More Clever Packaging...

While perusing The Lovely Package, I stumbled upon this quirky packaging from The Spice Outfit in Chicago. They sell authentic gourmet Chicago-style meat rubs and blends with fun names such as, 'Bugsy's Kosher Nostra', 'With the Fishes', 'Cookin' the Books' and more.

Love the vintage mafia mugshots on the packaging. I'm a fan of gangster films, (Godfather I & II being my favorites), so these spices are right up my alley. You can purchase The Spice Outfit's products online here. They'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

Photos from thespiceoutfit.com

Just in at Paris Hotel Boutique...

Valentine's Day is around the corner and we've just added over 50 new pieces at Paris Hotel Boutique. Perhaps a monogrammed teapot from the hotel you honeymooned, or a handsome pair of cufflinks for that special guy! You can check them out here...

Claudia Visits the City

photo (SF shop) from the paris apartment

I was delighted to find out that my friend Claudia, of The Paris Apartment, was in San Francisco for a long weekend. I hadn't seen her in a few years and what fun it was to spend some time together. On Sunday, the talented Lisa, of Lisa Golightly, and I picked up Claudia and had lunch at Citizen Cake in Hayes Valley (you have to try their fried donuts), and did then did some shopping. So much fun! Lisa is an amazing artist that I met years ago via eBay. She sells on Etsy and has a blog as well.

Yesterday Claudia and I ran around the City visiting some of our favorite antique shops, French cafes and Smoke Signals, the best magazine shop in the City. It was a rainy day, but we had a lot of laughs and Claudia took some spectacular photos. Thanks for the fun time! Come back soon Claudia!

La Boulange de Polk - photo from the paris apartment

The girls

Going, Going, Gone!

Today marked the 4th annual Gentlemen's Library Sale at Bonham's auction house in London. Can a gal be more disappointed than to have missed this? The auction featured library furnishings, science curiosities and eccentricities from around the world.

I was looking through the online catalog and would have loved to have purchased half of the items auctioned off. And, the prices realized didn't fetch as much as I had imagined they would. Here are some of my favorites...and, believe me, there were hundreds to pick from! I think I'm going to purchase a catalog since the items are so fantastic!

20th Century Ebonised Chesterfield Settee (fetched £1,440)

Victorian Gilt Timepiece (fetched £120...that's it? Why so cheap?)

Victorian Black Museum Cabinets (fetched £2,880)

Early 19th Century Magnifying Glass (fetched £1,080)

Collection of 19th Century Chemist Bottles (fetched £1.020)

Magnificent 18th Century French Ivory Game (fetched £336)

Oak Club Boards (fetched £168)

19th Century Bone Alphabet Hand Plaque (fetched £240)

Elephant Oval Tooth Box (fetched £216)

William IV Traveling Inkwell (fetched £216)

Silver Royal Coat of Arms (fetched £720)

Photos from bonhams.com

"You Rock, Dad!"

One of my favorite moments yesterday (there were many) was watching Malia and Sasha walk out with their adorable coats (how cute is Sasha's pink/red/coral combo?) and Sasha giving her Dad a big "thumbs up." Precious!

Did you have a favorite moment?

Mr. President

God Bless President Obama and God Bless America!

Wiener Dog Party!

It has been unseasonably warm in San Francisco this past week, with temperatures reaching 70 degrees. Totally crazy since most of the country is in freezing cold weather, AND San Francisco is not known for its warm climate!

Yesterday I decided to take a break from antiques and advantage of the weather. I took my poodle, Vito, to the beautiful Pine Lake Park at Stern Grove. It is a great off-leash dog park. There were oodles of dogs frolicking around the park.

I saw about 50 dachshunds in one area. Turns out that there is a monthly dachshund meet-up group at this park. So cute! All of these "wiener dogs" running around! My little Vito crashed the party as seen in the video below. I had never heard about "meet-up" groups. So, I'm starting a San Francisco poodle meet-up group. If you're interested in dog meet-up groups, check meetup.com and find a group near you!

Video of Dachshund Meet-up at Pine Lake Park, S.F. ~ Vito is crashing the party!