"Happy Halloween . . . "

Happy Halloween!

Cheers,

Scot

image from etsy. 

"All's Well on the UES . . . "

Greetings,

Just a quick one this morning.  There's a busy day ahead of me - with a flurry of lectures this morning at the SF Fall Antiques Show - and singing this afternoon in a performance of Purcell's "The Witch of Endor," with San Francisco's Urban Opera.  

So I leave you with some lovely images of a residence on the Upper East Side of Manhattan - from a wonderful new book, Peter Pennoyer Architects. 

Cheers,

Scot

Friday Night Makeover!

It's Friday Night.

My husband is working late.

My sister canceled our dinner plans (which I totally understand as I too want to be in my pajamas at 6:00 pm.)

What to do?

Re-design the blog!

Thoughts on my new look?

Happy Halloween!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween this year?

I'm going to wear my Alexander McQueen skull scarf...


Put on my new Chanel red lipstick (a souvenir from my NYC trip)...
Enjoy my new skull candle (from D.L. & Co, purchased by my stylin' husband from Gilt Groupe.)
And eat lots of candy (we bought two bags of candy, even though we usually only get about two tricker treaters!)

"W is for . . . "

Greetings,

Well, we're almost finished.  I hope you've all enjoyed our alphabet tour this summer - it's been fun exploring all of the aspects of my life that bring me the most joy . . . 

Frankly, this one's easy.  

It's been in my life for just over three years.

And brings a bright smile to my face most every time I see it.

"W" is for . . .  

My Bright Red Mini Cooper, 

"Winston."

Chic.  Stylish.  And I can park it almost ANYWHERE in this massively parking-challenged city.

Cheers,

Scot

Enter!

My husband and I have been searching for the perfect entry console since we moved into this house over two years ago. This was the first console we saw, from Jonathan Adler, but the price tag was more than we wanted to spend.

So we looked and looked, but this was always in our hearts. So last week I suggested we buy it for ourselves for Hannukah. Done. I haven't actually ordered it, but in my head it's already mine.

Canadian House and Home had some gorgeous entry halls this month...




Can't wait to get my gorgeous console (but first I have to order it!)

Olivia...

Unfortunately we had no choice but to let go of Olivia today, just five short days after she first became ill. We still don't know the cause (it might have been bacterial, fungal, or a toxin), but the effect was quite simply devastating -- her liver completely shut down, and no manner of drug nor treatment was going to bring it back. I'm still in a state of shock at this twist my life has taken in less than a week. But I suppose you never expect tragedies, nor can you ever prepare yourself for one.

Saying goodbye to her this morning was one of the harder things I have ever had to endure, but I know that in the end Dave and I made the right decision by ending her suffering rather than needlessly pursuing life-extending (but not life-enhancing) treatments. The process was made somewhat easier by a wonderfully supportive and incredibly gifted veterinarian and staff. I know they did all they could for her...and I was amazed to see them all in tears as well at the end. But then again, Olivia was (and I don't think I'm overstating things here) just about the cutest dog out there, with the personality to match. I wish I could have brought her home with me at the end of this ordeal, but I know that just wasn't meant to be.

Olivia taught me so many things in the 3 short years I had her. She taught me how to take care of someone else, someone totally dependent on me. She taught me greater patience, especially in her puppy phase. She taught me to take joy in the simple things: food, sun...feathers. Beyond these lessons, she gave me so much joy and comfort. My hope is at the end she knew this, and that she knew how much she was loved -- not just by Dave and I, but by so many other family and friends.


I have often been accused of loving her overly much, but to quote my father "if you don't love 'em, what's the point?" And I have to agree. Despite the pain Dave and I are going through now, it's worth every second I got to spend with her. I had hoped to enjoy Olivia for years to come, but I know that I was lucky to have her, if only for a short while.

St. Francis of Assisi believed that all animals, and not just humans, have souls. Because all living things are an expression of God, to St. Francis, they were considered sacred and to be cared for. And I would like to think that's true. For we are all God's creatures, and His heart and His heavenly home have room for the lot of us. If that's the case, then I know for certain that Olivia is there now, playing with my childhood dog Gretel and in good hands until I can be with her again.

I used to joke that Olivia was the puppy of my dreams, the puppy of my heart. And she will be in my dreams and in my heart forever. I know that in time Dave and I will get another dachshund -- I'm just a dog (specifically, dachshund) lover. But no dog will ever replace her: she was, after all, my Olivsita, my Chub-buns, my baby.

"The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show . . . "

Greetings,

Just wanted to share a few pictures from the opening Gala of the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show last night.  And frankly, it was a whirlwind of an evening.  There were beautiful antiques everywhere . . . with collector and dealers from around the world.

And a swarm of great friends - and a night of great conversation!  Oddly, it was a bit too crowded to get many images of the antiques - so enjoy a kind of random collection of shots from the night -

This year's theme was "Chinoiserie."  And the theme was perfectly set - right inside the front doors 

with this beautiful 'open bar' surrounded by bright red pagodas.  

And, easily, one of the best parts of the evening - was running into, and spending the evening 

with, the gracious and hilarious Jennifer Boles and her sister Laura.

Jennifer and I actually met for the first time last year at the antique show - and, after 

our second year together, it's now going to HAVE to be an annual tradition.  

Cheers,
Scot

My Favorite & Frightful Halloween Decorating Ideas from Blogland…

With Halloween just a few days away, I’ve been surfing blogland for some last minute décor ideas. Wow. There are so many amazingly creative and down right creepy ideas for decorating your home and  entertaining your guests this All Hallow’s Eve. Here are some of my favorites I had to share with you. Enjoy!

Favorite Halloween Party Invitations:

Start the party off right with Skeleton Halloween invitations by Martha Stewart. Not too scary to make yourself – just download & assemble! Visit Martha’s for the how to.

Stylish, colorful and paperless Halloween invites by Amy Altas for CocoDot. I used the “Boo!” invite in the bottom right corner for our little party coming up!

Favorite Halloween Décor – Outside:

For three years, this home in Brooklyn has been frightening trick-or-treaters. This year, it’s a “freak show” at A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress. Wow.

Favorite Halloween Décor – Inside:

Loving this Dr. Jekyll’s Laboratory décor theme from Three Pixie Lane. The vintage photos with googol eyes are the best.

The Graphics Fairy {love} has a ton of great vintage Halloween clipart for all your spooky projects. Here are those eyes just mentioned.

The stylish DIYer, Kate at Centsational Girl, created the best mantel this season. Love the black & white color palette. Aren’t the chains great?

Love these little mice {Martha Stewart} creeping and crawling all over the stairs at Thrifty Décor Chick.

Favorite Halloween Treats:

These ominous cupcakes by Lily Vanilli via Cupcake Loves Evil are perfectly frightful for any Halloween party.

And how about these eerie candied apples by Matt Bites? Love the twigs.

For something a little more inviting {especially for kids}, this simple Halloween candy station by Martha Stewart  is a great option. The jar label’s can be downloaded here.

Favorite Halloween Drinks:

These ghoulish beverage labels by Centsational Girl are my favorite. You will need to drop by her blog; She has downloads for these witches brews and many others including one for kids’ juice boxes! Go here.

Here’s yet another way by Real Simple to add an eeire touch to drinks by labeling each guest’s stemware. Make everyone’s different so to not get drinks mixed up!

Favorite Halloween Pumpkins:

I picked up a bag of little rubber rats at Michael’s the other day having no clue what I was going to do with them. Now I know. Thanks Martha Stewart!

Love these painted pumpkins too by Stylist Liz Demos via Country Living.

This assortment of painted and carved pumpkins is also a favorite. Does anyone know the original source? I found it on a blog that did not give it proper credit.

Are you scrabbling to get ready for Halloween? What do you have planned? I will be passing out candy to the kiddos and watching the SF Giants!

GOLLLLLLLD!

This year has been fabulous for GOLD. I've been noticing it everywhere - fashion, jewelry, handbags, shoes and gorgeous housewares.

I saw this place setting at Ochre - it took all of my self-restraint not to bring this home in my suitcase.


ABC Home also had some gorgeous gold.


While reading Real Simple magazine on my flight home, I noticed this gorgeous Thanksgiving themed gold table setting...

Martha Stewart also had some amazing gold dishes...

I saw the same ones at ABC Home!


I did bring home some gold for myself - these gorgeous gold Chilewich placemats from the MOMA design store.


Another great gold tabletopper - the Midas carafe and and glasses from DWR.

Martha's magazine had another brilliant (and inexpensive) way to bring gold to your Thanksgiving tabletop - gold glittered corn!
I might start gold glittering everything. Even my puppy.