Say Gwyneth Paltrow and its like you had me at hello. I love all things Gwyneth. As a devoted GOOP reader, I have learned not only what a talented actress she is, but what a wonderful cook she is as well. Last summer we learned through her feature in VOGUE that she would be coming out with a cookbook this spring. Well guess what chickadees? The cookbook is OUT and I am placing my order on Amazon as we speak.
The cookbook is called, “My Father’s Daughter” and is dedicated to her departed father, Bruce Paltrow. Gwyneth says that she, “can still hear her father over her shoulder, heckling me, telling me to be careful with my knife, moaning with pleasure over a bit of something in the way only a Jew from Long Island can, his shoulders doing most of the talking.” Paltrow considers cooking to be the greatest gift that her father imparted on her and wanted to channel that by creating this cookbook.
Gwynnie’s mantra about cooking? ”Invest in what’s real. Clean as you go. Drink while you cook. Make it fun. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It will be what it will be.” Amen, sista. I may have to frame this above the kitchen sink some day – just for good measures:)
For years, our mom has told Sally and I to elope for our future weddings and have a big party with family and friends when we get back. Our responses: “Psh, are you crazy?” Weddings are about the vows and everyone watching you say them in the dress of your dreams, right?? And while part of me does still feel like I will want to wear a to-die-for gown (hopefully by Lela Rose – as mentioned by Sally here), another part of me agrees with her – not only is it romantic, intimate, and more private to elope – it also simplifies so many aspects of a wedding… Including the dress.
As I was perusing the wedding section of J.Crew’s website last night (don’t judge, you know you do it too) this Ava dress immediately got my attention. Sleek and sexy but still special – it’s a dress that a bride would wear and onlookers would think “how relaxed and happy does that girl look?” I love it’s simple and unfussy elegance and I think it has me written all over it. And who knows, maybe it is just as perfect for an elopement as a traditional wedding…
“I wanted to design a chair which looked like a shrub pruned to look like a chair”, said Richard Shultz in reference to creating his Topiary Collection. And he did just that. Shultz created a collection of outdoor furniture to blend into the landscape. You know when the sunlight hits the trees just right and you see a reflection of that on the ground? That is what inspired Shultz to make this collection of outdoor furniture. The furniture comes in many different pieces including benches, chairs, and ottomans and comes in an array of colors. Although the furniture does have a modern look and feel to it, these would look amazing with even the most traditional of homes. If you ask me! The furniture can even be made in custom colors if you so chose and can also be made with removable cushions.
I absolutely love, love, love this collection. It is so different from what we usually see in patio furniture and Shultz hit the nail on the head when he wanted to make a collection that was harmonious with nature. The furniture really seems to add just the right amount of whimsy to a backyard, don’t you think? When I move into a house someday, this patio furniture will be at the top of my list! I mean, it would make me want to be outside all of the time, ya know!?
