Infusing grandeur into otherwise drab Mondays with five things/ideas/events for the week:

I.  Every Easter, my mother hosts a tea in her rose garden that looks like it fell directly out of a J. Crew catalog. Nautical, pastel, and just the appropriate amount of neon combine to create the perfect palette for petits fours and gin fizz. Preferring savory to sweet, my contribution is typically some variation of the classic popover. This year, I will be using my Goat Cheese Popovers recipe, but swapping the goat for blue. The tangy substitution makes these the most delicious popovers I’ve ever tasted (yes, including Neiman’s iconic strawberry-buttered version). If you’re celebrating this weekend, I promise you’ll be the hit of the afternoon if you bring these blissful balloon pastries to the party.

II.  The official start of spring can only mean one thing: flowers literally everywhere. Beyond the obvious vase option, I’m coveting this silver dollar eucalyptus wreath with fresh blooms tucked into the side. Pop down to Pacific Coast Evergreen at the SF Flower Market to pick up a wreath in whatever leaf you love (magnolia or bay leaf would both be stunning), which will last at least a month on your front door. If you’re a purist, purchase garden roses or ranunculus in water tubes to adorn your wreath weekly. If you and your door are less high-maintenance, head over to Fantastico and pick out beautiful silk versions of your favorite fleur instead.

III.  Flowers are entirely too complicated? Spring into the season with indoor plants instead. If you’re anything like me, your less-than-green-thumb killed your plants months ago, and it’s time for some new options. As I’ve mentioned before, the best place to look for indoor plants is your local hardware store. The pricing is around a third of what chicer nurseries charge, but you have to sort through the basic to find the beautiful. The pot you place your plant in is just as important as the plant itself. Urns are my go-to because they add height, texture, and luxury. Find options here, here, and here.

IV.  Thinking of Coachella this year, but bunk beds and camping aren’t your thing? Not to worry, because Harper’s Bazaar has you covered. The oh-so-stylish editor Carrie Goldberg curated a list of the most Instagram-worthy places to stay near Indio. I’m smitten with the peach-hues and crystal chandeliers at Casa Elizabeth, a four-bedroom rental in Palm Springs. While I’d like to pretend it’s named after moi, it was actually owned by Elizabeth Taylor at one point - and there’s nothing more glam than that.

V.  If you don’t have plans this Wednesday, do yourself a favor and scoop up a last-minute ticket to the San Francisco Ballet’s Sensorium. The performance includes dance, art, music, and an introduction from local artist James Buckhouse. Following this, mingle with the ballerinas you just oggled on the War Memorial Opera House basement dance floor to DJ Chris Clouse until midnight. With a price-point of $29, how can you resist a little mid-week elegance and culture?

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt