May December: July 2009

Campsite

I'm doing some urban camping this week.

My temporary digs:

Renovations, furniture deliveries, and finishing touches are almost complete on the new apartment, but until it's all done (or at least until the bed arrives) I'm camping in the sleeping bag on the floor.

I think I'll make smores tonight.

Pink Pouf

I just unpacked my favorite footstool:

This pink leather pouf adds a pretty pop of my favorite color to the bedroom.

Moroccan pouf from John Derian.

Moving

We're moving NYC apartments this week:

I'll be back to blogging soon, but for now I'm going back to the boxes...

Monty Monday - Monty and the Motorino

My dog and my new Vespa:

They're both Italian and they're both super cute.

Monty was fascinated by the scooter when it was delivered. He sniffed it, walked all the way around it, and then hopped up on it.

He was quite happy in the driver's seat:

I think he liked the view.

...although he didn't quite figure out how to use the mirrors to see what was behind him:

Unfortunately he can't come for rides around our neighborhood, but I did let him sit on the bike with me:

(Don't worry, the scooter was turned off and the center stand was down when he was up there.)

Monty and the motorino -- un duo molto elegante!

The Met's Summer Fete

Last night we went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Summer Fete. We're longtime members of/frequent visitors to The Met. We absolutely love having it on our side of town.

Chappy posing in front of the Met before the Summer Fete:

It's especially fun to go to an event inside the museum after hours -- if you take a few steps away from the party it feels like you've got the whole place to yourself.

Cocktails were up on the Roof Garden. This is one of my favorite spaces in all of New York. It's a large outdoor patio on the Met's fifth floor where they feature different art/sculpture installations. ...and apart from the art there's a magnificent view of Central Park.

The current exhibit is Roxy Paine on the Roof: Maelstrom, a giant, spider-like silver sculpture that grows and twists all over the patio.

I like it.:

Chappy and MCM, behind us is a lovely view of the park and midtown:

After watching the sunset over the Upper West Side, we headed downstairs to dinner.

Dinner and dancing were in the European Sculpture Court:

We dined amongst the giant statues of Andromeda and Perseus; it was quite an elegant backdrop.

My place setting - colorful and cheery, perfect for a summer fete:

On our way out we saw the African art exhibit and peeked into the new Greek and Roman Galleries. There's always something magnificent to see, and I can't wait to check out the new American Wing on my next visit...

The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Site Update

I'm finally getting around to updating my site...I know, I know -- it's long overdue!

Other than a 'search' function and tags/categories on each of the posts (I'll definitely include these two things in the new site design), what features would you like to see?

I value all your feedback, and thank you in advance for the help. Cheers.

Bordeaux

More from my visit to the beautiful city of Bordeaux soon...

Book Giveaway - Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life

Quinn Cummings (of The QC Report) is a wonderful storyteller. Her tales of parenting, pet owning, and being the domestic partner of 'consort' are endlessly amusing and totally relatable -- she's like the Jerry Seinfeld of lady bloggers.

Now Quinn has a book - Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life - and it's *fantastic*. I'm giving away three copies, scroll down for giveaway details...

The book is a collection of brief essays. I picked it up one weekend and couldn't put it down (and much to the chagrin of my fellow subway riders, I couldn't stop laughing out loud). Some of the stories are about Quinn's unconventional childhood, some are about Quinn's adventures living in the land of show business (Los Angeles), and some are about Quinn's often ill-tempered cats. They are all witty, charming, and just plain smart.

So, want to win a copy?

- Email MCMgiveaway@gmail.com with NOTES in the subject line.
- Tell me your favorite crafty activity (sewing, decoupage, etc). Quinn's book has a hysterical chapter about knitting and knitting books.

Entries will be accepted for 1 week starting now - contest ends at 11.59PM on July 15th. Three winners will be selected randomly on July 16th. If you win, I'll email to get your shipping information.

(The fine print: This contest is only open to US and Canadian entries. Sorry, but no shipping elsewhere.)

Quinn's blog: The QC Report.
Quinn's book: Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life.

Good luck in the giveaway!

Hotel le A - Chic and Sleek on the Right Bank

At the tail end of my visit to Paris Mr. & Mrs. Smith arranged for me to stay at the Hotel le A, a chic and sleek boutique hotel on the Right Bank.

White on white - the discreet exterior of Hotel le A:

White on black - the dramatic lobby library of Hotel le A:

It's modern and minimalist throughout - white walls, dark floors, and lots of contemporary artwork.

I checked into my room:

Clean lines, white linens, suspended lights, charcoal on paper sketches, flat-screen TV, and one very comfortable bed.

My bathroom:

Nickel, natural stone, mosaic tile, and a deep soaking tub (which I so enjoyed relaxing in after a week's worth of cycling).

My room was on the 1st floor (the 2nd floor in America), so I took the elevator up...

The elevator is one big white cube. As it ascends the light inside changes colors - a playful touch. The 1st floor was aqua colored:

Hotel le A is tucked away on a cute little side street, rue d'Artois. The view from my room:

Rue d'Artois is quiet, but it's steps away from all the action of the Champs Elysees and Avenue de Friedland.

A two minute walk from the hotel lead me to the Arc de Triomphe and this yummy sweet shop:

After a fun evening out and about in the 8th arrondissement I made my way back to Hotel le A.

Before calling it a night I stopped at their cozy black and white bar for a glass of wine:

I found a corner seat under the bar's 19th century glass ceiling, sipped my Sancerre, and said cheers (or santé!) to Hotel le A for a fabulous stay.

For more information on Hotel le A, click here.

For more information on Paris, see Mr & Mrs Smith's city guide.
For more information on Mr & Mrs Smith, visit their website.

Tucker Blair Flip Flops

Check out my new pair of needlepoint flip flops from Tucker Blair:

Super cute!

I wear one of Tucker Blair's belts all the time in the winter, and now I'm sure I'll be donning these flip flops all summer long.

The needlepoint straps on these flip flops are handmade, and the soles are covered in a soft leather - they feel relaxed and comfortable, and they look casually elegant.

There are three designs to choose from (of course I end up with the brightest of the three colors), and the sizing is unisex so both guys and girl can get in on the fun (I wear a 9.5/10 and a Medium fits me just right).

As an added bonus, there's free shipping this weekend. Just use the code "July4" at checkout.

Tucker Blair Needlepoint Flip Flops.

Paris Sightseeing

In addition to the Marais, I also took in some of the more well-known tourist attractions in Paris...

My first night in town I went on a sunset cruise down the Seine. I did this the last time I was in Paris, and I'll do it next time I'm there too. It's very touristy, but it's a wonderfully slow, peaceful was to see a very fast-paced city.

Some snaps from the Seine River boat ride:

I went to the Musée d'Orsay to enjoy their massive collection of French Impressionists (with a little Van Gogh and a smattering of American painters). The old train station that houses this collection is almost as impressive as the paintings themselves.

A few photos from the Musée d'Orsay:

Then I wandered over to the Musée Rodin. The stately home on the property is where Rodin lived/worked, and now the beautiful, manicured gardens house some of his most important works like The Thinker. On a sunny day, this was the perfect afternoon stop.

Pictures of the grounds and sculptures: