Welcome back to my weekly Five Things I’m Loving with Cindy and Annie. Are you as tired of the darn virus as I am?! I appreciate all the precautions people are taking and we recently ventured out safely.
Five Things I’m Loving This Week!
1. Howard E. Pickett
Well, this guy is in my top five things I’m loving as we just celebrated 35 years of marriage! I met Howard 37 years ago when I interviewed for a job in L.A. at the advertising agency he was working for. I didn’t take the job but accepted his invitation for a date. He called me Mary Ellen on that first night (which didn’t go over very well) but his manners, southern accent, and masculinity made him hard to forget.
Born in Virginia and raised in Florida, Howard is the son of an eloquent Christian minister and beautiful, gracious mother. I’m sure it wasn’t easy having their son fall in love with a Catholic girl from California.
We married in L.A. and the week after we were both transferred to NYC working on Madison Avenue. Alie and Tommy were born two and five years later. There were lots of career moves…NY, Chicago, Florida, Paris, California. Not always easy, of course. But they made us stronger.
Howard is a marketing mastermind. He sees the brand from a bird’s eye view with many dimensions that most people wouldn’t consider. He is a listener, trustworthy, and esteemed in his industry.
I could go on but let me just say that he laughs at my jokes, cooks for me, takes Chief out after dark, and is my love and solid partner.
And after 35 years, the best is yet to come, Howard.
We took a little local vacation to Napa Valley for two nights. Out of the fog and into sunshine by a pool…
2. Napa Valley
- North Block Hotel is charming. Travel and Leisure awarded it 2020 #1 Resort in California. Chief could come and we socially distanced by the pool. 2. We borrowed bicycles from the hotel to ride through vineyards. 3. The Restoration Hardware Wine Vault garden is a nice place to grab a glass of wine. 4. I always enjoy exploring the Sonoma Country Antiques Store (open by appointment).
For more read Napa Highlights.
While at the RH Wine Vault a fancy hand sanitizer was on every table…I’m thinking that this would look better than all the plastic bottles that I have everywhere.
3. Avocado Toast With A Mexican Twist
I had this for breakfast and liked the presentation with the cucumber and radish slices.
Ingredients:
-
- One Slice hearty country grain bread, toasted and lightly buttered
- One-third to one-half mashed avocado
- Thin slices radish and Persian cucumber
- Sprinkle of queso fresco (or crumbled feta)
- Sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds (or toasted pine nuts)
- A squeeze of lime and chopped mint (or parsley)
- Sprinkle with Tajin or salt and pepper to taste
4. Book Recommendation
Howard read this book first and thought I would like it…and he was right! “Ordinary Grace” by Willian Krueger
“… It was a time of innocence and hope for a country with a new, young president. But for thirteen-year-old Frank Drum it was a grim summer in which death visited frequently and assumed many forms. Accident. Nature. Suicide. Murder.”
You will understand the meaning of the book title by the time you get to the end.
5. Favorite Recent Home Décor Finds
I am really loving texture and deep colors for the end of summer and early Fall…such as…
More latest home décor finds here.
Go see what Annie and Cindy have for us…always fun!
Most Lovely Things
Rough Luxe
Come back on Thursday for a group blog tour of Inspiration Using Grocery Store Flowers. I’m setting our new dining table for a simple summer lunch.
Thanks for being here and take care out there!
Mary Ann
Happy Anniversary and bless you both for living a fine example.
You are so sweet, Mary Ann!
Congrats on your anniversary! Many more years of happiness to come!
Thank you for sharing
I love your blog-I’ve shared it with my daughter-in-laws
Thanks, Joy…sounds like you are blessed with great daughters-in-law!
Happy 35th Anniversary to you and Howard. Wishing you many more filled with joy and good health.
Thanks, Mindy. We miss you guys!
Hi Mary Ann,
What a sweet tribute to Howard and Happy Anniversary! You are just as beautiful now as you were 35 years ago! And Howard looks exactly like Tommy in that wedding photo. Looks like you had a great time in Napa…we are heading to Paso Robles later this week. Staying at a vacation rental at the guesthouse at Copia vineyards. We can bring our dog so that is a plus. It’s big enough for 6 people so maybe next time we can invite someone to stay with us.
I make Avocado toast a couple times a week. My version has sliced tomato and a fried egg with Sriracha. But this version looks good too!
Linda
Let me know about the rental in Paso, please, Linda. We were searching for a place to meet up with the family and found something in Lake Arrowhead.
Definitely! :o)
Mary Ann, Happy Anniversary. I love your blog. I am definitely interested in the Pottery Barn Olive trees. I LOVE the live versions, but have a difficult time keeping alive. Have you seen these in person and think they are realistic ?
Thank you!
Shelley
I have only seen the olive branches in the store…and they look nice…in fact, we ordered one for a client on Friday. Check out the up close photos.
Happy Anniversary ! Congratulations for many years together, and many, many more to come. What a beautiful tribute to your husband. I love these weekly “5 Things” – so many good recommendations and ideas! Thanks again for a great blog that I love to read. Stay safe !
Such a nice comment, Patricia. Thanks!!
That Howard! What a guy! Sounds like you had such fun in Napa. Such a fun quick getaway for you guys! That book sounds fabulous. I need to download that one. Can’t wait to check out your home decor finds when I have more time!
There are some fun new finds, Cindy!
A beautiful (and Inspirational!) love story. Love the way you word things..
I’m also craving avocado toast now. Great post!
Thanks, Kim!!!
Love this post Mary Ann, and congrats on your anniversary. You two are a darling couple. So many interesting tidbits in this post. I definitely want to try that avocado toast!
Happy Anniversary! I love that you listed him as one of your top 5 favorite things…I feel the same way about my husband!
Ha!! That’s this week’s list! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I read the book recently and it was very Good and thought provoking. One of the only good things that’s come from this pandemic is I’ve read a lot of good books!!
Happy anniversary! A beautiful tribute to your husband.
I live in Mn, and William Kent Krueger does also. He is one of my favorite authors. I read his first book, Iron Lake, and was hooked! I’m sure you would both love all of his books!
Books.
Thanks, Kathy! Good tip about Iron Lake.
I always look forward to Sunday and your fun five finds! Happy anniversary to you and Howard, you are just as beautiful now as then. The hotel in Napa looks wonderful, a perfect place for an anniversary getaway! I just finished reading The Gown, which I really enjoyed, so your book recommendation of Ordinary Grace comes at a perfect time. I even had it on my reading list! I’m going to try adding cucumbers and radishes to my avocado toast, looks yummy and so pretty. Thanks to you, Cindy and Annie for so many inspiring ideas that add some pizazz to my boring life!
Happy anniversary! This is the sweetest post! 35 years! Love that you made him one of your top 5! Goes without saying that he’s always your favorite, but it’s still sweet to actually write it!
Sounds like a lovely trip and so nice that you could bring Chief!
Howard had a big smile after reading the post, Annie 🙂
Thank you for sharing your photos of you and your husband and Congratulations on 35 years. My husband and I just celebrated our 40th at Perrini Steak Ranch in Buffalo Gap, TX. Glad you got to visit Napa Valley. Sounds wonderful. And thanks as always for your “5.” That is such a fun blog idea.
Congrats on your 40th, Linda!
Mary Ann,
Happy anniversary. Your story is so sweet. I like the name Mary Ellen too. Haha.
Good stuff on the Friday Faves.
xo,
Karen
Thanks, Karen. I didn’t think it was so funny then…but it is now 🙂
Happy anniversary! Lovely post! xox
Thanks so much, Susie!
Congrats on your anniversary. Your husband is as blessed as you are. What lovely words about him!
Would love to know what your husband thought of the book since he was a minister’s son. Thought the husband had a true calling and was a very good man but felt he should have thought of more ways to help his wife handle things. It certainly was a time when wives were not given enough consideration. Very sad book .
I will ask him. I felt like the ending was happy with the brothers and father together. I didn’t feel much of a connection to the wife but now that I think about it, it was sad how she gave up her music career. But at least she had the church choir.
Hi Mary Ann,
Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on 35 years, and from the your post I can tell you are still IN LOVE. So nice!
You always share so many great things in your Sunday posts. Fun to dream about a vacay in Napa. We aren’t going anywhere and have no plans for future travel. But I’ve always loved it up there and hope to get back when things settle down.
Hope your Sunday was restful, have a good week!
XO Heidi
Hope you have a good week, too, Heidi!!
Great post! Loved seeing your wedding photos! Cute couple! Congratulations! Your husband sounds charming! I loved the book “Ordinary Grace”. One of my favorite reads recently – very well written and thought provoking. I highly recommend “A Gentleman in Moscow” . A book to be savored. Particularly apropos during these crazy times of social distancing and isolation.
Thanks, Catherine. I will definitely read that book!
Happy Anniversary_ I’ve been following you along for quite a few years now, I enjoy seeing where you and your husband travel, all the great food he prepares, you two compliment one another when entertaining and also in your life together. I also am here for the design tips and before and afters which are always classic. You are talented.
Thanks, Alysa. I’m hoping to have some before and after’s soon. Everything is taking so long to get here with the virus~
Happy anniversary to you and your wonderful husband! I wish you many years of continued health and happiness. My husband and I also just celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary yesterday. We dined outside, and shared an appetizer and hamburger, simple, and romantic. It’s the simple things in life we appreciate as we get older. Have a great week, and I look forward to your post on using grocery store flowers (can’t always get to Trader Joe’s, they have the best and great prices!) Stay well and safe!
Congrats on 39, Cheryl. Thanks for commenting!!
Happy Anniversary. What a beautiful ode to your husband. Funnily enough I was reading that book until I realized I had to read my Book Club book. But I’ll get back to it. Always a treat to read your blog.
Thanks, Sandra!! What’s your book club book?
Happy Anniversary! You were (AND are) so pretty!
Thanks, Arti!!!
Congratulations on your Anniversary! California/San Bruno is my original home and I love seeing your posts about there. Also, I am loving the tall black candlesticks! I think they are just the thing to go on my mantel.
I love those candlesticks, Jenny!