Weekend in Saugerties, NY

The Smythe House B&B photo by Chefs David & Justine Smythe

Every now and then my hub and I like to pack up the pets, stock up the car and get lost. We're especially fond of finding North Eastern US towns that we have yet to experience. For this past Valentines day I asked for one small thing (an object) and an experience. So we invoked the 'overnight -day trip' and found a B&B in Saugerties NY (which would allow us to see Kingston and Woodstock NY in the same trip).

We chose the Barclay Heights Bed and Breakfast at Smythe House because of its pet friendly status and because it is owned by two hospitality specialists who are both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America. Needless to say the breakfast was extraordinary! It was personalized and began with a surprise kind of strawberry shortcake!

I got to hit some wonderful antique shops and thrift stores (which I love to do) and I found some fantastic design-life objets d'art which I am posting immediately after this post. So come back soon!

I also got to take some fun pics, that I thought I would share with all of you.

Esopus studio vignette photo by marisol diaz my babies by marisol diaz marie antoinette-like chair in the Esopus studio photo by marisol diaz

For anyone who knows me, you know I love all Marie Antoinette inspired things and when I saw this chair as we walked into the B&B Esopus Studio I said, 'Oh, I'm going to have to photograph that!" to the owner.

The view from our bay window in the Esopus studio photo by marisol diaz Some fake flowers in the studio photo by m. diaz The whole wall piece photo by marisol diaz another window view photo by marisol diaz winter nest photo by marisol diaz sculpture in municipal parking lot in Woodstock NY photo by marisol diaz Lucky Chocolates in Saugerties NY photo by marisol diaz dusk photo by marisol diaz Cafe Tamayo where we ate our VDay dinner by m.diaz Hub and me on Vday weekend photo by m.diaz

Ciao- Amarettogirl

Valentine's Day Apron

detail of Lizzy's Apron by marisol diaz

So after seeing all the aprons I gifted to women in my fam this past holiday on my blog, my long-distance cousin in Florida really felt forgotten....making it so that just when I thought I was done with apron's for a while, I had to sew another one.

I guess I didn't really 'have' to, but this particular cousin has a special spot in my heart.

With all the other aprons I chose fabrics and patterns based on the woman's personality. So in accord with that manner of approaching the apron design, I chose 'love' as the theme.

It was shipped last Thursday and should be arriving in Port St. Lucie Florida any day now... hopefully she gets to see it, before she sees this post!

If not well, here is the sneak peek Lizzy!

Completing Lizzy's Apron by marisol diaz detail of upper portion by marisol diaz Lizzy's Apron hanging by marisol diaz modeling the apron by marisol diazapron detail by marisol diaz

Hope you all had a wonderful and crafty Valentine's Day Weekend!

- Ciao Amarettogirl

A Quick Winter Illustration

cold girl

Fifth Avenue Luxe - Bidding 2009 Farewell Window Dressing Style

For the past few years I've enjoyed taking photos of NYC windows; specifically during the holidays when shops like Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman go all out with artistry. I hope you enjoy these window shots as much as I do...these are of Henri Bendel's window's but next post will be Bergdorf Goodman's so stay tuned!

Say Goodbye to 2009 - 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Lets get the Party Started! 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Blogging Through the Holidays 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz Say Hello to 2010! 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz

Happy New Year!!! -Amarettogirl

French Macaroons at Starbucks!!! Limited Time Only!!

Open package of Starbuck's French Macaroonsdifferent flavored macaroonsme at Laduree 2 yrs ago

During my last visit to Paris, I was in a vehicle and passed by a shop with a line a folks outside all carrying small mint green bags. The shop's windows were stacked with pastel colored baroque like boxes and I knew something edible was being featured as an art form inside. I made a mental note to return that spot on my free time to see what all the fuss was about.

The shop turned out to be LADUREE a very well known bakery and cafe/ Patiserrie. In fact, Laduree was the shop commissioned to make the cakes for Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film. On that Parisian trip I fell in love with macaroons.

When I returned to the US I tried to get macaroons from Paris here and it was futile. Laduree has opened some shops in other global cities and there were plans to open one in NY, but that still hasn't come to fruition. For my fortieth birthday I discovered that there are places in our east coast area that make delicious french style macaroons like Dean & Deluca and my new favorite bakery La Promenade here in Tenafly, New Jersey (they placed macaroons on my BDAy cake for me!!)

Package is $9.99 for 12 French Macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc

So yesterday I was on line at Starbucks (to get myself my fave seasonal Caramel Brulee Latte) and lo and behold sitting in the refrigerated counter section were four boxes of French Macaroons! For a box of 12 macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc you'll pay $9.99. They are slightly smaller than typical French macaroons but you'll get 2 of 6 flavors -Chocolate, Coffee,Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Lemon.

BUT DON"T GET TOO EXCITED rumor has it that these babes will only be around from Dec. 13th - Dec. 24th - So GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!! They make an awesome gift too!

-Amarettogirl

The National Assoc. of Indep. Schools People of Color Conference

This was my 7th year attending the People of Color Conference and the fifth time I have presented at the conference. Every year the conference is at a different city, I've been to Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans with the conference. Last year we exceeded 3,000 participants since the conference also runs along side of the Student Diversity Leadership conference for highschool students. This year the conference was in Denver Colorado. My presentation was enttled: From Hottentot to Barbie: Dismantling the beauty Standard for Girls of Color. Powerpoint Title Screen by M.Diaz>

The presentation was on the following:

In an attempt to teach wholeness, inner strength, and fortitude, we must ask: How do young women of color internalize the beauty standard of our society? This presentation will demystify the roots and contradictions that affect the self-esteem of young women of color. Partcipants will look at the historical roots and transforming standards of body image, cosmetics, and beauty via power point. They will also see a short movie of young women of coor dissecting the role of self-esteem at their schools and in their lives. This presentation is meant to encourage educators to use new forms of teaching that include character development and interdisciplinary activities. We will seek to empower educators to broaden, the very standards by which we instruct and dissemniate knowledge in and outside the classroom.

Charlotte's Tea Room- One of My Favorite Places when living an Art- full life!

While shopping for my own pocket full of sunshine this past summer, or as Edward would say 'my own personal brand of heroine' (which tea just happens to be for me), I discovered Charlotte's Tea Room in Warwick, NY.

Charlottes Tea Room in Warwick NY - photo by m.diaz

Whenever we visited historic Warwick (which is a around a 40 min drive away for us) we would drive by the big Tea Room sign and I would pine away for my desire to go inside...we were either headed toward the community center for a film, the arts and crafts community Sugar Loaf, Warwick's Drive-in and needing to pick up some late dinner or quaint store-front shopping and we therefore never made it in. Then this summer's issue of Where Women Create (as my readers know, I love that mag!!) actually featured Charlottes Tea Room and I was like "today we are going to Warwick with only the intention of going into that tea house!" And so we did!

Charlotte's is only an hour drive from NYC and it is an award winning Tea shop set inside a gorgeous Victorian home.

My teapot as part of my Queen's Tea order - photo by m.diaz

The restaurant utilizes three different rooms and a wrap-around porch and each have a different design theme! There is the Blue Willow Room which is laden with blue and white china (I want to sit in there next time), the Library which has an English 'cloak and dagger feel inspired by the board game Clue', and lastly the Garden room which is where I sat on my first visit. In each room the furniture and tableware reflects the theme.

So in the garden room all the tables are white wrought iron, the windows have topiaries and all the tea sets are embellished with flowers.

A shelf in the Garden Room of Charlotte's Tea Room - photo by m.diaz My cup of Paris Black tea - photo by m.diaz

I was there for lunch and was so impressed not only with the quality of the artistic culinary experience, but also the affordability! I ordered the Queen's tea, there was also the princess tea (and of course wee-tea's for the little ones!) and the menu also offers countless other options. My Queen's tea came with a large pot of tea (more than enough for two), a plate of salad, a large delicious scone, a sandwich of six rectangular cut mini tea-sandwiches AND dessert!! I chose Key-lime pie - yum! All of that was just $13 - Bet you can't beat that lunch fare experience anywhere in NYC!

My husband ordered his own entree, with the intentions of sharing only my tea, but he shared my scone and dessert too!

My Queen's tea order @ Charlotte's Tea Room! photo by m.diaz

We have researched recipes from England, Ireland, and our own grandmother's kitchen's to bring you sweets and savories, that will not only please your palate, but will be a delight to your eyes.

The hydrangea lamp on our table - photo by m.diaz So if this Labor Day weekend you're looking for a day trip that's really worth it- an experience that will transport you (like when the radio is chiming out the lyrics to the song Pocketful of Sunshine 'Take me away to a sweet escape...' consider a trip out to Warwick NY. My Key Lime pie dessert choice -photo by m.diaz A shelf in the Garden Room in Charlotte's Tea Room - photo by m. diaz

As my loyal readers know, I almost flipped when I saw these fake cupcakes since I'm a big fan and maker of faux, Trompe l'oeil sweetness!

Charlotte's Tea Room Hours!!

Since Charlotte's Tea Room is so popular on the weekends and is only open Wed thru Sunday its best to call before heading over (so they can save a table!) - the number is (845) 988-9499
The tea room has recently been awarded the "Best of the Best" by Hudson Valley Magazine and a "Reader's Choice Award" by the Tea House Times, and Teamap has ranked them #1 in New York State!

The check in a tea-cup - photo by m.diazA table on the wrap-around porch at Charlotte's - photo by m.diaz<

So if you love tea, don't say I didn't tell you where to go!

-Amarettogirl

Treat Yourself to a Subscription of Color!

The full spectrum of colored pencils by Felissimo

So during my blogging escapades I discovered the kind of mail subscription I would have LOVED, and I mean LOVED, to have had as a young budding artist - heck if the times weren't so financially tight I would LOVE to have it now!!!

just one sample of the cleverly named pencils- Mermaid's Gown

Think back to a time when (instead of a new encyclopedia every month) your parents ordered wonderful little packages of animal flashcards that you could build a zoological collection of and catalog in that great little complimentary index case. Well this subscription is just as good if not better! 500 pencils and not just any pencils, color pencils!!

Japanese design house, Felissimo has created a new social experiment by developing this subscription plan in which 33 dollars a month will buy you a Japan-mailed-package of different assortments of 25 like-minded colored pencils, for 20 months until you have 500 varigated colors. The different colors have names like Tragedy, Tea with Milk, Maple Sugar and Drizzly Afternoon. Geez I want these!

One of the ways to display your pencils as they arrive

In addition to being able to order your pencils you can order high-design displays that rival some of the great stuff you see in the Moma (Museum of Modern Art) gift shop, like this wall display on the left appropriately named Orchestra. Felissimo's Social Design Network states,

Social designer curates and creates smart products that tune into the greater good. You can join the cause by submitting designs for our competitions, weighing in with your opinion, purchasing goods or just simply talking about them. After all, every good idea (and every good cause)... starts with a conversation.

The Color Wave Display Option ($104)

So if you do happen to indulge or splurge on this beautiful monthly treat let me know! I would love to see pics of your open packages as they arrive - they're sure to be works of art in themselves!

what a mess...the plight of the art teacher

a panoramic shot of my daily office view ;(

Yes, its that blessed time of year when all the classes are getting wrapped up in rubber-bands, and paper-purple portfolios and all thats left is cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, sorting, counting, collecting, grading, inventor-ing and ordering art supplies - and oh did I mention cleaning? If only the creative mind could organize habitually - but when working with so many during such a limited amount of time it isn't always possible. I wish one of those home organization television spots would show up at my school and snap their fingers...

Wanderlust Dreams

Summertime is right around the corner, prompting me to revisit the idea of summer-dreamin' - what I would do if I knew I could not fail (or if I simply had the money). I think answering this somewhat universal question is vital for all of us and can truly inspire life changes (if not the big ones - at least the little ones).

If I could, I would get one of these:Vespa GT250

Isn't she stunning? Though I would share one, if I'm dreaming - I might as well say I'd get two Vespas so my husband can come along on my adventures. I have wanted a Vespa since my college years when visiting Europe, Greece and Mexico meant inevitable run-ins with these romanticized and adorable pint-size buckets of speed. There something about the wind in my hair, (under a helmet of course) but via a machine that my five-foot size one inch body can control!

Daily Coyote Book by blogger Shreve Stockton I would travel across country like this TOTALLY INSPIRING blogger: Shreve Stockton http://www.dailycoyote.net/

Shreve Stockton got up one day and decided to drive across country from San Francisco to New York City on a Vespa.

She chronicled the trip through photographs and blogged about her experience at a blog called Vespa Vagabond. During her journey, she stopped for one, single, solitary day in Wyoming and fell in love with the place. After she reached her destination (NYC), she ended up returning to Wyoming to start anew. While there her life crossed paths with an orphaned coyote whose parents had been shot. His name is Charlie. The Daily Coyote blog chronicles Charlie's life as he lives in a log cabin with Shreve, her cat Eli and the newest member of the family, puppy Chloe.

Hogan's Alley Guerilla Art Project

Though I have secret fantasies of seeing how much greener the grass is in other parts of the country, if I had that Vespa, my travels would revolve around the North Western parts of the Garden State, NY state, excursions to the grocery store, bookshop and summer escapades.

If I feed the dream, I would perhaps travel across the country as well. However, unlike Shreve, I would busy myself with doing spontaneous acts of anonymous Guerilla Art! Of course, just like Shreve, I would photograph and blog my journey for you, but I doubt it would make it into a publication!

OR...

The other dream I have is to forgo the Vespa, home and job and get one of these:

MaryJanes Farmgirl Teardrop Trailer

MaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop TrailerMaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop Trailer

This baby is a beauty and it would unleash the farm/cowgirl/nomad and wanderer in me! I would pack up the dogs (and again possibly the husband) and seek out a life of wanderlusting self-sustenance!

But the dream starts getting a bit impossible right around here since this little trailer will set you back $14,425 big ones...but look at what you get!

My little classic American travel trailer is easy to tow with virtually any vehicle. (Also great for those weekend antiquing trips—fill ’er up with your finds!)

Its aluminum matte finish exterior sports vintage-style steel wheels with baby-moon hubcaps and wide whitewalls, reproduction fiberglass fenders, and reproduction 1932 Ford tail lights. Inside, you’ll find maple woodwork, a cozy double bed with ample room for two, lighting, and a ceiling vent fan, completed by a locking entry door with a porthole window and a sliding picture window and screen. Out back is a tailgate kitchen, featuring a 12-gallon water tank, sink, and faucet; ample cupboards; a Coleman camp stove; and a matching 54-quart Coleman cooler that rides up front in style when not in use.

Purchase includes a night at MaryJanesFarm B&B getting acquainted with your new little darling, and lessons for both towing and what many women dread most: b-a-c-k-i-n-g up. Before I send you down the road with your MaryJanesFarm Limited Edition Teardrop Trailer, you’ll be driving in any direction you choose!

But at this point in my life...these fantasies are simply not possible. So its best to reign in the dreaming (for now) and return to the feasible and that is turning to Vivian Swift's amazing book.

Vivian Swift is a wonderful illustrator and watercolorist who hangs up her traveling shoes and starts to see the world immediately around her with fresh eyes... When Wanderers Cease To Roam

Vivian Swift's illustrated Book When Wanderer's Cease To Roam Vivian Swift Illustration - Book excerpt from When Wanderers Cease To Roam by Vivian Swift