Happy to Assist

February 29, 2012UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

Sitting at my desk pondering the secrets of the universe (namely, am I too old to wear a bikini), I took a break from my musings (“Betty, it’s so desperate.”) and dipped my toe into bags instead. I like a big bag as I have an untold number of talismen that need to travel with me. Phone. Calendar (I know some of you think this is the same thing, but in my case it is not.) Hairbrush (that I rarely use as I brush my hair once in the morning and never again unless I am going out.) Three lipsticks the same toasty color; one red. Glasses. Supporting cast includes an ipad, a book, lacrosse shorts and/or anything for a school project and garlic or tarragon or something that is missing for dinner.

Meet Edie. She arrived this afternoon and understood immediately that I need a little structure. She can accommodate all my needs and realized intuitively not to hang around too long (meaning that with her shoulder strap extended she hits right at the hip rather than being unpleasant behind my back.) I hate to spend money on these kinds of things and was delighted to find that she would come work for me for a mere $230.

It’s ridiculous how much I rely on J. Crew. If only he would advise me what to don poolside.

The site reads the cost as $288; a handy email coupon provided a discount. No compensation, real or imagined, was received for this post.

Role Reversal

February 28, 2012UncategorizedMrs. B at HomeMrs. Blandings

Over the last couple of years, it has far more likely at our house that I will be out of town and Bill will be home. But last week he went skiing with friends.

We are long past the days when his being out of town sent me into a tailspin. Mostly, the boys are pretty easy. (At the very least they can feed themselves, go the bathroom by themselves and sleep through the night.) Even though I fix something most nights (fixing being an entirely different thing than cooking), when he goes out of town I am happy for us all to exist on cheese and crackers. The boys, not so much.

They make a big play for going out and they usually win, but five days was just too much. Friday night I told them they had to come to consensus on something they would all eat. After a short meeting they came back and proclaimed, “Steak! And French fries!” I feel sure this was planned to make me give in to carry out. I stood firm.

I peeled. I sliced. (I poured a remarkable amount of oil into a pot.) Double frying, it seems, is the answer to frites and I figured any error I made on step one would likely be covered in step two.

A few years ago someone had told me that Roast Chicken had the best Steak au Poivre recipe, so I slid it from the shelf. I ground peppercorns and sifted off the powder (“too hot”) and pressed them into the fillets. Handling raw meat is one of my major issues with cooking, but that night it didn’t bother me a bit.

The boys were distracted and rather than cooking in a rush, as a chore, I cooked for pleasure, moving easily from sink to cutting board to counter. A rhythm developed and I felt completely in the moment and released from it at the same time. It was a revelation, and I wondered if cooking without Bill here held less pressure. The boys pronounced the meal, “delicious.” A rarity, indeed.

Sunday I reverted to baking. Noses were upturned at homemade muffins because the blueberries were “too squishy.” “That’s because they are real, not freeze dried like the icky ones at the grocery store.” “When does Dad get back?” they queried of the buyer of the grocery store muffins.

He returned last night with tales of watching basketball and watching the Oscars and of the most amazing kitchen island in Dwell built of Legos. And everything fell neatly back into place.

Image, last, from Dwell, photography Celine Clanet.

Le Lac X 3

February 23, 2012UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

The Director of Design for Bruschwig & Fils, David Toback, told me yesterday that they are making three new color ways of Le Lac for Fall 2012. THEY ARE MAKING THREE NEW COLOR WAYS OF LE LAC for Fall 2012. I think Le Lac is pretty perfect just as she is, but I can’t wait to see her cousins.

(By the way, he didn’t tell “me” as much as he told an entire room of designers. But I pretended he was talking just to me. Stay tuned.)

Friend of a Friend

February 23, 2012UncategorizedDesignersMrs. Blandings

I don’t have facials very often, in fact, I’ve probably had fewer than a dozen.

But last week I went to slough off some winter doldrums and laid myself flat for a Russian woman with whom I was not acquainted.

A recent astrological foray revealed that I don’t care much for pampering and I agree that this is true; vanity, however, sometimes rules the day.

With fingers like sausages, Natasha* began her ministrations. Dropped towels, later re-used in their chilly, limp economy and blaring pop music were the least of it.

I imagine that it was like being with a virgin when you’re not one. I could not begrudge her her lack of experience; neither did I care to be a partner to it.

Such experiences make me value all the more being in good hands.

Which is why I was delighted that Temo Callahan took the time to let me know that his charming lampshade was decorated by James Shearron of Bories and Shearron.

Strong, assured and lacking unnecessary flourishes, the firm’s work is a delight. This is the home of Doug Turshen, who applies his aesthetic prowess to some of the best design books around. You can find the images, and the overwhelmingly romantic story of his marriage to Rochelle Udell, here. Indulge yourself further at Bories and Shearron here.

All images William Waldron, Elle Decor, November 2010. *Named changed to protect the, if not innocent, ineffective.

To Mark It

February 20, 2012UncategorizedMrs. B DIYMrs. Blandings

My mother doodled when she talked on the phone. When she talked on the phone, she sat either at the dining room table, the long curly cord swagged to the kitchen wall or on her bed, cross-legged with her Princess Streamline like a teenager.

Provided with an endless supply of scrap paper in the form of unopened bills, she would mark the backs of envelopes with pointy stars embellished with dots, pyramids of spirals that ended up looking like rose bouquets and an odd collection of dots and dashes, seemingly random, that always resulted in different, pleasing patterns.

Rather than covering the paper she would often trace her initial designs again and again until they were as dense and distinct as fresh tattoos.

I was reminded of all this when I spied Temo Callahan’s kraft paper lamp shade in House Beautiful. Decorated for Callahan by a friend with marker, it is infinitely charming, exponentially personal. Seeing the shade makes me want to know both the owner and the artist. Every life, every home should have just such a thing.

Image, House Beautiful, March 2012, photography Francesco Lagnese. This particular issue had to be rescued from Dexter, who chews my books and magazines if I have neglected him too long. We are both learning.