A few of my favorite things: Kitchen edition
Let’s face it, thanks to COVID we’ve spent more time at home than we typically would. I am the furthest thing from a homebody, but I’ve been finding ways to embrace the times and make home feel like a special place. I think it’s important to surround yourself with special items that you love. These things don’t need to be expensive or even the most practical, but having some sentimental keepsakes in your home can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one. Here are some items from my kitchen that always put a smile on my face when I use them.
My favorite afternoon treat is a cup of espresso and a good piece of chocolate.
Apron: I’m a big believer in finding an apron that is functional, but also feels like you. My apron has my three must-haves which are pockets, length going from neck to knee (I will never understand the appeal of half aprons, and style. It looks like a dress and has ruffles and rosettes which are very me. I found my apron at Anthropologie which is one of my staples for kitchenware and home accessories.
Espresso cups: I moved in with Lou this spring when it became clear we wanted to shelter in place together vs apart. We both love to cook and are foodies so incorporating both of our styles and favorite things into the kitchen was important to us. We live in what used to be Lou’s grandparents’ home. They, unfortunately, passed away before I knew Lou so I never had the pleasure of meeting them. Lou has various items that belonged to his grandparents that we incorporated into our home and my favorite has to be their espresso cups. Lou is not a coffee drinker while I am a bit of an addict. Lou’s grandparents were from Italy so they knew good espresso. We have two sets of their espresso cups, saucers, and spoons and I enjoy using them for my afternoon caffeine fix and serving others as we’ve slowly been able to have family members over. Using these cups makes me feel connected to Lou’s family who has become my family too.
French press: When I’m not drinking espresso I’m having a giant cup of black coffee. I was single and lived by myself for years so using a large coffee maker didn’t make sense for me unless I was entertaining. Since Lou doesn’t drink coffee it is still more practical for me to use a french press. I find it easier for me to control the strength of the coffee using this method for brewing. I have a BonJour model that my friend Dave gave me shortly after I moved to New York. I love it because it makes me think of my buddy back in Michigan and that exciting time when I decided to give the Big Apple a try. Thirteen years later and I’m still here.
School craft wall hanging: This is a recent acquisition even though it dates back to the early 90s. I was going through items in my childhood home in Ohio and came across this kitchen wall decor piece that I put together during summer art school when I was about 8 years old. I love that we found a spot on our wall for it.
Tiffany serving plate: I love all things Audrey Hepburn so Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorite movies. My sister, Esther understands my love of Tiffany Blue, I did paint my Manhattan bedroom in that color during a station years ago. She got me the perfect birthday gift one year which is a serving plate from Tiffany & Co shaped like one of their famous gift boxes. It makes me feel like an elegant hostess even if I’m serving pigs in a blanket.
Tiffany & Co Serving Platter
