Picnicking

Georges Seurat, A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, 1884

Wherever you live, you simply must have a picnic at some point this summer.  Pack up a lunch, put together some delicious bites and head outside.  

A Dress Code

"Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart."  ~Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Over the weekend, as I sat in my overly-stretched stretchy pants and old Coldplay concert t-shirt (which is not quite old enough to be cool and vintage just old enough to be gross), I read Annette Tapert's "Always Dress to Impress" in the Wall Street Journal.  The article gently chastised those of us who run errands in yoga pants, fetch our children in the dreaded mom jeans or fanny about with a greasy ponytail sans makeup.

Ode to Dad

Things my daddio taught me:

• it's never too late to change course 
• try to eat local, organic food as often as possible but don't fret if you occasionally consume grape soda and Doritos
• the comedy duo of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope transcend generational boundaries
• NPR is usually the best choice on the radio
• you are never too full for a good piece of dark chocolate
• be open to change 
• Jacques Pepin has a lot to teach us
• the most insulting term you should ever call anyone is "dork-butt"
• a visit to a museum is always a good idea
• never stop learning
• asparagus and brussels sprouts are, in fact, delicious
• you can't beat a Yellow Labrador as a best friend
• the films at the art theater are usually superior to those at the megaplex
• Dumb and Dumber will make you laugh until you snort (and it's okay to contradict yourself sometimes...see previous bullet point)
• read both the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker to balance yourself out
• people who park crooked in their parking spots are called "diagonerds"
• watch Public Television, you will learn something new
• you can love both Chopin and OutKast 
• "Lack of planning on your behalf does not constitute an emergency on my behalf."
• be kind

Peaches and Cream

One of my favorite breakfasts as a little girl was an instant pack of "Peaches and Cream" Quaker oatmeal.  There were neither peaches nor cream in those little paper packets, but the result was something that warmed my belly and readied me for a long day ahead.

Flowers for Friday

“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” -Georgia O'Keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe, Pink Tulip, 1926

Cocktail du jour: The Classic Margarita

Confession: from time to time, I watch an episode of the Real Housewives of _______. On a recent train wreck episode (aren't they all?) of the RHONY (that'd be the Real Housewives of New York for those of you who don't rot your brains on Bravo), one of the gals mentioned that she thought "tequila was the only alcohol that was an upper."  

Well, I have found no scientific evidence to support this claim, but I have consumed a few margaritas in my day.  And, I do have scientific evidence to support the fact that: a) they are delicious & b) they make me smile.

Mine, All Mine: Personalized Spaces

In the South, most anything that isn't nailed down (and well, a few things that are) can be suitable for a monogram: button-down shirts, baby frocks, totes, pillows, towels, upholstery.  

I Spy Something Blue

"Oh, darkly, deeply, beautifully blue/As someone somewhere sings about the sky." -Lord Byron

Pink may be my signature color, but the cool, beachy serenity of aqua is what soothes me most.  The colors of the sea and sky fill my own home.  Whether with a slight patina like the ceiling of an old Southern manor or crisp and saturated like a fresh, new tile floor, shades of aqua can't help but put a little spring in your step.

Pour le bébé

I have no plans of turning this blog into a mommy-zone, sharing stories of diaper woes or onesie wonders.  But...I am a mom now.  It's inescapable.  I cannot separate Pink Frenchie from Maaaammmmaawwww (that's how my own bébé says it these days).  So from time to time, I do want to share some special finds for the petits people in your life.

Berthe Morisot, The Cradle, 1872

Pretty Monday: Lovely Lanterns

Mondays are usually anything but pretty. Banal, yes. Exhausting, sure. Pretty, probably not.  So, here's a dose of Monday morning pretty to get you on the right start for the week.  

A beautiful print from The Wheatfield shop on Etsy

How about some dreamy lanterns to get you inspired to relax on your porch with a nice cold glass of lemonade or a lemon drop if you're naughty?

Caps and Gowns

"You see the two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born." -Viola Davis, Providence College Commencement Address 2012

Image borrowed from The University of Alabama

I never attended my college graduation or my graduate school graduation.  In college, I finished a semester ahead of schedule and in grad school, let's just say my thesis took longer than expected to write (or I just became exceptionally gifted at procrastinating). 

Strawberry Fields (Forever)

If there is a better activity for a Saturday summer morning than picking strawberries fresh out of the field, I cannot imagine what that might be (okay, maybe sipping mango coladas in St. Thomas would be equally as delightful, but work with me here).  Until you've tasted a real, ripe strawberry that is warmed by the sun and speckled in morning dew, you haven't tasted a strawberry. 

The Art of the Unexpected: At the Airshow

My husband is one of those guys who can sit and watch some snoozefest on the History Channel for hours (and hours and hours). Don't get me wrong, I am an art historian by profession and love learning about bygone days; however, dear hubby's fascination with the past is even more fanatical than my own.  

Cocktail du jour: The Caipirinha

The warm summer sun and clear blue skies make me crave beachy cocktails.  Though I've never been to Rio, I have tasted plenty of limey and delicious caipirinhas (pronounced:kai-pee-reen-ya). Cue the bossa nova tunes, throw on your swimsuit and sarong...here's the scoop on these sweet and tart libations.  You'll be on Copacabana in no time!

Smitten for Kitchens

Apartment living has many lovely advantages, but customizing one's kitchen is simply not one of them.  As someone who spends many hours a day scurrying through my kitchen (mostly chasing my speed-crawling munchkin around and around the island), I often think about what I'd want in my someday-maybe-perhaps dream cooking space.  

Tu me manques

Translation: I miss you.

Wow, it's been a long while.  The last year has brought so many changes, the first and foremost being the birth of my sweet baby daughter.  But as you parents out there will know, the first few months of your first child's life alter you in deep and indelible ways.  

Wanderlust: Italia Edition

"Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti." 

-Sophia Loren

I've written about wanderlust here before but now I've got it bad.  I feel like sitting in LAX and just choosing the first flight I spot on the departures screen (fingers crossed I score Shanghai or Milan and not Springfield or Midland).  

At the moment though, I continually dream of Italia--it happens every year at this time when I recall my last adventures there in 2008.  This yearning was made even more unquenchable after seeing the Wall Street Journal's entire "Off Duty" section was devoted to Italy.  (insert Italianate hand gestures of frustration here)

Brunching: Fig and Ricotta Pancakes

Growing up, the only fig I ever met came in the form of a Newton.  Now in the agricultural paradise known as California, I am lucky to have all varieties of fresh, seasonal produce available for culinary experimentation.  

Each autumn, my hubby consumes vast amounts of figs...usually with a wedge of brie as an evening snack.  So when I saw Tyler Florence's recipe for Spiced Fig and Ricotta Pancakes in the October 2011 issue of House Beautiful, I knew I had to sample the figgy goodness.  

Words to Live by

Flowers for Friday

"There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted."
-Henri Matisse

A Little More Pink for Frenchie

Hello there!  Remember me?  Your ole' pal, Pink Frenchie?  Well, I've been absent from blogland because I was busy making a little human and then birthing/feeding/burping/de-pooping said little human.  Now that my sweet baby Gigi has started to understand the difference between day and night, I will try to write again....sporadically.  

Parisian Poochies

Regular visitors to Paris know that dogs of all varieties seem to have carte blanche in many public spaces.  From restaurants to department stores, from parks to produce markets, les chiens are everywhere in Paris.  

Carrie Bradshaw with one of Paris' lovable dogs

Magic at Midnight

"Imagination creates reality." -Richard Wagner

Today I needed an escape.  I needed to abandon this world and spend a few hours in movie-land.  Even though I was drawn to Midnight in Paris for the promise of a Woody Allen film set in my dear Paris, ultimately, I found the perfect film about escapism and anachronism---precisely what my soul desired after a sad week.

From the outset, I always adore Woody Allen films.  I appreciate the way the crisp clean opening credits tell us the viewers that witty banter and relatable characters are on their way.  And this time, following those trademark simple black and white credits, Allen allowed the real star of the movie to be seen.  There she was, Paris, beautiful Paris, laid out before the screen in iconic shot after iconic shot.  Montmartre. La tour Eiffel. Le Louvre. Les bateaux mouches. Les cafés.  Sigh....cue, the accordion music, I knew from the first scenes, I would be in love with this movie.

From the heart, for the Heartland

“Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.” -Charles Dickens

 
In recent days, I simply cannot bring myself to write about my usual little pleasures and happy thoughts.  My mind has been in a sad fog since Sunday evening around 7:30 when I learned that my hometown of Joplin, Missouri was decimated by one of the worst natural disasters in American history.  You've no doubt seen the tornado footage on CNN or NBC.  You've probably read newspapers describing the tragedy or heard the first-person accounts. 

Some Little Pleasures for Summertime

Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne.
~Barry Cornwall

Non-Californians envision a state of endless summer here in Orange County.  In reality, we have our seasons too (kind of).  They are just a little more subtle.  One of the notorious California "seasons" is the meteorological downer known as "May Gray" and its even more solemn sibling called "June Gloom."  These two months are marked by near constant drizzle and overcast skies.

Since today is quite cool and rainy, I am thinking summer. What can I surround myself with to get in the summer spirit?