Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Eek- sold out!

2pcset

canisterI was just browsing the Liberty of London for Target line on the web and loved everything—from this sweet 2-piece pajama set to the functional Maynard canister… but the whole line is sold out! I might just have to pop into my local store to see what’s left.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Comfort food

chxnoodle

Nothing says comfort food like chicken noodle soup, especially on a damp, chilly day. I make a homemade chicken noodle soup in my slow cooker whenever I have a leftover rotisserie chicken and throw in any vegetables I have laying around, too. Here’s how I made my easy, healthy meal today:

  • 1 leftover rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 5 cups of water
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons of crushed thyme
  • 2 1/2 cups of egg noodles

I let the chicken cook with the broth, water and onions most of the day—about 6 hours. When I came home from work, I fished out the carcass and pulled the meat apart, discarding bones and any funky pieces. The good meat went back into the pot, with the rest of the ingredients for another 90 minutes or so. Served with a crusty loaf of French bread, it was the perfect Monday night meal.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Under The Sea

curtain saladplateteacupIt’s no secret that I have a (mild) obsession with Anthropologie. And since a good friend of mine works there, I’m very fortunate to have a discount card! Yahoo! I love these new octopus home items from the spring collection. I know the window treatments are a bit kooky, but I think they’d be perfect for a cottage by the sea.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Daylight Savings

SDC10797Don’t you just love Daylight Savings? I spent the day snowboarding at Big Bear Lake, California—a short 2 1/2 hour drive from San Diego. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the mountain air was fresh and crisp. Here’s to long days and plenty of sunshine!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Sofia

sofia-garanceNow I know that this “Une fille un style” article by Garance Dore from French Vogue is well over a year old, but I often revisit it for inspiration. Isn’t Sofia just so… je ne sais quoi? I love her icy blond locks, flawless complexion and feminine meets masculine outfits.

(Image by Garance Dore for Vogue)

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Favorite Oscar dresses

mwilliams1My absolute favorite Oscar look. I love Michelle Williams’ offbeat looks, but this marigold Vera Wang dress, worn with red lipstick and a loose sideswept bun was glamorous perfection! It’s such a romantic look.

dkruger This Elie Saab dress worn by Diane Kruger in 2006 is divine. It fits her incredibly well, and the layers and layers of fabric are gorgeous. The absence of jewelry on the neck really allows you to focus on the details of the dress. Her skin is flawless, too!

rwitherspoonBefore Reese Witherspoon became a fashion megastar, she wore this Valentino cap-sleeved gown to the 2002 Oscars. I love the scalloped neckline, sheer decolletage and intricate beadwork., and her curled bob suits the ‘20s look perfectly.

cblanchett Can Cate Blanchett do any wrong, both onscreen or off? This woman makes fearless fashion choices, and this vintage butter Valentino gown worn in 2005 Oscars was no exception. The brooch on the shoulder and burgundy sash around the waist were fantastic complements to an already stunning dress.

cdiaz So not a typical Oscars dress, but that’s why I like it! Cameron Diaz wore this Emanuel Ungaro kimono-like gown to the awards show in 2002, and accessorized with a jeweled belt and layered bracelets, including a chunky turquoise bracelet. Quirky and eccentric but sexy!

(Images via Look, In Style and LA Times)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Basket lighting

coastal-livingLoving these basket-weave shades in the kitchen. One day when I own an island home, I’ll incorporate them somewhere!

(Image via Coastal Living)

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Have to have.

roxyI love this ethereal image and breezy cotton dress by Roxy. I keep a few beachy white sundresses on rotation during the summer months and on vacations, but I can add one more, right? At only $49.50, it won’t break the bank. I’ll take the haircut, too!

(Image via Roxy)

Oldie but goodie

jcrew

I’ve been browsing and shopping from the J.Crew catalog for years (who hasn’t?), but haven’t they been doing  a tremendous job as of late? They seem to know exactly what everyday women want to wear right now- classic American basics with a touch of Parisian chic.

J.Crew hit the nail on the head with their “Who’s That Girl” campaign for March- featuring nine accomplished women in their spring line rather than models. My favorite outfit was art curator Naomi Beckwith’s (above). Love the charcoal wool blazer and layered necklaces.

(image via J.Crew)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Hollywood Nursery

rolling-greens

Yesterday while visiting L.A., I stopped into the beautiful, new Rolling Greens Nursery on Beverly Blvd. What a beautiful place to get inspired! Housed in an old tire warehouse, the spacious store had plenty to peruse from luscious orchids (both real and fake!), gorgeous cookbooks, colorful planters and an assortment of fun candles and soaps. The home store next door had Tokyo Milk bath products, yummy bed linens and my new obsession- French wire baskets perfect for storing towels or magazines.

(photo via LA Times)

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Kuckoo for Coco

audrey-tautou-coco-before-chanel

I watched Coco Before Chanel the other evening and loved every minute if it. From the exquisite Audrey Tautou as Coco and French landscapes to the chic hats and 19th century fashions, it was eye candy from beginning to end. And oooh, the boatneck sailor shirt… so chic!

(Image via Sony Classics)

Friday, February 26, 2010

My perfect Friday night

large_image_larger 815e22e17c62a99a_b54b705294e0274b_redwine_largershutterisland_gawker_flv

Tonight, I’ll be consuming some of my favorite things (red wine and piping hot pizza) with my favorite person (MDM), then off to the cinema to see some of my favorite actors (Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Williams) in Shutter Island. TGIF!

(Images via Yumsugar and Gawker)

Le Love for Le Creuset


I just scored a great deal at Marshall's. No surprise there, right? For $14.99, I picked up a Le Creuset oval baking dish in Kiwi. I love Le Creuset, from their French history to their fun, vibrant colors and lasting quality.

I'm (slowly) collecting pieces in the Kiwi and Caribbean colors to add some punchiness to the kitchen and table. Sadly, I don't have the French Oven yet but oh, to make a roast in one of those would be divine! Julia Childs would approve, no?