Showing posts with label French Essence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Essence. Show all posts

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Bloggers buzz on holiday gifts part II



Hi there! Hope you are doing well. Are you like me and getting really busy with the holiday frenzy?  Ready for another collection of fabulous holiday gift ideas from my super chic blogging friends? Well here's another superb roundup of awesome gift ideas. I have to say I have gotten so many wonderful ideas. For the first time in years, I am feeling my stress 0' meter go down.....not up! 

Let's face it...the holidays are plenty stressful enough without the added pressure of gift giving pressure. I love all these ideas, so many unique ones, and something for everyone. Thank you ladies for your fabulous ideas! So let's get started, ladies take it away...........



 

Vicki from French Essence says.....


 Holiday Gift Ideas from French Essence…

Choosing gifts is such a pleasure… thinking of ideas, sourcing them and then
finding that perfect match. That is the best part… knowing that your gift is going
to please your special person. I love watching the un-wrapping… the guessing as
the parcel is prodded and poked… It’s all part of the art of giving…

I don’t believe that some are ‘impossible’ to buy for or that others ‘have
everything’… the art of giving means not being defeated, sometimes thinking
outside of the box or oftentimes just keeping it simple.

When I think of a special gift, I think about what I would love to receive, an
indulgence that I might not buy for myself… something that would make me
smile and make me feel spoilt… a Cire Trudon candle is perfect. My preferred
scent is Odalisque… a blend of orange blossom, lemon and vanilla. I like a gift to
be long lasting and to evoke memories… this is a scent that does just that.
My other most loved gifts are books… nothing makes me happier… and I always
want to give as I would like to receive…


To purchase click here

              ‘The Best of Flair’ is an exquisite piece and one that is the perfect addition to
              any library… it is beautifully illustrated and has many of the features that made
              the 1950’s magazines of the same name so popular. This is a collector’s item, an
              intriguing and fascinating book that enchants on every page.

To purchase click here

 
  
Carolyn  and Cynthia of the Buzz Blog says....


Here are our two favorite gift items this holiday season from our e-commerce site www.DianeJamesHome.com.

  Our mother raised us with a tradition of never arriving empty-handed to holiday parties and that’s one of the reasons why we added a range of beautiful botanically inspired gifts to our collection of faux florals on Diane James Home.  It was hard to pick two of our favorite holiday hostess gifts but given that we’ve just introduced our new Winter scent candle made by Seda France, we had to include it!  And why not pair it with a lovely set of French-milled soaps, presented in a festive red box ready for gift giving (or re-gifting, if need be.)  Both gifts are sure to please!

Our Winter Candle (brand new for this holiday season and made by Seda France) - 






                                

      
Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home says......


Hi Tina, Here are a couple of gift ideas that I will be giving this Christmas...


 These are only $18.95 for two pads of 100 sheets.  So thoughtful with the name or monogram personalization...and you can  create the look from lots of images. Here are some logos that I have used for friends (and even for myself).







 This Heart Key Chain would be perfect to give my girlfriends so they will know I care about them every time they use it.

 Thanks, Tina!






Desiree of Chic Coastal Living says......




My first gift choice this holiday season is this navy pom pom throw from Serena and Lily. I recently partnered with Serena and Lily and received this gorgeous substantial throw from them and all I can say is everyone needs one! I am looking forward to sitting by a  fireplace wrapped up in this ultra cozy high designer throw while sipping a delicious latte. Serena and Lily states on their website...that this throw is an understated design element. I totally agree!

My second gift choice this holiday season is that adorable iPad Mini. This great little device is every inch the iPad has everything that you love about it! Including a beautiful screen, fast fluid performance, and thousands of amazing apps to enjoy. You can choose to have cellular service on it and different capacities. The best part is that it can fit in one hand!




 
  
Kathysue from Good life of Design says.....

I love to give themed gifts. For some reason it helps me narrow down my choices. In the past I have chosen a monogrammed theme for gifts.

I try to get the beautiful towels that are on Neiman Marcus’s pink sale every year….

You will get two sets of three pieces for $58, this is a real bargain. Plus, you can have them monogrammed. 

I have personally purchased these towels as gifts, and for my own personal use. Many of my friends have done the same!

If you like the option of a colored towel, and a colored monogram these are the towels for you. Only $12 for a bath towel.

 I usually purchase the white with a sand monogram for myself, but have purchased other colors for gifts.

Gift #2
The next theme gift I love to give is dinner related! I love to purchase nice plain white serving pieces from Crate and Barrel just go HERE!…….


I add this fun gift to the serving pieces. It is called Destination Dinners. You can go to their website by clicking on their name below the image…..

You can choose a dinner kit from any of the following destinations for $30:
I round it all out with monogrammed napkins from Pottery barn…..


These are just a couple of themed gifts you can give. I bet if you think about it from this point of view you will come up with your own ideas!! 

Happy Gift Giving,
Kathysue




Michele of Hello Lovely Inc. says.....

Thanks for including me, Tina!
* * *
My favorite gifts to give and receive are
handmade or vintage in nature because
they are usually one of a kind and extra special.



ORIGINAL Abstract Painting on Canvas...MAINE No. 35
original abstracts on canvas


Naturally, two choices from my hello lovely etsy shop
include affordable original paintings by me
(a perfect size for a gallery wall)
and assorted vintage European bottles
which are fabulous on their own,
as a styling prop, or vase.
(They may even work for holiday decorating!)


vintage embossed bottles


hello lovely inc.

 





Luciane of Home Bunch says.....


Happy Holiday shopping, everyone!
Pick #1:
I have three small children and I'm always trying to make our home feels like a home for every and each member of our family. I like my kids to feel welcomed in every room, but I like to dedicate certain places exclusively to them. I think it's really important for our kids to have a place where they feel completely free to create, play and learn.
When I saw these children plates I immediately thought how neat would be to have them hung in a playroom. These alphabet plates are adorable and I'm sure any kid would enjoy seeing them!

Aren't they cute? The set for a mug and plate costs $26.00 and you can find them here.
 
Pick #2:

Maybe this Christmas we should do more than opening our wallets, maybe instead, we should open our eyes to see what the person next to one need.
We all get incredibly busy at this time of the year, we all try to send cards to all of friends and family and we're running from store to store with a huge list on hands, but is it all we can do? Is it all we can give? Perhaps, we can do more, perhaps we should do better.
What about actually being the gift for someone this Christmas? Look around, you can help in so many ways and that's a gift! Visit a neighbor you know could use of some help with the kids, or an elder person who needs help. You can do simple things, such as wrapping gifts or cooking some meals for the Holidays.
Offer help, be there and put a smile on someone's face.
The best gifts in life are usually priceless and comes from the heart, instead of a shelf.
 
Happy Holidays!
Luciane
 




 

Elizabeth of Pretty Pink Tulips says.....

I am always on the look out, year round, for special items that would make a fabulous gift, so I was thrilled that Tina invited me to share a couple of picks with her lovely readers. I love to give things that will be savored, enjoyed and used. Personalized items are always a favorite of mine, but that doesn't necessarily mean a monogram. My first holiday gift pick is the exquisite new book, Flowers, by Carolyne Roehm. 

The book was a true labor of love, as Carolyne created all of the floral arrangements and photographed them herself. If you know someone how lives for their garden, a gorgeous flower arrangement or just loves a fabulous coffee table book...this is the one for the season! The most cost effective way to purchase her book is via amazon.com, but you can also visit her website, www.carolyneroehm.com to have her personalize the book for your recipient.





My next gift pick is something I have and use on a daily basis. The Russell + Hazel Tassel Key Chain is just a fun thing to give and receive. The personalization comes in choosing the perfect color. Mine is white and is easy to find in the bottom of my handbags.  Available at zhush.com


Whatever you choose to give, remember the presentation is part of the gift!
xoxo Elizabeth






Thanks ladies! This is like the gift giving jackpot. So  many unique ideas, this is the beauty of having such talented blogging friends......wonderful ideas are always being generated and  of course the perk is getting to share them with you all. I am for once excited about my gift giving...how about you? Thanks again ladies and thank you everyone for stopping in....ho ho ho!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

One word with Vicki of French Essence.....

A quick update on Mr. Teddy who is now home (big smiley face here) I am enjoying taking extra good care of my buddy,  giving him little massages, showed him his new bed, the kids lavished him with a few new toys (but you just know he went for the old ones)  and we are enjoying giving him lots of special and much deserved attention. It is BEYOND GREAT to have him home. I cannot thank you enough for all of your prayers and kind wishes for his recovery......they worked! He is officially on his road to recovery (me too after a harrowing week) and I am sure in a short time, I will be posting pictures of him doing what he does best...being the man of leisure that he is:)




So how do I introduce someone that needs virtually no introduction? A grand doyenne in the blogging world is one way to describe her.  One of the blogging pioneers and a fashionable and venerable force to many...Vicki Archer of French Essence, an author, taste maker, Australian born living in Paris and raising her family, fellow blogger, major style maker, queen of stylish French living..... someone whose blog I followed well before I even knew I was "following a blog". That term in and of itself would have seemed foreign a year ago! Yes, all these things describe Vicki, who to me  is the poster child of grace, elegance, beauty and culture. Visiting her beautiful blog, French Essence is truly like stepping into a day in an elegant French life, whether it be visiting a quaint cafe in Provence,  sampling that seasons truffles at the local truffles market ,hearing her take on a new recent book on French lifestyle (and I have purchased and enjoyed a number of her recommendations), her accounts and visits to the French countryside, it is not difficult to get caught up in her wonderful world ( and its so much fun)! We should also not overlook her own two fabulous books, French Essence and My French Life. Both wonderful books that capture what is unmistakably French, that Joie de vivre that seems to be ingrained in their culture by birthright.

I especially enjoy and gobble every up every word when she talks about French culture, it is fascinating and captivating and with her talent for writing, her savvy and detail oriented  flair lures you right in. Vicki has an absolute gift to reaching out and grabbing you and  luring you right into her French Essence world. And there are times I don't even want to leave her blog because I am entranced by what I am reading or seeing! Yep...its that good! So naturally I was over the moon thrilled when she agreed to come aboard for my One word series.....so enough of my talking, let's hear from Vicki! If by some chance in a million you haven't heard of French Essence, by all means do click here to be transported to a fabulous place you will want to visit again and again...............Bienvenue Vicki!


 Vicki of French Essence


One quality I love in people is...Generosity.
And I mean generosity of spirit. A person who has time, who can make time… a person who has a big heart, who lavishes kindness and is interested in others before themselves… That is my idea of generosity.

If my house could only be furnished in one color it would definitely have to be....Greige.
Greige… a cross between beige and grey, which sounds so dull when described but actually there are many ways to mix these shades and create a wonderful palette. I think that spending so much time in southern France has corrupted me… ‘greige’ is a part of the ‘côté sud’ style of decorating here and a hard one to escape. The neutrals work well with the landscape and also are restful during the long hot summers…

One luxury I cannot live without...Flowers.
Flowers make me happy when I’m not and even happier when I am. Roses, tulips… especially tulips, lilies, peonies, ranunculus, sweet peas or pansies… a bunch of blossom, an orchid or a potted plant… I love them all and I believe that flowers are one of the most important ingredients to making a home feel like a home…

Both images Vicki's gorgeous flowers!

If I had to have one designer decorate my entire house with 0 input from me it would have to be Suzanne Kasler


If I had to choose coffee or tea it would be...tea 
Green Tea in particular…


One place I have been that I would love to go back to....Tswalu Game Reserve in the Kalahari Desert
This game reserve in South Africa, on the border with Botswana, is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric places I have ever visited. The natural landscape combined with such magnificent animal and bird life makes it an unforgettable destination…
Rhino Africa Safaris

One place I am longing to visit is....Antarctica… 
‘March of the Penguins’ already had my interest but after watching ‘Frozen Planet’… My bags are packed.
Morfes

One talent I wish I had was....The ability to draw and paint. I would love to be able to paint what I see… to illustrate some of the scenes that I witness in my daily life… to turn words into paintings....


I think most people would agree I am very....Intuitive.
I would hope that I am a keen observer of life and an equally good listener…____________.
And I am keen and observant enough to see that you are one beautiful lady, Vicki!

If I could change one quality about myself it would be....Not to be such a perfectionist
.

One career I could see myself having would be....As a film set designer. This would be a dream come true for me… I could indulge my love of history, my enthusiasm for film, my pleasure in styling and my passion interiors… 

If food is therapy, when stressed I indulge in....Chocolate
and maybe a caramel or two…


One of my favorite brands for clothing is.... Lanvin 
In my dreams


If my life were a book, the title would be...."My French Life", I had to say that
(How gorgeous)!


My favorite flower is..... A rose
My garden is a great source of joy and our roses bring so much pleasure… Each year as I wait for the blooms it’s like welcoming long lost friends… The anticipation is wonderful.
Vicki's picture and roses.....breathtaking!

I would love to have coffee and a chat session with this famous person... Meryl Streep. I admire her talent, her commitment to her craft and her integrity in an often difficult business.
Humm...I think you two could pass for sisters, Vicki!


A favorite TV show...Gossip Girl
I probably shouldn’t admit to that…but… love the fashions…love the dramas… love the city.


Hollywood is....Unfamiliar 

Tuscany or Provence? Provence.


The next presidential election will be....Great viewing and even better conversation


The one best thing about blogging is.....
 Through blogging, I have met so many like-minded people who share my love of all things French. I feel that as a blogger I am part of a greater community and that means that I have made friendships with people from all over. Blogging has opened up my world and changed my life in so many ways… and all for the better… I can’t imagine a day without FRENCH ESSENCE….


A guilty pleasure for me is....
Staying in bed very late on a Sunday morning

A clothing designer I think that has great style Miucca Prada.


My strongest quality would have to be...Loyalty.

The best restaurant I have ever been to was....Oustau de Baumaniere in Les Baux de Provence_
My all time favourite and a restaurant that holds special memories for me.


If my life were a documentary, I could see this actress playing me.....Diane Keaton…
Why did I choose her? Wishful thinking?... I have no idea!


One thing I like about my appearance is...My hair
When it’s done!

One thing I can honestly say I love about myself is...My energy and enthusiasm.


Town or country.....A little of both…


One person I admire...My husband.
We have been together for longer than we have been apart and he is the person I most respect. He has always provided me with the wisest council and loved me unconditionally. 

Pick a decade to live in, any decade...Right now.
I believe in living in the moment, enjoying the now and worrying about the future when it happens.


My favorite room of my house is.....The bedroom
_My bedroom has a wonderful view; the room is light and spacious yet cozy at the same time. I like nothing better than curling up with a good book and lazing an afternoon away…
(Vicki's home)


If I were an animal I would be...Our dog Apache
He lives a charmed life in Provence.
(Apache..tough life)


A book I would recommend to everyone would be....The Count of Monte Christo. France, rollicking adventures and one of the greatest love stories of all time… This is an all time classic and one of my most loved books.


If I were planning a huge family reunion, this is where I would want to have it...Mas de Bérard, our home in Provence
This is where we have celebrated many special occasions and where I hope we will celebrate many more to come…

One thing I wish everyone could be more of is... Patient


In one word life is.....Fleeting
Life must be treasured and never, ever be taken for granted… each and every day must count.



Wow was this a home run or what!! So interesting....I am totally captivated! I  was mentally making a list of all the things I need to try and look into.....Vicki you are as fascinating in this interview as your blog makes you out to be! I truly lost count on just how many things I found myself silently agreeing with you on. We love all the same flowers and I too believe in their "healing and beautification powers"! Chocolate and caramel...oh yea! How many people tell you that you remind them of a younger Meryl Streep? I would love to crash your family reunion in Provence, I can see it now!  And that Apache.....looks like he leads a rough life:) Vicki, this was fabulous and I truly enjoyed it as much as I know everyone else will too. Hope you will stop on over at French Essence  and say hello  and if you love her style as much as I do......you can get her fabulous books, French Essence and My French Life  which are just incredible by clicking here. Need more Vicki? You must visit her beautiful and oh so impressive website full of magnificent French inspiration, click here to visit.

And finally had to throw in one last "teaser".....here is her beautiful patio from their home in Provence. Now pick your jaw up off the floor (mines still there)  and hope you have yourself a fabulous day!



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