The Christmas Simmer Pot

Food and Wine

 

December is here and the holidays are near and we all want our homes to smell fabulous and Christmassy. The timing could not be more perfect to make a Christmas simmer pot. I like mine to be as beautiful to look at as it is to smell, so I like to use a sliced lemon, orange, apple, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh sprigs of rosemary. I just bought beautiful cranberries at Aldi for 99 cents a bag - a great deal. Publix (and I'm sure lots of grocery stores) have live rosemary plants shaped like Christmas trees - the smell is so wonderful. You can take clippings from it or you can also buy cut rosemary.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale starts today for Nordstrom cardmembers and on the 15th for everyone. This is a great sale. Many are brands that you rarely see on sale. I especially love it to restock my favorite beauty products (makeup, skin care, fragrance). Here are some of the beauty products I will be grabbing today. FYI - popular items sell out quickly. Free shipping and returns.

The Chinoiserie Diffuser

NEST New York Indian Jasmine Diffuser

 

I am a big fan of reed diffusers. They are especially wonderful in the hot summer when the the idea of a candle burning may not seem quite as appealing.

Peonies All Year Long

Tree Peony - Wikipedia

Peonies, both herbaceous and tree form, are my favorite flowers. I so enjoyed Publix and Trader Joe's having gorgeous cut peonies in May and June. Unfortunately, peony season is now over. But I have found a way to extend the season in one lovely way.

Candles for Spring

NEST Indian Jasmine Collection

March 1st is tomorrow so Spring is right around the corner. A perfect time to think about new fragrances for your home. NEST is having a Spring Discovery Event with 25% off orders of $75 or more with code SPRING 25.

Scent of a Woman

Scent of a Woman

Does anyone recall the wonderful movie entitled Scent of a Woman starring Al Pacino? The 1992 movie was about a blind veteran and serious misanthrope. 

Watch this YouTube clip here.

Signature Scents

Estée Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia

 

Do you have a signature scent you wear? I really enjoy perfume and wear it every day. There are two scents I have worn for years and I never tire of them. They are both wonderful spring/summer scents. And both feel very tropical, so they are perfect for South Florida. Both make me feel like I am walking in lush gardens in Hawaii or the Caribbean.

The Christmas Simmer Pot

Food and Wine

 

Having just celebrated the winter solstice and with Christmas this weekend, the timing could not be more perfect to make a Christmas simmer pot. I like mine to be as beautiful to look at as it is to smell, so I like to use a sliced lemon, orange, apple, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh sprigs of rosemary.

Summer Style & A New Favorite Candle

Ralph Lauren

 

My favorite styling is always Ralph Lauren - I find myself poring over every detail. This would be easy to do in your own home - a couple of blue and white books, a small blue and white vase filled with flowers or herbs of your choosing, white beads, sea glass fishing floats, and my new favorite candle.

Gardening & Gardenias (Real and Candles)

Gardenia Standards

 

So, this is garden week here at CCC. I have finished designing my front yard renovation and my gardeners will be removing all the old shrubs and planting the new ones this weekend, and will also prune my twenty odd palm trees, my hedges, and mulch the entire property.

A Chinoiserie Summer Scent

CCC

One of my favorite scents and favorite hand soaps for years has been Seda France Japanese Quince. I find it to be the perfect unisex choice for next to any sink in your home.

Perfect Mother's Day Gift for the Chinoiserie Lover

Jasmine and Yuzu Porcelain Diffuser

I have found a delightful gift for Mother's Day. Refresh any room with the sophisticated floral and citrus notes of jasmine and yuzu. Simply place the porous porcelain floral sprigs in the bottle of oil to disperse the light, delicate fragrance. Both the visual and the scent are very Chinoiserie Chic. 

The Scent of a Home

Marie Daage

 

I have a collection of these wonderful chinoiserie candles I got years ago at Neiman Marcus. These hand painted porcelain Limoges goblets feature Chinaman on a Swing, often seen in chinoiserie fabrics and wallpapers. I unfortunately can't source them anywhere in the US for you, just abroad. But they are so darling, I had to share.