Entertaining? I’ll Drink to That.

Books
November 18, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers. During my plane travels over the weekend I finally had the time to read a book. Isn’t that something? Honestly between all the shelter magazines, the NYTimes, and Vanity Fair I am rarely able to finish a book. This weekend I read I’ll Drink to That, by Betty Halbreich, the grand dame of Bergdorf Goodman’s fitting room. It was a really wonderful book, both lighthearted and very honest. Chatting with my mother about the book, we both agreed that it definitely opened a window into Betty’s generation and how they lived. Betty has lived in the same Park Avenue apartment for over 60 years, and when I found these pictures on Town & Country’s website, I knew I had to share them. These photos display a way of life with a value put on presentation and entertaining, that is almost extinct. While I am extremely guilty of leaving the house without makeup, or wearing workout clothes when I’m not headed to the gym, the house always presents itself well in public. As I am sure you all have gathered from my frequent entertaining posts, this appreciation and value for being a good hostess is something I take very seriously and something I have seen coming back into fashion. And thank god. Because honestly what is better than being able to share your home and your things with your friends. Take your wedding china and your silver out of the cabinet and eat on it … because that’s what its for. I’ll drink to that.

Photos via Town & Country

Browsing in Beacon Hill

Architecture
November 17, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers! Hope everybody had a good weekend. I was in Boston celebrating the engagement of two of my dearest friends from college, and Saturday I took the opportunity to stroll around Beacon Hill. Located between Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, and the Charles River, Beacon Hill is one of the most historic (and beautiful) neighborhoods of the city. Now a National Historic Landmark District, the development of Beacon Hill began in the early years of the nineteenth century with Federal-style town homes designed by famous American architect Charles Bulfinch. Despite the chilly weather Beacon Hill’s brick facades looked especially beautiful this weekend against the backdrop of the city’s late fall foliage in colors of yellow and orange. As Boston College alumni, we all truly enjoyed being back and reminiscing about a time when we called this city home. A big thank you and congratulations Libby and Ryan for bringing us all back together in Beantown!

Leading the Charge

Entertaining
November 14, 2014

Good Morning Lacquered Lifers. If you’re anything like me you’re looking at the calendar and you’re starting to angst about the fact that you haven’t completely nailed your Thanksgiving table design yet, and you are scouring Pinterest looking for inspiration. Since I am nowhere near completion on my table design (it could go one of two ways), I keep coming back to the foundation of the table setting – the tablecloth, and in my case the chargers.

We have a very narrow antique dining table, and placemats are too deep. The table looks cluttered, and placemats overlap. Chargers provide a nice base for my china to sit on without taking up too much space, and with all the options available the charger can be a great accent piece. I have ordered the Rattan Chargers, but I am wondering whether I shouldn’t have gone with the Wooden Bark. And the Gold Woodgrain chargers already have me thinking Christmas table. Uh oh.

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