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| I ran across this Etsy website, and these beautiful images are burned into my mind forever — which is definitely not a bad thing, considering they're so amazing! I'd love to get several and line the hallway going up the stairs to my bedroom. Where would you showcase these stunning works of art in your own home? ~ Chelle |
Bonjour French Charmed readers! My name is Kambra, and I’m Chelle’s daughter. I just had the spectacular opportunity of visiting Paris for the first time ever, so my mom asked me if I’d do a few guest blogs and share my experience in the City of Love. Seeing as how the woman has gone on and on about how much she loves all things French since before I was even born, I couldn’t very well turn her down! And besides, I have much that I’m very excited to share with you all!
Even though August is the traditional month that most Parisians take their holiday (i.e. vacation, which therefore means many of the shops and cafés were closed) my sister, BreAnna, and I had a wonderful time and discovered many fantastic boutiques and places to eat. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Lotta & Djossou, a fabulous jewelry store located at 11 Rue Ferdinand Duval, was such a treat to find on a dreary, rainy afternoon. The handmade pieces cried out to us as we strolled by, and we couldn’t help but run in and try on about every single thing in the shop! I loved the silver feather bracelet in the window, while my sister opted to buy an elegant gold rope necklace.
Bonus: They wrap your purchase in such a pretty, reusable bag, that it’s like getting two beautiful things for the price of one!
Bonjour bloghearts! While sitting here sipping some cappuccino and checking my E-mail, I noticed that I received Club Monaco’s fall lookbook — and imagine my surprise when I saw that it’s Parisian themed! I’m so excited to see that the fashion world is experiencing the return of classic, feminine shapes (slim trousers, long skirts and lace are all over the runways — ooh la la!), and Club Monaco has done a fantastic job of capturing the wonderment of it all. In fact, my daughters are in the City of Love at this moment, and they say these outfits are exactly what Parisian women are wearing. So join me in sipping cappuccino, sit back and let these photos inspire your fall wardrobe!
~ Chelle
P.S. Stay tuned for a special “Straight From Paris” series written by my daughter, Kambra. She’s taking lots of photos and promises to share her Parisian experiences once she’s back in the States (I couldn’t very well ask her to step away from the excitement and write about it while she is there, could I??) Here’s hoping she found a few gem boutiques — and maybe a sexy Parisian boy so I can have French grandchildren! J
We are excited to show you the sweetest new treasures at French Charmed! Now days, most of us are on a pretty tight budget. We can only dream of decorating in that gorgeous Paris style. Once in a while we come across an affordable little treasure that can make a big statement. And, that is what we have found here. These darling little pillows are fabulous alone or grouped together on your favorite chair or sofa. We will be adding more designs of these little gems within the next several weeks. For now, you can find some of them on sale at our Pink Friday event on our website. Just click on the pillow above to find them. Have a lovely weekend! ~ Chelle
I’m not much of a baker, and it’s rare that you’ll even find me eating sweet treats (well, except during Shari’s Strawberry Pie month, when I’ve been known to down an entire 12-incher within 24 hours.... all by myself!), but I do occasionally whip up cupcakes for special occasions like baby showers and birthdays. I recently stumbled upon these absolutely adorable cupcake wrappers from Bake It Pretty that make even the most amateurish baked goods look straight out of a boutique cupcake shop. And wouldn’t they be perfect for a Parisian bridal shower or something of the sort? So delicate and feminine. Scrumptious!
Since my daughter moved to Hamburg, Germany, I’ve taken a little less time studying up on the shops and sights of Paris and spent a little more time doing the same thing for her German city. Don’t get me wrong: Paris will always and forever remain my true love — as well as the main attraction of this site! — but I have found that other places do have the occasional inspiring shop on the street, like this floral boutique/cafe called Himmel und Erde. Located on Hofweg in Hamburg, it never fails to bring a little spring in my step when I pass by.
Lying in the grass at the park today — feeling the thousands of blades of green on my bare skin – kind of made me wish I had thought to bring along a blanket to relax on... Which then got me thinking of all the summer quilts I have strewn about my place... Which then got me thinking of my couch and how I’ve always loved velvet covered furniture. Strange train of thought yes, but very parallel to how when you’re looking up at the clouds (as I was while lying in the park), each puff of white quickly transforms from one perceived shape to another. So I’d say the train of thought was quite fitting for the occasion, wouldn’t you? But back to the subject at hand: Velvet covered furniture. It has always made me feel regal, and considering I saw both a crown and a castle in the clouds today, it seemed a bit like fate was whispering for me to post this blog...
Ahhhh, what a fabulous long weekend!! It’s been a busy week here at French Charmed, especially as we’re still recovering from our Vegas trip for the Daytime Emmys! All in all, the Emmy weekend was filled with glitz, glamour and all the excitement we expected. And did you see Susan Lucci’s red carpet gown? The stunning Prada beauty was one of the best dresses of the night! (Though we have to say we were shocked that she wore black; she rarely does that!) The 4th of July weekend wasn’t nearly as glamorous but rather served as a refreshing and relaxing break spent with family and friends in celebration of our country. Those who founded the United States broke free from tradition and forged ahead with what then seemed like crazy, radical thoughts and ideas — which serves as perfect inspiration for us all as we embark on the future ahead. Break boundaries, stand up for what you believe in and never be afraid to speak up as loud as the roar of those firecrackers!
