busy, busy, busy

it's been a busy, bustling, rushing around couple of weeks and i've had little time to post. no matter how much i'd like it to, life does not slow down so i can catch up. {le sigh}. but i'm blessed and thankful to have family and work (the reasons i've been so busy) because i realize there are some of us out there with neither.

c'est tout!

bonne nuit

c'est tout!

laughter

if i couldn't laugh, i'd rather die. -- claudette colbert

c'est tout!

paris in your pocketbook

i love finding little doses of french inspiration in unexpected places, so i was especially taken with this business card/id holder. with images of la grand roue, a sweet little fleur de lis, and of course la tour eiffel, it's like having paris in your pocketbook.

 "everything paris" business card holder

c'est tout!

a simple lunch

when i moved to los angeles nearly ten years ago i managed to work close to some really good french restaurants--while i was at sony pictures entertainment in culver city i frequented cafe laurent and the now closed bistro de l'hermitage, and when i switched careers and moved into the fashion industry, i enjoyed the french garden in downtown l.a. now that i work from home i simply recreate some of my lunchtime favorites in my own kitchen, and since it's been such a crazy week, today was a simple jambon buerre.

it truly doesn't get much easier than the jambon buerre (it's the french's answer to the pbj). i just took half of a fresh baguette and cut it lengthwise, spread good butter on both sides, and topped it with ham. fancier versions might have a bit of dijon or a piece of gruyere, and i've even seen some sprinkled with fresh thyme. but i enjoy the simplicity and nonfussiness of ham, butter, and bread and the complete sandwich perfection they create together.

c'est tout!

bonne nuit

c'est tout!

pearls of wisdom

josephine baker

this morning was the first day back at community bible study so, feeling inspired by the lovely miss josephine baker, i threw on a long strand of pearls before dashing out the door for my weekly bible lesson.

 

c'est tout!

birthday wish(ful thinking) list

it's my birthday today, and while i'm light years past singing clowns and slumber parties, i thought it would be fun to make a birthday wish list like when i was a kid.

1. a nice, long soak in this tub. with the door ajar of course, so i can admire the impeccably styled dress form and dramatic light fixture.

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2. gâteau au chocolat. and since this is a "wish" list, i want it to be calorie/fat free, but still taste rich and luscious!

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3. balmain metallic leather skinny pants. since i was a little girl i've had an affinity for pretty, shiny things--nothing's changed. i love that these are so edgy, but the color keeps them girly.

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4. to have a dior chérie day. i want to eat lovely french pastries, have a gown fitting at dior, ride a bike through paris, and float away in a cloud of balloons.

c'est tout!

a funny thing happened in france

on last night's episode of curb your enthusiasm larry traveled to paris, not for the exquisite cuisine or museums, no, to get out of helping michael j. fox with a charity event for children. bienvenue à paris, larry david!

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c'est tout!

lavande

lavender fields in provence, france

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lavender macarons with honey dark chocolate ganache

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yves saint-laurent fall/winter 2011-12

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samsung lavender phone design

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lavender tea lemonade

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olive oil and sauternes cake with lavender icing

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chanel cruise 2011-12

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lavender thread

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christian louboutin lady daf platform pump

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lavender pony lashes

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c'est tout!

10 years later

we will never forget.

c'est tout!

bonne nuit

c'est tout!

lanvin, you know i want you

this lanvin fall/winter 2011-2012 ad campaign has been making me happy for weeks. i love how the luxury french fashion house chose music from such a raw, edgy artist like pitbull (even his name is gritty) and alber elbaz looks so adorably sweet i just want to squeeze him. plus, my 22-month old has seen it so much she's actually started to dance along with the models, which is really adorable!

c'est tout!

leopard by dior

christian dior knew how to do an animal print, didn't he?

c'est tout!

layer it on me

theodora & callum 'eye dazzler' scarf, michael stars supima long-sleeve v-neck, san diego plumage wool big brim fedora

the weather in l.a. is hardly autumn-like (the past few days in particular have been especially scorching) but i'm so ready to start layering. instead of pulling on chunky knits, fur collars, and dramatic wool capes like i'd like to, i'll stick with a lightweight, long-sleeved tee, printed scarf, and top it off with a fabulously wide-brimmed hat a la brigitte bardot*.

*and by the way, have you ever seen anyone look sexier all bundled up?

c'est tout!

bonne nuit

c'est tout!

score a l'occitane + maptote bag tonight

mercedes benz fashion week kicked off today and with it, vogue's fashion night out. if you're planning to hit the streets and shops this evening for all the fno festivities in new york, pop into a l'occitane boutique and score this tote when you spend $75 or more. the two-sided bag features a map of provence, france on one side, a map with every l'occitane store in nyc on the other.

c'est tout!

win chanel makeup

beauty mag allure is looking to give some lucky winner a ton of makeup from chanel's fall 2011 beauty collection (actually, they're handing out the entire collection!). the prize, worth over $500, includes eye shadows, lip colours, blush, and three of those coveted chanel nail colours (in peridot, quartz, and the newest shade, graphite).

you needn't have a special talent to enter, nor do you have to 'like' anything on facebook or tweet all your friends. simply fill out the online form, et voila--you're entered. bonne chance!

c'est tout!

marie, marie

marie-antoinette monogrammed brooch

the october issue of lucky magazine was brimming with french references (from the utter perfection of a body-skimming roland mouret frock to an entire page of bits inspired by actress catherine deneuve), but it was this brooch that caught my eye, perhaps because i adore sofia coppola's eye-candy-of-a-movie* based on the young french queen, or perhaps i'm more in love with the idea that this very symbol was scattered all over versailles in 1774. or maybe i just like it because at about $28, it's an affordable piece that ships directly from france and not some factory in jersey.

*a former co-worker compared watching the film to eating chocolates for two hours. an excellent description, i think.

c'est tout!

bonjour!

you know the term used to describe a guy who might be jealous of another man's, ahem, anatomy? starts with a 'p,' ends with an 's'? well, i suffer from something similar--paris envy! i'm jealous of all my friends who have been to paris. you see, i've never actually been to the city of lights, and when i tell people this i get the same response: "you've never been to paris?!" they can't believe i haven't gone, and quite frankly neither can i. i've talked about going with my hubby; i've talked about going by myself. i've talked and talked but still there is no stamp from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in my passport. i'm hoping that will change soon, but until then i will continue to obsess and adore the fashion, the food, the museums, the movies...in short, all things french. welcome to paris envy!

c'est tout!