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I usually go home for Easter since it's always close to my birthday but since it falls in March this year, I decided to stay in the city. And I'm so glad I did. My friend Charlotte is hosting an Easter brunch that will definitely give Martha a run for her money! I can't wait to report back after the feast! Happy Easter! 
I have a million design books on my must read list and already own so many that I had to put some of them to use as a nightstand because I was running out of room. (Thanks Nick Olsen for the great idea!) But then I realized that I haven't read any good fiction lately. I started re-reading Eat, Pray, Love for a little inspiration and so I'd have something in my bag for the subway. But what do I read when that's done? So I'm reaching out to the blogshere for suggestions. What are you reading? What should I be reading? My only criteria is that it be portable for travel and have a happy ending please. I'm always a sucker for a happy ending, but then again, aren't we all?! Thanks!
I would have preferred to be recognized for one of my lovingly researched and written blog posts but I am still honored to be included in The Washington Post's Blog Watch today. I think the reason everyone is so excited about the April issue of Domino is party due to the fact that there aren't that many shelter magazine left and also that Drew Barrymore looks like someone with whom you'd want to be friends. She's down to earth and fun and her office, which was designed by Ruthie Sommers, reflects that perfectly! 
I went out in the rain today to pick up the new Vogue and look for Domino, which I knew wouldn't be there but that didn't stop my from looking anyway. (Note to self...wear shorter jeans the next time it rains.) What I did find though was the new Spring/Summer issue of Vogue Living. It was a pleasant surprise although it's so thin that it looks like something that should have been mailed to subscribers along with regular Vogue. Word on the street is that Anna Wintour isn't happy with the magazine and I don't blame her. It's a disappointing mess of more postage stamp size photos and boring spreads that continue to not live up to the precedence set by the spectacular premier issue. Come on Vogue! You have access to the best of the best! Get it together!
In my quest for photo shoot perfection this weekend, I made a trek to the Flower District for some fresh blooms and branches. The prices aren't necessarily cheaper than the corner deli but the flowers are flown in daily and are much fresher and healthier. And in my case, any savings were negated by the cab ride I had to take home but it was definitely worth the effort.
The Flower District in New York is located in the Chelsea neighborhood on Sixth Avenue and 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. If I lived in the area, I'd be there every week but since it's a bit out of the way I only go when I want something special. There is a great article from The New York Times about the gritty reality behind the business of flowers.
The early bird gets the worm in the Flower District or in this case the yellow Ranunculus which I missed out on because I got there after 9:00am. Did I mention that I'm not a morning person? Anyway, there are quite a few business in the district to find what you are looking for from orchids and exotic blooms to full trees and branches or just cut flowers. You name it, they probably have it. Unless you get there late, in which case, you are of luck until the next morning. A few tips to remember. Cash is king. Some stores have a minimum credit card purchase amount or only take business credit cards so stop by the ATM first. Also, leave the Louboutins at home. Of course, I was wearing inappropriate shoes, so learn from my mistake. The Flower District is wet and dirty. You've been warned.
The Flower Market Association web site has a list of businesses but one of my favorites is Foliage Paradise that sells plants like the Hyacinth above that I bought from them for $7 (the pot was mine). They are always so nice and helpful. You can bring in your own pot or buy one of theirs and they will repot your plant and will also add moss for a professional touch. They also deliver which is great at the holidays if you want to send an Orchid or Amaryllis to your friends or clients.
The other great place I visited was US Evergreens Inc. on Sixth Avenue. This is the place to go for seasonal branches like the Forsythia above that they were nice enough to cut down for me. Looks much better than the Quince I bought at the corner market! The shop was packed with branches like the Cherry Blossoms that were taller than the ceilings in my apartment! They also carry trees and greenery during the holidays.
Someone who gets up really early to get to the Flower District at 5:00am every Monday morning is Charles Masson, the owner of the amazing French restaurant, La Grenouille, which is famous for it's flowers. When I first moved to New York, I used to walk by La Grenouille on my way to work and I loved peaking in the front window to see Charles arranging the blooms. He said it takes over six hours for him to arrange them all!
Martha Stewart recently paid a visit to La Grenouille to see Charles at work and to dine on their amazing French cuisine. You can read more about it on her blog. There is also a book about the famous flowers, The Flowers of La Grenouille, which is out of print but can still be found for sale online. I hope a new edition is in the works!
Another great book I just received to preview is Flower Sense: The Art of Decorating by Tricia Guild published by Rizzoli. It's filled with beautiful photos of every flower imaginable and would make a perfect gift for any flower lover or yourself. I once had an older woman tell me it was bad luck to buy myself flowers to which I say poppycock! I'm certainly not going to wait around for some dumb boy to buy me flowers, although if they were smart, they would realize that a well timed bouquet of pink peonies would be more well received than all the diamonds in the world! And they can be easily found in the Flower District! 
I don't think the April issue is on the newsstand yet, although that won't prevent me from checking anyway, but Domino has sneak peak online of cover girl Drew Barrymore's office that was decorated by Ruthie Sommers. It is chock full of family photos and quirky vignettes and looks as down to earth as Drew herself. And keeping with my yellow theme is the powder room with "Ranelagh Papers" wallpaper by Farrow Ball. Good thing I didn't see that before I started redecorating!
I hate trends and I never follow them but I've made an exception for yellow. It all started innocently enough too. First, I just needed to have some head shots taken which the talented Porter Hovey agreed to take. Woo hoo! Then I needed some scouting photos of my apartment to send to a few publications. I'm a little superstitious so I can't give any details away yet but needless to say, my week was filled with a million decorating projects (and cleaning!) one of which entailed painting my television armoire Benjamin Moore French Quarter Gold and adding matching knobs from Anthropologie. I also switched out my winter wool pillows with spring/summer silk in complementary colors and made an early morning visit to the flower district for yellow flowers. More on that later. I am so exhausted I could keel over but I am delighted with how it all turned out. My apartment is all set for spring now too. Here are some other options to welcome a little yellow into your life and home.
I wanted to include my beautiful new yellow blouse from 3.1 Phillip Lim that I bought at Bergdorf's but it's already sold out in the store and I can't find it online anywhere so another fun option is the J. Crew Summerweight Chino Jacket. You can dress it up or down but I think it would look great with a pair of jeans and flats. 
We're not quite into the April showers yet but you could plan ahead by buying a pair of yellow Hunter Wellington boots. Hunter has been in business since 1817 and is the original maker of Wellies, named after the Duke of Wellington. If they can withstand the wet British countryside, then they can certainly withstand slick city streets. They are even endorsed by The Queen! And if they are good enough for her, then they are certainly good enough for you and me.
My signature perfume is Narciso Rodriguez but in the spring and summer I love wearing Mimosa by Calypso perfume. It's the most perfect floral scent that is a "blend of Mimosa, Rose and Jasmine with a splash of green leaves." It seems clean and fresh and not too sweet or cloying. It also comes in the form of a candle so your home can smell like spring too!
An inexpensive way to bring a little yellow into your life is through flowers. I bought some mini daffodils this week that are just the cutest darn things I've ever seen. They make me smile every time I look at them. And for a minute, I forget that my window looks out to the fire escape!
And if all else fails, you can pick up one of the many April magazines with varying shades of yellow on their covers to brighten up your life. House Beautiful and Elle Decor are a little on the chartreuse side but British House & Garden and Martha Stewart Living have perfect yellow covers. And even Pottery Barn got in on the act. Yellow may be a trend but at least it's one that will cheer you up while you wait for warmer weather! 
