Have you been over to the Bloomacious Cafe yet? It’s wonderful -!- I love all the things they write about… food, style, interior design = my heaven!

Last week I was delighted to find that Carrie from Bloomacious did a “Designer Profile” about -ME!- called ‘We HEART ABC DRAGOO’ on the Bloomacious Cafe. Awwww, I heart Bloomacious too!

Not only did she write a sweet little profile about ABCD and my stationery design but there was also a post about my style as an interior designer. Hooray- it’s features like these that make me sooooo excited to get working on a new interior design project!

If you sign up to leave comments at the Cafe you are also offered the opportunity to upload photos and blog within their site. As a member of the Cafe you may import your personal RSS blog feed, write your bio and interact with other Bloomacious members. Interesting concept, isn’t it? It’s almost like a facebook format -only with much, much prettier content.  Don’t worry, you won’t find silly games or baby pictures belonging to old High School friends. You’ll be smothered with wonderful eye candy related to food, style, fashion and design instead. Yummy, no?

Want to know more? Follow Carrie Leber on Twitter, check out her Bloomacious blog or do what couldn’t resist and join the Bloomacious Cafe to interact on a higher level within the Bloomacious community. Bloomacious is full to the rim with very chic content – and I am delighted that Carrie thought enough of ABCD Design to put me in the spotlight!

I look forward to visiting the Bloomacious Cafe on a regular basis. Now … if they only delivered the food that they’ve got featured in the foodie portion of the blog — I’d be set for life!

1 Comment » Posted by ABCD / ABCD Designs Bespoke Stationery and Design and I love this and In The News and Interior Design as Inspiration and Invitation Design and Thank You For The Mention and Uncategorized and YAY

You may have noticed - I neglected to write a blog post yesterday. Monday through Friday I wake up between 6 and 7am. I sip my morning espresso and start my day by writing a blog post. WELL … yesterday was a whole different thing. I have lived in NYC for 10 years and I don’t think I have never had such an early curtain call. Don’t get me wrong, I am a morning person. It’s just that when you are working in the design world meetings tend to start a smidge later. I have been blessed not to have to brave the subway during rush hour – EVER – until yesterday.

I hopped on at Wall Street and rode to Herald Square (with all the suits at 8:15 – YOWZA, so crowded!!) to attend Boot Camp with The Smart Planner at 9am. It was so completely worth every minute of pain I felt getting “dressed” and socializing before fully caffinated. Liene Stevens has a wealth of information. In the boot camp she dishes details on all the nitty gritty stuff that I have struggled to teach myself about blogging over the last few years.

What a fun day! Not only did I learn a thing or two about google analytics, tags, categories and labeling my photos but I was able to meet more of my “Twitter friends” in the real world such as @EliteAffairs @RiceInk @FreshLimeEvents and @TribecaYummyMum. I also got to meet new people to follow like event planners @capriesevents and @tammygolson and many, many others who are in the wedding vendor world but I have not had the pleasure of connecting with on Twitter -yet.

Thank you Liene (@TheSmartPlanner) for hosting such an informative and amazing day!

1 Comment » Posted by ABCD / Personal and What's on?

Hailey Stern Wrote:
Amy,

I just wanted to tell you how IN LOVE I am with our entire invitation suite. You did the most amazing job. To have all of the pieces in hand and to see them all together, I’m so happy with the way they turned out. I’ve never seen anything like it. They are truly a work of art. I’m seriously considering framing some of the pieces. I couldn’t be happier. We are mailing them out in the next day or so, and I can’t wait to hear everyone’s responses.

Thank you, once again, for creating such a beautiful suite for our wedding.
Hailey

No Comments » Posted by ABCD / ABCD Designs Bespoke Stationery and Accolades and Final Product and Thank You for the Thank You and Uncategorized and Wedding Stationery Wardrobe and Wedding Suite

Since we’ve been married Mr. D and I have not had “traditional” Memorial Day weekends. It just so happened that we’ve been in London the weeks surrounding Memorial Day the last few years. Last year we took a trip to Helsinki over the long weekend (which also happens to be a bank holiday in Europe.) The year before that we took the train from London to Paris. We visited all the spots you’re “supposed to” and went on a three day crusade to find the best Croque Madame, Escargot, Onion Soup and Crème Brûlée in town ~delicious! The unfortunate part: it rained all but three hours of our trip. Wah!

But Helsinki – who knew!?! The air was so clean. It was so easy to get around. Everyone speaks amazing English. They’d say “hi-hi!” (they assumed that we were Finnish – the two of us sorta have that look) and when we said “Hello” they’d immediately switch into English so clear it was better than ours. Everything was in full Technicolor. The days were ultra long because of how far North it is. The sun would rise at 4am (thank heavens for black out shades) and would not set until Midnight. There was something completely surreal about needing sunglasses on the way home from dinner after 11pm! To top it all off, we stayed at The Hotel Kamp – yes, another “free” Starwood vacation. No doubt, it was an incredible trip.

The food blew our minds. We went from one meal to the next saying “this lunch can not be better than dinner last night” … “this dinner could not be any more amazing than lunch today” … and each meal was better than the last. We even had a wonderful afternoon lunch in the Market Square.

Needless to say – with all that is going on with us this year – we stayed close to home. Yesterday we took a drive out of the City. We ate lunch at an outdoor cafe in Rhinebeck, New York and then drove across to Litchfield County and had an afternoon coffee in our favorite town, Kent. We plan to take a trip next week to Knoxville (once Mr.D’s job is done) where we will FINALLY meet our new niece Cordelia ~HOORAY!!!

If we were going the traditional route and attending a picnic today it’s likely I’d make one of my favorites: strawberry shortcake. This recipe is via Southern Living – however you prepare it – it’s a hard dessert to mess up.

You may remember that I shared my strawberry “shortcake” recipe (made with whole wheat scones) here. Given that Mr. D’s mom has not been in good health I prepared her “Happy Birthday Shortcake” without additional sugar. The shortcake is made from whole wheat scones, the berries were not macerated in sugar and the cream was simply whipped with a little organic vanilla extract.

Whatever you’re doing today -I hope you enjoy the rest of your three day weekend!

1 Comment » Posted by ABCD / Personal and Travel and Uncategorized and totally delicious dishes

Over the last few weeks I have responded to several e-mails all of which asking one thing … “Sounds like you may not be staying in NYC?” I guess I may have been a little vague on the blog recently.

Back in November we decided to sell our home. Given the economy and the possibility that Mr. D’s job may eventually end up in London – it was the smartest option for us. After about a month on the market, Madoff hit the financial sector. Shortly there after we learned that we were not being brought to live in London and that Mr. D’s job was going to end on May 31st. The hardest part is that for the last ten (plus) years my husband has identified himself by his career and the fact there has been demand for him in the industry –and now– it’s the exact opposite. If you are busily counting the date on your fingers – his final day is next week.

When word came to us about the firm closing it’s doors the two of us figured that he’d absolutely have a fabulous replacement lined up by this point. We’d happily go on with life as planned. NO SUCH LUCK! Everyday Mr. D goes to what we call “fake work” where he spends 8-10 hours looking for a new job. There have been a few interviews … but the fact remains that the job market stinks and no one is ready to hire him. Frustration with the job market has led him to cultivate his entrepreneurial spirit. Everyday I watch my husband try on potential careers like an English Lady tries on hats for a horse race.

The worst economic downturn in eighty years has put us in a very unusual position. We have no home, no real estate, no children, no pets, no plants, no 100+hour work week and no particular “stresses” to attend to – life (in a very strange way) has become our oyster. Without a clear “next step” presenting itself we are left to ask “If you could go anywhere and do anything … what would you do?” It’s a wee bit scary, isn’t it?

As May 31st draws near we have serious decisions to make. He is taking a very practical approach. I however dream that we’ll run off to Italy. Until some of this Madoff garbage blows over we should take advantage of our new found freedom, right? He can ride his bicycle. I will perfect my cannoli. We will meet for late dinners over a bottle of Chianti, mixed olives, soprosata, prosciutto and a array of delicious cheese. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

Mr.D is the kind of man who would straighten his tie with a laser level – (if you let him!) Needless to say I have not *quite* convinced him of my Italian farmhouse scheme. As life goes on I will continue to plug away at my bespoke stationery business, love design, find beauty in everyday items, re-decorate (when given the chance) and take advantage of the local culinary delights wherever it is that we find ourselves.

Stay tuned … there is never a dull moment these days!

4 Comments » Posted by ABCD / Personal and Travel and Uncategorized