Hidden In France

Holiday spirit, and a book giveaway

Friday was that terrible shooting and I cried and cried. Then I made dozens upon dozens of lemon bars (my lemon tree is super generous this year). I put the lemon bars in pretty paper bags and gave them to everyone that crossed my path: neighbors, people my husband works with, friends.  I just wanted to give, and share, and feel connected to the human race, at least the part of the human race that doesn't SUCK. 

And then I decorated my house for the holidays:  Please notice below my Sapin de Noël is in good company between my buddha and my menora. 

 

Also, I'm giving away free copies of my novel Hidden in Paris, thanks to the smart and talented Véronique.  

Véronique is one of those impressive women able to turn a challenging life (moving from country to country with her two young daughters because of her husband's work) into a positive: helping other expats and writing books about the expatriate life.

How would you feel about not being able to set roots, or know for sure how much of your heart you can invest in any given country?  I would have a very hard time with this, personally.  Véronique recently published Finding your Feet in Chicago. If you're moving to Chicago or know someone who does, this is the book you absolutely need.

This week she is speaking about my novel and hosting a book giveaway, so check it out.

See what I mean about humanity that doesn't suck?

If you read French, check out Véronique's blog.  She has recently started over (again!) In Shanghai. I'm not sure she is enjoying her new Chinese life as much as I'm enjoying reading about it.  She comments on her Carrefour shopping (the equivalent of Vons or Ralphs in the U.S.), and explains that buying your fish involves having to catch it yourself armed with a fishnet as it swims inside a large aquarium. Or how picking your meat at the meat counter really means picking it: going at it with bare hands. Or how eggs are never refrigerated in Shanghai so every time she plans an omelet she wonders if she might find a baby chick while cracking the eggs over her pan. She tells of a couple and their two children entering the store on a moped  and with helmets on their heads and shopping for their groceries like this while no one else seems surprised.

I can't wait to read that book!

All right, I hope you're like these images of Noël.  Why do I not call it Christmas this year?  Out of respect for the people who want to keep 'Christ in Christmas.'  Yes.  I finally found a loophole around my guilt! (and more guilt here and here.) 

For picture credit please go to my holiday pinterest page here. The first two are mine. 

I'm leaving you with a quote from The Dog Stars, by Peter Heller.  It resonated with me, the idea of the heart bursting. Especially after the terrible tragedy of Thursday.  Do we even notice when our hearts are filled with love, or do we overlook it? Until something happens and we see what is lost.

 " I mean I felt my heart might just burst. Bursting is different than breaking. Like there is no way to contain how beautiful. Not it either, not just beauty. Something about how I fit..."

Have a wonderful end of the year, everyone.

Ma maison

These are random pretties around the house.

real branch, faux flowers

Euphorbia cut from the garden. I love the color.

Little things I buy for myself as a reward for going to the dentist (going this Thursday, yeah!)

Something fluffy wrapped around something hard for no reason at all.

Oh the irresistible charm of paper garlands, open and folded ones

C'est tout

Out of balance

Balance in my life where are you? Here is where i would like to live right now. In this very room. You can't lose your temper, be in a bad mood, or fret, or feel sorry for yourself in a room such as this one.

Thank goodness I'm off to see my friends Lenora and Robin for some therapy. I've been cranky as hell when I should be celebrating, and my bad mood adds to the guilt. What is wrong with me?! They will tell me for sure.

 

sexy rooms

Often after visiting decor8 I wonder why I blog at all.  Everything that I find beautiful and irresistible in decor and design is already there.  Here is an example:

My neurons go 'smack, crackle and pop' when I see this room.

ahhhh....

Ohhh...

This is what I love about those spaces: the imperfections, the mismatching, the noble surfaces and the eclectic and colorful objects.  I'm trying to track down where the photos are from.  Maybe I could move there?  Apparently it was found on this website in Swedish I'm unable to navigate, via this other site. 

High on Paris

I am spinning and loving it. Of course I do not mean spinning on those torture devices called stationary bikes.  In fact the only exercise I'm getting lately is to my fingers as I type and to my jaw as I munch on snacks. I mean my mind is spinning, I'm fully engaged intellectually and emotionally promoting my novel Hidden in Paris (in case you were hiding under a rock, on planet Mars.) I've received tons of emails and comments of encouragement, and I'm starting to get reviews and they are all GOOD! (thank you mom). Many bloggers have accepted to trade advertisement buttons with me, which is also GOOD and you'll start seeing them in the margin.  

I was particularly touched by a certain blogger, who who went out of her way for me, so let me tell you what she does.  The blog is called Une Petite Folie and the author of the blog, Linda Carswell lives in Tasmania but travels A LOT and I'm astounded at the beauty of her photography. But forget telling you. Let me show you.

There other thing that she is passionate about are miniatures, so if you're into the mini lifestyle you really should bookmark her site because it's shock full of the most delicate miniature house she is creating, as well as  mini rooms, mini furnitures, mini objects and even mini food.

On an embarrassing note:  The first edition of the novel has typos in it.  I knew it but I did not know where to find them.  Now I do... ahem.  Sorry guys, I'm fixing this.  If you get a copy of Hidden in Paris riddled with as many as twenty typos you can feel special because you know you are in possession of a first edition, (in case i become famous or something--doubtful, but hey, looking for a silver lining to this.) I know some will crucify me for this but what can they do to my sense of shame that I haven't done to myself already :(

The happy label.

How about some fearless interiors with colorful upholstery via living.com to illustrate my present mood?

I had such a great week. I was just in a good mood for no good reason at all. Having my life back is one awesomely good feeling!

And just as i write this I'm afraid to jinx it. Happiness can be a fleeting feeling.  Or so i have managed to convince myself. Because feeling happy these day is not as fleeting a feeling as it used to be.

Maybe i'm getting the hang of this mood thing?  

 

Colorful interiors

A really good week-end. My husband did not work. Amazing. I can count of the fingers of one hand how often that happens in a year.  He had in mind to plant a vegetable garden. It reminded me of 'if you give a mouse a cookie' story.  When he asked for the pic axe, I should have asked more questions.  

For years we had a minuscule plot of land inside a community garden.  We planted everything in that garden; corn, potatoes, of course tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, beets, broccoli, artichoke, stwawberry.  Well, we called them that.  A more exercised eye would have mostly seen crawling ants, worms, beetles, weeds and disease.  You sure had to close your eyes before you swallowed.  Oh it was organic gardening all right. 

The point was, we got closer to the land as the kids played in the grass, I napped and blew on dandelions and he used brute force, pic axes and shears. Whatever money we saved on veggies, we spent on gas and water trying (and failing) to clean the vegetables.  It was great.

So this week-end it was fun to watch my husband shlep flagstones and create this giant raised bed for vegetables.  

I must say, the more the raised bed took shape, the more a devious idea germinated in my head.  It would be absolutely perfect top make a small pond.  Well see if i can finagle something, I'll keep you posted. 

It was a beautiful week-end.  I love it, LOVE it,  when we don't leave the house and i get to watch le mari exert himself on something other than work.  He is so preoccupied so much of the time, present, yes, but unable not to let his mind wander elsewhere. I'm sure it is familiar to many.

I found those super colorful interiors in hey home.

Netherland interiors

Di did it again.  Who else in the room loves Designer's Block?  She must have small blogging angels whispering in her ears at all time.  I don't know where she finds the stuff.  One thing is for sure I know where I find my stuff.  Here is favorite images from Hotze Eisma in the Netherland.  Go to the site for photographer credit.

Why do I love this last room so much.  It's not me.  Or is it?  

Regression

I see myself as a multi-tasker.  I can write and listen to music while I eat and answer the phone.  I can clean while cooking while checking over the children's homework.  I can pay bills while listening to NPR while looking at blogs.

But I cannot multitask when my mother is in town.  When my mother is in town, I cannot sleep and dream at the same time.  I can not brush my teeth while watching myself in the mirror.  I cannot walk and chew gum.

I regress to a level of infantilism that is not to be believe.  I'm like a giant toddler with drool on my face. 

Bahhhhh Wahhhh.....

No connection with this whatsoever: 

I love Sandrine's kitchen (of Sunrise Hossegor)  She is a French lady with a boutique in the beautiful town of Hossegor who as decided that life is better when lived the Sunny Californian way.

So happy.  Your California is even sunnier than mine Sandrine.

Oh and by the way I say NO on 8!!!  there is this despicable commercial under my post.  No on 8 guys!  NO ON EIGHT!!!!!!!!

Those political adverstisments are starting to freak me out.  So one last time in case you had any doubt as to where I stand,  I say  NO on Eight and YES to the black man!

Marriage should be between two people willing to clean each other's vomit, wash each other'

s dirty socks, feed each other, love each other till death do them apart.

Designers Guild cure

Here in L.A. the sky is ominously darkened by the smoke of a distant fire and the air smells of judgement day.  The wind, cold and mean slithers under your skin. Palin and McCain are sounding increasingly like friends of the KKK, and the stock market is doing its mad Jekyll and Hyde thing.

I know only one recipe for me:  Designers Guild.  Works every time.  It's amazing how visual people can get a boost simply by looking at beauty.  Tell me if it works for you. 

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Just pretty things to soothe me.

Rather than giving you a lengthy and discombobulated post about the state of my in box (full) , my laundry basket (overflowing) and my nervous system (maxed-out).  I'll post a few images that give me joy and peace as well as the blogs that introduced me to them. 

My Notting Hill posted the image above found on Bolig and I loved that room instantly.  This is probably the most inspirational room to me at the moment.  That singe purple cabinet is so playful and original.

With my sister just about ready to give birth, (i can't wait!!) I've been looking at toys, and I remembered this post about Mia Wood  via british blog diva extraordinaire Di of Designers Block   (Who incidently made me laugh so hard with this post on How To Give Your Hair Body.)

Via now retired Smoke and Ochre (Browning is not gone thank goodness, she's here now on the blog FashionAbility.) i discovered the beautiful line of Kenzo Maison. 

If everything goes well for my beloved Omaba tonight, (if not I'll be too depressed to get out of bed.) I will show you what Catherine ended up doing with her well deserved prize money for winning the Domino magazine decorating contest.

You remember Catherine?  She did this:

and this:

mmm... I wonder what it will be.  

ciao for now.

More Desire to Inspire. More white.

British photographer  David Giles's website is teeming with gorgeous shots from interiors to still life.  Most are tiny (The large ones have a watermark.  Is david Giles trying to tell us he rather not have his work floating around cyber-space?)  Here are some of my favorite.  All found via, you guessed it:  Desire to Inspire.

 

This is where the parts come together.  I love it! 

I can't prove this shot was taken in the same house but they go well together.

Next time, more from David Giles.

Summer Retreat, beach house style

Missing summer already?

Maybe because I grew up in gray Paris, surrounded with antiques, draperies, year-round central heating and a lot of dust, I love a house where I can live barefoot, where I can go from swimming in the pool to making dinner without getting out of my wet bathing suit. I like my windows open, my floor mopable, my couches slipcovered. I don’t mind flies at all, and I actually like it when the kids throw balls inside the house, which is really an extension of the garden. Beach House Style, a delightful store in Fairfax California in Marin County represents the casual, unfussy style that gives a home the feel of year-long summer vacation. Here are photos taken from the the beach house style website.

Susan Delurgio & Alisha Peterson, the owners have contributed to the decoration of the Sunset Magazine's summer retreat, an idea I fell in love with at first sight. This is, to me the perfect concept for a summer house. Purchase a small piece of land in a place you adore, and live like artsy nomads.

An assortment of outdoor tents are arranged around the main structure, (the only solid tructure, the one with running water and electricity) were the kitchen and bathroom are. The construction cost is minimal, and the outdoor life is maximal. It’s unpretentious, inexpensive, adaptable and built with mostly green materials. I just love it. Click here for a virtual tour of the Sunset Magazine summer retreat.
Here are a few pictures

a house in france

Annie-Pierre and Jean Loup Moissonier’s house is featured on Cote Maison. The house was built originally in 1965 but it has been remodeled and modernized. I love the combo of ultra contemporary pieces with antiques. They apparently create furniture that can be found inside their Rue de L’université store, in the seventh arrondissement of Paris.

Additional pictures of the house can be found in Cote Maison's website: .

sandrine herlin

Here are photos taken from Sandrine Herlin's website. She creates tablecloths, curtains, bags, children decor etc... I love this tablecloth with removable silk flowers.

I adore those panels made out of linen.

She also makes pillows embroidered with linen, cotton and silk.