Blog anniversary & our summer holidays so far

Although I was planning to slow down blogging a little these days, I wanted to announce my 2nd blog anniversary today! I can’t believe I am blogging since 2009, July the 31st !!

And I want to thank all of my readers, followers and blog colleagues, for supporting me to go on with my blog and for all the nice comments on my posts!

Without all of you there would be no BELGIAN PEARLS blog at all !

So thank you so much!!  I hope to bring you more of inspiring blogposts in future!

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As you know already we enjoy our summer holidays these days and I promised myself to spend not that much time on my computer because I really need to relax and to have some quality time with my family. We are not traveling, we hope to enjoy spending some time in our garden and inviting friends and family.

But today I wanted to post some pictures of the things that kept us busy during this first week of our holidays.

Jan’s daughter Nele, her husband Tom and the children Alexa and Tristan joined us for a couple of days. We were looking forward to their visit!

 

The family (and the half of their household!) arriving at our home.

 

A drink on our time together.

 

Alexa was proud to offer Jan the drawing she had made for pappie and mammie (= Jan & me).

 

Alexa & me.

 

Preparing the meal.

 

The weather wasn’t that nice the passed days, but fortunately it wasn’t raining so Tristan and Alexa were able to cycle !

 

 

In the afternoon we went to my mum’s house, where there is a swing in the garden.

Jan and Anthony installing the swing for the children.

 

So Jan had to push his grandchild of course.

 

Anthony tried to teach his godchild Alexa how to use the scooter.

 

Aren't they just cute ?!

 

The other day we went for a walk in our neighbourhood and had lunch in an idyllic situated restaurant 'De Zwalmmolen’.

 

 

In the afternoon we all went to the manege ‘De Paardebloem’ where Nele and me wanted to practice horse riding.

Tom and Tristan walking along the horse stables.

 

This is me on the back of Mango.

 

Alexa is watching her mum.

 

Nele and Mango.

 

Jan is encouraging his daughter.

 

 

A future horse rider?

 

Alexa and me, Ralph and a friend !

 

I hope you enjoyed this holiday post.

 

Talk to you soon!

xx

Blog anniversary & our summer holidays so far

Although I was planning to slow down blogging a little these days, I wanted to announce my 2nd blog anniversary today! I can’t believe I am blogging since 2009, July the 31st !! And I want to thank all of my readers, followers and blog colleagues, for supporting me to go on with my blog and for all the nice comments on my posts! Without all of you there would be no BELGIAN PEARLS blog at all ! So

A Visit to Joan's

 A few days ago we had the pleasure of meeting Joan and seeing her beautiful home. Joan and her husband, Dan, have been restoring an old farmhouse in the New Hampshire countryside. If you have ever read Joan's blog you know that her house is beautiful. From the moment I first saw photos of her home I fell in love with it. A lot of times when I have something built up in my head when I see it in "real life" it never quite holds up to the vision I had of it. That was NOT the case with Joan's home. It seems hard to imagine, but it was truly even more stunning than it looks in her photographs. Each and every room is finished to perfection and her attention to detail is just incredible. I can truly say that it is by far the most beautifully decorated home I have ever been inside.  I want to go back again and have more time to slowly go through each room (we had Lillie and Lola in tow so I didn't get to take in the details). My artist side is dying to go back and spend hours admiring each space!

Joan and her dog Ella, who Lillie adored, were so gracious in having us and made us feel so welcome. And she even had gifts for the girls. She gave Lola this antique children's plate with the alphabet on it. I can't wait to display it in her room when we get home.

 

I hope you all are having a blessed Sunday! I will be back hopefully tomorrow (depending on how much I get done today) with the Jane Austen party pictures and the winner of the Je T'aime pillow cover!

Sunday Showhouse, and you're invited!!

Good morning, I feel like summers lazy, slower paced days are slipping away, and I am not liking that. The official event that tells me summers sweet days won't last forever is when I start to see back to school supplies.....ugh! With the time, like an hour glass slowly fading away...I am suddenly craving more than ever a seriously relaxing getaway. As we are in the home stretch of building our house, that is highly unlikely (best I can hope for is a few days at the beach) so I am taking a virtual fantasy trip today....all the homes today are incredibly grand, the first house being in the Bahamas has me longing for a lazy, "do as I please" weekend, going there would suit me just fine, then we move onto two equally grand homes in their own right, and again with spaces so over the top.....a weekend there would be heaven. Come take a look.....
CA'LIZA BAHAMAS, I have always loved this home. This magnificent Island colonial home is named after the owners daughter, Eliza. This is just the epitome of understated Island sophistication. Just a glorious home with a soothing and pale palette to promise the most welcoming and relaxed ambiance. The open shutter windows to allow the island breezes are in every room with a large loggia off of the back facing the ocean. Does it get any dreamier than this? I think not!

Love the exterior, very tall but not imposing, of course the shutters add so much

Now this is what I call a loggia!

I love the tranquility of this space, I can see this being a cozy spot to indulge in a great book

What a view, will have my afternoon cocktail here, thank you!

Soft and tonal, neutral dining room

Love the kitchen too....

How about this bedroom? So chic....

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA Then we travel to the west coast and to gorgeous Newport Beach, perched high on the hill to take full advantage of the majestic water views, this rather opulent home is quite impressive. Though the interior furnishings do not reflect my personal style, and think they are overdone,  I am still wowed by this house and the exteriors and grounds/views are beyond incredible. With a few improvements and furniture changes here and there, this is and could be ones ultimate dream home. I would however want to live outside, I am just mesmerized by that setting.

You know with an entrance like this...something fabulos lies beyond!

Love an interior courtyard

Would want to do a redo here

Not a huge fan of red dining rooms, just my personal opinion

This is a cozy family room, I like the grays and soft tones

The kitchen looks really pretty and open, with big open doors and windows to the outside

A bathroom fit for a queen and as I typed this sure enough..there is a tiara over there!

Love the way this loggia is done.....overlooking the pool

Breathtaking don't you think?

Oh the meals we would enjoy here.......this is where I would spend all my time

Quite spectacular.....perched way high up on the hill it takes full advanatage of the water views

Gorgeous!

Something about a house at dusk with all the lights on...its magical!

This is too much! I would go cross eyed, not sure if I should stare at the water view or the TV! (But I suppose I could get used to it, haha)

Oh and did I mention there is a dock and landing for your yacht? You do have one, don't you?

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS. This older elegant estate home is an understated manor that has been lovingly restored and maintained. What I love here, is whether or not its your taste,that they stayed true to the integrity of the home when they undertook the renovation and followed through with equally appropriate decor. I think it happens to be quite beautiful and certainly very grand. The formal gardens are dreamy and overall this is a very special and stately home. Step inside!

Beautiful elegant and stately living room (love the wall color, a sand color)

Love this fabulous wide gallery/hallway off the main foyer

Updated fresh English style kitchen perfect for big get togethers!

Formal, wood paneled library for your reading pleasure

Don't you love this hallway? I do!

Increidble formal Parterre gardens are a perfect setting for afternoon coffee

A beautiful pond filled with looks like Carp fish grace the beautiful gardens

Three incredible homes...any of which I would be thrilled to live in. I do love the first one for its light, airy but so sophisticated Island feel...then that second ones views and grounds are just out of this world not to mention that the entrance isn't too shabby either, and last the understated elegance of the last one cannot be discounted, it is quietly fabulous. Do you have a favorite? Love to know! Have a great Sunday!