Time For My Drama Marathon!

Every once and awhile, I need a fix of drama.  If you are in the mood for movies that are pure period masterpieces filled with betrayal, seduction, love, fetching costumes and breathtaking locations — then look no further, you will not be able to tear yourself away.  Of course, I cannot leave out the incredible acting.  Speaking of the actors, if the pictures of these Gentlemen below don't get you to seek out these films ~ then watch these period pieces for their excellent portrayal of a different time...

Meet the handsome bad boy, Alec D'Urberville played by Hans Matheson in Tess of the D'Urbervilles...

*He also plays in Dr. Shivago with Kiera Knightly, The Tudors*

Tess Durbyfield played by Gemma Arterton

North and South

You are going to love the intense and passionate Mr. Thornton played by Richard Armitage.

North and South is an excellent period drama.  This is one of my all time favorites.

Pride and Prejudice

The dashing, devoted Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy played by Colin Firth (don't miss his wet shirt scene).  Lizzie played by Jennifer Ehle.  This is the best Pride and Prejudice version by far.  I enjoy watching this movie again and again.

Little Dorrit

Kind and generous Arthur Clennam played by Mathew Macfadyen

Little Dorrit played by Claire Foy

Lost in Austen

This is a great series that takes a different twist on the Mr. Darcy saga.  A modern version.  I enjoyed it very much.  

{Honorable mention}

I have to mention these two French subtitled movies.  Love, love, love them.

Oliver Martinez is beautiful in this movie.

I also recommend these excellent series:

I have watched all of these movies and more, I am sure I am leaving some out by accident or loss of memory capacity!  I have to warn you though, most of these are "series" and add up to many hours on the dvd's.  I usually sit down to watch one episode, and cannot stop and watch them all in one sitting.  Of course, this list has been compiled from many years!  This is not all I do!  However, I am obsessed with period drama's and it is one of my favorite things "to do".  So, clear some time, get out your favorite blanket, snuggle up with fresh popped pop corn, invite a friend over, and prepare to be dazzled by these talented actors and superb plots.

So happy to introduce these to you.

Enjoy! Let me know if you watch any of them.

~ jamilyn~

*images from BBC, Masterpiece Theatre,Amazon,Face book.  You can buy these series on Amazon.com*

Decorating with Herb Standards

Interior designers are using small herb standards for their decorative value.  Architectural in feeling, they're more visually interesting than many ordinary houseplants and usually more fragrant as well.  Planted in formal containers and displayed in pairs, standards appear proper and traditional, but in baskets or clay pots, they look more like inhabitants of an enchanted forest.                  

*Both Images from Pure Style Home*

Lauren from Pure Style Home  uses topiaries beautifully in her kitchen.  I like the touch of green they add to her black and white decor.  Having a Herb Standard in your kitchen, can help you to use more fresh herbs when cooking and they also make your home look fabulous!   Lauren says that one is fake but I cannot tell, can you?

Herb standards are plants trained to grow with single stems and lush, geometrically shaped heads.  Standards are a simple form of topiary, the art of training plants and trees into fantastic shapes.

Martha says, "A lone topiary might look lost atop the table, but a group of five in staggered heights provides an arresting tableau {love her use of vocabulary words}.  The spherical forms highlight the tables shape and the soft edges of the other furnishings.  Living centerpieces can be rotated to suit the season."

I really enjoy using topiaries in my home.  I think I am obsessed with them.  When I am out and I see one, I want to buy it.  They usually are very expensive, so I hold off.  I may try and make one myself.  It has to be cheaper...right?  So much to do, so little time.  Go here for instructions.  I love this photo below.  First, the table is fantastic.  Second, I love all the lush plants.  It would be like having a mini garden in your home. I think it would make me happy to see that everyday.  Unfortunately, I don't posses a green thumb, so it probably wouldn't look this great after a few months! *image from Lonny Magazine

These "baby" Myrtle topiaries make a great gift in antique tea cups.  Adorable!

Topiaries for a wedding decoration...

I could go on and on with images of topiaries.  I hope this has inspired you to add these beauties to your home!

(images for Martha Stewart, Country Living, Pure Style Home, Living It At Home)

Thanksgiving Extra's

If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year and you have even a speck of time left after establishing your menu, shopping, cleaning, cooking, making sure you have all your dishes and serving wear...  Maybe you can have fun with these festive decorations.

I think some of these are "projects" and can be done if you have started early...like in August!  Gather photo's of family members that will be attending.  Copy and use Sepia coloring for antique look.  Paste onto cardstock.  Really adds a personal touch to your table.

When we have had Thanksgiving, there was always a need for a kids table.  I think this is easy and fun for them.

This place card is so cute!

This is kind of wierd and fun.

Very sweet decoration.

Have a restful weekend!

~jamilyn

(images from Country Living, Martha Stewart)

A Weekend of Antiquing and I Am Happy

With the sun shining and leaves falling, we were off to enjoy a leisurely day of roaming and treasure hunting.  My Mom was up from New York and we were two gals with a lot of time to "oooh" and "aahh" and stroll through all the antique delights.  With no men in tow--you know how it is--we took our time, ate lunch and enjoyed a beautiful fall day in Concord, Massachusetts.

Nesting on Main is an adorable antique shop that is filled with magical found objects like birds eggs, nests, dishes, jewelry, ect...  It is a special place.  The owners have a knack for decorating and it is very visually pleasing to walk in there and shop.

I love the use of natural materials mixed with antiques.

We checked out the Concord Antiques Fair at the local church.

There was much to choose from as far as ironstone.  I was very happy!  However, it takes me a long time to find that one special piece to collect.  I had my eye on these pitchers.  I am really looking for ironstone platters.

There was oodles of sterling and silver-plate.  I had to control myself.  I am looking for a ladle that just shouts out to me, "Pick me!"

These old frames would look great for a family picture wall I am planning.

My "big splurge".  Picked up one of these little babies, only 14 bucks.  So cute.

I also found some great antique prints, that I plan to frame, for only $3 each.  Wasn't a big spending spree but it was a perfect day!   I love the houses in Concord...

There is quite a bit of history in Concord, Ma.  We have visited Louisa May Alcotts place, The Orchard House.  She wrote Little Women. (She is running in picture below.)  Ralph Waldo Emerson House, the American writer.  Walden Pond, (we have swam there) Thoreau lived for a while in a one room dwelling by himself.  Famous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where everyone is buried.  

 Of course there is the Minute Man Park and the Old North Bridge which is associated with the opening battle of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.

There is so much to learn when you visit and great shopping.  Time to take out the "old" school history books.  I unfortunately have to brush up!  Really nice place to go, check it out!

(Last two images from NPS.gov, all other images by Living it at Home)

Left My Heart in San Francisco

I was looking through old photo's for Thanksgiving decorations I have done in previous years.  I usually try and take a picture every year.  I started going through them and I began to remenisce about our time in San Francisco.  Whenever I "walk down memory lane", I find it very painful.  We have been here in the Boston area now for four years this November.  I still have pangs of missing our prior life in that beautiful land called California.  I thought it would be fun to post some pictures that I had taken at that time.  Sometimes when I was capturing a picture of an amazing scene on a fabulous day (which was easy to do there), I would stop and realize that one day, we may not live here anymore, and I should enjoy it while I can.  We were there for eight years, and it went by very fast.  I will always have San Francisco!  I was lucky!

This was a wonderful place to take your family and stroll along the bay or fly a kite.

I took these pictures below from my balcony in Potrero Hill, San Francisco.  The fog was lovely to watch rolling over Twin Peaks.  It was also very cold.

 Community garden right outside our window.  What a view!

Pacific Heights victorian's.  The architecture here is spectacular.

The famous victorian row houses at Alamo Square.

Isn't this house sooooo San Francisco?  If you have never been, you should definately go.

The hills in San Francisco were also so much fun to drive on.  When "out of towners"

 would visit, that was always the first thing we did.  They couldn't believe how steep the hills were and they would scream!

Have a great weekend~ Jamilyn


(Images of victorians by kathika.com,inetours.com,sitemaker.  All other images by Living it at Home.)