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

I.  I’m a sucker for lemonade.  I’m also a sucker for turning the ordinary into the opulent, which makes this rose infused lemonade perfect for my go-to warm-weather libation.  Equal parts beautiful and delicious, I’ll be serving the yellow/pink concoction poolside for the rest of the summer (with a splash of gin every now and then).  Tip: if you don’t have access to rose water, replace the ingredient with a teaspoon of rose extract from Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma.

II.  Tight living spaces in the Bay Area leave many without formal dining rooms.  To accommodate dinner guests, one option is to turn counters into eating areas via tall chairs.  While shopping for saffron and truffle oil at Cost Plus (half the price of the grocery store), I found these ridiculously chic barstools.  Distressed wood combined with luxe velvet will instantly transform your kitchen into an elegant dining area.  If black velvet isn’t what you please (couldn’t help myself), the stools also come in baby blue, cocoa, orange, beige linen, turquoise, hot pink,  charcoal, and sage.

III.  While extreme weather fluctuation has me craving comfort foods, we’re still in the midst of bikini season.  In an effort to avoid wearing a mumu for Fourth of July weekend, I’m filling my fridge with fresh vegetables.  Though technically healthy, my favorite Black Bean Shredded Chicken Salad is so scrumptious it feels like an indulgence.  Comprised of peppery arugula, cherry tomatoes, avocado, green onion, black beans, and shredded chicken breast, the meal comes together in minutes, which is ideal for weeknights.  Toss in crumbled goat cheese if you’re feeling naughty.

IV.  Ladies (and stylish gentlemen), you can now purchase a ring that vibrates when you receive a text, email, retweet, fb notification, etc.  While I’ll admit that it’s genius, I’m not sure how I feel about this practically.  The company, Ringly, states that the purpose is for social etiquette - so that you don’t have to keep your phone out when you’re with other people.  I have a few problems with this reasoning.  First, how is it any less rude for your finger to light up and vibrate, prompting you to pull your phone out?  Second, the device will undoubtedly take smart phone addiction to an entirely new level.  Rather than staring at our phones waiting for a boy to text or client to return an email, we’ll be staring at our mildly attractive rings.  Creepy.  

V.  Procuring affordable party decor can be a challenge, particularly if you’re hoping to fill a large space like a ballroom or wedding ceremony aisle.  Recently, ginormous balloons attached to colorful streamers have littered my Facebook and Instagram newsfeeds.  I decided to investigate, and found several options on Etsy and DIY blogs.  I can’t wait to incorporate them into my next event!!

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt