Guest posting over at Haus Design-"My last supper"

Hi and happy Monday  and Martin Luther King day to you. Hope you had a great weekend. Ours was quite relaxing, dinners with friends, had some friends over for drinks, a little retail therapy, a few movies. My kind of weekend! And to boot, my wish is finally coming true...we are getting snow, woo hoo! We are also getting frigid temps, that could be record setting (not part of my deal but nothing I can do) however I am sooo excited about getting snow, a bit tonight and possibly a lot on Friday......  I am delighted to be over at one of my blogging buddies blogs today, Haus Design. I know many of you know stylsih sweet Barbara and her beautiful blog that always has something beautiful to share, espeically her "al fresco" pictures, they are bar none and I have gotten oodles of inspiration from her blog!  I was so excited about her idea to have different bloggers post about what they would do for their " Last supper". It made for a really interesting post and I so enjoyed putting it together. So....please do stop over and visit us!  I promise its really fun and entertaining. Hope to see you over there! Click here to visit. A few hints of my post.......... 

  And reminder....one more day to enter the shoe ottoman giveaway from Safavieh. 

 Click here to go to Sundays post to leave a comment and be eligible. I will announce a lucky winner tomorrow. Have a wonderful Monday and a fabulous start to your week! 

One word with Tina from The Enchanted Home and a Safavieh giveaway!!

Was cleaning out my files of old posts, and I came across this post that I somehow never posted! I had done this quite a while ago and thought I might as well post it as several had asked me to do one on myself way back when.  Giveaway details on bottom So here it goes....

OK I am going to spare you a sappy intro because well, that would be well just really strange since it is about moi! However many people asked me to do one on myself so I figured why not. What the heck.....it will give my brain a chance to focus on something else other than fabrics, wallpaper, and lighting fixtures. So here we go.........say hello to Tina from The Enchanted Home!

One quality I love in people is: Authenticity (no phonies or social climbers please)

If my house could only be furnished in one color it would definitely have to be: White

One luxury I cannot live without: clean water and my computer

If I had to have one designer decorate my entire house with 0 input from me it would have to be: This is so hard....there are so many talents out there!It would be a "cocktail"of a heaping teaspoon of  Kathy Kincaid, a pinch of Charles Faudree, a dab of Phoebe Howard, a smidgeon of Dan Carithers and a sprinkle of Bunny Williams. There!

If I had to choose coffee or tea it would be: Coffee! Though lately I am enjoying and drinking more tea, especially many wonderful flavored teas like peach mango and pomegranate...yum!

One place I have been that I would love to go back to: Italy (hoping to go to Positano, The Amalfi coast and Tuscany SOON)

One place I am longing to visit is: China and Greece, oops that's two!

One talent I wish I had was: sing (even better than I do- if that is possible...totally kidding )

I think most people would agree I am very: friendly and funny 

If I could change one quality about myself it would be: to be less impatient and more tolerant.

One career I could see myself having would be: a screenwriter or producer

If food is therapy, when stressed I indulge in: chocolate, preferably with nuts and tons of caramel 

One of my favorite brands for clothing is: Tory Burch

If my life were a book, the title would be: An Enchanted Life

My favorite flower is: Peonies ( tied with orchids, hydrangeas and French tulips)

I would love to have coffee and a chat session with this famous person: Princess Diana

A favorite TV show I can't miss: If I am to be honest....Top Chef, Million dollar decorators, any of the "housewives" shows on Bravo (guilty pleasure)Hey, at least I am being honest:)They are fun and its kind of hard to believe they are "for real"! Bravo rocks! But on the flip side, I am also a serial news junkie.

Hollywood is: Too superficial for my taste but do love a great movie so am indebted to what they do!

Tuscany or Provence? Tuscany. No Provence. No Tuscany. No Provence. Sorry either one is a dream!

The next presidential election will be: The typical explosion of fireworks and finger pointing right up until election night.

The one best thing about blogging is: the incredible friendships and connections I have made and continue to make

A guilty pleasure for me is: indulging in good food and retail therapy

A clothing designer I think that has great style: Ralph Lauren or Tory Burch

My strongest quality would have to be: That I am a loyal, devoted friend

The best restaurant I have ever been to was: A few come to mind but in recent years, dining at Le Meurice in Paris was pretty spectacular (and decadently delicious)!

Most overrated actor/actress is: Alive: Kim Kardashian (if you can even call her an actress)

If my life were a documentary, I could see this actress playing me: Possibly  Charlize Theron

One thing I like about my appearance is: my eyes

One thing I can honestly say I love about myself is: That I am very generous and love to live in the moment

Town or country: country (but having a small city place for weekend jaunts would be quite nice)

One person I admire: I have to say three, my husband and my parents. Awesome in every way.

Pick a decade to live in, any decade: 20's, flapper dresses, amazing headdresses,crazy parties,good manners, chivalry, champagne....need I say more! Always say I was born in the wrong era!

My favorite room of my house is: my kitchen, where it all goes down!

If I were an animal I would be a...dog, Teddy of course.

A book I would recommend to everyone would be...
Cutting for Stone or The Help 

                                     

If I were planning a huge family reunion, this is where I would want to have it: On a beautiful beach in a oceanfront home in Hawaii or in a vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley!

One thing I wish everyone could be more of: compassionate and accepting. Oops...there I go again, I said two not one! Those two things could change our world.

In one word life is...thrilling!

                                 

  Ism't she great!! JUST KIDDING!! I love these kinds of things, a fun and interesting way to get to know what makes people tick.  Thank you for reading and stopping by to hear what I have to say.  Now onto this fabulous giveaway from Safavieh...... Check out this amazing shoe ottoman! How clever.... it is an ottoman that double as shoe storage. I love this thing! It has pockets for several pairs of shoes...and we know us girls can never have too much space for shoes!!  All you need to do to be eligible is to leave a comment here after visiting Safavieh's website (click here)  and come back and tell me an item you just love (besides this wonderful little ottoman of course). Want a second chance to win? Leave a comment on Safavieh's Facebook page telling them an itme you love and be sure you mention you are from The Enchanted Home (click here).  I will announce a winner on Tuesday morning,  Anonymous commenters,  you must leave a name and first name initial in your comment.

 

   Thanks for taking the time to swing by and thank you Safavieh.  Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!!

Things I am loving Thursday and house updates!!

Good morning everyone!  Oh boy, loooong week here, patience wearing thin. Haven't done much of anything that isn't somehow house related (but some exciting things nonetheless) and I thought this was going to be a shorter post than usual but as it turns out ironically its turning out to be a lengthier post than usual..so hope you have a few extra minutes on your hands, to sit back and relax for a few! Also I got a lot of questions regarding sconces, cabinet colors, etc....am getting that information for you together and will hopefully post answers on Saturday.

Anywho, things are buttoning up, and we really might be able to move in by Thanksgiving. By the skin of our teeth. In sleeping bags. Just kidding about the sleeping bags part. I am hoping, crossing my fingers and my toes and very much counting on it, but its cautious optimism at this point my friends and could go either way. So first results from our weekly "Which would you choose" then house updates and then a few other goodies. Not a lot of goodies, mind you as I really haven't had a lot of opportunity to do much that isn't house related but I am not complaining!


Here are the results of this weeks "Which would you choose"......must say like many of you indicated, I was really torn between a few, and happy that 2 of my tops made it into the finalist rounds!
Here we go......

                                            1st place with a whopping 51 votes

2nd place tied with 40 votes a piece

3rd place with 26 votes

4th place wtih 16 votes

Now onto this weeks post.....

HOUSE UPDATES. We are making big progress, yes I know I have been saying this for a loooooooong time now. Believe no one feels how long its been more than me! But at last I really am starting to see a light at the end of a tunnel here. Carpeting is getting installed today! Doorknobs got put in late yesterday and look fabby. I cannot wait to have an "unwrapping and cleaning party". Never will housework look like and be so incredibly joyful as it will that fine day.
Everything we have done is pretty much all covered up with paper, special cardboard (our builder is very meticulous) the only downside is all the beauty is well covered up and frankly I am a little tired of seeing all that paper!  A big development was the installation of the floor in the tower...LOVE is the only word that comes to mind, I really am thrilled with how it came out.
I just want to rip it all off and stare and marvel at all we have done. In due time, I know. To some including my husband who thinks I am delirious it might seem crazy, but I still want to be in there right before Thanksgiving. Yes, the whole house will not be done, yes there will still be lots of work going on and yes it will be a major pain that no doubt I well curse myself for at least a few dozen times BUT at least I will be home. That's how I look at this...I am ready, have been ready and just about reached my threshold. Got there pretty late so the outside pics for lack of a better word are pretty pathetic, but you get the idea.....

Front entrance making headway, it was just about dark by the time I got there...

The long awaited entry/tower floor!!!!!!!!!!

Love it.....

Samples for backsplash for kitchen, its a yes! FINALLY!

Family room timbering all done, first coat of paint is starting

Faucets are in .......

Ceiling is done in kitchen....one more thing done there!

Sons bathroom and vanity with sconces

Other sons bathroom and sconces

Youngest sons bathroom and sconces 

AMAZING DEALS AND STEALS  ON FURNITURE. Who doesn't love a bargain? Well I for one LOVE getting a deal and I hit the jackpot over at Safavieh's warehouse sale!! It officially begins this weekend in Port Washington, NY but we were able to go over ( a small group of us for a preview) as one of my friends was buying things for her daughter who lives out of town and she scored big time and of course I found a few goodies too!  Its in their monster of a warehouse, something like 150,000 sq feet and feels like an airport hanger!!! Its HUGE and chock full of the best deals I have ever seen of furniture, lighting, accessories, paintings, antiques,etc....its endless!!!!!! If you happen to leave within driving distance and want info click here.  Here is the lowdown.......

How about this gorgeous chaise for $695!!!!!!!!! Got it for my sitting room and going to recover it in a fabric that works for my bedroom thought this velvet is mighty pretty.....

And this settee for $695!!!! I am brainstorming as to where I could put this!

Bought this as an extra chest for somewhere, maybe guest room for $700!

My friend got this beautiful Belgian inspired set including 4 chairs for $1300!!

This beautiful black French end tables...were around 400!

Thought this was very pretty for a kitchen, my friend bought it for her breakfast room

I got this English center table for our living room, its very substantial and gorgeous!

Love what they put on all their boxes....and boy are they ever right!

Isn't this a great looking little chair for a ladies desk? I bought one for $295!!

 These two tables and chairs were so increidbly reasonable! I love the Belgian/European feeling.....great for a beach house, don't you think?

They got in a container of beautiful rustic Brazilian antiques that were gorgeous

It went on for what looked like MILES.......

Loved these small elegant end and coffee tables, the workmanship was incredible!

Stunning rug!

Theres my table again.....its a real stunner in person.

I bought this French chandelier to the left, isn't it pretty?

My other friend bought this for her daughters first new home (shes a newlywed) for $375!

I love this scalloped chest and am debating on it for the family room

Close up of the other chest

Isn't this antique pair of 12 foot antique Brazilian doors just grand?

POSSIBLE SLABS FOR MY ISLAND. So....my good buddy and I made a day trip and drove upstate to CT. and saw two slabs that actually work really nicely with my kitchen and current countertops. Only problem is that this company is also a fabricator and they want to do the job whereas we have already contracted a local person to fabricate the entire house. So..now we are trying to work this out. This is the first marble I have seen that works so I am excited but only if we can work out a deal. I am hoping, here are the pics, if you look carefully you will see a small piece of marble being held up next to them,  that's a piece from my countertops...what do you think? Feel free to weigh in.......its a really good match, the veining is very nice but not overpowering as some are. I don't want it to take away from other things going on in the kitchen. Fingers crossed. Anyone who has shopped for stone I know understands what this is all about.......

So here's the match, the small piece at right is my current coutertops

ONE HECK OF A DELICIOUS DINNER. OK I loved feeling like I was Mario Batali, actually on second though lets go with Giada, yeah I think I like feeling and looking like Giada better:) So Tiffany over at Savor Home,(awesome blog by the way that I  newly discovered)  posted her ridiculously professionally looking pictures of this dish for a contest and shared the recipe. I was so inspired that I made it that very night. Well......Let me tell you in four words....OUT OF THIS WORLD.
 It was not difficult, and it was soooooooooo good. The key is getting really good clams, I was lucky we have a fabulous seafood shop not too far who caters to all the restaurants in the area and they get the good Manila clams (vongele) and I cannot tell you how delicious this was. Not a drop left!! Sharing the recipe with you, its a "must make" kind of recipe. You owe it to yourself and to your family to do "the right thing" :) So I am using Tiffany's amazing picture..because we all know there is no way I could take one that could look that good!  Recipe to follow.....

Spaghetti with clams

• 1 pound dried spaghetti
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots thinly sliced
• 5 to 7 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 2 1/2 pounds Manila clams, scrubbed clean
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons butter, diced into small cubes
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, zested, for garnish

Directions

In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.

Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.

Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.

Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being careful not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately and be sure to save an extra helping for yourself (Giada would not say that she would say make sure your guests have plenty first but when you see how good it is you will see why my advice trumps hers)


A REALLY GREAT HOLD EVERYTHING TOTE BAG. Got an amazing tote bag that literally holds just about everything but the kitchen sink, I kid you not. In addition to being super utilitarian it is also quite good looking and HUGE, and this particular tote comes in 19 spiffy fabrics, something for everyone!! This bag is one of their bestsellers and is called the original Deano tote and is literally indestructible, I kid you not!  I love this company, Scout totes from Bungalow Co. and in case you are not familiar with their awesome line of products they offer everything from amazing totes, to bins, coolers,luggage and fabulous goodies for babies and kids too...all in super chic fabrics. It is a line you should know about if you dont' already. This bag goes with me EVERYWHERE. Click here to visit this awesome company. 

And heres some other goodies from their fabulous line of products!

So that is what I have been up to this week. Woke up again at 4:40 am!!!!! A million things going through my head, call the plumber, my sons orthodontist, send a birthday gift, cancel this, set up that, Calgon take me away!! Whats new with you? Anything new or exciting you have discovered? Any great deals or bargains you want to tell us about? Do tell!! Wishing you all a fabulous day.