Mid week musings....

Hi there. How is your week going? Mine is going well...despite being down one day from a migraine, its been peachy. Been making major progress on the home front. Ordering my carpet for my bedroom...so excited! Ordered furniture for loggia....doubly excited! Got a new pair of ginger jars...woo hoo! So lets get started with whats happening in my little corner of the world......I am (clearly) in many directions here, a little bit of this and a bit of that......sit down this is a long one:)

You know I love sharing great recipes....tried these this weekend and let me just say they are worth making...absolutely DE-LISH!

Manger by Mimi   http://mimithorisson.com/

Jerusalem Artichokes, Fennel and Porcini Mushroom Tartlets

*serves 4

• 4-5 Jerusalem artichokes, peeled and sliced into rondelles (round slices)
• 1 fennel, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, sliced finely
• 450 g/ 1 pound cèpes/porcini mushrooms (or any of your favourite mushrooms)
• 1 glass of red wine (plus you can add 1 more glass of red wine to sip while you make this) DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP..VERY IMPORTANT! added by me
• A handful of chopped fresh parsley
• 1 roll puff pastry (230 g/ 1/2 pound) or you can make your home-made version here
• Olive oil (for frying)
• 30 g/ 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 slices of country bread (discard the crust, place the bread in a food processor to get breadcrumbs)
• Parmesan shavings (I went generous here)
• Coarse salt and black pepper

1. Peel Jerusalem artichokes, slice them into rondelles/round slices. Slice fennel coarsely. In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil, fry the vegetables on a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with coarse salt and pepper. The vegetables should be cooked yet on the crunchy side.
2. Preheat the oven to 180 °C/ 350°F.
3. Prepare the pastry base. Cut out 4 circles with a pastry cutter (I use a bowl to draw the circles) of approx 10-12 cm (3-5 inches). Prick pastry with a fork all over, place on a parchment-lined baking tray, and cover with a another piece of parchment paper. To avoid them to puff up too much, place another baking tray on top (or any rectangle shaped cake tin, grill etc) for 10 minutes. Then remove the parchment paper with the added weight and bake them bare for another 6-7 minutes, or until golden.
4. While the pastry is in the oven, heat some olive oil and start frying the chopped onion and garlic for 5 minutes on a medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and continue frying (add a bit of olive oil if it is too dry) until all the ingredients are golden and slightly crunchy. Set aside.
5. Chop the mushrooms finely, save 2 or 3 full mushrooms to garnish in the end. In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil, fry the mushrooms for 5 minutes, season with salt and pepper, add red wine and leave to reduce for about 2 minutes. Set aside. Fry the remaining mushrooms (coarsely chopped) for a few minutes in 1 tbsp butter.
6. When the pastry is ready, garnish with the red wine mushrooms, followed by the Jerusalem artichokes and fennel, a few coarsely chopped mushrooms. Return to oven for 2 minutes, just to reheat slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley, a small pinch of coarse salt and Parmesan shavings. Serve immediately.

 Even though spring is far away....it doesn't keep me from dreaming about all the pretty clothes. I am incorporating more fashion and food (two other loves of mine) into my blog besides interiors, though that remains my focus.  I needed to replenish my "tops dept" so started looking. Here's a few recent faves.....high and low:) Anything strike your fancy?  

 Speaking of clothes...I impulsively bought this dress (unuusal for me since I rarely buy dresses unless for a specific event), have no idea for what but I just fell in love with it. I think its so elegant, a throwback to an updated old fashioned way of dressing in the most ladylike way......spring here I come! (Red Valentino)

If I can look half this good in it...best deal ever! Now gotta go find those shoes....... Finally caught up this week and saw a few movies. OK Le Mis was amazing. I know for some its long and they feel the singing/musical idea doesn't translate as well on the big screen. Yes nothing can beat seeing Le Mis live on Boradway but I have to say I totally got swept up in the movie and Hugh and Anne in particular were fabulous. I really enjoyed it. Then we saw Broken City ( my husband really likes Mark Walhberg) and it was one of those sit on the edge of your seats kind of movies......good and intense but hard to follow at times. Catherine Zeta Jones looked great and very glamorous...happy to see her working again.  I also saw Parental Guidance and it was really corny, but I have to say I really enjoyed Bette and Billy and found them both to be really hysterical and endearing. If there is one movie I would unequivocally recommend, it would be a French film my parents raved about and it did not disappoint not one bit. The Well Digger's daughter..... it was MAGNIFIQUE! You must see it if you enjoy foreign films, want to get carried away hearing the beautiful French language being spoken, love beautiful stories sans violence, nudity and blood and if you want to soak up the magnificence of Provence. This is the movie for you....here's the trailer. I cannot wait to see it again! 

Cannot recommend it enough......   Love when my readers share whats happening in their lives with me. When I did my post on Which would you choose for  Golden Globe dresses one of my readers, sent me a butch of pics on her own little premiere that she hosted at home..and let me tell you no stones were unturned. Francine Ingrassia knows how to throw a party! They went all out....so here they are on their own red carpet! 

 The e-vite invitation, love the wording!

And the red carpets awaits the lucky guests.....

 They look red carpet ready! Move over Angelina and Brad..........

 Fun group! Looks like a great party to me!

 Highlights......beautiful!

 All of her pictures were taken by photographer, Will Cadena.

  The house feels very bare with all the Christmas decor down...kind of sad:( So I have been busy  adding flowers here and there....filled one of my really big dough bowls with a bunch of hydrangeas and  and it looks so fresh and happy. Then I bought these gardenia topiaries and am so excited as it looks like there is tons of buds, planted them in my blue and white. Also filled one of my very large dough bowls with a bunch of potted flowers and it instantly made the kitchen feel alive. Yes, flowers make me very happy. And finally really starting to wrap up my bedroom which is soooo exciting. Found some fabrics that are absolute keepers.Take a look....

The gardenia topiaries are large but are look great on my island......with my giant round bowl in the center

 Love fresh fruit.....we always have it around here. Made up this small little fruit tray for friends stopping by....

I love these baby asparagus I found..had friends over for drinks and I made mini brie bites (SO GOOD) and this little crudite with a wonderful yogurt Greek ranch dip...yum!

Bedroom selections narrowing down, just about to make a final decision...........

How amazing is this? I am DETERMINED to use it somewhere!

Then I found this! Love it......

I loooove this fabric. Its like gorgeous leopard marrying Ms. gray blue and this is their perfect love child....I think on the chairs, its going be beautiful.

These poor pillows with their threadbare Scalamandre fabric (my first major fabric splurge) are get this.....22 YEARS OLD! My first apt. when my son was 2 years old is when I got these made! I cannot believe they are still around:) They are virtual antiques at this point!

Say hello to Lady Ginger, my newest inductee to my ginger jar family......

They can be found in my online store click here

 

First bloom!

 

Filled my really big dough bowl with this pretty potted flower arrangment

 Things are blooming around here!

My bloggy friend Pinky, sent me this saying and I quote "she thinks my husband and I would love this". Ugh....that's a serious understatement. But I can imagine its the price of a mid sized home! However it is fun to dream and when you dream....might as well dream big, right? In this case literally and figuratively. So for all of you whose husbands are retired and "hang around" a bit more than you might like, here is your answer. Feast your eyes on this, a magical cure to get your husband out of your hair on a permanent basis:) You REALLY have to see this........

http://www.cseed.tv/design/movie.html

And finally a little store biz...I am really into decorative boxes lately. The great thing is their versatility, they are wonderful atop a stack of coffee table books on a coffee table, nice on a console next to a pair of lamps, a pair work beautifully on a dining table, and I love them on end tables and nightstands. So I added a bunch of beautiful tole and porcelain and ormolu decorative boxes to my site.They can be found under porcelains, click here. Take a look........

This beautiful new ginger jar is en route to my online shop within the next few weeks. Its a love for me! Love the shape, the foo dog top...its a keeper!

  So that's whats cooking over here, I know I know...this is like "pretty things ADD" kind of all over the place but its all good!  Frigid temps..finally supposed to get some snow on Friday. Its about time! How about you? What's new in your world? Wishing you a fabulous day.....   

Random musings, store loot and new chargers!!

Hi there! Phew..its already Thursday, where did this week go? As with all my random musings posts, this is a little of this and a bit of that. So how is your week going? Have you started seeing a serious overload of holiday decor and then some? I am seeing Thanksgiving, Christmas and Halloween decor everywhere! Fun but a little scary too, I mean I am still weaning myself off of the fact that summer really is over.  But have to say I am definitely finding a new pep in my step now that fall is officially here.So lets get started.....some pics were taken with my iPhoto as my camera had a melt down (being overly abused I suspect). There's some exciting house updates and some great new store loot too. This ended up being a longer post than I anticipated so here it goes.....Buzzword this week is my bathrooms! Amazing what 2 beautiful mirrors and a gorgeous chandelier can do.....Back powder room with mirror hung...its a love for me. Sorry for the little misplaced things, it was a work in progress:)

Then to my main powder room...got the gorgeous mirror up with the new chandelier and I must say I am madly in love.....remember I am going for a jewel box super elegant formal vibe here. (The reason the drawers are not closed is because I am waitin for my handyman who is coming today to cut out the back to fit under the sink)

I have a "thing" for topiaries, urns, orbs, you name it....so was excited to get a great resource for high quality moss orbs! I put them in my urns and have to say I love them, elegant and understated.....

And with both done.....

Also have started doing a little "fallish decorating around here"...subtle touches but sure signs that fall has officially arrived......OK its only one planter but promise my goal is to finish the second one in the next day or two:)

Only have one done and am still tweaking it...but its a start!

The back planters are not keepers, they are not at all what I am looking for but they are there for now...

New loot. A few exciting things came in, you know I am like a kid in a candy shop and have to share right away!!! I know many of you were waiting on me to get more chargers and I scored 24 more beauties!!  As is always the case with this vendor, I only get in one or two of each item so I don't normally put them up in my online store, by the time I do they are sold. So for easy reference, I have numbered each picture if you care to email to inquire about anything, click here to reach me. Some real beauties.....

Picture 1 got in 3 pair of these stunning black tole metal planters with gold detailing, super elegant!

Close up of picture 1

Picture 2 These pretty silver vases, great detailing stands about 12" tall, have four

Picture 3 Got a few more black tole chinoiserie pieces, two gorgeous garland umbrella stands, one more crown planter and garland tissue box

Picture 4 A lovely assortment of sought after guest towel tray holders.......love these!

Picture 5 An "antiqued ornate small wine cooler or small ice bucket

Close up of picture 5

Picture 6, filigree etched wine cooler, stunning!

Picture 7 crown guest towel holder in silver

Picture 8 ant. brass crown guest towel holder

Picture 9 ant. brass bamboo guest towel holder

Picture  10 Elegant silver filigree guest towel holder

Picture 11 dark silver guest towel holder

And here are the gorgeous chargers I got in unexpectedly!! These are stunning, oversized and fabulous. Sold individually....I have a total of 24 pieces. First come first serve.......

Picture 12 chargers, heavy and ornate...fabulous!

The charger with a plate of mine to see how they look....stuninng!

Picture 13 Elegant scalloped old world tray for soaps or guest towels

Picture 14 Old world elegant oversized antiqued silver tray "The Madison Hotel, New York".

This is PERFECT for a bar!!

Picture 16 gorgeous old world tray with handles and ribbon detailing about, 19" wide

Picture 17 Stunning blk tole planter or small wastebasket, I have 6 of these...love the gold rimmed scallop detailing

Picutre 17 close up

Already put my two to good use...

Also clarification on soaps.......yes I do have the squares too. They will be added by the time you read this......they are also great looking. The soaps are with good reason a very popular item in my store...best part of all once your order is placed, they are on their way to you within THREE days!! Awesome for last minute gift ideas. Click here to see them.

Also for anyone who is considering the monogrammed linen napkins/guest towels or cocktail napkins, price increase going into effect Sept. 25th. They will still be priced well below full retail price and are still an absolute bargain.....just letting you know! Where else can you get a set of twelve monogrammed linen cocktail napkins for 30.00! Click here to see them.

Oversized dinner napkin with elegant hemstitch finish

Gorgeous guest towel with oversized monogram and hemstitch detail

Stunning cocktail napkins with oversized monogram

Close up of monogram.....

So thats what's new and exciting over here. I am having 50 people (family party) over for dinner on Saturday and am going to be really busy over the next few days. Naturally will try to capture as much as I can but since I am a little out of being in entertainment mode, I think I am going to need to really stay focused to pull it off! Feel to contact me with any questions or inquiries. Thanks so much for stopping in to see whats new over here. Hope you are having a fabulous week and wishing you a wonderful day! Be back soon.......