A Bloomsbury Life

36 Hours of Living (Very) Glamorously

2012-02-06T05:46:00.000-08:00

Thursday dusk, February 2nd

It's been three long years since I last set foot in New York City.

(Gazing north on Lexington Avenue toward the Chrysler Building.

All photographs by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti.)

My friend Michael Silber has generously offered to let me crash in his apartment overlooking Gramercy Park. Actually, "crash" is a poor word choice.

(Living room.)

"Walk around in a langorous, dreamlike state" would be more accurate. The apartment, designed by Tracey Garet in collaboration with Michael, is heartbreakingly beautiful.

(Living room)

(Dining room)

(Detail, living room)

(The guest bedroom. Walls are padded with fabric.)

(The ultra-chic guest bed, cozily tucked into a nook in the wall.)

Thursday evening

I meet bloggers Nick Olsen, Bart Boehlert, Reggie Darling and his spouse, Boy Fenwick, for a drink at the Gramercy Park Hotel. We try repeatedly to go to the rooftop bar but the elevator absolutely refuses to cooperate with us so we squash ourselves into a little corner of the ground floor lounge. (We actually may be lucky. The next day, I recall reading about this in London's Daily Mail.)

Oh, it's fun to finally meet some of the people who have been inspiring me for years. All of them are trés handsome with their own inimitable style: Bart is chic, soft-voiced and gentle, Reggie and Boy are debonair, kind and huge-hearted, and Nick is endearingly -- and wickedly -- funny.

(Gramercy Park Hotel lounge. That's my empty glass of Prosecco.)

Back at Michael's apartment, I reconnect with the sampler he purchased from my art show last year. (Note: No sheep or Ambien needed to sleep tonight.)

Friday morning

I meet my old friend Stephanie for breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien (we shared a loft on Horatio Street in the West Village years ago) and catch up on each other's lives as rapidly as we can in the hour allotted to us. Then it's a dash uptown to meet with a literary agent. I just might have written a book proposal. (And yes, I know how hard it is to get a book deal these days. But a girl can dream, can't she?)

Friday lunch

I race crosstown to the D&D Building to have lunch with designer/magazine publisher Christopher Hyland. His new lifestyle/interiors magazine called Hyland (available as an iPad app HERE) is part World of Interiors, part (new) Architectural Digest, and wholly fabulous. (Very exciting: look for me to be a contributor in future issues.)

Christopher and Kyle Marshall, his editor-in-chief, are kindred souls. Within minutes, we're chatting as if we've known each other for years. (Can't you almost feel their buoyant spirits emanating from this photo?)
Lunch is one fascinating story after another. We talk about, among other things, Christopher's recent pilgrimage to Mount Athos, a medieval monastery in Greece overlooking the Aegean Sea. The monks were badly in need of new vestments, so Christopher donated hundreds of yards of silk fabric to them (see below). I think we can safely assume they must be the chic-est monks on earth, don't you?

I say "assume" because very few of us will ever witness their shining sartorial splendor. (Visiting Mount Athos is beyond difficult. You need a letter of recommendation from the Athens embassy as well as a special permit of entry from the Greek Foreign Ministry, and it's forbidden to all women, children and non-Orthodox Christians. Ah, well. Envisioning them chanting vespers in their finery is pleasure enough.)

Back at Christopher's showroom, I am overcome by all the beautiful fabrics and carpet samples.

See the fabric below? It was created for Napoleon's one night stay at the Villa Pisano in Veneto. Yes, I said one night, people.

Christopher casually points to these and says, "These were a few of Jackie O's favorites." I stop myself from stumbling.

And this one I'm forgetting the story behind, but it's so gorgeous it can certainly stand without one.

Friday afternoon tea

I meet with Jenny Comita, the deputy editor of Martha Stewart magazine. She is smart and funny and fetching in her red scarf and husband's striped bateau pullover. We discuss possible future projects and talk about the new redesign of the magazine since Pilar Guzman (former editor of Cookie and author of great family cookbook Time For Dinner) has taken over.

On the way to meet another literary agent, this earnest basket of daffodils catches my eye.

Friday dusk

There's a violet haze descending on Gramercy Park and it looks like something out of another century. I half-expect Lily Bart to come clopping around the street corner in a canary-colored coach with a fringed hammer-cloth.

Friday evening

Michael and I make a quick stop at John Derian to drool over their wares. I find myself wondering if I can move in.

Oh, you "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Stop with the sly gaze. You know I'm yours.

Then it's across the street to Billy Reid, the haberdashery of choice for downtown New York gentlemen. The vibe is very city meets country. Michael picks up the perfect gray cardigan sweater -- one Cary Grant could wear to either a Main Line cocktail party or golfing with Bob Hope.A quick trek across cobblestone streets......and we arrive at ACME, the reinvented New Nordic restaurant that has taken the city by storm. (NY Times review HERE.)

My cocktail arrives in an old-fashioned champagne glass -- very "Rules of Civility" swell.

There's a big trend going on among men in Manhattan and it's called Buns and Beards (executed to greatest effect when they both appear on the same head). Our bartender is no exception. It's a striking look and makes them look like übercool artisanal cheesemongers, butchers, or mixology journeymen.

We are instructed that sharing plates is recommended, so we order a slew of items. Pearl barley and clams in a roasted sunflower broth and black cod with pickled green tomatoes, cardamom, vanilla and dandelion are standouts, as is our dessert, "Fallen Fruit with a Wheatgrass Granité."

I fall asleep dreaming of bunned and bearded Norwegian farmers harvesting apricots and plums off the dark loamy ground.

Saturday morning

Years ago, I left my heart in this city. And every time I return, I look for it. And every time I find it, it's always time to leave.

As my car zooms toward JFK airport and the city slides away, it already feels like a dream.

An Empire State of Mind

2012-02-02T00:15:00.000-08:00

O, Manahatta. You get me every time.

(New York City, 1942.

All photographs by the incredible Charles Cushman.

Click HERE to view his archive.)

Interesting things may be forming on the horizon.

Back in 36 hours.

Details to come.

As always, any good that happens is half owing to you.

So thank you.

Yours in Bloomsbury,

x/Lisa

Word Up

2012-01-26T02:29:00.000-08:00

Pamela Fugate is a woman after my own heart.

Available HERE.

What Inspired Them?

2012-01-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Liberty has just unveiled their new season of art fabrics and I've made up a test especially for you. Let's see how clever you are in divining the inspiration of the prints below.

(Hint: In one of the questions, all three answers are correct.)

1. This fabric was inspired by:

a. Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts

b. A chaotic bookcase

c. stacks of ceramic tiles at Royal Doulton

2. This fabric was inspired by:

a. The garden writings of Vita Sackville-West

b. Princess Diana's favorite flowers

c. the grounds of Glencot House in Somerset

3. This fabric was inspired by:

a. Cotton candy in Hyde Park

b.Pink champagne bubbles at the Dorchester

c. "Portrait of a Lady" (1465) by Alesso Baldovinetti

4. This fabric was inspired by:

a. crockery, framed pictures of ceramics and drinking afternoon tea whilst drawing

b. a trip to Glencot House in Somerset

c. it's loosely based on another Liberty print called "Dancing Ladies"

5. This fabric is based on:

a. the Art Deco architecture in the film "Metropolis"

b. the urbanization of Eastern Europe

c. a traditional ikat from Uzbekhistan

6. This fabric was inspired by:

a. an old underground map of London

b. the French film "Breathless"

c. the children's game "Parcheesi" ("Ludo", to those of you in the UK)

7. This fabric was inspired by:

a. the film "A Clockwork Orange"

b. the rural countryside of poet John Betjeman (1906-1984)

c. Queen Elizabeth's kitchen garden at Hatfield House

8. This fabric was inspired by:

a. the tidal pools of Cornwall

b. cave drawings and photography from Wookie Hole in Somerset

c. the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"

9. This fabric was inspired by:

a. an old piece of stumpwork at the V&A Museum

b. statues of lions around England

c. the London Zoo

10. This fabric was inspired by:

a. a tablecloth made of Madeira lace that belonged to Queen Victoria

b. the character of Sylvia in "La Dolce Vita" who wore a provocative top

c. the novel "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Answers:

1. b

2. c

3. c

4. a, b and c

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. b

10. b

How did you do? (Brilliantly, no doubt. If you got 3 or more correct -- because I made them hard, I know -- I give you a royal curtsey.)

xx/Lisa

Are You A Clean, Green Eating Machine?

2012-01-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to eat healthy this year, I really have.

(My Sunday Lunch:

Roast rutabagas, parsnips and sweet potatoes with green salad.)

In fact, for the last 15 days, I've been following the "Clean Eating Action Plan" from Whole Living magazine, free online HERE.

Whole Living is a Martha Stewart publication. (Did you know that? I didn't.) So the recipes are "Martha-ized": simple to follow, easy to make and without too many ingredients. If you are a fan of her Everyday Food series, you know exactly what I mean.

What is "The Clean Eating Action Plan", you ask?

Well, here's what it's not.

No caffeine.

No alcohol.

No sugar.

No dairy.

No white carbs.

I know what you're thinking. But the food is so delicious that it doesn't seem like you're depriving yourself.

What differences do I notice?

Glowing skin. (Illuminizer not necessary.)

Waking up in the morning and feeling...awake. (Shocking!)

Falling asleep at night like a normal person. (10pm = Zzzz.)

An even, steady mood throughout the day. (No 3pm sugar-crash nap.)

A renewed sense of confidence and optimism. (Yes, really.)

And the weight loss doesn't hurt (five pounds and counting).

Here's the detox in a nutshell:

1. The first week, you limit yourself to fruits, vegetables and plant-based fats, nuts, avocados and oils.

2. The second week, you add back high-quality protein like fish and legumes.

3. And the third week, you add back gluten-free grains and protein-rich eggs.

The first three days are the hardest because the beast in your belly is screaming out for all the things it misses. After that, the decision-making center switches from your stomach to your brain and you realize that you, in fact, are in control. It's a liberating moment.

Below are a few things I now find myself craving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breakfast (Week One):

Green Detox Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup kale leaves, stems removed, coarsely chopped

1 ripe banana

1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves

Directions:

Combine kale, apple, banana, parsley and 2 1/4 cups water in a blender;

blend until smooth. (I use a bit less water because I like a thicker smoothie.)

Serves 2.

Per serving: 105 calories

Lunch (Week One):

Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar

Coarse salt and pepper

3 cups mixed shredded kale and red cabbage

1 carrot, peeled and julienned

1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tablespoons diced red onion

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons hemp seeds

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, mustard, and

apple-cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

2. In another bowl, combine kale, cabbage, carrot, parsley,

and red onion with sunflower, pumpkin, and hemp seeds.

3. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.

Yield:

Serves 4

Snack (Anytime):

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Ingredients:

One 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground hot paprika

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss chickpeas with oil and spices until

evenly coated. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, shaking pan,

occasionally, until chickpeas are golden and crunchy, about 30 minutes.

Yield: Makes 1 cup

Dinner (Week Two):

Red Lentil and Turnip Stew with Parsley

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 celery stalks, diced

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 1/2 cups dried red lentils

1 turnip, peeled and diced

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar (optional)

Coarse salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion,

garlic, and celery; cook, stirring, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Increase heat to high and add tomatoes; cook for 1 minute.

Add lentils, turnip, and 6 cups water.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender,

20 to 25 minutes. Stir in parsley and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Yield:

Makes 10 cups

Serves 8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eating healthy is a journey best taken slow and steady, one meal at a time. If I can do it, you can do it!

xx/Lisa

P.S. Here are some food blogs I'm loving these days:

My New Roots

Recipes for Health (from the New York Times)

Green Lemonade

Fresh 365

101 Cookbooks

What Is It About English Women?

2012-01-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

The most fascinating ones are brilliant, maddening birds of paradise.

I'm thinking of three in particular.

1. Amanda Eliasch

Famous quotes:

"The Muscovites say that the moment a woman learns to be ugly she becomes interesting."

"Think positive, paint the town red, have a ball, have a laugh...but don't have such a good time that you're left empty."

"It's essential to have style on the back of a horse."

(from "As I Like It")

(Amanda Eliasch via her blog)

1. Last Friday I went to a performance of "As I Like It", a one-act play written by Amanda based on her colorful and oh-so-complicated life.

Imagine a McQueen-clad Marilyn crossed with an R-rated Nancy Mitford. That's the quickest way I know of describing her.

Here's the more conventional way: Photographer, poet, neon artist, US fashion editor for Genlux Magazine and full-blown eccentric, Amanda never lets anything as insignificant as fear stop her. I've known her for over fifteen years and she never stops surprising me or making me howl with laughter.

"As I Like It" is a whirlwind monologue that takes you on a journey of her life so far, from the hardships of a vulnerable childhood and Dickensian boarding school to her stint with the Moscow Theater Company to being a married London socialite and a Parisian mistress. Performed by actress Elizabeth Karr and punctuated with operatic duets from Lisa Zane and Amanda's son, Charles, it's a gutsy way of approaching love and loss -- with zero apologies and lashings of trenchant wit.

(info here and here)

2. The Dowager Countess of Grantham

Famous quotes:

"I do hope I'm interrupting something."

"No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house."

"What is a week-end?"

(from "Downton Abbey")

(photographer unknown)

Ah yes, the old dame is back. Domineering, intractable and fiercely opinionated, she's part peacock, part snapping turtle and we love her for it. I can't remember a time when a character on television has been so over-the-top entertaining, can you?

Whether she's grumbling about fact vs. fiction ("The truth is neither here nor there, it's the look that matters") or reprimanding her granddaughter for wanting to learn to drive ("You are a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall"), we somehow find ourselves firmly on her side.

And those expressions.

Watch carefully.

If you spot pursed lips, eyeballs threatening to jump ship from their sockets or that massive walking stick of hers hitting the floor like a thunderbolt, DUCK AND ROLL.

She's getting ready to unleash a corker.

3. Violet Trefusis

Famous quotes:

"Be wicked, be brave, be drunk, be reckless, be dissolute, be despotic, be a suffragette, be anything you like, but for pity's sake be it to the top of your bent."

"Live fully, live passionately, live disastrously."

(in a letter to Vita Sackville-West)

(via here)

I just finished reading Michael Holroyd's "The Book of Secrets" and its spell upon me lingers.

Part biography, part memoir, the book is about the author's fascination with the various English enchantresses who shadowed and inhabited the palatial Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy.

There was Violet Trefusis -- daughter of Alice Keppel (and perhaps King Edward VI) -- whose love affair with Vita Sackville-West wreaked havoc on her entire life and turned her into a latter-day Miss Havisham. There was Eve Fairfax, purported mistress of Rodin and possessor of an enormous scrapbook of her private life that she carried everywhere with her.

And there are two modern-day women Holroyd encounters, each with a personal connection to the Villa Cimbrone, and whose stories are seamlessly woven in with the others to reveal a patchwork of secret longings and uncelebrated achievements.

What English woman do you think is fabulous?

This Is It

2012-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is a creation of the mind.

~Buddha

(Sunrise on Rapa Nui, 2007. Photo by LBG.)

Every moment is an opportunity to redefine yourself. Who are you going to be in 2012?

A Feast to Remember

2011-12-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

Was it the popping of the cork?

(All photos by LBG.)

Was it the fizzy bubbles rising to the surface with their whisper of good things to come?

Was it the surprise treat that the husbands had mysteriously disappeared to shop for the day before?

Was it the Christmas crackers ready to be pulled apart to find the paper crown and little toy hidden inside?

Was it the sight of two handsome men bustling around the kitchen in a perfect storm of cheerfulness?

Was it the masterly carving of the roast goose, done with a skill and speed that astonished all who witnessed it?

Was it our friends' dining room which shimmered and glowed with the promise of the meal to come?

Was it the talking and laughing and interrupting and clinking of glasses?

Was it the heartfelt speeches of the children?

Was it the plates piled high with goose, stuffing, roast parsnips, potatoes, mushy peas and gravy?

Was it the sticky toffee pudding castle which broke coming out of the Bundt mold and was rebuilt with a heroic use of toothpicks? Was it the thick moat of toffee sauce that surrounded it?

Was it the candlelight?

In the words of the great man himself,

"And thus the evening passes, in a strain of rational good-will and cheerfulness, doing more to awaken the sympathies of every member of the party in behalf of his neighbor, and to perpetuate their good feeling during the ensuing year, than half the homilies that have ever been written, by half the Divines that have ever lived."*

It was a Dickens of a night.

* From "A Christmas Dinner", 1835

Happy. Holly. Daze.

2011-12-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

I found a little note on the tree this morning.

The second sentence just kills me. It's so nice to know exactly what role you play in your child's life. (In case you can't read it, it says, "You are a wonderful, amazing help around the house.")

My family and I send you holi(wood)day wishes this morning, wherever in the big wide world you happen to be.

Today we're having a Dickensian feast with friends: roast goose, stuffing, parsnips, mushy peas and sticky toffee pudding (which I actually need to run downstairs and check on). Photos to come.

Count every blessing as a gift and every friend as a treasure -- we're going to have a wonderful 2012, I just know it!

xxx/lisa

20 Great Gift Duos Under $100

2011-12-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Here you go.

Twenty suggestions to make your holiday shopping a little easier.

All under $100.

All picked with you and the people on your holiday list in mind.

And all still deliverable by Christmas if you act promptly.

xx/Lisa

(No need to exclude yourself, either. As 24 Corners commented, "I'm sending it around to family and friends as the perfect hint-hint.") Love that.

1. FOR THE TASTEFUL CONSUMER

(A calorically responsible treatise with gorgeous illustrations by Maira Kalman.

$16.28. HERE.)

PLUS

(The one-and-only Royal Riviera pears from Harry and David .

$22.95. HERE.)

2. FOR THE CHIC NESTER

(I own it. I love it.

$53.55. HERE.)

PLUS

(Set of two John Robshaw dish towels.

$30. HERE.)

3. FOR THE DOWNTON DEVOTEE

(Get your fix until Season Two premieres on January 8th.

$19.79. HERE.)

PLUS

(Ian Mankin grain sack tea towels.

$20 each. HERE.)

4. FOR THE CLASSIC COOK

(What's old is new again.

$7.22. HERE.)

PLUS

(Brown bread ice cream? Rose sorbet? Honey and fig frozen yogurt? Why not?

$59.95. HERE.)

5. FOR THE INCORRIGIBLE ANGLOPHILE

(A gritty history of London from the ground down.

$16.50. HERE.)

PLUS

(Berry Bros. and Rudd's much-heralded No. 3 London Dry Gin,

with notes of angelica, coriander and cardamom.

$34.99 HERE.

Learn about it HERE.)

6. FOR THE FANTASTICAL WANDERER

(Wonder, danger, and magic in Portland.

$11.30. HERE.)

PLUS

(Gold Sven clogs.

$78. HERE.)

(Kids Adidas Retro Gazelles.

$45.00. HERE.)

7. FOR THE JUNIOR SLEUTH

(Take part in a thrilling - and secretive - adventure.

$14.28. HERE.)

PLUS

(Boy's winter brim cap.

Handy for when you need to be incognito.

$22.50. HERE.)

(Girl's Selima sunglasses.

No one will bother you with these on.

$49.50. HERE.)

8. FOR THE ARTSY ROCKER...OR ROCKIN' ARTIST

(Sex, drugs, and the music business. Well, allriiiight.

$14.86. HERE.)

PLUS

(Get your knit on, indie style.

Wool and the Gang Over My Shoulder knitting kit.

$85. HERE.)

9. FOR ALL THINGS YOUNG AND BRIGHT

(Oh, the glamour. Oh, the fury.

$18.58. HERE.)

PLUS

(All that glitters really is gold.

Sur La Table edible gold powder.

$30. HERE.)

10. FOR THE FRIEND WHO LOVED "BRIDESHEAD REVISITED"

(Love, loss and poetry in WWI England.

$15.74. HERE.)

PLUS

(Haunting. Unforgettable. I own it. I love it.

$11.76. HERE.)

11. FOR THE ENGLISH MAJOR DOWN THE HALL

(A sprawling Victorian novel reimagined for the 21st century.

$16.68. HERE.)

PLUS

(Jo Malone Orange Blossom body lotion.

Morning dew, water lilies and the scent of clementines.

$65.00. HERE.)

12. FOR FERVENT FRANCOPHILES

(Not new, but in my opinion, better than Antonia Fraser's.

$15.44. HERE.)

PLUS

(Mariages Frere Bouddha Bleu tea. With real blue cornflowers in it.

$22.50. HERE.)

13. FOR THE GUY WHO DIGS A GOOD BEAT

(Some things just keep on getting better.

$16.92. HERE.)

PLUS

(Already hailed as the album of 2012. I own it. I love it.

$10.99. HERE.)

14. FOR LIBERTINES EVERYWHERE

(Gotta love Pepys. He was brave enough to say it out loud.

$12.00. HERE.)

PLUS

(Set of three Serena and Lily inlay cheese knives.

$38.00. HERE.)

AND/OR

(Drunken goat cheese from Dean and Deluca.

$18.00. HERE.)

15. FOR LOVERS OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

(Having grown up in Scandinavia, this is so on my wish list.

$18.45. HERE.)

PLUS

(Iittala Taika dinner plate.

$40. HERE.)

16. FOR THE HUMBUGGER

(You think things are bad now? Louisa Gradgrind would beg to disagree.

$11.64. HERE.)

PLUS

(A dash of bitters.

Cardamom, chocolate, grapefruit, lavender, celery, orange.

$15.95 each. HERE.)

17. FOR CAMPY NEO VICTORIANS

(With incredible illustrations by Donald Urquhart -- Bette Davis as Becky Sharp!

$26.40. HERE.)

PLUS

(Set of three Thackeray-approved teas from Fortnum and Mason, est.1707.

$38.95. HERE.)

18. FOR THE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE MOST LIKELY TO RUN OFF TO ITALY

(The NYT Book Review said:

"Provokes indecorous involuntary laughter;

"John Waters crossed with David Sedaris."

$10.17. HERE.)

PLUS

(The one and only.

Aromatic, spirited, feisty.

$27.99. HERE.)

19. FOR THE WORLDLY TRAVELLER

(Loyalty, passion and exoticism in war-torn Africa. $14.81. HERE.)

PLUS

(Handwoven by village women in Tanzania.

$64.50. HERE.)

20. FOR THE SOCIAL SYBARITE

(Free on Kindle. HERE.)

PLUS

(1.7 oz. eau de parfum, $95. HERE.)

Nearly There

2011-12-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

(Christmas 2008, Hollywood)

My post on holiday gifts will be up tomorrow.

I'm excited because this year, all my picks are under $100.

Why?

Because the most important things in life aren't things.

And because whatever you have, you should spend less.

x/Lisa

Party, Interrupted

2011-11-28T06:02:00.000-08:00

Shhhh. Don't let them know we see them.

Children's dinner parties are much more fun if they think they're alone. The secret to good behavior? Treat them as honored guests and they will usually rise to the occasion.

This past Saturday night, the stage was set for their arrival. Golden light and flowers were corralled into action.

It was a six o'clock seating. There was a spirited exchange about who got to sit on the horseshoe bench, but it was soon settled with diplomatic aplomb.

The decision about background music was unanimous.

A few photos were snapped for posterity and then The First Evening Assembly of Eating and Drinking for Mostly Nine Year-Olds and One Twelve Year-Old was officially underway. Due to diverse food preferences and the fact that the adult seating was at seven, a meal of unparalleled simplicity had been decided on.

As for the adults? Oh, we were squeezed into the kitchen, seven of us sitting cheek to jowl around a small table of appetizers.

We had just congratulated ourselves on how wonderful it is that our children are at an age where we can actually relax when a face appeared at the door. It was my son.

Me: Yes?

Him: We're done.

Me: You're done already?

(It's my fault. I had stupidly forgotten my own cardinal rule for kids food at dinner parties: Serve food that takes a long time to eat. Spaghetti can be slurp-inhaled in no time. Plus, there really should have been a vegetable.)

I told them to sit down and talk to each other. This proved to be of limited value. A couple of minutes were occupied in a technical discussion about Lego minifigures and then curiosity over what was for dessert led to more faces at the door.

Fortunately, a wise and beautiful girl gave us a ten minute continuance by giving the boys a detailed analysis of exactly how much homework they could expect in sixth grade.

Reaction to her news was varied.

The solution to no more interruptions? A change of scenery. A tablecloth, hastily thrown upon the cowhide in the living room, was announced as the exciting new venue for an imminent brownies and peppermint ice cream picnic. Cross-legged on the floor, knees and elbows touching, heads huddled together, they chattered away.

And as we settled in around the dining table, so did we.

Happy post-Thanksgiving everyone. The season is upon us.

x/Lisa

My Primary Passion

2011-11-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Red (warmth), yellow (energy) and blue (strength).

Does seeing these colors together get your blood going like mine does?

(Luke Irwin rug, "Ikat 4." HERE.)

Here's Duncan Grant breakfasting in his dining room at Charleston House. Can't you see yourself sitting opposite him, your head filled with all sorts of brilliant ideas?

(Courtesy of Hibernian Homme.)

Yes, Eliza. I'm in. I will cook whatever you tell me to, even if it's your (gulp) Cornish eels in brown caper sauce or your shrimp toast á la reine.

(Jacket design by Coralie Bickford-Smith. HERE.)

Hello, pretty mirror. I would imagine that everything reflected in you looks cheerful and lively, even a countenance that had a few too many Brandy Alexanders the night before.

(World of Interiors, March 2007.)

A friend of mine sent me this photo of these new Martin Margiela boots and I don't need to own them to dream about them. Aren't they so 21st century Mary Poppins?

(source unknown)

This is an oldie but a goodie: Drew Barrymore's Flower Films office as decorated by designer Ruthie Summers.

(via Domino Magazine.)

Tina Barney made this woman in red and blue the focus of her composition. The yellow items on the table complete the "warmth-energy-strength" triumvirate.

("Thanksgiving, 1992." Photograph by Tina Barney.)

Primary colors can work in a bedroom too. Peter Dunham adds a lavender sofa and Indian printed fabrics to create a haven of tranquility.

(via Domino magazine)

You'll never guess what this is -- the tunic of a Sherwood Forester from the 17th century. Is that not crazy? It's made of green and red facecloth trimmed with silver braid which has taken on a gold patina. Christopher Gibbs, bon vivant, antiques dealer and best friends with the Rolling Stones, sold it at a Christies auction a few years back.

(Details HERE.)

Last but not least, I was inspired to stitch a view of the room in my house that always lifts my spirits.

("Study for Living Room", 2011, by LBG. Thread, canvas, fine point Sharpies.)

What are your big three?

What's The Good of a Home If You Are Never In It?*

2011-11-07T05:55:00.000-08:00

(*Said first by Walter Weedon Grossmith, co-author of one of the funniest books ever, "Diary of a Nobody", published in 1892 and never out of print since.)

None of us left the house yesterday.

There was entirely too much to do.

Project One:

At the top of the list was the home fire that needed to be kept burning. (According to convention, once the temperature drops into the 50's everyone in Hollywood is allowed to don blizzard-appropriate clothing with a completely straight face and pretend that without a roaring fire, their chilblains would set in. It's one of the perks of living in a city built on dreams.)

Project Two:

Inspired by this book he's reading...

...my husband decided to make a stew based on the ingredients available to his ancestors in ancient Rome, circa 175 A.D. "Think of it as culinary time travel," he said. "It's going to be like going to the Forum for Sunday lunch."

I'm calling it "Trajan's Stew" and it was pretty insanely delicious. He didn't use a recipe, so I'm not much help on the play-by-play, but I can tell you the main ingredients were farro, cod, chickpeas, onions, garlic, olive oil and butternut squash.

Project Three:

While my husband was immersed in recreating the Republic, I was one room and eighteen centuries away. With this soundtrack playing in the background...

...I occupied myself with traditional domestic pursuits like wrapping this chandelier cord with a silk dupioni scarf...

...and adding the final touches to this four foot by two foot embroidery piece.

(Details: Canvas, thread, leather. Just purchased by Soho House West Hollywood. No, not kidding. Yes, pinching myself.)

And the child? Oh, he was in the midst of a fierce Beyblade championship.

(What's a Beyblade, you ask? Basically a spinning top with a rip cord. FYI, nine year olds will pretty much forego food, water and sleep to play with them. Best part for parents? It's not a video game.)

Project Four:

I went outside and clipped some flowering branches for the dining room.

Love that little white flower. I have no idea what it's called, but I'm sure you clever people do.

Project Five:

Our cat carried in a huge black beetle with bristly legs and dropped it underneath this bench. It took every last ounce of nerve I had to pick it up and return it to the wild.

Hey, Twiglet. Don't worry about it. In the words of Groucho Marx, "Home is where you hang your head."

Project Six:

After lighting this candle and listening to my son rave about it ("It smells sooo good, Mom!")...

...I felt guilty and decided to give him something he could actually sink his teeth into.

(Do not be impressed. It's Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread mix and it takes about one minute to get into the oven. And talk about delicious. Even my husband the food purist likes it.)

That's about it. The sun went down extra early and we wasted no time in putting on our dressing gowns. Only one thing remained on my list.

Project Seven:

Writing what you just finished reading.

Did you have a good weekend?

xx/Lisa

The Perfectly Imperfect Home

2011-10-31T06:04:00.000-07:00

"The point of decorating, as far as I can tell, is to

create the background for the best life you can have."

~From "The Perfectly Imperfect Home"

Deborah Needleman gets it.

(Available Tuesday, November 1st. HERE.)

Last Friday I received an advance copy of her brand-new book and honestly, it made my weekend.

Her practical advice and reassuring words on how to create a loved-up and lived-in home are exactly the reminder we need in these budget-tight times that what matters isn't provenance but personality. As Deborah puts it, decorating is about "elevating a room into an experience."

And illustrator Virginia Johnson's watercolors are so enchantingly alive they make you want to leap directly into them.

"The Perfectly Imperfect Home" teaches you how to design and arrange your house so that when people walk into it, they feel something.

Personality.

(Rita Konig tapes Polaroid photos above the mantel in her living room.)

Comfort.

(Caroline Irving doesn't mind if you put your feet on the "coffee table.")

Contentment.

(Kate and Andy Spade's entry foyer has the Big Four: light, storage, a mirror and a place to sit.)

Friendship.

(Miles Redd makes his guests feel at home by letting them help themselves.)

Relaxation.

(Peter Dunham makes sure everyone has a place to set their drink.)

Each chapter focuses on a specific style element ("A Bit of Quirk", "A Personal Narrative", "Cozification", "A Sense of History" and more) and gives you all the principles, tips and ideas to make it feel that way.

How do you arrange furniture so everybody feels included? (p. 58)

How do you use lighting to give a sense of depth to a room? (p.20)

Why are "mollifiers" (the stuff you allow into your home because it makes someone else happy) sometimes the secret ingredient to chic? (p. 68)

(Here, Miles Redd uses "the law of threes" to match the pillows to the rest of the room.)

Malcolm Gladwell and Martha Stewart offer words of praise for Deborah's achievement, but it's this last little blurb on the dust jacket that really touched me:

"This book is about moving stuff around in your house so it looks better."

~Nathaniel Weisberg, age 10, author's son

Doesn't that say it all?

Ten Enchanting Things I Don't Need But Totally Want Anyway

2011-10-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

1. My husband cannot for the life of him figure out why I continue to hang on to old issues of certain magazines -- World of Interiors, Domino, Dominique Browning's House and Garden, etc. Now I can tell him, "Because I knew someday this would be invented" (with a note of triumph in my voice).

(The Adjustable Storage Stool by NJU Studio, $200. HERE.)

2. I love making soups and stews but the fumes from the onions make my eyes water and my lids swell in the most alarming manner. I've been using my son's swim goggles as makeshift protectors, but this pair is sooo much more stylish. Very "I'm a 1920's heroine with a racy past and a yellow Hispano-Suiza motorcar", no?

(Retro goggles, $24. HERE.)

3. I have a downstairs powder room that's a study in black and white and needs a shot of color. This guest towel would brighten things up marvelously and has the added benefit of being densely colored enough to hide all the schmutz from a nine-year-old's hands.

(Pink carpet hand towel, £40. HERE.)

4. This ingenius bookrest lamp will save your page when you're done reading and turn itself into a symbol of warmth and domesticity at the same time. Is there a more poetic way to say there's no place like home? The lump in my throat makes me think no.

(Bookrest Lamp by Suck UK, $80.00. HERE.)

5. Because it's beautiful to look at. Because it's a great hostess gift. Because it's fun -- you brew yourself a pot of it and then pour it directly into the bath. Because it has lavender and all sorts of lovely therapeutic herbs in it to make a long, tiring day go away.

(Organic Lavender Bath Tea, $12. HERE.)

6. It's no secret that I am besotted with the 18th and 19th centuries, and this reproduction English coat rack brings all my fantasies of being a Victorian lady explorer into sharp reality. It's just the thing for hanging up my family's collection of cloaks, capes, shawls, heavy woolens and Ulster coats.

(English Tavern Wall Coat Rack, $68.99. HERE.)

7. I don't know what it is about this scarf, but I'm smitten. Is it the enchanting color palette? The arresting photograph? The fact that it so effortlessly embraces modern and vintage at the same time? The fact that it's by one of my favorite designers?

(Paul Smith Silk Rabbit Scarf, $160.07. HERE.)

8. Years ago, the World of Interiors did a feature on moquette, the upholstery fabric used by the British Transport System and I fell in love with its colorful eccentricity. It's almost impossible to find, though (I've looked).

(vintage London tube train)

This wash bag from the London Transport Museum uses a pattern developed for double decker buses between 1939 and 1942 -- I find it very "Don't you know there's a war on?" And those jewel tones -- it's like tumbling into a Farrow and Ball fan deck.

(RT Moquette Wash Bag, £59.99. HERE.)

9. I have long coveted the "Heathcliff" pillow designed by Sam Taylor-Wood for The Rug Company, but at $895, it's not looking likely.

(Rug Company "Heathcliff" pillow. HERE.)

This cushion, on the other hand, is smaller but strikingly similar (if you don't mind the riders) and is a euphoria-inducing $82.00.

("Over The Hedge" needlepoint pillow. HERE.)

10. No explanation necessary. Husbands and boyfriends, you have been warned.

("Forgotten" man bag. HERE.)

("Wrong" man shopper. HERE.)

Sew Occupied

2011-10-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dropped off Luca at school, went to Barry's Bootcamp (Chest and Abs), ate lunch, showered, and spent the rest of the day and night making this.

(Study for "Occupy Soho House", 2011.

Thread on canvas, machine-sewn, approx. 8" by 13".)

Backstory:

A few weeks ago, I bought a Bernina sewing machine in order to teach myself free machine embroidery. I want to explore elements like size and scale which are impossible if you are restricted to only sewing by hand.

Result:

It would have taken me weeks to hand-sew what I did by machine yesterday.

(detail, "Occupy Soho House")

I feel the stirrings of a major love affair with my machine growing within me.

More to come.

*A big shout-out to my friend Matti Leshem whose funny photo on Facebook became the title of this piece.

An Absence Accounted For

2011-10-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

First things first.

I owe you a blog post and so there will be two this week.

The past seven days were a real doozy.

It all began last Sunday morning when I unexpectedly caught sight of myself in a mirror.

What in God's name was happening?

It felt as though in no more than a mere...

...my corporeal shell had fallen victim to the inevitable passing of these.

Okay, maybe that was denial on my part.

An abundance of foodstuffs, an increase in sedentary pursuits like reading and needlework, and a stubborn case of exercise amnesia had led unquestionably to the fact that...

I had clearly reached...

What to do?

I did not want to become one of these.

I was not ready to succumb to this.

And I was not about to feel sorry for myself. No sirree.

Sure, like everyone else there was a time when I didn't have to worry about working out religiously.

But that was then.

And this was now.

Which left me with only one option.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy. (Rumors were rife.)

I knew it would require bravery and endurance -- the likes of which made me slightly nervous to contemplate.

But my friends who took classes there were practically speechless about the results.

So I signed up.

* * * * *

After bootcamp last Monday (Arms and Abs), I was wiped out. There was a 30 minute treadmill portion -- where we climbed hills and did sprints -- that nearly killed me. That evening, movement was nigh impossible. I may have passed out with the lights on.

After bootcamp last Tuesday (Butt and Legs), it took every ounce of strength I had to keep my eyes open past 6pm. I felt a horrible pang of guilt about neglecting the blog, but it couldn't be helped. My body was in shutdown mode.

After bootcamp last Wednesday (Chest and Abs), something amazing happened. As I was lifting my right arm, I caught a glimpse of something moving beneath my bicep (this could be subject to interpretation). It flickered and was gone, like a shooting star, but I'm pretty sure saw it.

After bootcamp last Thursday (Back and Shoulders), I managed to stay awake until almost -- gasp! -- 9:15pm. I was even starting to feel a flicker of fondness for the treadmill.

After bootcamp last Friday (Full Body), I looked like a wet dish rag, but I felt as though maybe just maybe the worst was over. I felt sore but stronger. Weary but proud. That night, I fell asleep dreaming of reacquainting myself with myself.

Today is the start of a new week and a new attitude.

Thanks for hanging in there. A fitter me makes for a fitter blog.

(All photos by LBG)

Are You a 21st Century Romantic?

2011-10-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

Take my quiz and find out. If you find yourself nodding to five or more of the following statements, then red rover, red rover, gallop right over.

* * * * *

You have definite romantic tendencies if:

1. You have ever craved a rainy day over sunshine.

(via Flickr)

2. You think a candlelit table overcrowded with the remnants of a meal is a work of art in itself.

(via Flickr)

3. You don't see anything wrong with watering flowers in this outfit.

(Cecily "Parsley" Mure. Photo by Valerie Finnis)

4. You believe that in a kitchen, books should be allowed as much shelf space as food.

(Photo by Chris Tubbs)

5. A dark morning, a quiet house, a bubbling pot of coffee and some reading material are enough to send your heart into spasms of delight.

(via Flickr)

(The only thing that could possibly improve it would be enjoying the above in a dressing gown like this.)

(Painting by T.F. Simon)

6. You understand exactly what Daphne Guinness meant when she said:

"What's great is tying a bit of net around your face, and everything looks like it's in Super 8. It gives a bit of grain to the world."

(Daphne Guinness/Pelican Inn by LBG)

7. You prefer a path that's slightly unkempt and dishevelled to one that's manicured within an inch of its life.

(Brussels, Belgium, 2009. Photo by LBG)

8. You have ever wondered what it would have been like to be a Victorian explorer.

(Jane Digby)

(Isabella Bird. Photos via Flickr)

9. You find cloakrooms kind of sexy.

(Photograph by Chris Tubbs)

10. Sartorially speaking, you think a sweet disorder in the dress...

(via the Sartorialist)

...and a wild civility...

(via the Sartorialist)

...beats perfection any day. (Thank you, Robert Herrick.)

(William Hogarth, "The Rake's Progress")

11. A long-simmering stew in a battered old Creuset is your idea of Sunday heaven.

(Nigel Slater's chickpea and harissa stew. HERE. Photo by Joanna @ZebBakes.)

12. You derive great pleasure from all the elements of a house's patina: creaky wooden floors, tattered rugs and surfaces worn smooth by generations of feet and hands.

(via Light Locations)

(Detail from my solo show at ACME, 2010.)

13. Roses. Enough said.

(Maharam's new wallpaper line. Here.)

BUT. You have no beef with hydrangeas. Unlike Madonna, you are an equal opportunity flower-lover.

(via Flickr)

14. You are partial to jewelry that resonates with history.

(Via Flickr)

15. Gazing at this photo for 30 seconds involuntarily causes your blood pressure to drop in a most enjoyable manner.

(Via Flickr)

* * * * *

Well...how did you do?

What Would Happen?

2011-09-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

(London tunnel. Photograph by Moby.)

I listened to "Destroyed", Moby's latest album, all weekend. Have you ever heard a song that within moments fills you with strength and comfort and resonates down to the core of your being? Well, that's how I felt the first time I heard "Lie Down in Darkness"...and I'm betting you will too.

(LA at night. Photograph by Moby.)

It's poetic.

It's impassioned.

It's quasi-hymnal.

But more than anything, it's completely and totally inspiring.

It made me spend my Sunday creating this for you:

(If you're reading this via email subscription, click HERE)

P. S. Moby has created a fascinating website to accompany his album. Click HERE.

Director's Thanks:

I would like to give a special shout-out to the shelled creature I discovered in my garden who so tirelessly performed take after take for me until the afternoon light was just right. There's nothing like a Hollywood stunt snail.

Paper Fixation

2011-09-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

I have fallen head over heels for the Off Duty section of the weekend Wall Street Journal.

(Coffee + Off Duty Section = A Perfect Moment.)

It's only been a few months, but the symptoms of love are all too familiar.

1. When I open my eyes on Saturday mornings, I feel an instant rush, thinking of it laying on my front path in its little cerise wrapper. This is immediately replaced by tender concern. Is it safe? Is there a teeny perforation in the plastic again? Did the sprinklers drench it?

2. My concentration is shot. By the time Thursday rolls around, I find myself unable to think about anything else.

"David Netto (a dad at my son's school) mentioned going on some crazy train trip with his family. I wonder if his article's coming out this weekend? Oh crap. I just burned the pizza."

(Photo by Jessica Haye and Clark Hsaio. Article HERE.)

2. Every vapid little thought that flits through my head leads directly back to it.

"Whoa, this sink could do with a good scrub. Oh swoon. Remember when Rita Konig wrote about kitchens with character?"

(Photo by Staffan Johansson. Article HERE.)

"Now where did I just put my book? Oh, who cares? How about that article Sara Ruffin Costello wrote about the well-stocked library?"

(Photo by James Merrell. Article HERE.)

3. When I am holding the Off Duty section in my hot little hands, all else pales into insignificance.

"Yes, Luca, I will help you look for your soccer cleats -- just as soon as I learn how to wear a scarf like Jackie Onassis in Capri."

(Photo by Settimo Garritano. Article HERE.)

"Piero, I would give you a hand with all those grocery bags, but I'm feeling light-headed. You see...The. Off. Duty. Fall. List Is. Here."

(Gloriously all HERE.)

4. At random moments, I find myself thinking about all the beautiful times we have shared together. Of course, we'll always have Paris (HERE, HERE and HERE), but the memories go far beyond that.

There was that time we travelled to English decorator Nicky Haslam's eccentric country house.

(Photo by Simon Upton. Article HERE.)

And got giddy over Alice Water's crazy simple Stone-Fruit Salad with Sugared Berries.

(Photo by Justin Walker. Article HERE.)

And felt that adrenaline surge for Ahmad Sardar-Afkhami's hand-embroidered wool rugs.

(Photo via WSJ Weekend. Article HERE.)

Oh, the list goes on and on. I have special feelings for you, Off Duty section. You are eccentric and fascinating and erudite and approachable. You are a romantic rainstorm on a boring sunny day. You make me want to be the best possible version of myself.

* * * * *

And now, if you people will kindly excuse me, I desperately need to get back to Jeffrey Bilhuber (HERE.)

(Photo by LBG.)

Have an inspiring week, everyone.

x/lisa

UPDATE: A commenter alerted me to the fact that Deborah Needleman, ex-editor of Domino, is the creative force behind the Off Duty section. Of course she is and how oblivious of me not to mention that. Thank you Deborah, for the miracles you have wrought!

A Novel Idea For Food

2011-09-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

Did you know food tastes more delicious when you create a backstory for it?

Introducing "Mrs. Arbuthnot's Repast."

(My snack this afternoon.)

(Ingredients: flax and fiber sandwich thins, good butter,

raspberry and key lime jam, sliced nectarines, almond slivers)

I'm calling it that after the character in Elizabeth Von Arnim's "The Enchanted April." Succulent fruit on thin bread with a bracing crunch of almond seems an appropriate nibble for an unhappy Englishwoman longing for a fresh new start in life.

Why stop there?

After looking through my computer files, I've taken a stab at renaming some of the meals I've eaten since starting this blog. Can you guess which novel they're inspired by?

(Answers are at the bottom.)

Old name: Cioppino

New name: "Dickie Greenleaf's Harbor Stew"

Old name: Tomato soup with grilled cheese soldiers

New name: "A Small Measure of Count Rostov's Liquidity"

Old name: Fig marzipan tart

New name: "Dick Diver's Taste of Midnight Galette"

Old name: Mussels in white wine sauce

New name: "Mr. Peggotty's Seaside Savory"

Old name: Roasted kombucha squash with parsley-vinaigrette salad and toasted pepitas

New name: "Friday's Foodstuffs For the Purpose of Quelling Famishment"

Old name: Meyer lemon pound cake

New name: "Mrs. Bennett's Lip-Pursing Pleasure For Headstrong Young Ladies"

Old name: Open-face sandwich with Marmite, butter, Jarlsberg cheese and cherry tomatoes

New name: "Causabon's Key to Health"

I know your brains are exploding with "novel food" pairings that are much more clever than mine. Unleash them in my comments section. :)

* * * * *

Answers:

1. The Talented Mr. Ripley/ Patricia Highsmith

Dickie Greenleaf meets a fishy end in the waters of San Remo. Enough said.

2. Tender is the Night/F. Scott Fitzgerald

Dick Diver likes to stay up late and have a good time. Enough said.

3. War and Peace/Leo Tolstoy

Count Rostov was loaded with dependents but very little money.

4. David Copperfield/Charles Dickens

Mr. Peggotty is a fisherman and lives in a beached houseboat by the ocean.

5. Robinson Crusoe/Daniel Defoe

Friday was the shipwrecked Crusoe's trusty companion.

6. Pride and Prejudice/Jane Austen

A reference to Mrs. Bennett and her daughters, especially Elizabeth.

7. Middlemarch/George Eliot

Causabon was obsessed with writing a book called "The Key to all Mythologies."

My Independence Day

2011-08-31T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today feels like my birthday, July 4th and New Year's Eve, all rolled into one.

Why?

Because at exactly 9am this morning, 4th grade began.

(Between you and me, the kid is still in shock. "But it's August," he kept saying in the car.)

And how do I feel?

Oh, you know.

There were a couple moments of "Wow, wasn't he just in kindergarten...?" and "They grow up so fast..." Sniffly-sniff.

(First edition, Mercantile Library Collection, Cincinnati. May 2011.)

But that quickly gave way to exhilaration.

(Backstage at the Go Go's. 8/17/11, Hollywood.)

And the desire to throw one of these.

(My bookshelf, 2011.)

I have so many plans for Fall 2011, you see.

(I had them for Summer 2011 too, but I'm not quite sure what happened. Oh yeah. I forgot.)

Strange arcane esoteric things, like:

1. Exercising.

(Visualizing your way to a better body does not work. I have tried.)

2. Eating right.

(This will involve moving my favorite new cookbooks (HERE, HERE and HERE) from the night table by my bed down to the kitchen...you know, so I can actually cook from them.)

3. Regaining control of the closets in my house.

(They're starting to look like a horror scene from a Guillermo del Toro movie.)

(Did you ever see the original? It still haunts me.)

4. Turning -- even just a few -- of the theoretical projects in my head into reality.

(See below.)

My scarf idea for Winter 2010...

...sadly, still theoretical.

Also still theoretical.

5. And a million other mundane things that I couldn't possibly bore you with here.

(writing/editing/reupholstering/repainting/volunteering/cleaning/

polishing/gardening/re-writing/tailoring/hemming/de-cluttering...

Blah-bitty blah blah.)

So.

In an effort to harness the power within and jumpstart my way to a more empowered 4G version of myself, I'm attending the premiere of this movie tomorrow night (because when I practice yoga, I really do become my best self).

(Information HERE.)

Quick now.

What are your top goals for fall?

Should we pledge to accomplishing them together?

I'm in if you are.

(Me in India, 2007.)

Why Vacations Are Important, Part Two

2011-08-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

VENTURING OUT:

Mill Valley, California

We hiked down to the ocean. The fog clung to the ground like it was icing on a cake.

(Steep Ravine trail, California)

I wanted to see the famous cabins at Steep Ravine...and there they were, clustered on the edge of a rocky bluff overlooking the ocean. Built in the 1930's by a rich industrialist and originally leased to privileged families craving an escape from the clamor of San Francisco, these days they rent for an egalitarian $100/night (and are booked seven months in advance).

(Steep Ravine Camp, Rocky Point, California)

Primitive they were and primitive they remain: even today, there is no electricity or running water (although an outdoor faucet with spring water is steps away). Vacationing here is an interlude in Emersonian simplicity. Bring beeswax candles, firewood, a journal/book/art project and a nice bottle of vintage Port.

Dorothea Lange slept here. In fact, she and her family rented the above cottage for almost a decade. So inspired was she by the sense of liberation she felt at Steep Ravine that she published a book of photographs about it (available HERE).

"I began to wonder what it was that made us all feel,

the minute we went over the brow of that hill,

a sense of -- not peace, particularly, or enjoyment -- freedom."

~Dorothea Lange (1895-1965), about Steep Ravine

* * * * *

To become warm after I've been cold is, to me, one of life's greatest joys.

(Pelican Inn, Muir Beach, California)

And to undergo this transformation in a tavern that's the spitting image of one from a Charles Dickens novel makes me pretty much delirious.

(Pelican Inn, Muir Beach, California)

Of course we ordered pints of Guinness all 'round. Hello. For strength, obviously.

I pinky swear that was Mr. Pickwick sitting next to me -- he just dashed off to pee with a degree of speed and urgency highly inconsistent with the gravity of his demeanor.

(Pelican Inn, Muir Beach, California)

Awash in the convivial charms of the Pelican Inn, I bought this book later that afternoon.

Why "Humphrey Clinker", you ask?

Well, my friend, I'll tell you why...

One.

Because Dickens always cited Tobias Smollett as one of his biggest childhood influences.

Two.

Because Thackaray's blurb on the back cover hails it as "the most laughable story that has ever been written since the goodly art of novel-writing began."

And three.

Because who with even a token interest in human nature could pass up a gossipy romp around England and Scotland with characters like "a gouty country squire", "a husband hunter" and "an illiterate but racy lady's maid"? Not me.

Editor's Note: "Clinker" is going straight to Pole Position Four on my 32-book reading stack, outranked only by Amor Towles "Rules of Civility", "Ignore Everybody" by Hugh McLeod and Patti Smith's "Just Kids".

* * * * *

There is a mental "gathering" that happens the last day of a vacation. You know what I mean by this.

(Stinson Beach, California)

Oh sure, you carry down your navy-and-canvas LL Bean tote heaving with books, old magazine articles, and a day planner stuffed with obligations.

(Stinson Beach, California)

But the books don't get cracked, the magazine articles don't get read and the planner stays unorganized. No. You just lie there, body immobile in the sand, eyes closed, preparing your mind for "re-entry."

(Stinson Beach, California)

"Be calm" is what the approaching tide whispers. "As it is now, so can it be again."

(Stinson Beach, California)

Really? Do you promise? Because I want to bottle this feeling and take it back home with me to Hollywood. I'm at peace here, on this strange beach, just watching the waves roll slowly in, one after the other, with endless consistency. They just keep going, don't they, those waves. They stick to the plan. They're patient. They persevere. They have conviction. And isn't conviction just another word for "hopefulness"? Kinda makes you think, right?

(Stinson Beach, California)

And that is why vacations are important.

(All photographs taken August 2011 by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti.)

Why Vacations Are Important

2011-08-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

If you ask me, travelling has very little to do with the destination. It's much more about the transformation that happens inside: shedding the stress, recharging your soul and discovering who you are.

(Camden, Maine, August 2011)

We all want to live a simple life. Most of us do not (myself included). But if we're lucky, we can visit places that remind us to keep striving for one.

* * * * *

Stage One: Letting Go

(Camden, Maine)

The lake was called Megunticook, the hideaway was called Crane Island and there was just one cottage on it, accessible by boat during daylight hours. When our friends invited us to come stay with them, there was only one possible answer.

(Crane Island, Maine. August 2011)

It was a strong-minded house, built of wood and stone, nestled in a thicket of pointed firs and positioned on the bow of the island like a figurehead on a ship.

Inside, the sofas were plaid, the rugs were braided and the walls were knotty. So delightfully quaint did it feel that if Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney had suddenly tripped into the room mid-song, no one would have batted an eye.

Every day was a reminder of how little you needed to be happy.

Water + fake mustaches = "Mom, that was the best day ever."

There was a long dock that could be used as -- take your pick -- a departure point for adventure or a meditation platform for lazing and gazing.

On our last night, we ate dinner cross-legged on the dock and talked until the sky became thoughtful with clouds.

The sun sank behind the trees, there was time for one final swim...

...and then the stars blinked on, illuminating the night with possibility.

Up next...

Stage Two: Venturing Out (Mill Valley, California)

(All photos by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti.)

Thursday Update

2011-08-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

Adventure in progress.

Will share soon.

* * * * *

In the meantime, those of you who reside in LA (or are thinking of making a trip here) will enjoy my friend Elaine's new website, The List Collective, a compendium of what's going on around town.

With categories like "Nest", "Primp," "Eat/Drink", "Escape", "Kids" and more, it's kind of like a neighborhood Cookie meets Domino. (For my top ten list, click HERE.)

Can I Live Here Please?

2011-08-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love most when I travel are the invitations I sometimes get to visit people's homes. On my recent lecture trip to Cincinnati, I was given that opportunity by the lovely and talented Deborah Ginocchio (I wrote about her HERE).

Deborah: I don't know what your schedule is like tomorrow, but if you have any free time, I'd love to have you over.

Me: What the heck YES!

And do you know what it means when I'm invited?

You're invited.

So top up your coffee and let's go.

(Editor's Note: A huge thanks to Deborah for allowing me photograph her rooms sans fluffing or styling. This is real life, gloriously and seductively imperfect.)

* * * * *

First impression: Don't you just love a house that instantly lets you know it welcomes all creatures great and small?

Here's a corner of the eat-in kitchen.

The colors and textures remind me of an Old Master painting. Note the rustic linen towel draped over the wooden school chair, the puddled curtains spilling onto the floor and the antique Jacobean style flame-stitched sofa in the background -- it all makes for a room crackling with warmth and character.

Next to the sink is a pottery bowl filled with time-honored cleaning instruments. The twig-like dishwashing brush is one I happen to own as well (both purchased from Ancient Industries HERE.)

I make a mental note to paint the wooden mullions in my bedroom black. There is an indefinable poetry that comes from gazing at the world through a dark-colored frame. Colors appear more kinetic. The mood intensifies.

My husband has big dreams of someday owning a house with a fireplace in the kitchen. This little hearth is big on style and adds a layer of wit to the gleaming appliances next to it.

Help me. I've wandered into the library and am trying to fight off the compulsion to sink down onto that sofa with a copy of "Moll Flanders." I especially love the rush matting on the floor, don't you? (Pottery Barn sells a similar one HERE.) The easy-going unaffected elegance of everything in this house just kills me. And does the profile on that dog look familiar?

Atop a vibrant chair I spot a Duncan Grant pillow made with fabric purchased from the Charleston House shop (available HERE), former home to the Bloomsbury Group. No wonder I feel so at home.

Every room is brimming with mementos and artifacts of a family life well-lived.

Wit abounds. In a corner, I accidentally interrupt three gentlemen deep in conversation.

An upstairs bedroom is home to a Directoire-inspired resting place, a much-loved collection of vintage textiles and a familiar furry sentinel. And just look at that light. It's ethereal. Vermeer would plotz.

Colorful linens piled on a table offer a glimpse into what dinner parties are like here.

When exploring a house, I always try to find one item that reflects, as nearly as possible, the personality of the home. It's the Miss Marple in me. With this little box, I think my search is over. It's Deborah's style distilled.

Last but not least, four feet times two.

To Dress Up, Perchance To Dream

2011-07-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

Do you ever fantasize about what your life would have been like in an another era?

Say, the 1970's?

(via here)

Oh yes.

(Piero and me, 7/23/11, on our way to a '70's party)

I like to imagine it would have gone a little something like this...

* * * * *

It's the summer of 1971 and the Rolling Stones are recording their new album at Villa Nellcote in the South of France.

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

In a rented mansion heaving with glittering chandeliers and elegant wrought-iron balustrades, barefoot minstrels are birthing musical history.

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

Over the decades, every participant in that legendary summer has been exhaustively written about...

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

...except for these two.

At long last, their contribution to rock history can be told.

She was a free-spirited embroiderer brought in to embellish the bands' stage costumes.

He was hired to cook up a little dolce vita in the kitchen, tell a few jokes and keep a continual supply of espresso at the ready. Little-known fact: Keith would often tuck a wedge of Piero's almond spice cake into the front of his pants to ward off a low blood sugar spell.

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

As for Mick? There was nothing he longed for more after a long day of rehearsing than a big hearty bowl of pasta e fagioli.

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

Below, Keith relaxes in the Cote d'Azur sun while Lisa decorates his vest with a happy face and some rainbows.

(Photograph by Dominique Tarle)

Around 6pm, the band would start lining up for dinner. Those boys could eat.

(Photo by Dominique Tarle)

Little-known fact: One night, after a particularly delicious dinner of Provencal çioppino (recipe HERE), Lisa embroidered a pair of lips with a protruding tongue on the back pocket of Mick's favorite blue jeans as a humorous reminder of the meal.

Alas, when you're footloose and fancy-free, it's hard to stay in one place. Despite much pleading from the band, after just two weeks with the Stones, Lisa and Piero felt the urge to spread their wings and keep on truckin'.

"Why do I feel as though you're leaving us in exile?" Keith said as he hugged them goodbye. As their orange VW bus crunched down the gravel driveway, Mick called after them, "Don't forget there's roadworks up ahead -- avoid the main street!"

"Exile." "Main street," remarked Keith. "There could be something in that."

* * * * *

Now it's your turn...

Who?

When?

Where?

Photo Credits: Dominique Tarle's incredible photos of Villa Nellcote HERE.

Costumes: Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell; dress and shirt, vintage; hairpieces, Hollywood Wigs.