Ornate

Monday, October 10, 2011

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!

37 comments:

  1. we had a mostly lazy weekend too. It was perfect!

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  2. ah! empanadas and apple cider?! im jealous :) sounds like a wonderful weekend. we worked on our condo the whole weekend and took lots of trips to home depot...crazy fun! ;) xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams

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  3. gassssssssssssssp!
    we had a pretty relaxing weekend as well. we're planning a huge vacation, so we're trying to keep it pretty low profile until then!

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  4. Good golly!! My weakness....vintage jewels...

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  5. You had such a wonderful weekend and I'm so jealous! Mine was actually pretty good also. Lots of friends and lots of eating.

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  6. Those rings are amazing, although I would be too scared to wear them anywhere:) Glad you had a relaxing weekend.

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  7. haven't gone apple picking yet - but I plan to do that before the season is over.

    xo, chrissy

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  8. Seriously Lena, you always seem to have the most wonderful weekends! Just the word "gruyere" makes my mouth water haha...it is not good for a college student to be so in love with such pricey cheese ;) I'm sure you'll find the perfect apple picking location soon! xoxo

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  9. Wow, that is some serious bling!...we enjoyed the weekend immensely, despite being holed up working on a very special project. We did make some time for a walk to the Village in La Jolla for cookies and planted some palm trees in the back yard...fun!

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  10. your weekends always sound so amazing!!! no blue angels for you?

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  11. Ah your weekend sounds amazing...I swear I just spent part of it with you while reading that. And you just reminded me that I have to re-watch the West Wing. Love that show! No apple picking here either. Boo.

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  12. I love that ring. gorgeous.

    your weekend sounds like, perfect!!

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  13. your weekend sounds wonderful. Unfortunately my weekend was spent listening to hammering and sawing and a bunch of other loud noise (we are finishing our basement). not very relaxing but hopefully next weekend will be better.

    Stop by & enter my Itunes Gift Card Giveaway!

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  14. Your Sunday sounded fantastic. Pain au chocolat, brioche and a Gruyere omelette? Yes please! Breakfast of champions, for sure.

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  15. I was looking at the jewels when my eye scanned down and read brioche toast.

    WHITEOUT

    xo,
    C

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  16. I'm staring at that ring just soaking in the perfection of it. Hold please.
    (pause)
    Aaaaand we're back! Your weekend sounds seriously amazing. Be careful, one of these days I might invite myself for a visit.

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  17. All I can remember from this post is "he pain au chocolat, brioche toast, French omlette with Gruyere, roasted potatoes and caffeine"...we must be sisters from different misters! I love jewelry and so wanted a vintage ring. David said that eventually I would think it was "too much". My lovely solitaire with my wedding band and some diamond studs, a Tiffany necklace and charm bracelet are my daily staples...HOWEVER there are days when I wish I could have been best friends with Mrs. Taylor to try on some of her most fabulous baubles! I hope you had a most amazing weekend with John! David and I made trips to Home Depot...often and I spent the evening torn between paint swatches...but happy!

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  18. Now that's what I call bling! Your Sunday brunch sounds amazing - I'm drooling :-)

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  19. Jeez, that is some ring!

    Happy to hear you two had a lovely weekend! We enjoyed our stay at the cabin to the fullest! I swear your pulse drops when you get there, it's magic :)

    Hugs and a happy new week to you!
    ~Signe

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  20. no long weekend on this side... had to get tons of things done today! glad you had some time off this weekend... My kindle is full of the game of thrones books!

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  21. Your mini-holiday sounds amazing. I spent this weekend being very unproductive, but not in the good fun way. . . at least until yesterday when I literally only spent about 30 minutes outside of my bed and the rest of the day in it, watching TV online. Thursday I'm heading to Austin for my fall break and I really hope it gives me the energy I'm going to need to get through the rest of the semester!

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  22. Sounds like a beautiful sunday to me. I enjoyed a lovely weekend exploring the Tuscan region of Italy. Sadly, no apples.

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  23. Your weekends always sound like a glorious movie complete with plenty of cocktails and all sorts of amazing food! I am glad you got to relax a bit!

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  24. Sounds amazing! No apple picking here but we did pick up our pumpkins! :D

    Glad to hear you had such a great weekend!

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  25. Sounds like a great weekend. What a ring! xo style, she wrote

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  26. Very glad you discovered the West Wing, it is one of my favorites! Sounds like you had a lovely and very well deserved relaxing weekend. I will be picking up your book recommendation next!

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  27. wow - super glam!

    we're going apple picking next weekend, can't wait :)

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  28. Your weekends always sounds so heavenly. The food alone. Delightful and today's image is breathtaking!

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  29. I worked all weekend. My weekend is actually starting right now, yay!

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  30. I love this! So gorgeous! I had a similar weekend!

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  31. Why don't we live close to one another again?

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  32. I've been wanting to go apple picking too! I feel like the grocery store options are all mealy. Yuck!

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  33. Your meals alone have me in awe! lol

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  34. A most exquisite ring!

    Your weekend sounds truly amazing...

    ~ Clare x

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  35. I love that your weekends revolve around food, just like ours! we should buy this print:
    http://tinyurl.com/3jeuol8

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  36. This is so stunning and beautiful!

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