I was happy to be home Friday afternoon to watch the funeral of Nancy Reagan.  It was a beautiful celebration of life of a wonderful woman who starred in a real life love story.  When you see two people in love the way Nancy and Ronald Reagan were, you can’t help but feel good.

Brian Mulroney, former Canadian Prime Minister, gave a beautiful eulogy at the service.  He shared a letter that Ronald Reagan wrote to Nancy one Christmas.  Click on the link to listen.

I loved what James Baker, former Reagan Chief-of-Staff said in his eulogy.  “I can just imagine how St. Peter might have let the President know that she had arrived.  A beautiful lady is at the gate asking for you, with a jar of jelly beans.”   President Reagan loved his Nancy and his jelly beans!  

And in Patti Davis’s eulogy for her mother, she shared a fun-loving prank that her mother played on her father.  “A few days before she died, I reminded her of something that happened decades ago when we lived in Pacific Palisades. My father used to get massages from a large Eastern European man who would come to the house and set up his massage table in my parents’ dressing room.

On one of those days, as my father lay face down on the table, my mother tiptoed in, kissed him lightly on the back of his neck and tiptoed out. He didn’t know it was her, but he went through the rest of the massage, he never said a word.

And after the masseur left, he said to my mother, ‘I don’t think we can have him back anymore.’ ‘Why,’ she asked him, ‘what happened.’

‘Well, he kissed me.’

When she told him it was her, he was flooded with relief and said, ‘Thank God, I didn’t know what to do.’

As one last dedication to Mrs. Reagan, she is featured in my first Worthy Read for this week.  Enjoy.

Nancy Reagan’s Greatest Looks

Ruthie Friedlander of Elle Magazine put it best.  “The late first lady was often the epitome of elegance.”   She shared a collection of 18 photos of Nancy Reagan, many that I have not seen before.  I enjoyed seeing the styles through the decades.   Great selection Ruthie.

9 Things You Never Knew About the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Next week is the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC.  Lauren Smith with Town & Country shared 9 interesting facts about the Cherry Blossoms and their festival.  It’s on my bucket list.  How about you?

Recipe of the Week

Last week I watched Ina Garten on the Food Network make steaks like the fancy Steakhouse restaurants. On Saturday I decided to give her method a try.  They were just as good made inside as they are on the grill.

Her technique is to start them in a very hot cast iron skillet and finish them off in the oven.  Click on the link for her recipe.

The only changes I made were I cut back on the butter and only used one teaspoon per steak.  I also just sprinkled my favorite McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning in place of salt and pepper listed in the recipe.  They came out perfect!  Let me know if you give this method a try.

Room of the Week

I love this library from actor Sean Haye’s home which was featured in Traditional Home.  Every home should have a place where you can sit to curl up with a good book.  Click on the link to tour the rest of the home.

1010 Park Place

Last week at 1010 Park Place I shared some entertaining inspiration from my blog including How to Start a Supper Club, Hosting an Ethnic Potluck, A Tips Party and Inviting Friends for Wine and Cheese Before Dinner Reservations.  

Lately I have hosted a couple of potlucks and I forgot how nice they can be!  It’s the easiest way to entertain when all of your guests are bringing food!  I love the Ethnic Potluck theme where everyone brings a dish from their nationality.

What’s your favorite type of party to host?