Tulips vs. Mums

Last week I decided to start my own One-Bouquet-a-Week Challenge to teach myself how to start creating better flower bouquets. And you should know I'm no quitter: here are some pics of this week's concoctions.

The first is a mix of tulips and some random pink, weed-ish flower that I got at Trader Joe's. I originally bought some yellow button mums to go with the tulips; however, this IS a learning exercise, and those tulips quickly taught me that they were just not digging those mums. (Or at least not until I get better at this.)

The second bouquet is my first use of a cute little bud vase I got for Christmas. And can I just say--bud vases! Where have you been all my life? I am loving having this small, sweet bouquet by my bed (there's one in the bathroom, too, filled with the uncooperative button mums). It's such a perfect way to wake up a room.

Two weeks and counting! Best challenge ever. Just sayin'.

Weekend at Murray’s

Remember those old Scrooge McDuck cartoons, when Scrooge would gleefully dive into his beloved piles of gold coins and swim? That became my secret wish after I visited Murray's Cheese Shop with a girlfriend over the weekend. If was big-time Scrooge rich, I would have bought all the wonderful fromage in the store, taken it home, piled it high in my huge custom-made refrigerator room, and jumped in and flapped about in a giddy McDuckian manner. Because that is exactly how much this lady loves her cheese.

Purple Reigns

Bratislava Sweater, $110, Little Houses (my latest purchase!)

"The Watched City" print, $23, Janice Jong

Le Creuset® Cassis Oval French Oven, $269.95, Sur La Table

Petunia Purple Fabric | Mod Quad Collection, $68, Cicada Studio

Three Notes From Salalah print by Cy Twombly, $60, artriver.com

Purple Cowl, $60, Sara Lagacé

My birthday is this month, and as much as I try, I have never been totally happy about the fact that my birthday is in February. It's so inconsistent with my personality: it's in the middle of the winter (I am a spring/summer person), it's the month of Valentine's Day (totally not my holiday), and it is represented by one of my least favorite gemstones: the amethyst. (I mean, could we trade with April's diamond? Or even September's sapphire?)

But as much as I'd like to move February between May and June, celebrate Memorial Day instead of another Valentine's, and don a sparkly white diamond or two every now and then, I'll always consider giving my month another chance. Because if its amethyst can look as good as it does in the purple items above, I think we could continue to hang. At least for now. (Watch out, June and July. I'm eyeballing you.)

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Book Clubbing: Remains of the Day

So it's been one of those weeks where I keep telling everyone that "Mercury must be in retrograde," even though I don't really know what that means. On my planet, I am simply using it as code for, "Dude, things are way nutty right now."

Fortunately for me, though, there was a little peaceful moment during my week: it was time again for my Book Club to get together for one of our monthly meetings. Not everyone could make it this go 'round (only two of us could show up), but that didn't stop us from geeking out and waxing on about the tight, smart writing from our latest read, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

It's a gorgeous book for many reasons, and one of those is the fact that it's based on a character named Mr Stevens, an old-school butler at the once-grand "Darlington Hall" in the UK in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. And that means there's tons of repressed emotion, several repeats of the word "sir," and lots and lots of descriptions of lovely things.

(Here's a few passages that inspired me.) (Sir.)

I am glad to be able to recall numerous occasions when the silver at Darlington Hall had a pleasing impact upon observers. Vintage Silver Plate Serving Fork and Spoon, $10.50, TarasVintageKitchen at etsy

I recall I was a little taken aback when Miss Kenton opened the door and entered before I had bidden her to do so. She came in holding a large vase of flowers and said with a smile: 'Mr Stevens, I thought these would brighten your parlour a little.' Albert Vase, $200, Tina Frey Designs

I was then brought up to this room, in which, at that point of the day, the sun was lighting up the floral patterns of the wallpaper quite agreeably. Betta wallpaper, $150/roll, Jill Malek

'Stevens, are you all right?'

'Yes, sir. Perfectly."

'You look as though you're crying.'

I laughed and taking out a handkerchief, quickly wiped my face. 'I'm very sorry, sir. The strains of a hard day.'

Handkerchief with Silkscreened Film Countdown, $7.77, HudsonDusker at etsy

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