Aspire to everything Inspired

5 Things... The Happy Birthday to You! edition

Before the day completely slips by, I've wrapped up a handpicked selection of beautiful presents just for my dear cousin A....  (who's enjoying good health, happy children, a loving husband, and all that wonderful jazz.  Wishing you all of that continued and more joy yet to come -- a Sweet & Happy Birthday, A!)

So first, here's a darling handbag from Lulu Guinness to remind you how incredibly chic you are.

And a smashing new stamp set from Cavallini & Co (found at Paper-Source) to commemorate great trips past... and future.

A coffret of favorite sweets from La Maison du Chocolat, simply because they're so delectable.  (And at least a pound, so you won't mind sharing!)

The chocolates will be especially perfect to enjoy during a lovely evening of watching the latest fabulous addition to the Jane Austen lexicon, the new Emma.  And, in a nod to your chilly Seattle weather, you'll definitely want to use your lovely new Avoca lambswool throw from Ireland to curl up and be cozy during the film.  Ahhh...

Hmmm... let's imagine that I've arranged a sitter for your adorable tots and invited all of your closest pals too.  We'll have a delicious catered dinner as the sun sets-- using the Spode dishes, of course! --  followed by Godiva's delectable new Chocolate Ganache Layer Cake.  (YUM!).  I think we can safely assume a lovely time will most definitely be had by all. 
 
Oh Yes... and since this is all imaginary anyway, there'll be a sweet Party Favor bag for each of your guests, including a darling Parisian stamp, a mini-coffret of chocolates, the Emma soundtrack, and a gorgeous Austen-ish wrap... and we'll package it all up for each guest in their own sweet Lulu Guinness tote.  

{sigh}

I am just loving this birthday of yours!  Hope it's been simply The Happiest for you too, dear friend.  Sweet dreams!

5 Things... (April edition)

It's a new idea I've had, to share a monthly list of "5 Things" -- be they ideas or great finds or random trends.  Just five random and completely fabulously things.  (And maybe it's also just a few of my favorites du jour that I wanted to share... LOL!)  But here's the bargain:  when you've read my five, please leave a comment and tell me one of your favorites too, because, my dears, I'd love to know what's catching your fancy these days as well!

So without further ado or fanfare (because, really, how do you insert a five-trumpet fanfare and showering confetti into a blog?), here's my inaugural list...

1. Cooking with wooden utensils
When I was growing up, we only had two wooden spoons in our family kitchen, and rarely used them for cooking.  Just stirring Kool-aid or, well, really, that was it.  So I'm not sure where my grown-up preference for them as the go-to cooking utensil came from.  But as you can see from this collection in my kitchen today, I really like them!  Bamboo and olive wood are my favorites, though I’m always looking for a new shape, a new size, a new use…
 

2.  The sale/clearance corner at Pottery Barn
Whenever I walk through my favorite home style and kitchen shops, my ‘route’ through the store always goes by the clearance corners.  I've got it mapped.  Because I've learned that even in pricey trendsetting stores you can find just the most amazing bargains!  Like the copper pot in the above photo... I picked it up for a song several years ago on after-season clearance at Pottery Barn.  Just love it, though it never really had a use until I moved into my current place. Now?  Now it has a permanent job holding wooden spoons and colorful spatulas. 

Seriously, you just never know what amazing bargains you’ll find at PB.  This past Saturday, I found a gorgeous new comforter for my bed.  Though, now I'm trying to decide whether or not to keep it... will it really match my favorite lavender bed curtains?  What do you think?

3.  Handel’s Water Musik
This month is the 250th Anniversary of the death of Georg Friedrich Händel.   Nearly three hundred years ago… can you just imagine what a magical moment it would have been as the King’s Barge sailed by, the heavenly strains of Handel’s Water Musik floating through the air?  Maybe it was a jostling gaggle of people and a noisy crowd of boats -- and not nearly as enjoyable as one might imagine.  Or maybe, it was simply… magical.  Because all these years later, Handel’s music still is.

4.  Spring comforts
This season in Utah is all about the flowers and blossoming trees, the regular snow storms, and the huge temperature swings.  Last week?  A blizzard and several inches of fresh snowy powder.  This week?  We’re expecting blue skies and 80 degree temperatures.  With weather swings like this, hot chocolate and crispy buttered toasts with honey are still a real favorite on chilly days.

5.  Hershey’s Chocolate Eggs
Easter candy trends may come and go, but this one has always been a favorite.  Which is funny, because it’s not like I really choose milk chocolate at any other time of the year.  Normally I’m all about the pricey dark chocolates.  But at Easter?  There’s nothing I like quite as much as peeling the bright foil off a miniature Hershey’s egg and popping it into my mouth to melt and savor.  Mmmm….

So that's my five for April.  What's something that has caught your attention lately?