M is for Mantles

Holiday cards ordered - check! Now I am thinking about holiday decor and of course, mantles! Love these shots from LONNY.

Holiday Cards Ordered

As I write this post, I am sipping a glass of Malbec, have a fire in the fireplace and it is crisp and chilly here in Boston. It is hard to believe that November has arrived and the holidays are around the corner. Through a sale at JOSS & MAIN I just ordered my holiday cards from a designer I had never seen before SMUDGE AND INK. 

Five for Fall - So Chic

Happy Friday! Ready to meet the next guest in the Five for Fall Series? A warm welcome to Sidney of SO CHIC.  Sidney was born and raised in Alabama and loves to throw a party! (You can see why I am a fan of her blog.) She launched her blog over 2 years ago as a creative outlet. This past spring she joined the team at Celebrate Magazine where she gets to enjoy her passion for entertaining every day! 

1. PARK HILL LANTERNS  Living in the South, fall is a great time to entertain outdoors, and these lanterns from Pottery Barn cast the perfect glow!

2. VINE PUMPKINS  A fall dining table does not feel complete without an abundance of pumpkins. These vine pumpkins not only add a touch of fall, but they add texture to the table.

3. GRAHAM GREEN GOBLETS  Sidney's dinner plates are a classic white, so she adds a pop of seasonal color through her glassware. This earthy green from Juliska is a gorgeous shade for fall.

4. TIMBER WOOD TRAY  Fall is a great time to incorporate rustic elements into your entertaining decor. This wood tray is ideal for serving a savory appetizer to your guests.

5. VINTAGE MASON JARS  Mason Jars are so versatile, which makes them an important item to have for entertaining. They can be used as a vase for flowers, a votive candle holder or even a cocktail glass!

Thanks, Sidney! 

Top Image: Tiny White Daisies

Party Details: Dinner and Concert in Our Barn

 

My cousin RAIN PERRY is an uber talented singer. She flew in from LA a few weeks ago and Dixie hosted a wonderful dinner in our barn followed by an intimate concert with Rain - what a treat!

The house and barn in CT get party ready. Cocktails in the house, a seated dinner in the barn and then back to the house for dessert and the concert.

Lanterns guide the way from the house to the barn

Chef ANNE GALLAGHER cooked a fabulous meal, as always! For nibbles to accompany cocktails, Anne made three different variations of herbed cheese biscuits. Yum!

The first course was a Field Green salad with local greens 

The feel of the party was rustic, country casual so Dixie wanted comfort food. Anne made two phenomenal versions of chilli (one beef and one vegetarian) with emdless options for toppings and homemade cornbread. To.Die.For!

Dessert was a Pear Almond Tart followed by a concert with Rain. What a great evening! 

Photos: PhanFatale, Wedding Bee, Chez Us, Simply Recipes

Interview: Celebrity Florist Lewis Miller

Our friend and catering phenom PETER CALAHAN first introduced us to the jaw dropping work of celebrity florist/designer LEWIS MILLER. After seeing a few pictures of a party that Peter and Lewis collaborated on for Labor Day it was love at first sight. Here are a few images of the party with orange pop and I love the faux graffiti.

Lewis is not only crazy talented, he is so so nice (just like Peter). Born and raised in California farm country amid olive, almond and peach orchards and gardens full of cabbage roses, sweet peas, and wisteria, Lewis Miller developed a respect for nature early on. At 18, he moved to Seattle where he studied horticulture and landscape design. After seven years of successfully pursuing his interests in design, flowers, and event planning, Lewis moved to New York. In March of 2002, Lewis’ vision of a country life in a metropolitan setting inspired him to create LMD New York, Lewis Miller Design. 

A few other beautiful examples of Lewis' work - amazing!

Now that you have seen some of his work, and know a bit about Lewis' background, let's get to the interview shall we??

How did you get in to design and flowers?
Long story - not very interesting really. Love to make things beautiful. I am a Gemini with a short attention span. There you go.

Two "must haves" when you entertain at home?
Help and alcohol.

What is your greatest extravagance?
NYC in the winter is assault on the senses. To make it a bit more agreeable, I just ordered from a furrier here in NYC the most magnificent coyote fur blanket lined with grey pinstripe cashmere flannel. I can't wait to sleep in it!

Two famous people you would love to have at your next dinner party?
Madonna and Lady Gaga. Oh, wouldn't that be fun! I would heap the center of the table with masses of hydrangeas and then watch them fly.

A few hot design trends that you think are fantastic? 
I'm feeling the need to glam things up a bit and am loving metallic finishes - especially burnished gold and bronze, minerals, alabaster, mother of pearl - things that look like they were mined from the earth or found in the sea. 

And a few that you could leave behind?

The farmhouse table, Mason jar, weather vane, faux 18th century hipster crafty look has got to go. Shoo shoo.

Two things you can't live without?
Travel and books.

The best party you ever attended and why?
Haven't been there yet.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I'm very shy. Used to be endearing, now just mistaken for indifference. Not cute.

Thanks, Lewis!

Manolos and Milk?

A few miles from our family home in CT ARETHUSA FARM is becoming all the rage. This is not your average farm with its spotless barns, which hold 375 cows and owned by George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis, president and vice president of Manolo Blahnik. Yup!  You read that right...this is a farm built by Manolo Blahnik and their shoe fortune.

Their slogan is “Milk like it used to taste,” because Arethusa’s milk reminded Mr. Malkemus of the milk he grew up on in Texas. The products are a result of the best in technology and old-fashioned TLC, starting with the cows. The milk comes from cows that are pasture-fed in good weather; at other times they receive Canadian hay and mixtures of grains. Then there’s the TLC: daily tail-washing, conditioning with Pantene Pro-V (seriously) and brushing, plus a weekly full body wash. Pampered? No one at Arethusa thinks so. It keeps parasite levels low and the cows healthy and improves milk quality. I think Carrie Bradshaw would approve, especially of the barn's motto which is pictured below.

Looks for their line of milk, cheeses and ice cream at Stop and Shop, Whole Foods or their retail store at 822 Bantam Road in Bantam, CT.

Images and Copy: New Yortk Times