Love Notes

Feb 26, 2024 • #easter #winter

Be Soft 2/26/24

What is the musical term for softness, that which follows a brass-blaring-drum-pounding crescendo? I think it might be diminuendo*. What a lovely word, how it rolls off your tongue ... try saying it aloud. Diminuendo. Ahhhh sounds like it could be a new bubble bath from Chanel. It also subtly harkens of good things yet to come. We are far from done here, it gently whispers. But let's go softly for a step. READ MORE

Feb 26, 2024 • #interior design #italy #needlepoint

Be Bold 2/19/24

In December of 2022, I was sitting around the fire before dinner with a glass of wine, my husband, and a good friend who was visiting us. She (my friend, not the wine) said, "I'm going to Rome next month. You ought to come with us." I thought, "oh, there's no way I could possibly go to Rome next month". And then

"But what if I said yes?" In fact, I did. The trip wasn't a super luxe trip, and January is a wonderful time to travel to Europe because no one else thinks so. (It rained a lot and we even saw snowflakes, which is virtually unheard of in Rome.) And it became one of my favorite trips ever. READ MORE

Feb 16, 2024 • #blue #new york city #valentine

Out of the Blues 212/24

In last week's note, I shared that I was feeling a case of the blues. So many of you, dear readers, reached back to me with a tender word. How do I thank you? It was like a tall drink of water. I was talking with a friend about the beautiful outpouring from both friends and friends-whom-I-have-not-yet-met, and she posited that perhaps there is something empowering about dropping the facade. My friend likened it to Truman Capote's swans - all that energy expended in creating the perfect visage, whereas inner strength can most be found in seeing and owning one's true self, imperfections and all. READ MORE

Feb 16, 2024 • #blue #pink #valentine

In the Pink 2/4/24

Aaah what is it about some weeks? This one was not my week. The ugly beast of my insomnia raised its dragon head. The little things and a few big ones that didn't go my way seemed overwhelming. I know it helps to put the words down on paper (proverbially or preferably in an especially beautiful journal). I'm writing it down here, because I hope it might help just one of my dear readers to know you're not alone if you're having some mid winter blues, big or small. READ MORE

Jan 29, 2024 • #golf

Golfy 1/29/24

I just got back from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando (where I was showing my custom line of bangle bracelets). I think it might be safe to say that I knew less about golf than 99 percent of the people there - of which there were more than 30,000 (!!).

My idea of a good afternoon of golf is taking my clubs on a nice walk with some girlfriends, and just maybe my ball will actually go into the hole a few times. I spend much of the nice walk trying to avoid close encounters with real golfers, in whose way I might accidentally tread. Golfy I am not. READ MORE