Valentina

Brown Food, Yes or Not? | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

22 Jan 2013 14 Comments

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #BrownFood, #ColorfulDinnerTables, #DesigningWithColors, #ItalianFood, #LentilRecipes, #TableCustoms, Lentils, Mushrooms

In decorating, black is for grounding the room, white is for transitioning between one color to another such are usually trims and doors, red is for uplifting energy in a dull environment, green for calming and each of the rest of the colors in the rainbow have a dedicated function, but brown has never been a color that delight in kitchen décor.

Lentils with oranges and celery

Chocolate torte without flower

Brown spaghetti with mussels

Warm nuts

Portobello mushrooms stuffed with rice and more

Brown in cooking is a totally different matter. Cooking something brown is not that appealing, unless we talk about chocolate in the darkest form of brown, sweet, crunchy, luscious, decadent and even with a hint of salt. Brown breads and brown beers fall in the good brown category that give nutrition and pleasure, but brown steaks don’t. Meat at a fresh state starts with a bright red coloration and by the time is cooked, it should be pinkish inside to retain all the juices and flavors, but never too brown, risking to get a shoe sole.

Brown sauces sold in bottles are full of artificial ingredients and so much sodium. Aside from upsetting someone here who likes that stuff, I would say that brown sauces are good to stain food without personality. Fresh food do not need to be corrupted with brown or any other color sauces. It is clear I don’t agree with people who believe the best food is brown. However there are a few of the brown food I eat all the time: mushrooms, whole-wheat pasta, lentil, truffle and nuts. It is important to combine complementary color schemes when serving dark food – “the eyes want to take part of the feast too” – therefore if it appeals to the eyes it will appeal to the stomach. That’s a fact. Use bright color plates to make the brown food come alive, but don’t forget bright condiments as well.

Enjoy a couple of my simple recipes and colors.

Funghi Trifolati (sautéed)
Use any kind of mushrooms, but mostly crumini, the common dark button mushrooms. Wash them very quickly in cold water, pat dry, cut in half. In a skillet warm up olive oil and garlic, when the garlic is golden, throw in all the cut mushrooms, sauté until they have shrunk a little. Season it with salt, pepper or chili pepper. Add a hand full of fresh chopped Italian parsley. Serve with meat or fish and a robust wine.

Lentil Andalusia Style
For this dish I use dry lentils. Before putting lentils in the boiling water, make sure there are no small rocks inside the bag, as often happens. Boil them in salted water for about 15 minutes and season if necessary with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, chop finely the center core of celery because is tender and more digestible and 1 -2 oranges in small bite sizes. Plate the lentils, add both ingredients on top and a swirl of olive oil.

It cannot be any easier than this! The food in my slide show are all in my books. Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer with a passion for kitchens and cooking. She especially loves to design all those rooms with a “make me feel good” tag attached, such as kitchens and wine grottos, outdoor kitchens and outdoor rooms, great rooms and entertainment rooms. She is a public speaker and a mentor. She is also the author of two Italian regional cuisine books and a book on colors, all available here in this site on the Books page and on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

T For Tub – Harold Bring The Tub | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

18 Jan 2013 14 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BathRemodeling, #CopperBathTub, #HistoryOfBath, #HomeRemodeling, #MoenioDigitalTechnology, #MoenProducts, #RedVoyageIntoColors

I am participating in My personal A to Z challenge blog.
I chose to write on the subject of HOME. In a year time, I will complete my coverage in this subject in all the letters of the alphabet. This is my first article, T for Tub. I hope you will enjoy some of my entertainment on the matter, some history, some information, and colorful photos. Welcome.

We don’t think much of all technology we use on a daily basis and how technology has improved our lives. Has it always been this way? Of course not, our modern comfort is a direct result of the discomfort of past generations. However, no improvements would have happened if the family kept up with the costume of having servants to light candles or tending fireplaces, warming up water to fill bathtubs, or emptying chamber pots.

As the industrial revolution started at the end of the 18th century England, domestic technology began to develop, but it developed slowly. Hard to believe a cabinetmaker started to fiddle with mechanical inventions and came up with what was known as the Bramah Valve Closet. Bramah invented a toilet bowl that would seal the water inside and prevent the cesspool from re-entering the room. A few country houses were fitted with the new piping technology system, the rest of the populations thought it was just a fad, so much that even by the late 1900s, many English aristocrats preferred the portable tubs brought to the bedroom for their weekly bath in front of the fireplace and the chamber pot remained close by in a corner of the bedroom, or in some households in the corner of the kitchen or dining room.

Above: Copper Tub – Oil Bronze Finish – Approximately: $4,000.

In some special period décor of today’s homes, stand-alone tubs are still used as showpieces, some have claw feet, some sit on the floor, but they all function with modern plumbing and we don’t call them portable anymore. We have become servantless and more confidently depending on technology.

The Moen’s ioDigital tub – http://www.moen.com/iodigital (watch the video, it will surprise you) allows the user to fill up the tub with remote control as far as 30 feet away.
The Moen’s ioDigital technology controls water to a desired temperature and volume, the device alerts when hot water runs low and tub overflows, it is also equipped with an anti-scalding feature and safety lock. The suggested retail price for the tub is around $1,200 less expensive than the stand-alone period copper tub (about $4,000) and around $2,500 for the “vertical spa” which includes rain shower head and body jets.

We sure have come a long way and in a very short time! Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Italian Interior Designer in business since 1990. Being Italian born and raised, Valentina’s design work has been influenced by Classicism and stylish, timeless designs. She will create your everyday living with a certain luxury without taking away your comfort. She loves to restore old homes, historic dwellings and she focuses on remodeling. She is the author of three books all available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Stuck In The Groove | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Jan 2013 17 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ItalianCulture, #ItalianCustoms, #NewYearCelebrations, #NewYearWishes, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ShineOnAward, Appreciation

Hoops, I didn’t even notice to have been gone since Christmas and my page seems stuck in the groove! Pardon.
Well, last year my Thursdays disappeared often out of my weeks, catapulting me straight into the Saturdays and weekends didn’t even appear on the horizon of my calendar. To me it meant one thing: time for regrouping, regenerating and detoxing from the Internet. Literally, I abandoned my studio and this time I was the one who disappeared. Now, I am wondering, why the year is new, I am one year older, but my office has the same organized mess, the same décor looking at me and the same dust onto which I can write the story of my life, especially after my short absence.

No, I am not stuck in the groove, the year has started well and I am very much alive and kicking.
This week, I made a third anniversary flying with WordPress. It has been a great experience reading all of you bloggers and making new friends.

I have received also the “Shine On” Award from A MisBeahaved Woman http://misbehavedwoman.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/shine-on – THANK YOU, I am honored and I accept. Please read her interesting blog on social issues, she is really good.

With the Awards come the rules. Here are the ones for the Shine On Award.

1.) Show appreciation of the blogger who nominated you and link back to them in your post.

2.) Add the award logo to your blog.

3.) Share 7 things about yourself.

4.) Pass the award on to 5-10 other bloggers you admire.

and here the winners:

http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com – Photography and stories.

http://ohtheplaceswesee.com – they are husband and wife who decided to live somewhere else a month at a time.

http://algarveblog.net – a British expatriate to Portugal.

http://wheresmybackpack.com – She says: “anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all”.

http://taylorjorjorian.wordpress.com – Photographic Surreal Impressionism

http://grandmothermusings.com – Jamie is a sweet teacher.

Please go visit them, enjoy their reading and make new friends. The world is full of people we have not met yet. Happy 2013 to all, hoping this year will treat us very nicely.

To find 7 things to say about me it’s a hard task to do, but I will do my best.

I have always liked to eat and manage to keep a good figure to suit my bone structure. I have eaten a Mediterranean diet since I was born and don’t even get closer to junk food. People who know me call me “A Good Fork”. My father used to say that was better to clothe me than feed me.
Growing up in my Italian family, food choices did not exist and neither did democracy in the family nucleus. The heads of the family made up their own laws and we kids had to obey. Today, I go into people’s homes and find that kids can choose what they want to eat, as if they are at a private restaurant, tell the parent what to do and even get paid to do chores!
I am not a mechanical person like most of my women friends are. If something breaks it will stay broken unless someone fixes it.
I love Opera. When I am sitting in those red velvet chairs, I transport myself to a different world and era and get totally oblivious to anything around me, but often asked myself how I would react if a fire happened while I am totally hypnotized by the opera notes.
I am an acute observer. I see things people miss easily. I can sit at a café’ for hours just to observe and hear people’s conversations.
I don’t get bored easily, stupid people get bored, but time wasters get on my nerves easily.
I don’t shop at corporations, I shop at small stores and I am very faithful to them if they know how to treat me right.

I am participating in the A to Z challenge on any subject, mine will be on HOME from A to Z.
I will give myself one year to write funny and not so funny stories, tips and stuff related to the home projects and behind the scene happenings.

Let’s have a fantastic year and let’s not get stuck in the groove of time! Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an interior designer, in business since 1990 and a former fashion designer.
She helps people realizing their dream spaces in homes, offices, interiors, exteriors, restaurants and more. She is also the author of three books all available on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Back In The Saddle | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

10 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #2013NYOperaSeason, #BarberdeSevilleOpera, #LesTroyensOpera, #NewYorkTravel, #NYMetropolitanOperaHouse

I am still on time to wish a Happy 2013 to everyone, hoping this year, still in the baby phase, will treat every one of us very nicely.

I had a desire to see one of the most acclaimed Opera Houses in the world: the Metropolitan of New York. For a long time, I wanted to sit on those red velvet plush chairs, soaking the ambience, the décor, enjoying the mesmerizing sound of an opera and imagining which famous people has been there before me. On the second day of this New Year, I left for New York while my business is still under the holiday’s calm water and I did just that, soaked the ambience in the fan-shaped auditorium, decorated in gold and white. Photographs as usual are not allowed in theatres, but the views will be forever imprinted in my mind.

“Designed by architect Wallace K. Harrison, the Metropolitan Opera House is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. The building opened in September 1966 and features seating for app 3,800 people. The exterior is clad in white travertine stone and the front is graced with a distinctive series of five arches.(…)” from Wikipedia.

I chose to see the Barber Of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, a Tony Award winner production of only two hours. It was a fun rowdy and razor-sharp classic comedy that can entertain an entire family. I have seen this opera in many productions mostly sung in Italian, but this was sung in English. The cast was charming and irresistible and costumes were colorfully playful. I loved every minute of it.

Les Troyens was sung in French. This was a vast epic story, evoking the Trojan War story with duration of about five hours. The last aria “Je vais mourir (I am going to die) received a standing ovation.

The back stage tour of the Met was on my plans for my last day in N.Y. Learning about behind the scene’s episodes and some of the actors’ idiosyncrasy was sweet and enlightening.

What desire, or dream do you have and is there any room to realize it this year? If your answer is yes, do it, there is no point in saving that dream for a better time. Today is the time!
I am back in the saddle, happy to resume my work and hectic life. My year has started well, I hope yours has too and will continue to stay good. Sending all of you love and peace. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an interior designer, in business since 1990 and a former fashion designer. She helps people realizing their dream spaces in homes, offices, interiors, exteriors, restaurants and more.
She is the author of three books all available on this site on the Books page and on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Light and Happiness To All | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

23 Dec 2012 22 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ChristmasColors, #ChristmasThemes, #HolidayWishes, #RedVoyageIntoColors

We have overcome Dec.21st and we are here, alive and kicking, in a new era of the Universe.
This date marked the end of selfishness and the beginning of brotherhood; the end of individualism and the beginning of collectivism; the end of hatred and the beginning of love; the end of lies and the beginning of truth.
Gee, why did we have to wait so many centuries for this!

With these new perspectives in mind, I hope the humanity will come together to work towards a better future for the entire world. Let’s enjoy the festivities and the celebrations from now to the end of the year.

Thank you for your continued support as clients, friends and friends on my blogosphere.
I want to thank all of you creative bloggers for the new mark, I reached 500 Likes this month, received 5 stars on the Blog Of the Year 2012 Award and new subscribers.
Thanks again for brightening my day.

Merry Christmas to all of you and families and if you don’t celebrate any religious events, celebrate yourself, your achievements and all your loved ones. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. She is the author of three books available on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Decorating With Pink Flambe’ | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

18 Dec 2012 8 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #2013ColorTrend, #BohemianStyle, #ColorTheory, #DecorantingWithPinkFlambe', #DesigningWithColors, #PinkFlmbe'

Pink Flambe’ Color Board by ©Valentina Cirasola

Pink Flambe’ and Orange- from https://wanelo.co

Pantone Colors 2013

You might be wondering how top industries come up every year with different colors that will more or less dictate our choices of items we want to include in our life. The answer is simple.
The industry spy do exist, they are people with a fun job. They are among us, they sit in restaurants, café’ and any public places to observe and record how we dress, what colors we wear, how we combine our clothes, what new expressions we use, they follow food and wine trends and anything that goes on in the street. Then they report their findings to the decision makers and from there they elaborate our taste. Fun is it not? I wished I had that job. What’s up with the colors in 2013?

Funky and strong colors have dominated this new millennium so far, 2013 will continue in that path with a new hot color: Pink Flambé.
Flambé is a French word that means flamed. It is a cooking procedure in which alcohol is added to a hot pan to create a burst of flames. The color flambé is just as flamed and hot.
Flambe’ a bit hard color to work with, but when combined with other decisive colors, it can be striking and tasty just like a flambé dessert.

We can mix it in our clothes and our homes indifferently. The new Pink Flambé likes Chartreuse green, golden-yellow, white, grey, orange, or black. Fabrics will be natural and man-made even for apparel, animal prints, stripes and floral, much dyed denim, crocheted and embroidered fabrics, as well as a broad selection of trims and accessories. Take out all your knitting and crochet equipment and let your fantasy go wild.

The themes for next year are quite characteristic. They embrace minimalist shapes, collection of botanical fabric prints, reminiscent of Victorian naturalist collections, tribal influences from all over the world mixing together mismatching floral prints, geometrics, block prints and a lot of Bohemian retro style.
The new philosophy is not about saving as much money as possible on home décor and get it done on a shoe string budget, as it has been for the last four-year of economy in recession, but it is about the day-to-day reflection of their life and personality, as it should be not matter what. I am happy people are coming around to please their needs.

Have fun next year. The “anything goes” philosophy has been a long time trend already, just a different twist every year. We can still have a flicker of luxury with various finishes if we want. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

In Company Of Port | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

18 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: How To Pair Port, How To Serve Port, Port Glass, Port Wine, Red-A Voyage Into Colors, Table-Customs

Don’t you love this month of parties, celebrations, tasting unusual food and fun drinks? I love it and the people who know me, also know I don’t need an excuse to eat and drink. Life is for living, not deprivations. After dinner drinks seems to be one of my favorite part of a dinner. Especially in this cold time of the year ending a dinner with a port warms up the hands and revives the soul.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/wine-enthusiast-port-sippers-set-of-4/1018541343

Port aged in oak barrels is a kind of sweet wine, with lot of body and high alcohol content.
Port originated in Oporto, Portugal is a fortified wine made from grapes grown in the Douro valley. Portuguese law allows only this wine to be called Port, just like the French keep strict laws on Champagne and Cognac producers, or Italians are very protective of their Grappa, Parmigiano and many products that took years to perfect.

The new age of Port now includes a dry white specialty and the medium body Port, both can be served before dinner as an apéritif and chilled. The Vintage Port in my opinion is the best. It takes anywhere from ten to twenty years to be ready for drinking. It is intensely fruity, rich of alcohol and contains a lot of deposits, therefore it needs to be decanted before drinking. It goes well with cheeses and nuts at the end of dinner, as all European style dinners end with cheeses, I find it perfect with blue cheeses. Chocolate desserts with berries, or dark chocolates with coarse salt on top are just luscious.

After a bottle of Port has been opened and how is kept will determine the good status, spoilage or the shelf life of the elixir. The most temperamental is the Vintage Port, it only lasts a couple of days after the opening of the bottle. So, drink up with friends and empty the bottle at once!

Know the rule of serving Port and you will look expert like a connoisseur. The host will first pour Port in the glass of his/her guest sitting on the right, then will pass the bottle to the guest on the left, who will pour its own and pass the bottle to the next guest down and around the table up until it reaches again the guest on the right of the host. The pleasure of holding a Port sipper glass is immense and I love it (top photo), but simple tumblers or regular wine glasses will work well.

(Glass found on: https://www.webstaurantstore.com)

The English writer of novels and travel books once said: “Port is not for the very young, the vain and the active. It is the comfort of age and the companion of the scholar and the philosopher.

A clipping from The Times of London, circa 1798: “To which University, said a woman to the late sagacious Dr. Warren, shall I send my son? Madam, replied he, I believe, near the same quantity of Port in each of them.”

Port is for fine palates, getting a hangover from it will lower that person a few steps. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola has been a lifetime designer in fashion and interiors. Her extensive knowledge of colors and materials led her in both directions successfully. Vogue Italy featured her as the guru of staging a home in the theatrical way. Among designing and remodeling homes, designing custom-made furniture and writing books, Valentina is now teaching etiquette, table manners, table setting and life style.

Check out her latest books Red-A Voyage Into Colors on the subject of colors, available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

A Dinner Table Is Not For Royals Only | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

13 Dec 2012 24 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ArtOfDining, #ChristmasTableDecoration, #DecoratingTips, #DiningTableSetUp, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #TableEtiquette, Tablescape

During the holiday season everybody wants to celebrate something important, whether are the achievements of the years, religious events, or just the advent of a new year that will bring novelties, hopes and new perspectives.
As in all the celebrations, food is the center of the attraction and if we don’t indulge at least once a year, what’s the point?

“Do not worry if you have a few pounds on, you will have the eternity to have only bones” ~ my joke. You can take care of those few pounds after the holidays.

At the moment, I just want to give you some suggestions on how to set a formal, or a casual dinner table. The drawings are pretty much explanatory, but a few rules apply when sitting at a dining table properly staged.

From Disappearing act in this casual world

Casual Lunch Setting

Cutlery – The way the cutlery is set, will indicate which food will be served first. If there is a spoon on the right, you know that a soup is coming. The cutlery on the outside of the plate will be used first, work your way from outside in towards the plate. The silverware, fork and spoon, or just one of them, at the top of the plate is only for desserts and not for stirring drinks, or coffee.

Hands – Both hands must be visible on the table, but not the elbows. The body must occupy only the space that it takes. Elbows must stay closer to the body when cutting the food and not hitting the next person sitting near you.

Napkins – will be folded in half and placed on the lap with the fold toward the waist. Gently dab the mouth with the napkin when needed, but never rub the mouth with it.

Plates – I like to place a charger plate in both casual and formal dinner setting, I think it decorates the table well. On top of the charger, place all the plates according to the sequence of food and how they will be served.

Drinks – are always placed at the right, butter plate on the left.

Bread and Butter – In different cultures you might see the breadbasket in the center of the table, which will be passed around if guests ask for, or you might not see a butter plate at all. If you are the host setting the dinner table, make sure you know the preferred customs of your guests.

How to serve – In a formal dinner, never serve the entire dinner in one plate, it is a good practice to change plate for each course. If you are the host and serving the food as well, please know that the rule is to serve from the left and pick up empty dishes from the right of each guest.

Dessert and Coffee – Dessert is usually served at the table with coffee. Invite the guests to the sitting room, or living room for a taste of spirits, such as digestive, cognac, port or sherry.

I hope this simple guideline will make a great dinner experience for you and your guests. May your table be blessed with healthy, tasty food and pleasant company.

A big thank to Rebecca of http://misbehavedwoman.wordpress.com for awarded me with the fifth star of The Blog Of The Year 2012 Award. I love her strong character. It is refreshing to read her blog on social issues. My stats as of now, show I have received 4,149 visitors to my blog site today. I am ecstatic, cannot be happier than this. This is a load of fun! I take my hat off to everyone who is passing through, leaving a comment, or awarding me. Thank you.

Need to know more about this award? Check out the FAQ page:
http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/faqs-blog-of-the-year-2012-award

And the award goes to:

Tom – http://thepalladiantraveler.com – he fell in love with my Italy and writes about the pursuit of happiness from within the borders of Italy and, occasionally, beyond.

Cristian – http://cristianmihai.net – A writer and author from Romania. Don’t ask him to sing.

Tina – http://astronomybythecosmos.com – She writes about astronomy, very interesting subject.

Leanne – http://leannecolephotography.com – Very nice and attractive photography.

Let’s start celebrating. Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Changing Seasons | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

10 Dec 2012 10 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ChristmasColorScheme, #ChristmasDecorating, #ChristmasLights, #ChristmasThemes, #StoresDecoratedForChristmas

December, the month of running around, the month of getting rid of things we have accumulated during the year, including bad habits and feelings.

Personal Changes – Yesterday, I watched a video of one of my business coaches, who suggested something clever. Take a piece of paper, draw a line in the middle, write down all your achievements of this year 2012 and the lesson you have learned from them. Then write all the negative things, goals that didn’t happen, or anything that didn’t go right, including relationships and what you have learned from these experiences. Read both sides out loud, then burn the piece of paper. This way you have acknowledged your actions and thoughts and you know what you will not do again, but also you will be ready to part with the baggage of this year that is leaving us.

Changes In The Wardrobe – This month, I am organizing a “Second Time Around” party with girlfriends. We exchange clothes we don’t like, or we don’t fit in anymore. Funny how another person will wear that used piece in a novel way and make it attractive again! The party is fun, we have a few glasses of bubbles, food, laughter and we become our recycling firm for a few hours.

Shops Changing Views – In December, I like to take a few hours for myself to photographs store windows when they are closed and nobody is around. I like to admire their interpretation of a changing season.

Gaylord Texan Resort

I received the 4th star for The Blog Of The Year 2012 Award from Natalia of http://nataliasarkissian.wordpress.com – she writes stories, one postcards at a time. Thank you Natalia, I humbly accept your star.

* * *The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

1. Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3. Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

4. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5. You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6. As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Need to know more about this award? Check out the FAQ page

http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/faqs-blog-of-the-year-2012-award

Congratulations! on being chosen for the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award:

Jamie – http://grandmothermusings.com – Words of wisdom, tips, How to do stuff. Jamie has received all 6 stars for this award, well deserved.
Laura – http://astimegoesbuy.me – Fashion and personal style.
Judy – http://petit4chocolatier.wordpress.com – Chocolates and sweets to die for.
http://misbehavedwoman.wordpress.com – Well behaved women seldom make history.
Karen – http://roamandhome.com – She loves eating scrumptious food and taking photos of everything she eats.
Cynthia – http://lesplaisirssimplesdelavie.wordpress.com – Photography and more.

Enjoy the award and this colorful season. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Interior Designer since 1990 and a former Fashion Designer. In any or her design work, she blends fashion and interior well. Vogue Italy featured her as the guru of staging homes in a theatrical way. She loves to remodel and turn unattractive spaces into castles. Fashion design was her first career choice that made her happy for fifteen years before settling into the interior design business. She is also a published author of three books available on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Blog Of The Year 2012 Award | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

08 Dec 2012 16 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BlogOfTheYear2012Award, #DickensChristmasFair, #DickensVillage, #FrenchChristmasMusic, #OxfordUniversityChristmasMusic

It is still December and all is well.
My best girlfriend just found a young man 18 years younger than her. While she was exploring the world across the pond, she discovered him and studied the new architecture of a man. He will be part of her luggage upon her return, she is taking him back home with her to California and spend Christmas with a man who can chop English really well. Love has no barriers.
I avoid stores during this time like a bubonic plague.
On Sunday, I will go visit the Dickens’ Christmas Fair, a divertissement I give myself every year, perhaps I will dress in costume of the era.
The Christmas village display in my home is ready. As a tradition, the lights in the living room go off at night and the village lights are on. I am living in the late 1800s at this time, French Christmas music and music from Oxford University fill the air. I need to escape in the past for a couple of weeks.
I am still watching the film “Midnight In Paris” religiously once a week. It has been a year now. I am wondering if not getting tired of it is a sign I will move to Paris.

This week I am very honored, thankful and grateful to Stefan of http://hillsofherchastity.wordpress.com who nominated me for the second time for the Blog Of The Year 2012 Award.
As you can see, I have collected three stars, there is total of six stars to collect until December 31, 2012. This is fun, let’s play it together.

Stefan made me discover poems and poetry again. As a hard-core business woman, I had lost the pleasure of stopping every so often and read something sweet, romantic and often out of my reality.
Stefan gave me the opportunity to get reunite with a fantasy world. His blog notification reaches me during my working time and punctually I open it, it gets me curious to see what nice words he has put in the ether.
Sure enough, I feel transported in another dreamy dimension for while. So Stefan, I will award you back with the same award just because you have taught me how to leave behind some of my reality.

* * *The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

1. Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3. Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

4. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5. You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6. As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Unlike other awards, which you can only add to your blog once, this award is different!
When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!
There are a total of 6 stars to collect. Which means that you can check out your favorite blogs – and even if someone else has already given them the award – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

This award goes to the following bloggers:

Jake of http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com from Manila – He is a Graphic Artist / Photographer who believes in Progress not Destruction.

Natalia of http://nataliasarkissian.wordpress.com – She writes Postcard From Italy, stories one postcard at a time.

http://thismansjourney.net – A nice man who writes about family experiences.

http://kaitlinring.wordpress.com – She is a student from North Dakota and got my attention with her last post about why the world will not end in 19 days.

Enjoy the award all of you, let’s collect more stars that will bring lights and positive energy into our lives. Thank you all for being my supporters. Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an interior designer and a former fashion designer in business since 1990. She helps people realizing their dream spaces in homes, offices, interiors, exteriors, restaurants and more. She needs your story to design your dream.

Check out her books on:

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w