Five on Friday #19

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Happy Friday!!!  Well, this week has been super busy… it seems like Summer is here!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

On the Net

A guide to how to create the best ice cream sundae at home! YES please!

Personal

I’ve been super busy this week! We drove down to Southern California for a graduation.  I went to my favorite pastry shop in LA – Bottega Louie. Then we toured expensive model homes in Newport Beach for fun. We ate at Red O, a Mexican restaurant by Top Chef Master Rick Bayless.  More shopping… then to the graduation! Busy busy!

The Kitten Tales

Remember I talked about the kittens last week? The Mama cat moved one kitten and left two.  Unfortunately I went to check on them today and one of them had died overnight! We had been helping feeding them but I suppose that one was sick or something. Now we only have one kitten left… as I don’t know where the mom put the other kitten.

Spotted

Well, I’ve been looking at these flats by Chloe for a long time and finally bought them! They cost a pretty penny but they are so comfortable! I had a hard time deciding on a color… ultimately I went with black! I just found some online in white for half off.  The leather on them is so soft; I can see myself owning several pairs in different colors.  

I was actually thinking I was going to buy this flat below, the Varina by Salvatore Ferragamo… but I didn’t realize all their colors were patent leather.   I tried them on in the store. It was really stiff and actually uncomfortable. It was a real disappointment! They had some cute colors, but I’m not going to spend $$$ on an uncomfortable shoe!  Anyway, I highly recommend the ballet flat by Chloe!

Instagram

My favorite account this week is the Real Houses of Instagram.  (click on name to follow) So much beautiful home inspiration!

Please DM me @katerumson if you know the architect behind this masterpiece 💭💭💭


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Thursday Favorite Things Link Party #241

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Hello and welcome for another week of Thursday Favorite Things! We love seeing everyone’s posts each week! Thank you all for joining us!

This week I seem to be in an outdoor mood as all of my favorite posts this week seem to revolve around the outdoors!

Everyday Living shared a garden/outdoor tour through multiple homes. Lots of beautiful spaces to see, so be sure to check them all out!

Rhonda from Ramblings of a Southern Girl shared this brunch for two… love the lake setting!

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home shared her wonderful porch! Doesn’t it look like a nice place to sit back and have a tea?

Penny at Penny’s Vintage Home drove around her area and shared some inspiration on how to decorate the front yard with drought resistant plants and rock-scaping!

If you were featured on my blog today (or on previous days) please feel free to grab my new “I was featured” button!  Either right click and download or copy and paste into your blog!

I was featured at Thursday Favorite Things Link Party co-hosted by Peonies & Orange Blossoms with main hostess at Katherine's Corner!


Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things! We’ve recently made some new changes to our party. We’ve updated the logo and now every cohostess features posts on her blog! If you weren’t featured here, be sure to check out the other blogs as your post may have been featured there!

Join us every week as we party and share at the best link party in blog land!

Thursday Favorite Things Linky Party... come link up your favorite posts starting every Wednesday night!

Katherine-Katherines Corner 
Nina-Vintage Mama’s Cottage
 Debi- Surroundings by Debi
Marilyn- Marilyn’s Treats
 Angelina –Peonies and Orange Blossoms
 Shellie-The Fabulous Journey 
Rosemary-An Italian In My Kitchen
 Rina-I Thee Cook
Olivia-Reinvented Collection

It all starts with a SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

Please read the rules before participating, it will be a much more satisfying hop experience. Please visit at least two links ahead of yours – Follow Your Hostesses.  -Link to your post not your blog main page. -By sharing with us you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, and that we may use your photos to feature your post on social media, pinterest or as a feature on our blogs.

Have fun we look forward to all you will share. All of the hostesses are now selecting their favorites to share in features on their blogs each week. Share your best work!


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A French Country Evening and a Secret to Living a Glamorous Life

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Hello! I’m here today sharing with you a little French country evening!  I have prepared a French raspberry tart for us to enjoy (some of us will enjoy it with our eyes, other with our mouths!)

I made the raspberry tart… the recipe will be coming soon.

 

Want to know a secret to living a glamorous life?


Make the ordinary… extraordinary!

What do I mean by that?  So, here for instance, we are having dessert. Yes, I know it is a raspberry tart, but really it could be any dessert!

I am using some sterling forks to eat.  Now, you say, that’s nice, but I can’t do that because of… money or *insert excuse* (too busy, it’s too fragile, that’s too fancy for me)…

Well, except you can!

You don’t have to have own whole sterling set of silverware. (Don’t tell the sterling dealer that).  Just… buy two forks. You can find them in a pattern you like for a decent price either on Ebay or an antique mall that won’t break the bank.  The forks don’t have to be a matching pattern either, honestly!

Pull out your nicer crystal… I know you have at least two nice cups from your wedding!

Dine on some antique plates that are hand painted and beautiful! I pulled these pretty pink and gold ones off of the wall! Just don’t put them in the dishwasher or use a knife on them (otherwise they will scratch or be ruined!).

You say, I don’t have antique plates… well I know for a FACT that you can pick up some pretty hand painted antique plates for a song.

Don’t keep your antiques stored on the wall or your cupboard… use them! We have some friends that are antique dealers that always dine on antique fine china… Why? Because they can, that’s why!

I also picked some roses from the garden. They smelled delightful.   You don’t have to have flowers from the store. Just pick some from your garden!

You see… you don’t have to go out and dine to have a glamorous life… just stay at home!

But pulling out and using some of your nicer things “just cause” can make an ordinary day extraordinary and make you feel special.

You will feel like the Queen of your castle… because you are!

So that’s how I spent my French country evening.  Enjoying a tart, sipping on some sparkling lemonade, and watching the stars appear over the countryside.

 

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linking up at: amaze me monday The Scoop! Make it Pretty Monday BNOTP Mon Inspire Me Tuesday  Wow us Wednesdays!Share Your Style Thursday Favorite ThingsCreative CircleThoughts of Home Home Sweet Home Feathered Nest Fridays Craftberry Bush Foodie Friday & Everything Else Best of the Weekend Share it One More Time Sundays at Home Dishing it and Digging It

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French Windows

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When building a French house, I think one of the most important elements is choosing the correct window!  Then, of course, there are the shutters. But that’s for another day.

 

Before we get started on window talk, let’s get our window terms down.  Inswing casement windows swing into the building.  Outswing casement windows swing out of the building.

In swing vs outswing windows!

From my study of French houses, it seems the only window they use is the inswing casement window!

I have seen the outswing casement window in other places in Europe – in fact, the house I lived in in Germany had outswing casement windows.

 

I believe they only use the inswing casement window because they almost always have shutters and how can you close a shutter when the window swings out? You can’t! (Unless you have a little pulley system, which is actually what the house in Germany that I lived in had, but that’s a bit different because it was the ugly metal shutter than the cute wood one).

 

These are all inswing casement windows. You cannot have the swing outwards with a metal bar in the way!

 

 

Recognize this place? Yes, it’s Chateau de Versailles. I spy… inswing casement windows!

A study below… inswing French windows up top, the smaller windows I think are inswing too. The bottom level has French doors.

Inswing inswing inswing!  In America, we would totally make these dormer windows double hung.

Inswing windows have different shapes… some eyebrow shaped, some square, some rectangular.

 They are small, they are big. I feel like I’m writing for Dr. Seuss.

 

Below, an apartment in Paris.  This is how I envision my second story windows (there are only a few!)… an inswing window with a flower box on the second story. Oooh la la.

 Well, here’s the deal with inswing French casement windows… they are not cheap!

There are only several national makers of them: Marvin Windows, Kolbe Windows, and Pella.  We are not going with Pella because they were terrible for our previous house.  TERRIBLE. Don’t buy them.

To save some cash, we are going to actually do a mixture: Inswing casement windows in a few key locations, outswing casement windows on others, and double hung on the rest.  Inswing is most expensive, followed by outswing, then double hung.  You can get the look of inswing casement with the outswing casement and even double hung… if you get the right style.

As for the window color, we are going with white windows. It seems a majority of windows in France are white and then the pop of color comes from the shutters.  I’ll be doing another post on shutters alone in the future.

What do you all think of all of these windows?

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Five on Friday #18

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Happy Friday!  Can you believe it’s JUNE????  I’m back with another FIVE THINGs that I liked this week.

On the Net

Here are 4 garden design ideas from the houses of William Shakespeare.  If anything, go check out the article just to see the cute old houses!

Spotted

The track suit trend is coming back. This time, it doesn’t involve velour track suits from Juicy Couture, but instead Adidas Originals.  I recently purchased these pants – perfect for lounging, traveling, and you look sporty chic! They are also in grey or black with pink stripes!

The Kitten Tales

So for the past month or so we have noticed an orange cat hanging out on our back porch. Our own cat and this cat would have stare downs.  I would chase the cat away and it kept coming back.  Then this last week we were rearranging pots on the porch and looked down into the empty one and saw this:

THREE kittens staring up at us! GAH! Scared us at first, at least it wasn’t full of snakes or something. Anyway, since the discovery, we’ve stopped scaring mama cat off.  Well, then later we saw her take one of the kittens out and they were playing.  Then for TWO DAYS we didn’t see the little kitten or the mama cat. We thought maybe the mama cat had died.  It was 105 degrees for two days in a row. We got worried the kittens would die.

We put water and some food in the pot but they left the food alone. They drank some of the water.  Then we did some internet research – oh, kittens these age still drink milk. We took the remaining two cats out of the pot and put them in a box because it was bigger. One of the cats ran out of the box and hid in the rose bushes.  So, off we went, to the store, to get some kitten milk replacement.

We came back… oh no! The cat had abandoned the box.  Thought something ate them already… we had spied a coyote hanging out in the field some 150 yards away.  Well, we looked around and found them! They were sitting against the wall in literally the worst hiding spot ever.  We put them back into the original pot we found them and gave them some kitten milk.  They drank it up in just a few seconds. Poor things! They were starving.  Well, we thought, we didn’t want kittens but I guess we have kittens now.

Then later that night Mama cat returned.  Oh good!  Still haven’t seen the other kitten, but at least mama cat is back.  This morning we saw her go into the pot.  Good to know she is back and taking care of her kittens!

On the Blog

  I was thinking… hmm, what did I write about a year ago? Oh, a review of Pierre Herme, one of the best pastry shops in Paris! If you are a French pastry lover, you need to check out my review here!

Pierre Herme Macaron Review

Favorite Instagram

If you love pretty gardens, then you need to follow @debbytenquist.  She posts the prettiest pictures of gardens.  I had trouble picking out just a few!


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Thursday Favorite Things Link Party #240

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things again! It’s such a delight to have you all join us for our link party every week. I love going through your links… this week I think I must have been HUNGRY when I picked my favorites out as they are all food!

 This copycat Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream recipe from All She Cooks sounds so delicious! I picked this one as it is my Dad’s favorite B&J flavor and maybe he’ll make some for me himself.

This Lemon Blueberry scone shared by Be Fed Again sounds so yummy, I would love this for breakfast tomorrow! Except, I don’t have lemons. or blueberries. 

This patriotic brownie with a pretzel crust from one of our cohostesses, Marilyn’s Treats, sounds so delicious! Don’t you just want to have a few bites?

Ok, life can’t be full of only sweets (or can it?).  This black bean avocado salad shared from Nancy Creative sounds super delicious and it’s super healthy!

AND I thought this DIY metallic polka dot flower pot looked super cute. Visit As The Bunny Hops to see how you can make one of your own too! Wouldn’t this make the perfect little gift, like a hostess gift?

If you were featured on my blog today (or on previous days) please feel free to grab my new “I was featured” button!  Either right click and download or copy and paste into your blog!

I was featured at Thursday Favorite Things Link Party co-hosted by Peonies & Orange Blossoms with main hostess at Katherine's Corner!


Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things! We’ve recently made some new changes to our party. We’ve updated the logo and now every cohostess features posts on her blog! If you weren’t featured here, be sure to check out the other blogs as your post may have been featured there!
Join us every week as we party and share at the best link party in blog land!

Thursday Favorite Things Linky Party... come link up your favorite posts starting every Wednesday night!

Katherine-Katherines Corner 
Nina-Vintage Mama’s Cottage
 Debi- Surroundings by Debi
Marilyn- Marilyn’s Treats
 Angelina –Peonies and Orange Blossoms
 Shellie-The Fabulous Journey 
Rosemary-An Italian In My Kitchen
 Rina-I Thee Cook
Olivia-Reinvented Collection

It all starts with a SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

Please read the rules before participating, it will be a much more satisfying hop experience. Please visit at least two links ahead of yours – Follow Your Hostesses.  -Link to your post not your blog main page. -By sharing with us you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, and that we may use your photos to feature your post on social media, pinterest or as a feature on our blogs.

Have fun we look forward to all you will share. All of the hostesses are now selecting their favorites to share in features on their blogs each week. Share your best work!


An InLinkz Link-up

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Ode to the Eden Rose

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In my reader survey, most of you voted for posts about gardens and gardening… so voila! Let’s chat about the Eden rose.

Information about the Eden Rose

 The Eden rose is also known as ‘Pierre de Ronsard’, named after the poet of the same name.  The rose was cultivated by Meilland International in 1985 in France.

Information about the Eden Rose

To be honest, I thought it was named the Eden Rose because it is so pretty I figured the cultivator imagined that this rose would be climbing up the gates to the Garden of Eden.

Information about the Eden Rose

The rose is a large old-rose type with beautiful cupped blooms of 100 petals.  It has a blend of pink, cream, and ivory reaching 4 1/2 inches!

Information about the Eden Rose

Due to the large flowers, the weight causes the rose to bow its heads. It has a light tart scent.

the rose is bowing its head here in this picture

It is a climbing rose that can reach up to 12′ in height!    It is a repeat bloomer, which is perfect for my flower cutting needs!

It is very disease resistant, however, it is not extremely rain tolerant and buds that are near bloom will ball up and rot if it is rained on.

It is one of the finest climbers in all of the roses and is in the Rose Hall of Fame.


the first two roses in the picture are eden. The rest are other assorted garden roses

I’ll leave you with the poem written by Pierre de Ronsard.  This poet was known as the “Prince of Poets” during the Renaissance.


The Rose

written 1550

See, Mignonne, hath not the Rose,

That this morning did unclose

Her purple mantle to the light,

Lost, before the day be dead,

The glory of her raiment red,

Her colour, bright as yours is bright?


Ah, Mignonne, in how few hours,

The petals of her purple flowers

All have faded, fallen, died;

Sad Nature, mother ruinous,

That seest thy fair child perish thus

‘Twixt matin song and even tide.


Hear me, my darling, speaking sooth,

Gather the fleet flower of your youth,

Take ye your pleasure at the best;

Be merry ere your beauty flit,

For length of days will tarnish it

Like roses that were loveliest. 

I just had to share this picture from Patina Farm.  Here is the eden rose climbing up a trellis with the goat in the background! 

source Patina Farm

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linking up at: amaze me monday The Scoop! Make it Pretty Monday BNOTP Mon Inspire Me Tuesday  Wow us Wednesdays!Share Your Style Thursday Favorite ThingsCreative CircleThoughts of Home Home Sweet Home Feathered Nest Fridays Craftberry Bush Foodie Friday & Everything Else Best of the Weekend Share it One More Time Sundays at Home Dishing it and Digging It

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French Breakfast in Bed… Perfect for Sunday Mornings!

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Good morning!  Today I’m having breakfast in bed.  A French breakfast to be exact!

A French breakfast in bed with a pain au chocolat and espresso! Fit for a Queen!

I think having breakfast in bed from time to time helps your house feel like a hotel… and you feel like a Queen! It makes your life go from ordinary to extraordinary, don’t you think? Bring some fresh flowers in to make it feel even more enchanting! Make your bed! Put on your nice spa robe, Ugg slippers, and enjoy!

A French breakfast in bed with a pain au chocolat and espresso! Fit for a Queen!

 

On the menu this morning

Freshly baked pain au chocolat

Espresso

 

Just like a real French breakfast! If I were a real Parisian, a cigarette too! (ha, don’t smoke, but the French certainly do!)

A French breakfast in bed with a pain au chocolat and espresso! Fit for a Queen!

I bought this little espresso cup in the Napa Valley.  It is by Pullivuyt, a French porcelain company. I love it!! You can get a set of four here or one here.  Put a little coffee bean on the side of your espresso, stir in the sugar with a silver demitasse spoon!

A French breakfast in bed with a pain au chocolat and espresso! Pillivuyt espresso cup with a coffee bean!

Want to know a secret about this pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant)?? It is fresh out of the oven!  But… it’s from Trader Joe’s! YES! In the frozen section of TJ’s there is the pain au chocolat in a set of four.  It is super easy to make – just pull how out many you want to bake the night before – let it thaw and rise overnight, and then in the morning just pop them in the oven for 15 minutes or so!

Voila! Instant, freshly baked, chocolate croissants!

If you’re feeling extra brave, you could always make your own plain croissants. Here, I’ll help you out: two of my favorite French food bloggers versions of croissants recipe 1 and recipe 2.

But I’m lazy in the morning, so I’ll stick with the TJs one! TJs also sells mini plain croissants in a set of 8, if the chocolate ones aren’t your thing!

A French breakfast in bed with a pain au chocolat and espresso! Fit for a Queen!

 Well, thanks for stopping by on this wonderful Sunday morning.  I’m off to eat enjoy my breakfast and read my blogs!  I use bloglovin’ to read my blogs, it’s a great app that makes it easy to follow and read all of your blogs.

 

Post-Breakfast Outtake: After enjoying breakfast, Chloé the cat had to stop by and smell the roses!

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Five on Friday #17

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Happy Friday! I’m back with another FIVE THINGs that I liked this week.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

 On the Web

Alright, I have found this beautiful kitchen that Emily Jackson shared on her blog, The Ivory Lane!  I have just two pictures here but you all need to go look at this beautiful kitchen! 

Kitchen Reveal from The Ivory Lane

What I think is interesting is that she used the La Cornue hood but did not use a La Cornue range… hmm, emily, you have me thinking… I can’t have the stove since its the price of a car, but a range hood I *can* afford. And, oh, look! It is that Darlana pendant  that I wrote about earlier this week!!

Also love her butler’s pantry area… I like the bamboo cabinets and also the dark navy color.  It is fun and refreshing.  Anyway, go look at her gorgeous kitchen! (then come back!! don’t leave, not done yet! haha!)

Kitchen Reveal from The Ivory Lane

On The Blog

As it is Memorial Day weekend this weekend, here are a few of my favorite recipes for the weekend…

Mexican Street Corn Recipe. I LOVE this and eat it frequently in Summer!

Mexican Street Corn Recipe

 Easy last minute fruit flag you can bring to parties in a pinch!

These copycat Dole Whip pineapple smoothies are super delicious!

Personal

So this past week I went to one of those art studios where you all paint, sip on wine (or diet coke in my case), and munch on appetizers.  I had fun as I had not painted since high school.  

So here was in the inspiration picture…

And here is my masterpiece!  HAHA! I am clearly not an artist.  The people  in the picture were beyond my skill set so I excluded them. Then I added sheep for fun. 

Anyway, now I have my ugly painting just sitting around.

Have you ever been to one of those art classes?

From the Garden

This week I picked cherries from the garden! YES! The cherry trees finally ripened!!They are so incredibly tasty!  We have four cherry trees in total.  I first posted this picture on my instagram!

cherries

Just a stroll around the garden… the lavender and red roses…

The Eden Rose… going to write a post about it next week…

Eden Rose

 Here is the Queen of Sweden. Love this rose, it smells so good and has so many petals!

Queen of Sweden Rose

I always pick a few when I go on a walk in the garden…

Favorite Instagram

Isn’t this Chanel flower cart just the cutest?

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Thursday Favorite Things Link Party #239

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Can you believe that it is almost JUNE??? Well I can’t. Before you know it we will be pulling out the pumpkins again!  Anyway, on to this week’s Thursday Favorite Things! Here are a few of my favorites from last weeks party…

1010 Park Place shared her trip to the Paris Flea Markets and a *fabulous* antique tapestry store she wandered into in Paris.  Like I needed another reason to go back to Paris!

Watch What U Eat shared this non-alcoholic blackberry mojito that sounds super refreshing!

The Honeycomb Home shared her kitchen makeover! You definitely need to see the before and after!

Angie at The Freckled Rose shared a tutorial on how to make this beautiful hanging basket!

One Thousand Oaks shared her coastal bathroom makeover!

If you were featured on the blog today (or on previous days) please feel free to grab my new “I was featured” button!  Either right click and download or copy and paste into your blog!

I was featured at Thursday Favorite Things Link Party co-hosted by Peonies & Orange Blossoms with main hostess at Katherine's Corner!

Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things! We’ve recently made some new changes to our party. We’ve updated the logo and now every cohostess features posts on her blog! If you weren’t featured here, be sure to check out the other blogs as your post may have been featured there!
Join us every week as we party and share at the best link party in blog land!

Thursday Favorite Things Linky Party... come link up your favorite posts starting every Wednesday night!

Katherine-Katherines Corner 
Nina-Vintage Mama’s Cottage
 Debi- Surroundings by Debi
Marilyn- Marilyn’s Treats
 Angelina –Peonies and Orange Blossoms
 Shellie-The Fabulous Journey 
Rosemary-An Italian In My Kitchen
 Rina-I Thee Cook
Olivia-Reinvented Collection

It all starts with a SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

Please read the rules before participating, it will be a much more satisfying hop experience. Please visit at less two links ahead of yours – Follow Your Hostesses-link to your post not your blog main page. -By sharing with us you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, and that we may use your photos to feature your post on social media, pinterest or as a feature on our blogs.

Have fun we look forward to all you will share. All of the hostesses are now selecting their favorites to share in features on their blogs each week. Share your best work!


An InLinkz Link-up

Are you following Peonies & Orange Blossoms on social media? Join the community…

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Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com/

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The E.F Champan ‘Darlana’ Pendant Lantern

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Let’s have a chat about this Darlana Pendant that I had never seen until 7 days ago and now I am seeing it EVERYWHERE!  On my research though, it appears I may be late to this little lantern love fest, but that’s okay.
This post contains affiliate links.

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
source

 

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Liz Caan Interiors

I am thinking to myself, why is this pendant so popular?? I think it is because it has both a mix of modern and old-world feel at the same time.

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Marianne Simon Design
EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Meredith Heron Design

I admit, I actually really love this version  of the light that was painted hot pink.  I don’t think I would be so bold to do that,  but it really adds interested to what is otherwise a sea of white.

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Laura Burleson Interiors

I do like the aged iron in the kitchen below.  It goes really well with the dark island.

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Calypso in the Country
EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
The Ivory Lane

 

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
source

It seems the gilded iron is the most popular color.

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
source

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern

The Darlana pendant comes in FOUR different colors… (link below each pic takes you to a retailer).

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Aged Iron

 

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
gilded iron

 

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Polished Nickel

 

EF Chapman Darlana Pendant Lantern
Aged white

The pendant also comes in three sizes – small, medium, and large!

There are also quite a few copycat lights.

Here at Wayfair

And another

I really like this look.  At first I was thinking that I would do some sort of Aidan Gray copycat over my kitchen islands (yes, there are two islands), but now I see these and I think, oh, gee, I like this a lot too!

What are your thoughts on the “Darlana” Pendant Lantern? Yay or Nay?

 

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French Riviera Style

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Every month I put together some sort of fashion board. This month I was inspired by the French Riviera.

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I put together two outfits and stylish accessories that can mix and match with both outfits!

Outfit #1, classic black and white – Breton Striped shirt, black skirt, and black ballet flats

Outfit #2, colorful and fun – Voila t-shirt, black and white striped skirt, “oui non” espadrilles

Accessories: Stylish French sunglasses, “Ciao” beret, French straw bag, Bien Fait bag, the required silk scarf, black and white classic watch.

This was really fun!  The black ballet flats have been on my fashion wish-list for a while now.  While writing this I actually purchased the Bien Fait bag… it’s only $5.

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Five on Friday #16

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Happy Friday Everyone!

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On the Net

10 Steps to a French-Bistro Inspired Kitchen

10 steps to a French bistro inspired kitchen

Spotted – Retro Sneakers
Let’s have a talk about a shoe that is super in style right now – the retro sneaker. This falls into the athleisure trend which I am liking.  I have picked some favorites, which one would you pick?

Have you ever owned a pair of these? I have! My favorite pair were white with *gold* stripes! I wore them in high school. Adidas Superstar in Black (white with black stripes or red stripes here)

These Nikes with the leopard print are cool – Nike Internationalist Suede

Nike Women’s in Black are a classic statement

These New Balance sneakers are retro and come in many colors – (click on each) white and gold, black and white, pink and gray 

I actually bought this pair – it is a collaboration between Comme des Garçons / Chuck Taylors!!! They also come in black! They have limited sizing because they are selling out – they are also here

This is a favorite shoe by many – Vans ‘Classic’ Sneaker 

Michael Kors Leather and gold sneaker is super stylish!

adidas ‘Stan Smith’ Sneaker  is a classic and I’m sure you’ve owned a pair at some point in your life time. 

Miu Miu Women’s Metallic Toe in White are super fun!


Which one is your favorite??

Personal

So, do you remember my pretty tulipiere that I love so much? Well, guess what happened.

It broke

Yes indeed.  Here’s the story… This past Sunday I woke up to the sound of a bang and crashing glass at 6am (I am a night owl and had only just fallen a sleep several hours before). 

I get out of bed and find my husband laying on the ground, not moving, next to the table with blood on the ground and the vase scattered about in a million pieces.

I asked him, hey, are you okay? He doesn’t respond. I panic a little. I shake him harder and he finally acknowledges I’m there. “Oh, hi.” He says.  UHHH, are you okay and what happened???

Well, Miss Chloé Cat, was playing with the lace tablecloth that was dangling below the table. 

And then her claw got caught. And then, since she’s a cat, she panicked and took off… with the tablecloth and vase.  My husband knew how much I loved this vase, so he dove across the room trying to catch the vase – but naturally he could not save it because it is in pieces and you can’t catch them all.  

the perpetrator -“Did I do that?” 

So, the vase fell out of his hands, and cut him in the process, which explains the blood on the floor.  Why was he laying there when I woke up? He hit the ground so hard it knocked the wind out of him. 

After a bit of at home wound care, (no emergency department visits needed, luckily!), we cleaned up everything. The cat is okay, if anyone was wondering (that was my husband’s first question, is the cat okay? Yes, cat’s have 9 lives, she’s fine). Now my favorite vase is gone. Well, almost. The top part I had on a different table at the time, so 2 of the 3 pieces are gone.  It’s like a memorial vase now. Le sigh. And that is the story of the day the vase went kaput.

RIP vase

Favorite Instagram

Kerryhillfarm is one of my favorite Instagram accounts – she has a farm with the cutest sheep ever! She has the cutest little VW bug, and she travels and takes pretty pictures. You all MUST check out her IG and follow her! You’ll be delighted!


On the blog
Here I wrote about what you should wear Memorial Day Weekend!

I also have some Patriotic Table Decorating Ideas as well

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Thursday Favorite Things Link Party #238!

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Welcome again for another week of Thursday Favorite Things!   It seems this week I have been drawn to flowers as all of my features are floral related! 

Jolly and Happy shared this copycat Fixer Upper Magnolia Wreath! I think right now we all just can’t get enough of Fixer Upper! 

My Heart Lives Here shared her French Bistro chairs… can you believe they are from Ikea?

Bird’s Party shared these DIY floral napkin rings. Aren’t they cute?

Betty, one of our Co-hostesses for the party at My Cozy Corner shared a pretty garden tour of all of her roses! They are beautiful!

If you were featured on the blog today (or on previous days) please feel free to grab my new “I was featured” button!  Either right click and download or copy and paste into your blog!

I was featured at Thursday Favorite Things Link Party co-hosted by Peonies & Orange Blossoms with main hostess at Katherine's Corner!

Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things! Last week we made a few changes to our wonderful party. We shortened the name, changed a few rules and we have some new images too. Join us every week as we party and share at the best link party in blog land!

Katherine-Katherines Corner 
Nina-Vintage Mama’s Cottage
 Debi- Surroundings by Debi
Marilyn- Marilyn’s Treats
 Angelina –Peonies and Orange Blossoms
 Shellie-The Fabulous Journey 
Rosemary-An Italian In My Kitchen
 Rina-I Thee Cook
Olivia-Reinvented Collection

It all starts with a SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

Please read the rules before participating, it will be a much more satisfying hop experience.
Please visit at less two links ahead of yours – Follow Your Hostesses-link to your post not your blog main page. -By sharing with us you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, and that we may use your photos to feature your post on social media, pinterest or as a feature on our blogs.

Have fun we look forward to all you will share. All of the hostesses are now selecting their favorites to share in features on their blogs each week. Share your best work


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French Style Houses… Part 2

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In my searches, I could not find a “French Provincial House” actually in France. That’s when I learned that is an Americanized version of French houses! Oh,  how much I don’t know about architecture!

French Provincial Style

Steep hipped roof

French windows and shutters

Usually symmetrical and square

Stately and formal

Often have high windows at the second level

 

This style was popularized in America in the 1920s when soldiers came home from France after WWI.  It seems to be closest to the French style house Maison de Maitre.

from Howard Design studio

 

 

by A. Hays Town, source

 

source

from Pak-Heydt

This is one of my all-time favorites… just so beautiful!  If I weren’t doing a Mas (French farm house) then I would do this!

French Normandy

The French Normandy style is similar to English tudor because the French Normandy region is close to England.  These houses have a round stone tower with a conical roof.  This tower is usually near the center and is usually the entrance to the home, but it may be off to the side.  Borrowed elements from French chateaus include steep roof pitches, high ridge lines and dormers.  Half-timber style is also in the French Normandy style house, aka the colombage style houses that are seen in England and France.

Below is an actual house in France.

Here is a French Normandy style with its conical shape roof to the right, but notice it has a mansard roof and also kind of looks like a chateau.

Below is an example of a half timbered house.  This is like the colombage style that is common in the Normandy region.

Hilton Vanderhorn Architects

 

source

French Eclectic

This is kind of a mishmash of French styles.  They are romanticized versions of French houses.  In general, this style has round dormers with oval windows, flared eaves, segmented arches, casement windows, shutters, and classic detailing.  For example, the house below is a prime example of French electric style!

Source – Cote de Texas

Another great example of French eclectic…  What is the style on the left side of the house? Looks almost Italian to me in the house below.  The front facade is French, the side… Italian?

source

You won’t see this type of house in France. But it is very cute!! I like the wood beams for the porch… they remind me of the ones I saw in Marie Antoinette’s Hameau.

by Ken Tate

Here is a very modern take on a French style house… definitely French eclectic!

 

So what style of house I am building?  When I started these posts I thought I was building a “French Country House”.  But after my study I learned, at least in terms of exteriors, there is no “French country” style house; it’s a made up term. I suppose, *technically*,  the house I will be building is a French eclectic style house.  However, I want it to look like a French Mas (farmhouse) or a French Chartreuse (elongated single story house out in the country).  Very confusing, isn’t it??
If you missed Part 1, you can read it here!

 

sources

http://www.dahp.wa.gov/styles/french-norman

http://www.dahp.wa.gov/styles/french-eclectic

 

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