Elements of Style Blog

So glad you guys all freaked about my boot purchase yesterday. I wore those babies all afternoon and unlike most new shoes, they did not hurt one bit. In fact, they felt like I had owned them for years! I am so beyond thrilled with my budget purchase!
As I was talking about them to my girlfriend last night I said “These boots make me want to be all country- and like, build outdoor fires, tend to farm animals and cook pumpkin based things!” Isn’t it funny how an item of clothing can inspire you to crave another life? Or a departure from your own just for a bit? As if perfectly aligned, I then clicked onto the Urban Grace blog and saw this posting about a farmhouse in the Catskills from the NY Times that would go PERFECTLY with my new boots. Because that’s the normal progression… to buy a house that goes with your Target boots.

 

For an amazingly yummy dinner, make (while wearing the Target boots)  Giada’s butternut squash lasagna (I substituted fresh sage for basil and it made it that much better).  I made it once for Thanksgiving and it was INCREDIBLE.

Last week I was perusing some of my bookmarked blogs and came upon this entry over at Orange Beautiful. She had gone to NYC and toured the wine boutique Pasanella and Son and I instantly fell in love. Not only because I love me some vino, but the design of the shop is beyond charming, right down to the cork business cards! Come to find out, it’s run by a couple, one half of which is the senior home editor at Martha Stewart Living. I am beyond enchanted by their life- living in an apartment above their shop in NYC (loving that kitchen with the ladder and open shelving). So I’ve created a new category inspired byt them called Lifestyle Lust. I always see stories liek this that make me admire someone’s whole lifestyle, not just their space of their clothes.

Perhaps you recall this amazing wine tasting dinner spread from Blueprint magazine? I remember lusting after this space AND the table setting!

A vintage car, right in the center of the shop- also loving the craft paper rolls on the wall for signage!

A display and a gorgeous wing chair shot by Orange Beautiful.

The genius cards…

Let’s not forget that they sell great wine! From a selections called “As Good As They Look“, which provides choices based on the bottles AND the taste (I buy lots of wine based on if the label and bottle is pretty) to great gift packages perfect for housewarmings and celebrations.
I personally love the “Hot Date” which includes a bottle of sparkling wine, two etched glasses, a candle and a poem!

These gift baskets elimate the scary shrink wrapped cheese and sausages you find in most gift baskets and instead uses a theme to create a memorable (and classy) gift- like the Ski Weekend, which includes a bottle of Armagnac, two pairs of cashmere socks and lip balm.

For a really luxurious wedding gift you can send the couple a wine and wookbook of the month subscription or they will box up five bottles of sparkling wine, one for each of the first five years of marriage, labeled with the couples names and date on which they should open it! J’adore!!!

Images via Blueprint, Food & Wine and Orange Beautiful.