Mixed Nuts
Welcome to Mixed Nuts, a little cocktail hour-inspired series where you never know what you’re going to fish out of the dish.
Last week straddled the great summer divide, my oldest started third grade and my baby is blissfully trotting through the last of his unstructured days before Pre-K begins. For the first first day of school, dinner called for comfort food: A confit tomato pappardelle pasta plate from client Gather’d Market. I photograph their weekly rotating meals, a wonderfully ephemeral task, and, in turn, my family eats very well.
I like to live well too so naturally a few new chic yet practical elements have made their way to Chez Vetiver. Admittedly, I mull over a purchase for days, weeks, even months. I had been eyeing these Leah O’Connell x Weezie (another amazing client) towels all summer and finally made them mine. The beautiful green and cream pattern with a scalloped edge adds a lovely layer to our primary bath. In the kitchen, this pewter butter dish brings everyday elegance to the counter and these espresso and cream small plates join our existing matching bowls. If you’re on the hunt for tabletop, Porta NYC always delivers with a treasure trove of pieces.
For a well-meaning edification of the mind (rich coming from someone who just wrote a dissertation on Housewives), I enjoyed Jeddah Bride by Patricia Bonis. Her memoir about international marriage and family life is fascinating and harrowing if you’re looking for a page turner. I’ve started to reread this one by Michael Knox Beran, examining the bucking of elitism in America and the history of the original lost generation. It’s very interesting and, in my opinion, the writing is exceptional. Guess what else I can’t pull myself away from? The HBO docuseries Monsters of God from the minds that brought us Tiger King and Chimp Crazy. It’s grotesque and seedy and really, really riveting.
Nothing will snap you out of neglecting your appearance faster than the faces of a raw, unfiltered documentary. My hippie summer of natural hair came to an end last week with fresh highlights (it had been four months) and a new product recommendation that gives my fine strands incredible volume. If you’re also in the thin or aging tresses boat, Kevin Murphy’s Body Mass does the trick for a thicker look and feel that’s lightweight. While in the salon chair I did something certifiable: Purchased outerwear during a heat advisory. Well worth it, I must say. This $42 cream and camel fleece jacket will be worn on many a brisk autumn morning.
If you’ve made it to the bottom of the mixed nuts dish, thank you for reading along! Have a wonderful week dears xx