I was walking my pup, Myrtle, on the beach one stunning summer afternoon this past August in South Beath. I came across a ‘latino-chichi-meets-satchi-bikini-party-family-reunion’ outside Nikki Beach. Now, we all LOVE the intoxicating ‘outdoor-beach-bed-throw-off-your-clothes-and-snog’ vibe Nikki Beach showers us with 24/7 but they are usually responsible for the excessive noise and human spillage on the beach on weekends.  We’ve even stumbled out to the water after drinks at Nikki Beach for a breath of fresh air…  

This time it wasn’t Nikki. Nikki was still passed out from the night before so no one was even at the bar at 3:00.

A 3-piece ‘little-havana-homeboy-boy-band’ set themselves up and played their african drum, trumpet and shaker until they filled the beach with their families, friends and distant realtives.  I don’t know if they all came in on busloads or they creeped in over the bridge but they came out of the woodwork.  There were more than 150 local latinos drinkin’, dancin’ gettin down to the screeching noise from their novice trumpet player, Elio.  I have been told by the local prime grade who lives there that this self-made “Carnivale” has taken place almost every Sunday last August.  Just imagine the trash!

 That day they went thru at least 500 beer cans, bottles and food that literally carpeted 1,200 sq. ft. of the beach. In the sand, laying next to their Igloo coolers and under their feet. Some “conscientious” idiot piled cans in neat piles every 20 ft. as if to say, “Its cool-I’m down with nature”.  Bottles were in the surf.  KFC catered the event so wings, legs, paper bags and boxes were everywhere for Bruno, the pit bull, to sample.  For a moment, I thought I was in Staten Island.  The City of Miami had at least 3-hours of work ahead of them to pick up after this festival the next morning.

I know it is notice comes late but this is just a causal reminder to anyone who thinks that pitching a piece of trash on nature’s playground is cool, your an idiot if you think it just disappears into the ether or someone will take care of that for you.  DON’T LITTER!

ALL magazines, newspapers, beer bottles, tampons, rubbers, milk cartons, MceeDee’s wraps and Starubucks all need to be thrown into the available trash cans the city typically places every 12 ft.  In this case, Sand = Ocean.  If you leave trash on the beach it will eventually get into the ocean, if not picked up, because of wind and hi-tide.  Just a little eco lesson for ya in case you forgot.

Then, the fish eat your crap. Birds eat your crap. Seals and Sea Loins eat your crap… and die.  Let’s try shoving a bottle down your throat and  see if you can breathe the next day.  Oh and if you’re one of those “cogliones” who are ‘against the man’ and claim it’s ’someone else’s job to clean up after you’.  Well…

News Flash:  You’re a pig and guess what?  That poor sap is working the entire 20-mile stretch of the trashed Miami Beach sands and is barely getting paid enough to take a crap more or less feed his entire extended family living with him. So, how is that a real job?  Oh, and dude, pretty soon you’ll be goin’ after that job if it gets any worse out there.

And by the way, by the time Alonzo gets down there with his trash sprear and truck load of heftys, 1/2 your party is in cute little Nemo’s mouth!  Hope ya don’t have kids.

She's talking and she's P#$@!& OFF!

BTW, I wanted to pass on the word that the hors o’ dourve recipes ME2 has posted on this blog… rock! I especially like the “Italian Wraps”! YUMMMM.

From:

t2towne

Before I write another word, I have a confession to make. 
I know next to nothing about the game of football. Or the teams or players or coaches or stadiums. Nothing, nada, niente, nicht, zip-arooni. That’s right, ZERO.

To add insult to injury to any real fan’s emotional involvement, during my 3-year association with Arizona State University, a highly respected Pac-10 behemoth of a school, I only attended the half-time shows of four games. One year, they were even invited to the Rose Bowl, and I didn’t turn it on. Not once.

In sum, I know just enough about football to make believe I understand what I’m watching and hoot at the appropriate times. And get away with it.

Below find the Real Reasons I watch the Super Super bowl: 

Far and Away No. 1: To meet macho sporty athletic-type men and women. HOT!
    
No. 2: To make sure I understand all the post-super bowl gossip and humor;
    
No. 3: To watch the television ads (the Budweiser horses always bring me to tears);
    
No. 4: To watch the half-time show (go Bruce!);

No. 5: To act as the designated driver for those that use Super Bowl Sunday as their first       post new year’s eve opportunity to abuse alcohol; 

No. 5 ½: To collect embarrassing details about the behavior of the friends that abuse alcohol to trade silence in exchange for a favor at a later date; and

No. 6: To have access to salty, crunchy, cheesy food particularly nachos and quesadillas.

I suspect many of you can relate and, if it weren’t for the food and bonding, would just skip the game altogether. This year, let’s face down our inauthentic behavior. It can’t be that tough. All the super bowl television ads and the half-time show are available on YouTube, the post-game show will give you enough highlights to to prepare smart water cooler conversation, and it’s very likely that you already have a lifetime of embarrassing details to trade for silence.  Other than the potential to meet sports minded hotties, the only thing that you might miss is the food. Or, maybe not….

Just walk out the door during the pre-show madness and hit the now-empty corner bodega for a six pack of Belgian Beer, blue corn chips, flour tortillas, chorizo sausage, Kraft’s Mexican cheese mix, a can of black beans, sour cream and jar of medium salsa. Call any rotisserie chicken take-out shop and order the grilled white meat chicken platter. Finally, pick up a bouquet of girly-girl flowers and saunter back at your leisure. 

Once home, take out Me2 Design’s Ode to Jon platter and a chilled beer stein, put those buds in a pretty vase, hit the PLAY button for a favorite Windham Hill CD, and collapse into your favorite chair. Whether you rent a chick flick, review another Oscar-nominated movie, secretly read a teen-in-love-with-vampire novel or catch last season’s episodes of The Closer during game-time, applaud your individual choice. As long as your oven or microwave is in good working order, feel free to satisfy your nacho-quesadilla-beer Super bowl cravings in peace and without a drunken friend passing out on your sofa or passing enough gas to light a match. 

Diana

Thanks citygirl! That is an idea. I got an estimate for new doors that was over $2000. UGH! What did you do for furniture?

roadwarrior

Hi David,

I wondered if you had any ideas for solving a closet problem. My bedroom has two windows on the south wall. I positioned my headboard between them with small end tables on either side. The door into the room is on the west wall, good feng shui, so far so good. My problem is this: the room isn’t quite wide enough to open the closet. The bed’s footboard ends barely 6 inches from closed closet doors on the north wall. I tried to solve the dilemma by swapped out the doors for curtains but wondered if you had any other thoughts or potential solutions. Thanks!

dbNYC

Hey road warrior… I have a similiar room and had old louver doors on all the closets. I had the center slats removed and replaced with frosted glass. It really was an amazing makeover for the room that is less that it would have been to replace doors! Good luck and happy arranging

From: citygirl

ME2 Cocktail Party:

Italian  Wraps

 Arrange with other appetizers on a ME2 “Sandwich with Pops”platter!

     2 cups cooked pancetta- crispy and finely chopped 


    1/2 cup portobella, porcini …mushroom- finely chopped 

    1/2 cup green onion- finely chopped 


    2- 3 dashes of white truffle oil 
(to taste- use sparingly)

    1/4 teaspoon olive oil

         18 phyllo wrappers- cut to size

    1/4 cup ricotta cheese


    1/4 cup goat cheese

   4 tablespoons pecorino cheese 


    1 large minced garlic
clove

    1/2 teaspoon sweet basil

    1/2 teaspoon oregano 


    1/2teaspoon basil 


    Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F Spray muffin pan cavities with oil spray. Press wonton wrappers into cavities. In small skillet, cook mushrooms and green onion in oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine pancetta, cheese and seasonings. Stir in cooked vegetables. Top with dashes of truffle oil.  Stir into mixture.  Spoon 3 tablespoons filling into wonton “cup”. Bake 7-8 minutes.Serve hot or at room temperature. 

Serves 18 

                              Goat Cheese and Roast Beef Crostini 

   Arrange with other crostinis on a Granite “Sandwich with Pops” from ME2!

   Crostini (see recipe below)

    1  clove garlic- minced

    5  ounces fresh herbed goat cheese

    1 teaspoon basalmic vinegar  

    1/2 teaspoon olive oil 

    3  tablespoons black kalamata olives- chopped

    2 tablespoons roated red pepper

    1 ounce baby arugula leaves

    16 very thin slices rare roast beef

    1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

  Prepare Crostini; set aside until ready to use.

 Mix goat cheese and garlic together.  Set aside.

For reilsh, Mix olives, red peppers, thyme, oil and vinegar in bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours.

                                              Bean Bruschetta

  Looks beautiful served on a ME2 Frosted Glass/Mother of Pearl Cheese tray!

    1/2 lb. cannellini beans

    1/2 lb. fava beans

    1 lg. clove garlic- minced
  

    1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  

    1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley- minced

    1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme- minced

    1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

    2 tablespoons
olive oil for brush  

    1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  

    1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  

    1 sweet or sourdough baguette 

 Bring a large saucepan, combine the beans to a boil over medium heat for 1 min.

Put the beans in a food processor. Add the garlic, parsley, lemon juice, and thyme and pulse for several seconds until the beans are coarsely chopped. With the machine running, add the 1/4 cup olive oil until well combined. Stir in the 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Set aside.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the baguette into 1/4-inch diagonal slices. Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of the bread slices with the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place the bread in a single  layer on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Using a butter knife, spread 1 teaspoon bean puree on each toast. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve at room temperature.

                                              Fruit and Nut Dip

Display on a ME2 “Ode to Jon”  white enamel glass and chrome serving platter for a dramatic holiday spread!

      2 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed

      1 oz. gorgonzola cheese

      1 (8ounce) package cream cheese, softened

      1 oz.sour cream

     1/2 cup butter, softened     

     1/2 oz. dried cranberries

     1/2 oz. dried apricots- finely chopped

     1/2 c. pistachio nuts- chopped

     1/2 c. walnuts- chopped    

    1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

     3 tablespoons- pure honey

 1. Reserve 1 tablespoon of dried cranberries and pistachios for garnish.
Combine remaining dried fruit, nut, honey, nutmeg mixture in a small bowl. Line a small loaf pan with plastic wrap. 

2. Beat together cream cheese, butter, sour cream, blue cheese, and brie in a bowl until smooth. Spread 1/3 of cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the plastic wrap-lined loaf pan. Layer 1/3 of the cranberry-nut mixture over the cheese. Layer mixtures ending with a top layer of nut mixture.

3. Cover loaf pan with more wrap, pressing the wrap down onto the spread to compress it. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. To serve, take plastic
wrap off the top of the bowl and turn the layered dip out onto a serving dish.
Remove remaining plastic wrap, and sprinkle reserved cranberries and pistachios around the spread to garnish.

Serve with banana bread or cookies.

David, You're such a MAN"

HEY Y’ALL! 

I hope you enjoy my blog about decorating, renovating and the problems we face and the solutions for them. I am sure to inform and entertain you. Friends, decorators, moms and neighbors are all welcome to participate.

Consider me your on-line Interior Designer extraordinaire/ den mother/ party host. I am here to talk shop.

You will have access to a designer with the solutions that will turn your place into a palace.  I may pass on a little friendly advise or demand a total overhaul. Regardless, I’ll tell ya like it is.

Welcome my friendly, frustrated, dust-ridden Do-It-Yourself Decorators!  Get the answers here!

From one decorating diva to another…

Let’s start with a few basics, shall we?

1. KIDS ROOMS:

Now, honey, we all know that kids will grow up faster than you can decorate so make their room décor timely and not so juvenile- you will save a lot of cash if you skip the ‘baby step’.  If it has to be a theme room then make sure it has staying power for at least 3 years. 
Stay focused on the theme versus specific names or heroes – pretty dolls
vs. Polly Pockets!  Why re-decorate every year or so?  Don’t worry dear, I can help you spend your cash in so many other projects in your home, you’ll need the savings!

 Get a color theme and style that is personalized for them.  Let them decorate with you!  Take them shopping for their bedding and furniture and you’re halfway there with no returns to the store!  They have to love and feel at home in their space especially the older they get so it should appeal to their tastes and interests complete with their toys, games, dolls and posters - whatever is legal. 

The fabrics and wall color should complement and not conflict with what they want in their room.  Stripes and checks are great accent patterns that can outlive their trends from year to year.  Storage and shelf space is key.  A long shelf unit with cabinets below is a great solution for easy access and economizing space.  Always leave enough space on the floor for ‘sleepovers’ and all-nighters… they have to have a party space for their friends too!  I think the beanbag for 2 is a great item for all kids who love to entertain.

“ You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they are going.”  PJ O’Rourke

      2. KITCHENS:

Now when do you not have all of your friends in the kitchen during your social events?  Since we spend most of our time with friends in the kitchen, make it livable for you and your circle and not just a lounge for your pets.  The kitchen is the center of your universe at home.  The kitchen is party central and not a storage depot or a science project testing bacteria.  

Clean up and clear out, girl!  You don’t want your guests to see what you had for dinner last night or 3 nights ago for that matter!  They do not need to see your ‘reduce-my-carbon-foot print theory with all your recycled conatiners so you end up comparing the types of detergents you use.  You have to be ready to host a dinner or throw a party last minute, especially if your honey is connected and has it all going on at work.  If you are both laid off, it is Spring Cleaning you can do for your soul.

Wood floors are wonderful for the Feng Shui of the room as it warms a kitchen and invites mingling.  Select your area rugs (if applicable), fabrics and window coverings first.  Paint your ceiling a bright white and trim in white.  Walls should be the background color in your major fabric in the décor.  

REMEMBER: Color in the kitchen should be divided as follows: 60% light or neutral, 40% mid and bright tones as accents in the room- vases, dishes, flowers.  Most of us are lucky to have storage and counter space… but my NYC peeps. (They don’t have any storage or space for the most part.)  GOD Bless their hearts!

It is how you maximize and economize your space that makes the difference.  That is where modular items and nested accent pieces are a perfect solution, for instance, take a look “The Talker” table from ME2 Design, which was designed to fit into your kitchen AND give you STORAGE, seating and table- all in one.  No matter how small, as long as it is wide enough for 3 people deep.

  “If you can be, be.  If not, cheer up and go on about other people’s business, doing and undoing unto others ‘til you drop.”   E.E. Cummings

      3. FURNITURE STYLES:

Are you so tightly wound about your home decor being a masterpiece that friends and family are uncomfortable staying for a cup of coffee?  Home dwellers we are becoming more and more casual and open to mixing various styles.  Contemporary design has influenced us to break out and get updated!   The way we combine accent pieces with our core furniture can give a face-lift to your room… and we all love a lift ;)!

There is the traditional style that runs along the lines of historical elements and models we all can relate to and appreciate.  These styles cover a vast cultural interest and the detailing is usually more ornamental which screams Glamour immediately so be careful if that is not want you want to convey!  My advice - focus on a specific element that you can base the room style from and build from there.  If not, your room will look like Aunt Mabel’s garage sale.

Contemporary style always appeals to us urbanites on the move… these items are easy, usually have cleaner lines and are less decorative which give an interior space an open sleek, serene and unencumbered look without the fuss and ‘overdone-ness’.  Let’s face it- our lives are over-done.  We are over-done.  Stick a fork in us!  This furniture style is easily coordinated because of its clean line and always works as a stabilizing accent to heavily traditional pieces because they do not compete.  After all, someone has to be the Queen in the room!

Finally, it seems that there is a growing trend in country home style.  Unfortunately, honey, I am a city gentleman without the eye for this type of home decorating.  I can do Shabby Chic, Ralph Lauren cabin but I can’t do country kitchen.  I’m sorry.

Please refer to latest issue of Women’s World or Country Living.  

“We had gay burglars the other night, they came in and re-arranged the furniture.”  Robin Williams

That’s All…

David

DAVID HENSON, A HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AND REKNOWNED INTERIOR DESIGNER IN ATLANTA, OFFERS YOU GREAT ADVICE, FUN TIPS AND CURRENT TREND FOCUS FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT.  

Have a wine tasting party that is set it up as a game and party. Each guest brings a bottle of their favorite red (depending on type of wine tasting you host) with their complementary favorite cheese and each guest fills out all their product’s info. (cost, year, ingredients, region, etc.) on the back of an index card. Then line up all the wines and all the cheeses and create questionaire. Which is the oldest vintage? Which has the fullest richest taste? Which wine/cheese is the best match?  What is the least favorable? Which is French?  California?  Italian? Australian? Chilean? Which is the most expensive? Whoever gets the most answers correct, wins a prize. I would like to suggest to check out ME2 Design for door prizes and gifts, especially for this game. A ME2 cheese tray would be the perfect. I purchased the cheese trays with a bottle of wine and my employees loved it. And they always use the trays!