For a while now, I've been wanting to host a garden brunch at my place. With the weather heating up in San Francisco, now might be a good time. This Grapefruit Sage Mimosa is right up my alley. Sage, citrus and mid-morning cocktails? Yes, please.
Get On The (Green) Wagon!
As "millennials", we're at a stage in life where we begin to see our friends and peers do some pretty cool things in life. Living in San Francisco, we're especially privy to some unique innovators, dreamers and doers. However, let's face it, that pool of innovators is getting larger and so, when we discover a good thing, it can be transcending.
On the subject of transcending, it gives me great joy and an immense amount of pride to introduce you to Green Wagon, the brainchild of my dear friend Brittany. Green Wagon is a delivery service of organic and gluten free snacks to businesses and homes. Each delivery, (weekly, every other week or monthly- you chose) is a curated box of delightful eats, all 100% organic, gluten free, vegan and non-GMO. Genius. When I discovered how well my package of dried persimmons complemented my afternoon cappuccino at work yesterday, I started plotting my healthy afternoon snacks for the rest of the week. (Think: coconut chips! chocolate covered goji berries! rosemary garlic pistachios!)
The concept truly does re-define snacking as the brand preaches and better yet, you can snack yourself to your heart's content with the satisfaction of knowing Green Wagon donates 1% of annual revenue to a hunger cause. Get on the Green Wagon!
Clap Along...
Sunday, I'll especially be thinking of my Mother. We can often get overwhelmed by visions of peonies, brunch and all things Hallmark on Mother's Day, but I think we can all agree, there is something so special about having a Mother in your life. Take a moment to reflect on the joy she brings to you and if you're far away from her like me, make sure you ring her first thing Sunday! Here's to Mom!
A Pacific Heights Classic
I loved the feature in Lonny this month detailing Susan Greenleaf's home in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. The brick 1867 Georgian-style home was once the residence of a French government official and now, a vibrant family home. An interior designer, Susan's style is playful yet traditional which seems logical given her roots abroad in London and her husband's career in the tech space. You'll find shades of citrus in geometrical art throughout the home, canary yellow upholstered Louis XVI chairs, and whimsical Scalamandré wallpaper in the powder room. This is, however, a home that lends itself to functionality, vitality and growth - she and her husband have eight year old twins. Read on about the home, here.
The Garden-Perfumes
I absolutely love perfume. It's such an intimate part of any woman's dressing routine and while it's incredibly personal, the beauty of perfume is that it's different for each woman depending on her persona, taste and mood. I personally prefer nothing too overpowering and usually gravitate to light scents full of citrus and gardenia, as if you were taking in the scent of an afternoon stroll in a garden in Capri. Hence, last week, I decided to momentarily stray away from my standard Orange Blossom and try something new. I was delighted by two scents that are actually for male or female, as part of Hermes' "Les Jardins" collection. See above.
The Party Is Over
I thought it was only fitting that I post photos from my stroll around Lafayette Cemetery No.1 to mark the "end" of what was a fanciful weekend in New Orleans. The weekend was full of some of the most wonderful pleasures one can enjoy in life - incessant live music, sunshine, friends, strong cocktails and southern cookin'.
New Orleans will continue to have a special place in my heart. It is a city full of tradition, celebration, a rich history, beautiful homes and friendly people that know how to throw a good fête or two.
Lafayette Cemetery (pictured above) is located in New Orleans' Garden District, one of my favorite neighborhoods (the antique shops! the restaurants! the architecture!). It is the oldest municipal, city-operated cemetery in New Orleans and often the landscape for many fictitious characters in movies such as Double Jeopardy, American Horror Story, Dracula and The Witching Hour, just to name a few. Currently, the city is restoring many of the tombs on site.
THE BOSS
I'm off to one of my most favorite places for a few days of boogie & good old-fashioned New Orleans fun with friends. I'm looking forward to especially seeing Bruce Springsteen, Alabama Shakes, The Head and the Heart, Arcade Fire, Trombone Shorty, and more, play at Jazz Fest. I'm so ready to unplug - bring it, NOLA!
C&C will be back up and running next week.
UN WEEK-END
I'm loving this editorial in May's 2014 issue of Vogue Paris - it is everything I personally want to see in a fashion editorial. The series of photographs evoke emotion, intrigue, romance, the art of an experience, and of course, beautiful clothing. One could take just one solitary photograph and craft a story around it, imagining what each character is thinking, feeling, anticipating, in each landscape. The fashion plays a leading role in such story. My eye is never drawn to fussy fashion photos and these simply fit the bill.
The 2014 May Issue of Paris Vogue is officially out today. Be sure to also view this editorial in Vogue Australia this month.
Mark Your Calendar: SF Decorator Showcase
The Decorator Showcase is my favorite annual event in San Francisco. This year, I am particularly excited about the house selected, as I have been mesmorized by the ivy-covered home ever since my first walk in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Last year, the home sold for $18M making it one of the most expensive (residential) real estate transactions within the year. It should also be mentioned that it sold above asking price. (For those unfamiliar with the San Francisco real estate market, this is more common then you would think).
The Decorator Showcase will be open from April 26 - May 26 this year, showcasing the work of over twenty six interior and landscape design firms. The event, open to the public, is a fundraiser for the San Francisco University High School. Last year, the event raised over $622,565 (net).
I reccomend attending the event on a weekend morning or after work. It's a wonderful event to go to with friends who appreciative design, and also makes for a fun pre-dinner date activity.
To learn more and purchase your tickets, visit here.
ma mère
This post is dedicated to my Mom who I find myself missing considerably this week. She is off on a Parisian adventure with a close friend of hers. While I'm thrilled for her and jealous of her Instagrams (go, Mom!), I'm simply missing her and our frequent phone catch-ups. Distance does make the heart grow fonder, but time zones sure do complicate the chances of consistent communication.
Speaking of Parisian adventures, here is some weekend reading for you to enjoy. The article was published about a year ago in the New York Times about La Socelière, a 17th-century château in the Loire Valley that was purchased by an eager Italian couple. The 20 acre property is extraordinary, and the extensive renovation was a labor of love and patience. Enjoy!