Wren's Nest

A Day in the Fillmore

About every 4-6 weeks, I head into San Francisco to get my haircut and colored. It seems silly, I know, to go all that way just for your hair, but 1. I've been going to Monica off and on for about 17 years and 2. I LOVE San Francisco. I started going to Monica right after I got married, when I lived and worked in SF. I'm picky about my hair and so far, she's my girl!

Today John came in with me ('cause he doesn't get to the city enough...only every day, but he works South of Market and this is a completely different neighborhood). The hair salon is on Fillmore St., so he hung out at a coffee place while I did my thing, then we had an amazing lunch at a crepe place and walked around and visited Nest, one of the coolest shops ever!! I took some shots of the cute homes in the neighborhood all decked out for the holidays.

My dream of dreams is to move back to SF one day (after the kids are done with school) and live in one of the cute neighborhoods (I used to live in Russian Hill and John and I lived in the Marina) and to own a little boutique that I can walk to every day after getting my coffee - wearing fun sweaters (because it's almost always sort of cold there) and cute boots...doesn't THAT sound like a perfect life?? Seriously...I know we'll move back there someday, the boutique part, well, that will have to play itself out however it's supposed to, but I can dream!!

Enjoy the pictures!

This is where I get my hair cut...2412 Fillmore

 

This is Margaret O'Leary...SUCH beautiful clothes...

NEST - a beautiful, eclectic shop...John went back in and got me a little something for Christmas - I'll find out on Friday what it is!

Another Nest window

 

And some cute houses...

 

 

 

 

Lady Madonna

The Madonna, St. Mary, the Virigin Mary - whatever you want to call her, has always played a big role in my life. I grew up very Catholic - I loved all things Mary and still do. When I was little, thinking about Mary gave me a measure of comfort in my rather complicated childhood. I love statues of her, images of her - I went to St. Mary's Church growing up (and got married there), St. Mary's College for school and now we live in different St. Mary's parish (though, I confess, we don't really go to mass). You all know I love to collect old religious items - rosaries and santos and milagros and whatever else I find.

So now, I'm lucky enough to have the lovely Teresa Sheeley creating these Madonna pillow covers exclusively for my shop Dreams of France. You CANNOT get this image on pillow covers anywhere else...There are two different images and two different style pillows - they are bleached burlap (so, a beautiful creamy color) with muslin backing and the ruffled pillow has a muslin ruffle. They are such beautiful images - I love them so much. I think they would be amazing in a home during the holidays especially, but I'll have mine out all year. I currently only have one of each in stock, but I'll have more shortly...and you can even have free shipping on them.  Since today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (believe me, as a kid, I was in church EVERY SINGLE holy day - so I know!!) - a perfect day to show off these lovelies!! I hope you like them as much as I do!

The pillow on the left is the ruffled version and on the right, plain, no ruffle. They measure 16"x16".

 

...and the winner is...

Miss Tracey from French Larkspur who has a beautiful blog and shop - #17 in the random number generator!! Yay Tracey - I hope you'll enjoy it!

Thank you for all of your lovely comments! I have a really beautiful new item to share with you tomorrow, so stay tuned!! I am so excited!!

A Holiday Treat

Since I'm having so much fun making these stockings- I thought I'd have a little give-away and share the love. So, if you'd like this burlap and linen stocking with vintage buttons (there's only one of these since this is all the white linen I have right now). Please leave a comment if you'd like to be included in the drawing and if you want to mention the giveaway on your blog or facebook or whatever, let me know and you'll get your name in a 2nd time. I'll draw names Monday night...good luck!!

 

Don't forget - there are also other stockings available in the shop...and more to come!

Just in time for the holidays...

I've FINALLY updated the shop...I'm so excited -  there are some new lovelies and some old favorites have been restocked (not everything, but as always, if you see something you MUST have, please just let me know and I will do my absolute BEST to get it for you!!). Also, don't forget our beautiful exclusive Beth Quinn designs - jewelry makes such a great holiday gift!

Some new linen and burlap Christmas stockings - homemade by yours truly - these are SO fun to make and if you would like one made special - just let me know and I'd be happy to create one just for you!

 

Some NEW pillow cover designs...

NEW tea towel designs...

 

and a NEW take on some OLD favorites...

 

Enjoy ~ have a great Thursday!!

In a second

I've been thinking about this post for a couple of days now. Thinking so much about life and how it can be altered in a second. Things happen...and there becomes the day before and the day after and life will never be the same.  A family in our community has suffered a huge loss - the day after Thanksgiving the dad was killed in a sailing accident.   I can't imagine...I can't imagine the pain and hurt they're feeling. We have an amazing community around our little school and people come together when things like this happen (and unfortunately, as far as Collin's little class goes, we've been through this a couple of times before), but all the comfort, food, car pools and support can never help enough, can never ease the hurt that comes from losing your husband and knowing he won't see your children grow up, from losing your dad at an early age and having to reach milestones without him there to see you. The realization that all I want as a parent is to see how the story unfolds for my children - to know they grow up to be good people who are happy and loved and safe and that I have to have faith that I will see it (along with my sweet husband).

I'm rambling, I know. I don't really know how to express what I'm feeling. I tear up everytime I pass the home of this family (which is about 4 times a day). I think what I want to explain to my children is not about death, it's about life. It's about living every single day, it's about telling everyone that matters to you that they do, it's about having no regrets, about living a life that you're happy with at the end of the day - that you were a good person, who loved and was loved back because it can really all change in a second.

Anthropologie

When we were in NY, we stayed in Mid-town. I decided to mostly stay around there because I really wanted to walk everywhere and not take cabs, just to better get the feel of the city. So, after Tinsel Trading, I just started walking...with the intention of finding Rockafeller Center and the American Folk Art Museum...Low and behold...the motherload - I found it all at once and even better - I was taking a picture of the NBC entrance that they always show on 30 Rock (one of my favorite shows) - I turn and WHAT do I SEE, but...ANTHROPOLOGIE and not just any store - this one was magical inside. UNBELIEVABLE. I spent FOREVER inside. Art and books and funiture (and clothes and yes, I bought some), but it was just one of the most amazing stores I've been in - part store, part gallery. I loved it! I only have one shot of the inside (I felt weird taking pics and everyone was bustling around who worked there, so I didn't ask if I could - that's really not me anyway). But their window displays were beautiful, so I shot those. Enjoy!

 

You can't see the one in the lower right hand corner too well with the glare, but it was all these cool school chairs stacked into a tower - amazing! Would love to go back!

Tinsel Trading

At this time last week I was lucky enough to be in New York City!! It was my first trip there and I'm hooked! I'm an urban girl - I love cities and the freedom I feel when I'm in them. There's a wonderful anonimity when you're in a crowded city and everyone is doing their own thing - there was such a great energy to NY with all the hustle and bustle and I spend two days wandering around on my own.  I flew there by myself, got to the hotel by myself and was by myself during the days (I got to have dinner and evenings with my husband - with NO kids...SO fun and a much needed break).

We stayed in mid-town at a lovely place called 70 Park Avenue, we ate at an awesome steak house called Benjamin's (see that table on the left in front of the fireplace - that's where we sat!) on the first night and at an old school Italian restaurant (whose name escapes me) on the second.

On my first day I mapped out my walking tour and started at Tinsel Trading Co. Yikes!! It's amazing. I had met Monica, the owner at Wendy Addison's open house in Oct and she was there, so I chatted with her for a bit. This place is heaven...though I did wish I had had a friend with me to share the awe (but now I'll share it with you)! Warning: lots of pictures...these are all of Tinsel Trading - I'll share the rest tomorrow!

The front window...I almost walked right by!

Beautiful new ideas from Wendy Addison...

 

Sweet mittens...

A Glittery holiday...

 

 

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...

More amazing Christmas decorations!

It's a blue, blue Christmas

Ribbons and trims galore...

Millinery and more millinery...

Split Pea Soup

New York pictures are coming shortly, but since I made this soup today...and I've promised the recipe more than once - here it is. It's from an old issue of Cooking Light (I think - not sure) and the picture is from the magazine. This is super easy and really good and all 3 of my kids will eat it!

2 ham hocks (about 1½ lbs.) or 1 large hamhock

1 lb. split green peas

2 large carrots, coarsly chopped (2C)

2 large celery stalks, chopped (2C)

1 large onion, coarsely chopped (1C)

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 32 oz cans chicken broth

1 bay leaf

1 tsp dried thyme

Rinse the ham hocks. Place in a 4-6 quart slow cooker (a large one), along with the peas, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Using tongs, remove the ham hock(s). When they’re cool enough to handle, pick off the meat and discard the skin and bones. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup slightly to make it smoother (I puree it completely). Chop the meat into small pieces, return to soup and stir. Season to taste (mine never really needs salt). Yields: 6 servings

I like a little sour cream on top. Enjoy!!

It's Time

I've noticed in the last couple of days various posts on blogs I read about dreams...about friends...about things I think about a lot. It's funny because since I wrote my post about troubles, I've come to realize how many supportive and lovely people there are out there - I just had to give them the chance. 

I have been spending a lot of time considering friendship. I have not always been the greatest friend in the world. I am not a terribly trusting person and so I have guarded my heart maybe too much over the years.

So, sometimes it gets lonely and sometimes you have so much to say and no one to say it to (I have my sweet husband, but sometimes you just need a girlfriend to listen to you) I have dreams...lots of dreams - and I've been very afraid to say them out loud or share them (aside from my very patient husband). I thought people would think they were silly or that maybe I wasn't really good enough to make them happen. Then, a funny thing happened...yesterday I trusted a friend and told her one of my dreams...and you know what - she didn't laugh, she didn't say it was silly, she liked it and was excited about it and that made me feel like maybe I could really make it happen. So, little by little, it's time to start trusting, it's time to start sharing and letting people in...and in the end...friends can help you make your dreams come true!!