Simple Pleasures

I sometimes forget how much happiness simple pleasures bring into my life.  The other day, I found myself scrambling at noon when I realized I did not have much of anything to put together for lunch.  My 5 yr old is not particularly picky but I knew an expired yogurt tube, dried out carrot sticks, and a ball of mozzarella wasn’t going to cut it.  Then I realized, with much glee, that lunch was waiting for us in the backyard.  We dashed out to the veggie garden and picked a crispy green pepper, an heirloom tomato, and snipped some basil.  Paired with simple ingredients, including that ball of mozz, we enjoyed a veritable feast, all the more fulfilling because we had a hand in bringing it to our table.  What a great and simple pleasure.

 

And how about pairing deeply discounted grocery orchids with a gorgeous blue and white bowl that my mother gifted to me knowing of my deep and abiding love of Chinoiserie?  How gorgeoso is this bowl?!    She purchased it from her designer in 1974 for a pretty penny.  What a great and simple pleasure to now have this treasure in my home.

For up to date peaks into life chez V and more of our simple pleasures, I blow up InstaG on the regular here. Follow me or be square.

What are your simple pleasures?

kisses,  mrs. V

Master Makeover Update

Ok.  Ok.  I am two weeks late and more than a dollar short on my self-induced ORC updates.  A long overdue trip to ATL followed by the Groundhog’s Day that is summer vacation got  in the way of my blog mojo.  Blah, blah, blah.  So where was I?  Ah, yes, the master.  While I don’t have any progress pictures to share just yet, I have made progress.  Things accomplished:  an inspiration plan,  paint color has been chosen after a few duds thanks to the wonderful direction from this lady, and some pieces sourced.  Sheesh!  So much for doing this on less than a dime.  This is the loose plan.  I am going for a rich, cocooning vibe.  As I mentioned, the room is smallish with weird window placements and no architectural interest to speak of, so I want to turn it into a cozy den-like refuge.  A place where a roguish British ex-pat liaises with his worldly chanteuse.  I always have a story.

Thumbs down to the rain but thumbs up to the 4th.  Yay ‘Merica.

kisses,  mrs. V

Fresh Blueberries Scream Crumb Bars to Me

We have been taking major advantage of all the seasonal produce, both from our little garden and nearby farms.  What to do, what to do when faced with a quart o’ fresh picked berries?!  Make blueberry crumb bars, of course.  O.M.G.  So good.  So easy.  Run right out and getcha some fresh blueberries.  Make.  Bury face in the middle.  The end.

Of course these are perfect for 4th of July but they are so tasty that  they are good any ol' time.  Last year I was preaching about how perfect this was for the 4th and it still is but so are these bars which can be made ahead.  Win. We may or may not have eaten some of this for breakfast during this photo op.  

And by ‘we’ I mean me.

kisses,  mrs. V  

Oh That Snarky Quinoa

Have you seen this on Pinterest?  Am I the last to know?  I had something else entirely planned for today’s post but a wise woman sent this my way and I just. couldn’t. stop. laughing.

Quinoa is ironic

but also pragmatic

and in spite of an inflated sense of self we love her

because she farts and poops glitter

so that her elitism is oft forgiven

Her complete willingness to go there

and there

coupled with her altruistic heart

helps us to overlook her consumption

but Quinoa's piccolo playing cousin and his cock are still my favsies

Check it.  The kiddie pool version of this.

kisses,  mrs. V 

My Master Demands a One Room Challenge

BEFORE

My master is in desperate need of some love.  Why is this always one of the last areas to get attention?!  When I moved in to the Stamp 8 yrs ago, I slapped some paint on the walls of this room and that’s about it.  Even that attempt was half assed as I walked in to Home Depot and picked a paint color from a chip with one eye.  Aside from a super comfy mattress/box spring purchase and splurges on nice quality sheets the rest of my biscuit has been just as neglected as the rest of this red-headed stepchild of a room.  Leftover accent pillows from my toile days in ATL.  Granny much?!  Headboard is from my in-laws original bedroom suite and while it’s low slung midcentury vibe is cool on it’s own, it is just not jiving with me right now.  The room is small with awkward window placements typical of ranchburgers built in the 60s, making it difficult to place the bed.  I refuse, do you hear me, REFUSE to jam my adult marriage bed into a corner!  So I am left with one wall to work in which to place the bed.  As a result this vexation of a room has been left idle – FOR FAR TOO LONG.  After years of angry side eye from my master it has declared enough is enough.  It is demanding a one room challenge, one in which there is a definitive time frame.  None of this paint here, swap there, lighting later business.  Not satisfied with being a wallflower, it wants it's turn around the dance floor.  Most of you are familiar with Linda’s ORC so I will save my breath, but just know that I am instituting a ONE ROOM CHALLENGE on myself - giving myself 6 weeks to do something about this nonsense.  I have negative money so that will be a challenge in and of itself but dang, I’m going to beg, borrow, and steal if necessary (from family members!) to zhush up this situation of a room.

DURING - instantaneous painting/pillow zhush to kick my butt into gear

I am embarrassed to report that the stealing has, in fact, already started.  I commissioned a painting from Jenny about a year ago for my daughter’s room that would be the jumping off point for the transition from nursery to big girl room.  I received it in short order and it promptly went in to storage.  I finally got around to having it framed the other day.  What is wrong with me?!!!  It lasted in her room less than 10 minutes.  I promptly hung it in my room which prompted a necessary switcharoonsky of the pillow sitch.  Out with the tired toile and the serious oil painting and in with a vibrant abstract that immediately changed the vibe of the space.  I borrowed brown mohair pillows from the couch and a little animal print from the living room.   I knew instantaneously that I was on to something good and that I would have to design a lovely moody room to showcase this beauty of a painting.  All of this will likely change 50 times in the next 6 weeks but I am already in lurve with my borrowed stolen tweak.

a little too mongrel french country for my tastes

Tuesdays are good days for me, so I will attempt to chronicle my progress via Tuesday updates over the next  6 weeks.  And for all you judgers out there, P is not getting the shaft.  I have another equally beautiful MFAMB masterpiece that will soon adorn her walls.  Because, quite frankly, one can never have too many MFAMB masterpieces!  Getcha one or three!

kisses,  mrs. V

Grilled Steak With Arugula & Rose Sangria

I post this grilled steak and arugula salad on Instagram about every other week because during the summer months we make it all the time.  Super tasty, super easy, and a super sneaky way to get the mr. to eat salad.  This is also one of my go-to entertaining recipes because it’s a crowd-pleaser.  Every time.  It’s about time I shared it with y’all because it’s perfect for your Father’s Day cookout!  We prefer ribeyes because they absorb the marinade really well but you can use whatever cut you prefer.  Last night we used strip steaks because they were on special at Whole Foods.  And because I super love you - the Rose sangria of my Instagram/FB fame.  Getcha some and toast the papas around you!

lump charcoal is the only way to go - trust

recipe adapted from MSL

Happy Father’s Day, mr!