liste de désir

I was browsing through Hostess with the Mostess blog today, and I saw an absolutely beautiful holiday tablescape.  It caught my eye not only because of the colors, but because of the display piece.  I love using my buffet for a party presentation (as shown here), and I always welcome new ideas.

Liz Hough Photography via renetakesthecake.com

The biggest standout of this presentation for me though was the stacked cake plates.  My husband doesn't understand my love of servewear, but I cannot help but want beautiful things to serve on (even if I don't cook that often).  I especially love cake plates - I gave a friend of mine the idea to feature the cookies at her wedding on several different sized/shaped cake platters to give the table dimension.

These cake plates are to die for:

$148, laylagrace.com

I have seen similar platters where you insert the ribbon before, but I love how they are sized for stacking.  They are therefore added to my 'liste de désir.'  Since I don't need them (at least not right away), I'll keep an eye out and maybe I can find them at a reduced price!

2010, the year of...

So many things happened this year, it's hard to think of just one thing to rave about.  But, in terms of a favorite year from an accessible designer, that's easy for me.  kate spade has been on my radar for many years, but I have to admit I started a bit of an obsession last year and it whole-heartedly continued through this year. 

My husband got me the most fabulous kate spade bracelet for Christmas last year.  It's so dressy that it's hard to wear except on special occasions, but I have managed to wear it quite often!  kate spade's holiday collection did not disappoint this year either...  how can you not love them with a 2010 holiday ad campaign such as this.

katespade.com

katespade.com

Although I didn't get them, I'm still obsessed with the Charm shoe. 

$325, amazon.com

I was also obsessed with the newest iPhone 4 cover, which I did receive as a gift this year (thanks Mom and Dad). 

$40, katespade.com

kate spade continues to impress with their vibrant colors in clothing, shoes and accessories.  The spring RTW line is gorgeous, and I cannot wait to acquire a few pieces.

Merry Christmas (one day late)!

liste de désir

Has 2010 seemed to last an eternity to anyone else?  I'm not sure if it's because of my job, extracurricular activities or just life in general, but man am I excited for 2011!  I'm 99% sure I said that at the beginning of this year though too...

2011 promises to be a year of change for me and my husband.  We are both looking for new opportunities, and there is a chance that removes us from Jacksonville.  If that's the case, my list is simple:

1.  City we move to MUST be bigger than Jacksonville (although not in landmass, since Jax is the biggest landmass city in the US);
2.  For our career paths, there must be more than one company in that locale at which we could work;
3.  We must be within 4 hours driving distance of something we may actually want to drive to;
4.  The cost of living would preferably not be astronomical. 

Does this list seem a stretch?  Maybe.  But, we are trying to narrow it down somehow.  So, there is nothing in particular I want this week, beyond the motivation to re-enter the job search within metropolitan areas that qualify for all four points above!  Suggestions?

Lucky Girl!

Well, it turns out I am one lucky girl.  I was just reading through older blog posts, including my "liste de desir" posts.  I am so fortunate to be in a position that I find things that I would like, and then be able to obtain them - eventually!

I bought the CB2 lamp shown here.  It fits perfectly in our living room, and we love the the soft light it emits. In addition, we did get the painting from JMJARTSTUDIO, and I cannot begin to tell you the compliments we receive about it.  It's such a fabulous piece of art!  Our living room is slowly (but surely) coming together.  If we could just get it together and paint... 

I was also fortunate to find this Leifsdottir dress on sale, and I wore it to my high school reunion.  I web-stalked the dress, and ordered it the day it went on sale at Anthropologie.  I was virtually assured that no one else would be wearing it!

It must be a function of growing up, but I find myself being more cautious about purchases these days.  If I don't need something right away - and I want it bad enough - I will wait until it goes on sale.  I do always run the risk of not getting the item, but hey, I'm trying. 

Tasty Thursday

Gluten Intolerant.  For an Italian girl who loves all things bread and baking, this was probably one of the diagnoses that I feared the most.  So you're telling me that I will no longer be able to eat hot, crusty, delicious bread without suffering what is basically an auto-immune response?  This sounds like a diet death sentence.

Luckily, it seems that the gluten free "fad" is growing in intensity, which is really helpful to someone like me who must follow the diet for my overall health, not just weight loss!  While I'm finding more and more that is gluten free, there are still foods that are not that I wish were.  So, I have started adapting recipes to be gluten free, and to my surprise, it's going quite well.  I'll showcase those here when they turn out well.

For this week, however, I want to share an extremely exciting Etsy shop that I just discovered:  Sparkles Kitchen.  I don't know how many of you are aware of macarons (not macaroons!), the French cookie that lives in my 'top 5 favorite desserts of all time' list. 

courtesy Sparkles Kitchen

These little gems have been staples in French dessert for many years and are finally gaining fame in the US...  you no longer have to order them from LaDuree!  I thought I would never be able to have them again, because if it's a cookie, it must have gluten, right?  Not so!  I did attempt unsuccessfully to make them a few months ago, and I forgot that the recipe calls for almond flour and not wheat flour.  How incredibly exciting!

Sparkles Kitchen allows you to choose 4 or 8 flavors, based on the size of order you place.  I cannot wait to order mine.  My flavors will be: Macha Azuki (green tea with redbean cream), raspberry, bitter caramel, rose, lavender, Madagascar vanilla, pumpkin and 72% dark chocolate.  I am so happy I can barely stand it!

Day of Reflection

My outlook on life changed two years ago today.  A dear friend suddenly died at the age of 27, and your life must change after that. 

Two years ago, this day was one of shock and deep loss.  A year ago, after a long year of acceptance and commencement of the healing process, a day of reflection was born.  I know that December 15th will always be a day of reflection for me and the close friends that shared in this special woman's life.  How can it not be?

I know that I will suffer great losses throughout my life, and honestly, my friend was not the first.  When family members and other friends died, I suffered.  When my maternal Grandfather died, I was almost inconsolable.  The difference on this day two years ago was that my friend had so much of her life ahead of her. I was at place in my life to truly understand what it means to lose - and know about the idea that you should take advantage of every day, because you don't know how many you have.  And yet, at the moment she died, my friend had everything she had ever wanted.   

She lived life to the fullest, attacking her dreams with a verocity that I can only attempt to emulate.  She is a constant source of inspiration to me, and I hope that I can achieve in my lifetime what she did in hers.  She had love, happiness, success and self-fulfillment, and so many dreams to continue striving for.

So, on this day of reflection, I am thankful for what I have - fabulous husband, wonderful family and friends, success, education and a comfortable life.  As of today, I am realigning my life. I will no longer be complacent, and I will chase my dreams.  I will keep in better touch with those who have shaped my life, and let them know how thankful I am for them.  I'm going to be a better me, and be happy with that me I mold.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  While this has been a mantra of mine for many years, today it means so much more.  Today I actually strive to start achieving it.