Author: MS

Decor: For The Love of a Neutral Home

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Just dream along…I mean what else do you have to do this early Saturday morning? Neutral and steady hues of white are my first and foremost choice for my primary home 🙂 – and then I’d like to have a second place where I can add all the wonderful colors to create the whimsical of space. Or maybe the guest house out back would be that attempt-in my next life since now I am content with my current living space. But the first house would look something like this And my charming guest house or second home used solely for my writing 😉      What decor would you opt for? And how do you get rid of negative energy in your home   {featured image source}

Fashion: A Little French Boutique Store Called Sézane

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I walked past the pop-up in San Francisco- Maiden Lane, when my thoughts were elsewhere and it wasn’t until I got home that I realized the opportunity I missed to walk into a Sézane store  in my hometown, that would have taken me away to somewhere in Paris and perhaps do a little shopping for these chic pieces:

Food: Chai Infused Carrot Cake

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I love carrot cake, and it is probably the only one I won’t pass up on if I were anywhere in the world offering the option. So a carrot cake recipe is always in order, and this chai infused one is one I am trying on Saturday: For the cake: 1/4 cup of almond milk 1 tbsp of Assam tea 1 cup of sugar 3/4 cup of ghee, melted 3 eggs, room temperature 1 tsp of vanilla extract 2 cups of flour (310g) 3 tsp of baking powder 1 tsp of salt 7 – 8 turns of fresh ground black pepper 1 1/2 tsp of cardamom 1 1/2 tsp of ginger 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 cups of fresh shredded carrots, about 2 large carrots For the frosting: 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 8oz of cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar 1/2 tsp of vanilla 1/2 tsp cardamom 1/2 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp cinnamon pinch of salt  {more} Do you have a favorite cake? And a well-tested recipe you wish to …

Decor: An English Home

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Ah, the characteristics of a European home, even while remodeled,  I simply cannot get enough. Fortunately for me, I have family sprinkled across England and France and in their quaint homes I take refuge and feel the most inspired by their choice of decor. On another note: Have you been watching The Crown Season 3? If so I have some thoughts to share Do you agree that the age of maturity and clash of generations is the main topic of the era covered in season 3?  What do you think of Princess Anne’s relations with Parker Bowles – what web of drama the royals have shared? Watching Prince Charles life unfold in season 3, do you find yourself emphatetic  towards him? How about towards Prince Phillip?  What’s your favorite scene? Although there are many, I favored the one about Prince Phillip meeting the men who walked on the moon and his expectations from them regarding one of the most important moments in history – episode 7

Culture: Who’s Your Celebrity In-Character Crush

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I thought about this topic a few days ago, when I decided to watch ‘You’ve Got Mail’, (for the millionth time) to help me get out of the funk I was in, and also to do character study for my novel. And it did, giggling, tearing up, beaming, and feeling over the moon about the idea of two people, who cross paths on a daily basis, end up falling in-love in the most peculiar of way, over the internet/and kind of in person. Realizing the influence of certain actors in character have over us. Who’s your celebrity-in character crush?  {featured image source}

Holiday Series: Thanksgiving Preliminary Prep

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I start out with one menu – and then shift it throughout the week leading to Thanksgiving, so with that mindset, here’s what I am considering for the holiday, perhaps even leading to smaller dinner parties up to New Year’s eve. {featured source and inspiration for this blog post}

What Were We Expecting From The Crown – Season 3

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Although I followed loosely the making of Crown 3, mostly who will play what role, and the era the season would cover, I had no idea what to expect. The element of some surprise is very important to me in films. And so I was, completely intrigued by the ‘Hollywood style”of story telling about the events which shaped the monarchy throughout the 1960’s.  Thus far watching episodes 1-4. The true story behind Princess Margaret’s visit with the American President Johnson – covered in episode two   Princess Alice, Philip’s mother – who was misunderstood and perhaps a historic figure worth learning about – covered in episode four In episode two and three – cover up of Prince Philip’s connection to a affair and the fallout from it all had me doing research and connecting the dots – sort of in the approach the filmmakers took to make Season 3 relatable to stories we are all currently following or not of the royal family’s lifestyle. Churchill’s funeral played a significant part in episode one – and the …

A Weekend Recap and Onward to Thanksgiving

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What you plan and what really happens is always the case, it seems lately for the weekends and I’m starting to consider not making a list of what I’d like to do but rather simply wait and see how the days pan out. 🙂 This past weekend I had a tough time with anxiety, where I was hyperventilating over just about everything imaginable from Venice floods, to global warming and beyond. Even the Hallmark Christmas films I watched back to back in the evenings, didn’t seem to help. I suppose we are now a society riddled with stress, depression and anxiety which by the way we have all had a part in manifesting, and since seem to have trouble coping with it all. How did the generations before us handle it all? Was it because the less they knew the better they lived? Do we know too much or have access to much ‘fake news,’ that we have lost sight of reality and/or are not able to see the truth any longer because of it? …

Food: Holiday Series – Thanksgiving Main Course

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I am not a fan of Turkey, never have been and I doubt I’ll ever be. So this year, while searching for a main dish recipe I can live with, I stumbled upon this one, while reading an article on ‘how to have a sustainable Thanksgiving.’  And guess what? We are having A butternut Squash Vegducken! INGREDIENTS 1 cup pecans 1 (7 1/2″-long) zucchini 1 (9 1/2″-long) globe eggplant 1 (11 1/2″-long) butternut squash 2 scallions 2 garlic cloves, divided 1 shallot, coarsely chopped 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, trimmed, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 9 sprigs thyme, divided 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 2 large eggs 1 cup finely grated Parmesan 1/2 cup fine plain breadcrumbs 6 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley, divided Kosher salt 2 tablespoons mint, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Special equipment: Kitchen twine  {follow recipe here} And in case you are curious about the sustainable Thanksgiving suggestions, I have included the article here.    {featured image credit}