The china cabinet

 

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to empty out my china cabinet and get ready for our new wood flooring to be installed and I started thinking about how lucky I am.  I have waited 4 years for the flooring I wanted, after pulling up some damaged wood when we first moved in, I am excited.  But I was really thinking more about all of the wonderful pieces I have accumulated over the years.  I LOVE dishes and when I was on a trip to Paris about four or five years ago, I found out how very much fun it could be to buy beautiful pieces while I was there and bring them home with me.  I fell hard for Astier de Villatte and my life has never been the same.  Each trip I have taken I have bought pieces and brought them home with me, very carefully.  I have a large collection now and although I don't use it as I should, each piece seems to hold a wonderful memory for me.  There are many other beautiful pieces in there too but each of these is like a little treasure to me.  

As I have been going through emptying out our kitchen and now the china cabinet I have realized something else too, I need to buy only what I love, not what is a good deal or something I may never use.  I have donated boxes and boxes of pieces over the last few weeks that have never been used or were still in the original packaging.  So this project or combination of projects has given me the jump start I need to spend more wisely and maybe just maybe start using those beautiful pieces I have been sheltering from my loved ones for fear of breakage.

Do you use what you have?  Do you save the best dishes and glassware for only special occasions or do you use them everyday? 

 

sneek peek...

 

Just a little peek of some pictures I did for an upcoming magazine article.  Kitchen demo starts today!!  I think I am excited to get it all started.  Wish us luck!

 

Hydrangea morning..

 

Wouldn't this be just perfect for a Monday morning?  I think yes, and the hydrangea in the background make it just about perfection!  Wishing you a wonderful start to the week, because you  know that makes the rest so much better.

image via

 

greige love... in a Citroen

 

Would this not be amazing to drive through the countryside with the top open and a fabulous picnic in the trunk?  I can just imagine it!  

How is the week going so far~ it has been quite busy here but I am excited for a fun girls weekend, breakfast with friends and some time to relax and maybe do a little shopping for things I really don't need.  Maybe even finish the book I am reading.

Oh and there were a few questions from yesterdays lifestyle board- just drop me an email and I will point you where you need to be...

image via

 

Farm to table {a wonderful evening}

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend a wonderful dinner hosted by Andrea @ French Basketeer.  It was a beautiful evening with perfect weather and an amazing meal.  We were welcomed by the candle lit stairway and walked into the heart of the space, a covered loggia.  Everything was just perfect from the rosemary in the ice buckets (I will be using that one thank you very much!) to the singer who entertained us for the evening.  

A beautiful table with vintage dishes, silverware and linens.

 It is all in the details...  the water bottles were to die for!  These are the Christian Lacroix glass bottles for Evian. 

Andrea made a wonderful meal that I am still telling my family about.  I must make that Burrata with peach and tomato.  

I will say that the desert table was my next favorite.  Each creation was a wonderful temptress, and the display was really perfection.

 

It was so perfect to get a chance to talk with Andrea after the meal and meet her sweet little babies.  Andrea, it was beautiful and the food was fantastic, thank you for including me!   

I love a good party and this one was filled with a great group, great food and in a beautiful setting.  I think that each time we visit with another we have the opportunity to learn so much and take a bit of that experience along with us to share with others. It is also an amazing thing to meet people through blogging and be invited into their lives and homes in such a special way, who would have guessed what a small world this has become.

 

French this weekend...

What do you have planned for the weekend?  We are doing a bit of this and that around the house.  Hanging art and moving things around and enjoying one of the last weekends of summer.  I also have been invited by the lovely Andrea from French Basketeer to a dinner at her home tonight, I am very excited!  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned.

image by christina for greige

casual french

 

I fell in love with this image when I first saw it, so relaxed and just so perfectly lived in.  The clock is my dream and I simply adore vintage signage letters.  I think that linen is the ultimate in casual luxury for slipcovers which the French seem to do so well.

image via emag deco

 

By Invitation Only: A June wedding...

 

I am sure every bride would say that there are things they would have changed about their wedding.  There are so many ways I would have done things differently!  

I was young and pretty simple at the time...

So here is my now wedding if I was to do it again...

 

gorgeous hand done invitations are a must and I would love to have a wedding in Paris of course... but maybe some where a little bit more quaint more sheltered out in the French countryside ...

 Amazing hand made maps to send the guests straight to us.

Always appetizers and cocktails.. Maybe even break tradition and start before the ceremony just to loosen up the crowd..

Beautiful places to sit make conversation and relax..

 

A simply beautiful dress..

 Relaxed gorgeous hair..

 

 A little color with peonies..

 

Out door seating with candle light.... a small party for close friends only.. not everyone we have ever met!

 An amazing cake..  cake is one of the best parts!

 

And more than anything I would remember to have fun..

 

Sweets for each guest along with beautiful delicious food. Maybe I could convince Eddy Rocq to come to France to cater for me?

click on the images to be taken to the sites or check them all out here..

Vintage rentals from found

macarons from Rocq Catering

See what the other ladies are up to here..

 

Rocq Macarons.. {love}

I stopped by Rocq cafe yesterday for lunch and had an amazing quiche, but I also came home with a box of these little beauties.  I love the Spring colors and these are some of my favorites.  

They make wonderful gifts (I usually eat them all myself though)!

Stop by their shop and see what's new.  Also they are now offering free shipping!

images by christina fluegge for greige