tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85749536139213697982024-03-14T02:17:33.923-04:00A Gift Wrapped Life - Gifting Tips, Advice and InspirationGift and Gift Wrapping by Interior Designer Sande ChaseA Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.comBlogger474125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-17341404620300968142013-03-12T13:21:00.001-04:002013-03-12T13:21:32.841-04:00Gift wrapping.............. petit cadeau<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the past few months I have had the pleasure of wrapping a few hundred small gifts for several brides. I enjoy the tiny details, the sweetness of wrapping <i>a petit cadeau</i>...........it reminds me of what I believe to be true about giving a gift that can fit or sit in the palm of your hand. Small gifts can make the recipient feel incredibly special. Perhaps it captures the dreamy feeling of finding a tiny treasure. I am going to be wrapping <i>small</i> for the next few weeks, sharing the sweet things that can easily and readily enhance the presentation of your <i>petit cadeau. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> At the same time, some small gift choices. Perhaps a lovely small gift from </span><a href="http://www.bhldn.com/shop%2dgifts%2dgifts%2dunder%2d50/prize%2dwinning%2dsachet/productoptionids/684d2e65-d9dd-4e39-842b-7d598138234d" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">photo 1 by Sande Chase/photo 2 from BHLDN</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-12087704431588741042013-02-25T11:47:00.001-05:002013-02-25T11:47:17.581-05:00Oscar 2013 .........all sparkly and bright and that pixie cut <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I watch the Oscars with two men so don't be that surprised that I went over to a Twitter Oscar party where we dished on all things sparkly and bright. It is simply not a party if you can't go on and on about the fashion as it walks through the door. One of my favorite things to do the next morning is to view all the </span><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/02/vanity-fair-oscar-party-photos-2013#/slide=1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>photos</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> from the Vanity Fair party, they just seem to capture the glamour and excitement that Hollywood celebrates on that one big night. Now, back to my favorite part of last night's Oscar fashion........</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">........and the pixie hairdo that everyone is talking about. Charlize Theron got my early vote last night for the best overall style award, a regal Dior silhouette that came forward in a sea of busy sparkles (though I love some sparkle). And that hair! The post-party chatter is all about this pixie haircut and even Charlize herself had this to say about the brave act of going short, short <i><b>'It's the most freeing thing, I highly recommend it. I think every woman should do it.' </b> </i>What do you think? Could you see going short, short? And if you can't, do you wish you could?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">All photos by Billy Farrell via Vanity Fair Oscar Party </span><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/02/vanity-fair-oscar-party-photos-2013#/slide=1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">/ Bottom photo via </span><a href="http://socialitelife.com/photos/charlize-theron-at-the-2013-academy-awards/85th-annual-academy-awards-arrivals-92" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a></i></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-6721690219750851772013-02-22T12:04:00.000-05:002013-02-22T12:04:02.214-05:00Love Wearing Black...............and Marchesa muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">~<i> Rear Hotel Lobby of The Maison des Élysées </i>~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I do love wearing black, in fact I have a Pinterest board named </span><b><a href="http://pinterest.com/sandec/love-wearing-black/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Love Wearing Black</span></a> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. Nobody can say I don't know my fashion in shades of black. I just texted our friend Vicki A. and asked her where I took the above photo last September, that fabulously stylish hotel restaurant in Paris where I ate frites in addition to a full dinner while drinking St. Germaine (I have a killer St. Germain cocktail recipe coming up) while trying not to stare at actress Isabella Rossellini who was sitting directly in my sight view while listening to my most interesting dinner friends that night. Just so you know, Isabella must Love Wearing Black as well and yes, I had dessert too! Come to think of it, we were all wearing black that evening </span><i style="color: #666666;">even the mannequins </i><span style="color: #666666;">lined up in the rear hallway of this fashionable hotel. <i>* Yes, I would totally consider booking this hotel for next trip.</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>Marchesa ~ photo by Jamie Beck</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Here's the thing. The reason I am thinking about Paris in the middle of a Canadian winter. I lose weight every time I go to Paris. Isn't that just the best thing? I have begun to think of it as a weight loss spa destination or virtual proof that Paris is where I was supposed to live </span><i style="color: #666666;">see, even my body does better there</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. No wonder I have been so fascinated with the gorgeous blog </span><a href="http://parisinfourmonths.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Paris In Four Months</span></a><b>, </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">blogger Carin Olsson is living my dream! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Daydreaming aside, it doesn't take much to figure out it is the abundance of walking that melts those Canadian pounds right off no matter what I eat and drink. Too bad I can't live there. Too bad I can't go there right now for a week or two, just a few short months before I have to purchase/wear a fabulous frock for two special occasions in May. I say fabulous because I know I want something beautiful, something fitted and colourful, something NOT Black after watching the parade of runway colour these past few weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>Marchesa ~ photo by Jamie Beck</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That colour confidence requires going all Jennifer Hudson over here, filling in those time-consuming Weight Watcher menus each day, blending Green Smoothies, and heaven forbid, walking miles in the indoor shopping mall because we really are having a Canadian winter this year.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Triple Chocolate Chunk </span><a href="http://dashingdish.com/recipe/triple-chocolate-chunk-muffins/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>muffin</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> with Greek Yogurt - 3 points</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My son says "Mom! only old, old people walk the mall for exercise". <i>True</i>. I run into my niece and she says "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels". <i>True</i>. My WW leader says "you lost 2 lbs this week, good for you!". <i>Hurray</i>. Everybody has something to say when you go on a diet. All I know is that while I was walking in the mall minding my own business, I walked right into a jewelry store on my way out and found the diamond ring replacement that I have been casually hunting for since my wedding ring was stolen years ago. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? As a weight loss method, Paris might be a great deal cheaper and I bet they have fabulous gowns too. In the most gorgeous of colours.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The Maison des Champs Élysées </span><a href="http://www.lamaisonchampselysees.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Click </span><a href="http://vickiarcher.com/2012/09/isabella-rossellini-all-in-black/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to read Vicki Archer's post on Isabella Rossellini.</span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Photo 1 by Sande Chase/Photo 2, 3 and 4 by </span><a href="http://annstreetstudio.com/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Jamie Beck</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">/Photo 5 by </span><a href="http://dashingdish.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Dashing Dish</b></span></a></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-45716339456703755562013-02-15T20:41:00.000-05:002013-02-15T20:41:15.526-05:00Four years..............of grateful blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbQ0s9fPcwAmFwoeFBjFyEUxGpBJzj8Zo-oFcwXlFOmoNeUujXz5AL4z2tRThZHTMBEyFNJ0_BAs0OB-EjTYfHTGHyRyvbYkGMclHCKgi5-Tj0ZT1iuq-mmRxj8A5HA035mkeBlZv5m0/s1600/FriendshipFete1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbQ0s9fPcwAmFwoeFBjFyEUxGpBJzj8Zo-oFcwXlFOmoNeUujXz5AL4z2tRThZHTMBEyFNJ0_BAs0OB-EjTYfHTGHyRyvbYkGMclHCKgi5-Tj0ZT1iuq-mmRxj8A5HA035mkeBlZv5m0/s640/FriendshipFete1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am grateful, happy, and proud as can be to be a part of the blogging community.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This most welcoming world of creativity, friendship, and sharing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you for being a reader for the past four years from the bottom of my heart.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You mean the world to me and I hope you will stay with me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, I am back, just in time.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Again...........thank you dear readers for waiting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* The fabulous cake and setting above was styled for a Friendship Fete by the talented women at the blog Hey Gorgeous.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Click </span><a href="http://www.heygorg.com/2013/02/valentines-friendship-fete-hge-shoot-with-kelly-braman.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to read about this lovely party that celebrates the women friends</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">photo from </span><a href="http://www.heygorg.com/2013/02/valentines-friendship-fete-hge-shoot-with-kelly-braman.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Hey Gorgeous</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b> </b>via </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/stylemepretty/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Style Me Pretty</b></span></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">pinterest</span></span></div>
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<br />A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-42662281204057082112013-02-14T13:49:00.001-05:002013-02-14T13:49:29.911-05:00Happy Valentines Day.........to J.C.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">37 years ago, a huge floral bouquet showed up on the morning of our wedding day in June, 1975 with a small card and a handwritten note that said "meet me at the church today". That was the first love note of my married life. I have boxes of little love notes from our 42 years together, sometimes I have found them on my pillow beside my head when I wake up, sometimes in a robe pocket, often in my coffee mug, in my car, everywhere and anywhere. They always make me smile, even blush at times but they always got it right somehow. Depending on what is going on that week, that month, that year these tiny notes can be funny, romantic, serious, sexy, even goofy at times but they are "us". Every couple who is together for years and years needs an "us'. Something special that lets you each know that everything is good with the two of you in this world together. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For some couples, it can be grand gestures, being swept off their feet but for "us' it has always been as simple as a small note. For a man of few words, he has always been able to get to the heart of the matter in our married life on small pieces of paper. When one of his blush-worthy notes was inadvertently seen by someone working in our home last year, I noticed he scaled back on the quantity and quality of their message. Even couples who have been married forever can't mess with romance. So just let me say this...........</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Valentines Day J.C. and leave me some love notes again please..............</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">just for "us".</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wishing my readers a most wonderfully sweet Valentines Day. </span></div>
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A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-23139226445987093742012-12-24T15:11:00.000-05:002012-12-24T15:11:08.829-05:00Wrapping Versailles for The Holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two things caught my wrapping fancy this year. My photo montage of Versailles and the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year.......Emerald Green. The Versailles photo montage is still being tweaked as a gift wrap for production in 2013. I love the black & white version which will be printed on a gorgeous vellum. A muted colour <i>in-progress</i> version is seen below. I am using my work samples for this year's holiday wrapping, a fun way to see what works and what doesn't so excuse the smaller size but it does tell me to keep moving forward with this design. No matter how I plan it, it seems I always end up gift wrapping at the last minute. A revolving and early flu set our household back in scheduling but we are busy little elves tonight with wrapping, chopping, setting tables, and doing last minute things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">~ photos by Sande Chase ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know all your gifts are wrapped and under the tree........and I am wishing all my wonderful readers a most wonderful and magical holiday season with your family and friends. I know all of us are especially grateful this year for the gift of time with our loved ones. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">all photos by Sande Chase</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-12307350717019080442012-12-04T10:44:00.001-05:002012-12-04T10:44:50.403-05:00A Christmas memory...........in snowbound Oklahoma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A group of bloggers were asked this month "What are your favorite Christmas Memories"and though most of my Christmas's have included beautiful trees, delicious food, sparkles everywhere, many relatives, and tons of effort the absolute best Christmas memory I have doesn't include any of those things, not one ornament, not one tree light. In fact, it was the quietest Christmas anyone could possibly have, but then again that crazy Mother Nature was involved and you know what happens when she gets going. We still chuckle when we mention "the Christmas in Oklahoma" in 2009, the year our son was on rotation in Tulsa and couldn't come home so we went there, the year the state had their snowstorm of the century, the one where the whole state came to a standstill. Canadians are used to their blizzards, heck we actually kind of like them now and again but Oklahoma doesn't have snowstorms and road-clearing machinery, homeowners don't have shovels, and the whole city was on lockdown for days after the snow had stopped falling. We barely made it out for Christmas dinner (I was determined) and as we traveled down the uncleared, treacherous highway for our Christmas dinner in a friend's 4-wheel drive to a downtown restaurant that I had carefully reserved months ahead (it was also a hotel so all the wait staff had stayed overnight) all I could think was that we were going to spin out of control, be stranded, and no one would know for days, at least until the snow melted. After that tense and dangerous ride, we mostly stayed put in our son's apartment, lined up on his small sofa watching goofy holiday movies, laughing, and watching Oklahoma residents unsuccessfully dig out from under all that snow. I guess in the end that what it means to me is that Christmas is mostly about being with your family, small or large, and sometimes you have to do it differently to help them along and that's alright. We were together. That's all that mattered. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">group please go <a href="http://splenderosa.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-countdown-beginsby-invitation-only.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a>.</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Photos from <a href="http://pinterest.com/sandec/holiday-magic/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-51351908403705334002012-12-03T14:24:00.000-05:002012-12-03T14:24:10.858-05:00iphone covers ..........from Condé Nast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am keeping my eyes wide open this season for a new iphone cover ever since mine was stolen in Paris. As I look at the ever-growing selection of iphone covers I always think what a great gift item it is..........good selection, good style, and decent price. What else can you ask for in a gift? I was over at the Condé Nast website ( I always make it sound like I went somewhere don't I?) looking at their archive posters from Vanity Fair and Vogue when I noticed they had a new section for iphone covers. An exclusive and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.condenaststore.com/-sl/iphonecases.htm" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">retro collection</span></b></a> </span>using some of the iconic illustrations, photos, and covers from the Condé Nast archives, how perfect is the timing? It isn't a huge collection, 36 images at last count but I would guess it will grow if it proves popular, several of the covers are also available in the iphone5 size. Not only do several styles suit me but I like that more than a few would suit the guys too (how funny is the French Army Knife from The New Yorker?), especially the B & W photos from the covers of GQ. Let's face it, iphone covers make for a great holiday gift...........one is never enough. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">photos via <a href="http://www.condenaststore.com/-st/iPhone-Covers-Prints_c156287_.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Condé Nast</b></span></a></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-4669565474448287282012-12-01T17:32:00.001-05:002012-12-01T17:32:58.250-05:00Re-styling the wardrobe.........with cravats, scarves, and brooches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Old habits die hard and I always think I need something new to wear for the holidays. But truthfully, I already have everything I need and brought some great things home from Paris that I still want to wear. Sometimes, we just need to sit down in our closet and look around, see what we have, take a deep breath................and play, re-style, re-fashion, re-use, and re-invent. Indulge me while I re-style with the help of some fun photo apps. I love drawing arrows it seems. First up....... why have I waited so long to do a Cravat style scarf when I just love, love the look? Never mind that now........I will be re-styling my Anne Fontaine white shirt this way all winter long. Doesn't this more structured style look fabulous for a change? Really good with a vest too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember all those sweater wraps we were all wearing a few years back? Add a faux-fur collar and a skinny belt and baby........it is cold and groovy outside. Check. Check. I have all three of these things.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a coat that is exactly like this vest, exactly. I never wear it because it is actually a bit too warm for me. I am going to have the suede arms taken off and guess what?.......I just acquired a Boho style vest. Actually, I have about 10 items I could re-fashion this way and I bet you do too</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plain t-shirt or simple shirt. Vintage silk scarf as a belt for your jeans. Perfect for those scarves in your collection that just never seem to look good, by colour or pattern, close to your face.......but they may look really, really groovy going through your belt loops as long as you keep the top real simple. Are you with me on this?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am not sure but this sweater might be at Zara right now <i>I couldn't find it </i>and if it is, somebody should buy it real quick. If not, I think it has some fab DIY potential. I love this unexpected length of ribbon. Cardigans buttoned up the back <i>in a 50"s retro way </i>too, anything turned in a different direction is bound to be noticed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This "un-tucked" look has been around for a bit now but darn it, it sure makes wearing a pair of jeans more comfortable and interesting. I am not about to give up this look any time soon <i>not unless I get some kind of Brazilian Booty Lift</i>. Shows off great looking belts too, maybe a glittery style for the casual holiday get together. Are you a 'tucked" or "untucked" kind of gal? Personally, I will never be tucked again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coloured shoelaces, pretty ribbon to change up the Oxfords.........or brogues.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Remember that past Paris </span><a href="http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.ca/2012/10/pascale-paluns-and-enchanting-world-of.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>post</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> where I predicted huge scarves will be coming around? One scarf + second scarf = more volume, more interest, more drama. They don't have to be vintage but start there because I bet you could find some interesting patterns to work this look.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJNRgp6ieSxiwGbTSuJOla2KU-FA-tWq4s25eEgwatLRLDFaxGvFf7gCBx5iSoPYUW1OiJX_6djfSEyoFWTxzYSi8cNqPQ3krcZC_WsnE3jMlXE87qWCo7G-s4oKjtjuMM8yd8LEvVUI/s1600/118852877635554406_BUUSMWbe_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJNRgp6ieSxiwGbTSuJOla2KU-FA-tWq4s25eEgwatLRLDFaxGvFf7gCBx5iSoPYUW1OiJX_6djfSEyoFWTxzYSi8cNqPQ3krcZC_WsnE3jMlXE87qWCo7G-s4oKjtjuMM8yd8LEvVUI/s640/118852877635554406_BUUSMWbe_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You know I love brooches <i>especially for gift wrapping</i> but sometimes I even wear them and I like the idea of using them in unexpected places, the waistband of a skirt, the center of a cravat, on a wide skirt cuff <i>especially if it is white</i>, and I can't help think one there is an unexpected spot this holiday season that we should consider placing a bit of sparkle. At the bottom hem of a pair of fancy pants, you know those silky Capri style in brocades and patterns, the ones we are all wearing this holiday season instead of party dresses. I think a brooch would look divine there near the bottom outside hem, a bit of sparkle every time you move your leg. I could be wrong but I will let you know.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I would love to hear some of your re-styling ideas too!</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">All photos from <a href="http://pinterest.com/sandec/my-style-pinboard/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">here</span></b> </a> / photo enhancements and text by Sande Chase</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-68076718363500353812012-11-29T17:26:00.003-05:002012-11-29T17:26:52.677-05:00Gift Guide............starting in Neutral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDRqTSaIBgUFcxwYqAHDG3OvtTUnmXd1oJJZpaxoiQrQ0By7ni_GK8rFEzXYP_HWZieJ3B5DrTRWVyEsNSa9UIKI2riNXECvjZL7e8eHTxriBWuizjSTKh-ZAaA9jL5BNoOxJRS52Yec/s1600/184858759676329365_uJD6D69f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDRqTSaIBgUFcxwYqAHDG3OvtTUnmXd1oJJZpaxoiQrQ0By7ni_GK8rFEzXYP_HWZieJ3B5DrTRWVyEsNSa9UIKI2riNXECvjZL7e8eHTxriBWuizjSTKh-ZAaA9jL5BNoOxJRS52Yec/s640/184858759676329365_uJD6D69f_c.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
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Adorable ceramic rubber <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shopnew-new-week-two/G25682014.jsp" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">poodle stamp</span></a><b> </b>from Anthropology.</span> Can a gift get any cuter?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShHLzaJJZkpDDyqvXC3thLLUyIXM4r4YO4x0vUZTiFcuz_f6CAICAPr9oMdswbBQb2Vnsco0r-YzMkLPTEVN0FKjZxpob915O5-ZWtUi6_NV66kuNzyUGY9BienoEdSZZW4WPB3yS9Vg/s1600/217298750740613783_jY3EORpq_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShHLzaJJZkpDDyqvXC3thLLUyIXM4r4YO4x0vUZTiFcuz_f6CAICAPr9oMdswbBQb2Vnsco0r-YzMkLPTEVN0FKjZxpob915O5-ZWtUi6_NV66kuNzyUGY9BienoEdSZZW4WPB3yS9Vg/s640/217298750740613783_jY3EORpq_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You know it and I know it...........every girl needs a <a href="http://www.joannehudson.com/dinnerware/maison-la-cornue/maison-cow-cereal-bowl.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>beautiful bowl</b></span></a> just for her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HxJixVZEv9Jq4DuVeP1R4hb51Z3RYUbRl5KIes9-R8a7UOWlDmn04gwRyoEd5R9pHQe_EnGCyh1L5bRUA0Xr0oybRNLmHdIxhdYzKVxZhnMwkvBLcKjrBVuhDRrLr2qVPPOEJZkW7bY/s1600/il_570xN.388317866_aq1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HxJixVZEv9Jq4DuVeP1R4hb51Z3RYUbRl5KIes9-R8a7UOWlDmn04gwRyoEd5R9pHQe_EnGCyh1L5bRUA0Xr0oybRNLmHdIxhdYzKVxZhnMwkvBLcKjrBVuhDRrLr2qVPPOEJZkW7bY/s640/il_570xN.388317866_aq1a.jpg" width="564" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/113090145/cream-tissue-festooning-ribbon-25-feet" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Festooning Ribbon</b></span></a> to add gorgeous texture to simple gift wrap materials such a pure white or ivory tissue paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CDG9xXWtxrcRlDzCXXFCZ38AGUSQJgcHSJfZFBZ7o5w2j3o0N7zJCIO8R-6va1HIJmwyi3MkoVB6qoZfEMybGOj4WCnVgSNH0kO7AyFMGx1R4LAucnfgZ693Nui5gA1ReqNvyYFrOfg/s1600/135319163775370959_fbpSPs2t_c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CDG9xXWtxrcRlDzCXXFCZ38AGUSQJgcHSJfZFBZ7o5w2j3o0N7zJCIO8R-6va1HIJmwyi3MkoVB6qoZfEMybGOj4WCnVgSNH0kO7AyFMGx1R4LAucnfgZ693Nui5gA1ReqNvyYFrOfg/s640/135319163775370959_fbpSPs2t_c-1.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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A <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shopgifts-he-said/25998774.jsp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Quill & Scroll</b></span></a> calligraphy set........everyone wants to try their hand at it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWtmpWMS39jbSQYkDiu1vtl8XrOHyfX_ttkE5BmhPy2XmP4lMTekMKJhXmiLJIz04rLT2JxooaauK7WMYXslk5P6GTBgGCYWF0lrBQeAFYJsv2QFKlmjV4Vo20IgRqf1rYtixCn5uAXw/s1600/P03064-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWtmpWMS39jbSQYkDiu1vtl8XrOHyfX_ttkE5BmhPy2XmP4lMTekMKJhXmiLJIz04rLT2JxooaauK7WMYXslk5P6GTBgGCYWF0lrBQeAFYJsv2QFKlmjV4Vo20IgRqf1rYtixCn5uAXw/s640/P03064-black.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
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Posh <a href="http://www.lanvin.com/e-lanvin/US//gifts/book-alber-elbaz-lanvin.html?color=Black&colorid=129" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>book</b></span></a> gifting at it's most sublime.........just saying.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sWmidccW8mlt6v7-W4juwG3JVttd7BwHs_O7msG1aAijIQh9PPV8i04a7UzNp1itPeTXL6_Dqx9Wn99nBKXMzzC6U1mqQWEo-pnh43aBpRjww3oxtMnfCpMMdVa_4IqB78vANIvr864/s1600/vertical-zoom-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sWmidccW8mlt6v7-W4juwG3JVttd7BwHs_O7msG1aAijIQh9PPV8i04a7UzNp1itPeTXL6_Dqx9Wn99nBKXMzzC6U1mqQWEo-pnh43aBpRjww3oxtMnfCpMMdVa_4IqB78vANIvr864/s640/vertical-zoom-6.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://shop.garancedore.fr/collections/posters" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Posters</span></b></a> online by the blogger superstar Garance Doré........so fab.<br />
All the girls will want one.<br />
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Welcome to new Followers and dear loyal readers please let me know how you<br />
like the new colourful blog header.<br />
If you are an email subscriber I hope you will come and see the new look.<br />
I still have some more work to do but I like the change.<br />
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One more thing........have you started your holiday shopping yet?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photos via links have been photo-apped for this post by Sande Chase</span></div>
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A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-77353025044424388122012-11-26T20:48:00.000-05:002012-11-26T20:48:05.964-05:00Let's go to New York.........to Bergdorf Goodman <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGfr1MbHBAZWo8JyQJ-4jzkjuY55L3NekuMHJcSEaJbdk7CJ-ZxiM8Q2BBqMpelLcMC9MhPXMDT4bhDobENa90YWG_MBJPKYn57PHaLvIET8BPENBwCffAhMwWO7zDRwVhR1_MYRXv8Y/s1600/BG-Windows-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGfr1MbHBAZWo8JyQJ-4jzkjuY55L3NekuMHJcSEaJbdk7CJ-ZxiM8Q2BBqMpelLcMC9MhPXMDT4bhDobENa90YWG_MBJPKYn57PHaLvIET8BPENBwCffAhMwWO7zDRwVhR1_MYRXv8Y/s640/BG-Windows-7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>One of the Bergdorf Goodman ~ Follies of 2012 store windows.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>The Follie girls almost ready for their unveiling.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I am crazy fascinated by the creativity behind artful window display these days. Just a few weeks ago I wanted to fly to Paris to see the Louis Vuitton and Dior </span><a href="http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.ca/2012/11/louis-vuitton-and-dior75009-holiday.html" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">windows</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> and yesterday I casually hinted to my husband that a quick New York getaway to see the holiday windows would be an quick flight for us. Just window shopping honest</span><i style="color: #666666;"> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">........Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Macy's, Bloomingdales, and that crazy Lanvin-wearing Minnie Mouse at the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://thewindow.barneys.com/revealed-the-colorful-cast-of-electric-holiday/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Electric Holiday</span></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">window</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">display at Barneys. If I actually do get on a flight to New York this month it would be due to the BG background story from </span><a href="http://www.thecoveteur.com/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The Coveteur</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. Once I saw the exclusive, gorgeous, behind-the-scenes photos of the </span><a href="http://www.thecoveteur.com/behind_the_bergdorf_goodman_holiday_windows" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Bergdorf Goodman Follies of 2012</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">taken by the coveteur team</span><b style="color: #666666;">, </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">well, I was entranced and motivated. If you are heading to New York for a nose-pressed-to-the-glass experience of your own, then make sure you read the </span><a href="http://blog.bergdorfgoodman.com/windows" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>inspiration</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> behind Bergdorf Goodman's 2012 windows from designer/creator David Hoey, it just adds to the background story. Don't forget to have your Instagram app ready this year, seems Bergdorf Goodman loves this social media thing and is having a BG Windows ~ </span><a href="http://blog.bergdorfgoodman.com/windows/bgwindows-instagram-our-holiday-windows#ad-image-0" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Instagram Contest</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> and your clever instagram photo entry could win some cool prizes, real BG window props (they mostly re-use and re-fashion props in case you were wondering) from the holiday displays or one of the final photos from the Coveteur photo shoot. Interactive window shopping..................I can do that. I'm in. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>thousands, thousands of white feathers</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-73704739101231752602012-11-24T19:01:00.000-05:002012-11-24T19:01:09.844-05:00the clever, clever gift sack.........and the annual video message from Santa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAStw6xqaYEXGnymx_AGpTjrMtsN14ZETy29_dH9J5PYXB0zTcIQVetc1xWoXbRKYbahhBfdF3prr2qbWkOUxb8hChsdVI8i7aegHCEeXNqJmy3TEPv7Tzt8Fa9TNbVrlDtRoY1x4W3Q/s1600/87046205269446446_ZzO2TfWo_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAStw6xqaYEXGnymx_AGpTjrMtsN14ZETy29_dH9J5PYXB0zTcIQVetc1xWoXbRKYbahhBfdF3prr2qbWkOUxb8hChsdVI8i7aegHCEeXNqJmy3TEPv7Tzt8Fa9TNbVrlDtRoY1x4W3Q/s640/87046205269446446_ZzO2TfWo_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">On one hand, you are going to love me for showing this unique and original gift wrapping idea that is coming out of the UK from London-based </span><b><a href="http://www.harrowandgreen.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=165" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Harrow & Green</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. On the other hand you are going to want to strangle me because this very, very clever gift sack is Sold Out for the moment but................. </span><b style="font-style: italic;">but </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">the owners are hoping to catch up and fit in more orders</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> in mid-December so some website stalking is in order this year. Seems too many clever gift-wrapping elves just loved this </span><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/harrowandgreen/product/personalised-christmas-sack-letterpress" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>personalized idea </b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">and you know how popularity can hold up a production line this time of year, even the ones way up north.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3g6hNnziHB8oTya_mzPyiu4-vtxLumIF2d7EVyu2vd8IfRNgpRXXYiSwus3yVyf8pTwogGXLgYAOXI8n6AP_4BPiLWDouhga_IkISZbTgHAQHOZxNeT9KTBGV43-JGmUNddV_FJ0zqw/s1600/normal_Ampleforth-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3g6hNnziHB8oTya_mzPyiu4-vtxLumIF2d7EVyu2vd8IfRNgpRXXYiSwus3yVyf8pTwogGXLgYAOXI8n6AP_4BPiLWDouhga_IkISZbTgHAQHOZxNeT9KTBGV43-JGmUNddV_FJ0zqw/s640/normal_Ampleforth-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Being that the gift sack is soooo popular, you should consider ordering now for next year, yes............. Christmas 2013. The only reason I am </span><i style="color: #666666;">so unfairly</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> mentioning this sold-out item from London-based </span><a href="http://www.harrowandgreen.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=165" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Harrow & Green</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> is because this is one of those festive keeper items that everyone is eventually going to want to order, parents and grandparents are crazy for personalization </span><i style="color: #666666;">and rightfully so</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. They last for years so it might be worthwhile to bookmark or pre-order and plan ahead. Just keep this great idea under your little red furry hat.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqba6W4h_iDoDhkYMedlflZSho-5R6vpmgYgkFOqhvNEiS2dvKeLdCEIRJun38Iczqy8jb_P89CcUZZqR85LIV5YgG10rp-lDtri0QcEHzA7ktUGkz_pV2yVBT4-HnVC5DDnXcbiVoefw/s1600/normal_Bryanston-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqba6W4h_iDoDhkYMedlflZSho-5R6vpmgYgkFOqhvNEiS2dvKeLdCEIRJun38Iczqy8jb_P89CcUZZqR85LIV5YgG10rp-lDtri0QcEHzA7ktUGkz_pV2yVBT4-HnVC5DDnXcbiVoefw/s640/normal_Bryanston-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Made of top-quality hessian <i>know as burlap in North America</i>, the gift sacks come in a variety of styles to suit any age and individual names are added in red letterpress. Sort of a stylish replacement for Christmas stockings though there is nothing to say you can't fill both! Perfect too for large gifts, the rustic gift sacks come complete with grosgrain ribbon and gift tag.............and a whole lot of gift fun. How fabulous would these look under those great big Christmas trees? With my name on it?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">And speaking of the North Pole, it's time to pass along my annual holiday link to </span><a href="http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home?utm_campaign=laun1en&utm_medium=email&utm_source=zend&utm_content=creav2" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">PNP</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, top secret code for Portable North Pole, that charming and magical </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">free</span></i> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">video message you can send to true Santa believers. Those little ones <i>older ones too</i> are downright mystified and enchanted when Santa actually says their name and seems to know some personal details like their dog's name or favorite car.........well, it is downright magical and very, very clever too. It is my favorite time of year.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>photos from</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> link sources</i></span></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-88840428832458901372012-11-21T20:54:00.001-05:002012-11-21T20:54:19.108-05:00Where Louis XVI ate his turkey..........Happy Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A day ahead of royal appetites, princely portions, and I imagine some gorgeous table settings with linen tablecloths, polished silver and sparkly crystal chandeliers all aglow. I know many of you are getting prepared to share your own castles with family and friends and hope you are enjoying the table and food preparations..........all the special touches that say welcome to our home. If your dining room walls are painted red or covered in red silk as they are at Chateau de Versailles, know that red stimulates the appetite and be prepared to dish out some second helpings of turkey and pumpkin pie. As we all know, Louis XVI was well known for his love of second helpings. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even though I was forced to snapping photos through protective glass of the dining chamber <i>King's Private Apartments</i> at Chateau de Versailles, I thought it worthwhile if only to remember how precise the napkins were folded back in the day. It is a housekeeping art and I do admire the skill that this must have required though a part of me <i>even the Downton Abbey loving part</i> thinks we should all be truly thankful that this level of precision isn't required of today's hostess, even royal ones........my goodness, fine linen folded into pleated layers in two directions and folded into the shape of a scaly fish? How do they do that?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Others would be impressed with the amount of silver service, not us, we were fascinated with the napkin folding techniques. This style looked like a huge blossoming flower. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the rich red walls and velvet chairs. All fit for a king and his queen. Imagine eating with a audience each and every meal. I would be way more comfortable being the one folding the napkins into intricate shapes..............and then heading out to yoga class to work off the pumpkin pie. Or so I say. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though it is a magnificent pleating technique isn't it? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Something to try with soft tissue paper perhaps?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However you set your holiday table, whether it be stainless or silver, cotton or silk, pewter or silver, paper plates or china, have a most wonderful holiday with your family and friends. Spend time together. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Thanksgiving........xx</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">photos by Sande Chase</span></div>
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A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-62987366303065552052012-11-19T18:44:00.000-05:002012-11-19T18:44:28.200-05:00Versailles............slow walking this week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am all over the place these days, I have a bee-in-my-bonnet as they say and trying to pull my thoughts together in too many directions. So let's slow walk this week through my favorite parts of Versailles, the calm parts where you can rest your eyes. When you think of Chateau Versailles as a whole, calm is not the descriptive word that comes to mind, you think extravagance and visual excess, and Versailles is all those things but there are parts where it all comes together in a beautifully serene manner even when all the components tell you that it shouldn't be possible. This is one of my favorite photos that I took the day we visited Versailles (even though I had to crop out the bottom due to unsightly repair barriers), I think it appeals to the designer in me, a reminder, a lesson in the value of symmetry. All that gilt, carving, moulding, subject matter, and yet it remains calming to the eye.............amazing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">photo by Sande Chase</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-12204266401456959452012-11-10T15:51:00.002-05:002012-11-10T15:51:24.870-05:00Louis Vuitton and Dior...........75009 holiday window dressing in Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am sort of hoping that Santa might spring for an early Christmas present and put a quick December flight to Paris under the tree. Already? Yes, especially after reading who is working around the clock right now to "dress" several department store windows in Paris this holiday season. Honest, I could be there and back so fast it would make your head spin because this will be a magical sight to see.......... multiple windows of two famed department stores dressed by two fashion houses and in the same Parisian 75009 zip code, just a block apart. Who would have thought? Louis Vuitton at Galeries Lafayette and Christian Dior at Printemps........ahhh, Santa is being really good to the window watchers this year. Surprisingly, both Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior are using hand painted and animated marionettes but I have the feeling the similarity will only add to the enchantment for young and old alike. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This is only a teaser but I love the behind-the-scenes peek. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to see the level of detail and workmanship being executed by the world's most famous trunk maker over the past months? Louis Vuitton has used travel as it's theme in honour of the 100th anniversary of Galeries Lafayette and the windows will unveil this month, but no one is saying an actual date. Maybe it is today? Maybe the exact moment that every thing is absolutely perfect. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Using many of their iconic Dior fashions from the famed 40's"Bar Suit" all the way to the red gown designed by current artistic director Raf Simon, the Dior windows are designed as an archival ode to the historic Dior couture salons on Avenue Montaigne. Even bigger news? A exclusive Christian Dior Pop Up store located in Printemps this holiday season, a merchandising first for both the designer and department store with more than 30 limited-edition creations such as snowglobes, scarves, bags, even shoes. Now we're talking some fun holiday gifting. I love snow globes.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The Dior ladies getting dressed up for their holiday preview at Parisian department store Printemps Haussmann.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>" Christian Dior Limited Edition Snowball"</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ <i>Dior Limited Edition Jádore Le Printemps </i>~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Who better than current Dior "face" Marion Cotillard to unveil the Dior windows at Printemps on December 9th? Get there early for the 5:30 pm open, I think it might be a busy street that night and all month long. Maybe get in line right now.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Printemps Haussman</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">64 boulevard Haussman</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">75009 Paris</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">All Dior images from <b><a href="http://www.vogue.fr/mode/news-mode/diaporama/christian-dior-investit-les-vitrines-de-noel-du-printemps/10487" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Vogue ~ France</span></a></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Louis Vuitton images from <a href="http://en.vogue.fr/fashion/fashion-news/diaporama/louis-vuitton-takes-over-galeries-lafayette-this-christmas/10406" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a></span></span></span></div>
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A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-62893659075208403782012-11-07T13:47:00.000-05:002012-11-07T13:47:09.486-05:00walk interrupted..........let's stop at Zara<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not that you are interested in every minute of my Paris trip but since I have you captive can we interrupt our walk together and take a peek in at Zara? A fun little shopping break from all that walking? As you know by now, I love Zara stores and they could hire me to be a one-woman advertisement, I find all my fun stuff there. But I will admit that If someone had told me ten years ago that I would be really, really excited about a pink sheer-and-beaded top that I bought for 39.00 Euro in Paris, the city of high fashion I would have dismissed them as crazy. I am equally as smitten with my <i>very comfortable</i> black patent shoes with the pretty satin shoelaces, a more feminine version of the black suede oxfords that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> I wrote about </span><a href="http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.ca/2012/09/all-girls-are-crazyfor-paris.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now the question will be...... should I wear the shaggy ivory collar-wrap <i>for lack of a better name</i> that I found in the south of France with the pink top as I have shown above? I hope so, I really like the look of the two of them together. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photos by Sande Chase</span></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-36481219781377981242012-11-05T12:31:00.000-05:002012-11-05T12:31:18.895-05:00Looking in all directions.........on our Paris walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes while walking in Paris, it is good to look behind you even though you are always inclined to moving forward to see more, more. Visually turn back to say goodbye and gain another perspective, yet another view (it helps for future orientation too). And sometimes if you pause for just a minute and look sideways too, you will be rewarded with something you hadn't expected to ever see.........bird walking as only the Parisians can do.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That gorgeous feathered lady in bright green is originally from Brazil and her lovely name is My Love. She is carried each day in a custom cage to this park directly across from the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel by her gentle and friendly owner and then secured to the park bench with a fine chain. She has a bit of lunch, a bit of fresh air, some sunshine, some company <i>the one in gray feathers</i>, chatty conversation with her owner, and some time to observe the world at large while she scoots back and forth along the park bench in a highly-inquisitive manner. From her temporary perch she can look to her right and see the Le Grand Louvre and Le Pyramide, left to see the Jardin des Tuilleries or almost straight ahead to see the rear facade of the Musée des Arts Decoratifs. As I communicated with her french-speaking owner with my limited comprehension (of the language and the avian world) I couldn't help but think..........I wonder what My Lady thinks of her Parisian lifestyle?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">photos by Sande Chase</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-78206245462638694392012-11-03T11:57:00.001-04:002012-11-03T11:57:18.639-04:00Peaceful Paris Walk...........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~ Square Georges Cain ~</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Backing directly onto the </span><a href="http://carnavalet.paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Musée Carnavalet</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> on Rue de Payenne is a peaceful square (park) in the 3rd arrondissement where Marais residents can remove themselves from the high energy of their busy streets. It is here where they go to collect their thoughts, enjoy a boxed lunch, or read a few chapters. The noise of the surrounding streets dims down, hovers above the trees and you find yourself talking in hushed tones so as not to disturb this peaceful oasis. Just minutes are needed, maybe only ten or fifteen to revive your tired feet and eyes but still you rise from the bench reluctantly.............</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-4216060872853895642012-11-02T10:50:00.001-04:002012-11-02T10:50:19.225-04:00A nice, long Paris walk with me and you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a bit, more than a bit of background work to do to clean up my blog, give it a new, more fashionable look over the next few weeks. In the meantime I thought I would share some of my Paris photos, one or two a day for the next few weeks. From the streets, to the windows, through the Maison et Objet show and then on to the south of France...............I'm certainly not any photographer but there is some nice shots here to share and I will keep it nice and easy like we were out for a nice walk. I mean, how often do you see a pink truck with a musical mission and two presidential names? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">photos by Sande Chase</span></div>
A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-74674271503760462502012-10-31T11:15:00.001-04:002012-10-31T11:15:47.248-04:00Skeletor................gone glam at Deyrolle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">I couldn't resist sharing these wallpapers on this fun and spooky day...........we ran across these new introductions at </span><a href="http://www.deyrolle.com/magazine/spip.php?rubrique93" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Deyrolle</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> (the famed Parisian taxidermy shop) at the Maison et Objet show in September and I have been saving them ever since. They intrigued me and even though I have made the edges more spooky just for today, the papers were oddly beautiful and richly coloured. Wouldn't this make for a dramatic statement in a powder room? Spooky gone glam........bow tie and all. </span></span><br />
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<br />A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-55594009914729073292012-10-23T12:37:00.003-04:002012-10-23T12:37:59.991-04:00petite Paris stash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I rarely make the same shopping mistake twice. See it, like it, buy it, do not allow time to think about it and come back, it never happens. Especially at the <i>bouguinistes </i>(bookseller stalls) along the quais of the Seine. These petite books aren't that old actually (1973) and quite petite (4" x 3") but this 4-volume set titled <i>Poemes Amoureux Et Galants</i> are now stacked on my desk and their vivid pink colour catches my eye quite frequently throughout the day. When I am old and gray I shall consider spending time translating these poems of love but for now they provide me with visual pleasure. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course, if I could part with even one volume they would be lovely, lovely as a petite cadeau tied with a beautiful satin ribbon............but I just can't seem to do so. I had such good intentions. Mind you, I could buy more, it appears these petite pink tomes are all over the place (Ebay, Amazon) not just along the Left Bank. And there is my little chuckle for the day.</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Follow me on Instagram @agiftwrappedlife</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Instagram Photos by Sande Chase</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-43177610331418196632012-10-22T10:48:00.000-04:002012-10-22T10:48:30.633-04:00Paris gift stash...........starting at Astier de Villatte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>& Ma Vie 2013 Agendas from Astier de Villatte</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Probably the best thing to bring home from any trip besides your photos is a stash of gifts. Isn't that the best part? My Paris gift stash is like the afterglow and every gift purchase has a story, a place, a person attached to it. I like to pick up things that will add some personality to any of my future gift presentations, things that add a certain<i> joie de vivre</i>. There is always one shop that sticks with me long after I come home, a spot that has me regretting I didn't stock up on more of their merchandise. This Paris trip I find myself remembering </span><a href="http://www.astierdevillatte.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Astier de Villatte</b></span> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">for a number of reasons (two years ago I was all gaga for </span><a href="http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.ca/2010/10/cire-trudonparis-and-now-new-york.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Cire Trudon</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">). We had already been impressed at the trade-only showroom at the Maison show and now we were ready to "shop-shop" in the retail store. Based on their "cool" factor, I did purchase a number of the 2013 Agendas (Ma Vie 2013 ~ My Life 2013) as a gift for a few special friends and one for myself. How could I resist? Besides that, </span><a href="http://vickiarcher.com/2012/09/paris-and-yet-another-reason-to-love-this-city/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>you-know-who</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> was stylishly nudging me on as she was already a convert to Ma Vie in 2012. Maybe sooner.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was a line-up at the Rue Saint-Honoré shop the day we were there, many buying up these popular agendas and the smaller companion notebooks. Each notebook/agenda is silk-screened by the last existing master printer in Paris resulting in each agenda having it's own unique colour palette which explains the unique imperfections I noticed upon closer inspection when I returned home. I intend to use Ma Vie 2013 (My Life 2013) as a thought-of-the day type journal, a New Year exercise intended to have me writing instead of clicking at the end of the day. It is almost the size of an ipad so it will most likely sit bedside in my case. That the agenda/diary/journal includes a Paris and New York telephone directory at the back is just part of it's continental charm. After all......... you never know when you will need the number to Harry's Bar.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Astier de Villatte is best known for their highly-collectible, remarkably delicate, handmade earthenware. Their 2011 collaboration with NY decoupage artist </span><a href="http://www.johnderian.com/pages/astier-de-villatte" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>John Derian</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> is breathing graphic life into their all-white collection and judging by new products that we saw at the trade-only showroom, it is the perfect pairing of talent. By price and nature, these are the type of delicate pieces that you carry home on the plane like precious cargo, on your lap, the whole way home. Maybe something smaller to fit into your luggage? The perfect hostess gift for the upcoming holiday season? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Each Astier de Villatte candle is designed to evoke the scent of a particular place, all the way from Paris, Monte Carlo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, to Delhi to Jerusalem. I would select Opéra just based on it's description........bonus points to you if you already know why a candle named after the Palais Garnier has honey as one of it's fragrance notes? If not, go </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/26/world/paris-journal-who-s-humming-at-opera-believe-it-or-not-bees.html?src=pm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to read this fascinating fact. There are two boutique locations in Paris and and if you visit, you must ask to see the delicate cuff links, mother of pearl I think, with subtle monogram initials..............an exquisite gift for a woman who adores cuffing a beautiful shirt. Another sweet little french gift? Perfumed pencil erasers, the old-school kind...................now isn't that just fabulous? Candles, cufflinks, and perfumed erasers............the gifts I left behind at </span><a href="http://www.astierdevillatte.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Astier de Villatte</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is something so sweet and innocent about the toys in France that always gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling............the purchase of this enchanting keychain was inexplicable. Well not really, I think I was missing Daisy and this sweet face reminded me of her and I really do need a keychain, all the better if it makes me smile. More gift stash to come and some gift wrapping too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Instagram photos by A Gift Wrapped Life</span>A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-37486354256070304192012-10-16T10:04:00.000-04:002012-10-16T10:04:11.678-04:00Crazy Posh Gifting............with a story <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudX7BJhLabiDfMM9gYMzUxwUhy3NRglm7GXyPYVXYN1-TqkFzYZfGmKS5BB3gj72Pca6sO-qRdq_-8K_Ov92sMtV3cYl68DHvErrYxz48XzvtxgIf8TN2zr5omrAfps4aPGxtzl5nPCU/s1600/NMO5407_mp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudX7BJhLabiDfMM9gYMzUxwUhy3NRglm7GXyPYVXYN1-TqkFzYZfGmKS5BB3gj72Pca6sO-qRdq_-8K_Ov92sMtV3cYl68DHvErrYxz48XzvtxgIf8TN2zr5omrAfps4aPGxtzl5nPCU/s640/NMO5407_mp.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Neiman Marcus Christmas 2012 ~ Poetic Wish</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-weight: normal;">Would you buy a gift for $1,090,000 if you had millions and millions? Of course, after you have already given a huge portion to charity and family and want to just spoil yourself? Would you turn the pages of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/category.jsp?masterId=cat000000&itemId=cat40840749&parentId=cat000672" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Neiman Marcus Christmas Book</b></span></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-weight: normal;">and pick one of their nine</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/christmasbook/category.jsp?itemId=cat44770736" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>2012 Fantasy Gifts</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-weight: normal;">? Each one does include a worthwhile donation as well. And if you could indulge in a very posh gift for yourself, which one would it be? </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>"It all begins with a classic story: Boy meets girl. A romance is sparked. They share a kiss at midnight on Paris's Pont des Arts. But fate intervenes, and they are separated. Each night, they send wishes—he upon a star, she upon a kite—that, one day, they will reunite. This tale of love found and lost inspired the "Poetic Wish" watches from Van Cleef & Arpels. Mini works of art on the outside and exemplary displays of technical watchmaking behind the dial, these masterpieces are in need of their own happily ever after"</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">from the Neiman Marcus Poetic Wish description.</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-weight: normal;">Would it be the exclusive </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/christmasbook/fantasy.jsp?cid=CBF12_O5407&r=cat44770736&rdesc=The%20Fantasy%20Gifts&pageName=HIS%20&%20HERS%202012&icid=CBF12_05407" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>His & Hers</b></span></a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">watches inspired by the romance of the story above? It does include a weekend trip to Paris and Geneva. And it goes without saying that you will be wined and dined, sleeping in luxury accommodations, and touring the Van Cleef & Arpels shop in Paris and it's workshop in Geneva where you will hear.....is that a watch chime that sound like the bells of Notre Dome? Is that shooting star on the watch face in diamonds? Yes, it all part of the visual and audio beauty of these watches which are touted as a marvel of technology and craft and which took over three years to design and develop.</span></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">~ Beau Coop ~</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe you are more of a practical person, the one who enjoys farm fresh eggs each and every morning? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This $100,000.00 gift choice may make you hop out of the bed bright and early each morning and head right outside for some hen talk. Yes, to your own yard where your pampered heritage-breed hens, expertly and specifically selected for your region, will live is a very posh mini-farm of their own. Not just any hen house but a custom-built one named </span><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/christmasbook/fantasy.jsp?cid=CBF12_O5415&cidShots=m,a,b,c,z&r=cat44770736&rdesc=The%20Fantasy%20Gifts&pageName=Beau%20Coop&icid=CBF12_O5415" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>Beau Coop</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, a bespoke Versailles-inspired Le Petit Trianon multi-level hen house that really does have a chandelier, a broody room, a nesting area, a living room for nighttime roosting, and even a library for humans (with planting books), and 2 custom-designed raised garden beds. You may be practical but no one can say you don't have style. You certainly won't be hearing it from the hens.</span></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Tailgate Trailer</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Want to see a grown man giddy with excitement? The kind that he last displayed on his 5th Christmas when he still thought Santa Claus was real? Want to see him that way each and every time there is a game on? Any kind of game, it doesn't matter. Park this designer <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/christmasbook/fantasy.jsp?cid=CBF12_O5411&cidShots=m,a,b,c,z&r=cat44770736&rdesc=The%20Fantasy%20Gifts&pageName=Best%20Gift,%20Bar%20None&icid=CBF12_O5411" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Tailgate Trailer</b></span></a> anywhere, for any time of game or event, this is a party waiting to happen on a moment's notice. Comes with crystal, state of the art sound system, flat screen and a fair portion of alcohol to get the party started. The trailer might be an old-school idea but this fantasy gift for $150,000 is so groovy that he might not be the only one giddy with excitement. </span></div>
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A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-33561657293261778342012-10-12T12:37:00.000-04:002012-10-12T12:37:19.210-04:00Pretty iphone Photos.............and keeping it safe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These were the first photos I took with an iphone over three years ago. Since then I am still surprised at the ever-increasing quality at my fingertips.............which brings me to a travel reminder. My iphone 4S was stolen in Paris about 5 days before I left. It was so fast and so slick that it took me minutes to realize it was missing and only because I was going to take another photo. Travel reminder #1, do not ever leave your iphone (or any phone) on the restaurant or cafe table even while you are sitting there and think you are guarding it. In my case, two strange girls shoved a white paper over our cafe table to distract us (I had just sat down and had not put the iphone away yet) for a few seconds and then it was gone and so were they. The second thing I learned is that I was really happy that I had downloaded my daily photos each and every night. All I lost was that morning's photos, my new Kate Spade iphone case (which I loved), and my What's App free non-stop texting ability with the guys at home. It can always be worse but iphones are an easy target these days from what I hear so don't leave them on the table...........anywhere. It is way too easy for them and you don't want to lose your phone or those pretty pictures. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy weekend and welcome to new followers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And as always, thank you to readers who comment, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">reading them is such a lovely part of my day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">iphone photos by Sande Chase</span></div>
A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574953613921369798.post-58786723269869014892012-10-10T09:37:00.001-04:002012-10-10T09:37:33.098-04:00Page Flowers.........from garland to gift wrap embellishment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Isn't this the sweetest idea? My head leaped over using old book pages as a flower garland and right towards using these "page flowers" as a gift wrap embellishment. I am going to try my hand at this little tutorial </span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/fabric-paper-projects/stylish-projects-from-vintage-books/#page=8" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> and thought you might enjoy it too. Maybe make a lovely assortment as gift wrap embellishments and get slightly ahead of the busy holiday season? Maybe see what I can come up with to inspire their use as a gift wrap embellishment? That said, they will look just about perfect if you picture using them on a brown kraft paper or plain white paper, both being the popular gift wrap choice of the moment. Gift wrap success with either of these practical choices becomes all about the embellishment whether it be simple twine, a satin ribbon, or something sparkly and bright. You will see what I mean over the next few months..........yes, my scissors are sharpened and my ribbons all lined up. Bet you thought those gift wrapping ideas were never coming back to this blog didn't you?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> See my Inspiration for Gift Wrapping on Pinterest </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/sandec/inspiration-for-gift-wrapping/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>here</b></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">photos via </span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/fabric-paper-projects/stylish-projects-from-vintage-books/#page=8" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">BHG</span></b></a></span></span><br />
<br />A Gift Wrapped Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07205794177017599676noreply@blogger.com15