Christmas Sweets

We always make eggnog during the holidays, and I love this idea-- set up a little "toppings bar" area with crushed peppermint, nuts & chocolate shavings. 

And this. I think it is just gorgeous, like a snowball!! But it looks like it would be a nightmare to re-create... Find the recipe at marthastewart.com if you are feeling ambitious!! 

And how sweet is this?! (Martha Stewart, again) 

www.marthastewart.com

Photo by Quentin Bacon

A Yummy, all American apple pie! I know it's not too Christmas-y, but so delish! I think this old-fashioned staple would work beautifully in the holidays, just serve with some creme fraiche and a dash of cinnamon. 

Photo by Quentin Bacon

The Apple Tart. Maybe a little bit more festive. Could be yummy on Christmas morning too! The recipe for this tart and the Apple Pie can be found on the Barefoot Contessa's website, www.barefootcontessa.com. 

Enjoy!

SOMEWHERE

If you haven't seen Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, close your laptop & go see it now!! Actually I think it is being released in the USA on December 22d, so mark your cal. It won a top prize at the Venice Film Festival and I absolutely loved it. And as if Sofia directing wasn't enough,  ELLE FANNING. (yes, Dakota's precious lil sis) is co-starring!! 

 Stephen Dorff is amazing, playing Johnny Marco. The Hollywood bad boy stumbling from one hotel, relationship, drug etc. to another. Fanning plays his 11 year-old daughter. 

Coppola, looking so chic at the party Louis Vuitton hosted for the release of Somewhere.

And if you're in London, check it out at the super cool Curzon Theater in SOHO. I love seeing movies there, and they have a yummy little restaurant too. And, if you've ALREADY seen Somewhere, check out another flick at my absolute favorite movie theater Electric House Cinema in Notting Hill. (191 Portobello Road) 

Cute right? Grab dinner a the Electric House next door before your flick! Interior below.

And if you're in Texas, what beats the good 'ole Alamo Drafthouse? 

www.drafthouse.com

http://www.electriccinema.co.uk/

http://www.curzoncinemas.com/

Jetting off to Paris?

If the Crillon isn't in the cards this time...

    

but you still want to feel like a rockstar, 

then THIS is the place to stay.... 

 Meet my absolute favorite boutique hotel in Paris-- 

Hotel Bourg Tibourg. 

I stayed here on my last trip to Paris and fell in love with it!

The rooms are fabulous, stocked with wonderful Costes products that smell like Moroccan vanilla & cinnamon.

All Costes interiors by the wonderfully talented Jacques Garcia. 

 It's owned by the super-chic Costes chain. It's sister hotel, Hotel Costes, is on the nearby Rue St. Honore and you should definitely pop over for a cocktail before you head home! 

The bar at Hotel Costes fills up with the most eclectic crew,

 so if you're there, don't miss it! 

It is really one of my favorite places.

 The entryway at Hotel Costes. The entire place if filled with the scent of their candles-- the sort of spicy cinnamon vanilla thing I mentioned! Love.

 You can dine in the courtyard-- again, excellent people watching & the food is delish. 

And here is the lobby of Bourg Tibourg, you'll never want to leave...

I just really can't say enough about this little hotel, can't wait to get back! 

www.bourgtibourg.com

www.costes.com

Bright Spaces, Happy Places

I love a bright living space, something with a little bit of pizzaz without being too out there.

 

Photo/Design by Lonny

This room here? Sort of similar color scheme used in a Bunny Williams design below, but with a little more funk. 

                                                                      Photo/Design by Lonny 

                   

               The green behind the bookshelves makes this room. And the tiny little gold mirror above the dog portrait-- genius! 

Bunny Williams, House Beautiful 

I LOVE these dark lacquered walls..

Miles Redd, House Beautiful          

and...Tory Burch's Manhattan apartment 

                                Vogue                                    

                                                                                          

So fresh!! Stay tuned for something a little more traditional & cozy tomorrow!! 

Stubbs & Wootton

I know what I'll be adding to my Christmas list....
Another pair of velvet slippers from Stubbs & Wootton!

LOVE the interior of the Palm Beach store.

The wall paint color is to die for and I love the chocolate and cream upholstery! 

These are my current faves.

Comfy, stylish & versatile.

How can you resist these puppies?

Check out their adorable shop in NYC (987 Madison Ave)

And here is something a little more classic, funky and down right WASPy....depending on your needs.

And the Stubbs & Wooton Shop in Palm Springs- love it!

Happy Shopping!!

http://stubbsandwootton.com/

The Holidays are Here!

I feel like it was Thanksgiving just yesterday and now Christmas season is in full swing!!

I didn't get too many pics of my Thanksgiving set-up but here is the table, mainly oranges and

greens to keep things seasonal!

Something about deer horns and rustic-chic seemed out of place this time around-- so I decided to go for a funkier vibe than usual. 

Also, we only have 2 dining chairs here in the our cozy little place, so we had to utilize the sofas around the table...sometimes you just have to make do! And I must say, it allowed us to ease right into the after dinner lounging!

And some of my favorite seasonal tables..

Photo Courtesy of Southern Living

I love the contrasting shades of blue on the gate & door-- SO homey!

Photo Courtesy of Lonny

This is my absolute favorite--LOVE it!

Photo Courtesy of Southern Living

Beautiful! By the fabulous Todd Fiscus.

Image courtesy of Southern Living

Image Courtesy of Southern Living

Takeaway boxes-- cute idea!

Image courtesy of Southern Living

And since Thanksgiving, I have been in Istanbul..

But I now that I'm back-- I promise that pics of the glittery and fabulous London window displays are soon to come!!

Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart

I hope everyone had a wonderful & Happy Thanksgiving with people you love!