I’m Addicted – New York Times Home Section

I’ve lived in LA for 15 years, and at times felt like I’m behind on current events. Since leaving Boston, I had stopped reading the morning paper.  The Boston Globe was one of my favorite papers and at that time you could not get it delivered daily in Los Angeles.  I was getting the Wall Street Journal however, something was missing.  Over the last few months, I started picking up the Sunday New York Times and it always seemed to cover the things I loved.  I found myself engrossed in the paper and reading it cover to cover.  I decided to go on-line and order the paper for weekend delivery.  I noticed that many of the areas I was interested in such as the dining and food section and the home section were printed during the week.  Let’s face it, I scan the front page.  I decided what the heck, I’ll order it for daily delivery. I’ve been getting it now for a week and a half and I’m addicted.

Prior to getting the paper, I would get up and go straight to my computer.  Occupational hazard working for an Italian company.   I stopped having “me time” in the morning.  What I mean by “me time”, is no phone, computer, TV, etc.  Not anymore, the NY Times is my savior. I now pick up my wet paper (thank gosh for plastic bags), thanks to the sprinklers with my coffee in hand and sit on my front porch.  I love the calm of morning, the sound of the ocean, and just me, myself, and I reading the paper

with a cup of Joe

on my front porch

equals ~ UTTER BLISS!

I read it cover to cover and my favorite is Thursdays home section.  This week it featured the incredible 1787 year old home of Michael DesRosiers, an artist from  Lyme, CT.  Lyme, CT is a little town sandwiched between Old Lyme and Hadlyme.  It’s namesake comes from Lyme Disease.  I grew up directly across the Connecticut River and was so excited to see a house from this charming area featured in the Times.   I’m so bummed because I could not copy the pictures from the New York Times home section to my blog.  They were so beautiful and would have brought this post to life.  However, it’s a fascinating read and you cannot help but be inspired by his creativity, mix of mass market home accessories with flea market finds.  His greenhouse is to die for….I would love to host a luncheon or a dinner party there.  It would be my favorite place to read the New York Times.  Click the link to view the article  New York Times Home Section and the link direct to the photos is here Lyme, CT home.  Make sure you let me know what room was your favorite.  Who knew this little gem existed near where I grew up.  Maybe when I’m home for the holidays, I will beg him for a tour. 

I’m Feeling Blue

It’s summer and living near the beach has me in a blue mood.  Everything inspires me from sea glass, the color of the ocean, flowers, etc. 

These rooms make me feel happy!   How could you ever be in a bad mood?

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Photo 1:  Unknown, Photo 2:  Unknown, Photo 3:  Sophie Munro, Photo 4: Country Living, Photo 5:  Ralph Lauren, Photo 6:  Apartment Therapy

The Big Apple ~ Part 2

When I think of New York City all sorts of images are conjured in my head.  I love everything about New York from it’s street vendors, crazy taxi cab drivers, arts and entertainment, shopping, and diversity.There is nothing like the sites and sounds of New York City!

 

New York City Cabs

Beautiful Architecture

Police Officer Directing Traffic

Mac Store on Steroids

Barney’s Shoe Sale – Heaven! Flat Iron Building

Street Vendors Carriage Rides in Central Park

Contemporary Street Art  Bergdorfs ~ Need I say more?

European Men in their Skinny Pants (I work for an Italian Company so I had to take this photo).

Colorful & Creative Design ~ Only in NYC

I LOVE NEW YORK!

The Big Apple – Part 1

Unfortunately, I am not a full time blogger and work in the corporate world so finding time in between work and personal proves challenging.  However, I do love sharing my great finds with my friends.  I finally had a moment to compile this post.  I have to say it’s so much more fun blogging about topics I love, than dealing with corporate mumbo jumbo.  I was heading back to my hotel after finishing up a call and stumbled across this great shop The End of History Shop in the West Village.  I was stopped in my tracks by all the colored glass in the window.  It was like a giant candy store  (think jelly bellies in all the different colors) but with glass!  It’s an interior designer’s fantasy as it was filled with vintage hand blown glass, rare ceramics and mid-century furniture. Most of the glass originates in Europe (mostly Scandinavian, Italian, etc. from the 1920’s to the 1960’s).  It is one of the largest collections of vintage glass in one location that I have ever seen.

I was fortunate to meet the owner, Stephen Saunders, the day I popped in.  He is very friendly and generous, answering all my questions and letting me take tons of photos. I told him my LA designer friends would love his store.  My friend Erin would not have stopped oohing and aahing…!  The glass was grouped by coloring and sometimes by style, type of glass, or pottery.  I tried to capture all the different kinds of glass he carried.  It’s the perfect place to shop if you are looking for a color grouping for a table, shelf, display, etc. or just the right accessory item for a room in your house. My favorite items in his store was the lamps.  He had several vintage murano glass lamps to which he added a lucite bottom .  They looked tasteful, classic and simply elegant.  I wanted them all.  Whatever your style, taste, or color palate ~ you are sure to find something at the The End of History Shop. 

See for yourself all the gorgeous glassware below:

 

 

 

Here is an example of a Murano lamp with the lucite bottom.  This picture does not do this lamp justice.  It’s stunning (see below).

    

                

  

 

Make sure you check out Stephen’s blog at The End of History Shop. 

The End of History Shop - 548 1/2 Hudson Street – NYC 10014 - Phone:  212.647.7598.

Tell them Peggy & Fritz sent you! 

 

P.S. I haven’t mastered how to do pictures in a grouping so it’s not so long.  If someone knows how to do it please email me at ann@peggyandfritz.com!

 

 

 

PHOTO CREDITS:  All photos are from Peggy & Fritz.  Exception:  Photo 9 is courtesy of The End of History Blog

Summer Desserts

I don’t know what it is about our gloomy and cold weather we’re having in LA but it has got me in the cooking mood.  My girlfriend and her husband invited us over for an impromptu dinner on Friday night. She texted me and said, “ Do u and blake wanna come over 4 din 2nite?  SUPER casual and mellow! Just the 4 of us.  I feel like cooking:) 7 PM.”  I texted her and said sounds great and since I was in the mood to cook too, I’ll bring dessert.  I had been eyeing some rhubarb at Whole Foods for the last month and had some extra raspberries left over from the 4th of July and wanted to create something.  I found this yummy recipe called Rhubarb-Raspberry Crisp.  I decided to double the topping because I wanted it super crunchy.

I had to laugh when we walked into Nick’s house, she had fresh flowers everywhere and she had set table with fresh hydrangeas, her silver salt and pepper shakers, her linen napkins, and vintage glasses.  In addition, she made braised short ribs with pasta and a beautiful salad with a lemon dressing.  Remember “Super Casual”.  I started laughing because this is what we do all the time.  As much as we want it to be super casual, the entertainer in us ends up wanting the table to look great along with the food.  The main course was amazing.

The dessert was a hit and the color went perfectly with the decor.  We served it warm with vanilla bean ice cream.  Next time, I would like try making it in individual ramekins.  I think it would be a nice touch for everyone to have their own bubbling hot dishes.  It’s the perfect dessert for summer time – a little sweet and a little tart.  Hope you enjoy!

  Just out of the oven – bubbling hot!

     After dinner, serving dessert dessert with vanilla bean ice cream.

    Nick’s “super casual” table setting.  Isn’t it adorable (see below)?

Table up close.

For the delicious recipe see below:

RHUBARB-RASPBERRY CRISP

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant tapioca
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup butter, chilled

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, tapioca, cornstarch and salt. Place rhubarb and raspberries into bowl making sure to completely coat them with dry ingredients. Pour into baking pan.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour and oats. Cut in butter until mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Spread on top of fruit mixture.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until rhubarb is tender.

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 122 | Total Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 10mg

Table Settings for the Holidays

I wanted to post some of our tabletop pictures from the 4th of July.  Many of my family members are not on Facebook so this post is for them.  I used an old farm table and covered it with a block print tablecloth, I got at the Long Beach flea market.  The runner is burlap and the centerpieces are antique silver tea pots with white hydrangeas and red flowers in the middle.  I cannot for the life of me recall the name of the flowers but they were the perfect touch of red.  The bar cart still has not been repainted (I’ve been a busy lady), but I still used it for the party.  I put the wine glasses on it and put the drinks on a mosaic table I had in back.  I pulled pillows from inside to anchor the two large chairs that flanked the ends of the farm table.

Our appetizers consisted of prosciutto and melon with arugula and feta cheese (compliments of Marcie) as well as various gourmet cheeses.  We had some yummy food (see post on potatoes).  We grilled spicy garlic chicken and marinated flank steak, grilled artichokes (with lemon, olive oil, and garlic), fingerling potatoes, and a orzo salad with sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese and arugula.  Dessert was compliments of my friend, Nick.  She made homemade cheesecakes with raspberry filling and one with lemon curd topped with whip cream and blueberries and raspberries.  I have amazing friends who are great cooks and helped in making our day extra special.  I’m also grateful to my friend Erin her boyfriend Petro who made the trek from the big city LOL!  XO XO!  Also, I put in a few pictures to put a face with a name!  Hope you had a great day celebrating.

 

The flea market bar cart – still not painted!  I know, I know, I know!

Front yard (see below), picture is a little blue.

Setting up the drink table (see below). 

My friend Nick (See Below) made these unbelievable mini cheesecakes.  YUMMY!  I had the lemon curd one for breakfast.

The helpers (see below) Sash (Nick’s hubby) and Blake (my boyfriend) relaxing after me driving them crazy getting everything ready.

Erin and Petro – How cute are they (see below)?

The Couple Picture (see below) ~ Left to Right: Petro, Nick, Sash, Me, Blake and Erin.

Maureen and Ms. Ginger

The girls late night – we were freezing. Left to Right:  Ann – Maureen, Nick, and Marcie.