Quote of the Day

"Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much."

- Oscar Wilde

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Bedrooms to Envy

There's nothing quite like returning home after a long day to a beautiful bedroom filled to the brim with things that reflect your personal style. As the following images prove, there's no rhyme or reason to what I think the perfect bedroom is. Bold prints, stark white, antiques, photographs -- I love it all.

* all images via http://www.lonnymag.com/

Quote of the Day

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;

those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

- Henry James

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Foodie Friday: Squid Ink Pasta

One of my favorite daily reads is Mirabella's Pantry. Though I admit I've never made her recipe for squid ink pasta, it looks scrumptious and I plan to in the future. The story that goes along with the recipe is also worth the read. Have fun cooking!

Ingredients

1 lb good spaghetti
3 Tbsp olive oil

2 shallots, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

a dash of red pepper flakes

1/2 lb squid tubes, cleaned (and tentacles if desired)

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 cup white wine

a handful of parsley

1 to 2 teaspoons squid ink
salt (to taste)

Directions

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes and sauté for about 3 minutes or until the onions begin to become translucent.

In the meantime, slice the squid horizontally into rings.

Once the onions and garlic begin to smell fragrant, add the squid and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes, wine, and a handful of parsley, reserving a generous portion of the parsley for the garnish.

Simmer on medium to medium-high heat for 15 to 25 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.

While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not overcook the pasta - you want it to be al dente.

Once the sauce has thickened, add the squid ink. Remember, a little goes a long way! Add the ink slowly, watching the colors change, and tasting if you like. When you have a sauce that is as black as night, you know it's time to stop!

Simmer the black sauce for about a minute and then add the drained pasta. Garnish with the leftover parsley, and serve.

* image and recipe via http://mirabellaspantry.blogspot.com

Quote of the Day

"for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea"

- e.e. cummings

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Most Wanted of the Week

New arrivals from J.Crew have me wanting to go on a serious shopping spree. Somehow, they've managed to make winter necessities far from drab. I couldn't help but include a pair of spring-worthy sandals and sunglasses in. Only a few months to go...

* all images via http://www.jcrew.com/index.jsp

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes at parties I slip away to the bathroom just to see what colognes they've got."

- Andy Warhol

* image via http://fabulouslyfrench.blogspot.com/

Wedding Wednesday: Scottish Castle Finery

With a destination as scenic and romantic as Scotland, not much embellishment is needed to create a memorable wedding day. Craig and Eva Sanders did just that for theirs and let the jawdrapping beauty of the Scottish castle they rented and its surrounding land be the centerpiece. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

* images via http://stylemepretty.com/

Quote of the Day

"It takes a long time to become young."

- Pablo Picasso

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Think Pink

Need I say more? Prepare yourself for some serious eye-candy...

* images via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Looking Back

These images are coming a bit late, but considering it was the 50th anniversary of JFK's inaugural address this past Thursday, I couldn't resist posting these pictures from the inaugural gala that was known as a "gilt-edged, mink-lined, silk-hatted, 10-gallon, 100-proof" celebration of the coming glamour in Washington. The guests included some of the most fabulous names of the day, including Mark Rothko, Diana Vreeland, and Ernest Hemingway. I think that night tops my "wish-I-had been-there" list...

* images via http://kennedys.tumblr.com/

Quote of the Day

"I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself."

- Oscar Wilde

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Quote of the Day

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses".

- Abraham Lincoln

*image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Addicted to "Addiction"

`I have been listening to this song nonstop since I heard it today. It's by Swedish DJ Alexander Adstedt, and the full song will be released sometime in early 2011. Check it out!

Quote of the Day

"Come quickly! I am tasting stars!"

- Dom Perignon at the moment of his discovering champange

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Of possible interest...

I always make a point of looking at the NY Times travel section and was happy to see a piece on 8 upcoming hotels to look out for. Some tidbits include: a Ritz Carlton opening in Hong Kong which will have the highest hotel rooms on earth, an entirely Missoni Home decorated hotel in Kuwait, a resort complete with 40 glass and canvas "tents" in Jaipur, and a hotel near Marrakesh which includes luxury villas with their own orange, lemon and pomegranate orchards. Needless to say, I'm jealous of anyone taking a trip to any of these fabulous destinations.

* image via http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/

Quote of the Day

In honor of Tory's dinner...

"Everything you see I owe to spaghetti."

- Sophia Loren

* image via http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi

All-American Elegance at Obama's Third State Dinner

I've been eagerly awaiting for details of Obama's third state dinner to emerge and as images started pouring in, I decided to post a few. The dinner looks to die for and was meant to reflect quintessential American cuisine as requested by President Hu. The dinner included pear salad with goat cheese, fennel and black walnuts; poached Maine lobster; rib eye steak with buttermilk onion rings; and old fashioned apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Take a look at the pics! Doesn't Vera Wang look fab?

* images from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ and http://eatocracy.cnn.com/