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This Film Test is so neat! I just love the rich, beautiful colors and the fashion! I am loving that fabulous hat with the hanging accents. Enjoy!

Bonjour Friends!!! Here is my (long overdue) follow up to my previous Rose Bowl post. Last month I went to the Rose Bowl as a vendor for the very first time! It was so fun and exciting. I had an amazing time and I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support and well wishes from you all!!! Thank you!
I have never done anything like this before! I have gone many, many times as a consumer but never as a vendor. I had no idea what was in store for me! Everybody repeatedly told me it was so hard and the day drags on but I found it to be exciting and fun!
My Mother~In~Law went with me to lend me a hand (thank goodness for her) and lots of friends stopped in to say hello! It was all so exciting. The day started very early (ahem, 3:30am) and off we went with our truck loads of antiques and vintage furniture. My Mother~In~Law didn't wake up and I thought "Oh no, I hope we make it". Then on the way there we were stopped on the freeway for quite some time because the freeway was shut down due to an accident, I thought again "Oh no"! We finally arrived a little later than I had anticipated and maneuvering through the crowds of people and the trucks and vans unloading was a nightmare! It was so crazy! It was dark and crowded and tons of people were walking around with their flashlights looking for deals! So fun!

Well, we finally got situated and unloaded and set up the canopy and I had so much fun trying to make everything look pretty! I couldn't help to wonder, maybe I should own a shop!?! I have to tell you I had an amazing time! I met some of the most fabulous people and had a blast doing it!

I didn't have a ton of luck getting rid of some of my bigger pieces but secretly I didn't want to let them go either! How terrible of me!!! I have some beautiful things left like the gorgeous White Iron daybed with Rosebud fabric covered pillows, if anybody is interested :) But I learned a lot from the experience and I can't wait to go out and do it again!!!

All of these pics are from my booth. I am not the best photographer but I think the idea comes across. I had/have gorgeous market baskets, steamer trunks, coat racks, a beautiful old fireplace mantle, and antique window rescued from a church in Paris and hand carried all the way home!
I really enjoyed seeing how much people liked looking at everything and I made so many new friends. What a wonderful experience! I will definitely be back!!!
Labels: Antiques, Chandelier, Decor, Flea market, French, Furniture, Lighting, Marie Antoinette, shopping, Vintage


I just thought I would share one of my guilty pleasures with you. I'm gearing up for the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Sunday! I love, love, love spending the morning there and I can't believe that it is already time to go again! It happens every 2nd Sunday if each month and the last one happened to fall on Mother's Day. It seems like it was last weekend! Where did May go!?!
Paris it is not, however, still a fun and relaxing day! It is incredible how different our wares are here in America from the fleas in Europe.
So, it's off to the Rose Bowl this Sunday and I can't wait! I am meeting up with my best friend and kindred spirit! I have in mind some little treasures I would like to find to complete my newly redecorated office at home. Will any of you be there!?! Let's meet up! I'll bring the tea and we can browse the chandies!
Labels: Antiques, Boutique, Chandelier, Decor, design, Etiquette, Etsy, Flea market, France, French, Friends, history, Lighting, Madame du Barry, Marie Antoinette, Paris, shopping, Versailles, Vintage

Mmmm...mmmm! These look irresistible! The macarons are delish and made by a local French woman with imported ingredients & made exclusively for the tea salon. I just acquired her phone number and I wonder if she will make some for a party!
While I was strolling around the picturesque streets lined with antique stores and old buildings, I realized that after spending the afternoon with Kelli she made me realize a lot of things. After hearing Kelli speak French and talk about old haunts, I realized that I had forgotten so much of that beautiful language. I was totally insecure about even attempting to speak a language I had used exclusively for 3 years (although a very long time ago). I need to start practicing and re-learning my French!

I also realized that the Paris that I know is most likely not the Paris I will visit again. So much has probably changed over the years and I am such a different person now. The things that interested me then are not at all the same as what would interest me now. How did I never think of this before? I would have a much deeper appreciation for the beautiful city now. Well, that's just more motivation to get me to really push hard and try and go to Paris with Claudia in August/September! Now I'm extra determined! It did make me a little bit sad to miss Paris so much and come to the realization that I had forgotten so much. Maybe a trip down memory lane with my old photos will help.
This dress form covered in bows was in front of a shop owned by two fun sisters! I had to post this because it reminded me of Sande from A Gift Wrapped Life! So pretty! Shopping was great and I found tons of things I wanted to bring home. I was very good and only purchased a pair of....you guessed it...light fixtures! I'll save that pic for last though! :)

Such pretty buildings and homes where everywhere I turned.
This store had TONS of old windows, doors, and hardware. Dreamy to say the least.
I instantly fell in love with her! She was some sort of mini broom, her skirt was made of the bristles!
This trophy was so pretty in person. It had to be at least four feet tall.
I'm a sucker for feathers
This hat was too cute and in it's original box, never worn! The original receipt was tucked into the tissue paper as well. Darn if I didn't look to see how much it cost back in the day!

This kiosk had tons of sheet music but I just about fell over when I saw this beautiful cover.
She was tucked away in the downstairs portion of a store behind ridiculous amounts of furniture and random stuff. She is so pretty she should be out showing off! :)
It was love at first site for me! I love the Orange sherbet tattered velvet on this settee. I wrestled with the idea of giving a good and loving home for quite some time.
Finally!!! My Chandelier illness made me do it! I got in trouble when I got home from the hubby but I don't care! Feathers, crystal, lighting, and a great memory of a wonderful day and meeting a new friend! How could I resist? I don't know if it was the feathers, an overdose of imported tea, the euphoria of spending a child free day antiquing, or having just met Kelli, but I had to take these home with me! I forgot to pick up some macarons on my to the car so this is a small consolation!

Bonjour my friends! I don't know if I've been cooped up too long (from being sick) or it's been so long since I've been back to France, or what, but I have an overwhelming desire to sell everything we have, pack up the family, and just move to France. I'm not kidding, I am seriously thinking about it! It's always been my dream to live there.
When I was in college, I went to Paris to study for a semester through my school and I fell in love with the people, the culture, the beauty, the way of life. I didn't come home for three years (except for holidays and such). Then, I had to come home for family reasons and had the opportunity to go back 5 years ago with a great job opportunity but my Mother had just passed away and I just couldn't leave my Dad alone. So, now what...I found this great place :) It's only a dream but what a lovely dream!
The floors are spectacular and the walls are amazing!
All photos via Flickr
Labels: 17th century, 18th century, Baroque, Chandelier, Crystal, Decor, France, history, Lighting, Madame du Barry, Marie Antoinette, Paris, travel, Versailles

































