One Reason Why I Don't Want to Go Home

Egg Press Letterpress on SALE at Design Story

I've somehow managed to resist the numerous member-only fashion websites (I like to try on clothes first, or at least have the option of returning them to a store if they don't fit me right), but I am in love with the new website, Design Story. They offer designer furniture, well-styled housewares and even gorgeous stationery--all at a discount. Some discounts are better than others, but most seem downright amazing. And sales seem to typically last just under one week.

I was so happy to see that Egg Press was joining their ranks this week--I'm a huge fan of their cards and have gifted them for years. This grand collection of letterpress cards might be just what I need to get organized for the year. I love having pretty cards on hand--it's one less thing to worry about! As an added bonus, they will give us both a $10 Design Story credit if you sign up. Talk about super nice! And even if you don't want to sign up, it's fun to peek at the website just for a "shot of pretty".

Pannekoeken

Since I've given crepes--the French pancake--some attention recently--it seems only fair to give pannekoeken, Dutch pancakes, a shout out as well. I've consumed a lot of both this month and am 100% in love with this breakfast-for-any-meal-of-the-day tradition.

More on pannekoeken and other pancake goodness over at Zupas today. Bon appetit!

p.s. receiving a lot of positive feedback on the crepe recipe; we use it a lot in our family for easy dinners and desserts. If you are looking for something fast, give it a whirl!

images by Stephanie Brubaker

Real Life Home No.6

I'm delighted to share another "real life home" for your viewing pleasure...may I present the home of Amy McGee of San Clemente, California. As I uploaded these gorgeous images of Amy's home today (taken by fab photog friend Elizabeth Harris), all I could think about is how much I wanted to walk through her space in person. The home is incredibly lovely, full of light, thoughtfully furnished, and above all, tranquil. I have a strong inkling you will appreciate this peek into Amy's home as much as I do.

She confidently layers rugs, mixes rustic with contemporary, and pays attention to small details. Amy enjoys shopping at secondhand and antique stores in hopes of finding that perfect accessory to compliment the new, larger pieces of furniture in her space. It turns out we subscribe to the same philosophy of saving up for what we really love, and selling things along the way to speed up the process. Thatta girl!

p.s. this little girl's room shown above is absolute perfection, no? I can't stop staring at it and studying every.single.detail.

Links to previous "real life homes" are included after Amy's home tour below.



































































































































For those of you just tuning in, this series showcases living spaces decorated by people who are not formally-trained interior designers; people who mix new finds with antiques and secondhand pieces from Craigslist (or the like). People who have figured out, on their own, what looks and feels good in their living space.

Real Life Home No.1 - Cherilee (mid-century modern)
Real Life Home No.2 - Maria (white kitchen love)
Real Life Home No.3 - Kirsten (whites + woods)
Real Life Home No.4 - Emily (clean + ecclectic)
Real Life Home No.5 - Lynne (whimsy + details)

all images by Elizabeth Harris Photography

The Seaside Village of Marken + other Holland Highlights

Outside of a quick day trip to Holland in 2009, this was our first real foray to the land of tulips and bicycles. I really felt like we experienced the best of Holland in just a few days and it was wonderful. Seeing the tulip fields was a lifetime highlight and watching what appeared to be the entire population on bicycles made me want to pick up a bike...with a basket...and a little cart attached for my kiddos...and ship it home somehow. But alas a vacation with 4 little ones makes for more chaos than bike-shopping/shipping allows. Perhaps another time...

A few highlights and observations about Holland:

* It's interesting how socially unacceptable wearing helmets is in the Netherlands--luckily the bike paths are separate from the roads in most cases, but certainly not all. I kept praying the little children and babies on bicycles stayed protected somehow, despite the lack of protection.

* Everyone rides a bike. This one nuance must affect their culture considerably. I'd love to hear and learn more about it, should any of you have any light to shed on the subject.

* If I lived in a country that took the time to create a separate bike path from the busy road, I think I'd bike more too. Mr. President, forget the railroads (we will never be like Europe...what's done is done) and let's add more bike paths everywhere!

* The country manages to stay quite clean and you rarely see liter, even in urban settings. It really enhanced the natural beauty of the land.

* Holland is quite a flat country...perhaps the bike-riding is a result of the lay of the land?

* The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam was everything I hoped it would be! Added bonus: a Picasso exhibit showcasing his early paintings. His "Blue Period" was my favorite and it was a real treat to see so man of those paintings in one setting. They are hard to find/view.

Can't wait to go back!

Have a wonderful weekend dear readers and thank you, as always, for stopping by today. xoxo

Katherine Sandoz Original Abstract Landscapes on SALE

Great news! My favorite abstract landscape artist, Katherine Sandoz, is hosting an inventory reduction sale, as she's caught the spring cleaning bug like so many of us do this time of year. This is your chance to invest in a beautiful piece of original art at a huge discount. Paintings that typically sell for $1200 are only $350 right now. Isn't that wonderful? I can't tell you how happy I am to have one of her lovely, little paintings hanging in my home and hopefully this special sale will help facilitate you owning one too. All shapes and sizes are available, including a few recently featured in the reputable art publication, New American Paintings.

Available paintings are being offered here. Take a peek!

Favorite Children's Book for Easter

Several years ago my mother-in-law gifted her grandchildren this beautiful, vintage book and it's been top on my list of children's books ever since (hence, its well-loved/worn appearance). Yes, it's technically an Easter story, but I love reading The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes to the kids whether it's Easter or not--it's just that wonderful from both a literary and artistic standpoint. It's hard to believe the book was written decades ago, as some of the underlying themes are quite modern. Any woman who admires motherhood will appreciate this book immensely.

You can find it online at Amazon or at your local bookstore. If you do purchase one online, keep in mind there are just 20 copies left so snatch yours up quickly! Happy Easter...4 days early :)

Here is a little peek inside:


































































images by Stephanie Brubaker

Simple Farm-to-Table Dinner

The plethora of local markets makes it easy to create simple, farm-to-table dinners each night here in France. With 4 kids in tow we aren't eating out a lot, so simple, fresh, and local ingredients are the name of the game right now. Plus, I have to make some effort at making up for the almost-daily pastry intake :)

Today, over at the Cafe Zupas blog, I am sharing one of my favorite farm-to-table meals--a meal you can make anywhere, not just in France. Three cheers for an easy, delicious dinner!

You can read about it here.

Tonight's Sunset over Beynac

After getting the kids off to bed I noticed the sky was aglow in the prettiest way, so I ran downstairs and grabbed the camera to document the moment. This is what I saw as I stood on the balcony at La Maisonnette tonight. Pinch me...I don't want to go back to real life.

Four Hours in Paris

With just a few hours to get my Paris fix, there was time for only a handful of stops. My husband was kind enough to stay in the car with the 4 kids while I ran in to my very favorite places; and when I say "ran", I mean it literally! I hit a few of my favorites from the Paris Guide, including Poilane, Merci, Mamie Gateaux. I also breezed through Comptoir des Cotonniers and Bonton, a shop I've been meaning to visit for awhile, based on Anne's recommendation.

A few notes:

Poilane makes the best apple tart in the world, no joke. Buy at least two per person--there's no way you'll be able to stop at one! Also, if you arrive there after 11 o'clock, be sure to stop into the new Noa Noa next door. It's a great shop for women's clothing.

Merci is my absolute favorite stop in Paris, this you know. I was happy to see they replenished their supply of Liberty of London envelopes, but disappointed to see they raised the prices to $12 for one envelope. Bummer.

Mamie Gateaux is just down the road from Poilane and not to be missed. The dessert shop, the boutique and the brocante are all wonderful in every way. In fact, the rest of the street is quite lovely too, so if you have time saunter down a few more blocks and enjoy a quiet shopping experience.

Comptoir des Cotonniers is one of my favorite boutiques in Paris--there are a handful of locations and from what I've observed, they are all equally fantastic. I usually just window shop unless it's "les soldes", in which case I always pick up a little something.

Bonton was very sweet and well-curated; if you're a Cath Kidston fan, you'll be in heaven. The clothing is a little out of my price range, but all the accessories and trinkets are reasonably-priced. And I love that they have an old photo booth on the main level too.

Since I've visited all of the major museums in Paris {and many minor}, thanks to an Art History study abroad in college, I typically only add museum visits to my itinerary if there is a special exhibit or I am with someone who hasn't been to Paris before. Favorite museums include the Museé d'Orsay, Museé Rodin, La Louvre, Museé Jacquemart-Andres and Museé Marmottan. Picnicking at the Rodin Museum is an added bonus.

You can read up more on my Paris Guide here.

What would you do if you had just a few hours in Paris? I'd love to hear about your favorites too!

The Tulips of Holland at Keukenhof

Tulips. Springtime. Holland. If that isn't a winner combination, I don't know what is! All of the tidy rows of colorful flowers created a feast for the senses--they not only looked stunning, but smelled wonderful too. We drove around the tiny, golf-cart-sized roads snapping pictures before spending a few hours walking with my in-laws through a garden park called Keukenhof--open just one month per year. Have you ever been? For those of you who live in Washington State, have you visited Bellingham in the Spring and seen the tulips there as well?
























































































images by Stephanie Brubaker

Morning Jumpstart

One of the best things I've done for my health in the past two years is begin each day with a tall glass of water. It doesn't matter if I'm eating steel cut oats or a stack of pancakes--making sure that water is the first thing my body intakes each morning makes a huge difference in how I start my day. I can't emphasize enough how much better I've felt since forming this habit and couldn't resist sharing this little tip with you. It turns out that water is the fuel that drives my energy level (not to mention post-baby-weight-loss) and keeps me moving through the morning at a steady pace. And what is not to love about that?

image via Views Buzz

Pantone Markers + other Favorite Pens

I have a bit of an obsession with pens--let's just get that out in the open. I find it amazing how something that only costs a few dollars can elevate seemingly mundane {or at the very least, simple} tasks. In honor of my recent discovery of Pantone markers--which are as lovely as you'd expect them to be--I thought I'd share my 4 favorite markers/pens. Having a stash of great pens is such a treat and makes addressing cards, writing letters and assembling packages even more enjoyable. You'll find most of these pens available at your local art supply store:

1. Pantone Markers - available in the prettiest hues. I chose one in cobalt blue, which I love.
2. Papermate Felt Tip Flair - a classic pen you can find at office supply stores.
3. Micron - my husband first turned me onto these fantastic pens--I like the fine points best.
4. Staedtler - this German brand has a great medium tip I like a lot.

Speaking of Pantone, have you seen their Spring 2011 palette? It is one of the prettiest arrangements of color I've seen in sometime and I find myself staring at it and wondering how I can spruce up my closet, which is full of black, gray, tan and stripes :)

An Easy Way to Preserve Your Child's Mementos

As a parent I'm constantly trying to figure out the best way to preserve and remember all the funny, little things my kids say and do. I try to record my children's funny sayings in a Word document and also in the Notes application on my iPhone. However, dealing with the massive amount of paper creations floating around our home is much more of an issue. Sometimes I come across a method that seems like a great idea, but ends up being too time consuming to pull off regularly. Like new year's resolutions, the key is to come up with solutions that are doable, realistic, and sustainable over time.

Here is a simple idea that's worked for me this year --one I am planning on continuing for a long, long time. I am hoping this simple method comes in handy for some of you too. It's so easy I almost feel silly sharing it here, but I've learned through experience that sometimes the most obvious solutions are often overlooked.

Basically all I do is build up a stockpile of medium-sized envelopes (preferably kraft brown, but manila will do the trick just fine) and simple labels that have enough white space for recording basic information. Then, when I have a bunch of little pieces of paper I want to save, I just place them inside and fold down the edge (however, I don't seal the envelopes as mine are adhesive). Next, I record the contents on the outer label, including the date, a brief explanation and the child's name. If I were really organized I'd have a specific color of label for each child.

I love this method for a few reasons:

1. It keeps my kids' "special boxes" tidy and easy to sort by date.

2. Instead of agonizing over which Valentines to save each year, I can keep them all--because throwing them all into an envelope requires zero mental anguish.

3. Because I have a system in place, I am motivated to preserve the little things, like the treasure hunt my son made for me one day after school; or the list he made of Baby Gray's talents (see below). To me, these types of mementos are more important to me than a great report card or a trophy.

Gray's Talents (by his older brother Luke, March 2011)

1. Sit ups
2. Big Smiles
3. Smile Noises
4. Crying
5. Rolling
6. Chewing/Slobbering
7. Being Good on a Date
8. Holding
9. Dropping
10. Nodding "no"
11. Copying

Where in the World is...

Remember that column in National Geographic where they presented an image and asked readers to guess where in the world the image was taken? I loved that game...I wonder if they run it...

Anyway, any guesses?

Funny memories from the day:

My son saying, "Mommy, it's too sunny here." Ha! After less than 6 months in Seattle, he is officially accustomed to gray.

Also, my daughter decided to "dance" to the accordion music playing in the square. Who knew it was even possible to get a rhythm going to accordion music? I'm guessing jet lag had something to do with it :)

How to Upgrade Your Cooking with 5 Ingredients {Part 2}

A few weeks ago, I compiled a list of 5 ingredients I recommend having on hand to instantly update your cooking and/or baking. Well, it turns out there are more than 5 ingredients I can't live without--there are, in fact, 10 of 'em. These are all things you can likely buy at your local grocery store.

Am I missing anything on today's list or on Part 1?

image of Dijon, France via diluvienne (a lovely town to visit if you are ever in the Burgundy region of France)

New Addition to La Maisonnette

A few weeks ago we ordered a poêle for La Maisonnette in an effort to make the cottage the perfect place to visit in the cooler months as well. It really makes a difference to have access to a wood-burning fireplace between November and March, so we bit the bullet and invested in an attractive, high-quality poêle. Yes, we already have a fireplace...after all, the cottage was home to the town oven several hundred years ago (read more about the "four banal" here). But, the poêle is necessary if we want to keep the cottage from potentially smelling like a campfire, and in my book that's a must! These types of stoves are very popular in France and now we understand why they are used so much--older French homes almost require one if you like things nice and clean. Since we've invested so much of ourselves in the cottage, this is the next step.

the coat rack also making an appearance this month / sandblasting the fireplace / before + after images of the fireplace

image 1 - La Maisonnette / image 2 - an example of a poêle - Charnwood

Felt Easter Baskets for One Dollar

Planning an Easter hunt or brunch this month? Get thee hence to the dollar aisle at Target where you'll find adorable felt baskets for just one dollar. As if you needed an excuse to go :)

Vintage Egg Prints + other Lovely Things

I can't resist sharing a handful of pretty things I've spotted this week...

1. Did you know that Nordstrom is carrying the Mini Boden line now? I love this bit of news! I know I'll feel more comfortable ordering product with a different sizing system when I know I can easily return it if the item doesn't fit. I think this dress is the prettiest Spring/Easter dress I've seen in sometime.

2. Martha Stewart's modern quilt line at Macy's is on Closeout right now. I have mixed feelings about this; while I do love a great sale (quilts are 50% off), I am always sad to see one of her product lines fizz out. I still miss those pretty green bowls, as well as a myriad of other things, from her line at Kmart.

3. Many of you ask about the vintage egg prints hanging in my home. While the exact ones I have are no longer offered, I did find this lovely to share, as well as this pre-framed version.

4. These itsy bitsy bowls are gorgeous. Me thinks I may have to expand beyond my white dishes...

White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies with Pepitas

Inspired by a delicious muffin I enjoyed at a local bakery, these pumpkin white chocolate cookies are now one of my husband's favorites. The cookie isn't overly sweet and the unexpected addition of the sprinkled pepitas on top adds a nice crunch. Given that I ate about 6 in an hour on the day I made them is probably a good sign...or a bad one...I guess it's a matter of interpretation!

I'm sharing the recipe over at Zupas this week. Bon appetit!

images by moi

Save the Date: a Food Styling + Photography Workshop {in France} with Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille

I feel like beginning this post with one hundred exclamation points, because that's how excited I am to share with you some fun news. Are you ready for a little adventure?

This autumn, Aran Goyoaga and I will be hosting a food styling and photography workshop in the Dordogne region of France. Aran's gorgeous blog, Cannelle et Vanille, has inspired thousands with breathtaking images and delicious recipes. Her delicate styling and wistful storytelling draws readers in with a single glance. But, you already know all this, right?

How would you like to spend 4 days in Southwestern France, learning how to style, cook and photograph food in a beautiful, intimate setting? Sounds like heaven, right? We are planning an up close and personal experience that will make it possible for 8 guests to learn valuable skills as food stylists and photographers. This workshop will be unique in that you'll be able to spend several hours a day alongside Aran as she works her magic in the kitchen and behind the camera. Hands-on experience is the name of the game at this workshop. And did we mention it's taking place in one of the prettiest regions in France?

(La Maisonnette du Coteau is just around the corner from the castle wall there on the right...)























Guests of our workshop will enjoy luxurious accommodations at this beautiful manoir:























We will spend time together shopping at a local food market, which is one of the oldest in all of France.


























After a lovely jaunt through the Medieval streets of Sarlat, we will head back to the manoir to prepare, photograph and consume delicious small plates and beautiful tarts as a group. Don't you want to learn how to make these?

























...and these?


























As this area of France has become an significant part of my life, I've come to realize this region represents the essence of French cooking with its foie gras, truffles, walnuts and wild strawberries. And when you add someone like Aran Goyoaga into the mix, well, that's just magic.

So....save the date! This workshop will take place October 2-5 in the Valley of the Five Chateaux. Sign ups will take place this month, allowing a limited number of participants. More details will be forthcoming in the next 1-2 weeks. In the meantime, clear your calendars and get ready to spend four glorious days together in an exquisite setting. Can't wait!

p.s. also t.b.a. is a tour in February 2012 centered around Parisian shopping and a real truffle hunt.

images 1, 2, 6-9 by Aran Goyoaga / image 4 - Stephanie Brubaker