The end of the year is encrusted with many many holidays. Hope most of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Being the gourmande that I am, I associate holidays with food. I found this photo in my blackberry during our trip to Italy last Spring where I had the best pasta I've ever had in my life!
The ingredients were made from scratch. The tastiest tomatoes with fresh basil and sumptuous seafood. I have yet to find out where the restaurant was. We were too exhausted to remember. It took us hours to get there from the 45 minutes ride in the metro to walking several blocks searching for this local place that seemed to be in the middle of a rough neighborhood at the heart of the city.
Best Pasta Ever, Milan, Italy |
I literally forgot my name while I was eating this, so naturally, I wouldn't remember where the restaurant was. In case you're wondering, no, it wasn't an episode of the Hangover film. :)
However, I can't help posting these wines from a Vineyard in Tuscany around San Gimignano.
One of the best wines, San Gimignano, Italy |
Getting away from it all’ is something we all love to do. Why wait for the holidays!
Whenever you need it, make time over the weekend for your very own retreat at home..
Take the phone off the hook. You can use some unstructured time to review recent events,
create new dreams or retreat into your inner space to renovate the soul.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Time to pop that bottle of wine you're reserving for the perfect weekend.
This inspiring Thought for Today from Inner Space is truly motivating, so I'm excited to share it with you. I subscribed to this by email so I would get a positive thought daily and it became an oracle for me.
To live life with passion is to discover what invigorates
and inspires your soul. Make time to identify your passion.
When you find your passion, it’s then possible to find direction and focus to do what you love.
You don't have to focus on just one passion.
Why not, do a little bit of everything that you love?
When you live with passion, you gain enthusiasm for life as a whole and as a result you’re better able to persist through life’s challenges.
Well said, don't you think?
I wish all of us in living life to the fullest!
Image via
Do you have a place where you go to when you want to escape from chaos or a stressful day? A place where you seek solace. A bit of peace and quiet . A spa for sure! However, I'm referring to a sanctuary where you don't need to spend a dime. To some it would be browsing books in a library, watching the stars at the rooftop, a walk on the beach, or whipping up something in the kitchen.
For me, I go to this garden carrying my mug of coffee. It's where I think of nothing and just be. Where if I had to think of anything, it would just be the good stuff.
Where do you normally escape to?
Happy Sunday!
As photos of friends clad in costumes streaming on my news feed with lots and lots of fabulous Halloween parties this weekend, I can't help wishing I could celebrate it with them. Nevertheless, allow me to greet you all a Happy Halloween!
This Halloween party setting from Crate and Barrel inspires me to start planning a Halloween party this weekend.
Source: Crate & Barrel |
What about throwin' in a Halloween punch!
Blood-Bath Punch
Ingredients:
3 Oranges
1 Bottle Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 Quart Chilled Orange Juice
1 Cup Chilled Vodka
1/2 Cup Triple Sec
3 Table Spoons Fresh Lime Juice
Preparation:
Cut 3 oranges into 1/2-inch wedges; freeze. (Try blood oranges!) In a large pitcher or punch bowl,
mix 1 (64 oz.) bottle cranberry juice cocktail, 1 quart chilled orange juice, 1 cup chilled vodka,
1/2 cup triple sec and 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice. Serve with frozen orange wedges. Serves 8.
Now I'm off to the store!
Happy Halloween Weekend Gourmands!
I trust you're all having a wonderful Saturday. The bright sunny day outside my window prompts me to change into my swim wear and enjoy the nearby clubhouse pool. The heat decreased lately and in a few weeks, I will definitely be running to the pool. For now, while waiting for the weather to simmer, I'm going to post photos of my home as I have previously promised.
A dear friend, Lito Flestado of Captureffic photographed our humble abode's interior. Lito is the other half of Captureffic that specialize in event photo booths.
Moving back to the home interior, it was a fun decorating project I enjoyed doing last year when we decided to move in, in this neighborhood. It's a quiet family oriented community in the middle of the desert. Yes, typically a suburban lifestyle.
Photo by: Lito Flestado |
The three (3) black and white framed artwork are my travel photos. The left image is a view of Montmartre in Paris one summer afternoon. The central picture was taken at Salar del Uyuni in Bolivia at the foot of Vulcan Tunupa. The artwork on the right is the Christchurch Museum in New Zealand. I had these images printed at Portfolio. The frames are great purchases from IKEA.
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Long behold my favorite white mirror from IKEA and I matched it with the country looking credenza from the same store.
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Photo by Lito Flestado |
Hope you enjoyed the brief home tour.
Have a lovely Saturday!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
A very close friend, Shela, introduced me to a very interesting Art Hub where the local Art community in Dubai frequently meet. 'The Pavilion' Downtown Dubai was initiated by the Shabib brothers, founders of the successful Shelter project whose main aim is to promote and facilitate creativity and art expression. It is a perfect venue to hold Art Exhibitions, workshops, lectures and various events.
This 1,400 sq.m space opened last February 2011 and was designed by the Dubai based Canadian Interior Architect, Mr. Abboud Malak, Principal of Studio M. The Pavilion is equipped with a library, two galleries, a lounge area, a screening room and an espresso bar.
So far this is the first plant wall or vertical garden I have seen in Dubai.
Photography by: Sid Silva
I think I'll be spending a lot of time here. The atmosphere is always oozing with creativity and enthusiasm.
Have a great week everyone!
Here I am, back in the real world. My vacation has just officially ended. I'm facing the days ahead with courage and anxiety as I approach a vast and unknown future. The entire three weeks had been very enlightening for me. I made peace, closure, re-connection with friends, a realization, touristic discoveries and most importantly, the value of family. With that, I was blessed with the opportunity to do something with my siblings which we used to do when we were little. Sing together. Here's a short video of reuniting with my siblings (Sadly minus one sister, who was then overseas when we filmed it). Aika, this is for you.
Happy Wednesday!
"1. Buy a new dining room set." |
I got this dining room set from The One at Mall of the Emirates a few months back during the season sale. The comfy seating is perfect for entertaining. You could sit there for long conversations and could even squeeze additional two (2) chairs for extra guests because of the good table length.
By the way, this picture was taken at the time we just got the table so those covers were temporary.
By the way, this picture was taken at the time we just got the table so those covers were temporary.
This is how it looks like right now.....
Bonjour & Welcome
Designers' Journal, Material Library and Works in Progress.
About Author
Arni Nauleau. Interior Architect. Artist. Coffee Addict.
You can also find me on the Hive Blog https://hive.blog/@discoveringarni
Total Pageviews
Search This Blog
Categories
POPULAR POSTS
-
Home Box opened in Dubai last Wednesday. It is a low-priced one-stop contemporary furnishing and home ware store from the Landmark ...
-
I'm so excited to share this news with you! I have perused the West Elm U.S. website so many times always wishing they'd ope...
-
There are several decisions to be made when planning the dining space. Should it be private or open to the living area? How many seating...
-
I finally got around to organizing the clutter of makeup on my bathroom counter. Using Godmorgon Box from IKEA , U SD $18, it helpe...
-
Happy Wednesday! I thought of posting the nachos recipe in case you're craving for something savory. It is ideal for party appeti...
-
We threw a Parisian themed baby shower for a dear friend, Shela last weekend. The party preparations started several weeks prior to the ...
-
Arbitrage is a suspense thriller directed by Nicholas Jarecki, about a billionaire and hedge fund tycoon, Robert Miller played by Richard ...
-
A short stop in this beautiful orchid farm was refreshing after a long drive. After a morning hike at Eden Nature Park ,we were greeted by...