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

I.  My latest obsession is indoor greenery. Almost every surface of my home has something living on it - orchids, topiaries, ferns, and aloe vera are my favorites. Once I realized that I couldn’t possibly stuff another plant into my apartment, I decided to get a couple of trees, one for my living room and one for my dining room. The best places to find reasonably priced trees and chic urn planters are Home Depot and IKEA. I can’t get over how much more complete my rooms look with the new additions. Now I just have to remember to water them…

II.  I’ve been on a big mushroom kick the last month. Anything that you can possibly add mushrooms to, I’ve done it - pizza, burgers, salads, and especially soup. Mushroom Bisque is a labor of love because you have to let the mushrooms reduce to 2/3 their original size, but it’s well worth the wait. I’m making a double batch this evening to eat throughout the week. The addition of truffle foam (warm heavy whipping cream frothed with truffle oil) takes the bisque to the next level for dinner guests.

III.  With so many of my friends getting married in the coming year, I’ve been consulted almost daily on everything from bridesmaid dresses to honeymoon locations. Since I obviously haven’t been on a honeymoon, I was thrilled to find Vogue’s article Eight Unexpected Honeymoon Travel Destinations this week. Rather than board the plane to Paris or Hawaii with every other newlywed, the magazine suggests nontraditional venues like The Resort at Paws Up in Montana and Valletta on Malta in the Mediterranean. I might just have to settle down after all so that I can go on one of these breathtaking vacations.

IV.  Like everyone else, I’m completely crushing on Gigi Hadid. For the daughter of a real estate tycoon and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills socialite, Gigi seems surprisingly down to earth. Not to mention, effortlessly gorgeous. When I saw this photo of the supermodel on Instagram, I immediately had to know where her slinky gray dress came from. Shockingly, it’s from the totally affordable London based clothing line House of CB. With my birthday a month away, I’ll definitely be picking one of brand’s sexy silhouettes paired with these Oscar de la Renta pave disk earrings for my celebration.

V.  Autumn is just around the corner, and stores are brimming with Halloween decor. I’m not into excessive kitsch during the holidays, but I do like to incorporate a couple festive pieces into my home. This ghoulish skull centerpiece recently caught my eye, and seems incredibly easy to put together with your favorite dark hued blooms, a model skull, and florist foam. Here are complete instructions so that you can make one for your next dinner party or your desk at work.

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt