Never underestimate the power of a Grandmother!

They survived child birth before c-sections, marriage before divorce, cancer before Susan G., and came out smiling with cookies, gifts, and unforgettable amounts of love. While we're certain to inherit aspects of our DNA and personalities from our grandmothers, the influence of their legacies is just as far reaching.

With the passing of my third grandmother last week (I was lucky enough to have 3!), I'm remembering the conversations, trips we took, and style queues I got from each of them. Since this blog is titled after my 1st grandmother's sofa, I thought it was time to post a photo of the infamous Red Davenport:

It could be said I learned more sitting on this red davenport than I learned in math class:

The red bench at the foot of my bed belonged to my other grandmother, Francis, who had a similar taste for red furniture:

I can only imagine my three grandmothers in heaven laughing till their stomachs hurt, partying like they did as teenagers, and having the time of their lives!

These boots are made for walking - in style!

I've quickly learned that NYC Winter style is all about the boots! Style aside, there is a safety element involved as well, as I learned after taking a bruising sidewalk dive in my 4 inch stiletto'd Escada's after the recent blizzard. (Ouch!) The search for the perfect boot is not an easy one as there are so many looks, and many are limiting when it comes to style versatility. As a budget style seeker, I found the perfect solution with my Calvin Klein Mayson boots:

They're made of a soft napa leather and are really two boots in one! (Which is great for my budget and my closet - both small!!) You can wear them over-the-knee or fold the top half down for a more traditional everyday boot. I happen to love them over-the-knee with black skinny jeans and my vintage fox fur coat, finished with a matte red lip and simple black knitted hat. They can look Ralph Lauren cool with my indian poncho and black leggings or with black tights and a silky mini dress for going out. Did I mention they have a rubber sole and are uber-comfortable? This NY newbie will not be sidewalk diving anymore!

Wanted: the perfect desk.

How is it that I am a writer with no desk? The idea seems so wrong in many ways! But of course, my lack of a work space has not, nor ever will, stop me from creating. Never fear though, as I have learned in my life that as soon as I identify what it is I need, the process of finding it becomes much easier. (...deep thought, I know!) The hard part? The largest my desk can be is 2 feet deep by 80 inches long. (Did I mention my apartment is small?) Here are some cool desks I found on my search:

WANTED: the perfect desk.

I've never had an upright desk, but when closed up, the LeCourte Upright from Williams Sonoma Home, would fit nicely in my space (but not in my budget!). I imagine a 1960's Upper East Side social butterfly writing her thank you's on personalized Mrs. John L. Strong stationary ( a tragedy that they closed after 80 years!!).

I've had a glass desk before, and I went through Windex like it was going out of style. The Mason Glasstop Desk from Williams Sonoma Home would be worth the cleaning battle. (Dream room!)

A little too industrial for my current apartment, but the Quivos desk from Design Within Reach would be my top pick if I had my own office in a cool SoHo loft!

My friend in LA has a leaning bookshelf like this but I never knew they made them with a little desk connected! Perfect for my laptop! Crate and Barrel does the Sloane Leaning Desk with shelf options. This could be a great place to store my thesaurus, favorite books, and inspiring photos close at hand.

The best part? This one fits perfectly in my space with a little room to spare and is a reasonable price! It's time to bundle up Maggie and go for a quick walk to the Crate and Barrel on Houston - this one is worth checking out!

Ciao!

Chocolate Brown Bedroom

I just finished painting one of the walls in my NY bedroom chocolate brown!

It was fun at first; I felt like I was painting with a big, melted Hershey bar. Halfway through, my friend Gregg stopped over to "help" and upon seeing it through his eyes, I felt my Hershey bar wall was an absolute disaster. (Straight guys just don't get it.) Like any artist vision, it must play out completely as we envision it in our minds, before others may understand, if they ever do. Well, the end result is I love the warmth and character it adds to my room. And as you can see, Maggie likes it, too.

Albert Einstein

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Happy 2010!!

Elaine was in town from Newport Beach for the week, and as we were getting ready to meet friends out on NYE, I remembered the little wooden box that was once my grandmother's:

Her third husband made it for her and I cherish its contents:

Lots of happy photos, like these:

My Grandmother and her friends doing God only knows what. (But they're having fun!)

Looking French chic with a cute beau:

Wishing you a successful 2010 filled with lots of happy picture ops!