REPOST: easter comfort food x0x

April 06, 2023 in family, holiday, recipe

* i am reposting my mother’s easter recipes that are a staple at my brunch each year. they are super comforting and yummy, if maybe not the most elegant! x0x

my whole life there have been two essential easter recipes served at our brunch: my mother’s mushroom crust quiche and her easter buns. they are both a little trashy… the quiche has smashed up saltines in the crust and the buns are made with the dough that comes in a can you bang on the counter to pop open. but they are both delicious. the quiche (or KWEE-CHEE as theo used to call it) LOOKS a little more elegant, but the buns are never pretty. the filling always squirts out and the jam slides around so they are just a mess. i have tried and tried to clean them up to no avail. when new people come for easter, they usually bypass them on the buffet and i have to force them to try one… no one has ever been disappointed. AND they are both still yummy, cold, the next morning as leftovers. happy, happy easter all! x0xx

REPOST: the order of a seder

April 04, 2023 in family, holiday

* with the approach of passover i am reposting this story about the seder dinner… it is my favorite of the jewish holidays!

seder means “order.” there is an order to every aspect of the passover celebration from the way the seder plate is prepared to which course is served first and second and third to what prayer is said, what song is sung, what question is asked and when. even though i am not jewish, i have been hosting passover dinners for nearly twenty years. inevitably i mix up at least one aspect of the order. sometimes i even schedule the seder for the wrong evening - the jewish calendar is confusing and i am not always sure if “begins at sundown” means the dinner should take place that night or the next. i give myself a pass on this as a shiksa mama raising jewish children. i have enough trouble with simple time telling (my mom thinks that’s because i had the chicken pox the week i was meant to learn it in first grade) and adjusting to different time zones and daylight savings.

REPOST: theo's bar mitzvah

March 28, 2023 in family

* lucy and i are spending spring break this year taking care of hank and preparing for her bat mitzvah… we have been thinking A LOT about theo’s bar mitzvah and all that it entailed… x0x

when my son was in second grade, we joined our local temple. we had always agreed that we would raise our children jewish, the faith of their father, with santa and the bunny thrown in in a nod to my secular upbringing with christian-based holidays. we signed up for the “family school” program which meant that once a month all four of us spent most of a saturday at temple learning about judaism in both large and small groups, finalizing in a service. we made this decision because i am not jewish and wanted to participate in what my kids were learning and because the rabbi leading the family school grew up in the same town and same synagogue as my husband in long island… a crazy, small world synchronicity that we embraced.

the AMAZING judy blume! x0x

March 21, 2023 in family

BIFF, the boulder international film festival, just took place here in town and my girlfriend arranged for a group of us to see the documentary, “judy blume forever,” about one of the most pivotal authors of my childhood (YOURS too if you grew up in the late seventies and eighties.) it was INCREDIBLE on so many levels. i realized that even though i read her books over and over (just certain parts of some!) i had never registered what she looked like. she resembled “sabrina” from charlie’s angels when she first started writing in 1979 and she is still a gorgeous woman now at 83. (she currently lives in key west, rides her bike all over and runs a bookstore. i am determined to go visit her shop.)

included in CANVAS REBEL! x0x

March 14, 2023 in residential interior

i was so excited to be interviewed by chris martinez of canvas rebel about how i got into interior design. THANK YOU so much chris for sharing my story. link to the full article here. x0x

(hank was SO excited to be in this photo!)

to read other articles click here or here or here

our poor popper...

March 07, 2023 in exercise, hank, pet, sofa

(our sweet bubbie with all of his shaved parts…)

my sweetest baby boy hank had to have BACK SURGERY two wednesdays ago. the tuesday evening prior, at the tail end of our FOUR hours of zoom parent/teacher conferences (for some reason the middle school and the high school scheduled them for the same night) we noticed that something was terribly wrong with hank. he was panting outrageously and shaking like someone just scared the bejeezus out of him. his vet was already closed so we took him to the animal ER, V.E.G.: veterinary emergency group. i have to say, they were so KIND there… they offered us drinks and comfortable chairs and snuggled him up trying to help him calm down. after a physical exam, the doctor predicted that it was his spine. (his reaction to touch was equal on each side and he was doing a weird thing with both of his back feet.) she couldn’t be positive without an MRI so she directed us to another ER (C.A.S.E.: colorado animal specialty and emergency) where they have the MRI machine and a neurologist on call. she said in the past, they would have sent us home with pain meds and instructions to monitor him for a few days, but new research has shown that immediate confirmation is better and that if we waited and it was indeed his spine he could be paralyzed by the weekend. HAY SEUS! they gave him methadone and another sedative and we headed over to C.A.S.E. even with the drugs, hank was still panting HARD. the team at C.A.S.E. was also really wonderful. they gave him FENTANYL (which freaked me out but they said they can give dogs these drugs because there is not a fear of them holding up the corner bodega desperate for cash to feed their addiction because we can control how much they get. i was left wondering if there are people out there who take their dogs’ medication.)

TRASH THE RUNWAY is friday, march 3rd! x00x

February 28, 2023

trash the runway is a design competition created twelve years ago by the creative lab at common threads in boulder, colorado. middle and high school students design, actualize and model super creative, high fashion looks made entirely of found and hard to recycle materials. the garments range from elegant to whimsical and have been created out of the most unexpected “trash”: discarded dog food bags, bubble wrap, gum wrappers, wall paper samples… the competition “aims to propel young people toward environmental and social responsibility and to inspire their confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills for the benefit of the greater good.” this show is so much FUN and i am so proud to be a judge this year. purchase tickets for hte runway show here! x00xx

BEST OF HOUZZ 2023 for SERVICE and DESIGN! x0x0x

February 21, 2023 in residential interior

i am doubly thrilled to have won best of houzz 2023 awards for both SERVICE and DESIGN. i have been very lucky to work with super fun, inspiring clients and have been so grateful to be recognized for my service… this is the first i have won a DESIGN award… i’m really excited because, of course, design is the crux of what i do. THANK YOU to the many, many wonderful people who have supported my business as builders, artisans, vendors, advisors, photographers and clients! x0xx

super bowl sunday

February 16, 2023 in hank, holiday, recipe

hank and i had a rough start on super bowl sunday… i put the garbage in the back hall to take outside and forgot to shut the door to the mudroom. everything was really quiet and i realized hank was missing from his usual position on the sofa. when i raced back there he was in the middle of a DISGUSTING mess - coffee grounds strewn all over, candy wrappers scattered (i finally found the halloween candy i hid in november), brown, gooey banana peels and other gross stuff i couldn’t even identify. this may be the first time i really yelled at hank. he HAS gotten into the garbage before but i gave him a pass and explained that that is not done in my house. this time he KNEW he was crossing a line. i can be pretty forgiving (especially with hank) but messes put me over the edge. i would prefer him to sneak some beers or miss his curfew than create that kind of situation for me to clean.

HAPPY, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 2023! x00xx

February 14, 2023 in family, hank, pet, holiday

sending you so much LOVE on our favorite holiday! wishing you a day filled with yummy chocolate and pretty hearts and special people (and sweetie dogs!) x0x0x

to read more about valentine’s day click here or here

COLORFUL christmas tree drive

February 07, 2023 in art, dining room, family, garden, living room, office, pet, residential interior, sofa

we did an extensive remodel on this family home nestled under the flatirons in the chataqua neighborhood of boulder, colorado. originally built in the 80’s, we updated the exterior with earthy wood siding and local stone, in keeping with the home’s mountain setting.

my project featured in boulder lifestyle magazine! x0x0x

February 01, 2023

i am so delighted to have my chautauqua project featured in the february issue of boulder lifestyle magazine. THANK YOU to cassidy ritter and boulder lifestyle for the wonderful profile, heather knierim of HBK photography for the beautiful photos and all of the talented people who collaborated with me on this home: ron monahan, the amazing builder, craftsman roger sims, m. gerwing architects, ashley stevens of evoke landscaping, superstar artist sarah kinn, darling craig troyer of mod livin’ and especially my incredibly fun, inspiring clients! here is a link to the online article as well as shots of the print version. x0x

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing mother! x0x0x

January 27, 2023

january 27th is an extra special day in my family because we have TWO birthdays to celebrate: my amazing mother AND her grandchild. wishing you every joy this year and always my beautiful mother! x0x0xx

HAPPIEST OF HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to my darling theo! x0x0x

January 27, 2023

(cutie baby theo)

my cheeky, sweetie baby boy is SEVENTEEN today! i just can’t believe how quickly seventeen celebrations have gone by… i LOVE you with my whole heart and am so GRATEFUL to be your mama my lovey. i can’t wait to see what kind of adventures you embark on during the next seventeen…and don’t worry about missing me because i will come too! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! i LOVE you so! x00xxx

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY rosie! x0x0x

January 17, 2023 in family, holiday, pet

darling miss rosie is FIVE tomorrow! in the six months that she has been with my parents she has stolen all of our hearts and given everyone so much JOY. she is just a tiny peapod of sweetness and is definitely the reigning principessa of the house. we’re sending you loads and loads of BIRTHDAY LOVE miss rosie! x0x

interact brand design studio

January 10, 2023 in commercial interior, art, office

(the lounge area of the office complete with vintage ads)

interact is a strategic brand design studio that works to solve brand challenges with effective design by driving consumer understanding through data and by changing how brands interact with culture. their roster of clients includes local weather sports drink, widmer brothers craft brew, boxer six tailored cannibis, stem ciders, nestle rallies, nestle hot pockets and country archer jerky among others. when they moved from a large loft into a more intimate space in downtown boulder we wanted to be very thoughtful about how to best design the rooms to allow their team to be able to work creatively and effectively for their clients.

REPOST: keukenhof (coo-ken-hoff)

December 15, 2022 in family, travel

* unfortunately we will not be able to visit keukenhof on our christmas visit, but it is a MUST SEE if you go to the netherlands in the spring! x0x

the dutch east india company was founded in 1602 and monopolized both asian and european trade for two centuries, a period known as the dutch “golden age.” a wealthy dutch merchant class was established and the netherlands was the center of some of the greatest achievements in art and academia (think rembrandt, vermeer and hals, the invention of the pendulum clock, the discovery of bacteria, the first modern stock exchange…) at the start of this era, tulips were imported to holland from the ottoman empire. these brightly hued flowers with petals growing in the shape of elegant teacups completely captured the dutch and became highly valued. the “tulpiere” vase was designed to hold individual stems, as each blossom was considered so precious. by 1636, the tulip bulb was the fourth leading dutch export, following gin, herring and cheese and “tulpenmanie” was at its height. tulips became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency and a speculative frenzy ensued. it is said that one canal mansion was offered in trade for just ten rare bulbs. in 1637, the tulip market crashed after buyers in haarlem refused to show up to a scheduled auction and make good on payment. some believe that the haarlemmers stayed home because the bubonic plague was going around and they didn’t want to stand around in a big, infected crowd. since this was long before purell’s product launch in 1988, it is completely understandable. the burst of the “tulip mania” bubble did not have a lasting impact on the dutch economy, but it did effect the dutch psyche and is considered a reminder to stay grounded when making financial decisions. tulips continue as a beloved and iconic symbol of the netherlands (as do gin, herring and gouda, also popularized during the golden age) and today’s dutchies still love to chat about the period in history when a country the size of maryland fairly dominated the world.

REPOST: nijntje (nine-cha)

December 13, 2022 in residential interior, travel, family

* this little bunny is one of my FAVORITES! i just can’t wait to see her in her hometown! x0x

i moved to amsterdam when i was three months pregnant with my first child. i had never spent any time there and like many americans, i associated the netherlands with wooden shoes, tulips, marijauna “coffee shops” and the red light district. i was leaving behind my family, my pacific ocean and my super-fun job styling the windows for banana republic. the whole move happened so quickly i barely had time to process what i was getting myself into and what i was going to do with myself when i got there, besides being pregnant. one of my favorite work friends suggested i start styling the red light windows. i could rework them every season with different themes like we did at banana and dress the women in something beyond tiny, white bikinis that glow iridescent in the intense red lights.

REPOST: pompadour x0x

December 08, 2022 in holiday, travel, family, commercial interior

* whenever friends are planning a trip to amsterdam they always reach out for my favorite spots… i have a list of my favorites but the one place i insist they CANNOT MISS is pompadour… it is the loveliest place in the world! x0x

i moved to amsterdam in august, but you wouldn’t have known it was summer because of all the rain. there is the general misting present most days that you can still walk around in and then there are the serious downpours where you need to go inside. one of my earliest rain-evading discoveries was the chocolate shop, pompadour. this “gezellig” (dutch word for cozy, but meaning so much more) patisserie was located just around the corner from my apartment. it was almost a holy place for me. the interior is beautiful…rich, intricate, rose-colored wallpaper with warm, carved wooden moldings cut for the town hall of mortsel in 1895 and imported and repurposed, striking light fixtures evoking wild flowers or some kind of nature and inviting little marble cafe tables. there was just about no trouble that couldn’t be soothed away by having a cup of mint tea at pompadour. the tea was served in a large, clear glass of hot water with a couple of fresh mint stalks tucked in, accompanied by a delicious almond cake on the side. and i haven’t even gotten to the gorgeous chocolates and little cakes that looked like works of art.

2022 holidays x0x

December 06, 2022 in family, hank, holiday, pet

for some reason the holidays feel more hectic than usual this year… possibly because after several years of the pandemic and toning down the celebrations i am totally out of practice. and we didn’t even leave town for thanksgiving. we had a nice, quiet one in boulder with all the grandma turkey plates and glassware and recipes from my mother (i didn’t even make a turkey - i picked up a cooked one up from whole foods… i can roast the crap out of a chicken, but turkeys terrify me) and we watched the macy’s day parade (we just LOVE those rockettes!) while we made pies (blackberry, apple and pumpkin - we need to overdo it so we can have pie for breakfast in the days following.) mariah carey was the grand finale and honestly, no one sings about christmas like that gorgeous diva did in her red mermaid dress and CROWN… the BEST! but the highlight of the day was definitely the national dog show, won by none other than winston, THE FRENCHIE!