The Friday Files

Good morning, friends.  I hope that you enjoyed your week.  The Mister took today off, so it looks like we are headed to lunch and the movies.  The best news of the day is that there is no s-n-o-w forecasted for the weekend.  Little things mean a lot when you are my age.  

Nora Murphy Country House Magazine is fresh off the press with a fabulous house tour of an Adirondack-inspired home in Connecticut.  You can find it here.

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How gorgeous is this room?  My friend, Susan, sent me this link from Architectural Digest with 25 more luscious rooms dressed in blue and white.  You can find it here.

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One of my favorite websites, Thrillist , recently rated the states according to how miserable their winters are.  The bad news is that Massachusetts came in as number 10.  The good news is that I don't live in Minnesota.  No offense to the wonderful people of Minnesota!


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The first word added to my vocabulary in 2017

My friend Lisa sent me this article a couple of weeks ago.  During these winter months, it's all about hygge for me.


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I've been hitting every nursery in the area searching for sales on topiaries.  I just hit the jackpot with the two by the sink.  The Mister rolls his eyes whenever I come home with them because I always end up killing them.  You could call me the Grim Reaper of Topiaries.

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We watched Bright Lights last weekend.  At times, I felt it reminded me a little of Grey Gardens.  No doubt about it, it's great entertainment.

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This made my week.
I told you that I was shallow.

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Chowdah and Chili were bubbling with excitement when a present arrived for them from BestBullySticks.  

I can't put into words how much they enjoyed their new treat, so I thought I would let them show you.

As my Mother used to say... 

the proof of the puddin' is in the eatin'!

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Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my virtual friends in person.  I met Linda from A Design Snack by Linda Pakravan for lunch in Boston yesterday.  She is a designer from the beautiful town of Andover and a wonderful lady.  I didn't want the lunch to end!

Until next time...

Cooking with the Celebs

Hello, dear friends.  Did you watch the Golden Globes last night?  Between the Red Carpet with Ryan and the actual telecast, I devoted about fourteen hours to it.  Or maybe it just felt like it.

My favorite look of the night is Annette Bening's.  I loved her hair, the dress was stunning, and most importantly, age appropriate.  Best of all, her face didn't look like it was hit by a 100 mph wind storm.

After seeing the younger actresses, it looks like boob jobs are out (good for me) and dangerously deep V-necks are in (not so good for me).

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When I got up this morning, I had no idea what to write about.  I started looking at all the dresses from last night.  Everyone looks so darn skinny, and it made me think that they all must have very clean kitchens.  And then it hit me... Celebrity Kitchens! 

I couldn't find a photo of Annette and Warren's kitchen, but this is the best that I could do.  It is from the movie The Kids are Alright from a movie that Annette starred in six years ago.  The kitchen still looks current. 

Naomi Watts

The only thing this kitchen is missing is Liev Schreiber.  So sorry to hear they broke up. 

My guess is she probably got sick of remembering how to spell his name.  It's not easy.

I'm not crazy about Kris, but she has a lovely kitchen.  

I don't know or care whichever Kardashian this one is, but great placement of the spices over the stove.  My OCD Mister would love that.

I bet Pharrell's wife is H*A*P*P*Y with this state-of-the-art kitchen!

How many points do you think have been counted in Oprah's kitchen in Telluride?

Maybe 40lbs. worth?

Celine Dion

Can't you just hear Celine belting out one of her songs in this gorgeous kitchen?  Maybe the lighting fixtures double as stage lights.

Dr. Ben Carson

For some reason, I never thought about what kind of kitchen the candidates have.  Looks like Mrs. Carson has good taste.  

Tom and Giselle

I can't live in Massachusetts during football season and not mention Tom Brady!

Go Pats! 

Nate Berkus

So cool, just like him.

I wonder how Drake likes JLo's kitchen.

Can you tell by now that I have a subscription to People? 

Lady Gaga

Rumor has it that this kitchen isn't just for show.  Lady Gaga is quite a cook.  I don't know this for sure because she hasn't asked me over... yet.

Britney Spears

No oooops in this kitchen.  Gorgeous!

Billy Joel

I wonder which one of his wives was lucky enough to work in this kitchen.

JLO

Another JLo kitchen!  This one I love.

Hope she knows how to cook.

Kerry Washington

Do you think POTUS has been over for dinner?

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

I wonder if this was Chrissy's test kitchen for her cookbook.

Diane Keaton

This one looks like it could be in one of her movies.

This is another photo of Diane Keaton's kitchens from a few years ago.

I think it fits her.

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As I was working on this post, my phone rang.  What a delightful surprise to find my royal friend on the other end.

It was none other than THE Vintage Contessa.  Along with discussing world affairs, she also gave me the details of the fabulous Christmas gift that her handsome Italian presented to her.  You can read all about the incredibly romantic gift here.

My gloomy day turned into one filled with California sunshine!

Until next time...

Heavenly Hingham

Hello, dear friends.  It's me, your middle aged, moody, menopausal correspondent, reporting from Snow Central. 

Yesterday, the Mister was up at the crack of dawn spreading his roof melt, sanding the driveway, dispensing shovels at all doors, and arming all outdoor pipes with enough heat tape and insulation for the whole county.  

Meanwhile, I was walking around the house in a pre-blizzard fog modeling seven layers of fleece and wearing an expression resembling the time I found out that Downton was going off the air.  I detest snow.

And then I thought to myself... 

What would the Gilmore Girls do?

Thanks, Lorelai, I needed that.

 

A few weeks before Christmas I made a lunch date with a reader whom I had never met before.  Dianne lives in the Hingham area, so we decided to meet there.

Hingham is one of my favorite towns on the South Shore.  The area is bursting with beautiful, antique homes and the downtown is a treasure trove of darling shops and fabulous restaurants. 

I have written about La Petite Maison before.  You can read about it here.  It is always my first stop because it is my favorite.

A table set to Yuletide perfection.

Love this platter.

Are these not the absolute cutest?  

Hingham is also the home of the original Talbots.

It was opened by Nancy Talbot in 1947.

Talbots' headquarters is located a few miles away.  There is also a Talbots Outlet in the Shipyard area which is very organized and always has great buys.

   

Hingham also has a couple of garden and flower shops that are so fun to browse.

The town bank even has character!

Loring Hall was built in the 1800's and became a movie house in 1936 and has been ever since.  

I met Diane for lunch at the Square Cafe.  
The food and service are always exemplary.

 Dianne is a great lady, and we shared a lot of laughs.  My little Grandma used to tell me that if you made a new friend it was a good day.  And that, it was.

Until next time...