A Few Of My Vintage Favs

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As you probably figured, I have a bit of an obsession with unique 

and vintage jewelry.  In particular, I have always had a fascination 

with costume jewelry.  The bigger, the bolder, the brighter, shinier 

and blingier, you got it... the better.  I love me some glitz and glam.  

Most of my favorite pieces that I own today were from either my 

Grandmother's or Great-Grandmother's collection, and I thought
it would be fun to share some of these with you today.

I love this little Fan necklace. As a child visiting my Grandmother, I would
always play with the dangly pieces, running each of the strands through
my fingers.  It is embedded in my memory through the sense of touch!

This bracelet is the single most worn piece I own.  It is so banged
up, scratched and bruised, but I wear it still all the time.  I've thought
about at least replacing the little pearls in all the corners
of each peace, but I embrace its imperfections.

A few broaches and pins.

How fun is the little lady with her Medusa type hair?  

The gold leaf pin with turquoise and crystal rhinestones gets a lot of wear.

A few of the rings...  The turquoise flower ring was actually a gift, given

to me by the daughter of my "adopted Grandmother".  This ring means 

so much to me, and is probably my favorite in the collection.

The gold bracelet bears charms representing countries traveled to by my

Grandparents.  I hope one day I will be able to travel like this, but in the

meantime, I day dream of the fabulous stories each charm tells.

It's so fun to wear things that have history and tell a story.

Do you have pieces of similar value and meaning that you love to wear?  

If so, I'd love to see them and hear your story!  

Please send pictures to me at: thequeencitystyle@yahoo.com. 

Thank you so much for reading!

For the love of accessorizing in great style.  Always, Whitley

Exchanging Calories, I mean Cookies!

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Recently I went to an annual cookie exchange at my girlfriend Suzy's house.  In preparation of the evening o-sugar-high, each guest is assigned to bake six dozen cookies.  For the third year in a row, I haven't quite been able to plan ahead with my delivering of some amazingly fabulous knock your socks off cookie, but I think I've followed through on something at least acceptable.... Oh heck, they were down right tasty!

This year, 24 hours before the party, I was thumbing through my cook books.  My mother recently hosted a party and sent home a doggy bag with a few leftover goodies in the form of a deliciously concocted bar of chocolate, nuts and oats.  So, I decided I wanted to try to figure out just what I was eating.  I studied that little cookie bar to no avail... tasting, looking, touching, smelling... I knew there was something else in there.  Then it hit me... caramel!  So, I conducted an on line search and arrived at these oh-ho-delic Caramel Oatmeal Bars.  Warm and cozy lovin from the oven!...

Best of all, that lil' bar of Heaven was super quick and easy to make... oh, I'll be making them again.  

Suzy and her fam recently renovated her cozy abode located in one of my favorite hoods of the Queen City, the down to earth, uber chic neighborhood of Elizabeth.  I intended to share with everyone thoughts and photos from the evening, but I now have to share with you additional photos of her to die for, oh so stylish living room.  For me, probably one of the prettiest rooms I have laid my eyes on in a long time.  Amazingly fun for the palette, yet refined and clean, and possessing just the perfect strain of tension. Suzy worked with local designer Bronwyn Ford to create this niche of utmost desire. So, here are a few pics from our fun evening of calories (I mean cookies), vino, fellowship and holiday cheer. 

Just look at these lovely ladies. Do they look ready for cookies or what?

Aren't these the most handsome little Santas you've ever seen?
And they seem right at home with the decor.  

A little female fellowship is always good for the soul.

Would you look at those cookies!  These are good for my tum-tum.

 And here's the living room.  Seriously.  I cannot stop looking at it....

My husband noted the symmetry of  the square edges, and then there are the flowing draperies.  I explained to him I think this is a mindful way of creating the perfect amount of tension in a room while using great restraint.  I also love the scarcity of knick knacks.  I feel like the colors and movement in the draperies do the work of accessorizing more than just the windows.  Gosh, I love it.

A view of the cozy fireplace.

The room seems so spacious and offers plentiful seating.

So, here are some pics of the all delicious delectables!

Little almond candy canes.  So cute!
The hostess made these from a childhood favorite recipe book.

Little tiny sugar cookie Christmas wreaths!!
How much more festive can you get?

Each one of these bite size babies was a different flavor.  Easy to pop = trouble!

Simple Goodness.  Takes you back to making cookies for Mr. Claus himself.

Our friend Campbell just returned from her honeymoon in South Africa,
and she brought home the recipe for these super delish coconut concoctions .

Jam Thumbprint Cookies by my personal fav, Ina Garten.

These are my chocolate walnut caramel bites.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Amazingly flavorful!

My take home loot!
Wine consumed prior to departure, of course.

Please let me know if you would like the recipe to any or all of the above tasty treats!  

For the love of sharing the love in great style, Whitley

Will that be shaken, or stirred?

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Hello Friends of the Queen City Style!  I want to start by saying how much I appreciate your support as I work hard to get my newest endeavor off the ground.  Thank you! Thank you! Thanks you!  Oh, and did I say Thanks?!

I realize with all this bar talk, one might assume I have a serious problem.  I'm just pretending to.  I wanted to share a few images with you of pretty butler trays and bar cabinets.  Since a bar cart is not in the budget for me right now, nor is it a necessity, the hand-me-down butler tray I have has proved perfectly lovely.  Here are a few more lovelies for your viewing pleasure...

I found this butler tray a couple of weeks ago, and I am sad to report it seems to be no longer available.  I think it is so handsome, and it was for sale at such a reasonable price.

Kirkland's Ivory Tray Table

So here's another one.  A little more traditional but not terribly costly.

Kirkland's Butler Tray Table

This is more of just a three tiered table serving dual purpose, but it looks so nice.  I love that poster too.

 Here are a couple of sleek butler trays from West Elm...

West Elm Tall and Low Butler Tray Stand

West Elm Tall Butler Tray Stand

And lastly, not a butler tray, but I couldn't resist sharing this with you.  I absolutely adore the way this skirted table looks playing host to such an inviting cocktail area. It's so sophisticated and hospitable.

And a few bar cabinets on the market today I think are quite handsome.

West Elm Curved Front Bar

Crate and Barrel Tessen Bar Cabinet

Crate and Barrel Tessen Bar Cabinet

I would DIE to have this one. L.O.V.E.  Such a handsome devil...

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Collins Bar

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Collins Bar

Do you have a favorite?  And how will you take your cocktail this weekend?  Will it be shaken, or stirred?  Perhaps it's both, ever so stylishly.  Either way, I hope your weekend is glorious...Whitley

Now That Is Some Bar

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I just had to share this with you, since it came to me in perfect timing by way of the super fabulous blog Habitually Chic.  The author, Heather Clawson, was writing a post on the anniversary of the fashion house of  Yves Saint Laurent, which was December 4, 1961.  In her post she shared various images from his Paris apartment.  I couldn't help but notice in many of them the large ovoid shaped object behind the sofa.  The closer I looked, the more I wondered "Is that a bar??"  That sure looks like a server in the background.  On a side note, don't those two look like they are having a good time?  Like a cigarette ad.  I mean that cigarette must be making her feel some kind of good.  Hmm. Maybe it's not a cigarette...

But aaaanyway.... is it art?  Art of some sort.

I see glasses on the piece of furniture in every picture.

So, I googled "Bar in Yves Saint Laurent's home," and low and behold, it IS a bar. Pretty wild looking isn't it?

What I learned was that this bar was a piece commissioned by Yves Saint Laurent from the recently deceased Francois-Xavier Lalanne.  I must have read five or six sights trying to understand this piece and learn more about it.  I found this on the Christie's website: In maillechort and brass, two tiered, the upper tier with an ovoid bottle-rack in metal set in motion by a counterweight mechanism, with a horn-form shaker, a spherical ice bucket and a cylindrical crystal glass vase by the Cristalleries de Choisy-le-Roi, the vase passing through the two tiers, supported by four steel feet cut with a blowtorch.  Whoa.  That ovoid shaped thing is set in motion?!  That is crazy.  You can read more about it here on the Christie's website, including that it appears to have sold at auction for $3,548,960 in Paris.  For that price I kinda wonder if it does not self-make drinks, at least for its master.  But wow, definitely artistic and totally stylish.  

Do you have pictures of your bar or drink making area you would like to share with me?  I would love to see them!  If so, please email me at whitley_a@yahoo.com. I love hearing what you have to say!

'Tis the season for a little bubbly, always in style.... Whitley

Gosh, is it happy hour yet? I feel with all this bar talk I need to go make myself a beverage!  

You lose some, You WIN Some...

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I'll be rounding out the story about my bar for you here soon, but I wanted to just quickly share with you this gorgeous new mirror I picked up for almost next to nothing last week.

If you haven't been acquainted yet with One Kings Lane, I highly recommend it.  For the last few months, this has been my favorite new go-to site for any and all things fabulous for the home.  Straight from their website, One Kings Lane is an elegant, curated online sales site bringing their members spectacular hand-picked designer items at up to 70% off suggested retail prices.  I concur.  All that they offer is spectacular at a discount price.  I have purchased several gift items from their site as well as a few sercy's (sp?) for myself along the way.

Rounding the corner onto my street, I was so excited to see from off in the distance a large brown box propped up on my front door step.  As soon as I got home, I excitedly pulled the box inside to view my new treasure!

So exciting!!!

Uh oh.  Not good...

Not so exciting.

Because this is a on line discount site, items typically sell out.  I have once before ordered something from One Kings Lane and received the wrong item.  I ordered Kelly Wearstler's coffee table book, Hue, thinking I was getting a limited edition signed copy which included its very own blue velvet box for safe keeping. Instead, I got just the book sans KW autograph and pretty blue velvet box.

I love the cover of her book.

One Kings Lane couldn't have handled it more beautifully.  They apologetically refunded my credit card and let me keep the book.  Truth be told, I would have paid the same discounted amount for the book I received. I love love excellent customer service.

So, I called One Kings Lane and told them my mirror arrived shattered.  Again, the item was sold out, which meant they wouldn't be able to send me a new mirror.  So sad!  They refunded my credit card and said they didn't need me to send back the mirror.  So, I called the framing department over at Michael's at Park Rd Shopping Center, and they said they did not offer mirror repair.  The representative referred me to someone who did offer the 12 inch mirror I needed at $25 and an additional $15 if I wanted them to install it.  So, I went over to Michael's just to see what they had on the shelf.  Low and behold...

12 inch mirror round in the wedding section for $5.99!

So, I tackled it myself, carefully pulling the backing off of the mirror.

Brought out my trust friend, ole Mr. Glue Gun...

I carefully placed the new mirror down in the frame, and voila!  A $225 regular priced mirror, discounted to $99, refunded and fixed for a meer $5.99.  Score!

Lovely like new!

Now, where to hang the beauty??  At this point in time, I think I'd like to hang it above our new bed that does not yet exist though one day will.  So for now, mirror might find its way back into the box until that time comes.  OR, just maaaaybe mirror will facilitate that new bedroom to be... guess we'll have to wait and see!

For the love of living in (affordable) great style, have a wonderful weekend!  Whitley