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

I.  I’ve been a Jenna Lyons devotee ever since Domino published photos of her exquisite home in 2010 (in fact, I almost painted my bedroom completely black to mimic her bold nursery, but shied away once I realized that my tiny room might look more “creepy cave” than “rocker chic”…).  As if her roles as interior design guru and president/creative director of J. Crew were not enough, she’s also evidently a beauty expert.  Take a peek at this piece from Bee Shapiro on Jenna’s routine in The New York Times Style section.  I especially love the bit about diet and fitness…

II.  A few sleepless nights ago, I turned to Twitter to keep me company.  One tweet that caught my eye from New York Magazine touted “Hot Honey” as the new Sriracha.  A sucker for anything that brings the heat, I quickly clicked on the link to an article about the entrepreneur who discovered it at a Brazilian pizzeria.  Luckily, Whole Foods will be carrying the condiment soon.  Until then, order it here.  I can’t wait to try the spicy/sweet combination with my cheese plates this holiday season.

III.  Speaking of spice, last week’s Symphony Opening Night Gala reminded me of my favorite culinary indulgence - Neiman Marcus Chili Blanco.  Before the iconic shopping destination removed the dish from its cafe menu, my girlfriends and I ritualized the day after opening night with a gossip session over a glamorous bowl of cheesy chili and a glass of bubbles.  With the end of summer upon us, it’s the perfect time to make a batch to warm up cold nights this month.

IV.  Wedding season is wrapping up, but baby showers are still going full tilt.  I’ve found that this type of party is particularly stressful to plan because it’s detail-intensive.  Adorable hors d'oeuvres to make, cute activities to orchestrate, presents to track, and pale pink or light blue hued decor to curate.  Including a chic Mom-osa Bar at your fete will infuse a little adult fun, while keeping with the infant-inspired theme.  Simply provide fresh peach, orange, and grapefruit juices in glass carafes, bowls of berries, flutes with pink or blue paper straws, and (of course) lots and lots of champagne.

V.  Finally, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my new professional Table + Teaspoon site.  Nearly a year after leaving the law to build my company, I decided that it was about time to make it official online.  I will be eternally grateful if you check it out and send your friends my way!

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt