What you must do in Paris .......with Carla Coulson

Are you visiting Paris soon or in the distant future?

If so, this must be on your list. 

Carla Coulson knows I adore her new venture. When she mentioned this concept 2 years ago over a huge plate of frites in Paris, I immediately said "you have to do this". And then I annoyingly kept bringing it up.............because what I was really thinking was this is such a good idea, can I pose right now? I would love a once-in-a-lifetime portrait in Paris! There is something in the Paris air that women breathe in when they land in Paris, we feel more feminine, more something and Carla has figured out a way to photographically capture that delicious something with Paris Muse. Now close your eyes...................

and picture this....................

Pick the perfect city Paris. The most luxurious setting Hotel Lancaster. Bring just yourself, or your best friends, your sister, your mother, or your hubby it can be an individual or group shot. Meet the talented make up and hair team. Let them do their fashionable thing while you sip some French bubbly and relax............you are in the best hands in the business. Picture yourself at your most glamorous and natural, all relaxed with that Paris glow wearing a gorgeous frock, sounding good isn't it? Now picture the experienced and enormously talented lens of Carla Coulson pointed directly at you. 

Actually it might sound a tad intimidating. But this is the part I really want you to really understand if you are feeling a bit shy about this idea. Carla Coulson is as wonderful as you would imagine if you have read her books and admired her photographic talent. I had the enormous pleasure of spending a few evenings with Carla and her handsome Italian husband in Paris a few years ago and I have to tell you..........you will feel immediately comfortable with her and likely have more than a few laughs. She is warm, sincere, unpretentious, down-to-earth, and full of genuine smiles and laughter. You are in the most talented of hands for this most special Paris treat. 

Go take a peek at Carla's new website and blog and browse the before and after transformations here. The tone of the photo-shoot is yours to determine, something feminine think boudoir-like, a more professional pose for publicity, or as a special keepsake for that special couple an anniversary, a Paris honeymoon. After the four-hour booking, you will have the option of purchasing the final images as printed fine art photos or a luxe book. Either way, you are bringing home a most incredible keepsake. The package details and booking dates are available by emailing Carla here. 

Carla is having a fabulous Paris Muse giveaway to introduce her new service and website so click here to enter by Tuesday. I am headed there right now.........I am so going to do this on my next trip to Paris. And so should you. This is such a good idea.

All photos are the exclusive property of Carla Coulson. 

Paris awaits you...........again

Pavillon de Flore ~ Paris by Rita Crane Studio

I was thinking about my friend today who is headed over to Paris this week. And I was thinking about my own upcoming trip in September. And then I was thinking..............is there any city more beautiful? I could look at this photograph all day and thought maybe you would enjoy a bit of gorgeous Paris too.




Then I got to thinking what I really, really liked about Paris. It's the walking, you can eat all you want and come home weighing less. What a clever French trick, no secret at all to how french women stay so svelte.! Next time I will cycle there too. For some reason I really want to cycle in Paris. And collect more business cards. Paris shops have the best business cards and I would like to frame a few together. Well, actually a whole pile of them.

These stunning Paris visuals are by photographer Rita Crane as seen on Flickr and they are some of the best I have seen. Her website offers these photographs for sale.

Even in the winter..........such incredible beauty.




Even when you have to wait in line......for macaroons or to visit the Louvre.

Who cares? Beautiful Paris awaits you again..........have a fabulous trip. XO

Walk and eat all you want.......what fun!

And sneak in a day trip to Versailles......you must.

Did I mention I love macaroons?

All photographs via Rita Crane ~ Flickr

To JPC..........My Valentine

Anywhere.......

Any Way....

Any Time.......

...............you are the one for me ~ XO

All photos via Flickr/Bottom photo via NibsBlog

My kind of prissy store......

By the time I was 6, my mother had likely relized she had created a prim, but polite little fashionista. I insisted on wearing white gloves to go along with my long blonde ringlets (it was the 50's) and little handmade princess dresses whenever we went socializing. As the only daughter with 4 brothers, I was a willing girly girl all the way. At 7 yrs. old we moved across the border from Michigan to Canada and right next door to a rambuctious Irish family of 4 girls. They took one look at this fussy and girly import and pretty well told me to lose the immaculate white Keds, flowing hair, and princess attitude if I had any illusions on joining their club. I must have wanted new friends and new adventures (being prissy was getting boring) because I lost the tiara real quick, got a pixie haircut, quit cleaning my white Keds and joined in all the fun. I got to thinking of this recently (not that my old friends have ever let me forget it) when we happened upon this exquisite store in Cannes recently.


Another illusion that I operate under is that I am the detail person in my household. I was so busy absorbing the window display seen at I Pinco Pallino that I failed to notice something and I still can't quite believe it. It was my husband who casually said "did you notice the hem?" Wait, this can't be happening, that the logical, non-creative one in this marriage would notice this exquisite detail and I would miss it? My reply " Yes, of course I did". I have to preserve my reputation.

I Pinco Pallino is an upscale and Italian-based chain of children's clothing stores. Which means you can usually find one in major cities during your European travels. It could only be princes and princesses of royal or celebrity lineage who could actually buy and wear these clothes, but what exquisite detail, style, and craftmanship. It is a not-to-be-missed store for anyone who appreciates beautiful things and truthfully it is more lovely than this interior web photo suggests (love the floor). I could have bought that ivory window display outfit just to look at and admire, it truly was that gorgeous with the lace skirt, fur jacket with embroidered crest, and suede boots! But I did mention my husband was the logical one didn't I?

A hearfelt Thank You to all the readers and fellow bloggers who commented or emailed me directly with thoughts of lovely support during my poorly-timed recovery. I haven't forgotten the seasonal countdown has started ........and we have some Christmas wrapping and gift ideas to get going on so I am resting and getting there slowly but surely. PS. Pricey bed linens are worth every penny.

Lights, cameras......and real estate

In order to survive a case of the Shingles (which I realized I had about halfway over the Atlantic 10 days ago) you must take liberal doses of very hefty pain killers. You need to rest, a exceptionally good and lengthy ipod playlist, non-depressing Oprah shows, and you need to stay away from commenting on any other blogs while laying about in a pain-medicated state. Otherwise, people might take you serious and as we all should know............sounding serious and ingesting pain meds do not mix. You probably shouldn't blog either although I have checked and my previous travel post reads relatively normal considering my necessary consumption that day. I didn't purchase that apartment in Nice I mentioned but it did lead me to leave a glib comment on a one of my favorite blogs last week while in said pain-medicated state and that led to another email which I will get to in a few minutes.

First, if you wanted to get a bunch of friends together and rent this gorgeous Provence farmhouse named La Goutte D' Or (named after a local variety of figs) for a week, you could do so for 1,525 - 2,300 Euros per week depending on the season. It sleeps 8 so you do the math as I am not sure I am capable yet of doing it for you (even though I have reduced the pain meds). I find these enticing offers of rental properties on the Provence-based blog The Provence Post. As a freelance and travel writer, blogger and expat Julie Mautner has lived in St. Remy since 1999 so she knowledgeably shares local travel information that future travelers or homeowners would find helpful when heading to this region. Traveling aside, I find her blog highly entertaining as she blogs about the food, wine, and happenings of her adopted home. Julie posted this past week (click here) on the show House Hunters, the American producers of the hit show House Hunters International on HGTV are looking for homeowners looking to relocate or buying a second home outside of the US. You can see where this is going don't you? No, I am not moving to Nice and cannot participate in making myself an international TV star but if you know anyone from any country who is "lively and interesting" and is lucky enough to be seriously searching for a property in France or anywhere outside the US and who would like to be featured on House Hunters International, then you should tell them to quickly contact producer Holly Schwartz. Lights, action, a camera crew and some funds for your time........could maybe cover some foreign moving costs. The camera-ready buyers must be seriously planning to buy and be available for filming for 3-4 days in early 2010. The Pietown production is also looking for "animated and engaging" English-speaking real estate agents who sell property outside the US. Call me if it works out for you, I am so going to need another vacation when I recover and anywhere international will do. Visit the website or contact Holly Schwartz at holly_schwartz@pietown.tv for more information.

Both photos via blog ~ The Provence Post

A bit of the French Riviera........

I did, I did...............missed you that is. But I sure did enjoy visiting another part of the world and spending time with that romantic man of mine. It was an incredible trip and I thought I would share just a few of my favorite photos as I ease back into the work groove and everyday life. This first photo is my favorite, a street in Sorrento, Italy (my favorite town to revisit for a longer stretch) and a reminder when touring these European towns and cities to always take time to look up. Isn't it an incredibly beautiful building?


I didn't notice the wording on this beach sign until I was downloading this photo taken along the spectacular Amalfi Coast. I would love to see this "Bikini" beach in the summer, it looks like a fun place to soak up the rays.


The ride along the Amalfi Coast was breathtaking and not for anyone with a fear of heights. It's landscape is surreal in it's majestic and rugged beauty. We live in the flattest part of Canada so this stretch was particularly captivating to me. Such natural beauty........ we couldn't shoot photos fast enough as we navigated the countless twists and turns.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome has to be one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. It was extremely busy with tourists and the guard told us the only time to see it without masses of people is around 5-6 in the morning. If staying in Rome I think it would be most worthwhile to pick up an espresso and quietly wait as the sun rises and shimmers over this glorious piece of history.

Trevi Fountain ~ Rome, Italy

When we came out of the Vatican and St Peter's the sky turned a weird colour and I saw a few bystanders make the sign of the cross. It was a reflective moment as most just stood still and absorbed the somber mood in St. Peter's Square. Probably more than a few were thinking it was some kind of sign from you know who. No really, it was that weird. Maybe it was just me (spiritual but not religious) but I don't think I was alone in feeling a profound feeling of awe.

As we stood there in St Peter's Square and turned to leave, the lights came on in the Pope's apartment........

Thankfully, on to some of that incredibly reflective sunshine in Nice and Cannes a few days later. Our weather had been windy and overcast up to this point, certainly nothing that hindered our enjoyment but our ship did miss two ports, Livorno and Marseilles, because of strong winds. I used those days to sleep in after a series of 6 am wake-up calls, pamper myself with a massage and manicure, and have others get my unruly hair back in order. If I was going to miss Florence, Italy and a lovely arranged lunch in St. Remy de Provence at least I was going to feel good about it.

Just relaxing on the Cote d' Azur . The Promenade des Anglais in Nice. My kind of place.

I was entranced with the detail and brilliant colour of these shaped marzipan fruits and

des cochons seen in the outdoor markets in Nice.

My husband was taken with this most civilized approach to daily reading outside a cafe in Cannes.

I think he fancies himself living the life of a French artistrocrat.

Upon our return we (jokingly) emailed this photo to our son with the following message "Please don't expect any inheritance in the future as we have decided to leave absolutely no funds behind and we have purchased this lovely little spot in Nice which overlooks the Mediterranean coast. We are sure you understand and approve. ~ Love Mom and Dad XOXO

Return email from said son " Need nothing.......spend away starting now" Love Ozzie ~ XO

All photos by Jim Chase

Packed and ready to board...

photo by Chris Everard

Did I mention I am leaving you for almost 2 weeks? Yes, I am almost packed and almost ready to cruise the Mediterranean coast. A bit of Spain, Italy, and France and some time alone with that man of mine. But that doesn't mean you won't be hearing from me though to tell you the truth I have little plans of checking a computer from the middle of the ocean. Since I can't be wrapping, I decided to share my bulging file of interior design photos. All those rooms that have captured my designer attention since I began blogging, filed away for another time. Now seems like a good time. This Interior Series is accompanied by my totally random design thoughts, little bits and pieces of what I think makes the rooms so inspiring or details worth noting. Every few days there will be a Interiors Series post, I bet you won't even know I am gone. It was a fun thinking about design again, I hope you enjoy the departure in subject. Please continue to comment all you want, they will be lovely to read and publish on my jet-lagged return.


To start........one of my favorite rooms. You likely have seen this particular room before, it made quite an impression on many a blogger and for good reason. It captures the very best intent of good design, the impression that the room has evolved over time. Where every addition adds to the setting making the point that no room should ever be finished. The interesting thing is that this spectacular room actually breaks a few design rules if you were to follow designer textbook. Some of the lamps are set high, there is no real colour scheme (the beauty of it), the wing chairs are quite high in relation to the sofa, the layout is slightly off-center, and yet the result and mood is breathtaking. Breaking a multitude of design rules is what gives this room it's continental flavour. My point? Think it through but not too carefully, take your time, be patient and find the right piece. Let the room and your taste evolve. Don't strive for finished. Love the blue ceiling. Ciao.

Top photo by Chris Everard-Sarah Kaye/Bottom photo by James Merrell - No designer source found.

See you Monday......maybe

Photo by Sandra Lane

Heading out to see some friends for a few days who live in a beautiful lakeside house in Port Lambton with a relaxing cottage vibe. Looking forward to bringing my great-nephew (my honourary grandson so to speak), morning coffee on their dock, a leisurely boat stroll, and seeing their fabulous garden. We have a Monday holiday here in Canada so everyone is already packing up and taking off somewhere, our last summer chance. Hope you all have a relaxing summer weekend and don't forget to post a comment for the Thank You Giveaway from the previous post.......it's a good one and three of you will a new Wrap Room ensemble. You really could win you know.