Words to Live by: On Contentment

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” -Epicurious

Well, hello, my long lost readers.  I apologize for my lack of posts in recent weeks.  A combination of pregnancy anxiety and work woes has left me with a wicked case of writer's block and ennui. But, I'm back for now, even if sporadically.  

Flowers for Friday

(Ahem, yes, I am aware it is indeed Sunday and not Friday. You must forgive my tardiness.  My brain is in baby-mode, not bloggy-mode.  But at least I got you flowers to apologize.)

I am in a serious ranuculus phase.  On my Friday trips to the market, generally, I can't leave without a bundle of tulips, but these days I am adoring the crinoline ruffles and watercolor hues of these pinkish flowers.

Words to Live by

The Babymoon

Since I became pregnant, one of the top priorities on my pre-infant to-do list was taking a babymoon.  Of course, we have other more pragmatic tasks as we prepare for the wee little Frenchie, but somehow buying strollers and researching birthing options didn't seem nearly as delightful as planning one final getaway as a twosome.  

Home Is Where the Squirrel Is?

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.” 
-John Ed Pearce


When I heard that Tony Bourdain had been traipsing around my hometown in Missouri, I'll admit I cringed a little.  Here was my journalistic hero in the town that had raised me.  I wondered where he'd go and what he'd see.  And most of all, I wondered if he'd be able to get a true sense of Southwest Missouri in a whirlwind shooting spree (both film shoots and hunting shoots as it were) over the course of a few brief days.

A Life on Film

Recently, one of my students brought the work of American photographer Vivian Maier (1926-2009) to my attention.  As I looked through her black and white prints of ordinary life around Chicago, her skill seemed on par with photographs by the greats like Robert Frank and Walker Evans and Dorthea Lange; yet, I had never heard her name.

To Eyre is Human

"I had not intended to love him. I have wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected; and no, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, green and strong! He made me love him without looking at me." 

Full disclosure Charlotte Brontë fans: I have never read Jane Eyre.  Everything I'm about to state is merely from the point of view of a delighted movie-goer, not a well-versed Brit lit aficionado.

Flowers for Friday

I'm having a case of the blues today, so I'll just post my happy tulips and irises and think good thoughts. No wise words or witty banter pour moi this week, simply flowers will have to do.

Coveting: A Little Vanity

Vanities are the ultimate girly piece of furniture.  What could be more feminine than having a little place to sit as you stack on your bangles or powder your cheeks or spritz your Chanel no. 5? 

The Mythical Cookie

Chocolate chip cookie recipes are closely guarded by grandmas the world over.  Bakers like to keep their favorite close to their heart only to be prepared when needing extra-special culinary oooohhhhs and aaaahhhs from family and friends. 

Dinner Time: Taco Tuesday

I've been craving a margarita like mad. But since I will be abstaining until this summer when the wee one arrives, I will satiate my Tex-Mex hunger with tacos this Tuesday.

Words to Live by

"Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day - like writing a poem or saying a prayer."
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A Thing of Beauty

"There are always flowers for 
those who want to see them."
-Henri Matisse

The other day in class, I proposed a question to the students in my Survey of Western Art II course: "When was the last time you saw something so beautiful that it brought you to tears?"  For the first time, I actually witnessed my students in a deeply contemplative mood.

Dinner Time

"Never eat more than you can lift." -Miss Piggy

 

At nearly five months pregnant, food has become my passion.  There are no more cocktails.  Doctor has ordered that I stay off my feet and forgo exercise.  Shopping has even been tabled for the moment.  So, clearly, food is the thing.  Lately, Miss Piggy and I seem to be using the same parameters for consumption. 

Since it's been especially chilly in SoCal this week, I've been craving comfort food.  Generally, comfort food equals calories.  But, I've discovered a delish lasagna dinner that's perfect for a cool lazy winter's evening but easy on the (in my pregnant case, ever-expanding) waistline.

Designing Pour Le Bébé

 

I am resisting the urge to turn Les Petits Plaisirs into a full-fledged preggorama, maternity and baby blog.  But, from time to time, I do plan to offer a few little baby tidbits about our adventures. 

A Night with the Movies

"You know what your problem is, it's that you haven't seen enough movies - all of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
Steve Martin

I really love movies.  I love sitting in the dark theater, awaiting the previews and smelling buttered popcorn.  I love reclining on the couch streaming a new documentary on Netflix.  From loud blockbusters to poignant indies, spending a few hours suspended in movie time is one of the great privileges of modern life.

My Oscar Gown

Come with me on a trip to pretend land.  I don't act (though my hubby might disagree).  I don't work in the film industry (though I do support it daily). But, I do think about what I'd wear on the red carpet if I made the famous February trek to the Kodak Theater.

The Bath Ritual

Bathing is a daily necessity but with a little care, it can become a luscious ritual.  When was the last time you took a nice long soak?  Light a few candles, pour yourself a little glass of vino, play some Maria Callas on the iPod, and sit in the fragrant bubbles until your fingers shrivel.  Think about your day or don't think at all.  Relax and restore.

Stevens, The Bath, 1906

Muffin Tops

I've been baking lots of muffins lately.  Perhaps I just want to think of muffin tops other than the one forming around my waistline.  Perhaps my pregnancy cravings are in full carb mode.  Either way, our kitchen counter is starting to look like a bakery display case.  

These yummy blueberry banana muffins are the recent favorites around here. 

Feeling Presidential

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." -John Adams

Nigella's Cozy Kitchen

Today the Wall Street Journal offers us a tasty little morsel of Nigella Lawson's kitchen.  In the essay, Nigella takes the reader through the attributes of her intimate kitchen.

 

With her gift for writing, Nigella begins the article, "kitchen is probably one of the most evocative words in the English language....it conjures up warmth and welcome, safety and security, in short, the very notion of home."  Nigella and I are in complete agreement here.  The kitchen most be cozy. 

Words to Live by

Trend"spotting"

For me, polka dots have always been in vogue.  Like classic leopard or a Glen plaid, polka dots are a welcome print in my wardrobe.  But, according to recent fashion news, these whimsical, cheerful dots are making a big come-back. 

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

It is morning here in SoCal, so naturally, my thoughts have turned to cake (if you are not pregnant like moi, you must forgive my craving-dominated food posts until August). 

Love Letters

Remember the first Sex and the City movie (i.e., the good one)?  Remember when Carrie pulls out her old, smelly New York Public Library book called Love Letters of Great Men, Volume 1? I declare we need more old fashioned love letters.