Romantic French Country

TAKING A BREAK...

2011-01-21T21:12:00.001-08:00

Dear friends and family, first I have to thank everyone for all the support, the prayers and the medical advice, all the calls and emails you've sent my way this last week. I had never seen anything like this before, I didn't even know that this bug exists! It has been scary, painful and... it's not over! Even tough the infection is gone, a small surgical procedure is needed in order to remove the last reminder of it. So... I will be taking a break from blogging for a while. I will still answer emails, text messages and I still accept those prayers! Thank y'all again! SEE you soon!

Crazy about France...

2011-01-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

Although he only sold ONE only painting during his life,

although he lived in poverty, off a crummy alimony sent monthly by his loving brother,

although he is known to have suffered from a mental illness,

although not even his parents acknowledged his talent, in fact his mother trashed many of his paintings,

although he hurt himself many times and ultimately killed himself,

VINCENT WILLEM VAN GOGH

is one of the most talented, most wonderful and most beloved artists on this planet, the most appreciated post impressionist of all times.

He gifted us with 900 paintings (besides the ones his mother threw away...), 1100 drawings, and 874 letters. The famous letters written by Vincent and addressed to his brother, Theo, were published exactly 100 years ago: in 1911!

Now, what's the most intriguing fact about this DUTCH artist? What makes his artwork so special and so different? Of course his techniques, his colors, the way he saw things is SO different and so ingenious!

BUT!!

Let's not forget the MUSE! The inspiration and the models he had. Because... you see, VINCENT painted his most beautiful and most famous paintings....

IN FRANCE!

This is definitely my favourite: The Starry Night.

The Starry Night was painted in SAINT-REMI, France.
Or... look at this Cafe in ARLES, France....

Do you recognize it? Yes it is Cafe Terrace by Night!

How about the Langlois Bridge at Arles, France?

You got it! He painted it!

You can travel through France and see VINCENT everywhere. He left all these messages for us to see...

he saw all these things and boy, am I glad he didn't have a camera!! And because there were no blogs or websites, where he could post his thoughts, he wrote hundreds of letters, composing the most detailed biography ever.

You can see France through his eyes, his words and his heart. And what a wonderful subject he chose! France...

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! I hope you guys have a great 2011! Be happy, healthy and don't forget to smile!

We had a white Christmas and a rainy New Year's Eve. The snow had turned everything into a winter wonderland. Before you think I was too lazy to remove the pumpkins: they were frozen onto the porch so I had to leave them there...

My daughter was a happy camper. She loves making snow angels.

Like I said, it rained so all snow is gone now. Don't worry, february should bring some more. Thanks for stopping by!

GABRIEL MOTICA - MOUNTAINEER, EXPLORER, ARTIST

2010-12-04T17:14:00.000-08:00

Introducing: GABRIEL MOTICA

Photographer, artist, mountaineer and explorer, one of the greatest climbers of our times. I met Gabriel 20 years ago at a Dia Show. I was mesmerized by the honesty of his photographs. Over the years I got to travel, hike, climb mountains and do business with Gabriel. I am so glad to be able to share with you some of his amazing photographs.
Why are these pictures so special? Not just because the author is a dear friend. But also because they show the places where I was born, where I grew up. the mountains I used to climb and because looking at them makes me sooooo homesick!

Yes, I climbed this one: Rooster Ridge. Only 1450 meters. but a pretty steep climb.

Blue Lake in the Fall is magical.

Probably the most impressive picture of the Sphynx I've seen.

If you want to see more, please visit Gabi's Facebook account. He has posted hundreds of his photographs, you can travel through historical Maramures, the place where I was born, through the Carpathian Mountains and many of the mountains Gabi has explored. Admire and Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Fotomotica/152428038136302

BOY CAPEL AND HIS UNDERWEAR

2010-11-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Introducing: ARTHUR EDWARD "BOY" CAPEL. An english polo player, a millionaire, a wealthy man killed in a car accident. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Well... actually this man is a very important and crucial personality. Without knowing it, he revolutionized the entire fashion history, our culture and the way we all dress now days!
His most precious clothing item: HIS UNDERWEAR! Yes, my friends! This guy revolutionized the fashion industry just by wearing underwear! And he had no clue about it!

Actually poor (rich) guy, his only fault was this: he fell in love with this girl: Gabrielle! She was the love of his life. He never married her... He met her and he got inspired by her excentricity, her strong personality and her originality. (she dared to wear pants at a polo game) Her name: Gabrielle Chanel.

Gabrielle loved Boy Capel. He was the greatest love of her life. Her friend, her lover and her sponsor. Gabrielle was already making hats when she met Boy. But you see... Boy's underwear was made out of JERSEY.... And Gabrielle, the greatest fashion designer of all times, thought his underwear was special! So she decided to buy the entire stock of jersey she could find, and design clothes out of it!

did you ever think that this picture was inspired by men's underwear? Well, IT WAS!

Gabrielle (aka COCO) built an empire, she created the biggest fashion brand of all times, revolutionized our culture and the way we all dress, just by looking at her boyfriend's underwear. And this is the naked truth!

(in this picture: Karl Lagerfeld - head designer and director of Chanel house in Paris)

Coco (Gabrielle) designed this:

and this:

and everything you and I are wearing every day,(t-shirts, pants, skirts) inspired by her boyfriend's underwear..... One man's underwear can be one planet's biggest inspiration!

NOVEMBER 25TH IN EUROPE

2010-11-26T03:23:00.001-08:00

Ever wondered what they do in Europe on Thanksgiving day? Hahaha! For sure no turkey on that day! Even though most of my friends were excited to hear about my upside-down turkey, (some of them even wanted a slice mailed to them ) - sorry guys! - November 25th in Europe is not about pilgrims, pumpkins or indians...

It is the time when europeans prepare for Christmas. It is the magic time of CHRISTMAS MARKETS. If you decide to visit Europe and experience something different, than you HAVE to choose Christmas time. And it starts on November 25th! Bring your best coat! It's cold out there!

You want to start in Paris? It's the only city where you don't mind the traffic. And what a traffic, let me tell you!

Cities are decorated with millions of lights, nativity scenes and little shops selling everything from handmade trinkets and knitted socks to gingerbread hearts.... Here the market at Saint Germain

In Germany these markets are huge, they are THE place to be every day, every evening for the next 30 days! You see this sign at the entrance of Bad Salzuflen Christmas Market? It's made by MOI!!! So come on in! Have some roasted chestnuts, some poppy seed dumplings, a gingerbread cookie and don't forget the mulled wine! (OK, hot chocolate for the little ones)

Christmas market in Nuernberg

One of my favorites: Muenster. I lived there for 4 years. Christmas market is something else! All that right in front of Lamberti Church! You got to stop in! Say a prayer for me too please!

This is a really small one somewhere in Oberhausen. Forget Centro! (one of the biggest malls in Europe). Can you hear the Christmas music? Can you smell the hot wine and the chestnuts?

Ooops we're back in Paris.

Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours at the Christmas Market. Daily.

and don't forget that gingerbread heart for your loved one! Yes, the best ones are in Nurnberg

And this is how they spend November 25th in Europe.... and every day until Christmas!

NO THANKSGIVING CARDS THIS YEAR...

2010-11-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family,

this year I haven't send any Thanksgiving greeting cards. I've been so very busy and I just couldn't find time to make any. And I really hate to send some silly store bought cards. But I didn't want this season to pass by without using the oportunity to thank all of you for being a part of our lives.

I am thinking of all our friends from California, who made this summer very special for us, who tried everything possible to keep us there, I am thinking of our friends and family from Europe and Canada, who are not giving up on us even though we are SOOO far away, I am thinking of all our friends that surround us and make this world a wonderful place. I am also thankful and very excited about the upcoming new addition to our little family.

So we are wishing everyone a blessed and memorable Thanksgiving! Have a happy one!

THE SILENT MEGA STAR OF RATATOUILLE

2010-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am talking about the Oscar winning Disney and Pixar movie from 2007. A masterpiece! what a funny and inspiring piece of cinematography! A quintessence of french culture seen through American eyes. One of the best animated films, we all loved it. The characters are cute, - most of them at least -, Paris is SOOOO romantic and at times you can almost smell the food!

We all loved Remi, the cooking rat, Linguini the shy chef and Colette, the talented and ambitious biker girl.

But the one special character, who brings the spice to the soup, who stirs things up, who makes it more exciting is actually SKINNER. Yes, Skinner, the bossy head chef at Gousteau's who took over when the owner died. He's trying to use the restaurants good reputation to squeeze as much money out of it as possible. Quite the nasty character, right??

Not quite... Well, you see, this is a special character, who was constructed and inspired by one of the biggest french comedians and actors of all times. Skinner is a monument, a tribute to this most beloved french artist. He was designed with him in mind. Skinner should remind us of his energy, his magnificent art of acting, his humor and his cranky attitude...

Louis de Funes

The man with forty faces per minute! To me he is THE funniest actor EVAH! Yes, my friends, the Gendarme. Even though he played in more than 80 movies, even though he was one of the most beloved actors in Europe, was never hired to play in an American movie.

Skinner is a tribute to this monument of a person! We grew up watching his movies. Who doesn't remember FANTOMAS!!! One of my favorites. I cannot imagine France without Louis. He is the most iconic figure of the French Culture.

So next time you watch Ratatouille, remember dear Louis! He's probably sitting up there next to Gusteau, in the culinary heaven, making his facial contortions and stomping his feet saying:

I MADE IT TO HOLLYWOOD!!!!!

OVERDUE!!!

2010-11-14T23:03:00.000-08:00

On this day, november 15th, anno 1996 I was in a horrific accident. It was the end of a long and tiring business trip. After finishing a huge project and after working day and night for three weeks my business partner, who was driving us to the German Consulate fell asleep. The car I was in hit a tree at the side of the road at over 100 miles/hr.

Besides saving my life, the seatbelt also broke several of my ribs and bruised my lungs. My head hit the windshield (that explains a lot, right?), my legs and knees were both smashed and needed extensive care. My body was an utter mess, I was bleeding from every angle. My remains were dumped at an Emergency Hospital where doctors and nurses basically waited for me to expire... The maintenance person had mercy with me and helped me make a call to my family.

In that night, two wonderful men, Vasile and Rudi, drove about 200 miles in Rudi's car, picked what ever was left of me and took me to Vasile's home. I have to mention here that both guys joked and made me laugh so hard, I had to cry! Laughing is not what you do best when you have broken ribs and squashed lungs....

For the next two months Vasile and his wife, Vio cared and prayed for me. They nursed me, they fed me, they provided me with medical care, removed my sutures, gave me massages and, most of all, gave me the love I needed to recover and to survive. Once again, they have been there for me.

So a huge THANK YOU is overdue!

Vio and Vasile, I know that life with me has been crazy, so very crazy! Over the last 36 years you have been my very best friends, my advisors, the shoulder I cried on, my accountants and managers, the biggest party buddies and most of all the parents I never had. On this day, and every day I want you to know how thankful I am for having you in my life. You have thought me what love is, you showed me how to be a good parent and you have always put my needs ahead of yours. I cannot thank you enough. I will always love you guys.

Many thanks to Rudi also... where ever he is now...

THE LITTLE PRINCE - Exupéry

2010-11-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

Antoine Jean-Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint Exupery

French Aviator and Novelist

I know, I know. Old news. HE IS THE BEST, I know. Certainly all of you have at least one copy of the most famous literary prose of all times THE LITTLE PRINCE. It had such an impact on my childhood that, later in life, when I grew up, (yes, I did!) I followed Antoine's path and traveled to Dakar. I saw the land he loved so much, the desert and the baobab trees that inspired some of the most remarkable lines written. Ever.

This novella has been translated in more than 190 languages. It has sold more than 80 million copies! (IT'S JUST A CHILDREN'S BOOK !!)

BUT!!!

What is the most surprising and fascinating fact about this little book?

guess what!

It was written in LONG ISLAND NEW YORK! Yes my friends, Antoine wrote it while he lived in this mansion in 1943.

THE BEVIN MANSION
yes, my friends, one of the most impressive, inspiring and most wonderful french books of all times was written in America.

If you are planning on learning French, this is the way to start. You will never give up. I promise! I still can't get over the snake that swallowed an elephant! As a child that just supefied me. How can you think of that???

My favorite 'Antoine line" - I live by it day by day. Believe me, it's true!

WHAT MAKES THE DESERT BEAUTIFUL IS THAT SOMEWHERE IT HIDES A WELL.

Yes, my friends, no matter how austere and inhospitable life might seem at times, trust that somewhere, sooner or later, you will find refuge and shelter.

Here he is, symbol of hope and innocence:

THE LITTLE PRINCE....

PAM'S PEPPERS

2010-11-11T08:24:00.001-08:00

I am participatiog in Cindy's SHOW AND TELL FRIDAYS and also in SUZY'S ARTSY CRAFTSY SITCOM today. I have been following for more than a year now and Cindy always animates everybody to share their projects. This time I will share a small and easy project. The most exciting detail about it is the cost: $0. Yes, this one was free.

As you know, just before the first frost everybody tries to eliminate the last plants and late crops from the garden. I only had two very timid tomato plants this year, but my friend Pam needed help with the multitude of hot peppers she had planted... so I ended up with a huge bag of these wonderful peppers. I wanted to make a wreath... I had seen several beautiful ones online, but my take on that was rather scary than neat...

So I've decided to display the peppers in a little crate. I've simply stacked them in this little wooden box. Don't they look cute?

There must have been about 2546876454174 peppers. It only took me 5687987684 hours to arrange them vertically.... so if you are bored and have too much time on your hands... go ahead!

If you wondered where I got the crate from... well..... that crate used to be .... a footstool....

I took the legs off (I will use them for my next project), removed the rest of the upholstery fabric, turned it upside down and arranged the peppers, piece by piece in it.

Pam, thank you for the peppers!

TO ADRIAN PAUNESCU - WITH LOVE

2010-11-07T21:58:00.000-08:00

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around you and whispered: "come to me"
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away
Although we loved you dearly we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us:
He only takes the best.

AND YET, THERE IS LOVE!

2010-11-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

And yet, there is love

And yet, there is curse

Give the world, the world the news:

I love, I am brave and I'm scared!

(Adrian Paunescu)

One of the biggest artists of our times, Adrian Paunescu, has entered Eternity today. He was larger-than-live, most hated and most beloved, poet - turned - politician / senator. We all wished at times he was just a poet. But he was certainly something extraordinary: a paradigm, a social phenomenon, a genius. His honesty was almost painful. Many times I thought he was writing because he could not slap us in the face other ways. Magnificent craftsman of words, fearless promoter of raw culture, journalist and role model. He inspired us to write, to be true to ourselves and never give up. He is the reason why many of us are writing, why we, "The generation in jeans - as he named us" didn't give up on poetry. He showed us how to read between the lines.

"Why don't you put a tax on laughing!

A tax on poverty!

Why don't you put a tax on darkness!

Put a tax on the waving wind!

It would be a shame not to tax the blood in our veins!

Continue this termination

And the Bad that makes you feel so good!

Put a tax on love, on sleep, on nostalgia!

On shadows, on despair and on the sigh!

And on the fingernails that just keep growing!

Destroy everything, in every direction and throughout!

It doesn't make any sense not to put a tax on newborns!

I don't even know their names...

Work unforgivably and equitable:

Put a tax on breast milk!"

(Adrian Paunescu)

THE LAST ONE IN THE COUNTRY

Our poverty is killing us!

We march so much, our spleen hurts.

The last one to leave this country,

Please turn off the light!

(Adrian Paunescu)

Adrian's last poem, written on his hospital bed 5 days ago:

From a cordial cardiac

I hear the ambulance returning

Who knows what patient is inside it

The siren sounds more like a carol

Custom made to treat my scar.

I salute you right cordial

Right cardiac, as you might know

Facing the fact that this hospital bed

Is not an alarm, but even more a guarantee..

EUROPEAN HALLOWEEN

2010-10-30T04:45:00.000-07:00

EUROPEAN HALLOWEEN: A CELEBRATION OF ALL SAINTS

this post is dedicated to my father, my grandparents and all the friends we've lost along the way

also to a special friend who recently lost his grandmother and uncle. May your happy memories lighten your sorrow.

For some reason you have to click PLAY twice in order to start this clip

Happy Halloween, my dear friends!

I know you've expected to see the usual pumpkin pictures, skulls and costumes I've made. That post will follow. But today's post will have a more serious note, in respect of the true meaning of Halloween.

For many of us Halloween is just about carving pumpkins, spending time with the young, spooky decorations and.... candy... It is a funny thing, people, especially kids dress up and wander from door to door to collect sweets...

Ever wondered if europeans celebrate Halloween?

They certainly do, only in Europe Halloween has a totally different meaning.
What has been taken seriously and has strong roots in French tradition is All Saint's Day, or November 1, or (to us) the Day We Feel Sick From All That Candy We Devoured On Halloween.

On All Saint's Day, which dates back at least to the seventh century, europeans honor the dead.

It is a magical day (and night) to visit cemeteries, where tombs are lavishly decorated with flowers, personal items and candles. Families gather around their loved one's graves and pray together, talk about their lost ones and remember them. My family used to gather around my father's grave, we would light candles and talk about his acomplishments, his love for his children, his hard work that ultimately caused his passing, we would pray and sometimes cry.

If you plan to visit, your best bets for finding Halloween events are visits to big cities like Paris and Nice. In Eastern Europe each and every cemetery will resemble a see of candles. You will find a magical world of peace and love. Also keep in mind that November 1 is a major national holiday, and many spots will be closed in its honor.

ALEXANDRE GUSTAVE EIFFEL

2010-10-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

She is the most famous, most visited and most beloved landmark and symbol of freedom and democracy in America. She is beautiful, strong, imposant and huge. And she is... french. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the french people to the american people. And many of us know that. But what most of the americans don't know is:

The Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower have something very special in common. Not only they come from the same country, but they have been designed by the same ingenious personality.

One of my favorite people in the world, here he is: Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. He is the one who built the internal structure of the Statue. He worked on her BEFORE he built the Eiffel tower....

The Statue is made from more than 300 puzzle pieces. They were shipped to the States in separate crates.

Lady Liberty's head was first displayed in Paris, before it was attached to the rest of the body in 1886...

Eiffel created the most complicated and almost elastic frame, capable of bearing the great weight of the statue. The statue's skin is attached by floating joints, system used for centuries after that in the aeronautical engineering.

Gustave Eiffel is one of our heroes. Born in Germany, adopted by french parents, a world traveller, a pioneer of his time and a genius. His bridges, his visionary work, his art and his ideas will always fascinate us no matter what. Without Gustave the world would be a boring place, my friends!

Where is LITTLE PARIS???

2010-10-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

Pretty much all my close friends know: besides my child, there is nothing that I love more than Paris. I am the biggst fan, the most faithful tourist and a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Paris. So one of my friends called me last night, wanting to know WHERE LITTLE PARIS WAS. She searched all the maps of France that she had and she could not find LITTLE PARIS.

Now that was sweet! It made me smile. Pictures she had from "Little Paris" showed the Arc de Triomphe, modernist buildings and landscapes you can only find in Paris. But where is this city located ???

Surprisingly, LITTLE PARIS is... NOT IN FRANCE, my friends....

It is in Eastern Europe and it is the Capital City of ROMANIA, also called Bucuresti (Bucharest). If you look around, you will understand why this city deserves it's nickname. In many aspects Bucharest is a replica of the city of love.

During the second half of the 19th century - between the two world wars - the Romanian economy flourished. Merchants from all over the world discovered the path between East and West that crossed this country. They brought with them not just their merchandise, but also culture, a sense of good taste and class. Romanian architects studied in France and brought back the extravagance and sophisticated style you can only find in Paris...

The similarities are striking, it almost feels like someone has cut a piece of Paris and transplanted it in eastern Europe...

Bucharest is the 6th largest city in Europe, and has ca. 3 000 000 habitants.

Little Paris enjoyes a continental climate with low humidity and temperatures varying between 30 degr. in winter and 95 degr. in the summer.

99% of the population speaks at least 2 if not 3 languages: Romanian, French and English

During the communist periode Bucharest lost several historic buildings, making space for weird, boxy and particularly ugly buildings. In the last 20 years the architecture changed again. The rapid economic growth can be seen once again in the multitude of steel and glass buildings, the malls and industrial areas.

But the landmarks, the places and buildings that characterize this city are entirely of french influence.

Yes, my friends, this is a bank....

Look at that window detail! Can you believe it's not the Louvre???

Bucharest (Little Paris) will always be a strange combination of romantic flair and modernistic sophistication, quintessence of culture, land of the stray dogs and of the romanian version of Gavroche and Cosette...

Au revoir my friends, in my next post I will write about the Statue of Liberty. Be surprised and amazed about the secret connection between the most famous American Landmark and... The Eiffel Tower!

2010-10-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Romantic thoughts on a rainy Paris afternoon. Even though it was summer, Paris was cold that day. Rain was messing up my plans and I sought shelter. The wind was very unconfortable, my umbrella turned inside out, it almost made me think of Norway. So what to do?

Where can you foget about time, about weather, and feed your soul in the same time?

You got it! At the LOUVRE.

I will never understand Mitterand. (most likely no one ever will...). But in this particular case his urge to put his stamp on the most iconic museum in the world was a shot in the foot.

As soon as you pass the monstruous pyramid at the entrance you can choose what your soul needs that day: color, texture, history, time travel... or even fear. I chose LOVE that day. I let Michelangelo make my day, along with other glorious artists of his time.

An icon and a love symbol for the Eternity: Marie Antoinette. Her love, her life, her dedication (opinions differ here), her homes, her wardrobe and even her death were spectacular. You have got to love her.

The hall of statues is huge, and even though people are roaming around, snapping pictures at all times, there is something very quiet about these handcarved marble pieces.

and yes, there is Love! Amor at work. No comments there.

La nymphe au scorpion. She was my favorite. From every angle she was just beautiful. So peaceful.

Her place is almost trist. She seems forgotten in that corner...

Now what for a better love symbol can you think of than him: Gaius Iulius Caesar. What a drama! What a story! 2050 years after his death we still make movies about his love to Cleopatra! Stunning.

Well, with this said, with my soul fed and my feet tired, I'm on my way to a a cozy corner in some Cafe, reflecting ...... or maybe just feeling romantic. I'm so glad it rained that day! That's the city of love, my friends.....

HGTV'S TANIYA NAYAK at the COUNTRY LIVING FAIR 2010

2010-10-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

As I promissed, I am posting today about the special meeting we had at the Fair this year.

How many of you love Design To Sell? Let's be honest, most of us sought inspiration and got their hands dirty, their homes rearranged and decluttered after watching the show! From the feared Donna Freeman we've learned, the harsh way, that our silly collectibles and weird color choices are turning our homes in a buyer's nightmare. From Lisa la Porta we've learned how 'neutral colors' increase your home's value. Should I mention how much we all love Clivey??? It is America's favorite HGTV show.

When Taniya Nayak and John Gidding appeared on the show for the first time..... people were a little skeptical. We don't do good with change, you know? But we loved the show, so we watched it anyways. And guess what!! Yes, we loved it even more. Why? Because these two new creators were young, dynamic, funny and so original! Times are tough, the real estate market is sore and just neutralizing your color scheme in the house won't sell it anymore. These two new designers brought the spice into the soup.

My daughter and I met Taniya at the Country Living Fair this year. She paciently gave advice to all the confused fans standing in line. They all came prepared with pictures, drawings and questions. Once again, she impressed me with her pacience, her natural smile and professionalism.

At the end of the event we took some photos (forgive me for cutting my obese presence out of the picture...) but here is my daughter with Taniya.

Dear Taniya, if you read this, THANK YOU for the little present you had for my daughter. She really loves the colored pencils and all the goodies! It was a pleasure. Hope to see you soon again!

Also thank you to the lovely ladies from the MOHAWK stand!

COUNTRY LIVING FAIR 2010

2010-10-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, my friends! I was there! I must say, I was so very surprised when I got to the Country Living Fair this year! This event was pretty quiet last year. I remember I had parked my car right in front of the gate, barely anyone was there. Well... this year I guess their publicity paid off. They must have had 10 times as many visitors as last year. The weather was great, everybody had a good time. I mainly went there to meet a special person (please check my blog tomorrow, as I will post about this meeting with a great HGTV designer).

But today we will take a tour on the 201o COUNTRY LIVING FAIR. Are you ready? Hold on to me, don't get lost! Look at all those people!

It might seem a little chaotic, but I just took pictures as I went through the Fair. I love altered art and a little inspiration it's always nice.

Vintage heaven! Many stands had beautiful vintage items,

but the star of this season's Country Living Fair was: THE PUMPKIN. Pumkin here, Pumpkin there, Pumpkin everywhere! (as you can see in many of my pictures)

A regular at this fair is PaperAlice. She's there every year, making the most beautiful handmade paper out of your junk mail or the wrappings of your last birthday presents. She stuffs the paper pieces in her blender, mixes them with nothing but water, adds some dried petals and some glitter. The results are stunning. My favorite was the scented paper.

One of the funniest places was the.... JAM & JELLY LADY, who was actually.... a guy. Tried the jelly, it was delicious!

Ready for Halloween? Hope so!

Did I mention that we saw.... PUMPKINS??

These quilts were adorable. The picture doesn't capture the multitude and vibrance of the colors very well.

Pumpkin number 3450398656899

You could definitely get a lot of inspiration for your next Recycling Party! What to do with all those bottle caps, those old watches you don't wear anymore....

Let me tell you, it was worth waiting 30 minutes for a parking spot on the grass! We had a blast at the Fair and the best thing is still coming up *(check with me tomorrow!!).

Oh, I must mention, a big dissapointment at the Fair this year was the Food Court. There is a lot of space for improvement in that area. It seemed to me a little improvised, the food was nothing to write home about, pretty basic, not very exciting. The most succesful was the Italian Food Stand. Inside the Fair there was a Sausage Stand, now THAT sausage was yum-o! as Rachel would say. I am sure the Popcorn Vendors were happy about the food desaster, because just about every other person was gladly buying the Kettle Corn instead...

Well, wishing you another fabulous day, with many blessings!

2010-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE easel cards! They are such wonderful little pieces of art! Here is my take on it! It is a cute stamp, a simple paper and some wonderful flowers that I have ordered from England.

Sorry for the quality of this picture...

Here the sentiment, a SU stamp that I had recieved from my frend Kathy last year! Still using it!! In fact I have sent one of these easel cards to Kathy too, for Valentine´s Day!

A close up of the image, colored with Prismacolor and shaded with regular ink. Can´w tait for my new Copic markers!

Aren´t these little roses adorable? I have also used a Martha Stewart punch for the leaves.

That´s it for today! My daughter and I are invited at my neigbor´s house for a sledding party! Since we just got another 12" of snow this will be a blast! See you soon here again!!!

The mating season for owls is officially open!!!!

2010-01-02T03:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the mating season for owls starts in january? I found out this morning, when this silly owl started singing.... He gave a 3 hour concert, it is 7 a.m. and he finally went to sleep.... At first I thought it sounded spooky but I was sure he had a good reason to be so loud and consistent. After googling owl behaviour I could finally relax... But that was weird!

What do you do when you can´t sleep? I craft! Here the green-black version of the Mail Box Card. Next time I have to chose better colors for the cat... I still haven´t found the right one...

I tried not to add to many embelishments since the background is so busy.

By the way, owls are very beneficial for your household and your farm. A family of owl can eat ca. 1000 mice in one nesting season!!! Now that´s what I call PEST CONTROL!! Maybe an owl card would have been more appropriate.... Thanks for stopping by!!!

Mail Box Greeting Card

2010-01-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody! I hope you´all had a great celebration! We stayed home, had a great dinner, watched TV and popped a couple of confetti crackers. We enjoyed being together, and I really enjoyed not waking up tired on the first day of the year! Today I worked on a couple of cards, not too many though. Here is one of them. I call it the Mail Box Card. I recieved the stamp from my friend Kathy. I really love the little kitty sleeping in the mail box.

I have colored the stamp with Prismacolor and blended the colors with OMS.

The image is framed by Nestabilities. The 3D effect is acheved by adding double dimentionals.

For the paper lace I used one of Martha Stewart punches...

The white satin ribbon completes the look.

Isn´t he adorable? So very cute!

Thanks for stopping by! May your mail box be filled with good news this year! Have a happy healthy one! Blessings!

BOUGHS FOR THE WREATH and VARIATIONS OF THE UMBRELLA SUGGER NELLIE

2009-12-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well hello everybody, how has Christmas been treating you? I hope y´all got showered with presents, blessings and good food! We sure did and we enjoyed every moment. I especially enjoyed not HAVING to make cards...... Don´t understand me wrong, I LOVE making cards. But as soon as I HAVE to make them.... this stresses me out. So the day after Christmas was a blessing, all the cards have been mailed, all the presents were wrapped and they had reached their destinations. It fell like a recovery after a long illness, like the day after you return home after a long stay in the hospital. I know, it sounds kind of sad, but I actually also had fun making them. I love these stamps and coloring them has been very rewarding.

Here the "guys" card. It is a stamp by Mo´s Digital, just love it! So adorable. Don´t you just love the little guy?

Well, and here the blue and green versions of my "girl" card this Christmas. She is so adorable and beautiful. I think the bow makes a huge difference. Even though the background is the same, the focus falls on the bow. Here in blue:

Here in silver - purple...

And here in green

Sugar Nellie is definitely one of my favorites!

Thank you for stopping by!

Handmade Christmas Cards - Meet Sugar Nellie - girl with umbrella

2009-12-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

I finally got her! I saw this stamp online and I imediatelly fell in love with it. This little girl, Sugar Nellie, looks exactly like my daughter. I HAD to have her. Usually my Christmas cards are one of a kind cards, each of my friends and family members recieve a unique card. This year, just because I love this stamp so much, I have decided to send the "same" card to everybody. I will change colors though. Here the first ones I made. I have already sent them out, and I am working on a green variation.

Isn´t she adorable? I have used special soft Prismacolor Pencils and OMS. You have to be very careful with this stuff! OMS. Great tool, BUT! Please make sure you work in a very well ventilated area!

Trying to save space, I have my desk inside a closet. This way, even when it´s cluttered, the quickest fix is: close the closet doors, and also it doesn´t take space in the bedroom. However, the area doesn´t have a window or any kind of ventilation at all. So after working with OMS for about 2 hours the effect it had on me were similar to a really bad hangover. The rest of the cards were made on the kitchen table, for more space, comfort and... ventilation.

I hope you like this stamp too! Thank you for viewing my cards!

How to make a shelf out of drawers - simple project under $10!

2009-11-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you this little - and simple - project. Last year we went to this really shabby house, the owner had died and nobody wanted the old furniture. We sold some of the pieces - now I regret it, ´cause I could use that one dresser - but we kept many of the pieces. Slowly bur shurely I am turning them in little projects, hoping that one day my daughter´s dream bedroom will be completed. I love old pieces, that have a history. A little attention and love, combined with a touch of paint, gives them a whole new meaning, a life they never expected to have, once again.

Here is one of these projects I am talking about: how to turn the drawers from this old, beat up desk into cute shelves.

I had to crop the first picture, unfortunately only a part of the desk is showing, but you can see how it looks with the drawers.

The desk was in no usable condition, but I just couldn´t get rid of it without using at least the drawers. So I took them home and - months later - I started sanding....

I do have a sanding machine, but looking for it would have taken longer than just sand the drawers quickly by hand.

And painting. I have used a white latex paint from Walmart (ca. $5 a can)

I have hung them on the wall, after finding the studs first. You have to make sure you mount them onto the studs. The botoms of the drawers have been lined with decorative designer paper from Hobby Lobby. They have a huge selection of scrapbooking paper in every color and design you can imagine. Cost: ca. $3.

Here the final product: 3 cute decorative shelves for a french inspired bedroom.

Hang the drawers with the front side down, since this will give you the biggest surface to display things or store books and knick-knacks.

Bonus feature: look at this adorable night light I found at Cracker Barrel. Just perfect for the foo-foo-french bedroom!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this inspired you. Roll up your sleeves and get those hands dirty! The reward is the satisfaction and pride that the day was productive. You will enjoy the things you´ve made for a long time. The personal touch, the memories and the love you put in the little details, that´s what turnes your house into a HOME.

He´s soooo handsome!

2009-11-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

This year our autumn was mild. We didn´t have much rain, the temperatures were rather pleasant than chilly, and the change from the summer was crowned by the beauty of colors. My daughter and I enjoyed one of her days off from school out in the front yard playing with her Strawberry Shortcake frisbie.... when this beautiful doe showed up. We went inside the house and let her come closer. What we didn´t know: she was not alone...

Isn´t she beautiful?

There he was... hiding behind trees at first. But as she continued her walk towards the creek, he followed her....

He stopped in the front yard for a little snack,

than walked behind her, protecting her and making sure the area was safe...

He checked every side of the creek,

Look at those magnificent antlers!

They both dissapeared into the woods. But they´ll be back soon. In fact she comes over every day whith her two kids. He´s more shy, and no wonder. Soon is hunting season again...

READY FOR THANKSGIVING?

2009-11-15T19:23:00.001-08:00

10 more days until Thanksgiving. All I can think about is: GOOD FOOD. I don´t think we will have turkey this year though. I got very inspired the other day when I went shopping at my favorite grocery store: ALDI. I was actually looking for a small turkey when I saw that they were offering duck. Duck is more of a european delicatesse. As I write I am thinking of a great menu.... let´s say... Duck with porcini mushrooms and bread dumplings, just like my grandmother used to make... Too bad I don´t have a Römertopf, one of those clay pots. Maybe it works a Dutch Oven as well. Anyways, I think it is worth a try. I usually save the duck fat and roast some potatoes in it the next day. It is TO DIE FOR!! Anyone hungry yet? Just kidding!

I wanted to share with you a couple of my Thanksgiving projects. A few tags I made this year. They are ideal for gift bags, boxes or even as place cards. They are made on high quality ivory card stock, handstamped with walnut ink. The edges of the tags have been also shaded with coordinating ink for a more vintage look. I LOVE vintage stuff.

A little italian topiary on green background, a really cute tag also:

Did I say turkey? Look at these adorable turkey tags! A vintage style stamp and a short sentiment. They would make a great addition to any self baked gift, or as a finishing touch to a gift basket brought to your mother in law´s house at Thanksgiving time... I have sold quite a couple of these last week on Etsy.

A variation of the same design.

I hope you enjoyed my little Thanksgiving craft fair, and I hope you all have a safe and delicious dinner, what ever you decide to cook! (WE ARE HAVING DUCK!).

I probably should make some tags with....... ducks ....

A great week everybody!

2009-11-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

Please visit Crystal´s blog for a very lovely story under Red Jelly Beans.

By the way, she featured one of my cards in her blog again. Can you find it? Think Pink!

beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/

2009-11-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

One of my items has been featured on a blog again! This time here:

http://www.sewstylishbowtique.blogspot.com/

And let me tell you, it´s worth visiting this blog! Very inspiring! (see the soup of the day recipe!!!)

Y´all have a great weekend!!!

2009-11-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

MY ROMANTIC HOME

Welcome to my... front yard. Actually the second picture should have been the first one. The long driveway takes you to the property which includes the romantic home we live in, and the 11 acres of woods that come with it... On the bottom of the picture you can see the barn. The only animals that live there are a pair of barn owls and sometimes some raccoons....

The driveway splits and the left part of it takes you to the house. There we are! What a beautiful fall afternoon! Hopefully somebody will remove all those fallen leaves soon!!!

now I´ve turned around, this is the same driveway

I am no huge fan of fall, but the colors are just magnificent!

The way down to the barn again

I don´t have a clue what for berries these are, but keep them in mind for a later picture!!

If I sit on my front porch, this is what I see!

And this,

and this,....

And sometimes this!

The little deer munched on some leaves from the Umbrella Tree in front of the house. I don´t think he saw me. They really cannot see well.

Sibling joining the feast! Or is it mom? Hard to tell. White tail deer don´t grow very big.

But wait! didn´t we have that little tree with all those berries on it?? Right!!! Let´s have a P A R -T E Y!!! Let´s invite the wild turkeys too! Especially the one who decided to fly up on top of the tree and to shake all the berries, so his family... and the deer, can get some too!! (Deer are on the right side of the picture)

Who said turkeys are silly??? I´m having HAM for Thanksgiving!!

Thank you for visiting! Next time I will take you with me to .... Holland for some dutch splendid sites!

TRIP TO AUGUSTA, KENTUCKY

2009-10-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

TRIP TO AUGUSTA - KENTUCKY

2 weeks ago we decided to go on this trip to Augusta, Kentucky. We wanted to see the fall colors mainly, but we were probably just one week to early for that. The leaves had started turning, but they had not developed the intense reds, yellows and orange colors we were looking for. We still enjoyed the landscapes, the homes and the most delicious food at the little restaurant in town. Here some pictures from our trip:

The way to Augusta goes trough several small villages in Ohio, almost forgotten places.

The Ohio River in the fall... we were waiting for the ferry to take us over to the Kentucky side. It felt like vacation. The sun was warm, the water calm and the city of Augusta was greeting us from accross the river.

The ferry ride is short, about 5 minutes.

There we are! Welcome to Augusta, KY! This street takes you to the most famous restaurant in town, the Bee Hive. We didn´t eat there though. It is an original and very vintage restaurant, with a country style menu, but to be honest, last time I was there the silverware, tables and dinnerware were not the cleanest. And especially nowadays you just have to be careful (did you realize I am a germophobe?). However, the sites are very inviting.

And because I love antiques and primitive items, we just HAD to visit some antique stores. There are many of those in Augusta. Every other door had an Antiques sign, a delight for every country style lover. The items found there go from primitive to antique, and the local artisans are also selling their product there. In fact I got some business cards and I will also send some of my handmade cards and tags to some of the stores. I am hoping to sell some there too....

The most impressive building in Augusta was the.... US BANK building. Very old building, great architecture!

What a beautiful day. It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed every minute, the weather was marvelous and the food at the Corner Cafe was delicious. The homemade tomato soup, the croissants and the salads were amazing. A very french atmosphere, great service. Loved it!

On the way back, we crossed the river again, taking another route. The bridge and the landscape were impressing.

Some homes we saw along the way....

Ohio River

I loved this home. Very neat.

Good bye, Kentucky!

One of the last things we saw, just before it got dark: this bird house was about 30 feet tall, it seemed to me like it was touching the power lines. Maybe it was. What do you think?

Thank you for joining me on this trip to Augusta! If you love nature, vintage stuff, antique stores and good french food, this is the place to go! See you there!

INVITATION FOR TOMORROW:

Visit my front porch and my front yard, enjoy the wild life: wild turkeys, deer and squirells that live around the house! Really funny creatures! Very curious and trully amazing!

COUNTRY LIVING FAIR 2009

2009-09-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Last year I borrowed from the library the COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE in september and there was this article about the Country Living Fair. It was their second one and it recieved quite a bit of attention. I was so sad, that I didn´t see the article in time! I would have loved to see the fair and I promissed myself that in the next year (2009) I will do everything I can just to get there. AND I DID!!

My daughter and I went to Columbus OH last sunday and visited the fair. It was the last day of the fair. I was very excited, my daughter not so much. She doesn´t enjoy old things as much as I do... Besides, it rained all day long.

Still, we were able to see a couple of interesting stands, a few original artists, even a stand of another Etsy enthusiast: artgoodies! She had a stand there, and she was selling beautiful handmade and printed Tea and Kitchen Towels. They were beautiful and she was very communicable. I can´t say the same thing about some other participants. Most of them didn´t want me to take pictures of their items, some of them were even rude to my daughter, who´s 7.

But all in one it was a great experience, I would do it any time again.

Here some pictures for you:

PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS!

THE ARTGOODIES STAND - OUR FAVORITE!

THE MUSICAL ARANGEMENT REMINDED ME (SOMEHOW) OF DEADWOOD...

SOME ITEMS WE THOUGHT WERE INTERSTING; LIKE THIS ALTERED ART MADE IN A VINTAGE DRAWER

LOOK AT THESE NECKLACES, THE PENDANTS ARE MADE OUT OF TYPEWRITER KEYS. VERY ORIGINAL. MY DAUGHTER GOT ONE OF THESE WITH HER INITIAL ON IT.

THESE CROSSES WERE NOT REALLY MY THING, BUT STILL INTERSTING ENOUGH I WOULD SAY. ORIGINAL ANYWAYS

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little tour, maybe next year you decide to visit! Oh, and the best part was: the subscription for the COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE for a year was only $5! Now that´s a steal!

Have a nice week end! I will post some more tomorrow, when the wonderful Beading Fairy from

beadhapilyeverafter.com/blog/

is having a Giveaway with some of my Etsy items. I am SO PROUD that she chose my items! Just can´t wait to see who winns. Don´t forget to enter her blog and check out the Giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by!

C.G.

2009-09-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

As I lived in Italy for a while I got to learn and love the way people cook there. Their way to treat food is simple, almost primitive and so delicious. Almost every family has olive trees on the property and they only use olive oil. They also use olive tree wood to warm up their houses in the cold season, so when you visit that´s the first thing that you can notice - the strong olive scent.

The Italian flag combines RED, WHITE AND GREEN, and this can be seen in many of their dishes too, they really add each of these colors in almost all of their dishes. One of the simplest and most delicious dishes I have discovered there was this NOODLE SALAD to die for!!! My neighbor, Herminia, used to cook this dish and we would sit on her terasse, looking out to the Mediterranean See and enjoy it. It is soooo simple to make and SOOOO YUM-O!! These are very affordable ingredients, it only takes about 10 minutes to make the salad.

Here the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 big tomatoes or 4 medium ones
1 ball of FRESH mozzarella
about 10 leaves of basil
1 clove of garlic
salt
pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1 bag of curly egg noodles

When the noodle water is boilig, throw the tomatoes in the hot water for 30 seconds. Remove with a spoon, and let them cool off. Now you can cook the noodles. They usually need 8 minutes.

While the noodles are cooking peel the tomatoes (since they have been blanched in the hot water this should be an easy task now), cut tomatoes, mozzarella in small cubes (size of a grape), chop basil and press garlic clove. All these ingredients are mixed together in a big bowl. Add oil, salt and pepper

When the noodles are al dente drain the hot water, and add the HOT noodles to the RED WHITE AND GREEN sauce. Enjoy while warm.

I have made this salad many times and all my friends who tried it asked for the recipe. So I hope you ´all enjoy this too! Try it!

Langos - a hungarian treat - Don´t feel guilty!!!

2009-09-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have waited for this moment for months! I had checked online for a simple yet delicious recipe for one of my favorite treats: this wonderful hungarian dish. The deep fried bread called LANGOS (read lungosh). And I found it on a .... romanian website. Romania and Hungary are neighbors. Despite the rivality, the extrem pride and the silly nationalism that these countries practice at times, they do have a lot in common, especially food. The dishes are very similar, both influenced by the western part of Europe, like Austria and Germany, and by the turkish culture. This particular dish is so delicious, it is sold at every public event, at fairs, on the beach, at schools, in parks, in food stands on the street, grandma´s are making it at home and everybody loves it.

The recipe called for 500g flower. I have no scale (imagine that) so I eyeballed it, one package of dry yeast (I do prefer the fresh yeast though), some warm water, 2 Tbsp of salt, one Tbsp of sugar. It is also a simple yeast dough, that raises for about an hour before you can form the Langos.

I filled some of the Langos with mozzarella cheese, salt and dill. Ooooh, DELISH!!

I fried the Langos in hot vegetable oil (it has to be really hot). If the oil is not hot enough it takes too long for them to fry and they soak too much grease.

Fry each site for about one minute. When golden brown - remove from pan and lay them on a paper towel, to soak the oil out of them.

ENJOY!!! These are sooooo delicious! What a great treat! A super snack, that can be filled with cheese, meat, cabbage (saute´the cabbage with some onion first), or with jam, marmalade, or even - and this is soooo yummy!!! - with a poppy seed filling...

I got a huge stack of langos, they are crunchy on the outside, really soft on the inside. A perfect comfort food!

and just look at that cheese melting, the dill gives so much flavor and the whole experience is like Christmas in your mouth! M - M- GOOD!!

Anybody hungry yet? More recipes.... soon. Will see what my appetite is asking for next!

You guys enjoy, have a wonderful week end!

Blogging fairy

2009-09-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

Good morning everybody!

I had a wonderful surprise this morning, when I recieved a message from Crystal, the beading fairy from http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog. She worked hard last night and posted some of my etsy items on her blog. I was so surprised and thankful! It is nice to see that someone appreciates your hard work! She had picked my pumpkin tags, they are in season right now.

Merci beaucoup, Crystal!

Here a link to Crystal's beading paradise on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6315256

The week end is coming up. I am planing on canning some Bread and Butter pickles, some Hot pepper jelly and to make some wonderful deep fried bread, a recipe I found on a hungarian website. Those "Langos" look sooo delicious, with cheese and sour cream on top! And they taste sooo goood!

Y'all have a wonderful week end!

2009-07-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone! I hope you had a great week, and the week end will bring the much deserved relaxation. We had a lot of rain and my garden looks a little sad right now.

Today I will keep my promise and I will share some of my greeting cards with you.

Just before Easter my daughter and I discovered a post on Youtube, a very nice lady explaining how se makes her greeting cards. Her voice sounded so happy and everything she made was so beautiful and it seemed really easy to make. My daughter and I got inspired, and started crafting. We were so proud of our first "creations"!! Looking back now I feel really sorry for the friends who ended up getting our first handmade cards!

Meanwhile we gathered enough supplies, card stock, paper punches, rubber stamps. I even bought a sewing machine. We started a little business on Etsy.com and we even got some custom orders for our stationery. We are dying paper in coffee- cinnamon stain, and are making vintage style, french inspired greeting cards, gift tags, bookmarks and much more.

When my friend Kathy, who lives about 2000 miles away, heared about our stamping passion, she told me that she had a big box of rubber stamps, that she was not using. Most of them were brand new. She sent me the box with tens and tens of stamps and other crafting supplies. I was so touched by her kindness, and I hope she knows how much we appreciate it! The stamps are beautiful!!

We are working on a set of greeting cards especially for Kathy, since she would not accept at least the shipping costs for the huge box of rubber stamps!

THANK YOU, KATHY!!!

You can find most of these greeting cards, in our little Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7274025

our stationery is made with lots of love and passion for french country details. I hope you enjoy!

This is my daughter´s favorite stamp. She loves the kitty in the mail box. And you can see where I used my sewing machine to embelish the card. I hope Kathy will like this one!

This is my favorite, of course! I found this stamp at Michaels´and I had a 50% coupon that day. I was so thrilled, to get this special stamp for only some change.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the post. I promisse to show you our garden tomorrow. Our tomato plants are about 7 ´tall (yes, feet!!).

Au revoir, and check in with us tomorrow!!!

Rainy 4th of july

2009-07-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

We were so excited about this holiday, because our best friends from Sacramento were visiting. They have traveled thousands of miles just to see us. Unfortunately the weather was really a mess, it rained all the time, it was cold and we had seriously considered not to attend the firework show downtown. In the last minute we decided to go anyways and try our luck. The show lasted less than 10 minutes, but our walk in the rain ended up being a wonderful time. In the picture above you can see our daughters on the bridge, waiting for the show to start. I love this picture.

Tomorrow I will share with you one of my passions: gardening. I have always had a little garden, but this year I decided to try the french gardening technique and Jerry Baker´s tonics. I must say, it is very rewarding. My tomatoes have reached record heights. Most of them are 7 feet tall. Check in with me tomorrow to see them!

First time blogging....

2009-06-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to me! (yeay me!) for my first blog ever! I should´t even say that, I bet everybody and their grandma already have a blog. It´s like learning how to tie your shoes in high school! I could name at least a handful of excuses, why I didn´t have a blog until now. But after seing and reading so many wonderful blogs, I got inspired. So: here I am, joining millions and millions of bloggers who have something to share with the world. Now I´m one of us!

So, welcome to my little romantic retreat! I promisse not to bore you with my birthday pictures or with annoying music. Reading my blog should make you smile and it should inspire you. I am always open for suggestions! Send me your ideas and your questions! Thank you! G.G.

The EIFFEL TOWER! One of my favourite things in the world! What can be better than going all the way up and looking at the city? Actually sitting in front of the tower, with a bottle of champagne and admiring the tower. I never enjoyed waiting in those endless lines or getting squeezed in those elevators. Looking at the Tower is by far the best! These pictures are from last summer, when my favourite daughter, my boyfriend and I went to see IT. It was such a magical moment! (yes, we did have a bottle of champagne with us!). I had seen the Eiffel Tower before, many times. But this time it was special, because my baby was there with me! We shared the happiness! Oh, Paris is just THE most romantic place in the world, isn´t it?

French Country Rocks!

2009-06-17T21:26:00.001-07:00