Katerina Rose turns 13.

My cousin Kate turns 13 today.  Sometimes my aunt call her "Katerina", which I love, because I can pretend we are Russians.  Rose is her middle name.  Thirteen years old is such a big deal -- really.  I just can't believe she's so grown up.  I picked out an advertisement for Pink Sparkle to commemorate her birthday.  It's Kylie Minogue's specially blended fragrance and it fuses white peach, pink grapefruit, fresh lily of the valley with a radiant fizziness of the champagne accord, gardenia and Arabian jasmine. Base notes are musk, bourbon vanilla and vetiver bourbon. In this perfume ad for Pink Sparkle, Minogue is sitting on top of champagne crates.  So HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY pretty cousin!  I wish I could throw you a sweet party and look good wearing Kylie's festive pictured frock.

Tulips, again.

Pink tulips in vintage blue juice glass with gold rim.  (My favorite.)

Kitchen tulip.

All the trimmings of the stalks are in their own vase on the dining room table.

One white tulip on coffee table.

Purple tulips in white ceramic pitchers.

I decided to break up my tulip bunch and make a few separate vignettes.  That way the flowers are all around us, plus I prefer the look of single color assortments of tulips, roses or daffodils.  It was fun to go through my vases and find the perfect little place for each grouping. 

Tulips for the table.

David brought tulips home and put them in a vase.  It's thrilling.  They're beautiful.  I love them and him.

Friday Love.

Sofia Arnold for Faythe Levine's pop up boutique.

Cute Sugar.

http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/brown-sugar-hearts

These brown cuties are ready to perch on your favorite coffee mug just in time for V day.  The only problem?  They have to be shipped from England to us.  But just maybe worth it ... ;)  At any rate, the shop is v cute.  Check it out.  xx

Toasty knit love, a la Marilyn.

With black leggings, coral red lips and great flats, anything can happen.  Add a cable knit sweater, and you might hit the ultimate in darling factor.  Keep in mind, though, that these sweaters can go wrong on the body.  I have been there & seen it happen first hand; a glimpse in the mirror reveals the unfortunate news that said sweater is not looking hour glassy - it's just looking bad & misbehaving on the girl curves.   My ways to avoid the bad ness include:  pushing the sleeves up, wearing a darker color or belting it (as seen on the model pictured).  Sadly, a true cable knit sweater is not low cut.  If it was, then there would not be the un flattering issue.  But like most things in life that are challenging, the cable knit is worth perservering for. It just is.  When worn responsibly and carefully, these sweaters are quite, well --- bangin'.  Marilyn wore one perfectly in Let's Make Love.  The French designer Gerard Darel actually purchased Monroe's original sweater at auction and has replicated the cable knit in cream, blue and khaki.  I am personally thrilled that we will have some Marilyn inspired, wool-wearing woman walking the streets, and though I will not be purchasing the $195 Darel version, I plan to whip out my own knit number, reapply my lip stain, step into some flats and go do me some Marilyn.

La Crema Wine

La Crema is a California winery & I love their consistency and classy ness.  My dear (and classy) friend often serves their Chardonnay.  Every pour I've ever had is heaven, and I say that as a non Chardonnay nose.  I went on their website and found the most interesting sounding recipe to share.  Words like vanilla & persimmon & fennel & rock shrimp with a cold glass of white?!  This is for a nice Saturday evening meal with special people.

Rock Shrimp with Vanilla and Persimmon Fennel Slaw Pair with La Crema Chardonnay This quick and easy recipe is a perfect compliment to our La Crema Chardonnay. The buttery shrimp, vanilla, sweet persimmons and citrus all echo the flavors in the wine. The fennel adds complexity and texture to the dish. Serves 8 people

Ingredients: 2 lb fresh rock shrimp 4 Tb clarified butter 2 each shallots, minced fine 1 each vanilla bean, cut lengthwise and seeds scraped 6 each ripe fuju persimmons, peeled and diced 2 each lemons, zest and juice 1/4 cup canola oil 4 each large heads of fennel, shaved very thin To taste kosher salt 1/2 bunch fennel fronds

Preparation: Into a very hot sauté pan add clarified butter, then rock shrimp. Season with kosher salt. Sauté very quickly until shrimp are just done. Remove shrimp from pan and let cool. In a blender combine 2 persimmons, seeds from vanilla bean, lemon juice and canola oil. Blend until smooth and transfer to a large bowl. Add shallots, lemon zest, diced persimmons, fennel and shrimp. Season with kosher salt and toss gently to coat evenly. Divide salad between 8 plates, garnish with fennel fronds and serve immediately.

Monday song shake down.

Click on the title of this post to hear Stevie Nicks singing Wild Heart.  She's just hanging out in a perfect peach dress, primping, during a Rolling Stones photo shoot.  It's outta control.  Perfect for a late night laundry folding session.

The Jets lost but

green and white material.

green and white ikat

green and white peony.

green and white as a color combo lives on 4 eva.   Sorry Jets - there are some people, like my husband, who are very sad that you didn't win your game today.  You did a good job, particularly when the game was almost over, and better luck next year.

Pink pom poms in trees

Friday Love.



Image by John Akehurst
Styled by Sam Ranger



Goethe's Color Chart



Sam Katz.  You were adored in life, and will be remembered for being the best.  LOVE.



Youthless.

 Collage
 By Alexis Anne Mackenzie


title: Youthless



Birthday girl Rach.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER.  LOVE TO THE LOVE.

Flamingo birthday love. 
Photo by Kjunstorm.



27th birthday LOVE, cupcake style.



If we were together, we would eat tasty chiffon cake & you could wear your sweater that's worn through its elbow cashmere.



last wknd's love

Haley Rose eating breakfast at the Oak Table.

Pears for sale in tomato crates.

Pretty.

View from the ferry boat.

Ashley E. doing the side profile: coffee love, brunette shot.

Me (other Ashley) doing the side profile: coffee love, brunette shot.

Bonbons.

Pears in a tin tub.

Cufflinks

Sometimes, guys need to wear cufflinks.  I think a slightly scuffed up, but elegant option is best.

Water Cufflinks by Anish Kappor
22 kt gold

A riff on baking & a single pink frosting flower

Photo by Carl Kleiner.  Styled by Evelina Bratell.  

Friday Love.



Photo by Ard Louis.
20 of June, 2009

I'm walking out the door to a waiting car, about to go to a chapel and marry Dave.  I like the look in my eye.

Cashmere for your baby.

Nothing is yummier than cashmere on babies.  It's absurd to spend so much, but oh my, if money was no object, every baby I've ever known would know the feeling of cashmere.  This girlish baby blanket is from "across the pond", so it would be even extra luxurious to have it sent to the states.  You could find it here, if you feel like dreaming :  lux UK baby stuff to LOVE.  (Would also be perf when momma gets cold! )

This little baby is wearing a 100 percent cashmere "pram" set, which includes leggings, coat, mittens and hat.  It's finished by hand and couldn't be more classic.  This set would cost $390.  Expensive and darling.  Here is the link to dream about this one : blue LUX pram set.  And I love love the vintage circus truck besides baby...

Plum Perfect

Plum Punch :  plum infused vodka, fruit infused wine, splash of OJ

One of last weekend's high highlights was drinking one single cocktail with a beautiful friend on Capitol Hill.  We were at a very chic vegan place called Plum Bistro & I loved my five dollar drink.

Fleurs de Fete

Sadly, it's almost time to bid adieu to burning my wintertime candle; I've reached the dregs inside.  Fleurs de Fete, (hand poured by Voluspa), is a blend of calla lily, creme roses, white narcissus, tuberose absolute and buttercream cake.  Umm, yum.  Yum.  But I'm no good with goodbyes, so I plan on extending the lovely ness, and I will keep spare change in the tin.  So our pennies will smell faintly like creme roses and cake.

ABC's



a b c print by Tuesday Mourning (etsy)



A rich, sometimes pretty world.

Wettest, coldest day in Seattle, ever.  I needed some weird LA glamour & Hamptons esque luxury on this dreary night.  Enjoy.  (All photos by Douglas Friedman.)  

Totally perfect.

I love the water damage and un lined up effect of the wood planks, and that the cross isn't lit up, but could be.

Chic lap pool and lounging area and mowed grass.

Nice brown hair and cut of pants and baby's  bottom.

Exposed beams & tan skin & bag of flour & big yellow dress.

I like the pink chippiness of the landing & the smokiness from the ashtray.

Red lips and white swim suits.

Leather (s) & crisped cottons & fur & gleaming wood floor. 

Pink texture & terrible red socks.

Soft to the touch seeming towels.

I'm always up for white words on a pink surface.  And an excess of orchids.

Tattoos & bling & wrinkles & cleavage.

Only the biggest carrots will do.  Love the streaks of light on the horse.

Family picture: multiple generations, tall trees.

Old stool & container filled with green glass balls & wall with patina.