swanson vineyards

This morning my family is heading to the newly opened Disney resort in Hawaii called Aulani… Really hoping there is a good wine list somewhere on the property.

Yesterday we officially launched INSTANT NAPA CABERNET and had our reception at the super-chic Mark hotel… Our winemaker Chris Phelps has really knocked himself out with this wine, as it is luscious + yummy + haunting– all the things you want to find in your favorite Cab. We took the wine around to call on just about every wine writer who would see us…  We ultimately found ourselves deep in the East Village for dinner, at a restaurant called IL POSTO ACCANTO, with world-class bon vivant/ gifted writer/ and great raconteur, Jay McInerney, stuffing our faces with the most memorable and rustic Italian food that has passed my lips in this country. Course after course Beatritzia, the restaurant’s formidable + genius proprietress/ salonier/ cook, magically seduced + paired our wines to perfection.

Should you find yourself in NYC looking for a snippet of outrageousness, have a glass of INSTANT NAPA at the Mark Bar, and head to Beatritzia’s restaurant.

photo credit: Mr. Sun

Get one here!

See more pictures + read the story here!

For those of you not yet converted, Sing-Along The Wizard of Oz is a screening of the classic MGM musical in glorious Technicolor, complete with subtitles so that the whole audience can sing along! In addition to belting out the tunes, goody bags will be handed out to everyone and audience members can add to the fun by dressing up as a favorite character for the costume contest!

Deviled eggs are a staple in my fridge + at all my parties… They are the perfect hors d’oeuvre/ snack/ lunch, loaded with protein for all of you banning carbohydrates from your eye’s view.  There are hundreds of sinful ways to prepare deviled eggs, but I am a purist + insist on my eggs made with as few ingredients as possible… I deeply dislike any kind of pickled anything in my deviled egg, or fishy contamination. I like my eggs small-to-medium sized– dressed with a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a drop of Tabasco, garnished with Maldon salt flakes for a crunchy finish.

They are humble specimens of American cuisine that always delight.

How do you like yours???

After my husband’s dinner partner’s magnificent + droll performance— one of my more audacious friends lovingly congratulated her and sweetly asked, “How the hell do you look so good?” And in truth, she really did with her 20″ waist + freckle-less/ cellulite-less body… She was gloriously preserved in a way that women who have one/ two or three children never could– it was painfully amazing– like something in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Anyway, back to my inquisitive friend… So when she told our small group of women about her conversation with Dita, we immediately all stopped talking and listened intently. “Dita very matter-of-factly said: she never, ever took sun” — at this moment there was lots of nervous laughter + awkward silence. Then, my friend went on: “She said she rarely ever drinks”– immediately the glasses dropped by the wayside. And lastly my friend revealed: “And she always travels with her blender, always making her own green drinks.”

Personally, I think I will just go buy the hairnet instead…

For years I have been perfecting the perfect break up/ heartbreak/ divorce kit. Essential basics for temporary insanity + survival during the darkest hours. And the more I think about it, every woman should keep all of these accoutrements on hand at all times; apart of her best daily practices.

photo credit: MM

Who doesn’t love Mottahedah’s Tobacco Leaf pattern?? It seems to be on everybody’s round-up of “favorite things”…  And in truth, it is mine too.  And my 2 sisters’ favorites as well. It is timeless/ modern/ vibrant/ infectious/ goes-with-everything, especially colored glassware. 

While shopping in a little antique shop in Paris on the Left Bank, I spied a whole hutch loaded with Mottahedah Tobacco Leaf— but as I got closer I realized that my eyes did not deceive– the china in question was made of tin!!!! 

About a decade ago, Claiborne picked up the camera and started photographing those around her.  From the beginning, I was the one who found myself on the other side of her camera/ sketchpad or molding clay. Some efforts were a terrific success, and others were downright humbling– particularly her interpretation of my naked body for her sketching class.  Luckily for all of us, she zeroed in on photography and portraiture.

I dug out a few of my favorite portraits taken by my sister, from the last 10 years…And as I look at them, with a detached eye– it is amazing the truth she captured in each of these moments of my life.  All the photos below were taken in Napa, where we have always congregated during poignant times in our life– and beautifully lift the curtain on the journey of my adult life.

My 2010 portrait for American Beauty was never intended to be for a book– it was at the time, apart of a portrait project C was doing in between jobs. She arrived that summer with a clear vision: a portrait done wearing favorite clothing/ accessories/ jewelry in a favorite location.

I immediately chose my father-in-law’s mystical gypsy wagon– everything about it just resonated deeply with me. From there, I choose a caftan that represented who I was when no one is looking… I wear ensembles like that all the time at home, and love the comfort + femininity of long/ flow dresses. My jewelry told the sweet story of my recent journey in love + as a mother: 2 bracelets with my children’s names on them, my wedding band and another favorite ring. Everything about that photo captured a woman on the eve of her 40th year– a woman looking straight into the camera for the first time..

BRAVO Craig Swanson! (not related!)