fall frocks

Ok, now that I have the boots (not quite), I need some fall/winter finery to go with them...these will do nicely:

Stewart+Brown

odd molly

parkvogel

TOAST

Built by Wendy

JCrew

nie nie day

Words leave me today.  They have been replaced by a big lump in my throat.  Shocking how tragedy can lead to something so beautiful...for details please go here or here and for the most amazing example of pure kindness go here.

silos and watertowers

1. Silo, 2. Silos - Old and New, 3. Just a silo, 4. Silos

Art is something, for me, that is very personal.  It conjures up different things in different people.  I never can predict how it is going to hit me.  This is what happened this morning.  Perusing the always lovely Design Sponge, I was particularly drawn to a post dedicated to the work of Susan Dwyre of Up in the Air Somewhere.  In that post her beautiful dishes and pitchers are the the big highlight.  Based on those images I had to see more.  Looking through her site...bam!  it hit me!  I stumbled upon her interpretation of silos and watertowers.  I was immediately transported back to my midwest routes and long drives through the prairie.  The occasional watertower or silo were the only things that seemed to break up the endless skyline.  Seeing them now I feel peaceful and all kinds of nostalgic.  

I remember a few years back I was talking to my mom about fantastic mountains and stunning, vast oceans, complaining about the lack of scenery surrounding us and my mom said to me..." It makes me sad that you never learned to love the prairie."  Well guess what ma?  I think I just did. xoxo

mmm...and go figure this gal is based in the lovely midwest.

lights.

notice the tiny, little moon in this one...

I heart Monday.

It's a good day....

I heart these bookplates for B from my friend Jaimee(thank you so much sweet gal).

I heart this tunic.

I heart these trunks and this globe.

I heart these shoes.

I heart this shawl (via Melissa...xoxo!).

I heart this top.

I heart this fruit tart.

I heart this mobile (also found via Melissa at Creature Comforts).

I heart this bench (found via m & co).

I heart this dress (via {frolic!})and this bra.

I heart this clock (found via bloesem).

I heart this fabric and want many things made from it.

I heart this mirror.

I heart this brooch.

I heart this tote.

Le Papier Studio

B's birthday comes around and I get a little note from Ms. Vana.  She wants my address so she can send him "a little something."  I happily obliged....it arrives and I soon see that the "little something" is not at all little.  It is big!  Big with sweetness, thoughtfulness, sentiment.  

I have been obsessed with the sweet silhouettes created by Le Papier Studio since happily stumbling into sweet Vana's blog a few months back.  Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I clicked with this fellow momma of a 3-year-old little boy.  Her blog became one of those I faithfully visited and looked forward to.  I loved getting to know her and her sweet little family.  An added bonus was the fact that she had a gift of creating some of the most beautiful stationary and prints I had ever seen.  You really should peruse her shop and take in the sweetness.  

That Vana, she sent me stationary with B's perfect profile and some special stationary just for me!  Why?  Because I think she likes me too.  Thank you Vana for being a lovely blog friend, and for the most thoughtful of "little somethings."

Lucky B and me:

white.

I'm doing it!  No more threats, no more indecisiveness, I am plowing ahead to my next home project.  My kitchen is at a uninspired crossroad, so I am heading into the living room.  I am thinking white.  White walls, white woodwork, white fireplace, white floors...ok, maybe not the floors, but everything else attached.  Why you may ask?  

Reasons galore:

1.  Remember this.

2.  Livingetc

3.  sfgirlbybay

4.  skona hem (again)

5.  Martha Stewart

6.  Paul Massey

Lucky, lucky....

Every once in a lucky while you come across a blogger friend you just really like. It is even sweeter when this friend likes you back and to put a big cherry on the top is remarkably talented.  Oh and don't forget the icing...she has a giveaway and you win!!!!  I mean I win!!!  I did!  I won the most beautiful necklace.  I wear it all the time (my other baubles are starting to get jealous).  

Introducing (or for many of you reintroducing)Bonbon Oiseau.  Sweet Deb's pretties 

are classically elegant and simply perfect.

lucky clavicles:

pretty locks:

fancy wrists:

delighted lobes:

ecstatic lapels:

my Bonbon:

Me in my bonbon (B likes it too):

booooooooooooooooooooots.

I have been in denial.  Fall is coming and I have been doing everything in my power to forget about it...until today!!!!  My favorite thing about fall is boots!  As the end of August rolls around thoughts of leather lovelies start to enter my materialistic brain.  I treat myself to one pair each autumn (maybe two).  Here are a few pairs in the running.  Actually, most of these are dream boots, whereas the only way I shall possess them is by winning our local lottery.  

Once again, I also look to you.  Are there any I do not have here that you recommend?  

Frye oh Frye

JCrew and  Frye

Sundance and Mark Nason

Golden Goose

Free People

Biviel (look familiar?  a more economic alternative)

Frye

Free People

Coclico

Coclico

Anthropologie flatiron boots

Moschino 

And now for some serious schnazziness:

Chie Mihara

Corso Como

La Canadienne

Chie Mihara

I heart Monday.

It is all kinds of Monday around here...ickiness!  I actually perked up a bit after putting together this group of pretties.  I hope it is a Monday pick-up for you as well.  Here's to Tuesday!

Oh my do, I ever heart these boots.

I heart this dress.

I heart this creamer.

I heart this ice bucket.

I heart this clutch purse.

I heart this fan.

I heart this cardigan.

I heart this necklace.

I heart this train case.

I heart my little pink clock.

I heart this "pleat purse" (via decor8).

I heart these drapes (via katy).

I heart these "hair slides."

I heart this sweet cushion.

I heart this pitcher.

I heart this rug (via Tyler).

Hit the lights...

It occurred to me today that I am a cliche'...I am the dreaded neighbor who halls out boxes of slides from the family vacation.  Ack!  Not to worry folks, the Frenches are staying put for a while.  These will be the last vacation pics for quite awhile.  Good for you, not so good for me.

Anyway, these photos were taken on our last evening in Whistler.  Honestly, one of my favorite evenings in my 34 years.  It had rained all day, the little ones were restless (especially our little angel) and we were all a little bit grumpy due to our impending departure.  We decided to check out one of Whistler's many lakes on a whim...thank goodness!  The rain cleared, a rainbow appeared, sea planes landed, moods lifted and giggles and awe were enjoyed by all.  I get chills thinking about it.  These are the memories I dreamed of making when B was a a glimmer...

I am pretty sure it is not too hard to become a Canadian citizen.

I am the type of person that researches potential travel destinations relentlessly.  I like to know as much about a particular area before we invest time and money into a precious holiday.  On this last trip, however, I decided to fly by the seat of my pants.  I had heard wonderful things about Whistler, BC and I knew that it was chosen to be the site of the 2010 Olympics...that was enough for me!  I was not disappointed.  Whistler is a mountain wonderland.  I am not sure my photos could possibly do it justice, but you can't blame a gal for trying....more to come!

I heart Wednesday.

tap...tap...tap...is this thing on?  Hello dear friends!!!!  I have missed you all so much.  I can't wait to share photos of my time away and catch up on the lives of all my blogging friends.  So much to do...however, I promise to get on over to your sites too (it may take me awhile, but I'll get there).

I heart winning the most wonderful of giveaways.  I am over the moon over this perfect-for-me letter press.  Simplesong makes me smile all the place.  Thank you dear Suanne!

I heart these pulls.

I heart this "butterfly shirt."

I heart this necklace.

I heart these "clouds."

I heart this platter.

I heart this dress.

I heart this clutch.

I heart these hurricanes.

I heart B's undying love of throwing rocks.

I heart these pillows.

I heart this "licorice" (via Design Sponge).

I heart this teacup.

I heart these purple birdies.

I heart these jeans.

I heart this sofa.

I heart this shoe.