Parker Madness

Dinner Party for Yo Yo Ma

I've been asked to plan a dinner party for Yo Yo Ma while he is in town performing at the Symphony! It will be a small late evening dinner party for 6 at 10pm at the Residence of Gloria Moody. I've just met with Ms. Moody and We've selected the dinnerware and table linens. We are using Juliska Thread and Berry white chargers and dinner plates. The table linens will be a cool color palette of grays and beiges. The runner is an open cut work floral design in taupe silk. The napkins are a solid steel color in a Venezia fabric tied with a Juliska blown glass berry napkin ring. More to come later...Dinner party is April 2.

Parker Madness

Parker's 3rd Birthday is Saturday night and I am in the final stages of planning for the big party. The theme was an inspiration from the Dollar Tree last night. I found some great basketball paraphernalia. I'm playing off of March Madness with a basketball theme. I have rope basketball frisbees for the pups and basketball buckets for the kids. The food is all going to be variations of foods at a basketball game - pizza, nachos, wings, hot dogs, popcorn...with a little twist!!

Benjamin Moore Vail Mist

So my big project that I'm trying to accomplish before Parker's birthday party is painting the guest bedroom. After putting up many samples on the walls, I selected Vail Mist - a grey, green color. I'm painting at night so that I can get it all done within the weekend. Will publish finished pics later!

Orbee Tuff Fruit And Veggie Toys

These are the best, most indestructible dog toys ever. Parker has had the artichoke for about a year and the eggplant since Christmas. He can be very destructive...stuffed toys are usually gone in about 1 minute. These toys don't even show signs of wear either. I highly recommend. I can't wait for them to come out with more and then I can just have a fruit and vegetable basket for Parker -- instead of his basket of unsightly ripped and torn stuffed animals and rope toys. The vegetables are very aesthetically pleasing...a plus for those trying to have a good looking house with a live in dog! There is apparently a new little raspberry out for small dogs. I have seen it online...check planet dogs site. http://www.planetdog.com . These toys are also Eco-friendly and made in the US.

Le Creuset in Colorado..Who Knew

So I seem to have this inate ability to find unbelieveably fabulous things in bizarre places. Sure If I had planned on going to Keystone the first day, I could have look through some guide books or done a little research online to determine where I was going to be shopping or what I was going to be shopping for, but I didn't know until I got there of these plans. That is fine...I don't have to plan every minute of every trip. So I go into to Keystone with my friends, we get some breakfast and then I walk around a little (seeing there isn't much around anyways and usually most things at the slopes are about 4 times as much than at a normal place). We had passed an Outlet center in Silverthorne, so I opted to go back there and check things out. Low and behold, there is a Le Creuset outlet! I have been wanting a french oven. This new color, bisque, it isn't as boring and gray as it seems at first. It has undertones on lavender in it. It is really a pretty color and so different than all of their other electric colors. It suits me and my kitchen better. I got this normally priced $350 piece for a mere $125. I call that a deal and they will ship. I also opted to get the neoprene grippers that fir precisely on the handles. For $5, I definitely recommend. Go to Le Cresuet in Silverthorne, you won't be disappointed.

Entertaining in Colorado

Where ever I may I go...I like to entertain and have a good time. Every winter I go to Beaver Creek, Co with a group of friends. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful house to stay in (Thanks to the Hughes). And the advantage to this is the mere fact that I have a fully stocked kitchen and a great entertaining space. I unfortunately am not allowed to ski (since having both knees reconstructed at the age of 20). I kind of look at that as a plus though. I get to do my own thing during the day...see the next post. I cook during the afternoon and have hors d'oeurves ready when the skiers get home from the slopes and soon after a great warm meal. I tried out a number of recipes this trip. My favorites being - French Onion and Shitake Mushroom Soup, Easy Ice Cream Pie and a Chicken Picata over Angel hair. Also side note for those wine drinkers, the best place to buy wine is a place called beaver creek liquors. The wine is down in the cellar and waiting at the bottom of stairs is a lovely and knowledgeable sommelier. He's not pretentious; he is really incredibly helpful more than anything. Go there you won't be disappointed. And call me if you are going on a trip and want me to tag along to make your trip more laid back and enjoyable.