Tulips and Juleps
My Recent Tulip Acquisition
I love Tulips. March, April, and May should be your go-to months for Tulips. They are in season, fairly inexpensive, and will add some color and Spring pizazz to any room. These spring time flowers always bring a smile to my face reminding me of Easter and the upcoming warm months that await us here in NYC. I met a friend for a glass of vino the other evening and on my way back to the subway I picked up a bouquet of Tulips at a nearby deli. For $7 bucks I bought the most beautiful dark pink tulips to adorn my apartment. What I love about Tulips is that they continue to grow even when they’ve been cut and put into a vase. They tend to grow and direct their growth towards sunlight so you’ll always be surprised by the shape and form they take on. Since I only had 10 stems in my bouquet, I put them in one of my smaller, narrower square vases to maintain a beautiful balance. For me, when making any arrangement, balance is always key. This will help you choose the correct vase for your floral design. Depending on the size of your bouquet choose a vase whose mouth compliments the size and shape of your arrangement.
In addition to Tulips, the other Springtime function that brings a smile to my face is the Kentucky Derby. I have never been to the infamous Churchill Downs, but I fondly remember taping (yes, taping…as in VHS/VCR taping) the Kentucky Derby for my dad. Let me take this opportunity to give a big ‘ol HELLO to Pop’s. He has this blog as one of his “favorites” as any father should ; – )
My dad loves his equine races and would often enlist me to tape the races for him. While I love a good race, my desire to attend the actual Kentucky Derby probably probably has more to do with wearing an AMAZING hat and drinking one of their famous Mint Juleps. The Mint Julep, an alcoholic drink associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, has been associated with the Kentucky Derby since 1938. Each year almost 120,000 Mint Juleps are sold at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks races. Traditionally, the mint julep was served in a silver or pewter cup which is why I sooooo coveted one for my home. But they don’t come cheap. The other day I was out shopping and saw one for $65. I contemplated purchasing it because it was just so beautiful but then I came back to reality. Luckily, on recent trip to my favorite floral shop in Manhattan’s flower district I was able to purchase one for $10. Naturally, I added one of my tulip stems to create my “Tulip and Julep” arrangement.
- Tulip and Julep
This cup is beautiful as a vase for your flowers, as a stand alone piece on your coffee table or nightstand, or on your office desk to hold pens and pencils. Here are some more of myTulip and Julep photos.
- Tulips Everywhere
Aalsmeer Rose
As I wrote about in an earlier post, I love to have fresh flowers in my apartment–I’m a sucker for them really. Here’s a new rose arrangement that I made using Aalsmeer Roses (or so the sticker said) that has lasted me about 1 1/2 weeks now. This bouquet has bloomed exquisitely. I don’t know if this is entirely due to the variety or if my constant talking to them is doing the trick – “Hello gorgeous girls.” I think their listening…
- My Recent Rose Arrangement
- Closeup of Blooms
Reading up on this variety, I learned that the Aalsmeer Gold is the #1 selling yellow rose variety in the WORLD. It’s known for it’s full star shaped bloom and full petal count. I can only assume that there are different hues of this so-called “Gold” variety color because my bouquet leans more towards cream. They look a little lighter in these pics due to the lighting, but Gold they are definitely not.
I did a simple arrangement on these in one of my favorite standby round vases. Round vases are great if your going to have your bouquet as the major focal point of your coffee table, counter, nightstand, etc. If I know the roses are going to have big blooms like this one, I tend to put them in a round vase to compliment the bloom and keep a consistent round shape. I removed all the petals for this design, but feel free to leave some for some more drama (above the water line of course).
Here is the final product on my coffee table.
- My Rose Bouquet adorning my coffee table
Bedside Manner KMW26PWKJFRS
A great bed can really make a bedroom. Here are some really cool beds that will help you get a stylish night’s sleep.
- Ultra trendy Beds
1) Your sure to have fairytale dreams in this Forest Canopy bed by Anthropologie
2) The Elysee bed- a great contemporary winged bed by Venetian company, Jesse
3) Transport yourself to exotic lands with West Elm’s Moroccan headboard . Now get 15% off Bedroom Furniture with West Elm’s Sweet Dream sale.
4) Paravant-Screen bedby Jean Paul Gaultier for Roche Bobois. The famed French designer lends his haute couture sophistication to this ultra trendy bed.
5) I would find it very hard not to be called “Your Majesty” in this divine Westgate Queen Bedby Horchow. HURRY-Get 25% off ALL furniture using code ELEGANT. Sale ends tomorrow.
6) Nightime minimalism with the Baldo bed by Jesse. Perfect for a NYC loft.
7) Sophisticated elegance with the cut corner and diamond tufted Alison Queen headboard at Ethan Allen. EA is currently having their March Sale.
8 Enjoy Cottage Chic with The Corbels Bedfrom the Cottage Furniture collection at LaylaGrayce.com. It’s unique distressed finish adds to its glamour.
9) You can find this beautiful Iron Campaign bed at the bed wonderland that is Charles P. Rogers
10) You can’t help but feel romantic with this Baroque inspired Modern Majestic Bedfrom Modani. Currently on sale–reduced by $2300.
Sweet Dreams!
Fantastic Find
Today I set my sight on the PERFECT media console for my apartment. I’ve been looking for one for quite some time now but haven’t found anything that has really piqued my interest. Until today…Check out the beautiful Mayfair Steamer media trunk from Restoration Hardware:
- Mayfair Vintage Media Trunk from Restoration Hardware
It has just about eveything that I’ve been looking for in a media console: a distinctive vintage look and drawers to hold my dvd’s and other media components. It’s currently available for $1895 = / so it may be out of my budget, but I really don’t know if I will be able to find anything similar to this. Thoughts?
Life Imitates Art
Monet, Cézanne, Kandinsky are just some of the important painters that have used watercolors in some of their greatest works. Life now imitates art as watercolor inspired prints in clothing and accessories become a must for the Spring and Summer season.
Here are some of my recent water colored inspired faves:
- Watercolor Envy
1) Banana Republic silk watercolored dress with drawstring waist. Perfect for any spring afternoon. Currently on sale!
2) American Apparel multi watercolor tights. These are a major statement piece with an 80′s vibe, so don’t overdue it with the rest of the outfit to avoid looking costumey.
3) JCrew ruffle bandeau top and bikini bottoms. A delicate, sophisticated look for poolside lounging.
4) Watercolor Clutch at Etsy. This linen/cotton floral printed clutch by Taiwanese designer, Chang-Hsin Wang, is the perfect watercolor accessory for a day or night out on the town. Based out of New Zealand, Wang’s clutch and more of her pieces can be found under her profile WalkingWardrobe.
5) Louisa Settee at Anthropologie. Let your home be your own personal gallery with this traditional French settee upholstered in a beautiful water colored inspired pattern of linen and cotton.
6) Tibi Viola Silk Chiffon Maxi Dress. You should never outshine a bride at her wedding, but this dress may make that pretty difficult. In a beautiful blush tone with the perfect amount of dramatic watercolor detailing at the bottom, this is a perfect dress for any springtime wedding or evening event. *Currently 65% off at TheOutnet.com.
7) Blumarine Watercolor Print Dress. This dress will turn heads both for it’s bold watercolor print and body hugging shape. Wear with cute flats for a fun, fresh springtime day look or with platform heels for a va-va-va voom evening look. It’s sure to impress.
So go ahead and become a walking work of art with these or any other watercolor inspired pieces!
Bungee Jumping
I’m sitting on the most amazing chair. Perfect height. Perfect size. Perfect comfort. I’ve been looking for an office chair to put in the office ‘corner’ of our small NYC apartment. My apartment is at capacity with furniture right now, so I needed something that would support my constantly achy back, not take up too much room, go with the flow/decor of the room, and not cost me a fortune. This is no easy feat. This past weekend the hubster and I were running household errands and came across the Euro Style Bungee Chair at The Container Store. I wasn’t really envisioning buying a “roped” chair and would have probably walked right past it, but I believe this chair was secretly calling to me.
- Euro Style Bungee Chair at The Container Store
From the moment I sat in it I felt instant relief on my back. It felt like I was sitting properly and getting maximum support for my lower back. I quickly called to my husband Read the full article »
Coffee Break
Nothing wakes me up like a good cup of coffee. I know that sentiment is shared by many. Although I love coffee, I usually limit myself to only one cup a day. Considering my family is from Colombia, this shows a lot of restraint on my part–I mean our coffee is pretty darn stellar. Here is the most adorable set of espresso cups that one of my Aunt’s brought me from Colombia a few years back. The cups feature the works of one of Colombia’s most famous modern artists-Fernando Botero. Botero is referred by many as “the fat people” painter, and his work is exhibited around the world. She purchased these at “The Museo de Antioquia”located in Medellin, Colombia, Botero’s birthplace.
- Colombian Espresso Cups
It’s pretty hard to resist a good ‘ol cup of Joe in one of these charming cups. Another way I get my caffeine fix throughout the day is with the delicious chocolated covered coffee beans featured here in the red tin. This particular brand is by Cafe Oma and the bitterness of the bean combined with the sweetness of the chocolate makes for a great pick-me-up throughout the day.
Dinnerware Detailing
Who said lace is only for lingerie and bridal gowns? Check out this amazing black lace patterned dinner plate from Wonki ware, a South African pottery company. Their lace collection comes in various colors but I think you get the most impact from this black version.
Lace Dinner plate by Wonki Ware
I saw this one at The Conran Shop at ABC Home here in NYC and was instantly attracted to its authentic look. Lace and lace patterns made a comeback in early 2010 in both fashion and home decorating, but this is the first time I have seen it in dinnerware. Very cool.
Modern and Edgy Tabletop Decor–Chilewich
Hi Everyone. Sorry it’s been ages since my last post but the winter doldrums sunk in and I’ve been in major hibernation mode. What better way to get out of hibernation mode than with an injection of design inspiration. This weekend I came across some amazing modern tabletop decor by Chilewich that will raise any rooms “cool” factor. Chilewich is a company specializing in luxe vinyl textiles. Now, I know the word luxe is not usually something you would correlate with vinyl, but Chilewich’s use of texture, colors, and shapes–not to mention their craftsmanship, gives their products an absolutely luxurious feel. Here are 3 different placemat pieces that are sure to make any table pop!
- Chilewich Placemats
The one at the top is from their Faux Bois collection–Faux Bois translates to Fake Wood and Chilewich provides placemats and coasters in this simulated wood pattern. Your sure to have your guests fooled at first sight! The Faux Bois is available in Birch, Driftwood, and Walnut. How cool is that?
The bottom two are from the mini basketweave collection (L) and the Croc collection (R). All of these can be purchased in various colors. Simply divine!
Although I fell in love with everything that Chilewich carries, what really put me over the top was their SPUN collection, specifically this table runner in this amazing green color.
Summer Inspiration from their SPUN collection
With the look of grass, this table runner is IDEAL for any spring/summer garden party. Whether it’s a bridal or baby shower, a garden themed party, or simply a summer luncheon with your friends, this runner atop any indoor or outdoor table will give you instant high end sophistication. Seeing this runner gave me an instant boost of energy (don’t you love it when things inspire). I was so ODed on inspiration with these products that it’s only just to give Chilewich the Lady Lattimer OD (Obvious Distinction) Award.
If these tabletop products don’t excite you enough, Chilewich has taken this amazing application of vinyl and applied it to a range of other products: utility mats, cosmetic bags, woven floor mats, shades, pet mats, and iphone cases–yes, even iphone cases. Chilewich should be checked out by any design enthusiast, professional or not. It will give any event or room a modern, edgy, minimalist, professional feel. Your decorating imagination can run wild with any of their products. I’d love to see any pics of your designscapes featuring these amazing products so please send them through if your already a Chilewich fan or if your on your way to becoming one!
Chilewich–www.chilewich.com. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.
Just follow the Recipe
I did a very bad thing on New Years Day. No, it had nothing to do with the copious amounts of Champagne I drank the night before…I did something that probably was not the most prudent thing to do for someone who is trying to manage her day more productively. You see on New Year’s Day, I turned on the OWN channel. That’s right, I clicked the remote to channel 115 here in NYC and for hours upon hours, watched the new Oprah Winfrey Network. I guess it’s not the worst thing since this network is devoted to mindful programming, but I need more TV to watch like I need a hole in the head.
The shows are really entertaining and inspiring however, and while I don’t think I will be watching each and every one, there are a few that have already made it onto my DVR list.
One such show is Anna and Kristina’s Grocery Bag. As you may or may not have learned about me, I am quite the foodie. I am often gifted with wonderful cookbooks by friends and family. I love trying new foods, restaurants, and cooking on my own as well,so I was highly intrigued by this show.
Credit: Anna and Kristina's Grocery Bag/Oprah.com/Own
This is not your traditional “come into my kitchen and I’ll show you how to cook.” As much as I appreciate and enjoy those shows, there is already a whole network devoted to that. This show takes a creative approach to something we have all done at some point in our lives…prepared something from a cookbook. Each episode focuses on the hosts, Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic (average home cooks), preparing various dishes from one professional cookbook. But it doesn’t stop there. After they prepare their meal they serve it to a professional chef or food expert who rates their meal and determines how successfully they followed the cookbook’s instructions. They in turn also rate the ease of the cookbook’s instructions. GENIUS!
I have to admit, at first I had my doubts about the show. In the first episode where they cook out of Julia Child’s wonderful “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, Kristina seemed a little too goofy for my tastes and it seemed like Anna was doing all the main work. But then I found myself laughing out loud at their attempt to make pâtés en croûte and the subsequent taste test of said dish by French chef, Alain Raye. His laughter at the first bite was infectious and it was at this point that I became a fan. I have often times found myself in their position: What does it mean when the recipe calls for a scant of something–how big is a scant? How much is a pinch? Is my pinch less then Julia Child’s pinch? And on and on go the questions and perhaps insecurity of whether my dish will come out resembling the books version. I would love the chance to get honest feedback from a professional chef without having to go to culinary school and this show provides a glimpse into what that would feel like. Although if Eric Ripert, Mario Batali, or Lidia Bastianich would like to come to my apartment for dinner any time soon, the invitiation is open.
