vintage HL: giving thanks

i am thankful for my family, first and foremost; for mitchell and the fact that he is my best friend and favorite person on earth. and for the fact that my parents and siblings are also my best friends, and each others' best friends. i am thankful that i have siblings, and that we share roots in common, and a memory bank in common, and sometimes it seems, a mind in common. i am thankful for the people that love them, who i now love too.

i am thankful for the family i have chosen - my closest friends. i am thankful that i have known kim and liza for more than half my life. i am thankful for kim and her loyalty and laughter and the quirky thoughts we share; for liza and the accuracy with which she anticipates, articulates and meets needs. and i am thankful for kelly, a kindred spirit since we met, and the way she understands and supports with no judgment. i am thankful for their husbands who love them.

i am thankful for the memory of our old orange cat abe and the fact that his loss made me love our new kittens alice and sophie even more. i am thankful for my sense of humor, my ability to express myself, and the fact that i am getting to know who i am, more and more each day. i'm thankful that when i stumble, i get back up and move forward.

i'm thankful that we made a good choice when we decided to move, and that the paint color i chose for our new place looks good. i'm thankful mitchell's handy and that i found the ikea produkt for my coffee in the mornings. i'm thankful that it's the holiday season and that there will be gift-giving. i'm thankful for siriusly sinatra and radio stations that play nonstop christmas music.

i'm thankful for sparkly things and manicures and the fact that there is endless array of accessories out there to love.

i'm thankful that i grew up with all four grandparents and can remember them all very, very well. i'm thankful that i still have a grandmother to visit and talk to, and that even now, every once in a while she busts out with a funny or astute observation. i'm thankful that she has a kind lady to take care of her, who dresses her in clothes warm out of the dryer. i'm thankful that brings her comfort.

i'm thankful for hgtv, gossip girl and all editions of the real housewives franchise, including atlanta which i never thought i'd say. i'm also thankful for us weekly, for elle decor and all the many blogs i love to read. i'm thankful for woodstock and the emerson resort.

i'm thankful for my weight watchers leader and my therapist who help me navigate an ongoing struggle. i'm thankful i feel i can share that with all of you. i'm thankful for lavender-scented things, wall-to-wall carpeting and a programmable coffee maker; for trader joe's and farmers markets and details in unexpected places.

and i'm thankful, beyond measure, for this blog and all the goodness it has brought into my life and helped me to realize. i'm thankful for my wonderful readers who not only read what i write, but email me suggestions and their own thoughts. i can't tell you how much my life has been changed and how thankful i am for all of you.

i am thankful for so many things - small and large - and it feels nice to list them.

what are you thankful for? please share with me by commenting below.

originally posted 11/24/09


all photos from www.marthastewart.com

vintage HL: what could be bad?

one of the nicest summer pleasures is a simple, rustic dinner, especially one enjoyed outside and on vacation, as this one was for us. using whatever was around the house that felt summery and outdoorsy (bowls of apples, vases of fresh herbs, bottles of wine), i set a simple table on the deck of our house and we had a wonderful summer meal with music, family and friends. as ina garten would say, "what could be bad?"

taking ina's lead, i made a barbeuce sauce that we used on butterflied chicken breasts on the grill. we also had sausage, potato rolls, corn on the cob, grilled zucchini and mushrooms and prosecco, red wine and beer. using the barefoot contessa barbecue sauce recipe as a guide, i made this sauce which was perfect for about three pounds of chicken the first night, and liberal use on sausage and anything else not nailed down the next day for lunch.

the chicken was marinated in about two thirds of the sauce this recipe yields. you can tweak the amounts as your pantry allows, or your tastes dictate. because we were on an island where groceries are outrageously expensive, i used what we had, which in some cases meant supplementing, skipping or substituting. most of my changes made the sauce thicker, which really worked nicely. next time i make it, i think we'll try it on turkey meatloaf and i'll make a double batch of this sauce to keep some in the fridge.

ocean road barbecue sauce (by way of ina garten)

one and a half cups chopped yellow onion
one tablespoon minced garlic
half cup vegetable oil
half cup tomato paste
half cup ketchup
one cup cider vinegar
half cup honey
half cup worcestershire sauce
one cup dijon mustard (trader joe's dijon mustard is amaaaaaazing)
half cup soy sauce
half cup hoisin sauce
half teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
half teaspoon curry powder
half teaspoon smoked paprika

in a large saucepan on low heat, sauté the onions and garlic with the vegetable oil for ten to fifteen minutes, until the onions are translucent but not browned. add the rest of the ingredients. simmer uncovered on low heat for thirty minutes. use immediately or store in the fridge.

what could be bad?

originally posted 7/20/09

champagne photo from wikipedia, chicken photo from www.smartmeals.com

vintage HL: live slow

there are places in our lives we always return to...fire island is one of those places for me. what started as a family tradition when i was a kid has continued into our adult lives and has maintained its special quality, picking up significance as each year passes, the way a snowball or a tumbleweed gets larger as it rolls forward. to be away for a week, all adult siblings and parents and significant others is something to look forward to all year and savor all week, and we do. as our family grows, so does the importance of a mutually agreed upon and loved special place.


it’s special for so many reasons - as a barrier beach five miles off the coast of long island, it takes only an hour to get there from our house (30 minute drive, 30 minute ferry) but feels like worlds away. this is mainly because there is no driving anywhere on the island in the summer season, only walking and bikes and of course the ubiquitous red wagons. it’s a place where, regardless of new construction and a surge in summer share houses, it feels pretty much the same now as it did the first summer i was there, the summer of 1991.

i discovered my love for taking pictures there and the photos i have taken over the years (unfortunately not digital) have become emblematic of the experience - rows of red wagons, swimmers in the bay, waves on the powdery sand, and deer walking along the shaded paths from the beach to town. the photos hang in my house and my parents' house and are silent reminders all year long that such a place exists, and will always be there to return to.

in the early years, my siblings and i sold our wares alongside other kids in town (painted seashells, string bracelets, muddily tie-dyed t-shirts we slaved over all winter), and now we’re the customers of today’s fire island kids. now i walk along the streets with my husband mitchell who initially resisted fire island as an annual vacation spot, but came around and after being there for about three hours declared it "the most special place on earth." and that was only one summer after i convinced him to try flip flops. he's an adaptable fellow, that mitchell.

what's most lovable about fire island is the speed at which life moves, from when you step off the ferry to when you leave – “live slow” is the island's mantra. everyone does their own thing and all feels well in the world. i expect my week to be filled with lots of sand and sun, early evening beach time, plenty of sunblock, naps, mixed grill and lobster dinners, plenty of fruit and vegetables, prosecco, reading, walks, james taylor music, sunsets, board games, outdoor showers and maybe a pina colada or two.

i have a stack of fresh magazines, some books and coconut lip balm to spare. see you in a week, if not before.

live slow.

originally posted 7/12/09

photos are from www.fireisland.com

fly me away

have you heard this totally adorable song? it's called the show and it's by lenka. i heard it as a lead-in to one of the shows i listen to on sirius and had to find it to share with you. the video is great too - i especially love the last 30 seconds - so cute!

and then, in a similar vein, annie little's fly me away, which you might recognize from the kindle commerical - another one i had to seek out and share. so happy sounding, especially the horns!

and the tone of these two songs is how i hope to feel over the next week when i'm away on fire island with my whole family. i hope you have a wonderful week, wherever you'll be.

while i'm gone, a "vintage" honey living post will publish each day to keep you busy, and i'll be back with all new posts on monday the 19th.

as the fire island edict says...live slow.

summer blues

kind of obsessed with this palette for a summer vacation wardrobe right now. i love that jewel toney place where blue and green meet with shots of vibrant pink or orange.

3rd image courtesy of saks, all others from old navy

a lovely hand

i love this vintage penmanship sample i once saw on the jayson home and garden website. it's no longer available, as is often the case with items in their flea section, since they're one of a kind and limited in nature. but i just love to look at this piece because it reminds me of little boys and girls learning to write - forming letters and numbers so carefully, so focused on creating just the right forms. i can just see the concentration on their little faces in my mind's eye.


even now, when someone has a beautiful signature or handwriting on a thank you note or even a grocery list, it strikes me. how lovely it is to be able to create such beauty with every line you jot. mine is more like a scrawl, at best. that's something i want to work on. perhaps i'll look into a penmanship class. or just practice really intently, like the little boys and girls.


script sample images courtesy of iampeth

stars and stripes forever

do you have anything patriotic planned for the weekend? i know sometimes it can seem like a chore, but i've come across some truly easy ideas to celebrate our nation's independence with what you serve and how you decorate. and i really do mean easy.

sometmes, it's just about going simple instead of fussy, and choosing certain colors for things you already plan to use or serve to create an americana vibe and it adds so much to the visual experience, which i always think translates to the emotional experience. if possible, use white servewear and dishes so that you can punctuate with patriotic colors elsewhere and they're not competing with a busy mish-mosh of patterns and colors. if you're in the market for a basic white set, see this post for some ideas of where to buy.

and if red, white and blue feels too kitschy for your taste, go red and white or blue and white - they're both appealling and cheerful summer color stories and allow so much room for personal touches everywhere. to me, the trick is to limit the bold patterns to one or two items and go monochromatic (in your color scheme for the rest).

here are some thoughts.

one of my favorite bloggers jackie fo posted this stars and stripes cake among other great ideas here, and although above is a betty crocker recipe, it could be easily accomplished with a store-bought sheet cake and some berries. doesn't it pack a lot of visual punch considering how easy it is?

and there isn't much simpler than this berry and yogurt parfait (i think i'd sub in fat free whipped cream for the yogurt) - totally communicates a love of america sweetly, doesn't it?

this recipe for icebox cheesecake looks a little more...involved than i'd be game for, but i love the idea of topping a pre-made cheesecake with abundant red and blue berries. so pretty!

and the simplest of all summer desserts is the idea of basic angel food cake (either slices or individual shells)topped with berries and whipped cream.

the variation below looks more involved than it is...just cut an angel food cake into squares and toss in a clear bowl with berries and whipped cream. so easy!

for more crafty and delicious ideas, check out jackie's post - seriously, you'll thank me. she's awesome. now back to me...

i'm not normally a fan of bright red solo cups because i think you can do so much better for the same price with clear or craft colored paper goods, but for a festive 4th, or really any patriotic barbecue-type vibe, i'm a fan. and a red and white checked tablecloth, either a fabric one like the one below or a disposable one, can communicate lots of relaxed summer feeling in one punch.

if you're out and about, look for these good buys, or similar items at your local drugstores, big box stores, etc.

from pier 1, i think these rattan stars are really nice, and even when you're not going red and white blue, you can use each color separately to add interest to many tablescapes or room decors.


and i love these little pinwheel picks - perfect for appetizers and other finger foods, while their larger counterparts are perfect for sticking in the grass or arranging in a vase for a festive and different centerpiece. by choosing the red and blue versions, you automatically get some 4th of july patriotism into your decor.

if you'll be passing by crate and barrel, consider their sparkle picks and star plates and napkins.




if you'll be in the vicinity of target, their metal oval beverage tubs are on sale for $9 each and come in red, white and blue, among other colors.

and i adore these very classic, very americana velvet bows. don't they evoke such a feeling? place one on your front door, or one on each corner of a buffet table for maximum impact.


but of course, nothing evokes more of an americana, classic vibe than laughter and time well spent with people you love. have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and i'll see you back here on tuesday.

top image from country living, all other images from linked sites

bottoms up!

for summer entertaining, i think we all love the idea of serving really festive drinks, and its an added bonus if the drink accoutrements are festive too. even if you're not doing your own entertaining, fun summer barware makes a welcome hostess gift, especially in conjunction with a bottle of something good! just in time for the 4th of july...

i think it's best to start at the source - with the drink dispenser. one idea, and the simplest of all, is to just use simple glass bottles (as shown in country living, below) or carafes like the vinny from crate and barrel.


it's amazing what a wow factor a pretty summer drink in a large, clear cooler can have - your guests will immediately ooh and aah, and be dying to taste your special mix. slice in some fruit for added visual appeal.

for simple, clean lines in glass, i love the glass drink dispensers from pottery barn and the cold beverage jar and stand from crate and barrel.


i also like the agua fresca jug and the mason jar drink dispenser from pottery barn for their playful twist on the standard glass option.


if you're concerned about breakage, there are some great acrylic options out there, specifically from pottery barn in two sizes and bed, bath and beyond's 3 gallon beverage dispenser with cooling cylinder for ice to keep your drink cold! (i've seen this one in action and it's a keeper).


and if you're a fan of options (and why not), check out the del sol double beverage jugs, a terrific value ($30 at bed bath and beyond).

okay so now that we have that part straightened out, on to the glasses. if something jazzy feels right to you, i have some great options to share.

from crate and barrel, how about the zazz and frida collections? love all the colors on both.



if you like the frida above, then i think you'll like pier 1's spring confetti and regular old confetti collections below. i totally love how, in all cases, it looks like paint was poured in and allowed to dry in whatever shapes it fell.

and their kaleidoscope stemless goblets and stemless margarita glasses are extremely pretty too, aren't they?



if you want to go in a totally different direction, check out the very subdued and elegant bennett collection from pottery barn, hand-blown and available in green, blue and clear.

a simple and pretty acrylic option (great for kids and drinking grown-ups alike) is west elm's hammered acrylic set, available in green or clear.

and for some reason, i can't stop eyeing the recycled glass options below. i love them. like, a lot.

i love the heft and chunkiness of the miguel barware from crate and barrel, made from rustic, mexican recycled glass, and the warpy-looking waves of west elm's recycled glass option.


so now the only thing left is what to drink. you might remember my fizzy peach and sangria recipes from last summer, but take a look if not. they're both easy to make and great for a crowd.

i also came across these wonderful looking variations on the southern living website - a site filled with so much decorating, entertaining and lifestyle eye candy, it's hard to contain one's excitement.


cava sangria (cava is spanish sparkling wine)


raspberry beer cocktail


watermelon mint margaritas


cool lavender lemonade (non-alcoholic)


berry splash (non-alcoholic)

bottoms up!

all images from linked sites