I was so suprised to receive pink silk pillows brought home from my sister in law Jeanette from a recent trip to Cambodia. I pick out nice colors and fabrics for people in life, she does this. She's the rocket science part and the Principal of Providence St. Mel. I love the little pop of color in these grey days. I know my palm tree isn't looking so hot. The kids treat it like the jungle. Does anybody have any good recipe to make it happier?

Bring It

Well its here. It's taken me awhile (obviously) to acknowledge it on this little blog. The New Year is here. I've been thinking a lot what I'm going to do with it. I'm not going to lie, the last couple of years have been rough. Life changing, damaging thing happens to your kid. Check. Lost loved ones. Check. House after house of monstrous fix ups that get you somewhere but not quite right there. Check. This is what I am after in the New Year:

1. I am not terrific at celebrating my strengths. I've done some good work. I should try harder at showing it. And I will, here on this little blog and perhaps on a bigger stage. Let's cross fingers.

2. I will try so hard not to sweat the small stuff. The big stuff I will try very hard to get right.

3. Getting together with people I love is non negotiable. I will find the time even if there are kids running underfoot.

4. I will enjoy this year for all it has and hasn't got to offer. I still to this day seriously cannot believe how many people tune in to hear what I have to say on this blog. Its truly a blessing. Thank you. Love Ali

Oh one last thing. I will go to Paris.

Have an unbelievable 2011.

Out With The Old

Remember way back when what my back entry used to look like? It was really the kitchen and I cannot imagine how that ever functioned. There was a servant's kitchen way on the third floor as well (as we suspect, why else would you have a kitchen sink up there?) Anyhow, I thought I would share what it looks like today. We created a powder room to the left, removed the arch, and added french doors to the porch. We recently added a barn door slider to add a hidden pantry space. My great friend and neighbor Cathy let me dig one her terrific five panel doors out of her basement and I proceeded to have it painted with chalkboard paint. I hit Agway for the barn slide mechanicals. The nice people at the counter couldn't understand what I was doing with this inside my house, but I digress. Found an old rotary phone on Ebay and it has the BEST ring. And now James can't dump boxes of ziti every other day. Thrilling. The chair is vintage from my mother in law and found a nice seagrass runner on Overstock. Overstock saved my life this Christmas. The grasscloth repeats throughout my kitchen. I hope you like it!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to my faithful readers. I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!

Image from Lonny Magazine

Knock, Knock, It's Bunny.

The new owners of the Falls Village Inn in Falls Village CT got a suprise visit from a neighbor while they were busy trying to renovate the worn out destination. One day in June when the couple was standing on the sagging porch, a woman walked up and put out her hand and said "I'm Bunny Williams and I would like to help you decorate the Inn", bewildering the owners as they had no idea who she was. See Bunny only lives a couple of hundred yards from the Inn and felt her weekend town needed a soul and a reason for people to visit again. So the very lucky owners got Bunny for free and the rest is history. Another reason to love her. I'm hoping Santa brings me her newest book, "A Scrapbook For Living". I've been good, right Santa???

The article can be seen here courtesy of Rural Intellegence.

Brrrrr.

Winter has set in here in the Northeast. It makes you want to settle into your house and not leave. Here are a couple of pictures to inspire you to do the same.

Just on a side note, am I crazy or is that Windsor Smith's kitchen in the last picture?

***** My Gigi would like to announce that the lucky winner of our Fabulous Beekman Boys Giveway is.......

DEVON!!!!!!

Thanks to all who left a comment and I wish I could send you all the book. But I had so much fun with this first time giveaway I plan to do more in the near future.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From My Thanksgiving table early this morning to yours, have a wonderful day with your family and friends. And don't forget there is still time for the giveaway posted below! Leave your comments. xx Ali

The Boys are Back and Giveaway!!!

The Fabulous Beekman Boys are back at Sharon Springs New York, at least for a holiday spread in December's Country Living! For those who haven't yet discovered the show on Planet Green, City Slickers Josh Kilmer Purcell and Brent Ridge went out and bought an bucolic Upstate New York farmhouse as a weekend house. Then lost their jobs. But their inspiring story of creating a chemical free goat soap and cheese making business on the heels of nearly losing their shirts makes for a terrific read if you haven't picked up "The Bucolic Plague" for your Christmas stockings. It was my favorite read this summer. So as a Thanksgiving gift to one of my readers, I am giving away one copy of the book! Please leave a comment and one will be picked at random Friday at 9pm November 26th. Please do not email directly. I will then mail out the next day after contacting the luck winner. Good luck Gobblers!

Thanks

Well its right around the corner and I'm thinking of my Thanksgiving table.  I found finally found a great Parsons bench for a long side of my dining room table at the local Sal Val and I am going to lacquer it white while my sewer extraordinaire Tiffany is making me up a faux skin cushion and I promise to post it all when its done next week.I thought it would break up the formality of the table and give the kiddos a fun place to sit.   I really love Tastemaker Charlotte Moss's table posted today on HB's website. It's looking great so far Newell T!  I love how she gives each guest his or her own soup tureen.  Oh Charlotte, I love you!


***On a side note I really appreciate the emails I received wondering about my absence.  It was a rough year for us personally.  My brother in law John did indeed pass away from pancreatic cancer at the very young age of 51.  We also lost our 13 year old Labrador Tucker.  So posting on pretty things just did not seem so important. But I love this blog and all it has brought to my life so look for me on the radar again.  For that I am thankful.