Marie's Marché

Au Revoir et Bonjour!

2009-10-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Just want to say "au revoir" to Marie's Marché as I have moved to a new blog.

And say hello to mon nouvelle blogspot at Marie's Maison. Please stop by and say "Bonjour!"

Pardonnez Moi!

2009-09-25T08:59:00.001-07:00

Pardon my dust everyone! I know, I know...it's been too long, and again forgive me for not being around but I'm still really super duper busy. I've started a huge remodel project this summer and it's just taking too long already.

You see, we've decided to convert our detached garage in the back to une petite guest cottage. So we, like the rest of the American families out there, have to move all the junk out of the garage and find storage for it.

Why lookie here...an open space!!!

So, I found this cute storage shed at Lowe's and thought...why, we could build that! Looks easy right?

Well, of course not...it came in a million little pieces like these!

But mon cheri and moi persevered and here it is...ta-dah!

In addition, we also used the space to build a veggie garden. (Yeah I know, mon cheri is just unbelievably becoming such the handyman!)

He built the two planter boxes from scratch. And...he planted all kinds of veggies for fall harvest!

And now, we're ready to start working on the garage conversion. When tackling huge projects like these, who do we call??? O C T A V I O!!! I've bragged about this super carpenter here before. He built our laundry/mudroom addition and remodeled our master bedroom/bath en suite.

So here's the before of the garage space taken 4 weeks ago.

And we're now past the framing stage.

But will probably take about 4 - 5 more weeks to final completion. I'm really excited though to show the finished look to everyone. So again, pardon my dust for not being around le blog world. Thanks for your patience and hope you stay tuned...

Au Revoir Summer!

2009-09-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Allô! C'est moi, Marie. It's been a few weeks since I've last posted and visited blog-o-sphere. It's also been a long hot summer, even here in coastal South 'O'. Life's been hectic both at my day job and house remodeling. But what remains constant is that I've been enjoying browsing through all my favorite blogs even if I haven't been leaving any comments. I know what everyone's been up to and all the creative things some of your brilliant minds have accomplished.

Another thing that has not changed is how I've been enjoying life here in our new hood...it'll be a year in three days since we've moved here, and mon cheri and I are still not bored. Aside from these mosquito suckers that's been nibbling my legs (ha!ha!), living here is like a vacation. We have the beach of course, Downtown Carlsbad Village, and recently discovered Buena Vista Lagoon which is home to ducks, amphibians, reptiles, and all kinds of birds. Mon cheri and moi still have to hike the trail, just when I get the courage that I might encounter some scary monster and not panic.

Depending where you are in our un petit globe, summer is ending where I am, so we've been trying to enjoy the 72 to 77 degree water temperature. Last night, around 6 pm, mon cheri and moi tried shore fishing for the first time.

Here are some photos of our sunset shore fishing:

My very first catch, a tree branch (what...where did that come from?)

Am proud of Mon cheri who caught a 5 pound seaweed (ha!ha!)

We tried till the sun went down, but no luck (btw, it's bad luck to say "goodluck" to a fellow fisherman...we just learned that last night).

Can you believe that bath water like temperature...seldom in the Pacific Ocean.

Lastly, I wanted to let you know that the International Coastal Clean Up Day is Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. If you care about the ocean, sign up here. It will only take a little bit of your time, so volunteer...mon cheri et moi will be there!

Lazy Days of Summer

2009-07-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Cheerio! First of all, je suis désolé for not being a good blogger and follower this past few weeks. I've been enjoying summer too much (can't help it, I was born in the summer) that all I wanna do is bum around at the beach and be lazy. Someone told me I'm turning too "brown" already.

Anyhow, I'm still here, haven't abandoned my blog friends, just being carefree lately. But here are a few beachy inspirations in case you want to keep cool during the summer heat.

STAY COOL MES AMIS!

Before and After - French Inspired Little Girl's Bedroom

2009-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

When I found out that my brother and his wife were going to have bébé numéro deux, I volunteered to redesign their guest bedroom and turn it to a little girl's boudoir, which I blogged about here. That project is finally completed and here are some before and after photos.

Before - This is the wall that you see when you first enter the room, that AC unit is just an eyesore isn't it?

After - I covered the AC unit with an open frame I bought at Aaron Brothers and painted it pink. I created a temporary inspirational collage, which my brother and my niece can replace later if they decide to paint a personal artwork together

Before - The guest bed

After - I accented the mint green wall by painting pink picket fence stripes. I applied the decal of "girl skywriter plane" (purchased at Etsy), which I thought was perfect because my niece's name happens to be Sky. Added the shooting stars, clouds, birds, etc.

Added a pair of glass beaded pink wall sconces

Here's little Miss Sky on her new daybed. The daybed has a trundle for future sleepovers. The bedding is also French toile.

Every room needs a seating area, so here's a mini club chair with ottoman in pink french toile fabric. This chair and ottoman was bought at Bellini Baby and was the inspiration for the room's theme.

Here she is reading

Before - another bland wall in the room

After - A pink Paris clock and a Paris map french memo board

Before - Sheer curtains covered this window

After - Pink stripes and toile window valance with a pair of pink drapes

Before - Wall with a 20 year old TV

After - A new 32" flat panel TV in white. My brother still has to install the white moulding to hide the cords.

Here are a few more changes/details to the room:

Replaced the ugly ceiling fan with dainty Pink beaded chandelier

Converted this tole painted chest...

To this pink toy chest. It reads "My treasure, the stars"

Here's a cute pink and green hamper also purchased from Bellini Baby

Converting this guest room to Sky's mini boudoir is definitely a family effort. Her parents, mon cheri, her grandparents, her little cousins, her aunties, and even she, contributed in every aspect of completing this project. It sure was fun, even though the weather in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley was 108 degrees. I hope this weekend is something she remembers for a long time, and most importantly persuades her to sleep in her very own room.

P.S. Here's a photo that my brother just sent me. Looking at this makes all my hard work absolutely worthwhile! It just melts my heart.

Midsummer's Fête

2009-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm hosting a midsummer's fête for my OW post today. Won't you come and join me, s'il vous plaît?

Bienvenue mes amis!

Let's go through this path so we can stop and smell the sweet scent of my summer roses

Have you seen my new garden bed? That bedspread is made of variegated alyssum.

And here's my recycled water fountain. The birds luv it!

Pardon the mess...a gardener's work is never done

Let's have an intimate chat over tea here in my garden shed...

Or maybe here?

Maybe you'd prefer a cold glass of lemonade and lounge on the patio instead?

Shoes are really not required here...let's just kick it!

Let's wait for a few more friends...they are free to sit anywhere, either at this romantic pastel table setting

Or under the bird nests

Maybe sit at this rustic green arrangement

We can also sit and wait with my lab Henri

Oh you said this shaded mediterranean setting is more your style?

Well, I'm more of a romantic myself

And after lunch, let's all gather here and enjoy each other's company! Girly gossip, anyone?

(all photos above courtesy of House to Home, BHG, and Country Living)

It's getting really hot, even here in the coast, so I've been delirious lately. But seriously, Susan and all OW participants, wouldn't it be nice if we could all meet up someday??? It would be a blast!!!

Cute Container Gardens

2009-07-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

Who says you need a big backyard to have adorable garden spaces??? Just leave it to your imagination...the possibilities are endless! Happy gardening mes amis!

Photo source above unknown (pardon)

above 6 photos from Sunset Books

By the way, je m'excuse for my lack of posts and for missing out on commenting on blogs I follow. I've been a clutter brain lately...been enjoying le soleil and la mer too much so it's getting on my head.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer as much as I am!

Walk by iPhotos of Neighborhood

2009-07-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

Mon cheri upgraded his iPhone to the new 3GS version, so lucky me, I of course inherited his 3G version of the iPhone. One of the best things about owning the iPhone is I can take impulsive acts of shooting random photos. For example, last weekend while walking our pups in the neighborhood, I had a chance to take photos of some of my fav houses within 3 blocks from my home.

Here are my pups Simba (big), Maxx (medium), and next door neighbor's dog Nacho (small). They look related somehow because of the color of their coats but they are all different breeds.

Most of the homes in my neigborhood are modest size, beach cottage style that look like these:

But as the old/original owners move out and sell, all of a sudden houses get remodeled, renovated and resized. The photo below was originally only 700 sq ft. Now, this beautiful home located on my block is over 2400 sq ft.

One of our fav places to walk to is a street that ends on the Carlsbad lagoon located three blocks from our house. There's mon cheri and Simba enjoying the view.

This very charming house is located right next to the lagoon.

J'adore how the owner accessorized the house with whimsical outdoor decor.

Here's another charming house that is also situated next to the lagoon across the street from the house above.

And here are a few more homes that are on the same street of that lagoon.

This house is just plain enormous with a four car garage.

And a massive entry gate.

I guess one of the reasons j'adore mon nouvelle neighborhood is the variety of styles of houses, dating from the 1920's to present. It really is a lot more exciting than the master planned

community suburban neighborhood mcMansion we used to live in.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July celebration!

(photos above from countryliving.com)

(photo from BHG.com)

To my friend Susan from a Southern Daydreamer and all the OW participants, be safe out there!

A Balloon Ride to Paris!

2009-06-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday week and don't I wish I could celebrate mon anniversaire this way!

I'm taking a blog break so I can have a birthday celebration ala parisian!

(Courtesy of Bella Pilar)

Last but not least...happy OW to Susan from a Southern Daydreamer and to all the OW participants!

Chin-chin!

Parisian Macaron Sighting

2009-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

As I was perusing my May edition of Sunset magazine, I read an article about the "Best Pastry Shops" that serve Parisian style macarons. To my surprise, one shop is located here in San Diego, called Opera. The first chance I got, talked mon cheri into visiting the patisserie and we were not disappointed. Of course, I whipped out my new iPhone (woohoo), and took a bunch of photos!

Here's their menu board

The counter/cash register

They sell these cups

The patisserie's interior decor

After the trip to Opera Patisserie, I went to my scheduled facial at my favorite day spa in my neighborhood called Serenity. Since I have my new iPhone (woohoo) with me, also took photos to show how quaint and lovely it looks. Although not your typical luxurious/commercial spa...Denise (the aesthetician and co-owner) is the best, and uses the best product (Decleor from Paris)! This is exactly my type of spa, just sweet and serene.

Le bon week to all!

Le Shade Romantique

2009-06-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've been a lazy blogger lately...all I wanna do is play outdoors. Well, summer is here in sunny coastal Carlsbad so I'm just dreaming about sooooo many backyard projects and host my outdoor housewarming party already. Mon cheri and moi will attempt to build something like the inspiration photos below this weekend.

From Sunset mag

From Marie Claire et Maison

Via Daisy Pink Cupcake

Via My Lovely Four Seasons

From Country Living

Au revoir for now, I'm off to soak up le soleil!

Before and After Backyard

2009-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last week, I posted a before and after photos of my front yard here. Today, I wanted to share some photos of the progress on our back yard. And since j'adore seeing before and after transformations, you'll see some random b/a projects then the last photos are from my own backyard.

European Theme Backyard ~ Before

After

Beach Theme Backyard ~ Before

After

(Photos above courtesy of HGTV.com)

My backyard ~ Before (a bit tired and dull)

After

Remember my post from last week about the Blessed Mary? Here is the result of that project...my new Mary garden.

I found this Our Lady of Lourdes grotto statue at an antique shop in Solana Beach. The back of the statue has a trademark that reads "Panna & Co 1922". Does anyone know about this company? Just curious because I really want to know the origins of this statue.

Isn't she lovely?

My patio

Newly planted Manila Mango tree. Hmmm...maybe after 20 years, we'll have some tasty fruit

Do you see the wee birdie perching on the branch?

Following the same wee bird now searching for food on the ground

And the same wee bird now bathing on the top right side. Finches j'adore this fountain!

I'm really luvin' mon petit jardin right now. Especially mon cheri and moi did most of the work ourselves. Still have a lot to do like replacing the fence, etc. but for now, we're both happy with the results!

And for more outdoor inspirations, let's visit Ms. Susan, our lovely host of OW!

Random Things About Moi!

2009-06-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

Some of you may find my post for today's Postcard Friendship hosted by Marie from Cpaphil Vintage Postcards interesting (again, some). Pourqoi, you may ask? Well, it's because I'm supposed to reveal a few things about myself since I've also been tagged by Christine from Christine's Home and Travel Adventures.

These are my own three postcards that I wanted to share with all the PFF participants, to show everyone the place I currently call home. When I first started blogging, I talked about my new neighborhood here and here. This quiet beach is called Cassidy (to locals) or Buccaneer located in South O, California, where the weather is almost always perfect any time of the year.

Regarding the tag, there are certain rules to follow:

1. Mention the person (or people) who tagged you. 

2. Complete the list of 8's.

3. Tag 8 other bloggers and let them know they have been tagged.

So Ms. Christine, thanks for tagging me and here are my responses.

8 things I am looking forward to: 

- Vacation, any kind, even a mini one; meeting my daughter anywhere I can during her free time; decorate my fav niece's bedroom as girly as can be; my brother's new baby due in September; my birthday; finishing up my backyard project; hosting a housewarming party in our new home; escaping to a nice spa with mon cheri for relaxation.

8 things I did yesterday:

- Went to work; went to a threading expert for my eyebrows (surprisingly better than waxing); went to the Bath and Body semi-annual sale; walked my pups; planted blue and white agapanthus, white hydrangeas and gardenias; watched the finches bathed on my fountain; and had chinese food with mon cheri for dinner.

8 thing I wish I could do:

- Quit my job; own a tea shop; travel to France, Japan and China to learn about tea so I can sell them in my tea shop; find a nice and handsome boyfriend for my daughter; take my mom and daughter on a nice European vacation all expenses on me; my brother and his family live closer to me; mon cheri's brother and his family live closer to us; expand the tea shop I'm dreaming about to a bed and breakfast and have my best friend manage it.

8 shows I watch:
-So You Think You Can Dance; House Hunters International; Mad Men; American Idol; Amazing Race; Grey's Anatomy; random shows on the Travel Channel; random shows on Bravo TV

8 favorite fruits:
-Mango; cantaloupe; asian pear; seedless grape; banana; fresh lychees; really sweet fresh pineapple; sweet cherries (yellowish red)

8 places I'd like to travel:
-Paris (mais oui); Giverny; Normandy; Barcelona; Seville; So Beach Fl; Bahamas; Tokyo

8 places I've lived:

-Manila, Philippines; Los Angeles, California; Providence, Rhode Island; San Diego, CA (only lived in four)

8 people I have tagged (I would luv to learn things about you, but only when you have the time to participate as I know how tedious this can be):
- Bonjour Madame; Une Petite Folie; Luphia Loves; Ala Parisienne; Completely Coastal; Miss Kris; Cpaphil Vintage Postcards

Merci beaucoup for reading this post et bon weekend!

Blessed Mary Garden

2009-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

As I obsess about designing our backyard, one important thing that I would like to incorporate is a Mary garden. Wouldn't it be nice to have a statue of the Blessed Mary and honor her in one part of the garden? I think it would also bring a peaceful and meditative element to the yard. Here are some photos I found:

(most photos above courtesy of Catholic Home and Garden; others unknown)

Now let's head on over to Susan from A Southern Daydreamer to see what other OW participants have shared for us!

A Little Girl's Boudoir

2009-06-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

My brother and sis-in-law are going to have their bébé numéro deux in September. Which means my poor little niece, Sky, will be displaced from her bedroom and on to another room in their house. Because I'm such a nice Aunt (applause sil vous plait) to my little niece, I volunteered to transform her future room to a sweet and beautiful space she can call her own. I was looking for inspiration and found a few that I know she would luv.

J'adore these french themed rooms!

Pink and sophisticated theme

Cozy cottage theme

Princess theme

Young bohemian theme

Chocolate and cupcake theme

Whatever design I come up with, I'll make sure to incorporate this pink cuteness in "her highness'" room :)

(all photos courtesty of BHG, Pottery Barn, Country Living, Design to Inspire, Daisy Pink Cupcake, HGTV, House to Home)

I'm so excited, and mais oui, just like her aunt, she must have her very own boudoir!

A Postcard for You!

2009-05-28T20:07:00.000-07:00

Mon ami Marie, from Vintage Postcards in France is hosting a fun party post called Postcard Friendship! What an awesome idea, especially for those of us who enjoy friendship and traveling.

Here's my postcard to share. It's from my favorite salon de the, voila, le Laduree shop in Paris!

Let's all pour a cup o' tea and enjoy bite of macaron, then meet all the participants from Marie's Postcard Friendship!

Bon week-end mes amis!

Before and After Front Yard

2009-05-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

J'adore looking at before/after (b/a) photos. So for self-amusement (and hopefully for my readers as well), I will be posting a series of b/a of other homes, then compare it to the b/a of my own home. It's amazing how a little bit of TLC and DIY can transform a home!

BEFORE - overgrown front yard

AFTER

BEFORE - same overgrown yard but looking from a different view

AFTER

BEFORE - charming but a bit plain

AFTER

BEFORE - same house with too much grass

AFTER

(all photos above via HGTV.com)

BEFORE - my own home's front yard but prior to purchase

AFTER - added a picket fence and arbor

AFTER - changed paint color to Tiffany Blue and added lavender and rosemary plants to front of picket fence

AFTER-Removed the King Palm and replaced with Willow Tree

AFTER - planted jasmine vines around arbor

AFTER - accessorized the porch with urns and statues

For my own home, I was going for more of a romantic beach cottage look rather than a tropical one. Hope you enjoy this post...more to come!

Outdoor Shower

2009-05-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is here, I've been thinking about installing an outdoor shower in our backyard. Because mon petite maison is only 8 blocks from the beach, and both mon cheri and moi are avid beach goers and boogie boarders, I'm trying to convince him that an outdoor shower is a must! Here are some inspiring ideas:

All these outdoor showers are great, but I'll probably end up doing something like this~

Well, it's OW once again and merci to Susan from a Southern Daydreamer for hosting this fun post! Time to check out what other OW participants have posted this week.

You Rock Garden!

2009-05-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

As we get closer to completing our landscaping project, mon cheri and moi went to visit a local natural stone/boulder supply company. This site has acres of endless style of natural stones, pebbles, rocks, boulders, etc. For me, it's always fun to tour a site like this.

Here's the beautiful pond that greets you right at the entrance of KRC Rock

A beautiful selection of gravel and pebbles

Boulders in the background

I like this bench made of natural slate

We ended up choosing this gravel called Mojave, 5/8 in size. I like the way it sounds when I'm walking on the path. It reminds me of the gravel when you first enter the palace of Versailles.

There's my garden bench which I just painted Tiffany Blue

And here are my newly planted assortment of mophead hydrangeas...grow baby grow!

We have so much plans for our backyard, but for now, as far as I'm concerned, my garden rocks (ha!ha!).

Happy OW everyone! Don't forget to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and all the OW guests.

Guest House

2009-05-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

My very talented Aunt, the best designer,(whom I've mentioned here) recently renovated her home and converted two of her rooms to a very private guest house. The entrance is completely separate from the main house so anyone staying there has a complete privacy. How stupid of me, I forgot to take photos! However, here are some guest houses that j'adore to be invited in.

Exterior

Interior

Exterior (quel cute!)

Interior

Exterior (ala Arabian Nights)

Interior

Exterior (if you're looking for adventure)

Interior

Exterior (my fav!)

Interior (la salon/chambre)

Interior (kitchenette/sink)

(All photos courtesy of Marie Claire Maison)

I'm so ready to be invited!

Fashionable Ways to Organize Jewelry

2009-05-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

J'adore jewelry! And I think it's fun to display them out in the open instead of hiding them inconspicuously inside a jewelry box. Here are a few creative fashionable ways to show off your jewels!

(photos above via Luphia loves; Decor Amor; Daisy Pink Cupcake; Belle Maison ~ Merci Ladies!)

Here's how I display my own:

Bon Fashionable Week-end mes amis! Check out Ms. Fifi Flower's Fashionable Friday post today!

An English Garden

2009-05-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, mon cheri and moi went to visit my mother-in-law and had a nice brunch in her garden. Believe me when I tell you that her garden has got to be one of the most lush garden I've seen around the neighborhood. It's so lush it's like a park or sort of an English garden (which is appropriate because her last name is English). I took some photos to share with OW participants.

The big koi pond:

The chicken coop (she has two hens that lay eggs non-stop)

The small fish pond

And here's her well behaved pup who is being tempted with a plate full of bacon and sausage

Happy OW to Susan from A Southern Daydreamer and to all the OW participants!

French Flavored Rooms

2009-05-11T09:42:00.001-07:00

It's Monday morning...blah! I thought I'd share some inspirational rooms with French Flavor to you all. I'm considering it the cure for the first day the of the week blahness. Je suis enchanté!

A dramatic entrance for the foyer

Living/conversation rooms

My ideal breakfast room

Reading Nook

Sleeping quarters

Office for creative inspiration

(most photos from BHG.com)

Ahh oui, don't I know how to daydream!

Jour Pour Les Mères

2009-05-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is this Sunday. Wouldn't it be the most fashionable gesture if I could take ma mère to Laduree in Paris and have tea and macarons with her at my two favorite locations?

I would have her pick her present. She loves candles:

Or anything that smells good like this powder puff

Or parfumerie

But because the economy is tres mal and je suis le broke, I'm going to celebrate Mother's day with her locally. We will have tea instead at this wonderful place in West Los Angeles area on Abbott Kinney Blvd called Jin Patisserie

What are your plans for Mother's Day?

Whatever they are, I wish you all a very happy and fashionable Momma's Day!

Come join me at Fifi Flowers to see what's Fashionable there this Friday.

Bonne weekend!

Outdoor Inspirations

2009-05-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

Living in coastal sunny San Diego, we are blessed with très beau temps all year long. For this reason, I would like to take advantage of being able to start living outdoors. However, our backyard is in no shape or form for us to enjoy and relax, so our next big project is to put together an outdoor room that hopefully will look like a combination of the photos below:

All photos courtesy of Country Home Magazine

Looking forward to seeing what other OW participants have to share!

Happily Ever After

2009-05-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mon Cheri et moi are celebrating our wedding anniversary today. I thought the title above is so appropriate since in our bedroom we have a sign that shows this:

I thought for this post, I would like to state the "Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Mon Cheri"

1. You let me paint our entire house the color I love...Tiffany Blue

photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore

And gave me a matching key to unlock it

2. You travel the globe with me even though I know how much you hate flying.

3. You are an awesome poet! Poem below from Mystic Nebula

4. You put up with moi even during my yelling/screaming and lunatic cycles

And make bugs go away for me

5. Finally, you gave me une magnifique happily ever after!

Remember the song we picked on our wedding day? Here it is in French and I still feel the same way :)

Photo of necklace above via KissMeJewelry on etsy. The very talented jewelry maker is from Portugal.

Mon Cheri, thank you for being my Romeo, my Noah and my Mr. Darcy!

Bonne Anniversaire Mon Amour...Je t'aime beaucoup!

Je rêve de Paris

2009-04-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

All that talk and travel about Paris by Fifi Flowers, Bonjour Madame and Miss Kris is making me miss my favorite city. So I dug up some photos taken in Paris and strolled down memory lane. Here are a few fashionable places (in my opinion) that I never fail to visit.

Galeries Lafayette at Haussman Blvd photo taken at Christmas time. That view from the top of the building and that glass dome...ooh la la!

Shopping for macarons at Laduree in Saint Germain Des Pres

This is the Louis Vuitton building on Champs Elysees. During this time, they had scaffolding around the building and covered it with guess what...their LV trunk!

This photo always reminds me of the movie Amelie!

Early morning shopping at Rue Cler Market for fresh fromage and baguettes for la petite dejeuner.

This I think is my favorite Metro stop...looks like an outdoor flower shop

This photo was not taken in Paris...It's in London and I was so impressed with the Harrods Shopping Center, almost as enchanting as Galeries Lafayette!

Bon weekend...don't forget to visit all the fashionable ladies at Fifi Flower's Fashionable Friday post!

J'aime Jardin Fontaine

2009-04-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

I heart garden fountains! There's something about the look and sound of fountains that without one, mon jardin isn't complete.

In Europe, fountains are found just about in every corner.

For instance, I took a photo of this fountain in Paris which is across the street from a Metro stop.

This is only one of the many fountains at the Vatican grounds in Rome.

I believe this one is called the Triton fountain, also in Rome close to the upscale shops at Via Veneto

Here's a real famous one called Trevi Fountain...this is the one where traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome

I took a photo of this fountain while stuck at a traffic in London.

Here are some modest versions of fountains for your jardin.

J'adore my blogger friend's courtyard fountain because of the fleur de lis design in front of the fountain(from Christine's Home and Travel Adventures (I hope you don't mind Christine ;)

These are my fountains at home. This small one is in the front yard.

And this latest acquisition is in my backyard.

I hope you like my contribution for today's Outdoor Wednesday post! Come join me at Susan's A Southern Daydreamer to see what other bloggers have posted for this Outdoor Wednesday.

La Boudoir De Femme

2009-04-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky because mon cheri supported me when I told him the design of our new master bedroom will be très féminin! He doesn't mind so I went all girly and j'adore how it turned out.

The wall color is the same as what I used in the new salle de bain which I blogged about here. Il est Tiffany Blue!

Remember those salvage shutters from a villa in Marseille that I blogged about here? Well, I used them as my closet doors and j'adore the look!

And here's my Fashionable Friday contribution this week. Just like most femmes, I luv to shop, thus the pillow labeled "shopping girl!"

Here's my collection of handbags...I have an obsession with handbags. J'adore Louis Vuittons and Guccis...ah oui, I admit I buy faux Louis Vuitton as well as real ones. Can you guess which one is real?

My collection of casual costume jewelry, and my first tiffany gift bag from mon cheri that I will never throw away.

Finally, speaking of Fashionable...here's my dear niece Sky at an early age of two, already wearing a Dolce & Gabbana scarf...tres jolie, non?

Tres bien...bon weekend mes amis. Merci beaucoup to all who commented about my completed renovation...my laundry room, my bathroom and finally my master bedroom!

Don't forget to check out the very talented artiste Ms. Fifi Flowers who hosts our weekly Fashionable Fridays!

Mon Nouvelle Salle De Bain in Tiffany Blue

2009-04-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Is it Monday already...my weekend flew by! And today is my first time to join the Blue Monday party post hosted by blog friend Smiling Sally.

After 2 1/2 months, je suis joyeaux to say that my reno project is finally complete! I've talked about my new laundry room from a previous post. So now I wanted to share some photos of my new master bath. The wall color I chose (of course) is inpired by my favorite blue box ~ from Tiffany's.

This wall sign is also an inspiration for the color combination of blue and beige.

Here's the wall color...it looks lighter here maybe because of my camera. But the color of that wall is so close to Tiffany blue, and the wainscoting is antique white.

Here's a shot of my bath space with my slipper clawfoot tub/shower combo.

Here are a few blue things on my vanity. A blue hand towel and a blue apothecary bottle.

Blue orchid pot

A full shot of my sink vanity which I converted from a dresser. See instructions here

This is the view while sitting on the tub...reminds me to relax a little

And my bathrobe hook which I found at Marshalls. That mirror reads "It's a Wonderful Life"...and when I'm in my bath tub, c'est la vérité!

J'adore ma nouvelle salle de bain! It's certainly worth the wait. I still have a bit of decorating adjustments here and there but I'm very satisfied with the result.

Well Bon Monday everyone...I'm off to check the other Blue Monday participants.

Bathroom Inspiration

2009-04-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Aaaahhhhh....I'm obsessing about bathrooms because my master bath reno is so close to being complete, almost but not there yet. Meanwhile, I've been looking for inspiration on how I can enclose my clawfoot tub space so that I can make it look even more romantique. Here are a few I've found via BHG.com:

J'adore them all...wish I can make mine as pretty...I'm sooo excited to see the finished product. If you have any creative and inspiring suggestions, feel free to leave a comment. Merci!

A Fashionable Laundry Room Addition

2009-04-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes amis! As you know, I've been blogging about my laundry/mud/utility room addition here and here. I just can't help it...it's a big deal to me since one doesn't realize how important something is until it's taken away...in my case, my laundry room. Well, now I'm happy to announce mon lavarie is finally complete and I couldn't be any happier!

This is the man behind all the labor...his name is Octavio, and he's my version of Ty Pennington...to me, Octavio is a master builder/carpenter. Whenever I think of a design, no matter how outrageous it sounds, his answer is always "anything is possible."

Here's a couple of exterior shots of the addition(still needs to be painted...I know)

Et voila! Here's the interior - (did I mention it's also our pups room? Thus...the dog food jars)

I had Octavio build a cabinet around the w/d so I have a place to put things and not worry about the w/d shaking them all over the place

J'adore this lingerie wash bag that I found at TJ Max

Here's the Italian Terrazo floor tile laid out in a subway pattern

Here's a cabinet I bought at a local brocante and painted it black, perfect for hiding stuff I don't want others to see

Also changed the knobs to black glass...j'adore this metal Paris wall pocket...it hides my keys

One can never have enough hooks in a laundry room

J'adore my black glass chandelier

Added a touch of modern sconce

Bien sur a mirror in this room is a must...oh and j'adore my door

Well, that's it folks! Mon nouveau lavarie...je'taime how it turned out...it's a perfect addition to our mon petite maison de la mer.

And here's a sneak peak at my new master bath...it's only 90% complete...so this room will keep me busy for a while.

And there's my fashionable project I wanted to share...now I gotta check out Fifi's and her Fashionable friends

I wish everyone a Happy Easter! Au revoir for now...will be back in a few days!

Virtual Vacation

2009-04-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

I sooooo want to go on vacation and enjoy a get-away but I can't...not yet, at least until our home reno is completed. Meanwhile, I wanted to share my outdoor virtual vacation with you!

My first destination would be Monet's Garden in Giverny. I've been to France several times now, but still haven't had the chance to visit the master artiste's jardin.

I would then take the train down to South of France and stay at one of these chateaus~

Chateau Talaud

L'orangerie in the chateau

Le porte going in the chateau

Le jardin

Manoir Du Domaine Le Roure ~ I would not mind visiting this chateau once again. The owner's name is Dolores and she prepared us a meal that was truly unforgettable.

And finally, would head west to visit Seville in Spain

Before I leave for my virtual vacation, I wanted to tell you ladies from OW to please visit the breast cancer site and click for a cure! It doesn't cost anything...all you do is click in order to reach 200 free mammograms in April.

Au revoir for now and I'm off to check out Susan and other OW participants at A Southern Daydreamer!

Backyard Transformation - Before and After

2009-04-02T09:09:00.001-07:00

Don't you just love looking at before and after photos? I do! J'adore seeing how difficult, dull and boring spaces transform to their full potential.

Here are some backyard before and after photos gathered from BHG.com. The owner of this backyard wanted to have a big birthday bash for her husband so she hired a professional crew to prep it for a fête al fresco!

Before ~ plain ol' backyard

After ~

Before ~ plain door/window and plant bedding

After ~

Before ~ plain entry porch

After ~ (luv this one!)

Before ~ bare driveway

After ~

What a remarkable transformation! Now that's how it's done...but I wonder how much was spent to do all that?

Can't wait to show you before/after photos of my laundry room...well actually there's no before ;) just after.

Be back in a few days...a' bientot mes amis!

Post No. 50

2009-03-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

Before I start sharing my weekly "Outdoor" post, just want to say, WOW...I can't believe this is my 50th post...the biggest shocker is, I cannot believe I'd actually enjoy blogging and would have 50 posts. I went down memory lane to check out my first few posts and realized that I have a few bloggers to thank. These are the guys that inspired me to keep blogging...the ones that I follow on a daily basis...and the first ones who were kind enough to leave me comments, and said they actually liked my blog. The outdoor photos below are from their blogs.

Vicki Archer at French Essence (Provence, France). J'adore Vicki...she's living my dream life in Provence, and her book (a must have), called My French Life is c'est magnifique! I bet she's one of the nicest person you'll ever meet at one of those quaint streets in Saint Remy.

Catherine at Simply Natural (Australia). J'adore Catherine's blog because her photos are always inspirational. I would say she and I have a lot in common when it comes to styling a home.

Kelli at A Rendez-Vous with Style (SoCal). J'adore Kelli because she blogs about the latest fashion and shares tips about budget friendly stylish couture. She lived in Paris for years and like me, she's a Paris-a-holic!

YSL Guy at Let them Eat Cupcakes (East Coast). J'adore YSL Guy because he always leaves me the kindest comments. Plus he likes Marie Antoinette just like moi. I think if we lived close to each other, we'd be hanging out :)

Maya at Completely Coastal (New England). J'adore Maya's blog because whenever I want to see inspirational coastal/beachy/seaside decor, her blog never disappoints...it's my "cyber getaway."

Finally, j'adore Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer because I luv participating in her weekly Outdoor Wednesday post party. Je t'aime the outdoors and j'enjoy looking at others' outdoor posts for inspiration.

It's been quite a hectic week for me...busy with too many projects at work and home. So just want to add "pardonnez-moi" if I haven't been leaving comments lately to my fav blogs.

French Laundry (not the restaurant)!

2009-03-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd hear myself say this...but "I'm looking forward to doing laundry!" After living in mon petite chateau de la mer, without a laundry room for over 6 months, our laundry/mud room addition is finally finished...I just want to scream to the top of my lungs and go YO - DEL - LEY - IE - OH - HOO!!!

So this weekend, I'll be doing this~

And this~

And maybe have mon cheri do a bit of this~

Meanwhile, here are a few of my laundry room inspiration:

C'est mon absolu favori laundry room!

Laundry room photos from BHG and Cottage Living

Not sure how mine will end up looking... just real giddy-skippy-happy that I'll soon have a working "laverie."

Ah oui, I have to leave you with a photo of mon cheri doing laundry at "une lavomatique" in Paris...he's such a drama king, non? ;)

Outdoor Escape

2009-03-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

The weather forecast du jour is perfect! Wouldn't it be nice to escape to the outdoors and play?

Won't you escape with me and go for a bike ride?

First, a quick stop at the local bistro for le petit déjeuner

Then a visit with mes amis jardin

Let's sit down pour une tasse de thé

Pick some home grown vegetables

And stay until twilight

Maybe I'll get invited to stay for dinner, pourqouis pas?

And a few drinks by the pool

Then head back home for a quick shower after une fabuleuse journée!

Photos courtesy of Domino Mag

I just want to feel liberated and not worry about responsibilities for the moment and this escape might do the trick.

Meanwhile, I'm off to check out some girlfriends from Susan's Outdoor Wednesday party.

Toile Fête

2009-03-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through Pretty Organized Palace's blog, when I saw that she's hosting a Toile Party today. Well, since I'm a self-proclaimed Toile Queen, I just cannot let this day go by without joining the fête.

I mean look at my last home, le salon have toile all over...starting with the window valance, the fabric on the bench, the pillows, and that very comfy bleu et blanc tufted chair.

This was my family room/kitchen...there's the black and white bench with toile fabric, again the pillows on my white couch, the pretty little black "egyptian" bench that I covered in b/w toile, and the rug. There's more that are too much to mention (awww, I miss that house)

And here are more toile rooms that j'adore-

Last three photos via BHG and AJ Moss

Voila...I've shared my luv of toile...a quintessential french interior must have!

Now, I've got some other toile viewing to do at the Toile Party.

Three weeks and counting!

2009-03-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

I'm counting le jours et minutes until my reno is complete! Here's the progress so far:

Mudroom/Laundry Room addition

Before

Currently

See the washer/dryer hookup below
\

Can't wait till I can use my Bosch washer/dryer

Master suite/bath remodel

Before

Currently

Master bed sliding door (with my poor pups who are also stressing with all these mess)

Before

Currently

I'm hoping there'll be no further delay, so keeping my fingers crossed that I can say "au revoir" to the neighborhood laundry mat.

Meanwhile, I keep reminding myself why we moved to this SHABBY LIL' SHACK and go through this CHAOS?

To get us closer to LA PLAGE-

So "hopefully" our lives will always be-

Joyeux Anniversaire à Mon Meilleur Ami!

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's finally arrived...Spring! Oui...this is the first week of spring! What else is good about today? It's also my best friend's birthday, oui! There are a million reasons why this lady and I are best friends...why we're like Oprah and Gail or C.C. and Hillary from Beaches (the movie)...we have so many things in common. First, we're both born on the same year but she's older ;)

We both live (I mean love) to shop...

We're traveling buddies...

We enjoy life to the fullest...

We do not like to hike (but we were somewhere here in the foothills of a vortex in Sedona, with our flip-flops)...

We like fun adventures (with her little girl Ashley in Butchart Gardens)...

We just enjoy each other's company...period!

And that's what a best friend is all about!

So mon meilleur ami, here's a beautiful cake on your ___rd birthday!

...and the Louis Vuitton purse I promised (the cake version...he!he!)

Might as well throw in a matching Prada cake.

Friends come and go, but our friendship will last forever! Happy Birthday to you mon belle Ange!

P.S.

We have to plan our birthday vacation soon :)

Cake photos courtesy of I Dream of Cake in SF

Mon Petite Home and Garden Shop

2009-03-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

A few of mon blogging mes amis have asked about mon petite shoppe and what kind is it. Well, for the last couple of years, I've been renting a small booth at the Carlsbad Art & Antique Mall selling an eclectic mix of home treasures. Some items are brand new, some second hand, and some vintage.

My vision for my shop is sort of a flea market/brocante where one can hunt for unique pieces that they will want to take home. If I were to define my style, just like my header says, it's...french-inspired flea market living!

Here is my space which is constantly changing depending on what sells

This pair of shutters is an example of a salvage item I'm currently selling

Now here is one of the booth at the antique mall that I frequently visit. This space is way bigger than mine, and the owner's pieces are also bigger.

And finally, here is my dream shop. It's is located in Solana Beach, a very upscale neighborhood in Coastal San Diego. Everything here is tres jolie et trop cher.

So now you've seen mon petite shoppe...I hope you like it. Although it's small, it's manageable and a good starter business for someone like me. My dream someday is to have a shop of my own where I can set aside a pretty corner and be able to also serve une tasse de thé ou du café to my customers.

In my opinion dreaming is fashionable, so here's to a weekend of fashionable dreams! And don't forget to check out Fifi Flowers for her weekly post party of Fashionable Friday.

C'est Une Bonne Fête

2009-03-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love it when you get invited to a fête, then you walk in and see tablescapes that look fantastique! You just know it will be "one good party!"

No chairs required with this kind of tablescape

And I particularly appreciate it when the host/hostess does a personalized seating arrangement like this. Makes me feel so special!

For Tablescape Thursday, I've taken the ez way out and posted the above pretty photos from House Beautiful Magazine. They are my inspiration until my home renovation is done. Meanwhile, I have to check out Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for tablescape inspiration and the other inspiring tablescapes you ladies posted out there!

Outdoor Tent Party

2009-03-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Mon cheri mentioned that some friends from work invited us to go camping. Well, I'm not much of a camper but, pourquoi pas??? I said we can go if we can pitch our tent to look like any of these :)

Care to join me, ladies?

Photos courtesy of Domino/Condenast

It's outdoor Wednesday, so don't miss the party hosted by Susan from A Southern Daydreamer!

Architectural Salvage

2009-03-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

My contractor informed me that we are now about on the halfway mark of my master suite remodel. The plumbing/electrical and most of the framework are now installed. Now I can see kind of the overall picture of how the room will look. Which brings me to my favorite part...I can shop! This kind of shopping is a challenge for me because it's shopping for permanent detailed fixtures such as walls/windows/doors/flooring, etc. If you knew me (or from reading my blog), you'll see that I have an affinity for french eclectic with a mix of antique and modern. I am drawn to materials that are old looking, paint peeling, and unique with a certain "je ne sais quoi."

Something that looks like this:

And this

So this week, to get inspiration, I went to a shop called "Architectural Relics" in Escondido, CA. Talk about unique, this place has an international selection of salvaged materials from France to India! Have a look:

And finally, this heavy solid pair of salvage shutters are from a villa in Marseilles. Lisa the owner, and her very patient assistant Rochelle, had two of these displayed in "le shoppe." The instant I laid eyes, I fell in love...I mean I could not stop admiring these shutters. And you know what they say, if you love it, you will find a place for it in your home...so oui, oui...I did end up buying the two pairs! I already know where to put them in my master suite and will share with you once they are up and functioning.

When you have time, check out Architectural Relic's website. Most of the architectural salvage products they sell have a complete description of origin...for example, the confessional box above...absolutely fascinating!

Flea Market

2009-03-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Qu'est ce que fashionable and fabuleux you ask??? In my opinion, what's fashionable and fabulous are flea markets and/or farmers markets depending on where you are. Of course my favorite one is the Marche aux puces (literally translates to Flea Market) in Paris! But since I'm thousands of miles away from Paris, I'd like to share the Flea/Farmers Market where I live!

Ours has an ocean view

Can you see the ocean (past the three strange guys posing)?

Look at the selection of women's shirts, c'est jolie, non?

There's also a selection of colorful tablecloths from Provence

Even here, we have a creperie and a friendly crepemaker!

We have a nice selection of fresh picked oranges

And le fabuleux fleurs

We even have an assortment of herbs that can be planted en le jardin

I'm lucky enough because I live in a neighborhood where we not only have one but three. Oui, three times a week, we get to visit this fabulous and fashionable open air market with an ocean view!

Now speaking of fabulous, check out Simply Seleta, host of Fabulous Fridays, who is having a give away especially hand picked from Anthropologie!

Last and no way least, visit Fifi Flowers who just started hosting Fashionable Fridays. Fifi is a wonderful artist who someday will paint mon petite maison de la mer!

Merci mesdames for hosting a fun post party!

I Won Again!

2009-03-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

I'm really diggin' bloggin' because today, I won something special. I was actually feeling under the weather so I was in bed until 5 p.m. and finally got up to check my fav blogs. Just as I was browsing my "j'adore list" I saw my name mentioned in Kelli's A Rendez-Vous with Style, so I clicked and voila, she announced that I'm one of the two winners of the Domino Book of Decorating! I tell you, I've been meaning to buy this book because I'm such a big fan of the now defunct Domino magazine, but thanks to Kelli and Nina Schwartz at Simon & Schuster I now own this book that will be treasured forever. Merci Mesdames!

Incidentally, if you're like me and the many others who wants to see Domino mag back in circulation, email, write or call Condé Nast.

maurie_perl@condenast.com or laura_miller@condenast.com

Corporate Communications
The Condé Nast Publications
4 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
212-286-2860

Jardin De Reve

2009-03-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

Je'taime z'outdoors, especially when the weather is bright and sunny! Hmmm...maybe because I was born during summer solstice. I luv looking at inspirational outdoor rooms and below are my dream gardens (jardin de reve)!

The top 4 photos are from Cote Maison

The next 2 photos below are from my Aunt's jardin in Orange County.

I found these three very charming photos a while back from Italy

Here are some photos of ma nouvelle plants in ma nouvelle petit maison de la mer.

J'adore my daffodils and lavender

And my tulips are starting to sprout!

Finally, a big merci beaucoup to Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for hosting the Outdoor Wednesday weekly posts because I get to see more inspirational outdoor photos from my fellow bloggers!

Vintage Inspired

2009-03-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I got to watch an intense movie called "The Changeling" starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood. I love watching period movies because of the nostalgic appeal, and this particular movie, set in Los Angeles during the 20's, is full of nostalgia.

Did you know there used to be cable cars (electric railway) running around the streets of L.A.?

Telephone operators walked with roller skates (sorry I couldn't find a photo that shows Angie with roller skates, but it was amazing to watch how natural this was back then)

Most folks wore hats (luv the cloche hat on Angie)

I don't mean to take away the real deep moral story about this movie but the visual part of it made me realize how I really love the look of vintage especially when combined with modern technology.

For example, luv this fridge and dishwasher

J'adore this stove/oven from Elmira

J'aime this french phone

And this vintage lights from Schoolhouse Electric

How cute is this pink fan???

A record player that plays a CD is priceless

Luv the color on this fridge!

And the color on this toaster.

Quelle classique! Are there any vintage/nostalgic inspired pieces or looks you care to share?

Bon Weekend!

2009-03-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

It's another Fabulous Friday which means after a very loooong week for me, z'weekend is finally here...woohoo! I bid you a fantastique weekend with photos from beach resorts in Orange County.

St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point

Ocean View Room at the Ritz Carlton Dana Point

A garden path at the Ritz

Spa at the Ritz

Care to catch the wave?

Or some relaxing yoga?

Or a swim at the Montage Laguna Beach

Bisous mes amis!

Tablescape Thursday

2009-03-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Between Naps on the Porch is hosting a post party called...

This is the first time I'm joining. My tablescape story is titled "Serenitea" because it has been 4 weeks since we started a major remodeling project in our petit beach cottage. During these weeks, my home has been chaotic, and I seriously crave beauty and serenity. So to prepare for this post:

I stopped by the library (yes I adore libraries) and borrowed an easy reading fun novel...

Lit up my tuberose/gardenia scented soy candle...

Took out my favorite turquoise cup and saucer and Laduree cocoa powder...

Enjoyed some amaretto cookies

And dipped them in either a chocolat chaud viennoise or a cup of tea a la Marie Antoinette.

Kicked up my feet, opened my book et voila...instant solace and serenitea!

BTW, j'adore my butterfly meadow teapot which was a wedding shower gift from my Mom (9 yrs ago)

And this turquoise demi cup is from one of my fav store...Anthropologie

Looking forward to more Tablescape Thursdays!

Cupcake Luv!

2009-03-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

I luv cupcakes, et vous? They always look so pretty, scrumptious, and cheerful!

Well a fellow blogger, Zen Cupcake is having a giveaway...

It's called "Barbie turns 50" giveaway!

Because I'm such a good blog friend, I'll go ahead and share this contest with you for a chance to win Zen Cupcakes' five (not one) fabulous giveaway! Now head over there so you can join.

Outdoor Wednesday!

2009-03-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting to join the "Outdoor Wednesday" party post hosted by Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer. Living in the coastal part of sunny San Diego, we're lucky to have beautiful weather almost all year. And since we've moved to our petit cottage by the beach late last year, we did a bit of change to the front yard.

Added the scallop picket fence and arbor entry. Can't wait for the jasmine vine to bloom...

Planted lavender and rosemary all along the front of the fence...

Added a water feature to attract more hummingbirds...

Here's my little cherub and the container succulents I planted last weekend...

The row of allysum were also planted last weekend...

And of course, my special guest (have to show off my very cute baby niece...well she's two now).

If you want to see more of what we did in our front yard, please click here and if you want to see more beautiful outdoor scenery click here.

An American in Paris

2009-03-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

I'm traveling this week, but want to leave you with this.

An American in Paris -- (Movie Clip) Leslie Caron Costume Fantasy

They sure don't make movies like this anymore. And no disrespect to Madam Caron, but the interior background is a visual feast as well.

Quelle plaisir, non?