Entry No.52

Mmmmmm. I am craving these little suckers. Shanghai dumplings I had in San Francisco before the Oscars on Sunday. Each dumplings carries a little bit of broth along with all their meaty goodness. A little bit of work to eat but oh so worth it.

Entry No.51

What did you think about the Oscars last nigh? I thought the show was a little boring. I think everyone knew who was going to win so I guess I was expecting more of a show. Anne Hathaway and James Franco are lovely but I don't think dynamic enough to carry the Oscars. I was hoping for an upset last night. I really wanted Black Swan to win Best Picture. The highlight of the show for me was the fashion. Here are my top picks of the evening. Marc Ruffalo's wife Sunrise was my top pick. The hair complemented the dress. Not everyone could pull off blunt bangs and a bob hair do. She has model looks and managed to look incredibly sexy!

Blondes look great in gold especially with a little tan. Gwyneth kept it minimal and she looked hot, hot, hot!

Camila Alves looks stunning in this dress. The severe part in her hair and minimal make up gave her look a Spanish feel. The stunning earrings popped!

Hillary Swank has the perfect build to carry this Gucci number.

There is something old fashioned and innocent about Florence's dress. I love the pale yellow.

This dress sparkled beautifully on stage.

The high collar flatters the neck. I love the lace.

Entry No.50

Heath Ceramic is such a throw back and I am so glad it has had a resurgence in popularity. I headed to the factory outlet in Sausalito where you can buy seconds of various plates, cups and serving ware. These dishes are virtually indestructible and it's a good thing based on the prices. My mother in-law has a set from the '80s and it's still in great condition.

Tons of plates meticulously displayed.

They carry a nice assortment of tea towels. These are some from Skinny Laminx from South Africa. I couldn't resist the pale blue one with silhouettes of kitchen spatulas.

Not sure how I feel about the new cranberry color. They look beautiful displayed but I can't see how appetizing a salad would look in one of those bowls.

Entry No.49

While shopping at Anthropologie a couple of days ago, I saw a beautiful book

of paper placemat made by Cake Vintage. I first saw them at Tyler Florence a year ago and had not seen them since. I looked online to see any other patterns and I love the polka dot version. I think these make a nice hostess gift. Too cute.

Entry No.48

This looks funny!

Entry No.47

I have been visiting my in-laws in Mill Valley for a week now and I have been having computer problems. As a result, I have not been posting as much. Today while waiting for my appointment at the Genius Bar at the Apple store in Corte Madera I moseyed around the shops and stopped into Anthropologie. This store never ceases to amaze me. No one merchandises the way they do. The second you walk in the door you are transported to an exotic, eclectic, feminine world that only they know how to create. Like many others I am sure, I tend to forget how great their home furnishings are. They have pieces that add just a little bit of whimsy to any room. I have been trying to create a modern rustic feel in my house and these are the picks that I think would work for me. I could see the chair above in my bedroom. I love the subway stops fabric. Too funny.

If I did not already own a rustic table, this would have been the one for me. The stainless steel top is a cool detail.

I like this piece for my bedroom on top of my dresser. The natural linen gives the lamp a more tailored look.

I like the industrial chunky feel of this sconce.

Lord nows I have way too many measuring cups but this addition is too cute. Maybe on a shelf in the kitchen.

Entry No.46

Don't walk, run to your nearest news stand and pick up a copy of the new Instyle magazine. Oh my gawd, there are photos of Tory Burch's residence and they are gorgeous. I spent last night hunting for photos from that shoot but could not find them anywhere. So here are others I found online. The decor is exactly what I would expect from Tory, it's feminine yet strong, very colorful with a bold mix of patterns. It feels traditional yet modern all at once.

The leather on the slip chair gives it a modern, masculine edge and contrasts beautifully with the traditional feel of the rest of the room.

Wow. I love the way the green walls frame the orange dining room and the plum fabric on the dining room chairs. Never thought you could get away with so many different colors but it works.

The Instyle shoot has a photo of the floor in the foyer. It is a large graphic black and white pattern. So cool and very unexpected. She displayed her son's drum set instead of trying to hide it. Now that is a proud momma.

Entry No.45

I have been known to watch a movie ad nauseum. I would tell my irritated husband that the characters in the movie are like friends stopping by to say hi. The current movie on rotation is It's Complicated with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. The setting takes place in Santa Barbara and Meryl's character lives in this beautiful mediterranean style house on a sprawling piece of property and is proprietor to a bakery/cafe. I really can't tell you that the story is all that great but the set design is amazing!!! The first thing I would do if I could have been in the house is take a flying leap on the plush living room sofa, aaah. The house reminds me of a Wallace Neff house for sale in Mandeville Canyon with it's heavily painted brick exterior and terra cotta tiled roof. The set designer is Beth Rubino who is also responsible for the design of another movie I am addicted to watching, Something's Gotta Give. That movie takes place in the Hamptons in a gorgeous pale gray shingled house. I am not watching these movies as much as I am taking mental notes on how to live with style and graciousness and I am not alone, there are blog forums about Beth Rubino's take on interior design. I especially love the way the characters seem completely at ease surrounded by so much beauty. Every room seems to beckon you to lounge with a cup of coffee and some pastry restoring you to place of calm and peace. That is the effect I hope to achieve when we are through with the construction of our house, whenever that will be.

A closer look of the kitchen sink and counter. The color palette of ecru, tan and white makes the counter feel calm even though it is a bit haphazard. The color palette also allows the eyes to focus on the strong window that features the view of the back yard.

This is the view of the backyard. Love, love, love the painted brick exterior. The gravel complements the relaxed mediterranean feel and the terra cotta pots enhance the roof.

This is the living room scene of Something's Gotta Give. The pale blues mimmic the ocean sky and the striped rug gives the room a nautical feel.

The flower fabric almost feels like a toile. So feminine, you know a girl lives in this house.

Entry No.44

Today while driving in my car I caught Frances Anderton's show on KCRW and to my delight she was interviewing the Mulleavy sisters who design for the brand Rodarte. I did not know these girls hailed from Pasadena! I was fascinated to hear that after graduating from UC Berkeley the girls took a year off to watch horror films. Not knowing the first thing about how to start a clothing line did not stop these girls from creating their first collection which they took to NY. There they met with WWD's editor and their clothes were featured on the cover immediately. What luck! Then they met Anna Wintour in LA who gave them both a bit of advice which the girls still abide by. Anna told them that the clothes seemed personal and for them to continue designing that way. The girls also discussed their collaboration with Darren Aronofsky on the costume design for Black Swan. So young and so talented.

Entry No.43

I hope you all had a nice Valentine's day. I know it is a Hallmark holiday and all but I still feel it is fun to celebrate love. I am pretty lucky. My husband always manages to bring home the most stunning flower arrangements for Valentine's day and this year was no different. They are from Botany, a florist in the Brentwood Country Mart. Thanks honey for the flower, gifts and a fabulous dinner at Capo. xx

Entry No.42

Gwyneth, darling, you are my hero!!!!! No joke. Is there anything this woman can't do? Seriously. She can act, she can sing, she can cook, she can blog, she can raise bilingual speaking children (I saw Apple a couple of weeks ago speaking perfect Spanish to her nanny) and all while looking as good as she does. Jeeze girl, you are setting the bar pretty high! No, I am seriously not comparing myself to Mrs. Gwyneth Paltrow! I think what fascinates me most about her is that she seems to be very happy and loving life. Well I know one thing Ms. Paltrow cannot do, is look smooth walking in those ridiculous shoes. The whole time she was performing, I was worried she was going to fall trying to balance herself in those monstrosities! I have a pair of super high heeled platformed boots and they are impossible to walk in. I hope this trend ends soon, for every stylish woman's sake! Peace.

Entry No.41

The family headed downtown this am to visit Muscatels, a craft and party supply store on Wall Street. It's basically a Michaels on crack. We needed to pick up some supplies for Parker's 1st birthday and this place is a one stop shop. It's located next to the LA flower mart. So naturally, we couldn't resist picking up some bouquets for those super low prices. They had hydreangeas as big as my head for $5 a stem. I picked several bunches of freesia and some ranunculus for close to nothing. Then we headed to Japan town for an early lunch. I would say it was a pretty perfect start to the weekend. Cheers.

Entry No.40

I have been conserving all my energy these days trying to get over my nasty flu so that means eating out. I am really missing a home cooked meal and perusing Tyler Florence's blog does not help. The photos are absolutely exquisite. I could take a fork to the computer screen they are so life like.

Entry No.39

When I grow up I want to work in a flower shop. Spending my days in a large sun filled room listening to some lovely music while arranging gorgeous bouquets sounds like the closest thing to heaven. I simply love the way flowers can tie a room together by playing on other colors in the room. They are like the earrings to an outfit. They can dress up the room, make it feel more formal, casual or feminine. I have been sticking to the same philosophy in flower arranging for a long time, one large bouquet of a single type of flower. I would say that some flowers versus no flowers is best but I have been wanting to step it up a bit. I recently purchased a couple of books that as well as give inspiration also give a step by step formula to arranging the most breathtaking centerpieces. But if a diagram in a book isn't enough and you need one on one help, Floral Art in Venice on Abbot Kinney gives lessons on flower arranging.

Entry No.38

The old Anisette Brasserie location on Santa Monica Blvd. near the 3rd Street Promenade has been rented and awaiting permit approval for The Misfit restaurant. The Misfit restaurant is owned by the same folks who brought us La Grande Orange. I hope they don't mess with the interiors too much. Anisette's decor was gorgeous. I was shocked to hear they closed their doors last year. It seemed every time I was there the place was packed! If the food is anything like La Grande Orange, we will all be in for a treat.

Wallace Neff designed house for sale on Mandeville

Yesterday I was lucky enough to view an original Wallace Neff designed house in Mandeville Canyon and what a treat. The house is still owned by the original owners who had it built in the '60s. I hope that the fortunate person who purchases this house keeps most of the house in tact. Other than remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, this house is perfect. I did some investigating on Wallace Neff and I found out that one of my favorite houses of all time is one of his work. It was owned by Diane Keaton and it was featured by Architectural Digest before she sold it to Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Wallace Neff is considered responsible for the "California style", drawing influences from Spanish and Mediterranean architecture. He was commissioned by celebrities of the day and is most known for designing the Pickfair mansion in Beverly Hills for Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.

View of living room of Wallace Neff designed house

Diane Keaton's former Wallace Neff designed Houses

Diane Keaton's former Neff designed house

Diane Keaton's former Neff designed house.

Entry No.37

I just picked up the February issue of House Beautiful and this issue is a keeper. The editor in chief has changed and the magazine is fresher. There are so many good ideas in this issue, it's hard to mention them all, so go out and buy it. My favorite house featured is one that belongs to interior designer Alexandra Angle and is located on the Venice canals. Though the cottage went through an extensive remodel , it does not feel new, at least not in the photos. This was intentional as the designer wanted a more approachable worn look with kids running around. I wonder if she will put the house on the market. I have seen a trend among home owners that were lucky enough to have their houses featured in magazines. They want to sell it while it's hot!

Entry No.36

822 Norman Place open Sunday 1-4pm

If you can peel yourself away from the telie Super Bowl Sunday, there is a house on Norman place in Brentwood worth taking a look at. I know I'll be viewing it sometime between 1-4pm. Love the pool!