à la parisienne

From Ladurée NYC with Love

2012-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

At what lengths would you go to show your family that you love them?

The other day I received a call from my cousin who was spending her last few hours in New York City before flying home. Mandy, she said, "Go check your email."

And when I opened my email, there were two new messages in my inbox.
One read "See, We Love You!"

The second, "We Love You"

There was no text in the emails--Text wasn't necessary...Just attached images:

Yes, my two favorite cousins (wink;) wink;) took time out of their short trip to NYC to stop by Ladurée to pick up a box of macarons for me!!!!!!!!

Even after several visits to Paris, I've never been to a Ladurée, and honestly, I had never really heard of Ladurée until I started blogging over three years ago.

In just a handful of days I will be visiting my cousin, now that she's back home, and I will get to see the coveted Ladurée macarons with my own eyes, and taste them for the first time. Fresh from the patisserie or not, makes no difference to me.

I'm also looking forward to having the sweet Ladurée box and bag. I know, I know. Silly, silly things make me happy, and my sweet cousins were kind enough to humor my strange request.

(And I know only my blog followers can understand my obsession with macarons and my adoration for the Ladurée style!)

Their willingness to do me this favor was such a wonderful display of love and kindness...and as it turns out, although I had full intentions of repaying them for the macarons, I was told "It's a gift. Don't worry about it."

Wow! Gratitude. That's what's in my heart.

(If they are reading this post, here's my direct message to them: "Thank you! I love you!!

Love, Your favorite, cousin;)"

_{image 4 via Habitually Chic; images 1,2,3 via cousins of}_{à la parisienn}_e

Nature Calling

2012-05-13T16:39:00.002-07:00

We have been enjoying a most splendid spring with lots of rain and cool weather, and I couldn't help but share a few artistic graphic designs that I've created that draw upon nature for inspiration and for, shall I say, a bit of humor.

I designed the Homestead Antique Flyer above--I styled it (alongside the owner,) photographed it, and created the final graphic design. These were made into postcards and sent out as advertisments for thier upcoming spring antique fair.

Two years ago I shot these last three photos for a nature-inspired line of postcards (back when I still sold items in my Etsy store). My neice and I had quite a bit of fun tweaking the text and overall graphic design of the cards. I actually spent quite a bit of time creating this line, but in the end, even after hours of work, I realized that while these cards reveal the quirky, nature-loving side of me, they did not fit my over all style, so they were just filed away into a folder on my computer. I'm sure we all have folders full of ideas that never made it past our personal computers.

Typewriter Tango-- Just a silly picture-- nothing spectaluar, but I can't help but imagine tango music while watching these two intertwining worms.

My very favorite postcard: Texting is 4 grubs:)

This postcard was my very favorite design as it gave me the chance to vicariously poke fun at technology via a curious, hungry caterpillar. (And I had to resist adding LMAO at the end of the phrase...)

I could go on and on about how texting gets on my nerves, but I guess I'll save that for another post, another day.

I hope spring has also been treating you well.

I'm off to finish preparing for Amelia's 4th birthday party...

I'll be back soon!

_{images by à la parisienne}

My Spin on Homespun Style...{The Guest Bath}

2012-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

There are many titles I could have given this blog post: Decorating with Color, Cheerfully Charming, or Artist's Loft. For many years, I've been working toward creating a look that I call Artist's Loft in Amelia's room, which consists of these principle things:

an open airy room-- preferably with white walls/floors (I may have to wait on that one), floods of natural light, oil paintings--preferably florals, artist's supplies on display, vintage furniture & finds, a few industrial touches and quirky handmade items.

{See my Artist's Loft blog posts and Artist's Loft pinboard on Pinterest for more visual inspiration.}

I recently purchased the book, Homespun Style, by stylist Selina Lake, which helped me to better understand the look I'm trying to achieve.

I was so inspired by the colorful and charming homes in Homespun Style that I decided to try my hand at homespun style in Amelia's (our guest) bathroom.

_{inspiration board for guest bath}

First, I needed an inspiration piece--and a color palette, so I chose this original watercolor painting that was hanging in an obsure place in Amelia's room. I immediately knew that this painting would work wonders in the light gray and white bathroom---gray, violet, yellow---a beautiful mix.

(This painting is hanging in the room but is not visible from this angle. I will share it in a future post.)

_{a charming vintage white sheet with yellow roses serves as a shower curtain and adds softness and charm to the room. A line of vintage black and white dominos tucked between the window and the bead board offer playful, unexpected interest}

To offer more color to the room, I needed a new shower curtain, and then I remembered that I had a vintage flat sheet that was sweet grandmother's, handed down to my mom, and then given to me. I love it's cheerfulness and the sentimentality it adds.

Here are a few detail-oriented close ups:

_{vintage book titled The Language of Flowers--a sweet addition to the room}

For this "photoshoot" I purchased a handful of simple Fuschia chrysanthemums for $4.00, which was not my flower of choice, definitely not appropriate for the season, but fit the color scheme well.

Unfortunately, all of my flowering plants are between blooming stages and I don't live near a flower market...

_{vintage millinery violets tucked into a handmade cone made by my Felicia, my sister-in-law}

I love the shades of purple in this bundle of vintage millinery violets, and, of course, I like how it is reminiscent of vintage fashion.

_{lavender hand cream resting on a vintage alluminum soap container}

While scavenging our home for shades of purple and yellow, I found this tube of lavender handcream--beautiful and funcitional.

_{view of bathroom upon entry-Notice the three sunny paper lanterns hanging in the window}

Since the guest bath is small, it is basically impossible to share with you its design without including the commode in the frame...I know, probably a major faux pas in the blog world and in photographing home décor...

Three years ago, my sweet husband repainted this bathroom for me (It was a shade of pale blue---My tastes had changed and I wanted something neutral to work with.)

And for three years, I've struggled with this room. I've tried a Marie Antoinette look, a simple gray, black, white, and pale pink look...all of them just never came together.

Finally, I like the way this room looks, and I like how it welcomes both adults and children.

The best thing about this decorating redo is that it only cost me $4.00 (for the fresh flowers).

Everything in this room was already in my possession, and many of the decorative items had been tucked away in a closet or cabinet.

This room is by no means complete. This is not one of those after shots; it's really just the beginning.

Here is the same image with a few design notations of things I still would like to add.

_{My design concept "to do" list}

This is just one view of our "homespun" guest bathroom.

There's still the sink, the mirror, the main wall, the shower, and the door....

As soon as I complete more of the design, I will be sure to share.

_{2nd image via SelinaLake; all other images by à la parisienne}

_{I am in no way affiliated with the book Homespun Style; I just wish to share how the book has inspired me.}

Just Add Pink...(or better yet, Magenta)

2012-05-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I am constantly trying to revitalize my wardrobe. At times, I get tired of the of the clothes I see hanging in my closet, but then I'll have an "ah-ha!" moment where I create a fresh look by just fashioning new combinations. That's what I did yesterday morning with this simple gray dress.

I added a bold, feminine magenta scarf and belt.

That's why I keep accessories in all colors on hand (and rarely get rid of any of them)

and that's why I have my accessories color coordinated.

(And, no, I am not one of those hyper organized people--trust me:)

If I grab a pink belt, there's also a handful of pink accessories right beside it for possible pairings.

*The simple gray dress is from Ann Taylor Loft--one of my favorite clothing chains.

*The vintage magenta belt came from my Granny's closet. She let me sift through her vintage accessory stash a few years ago, and this magenta belt was one of my prizes. Most likely she bought it at Goodwill. My Granny and Goodwill are the best of friends.

*The vintage magenta and gray scarf is a flea market find, which cost me 25 cents.

Nothing expensive. No major brand names. Just a couple of colorful accessories. But I like the way the outfit came together, and it made me feel pretty. (That's is the point isn't it??)

That's just how pink makes me feel.

_{image by à la parisienne}

Our New Babies

2012-04-18T09:14:00.008-07:00

This morning I took a little trip to the local feedstore to pick up the newest members of our family~~four baby chicks.

For a little over a year we've been talking about getting hens so that we can have fresh eggs. We decided to wait until this spring to take the plunge, and here we are!

_{Our four little chicks: one Rhode Isand Red; one Buff Orpington; and two Ameraucanas}

In preparation, I've been reading several books about raising chicks, and I must admit all of the information put me in overload and made me feel overwhelmed and anxious!

The only pets I've ever raised were cats, and I've only had a handful of experiences with chickens. Luckily, I have some friends and family members who have been raising chickens for years, and they reassured me that books always make thing seem more complicated.

_{Buff Orpington - over a week old, with sweet pale yellow feathers}

I have also visited the feedstore on several occasions to buy supplies, and I'm pretty sure that I looked like an idiot in there. Definitely out of my element! But the owners were so gracious and helpful. That's the nice thing about living in a small Texas town-friendly customer service.

_{Ameraucana chick- a few days old}

We still haven't decided on any names yet, but I'm sure as their personalities emerge, it won't take long. Within 10 minutes of meeting the chicks, Amelia already suggested naming them

"Spotty, Wotty, and Totty" but that was after I discouraged the idea of naming them

"Amelia, Daddy, Mommy, and Zena."

Kids are so funny.

_{Ameraucana - a few days old}

I know it's probably really bad to have a favorite chick since I am technically their momma now, but I just love this little Ameraucana chick (picture above). She looks like she's wearing eyeliner- such a little beauty! And look at those patterns on her fluff!

_{Rhode Island Red - over a week old}

Two of the chicks are over a week old, and the other two chicks are just a few days old and actually arrived to the feedstore just this morning from the post office! That alone amazes me-little chicks in a little Priority Mail box.

_{Amelia gently welcomes new chicks}

Soon, I hope to show you the completed poulaillier {hen house} that Mr. à la parisienne has meticulously created~~~

In the meantime, Amelia and I will be paying the little misses frequent visits, gently stroking there soft down, singing them little songs, watching them peck and scratch around, and listening to them cheep cheep cheep in chorus.

_{images by à la parisienne}

{Happy Easter}...and My Mom's Handiwork

2012-04-08T17:05:00.003-07:00

Easter is always a special day in our family since we celebrate not only the love Jesus displayed on the cross for all of humanity, but also His resurrection.

It gives us such a peace in our hearts to know that the One we serve lives in heaven and reigns over the earth!!! And because of this joy, we are able to appreciate all of God's blessings.

One blessing in my life is my sweet mother and her amazing talent for sewing.

This Easter, Amelia and I were dressed with my mother's beautiful handiwork.

_{vintage-inspired black dress made by my mom}

For my birthday this year, all I requested from my mom was a handmade vintage-inspired dress.

I selected the pattern/style and she found the fabric and whipped up this beautiful black frock.

Today, I wore an antiqued gold belt and gold earrings with the black dress, and

I look forward to finding some colorful coordinating vintage belts/accessories to wear with this dress this summer.

Amelia's dress is out of this world gorgeous!

It is made from a beautiful taupe fabric, that my mother had stored away in a stash of fabric, and embellished with a delicate lace around the waist and a large bow on the back. I requested that Amelia's dress also have a bubble skirted hem like her birthday dress last year.
My mom made an extra lace bow for me to put on a headband which helped to complete the outfit.
For the Easter basket, I found a vintage basket for $2.00 and spray painted it ivory and added a dark taupe satin ribbon.

_{candid shot of sheer excitement!}

The day was overcast but absolutely beautiful! At church, we sang the traditional song "Christ Arose!, " ate a delicious lunch, and enjoyed watching all of the kids hunt Easter eggs in a lush green pasture... The Lord is so good.

Joyeuses Pâques!!!

_{images by à la parisienne}

My Newest Venture: My Fashion Column in PFM & a GIVEAWAY

2012-04-04T13:03:00.017-07:00

So I've had a few surreal moments over the last few months participating in a few things that I would have never imagined possible.

Picture a stay at home mom heading out to do a photoshoot for the cover of a magazine!

Or imagine a stay at home mom assembling an entire fashion column from start to finish with no prior experience and no budget- just armed with a vision, a camera, a model, a photo editing program, and a connection to the Internet.

It's been an interesting few months since, Angela, Parisienne Farmgirl, contacted me and asked me to write for one of her fashion columns in Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine!

_{a sneak peak of my fashion column in the premier issue of Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine- styling, text, and layout by à la parisienne}

As many of you know, I love color. I love mixing colors and creating beautiful combinations. So this task was definitely enjoyable. But imagine a newbie like me trying to funnel the world of color down into one fashion column...very daunting. But also very rewarding as I was able to feature a handful of very talented Etsy artists.

It also took a leap of faith when I made my color selections in the dead of winter for a spring/summer fashion column. How can one be certain about a color trend 6 months down the line? So my premise was to revolve two colors around a summer basic---white.

And, to me, summer whites look amazing with cobalt blue and with a zingy yellow, and one of these two colors is bound to look beautiful on any woman, any age.

This gorgeous girl was my model, and isn't she perfect? She has that type of beauty that can be city chic and country charming all in the same moment.

I took this extra shot during our fashion shoot for a play on color. It didn't make the cut in my fashion spread, but I just love the way the orange and cobalt blue complement each other.

_{Premier Issue Cover of Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine- photography by à la parisienne}

I was elated that Parisienne Farmgirl handed the honor of the cover shoot to me. Angela sent me a simple concept sketch (and that fun fluffy can-can skirt) that she and her mother, Savvy City Farmer, had envisioned, and I scouted a location and shot the photos---super fun! You should have seen me crawling around in that grass-not very parisienne-like, but it got the job done!

I used the same beautiful model in the cover shoot, and she actually brought the pair of boots and the pink scarf, which added the perfect touch of farmgirl and parisienne to the frame.

~~~~~~~

Many of you have followed my "artistic" journey for years via my blog and some of you have just recently joined me, and I want to thank you for all of your encouraging words. Like most people, a little bit of encouragment pushes me a long way. Without your applause along the way, I know for certain, I would have chickened out on this opportunity. I would have felt very inadequate and anxious about doing so many new things at one time!

But here we are; the first online issue has already been published and I have flipped the magazine and through my column many times...in disbelief!

Which leads me to say, thank you Angela for these amazing opportunities! And the magazine is gorgeous!

I would love for all of you to see my fashion column, Everywear Chic, in PFM, and if you are a subscriber to the online magazine, I would love to hear your feedback.

GIVEAWAY

For those of you who haven't subscribed yet, Parisienne Farmgirl has allowed me to offer a giveaway for a one year subscription to Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine.

To enter, simply leave a comment below.

To increase your chances at winning, post this giveaway to your Facebook or share it on your blog. Leave a separate comment for each entry.

The giveaway will close on Wednesday, April 11th at midnight CST.

And the winner will be selected randomly and will be announced on Thursday, April 12th.

Merci!

_{images #1 & #3 property of PFM; image #2 by à la parisienne}

Parapluies au Potager {Umbrellas in the Garden}

2012-03-31T07:08:00.004-07:00

Just thought I'd share an idea on how to add a little panache to your potager.

Add umbrellas!

I added these umbrellas to my garden to provide a little bit of shelter for my transplated seedlings (the ones I started indoors but was too impatient to harden up little by little.)

I simply poked the umbrella handle down into the soil right above the seedlings that needed protection. (Since I have raised beds, the soil is soft enough to easily adjust the height of the umbrellas.) These green bean seedlings were actually sown straight into the raised bed and don't need any help from the umbrella, but I wanted to give you a visual.

A view of my potager from the outside: happy, vintage parapluies gracing the garden

Lavender basking under the canopy of a vintage peach umbrella---the life!!!

Now I'm searching for a beautiful sunbrella to put in the potager. I would love to have a beautiful sunbrella made from vintage white linens with touches of lace. I have the frame, so all I need is the fabric covering. If you know where I can find something like this or someone who specializes in making beautiful sunbrellas, please share. Wouldn't that be such a romantic touch to a garden? Sitting under it, sipping coffee, reading a book, working a puzzle (mosty likely a child's puzzle), dining alfresco...

_{images by à la parisienne}

Lilac, Violet, & Lavender~ Un peu d'inspiration

2012-03-27T12:26:00.008-07:00

Upon the beginning of every new season, I spend a little bit of time switching the closet around-moving out-of-season clothing to the back (or to another closet) and bringing the current season to the forefront.

I also force myself to do a little purging and a bit of reorganizing as well.

In the process, I always notice a trend in my color palette for each season, and for spring, one of my color mainstays is gray and shades of purples-

pale lilacs, orchids, and touches of lavender.

Perhaps I lean toward purples since they compliment my hair and eye color...

or perhaps it's because I just like cool colors.

Either way, I felt inclined to share my purples with you.

I also felt inspired to play a bit with Polyvore again.

I have an affinity for floral prints, and a floral scarf is a beautiful way to incorporate florals into an outfit without the design becoming dated or overpowering.

I revolved this entire ensemble around this lavender, orchid and gray floral scarf.

So, here's a bit of casual and dressy spring fashion inspiration for you. I, personally, would wear a pair of metallic gray pointed flats with the white tee and jeans and the gray dress, but I couldn't find a good pair that I liked on Polyvore.

I figured everyone has a simple white tee and a favorite pair of jeans, so use this board as a starting point.

If purples aren't your passion, what colors do you gravitate toward during the spring season??

Violets, Lilac, and Dove Gray by alaparisienne featuring leather shoes

_{images #1 & #2 by à la parisienne; image #3 created by à la parisienne on Polyvore}

Le Romantisme du Printemps

2012-03-23T14:53:00.013-07:00

Alors, le printemps est officiellement arrivé {So, spring has officially arrived} and we have been busy working on spring projects- le potager {kitchen garden} and a new venture-(Hopefully, I can share the details soon!)

And we have been enjoying spring happenings- parades, carnivals, fun homeschool activities, cycling, and garden club meetings. Springtime is such a joyful time of year for my family, and I wish it would last all year long!

This year I decided to start all of my seedlings indoors and had the discipline to plant them mid-January. The results have been totally worth it since I have many beautiful plants to start adding to the garden.

I was so "ambitious" that I even started a few green bean seedlings indoors. My dad, a much more experienced gardener, explained to me, after the fact, that people generally don't start green beans indoors since they grow so rapidly...

Ahem...Okay, lesson learned.

I have green beans growing in ma salle de bains {bathroom}...sérieusement.

So, this weekend, there will be many tasks for the potager, including planting my green beans outside.

Caring for a garden has been the most soul-gratifying hobby I've ever experienced.

Stresses completely vanish while working in the garden and my family is rewarded with healthy food to eat, which I count such a privilege.

_{canteloupe leaves trailing down in front of a gold mirror-great juxstaposition of nature and glamour.}

_{And, yes, I planted Charentais canteloupe seeds indoors, too... I had the space and the seeds and I figured pourquoi pas??}

I hope you all are enjoying your spring and all of its special moments.

Bon week-end!

I'm off to go dig in the dirt!
_{images via à la parisienne}

Any Hour May Hold a New Adventure

2012-03-08T07:45:00.003-08:00

I just needed something beautiful to look at, so I sifted through some older photographs and found this image that I took several months back of an upcycled alarm clock turned picture frame.

It's funny how we make plans and prepare ourselves for things not knowing our path ahead.

This was one of the last creations I offered in my Etsy shop when it was open.

I remember scouring flea markets and yard sales for old alarm clocks, hoping to create more of these...I have a couple put away in storage, never used, just sitting there...

I never really "planned" to put my Etsy on permanent vacation...

I never imagined that my drive for selling handmade flowers and upcycled vintage accessories would literally disappear overnight, but it did.

I just felt the desire to have less stress even if it meant no income, less spending money. I didn't care. I just wanted to be able to spend more time with my husband in the evenings rather than sitting under the lamp at my desk in our room cutting flower petals-oh how those flowers seemed to take forever to make!

I wanted to start homeschooling Amelia, and I knew that it would be hard to juggle both.

From time to time, I've felt inspired to talk with you about being an entrepreneur and the ebb and flow that's tied to running your own business:

The times of high enthusiasm and energy and the times of rest and lack of motivation.

Right now, I'm in between - graphic designing here and there, participating in something new and exciting, trying to "reinvent" myself. Nothing that consuming but somewhat important to me.

Who knows what lies ahead- My Etsy on an extended vacation, little jobs here and there, a new endeavor??? Je ne sais pas.

Either way, I'm happy.

_{image by à la parisienne}

When a Person Misuses Your Blog Content...

2012-03-05T11:58:00.010-08:00

I was wondering where all of these people were coming from on my stat counter today...

Now I know thanks to a nice woman who just emailed me and informed me.

Some person out there with a blog called People I Want to Punch in the Throat (the name should say it all---classy) decided to degrade Amelia's sweet 1st Marie Antoinette birthday party on her blog...

Take a look and see for yourself!

She obviously doesn't know anything about me, and is too ignorant to read my blog before she decides to share my content and image (which was removed upon my request, thankfully), mind you, with the rest of the world!!!

I'm not sure how she found me...Probably some random search on Pinterest to fill her post with content.

Any thoughts???

mon alphabet français: Lettre A

2012-03-02T11:14:00.002-08:00

For a couple of years, I've been wanting to design artistic, French educational "cards" or images to share with my blog followers.
And as all creative projects go with me, it's taken two years for me to bring this vision to fruition!

_{Apricot = l'abricot}
_{l'abricot is a masculine noun in French, thus, the (m) on the card.}

So, I will be starting a new series called : mon alphabet français, where I hope to have a little fun styling, photographing, graphic designing, playing with the French language, and hopefully fashioning beautiful artful pictorals of the French language.

J'aime vraiment les abricots et ma confiture préférée est confiture d'abricot!

{I really like apricots and my favorite jam is apricot jam!}

Quand je pense aux abricots, je pense à ma tante Carol.

{When I think of apricots, I think of my Aunt Carol.}

Il y a quelques années, elle m'a donné un pot de confiture d'abricots faite maison.

{A few years ago, she gave me a jar of homemade apricot jam.}

Ce pot là, était son dernier pot de confiture d'abricots. Et son abricotier avait mort.

{That jar of apricot jam was her last jar, and her apricot tree had died.}

C'etait un cadeau très precieux.

{It was a very precious gift.}

_{Une questionne pour mes francophones: In the sentence, Ce pot là, était son dernier pot de confiture d'abricots. I wanted to say "That jar of apricot jam was her very last jar" for emphasis. Any suggestions on how to add that emphasis?}

Aimez-vous les abricots?

{Do you like apricots?}

(You can respond in English, bien sûr!)

_{images by à la parisienne}

Winner and Another GIVEAWAY!

2012-02-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

I have the winner of Romantique giveaway, but first I want to do something a little different.

I am offering you another chance to win! (It's always disappointing to find out that you didn't win a giveaway-isn't it?) So I decided to offer a little something to the first five people who comment on this post- a free digital file of this menu (without the watermark), which can be printed from home as many times as you wish.

The only requirement for the first five to comment is that you entered the original contest.

And now for the winner of the romantique giveaway....

#30

Corrina!!!

Féliciations, Corrina!

A HUGE thank you to all who entered the giveaway and to all who shared my giveaway on Facebook and Pinterest!!!

I will be back soon to share a little creative project I've just begun.

Bonne journée!

Romantique GIVEAWAY

2012-02-20T07:36:00.001-08:00

It's time for another romantic give away, and I drew inspiration from my fête à la Ladurée as I selected the goodies that one lucky winner will win!

For almost two years now, I have been selling some romantic fine art photographs in The Paris Apartment online boutique, and I am currently in the process of creating a new line of delicious photographs.

In this giveaway, one winner will receive the above three romantic 8X8 inch photographs.

{Great for decorating your home, studio, or little girl's room}

_{Parisienne Correspondance cards made by me, inspired by the Ladurée pistachio color palette}

The winner will also receive one set of the above 5X5 cards/envelopes in a beautiful color palette of pistachio and blush.

Of course, I had to include a copy of the Romantic Homes magazine, where la fête is featured.

The winner will also get to choose between these two French-inspired menus that I created (I will send as a digital file). The menu may be customized by adding text within the frame or by handwriting the menu items.
_{French-inspired menu/invitation designs by à la parisienne}

And I have to share with the lucky winner our (Felicia, Holly, and me) favorite loose tea~Jasmine Pearl, which was served at our fete à la Ladurée. This white tea is super special and quite expensive ($143.00/lb to be exact). The lucky winner will receive a few scoops of this exquisite tea.

And as I suggested in my article, one must have French musique playing in the background while sipping tea and eating macarons, so I am also including a Carla Bruni CD. (Winner may select the album.)

In sum, here are the romantique prizes:

* Three 8X8 fine art photographs by à la parisienne {Romantique rose set}

* One set of three à la parisienne cards in pistachio and blush

* One digital file of a French-inspired menu

* Two scoops of loose Jasmine Pearl tea

* The March 2012 issue of Romantic Homes

* Carla Bruni album

Each participant may enter her name into the drawing up to four times

{Leave a comment for each entry:}

* Simply leave a comment

*Become a follower or tell me that you are already are a follower.

* Mention this giveaway on your Facebook with a link back.

* Pin any image in this post to your Pinterest with a brief description of this give away.

This give away is open to all readers (including international readers).

This give away will close on Sunday, February 26th at midnight, and the winner will be announced on Monday, Feb. 27th.

Bonne chance!!!

This giveaway is now closed!

_{all images 1,2, 4, & 5by à la parisienne;}

_{image #3 via Google; image #6 via Amazon.com}

A Sweet Valentine

2012-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Before I share my handmade Valentine's gift with you, I want to thank you all for stopping by and taking the time to congratulate me on my Romantic Homes feature. When friends rejoice along side me, it makes the experience that much more special!

As a self-proclaimed romantic, Valentine's Day and all of the romantic things associated with Valentines (the flowers, the colors, the pretty papers) is a holiday that thoroughly inspires me.

This year I wanted to make something extra special for my little sweetheart- something delicate, something feminine, something of heirloom quality, so I decided to make Amelia a little satin heart pillow.

And as a non-traditional romantic, I decided to create this heart pillow from a vintage powdery aqua satin, which is a gorgeous piece of upcycled satin lining from the inside of a vintage winter coat.

Then I created a tulle/lace pocket and made it drape diagonally across the front for tucking in special momentos. {Amelia will enjoy this, I know.}

_{handmade Valentine card design was cut using a Cricut (a sweet friend has loaned it to me for a while.)}

I used Anna Griffin's romantic scrapbook paper, and my new favorite Martha Stewart glitter to fashion this sweet little Valentine card.

_{I purposefully centered this heart pillow along the center seam of the satin coat lining to offer interest}

I wanted to add some vintage romance to this Valentine's pillow, so I tucked in a tiny bouquet of vintage millinery. I like to call this shade of blue Austrian blue-it reminds me of Marie Antoinette, and it's velvet- I love it.

Before I give this pillow to Amelia, I plan to find one more special treat to slip into this pocket. Perhaps a piece of dark chocolate or perhaps a pair of vintage children's clip on earrings or a small sheet of pretty stickers...Either way, it won't be long before she tucks her own special momentos into this pocket ~~an old receipt, a tiny doll, or her favorite deer figurine that fits in the palm of her hand...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

May yours be full of joy and love!

_{images by à la parisienne}

My First Magazine Feature!!!

2012-02-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Bonnes nouvelles {Good news} for me to share: My Ladurée-inspired party that I shared with you in October is featured Romantic Homes magazine!!!

For over ten years, I have been a faithful reader/subscriber of Romantic Homes, and I can vividly remember delighting in reading these magazines after long, chaotic days at work, relishing in my few moments of creative daydreaming. I've cherished these magazines over the years and have stacks and stacks of back issues, especially the French issues.

As a young newlywed savoring every article, I would have never dreamed of seeing my own photographs and words spelled out and displayed across those glossy pages....

Such a happy accomplishment and honor!

My feature is titled "Fête à la Ladurée" (starting on page 54 of the March 2012 French issue of Romantic Homes (on newstands now).

_{Click here to read my Ladurée-inspired party blog posts.}

For those of you who encouraged me in this endeavor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart~ You know who you are!

And for all of you who have been following my blog, your faithful visits and comments have encouraged me to share my creativity, and thus led me to this wonderful opportunity!

_{image #1 via Google, image #2 à la parisienne}

Spring 2012 Haute Couture~What is Your Color?

2012-01-27T09:55:00.001-08:00

Spring, my favorite month, holds many soft color possibilities.

From sea mist green to tender peach to aquamarine, these dreamy colors make me ready for lighter fabrics-chiffons, laces, and silks.

Elie Saab's glorious pieces remind me of the Greek mythological sirens.

Chanel Spring Haute Couture even had a few soft, beautiful ice blue dresses.

I love this neckline, the pleats and the hemline.

Another beautiful Chanel dress- a dusky pale teal that reminds me of Marie Antoinette.

_{classic Dior neckline}

And I can't forget to add a sampling of Dior.

I'm seriously thinking of asking my mom to make me a dress like this!

and a beautiful bodice envelopped in classic, Dioresque black swiss dots.

Spring 2012 haute couture offers so many inspiring details and colors; it makes me want to work on some flowers once again (It's been months since I've created flowers for my Etsy store since I've had my shop on an extended vacation.)

What colors do you tend to gravitate toward in the Spring? For me, it's usually shades of pink and champagne, but I think this Spring, I'll try a little bit of peach...

_{images 1-3 via This is Glamorous; images 4-7 via Elle.com}

100 Pretty Pennies: Chandelier

2012-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

When buying things for your home, wardrobe, or for a celebration, how many of you pride yourselves in getting a good deal?

For me, I get a thrill out of finding something really beautiful or very practical when the price is cheap.

My purchasing mantra is: the closer to free the better.

I am not embarrassed or ashamed to shop at yard sales, Goodwill, resale shops, or flea markets...not at all! In fact, some of the best elements used in decorating our home or Amelia's birthday parties have come from these places.

And if you happen to see my car parked on the side of the road with me lugging something from the trash to my trunk, give me a honk and a wave. I will not be ashamed. And I hope you're not in a hurry because I will most likely call you over to show off my new, free treasure!

You may be thinking, that's not very sophisticated or parisienne or you may be thinking that's just what poor people say. Poor or rich, I'm of the opinion that whatever amount of money God gives to my family needs to be spent responsibly and keenly. (Besides, making a habit of shopping frugally makes it possible to splurge occasionally on those really high quality items (a nice winter coat, good parfum, etc.) that are so parisienne and worth the investment.)

So, in an effort to inspire all of you that a beautiful home, outfit, or celebration doesn't have to break the bank or go onto that devilish credit card, I am starting a new series on my blog:

100 Pretty Pennies: From Pennies to Panache with a Clever Eye and Thrifty Pocket.

So onto my first pretty penny item in our home: the chandelier in our masterbath.

_{vintage tole chandelier in shades of celery, white, pale aqua and pale yellow}

The story behind this find:

I am probably the only college student you have ever heard of that had a booth in an antique mall-who spent her Saturday mornings visiting yardsales scavenging for goodies to resell.

I scored this unexpected treasure from a yardsale in our college town with the intention of selling it in our booth (I shared a booth with my college roommate and best friend, Lauren). The selfish side of me decided to keep it for myself, so I stored it away, neglected it, forgot about it. Years later, after I had graduated college, married, and renovated our masterbath, my husband dug it out of the shop and brought it into the house.

My jaw dropped at how perfect it was for our bathroom, and I just had to laugh.

I had completely forgotten about it, and it matched our bathroom perfectly! I'd love to say that I had been clever enough to design our bathroom around this chandelier, but I wasn't; it was a total accident, and really I must give credit to my husband for rediscovering it!

So, how much did I pay for this pretty vintage Italian tole chandelier???

200 pretty pennies~~~~~~~~~$2.00!!!

_{Worth about $300.00!!!}

Definitely worth the Saturday morning hunt!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Ma salle de bain...Les autres coins...{the other corners}

2012-01-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have chosen to follow along during my corner-to-corner decorating journey, here are the other romantique corners of our salle de bain. Click here to see the previous post of ma salle de bain.
Recognize the white flower arrangement in the vintage white soup tureen??? That was the centerpiece I created for my sister-in-law's surprise party inspired by Ladurée.
A couple weeks ago, I moved this arrangement from the garden tub ledge to the vanity. Now, it seems as if the vanity and the flower arrangement have finally met their perfect match.

_{a vintage dresser converted to a sink & vanity}
Some of you may remember my post about this vanity that my husband and father and law created for this bathroom. Click here to see more.

I think that I've decided that no matter the design scheme I choose for this bathroom (from season to season), the elements on top of the vanity should remain in an all white palette~very serene and clean.

_{tall bathroom cabinet built by my husband. Click here to read more.}

The elements above this cabinet need a major overhaul.
It wasn't until I photographed this picture that I realized the large DREAM garland is not even centered! I'm also a little embarrassed to admit that this garland was the first thing I hung up in our bathroom upon the completion of the renovation...eight years ago and I haven't moved it since! It's about time for a change.
I've also decided that the décor above this tall cabinet will be on a revolving door; I will change them from season to season.

There's something about these three vintage silver hand mirrors that I love. Perhaps it is the romantic in me; I can't help it.
I also love the sweet little vintage hat adorning the center mirror.

_{view behind door}
Behind the door that opens to the bathroom is a simple, long vintage mirror and a brushed nickle hanger for hanging towels (one of the only store bought items in our bathroom). My sister-in-law bought this sweet vintage dress for Amelia when Amelia was 1.5 years old, and it is just too sweet to put away, so I have it on display.
This space may be a good place to change out vintage dresses (girls or womens) for coordinating with design changes.

And while visiting ma salle de bain, you mustn't forget to look up!
A white pressed tin ceiling spans the entire bathroom ceiling~the most beautiful thing to stare at during a hot soak in the garden tub.

And for the chandelier...that is for the next post!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Corner to Corner: Ma salle de bain

2012-01-12T14:50:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm finally back to blogging now that everything has finally settled down around here!

I don't know about you, but when the new year starts, I always have so many new ideas and plans swirling in my mind that I run in place for a few weeks before I actually move forward (cue blurred feet in motion and cartoon music).

This year, I have so many new goals and new creative ideas, and I would like to accomplish all of them and, of course, share them with you!

One of my goals this year is to focus more on completing each room from corner to corner (making every room wholly functional and adding those finishing touches).
When I was teaching full time, almost four years ago, my favorite past time was to spend the weekends decorating and making new vignettes throughout the house. Somewhere along the way, like every hobby's ebb and flow, my passion for primping our home was replaced with blogging and making handmade items for my Etsy shop. Now I plan to put more of my creative energy into feathering our nest.

By sharing "my progress" with you, I hope that I adhere to this goal.

_{view of master bath from our bedroom}

So, I will begin my decorating journey with our master bath~my absolute favorite room in our home. Here is one corner of our salle de bain.

a romantic gilded mirror in front of the large garden tub~

a garden-style urn filled with soft whites - tulle, sand dollars, and a handmade box by Fanciful.

a very special angel that makes me *smile* every time I see it~

a wide shelf that spans the width of the garden tub bolstered by two ornate, antique black metal brackets~

I have yet to find the perfect items to place upon this shelf. Usually the groupings look cluttered or incohesive. After I removed all of the items from the shelf for the photoshoot, Zena seized the opportunity to nap there where the sun shines in...

_{So far, she is the best adornment~precious and oh so charming~and she definitely promotes relaxation!}

_{Up next:}

_{~les autres coins de notre salle de bain {the other corners of our masterbath};}

_{~a few design mood boards for our salle de bain that will help promote more cohesion from element to element.}

_{images by à la parisienne}

A Year of New Beginnings: Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine

2012-01-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

It is always exciting to embark on a new year; there are so many possibilities: new endeavors, new friendships, and new accomplishments.

And I am so excited for my dear blog friend, Angela Read, aka Parisienne Farmgirl as she is commencing a new endeavor- Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine!

Her video announcement below describes all of the exciting details about her new quarterly online magazine, and I must say she is quite charming and her French accent is beautiful!

As an editor who is a talented gardener, cook, photographer, and decorator, Angela will surely culitivate Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine into a feast for the eyes brimming with inspirational articles and projects.

_{one of my favorite pictures of Angela's home (I just love those mirrors and the symmetry of the design!)}

Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine is sure to inspire women who love both Paris and a simplified life.

To be sure you do not miss out on the first issue (April 1, 2012) click here to subscribe.

In celebration of this new adventure, Angela is offering a very generous and awesome giveaway with over $200 worth of goodies. Click here to enter and to congratulate her.

Féliciations, Angela!

We are all so excited for you and I know that your magazine will be superbe!!!

...And I anxiously await the inaugural issue!!

_{video and images via Parisienne Farmgirl}

Giftwrap à la Restoration Hardware

2011-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

My Christmas giftwrapping theme this year was not planned; it just happened.

In a rush to wrap up a Chinese Christmas gift using recycled magazine pages, I stumbled upon my Restoration Hardware catalogue, and my creative gears began to roar out of control!!

Restoration Hardware combines a unique blend of styles: steampunk, scientist, and European farmhouse, and a unique blend of materials-burlap, linen, metals, and leather, and for those reasons, its style extremely alluring for both women and men.

That being said, using the pages from our gorgeous Restoration Hardware catalogue made it very easy to wrap each gift according to the taste of each recipient.

The gift above is wrapped in a muted gold paper, embellished with a Restoration Hardware cataloge page, slate gray satin ribbon, an antiqued bronze drapery ring and a swatch of tan linen fabric (to be used as a gift tag.)

This Restoration Hardware kitchen scene was the perfect page to use for my sister-in-law, Renée, who is the foodie in our family.

Her gift is wrapped in glossy white paper and embellished with a wide strip of burlap that is wrapped around the width of the box.

I used small brads to tack the burlap to the underside of the box. Those scrapbooking supplies always save the day when I need them!

I also wrapped the width of her gift with a thin silver wire, which helped to secure the antique fork to the top of her package. Notice that on the top of her gift, I also attached an oversized paperclip to the burlap to bring in a hint of modernity- I would have loved to slip an antique, handwritten recipe to the front of her box, but I don't have one!

For our uber cool brother-in-law, I decided to use gloss back paper and the image of the ultra sleek bar stools.

I call this the GQ package!

Using the same thin silver wire, I attached a random clock winder to the front of the gift to add a little steampunk style!

I also used a shiny metal brads to hold the thin silver wire in place.

This gift is for my hubby, and it is probably my favorite creation because everything just worked out perfectly for his package.

Aaron has always loved the antique look of filament lightbulb by Restoration Hardware, and since they are $15.00 each, we just have to be happy with enjoying them from the catalogue! So, I decided that this catalogue page was the perfect fit for him! (And it gives a little hint to what is inside of the package!)

Now, for la pièce de résistance-his gift topper- and actual lightbulb that is attached by two strands of thin silver wire!

Can giftwrapping get any more steampunk, scientific, and manly than this???

Best of all, my giftwrapping cost me zero dollars this year. Remember, this was last minute and I live over an hour away from a decent craft store. So, I used leftover giftwrapping paper from last year and scavenged the house for embellishments. Luckily, we like old things and rarely throw anything away!

I still have a couple more gifts to wrap, so perhaps after Christmas I will share them with you.

Until then, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Your loyalty and friendships truly make my life a little brighter and I thank you for that!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Winter in Neutral

2011-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share with you a little bit of romantic winter fashion inspiration that I just created. While procrastinating on my Christmas "to do" list, I joined Polyvore and created this romantic, neutral ensemble in less than 15 minutes. Now if only shopping and stocking my closet could be this easy!! (And why am I just now joining Polyvore???)

Soon, I will be posting some current gift wrapping that I've been working on, so be sure to check back for a little bit of "unusual inspiration."

Winter in Neutral by alaparisienne featuring vneck shirts

Merry Macarons!

2011-12-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share with you a fun little photo I took of my pistachio lemon butter macarons that I made a week ago for our ladies' church Christmas party.

I couldn't help but add the new French macaron images to my banner for some added Christmas spirit!

I am in the thick of several Christmas projects, and of course, I am behind {I can be an awful procrastinator}! So, off I go to finish my projects. And I appreciate your sweet comments about my handmade Christmas tree!
I hope you are all enjoying all of your Christmas gatherings and wish you safe travels!

Joyeux Noël!

_{image by à la parisienne}