5 Fab Finds: From Europe to Maple Ridge, Avec Amour

Shopping in the Latin Quarter

Hubby and I returned from our trip to Europe a couple of weeks ago ( I know, unbelievably lucky to have the lives we have!) and I am eager to share some of my insights, travelogues and meanderings. Of course, I took over a thousand pictures. (I just love digital, don't you?) So its taking me awhile to sort them out and find themes...stay tuned.

But. One of the things I love about Europe is the boost it gives to the creative/artistic side of me. It is like one giant Artist's Date (for those of you familiar with the work of Julia Cameron: The Artists Way - highly recommended btw). I come back inspired in all kinds of ways.

I am just crazy for all the design elements I see - from buildings, to doors, to dishes, to chairs, to signage. Not to mention fashion. Oh, I mentioned it. In that case...

On this trip we visited both London and Paris (poor us!) and here are a few of my fab finds, or just fashion-stuff I noticed.

Jean Jackets - ubiquitous, and I mean everywhere:)
And worn with everything. I bought two.

Find #1. We spent a really spectacular day shopping on the London high streets - Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus - in a typical London rain. I bought Jean Jacket #1 at Selfridges and the absolute last m-sized jean jacket left in London at The Gap in Picadilly - thanks to the most helpful store manager on the planet. Why two? One cropped, one not. Of course. Didn't I already have one? Of course. Who doesn't here in NA? But these are from London. And that is something I noticed - there is a real trend toward American-styling in clothes and food, a shift in the five years since I was last in Europe.

Find #2.  With spring and summer come flowers, and in Paris I saw them everywhere. Floral printed dresses, blouses and jammies...women with flowers pinned in their hair, decorating shoes, pendants, rings, handbags and belts. Floral prints were also featured on the Liberty fabric floor in London. I love these cloth pin-on flowers, like the taupe one on my jean jacket. I bought two in the Latin Quarter (namedropper!). I might give one away. Be nice to me.

Find #3. I'm also a bit crazy for toile fabric. In Lindau, an amazing harbour town on Lake Konstanz, I visited Marie Lind fabrics (omg). Did I mention we also toured the Bodensee? Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I bought the little black and white pillow-cover in the picture readymade. I'm already unnaturally attached to it. (The gingham one in the background is from fabric I bought in the south of France five years ago - I know - poor me!)

One of my favourite new scarves alongside of one of my favourite old cardis

Find #4. Scarves! I'm an addict. And when I travel, I like to pick up one or two as a kind of combo indulgence-souvenir. The one pictured above came from a little boutique in the Latin Quarter (ahem) called Anoki. Hubby bought me a necklace there five years ago, that I still get compliments on. I'd say a scarf is the one accessory no wardrobe can do without. And if one is good....

Look at these beauties.
L-R Montmartre, Lindau, Montmartre, London

Find #5. This fab find came from Maple Ridge and was inspired by a trend that both hubby and I noted on our recent trip. Speaking of the American influence on style...cowboy boots. Or to be more precise 'cowboyish boots'. Western-style boots were worn in all kinds of combinations, by women and girls of all ages. Boots in general I noticed are worn pretty much year round - less weather-dependent and more outfit-dependent I'd say. After our high street escapades to find me the perfect jean jacket(s), I assured hubby that weren't going to hunt down boots to bring home. But, as luck would have it, last week I dropped into my local Value Village and found these - and on sale for half-price. Ah, life.

Boots, beautiful boots...a truly fab find!
$13 at the Maple Ridge Value Village

Nattily dressed, I'll keep sorting through my pics to share in future blogs and Facebook posts. Meanwhile, we're dreaming up our next trip. Italy, anyone?

Au Revoir.

5 Pathways to Contentment

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on."

 - Led Zeppelin

Pathway #1. The trail is marked. (And much remains to  be revealed.)

Pathway #2. The path that goes toward the light.

Pathway #3. The path that may be dark. (And we can see the forest for the trees.)

Pathway #4. The straight, wide way.

Pathway #5. Choice.

Happy Trails!

A Salute to Summer: Gone but not Forgotten.

One of the ways I pursue happy idleness is messing around with technology. I have to admit that my curiosity about gadgets, apps and their technological possibilities far outweighs my skill. An ambition of my middle age, and one I am sure will take me well into old age, is to at least keep up! I said to my sister-in-law today that I will probably still be using my laptop in my 90's. She said I probably won't have one. I assumed she meant lap. But I digress.

In my work (which I promise not to focus on in this blog, hand over heart!) I advocate for social media and help my clients apply it to their work. I also love to play on Facebook and Twitter, and am a self-confessed Farmville addict.

Blogging is fun, too.

Lately, I have been moodling around with online video production programs. And, oh my! A new weakness. So my blog this week is a video tribute to summer, capturing some of my favourite elements of the season we are saying farewell to - at least here in the Northern Hemisphere - and celebrating summer food. In happy anticipation of the autumn and then the winter, I offer my Salute to Summertime.





With heartfelt thanks to the fine young folks at Animoto.
http://www.animoto.com/

Fab Finds: Themes it Seems

Yes - it's true. The birds are migrating. Summer is turning to fall and it is time that feathered friends head south for the winter. I love the reliability of these migratory patterns. I am reassured by them. I like watching the birds that stop off in our communal yard and compete with the squirrels for food. I like the last lazy warm days of summer and getting ready to tuck in my home for the winter.

I was inspired this summer by the birds that chatter and chirp in our yard to create a bird theme in my funny little garden. It seems with the hint of autumn that the inspiration is migrating indoors with my latest fab finds! I am just crazy about these bird-shaped salt and pepper shakers from Pier One. So much so, I bought two sets - one for each end of the family table. And, noting my enthusiasm for the cheeky pairs, the sales clerk pointed out these darling bird-patterned side plates. How could I resist? It will be like summer all year long.

And of course, needing somewhere to put all these finds of mine, hubby and I also purchased a new sideboard. I have to admit, it is a knockout beside the teak table and adds extra storage for serving platters and teacups. My imaginary french country kitchen is woefully short of cupboards. (I'll have to dream some up!) And what fun we are having rearranging artwork and furniture to accommodate this newest piece! (well, I'm having fun - can't speak for hubby.) It is a perfect nest for my treasures.

Speaking of treasures, my mother passed along these china mugs to me this summer. China mugs are my one weakness and these ones belonged to my Great-Aunt Helen who passed away a few years ago. She was one of the truly great dames and taught me much about life, leisure and accessorizing. Along with these lovely china mugs, I possess several of her many costume brooches and a lifetime's worth of elegant fashion advice but that is for another blog!

Summer Holidays

Deeply enjoying my summer holidays with my hubby in the Comox Valley. Sun, sea, trees and an abundance of fresh food at our fingertips. Time with old friends, family and one another. Here are a few pictures and I will be back with my regular weekely blog in a few days.

Picnic spot at Kitty Coleman park

Our view

Fresh onions, destined for EVOO and the BBQ grill

The author at rest

Eat Play Snooze

Southwestern BC is in the midst of  a heat wave and I, for one, am enjoying sweltering it out in weather that reminds me of childhood summers. I come from the Kootenays where summers are hot, winters are snowy and spring and fall are seasons of their own. Even though I have lived most of my adult life at the West Coast, I have always found it a little unnatural to pack a  sweater around in summertime and to be chilly sitting outside on a midsummer night. So, I'm loving the heat and especially loving the summer lifestyle. The temperature in the Fraser Valley went up to a whopping 39 degrees on Sunday so we sought shelter under some big, leafy trees and enjoyed a breeze from the river and a potluck birthday picnic with friends. Here are some  summer scenes:

Time to eat: A big umbrella keeps the food shaded. A blanket buffet!

Potatoe Salad, BBQ chicken, hard-boiled eggs and pretty plates. Netting keeps the flies away.

Something to read...or perhaps nap.

My summer feet - dirty ones, just like the ones I had when I was a kid.

Some pretty summer feet - birthday girl and birthday presents.

Birthday cheesecake, hand made table(ground)cloth, summer roses in a jam jar.

This was a day of lingering contentment. Time spent with friends - talking, playing bocce, napping, reading newspapers and much good eating. Our theme: Eat, Play, Snooze.

Next month: an autumn picnic - featuring sweaters, campstoves and barnesgirl's percolated coffee!