The Love List

{coeur de neufchatel}

What would a Valentine's Day be without hearts, flowers, chocolate and love letters. To celebrate this day of love, I have created Allison's love list, all things valentine's day-ish that I am loving right now.

 I'll start with Coeur de Neufchatel cheese. Yes! Cheese...

{via Clarks Food online}

Coeur de Neufchatel has been made in the Normandy region of France in the shape of a heart since the 6th century and is said to have originally been made my love struck farm girls in the shape of a heart to win the attention of British soldiers during the 100 Year War. It is a soft yet crumbly cheese similar to Camembert with an aroma and taste of mushrooms. Yum!

I have been searching for an on-line resource in the USA to purchase French Neufchatel with no luck and was hoping to run by Whole Foods and the Fresh Market to see if they stock  it especially this time of year. The American version is actually not similar at all but more like cream cheese. It is also referred to as 'Coeur de Bray' (heart of Bray) after the market town of the "Pays de Bray" in upper Normandy where it was originally made.

{traditional home}

I love peonies! Their big dramatic, ruffly, fragrant blooms drive me crazy. I have invested some time and resources this year in building a garden and hope to grow some peonies of my own this year. I understand that peonies have a little bit of a reputation for being hard to grow but it sounds like the key is planting them in the Fall with "proper placement and site preparation" {whatever that means} and with that, they will be happy for life. Peonies live for up to 70 years. Wow!

I love the photography by Christy Ford that graces the magical blog And George and especially like their regular feature 'friday flowers.' I love to have fresh flowers in my home all year long and like the casual elegance of their styled arrangements. I also love purple and blue flowers and grape hyacinths.

{Sonoma Lavender}

I love lavender as it reminds me of all things earthy and beautiful. I discovered the most beautiful place in the world through the blog Dreamy Whites as they followed a wedding set against the backdrop of the Sonoma Lavender farm. I now have a visit to the Sonoma Lavender farm during the June lavender harvest on my design bucket list.

These gorgeous photos are from photographer KT Merry and the blog Dreamy Whites from the wedding held at Sonoma Lavender. I also love the simplistic beauty of these placecards.

Speaking of bucket lists...Did you know that many of the world's oldest and finest fragrance companies are located in the quaint french town of Grasse, France and if you travel there they offer special tours where you can create your own fragrance? 

The rose harvest in Grasse, France

I have read a lot about the process of making your own fragrance from the essential oils of fragrant flowers and now I am just dying to return to France and tour the perfume factories of Grasse, France. I really love the idea of having something that is all mine. The process takes about two hours at a course offered by Molinard.

Here's what I have learned. You start with a tour of the museum and factory and then learn about the basics of the fragrance families and how they interact and are layered to make fragrance. Then you choose your base, middle and top notes out of about 80 ingredients for creating your own scent. A fragrance expert called 'the Nose' shares their knowledge with you and guides you as you layer your three notes into a unique fragrance blend. I liked Katherine's blog entry here about her personal experience at Molinard and thought I might have made some of the same 'note' choices as she did.

Peony Cupcake Placecards from Everyday Occasions

I love to entertain and thought these cupcakes were so clever and beautiful and would be the perfect centerpieces for a Valentine's Day celebration.

Of course, if you are going to have a party or send a love letter, you've just gotta' have the perfect letterpress. I love these confetti cards from duet letterpress...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love hearing from you, my readers, so please leave a comment!

Thanks for reading.

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Happy Valentine's Day

I love tulips and have always wanted to visit Holland during the tulip harvest. Although I knew a trip to Holland would be picturesque, I certainly would not have expected this:

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Valentine's Fantasy Dinner Party

The pleasure of your company is desired for an evening of fantasy...

 

The guests arrive just after dark just as it begins to snow. It's a magical evening even as it is just beginning. The eclectic group gathers for libations in the french inspired library that overlooks the parterre beyond. Even though the garden rests for the winter, the sculptural vines and garden architecture provide a restful beauty as the snow falls.

  

I'll serve something pink in honor of the day, not too sweet but an interesting concoction that might even start a trend. The appetizers will be unexpected and tantalize the taste buds with unique and exotic flavors.

Dinner is soon to be served and we gather around the table set with handmade pottery, vintage hotel silver and a gorgeous ~ knock-your-Pradas-off ~ flower arrangement. The candles emit a warm glow and we find our seat next to guests we hardly know! Artists and innovators, we are energized by each other's company. The conversations are enlightening and spark imagination. Suzanne and Ina sharing their secrets. An intimate table filled with laughter and a buzz with artful conversations.

The food is good old fashioned comfort food served in eight, petite, courses. Unexpected little treats arrive in between the main courses ~ a petite herb flavored mini-biscuit or a candied cashew with a bit of cheese.

I am relaxed and find the need to kick off my shoes as my favorite pair of Channel heels have finally taken their tole. We retreat to the living room for coffee and dessert by the fire.

One dessert is inadequate for this exceptional evening so I have the chef prepare two! Strawberries with chocolate ganache and french macaroons.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime evening that shapes my future aspirations.

The evening comes to a close and we say goodbye to our celebrity guests. We retell our favorite stories from the evening and are giddy with laughter.

My pillow awaits...

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Sources {1} via Greige {2} via Katie Armour: The Neo-traditionalist {3} Princess Queen V {4} unknown {5} Vintage Rose Garden {6} gastrogirl {7} Vintage Rose Garden {8} Mateo Bedding

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Look and You Shall Find

{Karen Sugarman Designs}

"The Sailor’s Valentine originated as a way for sailors to not only express their love for wives and family, but to also while away the endless days at sea. Fashioned from varieties of colorful shells found during their travels, these beautiful mosaics were originally housed in wooden boxes and covered in glass. I first became aware of these highly collectible works of art early during our 10 year sojourns to Nantucket for the summer. Imagine my delight in finding a miniature version of the Sailors Valentine encased in this vintage pocket watch! A muted lavender Jasper-ware classic figurine is the focal point of this unique pocket watch Sailor’s Valentine. She is surrounded by a painstaking arrangement of the most miniature shells in lavender and beige. A chain of gorgeous faceted Ametrine nuggets with hand-coiled loops are interspersed with delicate hand-linked champagne citrine rondelles and additionally, with acknowledgement to the bounty of the sea - stunning lavender freshwater pearls."

{Karen Sugerman}

I love to shop and find these beautiful things for you!

The only problem is while I am looking for inspiration, I fall in love. If you have a special valentine that makes the mistake of asking you what you really want for Valentine's Day, I have a suggestion. Hello! Is this the most beautiful necklace or what?

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A Valentine from John Darien

Who wouldn't love a little valentine from John Darien?

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