this abundant life
hi guys! i hope you’re not stressing for the holidays and are planning momentous events with your family and friends.
i love the holidays but have just not been into decorating for them for the past few years. dressing the house with wintery trinkets seems stilted, especially in florida. that all changed when i saw this pic from country living and i’m back in. it’s minimal but there are just enough elements to play with like the cream satin bow. plus, everything looks great with greens around or along it. and they do bring a bit of life and glorious scent in. and the white flowers keep it super simple.
anyway this was just supposed to be a post on a random festive dining room for thanksgiving so i googled ‘holiday table’ as you know i normally stick to the boudoir, but it was worth it cause what i came across was the simplicity of the abundant table and the stress of the holidays was gone just like that!
i mean granted, i’m not the hostess, all i have to do is show up and lend a hand, bring some bread and wine, have fun with the kids…but i am sympathetic to the hostess who does so much to bring it all together. she should be thanked for above all else!
i guess i just wanted to say that it doesn’t have to get so complicated to be beautiful. i know you know that.
so whereever you are, whoever you’re with, have a sweet and simple day with those you love.
French Country Living/Caroline Clifton-Mogg
and above all else it’s the company we’re with. they don’t care if the table is perfectly appointed or you timed it all in sync. so have a beautiful day of food and abundance and each other. i’m beyond grateful, especially for all of you! bon appetit!
ps: just found this:
not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance. Epicurus
and this:
if I have enjoyed the hospitality of the Host of this universe, who daily spreads a table
in my sight, surely i cannot do less than acknowledge my dependence.
G.A. Johnston Ross
pss my sis-in-law’s table from last year i never posted, she and my bro are the hosts with the mosts! see you tomorrow col and jean!
the world’s at the door
bonjour mes amis, i hope you’re getting ready for a great holiday week. i’m in nyc, making the rounds, having coffee with friends and enjoying it instead of working it.
being in the city is great. and exhausting! i wasn’t going to blog but came across my google reader with over 1000 entries to blogs i didn’t realize i’m subscribed to. this is just a smattering that i had to share. i have to check it more often, it’s like having eternity check in at your doorstep! i mean desktop! magical portal!
i hope you enjoyed a little random respite. i just wanted to see everything in one place instead of saving random images. but that’s it, my time is up and i have to shut it down.
bonne nuit and big dreams!
one of a kind love affair
it never ceases to amaze me, the boudoir. you can look through a catalog and choose any living room and most people could be perfectly happy with the basics of pottery barn or williams sononma. (ok not you, most people)! but the bedroom is super special, so distinct, unique and personal with all its detail and intimacy. every one tells a story of its owner, who she is and what she’s all about. i just never get tired of looking at them! here are a few of my faves from last week’s dip into the inspiration pool. it really feeds my voyeuristic side! these are all from one place, livingetc.com. have you been there? i never had. it’s pretty spellbinding. hope you enjoy them as much as i did!
sigh, so many personalities, if only i had a guest room too…guess i better work on my bedroom first!
and for all my surfing, i did feel a little guilty till i was validated by this creative philosopher:
oh and speaking of creative girls, please welcome megan from paper route to tpa’s family of sponsors! she creates fabulous cards for all occasions and you can customize practically anything with initials, monograms, as invitiations…sky’s the limit! here are a couple of my faves, check her out if you’re looking for a personal, one of a kind gift!
have a great night, i’m off to nyc tomorrow!
to sleep, perchance to dream
bon soir mes amis, i hope you’re having a dreamy weekend. i’m still going thru the pics from surfing last week. it’s been fun saving random shots and watching collections emerge. if you know me at all you’ll know i’m obsessed with the boudoir, the bed and all the trimmings.
beds are seem magical. they’re just as interesting empty as with a kitten lounging adorably. funny how they have such personalities. of course though, there’s nothing more gorgeous on the planet than women. and the women who inhabit these beds really put the cherry on top.
there were so many images of girls in bed, lounging, reading, sleeping, loving, playing music, cards, jumping, pillow fights and crying. i had to draw the line cause it’s a pretty deep rabbit hole, that tumblr.
some of my favorite shots are from the film, marie antoinette. until these shots kept popping up, i don’t think i realized how many bed scenes there were with her!
and they’re all delish!
i’m sure lots of these are staged,
but they’re still ethereal, what is it about lounging in bed?
keira knightly (gasp)! smoking in bed
i’m a sucker for the candids
partywithnoclotheson.tumblr.com
are you getting sleepy? i sure am!
ok well it’s time for me to head up to my own little piece of heaven. i do have fresh sheets on the bed with lots and lots of pillows and (exciting)! i busted out a cashmere blanket that will be perfect for tonight’s slight chill.
enjoy your weekend when you’re up and when you’re down i hope you’re enjoying your bed and making it as cozy as possible!
the art of the unmade bed
did you have to make your bed growing up? my mom’s religious about it. we did it every day as kids.
some say making the bed is powerful and gives you an instant feeling of accomplishment in the morning. i’ve always hated making the bed although i do love getting into a well made one. quel dilema.
fairytalesandglitter.tumblr.com
contesdujouretdelanuit.tumblr.com
these are some shots i came across the other day when so many kept appearing, one after the other…it was a feast and i’m glad i saved them all but somewhere along the way the links got mixed up a little. they all came from from tumblr. if one’s yours and it’s not in the right place, please let me know.
i love the way every bed’s the same and still so different
the same components
but each with an energy all its own
the bare minimum is such a luxury
likeabearinhibernation.tumblr.com
well anyway, i thought you may enjoy these too, all you unmade beds out there! happy friday and bon weekend! have a ball and when the time comes, dive into your sea of blankets. sweet dreams!
when kittens attack
attack your heart that is! hey guys, i’m just stopping by to say hi and share some sweet shots i had on the desktop from my wanderings yesterday.
fairytalesandglitter.tumblr.com
i’ve been looking for a new apartment all day and am thinking it would be a deal breaker if they don’t allow pets.
daisy (my pitt) was 17 and it’s been a couple years so it’s about time to get a new little somebody.
i guess i’ll have to find the place first and then as they say , ‘if you build it, the kitten will come!’
anyway i hope you’re with your little fuzzy love if you have one and if not, check out these great sites for adoption. the middle one has the cutest dog available on the home page. ok, time to get back to it. have a great night and happy snuggling!
and so to bed
bonjour everybody! i hope you’re having a good week and getting stuff done. i’ve been pretty good at staying put but did drift off tonite for awhile on my favorite new site, pinterest. it’s a great way to veg and get out of my biz head. it’s unbelievable the creativity, styling, great photography and passion out there! here are some of my favorite bedrooms. i’m trying to stay focused so i’ll put together dressing rooms and baths another day! in the meantime, check out some of the links to the sites if you get a chance, they’re loaded with a ton more eye candy. some i’d never heard of but am glad to know, even tho that means straying into dangerous territory. oh well, that’s the beauty of having infinity at our fingertips, right? have fun!
carolynquartermaine via alifemorefabulous.blogspot.com
for more on this one check out trouvais.com. it’s the 17th century home of Gael and Francesco Boglione who created London’s Petersham Nurseries. images via Vogue Living Australia May/June ’09
how do they do it?
frech interiors, the art of elegance
NOTE added tuesday, november 9th: if you’re interested in receiving one of the books here please send an email with your address to claudia@theparisapartment.com and the first few writers will win a copy of the ones i have on hand. i can’t choose so hurry!
bonjour everybody, i hope you’re having a good weekend and are nice and cozy where ever you are. i guess it’s that time of year where we feather our nests, break out throw blankets, add another layer to the bed and generally make home a little more snuggly. i’ve recently been sent a lot of books about doing just that, some from authors i know, others are blog friends and others i just admire.
it’s amazing just how much these women accomplish and the great talent that’s between these covers! you probably know vicki archer from ‘my french life’ and her blog, french essence. well her new book just came out and she’s hosting a giveaway for it on her blog. it was shot by carla colusion who also has a book, paris tango. i don’t know where they find the time but these ladies are beyond inspiring. i was lucky enough to meet them both at the blogger round-up in paris last month and am thrilled for them to have this new project finished!
another one of my gurus is betty lou phillips who has written her 10th book! she just sent me her latest and it’s shot by our mutual friend, dan piassick. they’re an incredible team and are blowing me away with what they accomplish together!
and if you’re a blogger than chances are you have run across the fabulous fifi who has just traveled the country shooting with other bloggers and putting out her new book! these ladies are killing me, my christmas list is getting way too long!
Romantic-Prairie-Style-Fifi-Oneill
ok i could go on and on but this one is written by one of my favorite french ladies, ines de la fressange. she’s a legend and her new book is one i haven’t gotten my mitts on yet but, well, put it on the list!
while i was finding the links i came across these. suffice it to say there’s a lot of passion, talent and great taste flying around out there right now! if you’re a book lover, you know this is the tip of an enormous iceberg but hey, it’s a start. if you want to win one of the books listed here, just leave a comment and i’ll draw the winners on tuesday. till then, have a great weekend and stay cozy with a good book!
the glitzy chix makeover
hi guys how are you? i’ve been working hard for the past week and sort of staying under the radar to slay this freakin’ inbox! sadly the daily grind takes up all my energy and i rarely get to do the creative soul food stuff. somehow blogging is my only outlet so thank god for that! as you may know, my blog friends mean everything to me and are my conscience, inspiration and true beloved friends. if you’ll remember, you were the ones who motivated me to re-do my apartment a couple weeks ago and changed my life. well i just wanted to share what came of it! the post of my un-done apartment on the blog was the catalyst for the silly video liz and i made for the design sherpa contest. i put it on youtube but you can see it on their site and if you like it, let them know with a comment. hope you get a kick out of it!
when to say when
hey guys, how’s your week going? i’ve been laying low and reigning it in, feeling a lot better. and staying put seems to be making things happen. i’m down to a one page inbox and have this rare chance to blog. between the boring stuff i’ve been fattening up my web boutique to make use of all the ‘thrifiting’ i did west palm over the last couple weeks.
this wasn’t one of the pieces i found but it’s one from a vendor i work with, eloquence. they shop europe to bring pieces back here and even reproduce some of them. i died for some pieces their ship brought in this week!
i wish i had a place for an armoire like this. what an heirloom. i wonder whose it was?
i could eat it!
they have simpler pieces too. i’m a closet freak!
there’s just something about storage that i love. maybe cause i don’t have a real closet at the moment.
anyway i just wanted to share some of their eye candy.
funny how furniture can be as pretty as any jewel!
in other breaking news, liz now has the hang of selling on ebay, and she’s a free bird flying! i wanted to let you know that besides cleaning out her gorgeous closet,
she’s also selling furniture like the chair and stool below. if you get a chance, check her out!
finally, it’s election night. this adorable graphic was sent to me by a client who’s daughter created it. i thought it was fitting at least to acknowledge the importance of the election tonite. i’m not political or even as educated as i should be on how things work in our country, but i am grateful for life here. whatever your political convictions are, i hope our next move is to finesse this mess together to make a great change with compassion and negotiation. ok it’s time to shut down. have a great night!
