{lost in love and chicago}

While it may be true that shall never tire of Paris or the south of France, always ready for new adventures and sometimes fun to go somewhere completely different, and on the last long weekend of the summer: The Windy City . . .

. . . despite there being not much use outside the hotel lobby for gold strappy heels, sequined jackets, and silk and linen dresses -- all of the things in my carrying cases -- there were, happily, fresh lake breezes and miles of beaches, afternoon boat rides and expansive parks, marble fountains, and art and architecture . . .

cloud gate, outdoor sculpture by british artist anish kapoor


endless summer, navy pier

toasted coconut & strawberry marshmallows

dusk

frank gehry-designed jay pritzker pavilion in millennium park

cocktails + view from the ninety-sixth floor

the modern wing of the art institute of chicago, designed by pritzker prize–winning architect renzo piano, whose work includes the centre georges pompidou in paris; the art institute's impressionist & postimpressionist collection is considered the most important outside of france

buckingham fountain, made of pink marble and modeled by edward bennett after the latona basin at versailles


afternoon on the water

{and afterall:} pink cotton candy, afternoons along the beach and on the water, a late-summer picnic, sipping champagne in the courtyard of the art institute by moonlight -- and especially -- all the time in the world together on the last long weekend of the summer . . .

{images: 6, 12, 13 - this is glamorous; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 - p for this is glamorous; 10 - via renzo piano}

Un échantillon

I'm still trying to get all of the Paris photos organized but thought I would post a few. The above shot was taken on the boat where we stayed. I'll do an entire post dedicated to that place, it deserves it.

Monsieur Papparazo

Spotted: K leaving Nashville for a quick jaunt to Paris. Will she find love in the City of Lights or will she never eat a baguette again?

Paris

Right now I don't have the words to describe how amazing Paris was. I had hoped and dreamed of seeing the city my entire life and it was even more than I had expected. I have to go back.

J'appartiens là.

The City of Lights

I'm off to Paris for the week! Au revoir!

(Photo via Etsy)

Le chocolat

I'm in love with this little French sweet shop, A La Mère de Familee. Possibly one of the cutest websites I've ever seen.


(Via Design*Sponge's Paris City Guide)

Livre

A good friend let me borrow this book and now I don't want to give it back. The photos and illustrations are breathtaking.

A Cause Des Garçons

I love some Yelle.


Yelle - A Cause Des Garcons - Click here for more amazing videos

Oh my

Paris? Oui!

(Photo via Style and the City)

Oh la la

Lunch on the Seine sounds fabulous.

(Photo via This is Glamorous)

Paris: Made By Hand

Here.

Paris, I love you

You wanna see my view of Paris?

Bonjour, Hotel Raphael.

Amour Dior

Ladurée

Macaroon anyone?


(Photo 1 via Flickr, photo 2 via Flickr)

Mediterranean hopes and dreams...

This gave me an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia for Greece.

(Via ffffound via The English Muse)

Merci

Visit Merci here.

Bonjour

Leaving

apartment therapy

I am leaving in the morning for a little vacation.

It is my mom's 35th high school reunion and I am her date. It will be an 8-10 hour drive and we leave in about 8 hours. I have not packed. My laundry is on the bed waiting for my tired hands to fold them, hang them up, decide which of my cottony, heathered loves will be my roadtrip companions...



Which grey shirt do I bring... which do I leave? Over half of my shirts are grey... well, I take that back, the other half are gray (did you see what I did there?)

Well, I am feeling grey, and gray.


gray ruffle top by lirola

I can't decide if I should take the little chitlens with me. Do I leave them? My hubs offered to watch them both so I could get away. My first thought, "ca-CHING!" "oh, how liberating!" He explains, "I would love to experience being a full time stay at home dad by myself for a couple of days". {swoon}

Do I deprive him of that opportunity? (esp since the dishwasher is broken?)


sadie olive photography... awe!

To be fair on both of us, we worked out that I would take the older since he would enjoy seeing the great grandparents, and the younger would stay with hubs. So, while putting the younger down in the crib tonight, I could barely let him go knowing I wouldn't see him awake again until Monday! No!!!!!

Well, I have to pack and then I have to go to sleep, and wake up early and prepare food and such for the drive. How am I to pack when I don't even know if I will be taking a child with me? My husband keeps telling me, sweetly, softly... hintingly... "uh, honey... don't you need to go pack, it's 11:20pm?"

Such a tough decision. I suppose, we shall see in the morning. It will be a parting of many hugs and kisses.


pillows by emily peacock tapestry

See you all on Monday!