Come sit with me for awhile…
and see what I’m bringing to the table®

It’s July and .   .   . the living may be easy .   .   .  but the temperature .   .   . well, the temperature .   .   . maybe not! Now I get sizzling hot in some aspects of life can/should be .   .   . hot, hot, hot .   .   . and embraced .   .   . mmm .   .   . ooops .   .   . sorry, sorry .   .   . I seem to have lost focus for a brief moment!!! Now where was I? Oh please .   .   . it was just a momentary stray! Yes, yes, of course I hear a few of you clucking your tongues, but what you, of the clucking fest, aren’t hearing are the majority of the crew whispering amen! O k, I’m back .   .   . so when the weather heats up .   .   . what to do, what to do? Do what I do .   .  . embrace it. Transport yourself and lucky guests to a  Moroccan night. A night filled with the luscious fresh scent of blossoms, the aroma of heavenly tasting food, all shared on a table such as the one shown above. I’m talking about a .   .   . welcome to the casbah!!! (Pillows on the chairs for those who aren’t floor fanciers). A table setting that is sooo sizzling, it’s practically off the Richter scale. (When you live in California, the Richter scale that measures earthquakes becomes as common place as saying .   .   . hello!)

I insist .   .   . click on the photo above, and below .   .   . go ahead move around. With the flick of my wrists, and the scrounging through my textiles, and table cloths, I give you one of my “welcome to the casbah” interpretations. The table is layered with a sari from Malaysia, a remnant from a kimono found in a flea market outside of Tokyo, and polished off with a French table cloth for a final pop of color. My table service is a mix of plates that are in harmony with the pops of color running throughout my theme. (Silverware is vintage Reed and Barton). So as not to blind you with the brilliant pop of hot pink, I picked up the soft blue from the cloth, and took it one step further on the color wheel by employing one of my all time favorite colors .   .   . cobalt blue .   .   . deep, rich, and yummy!!! Add a few treasures from around the house for interest, and conversation, mix with tons of candles* all around the patio/terrace/dining room/kitchen/living room or wherever your casbah maybe, turn the music on and .   .   . welcome to my casbah!!!

*Lets talk candles. . .
It’s time to clarify when, where and how to use candles, safely and effectively. Place votives in a glass holder, tucking them in and around glassware, and centerpiece. For added ambience,  place chunky unscented pillars, white, or off white)** around the perimeter of your seating area, whether indoors or outside.

For those of you who are the occasional user, please take safety notes.  First, make sure the wicks are @1/4” in length, the first time and every time you burn candles. A saucer, a small dish placed under candles is a good, and safe idea.   .   .WAIT LOOK BELOW!!!

My 1st children’s book “I am sooo Lucky!!!” is … take 2 sisters, 1 part fascination, a pinch of curiosity, dash of learning, mix in a whole lot of joy! Amazon http://goo.gl/4kBSxv

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California