Beauty
—Rodin olio lusso Lavender Face Oil
Earlier this year I shared eight of my favorite beauty products. And one of these items was Rodin’s olio lusso facial oil, the original scent, jasmine/neroli. Having just finished my current bottle, I decided to try the lavender scent as I am a lover of the calming, tranquil fragrance. Available at the same price, I have now officially converted to the lavender side regarding this oil, at least for now. As I was applying it, I thought to myself that the lavender would be perfect for the evening ritual and the jasmine/neroli for the morning as it is quite refreshing. Offering the same moisture and hydration and leaving a dewy finish, the scents of both are the quite lovely.
Cookbook
—Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites by Deb Perelman
In October, food blogger Deb Perelman released her second cookbook. Smitten Kitchen Every Day is full of over 100 recipes for real people in their every day lives. Nearly entirely new recipes tested by Perelman, she also includes a few favorites from the blog, Smitten Kitchen. Here are just a few to tempt your tastebuds: Bake Sale Winning-est Gooey Oat Bars,Beefsteak Skirt Steak Salad, Mango Apple Ceviche with Sunflower Seeds and Three Cheese Pasta Bake.
Decor
—Fortnum & Mason Long-Handled Tea Strainer
During my last evening in England (which happens to be a week ago today), prior to heading to the theater to watch Martin Freeman in Labour of Love in the Noël Coward Theatre, I went to a notable destination on Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason. From their gourmet grocery, infinite teas and numerous restaurants, I strolled through the tea selection and up the stairs to The Gallery for dinner. Of course, I treated myself to dessert as well. Below you can have a look at my order: the Valrhona Chocolate, Salted Caramel & Sesame (a delectable mousse) with a teapot of Queen Anne tea. And as you can see at the top center of the image, the classic long-handled tea strainer. A lovely addition to any tea service, whether at home or out and about.
Francophile Find
—Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child by Noel Riley Fitch
Having thought I had read all of the biographies and memoirs focused on Julia Child, I was delighted to discover there was one I had not known and had yet to enjoy. Released more than five years ago, Noel Riley Fitch’s biography Appetite for Life begins with Julia’s childhood and runs through the successful publication of her first cookbook. The cookbook: Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
—Immovable Feast: A Paris Christmas by John Baxter
Last year a TSLL reader brought this book to my attention, and I have ever since, had it on my list to share once the holidays came around again. Playing off the title of Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, Baxter is an LA-based film critic who falls in love with a French woman and moves to Paris to marry her. However, not without be charged with cooking the Christmas feast, her family is expecting him to deliver and so he makes a sincere attempt. A memoir filled with humor, love, Paris, food and more, I am looking quite forward to diving into this book this holiday season.
Holiday
—Quilted Christmas Stocking
Having stockings is a must when the holidays arrive, and these quilted stockings (which can be personalized), are a classic touch to the holiday season. Available in a variety of different colors and prints, take a look and see if a style speaks to you.
Shopping
—Fownes Brothers ‘Basic Tech’ Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves (black)
As I shared in episode #184 of the podcast recently, making sure you have warm, yet versatile (i.e. stylish) gloves during the chilly months is a must, as well as being the easiest wardrobe item to try on to determine the proper size. And since J.Crew’s leather exterior and cashmere lined gloves have already sold out, I was excited to see a similar pair at Nordstrom. Simple, classic and very comfortable. These gloves run small, so order one size larger.
Television
—Inside Dior
Marking the 70th anniversary of the French fashion house, this past February, Inside Dior was originally released in England in this two part series. With six months of access behind the scenes, go inside the mansions, behind the curtain runway preparation and much more. Have a look at the trailer below.
~recipe for Chocolate Almond Torte~
The first weekend of December. Yes, December is upon us. I will be cranking up the holiday tunes, searching for the ideal simply luxurious Charlie Brown Christmas tree and enjoying some favorite holiday traditions (sipping on hot chocolate, writing holiday cards and indulging in one or two holiday films while losing all track of time). We don’t have snow on the ground in Bend yet, but it will come. And until then, it’s chilly enough to need to bundle up in warmth of scarves, hats and boots which is always fun to do.
Wishing you a lovely holiday weekend and below enjoy a few articles I’ve found this past week and quite enjoyed myself. Until Monday (be sure to stop by to start your week, as there will be a giveaway!), bonne journée!
~a time tested classic comfort food recipe, Fettuccine Alfredo
~#7 is an absolute must for me . . . 23 Things Only People Who Enjoy Spending Time Alone Will Understand
~a worthwhile read about the truth of self-care, sometimes it involves being tough on ourselves
~with all of the sexual harassment news, this article is worth reading regarding our response to the news – How Should We Respond to Sexual Harassment
~a holiday bucket list of 16 Things to Enjoy This Season (again, it is #7 that has me curious to try)
~a Beginners Guide to French Cheeses . . . good prep for your upcoming holiday soiree
~Harry and Meghan’s announcement and how it may be a beautiful shift forward for the monarchy
~lastly, and worth checking out, How to Be Happy
from The Simply Luxurious Life®
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