obsession…

 

 

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Hello, my name is Susan, and I'm addicted to macaroons. Not just ANY macaroons…Ladurée specifically. The talents of Pierre Hermé have not swayed me from my longstanding obsession. It is usually the first stop when arriving in Paris, and the last! This past trip, my goal was to visit every Ladurée location in the city, and we did it! I managed to bring back about a dozen on the plane, and nearly cried as I bit into the last one back home. The classics are mon préféré…especially vanille. Do you have a favorite macaroon flavor, and what are your thoughts on Ladurée vs. Hermé? There have been heated debates about this people…seriously!



proust q & a…exquisite banana

kayla-poole

 

Kayla is one of those people that you feel as if you’ve known forever, she is so darn charming and sweet! We “met” via her blog, Exquisite Banana, which is full of beautiful sentiments, fun personal tidbits, and inspiring finds covering many topics. We have become “virtual besties”, and sometimes I get freaked out by how much we have in common! Hopefully next time I’m in NYC we will be able to finally meet in person. Check out her blog, and find her on twitter too! 

 

If not yourself, who would you be?

Myself. Always. I believe it is important to love one’s self, wholly, truly and authentically. There’s only one of you in this world…how special that is!

What is your present state of mind?

Cheerful, relaxed, contemplative.

Your favourite colour and flower.

I do not discriminate on this one. I love the entire glorious spectrum of the rainbow and every single stem in earth’s soil. But, if I have to choose, my favorite color is yellow and my favorite flower is the peony. 

Your idea of happiness.

Good people, good conversation, good food. Lots and lots of laughter. Since I tend towards verbosity, let’s throw in birds singing, the first days of a new season, round Buddha bellies on young children, creative pursuits, and getting lost in a fat book.

Your favourite food & drink.

Freshly baked bread with sweet créme butter, all cheese, good wine, chocolate, seasonal fruit, messy tacos, homestyle mac ‘n cheese, thanksgiving dinner…I’m a glutton and proud of it!

Where would you like to live?

I am happy where I am (the NYC metro area) but am really attracted to the historic cities of the south (Charleston, Savannah), certain areas of California (San Fransisco, San Diego), and the glamorous allure of Europe (anywhere!). NYC feels like home, though. Oh, and of course New England, where I was born and raised (Boston/Cape Cod).

Your favourite poet.

e. e. cummings. I own his complete works and it is one of my most treasured possessions.

Your favourite occupation.

I love what I do (teach). I hope to continue to teach at the early childhood level and eventually, supplement my income through writing (children’s books). If I had many lives, I would also love to own my own flower shop/bookstore/outdoor café/bakery. Or, travel the world and get paid to do it (Food critic? Travel writer? Photographer?). The list goes on and on…

What gift from nature would you like to have?

Flight. From butterflies to wonder woman to hummingbirds to honey bees, I envy all living things blessed with the ability to soar (literally).

Your favourite motto.

I keep a whole book of beloved words & quotations and consult it regularly for inspiration. The latest addition:

“Wake up at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of living.”–Kahlil Gibran.

Two additional favorites:

“A light heart lives longest.” –Irish Proverb

“Let the beauty you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.” -Rumi

farrow and ball…

 

 

Oxfordstone
Choosing paint colors, in my opinion, is one of the toughest things I do as an interior designer. However…Farrow & Ball paint makes my job a whole lot easier. The company got it's start in 1946 across the pond, in Dorset, England. They have stayed true to their beginnings and still develop their colors using the finest raw materials, which result in rich, saturated hues. Their colors can be found all over the world! I am anxiously awaiting my new swatch book showcasing the new colors for 2011..but in the meantime, here's a sneak peak!  

 

we shall overcome

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I came into this world 11 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, but his words inspired me greatly as a child, and continue to do so today.  I was so moved by the message and life’s work of King that I wrote and directed a play about his life in my first grade class (I played the role of Coretta Scott King!) He believed in a better America, and in many ways we have lived up to our nation’s original creed, but in my opinion, we still have far to go. The day that Obama was inaugurated, I cried happy tears. For obvious reasons, and because it renewed my belief that our nation will someday embrace the true meaning of these words, and be accepting of ALL.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

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