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

I.  When I found my apartment, I immediately fell in love with the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street.  The place was actually the first I looked at, and the entire process from viewing to lease-signing happened in an afternoon, so I had little time to plan the layout pre-move. I haphazardly put my flea-market vanity stool in front of the windows, which was serendipitous because it turned out to be the perfect spot.  To complete the aesthetic, I recovered the stool with striped fabric from here and a staple gun. 

II.  I am a bit of a lamp fanatic.  An intriguing lamp takes a space from “kind of pretty” to awe-inspiring perfection in a heartbeat.  Though there isn’t a single surface left in my apartment for a new lamp, I can’t seem to get this gilded coral masterpiece off my mind.  So tempting…

III.  Tonight, I’m making steak salad over arugula with shaved Parmesan  olive oil, and lemon juice. The simple ingredients combine for spectacular taste, which is perfect for a relaxed Monday evening.  If you don’t have a barbecue, broil the steak in your oven for a similar taste.

IV.  Reminiscent of Balmain circa 2009, Topshop outdid itself with this uberchic metallic sequined mini-dress.  The flashy bodycon frock is perfect for celebrations year-round - and it’s never too early to start planning for New Year’s Eve 2014! 

V.  “Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you tonight in my Red Star chiffon evening gown. My face softly made up and my fair hair gently waved. The Iron Lady of the Western world. A cold war warrior, an amazon philistine, even a Peking plotter. Well, am I any of these things?  Yes I am an iron lady, after all it wasn’t a bad thing to be an iron duke. Yes, if that’s how they wish to interpret my defense of values and freedoms fundamental to our way of life.”  

                                                                  Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013

Have a wonderful week!!  xx tt