Charmed, I'm sure.

There's something about lavender that oozes sweet yet subtle sophistication.. It makes me want to sit a little straighter and speak a little softer and yet it grows like crazy it could (dare I say) almost be categorized as a weed... I take that back, how dare I.  Last week I showed you how to make Lavender syrup and its boundless ability to charm just about anything you dare to introduce it to.  Here's another way to dazzle your family and friends with this alcoholic bubbly delight.  
Lavender Champagne.
Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of Lavender syrup to 6 oz of dry prosecco or champagne.  Cut a fresh stem of lavender and add it to your cocktail for a little something extra. Then sit back and watch your guests be seduced by these sweet and florally bubbles. Don't be surprised if you if you start referring to people as "dahling"... it's just the lavender talking.

'a thing for' swooning!

I came across this blog today and immediately started 'oohing and ahhing' at these dreamy image boards.  Every time I scrolled down to the next collaboration of cohesively romantic images, I found myself being pulled into her well orchestrated visual utopia!

http://www.athingfor.blogspot.com


Check it out! 

Overcast Chilly Sunday = Nostalgic Movie Day

It's an overcast chilly day in LA and all I want to do is start a fire, curl up with my pup and beau and turn on a flick... but not any old flick. When it's an oddly overcast Sunday it makes me want to watch something nostalgic and so I immediately go to my fav 80's films.

What is it about the 80's that makes us so nostalgic?  Who or what's to blame? Pop culture? Fashion? Film? When it comes to women in film Shelley Long, Bette Midler, Molly Ringwald, SJP and Goldie Hawn are all in the 80's icon hall of fame as far as I'm concerned..and that's just to name a few! Fashion reflected the changing times that were upon women in the workplace and boxy pant suits, high collared blouses and long neon nails were the ultimate power getup. This was a period where 'the glass ceiling' was commonly acknowledged as women were overtly liberating themselves from the expected 'stay at home' mom title.  Perhaps the nostalgia I feel is not for that particular time period at all. Perhaps it's for who I was at that time and how I felt about life when these films premiered. As far as I was concerned these women were strong, powerful, always stood up for what they believed in and always came out on top. Back then they had it all and I was excited to follow right in their footsteps.   

Here's just a few of my favorite flicks starring Shelley Long and/or Bette Midler.

Home made soups on the stove, my boyfriend's starting the fire and I'm choosing the movie... Now excuse me while I put on some leg warmers and a green face mask complete with cucumber eye patches!

A cracker of a time...

Enjoy these warm out of the oven.. you won't be sorry!

1 stick of unsalted butter (room temperature)

3 oz good quality grated parmesan

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt

1 teaspoon of your favorite herb (thyme, lavender, rosemary)

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Whisk butter in electric mixer, preferably with paddle attachment.  Once butter is fluffy, add remaining ingredients.

Bring ingredients together until it forms a dough.  Make a 13 inch log and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in freezer for 30 minutes until hard.

Take dough out of freezer and cut into 1/2 inch slices. Bake in oven for approximately 22 minutes and enjoy!

In the Market for Markets?

Come this way, I've got just the one for you. Two words, Yamashiro Garden Markets. Did I say two words I meant three but who's counting. Listen your gonna thank me when you discover this lil' pocket of heaven for yourself. No, I mean seriously I'm gonna want a thank you card... 

Okay enough slick sales man talk, truth be told I am a little smitten. Now I know I say that about everything I post but don't let that fool you, this is truly one to check out before it becomes overrun with LA's 'native' hipsters.  Local bakers, foodies and famers unite at this picturesque location nestled on a Hollywood hillside and get this, the hours of operation are between 5pm-9pm every Thursday. Yes that's right folks, a night market! Did somebody say genius? Did somebody say "What in the world has taken so long?".   

I went with my usual group of larrikin friends and we listened to a fab jazz band, partook in a local wine tasting (shocker), ate taco's, bratwurst and a giant Nutella crepe (again, shocker).  There was the most amazing operatic singer who's angelic voice was carried through the market by the warm spring air as the sun was setting. Sitting back and enjoying a strawberry that was sweet enough to make me believe it was dusted with sugar, sipping my chilled white wine and laughing with my friends made me sorry that I didn't arrive at 4:59 to make the most of it!

but then again....there's always next week.

p.s. Sorry about lack of photos. Next week I promise to put the taco down and capture the magic!

Never mind where's Waldo... who IS Waldo?

No I'm not talking about that lil' red striped guy that's always getting lost in a crowd, I'm talking about LA based Cuban designer Waldo Fernandez.  If you're not familiar with his work then do yourself a favor and check him out. His clients include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Keanu Reeves and Tobey McGuire (just to name a few) and he was recently commissioned to design the new West Hollywood SoHo House. Having just spent the day lounging around this 20,000 square foot roof top penthouse, I must admit that I was wrong. Upon arrival I expected to see paparazzi swarming (only until they discovered I'm a nobody) just to unveil another Hollywood hotspot that seemed to be an excessively inspired and overly contrived backdrop for Hollywoods finest train wrecks. 

This selective club (still don't know how I got in) just happens to be anything but that. Although I saw my fair share of international celebs, nobody was sitting front and centre 'wishing' they weren't famous and there was no diva behavior in sight. I was met with down to earth friendly staff, warm patrons and fabulous cuisine; which all reflected itself in Waldo's amazingly understated, warm design.  With old books strewn about the lofted space, breathtakingly miss matched vintage pieces, reclaimed furniture and more art than you can poke a stick at, (look closely at the wallpaper in the restrooms)  I couldn't help but feel that if Anthropologie and my great grandfathers gentleman's club had a love child, West Hollywoods SoHo house would be it.  My next question is, how (and when) can I move in?

...cameras are not allowed in the SoHo house so please enjoy these original design sketches.. though different in reality it may give you some idea of the fabulousness that is Waldo Fernandez.

California dreamin'

I am completely and utterly in love with Santa Barbara, Montecito, Ojai, Los Olivos, pretty much California's entire wine country region. Everything about it  seduces me. Some might think that the reason is pretty darn obvious as it's no secret that I love a good glass (who am I kidding, bottle) of wine. But it's not just the regions high alcohol content that makes me swoon, it's the carefree leisurely lifestyle that I'm highly akin to.  The rustic architecture (did you see Meryl Streep's house in "It's Complicated"?), the warm eucalyptus scented air, cool sea breezes and fresh local cuisine... Please, I'm sold hook like and sinker.


They say that every town has a word(s) that encompasses the energy and in hippy talk 'vibration' of the area. LA is 'success', New York is 'achieve', Rome is 'lust' and for me Santa Barbara might just be 'True Love'. I know I know, cheesetastic but oh so true!


What better way to explore wine country than with a group of friends and more importantly a designated driver.  We hired a party limo and set off for the day. Enjoy some pretty pics from our adventures up North.  It will be a day that I'll try to remember for a very long time!