A Novel Idea

Having become far too consumed by television, I was determined to find a novel that would pull me back into voracious reading. After browsing the aisles at my local Barnes and Noble (I can't wait for Amazon. I'm an instant gratification gal), I found my recent favorite page-turner: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

Love Stories

I'm guessing most Jane Austen purists would choose the 6-part BBC Pride and Prejudice as their preferred depiction of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I, however, was quite taken by the 2005 version starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen.

Chocolate Fix: Brownies from Scratch

After discovering how simple it was to pull together these divine, gooey brownies with pantry staples, I will not be taking help from Mrs. Betty Crocker again.

Salad, French Style

One of the first culinary revelations I had in Paris was the salade composée. Whereas most of the salads I had experienced in Missouri up to that point in my young life were sloppy heaps of iceberg with an occasional carrot, French salads were presented in orderly little stacks of veggies and pickled goodies. Salade composée, composed salad, was elegantly arranged with flavors that mingled together deliciously.

As result of this early Parisian training in "how to make salad look yummy," when possible I take a little extra time to arrange my salad components in a pleasing way. Even when you're just throwing together a jar of Ragu and some penne for dinner, this salad takes the meal from "pas mal" to "très bien."

Gushing Over 9 by Design {again}

As I've admitted before, I am completely captivated by 9 by Design on Bravo. Unlike so many of the train-wreck reality programs, this show focuses on a family that is living well and doing good.

The Art of Design: Signac

For me, design inspiration almost always comes from something on hanging on my wall. Color palette, textures or shapes---what you're attracted to in an artwork will certainly translate into a room you adore. Art is the ultimate inspiration. How would this pointillist St. Tropez Tree by Paul Signac inspire a living room?

I envision myriad shades of blue with touches of lemony yellow, eclectic furniture and a few beachy elements: Images borrowed from TheGlamLamb, House&Home, HouseOfTurquoise, Lonny, SkonaHemviaDesiretoInspire & CandiceOlsen.

Spring Spruce Up

When design trends trickle down to a store within my price point, I get giddy. I've been seeing Suzani and lattice prints EVERYWHERE in designer rooms lately. So, I was a happy homemaker when I found these cheaper chic goodies at my favorite budget-friendly spots.

A Suzani tablecloth by Dwell at Target:
A lattice lamp with a Moroccan touch from Home Goods: Lattice pillows by Dwell at Target:

A May Gray Day

We Southern Californians have entered the most dreaded of all our weather "seasons"---May Gray (followed by June Gloom).

The usual incandescently sunny days have been replaced with week long stretches of blah, gray, chilly haze.

Yeah, yeah, it is absurd and annoying for Californians to complain about the weather; but go ahead and cue the violins, because I am experiencing a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The blue skies have turned gray. My sweat pants have replaced pencil skirts. All I want to do is sit inside and drink cappuccino and watch Ina cook on the tele.

Thank goodness for my nutritionally-conscious hubby or I would be noshing on this for my "May Gray" dinner:and this, post sugar-coma:Image borrowed from TakeANap.

Lux Nova

In the 12th century, when Abbot Suger of Saint Denis decided to rebuild his Romanesque church near Paris, he wrote the new Gothic architectural vocabulary and incorporated one of the visual revelations of medieval art: stained glass windows.

Words to Live by

Image borrowed from Vi.Usualize.Us & WeHeartIt&GeekinthePink.

Les Rêveries de Paris

"We should read to give our souls a chance to luxuriate." ~Henry Miller



Today I'm experiencing a big-time case of geographic ennui (yes, I know, quelle horreur). As usual, my travel daydreams have taken me to Paris. My mind has wandered to one specific spot: Les Bouquinistes.

Les Bouquinistes are the 250 used book sellers that dot the bank of the Seine, near the Ile de la Cité. Each coveted green metal box (the wait list for a new spot is 8 years) is filled with ragged novels or ancient maps or yellowing magazines, as they have been since about 1500. As a flea market junkie (punk intended), the surprise of discovering an out of print edition of a favorite book or an old copy of Vogue proves well-worth my time.

Orange Creamsicle Rooms

Poor orange. It developed such a bad reputation during the 70's. But honestly, can you think of a more joyful color?

Scared of orange? Cool it off with a little robin's egg blue or a touch of turquoise:Images borrowed from MilesRedd, PalmerWeissDesign,FranKeenan, & JohnWilley.

Cocktail du jour

The gimlet is the classic vodka martini's ladylike cousin. When I sip gimlets, I feel as though I'm attending a cocktail party at Betty Draper's house. Gimlets, though consisting of few simple ingredients, pack a layered punch of flavors (thanks mainly to gin's juniper notes).

The Gin Gimlet:

2 parts gin
half a lime (or Rose's lime juice)
splash of simple syrup (omit if using Rose's)

shake with lots of ice
serve very cold
Photo by moi.

Flowers for Friday

"Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity." John Ruskin

Rain or shine, over my weekly budget or under it, every Friday I treat myself to a bunch of (usually pink) posies. Flowers are not a luxury, they are a necessity. What else can you buy for $6 that will offer a week's worth of satisfaction for zero calories and sans guilt?

This week, while loading up my cart at Trader Joe's, I spied this bitsy bunch of peonies. Swoon (a gold star to my daddio who gave me that simply elegant Eva Zeisel vase)Check out those glorious peonies three days later:Photos by moi.

Ordinary Things

A few ordinary things of extraordinary beauty:Images borrowed from SayingImages, Vi.ualize.us, MakeAndTakes, ThatObscureObject & Photoholic.

Chanello!

Yesterday I dreamed of my trip to Cannes. Today, I've found the perfect Côte d'Azur ensemble, thanks to Chanel's 2011 resort collection.

Wouldn't this look smashing billowing on-board some fellow's yacht?I might also need some Miss Trish of Capri sandals to go with:And, it wouldn't hurt to have some fabulous accessories from Turq:

A Poetic Moment

Last night as I drove home, I was struck by this poem, read on NPR's The Writer's Almanac. Admittedly Garrison Keillor's voice has the literary weight to make reading People magazine sound more elegant and erudite. But, whether because of Keillor's soft oratory tone or Jenkin's powerfully veiled words, this poem resonated with me:

Things I Learned from Carrie

For me, the countdown to the release of Sex and the City 2 began weeks ago (er, actually the day after the first movie was released). The initial time I saw the trailer, I giddily shrieked out loud at the appearance of Aiden (thank goodness he's finally landed a gig more glamorous than being the voice of Applebee's).

To say I'm a devoted fan would be an understatement. Every Friday in recent memory, while I wait on my hubby to get home from work, I select an episode (or three)at random, shake up a pink cocktail, and feel like I'm catching up with old friends. I anticipate that 20 years from now, I will still be watching my old episodes, delighting in the fashions, laughing and crying along with the girls.

Ultimately, every woman has a little Carrie, a little Charlotte, a little Miranda and perhaps even a touch of Samantha within her. More than the shoes, or the enviable fancy dinners, or the glimpses of New York City, what I adore most about the show is the friendship.

Dreaming of Cannes

"The Cannes Film Festival is the sort of place that if you like wearing gold lamé shorts you’re going to have a great time."
Russell Crowe to Matt Lauer

Café Culture

The French generally excel at carving out time each day for pleasure. Americans do weekend recuperation well, but rarely relish weekday relaxation (say that three times fast).

One of the places where I see this evidenced most in France is in the ubiquitous café. This time of year, on most any street in Paris, at most any time of day, locals linger even longer at their outdoor café tables.

Coveting: Hermes

Hermes scarves are quite possibly the most chic, timeless accessory that a woman can wear. Though I would have to forgo groceries for a month to purchase one, I am dreaming of the vivacious colors and soft silk of an Hermes scarf nonetheless. Somehow I've convinced myself, if only I had Hermes around my neck, I could channel my inner Grace Kelly or Jackie O.

At the Movies: Pink Films

Over the past weeks, I've looked at the way color is used strategically as a cinematic device. Green was woven throughout Great Expectations. Red appears as the color of passion in Moulin Rouge. Black and White becomes the color story for Coco before Chanel.

As you might imagine, any film with pops of pink captures my visual attention. Pink is first and foremost the color of femininity. Whether it's Shelby's insistence that there is a distinct difference between blush and bashful in Steel Magnolias or Elle's head-to-toe rosy ensembles throughout Legally Blonde, shades of pink soften onscreen performances or add a fun girly touch.

And, now....for movies with an plethora of pink: Marie Antoinette, Legally Blonde, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Steel Magnolias.

Black and White

These days I am la-la-loving good ole' black and white rooms: so effortlessly classy, so impossibly chic, so French.

A design caveat: be careful with your prints and textures when working in a black and white palette or your room could end up looking like the Happy Days set or conversely a bordello. Images borrowed from JillVanTosh,CandiceOlsen,SimonKelly,AngusFergusonViaBrightBazaar & StephenShubalViaHouseBeautiful.