A Jaunty Bow..........for the Kentucky Derby

The millinery world offers some of the most stylish bows. Wouldn't this be perfectly glamorous for the Kentucky Derby this weekend? Hats off to a style winner in the race for the best bow.

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Pink in High-Resolution

I woke up Saturday morning and thought to myself "Girl, you just need to learn how to do your own photography". Off I went to my local camera store and came home with a technology-induced headache and a new best friend, a Canon Rebel XSi. Photoshoots for my website have always been the hold-up in the process, it's just plain tense and way too picky for most professional photographers. I see my product, but conveying that picture (in my head) is too time-consuming and expensive. And it's ongoing with new product, so at 55 yrs. old I am determined to learn how to do more styling, and shoot my own photos. Yesterday I absorbed impressive words like aperture, ISO, white balance, macro, and telephoto. My hand is sore from carrying this hefty friend around all day shooting everything in sight and these mature neurons are firing off like crazy. This Princess Pink photo is one of my baby gift ensembles that is being re-styled for the website and I think it is the most precious pink present to send to a new princess. It comes with the most feminine pink Daisy sun hat since it's never too early for a girl to worry about sun protection.

When you ask for help from your fellow blogger friends, they always come through for you. A few weeks ago, blogger Mandy from A La Parisienne emailed with some advice on white balance when I apologized to blog viewers for my tinted photo backgrounds. She got the wheels turning and from there I emailed Alice at the photographically-superior blog Thoughts from Alice W, who's blog and website photos are some of the loveliest I've seen. Within ten minutes, she graciously emailed her camera spec's and off I went into a whole other learning curve. I also noticed this is the same Canon camera used by the book-worthy blog photos at Cannelle Vanille and we all know her food photography is something to see. My Paris Pink file folders, Paris Rubber Stamp Set, and Eiffel eraser are always on my desk.....if I have to work I'm going to make it as pretty and pleasant as possible. Now wouldn't this lovely gift perk up those pesky desk chores?

This photo actually has some great resolution, but when it downloads to blogger it loses some of it's clarity. A quick, 7 am email to my web guy with the question "why are these photos losing their resolution in the transfer from file to blogger and how can I fix it?" still hasn't been answered (he's obviously a late-sleeper or hiding from me) but I'm dying to know. This Cote Bastide Giroflee Bath Gel and Soap is one of my favorite gift products, makes me think I'm in a sophisticated Paris bathroom. I think I might use these tonight in a good, long soak after a good, long bike ride. My other best friend who I am ashamed to admit I have been ignoring the last few days.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Hat Junkie

It wasn't until I was in Paris four years ago May that I really understood the pashmina craze. Other than the obvious style, I never really understood why French women wore neck scarves to the degree that they do. But flying always, always gives me a semi-cold, my throat hurt and I quickly bought and threw one around my neck for comfort. Ahhhh..............then I got it. When your neck is warm, life is good, especially in Paris. You can keep walking, hours longer with less layers. It was a cold Canadian winter this year and for some reason I was colder than usual, so my vast collection of pashminas, real and faux, have gone the distance. I wear one in bed when reading, one in the morning while reading the paper, and neck-style any time I leave the house. I'm going to miss that cozy comfort come spring. But think I have found another type of Parisian style for the last month of winter and then the warm months ahead.........

Madeline Head Wrap - for the next month at least

One of my most thoughtful of former clients came knocking at my door(with the most lovely stationery gift for me) the other day wearing the most incredible fleece headband-style creation. It was a fascinating idea, not a headband (been there, done that), but not a hat, but perfect on Brigitte in the most stylish way. I'm always interested in anything that will hide my hair, as we all know I am spending alot more time blogging than I am styling my hair these days (I really shouldn't blame blogging). My client was barely out of my driveway before I was online to check out the Hat Junkie and placing an order with Nova Scotia based owner Anna Shoub for a rush-status Madeline headwrap. On good or bad hair days, the $38.00 is great value, it will at least keep me looking stylishly together when I leave the house.

But starting in May......

I never should have gone to Anna's blog and found the post showing this new spring creation, all layered with dyed coral linen. Of course I ordered it! Look how fabulous this hat is! I can't believe it took me so long to wear pashminas, I'm not going to make the same mistake with hats. I love them and am going to start wearing them, if not now, when? It's coming with me should I get back to Paris anytime soon.

Top photo by Sandra Lane at Sarah Kaye/ Bottom Photo from the Hat Junkie