Shopping

Shopping will begin in earnest this weekend, culminating in ( I hope) a closet full of new clothes and shoes. And a handbag or 3. Essentials but also a much needed Special purchase that goes with everything and lasts forever.. like a nice black leather jacket.

I am seeing this shoe in beautiful soft leathers and figure I might as well give in to it. I think a solid black will do ..
Biker boots and some nice sweaters are also on the list.
What else? What Must Have items should I look for ? I need suggestions. Feel free to throw some out there !

Remember what Bo Derek said ... Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.

Love

I want a Todds bag. Any color.

I have nothing to wear

My husband hears this on a daily basis but it suddenly occurred to me yesterday that it was pretty much the truth !

But there is a cure for this.

I have to go Shopping.

I am cruising the fashion blogs, ( easier than trying to find an English language fashion magazine for 300 hundred dollars ( exaggeration) and then trying to find the equivalent here ..

It is not always easy but I am up to the challenge.

I have the List by Ines De La Fressange for How to Dress like a Parisian ...

I have been reading my friends blogs (A Femme d'Un Certain Age) that tell me what I need to buy..Fashion around the World - "Street Chic "

I can do it. I just need to spend more time out in the shops and less time in the Park with Pup, the Cafe with Husband and Pup, the Room with the Blogs and that sort of thing. It will be hard, but I am up to the task.

Off I go ... Shopping !

( Which style is more You ? I think the 2nd, next to the last and the last are mine .. with a dash of Ines too .. plus my own style which creeps in no matter what )

Thank you for the images... A Femme d'Un Certain Age and Elle Fashion Street Chic

Easter Break

Taking an Easter break. Catching up with friends and enjoying Autumn and my husband and the Pup.
See you in a few days ! Chau ! Besos !!

Oh Dali !

Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it.

salvador dali

source :lidell art

Dreaming of Living In ....

Orient Point New York.

We used to spend our summers out on Long Island. We would take long drives, exploring the area.

We went to Shelter Island, Sag Harbor and of course the Hamptons and Montauk, which is where we stayed, in a house a block from the ocean.

Those days seem to be a lifetime away.

Waking to the sound of sea gulls, falling asleep to the sound of the surf pounding.
Orient Point is very small, close to farmland and full of old old homes.

Some have great charm, some are just old but could probably be brought back to charm.
This 3 bedroom house, on an acre of land, is $1.5 million USD.

I think we will keep looking ..

source: NewYorkTimes

Love

I don't know exactly why I love this but with my bed in this room, I would be happy. And with a big C instead of that M.

If I Were A Genie

If I were a genie and could go somewhere just by Blinking my eyes and Nodding my head ..

I would take my husband, the Pup and I to this lake.

In New York State.

Where the only sound I would hear would be the birds and the wind in the trees.

Where would you go ?

Paseo Alcorta

Otherwise known as My Other Mall

Awada

Vitamina

Paula Cahen D'Anvers

Portsaid

Peter Kent Handbags

These are just a few of the many wonderful shops in this beautiful mall. I can't remember, 4 - 5 stories high, top floor is books , childrens shops and electronics plus a childrens play space, McDonalds and a food court. And views from way up there, looking out towards the river.

But my views are primarily the shops. Today I managed to only get a little something at Zara and something at Mac.

But Paseo Alcorta and Patio Bullrich are both going to be seeing a lot of me , plus the shops in Palermo.

Never say I didn't warn you ! I am limping along and ready to shop !

Friday Fantasies

I have to stay in and rest and let the stitches in my leg heal. This means more time to spend online, browsing through real estate websites and home design blogs.

Some days I imagine I am moving to yet another country and deciding which it will be, a flat in the Marais ? a gite out in the wine region? or perhaps a mews in London ? or better, a cottage in the countryside in England. But then I think I still like where I live, maybe I will just decorate as if I were in a cottage in England or my flat is in Paris.
pinkpersimmon

I have been looking at rooms with color and then rooms with soft muted palettes. I tend to lean towards the soft light colors but then I see cupboards or walls in darker stronger colors and I love them too. I am not a fan of wallpaper. Until I saw this. A perfect small room, half bath sized , wall covering.
starsmasquerading

My husband said that he wished we had different lights in the living room. All of the lights in our home are antique, purchased in antique shops, flea markets and each one is special.

But he thought modern lighting would have looked good too. I am torn about that , a modern home with antique furniture / a home in an historic building with modern furniture/fixtures.. I like the mix but then I like to keep it all the same. I think I am not being brave.gold adler trad home

I do know that I would like to toss our our still new sofa and buy a bed and make it our new sofa. Some day there will be a new home to furnish and I promise, I am going to do this ..

Back to the Country

Having just found out, accidentally, about The Fabulous Beekman Boys, I am , once again, as I sit here listening to the sound of the sirens, of the ambulances stuck in traffic , longing to live in the Country.

Back in the country where we were born .

Unless I wake up speaking French due to that tiny bump on the head I got when looking under the bed this morning ... if that happens ... I am moving to Paris or maybe the French countryside. Mon dieu !!

I feel that it is important that I also find a house similar to the home of the Beekman Boys. Perhaps not so large, but with character.

High ceilings that will accommodate our collection of chandeliers, claw- foot bathtubs and fireplaces everywhere would be nice.

Views and no neighbors making any sort of noise is very important.

I will garden and become that old woman up on the hill with all the dogs and cats.

And maybe even a chicken or two.

Of course, all of this is after we have gotten our fill of driving around again ( we have not driven a car in 4 years now) and exploring the area and doing all the antiquing and flea marketing and concerts in summer and apple picking in fall... not to mention hosting wonderful family get-togethers in winter over the holidays.

Why, I might become that wonderful grandmother out in the country that children love to spend time with !

Yes, this is a good goal. Pup would be beside himself with his own cat and maybe a chicken to harass now and then.

Next I have to think of a good name for the house..

Traditional Home

Traditional Home Magazine has joined with Lonny .. so I can immerse myself in both of my favorite magazines ...in English !! And enjoy articles and everything that I used to enjoy, "back home".

I have chosen a few things that might work here, in my new home.

Let me know if you like them.I need this sofa. The color and fabric are perfect. Nothing else, just the Blue Velvet Sofa.
I like yellow, my walls are pale yellow. Although I won't go totally bananas ( yellow), I want the chairs and the mirrors on the wall. Don't you love those mirrors ?!
I want Swan wallpaper on my bedroom walls.

That is all for now. I can only do so much magazine shopping at one time before my brain starts to melt ..

Give yourself a treat and go to Lonny Online with Traditional Home ..

Daydreaming

Daydreaming.....
This is me but my coat is is blue.. denim .. close enough, I say.

I would like to be here, walking in the afternoon, towards a cafe where we will have drinks and plan the nights entertainment.

Or we will just bring in some tasty treats and enjoy them at home,

Thanks to Crush Cul de Sac and Pia Jane Bijkirk for the Stuff of my Daydreams ~

Recipe Time

I have not been inspired to do much cooking lately. Eating out got to be boring too. I developed an urge to eat eggs, so to keep things interesting, I have collected some Egg recipes. If you try them, tell me how you liked them.

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Onion... finely sliced
• 1 Red chilli ... seeded and finely chopped
• 1 Clove garlic.. . crushed
• 3 ½ oz Chorizo... finely chopped
• 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
• 14 oz cherry tomatoes
• 7 oz roasted red and yellow peppers in oil, drained and roughly chopped
• 4 eggs
• 4 Tablespoons finely chopped coriander
• 
  

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and add the onion, chilli, garlic, chorizo and oregano.

Fry gently for about 5 minutes or until everything is soft, then add the tomatoes and peppers and cook for a further 5 minutes.

If the sauce looks dry, add a tablespoon or two of water.

Season well and then make 4 hollows in the mixture.

Break an egg into each and cover the pan.

Cook for 4-5 minutes.

The dish will be ready when the egg whites are firm.

Serve immediately, garnished with the chopped coriander.

If you want to give the dish even more of a Mexican flavour, serve with warmed corn tortillas and some hot chilli sauce.

You can add other vegetables such as courgettes, garlic and kale, or extra red chilli if you prefer it really spicy.

recipe-SUNIL VIJAYAKAR

Dreaming of Living in ....

In Autumn I dream of living in England..
Perhaps London which would suit me fine also.
Then I think if I were given a choice, Paris might win.
Italy would not be punishment either.
To live in a home with wonderful architecture or to be able to visit neighborhoods with homes that make a person dream of beautiful things. Wherever we live, we should walk around the neighborhood, perhaps farther from familiar streets and really look at the homes and streets. Odds are, there will be many beautiful sights there to see, to marvel at, to appreciate.

source:

BNPS.co.uk

mcmcf

NYT

Happy Day

It is a Happy Day here , Pup is feeling better, the doctor gave us lots of pills to make him well and the weather is beautiful.

Sending wishes for a beautiful day for you too.

Country Mouse/City Mouse

On the other side of the coin, whereas I might begin to consider staying where I am, living in an apartment instead of a house in the country, I find myself imagining new rooms. Perhaps my current rooms re-decorated or maybe a new apartment elsewhere. With sky and trees and quiet streets.

Rooms that are serene in style and color, inviting and soft , comfortable but a tiny bit formal.


I like the idea of pale creams with the dark woods of the furniture we have.


Perhaps I will re-upholster our sofa, velvets appeal to me, toile slipcovers are a thought also. I am not sure white would be the color of choice with a large Pup who is always welcome to snuggle on the sofa while watching a good movie.



Definitely a dining area, with room for our friends and or family to gather around.



The bedroom needs to be serene and calm, when the noise of the city has to be shut out .


I am used to a smaller kitchen now, but plenty of storage and counters is still important.
Country style or formal , that is a decision I would have to make. I am leaning toward light and country style.

Decisions, decisions ~~~

source: Lonny

Far Away Places with Strange Sounding Names

Trieste , Italy

source: NYTimes

Country Life

I like the idea of saying, We live in the grey house down the road, the one with the red door.
I imagine gardens and pots of flowers by front doors, hedges and bird feeders.
Deer might wander by in the evenings, the house would be full of flowers, picked that afternoon from the garden. Summer breezes coming through open windows, where all you can hear is birds singing and the sound of the trees rustling in the wind. At night the sound of crickets and maybe the sight of fireflies in the grass.
I can see growing old with children coming to visit with grand babies. Dogs and cats and babies and plenty of room for them all. I imagine Thanksgivings and Christmas in a house like this.

Country life might not be so bad ..

source: Antique Homes