A Pitcher of Gin and Tonic...

It's been a rough week at Plenary Palace readers... so I found myself at 10 AM wishing for a pitcher of G & T (gin and tonic of course).

While emailing the above message to a very dear friend of mine, I was reminded of the Ettiqutte Grrls. If you haven't heard of them before, you will thank me that I've informed you now. The Etiquette Grrls emerged in the early 2000's as the ultimate online resource for all things Etiquitely correct and very snarky (I Pick Pretty you would love them!). They have an extensive online archive of their Q and A's which are snarky and hilarious, but the books are a must for any WASPY Prep!

Some highlights from their first book "Things You Need to be Told" are the chapters on "Cosmetics Use and Abuse - What Looks Good on Everyone - What Looks Good on No One," "At The Bar - Is it A Real Drink (the EG's adore G & T's)," "The Thank You Note - Equipment for Letter Writing - What you Should Wear While Writing Letters."


Their second book is deftly named "More Things You Need to be Told," some excellent excerpts are "All Yield to the Ettiquette Volvo - Your Beautiful Automobile and How to Drive it Politely," "Hooray for Hollywood -Films You Need to Watch."



These books are the modern girl's Emily Post, they are pretty, and witty, and always etiquittely correct. If you don't own them yet, you can buy them on Amazon.com. The Etiquette Grrls have been out of commission since starting their families in 2004, however their website is still up and functional and it contains all of their past Q & A's as well as links to their many interviews in well renowned publications. The photos of the books are links to where you can buy them on Amazon.com, and the photo at the top of the page is a link to the Etiquette Grrls website.

All over the place...

I am all over the place today... I've wasted quite a good amount of time at work today, not really accomplishing anything. In the spirit of my lack of focus, this post is a few wonderful bits of randomness! The pictures are links to the websites as always.



For all those of you who have furry friends we've each at some point in time looked at the ugly wire or plastic monstrosity called a "kennel" and wished we could improve upon that design of shear functionality... Well I have found the most wonderfully charming kennel in the world. It belongs to the charming dachshund of Matthew White an interior designer who's apartment was featured in conjunction with his design partner's Frank Webb on the New York Social Diary website. The kennel is designed to match the owner's bed. Both apartments featured in this article are elegant and extravagant, but I fell in love with this little doggie bed.









I am a huge fan of back lit cabinets, although I fear they require much more affinity for shooing away dust bunnies than what I presently possess. Over at Velvet and Linen, interior designer Brook Giametti's blog, she recently gave us a personal tour of her beautiful cottege-esque home. The entire house is very warm and welcoming, but her kitchen cabinets have captured my imagination. They are back light by the window to show of her pink depression glass collection. This is the first time I've seen a glass cabinet placed on a window as the design element and I LOVE it!

If you only do one thing today...

If you only visit one online store today, stop by Eddie Ross' new Etsy store and while you're at it drop by his blog. An extra bonus to dropping by the store - everything is $100 or less!







He was a contestant on Top Design and just recently left a post at the Martha Stewart Show. Eddie and his partner have bought a lovely farm house in upstate New York and are making beautiful changes. One of my consistently favorite parts of Eddie's blog are the wonderful things he finds in thrift stores and flea markets, I do wish I had his eye for finding treasures in flea markets.










Well now, I can pretend like I do. Eddie is selling some of his wonderful finds in his Etsy store. Do drop by quickly though because many of his items have already sold. I especially love his milk glass. His personal collection was featured in the November issue of our dear friend Domino.

On the Hunt...

I have a confession...

I adore tote bags. I love them and find them to be remarkably practical and functional and always wonderful. Yet, I only own one true tote (a wonderful pink striped tote featured as part of the Gap (Red) collection the spring of 2007 - this tote was a cheer-me-up-during-dreary-NY-winter purchase and I have adored it since the moment I saw it).

I am considering rewards for achieving the first of my New Year's Resolutions - perhaps I'll post these when I hit that first milestone... one wouldn't want to jinx oneself while on a pattern towards good behavior.

Thus, I am presently on the hunt for a wonderful Tote Bag. I think it's just the type of reward I deserve (the other option is a wonderful bottle of 2004 Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Grenache, Syrah).

These are the ones that have caught my eye thus far:

The ever preppy J.Crew is represented with this pink and navy bag. I love the handle height and the length of the bag (I'm not one for tall rectangular tote bags).


Horchow had a wonderful chartreuse Fleur-De-Lis tote last spring, this spring they are offering the patterned monogram tote. I do love the giraffe and chartreuse, with perhaps a Navy monogram?


Then of course Lacoste makes a wonderful (if overpriced) demonstration in Pink and White.



The final and ever classic LL Bean Tote.



I do wish that Calista Cove weren't on break because I would love to browse wonderfully preppy specimens displayed on the web site.

Drum Roll Please....

Readers it is here! The new blog design courtesy of Cutest Blog on the Block, and with the assistance of a my co-worker!

Today is super busy at work, but I promise I will do a real post before too long!

Never a moment too late....

Good afternoon readers,

As you can see there are changes here at "Plenary Palace." The current blog design is only temporary, but I really wanted to try it out while working towards completion of my new banner.

Here is a sneak peak at what you'll hopefully find here a week from today! I just can't wait!!

Lightning Does Strike Twice...

Readers I swear it's true, lightning does strike in the same place twice...

I posted here about my inexplicable urge to run. Well last night after work I had a million things to do, but I got home and my feisty, sweet, little muffin (demon) dog was so spunky (naughty), that I really wanted to get her some exercise and the more I looked at her sweet face (covered in crumbs from the loaf of challah she ate off the counter)






I knew I had to take her for a run.


Can you believe it? Twice in a seven day period... before you know it I'll be slvelty as Kate Moss (one can always dream...).




Of course it would be treason to post a picture of Torri-Anne, while not posting a picture of Bailey




or Peno and Cheffie (he's really wearing clothing, I didn't realize how risque this looked... however I'm too lacodasical to find a new picture...)