Pottery Barn

I want all this...

http://www.potterybarn.com/

La Place is not The Place

As you all know Rich and I had dinner at La Place last Friday, and unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. I was expecting a cozy and intimate atmosphere, and I got a sterile badly decorated one. The layout was similar to a Wendy's....with random tables and booths... As for the decor they were trying to invoke a old world French feel but failed miserably...with scattered wine barrels and randomly placed wooden shoes (aren't wooden shoes from Holland?)

Aesthetics aside, the food was not horrible, but I could have made it home just as good or better. I ordered the shrimp saute with rice and a side salad. The shrimp were over cooked and rubbery, the rice and salad were mediocre. Rich had fish and seafood bourride. I will not speak on his behalf, but I did have a scallop from his dish and it was rather tasty. For dessert we had a apricot pastry from the bakery which our waiter recommended...it was frozen in the middle and was not delightful as a desert should be!

Sadly I do not recommend this restaurant....for the price and atmosphere you are better off just grabbing some FRENCH fries from Wendy's

Coffee

I am a big coffee drinker... my favorite brand of coffee is made by the New England Coffee Company. My mom's dear friend Carmen, from Maine, introduced it to us. The company makes lovely flavored coffees. One of my favorites is the blueberry cobbler...I know what you are thinking blueberries and coffee don't mix, but trust me- its great! They also carry hazelnut creme, french vanilla, chocolate cappuccino, cinnamon hazelnut, and Hawaiian macadamia nut. For those of you who are not big fans of flavored coffees the New England Coffee Company offers a nice variety of blends. Give it a try!

Weekend Finds

On Saturday I decide to drive to Ringgold, GA to visit two little shops, Under the Arbour and United Gifts (also known as Joy's). Under the Arbour is a shop that has a lot of primitive pieces and has recently just added a tea room which I want to try. Here I purchase a large ironstone platter and a unique wicker basket. At United Gifts which has a hodgepodge of odds and ends I bought more white platters, a silver pitcher, small white bowl, and a set of 6 salt dishes. Just what I needed right...I am planning on hanging the platters in a grouping in my bedroom with some other plates...as for the rest of my pretties I will have to find them a home!

P.S. Last nights dinner is nothing to talk about....

La Place

Rich and I are going to try a new French restaurant tonight in Cleveland, TN called La Place. Since our cruise to St. Martin last summer we have fallen in love with French cuisine. When we were in St. Martin we had a wonderful lunch at a super cute restaurant unfortunately I can't remember the name but here are a few pictures from our meal.

Hopefully tonight will be just as wonderful!

Chicken Tetrazzini

Tonight I am making Rich's favorite dish and one of the only things I can make well and thought I would share the recipe!

Chicken Tetrazzine

3 cups diced cooked chicken

8oz. cooked linguine

1 (8oz.) can sliced mushrooms

1 (8oz.) can cream of chicken soup

1 (8oz.) can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup cream of sherry

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup toast almonds

1/2 stick melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put diced chicken in a bowl. Add cooked linguine. Stir in mushrooms. In another bowl, combine the two soups, heavy cream and cream of sherry; mix together to make sauce. Add the sauce to the chicken mixture and stir to combine, Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and toasted almonds on top. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake about 35 to 45 minutes. Serves approximately 8.

Recipe from Mobile Bay Monthly

My Desk at Work

For the past eight months I have been working the front desk of the "pump company" exposed to everyone... with not even one ounce of privacy. However, this is about to change... as I will soon be moving to my very own "cube" where I can finally add some of my own personal touches. I mean after all I am at work eight hours of the day, I might as well try to provide myself with a pleasant work area.

My cube will not look like this... but you get the idea!

Burlap

I am loving burlap right now...

The rustic feel and the neutral color of burlap works in almost any room. I love that it is so versatile, it can be dressed up or dressed down, and the fact that it is an inexpensive way to change up your decor doesn't hurt.

My mom and I recently visited Scott's Antique Market it Atlanta, Georgia and everything was covered in burlap. Maybe its because we are in a recession that people are choosing something that was once used as a feed sack to cover their wing backs...

Burlap curtains from Ballard Designs

Wingbacks covered in printed burlap sacks. I really like how these chairs were incorporated with the more modern elements in the room.

If only my bed needed a dust ruffle...

This table cloth again by Ballard Designs is great because it works in all seasons.

Precious ottoman with ruffle detail, I like the mix of hard and soft here.

Next time you entertain why not throw in some burlap?