This week’s Book Club choice is so AWESOME!!!! Born To Party, Forced To Work by Bronson VanWyck. You probably have seen at some point one of Bronson’s parties on Instagram. He is known as the “Wizard of Oz” of NY party planning, the Rolls Royce of party planners. After a year of living in a covid fueled world, we really need this book…..
The internationally acclaimed event producer shows his ideas and inspiration for ultimate and intimate celebrations
What defines a truly great party? Most of all: generosity of spirit. In his first book, Bronson van Wyck, the man Vogue called ‘The Wizard of Oz of New York party planning,’ distills the essential pillars of the art of celebration into one volume, with examples drawn from his many successes – and, admittedly, a few entertaining failures. Lusciously illustrated with images from van Wyck’s most spectacular events, this is the perfect primer on throwing parties that are as much fun to give as they are to attend. – Amazon.com
For more information or to order this book, click HERE.
Here is a sneak peek:
I have seen so many people on Instagram making this simple Feta & Tomato Baked Pasta recipe, featured on TikTok, all over the world. It has become so popular that Finland ran out of feta cheese. The ENTIRE COUNTRY ran out!!!! The prep time is only a few minutes and within less than an hour you have a pretty good family meal. I have not made it yet but my friend blogger, Lemon Stripes made it yesterday and totally inspired me. Plus I read that it is totally worth the hype. Here you go, let me know in the comments below if you make it.
Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta:
(adapted from www.lemonstripes.com & The Washington Post)
Ingredients:
–2 pints (17 1/2 ounces / 500 grams) cherry or grape tomatoes
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt
1 block Greek feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces medium-length dried pasta, such as campanelle, rigatoni or rotini
Fresh basil leaves, for serving
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Place tomatoes and garlic in a baking pan and toss with 1/4 cup of olive oil and sea salt.
3. Place the block of feta in the middle of the tomatoes and top the whole thing with crushed red pepper flakes, parsley, oregano, and black pepper.
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the feta is slightly browned and the tomatoes are totally blistered.
5. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to box instructions. Be sure to save 1 cup of the pasta water before you drain it!
6. Mix up the tomatoes, feta, and garlic with a fork (I also broke up the garlic with a garlic press) to form a sauce.
7. Stir the pasta into the sauce and add pasta water, a little at a time, as needed.
8. Top with torn basil and serve.
9. Enjoy!
I am so happy to introduce you to my newest blog sponsor, the aroma design studio, ScentFluence. ScentFluence has a library of delicious custom-designed scents for your home or business or any other space that you choose. They have cool air diffusers, room sprays, and candles that will spark your senses. There are two ways to shop with Scent Fluence. You can visit their flagship studio at 22 Harwood Court in Scarsdale or on their new website www.Scentfluence.com.
Here is their beautiful shop in Scarsdale. They have the entire scent library in-store and are happy to provide samples of any fragrance to match your own space.
Here is only one part of the scent library!!
Lavender Sage is one of the most popular scents and one that I am planning on using for my own bedroom, it is supposed to help you sleep!!!!
Here is one of the adorable plug in diffusers with the mint focus oil
ScentFluence can wrap their products for any gifting occasion…
Here are the plug in diffusers. I want one for every room.
The Sea Salt Sage fragrance has become so popular.
Here is another diffuser with some of the best-selling oils, Amber Woods, By The Fire, Moroccan Mint Tea, and Deep Blue.
There is a guide to help you choose which scent to try:
ScentFluence provides signature scents for many fabulous destinations including the Auberge Resorts, Baccarat Hotels, and the 1 Hotels:
Have you ever been to Hudson, NY? It has been on my wish list FOREVER. I read about this quaint, oh so popular, town with its many vintage and antique furniture stores, art galleries, restaurants, and cocktail bars. Enter my new friend, Hudson Babylon. Through the owner, Linda, I have learned so much about this unique area, only 120 miles from NYC. But most importantly, Linda has taught me so much about Vintage jewelry. She features the most wonderfully rare items, available to purchase through her INSTAGRAM. I am so impressed with the pieces that she curates. I am planning my own trip to Hudson soon but in the meanwhile, let me show you some of Linda’s beautiful jewelry.
I love these hearts…not only for Valentines day but heart earrings are all the rage these days…I love them with a cute blouse and jeans…
I love these art deco earrings…such a statement and the brushed gold color, OMG. I’m putting these on my wish list ASAP.
This is one of my favorite Napier charm bracelets, I love the combination of all the colored stones and of course the Asian influence.
I am obsessed with Turquoise rings and there is something about the black enamel setting that takes it to another level.
I have never seen such a cool tiger ring..I would love to try this on!!! Another wish list add!!!!! OH NO!!!
Here are more spectacular charm bracelets…They look so incredible worn 2 together.
I have so much love for this Givenchy perfume bottle necklace….It’s out of this world gorgeous.
Hudson Babylon does a great job finding the best art deco pieces. How incredible are these earrings??!!!…
I have had many requests for snake jewelry..I love this vintage wrap around bracelet. The detail is amazing.
Here is one of my favorite pieces, the elephant jeweled charm bracelet..this is so beautiful.
I also love their statement bracelets, this flame design is so unique..I have really not seen anything like this…
Another fabulous Givenchy pendant. We gave a similar one to a friend for her 50th birthday. This is such a classic treasure. It will never go out of style. Also love the bold colors of this piece.
Since circle earrings are also all the rage I thought I would show you these 2 pairs. I cannot decide which I love more but they both would look great with so many outfits all year round. They are just so hip looking…
You can never have too many hearts or too much chocolate!!!! That is why I love Valentine’s Day. It is such a wonderful holiday to celebrate all the ones that you love. Here are a bunch of sweet gifts for all the special people in your life. I am planning in buying that pretty agate cheese platter and making a yummy charcuterie platter for my family. My daughter would love that waffle maker for treats for her and her roommates. I have heard only amazing things about the new Dry Bar round hair drying brush. The new Diptyque candle had been on my list too. Happy Heart Shopping!!
Coat//Brush//Cotton Candy//Waffle Maker//Candle//Backgammon////Zip Front Sweater//Heart Ring//Pearl Ring//Nail Polish//Heart Sweater//Candy Box//Loop Earrings//Cheese Board
A friend recommended this week’s book to me. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover and I was at first hesitant to post about it. The storyline is tough and can be difficult to read but really grabs your heart and you will come away spellbound and loving it and also the characters, even the ones who are the most flawed.
Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
