Past And Present – Luxe Du Jour’s Best Of The Best

We have been reflecting on some of our most popular posts and enjoyed reliving some of these features. Some of the focus is on healthy living, there are yummy recipes, both past and current decor, creative table settings and a little bit of travel.

Dreaming Of Traveling Again

It has been challenging for many of us that love to travel to different destinations since the pandemic began. We usually spend a month in one of our favorite spots, but have been staying close to home and making the best of this isolation. We absolutely love Tuscany and hope to go there again soon. One of our most memorable excursions was to see Carrara Marble being excavated. This was just a short drive from where we stayed and a great day trip.

Closer To Home

Or if we decide to stay closer to home, there is always Napa Valley. This blog post got a lot of attention as it has numerous recommendations for wine tasting, picnics and all things “wine country”. Spending the month of October in St. Helena was paradise. Hummmm, seems some of these favorite destinations are known for their wonderful wines. Why not?

Tracing Family Roots

Then there is our trips to my homeland. My Father is from England and my Mother is from Scotland. The last few years my Dad and I traveled to see our family there and to explore the village where his Father’s side lives. Such a remote and charming place. Check out Okeford Fitzpaine here and here for a quintessential village experience.

Discovering Lowcountry

A big change this year was relocating to the Lowcountry here in Bluffton, South Carolina. I guess this is a bit like a vacation as there are so many new things to explore.

Since we moved here in September, we have had limited opportunities for dining out and have mostly been cooking in every night. Whew! Although we love to “test and taste” new recipes, we sometimes need a little inspiration. That’s when we pull out some of our favorite cookbooks and look for new ideas to add to our weekly menus.

Healthy Eating = Healthy Living

Of course we try to eat whole foods and stay active, but there are a few things that you can do to take your health to a new level. Some simple things that we practice is dry brushing which helps with circulation and really makes your skin healthy, and a simple yoga pose that only takes 15-20 minutes each day. As we age, it is even more important to practice good, healthy behavior.

As mentioned above, eating well is also a very important component to staying healthy and living a vibrant and active life. Luxe du Jour has curated a variety of recipes that have become a popular blog feature. Just access the recipes in the top bar to see all of our favorites, or you can search by category in the sidebar. All of the recipes including the ones provided by friends of Luxe du Jour have been “tested and tasted” to ensure that they will be delish. Of course, we always add our own adjustments to suit our tastes.

A Few Of Our Favorite Recipes

Many of the recipes that we feature on Luxe du Jour are inspired by some of our favs. We love Giada Laurentiis, The Barefoot Contessa and we have even featured “Friendly Fridays” with recipes from friends. Our philosophy is to make simple recipes with a limited number of ingredients using non-processed foods. Occasionally, we use a jar of marinara or a grated cheese product, but we always read the label to ensure there are no unnecessary additions.

Why not try one of latest recipes (which can easily be a delicious vegetarian dish without the chicken) that got rave reviews for Bow Tie Pasta With Chicken, Mushrooms And Swiss Chard   or an all time favorite San Francisco Cioppino or Butter Rum Shrimp. For you meat lovers out there we recently featured a delicious Hoisin Pork Tenderloin recipe that you make in the oven.

Since moving to Bluffton, South Carolina we are also trying some Lowcountry favorites like Shrimp Burgers with Jalapeño Slaw – who knew there was such a recipe?

Create A Tranquil Space With Your Decor (Even Add A Touch Of “Coastal”)

 

We have always been a proponent of creating a space that makes you happy in your home. Even if it is a small area where you can curl up and read a book it can be a special place to enjoy.

Our home here is South Carolina is very different than our home was in the Fort Lauderdale area. It is far more traditional in design and just has a very Southern Plantation “feel”. In previous posts we have mentioned that when we moved here we were not sure how our furniture and previous decorating style would work here. To our surprise, everything fit perfectly with a little rearranging of items and addition of some coastal pieces.

Even if you do not live in a coastal community, it is fun to add some of these “touches” perhaps to remind you of a special beach getaway.

Table Settings Galore

We enjoy creating different table settings and have featured so many on the blog. Everything from a simple blue and white setting to themed settings like Italian pasta night, Spring is in the air setting and so many more.

During these challenging times during the pandemic, it is so important to make things special in your home. Since we are spending so much time indoors you can make an extra effort to create a more inviting living space. It really makes a difference to your overall outlook and mood if you make the best of this time.

Florida Versus Lowcountry Decor

Here are a couple of vignettes and pictures of our family room in our previous home in Fort Lauderdale and a peek at our family room here in the Lowcountry decorated for Christmas. Both make us happy and feel like home. No matter where we travel it is always so nice to come back home to familiar surroundings.