Me & Mrs Jones

On this rainy Monday, my dear friend, Mrs.. Jones helped me design our future kitchen.

There are a couple kitchens I love but just like in Project Runway…

there can only be “ffvONE” winner. (Said with Heidi’s German accent)

Could it be Kitchen #1?? (Courtesy of House Beautiful)

Designed by Windsor Smith…for herself. Blessed lady.

A true gutsy designer who painted these cabinets a very deep blue.

Not fearing resale values, trends or HERSELF.

 

It is an amazing kitchen!

Love, love that center table dining-island.

C’mon who designs a kitchen like this?? In navy??

A homeowner with confidence and “a point of view” (Notice how Heidi, Tim, Nina, & Michael always tell the designers that they need to have “a point of view”?)

Windsor Smith also designed this fabulous dual- purpose foyer on October’s cover of Veranda.

Can you imagine that this foyer serves as a “dining room” when it is needed.

Pure genius idea Windsor! You are a visionary like Mrs. Jones.

Could it be Kitchen #2?? (Courtesy Cote De Texas blog)

Designed by Sally Wheat for herself. Another blessed lady.

I love the color, simplicity and marble counters!

It is one of the most blogged about kitchens ever.

Many have replicated it because it rocks…will I?

Could it be Kitchen #3?? (Courtesy Cote De Texas blog)

Designed by Houstonian designer: Joni of Cote De Texas blog for herself.

It is like Sally’s kitchen.

Adore the marble thick window ledge and French vibe.

Cote De Texas is one of the best blogs IF you have never visited it before…

you shouldn’t be reading my blog! You need to read hers!!

Could it be Kitchen #4?? (Courtesy My Nottinghill blog)

Designed by Aussie designer John Jacob Zwiegelaar for himself.  Cute and blessed boy.

The contrasting white & black checkerboard floors, the dark cabinetry and dark marble counters take my breath away.

Again, I like the table used as an island and seating.

I could happily live in any of these kitchens…but which one is my DREAM kitchen??

Up until today…I did not have the GUTS to do what I wanted but Mrs. Jones convinced me and helped me realize that…

“I just need to do it and not look back”

AND

That if I’M NOT going to do it…

SHE will!!

Just kidding!

However, that was a huge confirmation because Mrs. Jones should have her own HGTV show!!

Me & Mrs. Mrs. Jones…we’ve got a thing going on…

Stayed Tuned for our BIG decision :)

My Buddies {pl.}

Well… “I’m baack”

I am humbled if you missed me.

Today, I bring you: a very blog worthy post…

This invite had me anxious with anticipation.

And c’mon! you know I wasn’t disappointed…

Champagne greeted us (and is still greeting me. I enjoyed it much more last night)

 

Jane’s designs were so creative and so detailed.

I hope you can see and feel how wonderful it was…

Every couple brought a bottle to swap.

One husband wanted to know if later in the night: the N in “wine” could be changed to an F on the sign.

Get it??…WIFE SWAP.

(very funny)

A beautiful appetizer table…

Breathtaking dining tables….

Seriously…they were this gorgeous….

Look at those place settings and ALL the details….

Mason jar water glasses, labeled wine glasses, burlap, wicker, linen, hydrangeas…

Jane printed Wine Menus on the bottles.

I am so glad I took pictures…

I remember everything now….

The Cakebread, Far Niente, and Darioush.

It’s like being there all over again.

Dinner menus on the cutest menu boards…

Too cute I tell you, just too darn cute…

Don’t you want one?

Actually, I bet Jane can get you one.

(Let me know)

Look at these flower blossoms filled with goat cheese.

Aren’t they amazing?

They were colorful & pretty and tasted so good…

the blossom was a little citrusy with the mellow goat cheese.

Deee-lish!

The cheeses…

The fresh fruit….

The first course…

pan seared sea bass with a granny smith apple salad, celery root puree & browned butter.

second course…

heirloom beet salad (I am a HUGE beet fan) with toasted hazelnuts, Maytag mousse & pistachio vinaigrette.

third course…

risotto cake with wild mushrooms, mustard crusted Kobe beef (so tender, you could swallow w/o chewing) & arugula mayonnaise.

fourth course…

ricotta panna cotta with balsamic figs & orange zest.

It was delicious.

ALL the courses were delicious…

however, I was also enjoying the WINE too much which caused my mind to forget to take more pictures of the food.

oopps!… I forgot I was the evening’s “Official Blogger”

Jane gave these warm and lovely wraps in black and gray to each girl.

And the boys took home a Merlot steak sauce and jar of Italian olives in this darling linen bag…

Well…I took home “my boys” for him.

This morning, he was so happy when he discovered I remembered to bring home EVERYTHING last night.

After all, he reeally liked the wines A LOT too.

Thanks!! Jane and “Birthday Boy” Mike…

Perfecto :)

My Buddy

 My little Buckaroo came to visit.

While he was here…

He played…

He ate…

He moved…A LOT!

He learned to crawl…

right to His daddy…

on the computer via Skype.

It’s a good thing His daddy was on the computer

because working computers are His favorite things…

to pound on extremely hard!

Papa Joe tried giving Him an old broken computer to pound on instead

BUT He didn’t even pound on it because He knew it was already broken.

He is a very smart little boy.

While John Landry was here…

He filled our home with adorable-ness

and our hearts with indescribable joy.

He is just the sweetest thing!

Grammy sure does love you, D2 :)

MidSummer Night’s Dream

On this hot summer night…

as I wait for the only TV show I watch these days;

Million Dollar Decorators to start.

I am sending you some serious eye candy.

From Paris and Laduree

With Love…

 

Striped awning…yum.

Déjà vous…yum

Colorful ribbons dripping off the rack behind the Parisian counter…yum.

My checkerboard floor…yum.

Their trademark green in ironwork…yum.

The royal treatment…yum.

Paris…yum.

Window displays that call my name…yum.

Chic and sweet…yum.

Celebrate. Their packaging…yum.

Glam without gilt & guilt…yum.

Gray & glorious…yum.

A French display case & macaroons & a checkerboard floor. Oh my…yum.

Entering one of their shoppes…yum!!

French & fabulous Laduree…yum.

 

And now Laduree has opened Le Bar on Champs Elysees.

A cold drink with macaroon and Bravo…

Yum!

Stay cool :)

The Barefoot Contessa

Ina Garten, otherwise known by foodies as “The Barefoot Contessa” is my favorite Food TV star.

I recently bought her newest “How Easy Was That” cookbook, (which I highly recommend along with all of her other cookbooks)

Her nickname; “The Barefoot Contessa” came from the Hampton’s food store she once owned.

After working at the White House in the 1970s as a nuclear energy  policy analyst, Ina bought a small, specialty food store in the Hamptons which was already named “The Barefoot Contessa.” She told The New York Times, “My job in Washington was intellectually exciting and stimulating but it wasn’t me at all.” Ina loved to entertain and cook much more.

The original store’s owner had named it after a 1954 film starring Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart.  Ina Garten decided to keep the name because she felt “Barefoot Contessa” suited her “elegant but earthy lifestyle.”

ANYHOW…who knew

that in Something’s Gotta Give, Diane Keaton’s character shops in Garten’s ACTUAL “Barefoot Contessa” store??

 

How cool is that?

When I discovered this tidbit, I had to revisit the movie and check out her store!

How fun that Diane Keaton (one of my favorite actresses) shopped at the Barefoot Contessa!

Loved that movie, love Diane Keaton and the Barefoot Contessa :)