Late week musings.....

Hello there, and happy Thursday.  What's on your agenda for Memorial Day? Hope the weather forecast is going to be a good one. Here, it looks to be fair,  not as warm as it has been earlier in the week, but clear skies except for Saturday, so I am not complaining one bit!

We were due to go away to Newport but now with my sons team in the playoffs and having mandatory practice, that plan may be changing. We have a few backup plans in case so we will see and hopefully will fit in  some downtime just "hanging".

As with my weekly musings posts, this one is a bit all over and fairly lengthy so lets get started.......


Mr. Teddy wishing you a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! See him sporting his Amercian flag bandanna.......just got back from a grooming.

Beautiful  pictures from my fellow blue and white loving blog friends!  Julio strikes again, recently posted on his gorgeous back patio for his first dinner party, and it is seriously stunning! Take a look........loving all that blue and white:) Click here to see more from Beaux Monde Designs.

Speaking of blue and white and gorgeous, check out Mary Ann's friends dinner party also with beautiful touches of blue and white. Click here to see more from Classic Casual Home........

Incredible story! Found this story totally inspiring and the pictures spellbinding! Tippi,  a young girl born to French wildlife photographers who has grown up in the African desert claims many of the wildlife to be her best friends, this is totally fascinating and the pictures just incredible! Click here to read/see more.

Gorgeous wedding......proof that it really is all in the details and these snippets are so beautiful! This wedding is sooooo chic, beautiful, elegant and tasteful! Click here to see all the details from Let the tide pull your dreams ashore.......

Shoes! Have to get these shoes. I could see these with a beautiful creamy colored dress/sheath or something lacey for the summer....LOVE these! Gorgeous in the baby blue too.....

 

My house. Just a few random pictures I took recently and I am  loving my newest planter from my statuary line. And check it out with the newly added hydrangea and ivy. Winning combination!

And me newest urn on pedastal....tah dah! (This item is on my line shop now)

Late day sun...my favorite time of day.

Smelling good. I love a soft and light summer scent for the warmer months ahead. I am a big fan of Jo Malone for her beautiful scents and staying power. I recently bought the English pair and freesia and love it, its very soft and perfect for summer!

Food. Yes, by now you know I love this subject and always have to include something yummy in these random posts. These look soooo good and so refreshing for a summer appetizer. I will be making these for sure, visit the Cookin Canuck for the how to.......

Shop news. Some new beautiful additions to silver and the Staffordshire dogs in all their many colors and sizes are now up for those who asked. Click here to visit the shop.......

And to anyone who had wanted this wonderful best selling bag that was sold out, I just got three more.....

Well, everyone that about wraps it up for this week. Hope whatever you are doing for the holiday weekend is wonderful, relaxing and safe. Here the weather is due to get much cooler but after hitting 85 the other day, the 60's are quite welcome. I don't need the extremes and certainly not the dreadful humidity! I likely won't be back during the weekend but will see you on Monday! Happy holiday weekend,  enjoy and thanks as always for stopping in!

PS Per several requests..heres the link to the shoes above! Sorry, forgot to include it when this posted!

Click here to go to Stuart Weitzman.

Midweek musings.....

Good morning to you! Ever feel like there simply are not enough hours in your day? Well, that's how I have felt all week and I suspect its only going to get worse as we near the holiday craziness. Thank God for coffee!  This is another all over the map post but its a fun excuse for me to talk about this and that.  On the home front, I am awaiting pillows and a dust ruffle to be done for the guest room which I cannot wait for, its coming out so  pretty! Will share as soon as its all together! I have included a few pics taken with my camera this time of the loggia all done. (taken on a dreary morning...)

Just had the floor cleaned and grouted......cannot wait to furnish this space and light that fire!

I just have to say again how honored I am to have been chosen by Homegoods as their blog of choice for the classic look!! It was so exciting to partner with them for the wonderful giveaway from last week. More to come!! Seeing my name on their website gives me such a thrill and truly is a wonderful validation of what I am doing....thank you Homegoods. You rock!
Click here to take their Stylescope quiz and see what style you are!

Saw two movies this past weekend, both which I really really enjoyed. The first one, The Intouchables I was supposed to see two weekends ago but plans changed and we didn't go, I was bummed. I was happy we got to see it and it did not disappoint. A wonderful typically European film that touches the heart and moves the soul. I so enjoyed it as I do many foreign films.
The second one, Arbitrage with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon centered around a filthy rich but very corrupt wall street tycoon and the story rings true about what has gone on for so long, its well done, riveting and I also enjoyed it for different reasons.

There are two movies coming that I cannot wait to see! Besides Le Mis of course:) I have included the trailers because I am not sure they will be considered "mainstream movies' that you will see in every theater, but the previews have me waiting in bated breath to see them! Here they are....

WAR OF THE BUTTONS.....

RUST AND BONE..... 

 Seen anything good on your end lately? I have never talked about of all things,  a brush before,  but seriously this brush saved my hair:) I have the most sensitive scalp on the planet, ever since I was a little I cried and cried whenever my hair was brushed. To this day when I am getting my hair done I normally wash my hair at home before going to the salon just to avoid the dreadful shampoo/scrub  that so many crave. Well........this little brush is a miracle, I am not kidding! I venture to say I even look forward to brushing my hair, crazy? No, its incredible and for anyone who has a sensitive scalp like me or possibly girls with one....cannot recommend this enough. I call this the miracle brush but its real name is the wet brush.....the link is included under the picture. Yes, its that good!  http://www.mywetbrush.com/  I love to cook during the cozy season.....fall and winter. When its cold outside, nothing beats a warm something cooking away on the stove inside. I have posted about this soup before but its worth repeating, this is a very hearty soup for all you soup lovers. If could stand on its own as a meal, served with crusty french bread, yum! This is a staple in our home and it never disappoints on a cold wintry day.   

Pasta e Fagiole Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/8 pound (about 4 slices) pancetta, chopped (I do not chop it, it naturally falls apart while cooking)
• 1 (4 to 6-inch) sprig thyme with several sprigs on it, left intact (use sparingly)
• 1 large fresh bay leaf or 2 dried bay leaves (I use 3 fresh)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 small carrot, finely chopped
• 1 rib celery, finely chopped
• 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
• Coarse salt and pepper
• 2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans
• 1 cup canned tomato sauce or canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomato sauce
• 2 cups water
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cups ditalini
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• Grated Parmigiano or Romano, for the table

Directions

Heat a deep pot over medium high heat and add oil and pancetta. Brown the pancetta bits lightly, and add herb stems, bay leaf, chopped vegetables, and garlic. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Add beans, tomato sauce, water, and stock to pot and raise heat to high. Bring soup to a rapid boil and then simmer. Rosemary and thyme leaves will separate from stems as soup cooks. Remove herb stems and bay leaf from soup and place pot on table on a trivet. At this point, once you have removed your pot from heat, set aside and then put in your pasta. The heat will naturally cook the pasta but just perfectly, not too hot..and will result in a soup with al dente pasta as it should be. Is anything worse than a great soup with mushy pasta? Let soup rest and begin to cool for a few minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and top with lots of grated cheese. Serve with bread and enjoy......this is a real treat!

Its fun sharing the results of which Would you choose and this weeks was particularly fun, so want to know who took top prize? Well there were several who vied for top spot, and a few ties. I am happy to say everyone got at least one vote, I was feeling sorry for poor Steven Spielberg but finally he got two votes, so he can sleep tonight:) Here's the top four......... 

Bill Clinton with 25 votes

 Princess Diana with 23 votes

Thomas Jefferson (oh yea)  with 17 votes

Leonardo Da Vinci and Meryl with 15 votes And Mother Teresa, Maya and Coco were right behind Leonardo in a dead tie.
A fascinating bunch to say the least! Did you know Isaac Mizrahi came out with a shoe line? I fell in love with these darling pumps, am a sucker for anything with bows. Love the combinations...ordered them in two combinations and will likely keep just one unless I happen to fall in love with both. Aren't  these so much fun? Shop  news......a few of the planters/statuary items are being phased out and some beautiful new pieces added. Two of the new additions are pieces I already own and love!  All new ones will be added as of tomorrow. This is one of my favorite lines, so versatile and love that you can pick them up and carry them around, the look of real stone with the ease of fiberglass. These will all be offered in one of six finishes, so you can truly customize it to your liking! Click here to visit my shop. I cannot wait to fill mine with sprigs of holiday greenery and pinecones! 

The popular white moss finish

Love this pine cone topiary....ordered a pair in the white moss finish, so perfect for a holiday console table! Stands about 22" tall.

 

 

 And one of mine filled with artichokes......

  Napkin rings...oh those napkin rings are such a hit. It is so funny because as soon as people get them they want to order more. They are like a healthy addiction.  They are one of those things you have to see in person, to feel and touch, they are truly special. I got in a few new styles. I cannot wait to set my holiday table with these babies! Here's a few of the new ones....... 

 

One of the Santas holding a tree

 

Sly fox pulling a cart

 

The adorable whimsical conga line (can be made with virtually any animal or breed of dog)

 

The hare atop the tortoise

 

The owl and bunny on a moving see saw

 

Bunny pulling the cart

 

Bunny in the garden

Sly fox with pinecones

Another adorable version of an amimal conga line

A Basset Hound next to two birdies

Humm...is this a Scottish terrier with his dog bowl? I need to know all you dog experts!

A type of Terrier

The hare atop the tortoise

Pretty awesome aren't they? They are soon going to have their own section on my online store but for now can be found under new additions, click here to visit.

   You know I love showing off my customers homes that are featured in "Your enchanted homes" on my store site where I feature my customers homes and the items they bought from me, here's a few new additions..pretty gorgeous! Click here if you want to see the rest of them. Keep em coming!  

Another dough bowl finds its way to a happy home:)

Love this amazingly beautiful vignette....soooo pretty!

 

My silver planter with horn handles being used in all the gorgeous bathrooms in a super elegant new bed and breakfast (more on this next week)!

 How about this gorgeous gracious hallway/entrance with the floral etched lantern? Stunning!

OK, time to fess up. How many of you have gotten a new phone or were very tempted to get a new phone just because you totally fell in love with a phone case that is not made for your current phone? My hands way up in the air. I cannot wait to get my new phone.....all so I can order one of these amazingly cute, chic phone cases from the ever so talented The Pink Pagoda. I mean seriously, people...is this not the cutest phone EVER? Click here to visit and get one for yourself. Forewarning, she makes a boatload of other AMAZING items like stunning prints, pillows,etc......don't say I didn't warn you:)

 

Well that's about it over here. I will probably be back on Friday to wrap up the week. What's new with you? Are you enjoying beautiful fall foliage where you are? Here, things are really starting to rev up and its looking spectacular. I will be sure to share some of my pictures next week. We are headed up north this weekend and I will be sure my camera is charged and ready for what I know will be plenty of photo ops, I think the further north we travel the more " peak" the foliage will be...cannot wait! Wishing you a wonderful day!