Good morning! I hope you are enjoying the weekend. It’s nice to have you here.
I’m trying to use the latest editing software for WordPress (yawn). This post has taken twice as long as usual–as in all Saturday morning. I had to write it completely over TWICE. It’s a steep learning curve for this older gal. :/
So lets get right to…
Five Awesome Finds, Peppers Stuffed With Cheese, A Great Book, Big Sales, and More
1. A Timely Book For Quarantine
… A Gentleman in Moscow. A few years ago, Howard and I stayed in the hotel below where the book takes place near the Kremlin.
“In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.”
It’s really good!
2. Easy Grilled Poblano Peppers with Cheese
My brother, Jim has been making these stuffed, moderately spicy, peppers for years. All you do is slice the pepper down the middle, remove seeds, and stuff with shredded cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Grill over medium with the cut side up with the lid down for five or six minutes. We served them with other grilled peppers and limes to squeeze on them.
You may also like Summer BBQ: Grilled Steak With Delicious Chimichurri Sauce.
3. Pottery Barn Sale
If you have been on the fence about buying a big-ticket item from Pottery Barn, now is the time as you can get up to 25% off (which is more than my trade discount of 20%) through tomorrow.
Plus, things are taking a lot longer to get here with the pandemic, so if you want things spruced up for the holiday, you might want to pull the trigger.
In fact, two of my clients have purchased the Big Sur sectional (one in performance fabric in the top photo above and one in leather).
My leather chairs are on sale. Kathy, a reader and new client just bought the swivel version of these with 25% off. I probably should have gotten the swivel don’t you think?
4. McGee and Co. Sale
Everything on the McGee and Co. site is on sale at 15% through Labor Day.
I especially love their pillows, furniture and accessories!
5. Howard’s Favorite New Cookbook
I bought this “Cooking In French” cookbook for Howard as a thank you for all the cooking that he has been doing! We don’t have much going on this weekend. But I’m setting a candlelit table (instead of trays in front of the television) and he is going to surprise me tonight with something from the book! (see my ulterior motive 🙂
Those are my fave finds this week! Let’s go see what my friends, Cindy and Annie have in store for us!
Most Lovely Things
Rough Luxe
On Thursday, Annie, Cindy, and I along with three other talented bloggers are showing how we style consoles (or buffets, chests, etc.). It’s going to be a lot of fun and inspirational for you to switch things up!
Hope you are doing well and staying safe. Take care.
Mary Ann
I loved “A Gentleman in Moscow”. It it worlds better than “Rules of Civility” IMHO—much preferred “Bonfire of the Vanities” for the sweeping New York novel. I have the cookbook, but I’ve been putting off diving into it until it got cooler. We are now in that weird cooling off system that dumped snow in Colorado!!! How did I miss you got new leather chairs? They look fab! Several years ago I bought two Hancock&Moore ‘Artist’ wingchairs without a butt test or visual inspection. I was drawn to the words “firm seat”!!! Best chairs ever!!! My upstairs leather chairs (also H&M) carries the imprint of the user’s rear end. Reminds me of back in the day when people used to Xerox their butts. Remember that phase?
I should read Bonfire of the Vanities again!
Wow, you have stayed at the famous Moscow hotel. I am impressed. I loved the book and what a wonderful character he was. Have you read Rules of Civility? (same author) It was very, very good too. The grilled peppers look delicious. Thank you for all the time you spend on your blog. I enjoy it very much.
Thanks, Linda!!! I need to read Rules of Civility.
Thanks for sharing your pepper grilling and serving tips, Mary Ann. They’re on tomorrow’s menu! I’m currently reading “A Gentleman in Moscow”. I agree with you; reading this book at a time when Covid-19 is keeping all of our lives are “on hold” has provided me with another perspective on this experience.
Well said, Annie.
Brilliant. A present to you for me! Well played! I’m going to show your brothers pepper recipe to Jim … he loves to grill peppers. In fact, it’s 106 out right now and he’s manning the grill. Crazy. All these great sales … I wish I had more house to fill. You know I’m a connoisseur of comfortable sofas … and you can’t go wrong with Pottery Barn. Curious what Howard made for dinner from his fabulous new cookbook?! xo
It’s so hot even here, Juliet. I told my clients’ in LA how much you like your PB sectional and they just bought one.
I wish my husband would cook sometimes…how is it that his dad owned a Mexican Restaurant for over 40 years and my husband never had the desire to cook, not even Mexican Food lol.
I have a buffet arriving in the next few weeks, looking forward to your styling post!
Linda
Wow, Linda…and I could eat Mexican food every day!
Hi Mary Ann,
I loved the book “A Gentleman in Moscow”. How fun to see the hotel that they would have been in.
The peppers your brother prepares look delicious. We will have to try them.
I look forward to the upcoming styling lesson on Thursday.
xo,
Karen
Thanks, Karen!
I love your husbands cooking. I must try those peppers. You always feature some goodie that I can’t live with our. I must look at the Pottery Barn Sale. Thanks for the heads up!! Isn’t editing the pits? I’m just learning video editing and files sizes etc. I do not need Bridge to keep my mind active!!
So true, Sandra. AND you are becoming so FAMOUS. Keep it up!
Hi Mary Ann! I look forward to the Five Faves each week. Thank you.
I was wondering if you could answer a quick design question. I have a large ottoman which I love that I have used for a coffee table before. Is this look still stylish. I love it for fall and winter. Thank you.
Lorrie
TOTALLY in style, Lorrie!
Thank you! And I totally love your style so I’m on it.
LOADS of good cooking going on over there across THE BRIDGE!!!!!!!
I want swivel chairs but BIGGER more oversized………..Timothy Corriagn uses them A LOT in his bedrooms.
Where do I look for those?Design Center?
MAYBE WE NEED A DAY TRIP!
XX
Sure, Elizabeth…when they open again!
Hi Mary Ann,
I’ve heard that Pottery Barn furniture is mostly made in China and not best quality. Would love your knowledge about this.
Also, took your advice, and really enjoyed
The book, “The Gown” by Jennifer Robson.
Look forward to reading some of her other novels. Enjoy your weekend! It’s hot still here in Oregon.
Judy,
I had my last PB leather chairs for 15 years and now our son has them. I am sure some of their things are made in China but lots are made in the US too. The Big Sur sectional says: “Crafted in America by our own master craftsman. American and imported materials.”
We bought a sofa and chair at Pottery Barn over a year ago. So far so good but then we haven’t sat on it a whole lot. I have heard you shouldn’t buy furniture from Restoration Hardware. I think they used to have better quality. Our office furniture from RH has held up beautifully but we purchased it over 10 years ago.
Hi Mary Anne,
Love your post thank you for your inspiration and generosity ! I am loving Target’s New Day long sleeve tee shirts which are $9.00 if you buy two or more and the colors are just gorgeous! So I am stocking up on those. New books, “Women in Sunlight” and “A Theatre for Dreamers”. Excellent film, beautifully acted called “Hope Gap” on Amazon. New barbecue cooking series on Netflix which me nd my man love. And finally fresh figs from Trader Joes! Happy day:)
Wow…Thanks Francesca for the great tips! I can’t find A Theatre for Dreamers online at the library…I may have to “spring” for a copy. Going to watch Hope Gap. Thanks, again!!
Good Sunday morning, Beth,
Thanks to the three of you for giving us “Five Fabs” to look forward to every week. The “fabs” inspire in a most delightful way.
I just put Dinner in French on my Christmas Wish List. Now I’m going to get in a bit of trouble at McGee and Co.
Happy Sunday,
Diney from Camano Island, WA
Thanks so much Diane!!
Regarding your chairs…. Super-easy to make them into a swivel version. We have some wonderful and very comfortable chairs that we moved into our library/TV room. However, they were stationary and just not ideal for their new location. We found the swivel mechanism on Amazon and my husband installed them in no time. That was 3 years ago, and they work as beautifully as if we had purchased them that way.
Thanks Beth, I will check that out. I love my husband as you know, but it might not be that easy for either of us to install though. I can give it a shot 🙂
Hi Mary Ann! Can you share the color of your Pottery Barn chairs? I have been hesitant to go with leather because I can’t find a good color, but I love how yours look! Thanks for your great blog. I really look forward to your insights. 🙂
Hi Jill. They are in Statesville Pebble…without nailheads. Thank YOU!