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

I.  Technically, spring doesn’t spring until March 19th this year. Though you’d never gather that from the weather today. After weeks of relentless rain that turned everything in the Bay Area gray and soggy, a faux printemps is decidedly upon us. Which means that I’m craving everything grilled. Tonight I’m making my Lamb Sliders with Harissa Aioli and Mint Yogurt. The marriage of cumin and cinnamon combined with spicy aioli and refreshing mint make this burger anything but basic. Pair with grilled peaches, arugula, and shaved manchego for dinner al fresco this evening.

II.  Has anyone ever in the history of the universe had a good Valentine’s Day? Coupled or uncoupled, the answer is almost universally no. I’ve spent 13 saccharine Valentine’s with a boyfriend and three without - but either way the nausea-inducing forced declarations of love, overpriced flowers (someone please send someone these), desperate drunk dials, and reminder that you’re either painfully alone, toxically entangled (or forced to prove that you are neither of those things) make this my least favorite day of the year. So in a vague attempt to shift the focus, I’m turning to my standard remedy for every problem by throwing a dinner party. To avoid the aforementioned marked up florals, I’m buying a few dozen ceramic hearts to scatter down the table in lieu of a runner. The hearts are customizable, making them equally perfect for place cards.

III.  I really want to love tented weddings, but I just can’t. Chic in theory, but utilitarian in reality, the majority of tents take away from the beauty of the occasion. If you’re lucky enough to wed in a place that allows for an outdoor reception, let the location speak for itself by outlining the party area in a fairy light marquee (most event lighting companies can easily create this). You’ll retain the same intimacy of the tent, while losing the tarp aesthetic. And you’ll be underneath a canopy of stars, which is pretty much the pinnacle of romance.

IV.  Little excites me quite like a hexagon tile. I’m completely mad about the shape for everything from bathroom flooring to kitchen counter-tops. The unfortunate reality of living the rental lifestyle is that your landlord couldn’t care less about your tile preferences (and likely hasn’t updated your kitchen or bathroom since their inception). I figured that my dream floor would have to wait for home ownership until I stumbled upon these temporary tiles that don’t require any special tools to adhere to your walls/floors and can be removed when your lease is up. Genius!

V.  San Franciscans throw so many parties that the reason for fetting is almost always an afterthought. This is why I particularly love ArtPoint’s events - you can’t help but soak in the museum’s masterpieces while sipping your bubbles and cognac. I hope that you’ll join me March 3rd for a special cocktail party curated in conjunction with the ballet in honor of Pierre Bonnard who was one of the defining figures of modernism in the transitional period between Impressionism and abstraction (also - did I mention that there’s an open bar?)

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt