Divine Dining - IV

Laguna Resort & Spa
Nusa Dua, Bali

It is twilight as the balmy breeze gently ruffles your hair and you listen to some rhythmic melody that plays afar off in the distance. You are walking, lingering, in a tropical garden of delights where the scent of exotic flowers greet you. It is intoxicating. Soon the music fades as another sound dominates your ears, the powerful pounding of the ocean waves. It grows louder as you turn a curve in the path where a spectacular scene suddenly awaits you! It is a canopied gazebo of white muslin, illuminated by a myriad of twinkling candlelight and torches and lanterns. It is aglow with an unsurpassed beauty, and like a moth to a flame you are drawn to it. It is simply breathtaking! The most amazing part is that it was all set up for you, so in disbelief you carefully make your way to the table where you pull out a chair and take a seat. It's time to dine like a Balinese princess.

We're off

....to the Happiest Place on Earth! Will be in touch as soon as we return.

Fantasy & Whimsy

In just a few, short days I'll be off to a wonderful Magical Kingdom! I'm sure you know what place I'm speaking of, even if I hadn't hypertexted it for you. It's a place of dreams, a million of them in fact, where reality temporarily takes a backseat to fun and fantasy. Well, that got me to thinking. (A dangerous pastime, I know). What a perfect excuse to share some of my favorite fantastical and whimsical costumes of all time. Here they are in no particular order....

Elegantly-clad elves

Pretty pirate

Fairest of the fairy queens

Classy courtesan?

Absolutely stunning angels

White & Bright

A mainly white palette is so peaceful and serene, don't you think? It also feels cool and refreshing, especially during the brighter, warmer days of spring and summer. During the cold months of winter, however, when the days are short and the skies tend to be gloomy and overcast, I prefer richer, earthier tones to warm up my interiors. On days such as those, I think this palette would feel downright chilly! Thank goodness those days are still far away or these photos would not beckon to us so invitingly.

photos from Country Living

Divine Dining - III

Happy Weekend!!

Hotel Villa Abbazia
Follina (Veneto), Italy

As I gaze upon this photo I imagine myself sitting serenely at one of these intimate tables, breathing deeply of the summer evening air that is sweetly perfumed by the encircling garden of flowers and aromatic herbs. I am as relaxed and carefree as only one can be when thousands of miles away from home and the cares and responsibilities it entails, and have found myself in a place that is foreign, unfamiliar yet captivating. I revel in the beauty of the moment--the sights, the sounds, the smells--savoring them slowly, holding on as long as I can, before the moment is gone and has passed into the realm of memory. . . .

* I thought a little (made up) story to go along with the photo might make it a bit more interesting! Pardon the melodrama. I may have taken one too many creative writing courses!

A Local Favorite

Victoria Magazine has done a feature on a local favorite which I mentioned in my second post back in January. It is called Miette. If you're ever in the Bay Area, you may just want to check it out! Here are the tantalizing photos to entice you....

For All You Pedal Pushers

photography by Rodney Smith

This one's for a friend, Mrs. Jules, who just got a lovely new red & white schwinn from her sweet hubby and daughters for Mother's Day. I'm glad she also mentioned, otherwise I would never have known, that May happens to be National Bike Month, and that this week in particular is Ride Your Bike to Work Week. So get out there and start pushing those pedals!

"Cool" Video

What's so cool about this video? Well, how about. . . .

this "cool" lakeside mansion

and this "cool" period sofa

as well as this "cool" outfit worn in this "cool" retro bedroom
all at this beautifully "cool" location!
(Looks like the Italian Lakes region to me.)

Then there's Gwen with her fabulous hairdos.

Channeling Marilyn Monroe

Anyway, this is a completely frivolous post, though it was something I wanted to do a while back. I never was successful in finding photo stills from this video and had to take the time to pause/copy/save these stills myself off of youtube, hence the poor resolution of the images. I'm not a huge Gwen Stefani fan (Well, I do like her a little. Okay, maybe a little more than a little!) but I do enjoy some of her less outlandish, retro styles, and I really like the style and scenery in this particular video. My husband and I have been talking about visiting the Italian Lakes for our ten year anniversary next year and this video inspires!

Happy Mother's Day

Abraham Lincoln
I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.

Mildred B Vermont
Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.

Amos Bronson Alcott
Where there is a mother in the home, matters go well.

Proverbs 31:28-29
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.”

Divine Dining - II

Tudor Hall Restaurant
King George Palace
Athens, Greece

The Joys of Summer

These are some of the things that make summers so wonderful to me, and which I am looking forward to. . . .

• blowing bubbles with my little boy (have already started this one!)
  
• day trips to the beach & quaint seaside towns
  
• long walks at twilight
• trips to the cherry orchard stand for homemade cherry ice cream
• outdoor music concerts & festivals
• Shakespeare in the park
  
• visiting nearby lavender fields (first discovered last summer)
• making s'mores over an open fire
  
• playing miniature golf
• watching a movie at the drive-in
• watching dragonflies and butterflies, imagining fireflies
• picnics and outdoor cafes
  
• fruit smoothies and lemonade
  
• trips to carnivals, fairs and amusement parks
• backyard barbecues and garden parties
  

What are some of your favorite things about summer?

Wish List

More items to add to my wish list. These are from that newly discovered website shop I just posted about. My oh my, does she have the prettiest things there! If you haven't already done so, you have to check it out!

pretty pearls

pretty pink purse

cute and chic compact

beautiful business card holder
I don't even have business cards to put in here,
but I thought it would be a great place to hide my blotting papers!

Divine Dining - I

Happy Weekend!

Banyan Tree Hotel & Resort, Bintan

In lieu of my Friday "Room With A View" posts, the warm weather and my love for alfresco dining has inspired me to start posting about divine dining spots instead! So expect to see photos like this one starting from now on. My "Room With A View" posts will certainly return once cooler temperatures beckon us back indoors.

New Discovery

I stumbled upon this website and was immediately smitten! The subtitle says it all.

May Day

It's the first day of May. It's time to celebrate! You don't have to dance around a maypole (as fun as it looks), but you can exult in the warmer weather and the anticipation of the long, lazy summer days ahead.

(photos courtesy of marthastewart.com)