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

I.  After a four-month Indian Summer, winter has finally decided to rear her frigid head in San Francisco.  To stay warm, I spent much of the weekend in the kitchen making delicious dishes to post on T&T.  Craving soup, I couldn’t resist whipping up a batch of an old favorite - Mushroom Bisque with Truffle Foam.  Dry sherry, shallots, heavy cream, and five different kinds of mushrooms marry together to create a decadent soup - perfect for a weeknight meal.

II.  One of my absolute favorite bloggers (and absolute favorite people) recently crafted a post on the Dos and Don’t of Wedding Dress Shopping.  While I love everything on The Editorialite, I found myself sending this particular post to all of my brides-to-be, because it’s so elegant and straightforward.  (And who can resist anything mentioning Lauren Santo Domingo’s wedding…)

III.  The second that I read the title of this article, I knew that it was perfect for Monday Merriment.  25 Cooking Mistakes That Even Good Cooks Make is a wonderful guide for anyone who likes to spend time in the kitchen, but hasn’t had formal training.  While I don’t agree with everything (homemade chicken stock is completely unnecessary, and some of the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted came from an immersion blender) much of the advice is on-point.

IV.  One of my go-to decor suggestions to warm up hardwood or poured concrete flooring is a cowhide rug.  The texture adds more dimension than a regular rug, and plays nicely with both contemporary and traditional spaces.  I love the idea of using an entirely white cowhide in a room with a lighter palette, or an entirely black one for a more dramatic sensual statement.

V.  When both my best friend and therapist recommended the same book within days of each other, my interest in The Five Love Languages was piqued.  The book explores the different ways that people express and experience love - time, words, gifts, acts, or physical touch.  My friend credits the book with transforming her marriage because she was finally capable of understanding the way her husband affirmed her, though they spoke different love languages.  Even if you’re skeptical about reading the entire book, check out this amusing quiz and find out which language you speak…

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt