Soul Addict

I caught the Soul Cycle bug and I'm afraid there is no looking back. The class has completely transformed my view on indoor cycling and I continually crave the workout. Who's with me?

Seeing Red

The Chanel brand ambassador Caroline Sieber trotting around in Paris. A vision!

Town -----------> Country

Breakfast at Manka's arrives in a tray at your doorstep with the New York Times and a description of breakfast: "Inverness apples pressed for your pleasure and served alongside house made yogurt over wild west Marin honey under our granola and more apple - with buns that just jumped out of the oven." Highly recommend enjoying in bed with a morning fire. Warning: as beautiful as it may be outdoors, it will be hard to get out of bed. A little pit-stop at Saltwater for lunch. Highly recommend selecting their "Raw Deal" which includes a dozen oysters and glass of vino.

Taking in the salty air and cold Pacific Ocean at Point Reyes South Beach.  Check-In at Manka's is inside an Airstream trailer. Very California. Obsessed with this porcelain sink in our cabin. It is huge with original fixtures and gorgeous.  A witty page from one of the many intriguing books on our bookshelf, this one titled "The Guest Room Book" by F.J. Sheed.  A view of the cabins from outside. Our dining nook in our cabin flanked by buffalo check pillows and an antler chandelier above. The chef brought us a three-course farm-to-table meal to enjoy fireside. (They only offer in-room dining on Fridays and Sundays). Divine.  A Tidelog hangs next to the loo. Clever.

A photograph snapped from the car ride - still breeze and blue skies in Inverness.  Another view of the rustic cabins.

Dinner menu from our fireside meal. The Meyer Lemon Cake was sensational. Our small patio just adjacent to our dining nook. The Adirondack chairs were so deep and relaxing and the temperature was perfect for chilling our rosé.

Pinecones sit bedside in a wicker basket.

A window in the shower looks out to a bed of ivy and greenery.

Deep leather chairs, military blankets and dim lighting in front of the fireplace.

The above photos were snapped during a quick 24 hour road trip in Inverness this past weekend. Inverness is a bucolic community in western Marin County, California. The town is located on the southwest shore of the beautiful Tomales Bay, about an hour and a half drive from San Francisco. We left the city in our rear view and spent the night at  Manka's, which was certainly one of the most memorable places I've stayed. The property is dotted with quaint cabins thoughtfully decorated in a sea of rich textures, dim lighting and rustic elements. The photos absolutely do not do this little gem justice, it is a must for anyone looking for a country escape. Email C&C for specific recommendations: citrusandcedars@gmail.com

Woah, WALLY!

The Wally One - the "ultimate day boat" with two in-board Yanmar engines delivering over 630 HP and a sleek design to get you from one adventure to the next. Throttle-down on the iconic Wally Tender. Max speed with petrol power is 42 knots.

Above: a better look at the Wally Tender's "private parts" / mechanics.

The fast cruising sloop known as Wally Love - I'm digging the heart designs on the kite.

A view up at Wally Love's spreaders. Hall Spars for mast and boom and Future Fibres PBO for rigging.

The Wally 50 with two teak decks and down below, a forward cabin for overnights.

The sporty bow of the Wally 55. This better be first in line for the next Bond boat.

Up close and personal: the sexy teak deck on the Wally 55.

Daybeds on the deck of the Wally 55. The perfect place to reward yourself from a salty swim with a glass of champagne and oysters for days.

 The interior of the Wally 55 offers two or three cabins down below. A perfect retreat to rest with a sun-kissed lover.

Meet the Wally Magic Carpet built in 2013. Just over 98 feet, she can reach 25 knots downwind and can plane and surf to your heart's content.

The Wally Inti working her way through some steady breeze.

Inside the sleek cabin of a Wally 73, an exceptional specimen that can accommodate up to eight guests and two crew.

The swim platform off of a Wally 73 can entice any sea faring guest to an enjoyable swim.

The Wally 73 stretching her legs.

Hang up those caftans and bask in the sun on the main deck of the Wally 73.

The Wally ACE - redefining the term "mothership" with one hell of a design. See her specs here.

Lucas Bassani (pictured just above), the visionary founder of the yacht company Wally, has been easily regarded as an international legend since putting his boyhood dreams to reality in Monte Carlo in 1994. The one-time start-up has morphed into an award-winning dynamic company with naval architects, engineers and technicians working in shipyards throughout Italy, and an impressive list of clients and worldly tycoons who demand his futuristic, sophisticated designs.

Bassani, an electronics heir, always had an adoration for architecture (with no formal training) and growing up, a passion for competitive sailing. He won a number of regattas in the Mediterranean and beyond, and slowly, dreamed about building his own boat that would suite his lifestyle. Thus, the Wally brand emerged with the 83-foot sloop known as the "Wallygator" a hardcore yet inviting racing vessel no one had ever seen before. Today, the Wally brand has expanded from Wally Sail to Wally Power, and now, a side business of carbon fiber skis. (Perhaps the ski venture is a tad self-serving as he spends a fair bit of time at his ski chalet in the Alpine village of St. Moritz, Switzerland).

Every morsel of Bassani's designs are sculptures of passion and overt innovation while introducing tangible fantasies of life at sea and beyond.

Fresh to Death

The above Washington D.C. home showcases what I believe to be a perfect foyer. The natural light and wallpaper create almost an ethereal landscape, while the wide planked pine floor, antiques and fresh arrangements suggest a comfortable, lived-in, yet elegant environment. The home may be the oldest in D.C., however this interior is fresh and easy to achieve in any home. View more, here.

Let it Commence!

Ahhh, the long weekend is (almost) here. I'm looking forward to a whole slew of adventures, including a night in Inverness, a little boogie on the dance floor, my first SoulCycle class, and enjoying what looks like a promising weather forecast in the city. The above is the first image that has surfaced just three days ago from Michael Kors' Spring/Summer 2014 campaign, shot by Mario Testino via. Can't wait to see the other images, they always capture adventure and romance.

Bon Weekend!

Lunch Time Field Trip

Minimize those Excel workbooks kids and come escape with me!

I welcome you to the "Lucky House" on the private isle of Parrott Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The estate is currently on the market with an asking price just under a cool $11M USD. By day, we'll let the turquoise waters seduce us while habitually refreshing our rum punches, and by night, dance in the moonlight poolside after enjoying a dinner of fresh conch (and more rum punches). Heaven!

View the listing here.

On Deck...

Tonight, I'm headed to the Kabuki to see Lone Survivor, the film based on a New York Times bestseller that tells the true tale of four Navy SEALs on a covert mission in the mountains of Afghanistan who are tasked with killing a top Taliban commander. They are ambushed by the enemy and from there, well, things don't improve... Mark Wahlberg and Taylor Kitsch star in the film (among others) and to date, the film is regarded as the "first surprise hit of 2014." Be sure to catch Part One of Anderson Cooper's report on 60 Minutes, here.

The Vision

The idea of having a blog appealed to me for quite some time. I have always followed many other blogs and have curated stacks of binders and journals full of clippings and inspirations I wanted to keep close to me. The idea of collecting these little tokens of beauty gave me such inward pleasure. I was desperate for an outlet to convey my musings and passions and after friends encouraged me to execute, I finally went for it. I'd like to think that I put substantial thought into developing a name and logo, however it was easier than I anticipated. I knew I wanted it to be whimsy, traditional and sentimental while it reflected my own personal style. The above is the "inspiration page" I created and sent to the lovely Mallie Pratt of MLP Studio. She promptly sent over a sketch of the logo and after a few minor tweaks, voilà! (More on Mallie's work, here).

From the beginning, I loved the idea of creating some sort of heraldry or crest and balancing the traditional with playful elements that would evoke a carefree aesthetic: citrus, for example, representing the ease of a summer season, dark hues of green to represent vitality and the natural landscapes I adore, and the vintage Chris Craft as a nod to my love of the water and the lifestyle I have enjoyed thanks to my family's shared adoration. Lastly, the cedar branches call on my affinity to the Adirondacks and the time I would spend with my beloved Nana on the porch of her home watching thunderstorms preside over Lake Champlain.

It's been so fun using C&C as a platform for exploring and sharing my musings thus far. Thank You again for your support and readership!

Oh, YES...

Lupita Nyong'o was by far, my favorite - she looked absolutely sensational. The Ralph Lauren cape dress was just perfect and I love that she kept her jewelry very minimal. Showstopper.

The Wolf of Wallstreet bombshell Margot Robbie oozed with sexy glamor in a Gucci silk creme gown. THIS is Hollywood. (Can't believe she is 23 AND single!)I didn't love Reese's Calvin Klein halter dress, but there was something very fresh and modern about her look that drew me in. Amy Poehler looked fabulous in Stella McCartney. Both Amy and Tina Fey rocked the house again with their hilarious hosting. Real women with real bodies and real talent. Amen!

Naomi Watts looked like an absolute smoke-show in Tom Ford. The photographs do not even do her justice, she looked absolutely ravishing. If you haven't seen Adore yet, you must.