Author: Frances

Favorite cocktail napkins. .
#cocktailnapkins #funnycocktailnapkins #justsaying

The table is set and my adorable namesake Frances makes a funny face. Happy Christmas to you all! .
@ffuqua #christmastable #christmasdecor #sparkleplenty

Away in a manger…

The beautiful living room at my beautiful sister’s. Am loving this flocked tree and the colors of the ornaments. Interior design by @johnoetgen .
#johnoetgen #livingroom #christmasdecor #christmastree #flockedchristmastree

The beautiful, stately entrance to the Lotus Club in New York’s Upper East Side, on my afternoon walk. .
#christmasinnewyork #lotusclub #doorways #christmasdoors #manhattan #oldworldelegance

Lovr #amaryllis at Christmas and these from @jwoesteinlo happened to be the perfect shade for our breakfast room at the ranch. Ive posted this room several times because its just so darn photogenic thanks to the fabulous shade of @benjaminmoore orange chosen by the brilliant @marywatkinswood and by the way the sun comes in around mid-morning. Ceramic bird by #suki .
#breakfastroom #rancholazaca
#christmasflowers #orange

A brilliant night at the 92nd Street Y with Fern Mallis and Amy Fine Collins, both masters of their many crafts, discussing Amy’s life and her newest book The International’s Best-Dressed List—The Official Guide, and the List itself which came out Saturday. The audience was almost as interesting as the talk!
@madamefaleshill @williamiveylong @alexhitz @thombrowne @thonbrowneny @bettinastake @carolinaherrera and others, all very well dressed I might add!
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#92Y #amyfinecollins #fernmallis #internationalbestsressedlist #ibdl #fashionista #smartwomen @fernmallis

HOW TO KEEP A TECH-FREE TABLE sweetly ☺️ at the holidays and always… This from a piece in FirstforWomen.com interviewing moi about budget- (and manners-!) friendly entertaining. Lots of good tips, budget or no! Copy and paste this link: https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/how-to-throw-a-holiday-party-174153

Love red flowers and evergreens! Seems like almost any combination looks good. Magnolia, pine, roses, hypericum, carnations (yes!), ranunculas… more later…
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#christmasflowers #red

Captured this in our driveway coming back from town this morning. According to @powerofpositivity .com :
Hawks scan their environment from high above the ground, looking for potential threats and sources of food. If you see hawks showing up in your life frequently, it may be a call to see things from a higher perspective and focus on your observation skills.
Of course if you live in the country you see hawks all the time, but I still get a thrill from watching them and they do somehow seem to speak of a higher, sharper vision, which gives me pause—particularly as we seem to get caught up in the chaos of holidays … .
#redtailedhawk #rancholazaca #spiritguide #animalsymbolism

Acknowledging the extraordinary life of Felix Rohatyn, immigrant, financier, “fixer”, philanthropist, ambassador, advisor, husband of the late, lovely Elizabeth Rohatyn; and stepfather to dear friend @ninaggg, to whom the sympathies of the legions who love her go this day and in the days ahead. Mr Rohatyn’s obituary in @nytimes is a fascinating read summarizing a remarkable era in our history and in New York City’s saga of near-demise in the 1970s. RIP #felixrohatyn Photo @gettyimages via @nytimes.

Olivos from 2 to 4. Come see us and marvel at The treasures for home and garden and great Christmas gifts at this wonderful wacky fabulous beloved Santa Ynez institution! Meet my co-author @chefstephvalentine and @jwoesteinlo himself. No telling who-or what-you might run into. See previous post for hints. .
#californiacookingandsouthernstyle
#jwoeste #stephanievalentine
#santaynezvalley #lovemytown #loveourvalley @santaynezvalley @santaynezvalleystar @santaynezinn @santaynezvr @visitsyv @syvflorist @losolivosca @gallerylosolivos @wendyfosterlosolivos @losolivosrotary @losolivoslemons @randdlosolivos @gallerylosolivos @visitlosolivos @losolivoslimo @shoplosolivos @yogalosolivos @santaynezvalleynews @santaynezstars @gaineyvineyard @tastesyv @graciebarrasyv