BACK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

One of the great things about living in Philly is the array of fantastic food practically in our own backyard. We're just a few blocks from the Italian Market and shop there weekly. When visiting out-of-town friends and family I often bring an antipasto spread from the market--sweet and tangy sundried tomatoes, spicy poppers, luscious marinated artichokes, salty Kalamata olives, creamy Chevrion goat cheese and warm-from-the-oven Sarcone's bread. Just as often I pick up a few items for Kevin and I to enjoy. Here's one recipe for an easy, no-cook meal (and a shopping excursion that's so much better than a grocery store):

STEP ONE: Go to Claudio's (924 South Ninth Street), preferably on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Wander past the hanging provolone and racks of olive oil ...


... sample goodies from the olive bar ...


... while you wait for Sal to slice paper-thin prosciutto ...


... or Ben to scoop up mounds of pillowy soft fresh mozzarella (made on premises).


Before leaving, stock up on a hunk of parmigiano-reggiano for tomorrow night's dinner.


STEP TWO: Pick up a bag of baby arugula from the farmstand near Anthony's Coffee House (at a fraction of the cost of Whole Foods up the street).

STEP THREE: Stop by Sarcone's (758 South Ninth Street) for a seeded loaf.


Go early (they sell out every single day).



STEP FOUR: Once home, arrange the washed arugula in a bowl. Top with curls of prosciutto and slabs of mozzarella.


STEP FIVE: Crack open a bottle of J. Lohr chardonnay, grab the bread, head out to the backyard with someone you love and toast to a soft summer evening in the city.

Photos by Doreen Creede. Salad inspired by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers' Italian Two Easy cookbook.
Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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Short Textured Japanese Hairstyles

Short hairstyles have become popular these days and most of them follow as a tradition. Some guys believe that short haircuts make them look younger and also hot and masculine. In Japan many of them prefer to wear short hairstyle. These are not only easy to handle but also requires minimum amount of work to style them.

Guys who are busy or not interested to spend much time in styling their hair can go for short haircuts. At least when compared to medium and long haircut, these require less work. Even if you follow and style your hair like long or medium, they require high maintenance. For short hairstyle people, they only need to wash their hair and dry it to obtain the "clean short" look.


Modern japanese hairstyle

New Asian haircut

Latest Tokyo hairstyle

Trendy Guys hairstyle

Trendy tokyo hairstyle

Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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The Michael Jackson Metamorphosis

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, and all I can think about is what he would've looked like had he not had all those surgeries.


I wonder if he would've gone through all the crap he went through had he seemed more "normal" to the outside world.


Why did he change his look so drastically? Why wasn't he happy with himself? Did his radical surgeries kill his career? Did people have a hard time looking directly at him?


At the end of the day, Michael Jackson was a man with feelings and emotions like the rest of us, but most people couldn't see it because they were so busy looking away in horror.


Michael Jackson was an amazing artist, a great dancer, and he did set the standard for most pop artists today. Unfortunately, he faded out in the late '90s and then became more famous for his personal life than his professional one.


I grew up on Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, and HIStory, so I know how amazing all his songs are, I just wish we could've seen the real Michael Jackson and appreciated him in all his glory.


Rest in peace, Michael Jackson, you will be missed.
Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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WONDERFUL WORLD

What to wear to a summer wedding in the city if you're the bride? My philosophy: wear what you love. For my own wedding (exactly five years ago today!) I chose a simple shape in a bold color--my favorite, red.

(p.s. Happy anniversary, Kevin...xxoo...)

DRESS: Summer Wedding in the City

Photo by Tony & Tracy Wood PhotographySource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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Farrah Fawcett Died at 62

Farrah Fawcett, 62, has died today, June 25, 2009. Her entire family was by her side and Ryan O'Neal is said to have married her before her passing.


Our thoughts and prayer go out to Farrah Fawcett and her family at this time.


No matter how old she got, we always looked at Farrah Fawcett as that sexy beauty on Charlie's Angels. Even when she had a moment of weirdness on Letterman, we still thought she was sexy.


Here's to you, Farrah Fawcett, you're everyone's angel now.
Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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Perez Hilton is Secretly Straight

Perez Hilton, perhaps the most overated gossip blogger, has finally issued an apology for calling Will.i.am a faggot. Yes, Perez Hilton really did call Will.i.am a faggot. It's kind of weird, but I think that all this proves what I've always known to be true. Perez Hilton is straight. There, I said it.


I think that Perez Hilton is just acting gay so that he can get closer to women and then Bang! And he'll always say, "Wow, I don't know how that happened. I really did like penis, you know?"


But all kidding aside, or not, I think this might actually be the beginning of the official "We hate Perez Hilton" campaign. Forget Prop 8, Perez Hilton is the person we need to focus on here.


We all managed to slowly push Paris Hilton out of the mainstream media because she was so useless; now it's up to us to do the same with Perez Hilton.


Personally, I think Perez Hilton deserves a whole lot more than a black eye.
Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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GROOVIN'

If you wondered at all about the post titles this month, they came from this mix. I created it last year for The Redecorators' Summer in the Citi event and came upon it again a few weeks ago. I changed the spelling to "city" for Style Maniac but other than that the songs happened to coincide exactly with June's topics.

LISTEN: Summer In The City (Doreen's Mix)Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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Asian Men Long Trendy Hairstyles 2009.

Long hairstyle makes you look younger than before. It gives you elegant and good look. Even many rock stars are attracted to these hairstyles and hence becoming more popular in 2009 particularly in Asia.


Asian men medium hairstyle

Asian chopped haircut

Trendy Asian hairstyle

Asian men long hairstyle

punk asian haircut

Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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THE SUMMER WIND

Although most of us consider Memorial Day the start of summer, officially it's today. Celebrate with an elegant twist on outdoor entertaining, like the Summer Solstice party I put together for a Redecorators' Philadelphia Magazine Home feature. Use rocks glasses as vases and funky vintage jewelry to wrap up napkins and silverware. And if you can, drape curtain sheers for softness and drama.Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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RAIN

summer style: rain by Style Maniac on Polyvore.com

What to do when instead of hot summer sun you get chilly spring rain? Make the best of it with waterproof accessories sporting bright colors and a sense of humor.

DRESS: Splashy Summer StyleSource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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I'LL BE HOME

A few times a month for the past seven years my next door neighbor Kenny has held a modern day version of a "salon." Artists, actors, writers, producers, engineers, students, all gather to trade stories, share food and connect on professional projects and personal ventures large and small. On designated evenings, if the gate is open and the light is on, you simply walk on in. It's a tradition that makes our block, and thus our neighborhood, our city a place you want to call home.Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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SO NICE (SUMMER SAMBA)

summer style: so nice (summer samba) by Style Maniac featuring Diane von Furstenberg dresses

And here's what to wear for moonlight cocktails--and samba dancing till dawn in those Taryn by Taryn Rose shoes. They are really that comfortable!

DRESS: Cocktail Party & Dancing Till DawnSource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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MOONLIGHT COCKTAILS

With a quick change of accessories the brunch set-up featured in yesterday's post transforms into a sexy cocktail lounge--complete with glamorous outdoor chandeliers and a gleaming disco ball. (The chandeliers were an end-of-season find from Urban Outfitters and the disco ball comes from my secret supplier of all things wild and whimsical. So secret I won't even tell my business partner where her birthday gift came from.) Some of you may remember the entire vignette from the Summer in the Citi event Gina and I created for Citibank last summer.Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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A BEAUTIFUL MORNING

Now that you have the outfit where will you go for brunch? If you're in Philly go here, preferably during the week to avoid massive crowds and plug into all the Northern Liberties action. If you're in New York City try this charming (and very popular) Tribeca spot. Or with a few trips to Ikea and Target avoid crowds altogether and transform your own backyard into a bright and cheerful brunch spot, like Gina & I did for a Redecorators' Summer in the Citi event for Citibank.Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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PEACEFUL EASY FEELING

This month Fabric Friday turns into Fashion Friday, with a new outfit every week. A very specific outfit for a very specific occasion. I'm no believer in buying basics. What good is a "classic white shirt"--or even a lbd--if you don't have the right shoes and bag? And besides, what qualified as a "basics" wardrobe when I worked in corporate communications has no resemblance to what I wear as a decorator (whatever I want) or a freelance writer (often my pajamas!).

And so, our first outfit for a Summer In The City: an easy, breezy, colorful concoction perfect for some browsing (comfortable yet stylish shoes), shopping (a dress that's easy to get in and out of) and brunch with the girls (cute accessories, natch).

DRESS: Browsing, Shopping & Brunch With The GirlsSource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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SUMMER IN THE CITY

Drinks on a roof deck ... dinner on the patio ... Sunday mornings at the Farmer's Market ... Tuesday nights at the neighbors' ... five dollar martinis and dollar oysters in the corner bistro ... art shows, music mixes, no-cook recipes, Philly favorites and fashion finds: Welcome to Summer In The City, this month at Style Maniac.

Photo by Doreen CreedeSource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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David Carradine Dead Bangkok

David Carradine, (I shamefully admit that I thought he became famous because of the Kill Bill franchise), was found dead in Bangkok on Thursday June 4, 2009.

David Carradine was found naked, hanging in the closet at a suite at the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel. David Carradine was in Bangkok filming the a movie called "Stretch".

I have to admit that I am shocked. May David Carradine rest in peace. He was 72.Source URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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ONLINE ART SHOW: Estelle Carraz-Bernabei (photographs)

Although it was Estelle Carraz-Bernabei's paintings that originally caught my attention (see 4/30/09 post), I soon discovered her eye and energy applied to photography as well. For a Redecorators project we had Bar Tabac, above, blown up into a giant canvas, bringing a touch of Paris to an expat Frenchman's home.


"With my photography I try to just capture a moment that I see in life. Landscapes, architecture and animals. Rarely people," explains Estelle.

Unlike her colorful paintings, Estelle photographs mainly in black and white. Every so often she manipulates a photo on the computer, such as the image above. Mostly, though, she allows the moment to shine through--such as this shot taken in Tahiti, below.


To view additional works visit www.earthenskyonline.com
or email Estelle at skeye33@aol.com


Photos courtesy Estelle Carraz-BernabeiSource URL: http://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/2009/06/
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