{two lovely things: office inspiration}

. . . love in a gilded frame + vintage orange

{images: 1 - elsk dit hjem by ranvita la cour via decor8; 2 - candystore collective}

{thoughts on love}

{via paper schmaper + mary ruffle}

"Eat, Pray, Love".....The Book....

"Eat, Pray, Love...."

(scheduled for US release August, UK release September)

So I finished "Eat, Pray, Love" yesterday....it was really great read. I have to say that it took me a couple of goes to get into it....not really sure why....but I was quickly hooked. I actually felt I wanted to read it all again straightaway.

The "Italy" part was definitely the easiest part to read....laugh-out-loud funny at times and I thought she absolutely nailed the Italians (for those of you who don't know my husband is London-Italian!)....so many characteristics that I recognised....tremendous warmth, a particular simplicity and attitude towards life (and its challenges) - and a huge passion for family, Italy, food, life, wine and football...and not necessarily in that order ;)

The "India" part was by far the most challenging to read for me....but, interestingly, it was the part I read the quickest and which I found most thought-provoking, I literally couldn't put it down. Spiritual, demanding, revelatory and clearly the sort of experience that strips you and takes you right back to the core of your being, making you ask every single question of yourself - those you wanted to ask and those you have avoided all your adult life....her time at the ashram in India is quite incredible.

The "Indonesia" (Bali) segment of the book was easier to read although I found it as enlightening and amazing as her Indian stay....and it was definitely the most visual, I practically felt as though I was in Bali, it was so  incredibly beautiful.

I don't want to say too much about what happens in each country since I don't want to ruin it for anyone - although as I have said once before, I feel as though I am the only person in the world who hasn't read this book!

Very thought provoking, moving, funny and inspiring as a read, to me it's the kind of book that really stays with you....I can see how some people have read it and found it life-changing....although I will be honest (since I just took a look at some of the reviews on Amazon!) and say that I can see why some people found the book self-indulgent and irritating beyond belief! I really enjoyed it though, would read it again and found it very easy to relate to....I think sometimes you take what you want from a book and I got a lot from this one....

I can't wait to see the film - I love Julia Roberts and the very handsome Javier Bardem....although since such a lot of the book is narrative and descriptive, it will be interesting to see how that translates to the big screen.

Another feeling that the book definitely inspired in me was a desire to travel more....all three cultures that Elizabeth Gilbert visited were so different....I always think I have travelled quite a bit yet this book made me realise that there is an awful lot more to be seen out there....

I'm now half-way through "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion (it's school hols, I have daytime reading time...woo hoo!) and have so far read most of it with a huge lump in my throat....beautifully written and very very moving.

Right.....off to "Toy Story 3" right now, hanky at the ready!

PS Next week I will be reviewing my fantastic new ice-cream maker (courtesy of CSN Stores) and am looking for some really fabulous ice cream recipes to try out....if you have one of your own or can recommend one, please do let me know!

CSN Stores has amazing online stores where you can find everything from cookware to Ceiling Lights  to furniture!

Happy Monday!!

Friday Fabulousness {Wedding Goodness}

Hello lovelies! Rhiannon here, the gal behind Hey Gorgeous straight out of Toronto, Ontario. I am filling in for Simone today and am completely honoured since I am filling in on a Friday Fabulousness day :) So in honour of my love of weddings and Simone's eye for all things beautiful here's a little peek at what I think all weddings should be....

A wedding should be simple, traditional, lovely and beautiful with a pop of pink along the way. A wedding should include love letters, ivory roses and fluffy bunches of fragrant hydrangeas. All weddings like this one by Docuvitae should have brightly coral-hued parasols, buttercream adorned cakes and confetti tossed in the air yet frozen in time by the simple snap of a beautiful photograph.

A wedding should be a representation of who two people are when they bring out the best in the other. A chance to share who you both are with your friends, family and guests. And a wedding should always include a fabulous pair of shoes. Extra points if those fabulous shoes are red. Extra points if you rock a short frock to show off those fabulous red shoes. A wedding should be fabulous. Downright. fabulous.

A wedding is all about having fabulous girlfriends and women in your life to help you slip into the wedding gown of your dreams. Throw in one dapper groom, matching mustaches and gorgeous photography by Tanja Lippert and you have a recipe for perfection.

Weddings are about style your way on your day. Gray stockings and pale pink hued shoes? Check. A larger than normal bridal party in mismatched dresses and fabulous hairstyles? Check? A DIY affair that guests will rave about for years to come? Check. What more could you possibly need.

Rustic centerpieces, handmade buntings, groomsmen in suspenders, soft blonde curls, these are all the things that make a wedding so wonderful. Professing your love in front of people, yelling it from the rooftops, the mountians, the pews of a church; these are the things that make a wedding pure perfection.

 The photos above by Sean Walker - especially that last one - represent the best part about a wedding; the true love and friendship that radiates between two best friends read to commit the rest of their lives together. And that my friends is better than any pop of pink, any pair of red shoes and any fabulous hair style (although all those things are surely the icing on the cake :)

Happy Friday Fabulousness and Simone thank you for having me in your incredible little space here. I had a blast and adore having you as such an amazing friend! Enjoy your weekend everyone and be safe xo

{monday, monday . . .}

. . . monday, monday & hello! hope you had a perfectly lovely weekend -- it's a two cups of coffee and strewn books and bright bouquets kind of morning after a beautiful weekend, with many splendid things to look forward to in this sunny and brand new week . . .

hope your monday is off to a wonderful start,
xo

{p.s.} a little late, but the winner of the cable & heart bracelet give-away later today . . .

{images: photography by patrick cline for lonny magazine}

It's A Love Thing....

....you weren't what I had planned for yesterday....

nothing like it in fact....

....I'd seen your type before but it was never the right time....

but sometimes Destiny steps in and one just has to surrender oneself....

 I spotted you at fifty paces and felt my heart flutter....

 and immediately I knew there was a good chance you would be coming home with me and wouldn't be leaving anytime soon....

....as I got nearer, it crossed my mind that you might be out of my league and I tried to tell myself that you probably were intended for someone else....someone who could take you around town on a regular basis, show you the sights, eat at fancy restaurants and take you round the world travelling first class every time....

....but actually, it turns out you were meant for me....I might even be so bold as to say I was meant for you....

I held on tight to you all the way home on the Tube, sneaking peeks at you when you didn't even know I was looking....

it's only been one night and I just know you're not going anywhere....

we look so right together....even my husband said so....it's quite soon, but he knows we're off to Paris next week and he can see I am in good hands, so he understands....something this right just can't be wrong....

Sometimes love happens when you least expect it....but when it does, you just have to grab it with both hands, appreciate it and truly enjoy it....

I love you my shiny-new-burnt-orange-patent-perfectly-sized-large-bag/holdall from Ted Baker....we're going to have some really good times together....there have been others but I just know we've got something very special....

Happy Monday!!

{have a romantic weekend}

. . . this weekend is light-filled mornings and chocolate-drizzled crêpes, sunny photographs and cloudless skies, and most of all, no where to be but here . . .

have a beautiful, beautiful weekend, everyone!
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* pretty pretty: rock crystal table lamps
* like a fairytale: plums in the icebox & leifsdottir
* before & after: kristin's sofa
* crown of blossoms: one & two
* industrial elegance: edison bulbs

{as always, some things you may have missed:}
* photography: bright mornings + sunlit days
* two lovely things: ruffles + lace
* colour inspiration: bits of gold + palest pink
* runway inspiration: alberta ferretti
* photography: behind the scenes
* spring things: paris, paris, paris!
* spanish inspiration: gallery white + tea rose
* new: photographer douglas friedman

{image via ffffound}

{stationery: french notecards}

. . . hand silkscreened in gold ink and perfect for special occasions or over café au lait on an overcast friday near the end of winter . . .

{je t'aime french i love you cards by humunuku via greedy girl}

{valentine's inspiration: rifle paper co.}

. . . adore the hand-painted poppy red lettering and wonderfully whimsical heart-shaped bouquets of rifle paper co.'s new valentine's collection

{images: rifle paper co. via design is mine}

{love is in the air}

. . . completely charmed by this sweet letterpress card in magenta & orange, as perfect for valentine's day as it is for a perfectly lovely mid-january thursday. . .

{image: letterpress delicacies via oh so beautiful paper}

Love Is....

I received the same email from a couple of friends recently....it was too lovely not to share. A group of 4-8 year olds were asked what they thought love meant....

'When someone loves you , the way they say your name is different.. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him , to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing , you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

'During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford .'

Chris - age 7

'When you love somebody , your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.'

Karen - age 7

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry , the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard , climbed onto his lap , and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor , the little boy said , 'Nothing , I just helped him cry'....