Bits and Pieces

This semester I've been teaching the Survey of Western Art I, which covers Prehistoric cave paintings through the Gothic period (and they pay me for this!?!). While I've always considered myself a modernist, it's decidedly fabulous to explore Egyptian rock-cut tombs or Minoan palaces or Byzantine monasteries with my students. This period of art history, with its archeological roots and mysterious qualities, definitely has the Indiana Jones factor.

While each area of study has proven fascinating, this semester's lectures have especially reinvigorated my love for mosaics. Mosaics of smooth natural stones in Roman houses or mosaics of prismatic glass on Byzantine church apses, these works of art would have required painstaking planning and a careful understanding of color.

My favorite mosaic programs come from San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. But, as you behold these 5th-7th Century creations, try to imagine them in their true context. Envision a simple, brick façade on a nondescript building. Then, as you walk through the church narthex, you would step into a sun-drenched nave. These mosaics with their irregular surfaces and highly polished glass would glisten, glow and glimmer in the light. Imagine being inside a jewel box:

9 by Design

Blogland has been chattering about this new Bravo show for a few weeks now. And, I must admit, the concept is fascinating. The show follows two self-taught NYC designers with 6 kids and 1 infant. If those kooky family dynamics aren't enough to keep you watching, the show also captures their bold creative process and features their funky, eclectic style.

Think Jon and Kate's huge fam (pre-paparazzi) + HGTV with a touch of Ashton and Demi's cool factor.

By the way, their kids' names are: Wolfie, Tallulah, Bellamy, Breaker, Five, Holleder and Major....that has to make for some interesting t.v.

Two Icons

Though I can't help but first think of him as the artist Aleksandr Petrovsky from my beloved SATC, he is the ballet dancer par excellence, Mikhail Baryshnikov.

I recently discovered these divine images by iconic photog Annie Leibovitz and I am enchanted by her characterization of him. Can you imagine the conversations between these two creative geniuses? To be a fly on the camera lens....

images borrowed from Vanity Fair

Le vin bon marché

...that's French for cheap wine. But, don't those Frenchies just know how to make everything sound more chic?

In addition to endless sunshine and balmy weather, California's other greatest perk is inexpensive vino by the oak barrel full. Why drink water when wine is cheaper?

Two of my recent faves (one white and one red), both under $6:

• Now & Zen Alsatian Wasabi White: crisp on the palette and a delight with Thai or Indian food
• Chariot Gypsy: a blend of Cabernet Sauvingnon, Petite Syrah, and Sangiovese; a gorgeous garnet-colored wine with a jammy taste and everyday versatility

The Fake Housewives

Confession: Ssshhh...Don't tell anyone. I watch The Real Housewives of...everywhere. Dysfunction clearly doesn't discriminate according to geography because those ladies, and the occasional gay sidekick, are just as delusional from Newport Beach to New Jersey.

Why do I watch this crap? Sometimes a gal just need a few wackos to remind her that her life really is pretty normal. Maybe I'm just as disturbed as they are, but, dang, their meltdowns make my occasional hissy fits seem like tea with the queen.

What are your guilty t.v. addictions?
Image from eonline

Cumulus Cloudscapes

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." Rabindranath Tagore
When was the last time you stopped mid-activity to take a moment and look up at the clouds? You might be surprised what you'll see.

On a recent flight, I looked out my murky airplane window to see this glorious view. High above the clouds, the sunset produced such an array of pinks and oranges across the sky. Up in the air, the clouds became a billowy ocean---a reminder of the unparalleled beauty of nature.

Robin's Egg & Periwinkle & Azure

Blue is such a lovely hue!

Wassily Kandinsky, the Russian abstract painter, in Concerning the Spiritual in Art contemplates blue and ultimately argues that it is the most intensely spiritual of all colors. Blue is of the sky and sea--in all its shades, it can calm you like few others in the rainbow. So, whether indigo or Tiffany or cerulean, punctuate your rooms with this glorious color and feel your pulse slowing and your mind wandering.

First image by Holly Dyment Design
Last two images from Elle Decor
Other images from House Beautiful

Taste Treats, Bread Edition

"You are the butter to my bread and the breath to my life."
Paul Child to Julia Child

There are few things in life that are more comforting than a warm crusty baguette or a flaky croissant. Indulge (and drool!), mes amis!images borrowed from Catherine Meissner, Entre deux trains,Hotel Chatter & Farm 3

Kitchen Must-haves

Without these superior kitchen implements, I would surely exist on mac and cheese. Each of these goodies makes my culinary adventures far more pleasant and more efficacious:

• Le Creuset Dutch Oven: ideal for simmering chili low and slow or pan searing pork medallions & so easy to clean
  
• Silpat: ensures perfectly baked cookies and pastries that don't stick
• Lemon squeezer: sensational at getting every last drop out of your citrus fruits (lemon drop, anyone?)
  
• Microplane: grate nutmeg, a block of Parmesan, or even garlic with ease
  
• Henckels chef's knife: the perfect knife for almost anything

Travel Couture

Each time I traipse through one of America's airports, I am reminded how casual our culture has become. I think we should return to the glory days of air travel when ladies wore elegant skirts and white gloves and fancy hats as opposed to velour track suits and gym shoes and backpacks the size of toddlers. Mad Men has seeped into so many other aspects of our society, why not encourage our hubbies to dress more like Don Draper when they fly and less like Al Bundy?

In addition to making people-watching so much more pleasant (who really wants to see your saggy-butt sweatpants or your cat t-shirt, lady?), I also believe that improving the way we dress when we travel will result in better treatment by the airlines. Maybe, just maybe, that gate agent will give you the upgrade you've been begging for if you're decked out in your Sunday finest as opposed to your everyday worst.

So, go ahead America, ditch those old hoodies and stretchy pants when you fly! Pop on some pearls or don a chic trench coat, and voila, instant travel glam!


images from NYTimes, Google Images, Meaningful Design

Happy Easter

Feeling Peachy

"Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed!" -Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

Sorry, Elle, while agree with you on most of your pearls of wisdom, I must disagree here. Did you know that orange tones are actually universally flattering on all skin colors? Give it a try, pop on a touch of coral, tangerine or apricot next time you are feeling gray and you will immediately look and feel refreshed (and maybe even a little bit more Heidi or Jen-esque!).
all looks from In Style

Design Peeves

I read more interior design magazines than I'd like to admit. Consequently, I have developed a few design pet peeves that just ruffle my feather pillows:

• unburned "display" candles: burn your candles, people---from what I hear, wax is not waning
  
• "karate-chopped" throw pillows: some designers do this thing wherein they give the couch pillows a chop with one hand to make them look more lived-upon...however, the result is not coziness but rather judo-chic
  
• lack of personal touches: who wants to live in an interior design museum? add photographs and memories from your adventures throughout your space to remind yourself and your guests that you live there
  
• collections: if you have 44 Aunt Jemimas, let's keep that little secret to yourself
• impractical furniture: cuteness should rarely trump comfort (exception to this rule: super cute shoes)
• cluttered bookshelves: make your bookcases aesthetically pleasing---group books by size, shape or even color and be sure to add in non-literary elements like vases, sculptures, or picture frames to break up the monotonyimage from Apartment Therapy
  

Dream Dinner Party

Granted, this is a very clichéd question, but it's very fun to answer: if you could have a dinner party, and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you invite?

It would be so so difficult to whittle a list down to a few, but among my favorites would certainly be:

• Pablo Picasso
• Meryl Streep
• C.S. Lewis
• Abigail Adams
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Georgia O'Keeffe

with dinner prepared by Tony Bourdain and music by Yo-Yo Ma

Rotisserie to the Rescue

A rotisserie chicken is one of the quickest and most scrumptious ways to enhance most any chicken recipe.

My recent favorite rotisserie chicken recipe is...

Green Enchiladas Suizas: