come spy with me

ringing in the season

2011-12-06T13:48:00.001-05:00

Yes folks, it's that time of year again... the annual 700 Club awards! Also known as the first holiday party of the year. Miss Tracy even snagged herself an statue for the "Bright Eyes Award", acknowledging her capability of always brightening up a room.

cocktail hop

2011-11-29T12:57:00.001-05:00

Last night's wild adventure of 12 ladies, 5 bars and plenty of booze. Read all about The Fancy Ladies cocktail hop here.

tuesday night's soiree

2011-10-23T12:32:00.000-04:00

This past Tuesday night a dozen or so ladies came over to my home for a pleasant night out in the garden. What a lovely evening full of fun for all! I slow-cooked a pork shoulder and marinated a steak during the day while chopping loads of veggies for homemade salsa and toppings for the tacos that would be coming later. The shoulder was pulled apart and placed back in it's juices which were well spiced and fortified with some dry vermouth. I arranged fresh flowers, lit all the lanterns outback, set out black grapes, boursin cheese & a liver pate' and fired up the grill while waiting for the girls to arrive. I made a welcome cocktail for each guest served in a crystal teacup and named it The Painted Lady (see recipe below). Many bottles of wine were consumed and the soiree turned quite merry and even bawdy. The last of the lasses finished the night with a strong pot of English Breakfast tea spiked with Pimms. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all and I even have had leftovers for days. I have had so many texts of thanks from my good friends and just as many requests for another party soon. I hope we can have another before the season turns to cold!

The Painted Lady Cocktail

one ice cube

a crushed wedge of orange topped with

equal splash of ginger brandy and pomegranate soda

finish by topping off with Lillet Blanc

garden party

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight I will be hosting a garden party for the ladies in my gypsy den hideaway. Stay tuned later in the week for a recap of the evening. It will be a good one. For now here is a selection of inspiring photos for al fresco good times...

photos taken from

outdoor sanctuaries

gypsy purple home

nestdreaming

raise a glass

2011-10-07T11:23:00.000-04:00

it is the weekend after all...

i've got a bike you can ride it if you like

2011-09-08T14:45:00.004-04:00

Independent Woman

2011-07-04T12:11:00.008-04:00

Take Me Away

2011-06-02T16:13:00.004-04:00

Triple Threat

2011-04-18T13:38:00.009-04:00

Hello Spring

2011-04-11T10:45:00.005-04:00

portrait of a lady

2011-04-05T08:12:00.002-04:00

The shine of a crimson lip, the flick of liquid eyeliner, a perfectly placed chapeau, a nipped waist, a gleaming coiffed 'do, kitten heels dangling off delicate ankles. The softness of spring pairs magically with pastel palettes, hourglass silhouettes, and the flash of pale skin after a long chilly winter.

sparkle and shine

2011-04-01T08:08:00.001-04:00

rabbit rabbit and happy friday dear readers! and yay for the first day of april, which in my mind means spring! here's a bit of glitz to get you off on the good foot for the weekend! i myself will be attending one or more of the various first friday art gallery events that happen monthly in different locales throughout the city. i hope to include a review in an upcoming post!

Too Cool for School

2011-03-28T02:24:00.012-04:00

reflections on a gem

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have always had a fascination with Elizabeth Taylor and have been a fan of her work. There is something about her that can be both mysterious and approachable, queenly yet down to earth. Throughout her life and career she seems to have been both a real professional and also known how to truly live life and have fun. I am especially fond of her during the 60's & 70's, aka The Burton Years. It was during that time she seemed most happy and did some of her most daring and interesting film work. Liz was a nurturer, great beauty, fashion icon, romantic, entrepreneur, and a woman of intelligence and strength. She is an all around inspiration. She may be missed but her memory and image will always live on.

bits & pieces

2011-03-23T14:24:00.006-04:00

Just a few shots of various collections we have been creating in my new house. Grouping things and collaging is fast becoming a favorite new thing of mine. I look forward to extending this into the garden!

Dark and Moody

2011-03-21T13:56:00.011-04:00

showgirls

2011-03-20T11:00:00.006-04:00

Last Sunday Tracy & I were lucky enough to score free tickets to the 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show for the second year in a row. So like last year we donned our prettiest floral dresses and started the day with a delicious brunch at Farmicia in Old City. You can't beat a brunch happy hour (1/2 price bubbly!) and local organic eats. When we had our fill we headed over to the Convention Center for the show. This year's theme was Springtime in Paris. While the displays were lovely and had me longing to be back in the City of Light, I think I preferred the more elaborate and conceptual pieces that were in the show the year before. Attending on the last day always has the benefit of getting the retail goods at super cheap prices and of course I could not pass up two bunches of fresh cut flowers and two giant hanging Boston Ferns. They are already looking super happy and healthy in my back patio. All that plant and flower arranging got me totally inspired to get my container garden cleaned up and ready for seeding & planting. Some of last year's plants & herbs are already coming back! Stay tuned for more garden updates...

feelin' it

2011-03-17T12:03:00.000-04:00

In the spirit of celebrating three years working on this blog I decided to reach back and bust out one of our regular features on CSWM, "feelin' it". It seems only appropriate to give a nod to the past when talking about Irina Werning. This woman is not only a fellow blogger but also an amazingly creative photographer. She just started a tumblr last year called Back To The Future as an ongoing project where she takes childhood (vintage) photographs and then proceeds to re-create the exact scene with the same person 10-20 years later. Since I am also fascinated by anything with a retro look, I feel a serious appreciation & kinship to this detail oriented lady. I hope she keeps it up. It would make an awesome coffee table book!

happy blogday!

2011-03-15T15:39:00.004-04:00

Today Come Spry With Me celebrates 3 years!
Thank you to all our followers old & new and all the other bloggers out there that continue to inspire us all the time. Here's to more posts, more good times, fun with style, getting lost in the world wide web and creating a special place for us to express ourselves!!!

bang up job

2011-02-23T17:46:00.011-05:00

I cut my bangs two months ago and right on time, I am starting to lament my chin-length sweep that stayed perfectly tucked back behind my ear. It's the story of my life. I can't make it through an entire year without cropping the front of my hair and it is usually a seasonal ritual happening anytime between September & January. And then I painfully grow them out. Then do it all over again. I can't help it. Bangs are just so full of attitude, so different, personalized, retro, modern, feminine, flattering & simultaneously girlish & sexy. It doesn't matter if they are sleek, short, covering your eyes, choppy, messy, paired with long or short hair--they frame a face and make the woman.

Do You Wanna Dance?

2011-02-10T14:18:00.008-05:00

Pan's People were a dance troupe that performed regularly on the British television show Top of the Pops. In a time before music videos, the dancers would perform if an artist could not appear on the show. The six lovely ladies provided visual entertainment from 1968 through 1976.

winter dinner soiree

2011-01-26T13:56:00.016-05:00

What better way to spend a January evening than with best friends on the eve of a snowstorm enjoying fine wine and a pot-luck meal. Last night Tracy hosted us at her recently redecorated home thanks in large part to the closing of our boutique, grasshopper. She has quite the gallery installed in her dining room! And it is completed with a winter indoor jungle now that her terrace is closed for the season. We started our meal by enjoying Tracy's totally addictive white wine & cheddar fondue while toasting, catching up and waiting for the roasting stuffed chicken to finish in the oven. Once the bird was carved and plated our meal of endive & blue cheese salad, homemade stuffing and wild rice with mushrooms was ready to eat. Fresh cannoli from Termini Bros. completed this lovely get together.

partygirls

2011-01-24T19:28:00.003-05:00

just a quick post of some party shots from last week while unpacking & organizing in my new home. looking forward to dinner with the ladies tomorrow at tracy's...

Bad Girls

2011-01-10T15:40:00.006-05:00

showstopper

2011-01-04T13:41:00.012-05:00

this post was inspired by a conversation with a dear lady friend. the holiday party season may have just ended but there is no reason not to sparkle and shine on through the new year, especially during these winter doldrums. bare skin, sequins, feathers, pastels, jewels and headgear! i declare 2011 a year of playful party glamour, 24/7! happy new year everyone!