How Did I Miss Bright Star?

 
I'm no film expert but I really enjoy watching movies and I try to watch a couple of movies every weekend.  This weekend I watched Bright Star.  Generally, when the Oscar nominees are announced, I comb the list looking for the films that I've missed and then rush to see as many as possible prior to the Oscars so that I can cheer for my favorite film, especially if it is a period piece.  I waited for the release dates of Avant Chanel and Young Victoria and loved them both but somehow I missed Bright Star.

This weekend I probably don't have to tell you that Bright Star was on my movie list and it was wonderful.  Not only are the costumes beautiful but the performances of Keats, Fanny and Mr. Brown are worth watching.  As you can probably imagine, the film was both romantic and sensual.  I fell in love with Fanny's bedroom - it looked a bit coastal but I'm guessing that the director was using her room to underscore her purity and innocence with the look of the room.  They were such young lovers - he died at twenty-five.  If you haven't seen it, this might be one that you want to put in your queue.

Atlanta Bloggers Private Party at A Classy Flea

Susan, from Between Naps on the Porch arranged a private party and shopping event for the Atlanta bloggers.  After meeting some of the guests I think some of the attendees traveled from as far away as Macon!  It was great to meet Tara in the ATL    I was so glad to run into Joyce from Flour Power and not far behind was Sue from Rue Mouffetard.  Stop by Sue's blog to read more about the event.  Thank you Susan!! 

Don't forget to stop over and visit Bramasole...to yearn for the sun, to register for a fantastic giveaway! 

Remember Field Day?

Picture of grandgirl trying to figure out her spot on a tug-o-war team

This week our firm has been celebrating Staff Appreciation Week with events happening every day. A Fashion Show, several game shows including Family Feud for a Cause and today we ended the week with a picnic in the park and lots of games. Today's games were inspired by a new television show called Minute to Win It. I haven't seen the show but watching today's activities inspired me to plan another family reunion.

You may recall that last Labor Day I organized a family reunion event at my house. We managed to have sleeping space for everyone though I did rent a room at a nearby hotel so that we had access to a pool for the weekend. It was a great event. We played a number of traditional games at our neighborhood park, but after watching some of today's games I'm going to be planning a whole new line up.

Some of today's games had crazy names, like Bobble Head, but they were all really fun. Like the one, that without using your hands, the contestant has to put Vaseline on the nose and "catch" 5 cotton balls. Once caught they have to be moved from one dish to another.

There were sorting games, puzzle games and shooting rubber band games. All games had to be completed in 60 seconds - talk about stress.

Being outside is perfect this time of year and a perfect time for a family field day. I hope these photos inspire a picnic.

Meg Adams Interior Designs

" I treated the room as though it was haute couture and the chandelier as that perfect necklace that adds that crowning touch." Meg Adams

A couple of posts back I mentioned that I volunteered with the 2010 ASO Decorator Show House. It was my sixth year volunteering as a docent and I have to say that I enjoy it more and more each year. One of my favorite Atlanta designers is Meg Adams of MA Interior Designs and if she designs any part of the show house, I do my best to volunteer in "her" room. I was thrilled this year when I saw her room. When you serve as a docent in the show house, volunteers quickly have to acquaint themselves with fast facts about the house and the room or area of assignment. Typically there are also prices lists and some information provided about some of the spectacular furnishings on display in the rooms. Most of the time on opening day the designers are present and on hand to greet guests and answer questions so I was disappointed when I arrived in the breakfast room and Meg wasn't there. Adjacent to my room was a hallway with a powder room that was designed by J.Hirsh Interior Design and it was really great to have the chance to speak with her. AMAZING - Janie put in a glass basin with lights! It's quite creative and beautiful.

Meg eventually showed up and after having time to visit with her and learning about how she created her room, I just had to share with my blogging friends. As a docent or a visitor to the show house - no photos allowed in the house. Well here is a confession - I TOOK THIS PICTURE! Meg told me that I had her permission and I would have taken a couple more but one of the volunteer coordinators kept pacing past our room and I didn't want to get in trouble!!

It's hard not to notice the chandelier in this room. It was Meg's inspiration and she dreamed it up. She wanted a turquoise chandelier but couldn't find one so she found the turquoise stones in the color she liked and ordered them from China. While waiting for the beads to arrive, she found someone in California who could string the beads to create the fixture. It is truly a one-of-a-kind. Once the fixture was complete, Meg began pulling together the pieces of the room. There were lovely touches of turquoise throughout the room, including a pair of parakeets that live in a beautiful antique bird cage!!!

If you get a chance to visit the house, you should. It is amazing this year. If you pass through the Breakfast Room and you see Meg, be sure to tell her that I sent you! Ask lots of questions...she is happy to help!

30 Years

My dad built this gazebo especially for my wedding ceremony. I wish you could see my bouquet which was created around a 5 inch orchid one of my neighbors grew and asked me to carry as my wedding bouquet.

It's my wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe that it's been 30 years and through the years I think I've learned a lot. My husband and I are a great example of what happens when opposites attract.

Husband is from Beirut and grew up when the city was the "Paris of the Middle East." In his high-rise, he grew up with a full-time live in maid. I grew up with yard to be mowed and lots of chores to be done because my mom and dad both held down full-time jobs. That was back in the day when mothers did not work and in fact none of the women in my husband's family worked.

My husband is a Muslim and I'm a Christian. I probably don't have to tell you that neither of our families were happy about our decision to marry (this is an understatement). Our wedding was postponed for several months in the planning process while the families tried to cope (pleaded with us not to marry) with the idea of our union.

My husband grew up vacationing in Europe during the summer while I was on farms in middle Georgia picking blackberries, peaches, peas, butter beans and corn, followed by weeks of shelling, shucking and canning. He enjoyed sunbathing on the Mediterranean every day in the summer while I was working outside dodging copperheads, possums and gnats. In my husband's family, everyone attended exclusive private school with a day that generally included a formal luncheon. He also enjoyed a spending his summer break at their summer home with all the family enjoying lots of leisure time. We didn't have much leisure time at our house (okay, that's an understatement too. I hope my sister reads this post). I took my first babysitting job at the age of 11 and my first full-time job at 16. I've been working since then.

When I met dear husband and he said he was from Lebanon, I confess that I had to go to the map to find the little country. We were from such different worlds but over the years the differences have made us strong and we continue to learn so much from each other.

Here are some of the things my husband has taught me.

Be comfortable with who you are and enjoy the day. Through the years we made trips to Lebanon during the civil war. I've dodged shoot outs, survived a car bomb and passed through more checkpoints than I want to think about but through it all I observed an attitude of Que Sera, Sera. In fact it seemed that during our visits at night in the clubs and restaurants of Beirut, at least one time a night the establishment would actually play Doris Day and clientele would join in and sing, Que Sera, Sera. I REALLY like to worry but I try to sing this song when I'm most stressed. It helps.

Cherish your life and those around you. For 30 years my husband has brought me coffee in bed. He has focused on the small gifts that we share with one another. He lets his children know that they mean more to him than just about anything. His love extends to the rest of his family including his cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. In his family the extended family members are just as important as your immediate family - it's all the same ---family. Husband does a great job in making sure they all know that they are more important than all the external interference that consumes our busy lives.

Be happy and focus on it. My children are so different and I admit that when I grew up there were prescribed paths (expectations) and I grew up understanding these were necessary paths to take. I was not allowed to explore too much off the path. My husband was raised with a focus on finding your happiness. For me, when it came to raising children my concerns were often focused on "the path" with lots of panic and guilt when they took a misstep. I would always blame myself. My husband was more focused on helping the kids find their happy factor. When my first child was born my husband gave me a copy of Khalil Gibran's, The Prophet. Through the years I've gone back to read the chapter on raising children and it's helped me simmer down. Husband reminds me often to stop and take more time to sit with him on the porch.

Protocol and respect. I've loved every moment of exposure to formalities that were never a part of my life. So many of these formalities have helped me learn to respect myself and those around me. Two religions can live and work together with great respect. When it comes to religion I have enjoyed learning that my husband is also one of the children of Abraham. I remind myself that in so many ways we both go to the same church, we just sit on different pews. Our trips to the middle east have taught me the importance of finding the similarities that our faiths share (and there are many) rather than searching for the differences.

In some ways I think dear husband and I could "teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony."

Happy Anni, Hossy. I hope you read my blog today.

Happy Earth Day!

My workplace joined with another company in Atlanta to create a LARGE community garden at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Our crew shoveled dirt the entire afternoon in order to create the planting beds. I may not be able to move in the morning but the community garden will be providing fresh produce to a large number of families in need in north Fulton county this summer. Happy day, dear Earth.

ASO Decorator Show House & Gardens 2010

This year the Show House should underline AND GARDENS in the title. Wow! This is my sixth year of volunteering with the house and every year (well, almost every year) I say "this was the best house" and this year is no different. Later in the week I will tell you more about the room I was in and about my favorite designer Meg Adams of Meg Adams Interior Design, but today I want to tell you a little about the house and share some photos from the Greenhouse.One of the things I enjoy most the Show House is meeting the designers. Throughout the show many of the designers are on on hand to talk about their work and details of how they put the room together. Many will also share some of favorite places for resources. While there are incredible antiques used throughout the house, there are also custom made pieces that were designed to suit the style and spaces in the house. Unfortunately they don't allow pictures but most designers have postcards with professional pictures of their room available for the taking.

The cushions on the settee below are in a lavender crushed velvet. The tuft buttons are covered in a beautiful moss green.

I loved this lampshade

Don't you just love this succulent bath?

This year's house showcases the house, pool, cabana, greenhouse and over 4 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. There is even a mama duck at the lake who has just laid an egg. From the greenhouse patio you should be able to see her on the bank of the lake.


The house is currently owned by Arthur and Stephanie Blank. If you live in the Atlanta area make plans to visit this year's show, "Giverny." As I mentioned - no photos allowed in the house but I did take some pictures outside and in the greenhouse. Confession - with permission from my good friend Meg, I also took one picture in her room but that's another post. Hope you enjoyed these few scenes from the greenhouse.

Be sure to stop in to visit Rhoda and see some of the great treasures recently discovered on Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures