Tucker Blair Flip Flops

Check out my new pair of needlepoint flip flops from Tucker Blair:Super cute!

I wear one of Tucker Blair's belts all the time in the winter, and now I'm sure I'll be donning these flip flops all summer long.

The needlepoint straps on these flip flops are handmade, and the soles are covered in a soft leather - they feel relaxed and comfortable, and they look casually elegant.There are three designs to choose from (of course I end up with the brightest of the three colors), and the sizing is unisex so both guys and girl can get in on the fun (I wear a 9.5/10 and a Medium fits me just right).

As an added bonus, there's free shipping this weekend. Just use the code "July4" at checkout.

Tucker Blair Needlepoint Flip Flops.

Book Giveaway Follow-Up

Congratulations to Julie, Chiara, Linn, Carson, and Carol -- the five winners of Lauren Lipton's Mating Rituals of the North American WASP.

If you didn't win (sorry!) and are interested in purchasing a copy of this fun summer read, click here.

There were hundreds of entries for the book giveaway (and some fantastic tailgating drinks); thank you all for entering.

Based on the success of that contest, I'll be offering another fabulous book giveaway - a book written by one of our favorite lady bloggers - next week.

Stay tuned...

Paris Sightseeing

In addition to the Marais, I also took in some of the more well-known tourist attractions in Paris...

My first night in town I went on a sunset cruise down the Seine. I did this the last time I was in Paris, and I'll do it next time I'm there too. It's very touristy, but it's a wonderfully slow, peaceful was to see a very fast-paced city.

Some snaps from the Seine River boat ride:

I went to the Musée d'Orsay to enjoy their massive collection of French Impressionists (with a little Van Gogh and a smattering of American painters). The old train station that houses this collection is almost as impressive as the paintings themselves.

A few photos from the Musée d'Orsay:
Then I wandered over to the Musée Rodin. The stately home on the property is where Rodin lived/worked, and now the beautiful, manicured gardens house some of his most important works like The Thinker. On a sunny day, this was the perfect afternoon stop.

Pictures of the grounds and sculptures:
A peek at the impressive Hôtel des Invalides (very Loius XIV indeed):
A delicious, bustling spot for my late lunch:More Paris, including a hotel review, to follow....

Paris - tour of the Marais

Before/after my bike trip I spent a few days in Paris. I've seen many of the city's super touristy things on previous visits -- they're great -- but I wanted to get off the beaten path a bit this time.

Richard from Eye Prefer Paris gave me a walking tour of the Marais one afternoon, a neighborhood I'd only breezed through before, and I absolutely loved what I saw.

The Marais is a vibrant mix -- there are giant old mansions tucked right off of wide, busy boulevards, contemporary art galleries down the street from traditional Jewish businesses, and trendy clothing boutiques next to classic cheese shops.

Here are some photos I snapped during my afternoon in the Marais...

The prettiest drinking fountain I've ever seen:
Beautiful courtyards:
Vegetables and cheese:
Place des Vosges:
Chocolate shoes(!) and chocolate bites:
Impressive old mansions:
My afternoon treat from Gerard Mulot:
A family enjoying this well-hidden rose garden:
Doors of the Marais:
Carved wood panel from a different door:
Street painting:(That's good to know, because I love N.Y. too.)

Paris always provides lots of options when it comes to food:Before our tour I'd told Richard that I have a short attention span and that I wanted to see a little of everything that the Marais had to offer. In three short hours he showed me great architecture, contemporary art, food markets, pastry shops, upscale boutiques, street food vendors, churches, synagogues, parks, etc. It was exactly what I wanted, and I'd definitely recommend him as a tour guide. Here's his website if you're interested.

Stay tuned for more posts on my delightful French holiday...

Monty Monday - Macaroons

I brought these delicious macaroons back from France for Chappy:I left my carry-on bag on the kitchen floor -- someone went inside it and thought the macaroons might be for them:Monty used his nose to push and push, and he almost got the lid off:But that didn't work so he decided to take the whole box back to his bed:He was persistent:Using his paws he actually removed the top of the box and was working on the tissue paper:I took the box away before he could eat any of the macaroons, but decided we'd share a cookie since he really, really wanted one. Here's his little piece:He loved it so much! (Who knew dogs liked egg whites and sugar?) I gave him another bite:I know he missed me, but he definitely loved the macaroons I brought back.

Melissa C. Morris on FameGame.com

Many thanks to the fine folks at FameGame.com for featuring me on their homepage today:Melissa C. Morris Fame Game profile.

FameGame.com.

Self-Portrait

Self-portrait of a cyclist -- relaxing after 185+km of riding with 1,600+m of climbing:Three days down, three to go on this biking trip...

Monty Monday - Je n'aime pas

Monty is not a happy camper when the suitcases come out of my closet. He knows what the suitcases means and he does not like it one bit.

I tried to explain to him that I was going to France for a week and that I'd see him shortly, but he was having none of it. He took to his bed and looked super sad.

He was unimpressed by the guidebook and my stories of all the fabulous sights in Paris:
And the normally camera ready pup wouldn't even look my way:Monty is still cute even when he's mad.

Thankfully I'll be home soon with lots of yummy treats and lots of hugs and love for my little guy.

Hotel Views

By day:
By night:

MCM on Twitter & Facebook

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Book Giveaway - Mating Rituals of the North American WASP

I had such fun reading Mating Rituals of the North American WASP, Lauren Lipton's second book, when I was traveling earlier this year.

Now you too can bring 'WASP' on your summer vacation. I'm giving away five copies -- scroll down for giveaway details.Here's the short version: A mismatched pair end up married after a wild night in Vegas. She's a bubbly and outgoing store owner from Manhattan, he's an aloof and introverted writer from an old line Connecticut WASP family. Realizing they're completely ill-suited to one another, they try to have their marriage annulled. The matriarch of the WASPy family intervenes, a deal is made, and you'll have to read the book to find out the rest...

This is a sweet and unlikely love story. It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, and totally tension-filled in other moments. I got into it and especially loved her clique of Connecticut WASPs - they were spot-on.

So, want to win a copy for your beach bag? I'm giving away five of them...

To enter the giveaway:

- email MCMgiveaway@gmail.com with WASP in the subject line.
- tell me your favorite drink for tailgating (and yes, there's a great tailgating scene in WASP).

Entries will be accepted for 1 week starting now - contest ends at 11.59PM on June 26th. Five winners will be selected randomly on Saturday, June 27th. If you win, I'll email to get your shipping information.

(The fine print: This contest is only open to US and Canadian entries. Sorry, but no shipping elsewhere.)

The author, Lauren Lipton, also has a delightful blog that's on my favorites list.

For more information on Mating Rituals of the North American WASP visit the publisher's website.

Good luck in the giveaway!

Google Maps Camera Car

The Google Maps camera cars have been in New York City for the past month or so. I'd heard reports of them in this neighborhood or that neighborhood, but I'd never seen their car until yesterday.

I was driving up the FDR from lower Manhattan around 4.30PM and spotted this:A green Chevy Cobalt with California plates and a giant camera apparatus mounted on top of its roof - the Google Maps car. (This car had its spare tire on. Perhaps Google Maps recorded a run-in with a big pothole somewhere in the five boroughs?)

Camera car up ahead:
And camera car right in front of me:I smiled and waved hello.

Monty Monday - Hiding in the Sweatshirt

Monty has been unimpressed by all the cool, rainy weather we've been having the Northeast. When he woke up last week to yet another day of grey skies, he'd had it...

He decided to stay warm and dry by crawling inside my sweatshirt:See him in there?

Hello little Monty!:I was lounging on my bed, working on my laptop when Monty wriggled his way inside my oversize sweatshirt. I'm not sure where he got this idea - perhaps he thought he was going under the bed covers? - but he was very, very happy inside there.

After half an hour I asked him if everything was all right in there:He didn't answer, so I assumed all was well.

He was just so sleepy and cute. I couldn't resist giving him the occasional kiss when he popped up to look around:
I thought he'd get tired of the sweatshirt cave once I stood up and started walking around, but he didn't budge. No hands, and he's still happily hanging out in there:Complete silliness!

The cutest little nose I've ever seen:He stayed in there all morning. We went up and down the stairs, made/enjoyed a cup of tea, did some paperwork - he just lounged inside the sweatshirt like a little kangaroo baby in its pouch. Awwwww!

Jogo Beach - Multi-Color Beaded Bracelets

I recently went to my buddy Tatiana's birthday party. It was a lively, fun evening (...and they served *the best* lemonade I've ever had).

At the end of the night guests were given a little goodie bag - always a nice treat!

I've fallen in love with these multi-colored Brazilian beaded bracelets from my goodie bag:They're so beachy and fun - these stacked bracelets are the perfect accessories for my summer daytime look.

Jogo Beach - Multi-Color Beaded Bracelets.

The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards - dress rehearsal

This past weekend I went down to Radio City for the dress rehearsal of the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards.

The Tonys celebrate excellence in the theater. I'm a huge theater fan and a proud supporter of The Wing so I always watch the Tonys on TV, but I jumped at the chance to be there in person. It was such a treat to see all the talented actors and performers put on this fabulous show. I loved it!

The stage at Radio City:The dress rehearsal gave me a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes into producing a huge awards show like the Tonys... the amount of direction, choreography, set changes, lighting designs, and camera work is mind-boggling! They pulled it off with style.

Neil Patrick Harris was the host. He was downright delightful:
I had a great view from the orchestra... and I did my part to keep Phyllis Newman's seat safe and sound:
The opening number was dynamite. It included performances by Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, and Bret Michaels:
Throughout the show all these super accomplished actors practiced presenting their awards. So many were dressed down for the rehearsal, but they still looked great. It was a real thrill to see Jane Fonda, Jeff Daniels & James Gandolfini, Anne Hathaway, and Angela Lansbury:
One of the highlights of the show was when the cast of Hair rocked out, ran into the aisles, and had everyone in the audience singing along to 'Let The Sun Shine In':It was such a fun Sunday morning!

For a full list of the evening's Tony award winners please visit TonyAwards.com.
For more information on the American Theatre Wing please visit AmericanTheatreWing.org.

Solar One Benefit

Earlier this week I went to a benefit party for Solar One, NYC’s first green energy, arts, and education center.

The Solar One center is totally solar powered, and they offer all kinds of great programs to spread awareness about solar energy and to promote/implement the use of solar energy in New York City. Bravo to them!

We have solar powered outdoor lights in our CT home. They work well, save money, and are much greener than traditional outdoor lights. I'm all for using solar power, and I hope Solar One can spread this fabulous technology all over New York City.

The scene inside the party tent:
With fellow Solar One supporter Brooke Shields:(In person she is drop dead gorgeous and sweet as can be. And she was wearing Lilly!)

A rendering of the organization's next project, SOLAR 2, a 100% green-powered education and arts center:
On the 'green carpet' with our canvas goodie bag after a fun, inspiring night:
For more information on Solar One please visit their website.

American Theatre Wing Spring Gala

Earlier this week we went to the American Theatre Wing's annual spring gala.

ATW is best known for creating the Tony Awards, but they also provide tremendous support for/education about the theater... and they know how to throw a party.

This is one of my favorite events of the year. It's a seated dinner, and during the meal super talented performers put on a little show. They sing songs from Broadway favorites, tell stories, make jokes -- it's delightful.

This year's honorary chairman was Hugh Jackman (and boy is he handsome in person!). In the crowd I saw Neil Patrick Harris, Angela Lansbury, and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Cipriani was packed:
The Wing's wing on the walls:
Hugh Jackman emcee-ing the show:He was so energetic and entertaining, a real star.

Hugh and Kristin Chenoweth playfully singing 'Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better':
The legendary Barbara Cook singing 'Send In The Clowns':Hearing her sing this was a special treat for this Sondheim lover.

The three ended the evening's performance by singing 'Oklahoma':
The entire crowd all sang along too. (I didn't know the words, but figured out that O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A part at the end.)

Big smiles for the Wing...

with my dinner partner and dear friend Doug Leeds, an ATW board member:
with my handsome husband:
Each table had a cute centerpiece - a top hat filled with little rose bushes. Halfway through the dinner I took out the roses and decided to wear our table's centerpiece.

Ta-da!:I also wore a few pieces from my buddy Ramona Singer's jewelry line that night: her pretty Deco-esque necklace and earrings. They were big, sparkly, and fun - just like jewelry should be!

For more information on the American Theatre Wing please visit their website, and don't forget to tune into the Tony Awards this Sunday night on CBS.

Monty Monday - Giving Back

Last week Monty went for a routine check up at the NYC Veterinary Specialists. (All was totally fine this visit!)

In the past, Monty has had three surgeries, a dozen or so emergency visits, and multiple follow up appointments at this top-notch clinic. The doctors and staff of NYC Vets have been so wonderful to him; we figured Monty would want to do something wonderful for their hospital.

Frankie's Friends is a charitable pet foundation named for Frankie, a beautiful, spirited Greyhound. Frankie's Friends' mission is to help pets and families that cannot afford the high cost of specialty/emergency care (e.g. if a dog broke their leg and needed surgery to repair the fracture but the owner couldn't afford the operation).

Dogs that need help and it was started by a Greyhound? ...It's the perfect charitable opportunity for Monty!

Frankie's Friends has a new, big board hanging in the NYC Vets waiting room:
Someone special made a contribution to their fund and was recently recognized on the big board:Go Monty go!

Monty, the canine philanthropist, relaxing under his little tile:
Hooray for NYC Vets, a marvelous emergency/specialty clinic with a fabulous foundation, and hooray to Monty for being a charity-minded dog.

Pediatric Prom at Memorial Sloan-Kettering - Dress Drive

The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Children’s Committee is asking MelissaCMorris.com readers for their help with the Dress Drive for The Society’s Annual Pediatric Prom.

The Prom is the most eagerly anticipated event of the year for MSKCC pediatric patients. It gives patients the opportunity to dress up like royalty and celebrate with friends -- they let loose, dance, eat, sing and just enjoy life.

The Society of MSKCC would be so grateful if blog readers would donate dresses/accessories so each female patient can find the perfect outfit for this special day.

Here are two pictures of "Promingdales" in Pediatrics:Each year the patient playroom is transformed into "Promingdales" before the Prom. Peds rolls out tons of dress racks filled with gorgeous gowns for the female patients.

The prom is fast approaching and many dresses and accessories are still needed!

Here are the specifics on donations needed...

**ONLY NEW DRESSES & ACCESSORIES**
-Girls dresses: sizes 7-16
-Adult dresses: sizes 12-20+
-Accessories: shawls, necklaces, bracelets, purses
-Make-up: eye shadow, lip gloss, blush, etc.

Donations can be mailed to:

The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
ATTN: Jennifer Gilmore
1233 York Avenue, Suite B-101
New York, NY 10065

I've just mailed off a big box of pretty, girly things, and I hope you can send a little something too. The donation deadline is Monday, June 1st, so if you're able to donate please do so right away.

For a brief video segment on the Prom please see this World News Tonight clip.
For more information on The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center please visit their website.

Boat Shoes

I haven't worn them since the 80s, but this summer I'll be donning an old favorite again...

Top-Siders:The traditional brown pair are for old times' sake, and the orange pair are the new bolder and brighter alternative.

Sperry Top-Siders.

Monty Monday - Memorial Day

Monty is wearing his 'Buddy Poppy' for Memorial Day:Monty thanks all the soldiers for their service.

Spring Ball for The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Last week we went to the 2nd Annual Spring Ball for The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This was such a fun way to support a cause that's very important to us. The ballroom of The Plaza was packed with friends, scientists, and celebs. It was wonderful to see so many turn out for The Society of MSKCC.

Macy Gray provided the entertainment while we all sang along. I had a great view of the stage from my seat:
Smiles during cocktails:Photo by Chance Yeh via NYSocialDiary.com.

For full coverage of the event please visit NYSD.
For more information on The Society of MSKCC please visit their website.

The Architecture of Grosvenor Atterbury

This past week I spent a few quiet afternoons happily reading The Architecture of Grosvenor Atterbury, a new book by Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker.Peter is an accomplished architect and Anne is an accomplished architectural historian. This is the dynamic duo's third book together.

Here I am with the friendly authors last week at their book party:Grosvenor Atterbury (1869-1956) was an American architect who designed many buildings that are familiar to this blogger -- like the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY (a regular stop on the summer social circuit out in the Hamptons) and the big stone lodges in Acadia National Park in Northeast Harbor, ME (a regular stop on my summer road trips through Maine when I younger). Atterbury is perhaps best known for designing Forest Hills Gardens, a planned community in Queens that resembles a leafy, Tudor-filled village in the English countryside.

The book is chock-a-block with photographs, floorplans, drawings, and details. I especially enjoyed the stories behind the designs of Atterbury's grand country cottages in Southampton and the stately city homes of prominent New Yorkers (like the Phipps family). It's a lovely read, and I always like a lesson in American architectural history.

Here are a few of the beautiful photographs from the book...

Governor's Room - City Hall - City of New York:
Fabbri house - Library - East 95th Street:
Arthur Curtiss James estate - Cow Barn - Newport, RI:

Lantern - Forest Hills Gardens:The Architecture of Grosvenor Atterbury by Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker.

Dinner from Park Avenue Potluck

I blogged about Park Avenue Potluck, The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's fabulous cookbook, years ago.

I've recently rediscovered my copy, and it's even better than I remembered. Edited by Florence Fabricant, this book is filled with 100+ delicious recipes -- everything from cocktails to casseroles to cookies.

Last weekend I made Coco Kopelman's Lemony Stuffed Sole Fillets and Chesie Breen's Fine-Tuned Green Beans With Feta:We *loved* both dishes. "It's dinner party worthy!" Chappy exclaimed as he cleaned his plate.

I'll be cooking more Park Avenue Potluck dishes in the near future... maybe the Baked Spinach Risotto next, or the Cider-Roasted Loin of Pork, or perhaps the Asian Asparagus Stir-Fry...? It all sounds good.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com - Park Avenue Potluck, and a portion of the proceeds go to The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Lilly Pulitzer Jeep

The Lilly Pulitzer Jeep always brightens up the side streets in my neighborhood:I love rounding a corner and seeing all those pretty pastels!

Lilly Pulitzer Jeep.

Autism Awareness Day at Citi Field

This past weekend we headed out to the Mets new stadium, Citi Field, for Autism Awareness Day.Year after year this is one the Mets biggest fundraisers. It was great to see the ballpark packed for such an important cause.

Our nice view of the field from the party suites:
Gary Dell'abate from the Howard Stern Show threw out the first pitch (click to enlarge):Gary then joined the party up in the suites. He was very friendly and took lots of time to sign autographs, chat with kids and parents, and pose for photos.

We came to the game to support our friends, Lauren and Jim Watkins, who were instrumental in planning this event. They have a son who has autism, and they're both tireless supporters of this cause.

Chappy and the lovely Lauren:
MCM and Jim:Jim is the anchorman for PIX News at 10 in NYC, and it was fun to see him doing a little broadcasting and commentary during the game. Jim, center:
Mr. Met came by the suite and caused quite a stir. Everyone was clamoring to have their photo taken with him...

Mr. Met and Mr. Morris:
All smiles for the Mets (who beat the Pirates that day!) and Autism Awareness:

Salmon Cove - New Colors and a Discount Code

The boys at Salmon Cove have recently released their summer line with some fun new colors.

For me, it's always the brighter, the better...

I liked their Tucket:It's raspberry with a light blue collar.

And their Kennebunk:Mint green with a watermelon collar.

They're both perfect for summertime.

The shirts are fitted just right (not too tight), the material is soft and a little bit stretchy, and the collar-up styling is a fun take on the classic polo.

For a generous 20% off all Salmon Cove merchandise use the code "MCM" at checkout on their website. The discount code is good until June 12th.

Happy shopping!
Salmon Cove.

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster - Book Signing

Last night I headed down to the Union Square Barnes & Noble for a reading/signing of Jen Lancaster's new book, Pretty in Plaid.

I've been a longtime reader of Jen's books, and Jen has been a longtime reader of this blog (I'm so flattered that she reads my site), so I jumped at the chance to meet her in person.

Barnes & Noble was packed:There were hundreds of women at the event; it was standing room only.

They played great 80s music while we waited - I always appreciate a little New Order in the afternoon - and before we knew it Jen took the stage.

She was clad in preppy from head to toe:I dig that madras.

Jen's latest book is a memoir. She read an excerpt about her college days and the misadventures she had while rushing a sorority. She encountered many judgy-wudgy blonde girls in twinsets from Grosse Pointe, MI and hilarity ensued. (...Never mind that this blogger is a blonde girl who wears twinsets and briefly lived in Grosse Pointe, MI. Ahem.)

After the chapter reading there was a lively Q&A. Jen answered fun questions... everything from who should play her in a movie version of her life (Elizabeth Banks) to what she thinks Kirstie Alley should be doing aside from yo-yo dieting (Jen suggested Kirstie "take a pottery class"). She had the audience cracking up.

We had the nicest time chatting while she signed my book after the reading.

MCM and Jen Lancaster:Jen couldn't be cuter and nicer in person (and she was wearing pearls!).

I can't wait to read my copy of Pretty in Plaid:Jen Lancaster's blog.
Pretty in Plaid.