Thursday, September 22, 2011

Happiness Starts Here!


Some very delightful things have been happening lately!   My daughters Heather Taylor and Megan Taylor just had this beautiful portrait done by the artist and photographer Jeana Sohn.  I love the background color, the peaceful looks on their faces, and the closeness between them as sisters that comes across in this portrait. 

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Heather and her husband Alex de Cordoba are featured in the new October issue of Sunset Magazine.  The issue just came out and you can find it at the news stands.  There is an article in the magazine about their Hollywood home and their fun design aesthetic.  They recently had us over for grilled pizzas and we all sat around their new fire pit and had a fabulous dinner outside.  You can see more pictures of their home and read about it here.  You may remember that they recently got married in their backyard under their lush citrus trees --  I wrote about it here.
  
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Ivy At The Shore Restaurant

Friendships really are the spice of life.  This week I had a night out with two of my dear friends.  We went to dinner at the beautiful Ivy at the Shore restaurant in Santa Monica to celebrate my friend's birthday.  It is such a special place for a birthday dinner, especially sitting out on their lovely patio.  Each time I go there,  I am always enchanted by the bougainvillea-draped entry to the Ivy.  In addition, the bar at this iconic Los Angeles restaurant is adorned with festive ceramic pitchers loaded with garden roses.  I am delighted each time I walk in and am greeted by this rose glory.  Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, wrote in one of her books that when she is overwhelmed with her life, her favorite restorative activity is to go out with her girlfriends for dinner and a fun cocktail.  I agree.  Life feels wonderful surrounded by good friends, the Ivy's signature crab cakes, and a beautiful glass of chardonnay!


Ice Cream Sundae for the birthday girl 

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Speaking of good friends, my charming friend Susan gave me the book "Parisian Chic" as a going away present for my trip to Paris.  I am dying over this book.  I realize that I am a little late to the game, as it came out in the Spring, so I apologize if you all know about this.  But I am so inspired!  It all looks so simple,  French women really get it.  If we just follow these guidelines, perhaps we can get this Parisian look in our day to day wardrobes.  According to the book there are seven staples we must have.  The first one is the blazer, pictured below.  I am taking notes here!


The Blazer, don't you love it belted like this?


The Trench, bien sur, we knew that!


The Little Black Dress, simple and elegant


A great pair of Jeans, straight-leg are best


A great Purse, central to every Parisian's personal style


The Navy Sweater, not pictured, looks great with many things but especially white jeans

The Leather Jacket, not pictured, guaranteed to save any overly-conventional look



Everything we need to know about the effortless style that French women do so well is in this book "Parisian Chic" by Ines de la Fressange.

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By the way, some new adventures are about to begin and I will be taking a little break.  Can't wait to tell you all about it!

12 comments:

  1. Many things to comment on:
    1. What a gorgeous and touching portrait of your daughters. It shows their closeness and love. You must get goosebumps.
    2. Great spread in Sunset magazine, and a bit of a deja vu for me, as I began married life in the 1970's and makes me feel old that it's now a retro and cool "look".
    3. Ivy at the Shore - One of our favorites for family celebration dinners, and yes - the sundae always.
    4. Excited to hear about your "break", but a bit sad too.

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  2. Forgot about Parisian Chic, which I did read in the Spring. I had heard that the French version had Ines modeling in it also, which I would have liked. Great ideas and aesthetics, but I would have liked to have seen some of these things on a woman more my age. Her daughter would look chic in a potato sack.

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  3. I enjoyed Parisian Chic and thought it a great guide book for shopping in Paris. Hope you will find it helpful. Ines and her daughter share great beauty as your daughters share with you.
    I must see if I can get a Sunset magazine here and read the article, you must be very proud!

    Love the entrance to the Ivy...how pretty the pink is against the white.

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  4. You really capture the essence of the coziness there; and that dessert .... birthday... party!
    I see a "special places" book in your future endeavors.

    Kris (it won't let me sign in this sm)

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  5. May I at some point use that beautiful portrait of your daughters as an art reference? I am always on the look out in magazines for gorgeous women, Italian? to use as inspiration!

    Please let me know...I won't if you don't want me to!

    Come by to visit with me sometime!

    CIAO BELLA!

    CREATIVE CARMELINA

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  6. My brother's name is Domenico....and I just read your profile..so I see you do have Italian blood! So do I, if you haven't already put two and two together! lol

    once again....

    Ciao Bella Domenica!

    Creative CARMELINA

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  7. Your daughters are lovely and I'm crazy about Heather's citrus trees. Hopping over to Sunset to see the story now!

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  8. I love the portrait of your daughters. It has a 1920's/30's feel to it. My twin girls are 16 next year and I'm thinking of having a portait of them - they are not keen!

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  9. I just love the portrait of you daughters Sunday...I hope you have that image enlarged and framed some place special. It would look great on a canvas too!
    So exciting to read about Heather's magazine article...she looks tres chic in that photo. Love the dress!

    I am imagining chocolate sauce all over that ice cream sundae...how I miss American ice cream!

    I picked up Parisian Chic a few months ago...my daughters love it too...I meant to take it with me to Paris...but forgot!

    Take notes Sunday and have a fabulous trip!

    Jeanne xx

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  10. Hi Domenica!

    I just posted a 'very quick' preliminary sketch of that photo of your daughters. Please come by and have a peek. It was done in about 15 minutes as an exercise in my sketchbook...

    Hope you like the tribute to SISTERS....inspired by you!
    I've also linked the post back to your blog here.

    ciao bella domenica!

    Creative Carmelina

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