Short and Sweet

If only this week had been filled solely of sparkles and sweets, I wouldn’t be nearly as exhausted.  Thankfully though, it was a good week, but I am in need of a weekend at home.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and allow for some leisurely walks and maybe even some time reading on the porch.  Either way, my feet will be up for quite a bit of it. Thank goodness simple doses of happiness can be so inexpensive.

Speaking of happiness, some say that happiness finds us when we are busy, not just mindlessly so, but instead, busy being involved in something our hearts aspire to attain.  In such cases, you’ll recognize it because the clock doesn’t exist, and your watch is worn simply for decoration.  Hopefully, if you have been toiling away, you’ve been working hard towards dreams that are becoming evermore a reality. If that is the case, I’m sure you’ve missed a few posts this week.  Here’s what you might have missed in case you would like to get lost in a bit more luxury:

Monday – Step Forward With Confidence

Tuesday – J’Adore Fireplaces Continued

Wednesday – Bring More Luxury To Work

Thursday – The Easiest Way to Pretty

Friday – Chocolate, Chocolate and more Chocolate

Saturday – Lazy Lavender Days

Here’s to the days getting longer and the blooms all the more plentiful! Enjoy.

Images: (1) - We Heart It (2) We Heart It

Luxurious Lavender

The colors that the much anticipated spring styles welcome into our closets are a helpful boost to one’s already brightening mood.  One color I have fallen in love with is lavender (two mentions of lavender have recently been mentioned in my blog – here and here as further evidence of this fact).  So for a bit of window shopping on today’s Saturday Style, I thought I’d display some lovely images of none other than . . . lavender. Enjoy!

And I’m off!  Nothing energizes me more than a day open for all sorts of possibilities to wander in.

I recently found Zac Posen’s gorgeous draped satin-jersey blouse on Net-A-Porter.  Click on the image or the link to window shop a little closer.  Who knows?  It might just be that essential spring item you’ve been looking for.

Allow lavender to be a bit more dramatic.

A classic utilitarian tote from Mulberry -  Bayswater Bag

The lavender in the Pacific Northwest is getting closer each and every day to blooming, and oh, how I can’t wait.  This particular image is absolutely surreal.

I recently learned of a Lavender Farm nearby – Blue Mountain Lavender Farm and am anxious to visit.  Not only do they have rows upon rows of lavender, but they have lavender bouquets, culinary lavender, dried lavender, sachets and recipes for bringing more lavender into your life than you would probably ever know what to do with. Once I do have a gander at their farm, I’ll be sure to share pictures.

Yes, I realize there is no apparent lavender in this photograph, but with all of that walking you’re embarking on while window shopping, your lovely toes deserve to look and feel special.  Why not pop on over to Net-A-Porter and pick up a quality pair of nude flats from Lanvin?  (patent leather ballerina flats)

Have a lovely Saturday whatever you might be doing. Tah Tah!

Images:  (1) The Urban Chic Blog (3) Little Pink Book (5) Cheeserland (6) Paris Hotel Boutique Journal

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?