Happy Mothers Day

I want to wish all your fabulous moms out there, a wonderful Mother’s Day.  Hope you get pampered, spoiled, and relish in the moment.  You deserve it.  Hmmmm, could she be reading Fifty Shades of Grey?

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

Fifty Shades of Grey

Ok!   I’m usually up on all the new hip gotta read books and apparently, I was behind the eight ball on this one.  Two weeks ago,  I picked up OK Magazine and in the back of the magazine it featured a brief interview with author E L James about her book “Fifty Shades of Grey”.   She said she was inspired by Twilight (the love story between Bella and Edward).  I dog eared the page and went straight to Amazon and ordered all three books:  Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades of Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed.  In the interim, I text three of my girlfriends to see if they have heard of the book.  One has but hasn’t read it and the others have not.  Within an hour, I get a text from my other friend Jen in Michigan saying her friend Brooke was reading this book called “Fifty Shades of Grey”, have I read it?  I told her I just ordered it.  It arrives prior to the weekend and I’m a little hectic.  Within 24 hours, everyone I know is talking about this book.  After a day of gardening Saturday, I sit down to start the book. 

My neighbor has her friends in from St. Louis and as I’m being introduced to them we start talking about books and it comes out I’m reading “the book”.  Everyone does the “OOOO!” like girls do –when they are reading it too.  One cannot get through it, she finds it disturbing.  The other has finished the first one and waves her hand to her friend and says, “Get over it…all will be revealed in book 2”.    Of course, now I’m intrigued.  At this point – I’m only in the 70’s of the first book, not even close to the D & S.  I’m not going to ruin anything for those that have not read it.  I was really getting into the book when a friend came over Saturday night so I had to put it down.   I picked it back up that Sunday and read it all day into the evening finishing it that Monday before work.  The talk continues when I go to my friends on Monday.  Her cousin is in town reading the book.  We have a discussion on what Christian should look like and I tell her how I started this blog post.  It never got posted last week because I was too busy reading the second and third book which I finished this past Monday.    I told her I  was googling who I thought should play Christian. I said he has to be  pretty, but  have the ability to look rugged.  My first thought was Matt Bomer, who is utterly gorgeous and sexy. 

Tell me he wouldn’t be perfect as the corporate guy.  He’s got the right look.  Tossled hair – looks good in a suit.  The guy needs to be versatile. 

Eyes so piercing – makes you melt (see below).  Yes, that’s what Christian does.

Kinky Christian (below).

Christian in his white shirt below….hmm.  Holy Hotness.

The challenge for me is I found out he was gay and while I would never discriminate – it’s hard to now picture him playing that role.   Would that change your viewpoint of him playing this role?  He is physically perfect.  My girlfriend Jen suggested Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights.  He does have the kind of look that could work.  What do you think?

Of course Christian’s hair wouldn’t be so perfect,  but I could envision Mr. Christian’s perfect chest looking like this in his jeans he always wears.

Christian’s brushing his teeth look

Corporate Christian above with dark Christian below.

Deep in thought Christian with sad eyes and just holy hotness.

My third option and my lusty pick is Mr. Ian Somerhalder from Vampire Diaries.  If any of you watch the show, you know  his character is very dark.  He is perfect.  He’s able to switch between good and evil.  You see glimpses of his vulnerability but then he can flip on a dime.  He’s got this character down.  I mean down.  Yes, BTW, I admit I watch Vampire Diaries  - I was hooked from season one. 

Step into my office Christian.

He has that wicked crooked smile and piercing eyes.  Christian would look at Anastasia this way. 

Bathtub Christian.

After sex hair.

The long and short of it is – I finished all three books in a week.    Yes, I was sucked in.  Now I’m in mourning.  I want a fourth book.  I love how they ended the third book and wish she would do a fourth from that perspective. 

OK, who do you think should play Christian Grey and Anastasia?   The jury is still out for me on who I think should play Anastasia.  She has to have long legs, crazy dark hair, be naturally pretty but when dressed up super sexy.  I thought of Ian’s co-star Nina Dobrev from Vampire Diaries.  She’s very beautiful glammed up but is really natural on the show. 

Who do you have pictured in your head??? I’m dying to hear!

Gardening Weekend

Had a great weekend getting the yard organized.  I needed to replace the flowers in my window boxes from the holidays.  I spent Saturday and Sunday in and out of Home Depot  picking up pink petunias and wooden boxes for the sides of our door.  I was tired of the clay pots with mandelvia, which we have had for six years.  I needed something fresh and new.   I fstopped straight in my tracks when I walked into our local nursery last weekend and found these vines.  I had never seen before, they are called sweet pea vines.  Photo below.

Once I found the vines, I had to look for planter boxes.  I really wanted ceramic pots but frankly, we rent our home and I didn’t want to spend $150.00 or $200.00 on pots that might not work in our forever home.  I did want the square look so I purchased two of these redwood boxes from Home Depot and painted them white.  I planted the sweet pea vines in them in the hopes they will grow up and around our doorway.

Here’s a look at the boxes after I painted them.  I will be replacing the terracotta pots with something else that matches the white better.  We are also looking at replacing our screen door with something a little more vintage.  I want something with a longer screen and a little pattern to make the house feel more cottage like.  I found one at Osh that I like. Project for the BF!

These vines are so beautiful, the photos don’t do them justice.  Next to the sweet pea vines are boxwood and asters.  I will shape the boxwoods once they get a little larger for a cleaner look.

The blooms up close.This isn’t the best picture of our upstairs porch but the sun was shining right in the camera.  Gotta love our roof.  Every time we have a windy night half of our shingles end up in our neighbors yard.  I just planted the petunias in the window boxes and added the hanging baskets.  I always forget the name of the plant in the basket…but, I call it the lipstick plant.  The petunias look beautiful when they have grown in.  It will take a little time for them to fill in.

The hanging baskets up close.

I have wanted an asparagus fern forever for our front porch.  I am looking for the perfect urn to put this in.  I love how they look when they get big and bushy.  I’m on the hunt for a white rustic urn.  Do you like my new crab?  I bought it on EBay.  LOL!  I love it.  I am obsessed right now with brass beach items like shells, lobsters, etc.  I saw this crab and had to have it. The top flips open and fits a tea light.  I think it originally was for matches.

My other project for the porch is to break up all this wicker.  I want to find a rustic round table for in between these two chairs.  I can see it in my head but have yet to find one.

We’re off to Paso Robles on Thursday to do a little wine tasting for the weekend.  All the wineries are doing their spring releases.  Last year a number of the wineries were closed in August due to selling out of wine and limited productions.  All the ones we missed last year, we have appointments with, cannot wait.  Unfortunately, Orchard Hill Farm where we stayed last year is unavailable   We found a little B & B via Trip Advisor called Inn Paradiso, which has just come under new ownership and they have fixed up the property.  All I know, is they have John Robshaw bedding, can you say sold.  I will take lots of pictures and give you a recap of our favorite wineries.  Have a great week everyone.

Overcooked Easter

Hope you all had a great Easter or Passover.  We had wonderful weather, here in LA, for the holiday weekend.  I spent all day Saturday out and about shopping for food, prepping and getting as much done as possible so I could relax on Sunday, which of course, never happened.  We had our neighbors Gale and David and my friend Maureen over for dinner.  My other neighbor Andy and his girlfriend Kirsten popped over for a glass of wine or in Andy’s case “Miller Lite” after their family dinner.  While hosting Easter is something I have done many times, this was the first time we had a chef come to our house.  My neighbor David, is a chef and partner, at Park Avenue & Il Garage in Stanton, CA.  For all of you who ask, “Where is Stanton?” like I did, it’s located just East of Huntington Beach on Beach Boulevard.  It’s a destination restaurant that has won many accolades and was recently ranked in the Top 10 of OC Restaurants by Orange Coast Magazine.  In the last few years it’s been ranked number one and landing Chef David Slay on the cover. Ok, as if that isn’t pressure.

We have eaten at his restaurant several times, (which is amazing) and Blake and I have been guests at their house on numerous occasions for parties and impromptu dinners.  I wanted to extend an invitation to them for Easter since they graciously hosted us for Christmas and David is always working and never gets to relax.  I am a perfectionist when it comes to entertaining and love everything to look perfect and taste perfect.  While I love to cook, I’d prefer to do the hosting aspect and décor.  I still haven’t gotten the hang of the whole timing thing.  With my girlfriend Nick flying back from Australia (she normally helps me serve), I was on my own.

Well let’s just say it was a disaster.  I’m laughing about it now.    We cooked our ham in their oven (which Gale warned me gets hot) so I could reheat our sides while the ham was finishing up.  You would think we would have checked on the ham, nope!  This is what happens when the wine starts flowing.  Turns out the ham which, is PERFECT every year, was over cooked. The veggies were soggy because I reheated them and forgot to take the tin foil off and everything was a hot mess.  The only thing that was good was the wine, the company, and the table setting.  While they were more than gracious, I’m sure my soggy asparagus was likely  the topic of conversation the next day.  Everyone had plenty of wine to drink thank God!  Food (when painfully overcooked) always tastes better when your drinking wine.  Overall, we had a great time except me, the perfectionist, cringing every time I looked at the food.  Oh well,  I can only go up from here, right?  Now anything I cook will look good.  LOL!

Now on to the positive aspect of the evening, the table setting.  I was pretty happy with how the table turned out considering everything was purchased either on sale or at a thrift store.  See below for details of where everything was purchased.

TABLE ITEMS:  Table cloth from Williams Sonoma purchased last summer.   Plates are Spode Fine Bone China, England, Pattern Y8549-L Chinese Flowers Prunus purchased at a local thrift store.  Glasses are by the Imperial Glass Company in Shoji pattern purchased at a local thrift store along with the brass candle holders and napkin rings (which they threw in for free).  Wine glasses are by Riedel (Vitis Collection).  Chargers are from Cost Plus, vases from One Kings Lane, burlap runner from Pottery Barn (last year), candles from Home Goods, tulips from Whole Foods, and napkins from Target.

The table setting in all it’s glory before it got bombarded by the hot mess of over cooked food.

Up close as the sun was going down.

I couldn’t believe how well the dishes and table cloth matched.

On  a side note, my great friend Nick has an Aunt who we call “Auntie Syl”.  She lives in Salem, Oregon and loves to entertain, just like us.  We are always sharing recipes, ideas for table settings, and swapping pictures of how we decorated our tables for the holidays.  Take a look at her creative table setting that she did for Easter.  She used burlap as the table cloth, stuffed egg shells and urns with wheat grass,  hanging eggs on branches and put chocolate bunnies on the dinner plates.  I love it.

She also sent me this picture of her deviled eggs.  These are no ordinary deviled eggs. They are decorated with real violets, fresh dill, chives and parsley.  Look at the little baby chick in the right corner.  I call her the Martha Stewart of the North West.

Menu:

APPETIZERS

Cheese Platter with Various Cheeses, Crackers and Grapes

Hartford Court, Four Hearts Vineyards, Russian River Chardonnay 2009

SALAD COURSE

Beet, Rhubarb, and Orange Salad (Couldn’t get Rhubarb anywhere)

Gary Farrell, Russian River Chardonnay, 2008

MAIN COURSE

Roasted Asparagus

Tri-Colored Carrots Roasted with Olive Oil

Scallop Potatoes with Gruyere Cheese (Bon Appetit)

Honey Glazed Ham from our Local Market

Calera 35th Anniversary Vintage, Central Coast, Pinot Noir 2010

Regusci Stages Leap District Merlot 2008

Burgess Napa Valley Merlot 2007

Robert Foley Vineyards, The Griffin Red Wine, 2009

DESSERT

Fresh Mixed Berries with Home Made Whip Cream Topped with Fresh Mint

 

Also, to my parents who’s 45th Anniversary was Sunday.

Happy Anniversary!

&

Jan, my Aussie friend.  I’m so glad we re-connected! Happy Birthday!

 

p.s.  I’m too tired to edit!

PHOTO CREDITS:  All photos are taken by me (Peggy & Fritz) except the last two which are taken by Auntie Syl.

Have a GROOVY Weekend

Hey everyone hope your having a great week and getting ready for Easter weekend or Passover.  I am finally back in the swing of things and will be hosting a few people for dinner Sunday.  Can’t wait to show you the table setting once I get it done.  Using some beautiful dishes I found at the thrift store and whatever else I can find.  My energy levels are getting back to normal and I’ve been feeling great.  I’m down 6.8 lbs. and slowly increasing my exercise.  Last week our Weight Watchers meeting was all about being positive.  It was so much fun all week practicing my “Miss Positive” by taking negative situations and spinning them around.  It’s really infectious and so much more fun than being negative.  My friend was going through some stuff and I was giving her a little pep talk which, in the end, I sounded like a 70’s love child.  I ended my email to her by joking and said, “No I’m not smoking crack!”  She replied in her email, “you are smoking crack, in a little floral dress with a flower in your hair!  lol!”  We were chuckling the other day about my “positive email” and it got me thinking about how giddy I have been and I kind of /sort of  felt like one of those free spirit chicks from the 70’s this week.  I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw these images.  This would have been me driving my flowered VW bus.  LOL!                         No mom, I did not get a tattoo! 

It’s great to be feeling happy, hippy, peaceful, joyful, and positive and no, I’m not smoking crack!  Hope you all find the positive in something this week. Peace Out!

 

IMGAGES:  All images are from Pinterest.

Spring Has Sprung

This time of year reminds me of New England when the leaves start to bud and the daffodils begin to push their way to through the ground.  Living in Southern California we don’t notice the changes as much since things are green here all year round.  Spring has always meant new beginnings for me or a chance to start fresh.   I am kicking myself into high gear.   I just got a new sofa from Pottery Barn.  My sofa was over 14 years old and I loved it.  I would have kept it except the rolled arms felt dated from my Shabby Chic days. The problem with a new sofa is it comes with wanting new chairs, new art, new colors, new accessories, etc.  Then, I start to look at everything in our little beach house and  want to redo everything.  Now, I’m driving people crazy with pictures of chairs, paint swatches, and inspiration ideas.  I will keep you posted on what I decide.  I have some ideas and sources of inspiration on my "My Living Room Redo" boards on pinterest. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I’ve also joined Weight Watchers to rid myself of my post surgery weight gain.  My roomie from college and another friend of mine are doing  it as well so it’s been great motivation and actually a lot of fun.  I can’t wait to fit in my skinny jeans – goal is by the end of May.   I’m also attending the weekly meetings which, has been a great source of inspiration for me.  Lot’s of “Things to Do” this spring but loving every minute of it.  How about you?   Enjoy the images below.  Some yellow to help put some spring in your step!

Yellow = Friendship

Yellow = Happy

This is my wish for you today!

Photo Credits:  Via Pinterest (Sources Unknown).  If you know the actual source please email me and I will add it.

My New Obsession

A few months ago, I was shopping in one my favorite thrift stores and found a single gold glass that looked like one of these below.  I bought it for $1.00 or $2.00, I can’t remember.  The gold was sort of worn and I loved the vintage feel of it.   I thought it would be cute  to put flowers in.   A month later, I ran across an entire set at the same store, some had different patterns than I had seen before.  They were in great condition.  All the glasses were marked on the bottom and I was trying to find out what it meant, since I had never seen it before.  I had no idea who made them and when they were made.  I decided to go for it and bought the whole set.   I figured I would use the large one as a vase, the tumblers as vases or drinking glasses and the small ones for tea lights or drinking glasses (I multi function my glassware).  I just loved the glasses and had to have them.  Here’s a peek at a bunch of them piled up in my hall closet (I’m running out of room for all my glasses and mixed matched plates).  Fast forward to the photo below this one……

A few months ago, I get my issue of Architectural Digest and I’m flipping through the magazine, when I see this picture of Claire Weiss’s Apartment in NYC (see below).  Everything came to a screeching halt.  I read the article cover to cover hoping that they would share who makes these glasses since she had such a large collection of them.  There was nothing.  Since I can’t remember what issue I found this photo in you can see view the article here.  I decided to take a chance and email AD to see if someone knew who made those glasses.  I received a prompt email from Robert Rufino, Interiors Editor of AD.  He advised me he checked with Ms. Weiss and that they were called Shoji.  With a little more research, I found out that these were made by the Imperial Glass Company who produced these glasses between 1965 and 1979.  I was so happy to learn the source of my glasses so I could collect more.  In all my years of antiquing and shopping, I had never run across these.  I got an entire 15 plus set including the large vase for $75.00.  I just saw the vase on eBay for $1400.00 and the tumblers are selling on replacements.com for $25.99 each.  I’d say I got a bargain.  I’m in love with this bar and how she displays the various patterns.  Now I’m on the hunt for the other patterns and the ice bucket and decanter.  If you want o send me something for Christmas here you go, LOL!.

I was at my friend Nick’s house the other day and she had a bunch of trimmed kumquats in a little vase.  I commented on how cute they looked and she said she had a whole bag of them. I took a whole bunch of them home and filled four of the tumblers on my dining room table (see the photos below).  Next week it might be peonies and the following week it might be sparkling water for a dinner party.  Either way, I love the versatility of the glasses.  If you spot them on your travels let me know, I’m on the hunt for more.  I love a great bargain and I’d say I hit the jackpot on these.  Now, I don’t want to be fighting you on EBay for these!  LOL!

I can’t help but smile when I see these kumquats in my bargain tumblers.  Stay tuned Peggy & Fritz will be opening a little online shop in the upcoming months full of my thrift store bargains.  Why shouldn’t we all benefit.  Also, if you’re on Pinterest, stop by and visit.

 

PHOTO CREDITS:  Photo 2:  Thomas Loof, Photo 1, 3-5 by Peggy & Fritz

Sid Bergamin Part II

Ok, just so you don’t think I’m crazy I’m going to post some of his other projects because I know some of you are too lazy to check out his website, LOL!  See for yourself the contrast in design.  I love that he is so diverse.  It’s like dating two different men!  The porches on this home sing to me.  The blue and white ginger jars look amazing against the white back drop and I love how the natural wood breaks everything up, making it feel warm and rustic.

I want the bird pictures in this dining room for my living room.The bathroom below is so beachy.  I wish we had space in our house to do something like this (see below).  Love the counter and how it’s made a rustic table or consol. 

Gotta Love Sid!  Happy Friday!

 

PHOTO CREDITS:  All photos are from Sid Bergamin