ATMOSPHERE

Xmas flowerchild dress, jellyfish onesie (on bébé), ‘tartlet’ (so says my brother) ruby and diamond earrings, pink and green tourmaline ring, bows, bows, bows, and BARE FEET !!

Every holiday has its ambiance - decide on and GUIDE that quality, but when life inevitably throws its curveball - just GO WITH IT. Our Christmas turned out sickly and stormy, but it was also curiously easygoing, exceptionally intimate and required a remarkable combined effort - an ESPRIT DE CORPS !!!

Atmosphere - ‘vapor’ ‘globe’

Just add PINK

Christmas BITS & BOBS AWAY !! But maybe not all of it ??

The intersection of Christmas and Valentine’s Day (DECOR):

- RED

- green

- greenery 

- little trees

- BOWS

- pompoms

- bells

- BIRDS

- deer

- squirrels etc.

- snowmen

- snowflakes, icicles 

- LIGHTS - red, pink, white mode

- tinsel & shine

- CRYSTALS

- candles

- LOVE - hearts, peace

- chocolate 

… Just ADD lots of HEARTS & gobs of PINK !!

 

Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 

It’s really not very boring

 Forty - fancy party !

“It’s really not very boring,” my Parisian Aunt says she dreams to travel Stateside as to witness our daily (family life) happenings for herself.

A decidedly undaily occurrence - a meaningful affair with Very Important People !!!

 

Regent

Snowboard break from Monarch duties 

To do today :

- Run household 

- Run land

- Symbolize identity, unity and pride 

- Maintain stability and continuity 

- Officially recognize success and excellence 

- Support the ideal of voluntary service

- Engage in politics and ceremony 

- Act as intercessor (wherever needed)

- Use diplomacy and tactical finesse 

- Patroness art and education 

- Innovate culture

- Supervise staff

- Model piety and chastity

- Produce male heir 

- Secure husband’s hold

- Hit the slopes

Everyone has a 'budget'

My architect, while building our home 2 years ago, told me "everyone has a budget". It may be $100 or $100,000,000, less or more, but $s aside, everyone has confines they must (better!) work within.

GIVE to New MOMmy rather than New Baby

Although I preach less-is-more and all-you-need-is-love I do realize you likely do not wish to show up to showers and so forth empty handed ...

I am not one to always follow this advice, and do have a soft spot those impractical items that all of us cannot resist (newborn knit bunny hats!), but this is what new mommies really want and NEED:

1. 4th Trimester / Postpartum Items :

Basically, anything from the lady section in the grocery/pharmacy...

 'Recovery' Bath Soaks and Salts

Earth Mama Angel Baby products 

Mama Teas (milk and uterus)

Cute hot/cold packs 

After birth:

Food basket

If you know her well:

Real underwear, nursing bras, nightgowns, a robe!

Pretty light scarves as nursing covers, stroller covers etc.

2. Thank You Note Set

Small extra special cards that speak for themselves so mama doesn't have to write much.

3. Books

If you had any go-to's, these will save her soul from the wrath of the internet!!

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives Deepak Chopra

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or similar

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer Tracy Hogg

Bringing up Bébé Pamela Druckerman

The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Childcare Morell and Cowan

Your favorite baby books are also always appreciated and usually loved for a very long time ...

4. Siblings

Bring a little something for an older child or hand your gift to that child for 'their baby'.

How you do one thing is how you do every thing.

And thinking of doing something and actually doing it are not the same thing.

House Build Progress Photos April

Landscape design is my current focus; we're not out of the decision-making woods yet.


Chicken sconces to welcome you in.
Dutch door front door was a must-have-wish-list item from day one.


His Office in wind chime green.


The Kitchen turned out larger than I imagined.


East-facing, neighborhood-facing, lawn-facing sink.


Spiral stair up to guest room.


Living and dining area (or if J gets his way: living and billiards area).


Wood burning fireplace.


First floor Master Bedroom.


First floor Master Bathroom.


Master shower porcelain tile.


Contemporary stair detail.


Upstairs Bathroom also porcelain tile.


Upstairs Bathroom waiting on floating sinks.


Upstairs shower.


Upstairs Guest shower porcelain tile.


Guest bathroom. Lots of fun sloping ceilings upstairs.


Back downstairs, the Powder room.


Powder room exterior.


Side door.


Our 'Lane'.

my twinkly mood

The Daily Doodle: Tis the season of intimate dinners with friends.

Wessex top, Missoni bowl, Ugg boots.

Day Light Night Light

The Daily Doodle: Bopping about dawn-to-dark wearing a silver paillette-striped silk dress, semi-sparkle soft leggings, Jimmy Choo Ugg booties, and a fringy loose knitted scarf.

Cream and Cotton

The Daily Doodle: Coconut custard anyone? My love for creamy desserts has meant lemon cheesecake, espresso soufflé, chocolate mousse, caramel torte and coconut rice pudding have all been on the menu this week thanks to my wonderful mother.

Haute Hippie dress, Prada ballerinas.

why not tonight

The Daily Doodle: Keeping fresh flowers, white candles, special chocolates, a stocked pantry and frozen mini-quiches in the home all the time allows for an impromptu dinner party any time.

blue vintage

The Daily Doodle: Vintage and consignment is the name of the game this season.

dessert français

The Daily Sweet: Fruit tarts, chocolate truffles, crepes with marmalade, herbal tea, gummis, fruits, and gelato. After every meal, mmmmm.

Crepes Fine de Ritz Paris

Petit dejeuner Francais

The Daily Doodle: The summer "each morning at eight AM" my daily plate included, but was by no means limited to, yogurt, pain au chocolate, boiled eggs, and peaches. And of course, Nutella (not pictured).

Clafoutis Aux Mirabelles

 Plum Flan

small yellow plums or pitted, sour cherries or other fruit on hand/in season

12 eggs plus 3 egg yolks

600 grams heavy cream

700 grams creme UHT

300 grams sugar

100 grams pastry flour

vanilla extract or fresh vanilla or both

1. Infuse the vanilla bean scrapings of one large bean into 1/4 of the creme, heated.

2. 

Providence I Do

The Daily Doodle: Celebrating alfresco: A foodie wedding frenzy in the country-side of Rhode Island.