I am patiently waiting for the moment when my parents return from Paris with a box of Ladurée macarons tucked into a fanciful box for me. I've never had the true Ladurée macarons, of course, so it might be possible that I detest them.... however, how could such a lovely thing be horrid? Just look at their undeniable beauty.... Even the napkins are gorgeous. I wonder if they`ll bring me one back from Paris...

You just know I`ll endeavour to recreate lovely images such as these and most probably fail utterly...but one can dream...

Oh joy oh rapture, beautiful boxes that will last way past the expiry date of the macarons... I`m keeping my fingers crossed for a beautiful one!

Oh deary me. I know this definetly won`t last on the plane, but next time I go to Paris, this will be on the menu, without a doubt.

Et voilà, rich, well-dressed girls with their Ladurée ready for a pique-nique sur la Seine. Fantastique.

Actually, this was the picture I found earlier that really got me in the mood for some macarons...

xox

Ave

Apricots and Dream

I recently bought one of the best smelling body lotions in the world. Apricots and Cream by Philosophy. I'm a big fan of the company generally, sometimes they don't get it quite right though. I don't really know if I've ever wanted to smell like a piece of fudge, but that's besides the point. Apricots and Cream is so delicious-smelling, it's hard to believe. It smells like the real thing, and it kind of makes me want to whirl around happily in a meadow. Or something like that.

I made a Polyvore set which is somewhat evocative of the feelings that lay bottled up in that utilitarian-esque exterior of the bottle. You can make your very own satisfying Polyvore set at http://www.polyvore.com . It's addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Simple beauty....

You really should at least give this a sniff next time you're in your friendly neighbourhood Sephora. I promise you won't be disappointed.

xox
Ave

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Roussillon, Vaucluse

There is a small, small town in southern France, in the heart of Provence that holds a dear spot in my heart. The town of Roussillon, is where I spent the winter of 1997 with my family. I wasn't too pleased to be away from my friends and my life in Toronto, but as the weeks and months passed in the big, old, house, I started to enjoy myself. Daily bike rides, flowers in January and trips to the market were all part of the charm. Here are some photos I took when I visited the town again with my friend Ali last summer. Charmant, non?



This is a view of the town from the entrance to the "sentier des ocres", the area where you can walk in the ochre quarries. Of course, this is what gives the warm orangy colour to the walls of the town. I used to say it was because the walls had soaked up the sunshine, and I'm still inclined to say the same.

Le val des fées... A nice name for a rather magical spot....

We could hear the sound of the bell tower through the chimney as it was right above our house. There's Ali under the arch. :)

I don't know the purpose of this arch, but I love it anyway.

Place de la Mairie is so cute, and so warm looking, even when we were there in the "dead" of winter.

This is the view from the Castrum, way up above the town. A short walk, by all accounts, but it still seems a world apart.

Eh oui, c'est chez nous! Well, it was chez nous while we were there. In those days, the house was called "Les Genets" which is what you call broom plants in French. Broom is an unfortunate name for a lovely plant with yellow flowers.

Et voilà, that is my mini tour of Roussillon. If you get a chance to visit, do go... it's so cute. I'm sure I'll be talking more about this magical place soon...

xox

Ave

Let Them Eat Cake

I've been meaning to re-watch this movie for a while now. It's not even remotely close to being my favourite movie, but I do like what Sofia Coppola did with this. The story doesn't even matter so much (well, it does, but it's not the focus), what you concentrate on mostly is the fact that every frame is like a work of art. It's kind of like watching a bunch of paintings unfold before your eyes.
If you haven't seen it, you should because it's rather inspiring.

I like this scene because of the way her dress is all billowy behind her. Lovely.

Are those some Laduree macarons I see? Mom and Dad have promised to bring me some back from Paris. Yip yip!

Who doesn't want a beautiful fan? Maybe I should start collecting some... hmmmm...

This was one of my favourite scenes in the movie: shoes everywhere, and feathers and fabrics and cakes. Lots of cakes and champagne.

I think I need a chaise longue surrounded by cakes. that would please me. I don't particularly want a lacky to put my shoes on while I lounge though. That's not my style.

If you haven't ever been to Versailles, there really isn't a good way to put it into words. Huge palace, very beautiful (surtout the gallerie des glaces), but the gardens are the most spectacular part, I'd say. They're immense, and there are mini palaces throughout. I never got to her little hameau village type thing, where she played at being a peasant, while the real folk busted their humps in the world... That's my next mission when I go back to Versailles. I must say though, the Grand Trianon is breathtaking as well.

Happy Travels, or Happy Imaginings, my friends.

xox

Ave

Officina Profumo Santa Maria Novella

I'll probably never use it - but here's my Vellutina soap. To me it smells like clean sheets hanging in the sun in Tuscany.

I read an article about this store in Florence, called Officina profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in an issue of Lucky Magazine. It described the store as a converted monastery that sold beauty items made with age-old recipes the monks used to use. You know me, you put together history and beauty products, and I'm pretty much sold. When I went to Italy on my own in 2005, I set out to find this store , and not far from the church of Santa Maria Novella (hence the name - duh) I found it. One might say that I was suitably awed by the experience. Wood and marble and carvings and statues.... it is a beautiful and inspiring place. I bought three things when I went there. I bought the weekend soap (miniature versions of their best soaps), I also bought their lemon hand cream, which smells like someone just peeled a lemon and put the rind in the pot, and I also bought the Vellutina soap. I bought this soap for one specific reason. The packaging is just about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm a sucker for packaging. I know it's probably a stupid reason to buy something, but just look at it. It's a miniature work of art. Doesn't hurt that the soap smells amazing too.

xox

A.

Liberty Print

I had always heard about Liberty Prints in the various publications I read, but I never knew that they were named after a place - Liberty of London. Well, I've known that for a while now, but I didn't when I was younger. The thing about Liberty Prints are that they toe the line between sweet and raucous. I mean, they're little flowers, all prancing together, what's raucous about that, say you. Liberty of London is well known for their fabrics, but not all of them are as sweet as the liberty print. Look up their 60's designs, and you'll find swirling colours, or giant flowers, or floaty peacock feathers. In other words, it's everything that I love.

Not only does Liberty of London have a pile of fabrics sitting around, they are the most fancy of the luxury department stores. And I've been to a few: Saks 5th Ave, Printemps, Au Bon Marche .... (Holt's doesn't even begin to reach the amazingness that these stores are...) There's something about Liberty of London that is so sumptuous - all dark wood, fancy clothes everywhere, flowers, displays, rambling elevators ... it's like Henry the 8th used to walk around in the place and eat his swan pies or something (I know I know, he didn't), but NEVERTHELESS, you catch my drift.

Liberty has been gaining popularity on this side of the pond, with collaborations with MAC and Target (well fine, in the states), and I really just want to buy everything.

So, uh....who's going to ask them if they want to open a store in Toronto? Hmm - yeah right.

xox

Ave

Welcome

Let's see how this goes, shall we?

I searched and searched for something to write about for the longest time, and I think I've found something I can get behind.

What inspires me? What beauty surrounds me? Which places do I love?


I know the best things in life aren't things, but sometimes things remind you of times and people and places. That's what this is about.

I took this photo in 2006 when I went to Europe with my family - seems like so long ago now. I think this may be one of the best photos I've ever taken!

Stay tuned...xox Ave