Summer Here, Summer Not

I finally got a chance to flip through my March House Beautiful that's been sitting on my ottoman for probably a month now.  (This gives you an idea of how busy I am right now and why I've been kind of MIA)  Anyway, with summer right around the corner, I can't wait for flip flops and barbeques and I was delighted by a Bridgehampton home decorated by Ellen O'Neill that made me hanker for the fourth of July!  It is so light and casual and I do say that if when I have a summer home, this is what it shall look like.

All images House Beautiful magazine via housebeautiful.com

Mailboxes, etc.

Mailboxes are like bellybuttons, everybody's got one.  And lately, I've had mailboxes on the brain.  I don't know why I'm so fascinated with mailboxes as most of them are pretty ordinary and boringly utilitarian.  Rarely will you find a mailbox that stands out and makes you think, "What a neat mailbox.  I'd really like to find a mailbox like that."  My father lives in a neighborhood where all the mailboxes are exactly the same.  He says that's why he likes it there.  My mom has no mailbox, but a door slot instead where the mailman drops catalogues and bills.  I have a mailbox that looks much like many of the others in my neighborhood. I once knew an artist who had met Mel Gibson and decided to paint Mel Gibson's various characters on a mailbox and send it to Gibson himself. 
There's really nothing mystical about mailboxes, but these artists make my latest fascination seem wondrous and whimsical.

Teal Mailbox by Etsy seller BucksCountyFrames

Empty Box by Etsy seller elephantdreams

Love Letters by Etsy seller skippydesigns

Holly's Mailbox by Etsy seller emmakisstina



Gratatouille

They say an object in motion stays in motion and lately I have been running on sheer momentum.  I've been so caught up in life that I've forgotten how to live.  And then suddenly, a bump in the road.  An occurrence that was at the time frustrating and inconvenient and even quite worrisome.  Nothing tragic, just annoying and without explanation.  It seemed to happen for no good reason, except in hindsight it wasn't just any bump in the road, but a speed bump placed strategically and deliberately to say, "Slow down, Bruce Lee, you're moving too fast."  And so in finding my way back from this small detour, I looked to some "places" I often go in situations like this and I was reminded of the importance of gratitude.  Simran Singh says, " Look for the opportunities within your obstacles NOT the obstacles within your opportunities."  I am so thankful for this speedbump, which was an opportunity disguised as an obstacle put in place to remind me that life is playful, delight in it.  Routines cause ruts and sometimes losing focus is a good thing.

Here is some artwork by artist Sebastiaan Bremer that I find playful, hopeful and just plain delightful.  Enjoy.

Artwork by Sebastiaan Bremer via bumbumbum.me

It's Friday! Orange-Almond Tart

My mind is moving faster than my fingers can type and I have so much to share, but I am of course running behind schedule and have to make it to a six o'clock hot yoga class (much needed).  So instead of going on about this or that, I am going to once again rave about Dorie Greenspan's cookbook Around My French Table.  I recently joined French Fridays with Dorie and have been cooking along with the weekly recipes.  If you are a food lover, a new cook, a veteran foodie or anywhere in between, I recommend joining- it's quite fun and the recipes are to die for.  This week's dish was the Orange-Almond Tart and it is my favorite thing I have made to date.  As per the FFWD rules, I am not allowed to share the recipes on my blog (oops) but this one is too good not to pass along, so if you're interested please send me a message or leave a comment and I'd be much obliged to help you out. (wink wink)  Don't be fooled by the crummy pictures I took, this tart is divine.  Happy weekend!

Step 1: Gather Inspiration

Tomorrow morning the "men" are coming to measure my mama's kitchen, which means this renovation is officially underway!  How exciting!!  We have been informally discussing plans and ideas for weeks now and I am looking forward to setting things in motion, but in the meantime, I need to get movin'!  I need to pull together samples, colors, fabrics, and assemble an idea board so that she can make additions and changes.  On Sunday, she brought over inspiration that she's been collecting for years.  I went through it and pulled out the images that I think best exemplify what she wants and what I envision for her space.  So, without wasting another minute...

Domino 

                                       Cottage Living

Cottage Living

                                     Cottage Living

                                     Cottage Living

Sable Breton with Berries that are Blue

Yet another recipe from Around My French Table that is absolutely fabulous.  Click here to visit Dorie Greenspan's blog and see this particular recipe.  I used 5-inch tart pans instead of the 9-inch pan called for in the recipe and reduced cooking time to 15-20 minutes.



No More Kitschy Kitchens

As I search for inspiration for my mama's kitchen renovation, I am seeing so many smart spaces designed to be both functional and fabulous.  Gone are the days of "pretty" kitchens for show and display.  The spaces I'm seeing are efficient, ergonomic and so stylish. 

My first set of pictures comes from My French Kitchen .  This "cuisine" makes me think that if we ever decide to gut our kitchen, I will spend my money on the nicest commercial appliances and use whatever I have left to piece together shelves and storage.  Cabinets are so overrated.

I'm not sure where this picture came from, but I love the clutter.  This kitchen would probably send my roommate (fiance) into cardiac arrest, but I think it's wonderfully chaotic.

The next picture comes from Dorie Greenspan, my food and life idol.  I recently snatched her cookbook from my mom and I've been using it non stop and loving everything I've made.  Her kitchen is narrow and cluttered and just plain chic.  Only a French kitchen could have this much stuff and still look so perfectly assembled.

The next kitchen is from DesignSponge and it teeters perfectly between pretty and practical.  The natural light, the farmhouse sink, all that counterspace, that hood and those shelves.  This is my new dream kitchen.

More Treasures Plus A Word on Scavenging

I am convinced that scavenger is a gene passed down from generation to generation.  My mom loathes junk stores and Antique shops and my dad would never buy anything second hand, but my grandfather was a one-of-a-kind scavenger.  His children will call him a junk collector who hated to throw things away, but I call him a trailblazing treasure hunter and most likely the reason I turned out this way.  My affinity for all things old, used, and/or unique started very young and I notice the trait in both my niece and nephew, a mere eight and three, respectively.  They will insist on keeping dried up leaves, seemingly ordinary stones, and other interesting items that have been carelessly discarded by the non-scavenger and regarded as "trash."  Recently, during a weekly clean up, my sister consolidated lincoln logs into one large bin and planned to discard the others, until my nephew (age 3), angered at the thought of sending them to the trash,  sternly convinced her that he would be needing those spare receptacles in the future.  I felt for the little guy and know that one day he'll take comfort in the fact that he is not alone, but comes from a long line of scavengers and pack rats.  And so today I salute fellow treasure hunters and stuff keepers around the world, without whom there would be no shrines full of treasure where I go to worship Saturdays or Tuesdays or any day I need to be inspired. 
Here are some thoughts and photos from my latest pilgrimage:

The Dude abides.  Yes, indeed these are bowling pins.  They are old, heavy, and so sculptural.  I want them for an entryway tableau or to use as bookends perhaps. 

Creeper.  This picture pretty much sums up why I love antique shops, especially old, damp, smelly warehouse ones.  As I quietly go up and down each aisle, I feel like I'm searching for lost treasure, encountering ghosts, thieves, and the occasional creepy bald mannequin.

I recently saw one of these in Country Living as part of a very glamorous all white tableau and I want it for my mantle.

 Tommy and I have been desperately seeking ice bucket for months.  I was so excited to show him this one that I found, which I think most would agree is cute as a button.  He did not enthuse, but I may have to get it anyway...

I thought this little guy was so cute.  I would love to spray him hot pink.

I think this is an old buoy of sorts.  It would look lovely next to my fireplace or on top of our china cabinet with some other found objects.

I bought three of these wooden shoe forms.  I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but I thought they were neat.  A couple days later, I saw this little arrangement over at dreamhouse :

Bust or bust!  I want a bust so bad and this little fella is real cute... and kinda sad.  Don't worry guy, you're destined for far greater things than holding up that lousy needlework!

After I told Tommy that it spun in circles, he was completely sold on this mod desk chair.  Cha ching!

I thought this coffee table was mod and fabulous.  So, apparently, did the seller and priced it as such.

I love this sink.  I would buy it with my imaginary money, restore it with my imaginary skills and install it in my imaginary bathroom.  I love my imaginary life.

When I was a child, I was afraid of mannequins.  At the site of them being dressed or assembled, I would always exclaim, "I can't worry about it."  I can't imagine what these images would have done to my childhood mind.  The lady in the first picture doesn't look too happy about the whole thing either.