Saturday 31 July 2010

Gardening tips

I have been collecting info about gardening, lately. I am shaping up the garden over the weekend, to cater for the hot season ahead. Then I plan redoing part of the garden for the Fall/Winter season.Sarah Raven's The Bold and Brilliant Garden is my favorite referance book, together with Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook and of course Sarah Raven's Complete Christmas which is very inspirational, once fresh season settles in.
Here are some links I found that you may want to look at, if you are also planning your autumn garden.




Have a fun and relaxing weekend!


love, Irene

Window shopping

Hello friends,
I took these pictures during our short break last week. I found these two shops with lovely summer and sea related objects.










What would you like? Those chairs, perhaps? Some baskets? I love the glazed blue pottery! I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

love, Irene

Thursday 29 July 2010

Cath Kidston rules


Jools Oliver with daughter Petal on a Cath Kidston buggy. Very British!

love, Irene

Thursday 22 July 2010

Summer party

{via a twist of lime}
{ tomkat studio}
{tomkat studio}

{eat-drink-chic}

{eat-drink-chic}


{Southern Living}
I hope you have FUN!


love, Irene

Wednesday 21 July 2010

New York, New York

Something emblematic

A colorful yet tasteful mix


Light and restrained


A chic palette

Body conscious

Eclectic
Feminine and Glamorous
Artsy

Expensive
Spiritual

There is something distinct about New York that I like. It's sleek, modern and classic, funky and polished, all in a perfect mix. A secret ingredient that makes it all bond and ease into each other. Can you sense it?

Featured, above, the apartments of David Scott and Paula Caravelli.
Interior designer Paula Caravelli, of Paula & Martha Design, is a master juggler. She works full time, plays piano, dances, paints, entertains and with her husband James, has raised four sons on the Upper East Side. 
David Scott lives rather fabulously in the UN Plaza building, which as he himself says, still has a kind of 1960s ‘James Bond’ glamour to it. He is best known for his high end residential design work.


All pictures New York Social Diary. With thanks for the fabulous trip!


love, Irene

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Probably the best blog out there

You know how we all try to put our best foot forward when it comes to blogging. There are so many nice blogs out there that we like to visit, borrow ideas, be inspired, click on links, and so on. Some are originals. Some have the special personality of their owner reflected that makes them personal and distinct.

However, I think I have found the ultimate in style and beauty.


You are probably familiar with the author of perennial favorites such as The Poetry of Home, A Passion for Detail, and the latest  Charlotte Moss: A Flair for Living. Did you know that Ms.Moss actually had a blog and a very varied and interesting one?



I remember visiting her website before, but seeing Ms. Moss' style and opinions come alive in her posts is a real treat. I particularly enjoyed reading her posts on NYC ballet and her tribute to Elsie de Wolfe.






Here are some more photos from her posts.









Head over here and feast on good taste and beauty.
Thank you, Ms. Moss.


love, Irene

Monday 19 July 2010

8 things: Honoring places


As some of you know/remember I was rather reluctant to move up here and found it rather difficult to adjust. After a decade of switching from cosmopolitan babe to small town maiden, I will try to compile a list honoring this place and some of what is offering us. Here we go:

1.We live close to nature. We have time to garden and grow some of our food, mainly parsley.
2.We can visit the mountains or the sea in a couple of hours.
3. The pace is slower. We can take time for lunch. We can see friends.
4.The kids have a better education, more personal attention in class, and better, deeper friendships.
5.We were thankfully able to buy a condo with a postage-stamp sized but satisfying garden, which we couldn't afford in the big cities.
6.We wake up and are able to see the sky and tell the weather.
7.Distances are smaller, so we can spend time together as a family.
8.Living and working here gives us the chance to be quite independant from outside influences to do our work and raise our family.

And I am very thankful for landing here.
With thanks to the magpie girl
love, Irene

Sunday 18 July 2010

Summer with Marie-Claire Idees

Marie-Claire Idees always puts me in the mood of doing things. It doesn't have to be big things. Little ways that make me appreciate more the daily and enjoy more our special occasions. Here is a pick of the current summer issue.

salads: healthy, delicious and easy to do

a lovely trip to Cuba-in the background, one of our quilts
summer games by the sea


imagination tastes better

Olive branches, so Mediterranean...

...nuit d' ete...

Don't you just LOVE the silly little things one is allowed to do in the summer?

Happy new week!
love, Irene

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