Community Dinner Party

Do you sometimes feel like we all live inside bubbles?  The kind of bubbles we built for ourselves to feel safe and comfortable...but at the same time, we get too comfortable that we lose our sense of adventure and wonder.  I have been feeling that a lot lately.  I miss the kind of feelings you get when you meet a complete stranger and somehow you end up having the most rewarding and amazing conversation with that person.  I miss the kind of conversation where you leave feeling inspired and your soul is filled with so much happiness. So I decided to host a dinner party where strangers would get together and converse over great food and wine.

The concept of the dinner party is almost like a pot luck dinner.  I pick a cook book and everyone who will attend the dinner choose a recipe from the book and bring it to the party.  I set up the table with fresh flowers and my vintage china.

I picked A Kitchen in France by Mimi Thorisson.  Not only are the recipes amazing, the photography is so inspiring.

I made Roast chicken with Creme Fraiche and Herb.  Delish!

Nothing make me more happy than seeing people enjoying good food and great conversations.  The owner of the cafe, Pan'e Dolcetti, made this out of this world delicious poached pear dessert from the book.

Strangers are just friends we haven't met.  My soul is very happy tonight.

When life gives you a $15 bed frame and a sneak peek of Bella's Black room

When life gives you a $15 bed frame from Savers, you dress it up with some luscious velvet.  I mean did you expect anything else?  Here is the before.

A friend from my upholstery class found it at a local Savers and picked it up for me.  It was kind of a perfect timing since I sold the girls' iron beds very quickly.  Do you remember these??

They are now gone to other little girls.  Oh how they grow fast.  So for the last two weeks, I have been painting, upholstering, and moving things around.  I think when you work around a very tight budget and buying things you want is not an option, you just have to take your time and get creative.  I used this gorgeous dark purple velvet fabric I already have but it was perfect because Bella was very adamant about black, dark purple, and hot pink being her color choices.

Ok.  Can we talk about the chalkboard walls?  I am not going to lie.  I was very nervous about them but they came out so good!  I am painting one wall white to bring a bit more light in.  I am so happy I painted the rest of the room black.  Now back to the bed.

I just painted a coat of Fusion Mineral paint in Sterling.  I didn't want the paint to look too perfect.  A little imperfect is needed to balance out the velvet.  I upholstered thin plywood then simply nailed them to the head board and foot board.  I really had so much fun upholstering the bed that I want to do more!!  Of course I have no need for any more beds.

I used things I have around the house to decorate this side of her room.  The gold mirror really shines with the black wall.  Right now I am reupholstering a chair per her request.  She sketched out a design with velvet and faux fur.  Yup she is my daughter.  I am thinking that is where the pink will comes in.  Next on the lists are building a small desk, sewing bohemian curtains, and some art works.  This girl got it good.

Here is to six years olds who know exactly what they want and don't let their mommies talk them out of anything.  I am wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Love,
Victoria

Quiet Sunday Morning

It is starting to feel like Christmas.  Well at least it is starting to feel like it inside.  I love Christmas.  I start listening to Christmas music probably before Halloween.  The girls and I tried to wait as long as we could to start decorating the house but...we gave in today.

Simple Christmas decor.

Aurora was very excited to get her own baby Christmas tree.

I am thinking our little personal hat holder needs some garland around her.

Bella helped her sister decorates the tree until she gets her own.  If only Mommy just stops being lazy and starts painting her room already.  I love mornings like these.  The house is all quiet except for the soft lullaby of Christmas music and children giggling.

I am reminding myself to sit down and be content and to savor every drop of my morning coffee.  I am reminding myself to fill this space with as much love and kindness as possible.  I think our world is in desperate needs of that.

Happy Sunday, friends.


Love,
Victoria

Autumn

There is a little corner of magic at our local library.

 

I took these pictures with my phone.  It really felt like you walked into another world.  The sky above is just canopy of golden leaves.

Below you is a carpet of magic.

Oh, Autumn.  You had me at Hello.


Love,
Victoria

Weekend Thoughts

How quickly weekend flies by.  The girls and I had a busy weekend of wedding and cupcakes.  On Saturday we drove into Boston for my cousin's wedding.  I love weddings....I cry at every wedding.  It is such a happy occasion and the idea of two people making that commitment to spend the rest of their lives together pulls at my heartstrings.  We, by that I mean, I wanted to have all three of us dress up in our suits and take over the dance floor.  

How adorable are they with their little velvet tuxedo jackets and bow ties?? After the wedding, we met up with friends and walked around Newbury Street.  They had their very first George Town cupcakes.  We got home late at night and both of the girls went to bed within two minutes of getting home.  As I was laying in bed last night, I thought a lot about our lives.  I guess before I had kids, I was never really been the type of person to LOVE children.  I mean I like them but I guess I never really thought about being a mom or wanting to be a mom.  

Then these little people came along and they changed my life.  I know it is cliche but for me, motherhood has made my life more....meaningful.  All of a sudden, here they are...the next generation of human beings and that is what they are...individuals with their own thoughts and needs and ideas.  

For me, parenthood is not just about simply raising these children with love and support but also making sure that these little people would someday become the people who care and attribute something good to this society and earth.  Of course there are many challenging days.  There are days when I am literally reduced to tears from feeling overwhelmed.  I am constantly asking myself if I am saying the right things or doing the right things?  Am I supporting them enough?  Am I also firm enough so they don't get spoiled?  In the midst of temper tantrums and melt downs...

 

there are moments when they show you how brilliant and strong they really are.

Motherhood is hard and it really does takes a village to raise good people.  As I walked around the house on this gloomy Sunday, I felt so thankful for my village.  

  

I felt inspired by strong women before me.

The women who took the time to raise me and shape me into the person I am today.

Thank you.

Love, 

Victoria

Cranberry Walnut Scones

My love for any kind of bake goods knows no boundaries.  I mean I am kind of a dessert snob though.  If I am going to consume that much amount of sugar and butter, it has better be the best dessert I ever had.  Imagine being minutes away from one of the most amazing bakery you have ever been to...where every dessert and every piece bread is being baked right in the kitchen and they all just taste oh so good.  Yup.  That is my life every day since my favorite bakery Pan'e Dolcetti opened almost two years ago.  The girls and I start our days there.  Almost nothing makes me more happy than taking a bite out of a warm and decadent scone that just came right out of the oven. Felice, the owner of the bakery, was kind enough <I may have forced him just a bit> to share the recipe for the yummiest Cranberries Walnut Scones.

Wouldn't they make the perfect breakfast for the morning after Thanksgiving??? Or even the morning of.  Here are step by step pictures.

Ingredients
475 g flour
88 g sugar
10 g Baking Powder
9 g Salt
1/3 lbs Butter
6 oz Milk
4 oz Heavy Cream
3/4 tsp Vanilla
2 g Cinnamon
112.5 g Walnut
112.5 g Cranberries


Soak Cranberries in hot water.  Chop Walnuts.  Mix all ingredients in mixer.  Spread the dough and roll it out to 1 inch thick.  Cut out triangles.  Mix 1 egg with a dash of salt and brush over each scone then sprinkle raw sugar over it.  Bake at 375 degree for 8 minutes and check then bake for eight more minutes.  And Enjoy!!!


Love,
Victoria