PARTY!!!!

Wouldn't you just love to be the party goers that get to walk up this path? I recently got to "meet", via this wonderful blog world of ours, Kate Todd, the voice of the Party Resources blog. Kate is the daughter of renowned party planner Ann Perry Todd, a.k.a. "Dixie".

As luck would have it, Kate invited me to be a guest on her blog and throw out a few of my favorite party ideas. I was very flattered and more than happy to oblige! I hope you have a chance to hop over and take a peek! Kate has been quite busy collecting great party ideas for all of us to try out ourselves. AND while you are at it....you will want to take a look at Dixie Todd's website. So many spectacular parties! As we all know, it is no small feat to put together a party as beautifully as those shown on Party Resources. My party hat is off to Dixie and Kate!!!

Life is Full

Alley Party Guests, Jenny and Andy

Life has a way of becoming bountiful all at once. I think the more one is involved with people, the more opportunities arise. Lately life has been very full, and I must apologize for letting my blog slip a little. Especially since the blog has been one of the main sources for how much life is giving at the moment!

So a little sharing is in order. As you know, we live in a turn of the century neighborhood which developed with alleys behind all of the houses ( presumably so horses could be put away behind the houses). Tim and one of our back alley neighbors, Rob, had been conceptualizing a party with all of the alley neighbors for a few months now. The idea was to have a Pot Luck in the alley with a band in our garage and the homemade beer brewed by Rob (fan-TAS-tic BTW!!!!) in Rob's garage. This all ended up coming about on Memorial Day weekend.

Vital Signs, Classic Rock in our Garage

We really had no idea how it would turn out.... We know most of our neighbors, but not all. We had never heard the band before....they were recommended by a friend, and we didn't know how many would show up! Wellll....From the response, it looks like it will be an annual event. Perhaps semi-annual! We have had requests for an Oktoberfest. (I will keep you informed!). The band ( Vital Signs....Classic Rock...916-388-1931 if you are in the Sactown area...contact Dave Mauck) was great....everyone was up and dancing . The Brew was so popular Rob had to break out a second batch. And the Pot luck was delish. Brats, salads, and lots of watermelon. Sometimes a casual thing can turn into the most fun.

Pot Luck

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

This last weekend was quite eventful as well! Saturday, Tim and I drove with my Mom to Healdsburg to empty out a storage unit Mom had been renting for the last 15 years. We thought it was about time to let the contents see the light of day once again.....and Mom could save a little cash to boot! Mom used to live in Healdsburg, and for those of you unfamiliar, it is located in the wine country right along the Russian River. (More HERE) It is beautiful, charming, and home to antique shops, great B&B's, restaurants and recreational opportunities.

Oakville Grocery, Healdsburg

Although the main reason for the trip was to empty out a treasure trove of furniture and art that had been in hiding for such a long time (we didn't even know exactly what we would find!)....we still had to have lunch, right? So after a morning of driving to Healdsburg (about 2 hours from Sac) picking up a U-haul truck and loading it up with fantastic loot (more later on that!) we headed over to Oakville Grocery for lunch. Located right on the town square...it is THE place for sandwiches and salads. Me? I had a Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich and Roasted Beet Salad with a Sparkling Pear Cider. Mom had the Roast Beef, and Tim had a Roasted Veggie Sandwich with a fresh Snap Pea Salad.

Lunch at Oakville Grocery in Healdsburg

Refreshed we were ready for the drive home and a late afternoon of unpacking. We finished just in time for the guests to arrive for a year end pizza party for my daughter, her girlfriends and moms. (Actually, I did need to leave to pick up Tim from returning the U-Haul truck.... perhaps we were trying to pack in a little too much for one day!) We had fun making pizzas with Trader Joe pizza dough (I highly recommend!!!) and any topping you can imagine is also available at TJ's! Easy.

Sunday...it was a quick trip to the Sacramento Farmer's Market....it is Cherry Season....and I am addicted to Rainier cherries....had to have them.

Sacramento Farmer's Market Cherries

After breakfast, I drove to San Francisco to meet one of my favorite bloggers! Grant Gibson, designer and blogger extraordinaire, threw a scrumptious brunch for Architect Design blogger, Stefan Hurray. (Stefan lives in Washington DC and is enjoying a birthday trip to California....Happy Birthday Stefan!!)

Brunch at Grant Gibson's lovely San Francisco Home

Grant is not only a fabulous designer (Ahem...top 5 designers to watch list in Elle Decor, people!) he is also a consummate host and cook! We were treated to Roast Vegetable Quiche, Smoked Salmon Quiche, Asparagus and Fingerling Potatoes, Fresh Strawberries, Homemade Scones and Clotted Cream. There was minted iced tea and Prosecco Mimosas. And the company was so much fun! (I wish I had been able to get every one's picture...but here are a few)

Stefan of Architect Design blog, and Grant

Sally Swing and Scot Meacham Wood, Fabulous designer and author of Tartanscot Blog

Moi and Stefan

It has been a very busy time...and a very good time as well. We will be celebrating my older daughter's High School graduation this weekend with family, and the girls and I will be heading to the Happiest Place on Earth for a little Grad Trip in a couple of weeks. I am working on some really fun work projects which I hope to share with you very soon!

So...without further adieu....it is back to work!

Have a great day!

A Low Key New Year's Eve

Every year, about a million people crowd Times Square to watch the ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve. And yes, I said a million. I looked it up. As you can imagine, that creates a bit of chaos in the city even beyond all the street closings. That's why my friends and I usually prefer to celebrate at someone's apartment for either drinks or a dinner party. If you plan on doing the same, here are a few ideas and images to help inspire you! Happy New Year!

When you think of New Year's celebrations, usually silver comes to mind but I think gold is a lovely alternative. It has a warmer feeling and the table designed by Carolyne Roehm above and top has a beautiful mix of colors that adds to that warmness. I found a set of gold rimmed wine and champagne glasses at Housing Works last year that would be perfect for this type of table.

Martha Stewart decorated this mantle with a collection of clocks to remind everyone of the passing of time. If you don't have enough to display this year, you can always plan for next year!

I feel in love with this image last year when I saw it on Style Court. What a beautiful way to greet your guests for the evening.

And don't fret if you don't have a set of matching champagne glasses. As you can see here, a tray full of mismatched glasses can be just a beautiful as a perfectly matched set.

This chic table belongs to one of the designers who works for Sarah Richardson and was seen in Canadian House & Home. The silver setting and pale blue chairs whisper winter and couldn't be more beautiful.

For those who prefer darker colors, this table from Ralph Lauren Home mixes gold, silver and black that would be perfect for a more masculine setting.

This table also doesn't worry about matching china or flatware and as you can see, there are actually two tables. A few smaller tables sometimes with less people make for a better party than one big long table. For fun, you can have people change seats between courses.

There is a simple elegance to this table setting that I absolutely love! It would also be perfect for a New Year's Day breakfast!

I think this table was intended for Christmas but would also work for New Year's Eve. If you are hosting a celebration, you can definitely leave up your Christmas tree but I would change out some of the other decorations around the house to reflect the party theme.

This table is set for a birthday celebration but could also inspire a beautiful New Year's Eve table and especially one in a warmer climate. I also think presents at each place setting is fun and they could be filled with inexpensive gifts or fun fortunes for the New Year!

I hope no matter where you are or what you do for New Year's Eve that you have a wonderful evening and don't forget to take a taxi or appoint a designated driver!

A Carolyne Roehm Christmas

I came across an entertaining feature of Carolyne Roehm holiday tabletop designs in an old issue of House Beautiful that made me interested in seeing more. Unfortunately, there aren't that many images of her work online so I am hoping that her next book will be entirely devoted to Christmas decorating and entertaining. I know I would buy it for sure! Hint hint!

Books, Books, Books!!!! And a Little Music for the Weekend.

There are some exciting books out there right now. Just in time to make it onto your holiday gift-giving lists! And never forget to put yourself on that list! There are a few categories I am always interested in:

Art

Taschen has just introduced a collection of Walton Ford's "beastial tableaux" in this beautiful new hardcover edition: Walton Ford, Pancha Tantra. As you can see from the cover above, Ford was fascinated by the ironic similarities between beasts and humanity.

Interior Design

Next up: the book I have been waiting for is due out by the end of October! Suzanne Kasler, one of my design crushes, puts together rooms that are often described as refreshing, luxurious, lavishly detailed while still maintaining that comfort factor. I am so looking forward to this one! To pre-order and for more information, you can click HERE.

Architecture

For the architect buff, this book is a "must have". Zaha Hadid, long considered to be a "wildly controversial" architect has been creating structures that have firmly established her international fame. Her 30 year career includes not only architecture, but furniture and interior design. An exquisite book to be sure: HADID, Complete Works 1979-2009

Entertaining

I just ordered At Home with Wedgewood, and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. Full of wonderful photos and the creative use of Wedgewood collections by personalities such as Charlotte Moss, Martha Stewart, and Carolyne Roehm, this Tricia Foley book will be one of her best, I have no doubt. A collector at heart, I love to see what others find worthy. Wedgewood, like most things, has had it's "ins" and "outs", but it is truly classic. And classics will always reemerge in refreshing and unconventional ways. This book will surely prove that point.

I am leaving you with a little music to start off you weekend:

I was all set to not like Scarlett. It wasn't anything personal. I think she is a wonderful actress. It was just the idea of the actress/singer crossover thing. But I like this! Pete Yorn is great and together they have put together a very unique sound.

There is nothing quite like a great book and some music on a Fall weekend.

Enjoy!

Fall Dinner Party

Last Sunday, we had some friends over for dinner to celebrate the Fall Season. It gave me the push I needed to add a little Fall decor to my house. I rearranged the front table in my Living Room adding a piece of art done by my sister-in-law for a wedding gift, some pumpkins from the Farmer's Market, and a beautiful arrangement of corn stalks, seed pods and wild grasses put together by a wonderful vendor also from the Farmer's Market. I wish I could take credit, but when you have it right in front of you, why pass it up?! (Plus, for only $4, what a steal!!!!).

I put the Fall foliage in an ironstone master jar, and added two ironstone footed bowls, the small from H&Co, the large from Thomas Hughes. I think I will fill them with walnuts.

At the Dining table, I started with a table cloth I made from inexpensive natural burlap. I find that if I use this as a base, I can put all different sizes of smaller cloths on top. The white one here is a vintage cotton cloth with fringe on each end. I used a pair of antique mercury glass candlestick holders in which I put some brown fun faux bois candles I found at Target. More pumpkins from the Farmer's Market and leaves from the yard make a very easy center piece. I added a few votive candles among the leaves.

I used simple large white plates, and my silver, hand blown glass water glasses from Anthropology, simple wine glasses that are always available at Cost Plus or Ikea, and Hotel Napkins from William Sonoma. Easy and very quick to put together!

We had a Fall menu starting with goat cheese filled dates with toasted bread crumbs as the appetizer, and then a French Onion Soup, which was pretty easy and delicious! We made grilled Cornish game hens with a Dijon Mustard and Riesling marinade on a bed of sauteed carrots, turnips and cabbage and an Apple Potato Gallete. There was Schwelmer Hefe Weizen Beer and a Dry German Reisling to choose from. Good food and good company!

(All of the recipes for this dinner can be found in the William Sonoma Entertaining Cook Book)

Passage to India

A Passage to India is on my list of all time favorite novels. I have always thought of India as the ultimate in exotic, romantic places. Well, it seems I am not the only one. It has become a wonderful collective consciousness frenzy:

Chhatrapat Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus

Elle Decor, October 2007 has featured Mumbai, India in their "elle decor goes to" section. It includes all of the must see, eat, shop, and do that Mumbai has to offer. It seems that everyone who's anyone is traveling here. It is a spectacular article. Here are a few photos to wet your appetite!

The Gateway of India

The Intercontinental Hotel rooftop

House and Garden , October 2007, has showcased Cartier's breathtaking new line of jewelry which takes it's inspiration from jewelry designed for the Princes of India. Jacqueline Karachi, head of Cartier's high end jewelry line has captured the art deco period in the new Inde Mysterieuse Collection:

This spectacular tank watch is vintage circa 1929 and has an emerald watchface. Wouldn't you just do about anything for this watch?! The carved jewels are modeled after fruits and berries and hence are known as Tutti Frutti. This style was most famously created for Daisy Fellowes.

This vintage Cartier Handbag sets off two Tutti Frutti brooches from the new collection.

Tiger ring, platinum, and gold with yellow diamonds and onyx.

Domino's October 2007 issue also has embraced India devoting their entertaining section to a party designed with table settings by Waris Ahluwalia. This India-born, NYC raised designer is behind the House of Waris jewelry collection. Waris makes an appearance in Wes Anderson's new film The Darjeeling Limited. (More on that later!) The India connections just keep getting more and more interesting!

You will have to check out Domino for the scoop on all of the lovlies like these chair back garlands. I'm loving these!

I feel like I am in India just looking at this table!

And when the meal is over, place to relax!

There has been much buzz about the upcoming new film by Wes Anderson: The Darjeeling Limited starring Andrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman. An adventure about three brothers who bond during a train trip across India, this film is getting alot of positive press. I'm gonna catch it for the scenery alone!

Catch more fun info about the movie on Brilliant Asylum's blog! For that matter, just catch Brilliant Asylum's blog cuz it's so very cool.

And no post about the beautiful exotic India would be complete without mention of two of my favorite blogs: An Indian Summer and Rang Decor. They are both filled with wonderful images of interiors, furniture, art, hotels, and homes of India. I feel like I am on a mini-vacation every time I visit. Here are a few images from their fantastic blogs:

from An Indian Summer

Both of these photos are from Rang Decor

Have I got you curious? Would you like to hear more? I highly recommend these novels to help take you away to India, if only in your imagination:

Happy travels!