Hi and happy Sunday to you! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying a wonderful weekend! We’ve had some fiercely cold weather, but I’m thrilled to say that this coming week is supposed to warm up a little—actually reaching around 50 degrees, which will feel positively tropical.

Only in the last couple of days has life started to feel semi-normal again. I was finally able to spend a few hours at my office, the dust is settling, and while we’re still working on getting fully settled into this house, I’m pacing myself and being mindful not to overdo it. We had planned to get away for a few days and was supposed to leave late Friday (had even packed)  but due to slow painters/a plumbing issue, that had to be postponed—hopefully, we can make it happen in the next week or two, because I feel like we need and deserve it:)

Looking forward to a lazy Sunday, with a late lunch/early dinner with my son, daughter-in-law, and baby Philip. And then, we get to babysit him for a few hours—certainly the highlight of my weekend.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday! Onward to my Sunday post…..

 

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1 THE PERFECT WEEKENDER! I shared a bag from Old Trend that has become a great hold everything tote for me to carry around during the day from my office to home. I had been on the hunt for a roomy weekender/carry one tote since my last one that has been used for years busted at the seams and zipper broke, time for a new one.

In discovering this line, I found this new amazing bag which is the perfect weekender/carry on, very “Ralph Lauren” feeling. I remember a smaller tote I had from RL many years ago that looked similar to a small version of this and I wore that thing to death.

So I was instantly drawn to this fabulous weekender by looks alone, I was able to fit so much into it too. Perfect as a carry on as well, stylish and functional. Lots of zippered pockets and compartments, and a chic shoulder strap. Very heavy duty and superb quality.   Had to show you how everything shown here fit in beautifully and perfectly (for the weekend getaway that did not happen).

Packed 4 pairs of shoes, two handbags, toiletry bag, zippered bag, four outfits and 2 scarves! (pjs and intimate apparel go inside the bags and fit some in the outside pocket)

Packing in progress…gave it a good shake and zippered it up, everything fit perfectly~

All packed and ready to go!

Love that it has the interior pockets, side pockets and a shoulder strap……very chic!

Enjoy 30% off for 2 days using code OD30

Click here to see this tote!

2 GRANNY PODS!! Where have I been? I absolutely love this trend. Small adorable charming house/cottages built near your own home as your parents age. They get their space, you get yours but are within arms reach of each other. This is genius! Hope my kids remember this one day:)Click here to read this great article about these

 

 

3 A GREAT MUST HAVE YEAR ROUND TOP That happens to be extremely flattering:) Bought this at Francis Valentine in the city a few month ago in black, this is the kind of top that will go the distance, love the attached sash/belt which makes this silhouette super flattering! Then I recently discovered they now make it in these other fabulous colors. Had to order the pink. Easily a year round piece, really love her line of clothes and accessories. Click here

3 INTAGRAMS OF INTEREST So much beauty this weekend, I must have spring on my mind with all this greenery and flowers-

4 POWDER ROOM WALLPAPER HELP! I eliminated one paper which I felt was too dark, so now am down to four. There is one, I am leaning towards but truth is there’s not a bad one in this bunch! So hoping you will add your input as to your fave! Probably after more consideration, will not do the bamboo as there is a bamboo motif in the other small powder room and I want to do something different.

Staring from top to bottom, wallpaper one, two, three and four.

 

 

5 TAHCHIN AND MEDITERRANEAN SALAD! I put this on my stories on Instagram and got so many requests for the recipe. Let me tell you..this is soooo good It is a Persian dish, which consists of a baked dish of saffron rice and chicken. If you know Persian food, you know its one of the most flavorful and delicious cuisines out there.  I serve it with an easy chopped Mediterranean salad and I will tell you this might be my families favorite dish, or at least the top two.

I did not take pics of making this as it didn’t really dawn on me to even share it. So if you have questions or are not clear,  ask in comment section, but this step by step  should do the trick! Next time I make it, likely this week, will take pics of step by step

So here is what you need-

• 2 lbs chicken breast or thighs OR a rotisserie chicken (I personally almost always use a baked chicken, its flavorful and the work is done)
• 1 med onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt (I use Greek yogurt)
• 2 cups cooked basmati rice
• 2 tbsp saffron threads (finely ground)
• Olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cumin (about 1/2 tbsp) or flavored to taste
• 2 eggs

A good sized rectangular pyrex dish OR 2 round aluminum baking rounds (Pyrex is great as you can monitor the golden crust on the bottom as it cooks)

OK so first you want to shred the chicken. If using a rotisserie chicken, do you know the Ziploc bag trick (if not click here). In a saute pan, add olive oil, when hot saute your onions and garlic for about 4 minutes on med. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 390 degrees and in a rice cooker, cook your basmati rice seasoned with salt. Normally I add a little less water than I normally would so its not 100% cooked through (it will continue to cook in oven) Once onions and garlic are sauteed, add your shredded chicken and gently saute together for about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and cumin.

Meanwhile in a mixing dish, add your yogurt, 2 eggs, a tbsp of olive oil and saffron threads (ground saffron should first be mixed with about 2 tsp of water) then added to yogurt mix

Mix the ingredients. Then you add your cooked rice to this yogurt mixture.  Your oven will be fully preheated by now, get your Pyrex dish and coat the bottom with olive oil and 1-2 tbsp of butter. Place in oven, cook until butter is melted (about 5 min). Remove from of oven.

Now you will take your rice mixture and cover the entire Pyrex bottom with it, gently pressing down on it so it goes up on the sides of the Pyrex.Then you will add a generous layer of your chicken. And finally you will top it with the remaining rice mixture, being sure to cover all the chicken with a good solid layer of rice. Put aluminum foil on top and bake for approx one hour and fifteen minutes- to an hour and a half. You can monitor the golden crust upon opening the oven midway through.

Once golden brown, remove. Then you have a choice, serve in the dish or do it the traditional way and carefully get a tray/serving platter, place the pyrex on top and turn it upside down (click here to go to this video and about 21 minutes in, he shows you how to invert the pyrex onto a serving platter) . Yes, this can require a little practice and patience but you will unveil a masterpiece that everyone will ooh and ahh over! Again not necessary as taste wise, either way its sublime!

 

SALAD-

• 6 Kirby or Persian cucumbers
• 6 cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 red onion
• 1/2 bunch fresh mint (or dried if you don’t have fresh)
• Olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Chop the cucumbers and tomatoes. Add red onion, finely chopped fresh mint and season with salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar. If making ahead of time,wait utnil you are ready to serve to add the olive oil and vinegar so it does not get soggy. Goes so well with literally everything!

 

6 A VISIT TO THE COTSWOLDS! So funny that I have been talking about the Cotswolds lately and planning a trip there hopefully for early fall. Then I stumbled across this home tour of this  super charming converted barn right out of a storybook. Nothing like a beautiful carefully curated home loaded with stories and character, the fact that its in the Cotswolds is the icing on the cake! That vaulted room is really something and the property/vistas are simply breathtaking. Its a long tour, you can fast forward if you just want the highlights-

 

7 SUNDAY’S SURVEY I will be so happy when we are officially in spring. This winter felt long and drawn out, and very cold. I am longing to see and smell the sight of freshly sprouted green grass and don’t even get me started on spring flowers! Then I started thinking even further down the road into summer.

I have a friend who is a master planner when it comes to trips. She plans her trips way way in advance, as in she knows any trips she will be taking for the entirety of 2025. I am not that much of a planner and our trips,  except for big ones tend to be a bit more spontaneous. However I was thinking this year might be different, I may actually attempt to plan a summer trip far earlier than i ever have. I am curious how you approach trips?

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Second and last day to take advantage of this beautiful promo,for every 2 porcelain balls you purchase- get one free! No code required

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And that’s a wrap for this Sunday. Hope you enjoyed this post. I have said it so often but will say it again, writing my blog is so cathartic and literally like a form of therapy. When I sit down to start a blog post, I am able to shut out the outside world and noise and let it be just me, my thoughts and the computer.

I think in our increasingly chaotic world where our brains are overstimulated every minute of every waking hour, a “getaway” in whichever form does it for you,  is most necessary. I find the same thing with gardening and working with flowers, really important to find something that brings you joy and that allows you to escape a little bit:)

Hope you have a wonderful day and relaxing end to your weekend. Until next time…