Easter Love Countdown

Our long-suffering cat, Isabelle, wearing homemade bunny ears. Easter 2003.

Easter is far and away my favorite holiday. Having grown up with no religious affiliation I was raised to enjoy the holiday with all of the chocolate and jelly beans and none of the guilt. I'm a heathen through and through.

I love that Easter involves a planned activity. Hiding eggs and hunting for treasure is a timeless delight for adults and children. I love that gifts are relegated to the children, who are refreshingly pleased with the simple pleasures in life. And I love that the potential for family drama is limited. (As opposed to the marathon family fests that are Thanksgiving and Christmas.) Meeting for brunch means that after a few mimosas, everyone is free to head home to sleep it off on their respective couches, while the kids bite the ears off their chocolate bunnies.

So in honor of my favorite holiday, I bring you the Easter gift guide 2009. I am all for a basket full of plastic grass and jelly beans, but there are plenty of beautiful and crafty gifts to given or made. For the next two weeks I will round up a selection of Easter-related goodies from around the Internet. Here are a couple finds to get us started.

Lilly Bean makes truly adorable play food from felt. The cookies would make a cute addition to some edible goodies, but the chocolate bunny would be the sweetest centerpiece in any little one's basket. You can order it already made, or if you are feeling really crafty, order the kit and sew it yourself.

Sunday Cup: 6 of 52

Still working on my spring-friendly attitude. I'm slowly coming around to the idea of exposed toes and bare legs but I'm finding that a hot cup of tea puts me right back into a cozy kind of curl-up-with-a-woolly-blanket state of mind, rather than a skip-through-the-dewy-grass in a sundress vibe.

This set has always reminded me of Easter, what with the pale yellow color and soft flowers hiding on the inside of the cup. So I thought it would help with the ushering in of a new season. I had a cup of White Ambrosia from Tea Forte. It was mild and sweet. Quite calming actually.

The set is English bone china and was made in the mid-50s. It's called Clare. It had a small matching plate that is perfect for some cookies or a slice of cake, but I couldn't find that. I purchased it, along with a pink set, at LoveJoy's in San Francisco. If you are ever visiting Noe Valley I would highly recommend making a reservation for high tea. Everything they make is delicious and tea is served in mismatching cups and saucers and pots. It's very Alice in Wonderland. And virtually everything in the shop is for sale. Which means after you stuff yourself silly there is great rummaging to be had in the back of the shop.

Dream Like State

Photo title: Falling. Photo credit: Cassia Beck

How lovely are these pink blossoms against the grainy blue sky? Feels like a daydreamy kind of day to me.

The Pleasure is all Mine

Meeting anyone of accomplishment often leaves me behaving as if I'm in the early stages of a mild stroke. It begins with a flush of girlish embarrassment, followed by awkward eye contact and silence. Stammering comes next and usually I forget to introduce myself. You would be left offering up your hand to my clammy palm.

(I should point out, that I am considered to be a professional communicator. Meaning I write and generally express myself on a daily basis, for a paycheck.)

Now, it doesn't really matter what level of fame you have achieved. If I'm moderately impressed by something you have said, written, performed or generally accomplished in your life, and I get to meet you - chances are I'll also make us both really uncomfortable.

Here's a short list of people I've shared painful exchanges with and a synopsis of what I managed to get out of my mouth:

Billy Collins: Poet, former two-term poet laureate
"I like the words you put together. They sound pretty. And sometimes funny."

Lyle Lovett: Musician
See above.

Bill Clinton: 42rd President of the United States
"Hi." (Trembling, while wiping away the tears that swelled as a result of hearing "Hail to the Chief.")

There's more to this story but it's hard to capture in print. If you meet me in person I will happily provide you the dramatic interpretation. Basically, it ended up with him making sure I got a photo that I had managed to ask for, after we were interrupted by a pushy PR person in line behind me. Six weeks later I received this by mail in an unmarked envelope. From the White House.

I LOVE this photo. It's one of my most treasured things and I've often thought that nothing could or would trump this experience. But after watching President Obama on "60 Minutes" this week (and saying out loud for the millionth time since January 20 - "pinch me because I can't believe he is actually our leader!") I think an encounter with that man could be pretty life changing.

So, I guess you could say I'm a fan.

I know that people are grumbling about the risk of "overexposure" and that his administration's ambitious plans to fix the economy, overhaul healthcare and seriously explore alternative engergies are too broad to tackle at once. I'm not saying anything new here, but I find it both refreshing and reassuring to watch a man who can express himself intelligently while multitasking more than one issue at a time.

P.S. Doesn't it look like I'm standing next to a cardboard cut out of the President? That's one of the reasons why I like it so much.

Sunday Cup: 5 of 52

Spring has officially sprung, but I'm not feeling it. I trimmed this blossom to try and turn my mood and usher in a new season. I pulled out this delicate flowered chintz cup, made by Rosina to give my senses yet another cue that it is time to let go of winter's hold. But I am not ready. I'm craving a couple more rain storms to wake me in the middle of the night. One more week of chilled evenings to justify my endless cravings for soup, crusty bread and plates of cheese. I need more comfort, wrapped in soft blankets and cozy fires. 

I realize that my words may only be appreciated by those of us in California where the climate rarely challenges us to consider more than a bit layering. I may need to wear a sweater and a light jacket as I brave a stroll to the farmer's market this morning. And the rest of you are likely ready to slap the melancholy off my mood, just before you head out to plow your driveway so you might actually leave your home today.

I get it. So I'll suck it up, tuck my windbreaker into the diaper bag and move on. 

The cup and saucer are bone china, made in England. They were probably produced in the mid-1950s. The saucer has a beautiful scalloped edge and the cup itself is scalloped diagonally with gold trim on the handle. I had a cup of Blackberry Sage "Tea for Wisdom" from The Republic of Tea. I never expect to like fruity teas but then I try one and end up loving the refreshing taste. This was a nice strong black tea with a touch of sweet.

Tiny Bubbles

Photo by Irene Suchocki

Can you imagine sitting under this canopy of lights with your one sweet love and a bottle of champagne? A girl can dream, right?

One Salted Caramel

That's all it took to send me running from the restaurant in a desperate attempt to hold on to my dignity. Well, that bit of housemade candy following 15 courses of mind-blowing food, paired with wines. But that salted caramel was more than I could handle. Apparently there was a glass jar full of them and our friends were encouraged to stuff their pockets full upon exiting our meal at Manresa. I have a vague recollection of the maitre d' offering up this parting gift as I made a fast break for fresh air.

Yeah, the photo below features me in the middle, working overtime at holding my shit together. A hasty exit was not exactly how I had planned on ending my birthday celebration, but five and a half hours into our meal, my aging digestive system was holding all the cards and I was simply along for the ride. My husband snapped off a few photos before we made a run for the car. Ruining my birthday by throwing up in the bushes would have been so mid-90s and if life experience has taught me anything it's that expressing bodily functions in public does not a lady make.

Anywho, it was a fabulous night and there is plenty that could be said about the food and the drink. But I am not food writer and would surely overstate the obvious and misinterpret the finer points of Chef David Kinch's culinary creativity. (Maybe you saw him take down Bobby Flay last weekend on Iron Chef America? Yeah, he's kind of a big deal).

Bottom line, Tom and I shared an incredible meal with two of my oldest friends, Jen and Melanie, and their delightful husbands, Jason and Brian. And here are a few highlights:


Menu says: Horchata and lightly toasted parsnip.
Brian says: "That's stupid good."



Menu says: Arpege farm egg.
Melanie says: Well, there's no way to appropriately sum up everything that was said about this shell full of deliciousness. Let's just say that soft boiled egg+red wine vinegar+maple syrup+coarse sea salt=about the best thing any of us had every tasted.



Menu says: Cherry blossom mouse, toasted almond and rhubarb consomme.
Jen says: "Would it be rude to lick the bowl?"

Check out the amazing garden's where the Chef get's his vegetables for the restaurant. Pretty dreamy.

Still Swooning

From across the Internet I am loving these sweet little gems, handmade by Tryst.

Made by Hand

I love these earrings by Schlomit Ofir and the necklace below from Luxe Deluxe. I would very much like to have both of these. But every time I go to order them I think of the human monkey child who clings to my neck for 14 hours out of most days. She shares my love of shiny things and will grab at anything dangling within her little arm's reach. Alas, I will admire from across the Internet. Would someone please buy these and send me a photo of you wearing them?

What I really like about this particular jewelry is that it is handmade and sold on Etsy.com. I love Etsy and all that is stands for - independent artists selling their handmade work within a supportive community.

It's difficult to read about all the businesses that are closing up shop and declaring bankruptcy. Friends and neighbors are loosing their homes and jobs, not to mention their hopes of comfortable retirement. We are reminded to support our local businesses. That is easier said than done when I walk down the street in my hometown and see many of the same shops I can find at the mall. Don't get me wrong, I do spend money at the Gap and Willams Sonoma. And I wish those companies much future success. But it makes me really sad to know my hometown has not seen an independent bookstore for more than 20 years.

I know that we all need to do what we can to keep money flowing through the economy. Banks need to lend and consumers need to buy, while simultaneously paying down their extraordinary supersized American-style debt. That's a tall order. I've decided that my small contribution will be making this the year that I support more artists and independent businesses.

I'll do what I can to buy flowers for my home at the farmer's market and coffee beans at the independent coffee house and when it comes to unique jewelry, sweet prints for my daughter's room and gifts for my friends, I'll be shopping online and supporting a group of artists as best I can.

Where do you find unique gifts and special items for yourself?

Sunday Cup: 4 of 52

We just received this cup as a set with a large bowl and plate from Tiffany & Co. Technically, it's a gift for our daughter, Emerson. But her little 11 month-old fingers can't quite navigate ceramic, yet. My first thought was to send a thank you card and wrap this package up for her to discover in another decade or so. But that seemed like such a shame. I'm generally against the idea of saving things like the "good china and silver" for special occasions. At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, I'll just say that life is, indeed, far too short and each and everyday should be celebrated as something special.

And that is how I am rationalizing the first use of my daughter's very fancy little cup.

I love the colors and the imagery of planets, stars and rocket ships. I had an amazing cup of this hot cocoa with loads of whipped cream from a can. Enjoyed the entire thing up in Emerson's room while she played and eyed me suspiciously. It was good. But I'm thinking the next time I bring sweet chocolaty goodness into her room, I had better be ready to share. Here was her reaction to my selfishness.

She made quick work of clearing off the pink box. Girl likes a clean slate. As apposed to her mother who can fill a corner, shelf, or table top like nobody's business. She's thinking "I dare you to set that cup back down here."

Blissful Thinking

Photo title: Forest Faeries. Photo by Madelyn Mulvaney.



I could stare at this image all morning. Here's hoping you stumble upon some magic in your day.

Blossoms of Note

I spent most of last week thinking about a tree. A tree so magnificent with blossoms that I wanted to tell people about it. Encourage them to drive by and witness it for themselves. I didn't want anyone to miss out. I was disappointed when I visited with my camera and all that was left was this.



The fact that I made a specific trip, drove out of my way with my baby sleeping in her car seat is proof that I am related to my mother. And that sound you just heard was me choking on my Cheerios.

There are countless trees, shrubs and flowers that my mother will visit throughout the year. When my Great Grandmother was alive they would venture out together to see a certain flowering tree or patch of wildflowers on the highway. I never gave much thought to these trips until I started doing it myself. Last week.

Realizing that this is something so unique to my mother and the way that I was raised stopped me cold. Rather than acknowledge a personality trait that has so clearly been imprinted on me by way of biology or shear proximity — I prefer to think that I am finally at a point in my life where I can pause and notice small and wondrous things and appreciate the natural world around me. Effortless beauty that is so often missed by me because of a preoccupation with the dry cleaning, grocery shopping, work meetings and the Real Housewives of Orange County, New York and Atlanta.

As if I needed further proof that both nature and nurture are powerful forces, moments later I found myself unconsciously driving through my Grandparents' neighborhood, where they have not lived in more than three years. I saw these trees and in one involuntary inhalation of fresh blossoms I was flooded a lifetime of sweet memories.

And now I know I'll be back to visit, both the blossoms and the memories, next year. Because I am my mother's daughter and that is what we do.

Sunday Cup: 3 of 52

This has always been a stand-out favorite. My photography doesn't do the color justice. The blue is much richer in person and the gold is an elegant compliment. I felt quite sophisticated sipping an afternoon coffee along with some Vanilla Joe Joes.

The set comes from Bavaria. The cup and the saucer are both stamped but details about the manufacturer were hard to come by. The best I can tell is that it was probably made in the 1950s or 60s. So it's not as old as it feels. I still like to imagine a European aristocrat with this set hosting afternoon tea in her parlor.

Comfort and Calm

Photo by Irene Suchocki

The world feels a bit frantic right now and I wish we could all take a collective deep breath. Imagine all our wishes blowing with these thistle seeds? 

Motivation, Procrastination and The List

The clock is ticking. I'm 35 and not getting any younger. And did I mention I never met a cliche I didn't like?

What I am really getting at is 1) I've had too much coffee today and 2) there are only 361 days to complete all items on my List. And have you seen my garage? If I start now it could easily take me until 2010 to clear a path to the box of clothes I saved from junior high. Seriously, people. I need some help prioritizing. Or just some help getting started.

See, one of my problems is not just procrastination, however, one should never underestimate its magical powers of persuasion over me and all activities in my life - save for television viewing and daydreaming.

I have a hard time starting a project that I know I cannot finish in a set amount of time. Organizing the garage will take many months of dedicated work. So why start that thankless job on Saturday morning? And using my sewing machine? Well, that's so vague and open-ended that I know full-well that machine will sit, unused until late February next year when I get all OCD on my own ass and actually buy a pattern and some fabric.

But, number 35 - take a meditation retreat? That one is pretty specific and achievable. Even quantifiable. Either I go and participate, or I don't.

So last night, as I was sorting the mail and noticed a beautiful brochure from this lovely respite, I quickly tossed it into recycling so as not to be tempted to ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR MYSELF AND THEN CHECK SOMETHING OFF THE LIST.

No, it's much healthier to keep a running list of all the things I do wrong and can feel crappy about. Awesome. What's that you say? "Way to grow up, evolve and take responsibility for yourself and your happiness?" I know, thanks.

Moving on.

I heart this skirt.

Given the chance, it's exactly the type of thing I would have worn every single day of my life as a child. Naturally, it's now the type of thing I will hope my own daughter will love when she grows into skirt twirling age. Heather Bailey made this skirt. I visit her lovely blog whenever I am in need of colorful inspiration. She's incredibly creative, talented and crafty. Of course, I'm at once a fan and a jealous toad because she holds many of the skills I can only hope for in my creative life. What I am saying is, I would love to sew this skirt for my daughter. I'm not putting it on the List, as I would still like number 4 to be painfully vague and unquantifiable. That way, I can still cross it off with great satisfaction next February when I use my sewing machine to darn my husband's socks.

A Surreal Life, Indeed

Thirty-five years ago today my mom began to question the logic behind giving birth on a farm in the south of France. Without running water. Surrounded by her hippie friends.

At the last moment she had my father drive us to the nearest town, where some very relieved mid-wives welcomed me into the world only moments after arriving in Perpignan - the French city that Salvadore Dali called the center of the universe.

Sunday Cup: 2 of 52

Before the rains came and while the baby napped, I slipped out to the backyard for a cup of genmaicha green tea. It was quiet and damp and the tea was strong and hot. I'm not a huge green tea fan. The taste is so subtle that I am often left wanting something more. But I love the nutty flavor that the toasted rice adds to genmaicha.

This delicate little cup has a butterfly on one side and a bird on the other - which you can see below. The cup has no markings but the saucer has an M and a Z above a crown and some sort of crest and Austria underneath. A google search resulted in this: "MZ Austria was a mark used by Moritz Zdekauer on porcelains made by his works in Altrolau, Austria from 1884-1909." So this little lovely is at least 100 years old.

As I sipped, I thought about the many tables this set has seen, the woman who may have received the complete set as a wedding gift and how this one ended up with me.