Todd Hido

I have a favorite restaurant. When I go there, if I am lucky, I am seated acoss from a series of photographs that always amaze me. This particular series, by photographer Todd Hido, is a series of houses at night. No doubt, more accomplished writers have described how the light in his photographs is beyond beautiful. It stops you in your tracks. Much like an Alice Hoffman moment, the ordinary is captured, sublime and magical.

Ylang Ylang Flower

Known as the "flower of flowers", this Asian blossom flowers in yellow, pink and mauve.

Used in perfumes with a romantic theme, in Asia, the flowers are spread on the bed of newly weds.