Delightfully Juicy

The color of this chandelier is delicious, a color Pantone not only calls "Mimosa" but has also named it Color of the Year. Not to mention the fixture itself is really juicy and delightful. Take a closer look.Ali found this little treasure, I am not sure where it is from. It belongs in a retro bungalow oozing with citrus zebra-print, stacks of vintage Flair magazines, and laquered everything.

Back to Color of the Year. I should be on this committee. If not declaring annual celebratory colors, at least assisting in naming them. Mimosa is not just a word, it is a sensory experience for anyone who has ever enjoyed a fresh Mimosa while admiring an incredible view, the morning after a noteworthy event, or during a vibrant holiday brunch. A cocktail to commemorate and savor. Now it is officially a color. Pantone did a delicious job deciding 2009's color and naming it appropriately (although I am still available to them for consult on future colors).

Juice yourself some oranges, pop the spare bottle, and enjoy one tomorrow morning. With the way this weather is on the East Coast we need little pleasures to keep us optimistic.

How To Age Well

What: Incredible faded and frayed Boat Tote from Brickman's

Where: NYYC's summer home, Harbor Court, Newport

When: Saturday Night, Tent Party

Why: Faded, frayed, perfect in every way... When Ali spotted one of the band members from the Ravers grabbing the tote, she wanted to know everything. He said it was a decade old (or more). When asked "how did you get it to fray like this?" - sure that he would answer it had been dragged behind their boat for those ten years - his bandmate answered that it was all of the Rum & Coke on his hands that decayed the handles.

Note to self: soak Boat Totes in Rum & Coke, leave in sun to ferment, fade, and fray, continue to play Totes reggae melodies to mellow the bags even more.

A recipe for a perfect summer? I'll keep you posted.

A Thousand Words

It has been raining and/or foggy in Newport since last summer. I am barely kidding. It is still raining AND foggy here today. I think my picture below says it all. I am trying to think this scenario into existence.

A-ha! Strawberries!

I am pleased to report that Sweetberry Farm now has STRAWBERRIES. If you are anywhere near Newport, Rhode Island I strongly encourage you to dash as fast as you possibly can to the purveyor of delicious, sweet, juicy red berries that taste like the ones I used to devour back home in Ohio from the empty field next to our lake house. This berry thing is the final notch in the countdown to summer here in Newport. Some of the noted signs are:

The Pearl Patio opening and their mudslide machine in full swing

The Midway and Summer Sushi at the Cooke House

Dockwise in the Harbor

The Ravers

Break of dawn at around 4:45 am (are we near the arctic circle or something?)

My first sunny day at Gooseberry that I enjoyed thouroughly yesterday with Sarah and Vieve.

Happy Summer.

Loop and Whirl Up Some Underwater Delights

Does anyone know how to crochet out there? Do you have a little extra time? Below is a super cute crocheted coral branch that I adore from an etsy artist called jpolka.

Crochet your own Coral! I mean come on! This is terrific!

She sells her crochet patterns, lots of sea life: cuttlefish, octopus, a "Gentleman Prawn" (brilliant). She even has a set of mustaches. Do I need to state the obvious? This person, jpolka, is a genius.

Here's the problem, I am not. I need someone to make this bad boy for me. And everything else that she sells. Any takers?

She's a Hoot

My friend Genevieve loves Owls (so does Ali). Genevieve really loves them because she is a funny person, the life of the party...and she says she's "a hoot".

Who doesn't need a mascot to remind them that they are witty and fun to be around? This is a vintage owl belt, a mere $14 on Day Lab, a website that carries quirky vintage items most of them less than $30. I bought myself some sweet HB initials there over the winter, although I might look a little too O.G.* in them.

*That's "Original Gangster" for those of you born later than 1985, ref: Ice-T.

In the Sky with Diamonds

This is not a diamond studded space-ship from the new Star Wars movie. It is, in fact, a delicious cuff bracelet from London-based inspired and boundless jeweler, Solange Azagury-Partridge. While I am on the topic, though...Did you know that Neutron Stars have such dense carbon centers that they are actually (scientifically most likely) giant diamonds*?

*We are talking diamonds that are millions of carats or more. Take that Harry Winston.

A Neutron Star is formed when a Supernova in a Giant Star occurs causing an enormous (understatement) outward blast that is so large it actually then collapses on itself.

I just thought I would share that tidbit of information. Happy Friday.

Frivolity

An Alligator Flyswatter. Brilliant.

I like the word "flyswatter". It was once use to describe the odd shape of my friend's cul-de-sac: "We live at the top part of the flyswatter", she said. That summer we watched "Dirty Dancing" on VHS every day we were not at the beach.

This American Alligator flyswatter is available on a great site called Colonel Littleton out of Tennessee. It's $310 and makes a wonderful gift for your friends on the UES who have everything and definitely do not need flyswatters (it can be monogrammed). Get it for the people who don't get it. Make it awkward.

Happy Memorial Day!

Dare to Resist

The lure of this gold leopard ring has compelled me to write twice in one day.

Available on Vivre by Daphna Simon, $1750.

Remind, What Season is This?

Looking ahead to Fall may not be entirely fair since Spring has not fully arrived in New England. But we must plan ahead! Below is an incredible Bottega Veneta bag from the Fall 2009 Collection. Happy Thursday.

Strut

Just a little preview of Fall 2009 Footwear. Do you see a theme? Hermes (above). Brian Atwood (below).
Balenciaga (below).

The Lake

Happy Mother's Day...

Today is the official opening of my favorite freshwater-adjacent burger (grilled cheese) stand: Eddie's Grill at Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio.

Here's a shout out to my Midwestern homies chowin' on Eddie's burgers and frozen lemonade today. (p.s. Let me know if you get number 36.) And don't forget the Madsen's Donut! This iconic blue and white striped box may no longer be tied with white string, but it will contain the best donuts you will ever eat. That is not nostalgia that tastes that glazed donut that I swear is marinated in sugary syrup for at least a day...they have a secret recipe known only by the owner. Or maybe by at least two people, since 1938.Delicious simplicity.

Happy Listening

I'm not really someone who goes on and on about what cool, hip music I am listening to...unless it really has made an impact on my mood or productivity. In honor of our season of renewal, I thought I would share some of the music I am really jamming out to in the car and more importantly, in my office while I am creating!

*Click on the name of the artist and it will take you to their youtube video...

The Friendly Fires - (self-titled) - GREAT video and music that sounds like a hip version of good 80s i.e. New Order, Flock of Seagulls, Yaz...(photo above from their Skeleton Boy video).

Does It Offend You Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into - I LOVE this band right now.

Van She - Van She EP - great band with another 80s vibe going on. Only five songs in this one, but worth a listen...

Yo-Yo Ma - Bach: The Cello Suites - who doesn't need a little chill cello in their lives?

Erasure - Jacques Cousteau (the song) off of their Boy EP. It's so relaxing, you feel like a tiny little jellyfish bobbing around in the deep blue...aaahhhhhhh...

Please Do Not Stare, Unless You Cannot Help Yourself...

Aren't you tempting, sitting there taunting us on a cake plate no less?

Vintage snakeskin and possibly croc *sigh* clutch. Available at Louis Boston, maybe.

I almost feel like Barney's NY wishes they were as cool and edited as Louis Boston.

This little reptile-skinned confection (wearing a sparkly something) really nails that one-of-a-kind feel every other boutique department store is trying to capture in their corporate nets.

Bravo. And sign me up.

Ah, Texas.

Slightly less appealing than Jeff Koons' pansy covered puppy...the Peep Jeep photo is season approprirate. This is taken from the Houston, TX Art Car Parade scheduled to roll on May 9, 2009.

I have nothing else to say about this. Except maybe that I love the wagoneer so much I would still consider driving it covered in peeps. The Jeep, not me.

Peep. James Peep.

Yes, these are peeps wearing chocolate tuxedos.

I couldn't help it. I had to share this. Available at Jacques Torres, $5 for a pack of five.

They seem to be unavailable online, maybe you can check at one of their locations in NY and beyond (location information online at mrchocolate.com)

No Shucking Required

Ahhh, these necklaces are incredible.

Comme des Garcons, Fall 2009 (below)

pearls hidden in layers of tulle...(and pink hair! love!)

3.1 Phillip Lim (below)

Fantastic grosgrain folds and pleats with...pearls!

Where Did The SUN Go?

Fog formed over the sea is called "Advection Fog". This 100% humidity phenomenon occurs when warm air moves over a cooler current in the sea. It can also occur when warm air from the sea drifts and moves over cooler land masses.

It should be called "Abduction Fog" because it kidnapped the sun.

Party Like It's 1961

We should be taking it back to the 60's Cocktail Party. A moment in time when women were dressed - wearing attractive clothing, hats, jewelry, and gloves. GLOVES - indoors! My grandmother had two full drawers of all colors and lengths of gloves. I had no idea what they were for, why would she have so many gloves that weren't for making snowballs? Now I know.

2009 is the time to resurrect the stylish Cocktail Party. We still need to relax with a libation, take pride in our appearance, socialize...pure pleasure without that pesky bar tab. Let's take it back a few decades to a time when people had ragers in their homes to avoid being inappropriate and vulgar in public. I'll settle for collecting some entertaining friends, and friends of friends, and being vulgar at home (or someone else's home)...

April Fool's...ha ha ha

These people are far more cerative than I am. Please enjoy some of the past pop culture hoaxes that I think are hysterical. In 1996 Taco Bell advertised in The New York Times that they purchased the Liberty Bell as a way to reduce the national debt.

BMW once did a warning about counterfeit BMW's where the blue and white on the logos was reversed. BMW is famous for doing one prank every year regarding new technology in their cars, or even the announcement of using Mini's to investigate Mars.

Burger King ran an ad in 1998 for the Left Handed Whopper for those people who had trouble controlling the condiment drippings on the right side. Rightys even walked to the counter and ordered the old Whopper...