French Provincial Luncheon

Good afternoon my dears,

I've had a bit of a blogging funk break. Most likely because this year has been busy, its almost July, and I have so many memories I want to write down and record. How is it almost already July?

At times, I can be a tad OCD, and can get overwhelmed when there's just too much to do or catch up on. So I decided to skip past our porch tour and my 33rd birthday in St. Augustine, and start fresh with a French Provincial Luncheon which we recently hosted. 

- French Provincial Luncheon -

Our tablescape was simple. 

I acquired purple ribbon and faux lavender to create a napkin ring holder.

Forget-me-not salt and pepper shakers, from my 30th birthday in Newport, RI.

Our centerpiece was purple candles along with faux herbs - rosemary, mint, and sage.

For our starter we had French imported mini-baguettes. I wrapped them with paper doilies cut in half from the dollar store, twine, and rosemary.

For our main we had fricassee. I modified this recipe I found on Pinterest from Delish. I made it without the chicken, since our guests were vegetarian, and I also omitted the celery and used peas instead. Because who doesn't love green peas?

For our dessert we had chocolate pudding, with white chocolate shavings and raspberries. I used two library books I'm currently reading, My Life In France by Julia Child and Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard as a conversational backdrop.

The whole luncheon was too lovely not to share. 

- Video -

Including a memorial tribute to my Grandad,  Michael Idris Bird, at the end. 



Thank you for stopping by. 

-Kiki Nakita-

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Home Sweet Home Is Homemade

Good afternoon darlings, I cannot believe how fast the days, the weeks, and the months have gone by so far this year. It is only days away from May - my birthday month. Today, I thought I'd write about some things that have happened lately...

Two weeks ago, I received my copy of Susan Branch's book Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams. I spent one afternoon at my local coffee shop reading. I was there for several hours until I noticed I should get home. I finished it that weekend. She is such an encourager, and although I'm, 29, and she's 69, I feel like we have a lot in common.

Oh my goodness, guess what? Susan Branch is going on a book tour this summer, and one of her stops is in Asheville, North Carolina. I cannot wait, obviously.

In other news, I got a bee in my bonnet one weekend and decided to re-decorate our powder bathroom. When we moved in two years ago, we installed a new toilet (with flat sides, as I abhor pipes) a new vanity, and flooring. I painted the walls, the trim, and ceiling.

I shopped for décor items from around our house. Before, I had a beach sign, and two seagulls. I replaced it with a antique gold mirror and my golden birds. My mother's maiden name is Bird, so I collect pairs of them and have them in several places around our home.

While we're talking about keeping home, I made a pecan cake, with light vanilla frosting and chopped walnuts. It turned out delicious.

I like the moisture of adding icing, but don't cover it excessively, as it becomes far too sweet. I've also considered making a glaze, any ideas?

This week, I also watercolored my childhood home, set in an idyllic village, in the heart of England.

I'm writing my childhood memoir, which will be a collection of my memories, with many watercolors, and photos from the 1980's and 1990's. I've never written a book before, but realize how important it is for family history and the least I can do is try.

Lastly, I wanted to share that we recently went to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Have you seen it? We enjoy watching wholesome family movies - especially these days. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but I may have teared up when the daughter went to her prom. Aww.

Once I get over a case of spring fever, I'll post about our Queens Tea at Ballantyne, where we celebrated Her Majesty's 90th birthday.

Have a blessed week,

Kiki Nakita

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Jenna Bush Hager's Baby Nursery

The Today show has been doing a new segment called 'At home with Today'. Each week they let the viewers peek inside their favorite TV personalities homes and show us the 'real' side to their lives. This weeks feature was the lovely Jenna Bush Hager. She not only looks a little bit like me, but she has the most grounded and optimistic personality.

 

 

As you walk into Mila's bedroom you notice that “everything in here means something,” said Jenna of her 17-month-old daughter, Mila's contemporary and eclectic room.

 

 

From the brass antique mirror, which Jenna and her husband, Henry, found in Baltimore where they used to live, to the white contemporary crib that Jenna picked out with her mom, Laura.

 

 

But decorating the charming room, which features an exposed brick wall and a view of Manhattan's iconic water towers, wasn't the easiest task to tackle. Because Jenna and Henry decided to wait until their baby was born to find out whether they were having a boy or girl, the couple tried their best to have a gender-neutral approach when decorating the space. 

 

 

Jenna’s favorite part of the room is the collection of art that hangs alongside Mila’s crib.

“We realized that the majority of people were giving us art at baby showers and it all meant something,” she says. “We created an art wall so Mila had something to gaze up at.”

 

 

Hanging above Mila's nursery is a portrait of her family's cat, Bernadette, painted by her grandpa, former President George W. Bush.

 

“For my baby shower in Texas, my dad painted this picture of Bernadette which is our cat that we adore,” Jenna says. “It’s one of his first works. He’s gotten better.”

 

 

Mila can also see her grandfather's touch in a painting of the altar where her parents were married and a painting of a duck, inspired by her nickname “Duckie”, that sits on her bookshelf.

“She just has an ever-growing collection of her grandfather’s art,” Jenna says.

 

 

 

What do you think of baby Mila's nursery? I think Mila will appreciate all these pieces as she gets older and realizes her family loves her so much. I'll be pinning these onto my little one's board, for when the time comes for me to start planning and decorating a nursery for my own family.

 

Read the whole story and see more picture at TODAY (here).