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We love a good quarantail, especially of made of fresh ingredients and light on syrups and sugars. When I stumbled upon @withfoodandlove’s Basil + Fig Vodka Smash, I bookmarked it toot-sweet (and yet not too sweet;) for a day that called for a little something special. Today’s the day! (But hey, everyday’s the day 🙂 Join me? Tap the #linkinbio

It tickles me that the Covid-crazed world has gone nuts over puzzles. I humbly confess I have been nuts over puzzles for a while (and that is probably the single example ever of my being ahead of trend). I confess again that I am partial to the wooden variety as opposed to the cardboard, but bias aside, puzzling benefits the brain and mood big-time. And each piece fitted is an instant gratification, yay! 1,000 piece puzzle=1,000 instant gratifications: Addiction explained. ⁠
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From still life florals to landscapes and beloved paintings, @verandamag recently rounded up a few of their favorites, including this beautiful hummingbird piece ☝featuring an illustration from 19th-century German zoologist Ernst Haeckel’s Art Forms In Nature. And though my favorite @libertypuzzles is still in lockdown, ol’ Ernst’s hummingbirds and others are out there and available now, see #linkinbio

Tucked in a Puglia hillside, this serenely decorated white-washed house dates to the 14th century has the distinctive conical roof and stone walls typical to the region. Lovingly restored by Bulgari’s creative director, Lucia Silvestri, her earthy, neutral palette of beige, light brown, white, green, and touches of dark brown merges outdoor and ethereal elements and creates an air of tranquility and calm. Featured recently in @elledecor, its setting among rolling hills and centuries of history is as magical as the house itself. Get lost in Puglia through my stories.

Design @lucia_silvestri
Photography James Merrell

I find art walls fascinating, like a collage of someon’e life and the evolution of taste therein. The more eclectic the better. And yet the mix must be harmonious and balanced. The stately and ordered are beautiful, but the higgeldy-piggeldy and personal are such fun–like giant bulletin boards of mementos and private amusements. The in-between, like this one, is great. ⁠
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But what to do when your framer is closed? (as many are, now) or you just don’t want to be bothered with formal framing? I’ve got a hack and a few ideas on my website #linkinbio And see my Stories, too!⁠
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Photography @jennykomenda via @dominomag

This surprised me, this photo taken by the wonderful @TriaGiovan when she was here a couple of years ago photographing for my last book. I hadn’t seen it in a while and when I came across it I thought, oh, that’s pretty, OH that’s our house! I’m not sure what it means, but It’s interesting when you see familiar people and places as if through fresh eyes. Would that we always saw through fresh eyes, without the stories we attach, whether they are true or not. Hmm.

Last year I had the pleasure of writing about the famous “ham-and-cheese house” in Palm Beach for @verandamag , as decorated by the ever terrific @susanzisesgreeninc . This gracious manse overlooking the ocean was designed in 1928 by Maurice Fatio, legendary architect to Rockefellers and Vanderbilts whose opulent creations inspired Cole Porter to quip: “I want to live on Maurice Fatio’s patio.” Wanna see it inside? Wonder why it’s called “ham and cheese”? Take a tour through my stories….

Cookbooks culled and re-oraginzed, and shelves gussied up by this gorgeous Mexican pottery for which I have ranch’s previous administration to thank. The senora had style to spare… And what is the buzzword nowadays for those of us now obsessed with cleaning and re-organizing every inch of the house? #Quarganizing ? I know someone cleverer than I has a word for it…

As we wander the corners of our homes, organizing cupboards, re-connecting with treasures once lost…I have found myself reminiscing on travels past. I stumbled upon some of my sketches from a past trip and I fell down the rabbit whole to a fascinating four days we spent in Havana. “The people are friendly and warm, and the vibe is energetic and lively. There’s a burgeoning contemporary art scene, and the Buena Vista Social Club plays on. There is much to inspire here…” Get lost in Havana through my #linkinbio

Photography by @markandrewstudios

One of my favorite accounts to follow online is the always enlightening @carolinmyss. I am currently knee deep in her webinar Reflections Series, “Riding the Phoenix”. A provocative look at the times we are in, she developed it specifically around the pandemic. It is a simultaneous call to action and contemplation and I highly recommend taking a peek! What accounts do you follow for inspiration? Tag them below, I am always on the hunt for more!

Happy Birthday Nina. This impeccably dressed beauty, a Western Tanager, appeared outside my office window this morning. First time I’ve seen one, and I gasped like some kind of goofy naturalist birdwatcher person, which maybe I sort of am. But anyway I was telling a friend about it and then blurted out OMG and today is Nina’s birthday. @Ninagriscom my bff who died in January, known and loved by so many of you realtime and Insta friends…So I think it is a visit from Nina, which she would think was ridiculous, aside from being annoyed that it was her birthday, but man she was always impeccably dressed and great looking. Like my friend @dennisbasso said, “She was a great chick.” Fly in peace, darlin’ Nina.⁠
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#HappyBirthdayNina #ninagriscom #whatagreatchick Photo by Steve Large via BirdWatchingDaily.com⁠
#rancholazaca

Connecting with nature is healing for body and soul. Ask any sheep or hummingbird. Better yet, call in the hummingbirds yourself by planting what they love. (Sheep, not so much…) In case you missed it, a few days ago I asked my most green-thumbed friend George Pisegna, Deputy Director & Chief of Horticulture at the Horticultural Society of New York, to take over my feed and give us all his tips on doing just that.

Head to my stories to see his tips, the flowers he recommends, and how we can support all the vital work that The HORT is doing! ​
Photography @raewarne

Mother’s day is upon us and while there is no gift big enough to do the day justice, we can try. Here are a few of my favorite finds, from a beautiful robe to beauty treatments and the best hack for a face mask. Huh, never thought I’d be talking about a face mask that wasn’t the beautifying or Halloween kind…Find the perfect gift in my stories….