Happy Easter

We'll be enjoying our Easter tradition of a 'lamb' cake. 

What traditions make the holiday special to you?

Scent of the Month - March

Our scent for the month of March is Penhaligon's Bluebell, described as the pure and unadulterated distillation of the scent of bluebell woods. 'The telltale earthy sweetness of hyacinths rises through the soft citrus notes and mingles with rose, lily and jasmine at the heart. As it settles the flowers give way to spicy clove and cinnamon. Tremendously evocative of wet earth, moss and rain, it instantly transports you to the woodland, surrounded by dripping leaves, skin tingling with spring.'

Clockwise from top left: sunglasses, bracelet, ring, umbrella, bag, trench, headband, heels, dress

Language of Flowers

Spring is definitely the most floral of all the seasons, and that had us thinking about the Victorian Language of Flowers. While specific flowers have held significance in various cultures for centuries, it was most popular during the 19th century. Within the same type of flowers, certain colors had different meanings, and the way they were arranged, held and given all helped deliver a message. The following are a selection from many.

Lavender - Devotion, distrust

Lily of the Valley - Sweetness, humility, returning happiness

Red Tulip - Undying love

Yellow Tulip - Hopeless love

White Carnation - Pure love

Striped Carnation - Refusal

Green Carnation - Secret followers of Oscar Wilde

Yellow Poppy - Wealth and success

Burgundy Rose - Unconscious beauty

Lavender Rose - Love at first sight

Ivy - Endurance

Angrec - Royalty

Lemon Blossom - Discretion

If you are interested in what other blossoms signify, this site lists multiple resources.

Treasures from the Grand Tour

Chocolate enfants messiahs in eggs for Easter in Paris.  Joyeuses Pâques!

Vista Vision

Foodie Favorite: The Pulled Pork Sandwich at Memphis Minnie's BBQ

The West Coast is not exactly known for its BBQ, but sometimes nothing will do but the spicy, vinegary-y goodness of a pulled pork sandwich.  We are always looking for a great one, and we found a strong contender in the sandwich at Memphis Minnie's in San Francisco's Lower Haight.  The pork was moist and tender, the bun was neither too doughy nor too thin, and the sauce was fantastic.  Minnie's offered several extra varieties of BBQ sauces alongside the dish, which we were more than happy to sample on our delicious French fries.  Or favorite was the South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, a tangy and sweet yellow BBQ sauce.  The Minnie's site promises to sell their rubs and sauces soon, but in the meantime we found a similar recipe that we'll be trying from Chris Lilly's book Big Bob Gibson's Big BBQ Book:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Carolina-Mustard-Sauce-352995

Crazy About: Turquoise & Coral Accents

clockwise from top left: throw, bowl, planters, frame, glass, dishes, tray, vase, napkin, coral

Song of the Week

The Kooks - California

Bouquets to Art at the de Young Museum

Every year, San Francisco's de Young Museum invites floral designers to create displays inspired by their favorite works in the museum.  Their fanciful creations are a lovely way to start spring, and to see the permanent collection in a new light.  This year we went to one of the previews, and our favorite works - and the art that influenced them - are pictured below.

Fashionable Film: The Great Gatsby (1974)

While we can't wait for the new film version of The Great Gatsby to come out, we have always been fans of the 1974 version for its stars, fashion, and locations.  Robert Redford and Mia Farrow were picture perfect as Jay Gatsby and his love Daisy Buchanan, and Ralph Lauren designed the stunning costumes, expertly hiding Farrow's pregnancy, and creating a romantic 1920s look that has continued to influence his work in the forty years since. 

 

Interior Design Inspiration: Tory Burch's Living Room

We've always loved Tory's gorgeous green velvet upholstered living room. 

Here's how to get a similar look.

Clockwise from top left: tall vase, short jar, velvet, shelf, mirror, sofa, picture, lamp, boxes, horn vase, tiger pillow, coffee table