LatteLisa

k&a: apple and cinnamon muffins

2012-03-08T12:08:00.000+01:00

I have been enjoying a sunny morning but it's about to rain so relaxing with a book and a muffin would be ideal. I just posted my apple and cinnamon muffins recipe on kitchen & aroma and before the common reaction oh no, don't tempt me ... I can't have any sweets ... I'm too fat ... I'm on a diet then relax and look at the recipe. There is only one tablespoon of coconut oil in it, no butter or refined sugar. In our household these muffins are called appins, a word my hubby made up. Well, I call them my I-need-to-manipulate-my-hubby muffins and they are delicious. Enjoy!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

white windows & natural light

2012-03-07T10:38:00.001+01:00

Today I'm continuing with my yesterday's post as I realized I completely forgot to mention my love for white windows. I dug into my folder again to find inspiring spaces with much natural light and found this beautiful reading nook and home office.

The photo of the nook is taken in the Brooklyn townhouse of Jenna Lyons of J. Crew. I saw somewhere that the house is on the market or already sold but Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic has more photos of it. I must add that I love the branches in the vase; they're perfect for spring decorating.

photo credit:
1: Domino Magazine via Canadian House & Home

2: Emily Henderson via Canadian House & Home

home inspirations

2012-03-06T11:20:00.000+01:00

I was digging into my home inspirations folder (it's a rather big one) and thinking about the elements that create the perfect home in my mind. By perfect I mean a home that is inviting and warm, and defines one's personal style. I need a bright home with much natural light. I find dark homes beautiful but they are not for me. I like neutral furniture and popping things up with colours. I need books around me, plenty of them. Fresh flowers create that finishing touch and add a good smell from something baking in the oven and I would be in a state of bliss.

How would you describe yours?

photo credit:

1: Douglas Friedman for C Magazine via Beauty by girl

2-3: Mikkel Vang for House Beautiful

4: Nuevo Estilo

dutch spring

2012-03-05T10:56:00.000+01:00

I hope you're having a good start of the week. I woke up early this morning and made spice loaf for the kids' lunch boxes and it felt as if Christmas had arrived in spring with all that cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger-clove smell in the house. It tasted wonderful with my coffee.

Yesterday we went for a drive west of Antwerp and drove through small villages and towns in the area of Assenede (Belgium) and Sas van Gent (Holland). It was raining mildly and there was a bit of wind so these branches on the Dutch side of the borders, getting ready for spring, weren't quite willing to stay still while I photographed them.

The film I told you about yesterday, Ladies in Lavender (2004 ), really touches the roots of the heart. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are of course fabulous together. The entire cast is wonderful and the violin music is absolutely beautiful, not to mention the countryside scenery. I can highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys films about life; if you're into action then this one is definitely not for you.

photo credit:

LatteLisa

peonies & entertainment

2012-03-04T12:30:00.000+01:00

How are you doing on this lovely Sunday? I've been enjoying good coffee and photos of pink peonies online. Yes, it's very easy to get lost in those. I came across the beautiful photography of Elena Kovyrzina on Flickr and I simply had to share this photo with you. She also has a shop on Etsy, pretty light.

Yesterday's trip to the library was fruitful. I didn't get Julia Child's book but I got plenty of books and DVDs. I enjoyed delicious sushi for dinner and after that I watched the second season of Cranford, Return to Cranford (2009), so it was a perfect evening. Tonight I plan to watch Ladies in Lavender (2004), starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Have you seen it?

Finally, I want to thank Eleni of My Paradissi for a blog award she gave to LatteLisa and other blogs yesterday. I know I never forward them but I do appreciate the kind gesture.

Enjoy a wonderful Sunday!

photo credit:

Elena Kovyrzina on Flickr
via Paris Hotel Boutique Journal

how i love todays

2012-03-03T13:38:00.000+01:00

It is going to be a relaxing Saturday. On the agenda is a trip to the library to stock up on books and DVDs. They will make my day if they have Julia Child's My Life in France. There will definitely be coffee and I've promised hubby to bake my apple cake.

By the way, he just scared away two Jehovah's Witnesses. Don't get me wrong, we've nothing against religious groups, we just wish they would stop ringing the doorbell to impose their religious views on us. I find it so utterly disrespectful to people's time and I consider it my right to be free from such calls in my own home. I'm in no need of offers to save my soul.

This reminded me of an old story of my grandfather who got a visit from some door-to-door religion salespeople and one of them asked him in a deep concerned voice if he had found Jesus. He looked at her with his priceless look and asked astonished: "No I haven't, has he gone missing?!!"

Here are a few things that have put a smile on my face in the last days:

• Ada of Classiq won my Marie Antoinette giveaway and her surprise thank-you post made me speechless
• Will of Bright.Bazaar's latest tablescape 101 post filled my heart with spring. These posts are the collaboration between him and Manvi of Mochatini and they are absolutely beautiful
• Igor of Happy Interior blog (yes, there are at least two guys in blogosphere!) introduced us to a new e-magazine called sisterMAGAZINE, available in both English and German
• those of you who have been following for a long time know that I'm not much of a blog award kind of girl but Eliana of Just White gave one to my food blog, kitchen & aroma, which I of course appreciate very much

Enjoy your Saturday and thank you for the birthday wishes to my daughter!

photo credit:

top-left: Rachel Whiting for Homes & Gardens

top-right: workisnotajob. via Pinterest

bottom: Madeline Stuart via Elle Decor

paris fashion week – dries van noten & nina ricci

2012-03-02T13:08:00.000+01:00

It's Fashion Friday, folks, and today I'm giving you two opposites from the Paris Fashion Week: Dries Van Noten and Nina Ricci. Above you see Dries Van Noten's West meets East masculine tailoring and below Peter Copping for Nina Ricci's feminine and French take on dressing up.

The PFW is in full swing and there are so many designers to choose from. Of course I, the loyal foreign citizen of Antwerp, am featuring Dries Van Noten who showed his AW12-13 Collection on Wednesday. Let me add that I would feature him whether I lived in Antwerp or not, he's definitely one of my favourites. I almost prayed last night that The Sartorialist would post some photos from the show because I knew he attended it (yes, Garance Doré was there too), and when I woke up this morning I saw that he had. His are the two bottom photos. However, I always find up-close photos from Dries Van Noten's shows much better because he is all about the details; they are one of his greatest strength. His show took place in the Hôtel de Ville, which according to Tim Blanks of Style.com "has to be the most beautiful town hall in the world." That's what the man said and I'm not arguing with him! Just see for yourself by watching the video below. He also said in his review:

In its glory days, Antwerp was a crossroads of the world, a place where the exotica of far-off lands collided with the European familiar, and, like the good old hometown boy that he is, Dries has always had a knack for capturing that collision. Today, for instance, he weighed the fragility of kimono silks with the roughness of military khaki or the sturdiness of gray flannel. The master touch was a filigree of gold embroidery: Storks took flight across a belted military blazer; a phoenix coiled down the sleeve of another jacket. There were golden dragons elsewhere. These were clothes to spark dreams. But a man-tailored topcoat in burnt-orange alpaca wasn't far behind. Maybe not contemplative, but definitely serene.

[black text, mine]

By the way, the make-up was in the hands of Peter Philips, the global creative director of Chanel Makeup, who is Dries Van Noten's fellow Belgian. More on that in this short video.

Now let's move on to Peter Copping for Nina Ricci, a fashion house I've loved since forever. The AW12-13 Collection which he showed at the PFW yesterday was everything I expected it to be, feminine and also flirtatious. I absolutely loved the shoes and boots. Sarah Mower said in her review for Vogue.com:

What has the Nina Ricci girl been up to since we last saw her? Playing in her mom’s closet—a French closet, full of tweeds, little black dresses, furs, lingerie, and jewelry, that is. Some of it might well have belonged to granny (with the falling-apart ball gowns and all) and, quite possibly, given the quite enviably sexy outcome of her playtime improvisations—slit skirts, see-through this-and-that, a certain rumpled-hair dishabille look—she’s just on the brink of being up to no good.

[black text, mine]

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Before publishing this post I was hoping that someone would put a video from the show online and ELLE TV came to my rescue:

During the fashion weeks season it would come in handy to have more Fridays in the week for my Fashion Friday posts. Today at the PFW we will see the collections from Dior, Isabel Marant, Sonia Rykiel, and Lanvin, just to name a few. Let me just add that I'm not skipping the Milan Fashion Week, just jumping over it for now.

On a personal note, this day started with yummy chocolate muffins, as it's our oldest daughter's birthday. I cannot believe she has turned 12. I've been saying lately that the world clock must have gone wrong, this simply cannot be right!

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

1-12: Yannis Vlamos for Vogue US

13-14: Scott Schuman - The Sartorialist at Dries Van Noten
15-26 : Monica Feudi for Vogue US

YouTube: Style.com / Dries Van Noten
YouTube: ELLE TV / Nina Ricci

pink in springtime

2012-03-01T08:44:00.000+01:00

Welcome March! These days I am all about pink, especially pink flowers. The moment I fell was when I saw a photo of buckets filled with gorgeous pink tulips with flower heads just starting to open. I haven't stopped thinking about them. Pink is not my colour, that is I never wear pink except for a soft pink scarf every now and then, but pink flowers in the springtime are more than welcome in my home and I have found soft pink bedlinen, which I'd like to purchase this spring.

What's your relationship with pink, do you bond well?

photo credit:

1: Virginia MacDonald for Traditional Home via This is Glamorous

2: Jonny Valiant for Traditional Home

3 & 6: Saipua, Brooklyn, NY
4-5: Jac Jagaciak by Hans Feurer for Vogue Japan, April 2012 via Fashion Gone Rogue

giveaway winner is...

2012-02-29T10:44:00.001+01:00

Thank you everyone who entered my Marie Antoinette inspired giveaway. It's now time to reveal the winner! I just drew a name from my hat – I know, I'm old-fashioned, the available tools online simply don't do it for me.

The winner is:

Ada, the old Hollywood and fashion muse of the beautiful blog Classiq,
who commented when entering the giveaway:
"Notebook and a bookmark? You speak my language. :) Please count me in."

Congratulations Ada, you have won six items which you will soon receive by mail: a Moleskine notebook, a bookmark, and four gift tags: three Marie Antoinette themed and one with a beautiful peacock. The Sidney based Wendy Paula of Mulberry Muse designed all the items.

I'm off to the kitchen to prepare for a party. My kids have invited a friend of theirs, who recently had a birthday, to an after-school pizza party and considering how many pizzas they ate last time I'll be quite busy. Have a wonderful day!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

All items available at Mulberry Muse and Cafe Baudelaire
Interview with the designer Wendy Paula

glimpse of lille france

2012-02-28T12:04:00.000+01:00

I was lost in action yesterday because of an eye problem I dealt with on Sunday but I'm back and feeling fine. I'm armed with latte and biscotti and I'd like to show you a few more photos, more like glimpses, of Lille which we visited last week, and tell you just a little bit about this French city.

The first photos are of the Opera House and the beautiful Hotel Carlton across the street. Alice Délice is one of my favourite cookware shops and luckily we also have it in Antwerp. I can spend hours in there, hours! It's located on the beautiful Rue Esquermoise street, next to the Place du Général de Gaulle square, also called the Grand'place (Lille is the birthplace of general Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970)). We browsed a little in Habitat in the same street and I have to say that their shop in Lille is really nice. The window with the colourful nougat belongs to the gorgeous Meert chocolate shop/restaurant in the same street.

The photos below are of the Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Treille, built in the 19th century neo-Gothic style. It is a beautiful building, but I have to admit that the new facade from 1999 didn't appeal to me so I'm not posting photos of it.

To make a long story short, Lille is one of those cities that through the ages has been fought for and ruled by various kings/counts/dukes, Flemish, French or Spanish. In 1667 the French king Louis XIV, often referred to as Louis the Great or the Sun King, conquered it and had Vauban, the great military architect, design and build the Citadelle, located outside the city centre. This time we didn't visit the fort, which is shaped like a five-pointed star, but we'd like to do so when the weather gets warmer.

In the beginning of the 18th century, during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14), the Dutch occupied Lille for five years. During the French Revolution (1787-99), its inhabitants had to defend the city against the Austrian invaders. They succeeded and the Goddess statue on the Grand’place, in the city centre, is a reminder of their heroism.

In the 19th century Lille became an industrial capital so well known for textile that it was sometimes referred to as the 'Manchester of France'. With the decline of that industry in the 20th century the focus was set on commerce. Today it's the crossroad of the Europain rail network, the Eurostar stops there and all other high-speed trains arriving from or going to Paris or other major cities in France. Lille is well known for culture and in 2004 it was designated as the European Capital of Culture.

photo credit:

LatteLisa

see Lille, part 1

london fashion week & tom ford

2012-02-24T09:42:00.000+01:00

It's Fashion Friday with the London Fashion Week and one of my favourite designers, Mr. Tom Ford. He showed his AW 2012-13 womenswear collection at the LFW for invited guests only and no photographing was allowed. While we are waiting for exclusive photos we will just have to believe the fashion journalists who have described the collection as classic, beautiful and glamorous, just to give you some adjectives. Someone even said it would change your life, which is maybe pushing it just a bit too far.

Instead of me telling you about Tom Ford, I find it best to simply let him do so in his own words. Here is a full version of the Tom Ford episode of Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind, a documentary from the Oprah Winfrey Network. (Let's hope it won't be removed from YouTube.)

My favourite part is in minute four when he starts talking about his childhood, how picky he was about clothes, looks, even furniture, from an early age. He cracked me up when he started talking about the shoes that he thought were just wrong. I have to add that it reminded me of my own picky son and made me wonder if I'm raising a little Tom Ford in this house. wink Please listen carefully from about minute thirty of the video when he talks about the pumped-up look of women and then his sometimes mixed feelings about what the fashion industry is telling people, the way it promotes materialism. I like his honesty.

A few Tom Ford links for fun:

• the trailer of the above documentary for those who don't have time to watch the whole thing right away
• in the March 2012 issue of Harper's Bazaar US we get 24 hours in the life of the designer
• I hope no one has forgotten his film A Single Man (2009), starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore
• Tom Ford: Ten Years by Graydon Carter and Bridget Foley is a book that covers his design for Gucci and YSL from 1994-2004 and so much more
• remember his SS 2011 fashion show video, the one I posted last year, with the womenswear comeback collection, featuring Beyoncé, Daphne Guinness and other fabulous women?
• Full Time Ford is a blog you may want to add to your blogroll if you are a Tom Ford fan

Let's move on to some London Fashion Week's photos and links:

• Mary Katrantzou definitely had one of the strongest collections at the LFW; I'm already looking forward to seeing more of this designer in the future
• the photos above were taken by Garance Doré at her show, I easily could have posted them all
• a collection of fun LFW videos for those who want more than runway photos
• The Sartorialist was at the Burberry show, please take a look at the audience in the background as well
• the photos below are from a LFW street style slide show captured by Phil Oh for Vogue.com, I'd like to add Clémence Poésy's shirt to my wish list

Speaking of street style, here are non-LFW-related links:

• Petra of the Indivisualism blog shared this short and funny note to street style photographers and the poseurs. I urge you to read it. I have to say that there are of course talented photographers out there and people with style. But then there's the Garance Doré-&-The-Sartorialist wannabes and the people hoping their outfits will bring them fame, and honestly I think some of them really should just go home, take a cold shower and get a life
• and since we are making some fun, with all respect for Olivia Palermo, if I see one more photo of her wearing the floral print trousers and leopard shoes I will start pulling out my hair ... no, I won't link to it, enough is enough!
• I have posted the second and third Pardon My French videos by Garance Doré on the LatteLisa Facebook page, I love those and the latest one includes the charming Diane von Furstenberg

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

1: Simon Perry for Harper's Bazaar US

2-3: Garance Doré at Mary Katrantzou

4-6: Phil Oh for Vogue.com

YouTube: Tom Ford OWN Visionaries documentary

belgian holiday

2012-02-23T12:16:00.000+01:00

Today I'm definitely on a spring break pace, thanks to hubby, who deserves a little praise. He's still dealing with a cold but yesterday he went to buy groceries and brought home two fashion magazines for the lady of the house. He even had to drive to a special shop to buy them. I have to say that he chose very well; he bought the March issue of Vogue UK and the February issue of Vogue Paris. He meant to get the March issue of the latter but it hadn't arrived.

So, right now we are enjoying a relaxing family moment; there is coffee and banana muffins fresh from the oven and I'm reading my magazines. Let's say I'm more browsing than reading the French one! Later I plan to watch Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday (1953).

I hope you have a fine day!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

bright & rustic spanish house

2012-02-22T12:14:00.000+01:00

Today I'm in the mood for bright Spanish interior design, but I promise to share with you more photos from Lille a little later, maybe tomorrow, and one day I'll tell you about the Embryolisse skincare products I bought, as it seems some of you are interested in knowing more.

Back to Spain. Recently I found the top photo of the living room on the webite of Nuevo Estilo and was immediately drawn to the brightness of the space, designed by Heloísa Málaga. When I googled her I discovered, thanks to the Inspiring Interiors blog, that there were more photos available of this house by the Mediterranean.

I'll let the photos do most of the talking but I'd like to say a few things. The tables in the living room are maybe a little too rustic for my taste but the console one, behind the Louis XVI settee, is from a Belgian pub of the 19th century. The coffee table is an ancient Hindu bed. I have to add that I love the Dutch tiles in the kitchen and the Moorish-inspired bathroom. I find the exterior just as beautiful as the interior. The stone pavements speak to me, also the green wrought iron French furniture. The wicker chair has been painted to match it.

What do you guys think of this house? Would you like to spend your summers there?

Today I'm guest posting for Florina of fashionsensitive who took a little trip to Vienna. If purple is your colour then I think you should take a look.

photo credit:
Nuevo Estilo

PS. Allow me to remind you of my Marie Antoinette inspired giveaway, which consists of beautiful items designed by Wendy Paula of the Mulberry Muse blog. Everyone can enter and the last day to do so is Tuesday 28 February. The winner will be announced 29 Febrary.

Wendy Paula is also hosting her own giveaway.

an important mission to lille france

2012-02-21T19:34:00.000+01:00

I spent the day in Lille, France and of course I took some photos. It was my first time there and I have to say that it is a wonderful city with beautiful architecture, which I'll definitely be visiting again in spring. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, which made me wonder why some people always talk about the French as being rude. Well, I remembered to say bonjour with a big smile every time I entered a shop and asking parlez vous Anglais with quite an accent helped me get excellent service in English. The weather could have been better, so after walking in the old quarter of the city it was nice to see a friendly "face" close to the Opera house and get some coffee. Yes, I'm speaking of my friend Paul. I took more photos that I'll post tomorrow or later, and I may throw in some information about the city and its history.

There was a reason for my trip to Lille; yes, I was on a very important mission! The lovely Caterina of Not Just A Pretty Dress introduced us to the French skincare products Embryolisse about a month ago and I was intrigued as they are free of parabens. No shop in Antwerp, or Belgium for that matter, sells these products, so what's a girl to do? She takes a trip to France, of course! The French sure love their lotions and potions because the shop was full. Unfortunately, they didn't have the particular face cream I was looking for but there was no reason for me to leave empty-handed. I bought a few products, which I'll talk about later if you're interested. I just have to try them first.

photo credit:

LatteLisa

damask inspiration

2012-02-20T13:51:00.000+01:00

What is it that makes Damask wallpaper so enchanting? I was browsing the website of Thibaut for inspiration and now my mind has this idea of a hallway with either of these colours, a beautiful mirror, a console table, a gorgeous lamp and fresh pink flowers. I guess my taste is becoming more refined with age. wink

Did you enjoy a good weekend? Mine was just as I wanted it to be, relaxing with a trip to the library, sushi and white wine, and some baking. In fact, it feels like it's still weekend because the children have a spring break and hubby is at home with a sore throat, so there was no need to set the alarm clock.

I hope you are having a good start of the week!

photo credit:

Thibaut

nyfw with garance doré & the sartorialist

2012-02-17T09:54:00.000+01:00

It's another Fashion Friday. Yesterday was the final day of the New York Fashion Week, which I've been enjoying in the comfort of my own home. How fun it would be to go to some of these shows one day! Today I'm sharing photos from two fashion bloggers who need no introduction, the lovely couple Garance Doré and Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist.

Garance Doré posted some photos from the much-debated Marc Jacobs show, a show that was definitely not for those who have strong preconceived ideas about fashion. As I'm not one of them I absolutely loved it; Marc Jacobs had me at that first look in the top photo. Classic elegant pieces are always beautiful to look at but we have to have humour in fashion and Marc Jacobs took care of that at the NYFW. Some of the outfits were presented in a ridiculously funny way, under different versions of the song Who Will Buy? from the musical Oliver! (that part was priceless), but I instantly found myself breaking things down in my mind and really liking the individual pieces.

So, will you buy?

Now to earthier elements through the lens of The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman attended the shows of Michael Kors (top) and Marc by Marc Jacobs (bottom) and here are some of my favourite looks.

Finally, I'm leaving you with a few NYFW links just for fun:

• Jason Wu enchanted me with this look, here worn by Zuzanna Bijoch
• fabulous and colourful street style slide show at Vogue.com, photographed by Phil Oh
• Victoria Beckham looked so beautiful at her wonderful show
• Ralph Lauren's show was definitely one of my favourites (note to self: watch Downton Abbey)
• Garance Doré made this video called Pardon My French, which I find very entertaining:

• and I had to add this non-NYFW-related link because I absolutely love Natalia Vodianova on the cover of the March issue of Vogue Paris – I'm so buying a copy!

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

1-3: Garance Doré at Marc Jacobs

4-5: Scott Schuman – The Sartorialist at Michael Kors
6-7: Scott Schuman – The Sartorialist at Marc by Marc Jacobs

YouTube: Garance Doré / Pardon My French Episode 1

marie antoinette inspired giveaway

2012-02-16T09:16:00.000+01:00

Ever since I finished reading Antonia Fraser's biography Marie Antoinette: The Journey last summer this misunderstood and unfortunate historical figure has been on my mind. I had thought about a Marie Antoinette inspired giveaway and decided to go for it when I read that a new film about the young French queen, Farewell, My Queen (2012), starring Diane Kruger, would be premiered at the Berlin Film Festival this month.

When you need something Marie-Antoinette-ish there is only one person to turn to.

I have to admit that I've been very excited about this giveaway because not only is it an opportunity to thank committed followers and welcoming new ones, but also I get to introduce a wonderful and talented blog friend, Wendy Paula of Mulberry Muse, and her beautiful work.

Wendy Paula lives in Sydney, Australia and has been working as a designer/illustrator for twenty-five years. She has worked for design houses in Adelaide, London and Sydney. Her work is very French vintage, very delicate. She offers journals, gift tags, greeting cards, calendars, etc., and the paper she uses for her digital paintings is of high quality. From the start I have been fascinated by the details and that feminine touch to everything she creates, which can be bought at her two Etsy shops: Mulberry Muse and Cafe Baudelaire. She of course has more themes than Marie Antoinette.

A little fun fact: Courtney Love is a fan of her work and recently praised it. Who knew Courtney Love and I had something in common? wink

My Marie Antoinette inspired giveaway package consists of one Moleskine notebook, one bookmark, and four gift tags: three Marie Antoinette themed and one with a beautiful peacock. Whether you would like this for yourself or to give this to a friend then all you have to do is enter the giveaway. It's open to all followers of LatteLisa.

Anyone can enter the giveaway and here is how:

Simply follow LatteLisa via Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in navbar), Twitter or Facebook (note: if you are only following on Bloglovin' I'm not able to see it or reach you there)
Leave a comment below this post. If you are a new follower or not a regular visitor on my blog then tell me where you are following LatteLisa so I can look you up and make sure I can contact you if you win

The last day to enter is Tuesday 28 February 2012. The winner will be announced Wednesday 29 February – yes, I had to take advantage of it being a leap year. Good luck!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

All items available at Mulberry Muse and Cafe Baudelaire

Interview with the designer Wendy Paula

cloudy day

2012-02-15T11:17:00.000+01:00

This photo would fit perfectly in my 'crazy lamp lady' category, if I had one. I like that lamp ... a lot. The orchid too. Let's just say I like everything about that photo. It's by photographer Russell Smith, who has a beautiful portfolio. I especially like his collection of food photographs.

Speaking of photos. I was photographing my giveaway this morning when all of a sudden it got so cloudy, but hey, rain is better than frost, right? I think I got the photos I need so I'll reveal the giveaway tomorrow.

Have a beautiful day, cloudy or not!

photo credit:

Russell Smith via decoratualma

paris-here-we-come gift

2012-02-14T09:10:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, as I was enjoying my latte before picking up the kids from school I was wondering what to post on Valentine's Day. This day wasn't a big thing in Iceland where I grew up so it has no particular meaning to me. Still, I wanted to post something special, but nothing with hearts or anything like that. Then the postman rang the bell.

He delivered a package from my close friend in Iceland, whom I'm travelling with to Paris in the autumn. It included a black box, which she had written on in silver: "Paris, here we come!" Inside I found this vintage-looking paperweight that put a big smile on my face. It's now sitting on my coffee table and I smile every time I look at it. It's the little things...

For the curious cats out there the paperweight is from Natasha Farina and the map in the background is from The Food of France. And if you are as obsessed with Paris as I am then let me remind you of my 'paris je t'aime' board on Pinterest.

Yesterday I also received the items for the giveaway I'm preparing so stay tuned and have a wonderful Valentine's Day whether you're celebrating it or not!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

o for orange

2012-02-13T09:59:00.000+01:00

There was a time in my life when I was obsessed with orange, I would call the colour that had me swooning a blend of rustic orange and terracotta. I would also call it the colour of Italy, Italy as I remember it. Have you been there? I think no one travels to Italy without the longing to return one day. The country is so rich in history and culture, and walking the streets of Rome, Florence or Venice marks one's heart. At least it marked mine.

For this orange post of mine Caitlin of Roost, a beautiful food blog, was so kind to allow me to use her collage. It's from her 'Ode to Italy' post, which simply makes my heart happy. If you have been to Italy you'll be taken straight back and if you haven't been there then what are you waiting for?

I kindly borrowed the bag photo from Nam of Streetfsn, a fabulous fashion blog that, as the name indicates, covers street style. In August last year there was this post on men's bags only which I loved and I couldn't get that particular photo out of my head. It reminded me of Italy. Maybe it was taken there, I don't know.

The frost has left Antwerp so I couldn't be happier. I hope you're having a good start of the week!

photo credit:

top: Nam of Streetfsn

bottom: Caitlin of Roost

walk around the cathedral

2012-02-12T15:29:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday we walked the snowy ground in one of Antwerp's many parks but today I'm taking you to the city centre, for a walk around the Cathedral of Our Lady (I urge you to open the link to view the photo gallery and read its history). It's such a beautiful and magnificent building. I took these photographs in August last year on a mild cloudy day. Getting a shot of the church doors without anyone standing in front of them is sometimes a bit tricky because usually there are a number of tourists with their cameras and people walking by. I have been living here since the summer of 2010 and I see something new each time I walk around the church.

There is hardly any snow left in the city and as of tomorrow we'll be enjoying warmer days with rain. I guess spring is in the air; I'm so ready to embrace spring. As you can see I've changed my blog's layout just a bit and I'm also preparing a giveaway, which I'll reveal later.

I hope you're enjoying a wonderful Sunday!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

tulips & pancakes

2012-02-11T14:42:00.000+01:00

James Montgomery (1771-1854)

'On Planting a Tulip-root'

from The Pelican Island, and other poems

As you can see I went to the florist this morning and I brought home white tulips. I'm admiring them on my coffee table while writing this. I'm going to let the café wait and instead I'm making pancakes and hot chocolate later. It's just so cold outside so we want to stay warm and have a cosy day at home, reading and watching DVDs.

Yesterday while preparing and making the Friday pizzas (yes, always home-made pizzas on Fridays in this home) I let The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) run in the player. It's one of those films that I can watch again and again. I love the cast and every time I watch it I seem to notice little details that I hadn't noticed before. You don't have to be an Austen expert to enjoy the film, though I think you'll enjoy it more if you've read all the six novels.

Well, I'm off to the kitchen to make the pancakes. Have a wonderful Saturday!

photo credit:

LatteLisa

fashion friday – old hollywood glamour

2012-02-10T11:21:00.000+01:00

With the Oscars coming up I thought a little old Hollywood glamour would do us all some good. These photos are part of an editorial called 'Luces, Cámara...' that appeared in the July 2011 issue of Vogue Spain. Model Crystal Renn was photographed by Mark Seliger and styled by Arianne Phillips. She's wearing AW 2011 Collections from Giambattista Valli, YSL, Gucci, L’Wren Scott and Prabal Gurung, to name a few.

While I'm putting this post together Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is running in the player. I went to the library yesterday to get some DVDs for the weekend, as the children are still dealing with cold. Unfortunately, the second season of the Cranford series wasn't available but I found an old one from BBC called The Mill on the Floss (1978), adapted from George Eliot's novel. Any of you seen that one or read the book?

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:
Mark Seliger for Vogue Spain 

via Fashion Gone Rogue

feel-good post

2012-02-09T08:59:00.000+01:00

There are two things in life that will guarantee my happiness: good coffee and fresh flowers. Preferably pink peonies.

Because of the kids I've barely left the house this week so my plans for the weekend are simple. I'm going to a café and I'm visiting the local florist further down the street. I won't get peonies this time of the year but tulips will do magic.

Yesterday I came across another Flickr account that makes me happy, belonging to xiu×5 who took that gorgeous coffee & peony photo above. And how cute is that flower shop? Shini of Park & Cube was in Paris and shared photos.

photo credit: 

top: xiu×5 on Flickr 

middle: madebytheresarenee on Etsy 

bottom: Shini of Park & Cube 

soft pink wednesday

2012-02-08T10:44:00.000+01:00

Today I'm all for soft and warm tones to make up for the cold weather. I'm not going anywhere as all the children have a cold and the oldest also has a fever. It will be a cosy day under blankets with books and DVDs, home-made Indian tea and oranges on the menu.

I'm still reading Austen's Mansfield Park, an old copy from the library, but not as antique looking as that beautiful Jane Eyre copy in the top photo. It's a 1957 edition of Brontë's book, taken by Candice Lesage, who bought it foronly 1 euro! I have to add that I'm so inspired by her photos on Flickr. She has beautiful sets with photos of Paris, books, notebooks, coffee, and all kinds of beautiful things, which she captures with her artistic eye.

Speaking of Paris. You should have seen the smile on my face when I opened the Bright.Bazaar blog this morning. Will was in Paris and shared photos that will make you happy. Promise.

photo credit:

top: Candice Lasage/Flickr

middle: Sparkle & Hay via Polyvore 
bottom: Rickard Sund for Costume, December 2010

via Fashion Gone Rogue

inspired by margaret olley

2012-02-07T10:29:00.000+01:00

This one is for all the Australian bloggers out there and of course the rest of you. I was looking for something online when I came across this beautiful styling on the website of Australian House & Garden. It was inspired by the paintings of Australian artist Margaret Olley (b. 1923), who passed away last year. I was fascinated by the use of rich colours and all the wonderful details. This is the work of stylist Matt Page, photographed by Maree Homer. You can view more photos by opening the link above and there is also a short behind-the-scene video, where Matt Page talks about the idea behind all this.

photo credit:

Maree Homer for Australian House & Garden

 stylist: Matt Page

wanderlust

2012-02-06T11:28:00.000+01:00

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.”

Moorish proverb

Lately I have been doing a bit of travelling in my mind. There is something so wonderful about viewing maps and travel photography (how awesome is that Prague photo above?) and reading about cities and places in the world, where one has never been or already visited. I'm mainly focused on Europe, still reading about Corsica and next on my list is Spain.

When I'm feeling like this, which happens quite frequently, I like turning to films that take place in faraway places. I recently watched A Passage to India (1984) for the first time. It was adapted from E.M. Forster's novel, which I wanted to read before watching the film, but when I saw the DVD at the library I had to borrow it. The late Peggy Ashcroft is in a supporting role and she's so wonderful, I think she completely stole the scene.

Speaking of DVDs. You guys weren't kidding about the Cranford series. I watched season one this weekend and was mesmerized by the story. If it weren't for my sick boy, I'd be at the library already to get season two. Thank you for the get well wishes. He's still sick but feeling slightly better. He's now relaxing under a duvet on the other chaise lounge, watching The Two Towers (2002), for the 100th time or so. There's nothing like a Lord of the Rings marathon when one is sick.

I hope you're all having a good start of the week!

photo credit: 

 top-left: unknown source

top-right: unknown source

bottom-left: Saddleback Leather Company

via Everyday Adventures of a Curious Gal

bottom-right: Pia Jane Bijkerk

white antwerp

2012-02-05T11:11:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I took a walk with my daughters in the park. We walked through the Nightingale Park, into the part of the park called Den Brandt. It was cold but the white ground was beautiful.

photo credit: LatteLisa 

baby it's cold outside & two k&a recipes

2012-02-04T11:11:00.000+01:00

The photos above, with their grey and pink shades, are ideal for my mood. Yesterday it started snowing in Antwerp. It was the kind of snow that made me want to put up some Christmas lights. Today the ground is beautifully white but it's very cold outside. It's the perfect day to stay indoors with a cup of home-made hot chocolate and biscotti and reading under a blanket or watching DVDs. Well, I'm forced to stay indoors anyway, as our little boy is sick in bed with fever and stomach flu. He's sleeping so I'm sitting here reading Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. I'm going to watch a BBC series with Judi Dench called Cranford, which I borrowed at the library. It takes place in England in the 1840s, with the Industrial Revolution in full swing. Have you seen it?

It's time to get more hot chocolate, grab another biscotti and take a look at Cranford. Enjoy your day!

…

Earlier this morning I posted two recipes on kitchen & aroma: home-made vanilla sugar and hot chocolate with home-made vanilla sugar. Well, one can hardly call vanilla sugar a recipe but someone asked me in an email how I make it so I decided to post my version in a separate post. The hot chocolate is very easy to make.

photo credit:
1: Rachel Whiting for Homes & Gardens
2: Bella Notte Linens via Villa d'Esta 

3-4: LatteLisa for kitchen & aroma

fashion friday – streets of paris & björk

2012-02-03T10:08:00.001+01:00

As promised, it's 'fashion friday'. Karl Lagerfeld himself shot these photographs of Diane Kruger on the streets of Paris. They are part of an editorial for the January 2009 issue of the German magazine Amica. She's wearing pieces from the AW 2008 Collections of Louis Vuitton, Prada and Ralph Lauren, just no name a few labels. If you ask me it's one of those timeless editorials.

I'm adding an old song with Björk to get you into the weekend groove. If that one doesn't get you moving then I don't know what will!

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

 Karl Lagerfeld for Amica

via Stylefrizz

YouTube: Björk / Big Time Sensuality

set design: it's complicated

2012-02-02T11:03:00.000+01:00

This post is old news to some people, but yesterday I watched Nancy Meyer’s film It’s Complicated (2009) for the first time. Meryl Streep's character lives in this Spanish-style Santa Barbara home, very nice and homey, and runs a gorgeous bakery/café. Alec Baldwin plays her ex. The story, which I'm not going into, is wonderful but I was quite occupied with looking at the set design; I loved the orange and blue hues in the living room. As you can see in the photos, there were lamps and all kinds of wonderful home decor. I couldn't find a better photo of the patio, which I find fantastic.

The production designer was Jon Hutman and the set decorator was Beth Rubino (both were also responsible for the beautiful set design of Something's Gotta Give (2003)). One part of the story is that Streep's character has hired an architect, played by Steve Martin, to design an addition to her house with the kitchen she has always dreamed of and some other rooms and a second floor.

I really enjoyed this film and laughed a lot but there was one thing I was hugely disappointed with: We don't get to see the renovation itself! What was that all about? Could someone please tell Nancy Meyer to make a sequel because I'm dying to see the outcome; it doesn't really have to be a full-length film, I just need to see the making of that addition.

Is that too much to ask for?

photo credit:

1 living room: via SDSA 

 2 kitchen corner: via Remodelista
 3 kitchen with dining area: via Between Naps on the Porch 

4-7: via Traditional Home

8 bathtub: via Elle Decor 

9 patio: via Cote de Texas

k&a: apple & chocolate muffins

2012-02-01T09:52:00.000+01:00

February has greeted us in Antwerp with rather cold weather but I'm hoping it will soon give into spring with its cherry tree blossoms. I have to say that I'm looking forward to this month. I've got all sorts of fun plans with friends and the children have a week-long spring break so we've decided to take a road trip to Lille, France. More on that later.

Today I posted another recipe of mine on kitchen & aroma. Last Sunday I wanted to add muffins to our late brunch but I didn't want them to be too sweet. So, I baked these apple and chocolate muffins. As most of you know by now, I don't use refined sugar or white wheat flour when baking. As usual, there is no butter in these, just a touch of coconut oil and some organic chocolate hazelnut spread.

Have a fine Wednesday!

photo  credit:

LatteLisa for kitchen & aroma

winter rebellion

2012-01-31T07:22:00.000+01:00

Hey you winter, take this cold and shove it!

photo credit:

top: Sarah Tucker/Etsy

bottom: Apartment Therapy

 via Pinterest

la marinière

2012-01-30T09:07:00.000+01:00

Going to the library on Saturdays has become a family ritual. They have a great selection of DVDs so I watched a few films this weekend. One of them was Coco Avant Chanel (2009), starring Audrey Tautou. It was only available with Dutch subtitles, which have little meaning to me, so I simply enjoyed it in French, understanding maybe every 50th word while taking in the mise en scène. The film is pretty straightforward and if you know Coco Chanel's story there is nothing in it that surprises you.

I also watched To Catch a Thief (1955). I was under the Ada-of-Classiq influence, as I call it, when I borrowed that one. She once wrote a post on the costumes of the film, with beautiful photos of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, and I've been meaning to watch it again ever since.

These two films have something in common. Okay, they have a lot in common, amazing clothes, beautiful scenery, etc., but I'm talking about the Breton shirt – la marinière as the French call it. It's an essential piece in one's wardrobe, you simply cannot go wrong with it. You may not know that the marinière was originally created for the French navy, before the fishermen and sailors began wearing it. It was then Coco Chanel who adapted the look and made it classic.

So, the next time you find yourself trying on a top that becomes out of style almost the minute you walk out the shop, abandon the idea and go get yourself a classic marinière instead. Choose one of good quality because you'll be wearing it for years!

photo credit:

top: via Video Buster

bottom: via Esquire UK

paris je t'aime

2012-01-28T09:48:00.000+01:00

"Paris is always a good idea."

Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

To provide an outlet for my Paris obsession I recently created a 'paris je t'aime' board on Pinterest. Pretty much the same photos are roaming around on Pinterest so I've begun expanding my search to add to my board. This morning I found the black & white photo, taken by Elliott Erwitt (b. Paris, 1928) on the 100th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower in 1989. (For those interested in his photography, here is his website.) It's the cover photo of his book Elliott Erwitt's Paris. I have to visit the Copyright bookshop on Nationalestraat street to see if they have it so I can browse through it.

I found the photo of the merry-go-round yesterday on Tumblr but unfortunately I had no luck in finding who the photographer is. I love its soft colours.

photo credit:

top: Elliott Erwitt
 bottom: unknown source

fashion friday – valentino haute couture

2012-01-27T11:17:00.000+01:00

I'm turning this into a series, so Fridays from now on will be 'fashion fridays'. I hope you're okay with that. (Those of you not interested in fashion can simply avoid my blog on Fridays. wink) Today I'm showing you a few details from the Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who described the collection as "pervaded by a desire to return to a real, more intimate dimension of life and style."

This show definitely felt different.

In his review for Vogue US, Hamish Bowles noted: "In their own soft-spoken way this design duo have been able to take Valentino’s uniquely feminine ideal, remove some of his va-va-voom, but gently refashion it to create a unique and compellingly modern glamour that is all their own."

I couldn't have said it better. Well I probably would have phrased it: "remove [a lot] of his va-va-voom". For me this show felt very down to earth, which probably has something to do with seeing heeled pumps and lace slippers instead of high heels on a sisal/seagrass runway.

Bowles also noted: "The program also revealed that 1,000 hours of labor, for instance, went into the handwork on the opening dress of elaborately smocked organza; 1,250 hours into the sparkling silver embroidery on a chine taffeta redingote based on an eighteenth-century version; and 800 hours just to weave the warp-print faille for one of those ball dresses. These breathtaking figures reveal just what makes the haute couture so special—but it is the hands of Valentino’s skilled Roman atelier staff that really spin magic into material that is, of course, far from base, and bring the Chiuri and Piccioli vision so beautifully to life. "

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

Vogue Italia

dior haute couture ... very chic!

2012-01-26T10:44:00.000+01:00

I'm going a little haute couture crazy these days and who can blame me with all these beautiful outfits appearing on the runway? I have to say that I was especially happy with the Dior show and I think Bill Gaytten deserves a well-earned praise. (He failed to impress me with his last couture collection; it probably wasn't easy to create that one after the whole Galliano fiasco). I find the Spring/Summer 2012 Collection beautiful. I'm especially drawn to the colour palette, I love the use of these solid colours; they give off a classic and timeless look.

That dress in the top-left corner took my breath away, it had me swooning for hours. I'm telling you, hours! By the way, the song I included is from the September Issue (2009), in case you were wondering where you had heard it before.

Happy Thursday to you all!

photo credit:

 Dior Haute Couture SS 2012 details: Vogue Italia

Vogue poster: unknown source

 YouTube: Ladytron / Destroy Everything You Touch

birthday & brighter days

2012-01-25T12:42:00.000+01:00

Today you get another sneak peek into my home. Today is also hubby's birthday. He's now a happy owner of a new Sherlock Holmes collection. Well, he's read all these stories before, many times, but we gave away most of our books when we moved abroad so I thought it was time for my man to have Holmes and Watson back in his life. Today he'll also get his two favourites: apple cake with whipped cream and home-made pizza for dinner, with red wine from Corsica. There will be coffee and chocolate too. And yes, we'll be listening to Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto, replaying Corcovado (see bottom of post) and The Girl From Ipanema.

When you grow up in Iceland you get used to very dark winters (winters in Belgium are not nearly as dark). Hubby's birthday was always an indicator that the days were indeed getting a little brighter. Yesterday I was thinking about that and decided to add more brightness to our sitting area. So, I switched the chaise lounges. I moved our neutral coloured one to the sitting area and the dark grey one to the TV area. It's amazing how a small change like that transforms a space (here is the old look).

Actually, I've had this look before but it feels different because now I only keep blue glass accessories in the windowsill. I have a light blue blanket on the chaise lounge and its neutral colour brings forth these blue hues in a delightful way. Everything somehow looks crisp.

I like crisp.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

photo credit: LatteLisa

YouTube: Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto / Corcovado

bringing france home

2012-01-24T09:36:00.000+01:00

So, what do you do when you love French style but you cannot move to France? Maybe you could do what these house owners did: bring France home et voilà!

This beautiful French-inspired country home is in California. The owners had travelled to France on many occasions and simply decided to bring it home. Mainly everything in this house is custom-made, even the bed, which is designed like the one of Diane Keaton's character in the film Something's Gotta Give (2003). I love the exterior. I love the hallway with all that brightness. I love the family area with the wall of glass. There is just so much to love.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

photo credit:

James Ray Spahn for Homes & Gardens 

crazy lamp lady

2012-01-23T10:20:00.000+01:00

I'm drawn to photos like the one above. Sometimes I call myself the crazy lamp lady; I don't collect lamps and my home is not filled with lamps, I simply love beautiful lamps. A lamp is often the first thing that catches my attention when I view photos of interiors, and believe me, ugly lamps or misplaced ones can completely ruin my experience.

I have this idea of finding one or a pair of matching lamps for our living room. If I find one I'd like to buy a chest of drawers. If I find a pair I'd like to buy a long and narrow table or a sideboard. The chest of drawers is excellent for storage but I can only place it in one corner of the living room. A sideboard is excellent for storage too but a table feels lighter and leaves me with more options; it would look good up against a wall or behind the sofa. If the table had an extra shelf it would be perfect for coffee table books. Then there is another option for a pair of lamps: buying a desk. One lamp goes on the desk, the other on a side table. But I find desks in living rooms a bit tricky, either they work or they don't.

Back to lamps. I don't want to buy just any lamp; I want to find a lamp that speaks to me, either a new one or in a thrift shop. So far I've seen many but not the one that really speaks to me. So, in the meantime I keep calm and continue my search. I'll let you know if I have any luck and finally decide which look to go for.

Do you happen to be a crazy lamp lady/gentleman?

Enjoy your Monday!

photo credit:

Eddie Ross 

sunday photo & links

2012-01-22T12:52:00.000+01:00

I find myself looking at this photograph by Julia Hoersch again and again. Holly Becker of decor8 shared it on her blog last summer with other photos by Hoersch. There is something about the colours and that old table that entices me.

Here are some of my favourite links this week in random order:

Kimia of Alkeemi opened my eyes with her visit to a slum in India
Vicki of French Essence shared the funniest 'the French and their food' story I've heard in years
Scott of The Sartorialist was at the awesome Dries Van Noten AW 2012-13 menswear show in Paris – the idea of having artists on the runway too was ingenious!
Eliana of Just White shared her wonderful day at the Belcampo farm in Uruguay. Note to self: Start saving for a trip to Uruguay and visit Belcampo!
the yummyblogsisters shared photos from Brasserie Gustav in Antwerp. I had no idea they had taken these wonderful photos before I arrived; later my delicious club sandwich was photographed
Debby at Inspired Design touched my heart with her post Things I Tell My Teenage Daughter

Got any plans today? I don't have any but hubby just got back home with a delicious baguette from the bakery so it's time to set the table and enjoy good food. Have a wonderful Sunday!

photo credit:

Julia Hoersch via decor8

stylist: Dietlind Wolf 

quiet saturday morning

2012-01-21T13:05:00.000+01:00

A morning that starts with good coffee and freshly baked baguette followed by reading of books is a guarantee for a good day.

I wouldn't mind being able to take a better look at the titles in these tempting shelves above. Are you reading anything interesting these days? I'm still reading Virginia Woolf's Jacob's Room and then I have a few non-fictions on my table. One of them is Lonely Planet's travel guide on Corsica. I plan to go there one day.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

photo credit:

 Homes & Gardens 

fashion friday – diane kruger in valentino

2012-01-20T11:05:00.000+01:00

For some time I've had this beautiful photo of Diane Kruger in my files. This German beauty is one of my favourite actresses and I think her fashion sense is amazing. She doesn't use a stylist and clearly she doesn't need one. She was on the cover of the October 2011 issue of InStyle UK, photographed by Ben Watts. This photo is part of the editorial; she is wearing a gown from the Valentino AW 2011-12 Collection, designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.

For those interested, here is a video of the photo shoot. For the rest of the editorial click the Tom & Lorenzo link below.

I have to say that InStyle is not my favourite magazine. In my opinion there are way too many clichés in it and endless talk about must-haves and need-to-knows, and don't get me started on the overuse of the word super. However, I like to honour when something is well done and this editorial definitely is.

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

 Ben Watts for InStyle UK

stylist: Amanda Bellan

via Tom & Lorenzo 

biscotti in the rain

2012-01-19T10:11:00.000+01:00

I'm one step of sanity away from taking my coffee and biscotti out on the street and singing in the rain like Gene Kelly. The European Continent has changed me into a weather-spoilt brat; I no longer can stand cold weather so the rain that hit my face this morning made me ecstatic ... I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again...

How fabulous is that photo? It's from a wedding fashion shoot in New Orleans, photographed by Carla Ten Eyck. Of course I'm more interested in the table setting because I'm not much of a wedding/bridesmaids dresses kind of girl.

Want to know how I picked my wedding dress? I was having lunch with hubby and our carpenter Siggi (who has now passed away). After lunch I asked Siggi to come with me to this shop close by that sold new and vintage dresses. I found a dress, tried it on, Siggi said it was beautiful and I bought it. It maybe took about 20 minutes.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

photo credit:

Carla Ten Eyck for Datura: a Modern Garden

via Pinterest

bright blue mood

2012-01-18T11:58:00.000+01:00

How is this Wednesday treating you? I'm relaxing at home with my daughter who's feeling better than yesterday (thank you for the get well wishes). I'm reading Jacob's Room by Virgina Woolf while she's watching The Lion King. A little dose of hakuna matata philosophy never fails to lift the spirit.

Bright blue colours do so too. I think I may have to buy a Paris tea towel for my kitchen. Isn't it fabulous? If you check out Ingela P Arrhenius's link below you'll also find London and Stockholm tea towels. I found them on Pinterest a long time ago and I've been meaning to squeeze them into a post.

School finishes early on Wednesdays so I'm off to pick up the other two kids. Enjoy your day!

photo credit:

 top-left: Paris tea towel by Ingela P Arrhenius

top-right: Marie Claire Maison

bottom-left: Maisons du Monde

bottom-right: Dior AW 2010-11 Haute Couture Collection

 Gianni Pucci for Vogue Italia

let's go to dordogne

2012-01-17T10:09:00.000+01:00

My heart skipped a beat when I first saw the exterior of this gorgeous 18th century manor house in Dordogne, France (east of Bordeaux); I love the brick walls and light blue shutters. When I saw the rest of the photos I wanted to move in. I'm all for exposed beams and brickwork; they are my idea of cosiness. I really like the use of neutral colours and the bleached floorboards in the living room are so beautiful. The kitchen is a little bit too contemporary for my taste but it has some balance so I like it. And look at that wood burner! sigh

Our younger daughter came down with a fever yesterday so it'll mainly be a relaxing day in bed with books and DVDs. I've decided to make a chicken noodle soup for dinner with a lot of ginger because after my December experience I've had it with sickness.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

photo credit:

Brent Darby for Country Homes & Interiors

harper's bazaar uk & red carpet

2012-01-16T15:29:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was one of those relaxing Sundays. I got myself a copy of the February issue of Harper's Bazaar UK and enjoyed reading it with my coffee and biscotti. It was of course Milla of Not Just Another Milla who reminded me to buy it. What I love about the magazine is that it's mainly free of clichés. Not entirely though. I started rolling my eyes when I read the intro to Carine Roitfeld's interview by Justine Picardie, who describes Roitfeld as "the woman we all want to be." Really? I don't know about you, but I admire Roitfeld and I think she is a wonderful inspiration but never ever have I felt the longing to be her. Why do journalists have to fall into these pitfalls? It's so naive. And the first paragraph is all about Picardie's indecision about which clothes to wear when meeting this style icon and former editor of Vogue Paris. For crying out loud woman, get a grip! However, the interview is fine and there is also an interview with Uma Thurman and the issue is filled with Spring/Summer fashion – totally worth the money.

Right now I'm in the mood for watching a film and eating popcorn. I guess it has everything to do with the Golden Globes. I went very early to bed yesterday and then I woke up to watch the show, red carpet and all. It was fun and now I'm dying to see The Artist, which won in the category 'Best Picture, Musical or Comedy'.

Just a little red carpet talk before I finish. I'm not posting any photos, as most of you have probably seen the dresses. Did you have any favourites? Mine were Angelina Jolie in a stunning Versace gown, Shailene Woodley in Marchesa and Claire Danes in J. Mendel. Another favourite of mine was Emma Roberts who attended an after party in this beautiful navy Zac Posen gown from the AW 2011-12 Collection.

Enjoy your day!

photo credit:

1: LatteLisa

2-3: Alessandro Viero for Vogue US 

peonies & links

2012-01-15T11:06:00.000+01:00

The first thing that came to my mind as I was drinking my coffee on this bright Sunday morning was pink peonies. Then I remembered the photo above, which María of EclecChic posted last year. In my opinion pink peonies and beautiful coffee table books are a match made in heaven. Now I cannot wait for the florists at Groenplaats square to appear with their beautiful flowers.

Let's wrap this week up with some links:

I have added Brasserie GUSTAV to my list of favourite restaurants in Antwerp; I had so much fun yesterday with my friends and the food was delicious
happy that Christel of Captivated by Image is back in blogosphere with a beautiful layout and gorgeous posts
proud to see the scent Ella Day by the Icelandic fashion label Ella featured yesterday in the beauty section of the Telegraph with big labels like Dior, Guerlain and Clarins
also proud to see Icelandic artist Björk nominated for a Brit award in the category 'International Female Solo Artist' with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Feist and Rihanna
I loved this fun interview with Madonna on The Graham Norton Show last Friday
I have a bit of a Golden Globe fever

Enjoy a beautiful Sunday!

photo credit:

Nuevo Estilo

touch of red

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000+01:00

One cannot go wrong with a touch of red.

The fashion editorial is from T Magazine, August 2007, styled by Marie-Amélie Sauvé. I especially love the vintage hat she used. It's from the vintage shop One Of A Kind in London (Notting Hill). The outfits in the first photo are by Prada and Miu Miu (Versace gloves) and in the second by Azzedine Alaïa. Click the link below to view more photos.

We're enjoying a bright winter day in Antwerp. I'm looking forward to meeting my friends later today at a restaurant in the city centre, where we'll enjoy good food and have wonderful conversations.

Is someone else having problems with commenting on Blogger blogs? Yesterday morning everything worked fine but later in the day the box to type the comment never appeared so I wasn't able to do anything, and it's the same today. However, everything works fine with blogs that use the pop-up window comment form, so I've changed the settings on mine. I would love to comment on your blog posts but unfortunately I cannot do anything.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

photo credit:

 top: Willy Vanderperre for The New York Times

middle: Harlequin 
bottom: Saipua

settee meets painting II

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000+01:00

Another gorgeous settee-painting look that made me sigh and swoon. I love the simplicity; so beautiful and stylish.

I'm so glad it's finally Friday because I've been feeling a bit tired for a couple of days. Maybe it's just the grey weather that is making me long for spring with blooming cherry trees. Do you have any plans for the weekend? Friday in my home means home-made pizza and red wine for dinner and tomorrow I'm going to a restaurant with two friends, who happen to be great food lovers. One of them is even learning to become a professional chef. I'm predicting a lot of talking and laughing.

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:
The cover of Western Interiors April/May 2009 

Luxe Interiors + Design

settee meets painting

2012-01-12T13:56:00.000+01:00

Did I already tell you that I have a soft spot for settees? Okay, I'll tell the truth, I'm obsessed. Hang a gorgeous painting above it and my knees go weak. The above photo is taken in Spanish decorator Montse Esteva's home in Barcelona and I find that settee-painting look absolutely gorgeous. And don't get me started on the ceiling!

I hope you're enjoying a fine day!

photo credit:

Nuevo Estilo

curvy antiques

2012-01-11T14:15:00.000+01:00

I went to the library earlier today and came back home with a huge stack of books on interior design and fashion. I got some novels too, in English, so I have plenty of reading material. I borrowed the Dutch version of All in the Detail by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. When browsing through it at the library I came across a photo of shelves filled with bowls and other kitchen items that I recently repinned on Pinterest without knowing anything about the source – going to the library obviously pays off!

I also saw a photo in the book that reminded me of these curvy beauties above. I've kept them in my inspiration folder for some time and it seemed ideal to post them today. I could never decorate my home using this style only but I would not say no to just one piece, a beautiful chest of drawers or a desk – with curves, of course.

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

photo credit:

 top-left: Better Homes and Gardens

top-right: unknown source via Pinterest

bottom: Art & Décoration

wijngaardstraat – antwerp

2012-01-10T10:33:00.000+01:00

So, hubby spent the night in a beautiful hotel in Nice. I jealous? Not.at.all. Just google Nice France, then click images and you'll understand my pain!

As someone mentioned in a comment yesterday, I live in such a beautiful city. That is true so today I decided to show you a street, Wijngaardstraat (Google streetview), which I think is one of the most beautiful streets of Antwerp. I found this narrow cobblestone street by accident. I was walking all by myself, sort of knowing where I was going but not taking a direct route when all of a sudden I found myself entering Hendrik Conscienceplein square from Wolstraat and I honestly don't know what hit me. You know the feeling when you see something so beautiful that it almost makes your heart ache just a little? That was how I felt. The weather was beautiful, people were dining outside and the atmosphere was so relaxing and perfect. It almost felt like I had discovered a little secret.

Since then I've been there again and again. If you see someone roaming that street with a camera, latte and either a book or a magazine, or both, you've probably found me. I took these photos in September and I don't understand why I haven't shared them before.

So, hubby can have Nice and Cannes. I have Wijngaardstraat.

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

photo credit: LatteLisa

rustic monday

2012-01-09T10:33:00.000+01:00

Today I'm in the mood for unfinished, rustic, and washed-wood furniture. I don't have any but I've kept my eyes open for a narrow table to use in the hallway. Just haven't found one yet.

The children are back to school. I thought it would be so hard to wake them up this morning but they were amazingly fresh and seemed to welcome the daily routine. Let's see how fresh they'll be when I pick them up!

Hubby is leaving us for Cannes, which I find simply plain cruel. [If the big boss is reading this, which I doubt, then I would like to suggest a new company policy: no employee goes to Cannes without the spouse.] Well, he'll be back tomorrow. I wouldn't mind walking the streets of Cannes, taking photos, eating and drinking French anything and breathing in the sea air. sigh

Are you up to anything special on this Monday?

top: Maisons du Monde

bottom: Tom Leighton for Homes & Gardens

silent sunday

2012-01-08T16:40:00.000+01:00

The home is so silent right now, it's just my boy and I eating popcorn; I on the chaise lounge with my Macbook, he on the floor playing a game on his dad's iPad. We thought it would do the children good to split them up so hubby took the girls to a water park in Brussels. With all that activity they should go early to sleep tonight!

How has your weekend been? On Friday it was of course our weekly home-made pizza with red wine and good music. Yesterday we had to do a little shopping and went to a mall to get it all in one place. We didn't realize that the sales had started so we bought the things we needed and got out of there as fast as we could. Sales are my idea of hell. Then I bribed hubby, I offered to make pizza again if I would get sushi and it worked. wink

Here are some of my favourite links this week:

Vogue Italia posted photos of Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (Les adieux à la reine) directed by Benoît Jacquot, which will open the 62nd Berlin Film Festival next month. Cannot wait to see that one!
my favourite music these days, Birdy singing Shelter
Dustjacket posted beautiful Paris photos of Arizona Muse for the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2012 Catalogue, photographed my Mark Segal
Rolala Loves shared gorgeous photos of actress Yoon So Yi for W Korea
and finally a different kind of link: LatteLisa is now on tumblr – I know I caved. I think about 90% of tumblr users should get a lesson in how to link to original sources of images or indicate who the photographer/stylist is. Do people really don't care about these things or are they just plain lazy?

Have a beautiful Sunday!

photo credit:

 top: Lisbeth Dahl

bottom: Carla Ten Eyck via Elizabeth Anne Designs

provence delight

2012-01-07T11:07:00.000+01:00

This French home, owned and renovated by antiques dealer Josephine Ryan, is located near Nimes. I love the raw materials and of course the fact that it's in the Provence. Ryan "spent three years looking for the house of her dreams, and when she visited this house … it was love at first sight. The house had been abandoned for decades but she loved everything about it from the first moment she saw it. When she found the name of her mother's maiden name carved in a stone of the house, she understood that it was her destiny." (Interiors).

She has written two books on French homes, French Home and Essentially French, and her latest work is called Essentially Irish.

Want to hear the good news? You can rent the house. And if you invite me to go with you I'll take care of going to the local market, cooking and baking. I won't be in your way at all except when we sit down to eat and enjoy red wine. wink

Now I'll go back to dreaming of living in the Provence. Have a fine Saturday!

photo credit:

 via Interiors and

 decor8.gr blog

fashion friday - valentino garavani

2012-01-06T09:55:00.000+01:00

Today's post is dedicated to the Italian designer Valentino Garavani, who founded the Valentino fashion house in 1959. He stepped down in 2008, after 49 years of relentless work. The first six photos above contain pieces from his last collection, the Spring Summer 2008 Haute Couture Collection.

As some of you may already know he and his partner launched The Valentino Garavani Archives in December, a virtual museum featuring more than 5000 documents, available to everyone. All you have to do is download it. Just imagine being a young designer and having access to such a treasure and inspiration!

It's not my intention to write the story of his career or going into the details of his design, but just for fun here are a few links for those who are interested:

a short clip where Valentino talks about the reason for launching the virtual museum
runway photos of Valentino Garavani's final fashion show, the Spring Summer 2008 Haute Couture Collection
the story of the Valentino brand on Voguepedia
DVD: Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008), documentary by Matt Tyrnauer
the trailer of the documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor
a short clip from the documentary: Valentino talking about his childhood dreams with fashion journalist Hilary Alexander
runway clip from the documentary: AW 2007-08 Haute Couture Collection
book: Valentino: Themes and Variations by Pamela Golbin
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wearing Valentino when she married Onassis in 1968 (seen in photo 10 above)
Julia Roberts in Valentino at the Oscars 2001
Hamish Bowles picks top ten looks from the Valentino Archives
introduction video about the archives:

I meant to post this video about the archives in Decemberbut the flu got in the way. Then I simply decided to make this post slightly bigger.

I think one can say for certain that all the stylish ladies out there have worn Valentino on more than one occasion; I bet some of you can easily name a few of your favourite looks. The gorgeous outfits to choose from seem almost endless and one post is not nearly enough to cover five decades of work. I'm wrapping this up with a few of my favourite red carpet and festive looks. All further details and links to sources are under 'photo credit' below.

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

#1

1-2: SS 2008 Haute Couture Collection | Don Ashby for Vogue Italia

 3-4: Natalia Vodianova, SS 2008 Haute Couture Collection
Max Weber for Vogue Italia, March 2008

 5-6: SS 2008 Haute Couture Collection | Francois Guillot via Guardian

7-8: AW 2007-08 Haute Couture Collection | Olivier Claisse for Vogue Italia 
9: Marisa Berenson, SS 1968 Haute Couture Collection via Corsets and Trains

10: Marisa Berenson, SS 1968 Haute Couture Collection
(Jackie O's wedding dress) via Lexaco

11: Valentino with Diane von Furstenberg in September 2011
when honoured by The Couture Council via Vogue US
 12: Christy Turlington, SS 1993 Haute Couture Collection,
Walter Chin for Vogue Italia, March 1993 via here
13: Linda Evangelista, SS 1991 Haute Couture Collection,
 Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, May 1991

#2

1: Diane Kruger, Venice Film Festival 2008, SS 2007 Haute Couture via Vogue US

2: Natalia Vodianova, Love Ball 2011 | Stephane Feugere for Vogue US 

3: Sarah Jessica Parker, Valentino 45th Anniversary Celebration 2007,

AW 2006-07 Haute Couture Collection | Getty/WireImage via Vogue US 

4: Keira Knightley, Golden Globes 2006, SS 2006 Collection
Donato Sardella for Style.com

YouTube: Coming Soon: The Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum

white chairs & light - my son's guest post

2012-01-05T09:11:00.000+01:00

This is another guest post by my six years old son. Remember his first guest post 'dreamland' where he told you to go buy a new sofa?

Yesterday I had to fix one of his cars (mechanical skills come in handy when you're mother) and while I was doing that he was browsing my 'a place called home' board on Pinterest. He was fascinated by that top photo, which is taken in the home of French designer Jacqueline Morabito, in Saint-Paul de Vence, in the Provence. He loved the chair and the light in the room.

I understand the chair thing, but a six year-old thinking about the light in a room! What's that all about? He agreed to do another guest post, so I opened my most recent inspiration folder to let him browse. He picked the second photo for the same reasons and then he chose the title of the post.

Of course he has a message for you: Keep your homes bright and don't forget to buy white chairs!

You heard him people!

PS. The house, a 16th-century sheep barn, was reconstructed by Morabito and her late husband, architect Yves Bayard (1935-2008). See more photos by clicking on French by Design below. In August 2010, Karine of BODIE and FOU visited Morabito's shop in La Colle sur Loup and shared wonderful photos and a beautiful text.

photo credit:

 top: Jean-Michel Voge via French by Design

bottom: Nuevo Estilo

two swans

2012-01-04T10:26:00.000+01:00

One of you mentioned swans in a comment to my yesterday's couture post, which I found rather interesting as I had these two different kinds of swans lined up.

In 1958 Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) designed The Swan™ for the lobby and lounge areas at the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The chair became a classic design and has been produced at Fritz Hansen ever since. You can choose a chair in leather or fabric, but the base is always star shaped in satin polished aluminium. By the way, the chair in the first photo is vintage and has been upholstered in mink.

Yesterday I was telling my older daughter about the chair. When I told her the price was about 3000-5000 euros, depending on the material, she asked: "Why spend so much on a chair when you can use the money to buy so many other things?"

Interesting question. I don't know about you but to me that is money well spent. That curvy beauty is more than welcome in my home.

Have a fine day!

photo credit:

top: William Waldron for Elle Decor
design: Alan Tanksley
bottom: Pieter Estersohn for Elle Decor
 design: Vincent Wolf and David Rogal 

attention to details

2012-01-03T10:22:00.000+01:00

This is my latte and biscotti talking. I was going to post something completely different but then those two started messing with my head and heart – in a good way. I guess we could call it being spontaneous which hopefully isn't a dying trait.

I can spend hours viewing haute couture details. That first dress is from the Chanel AW 2009/10 Collection. The last two photos were taken by Susie of Style Bubble last September at the 'Chanel: Une Promenade' installation at Harrods in Knightsbridge, London. (Shini of Park & Cube also took some amazing photos there.)

Have a lovely Tuesday!

photo credit:
1: Kelly Cameron via Rustic Wedding Chic 
2: unknown source via Pinterest 

 3-4: Style Bubble  

 

hi there 2012

2012-01-02T07:42:00.000+01:00

I adore this fun photo of Judy Garland (1922-1969) and her first husband, composer David Rose, taken in their Bel-Air home (if you are interested in reading their story then open the Architectural Digest link below). I've been waiting for the right moment to post it and it seemed ideal for the first post of 2012.

I hope your New Year's Eve was lovely. After our turkey meal I honestly thought that I wouldn't need to eat again for a month. But on New Year's Day I was back in the kitchen, making biscotti and dried fruit confectionery to enjoy with my latte the next two weeks or so. I also made CafeSigrun's raw pecan pie and we ate it with whipped cream – yummy!

I'm an optimist; I like looking at the bright side of life. I'm also grounded so I've got no high expectations for 2012. It's just another year, full of potentials and opportunities. Either you grab them or you don't. My philosophy will simply be: come what may.

Thank you for your support and wonderful comments in 2011. My inspiration folder is bursting so I'll be just as active on my blog in the new year. Enjoy your day!

photo credit:

via Architectural Digest

happy new year - gleðilegt nýtt ár

2011-12-31T12:40:00.000+01:00

How festive are these photos of model Daga Ziober, shot by Sebastian Kim for the January 2012 issue of Vogue Germany? I love the mood; perfect for New Year's.

So, the final day of the year is upon us. I'm soon off to the kitchen to start preparing our turkey meal which I love putting my heart into. I feel blessed having children that enjoy eating, savouring every mouthful. No need worrying about leftovers in this home.

Today I decided to share with you some of my favourite links posted by wonderful blog friends in December 2011. I could have made this list much longer but I narrowed it down to nine. Here they appear in random order:

Nicole at La Buena Vida brought her camera and talent to the West Village
Helen at The Style Schedule enchanted me with the Eiffel Tower
Milla at Not Just Another Milla touched my heart with her LatteLisa praise
Ada at Classiq shared with us a beautiful bookshop in Bucharest
Natalie at Fashioned by Love shared a stunning wintry editorial featured in the latest issue of Tatler Russia
Rachel at Little Bits of Lovely posted her 2011 favourite red carpet looks and I loved the blue Burberry worn by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Sarah at Haute Design's 'In Spirit of Kindness' posts were beautiful and I especially liked the photos in the one called Invitation
Eleni at My Paradissi shared a living room with a gorgeous colour palette
Signe at SignePling swept me off my feet with her green 'Monday Morning Random' post

Happy New Year dear blog friends and followers, may 2012 bring you all the happiness and luck you deserve!

I'll be back on Monday.

photo credit: 

Sebastian Kim for Vogue Germany

via Fashion Gone Rogue

fashion friday - marion cotillard

2011-12-30T10:46:00.000+01:00

I thought this gorgeous photo of Marion Cotillard by Ellen von Unwerth would put you in the right celebration gear. Do you have any big plans for New Year's? Tomorrow we're having another turkey feast, as we did on Christmas Day, but it'll just be the five of us; we're not doing any partying. I'm even predicting hubby will be snoring before midnight but I'm staying up late with the kids. They love seeing some fireworks. As there isn't much of those where we live, we can watch the firework madness in Reykjavik, Iceland online. You wouldn't believe me if I told you about it so just see for yourself and note the time difference. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Have you seen the Lady Dior comedy starring Marion Cotillard? It's called L.A.dy Dior directed by John Cameron Mitchell and it's fun and fantastic. It was inspired by this Lauren Hutton piece from 1973, directed by Richard Avedon.

Have a fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

Ellen von Unwerth for Tatler, June 2010

via Fashion Gone Rogue

quality morning

2011-12-29T10:05:00.000+01:00

I've been enjoying a quality morning with hubby, as I call mornings spent in peace and quietness with the children still asleep. We were up at six-thirty after a good night's rest and have been sipping our coffee, reading the news, browsing through magazines and reading books in complete stillness. I love mornings like that.

I wish I had become a morning person earlier in life. I used to be such a night owl and sometimes I almost look back in shame thinking of the time I wasted, the pointless TV shows I watched, etc. I'm never getting that time back so to make up for it I, at some point, started going early to sleep and rising early.

I hope you've been enjoying wonderful holidays. Mine were relaxing with plenty of good food. I didn't let the flu ruin my festive mood or appetite. We watched all the Lord of the Rings films for the 100th time or whatever. We got so excited when we saw The Hobbit trailer that we had to make popcorn and forget ourselves in the world of Middle Earth. I'm predicting more moments like that in 2012 until we'll be able to see the first film. How awesome they're making two Hobbit films!

I want to end this post by thanking my blog friend Anait at Cap Ou Pas Cap, also known as my Paris obsession soulmate, for the book she sent me, Pastry Paris: In Paris everything looks like dessert by Susan Hochbaum. It was such a wonderful surprise Christmas present.

Enjoy your day!

photo credit:

Laurent Durand and Christophe Rouffio

for Art & Décoration

merry christmas – gleðileg jól

2011-12-24T16:31:00.000+01:00

¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Merry Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Joyeux Noël ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸. Zalig Kerstfeest ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Feliz Navidad ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ Fröliche Weihnachten ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Buone Feste Natalizie ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Gleðileg jól ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

As I write this I'm setting the table and listening to our Christmas songs playlist. The Christmas present to myself after days of dealing with the flu is not ironing the tablecloth. wink No one will notice when it gets darker and no one in our home really cares. Everything that needs to be ready for Christmas Eve dinner is ready. We're having smoked lamb, which is an Icelandic tradition, and I must add that the children are more excited about the smoked lamb than the presents. I'm not kidding; they love it.

Dear blog friends and followers, I hope you have wonderful holidays ahead of you. May peace and happiness fill your days. Christmas greetings from Antwerp.

photo credit: LatteLisa

large christmas card

2011-12-23T16:17:00.000+01:00

I was looking at my calendar and thinking, and kind of hoping too, that it was wrong. Christmas Eve tomorrow? Can it be? I was feeling so out of touch with everything so my sore throat and I decided to go grocery shopping with hubby. As we were picking the turkey for Christmas Day, the sweet potatoes, pecans, and everything that goes with it, I think I connected with my Christmas spirit again. Just the idea of knowing that ahead are days of delicious and mouth-watering food lifted my spirits.

Speaking of food. Christel at Captivated by Image (currently on a blog break but will soon be rejoining blogosphere) got my address to send me a Christmas card. When the card arrived in a big box I thought to myself that either Christel had taken her card writing to a much larger level or that she was surprising me with something. I found a copy of the Dutch foodies magazine in the box and I'm drooling over its pages. I only wish I could understand more but I have three young translators so I'm good. Thank you so much Christel, how well you know me!

I hope you're enjoying a wonderful last day before Christmas!

photo credit: LatteLisa

romantic christmas

2011-12-22T10:32:00.000+01:00

Another inspiration from France, a romantic Christmas theme. I love the contrast of the raw tablecloth and delicate glassware on the dining table.

It seems like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe baubles in my last post were quite a hit. Unfortunately, I don't know where you can buy them, probably in some vintage shop in Paris.

Things are the same on the Flemish front. Yes, I'm still in bed; the last phase, hopefully, of this flu is a wonderful sore throat (the positive adjective is sarcasm, in case you didn't get that). It would have been nice to get a haircut and buy the rest of the things I wanted to buy, but I'm not going anywhere.

This post's Christmas song is my favourite Icelandic version of O holy night, performed by Egill Olafsson. I hope you are enjoying these last days before Christmas!

photo credit:

 Christophe Rouffio for Art & Décoration

YouTube: Egill Ólafsson / Ó helga nótt

noël blanc

2011-12-20T12:21:00.000+01:00

A little French Christmas theme on this last Tuesday before Christmas. How are you doing? Thank you for all your kind get well wishes. I'm still in bed but about one hour ago I honestly think I felt some kind of shift. I'm predicting that I'll be back to my usual self on Thursday. I'm dreaming of the moment where I sit down at the dining table and dip a biscotti into my latte again.

Enjoy your day!

photo credit:

unknown source

YouTube: Vox Angeli / Noël blanc

rose christmas

2011-12-19T10:19:00.000+01:00

Still trying as best as I can to hold on to the holiday spirit but the way I feel now I just want to postpone Christmas until New Year's. Yeah, even Boney M didn't work! I'm still in bed ... coughing like a moron. I want my sense of smell and taste back; I want my appetite back! Let's see if the combination of rose pink from Marie Claire idées and Coldplay is the miracle cure I'm looking for. I've heard them perform this song in concert so it always brings back good memories.

Have a wonderful Monday!

photo credit:

1, 2, 3, 4 - Marie Claire idées

YouTube: Coldplay / Have yourself a merry little Christmas

pretty christmas tables

2011-12-18T15:17:00.000+01:00

I think I've established the fact on my blog that I like decorated tables. In my opinion, beautiful glasses can take a table setting to the next level. Look at the photos above and picture in your mind plain and simple glasses instead of the ones there and you'll know instantly what I'm getting at. Of course beautiful plates and cutlery play a key role, and the decoration itself, but I'm always drawn to the glasses; they seem to be the first thing that catches my attention. Show me coloured engraved wine glasses, like the red one in the first photo, and I go weak in my knees ... seriously! I once had similar ones in olive green and they were so pretty. I've been searching for glasses like that but the stem always seems to be too long for my taste.

On a personal note, I've been sick in bed since Friday but today I'm feeling slightly better (thank God for tea tree and eucalyptus radiata essential oils). This is one nasty flu and it's completely ruining my Christmas mood. I'm not trying to gain your sympathy, just please take good care of yourself if you have any flu-like symptoms. My advice is to stay in bed and do nothing.

Perhaps Boney M will get me into the groove again. Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!

photo credit:

via DigsDigs

YouTube: Boney M / Feliz Navidad

cosy & warm homes

2011-12-16T11:45:00.000+01:00

I haven't abandoned the Christmassy posts with the Christmas songs; I simply don't want to overdo them, as there are followers out there who aren't quite feeling the holiday spirit ... yet. Here is hoping!

These days I'm in the mood for cosy, comfortable and homey interiors. I think it's the fact that I'm still, yes still, fighting a cold and I find it best to spend as much time as I can on my chaise lounge under a blanket, with candlelights in sight. I was coughing like an idiot earlier this morning so hubby ordered me to pour Cointreau in a glass (the only strong liquor in the casa). It seems to be working. Maybe I should become a more active drinker!

These images are from various homes, except the last four, the smaller ones, which were taken in designer Billy Reid's decorated home in Alabama. I love the piece of furniture – the desk – in the photo to the right. The simple decoration on the desk is so beautiful and the entire space is very inviting. In Reid's home I'm fascinated with the 19th-century English sideboard that holds their antique plates collection. And that photo with the mixed plates makes me swoon. I know; I'm a sucker for pretty table settings.

Have a healthy and fabulous Friday!

photo credit:

1: via House Beautiful

 2: Mikkel Vang for House Beautiful
3: Simon Upton for House Beautiful

4-7: Justin Bernhaut for Country Living

desk talk

2011-12-15T11:27:00.000+01:00

These photos are from a Californian home with Tuscan accents featured in Architectural Digest, the interior design is by The Wiseman Group. I fell for the photo of that beautiful desk with the 16th-century painting hanging above it. In my opinion, it's not often that desks work in living rooms but when they do there really is something wonderful about them; a desk gives some kind of security. This home feels somehow solid to me, if you know what I mean. It's like no matter what is happening in the exterior world, this home will always stay the same. I like that feeling.

The photo of the dining room below is actually a before photo. The room was changed as it was thought to be too spacious but I like the before-look much better. I have mentioned it in an earlier post that I love using a desk instead of a bedside table as in the first bedroom photo below (also a before-look). I've been thinking about doing this in our bedroom but first I'll have to find the right desk. Look at all the stacks of books on the table – I love that! And I love the chair too.

Happy Thursday to all of you!

photo credit:

(1-2) Tim Street-Porter for Architectural Digest

before photography (3-5) by Jamie Hadley