Tulips vs. Mums

Last week I decided to start my own One-Bouquet-a-Week Challenge to teach myself how to start creating better flower bouquets. And you should know I’m no quitter: here are some pics of this week’s concoctions.

The first is a mix of tulips and some random pink, weed-ish flower that I got at Trader Joe’s. I originally bought some yellow button mums to go with the tulips; however, this IS a learning exercise, and those tulips quickly taught me that they were just not digging those mums. (Or at least not until I get better at this.)

The second bouquet is my first use of a cute little bud vase I got for Christmas. And can I just say–bud vases! Where have you been all my life? I am loving having this small, sweet bouquet by my bed (there’s one in the bathroom, too, filled with the uncooperative button mums). It’s such a perfect way to wake up a room.

Two weeks and counting! Best challenge ever. Just sayin’.

Weekend at Murray’s

Remember those old Scrooge McDuck cartoons, when Scrooge would gleefully dive into his beloved piles of gold coins and swim? That became my secret wish after I visited Murray’s Cheese Shop with a girlfriend over the weekend. If was big-time Scrooge rich, I would have bought all the wonderful fromage in the store, taken it home, piled it high in my huge custom-made refrigerator room, and jumped in and flapped about in a giddy McDuckian manner. Because that is exactly how much this lady loves her cheese.

Purple Reigns

Bratislava Sweater, $110, Little Houses (my latest purchase!)

“The Watched City” print, $23, Janice Jong

Le Creuset® Cassis Oval French Oven, $269.95, Sur La Table

Petunia Purple Fabric | Mod Quad Collection, $68, Cicada Studio



Three Notes From Salalah print by Cy Twombly, $60, artriver.com

Purple Cowl, $60, Sara Lagacé

My birthday is this month, and as much as I try, I have never been totally happy about the fact that my birthday is in February. It’s so inconsistent with my personality: it’s in the middle of the winter (I am a spring/summer person), it’s the month of Valentine’s Day (totally not my holiday), and it is represented by one of my least favorite gemstones: the amethyst. (I mean, could we trade with April’s diamond? Or even September’s sapphire?)

But as much as I’d like to move February between May and June, celebrate Memorial Day instead of another Valentine’s, and don a sparkly white diamond or two every now and then, I’ll always consider giving my month another chance. Because if its amethyst can look as good as it does in the purple items above, I think we could continue to hang. At least for now. (Watch out, June and July. I’m eyeballing you.)

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