Recent Travels: Columbus, Ohio

Recently I traveled to Columbus, Ohio to visit my brother Columbus is a straight-shot on Highway 70 from Indianapolis.  The car ride is only 3 hours.  I saw a lot of beautiful countryside on my ride & thought I would share it with you.  While in Columbus, I also checked out the boutiques and apparel shops in Short North on High St. and the Barnes & Noble near the Ohio State University.  I saw a couple of things that would make great Christmas gifts like the Angry Birds stuffed pigs and awesome tailgate serving-plates.   Below are the beautiful pictures I've taken from my travels:

Ohio Highway Sign

Columbus, Ohio Skyline

Artistic Columbus, Ohio Skyline

Angry Birds stuffed pigs at the Barnes & Noble

These OSU serving platters are perfect for tailgates!  I want to make my own with my college on it, don't you?!

Hay-bales at a farm near the highway.  I love the Fall countryside!

Fast & Furious picture of downtown Columbus, Ohio at night.

My Kind Of Dinner ;)

If I could, I would eat dinner like this every night: champagne and dessert!  It's so luxurious...

Yum! Dustjacketattic.blogspot.com

Oremus Tokaji and Dessert; wahi.typepad.com

Perfect For The Holidays; http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/T7/meringues-de.gif

Gourmet; cnbc.com

Rich & Luxurious; thekitchn.com

For the Holidays!

Dreadnoughtwines.com

Indy Weekender: The Ball & Biscuit

The Ball & Biscuit is a cozy bar located on Mass Ave., in downtown Indy.  It's a more high-end/trendy bar & lounge where sophisticated young professionals hangout in the evening. When you go there, don't expect large dinners and cheap beer as this place serves boutique wines, unique cocktails, craft beers, and "small plates (see below)," instead.  The dim lights and modern eclectic decor add to the ambiance and make it a great place for a date with that special someone, or a fun place to have a wine and cheese get-together with friends with its' great selection.  Show up in one of your trendy outfits and you'll fit right in.  Below are pictures from when I went there, and more information about the Ball & Biscuit at the bottom of this post. 

Small Plates: A list of the Ball & Biscuit's "small plates" of the day.

A view of downtown Indy from right outside the Ball & Biscuit.

Address

331 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone

317.636.0539

Hours

Monday-Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. 

(closed Sundays during football season). 

Website

http://www.ballandbiscuit.com/

Facebook

You can follow the latest happenings on the Ball & Biscuit's Facebook page here.

New Line I Love: Maje

With a mix of modern and Parisian-chic, it's no wonder why Maje is a household name in France. This chic French label from Moroccan-born designer Judith Milgrom is a mid market label worth keeping an eye on as it offers cool, feminine, chic fashion of high quality.  The whole collection has a strong identity and mixes classic pieces with hip details.  Leopard, black boots and pumps, leather jackets and leggings make perfect outfits that ooze with style. The best part is that this line will be opening their flagship US store in New York this Fall (2011) on 417 Bleecker Street and also on 145 Spring Street.  However, if you can't wait, you can buy their pieces at Netaporter and Bloomingdale's on 59th Street (Soho/Short Hills). Below is are my favorites from Maje's Fall 2011 lookbook:

 Visit Maje's website at: http://us.maje.com/#/en

Busy and Beautiful Pictures

Man!  I have been so busy the past couple days! Between planning a monster-size Halloween party and interviewing for jobs it has been so hectic.  It's so nice to be able to relax, sit down and blog with you.  Here are a couple of beautiful pictures from the past couple days.  Between trying to relax with a glass of imported French wine, to a beautiful bouquet my boyfriend brought home, to dealing with my dehydrated skin from the brisk Autumn weather, these pictures still look beautiful and almost luxurious.  Even if you are incredibly busy, it is always nice to find time to take a deep breath and unwind.  I've also added a couple of beauty tips. FYI

There's no better way to relax than drinking wine in the candle light.

A beautiful bouquet and fresh homemade bread.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream works wonders on dehydrated skin.

A Halloween Gift: Buffalo Trace Distillery's White Dog Mash--scary! and M&M candies.

It's always good to have a glass of water in between alcoholic beverages.  It lessens skin irritation the next day and keeps your skin hydrated.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween by indybabe featuring napa gloves

Simple Delicious Bread & Sandwich Recipe

Hey, guys!  Today for lunch I had an amazing sandwich!  I made it with homemade bread, a slice of Colby-jack cheese, a slice of turkey from the deli, and a balsamic dressing.  It was pure heaven, preservative free, and fresh. Oh, it was so good!!!! So, I thought I'd share a picture of it with you and give you my homemade bread recipe, as well.  It's a great way to avoid preservatives and it is pretty simple to make (especially if you have an electric mixer).  Pair it with a salad on the side and bon appetit!

Homemade bread, Colby-jack cheese, turkey, and balsamic dressing.  Yum!!!

Sandwich Directions:

• Homemade bread (see image below for recipe)
• 1 slice Colby-jack cheese (or any cheese you like)
• 1 slice turkey from your local deli ("sandwich slice" width) 
• Balsamic dressing (mix 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar with 1-2 tsp olive oil and a dash of pepper & shake)

Layer bread, then cheese, then turkey. Drizzle 1-2tsp of balsamic dressing on another slice of bread & place on top of turkey.  Whah-la! Done! 

My Bread Recipe

If you have an electric mixer, use this attachment!  It makes life so much easier!