Fall Forward

~Seasons~

There are some things we can't control such as, the weather and the seasons. They teach us to go with the flow and help us realize that there are special blessings that go with each season of our lives. We love, love, love the laid back summer days, don't care much for the amped up heat some days, but all in all summer with it's bounty of fruits and vegetables and come what may attitude suits us well. Now that we are turning the page and careening into fall, we thought we would post some pictures to ease us into a new chapter. Colors are changing, clothing is changing, foods are changing, lifestyle patterns are changing~all to accommodate the inevitable...fall is here. Ta-Da!!

This picture is from one of our styling jobs, the pumpkins were fresh out of the field where we hand picked them

Really it's not so bad and by the time winter announces itself we'll be holding onto fall. Face it we love all seasons and we fully immerse ourselves in them only to be pulled away and indulged in another.

These flowers came from Mark's Gardens on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks.

Every year Mark and his amazing team of floral wizards transform the Academy Awards into an event worthy of all the celebrities who gather to honor one another's work. Mark's Gardens are sought out by major celebrities and stylists, etc for a reason. They are at the very tippy top of their field. When we step foot in their shop it is a very heady experience~the place oozes with creativity. Mark's Gardens has crafted many events and weddings for our clients. We thought you would like to see the riot of fall colors displayed in the above arrangement.

Time to get out into our garages and storage areas to dust off our fall decor, make some new additions, re-purpose some things in new ways, plant our fall gardens (we're in Cali), pull out our warmer clothing and hold on and get ready for a fabulous fall splurge. Love and kisses to all our Beckwith Roadies.

Summer Guests

~Make your guests feel like they are at home~

Summer Guests

I was recently the guest at someone's home, and I had such a wonderful visit. The key was really simple: I felt welcomed and my host anticipated the way I wanted to be greeted and treated. I have several sisters who are generous in spirit and amazing hostesses. It's always a pleasure to be their guest!

Here are my tips for being the hostess-with-the- mostess:

~Give the room a personal feel~not the feeling of a hotel.

~Make your guests feel comfortable by being yourself.

~Make sure their sleeping arrangements are comfortable. Clean bedding and a clean room.

~Use a neutral air freshener, some people are allergic to fragrances.

~Make sure they have a place to hang their clothes.

~Have an iron handy just in case they need to refresh their clothing from being folded in a suitcase.

~Make sure you have a set of fresh towels for them to use in the bathroom.

~Keep beauty samples from makeup counters at department stores in a little basket for their toilette.

~See if they need a hair dryer or flat iron.

~Make sure they have water by their bed in case they are thirsty during the night.

~Have a good idea of what they like to eat, they might be a vegetarian or on a special diet.

~Have a night light available just in case they need to get up during the night.

For that extra touch:

~Put fresh flowers in their room~if the person does not have allergies.

~Have a notepad and pen in their room.

~A basket of fresh fruit and snacks.

~Good magazines and good books.

~A reading light.

~A lightly scented candle.

Now you can enjoy your guests this summer~

Crown & Crumpet

~Crown & Crumpet, Ghirardelli Square

San Francisco~

900 N. Point Street

(415) 771-4252

~cheeky gifts~

~No stuffy Victorian fare here!~

This establishment is a riot of color and whimsy. The brainchild of proprietors, Amy & Christopher Dean. She a yank who studied in Britain, ended up in London in the antiques trade and eventually for Ralph Lauren & movie sets-he a proper English gent who also was in the antiques trade-they married and decided to start a business here in the U.S. and we are soooo glad they did! All of the fabrics used at Crown & Crumpet are from Cath Kidston. There is so much to see, it will take numerous visits to take it all in. They describe the experience there as, "A room with tea and wit". This was a wonderful experience and not to be missed if you are in the bay area any time soon.

~There are plenty of choices, we tried them all!~

The fairy cakes were a must!

Even the shades are embellished!

Queenly places to sit!

~Good Design is lovely, year after year~

cote de Texas picture

Some of Life's Simple Pleasures

Oven S'mores

photography by Kailey Smith

~3 basic ingredients~

Old School Marshmallows

Old School Hershey Bars

Old School Graham Crackers

Arrange graham crackers on a cookie sheet.

Top 1/2 of the graham crackers with marshmallows that you have cut in 1/2. Place the marshmallows side by side on one side of the graham cracker sandwiches. See above example, each graham cracker 1/2 has one side of the halved marshmallows on them. Leave the other half of the graham cracker blank until they are cooked, then you will add the chocolate. Now place the cookie sheet full of crackers in the oven to toast the marshmallows. Under the oven broiler (set rack in center of oven-not too close or they will burn) broil until the marshmallows are golden brown. This happens rather quickly. Remove from oven and place the Hershey's chocolate pieces on the blank graham pieces. Sandwich them together and place on a big platter. This is an easy way to serve a crowd! These are messy and will bring out the child in you as you try to lick the oozing melted chocolate to keep it from dripping all over.

Summertime And The Living Is Easy

Ah! The Summerhouse!

It's time to switch out the winter gear for warmer climes.

~Great Reads~



~Edisonesque Lighting~

~A great bed you can languish in~

picture from Country Living

~Then Followed that beautiful season...Summer...Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light and the landscape as if new created in all the freshness of childhood ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

Favorites

~A Favorite Artist~

Jennifer Lanne Originals

Her work, whimsical and lively will bring a smile to your face.

Just Charming!

No Doilies Zone

Roberto Cavalli's Home

Lacey windows add a softening element to a very modern home.

~ A close up of the windows~

Brocade Home Bedroom

Whilst doilies are not en Vogue these days, lace is being used in some remarkable ways. I found these inspiration shots at Brocade Home. It would be easy to take one of granny's doilies to Kinko's and have it blown up and colored in black and white.

Mother's Day

Thou art thy mother's glass,

and she in thee calls back

the lovely April of her prime.

~William Shakespeare~

Ahoy Matey!

~The set is complete~I was gifted the teapot~She has stole the spotlight!~

{Notice the teacup turned upside down for the top of the teapot}

*original post below*

Photography by Kailey Smith

~Anthro Wares~

Seahorse Handle Detail

On-Purpose Paint Splattered Cup Interior

Delightful Patterns on Patterns

Sea Influenced Tea Accouterments

It's difficult to take a ramble through Anthropologie and not succumb to the beckoning of a delightfully appointed sugar and creamer and some new tea mugs. They practically jumped into my arms! These are the little things in life that enrich my day-to-day routine~go ahead and pamper yourself just a little (I told myself). Well, I dare you to stroll through there and not come up empty handed!

BTW~You should see the teapot and pitcher. Their handles are inspired by mermaid figureheads like ones would see on the front of an old ship. Too cute!

~Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors~Alice Walker

Stop and Smell the Roses!!

The grounds of Chateau Montelena!

Visually stunning at every turn.

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleepfull of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing...John Keats

Summer's Bounty Pure Bliss

We love all the summer fruits. Fat, sweet, red, juicy strawberries, deep purple boysenberries, dusky blueberries and jewel-like raspberries. They make such a fabulous display when mounded together with all the necessary accoutrements (whipped cream, sponge-cakes, chocolate for dipping), to create a lip-smacking dessert. This magnificent sweet treat really works for us. With 4th of July just around the corner this is a great option and we don't even have to crack the oven door. What could be easier? You know, we're all about the ease of summer living!

Spring has come again!

I am a pack rat as was my father. Some might say it was his worst trait, I say it was his best. While I am on a "debt diet" I must invent ways to recreate from what I have. This is just an inspirational snippet. 

Always keep your eye peeled for end-of-the-season sales on high-quality faux greens, berries and flowers. They can always be re-purposed in so many directions. Here are my spring re-do's. 

I checked the price of topiary at my local Home Goods store. They were reasonably priced, but I wanted a "deal". I thought about what I already had around the house. Many years ago my daughter gave me some fine quality olive branches that were being tossed out from her store's display. I had recently bought a bougie flower pot from Anthropologie. I was out of oasis foam so I used a large piece of bubble wrap, plugged in my hot glue gun and pulled out some moss from my "stash".  Determining the height I wanted I snipped off  the excess stem and intertwined them to create a cohesive look. Next, I folded the bubble wrap to fit inside my pot and then removed it and wound it around the base of the branches. I hot glued it in place inside my pot. I covered the bubble wrap with moss glueing it in securely. The leaves and olives needed fluffing and I coaxed them into a ball shape. 

I had another chippy, agey pot I got at Anthro. I took styrofoam balls leftover from a holiday project and covered them with moss, securing them with gold embroidery thread. Plopped on a stack of books, it adds springy wonderfulness.

I have a French aluminium hanging garden can I picked up on sale from a little French store and I  dropped a few faux mossy pebbles inside (from Z Gallerie, on sale of course!), snipped some lavender and boxwood from my garden, nestled in a small rustic nest. So easy!

Be on the lookout for great pots, they are usually inexpensive, but when dressed, they really pack some decorating punch. 

As I stroll through the LUSH GARDEN, I am in awe that not long ago this was once a MUDDLED DOODLE on graph paper...Carolyne Roehm

click on the pictures to see them in a larger format

 

Sweet Dreams

Pampering Alert....

I walk every day with a friend who tells me she has very little time for herself. I posted this note with her in mind (you know who you are). We women have nurturing in our DNA. It's who we are, but goodness we need to treat ourselves a little better. Tracy Porter did a blog a few weeks ago about what she had beside her bed. Little treats for the body and soul if you will. Kristen is the queen pampering knowledge. A walking encyclopedia of skin care knowledge. She will need to post a segment just on that. I have learned so much from her. 

Here is what I have. Most likely your list of must haves is different. The challenge is to create a little nook or cranny you can revive yourself from just before you jump into bed. Give yourself 5 minutes to rub some cuticle cream into your nails, smooth a rough edge on your nail, or rub some cream on your hands and feet, etc. Have some water and a pretty glass to drink it out of in the mix. Tissue is great to have at arms length and so on. MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL!  YOU MUST LOVE -REFRESH YOUR LOVELY SELF. You'll feel better for it. We are such visual creatures and must pamper what our eyes see as well.

Tell us what your must-haves are, or if you created a spot just to prep for sweet dreams. Please take the time to post a comment and tell us what segment you would like us to do. Sandy I am working on some vegetable dishes per your request!

xoxoJan and Kristen

16 Candles??? There is only one for us!

The must have candle-no-kidding!

They say that scent is the strongest sense tied to memories. What memories are you creating for yourself, for your friends, for your family??? I love a fragrance that makes me feel relaxed and reminds me of great times, so we thought we would share an amazing candle. 

We love, love, love the Capri Blue scented candles (Volcano fragrance is our fav). We have them by our beds, in our family rooms and bathrooms. Your whole mood will change when you light one of these zinc wicked wonders that light quickly and burns twice as long as an ordinary candle. The wax is soft and redolent with the abundance of scented oil (2x more than other candles) and yummy, yummy smelling. Volcano has tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons and limes and light mountain grassy essences. You don't even have to light it to smell the faint hint of it in the air. Just pick one up and breathe in the fragrance. It lifts your spirits and makes you smile. There is something to be said for a time when electricity did not exist and luminous candlelight cast a glow upon a room.  Pamper yourself! Take some time every day to soak in the loveliness of life. Don't underestimate the flicker of candlelight.

These candles start at $12.00 (we never said memories were inexpensive), and to up to $28.00. Anthropologie is the most common place to find them. Treat yourself and find a fragrance that takes you away!

Do tell us what your favorite candle is! We really want to know!

Kristen and Jan.