Cups of Tea (3/28-4/3)

For those of you celebrating Easter, Happy Easter, and for those who are simply enjoying their Sunday – here’s to a beautiful day which is hopefully filled with leisure, pleasure and time.

This week’s favorites evoke two themes involving French wisdom and the beautiful bounty of that spring provides.  Enjoy picking and choosing your way through all of them. 

As promised, the winner of the delicious Brandini Bites, Barefoot Contessa’s Back to Basics cookbook and Rachel Zoe’s Style A to Zoe guide is Caitlin of Pour L’Amour de Fashion.  Congratulations!  And to everyone who entered, thank you for stopping by, and be assured, another giveaway will be coming up soon.

 

1. Everything Lavender

Slim Paley’s blog is one I thoroughly enjoy due to her honest voice and fantastic eye for beauty, and with lavender being my color of choice lately, I immediately was drawn to this post.  A collection of images that display lavender in their own way, as well as lovely photos of Spanish & French lavender from her very own garden. 

 

2. Delicious Spring Salad   

Mixing it up a bit when it comes to salad is something I am always trying to do, and when I came across Lauren of  Healthy Delicious’ beautiful Herb Salad with Lemon Poppy Vinaigrette and Warm Goat Cheese Croutons I knew I had to save the recipe.  Warm goat cheese croutons?  I’m sold!  Click on the heading above or the image below to get your hands on the recipe.

 

3. A Bit of Wisdom   

How do you approach the concept of aging?  Are you comfortable with leaving your twenties behind, or do you ache to relive them?  Marjorie of My Inner French Girl shares a thought provoking, beautifully written post, that shares the beauty of each added year to your life.  Please have a look.

 

4.  Sinfully Delicious

As soon as I came across Janelle’s recipe for her Tuscan Chocolate Cake on Talk of Tomatoes, I was craving chocolate.  Her recipe involves only a few ingredients, but is most certain to delight.  Click on the image below or the header above to pick up the recipe for yourself.  

 

5. Have A Voice 

Paloma of La Dolce Vita began the week by sharing a very frank quote by the timeless Miss Coco Chanel herself.  The photo she chose to accompany it speaks volumes by itself.  With that said, how are we ever to be heard if we never use the voice we are given?

Weekly Cups of Tea (2/28-3/6)

Oh, do I have a variety of favorites for you, my readers, this week!  I hope you enjoy.

 

1. Springtime in Paris

With March having just begun, I am itching to get out and dig in the dirt, pot my tomatoes (don’t worry, I’m not putting them outside just yet), and watch the colors of spring reveal themselves.  And what better way to welcome the buds of spring than by starting in Paris.  Sasha of Everything Fabulous  posted some absolutely beautiful photos of the City of Lights that I just had to include this week.  Click on the heading above or the photo below to be taken to even more gorgeous shots, along with a lasting thought to ponder.

2. Terrific Tiramisu

Janelle of Talk of Tomatoes posted a recipe I can’t wait to try for making tiramisu with just six ingredients. Now, if that doesn’t make you want to bustle into the kitchen and whip up a decadent dessert, than the photo below just might.  To find the recipe and read her commentary as to where she found it (hint – a Tuscan road trip), click on the photo below.  Bon Appétit!

 

3.  Enthusiasm, Courtesy of Julia Child 

Speaking of bon appétit, Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project focused on Julia Child’s enthusiasm and how it indeed helps one cultivate more happiness in their lives.  Click here to read exactly how enthusiasm is something we all should include in our day to day routines.   

 

4.  Where to Find Inspiration  

As someone who enjoys writing, I find myself being inspired by the oddest things.  It may be an image I see plastered on a billboard, or a bull lazily soaking his feet in a river, or more often than not, an article or book I’m reading that sparks my thoughts.  But sometimes, for no reason what’s so ever, I have a hard time finding inspiration.  However, after reading Zen Habits’ suggested list of ways and places to derive inspiration, I am no longer worried that I will ever be at a loss for finding inspiration.  Click here to read his list so that you too will forever be inspired.

5.  Be Inspired! 

To provide a bit more inspiration, Kate of The Neo-Traditionalist posted a quote I immediately found myself writing down in my idea journal.  Click on the link above to continually enjoy daily quotes, lovely finds and daily inspiration at her website.

Enjoy a beautiful Sunday!