Ornate

I thought we'd kick off this work week with a bit of bling so outrageously ornate it's more art than jewelry! This old European cut diamond engagement ring from Doyle & Doyle (one of my favorite places for vintage baubles) features a 1.65 carat center stone plus more diamonds and sapphires to boot!

After a very hectic month, this weekend was a slice of pure luxury (and we didn't have to go anywhere at all!). While John spent Friday night at a concert given by guitarist Kazuhito Yamashita, I enjoyed some quiet time with my first Kindle library book, Committed, which I can't recommend more highly. With the best empanadas I've had in the states from Hollow in our bellies, we headed down to Mountain View Saturday morning so John could give a few guitar lessons. I enjoyed more reading and apple cider in the sunshine, and then we took to the Stanford Shopping Center for a bit of what my mother likes to call "fishing". Laden down with a new navy peacoat and several ties from J.Crew, some fresh button downs to wear to the office and plenty of replacement wine glasses from Crate & Barrel, not to mention the Martha Stewart colander John couldn't resist, we declared it a successful expedition and headed home.

A late-afternoon lunch paired with an episode or two of our newest discovery, The West Wing (I know, where were we in 2000?) was perfect relaxing, and we toasted the restorative day at Mel's Drive In over mashed potatoes and gravy.

Sunday's goal was a spectacular breakfast; the pain au chocolat, brioche toast, French omlette with Gruyere, roasted potatoes and caffeine from our weekend haunt Trouble Coffee that John ferried back in a vintage Stanley thermos was out of this world. So was, not surprisingly, the nap that followed. I whispered to John more than once that this weekend felt like a week long vacation, and I can't tell you how much I needed it–thank goodness for lazy, luxurious weekends!

So how was your mini holiday, or are you enjoying a long weekend thanks to Christopher Columbus? Someone please tell me they went apple picking–I hunted high and low for a Bay Area orchard and came up with only a few highway-adjacent contenders!