{summer inspiration: a perfect picnic}

. . . if you have been reading for a while, you will know about a certain and undying love for summer afternoon picnics, as well as for the fun accessories that go along with such romantic afternoons, and this picnic hamper from spanish fashion label loewe could not be lovelier -- gold-rimmed china and gilded flatware, all held together with perfect pink accents -- add a little champagne and a dashing companion, and the world falls away . . .


{picnic basket, made to order from loewe.com}

{happy valentine's day}

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities."

~ janos arany

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

. . . a quick & fondest hello to wish you a day of fluttery happiness and whispered sweet nothings, candlelight and crème brulée, and best of all, time spent with those you love most . . .

à bientôt and a sweet & sexy valentine's day to you,
xoxo



giuseppe zanotti gold-heeled sandals | tom ford lipstick | silver mercedes | rosamosario lace corset | valentino nude studded handbag | ben-amun deco pearl drop earrings | h&m conscious collection dress | modcloth pearl glam necklace | little.lovely heart-shaped cookie | moët & chandon pink champagne | coral cupcake wrappers | kevin stone antiques & interiors chandelier | kate spade crystal saucers

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

{p.s.} thanks so much for all the lovely valentine's cards & well-wishes!


{top image: tumblr}

{photographer: michael paul, london}

. . . happened upon the portfolio of lifestyle photographer and london-based new zealander, michael paul, and fell in to a world of chevron floors and beds with silk canopies, champagne and pearls on gilt marble tables and the most beautifully atmospheric play of light and shadow . . .

{p.s.} you may have recognized some of these stunning rooms from the pages of vogue entertaining + travel, gourmet, martha stewart living, real simple, food and wine, vogue living, other favourites

{images: photography by michael paul discovered via the diversion project}

{scrapbook: a countryside picnic}

. . . spending most of our summer weekends away in the countryside, markets and antique shops on saturday mornings, leisurely dinners that last until nightfall and, most wonderfully, a summer picnic on a perfect july afternoon, deep green leaves flickering in sunlight, intermingling with battenburg lace and the scent of sweetheart roses, champagne and the glimmer of vintage cut crystal, fine floral print china and fresh strawberry tarts, and most of all, the air filled with a dreamy and magical light . . .

{p.s.} our last picnic

{images: photography by p & this is glamorous © august 2010, image five - excerpt from a quote by henry wadsworth longfellow, also used here}

{bonne fête de la bastille!}

. . . hello again! dashing about all week, meetings and appointments, the salon and late lunches and there are still a million things on the to do list, but it's summertime, summertime . . . and stopping in for a quick hello and also to wish all the beautiful friends and family in paris and the south of france a happy, happy fête nationale/bastille day!

hope you're having a spectacular week,
xo

{p.s.} a few fabulous french things:
* a fun app: for navigating the paris flea markets
* a shopping guide: for le marais

{images: 1 - kate spade ad campaign via the terrier and lobster; 2 - danske on flickr; 3 - etsy via creature comforts ; 4 - a previous post; 5 - kristatomic; 6 - we heart it}

{two lovely things: let's celebrate}

{two lovely things:} in a crisp white cabinet alongside glasses, china, and a crystal candelabra, or atop an ultra-modern & silver steel shelf, whether mixed or exclusively champagne, always lovely to have a place for summertime entertaining . . .

{also:} more ideas here & here & here

{p.s.} and while we're on the topic of champagne, had mentioned on twitter the other day that p had gone out last week to pick up a bottle, and returned {along with the champagne} with an ipad -- how lovely it is to view this site on it, and also looking forward to uploading favourite photographs, books, and the new gourmet magazine when it comes out

{images: belle vivir}

{two lovely things: champagne & lace}

{two lovely things:} whether a dreamily cozy reading corner or a wonderfully elegant dinner party, always drawn to that perfect shade of champagne, more lovely with utterly romantic bits of lace . . .

{p.s.} isn't it a brilliant idea to combine glass dinner plates and beautifully handwritten doilies as place cards?

{also:} until wednesday to enter the lace bangle set give-away . . .

wishing you the happiest of mondays,
xo

{images: living art & interiors; 2 - martha stewart weddings via the sweetest occasion}

{a sunny thursday afternoon}

. . . hello! a sunny spring afternoon and out the door for a late lunch, but wanted to stop in for a quick hello -- shall return later with more beautiful inspiration . . .

hope you're having a wonderful week,
xo

{p.s.} also:
* new -- warm & woodsy
* thanks ever so much for the lovely comments on the 10 things list

{images: 1 - the home within us by bobby mcalpine via greige; 2 - photography by patrick demarchelier}

{a little champagne + the winner is . . .}

. . . a quick hello on the way out the door and also sending along warmest congratulations to helena from london, winner of the lovely, lovely cable & heart bracelet give-away:

***congratulations, helena!***

thanks to everyone who entered and hope you're well,
xo

{images: via a glamorous little side project}

{inspiration: weekend brunch}

. . . whether Paris or New York, or a perfectly leisurely morning at home, one of the best things about weekends is late morning brunches -- strawberries and scones, chandeliers and carrera, mimosas and pretty gold-rimmed tea cups, and most of all, freshly baked and buttery croissants . . .

{p.s.} weekend wishes & a perfectly wonderful collection of links to follow -- check back if you like xo

{image: paris hotel boutique}

{wishing you a glamorous new year}

. . . last day of the year and a wild and wonderful whirlwind it's been -- thank you for coming along on this beautiful adventure -- there's so much to look forward to, but best of all, a brand new year filled with the promise of new beginnings . . .

wishing you a happy & glamorous new year, where ever you may be,
xo

{p.s.} as always, some things you may have missed:
* colour inspiration: hazy shade of winter
* two lovely things: chandeliers + party shoes
* at home with: elie saab, paris
* glamorous guide: champagne
* new year's inspiration: little white dress

{kate via a previous post; champagne via a previous post; also: chocolate champagne truffles in sparkling sugar}

{new year's inspiration: champagne}

. . . before the clock strikes midnight tonight, we will have toasted a glass {or two} of champagne, bidding farewell to one year, and welcoming a new . . .

"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!"

~ dom perignon, at the moment he discovered champagne

{a glamorous guide to champagne:}
champagne, a light sparkling wine made only in the champagne region of northeastern france, is different from all other sparkling wines in the world for three major reasons:
* a wine can only be labeled as champagne if it is made in the champagne region of france
* to be called champagne, it must be made only from the pinot noir, pinot meunier, or chardonnay grapes which grow in that region
* true champagne, as opposed to other sparkling wines, gets its bubbles by undergoing the fermentation process twice: once in barrels and again in bottles

{chilling}
* temperature determines the rate at which bubbles in champagne are released -- a bottle should not be opened at room temperature, as it will quickly froth up and go flat
* chill ideally to 40-45 °F {4.5-7 °C}, the lower temperature for parties and receptions where the room temperature is likely to rise
* chill champagne in a refrigerator for a couple of hours, but try not to leave it longer than a day, as the cork may stick or shrink
* emergency chilling in the coldest part of a freezer for 15 minutes is fine
* a bucket of ice and water (never just ice, as the water is essential for transferring temperatures) is still one of the best and quickest ways to chill a bottle of champagne, but faster still are the gel-filled jackets that are kept in the freezer and slip over the bottle for about six minutes

{opening}
* remove the foil to begin, or simply score around the base of the wire cage, then gently untwist the wire and loosen the bottom of the cage, but do not remove it
* holding the base of the bottle with your other hand, twist both ends slowly in opposite directions, backwards and forwards
* as soon as you feel pressure forcing the cork out, try to push it back in while continuing the twisting operation ever more gently until the cork is released from the bottle with a sigh, not a bang
* do not tilt the glass and pour gently down the inside, but top up each glass to between two-thirds and three-quarters full, and no more
* do not chill the glasses ahead of time, either by filling them with ice cubes or crushed ice, as it will have a negative effect on the release of the bubbles and the bouquet of the champagne

{glasses}
* a flute or a tulip-shaped glass is ideal, but nearly any vessel other than a coupe will do -- the wide, shallow coupe is the worst possible choice for champagne, as the mousse goes flat far too quickly and the wine's aroma can not be appreciated
* whatever glass shape used, the finer the rim the better
* if you have fine crystal, be sure to use it -- the irregularities in this elegant glass keep the bubbles alive longer

santé! / cheers!
xo

{images: 1 - scarlett johansson for möet et chandon; 2 - style me pretty; 3 - livingetc; more information: laurel hiestand, marie claire, bbc, tom stevenson's champagne & sparkling wine guide}

{scrapbook: a weekend in the country}

{a few photographs of our weekends away}

. . . while evenings in the city may be spent in heels and cocktail dresses, weekends away in the country are laid-back in a quilted Barbour and a pair of wellies, and after the apple orchards and pumpkin patches, the golden fields of wheat and rustling yellow leaves, a perfect afternoon for an autumn picnic for two . . .





{p.s.} and to p, thank you for making every moment feel like a dream, and for taking the most beautiful photographs

{all images by p + this is glamorous}