I loved the company, Frances Valentine, from the day it launched. It is the company that Kate and Andy Spade founded with their dear friend Elyce Arons. Elyce now heads up the company designing all of Frances Valentine’s pieces in Kate’s style image. As Elyce so perfect states:
We will always be inspired by Kate’s timeless style and distinct aesthetic. Frances Valentine is a design house with a unique way of viewing the world. Through this lens, we create original, vintage-modern pieces to delight and brighten your life.
I am a forever fan of Frances Valentine. I attended one of their launch events and spend time speaking with Kate and Elyce. I bought the exact shoes both style mavens were wearing and to this day they are still go to prices for me. I love Kate Spade’s style both in all her creations and in her interior design.
There is not a season that goes by that I do not miss purchasing a piece from the collection. The looks are timeless, elegant, and versatile. A beautiful tunic dress can do from a casual lunch at the beach to an elegant waterside dinner. I encourage you to view the website and check out some of this season’s newest arrivals.
Click Below to enter the Frances Valentine site:
All around me the cutest babies are being born. Friends are becoming grandparents for the first time or Aunts and Uncles again!!! It’s so exciting. I love seeing all the baby photos. But I am so out of the baby loop. I needed to buy a baby gift for a sweet boy and I really did not know where to go. Luckily for me, I was introduced to the globally inspired company Zia NYC . They make the most adorable South Asian textile designs and the fabric is soooo soft…I wish they made adults. I thought the pricing was really really great for the amazing quality. Check out their WEBSITE to see the entire collection.
I will be celebrating Easter this year by getting my second vaccine on Good Friday!!!!!! I am going to set an Easter Breakfast table for my family early this week just in case. I am still deciding on the menu but, as for most holidays, I am looking toward my favorite tabletop company, Back Country Mercantile for some inspiration. I have been friendly with Amanda, the founder and designer for a few years now and I am in awe of her talent. She has curated the most incredible glasses, china, vintage accessories, and more. This year I added a few of the little bunny-covered dishes to my collection. I love all the colors but Amanda recommended the pink, green, and chocolate swirl. I bought the most beautiful purple glasses that Amanda picked out for me this past summer but I do have my eye on the pink ones too…..Maybe for Mother’s Day!! All items are available on their WEBSITE and there is still time for local delivery in Greenwich and all the surrounding areas.
PS all the flowers are from Mcardles (going there first thing tomorrow)!!!
A few weeks ago a friend introduced me to Cassandra Held of Cassandra Held Designs. I was looking for a florist to work on a project with me and Cassandra’s name came up because of her unique and uber fabulous arrangements. I flipped over her designs from the moment that I contacted her. I knew already that most of her clientele was mostly pretty high-profile projects and very influential and creative people. What I did not know, until much later, was that she also provided arrangements for the Met Gala. MY FAVORITE!!!! Remember the night I went…well sort of…As if I had not already fallen in love with her beautiful creations..I then became obsessed. I had to meet her. Luckily Cassandra is relocating closer to Westchester shortly and she is going to have a pop-up at the Westchester Mall every weekend from now until Mother’s Day on the 1st floor right across from Sephora. I went last weekend and bought a gorgeous preserved rose arrangement, for a dear friend and the really pretty silver orb vase with the pink and green plant for myself. I see it on my desk every morning and I literally have never loved an arrangement so much. It is so simple yet so dramatic. It just puts me in the best mood every time I look at it. I am sure you will find me at Cassandra’s pop-up one of the next couple of weekends, or maybe even tomorrow!!!
Here is my beautiful perfect little arrangement!!!
This preserved pink rose is so simple yet so impactful at the same time! I am going to buy some of these for gifts. They last forever.
The colors in this arrangement are so vibrant…really simple but such a statement!
This is just so cool…I love the shape these blooms take in that container nothing else is needed…
Again…I love these colors, the orange and green just pop!! Also the greens add a really cool texture to this piece.
Another breathtaking arrangement with such vibrant colors and texture..
Here is the fabulous little preserved rose arrangement I bought for my friend. I chose this one because the natural look of the wood branch halo and gold stones just made it look so perfect for any decor, from traditional to mid-century modern to my favorite Hollywood Regency!!!
I have been following Daphne Oz for about a year now. I love the recipes she shares on her Instagram. A few weeks ago she shared her grandmother’s Caesar Salad recipe saying that her kids cannot get enough of it. My entire family LOVES Caesar salad and honestly, this one is a home run. Daphne recommends making the salad in a HUGE wooden bowl. I found THIS one on Amazon and just ordered it. The bowl I have now is a little too small!!
4 garlic cloves, creamed
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tablespoon capers plus brine
4 anchovies, chopped (optional)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Juice of 3 lemons
1/2 cup olive oil (more to taste – we like it tart!)
1/2 tsp honey (optional)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
3 Romaine hearts, torn or chopped
Mash garlic, mustard, capers, and anchovies (if using) together with a large pinch of kosher salt until combined. Add lemon juice, vinegar & Worcestershire sauce, and whisk in olive oil. Taste for salt and pepper. Add honey if desired, then cheese. Toss with romaine and top with more cheese! Devour.
I am so happy to introduce you to a new amazing shop in Larchmont called Taaru Majeure. The Shop owner Mama Faye has the best eye. She imports all of her items from Senegal and she told me that the name Taaru means beauty. And everything she sells is truly a work of beauty. I went to her shop last week and was blown away by the fabulous selection of merchandise. I honestly could have brought everything home with me. Here are some of my favorite items but you can also check out the Taaru Majeure website as well.
The selection of bags, made from calf hair and exotic skins is incredible. Also, those fabric bangles are so affordable and look so great stacked. They will be perfect for the summer.
The straw bags and vessels are fabulous. And Mama designed these half moon wristlets. They are perfect to hold your cell phone during a night out.
Some of the best items were the tabletop section. The woven placemats are perfection. They would be so gorgeous on any table. But I am really excited to invite friends over and use mine out on my patio.
There is also a beautiful selection of decorative pillows in all colors. This geometric neutral was my favorite!!!
A nice surprise in the shop was that Mama designs the most beautiful dresses. I am soooo upset that I left this one behind. It was so incredible…and the sleeve…TO DIE FOR!!!
Here are some of her blouse offerings. The colors are so vibrant and would look great with white jeans!!
More vessels and placemats. Also check out the decorative fabric clutches. That royal and turquoise is incredible.
These larger baskets would look good in a family room, kitchen or even a pool house.
I am dying for a neutral one. Sooo fabulous!!!
OK, so this look was my favorite. I ended up with this dress and I am sure those of you who know me are not surprised. I, unfortunately, had to leave the pink fur bag behind but it was sooo hard!!!! PS look at the gorgeous blue pillow in the background!!
There is an entire wall dedicated to fragrance and another to Mama’s own all natural skin care (thats for another post!!!).
More tabletop items. The assortment also includes woven trays, bowls and coasters. I cannot wait to set a table with all of these..
Another bag favorite in zebra hair calf!!!
Go Visit Mama and check out all of her beautiful things for yourself. I’ll probably see you there!!!!!
Taaru Majeure
124 Larchmont Ave,
Larchmont, NY 10528
Tuesday through Saturday
11AM – 5PM