new season…new look!

lampsfeature

Spring and summer always have me itching for a refresh – I know I’m not alone in this frame of mind. I crave simplicity, cleanliness, and…light! Our main entryway was in need of some help, as it was a bit of a dark hole. I had recently been introduced to Lamps.com, and was thrilled to learn that they are based in Philadelphia! Choosing the right light was a challenge, as they have so many great options, but I fell in love with this Hudson Valley aged brass flush mount. It is the perfect compliment to our decor, and illuminates the space beautifully! I love that it feels both modern + classic.

aged-brass-flush-mount-light

It’s amazing what a little styling can do for your home…items come to life when you move them around! Practical things like a mirror + a coatrack can enhance decor, when they are thoughtfully executed. In this case, an ornate gilded mirror compliments a simple vintage card catalog. We have gold touches throughout our home, and I love mixing styles.

entryvignette

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Peonies are such a summer highlight for me, as demonstrated on instagram. I try to keep them around as much as possible during the month of June. It’s sad they are so fleeting, but I guess that also makes them extra special.

peoniesandgold

 

many thanks to Lamps.com who provided the light for review…as always, the opinions expressed are my own.

22/52

toddler-pigtails

”A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

We had such a lovely Memorial Day, complete with the kids first picnic! They loved it, and Marie now looks outside on a nice day and says “nicpic”…it’s adorable. I feel like this photo is so timeless…it could be from any era, but it reeks of 1940’s to me (I think I lived then in a past life). A moment of Americana at it’s best, don’t you think? Her pigtails melt me.

post inspiration

blog anniversary + a giveaway!

parisgiveaway

 

This space wouldn’t be what it is without your support + readership, so in celebration of my 4 year blogging anniversary, I’m giving away a lovely little care package of goodies I picked up in Paris! One lucky winner will receive a lovely illustrated map from Merci, letterpress cards from Artazart, and a few other goodies not shown here (because surprises are fun). To enter, follow this link to instagram + follow the instructions there…a random winner will be chosen tomorrow, May 31st at noon, and at that time, the giveaway will be closed. Good luck + MERCI TOUT LE MONDE! 

 it began with a beret

brunch in paris

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roysoleil

My last trip to Paris was a very special one, for many reasons. One of them being, I finally had the pleasure of meeting friends that I’d known for years online (more on that below). Since I had rented an apartment, I got clearance to host a small soiree, chez moi, which of course added to the feeling of “living” there.  Tidying up my place, gathering treats, styling the party, and then hearing the first buzz of my door–exhilarating! It is a day that I won’t soon forget.

colorful-macarons

Those who know me understand + accept my obsession with macarons…Ladurée macarons, to be exact. However, to be fair, Pierre Hermé macarons were included, and I even offered to do a blind taste test of the two! For the record, the inventive Hermé flavors are amazing, but the clear winner was, is, and always will be, Ladurée, for moi. Just look at these beauties…drool! We did enjoy some other local treats of course, thanks to my lovely friends who arrived bearing gifts.

parisfriends

paris-bloggers

my lovely friends (from L to R)… Anne Ditmeyer, Amy Feezor, (moi), Lindsey Tramuta, Kasia Dietz, Ashley Ludaescher

I truly treasure my friendship with these ladies. Spending time with them, and finally meeting Kasia, Ashley + Amy was a highlight of my trip. Ashley was sweet enough to join us from Berlin, and being the talented photographer that she is, offered to capture our brunch and gallivant with me around Paris! Amy and I had only recently met online, but having Nichole Robertson as a mutual friend helped to secure our meeting, and I’m so thankful for the time we spent together. Kasia and I had no shortage of conversation, and with our many shared interests, I would have loved to have had more time with her!  Anne was celebrating her birthday and I was thrilled to be there to join the revelry. I spent the most time with my close friend Lindsey – she introduced me to some of her favorite spots, and I finally saw her lovely apartment. Even though blogging may seem like an anti-social activity at times (spending so much time in front of a screen), I have it to thank for some of the most amazing connections in my adult life. As I enter my 5th year of blogging, I want to thank all of you who spend time here, and help to make this space so lively. I am so thankful for your readership!

many thanks to Haven in Paris + Ashley Ludaescher

check out the story on steller…I’m a featured author all week!

steller

steller-stories

steller-stories-france

 

Allow me to introduce you to my latest obsession…Steller. A recent addition to the social media scene, it is taking the blogging world by storm! You don’t have to be a blogger to appreciate + participate…let me explain. It’s a storytelling app, where images and video unite, creating a format where any story can unfold. As a blogger, I’m enjoying the challenge of creating content specifically for Steller, especially the video component. It forces you to think differently, and capture moments in a new way. Going forward, I hope to infuse my stories with even more video. The options for customization are generous, with new features continually being added. The templates have been thoughtfully created to allow for maximum creativity…details are paramount. From a social standpoint, you can connect with others you already follow elsewhere, as well as being introduced to new storytellers. You have the ability to republish others stories within your own collections, allowing you to share and organize your favorites. It’s one big, happy, storytelling community!

In my opinion, this is the future of blogging. We’re already seeing a movement away from the traditional blog format, with less traffic + comments on websites. We all want quality content, faster and easier. Scrolling through feeds on an app is much simpler, and with Steller, you can create rich, beautiful content in a smaller format. Granted, they do take some time to create (especially if you’re a hopeless perfectionist like me), but so do blog posts! For now, I intend to use Steller as a companion to my blog, enhancing existing content, along with creating stories tailored to the app. For me, reading blogs, as well as perusing the app, is a treat. I reserve time for it, whether it’s with my morning coffee, or before I turn out the light at night. There are so many beautiful stories to share, and Steller provides a new and beautiful way to do so.

The kind folks at Steller reached out to me and offered to feature me as an author, and I couldn’t be more flattered! You can find me in the featured section all week. So check out the video below, download the app, and start sharing! If you’re already using it, I would love to hear your thoughts + see your stories, so please leave a comment, thank you!

everyone has a story to tell.

my stories (shown above)… louvre at night | sully sur loire | orleans | arc de triomphe … best viewed on an iPhone