Dreaming of a sea of these Louis chairs upholstered in a rainbow of colors. I tore this page out of a magazine two years ago and discovered it when I was sorting through my bedroom last evening. A nice splash of vitality for this Monday morning - the weekend seemed to have ended abruptly!
The Nectar of Summer
Music to my very ears. As the weekend kicks off, I encourage you to read the article (link below) about one of the most important treasures in my life: Rosé, of course. Vogue online argues why the "#summerwater" is indeed "Summer's Most Popular (and soon-to-be Most Instagrammed) Drink".
Above, a glass of my prized libation from Grill Night last Saturday. #Roséallday
http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/best-rose-wines-for-the-summer/#1
Don't Mind if I Do
I have never been to the Design House in Washington, D.C. despite spending considerable time in the city, however I loved seeing this particular room from this year's 7th annual event. Nadia Subaran, of Aidan Design, the genius behind the above revamped butler's pantry, may just be my new best friend. Although there are a few details I would consciously edit, I am loving the vintage navy cabinetry, Calcutta marble floors and brass hardware. Think of all the champagne you could store, just looking at those wine columns! I personally would have taken it one step further in sex appeal and drama, by painting the ceiling in a dark high gloss and adding long velvet drapes for window treatments. Alas, it will do.
Images via Veranda.
The Desk
When my Grandfather passed away two years ago, I inherited among a few pieces, this Queen Anne-style desk. My Grandparents had the desk for as long as I could remember and us Grandchildren would always find the hidden compartments and rummage through old photographs and keepsakes when no one was looking.
I desperately wanted to bring the desk westward with me (it would make a wonderful workstation for C&C), but instead, left it with my parents. For the majority of the time with them, it lived in their garage, which made me quite frustrated. My parents just moved into a new home and finally, the desk is in my bedroom. It gives me a great deal of pleasure admiring it before I fall asleep, thinking about my Grandparents and how happy they would be that I now get to cherish it. It's the little things, as they say...
Summer in Bloom
It sure does feel like summer has officially commenced on the east coast. The harbor filled up considerably this weekend, neighborhood children are playing in their yards until sundown, and the Sky Bar in Newport was in full force Saturday evening.
I'm loving these blue delphiniums in my Mother's kitchen bouquet. Nothing makes me happier than fresh flowers and I just love a fresh summer bloom!
Dear Slim,
Those close to me know that there is one man that will forever make my heart pitter patter. The man of course, is none other than photographer and King of the jet-set era, Slim Aarons. I suppose it's his photography that captures me, rather than Slim himself...Given that it's a Friday and I'm on vacation, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. Bon Weekend!
So Fresh and So Clean (Clean)
The cover of the June issue of Vogue is everything it should be. Charlize looks divine, as always, and the editorial is fun, fresh and youthful, while leaving the reader with a yearning for that inexplicable summer ease. Charlize seems to have a terrific handle on her dealings with fame, and although her relationship with Sean Penn is rather private (as it should be), it's clear she has a renewed perspective on love, life & the like. Read the article here.
Le Freak, C'est Chic
1971 in St. Tropez - Mick & Bianca's Wedding
Bardot. Enough explanation.
Jacqueline Bisset.1966 
Jane Birkin 
Macaroni (the pony) and Kennedy children 
STEVE (McQueen)
Jerry Hall in Halston
I'm convinced I was meant to live in the late 60's / early 70's. Halston. Jagger. Rock 'n' Roll. Bardot. Jackie. Steve. EVERYTHING. C'est Chic.
M&D
Today, I'm thinking of my parents who are celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary. I'm looking forward to heading home in a few days to celebrate with them. Living across the country, I value these trips more than ever. One thing I enjoy most about my visits with my family are the stories from my parents of their younger years, including how they met...
My parents met in the winter of 1980 at a Christmas party with a bunch of America's Cup sailors in Newport, Rhode Island. My Mother credits their introduction to a rather forward hello on her part, which is certainly uncharacteristic for her. At the time of their meet & greet, my Father had his arms around two different girls. (To this day, he will squirm and smirk when my Mother emphasizes this portion of said encounter). They got chatting about their respective upbringings in upstate New York and a few days later, my Father casually visited my Mother at work to ask her out.
On their first date, my Father asked when my Mother's birthday was. When it was revealed that it was in fact the next day, he insisted that they celebrate. The next evening, they went to dinner. This is usually the intersection where my Father will take over the storytelling. Turns out, my Mother had to be home promptly by 8:00 PM that evening for another "obligation". That obligation was her "former" college boyfriend who drove to Newport from New York City to take her out for her birthday...
Needless to say, the questionable guest from New York City didn't stick around for long. Fast-forward through my parents' love affair to the summer of 1983 in the Adirondacks, when after my Grandfather's blessing, my Father proposed to my Mother. They were married on May 19, 1984 in the Ocean State - their Reverend allegedly wore Sperrys without socks whilst performing the nuptials.
When leaving their reception at the Glen Manor House, their wedding guests threw oatmeal (in lieu of rice) on my parents as they were whisked away in the rain to the airport for their Honeymoon in Greece. They laughed, arriving to the airport in a vintage Rolls Royce, my Mother in a white ensemble, my Father in his best, both covered in soggy wet oatmeal.
On the first day of Spring in 1987, my Parents welcomed me into the world. I am told I may or may not be the product of a "good time" at Block Island Race Week...
A Flora Flop
Behold, the catalpa tree. Very few gardeners have planted one since the financial crisis (the one in the 1930s), perhaps due to its messy nature. The seedpods it drops are abundant and pesky and its blooms are shortlived. The catalpa has company though. According to Wednesday's article in the NYTimes, American homeowners have stopped spending money on all types of trees and shrubs. In the four years after 2008's financial crisis, landscaping purchases dropped by 46 percent. Among other floral flops? The Poppy, the Firethorn, the Fig tree and Crinum. I highly suggest reading the article and skip to your nearest garden shop.