Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

Each year as Halloween creeps closer and closer, I get more and more excited to make my annual pot of Rachael Ray's pumpkin black bean soup. A little spicy, a little creamy, a little pumpkiny, a lot delicious! It's been a  Hallow's Eve tradition of mine for several years now, and I hope it becomes one of yours, too! I follow Rachael's recipe, but I've found that the pot is a bit sweeter (just a play on words dears, not literally) when you add 1/2 tablespoon of pumpkin pie seasoning, an extra dash of cayenne and an extra drizzle of cream. Try it... if you dare!

Lady Love

Maybe it's the striking combination of soft-petal pink and shocking black, or maybe it's just because I'm instantly attracted to anything ladylike, but these latest creations from BCBG have me head over heels in lust. Can anyone say, "Ooh la la, lace-laden beauty?"

Spooktacular Decorating

Pumpkins spilling out of their patches, autumn leaves falling, children dreaming of candy... Yep, that means it's almost Halloween! And the best part of the chilling holiday (besides the yummy treats, of course) is the decorating! But what's a French Charmed reader to do when many of the ornaments out there seem a bit silly? No more than look at this blog, because we've done all the work when it comes to finding elegant ideas to spook up your pad this Hallow's Eve!

Photo credits from top to bottom: unpeudinspiration.blogspot.com, houseofsmiths.blogspot.com, houseofsmiths.blogspot.com, potterybarn.com, thisnext.com,cupcakesandcashmere.com, horchow.com, oregonlive.com, ralphlauren.com, countryliving.com, vintagemint.com

New Christmas Shoppe at Shabby Cottage Shops!

French Charmed is happy to be included in this years Christmas Shoppe!

Visit our New Christmas Shoppe at Shabby Cottage Shops, opening Oct. 21st.

We'll open our newest shop on October 21, next Thursday.

Please join us! Come peek inside our "Pinkalicous Christmas Shoppe!

You'll find a fabulous selection of unique treasures, one of a kind gifts,

Christmas cards and gift tags, handpainted roses, jewelry, handpainted furniture,

holiday home decor, and so much more for everyone on your Holiday shopping list!!

Browse our chic boutiques and discover the treasures you'll find for this year's

Holiday gift giving season at Shabby Cottage Shops, its where the finest boutiques gather!



Passport To Paris: Rendezvous With Kambra, Part Three

Bonjour again French Charmed readers! Did you miss me?! I promised I'd be back to share a quirky, fun day trip a local Parisian took my sister and I on while we were visiting The City of Love in August. It's definitely not your average tourist experience, but rather some charming spots enjoyed by locals. And really, what better way to experience a city than how the people who live there enjoy it? As they say, when in Rome!

xoxo,
Kambra

Our little adventure began at Arnes de Lutece, a 1st-century amphitheater where circus acts and gladiatorial contests happened back when Paris was a Roman civilization. It's mostly used by children for baseball and other playful activities these days, but you can definitely envision the spectacular history that must have taken place there while standing within the round.

This sweet little jazz record store is just steps from Arnes de Lutece, and it's definitely worth a gander. What's a trip to Paris without a little music purchase?

Just a few minutes walk from Arnes de Lutece lies the National History Museum (Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle). We didn't have time to go inside, as we spent most of our time wandering the beautiful gardens located in the back of the building! What's more, the site also offers a fun menagerie!

Naturally, we were starving after our walk through the gardens, so we stopped for tea and dinner at La Mosquee, which is a fabulous Moroccan restaurant with the most unbelievably delicious desserts! Obviously, it's not traditional French food, but it's nice to have a variety of meal options when you're visiting a foreign country for several days!

Sweet, sweet tea that lingers on your tongue with a faint scent of flowers and honey.

Delicious rabbit Tangine with prunes and pine nuts.

These desserts were seriously the most amazing thing we ever tasted. And the restaurant generously lets you pick a small variety!

Hodge Podge

It's really unbelievable to me that one of my daughters is wrapped up in a fur coat in Germany while the other was just recenlty sweltering in nothing but a cami and boy shorts in 112 degree heat in LA! The weather this year has been so completely random, so I thought I'd take a cue and post some random inspirational pics I've recently run across. (And by the way, in case you're wondering, it's been pretty dang hot here, too!) The photo above has been sitting on my desktop for months, just waiting to be shared with you. So thank you, weather, for giving me a chance to clear my desktop!

This is a chandelier (yes, really!) from Hudson that I find to be absolutely stunning. A little gothic, but can you imagine the unusual and mesmerizing shapes of light it would cast on your walls, especially if said walls were painted in a rich, vibrant hot pink or red?

This sweet little closet belongs to pop tartlet, Miley Cyrus. Lucky girl, right?

There's something about this look that makes me want to just get up and dance. So feminine, so playful, so completely adorable.

 Photo credits from top to bottom: Pinewood Designs UK, Hudson Furniture, Life In A Venti Cup, Perfect Bound.

Calling All Shopaholics!

 

Cancel any weekend plans you might have: Saks Fifth Avenue is having a special giveaway shopping event you won't want to miss! The iconic department store is offering this Alice + Olivia sequined scarf with any $250 purchase from Thursday, September 30, through Sunday, October 3. We found a gazillion items that are worth a splurge in order to get our hands on one of the scarves. Here are a few of our picks. And happy shopping!

ABS sequined tank dress

Aldan Mattox sequined dress

Akris Dalmation-print Bolero jacket

Alice + Olivia sequin jacket

Alexander McQueen fringed wool sweater

Sleeping In

Today is just one of those days where I didn't want to get out of bed but rather just wished I could snuggle in the sheets forever. Nothing is more comfortable or satisfying than lounging in your boudoir, and that can be said even when other fun things are calling. I took a few extra minutes to revel in the warmth and comfort of my bed for just a little longer than I should have this morning, and I encourage you to do the same! Sweet morning dreams. xoxo, Chelle

Photos: This Is Glamorous