P2 Fashion: Malachite Jewelry and Home Decor Accents

Gold and malachite watches from Piaget. Simply stunning craftsmanship!

Malachite is one of my favorite stones due to its luxurious and vibrant green hue; and, thanks to my Russian heritage, I’ve been heavily exposed to this jem in jewelry and home décor. Until recent times, large quantities of malachite were mined in the Urals, Russia. In fact, there is an entire MalachiteRoom in the Hermitage, which I hope to see some day.

The Malachite Room at the Hermitage is classic, Russian opulence. 

Malachite has been on my mind ever since I was gifted a gorgeous, Isharya pyramid malachite ring after hosting the Accessories Council’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide event. As many of you know from Instagram, the ring has been on my finger nearly every day for two weeks.

Here’s a roundup of some of my other favorite malachite items for spring/summer fashion and home décor.

I'm mad for malachite!

1. Stephanie Kantis, Malachite Button Ring, $475

2. Christian Dior China, Guadron -Malachite Green napkin rings circa 1990s, $49 

3. Isharya, Green Malachite Goddess Honeycomb Earrings, $218

4. Istdibs.com, Valerie Egee - Bronze Cuff Bracelet with Malachite and Rodocrosytis, Price Upon Request

5. Isharya, Green Malachite Goddess  Pyramid Ring, $78

6. L'objet, Malachite Espresso Cup & Saucer Gift box, $580

7. RubyLane.com, 19th Century French Figural Ormolu Bronze and Malachite Candlesticks, $3980

Gold with malachite is a lux way to dress up a dining table or office. If you’ve never shopped L’objet, I highly recommend the brand. As summer soirées roll in, this brand makes excellent hostess gifts. The packaging alone will wow your friends. 

L'objet malachite and gold dinnerware and hostess gifts.

L'objet malachite dinnerware

P2 Lifestyle: Five Stylish and Zen Ways To Channel Spring, Happy Spring Solstice

Happy Spring! Wait, it's actually sunny today and above 40 degrees. I'll take it! Us East Coaster are ready for the new season and I'm jumping in full force with a little decorating and style changes, and playful R&R.

Here's how I'm celebrated spring solstice:

1. Holding my belly and dancing to Pharrell  "Happy" song. I'll have to have the hubby take a picture tonight.  

2. Swapping out my living room pillows for something a bit more yellow and joyful. I love these from the Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler collection for JCPenney. This man can do no wrong and these prices make me very, very, sunshine happy. 

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler for JCPenney = happy living room

3. Making sure the hubby comes home today with fresh flowers. A few more calls to the office should do the trick!

Peonies are such a delicate flower, and a great way to welcome spring

4. Shopping for a pink coat - I've been seeing so many and it's such a mood lifter.

1.ASOS Vintage Cocoon Coat, $207
2.Boss Cesinala Wool-Cashmere Coat, $417
3.CHAREX Wool Coat, $54

1. REISS Regale Mandarin Collar Coat, $500
2. ASOS Skater Coat with Zip Front, $141

5. Heading for a walk in the park with my daughter. It's 5pm and this mama needs to go play with her munchkin. 

Happy Spring. Enjoy and embrace the sunshine, ideally while wearing cute shoes ;-). 

P2 Home: What Your Nightstand Reveals About You

(L) My nightstand (R) My husband's nightstand

A person's nightstand can reveal quite a bit about their personality. What are their interests? What are their evening rituals? What or whom matters most to them? Here's a look a my nightstand. Just for fun, I've included my husband's, as well.

Ever since I read it back in 2010, I've kept Eat, Pray, Love by my bed. It's like a Bible I go-to on difficult days. The second book, Bringing Up Bebe, is a great evening read that I still haven't finished after a year. I'm also reading Lean In, finally -- it was in my bag at time of picture. Then, I have my trusted leather, blue journal. For beauty, Lucky Legs by Mama Mio is a must to sooth tired legs in need of major loving, and Noodle and Boo Glowology The Balm hand and foot cream has a dreamy scent that reminds me of my daughter's nursery. I also keep a small enamel elephant and Jay Strongwater pill box where I store my home earrings.

My husband's nightstand has the last two issues of The Economist and a small picture frame of the first movie we saw back in 2002.  

My nightstand says:
"I'm pregnant, love to be pampered and enjoy my own thoughts!"

What's on your nightstand? Leave a comment below or tweet me @PamelaPekerman. 

P2 Home: Unique Hostess Gift Ideas

Can you believe Monday is Columbus Day? Before you can blink the holiday season will be upon us. I'm not about to push holiday shopping on you; that's what the retailers are already doing. But, in an effort to calm myself (not going to lie, I've had crazy anxiety over the past two weeks - and I'll blame it on the baby because she'll blame   on me for the rest of my life!) I thought it would be wise to start thinking about hostess gifts. To quote my lovely sister "just have it ready!"  UncommonGoods is one of my favorite  destinations for quirky gifts that always get the "where-did-you-get-that" comment. 

P2 Home - hostess gifts from UncommonGoods.com

Rainbow Hors d'oeurves Set $44 -- I already own this and it's fabulous for fruits, cheese and non-drip appetizers. I'm stressing the obvious "non drip", but i made that new housewives mistake two years ago. 

Slate Cheese Boards with Soapstone Chalk $29  -- Don't you just hate when you don't know what cheese you're about to try? As a hostess, I also sometimes forget what I've places on the plate in my haste to prep and throw away all wrapping. 

Footed Bowl $28 -- With this bowl, everyone will forget you didn't pick up the cake and are just serving fruits.  

P2 Home: Tea Time Equals Magical Moments

Whether you celebrated Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement/ culmination of Jewish New Year) this weekend or not, allow me to wish you a happy rebirth. Fall is the perfect time to reprogram, recharge and re-position your life.  Take this seasonal opportunity to realign, commit to always being your best you and seek to create beauty in every aspect of your life.

On the latter, I’m a pro. For instance, I make tea drinking a divine experience, in my home, because it brings me so much joy. I collect beautiful tea pots, each of which is used for a specific tea, at a specific time of day/week, and even with specific guests. Last night, I enjoyed a light white tea with lavender in a simple white pot, accompanied by rose biscuits from Fortum and Mason.  Tasting the tea while looking at the elegant tea pot is a small token of love I give myself.

My mother has a friend who says that you need to color in your life. I agree! How do you color your life and  make magical moments of beauty?

P2 Lifestyle - my beautiful tea pots create beautiful moments

(Top left going clockwise - Richard Ginori Missoni Margherita Teapot; White Elephant-Looking Teapot, HomeGoods; Butterfly Meadow Teapot, Lenox; Bohemian Paisiy Teapot, Caskata

Pam's Pick: Michael Aram Enchanted Forest Candle Sticks

A journalism professor once told me, that you should always have one amazing line in your article that you absolutely refuse to edit. Well, I believe that tip applies to decorating your home. There should always be one piece that you absolutely have to have in your living space, regardless of the ebbs and flows of style or the physical location and size of your home. For me, that one piece is my Michael Aram Enchanted Forest candle sticks. I find myself moving them to new locations in my living/dining room depending on the season. Each migration gives them, and our home, new life. For the fall season, I've places them on a mirrored tray on top of my class coffee table.

What's your must-have décor item? Is it a new creation or a antique piece from your mother or grandmother? Leave me a comment below and let's talk home décor.

Pam's Pick: Thymes Kimono Rose Candle

Yes, I'm not sticking with my noon posting commitment, but if you ONLY knew the type of week I'm having ... Perhaps, someday, I'll be brave enough to share the story. For now, let me just share today's Pam's Pick, which is a perfect way to end an emotional, only-a-mother-could-understand day.

Candles are one of my favorite ways to calm down, because scents can transport your mind to that happy place - we all have that happy place, where no one can touch us. They are also an easy way to make your home feel like a luxury hotel or spa … something every mother needs. Thymes’ Kimono Rose is my current go-to scent. Prior to that, it was their Mandarin Coriander candle. This company just knows how to do fragrance right! Plus, there candles come in beautiful glass containers adding to that hotel feel.

Enjoy and relax!

PS Did I mention candles are also ideal for baby making? Proceed with caution … and/or protection!

Pam's Pick: Thymes Kimono Rose Candle, July 31, 2013

 

P2 Home: L'Objet Fall 2013 Collection

Some things are just better in Beverly Hills - like diamonds, Botox, front lawns and interior design. On that note, allow me to share my latest home décor obsession: L'Objet. This is the creative concoction of former interior designer to Beverly Hills' elite, Elad Yifrach. Elad’s global influences are felt throughout the Fall 2013 collection dubbed Cabinet de Curiosites. Hints of Asian, Egyptian and Mediterranean style meld into a truly luxurious assortment of art for the home. In an age when the word “luxury” has been corrupted, L’Objet deserves the moniker. For more on the 24 karat gold-plated, individually crystalized, artistically molded offerings, visit L-objet.com.

L'Objet Fall 2013 Beaded Coral Bookend (L) Two-tier 24 Karat Server (R)



L'Objet Fall 2013 Malachite