.
44. I judge myself the hardest.
45. My family inspires me every single day.
46. I'm dramatic.
47. I'm glad I kissed my lifelong crush before I fell in love.
48. I'll never grow out of being preppy, loving pink, or my monogram.
49. Being HEALTHY & HAPPY are the most important things.
50. YOLO - you only live once - I say that mantra everyday and am working on living it everyday.

xoxo KAG

PS! you can enter my giveaway until 8pm tonight! And I am meeting blogging buddies at the Lilly P. townhouse tonight - how fun!?

Laundress Discount Code

One of my favorite brands, The Landress, is having a tres fab sale. Spend $100, SAVE $25! Yay for sales.

xoxo KAG

Cords tangle when they dangle...

I don't know about you guys but I CAN'T seem to keep my ipod earphone cords from tangling - it's so fustrating! But this little gadget is going to be my new best friend! It's called the Cableyoyo Pop. This cord winder keeps cords under control and keeps them from getting tangled! YAY!

You can stick it right onto the back on your ipod or cell phone. How amazing?!

xoxo KAG

PS REMEMBER TO ENTER MY FAB GIVEAWAY!

I believe...

I believe in pink. I believe that loving is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. -Audrey Hepburn

Happy Sunday!

xoxo KAG

Still makes me laugh...

Well it's a little bit of a rough morning here for KAG, Happy Hour lasted way more that an hour last night...and I'm paying for it now. I was just going through some more Costa Rica pictures and I started laughing out loud looking at some of the "horse" ones. I am a pretty experienced rider but the other girls not so much...so you can imagine some of the stories we have from this adventure. LAB had the roughest time and I can't help but laugh when I think about her on the horse.

Keep in mind that she (LAB) had never been on a real horse back riding adventure other than like the fake stuff on class trips or something. Soooo we're all trotting along the beach and it's all "aww so pretty etc..." And then all of a sudden LAB's horse decides to gallop off & she is holding on for dear life! She is trying to turn it around & slow it down but as she claims "it starts making crazy horse noises & bucking". She starts getting super scared, and was shaking uncontrollably & again she claims "my life flashed before my eyes" It was then that I came to her rescue "cowboy style" calmed down her horse and grabed it while she JUMPS off the horse. She was hysterically crying and says she is "basically never going near a b*stard horse ever again"!

LAB running down the beach away from the horses - refusing to get back on!

TGIF!

xoxo KAG

Carrie Dunham Giveaway!

I discovered this brand while at the NY Gift Show this past January! It is amazing - so cute. You need to check out Carrie Dunham. The brand has chic yet functional cases for your laptops and other electronic accessories. Her designs are created with a fresh, original approach to classic styles.

I am so excited to announce that Carrie is going to do a giveaway for all KAG readers! No more boring camera cases for you, enter to win "The Marina", an adorable Brown Canvas camera case. People are using it for more than just a camera - some are using as a wallet, a phone case or for just about anything!

Rules to enter:

• Leave a comment (with email!) on this post by March 10th at 8pm, est (1 entry)




• Add my address in your Blog Roll or become a follower (receive 2 entries)




• Write a post about my giveaway & add me to your Blog Roll (receive 3 entries)




• Add the "Meet KAG" button to your page & link it back to my blog (receive an additional 5 entries)