Neutral Palettes Rock!

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Photography by Eric Piasecki.

Neutral palettes, whether gray (my favorite) or beige, are an open palette for decorating. Colors seem to pop against this background.

The following piece by Elle Decor on the renovation of a Hampton home, designed by Steven Gabrel, proves that a pure, neutral background is perfect for those desiring to be creative!

I am in the process of painting a few canvases with this color palette.

This doesn't mean that you have to use only one color. As a matter of fact, the most beautifully designed rooms start with a neutral palette. I love this look!

You can change out colors, depending on the holiday or the season, to create an entirely new look.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post, and I will see you tomorrow.
Teresa

I Could Not Overlook!

OK -- I am so upset about this! This is not my usual pretty or fun post, but I think it needs to be put out there! My opinion follows below. Be sure to read it, as I have listed some other information!

H&M Destroys and Throws Out Perfectly Good Unworn Clothing

Photo: Shanna Ravindra

Have you ever wondered what happens to clothes that large chain retailers don't sell? Not boutiques like Oak or stores like Barneys or other designers that can send things to sample sales, but huge stores full of stuff that's too cheap to resell, like H&M or Wal-Mart. The New York Times reports that both H&M and Wal-Mart throw out unused clothing people don't buy. But they want to make sure that, after they throw stuff out, people can't wear or resell the clothes. So they destroy the items by cutting holes in them with machines. If they're dealing with a pair of shoes, they go to the trouble of cutting the insoles so you can't wear them. Puffy jackets are slashed across the body and the arms are cut off. The 34th Street H&M discards the destroyed but otherwise perfectly good merchandise in trash bags behind the building. Wal-Mart has a contractor that dumps their destroyed unworn clothes in a space on 35th Street. Poor people who need clothes are freezing all over the city, but rather than donate unused goods, these stores are destroying them and treating them like garbage.

People who know about the loot go to scavenge for goods that aren't destroyed since whole, wearable items make it through sometimes. Wouldn't it be easier to simply donate the stuff so they don't have to bother with cutting everything? A New York Cares that holds an annual coat drive and would be happy to have H&M's unwanted goods is located just around the corner from its 34th Street location.

A spokesperson for Wal-Mart told the Times that the store normally donates unused items to charities, and needed to investigate the 35th Street situation. H&M did not respond to ten requests for comment from the Times yesterday. The store also throws out plastic hangers in perfectly good condition, which is ridiculous, because clothes may go out of style, but those certainly do not. The Times reports:

H & M, which is based in Sweden, has an executive in charge of corporate responsibility who leads the company’s sustainability efforts. On its Web site, H&M reports that to save paper, it has shrunk its shipping labels.


Read more: H&M Destroys and Throws Out Perfectly Good Unworn Clothing -- The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/01/hm_destroys_and_throws_out_per.html#ixzz0c1pAr4DN

HOMELESS PEOPLE:
People who are bums who love to live off of other people and let the system support them. WRONG!

While many homeless people are a part of the system, and have no intention of becoming a viable part of society, there as many people out there right now that are like you and me!

This economy has created a situation for many, and their only option is the street or a shelter. They are too proud to ask for assistance until it becomes an emergency situation.

These people are removed from their homes, and have no where to sleep or eat. They are embarrassed to ask for help from friends or the government.

The least our society can do is provide a place for sleep and a shower and a meal! These people can't look for a job because they can't shower or clean their clothes.

I am far from a bleeding heart liberal! I have been called a far righter at times, but I can't imagine allowing those with legitimate needs to suffer. We all have feelings, people.

This story was outrageous. If you know of any other stories like this please comment and let me know! This is downright mean! Am I ticked off? You bet I am!
Teresa

On a happier note. I received the supplies for the blackboard project and will post as soon as I am done. I will take pictures as I go along, and of course the final product! You will love this! I promise!

DREAM AWAY!

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If the weather in your hometown has been anything like the weather in the south, and most likely it has been colder, you are ready to see some greenery! NOT HEAT -- just greenery!

I will be posting on herb gardens and potted plants soon. I also love container gardens, and there are so many options.


I realize that it doesn't seem like that time of year to many, but in 6 weeks we will get started creating this beautiful thing known as a garden!

Feast your eyes on the following photographs from Traditional Home magazine in the Gardening and Outdoors section. These gardens were designed by Gordon Hayward. Photography by Mathew Benson.

ENJOY!

Now... go get that garden magazine, and curl up by the fire and dream green!

Teresa,

xoxo

THE BROOK ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

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The Brook

I come from haunts of coot and hern,

I make a sudden sally

And sparkle out among the fern,

To bicker down a valley.

By thirty hills I hurry down,

Or slip between the ridges,

By twenty thorpes, a little town,

And half a hundred bridges.

Till last by Philip's farm I flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

I chatter over stony ways,

In little sharps and trebles,

I bubble into eddying bays,

I babble on the pebbles.

With many a curve my banks I fret

By many a field and fallow,

And many a fairy foreland set

With willow-weed and mallow.

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

I wind about, and in and out,

With here a blossom sailing,

And here and there a lusty trout,

And here and there a grayling,

And here and there a foamy flake

Upon me, as I travel

With many a silvery waterbreak

Above the golden gravel,

And draw them all along, and flow

To join the brimming river

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

I steal by lawns and grassy plots,

I slide by hazel covers;

I move the sweet forget-me-nots

That grow for happy lovers.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,

Among my skimming swallows;

I make the netted sunbeam dance

Against my sandy shallows.

I murmur under moon and stars

In brambly wildernesses;

I linger by my shingly bars;

I loiter round my cresses;

And out again I curve and flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

My hp is in the shop, FOR THE SECOND TIME, so I am attempting to maneuver on a Mac, which is much nicer, but I will need to spend time learning the differences. I am beginning to think about purchasing a Macbook Pro!

I hope that you enjoy this poem. Tennyson is my favorite poet.

I am hoping the supplies will show up today for the blackboard project, and I am working on a post with instructions for starting an early herb garden. I will begin purchasing soon, so I will keep you posted on what and when to buy, along with a great idea for kitchen herb potting.

I have tomorrows post ALMOST ready, so I will see you here!
Teresa

Thomas Keller ~ The Master of French Cuisine

The beginning of a culinary empire...

Thomas Keller is owner of The French Laundry, Per Se, and Bouchon Restaurant and Bakery. He is the author of three elegant and superior cookbooks ~ The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Under Pressure.

The French Laundry Restaurant is Thomas Keller’s first restaurant, bringing Keller’s love of French Cuisine to America. The Restaurant is located in Yountville, California.

Lobster Tail at the French Laundry.

White Quail...

The Bouchon Bistro is located next door to The French Laundry, bringing the atmosphere and comfortable cuisine of the Parisian bistros to America. There is also a Bouchon Bistro in Las Vegas.

Next door to the Bistro is the Bouchon Bakery, laden with French bread and pastries. There is another bakery below the Per Se Restaurant in New York.

The Bouchon Burger. I made these small burgers, along with homemade chips, Saturday night. Wonderful!

Per Se is another of Thomas Keller’s excellent restaurants, located in New York City. Elegance and warmth make this restaurant the choice of the connoisseurs of fine food.

The East Room at Per Se.

THE COOKBOOKS

The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Under Pressure are beautiful books, offering the cook the guidance needed to prepare a meal that will leave their guest in awe.

The first of Keller's cookbooks, The French Laundry, is the culinary bible for those interesting in preparing french cuisine.

Keller's second cookbook, Bouchon, is full of bistro recipes. This book is too beautiful to put away.

Under Pressue, keller's latest book, visits the Sous Vide method of preparing food. I haven't mastered this technigue thusfar, but my former mother-in-law, Barbara Duke, sent a recipe (see below) for an omelet, using a ziploc bag immersed in boiling water. It was perfect!

A chef using the Sous Vide method.

It doesn’t take long to realize that Thomas Keller is a perfectionist; growing his own vegetables and herbs, and serving only the finest ingredients. From his kitchen to the table, Keller DEMANDS attention to detail and perfection. Ask anyone that works for him.

I can't tell you how beautiful and important these cookbooks are to me. My great interest in Thomas Keller started out with my purchase of The French Laundry, and I have tremendously enjoyed Bouchon. I look forward to learning more about the sous vide method from Keller's new book, Under Pressure.

Thank you Thomas Keller!

I hope that you have enjoyed my post. I am hopeful that the supplies for my project will soon be here. I am excited about sharing this fun project with you! I suppose that the a Christmas season crunch slowed things down...

Have a great day!
Teresa

*omelet ~ mix all ingredients together and pour into ziplock quart size bag. Make sure that you have sauteed vegetables beforehand. Drop in rolling, boiling water. Cook for a couple of minutes, or until done. Top it off with desired garnish. Delish!

*I used spring mix, chipotle mayonnaise, and pepper jack cheese on hamburgers. Provolone is also a favorite.

IT'S COMPLICATED ~ The Set

The director and writer Nancy Meyers, set decorator Beth Rubino, and the production designer Jon Hutman worked tirelessly to create the beautiful set for the move It’s Complicated, starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, now in theaters.

Below I have shown the scene above the actual set. Kitchen, living room, bakery, bedrooms and bath are shown below. These photographs are from an article in Traditional Home. com, one of my favorite pages.

I hope that you enjoy this tour. It is interesting to be able to see the actual set of a movie. Enjoy!

The exterior of the Spanish-style ranch home and the entry/hallway as decorated for It's Complicated.

The movie's plot is based largely on the renovation of the kitchen.

Streep had her own ideas about the design and feel of the kitchen set.

The kitchen was a mix of Tuscan, California, and French kitchen styles. It proves obvious how much effort these designers put into this set.

The warm hues and textures used by the designers of this set radiate this room.

I love this space. Meryl Streep plays the part of Jane, a bakery owner, in the movie. Those of you who know me will have no trouble understanding why this is my favorite set in the movie! Hum...maybe second to the kitchen.

The warm, cozy ambience is present in every set. No complaining here!

These bedroom sets are personal, keeping the actors and their parts in mind.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post. I will have a great decorating project for you in my next post, so I look forward to seeing you here.

Teresa,
xoxo

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!!

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Photograph courtesy of MSN.

2010 is finally here, and I am extremely excited about the possibilities for this New Year! I hope that all of you have your New Years Day meal planned. I am having black-eyed peas, cabbage, cornbread, and ham!

I would like to thank all of my followers, whether on my blog, or on my newly added website, for their support and welcome. I was overwhelmed by the number of visitors I have had.

During this next year my goal will be to make my posts exactly what you are looking for, and I welcome suggestions from each of you. I have a lot of great ideas in store for you.

Now... I'm off to my favorite store!

Lee Ann's Interiors

I wish you and your families a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Teresa