Monthly Archives: November 2011

here’s to a happy home

by reallyrisa Posted on November 29, 2011

I’ve found my favorite wedding to-do: the registry! Not only does updating our registry satisfy my need to shop (without the shopping bag!), it’s tons of fun adding all the things we’ve been missing/craving to complete our home since we moved in together. Pots and pans? Check. Fancy wooden pepper mill? Check. Pretty antique vase? Got that, too. We’ve attended enough dinner parties and family gatherings, and I’ve showered enough girlfriends with gorgeous gifts to create beautiful homes, to know which pieces we need and which ones we’d absolutely love to have.

I’m particularly loving crisp white dinnerware with vibrant accent plates (we’re skipping the china altogether), antique silver, oversized bordeaux glasses, sturdy cookware, soft, sleek bedding and, of course, anything and everything wine and cheese. I can’t wait to throw our first dinner party as newlyweds! (Tip for the not-yet-registered: We picked one store for its huge selection of basics and electrics, and the other because I want to move into its catalog. But for those tidbits we couldn’t find at either, we’re using MyRegistry.com, where you can add absolutely anything, from absolutely anywhere!)

Posted in Home, Shopping, Wedding | Tagged Home Decor, Shopping, Wedding | Leave a comment

pizza shop perfection

by reallyrisa Posted on November 19, 2011

It’s a wonderful thing to walk outside your door and have your pick of great restaurants: family run Italian, Japanese, new American, Mexican, a whiskey bar (in the works), cute coffee shops (which I’ve shown you here and here) and pubs. All a three-minute walk from our stoop. Now add to the list two-week-old gourmet pizza shop, Birra (this was our second time there so that should tell you how much we like it!). If you enjoy good beer and are daring when it comes to pizza toppings, this is the best place south of South. On our first visit we tried the “Cheeseburger” pizza; last night we couldn’t resist the “Three Little Pigs.” Both times we’ve shared the mussels, too, which are cooked to perfection and swimming in the most incredible broth (my mouth is watering just thinking about them!). The restaurant is cute and cozy, and though it was pretty busy last night, the staff made us feel at home, even finding us a comfy seat at the corner of the bar so we didn’t have to wait for a table. I think it’s safe to say, Birra is absolute pizza shop perfection.

three little pigs: red w/pancetta, porchetta, gabagool, mozarella, fresh herbs

(tip: order extra bread for your mussels. the broth is so delicious, you’ll want to literally lick the bowl.)

mussels in a bath of Peroni, garlic pesto, herb butter, fresh herbs, chilis and cured tomato

Peroni for him, White Allagash for me

Posted in City Living, Food | Tagged City Living, Food, Philadelphia | 1 Comment

it’s chaya, not chhaya!

by reallyrisa Posted on November 8, 2011

The more I have it, the more I love brunch! Omelets, paninis, pancakes, mimosas, Bloody Marys … yum! But what makes brunch even better? Indulging inside a teeny, tiny café named after my sister. No really! Actually, not really. She lives in Michigan so I don’t think the owners know her, but a place called Chhaya just must be named after my sister Chaya. It’s not exactly a common moniker. Either way, we just had to see if Chhaya lived up to its name, and I assure you, it did! Next time my big sis visits the big city, I’ll have to treat her to her very own brunch.

frothy chai w/soy

chocolate chip pancakes

pumpkin chai w/skim

prettier than a black vinyl check holder

Posted in City Living, Food | Tagged Brunch in Philadelphia, Food, Philadelphia | 2 Comments

quiet nights

by reallyrisa Posted on November 4, 2011

My party days are long behind me. OK, fine, perhaps they’re not that far behind (ahem, last weekend), but there’s nothing I cherish more these days than a glass of wine and a night to myself. When the fiancé goes out to play, I spend some quality time with my favorite blogs, some un-dinner-like snacks and a little DVR catch-up. There’s just no better way to start the weekend.