Colors from Milan

Check this out:   a new line of rainbow colored plastic ware from Pandora Design, a company in Milan. They're so magnificent, I would have to wash and reuse them!! I covet this beautiful chandelier that they've created.





This set looks similar to an antique serving fork I bought years ago. Great design stands the test of time!

Flower Girls Wishing You A Happy Mother's Day

In my ongoing journey to find fun, fanciful, wondrous things on the web, I came across these absolutely delightful creations done by Elsa Mora or as she is known to her readers, Elsita. Her story is interesting and one of those that has looped about in different directions and has landed her in what appears to be a most beautiful place. Take a look:

REGINA

LIZETTE (my personal favorite!)

ROSETTA

Her artwork appears in galleries throughout the world and lucky for us we can bring some of her beauty into our own lives by visiting her Etsy shop.  Such gentle creativity really is inspiring. I hope these brightened up your day as much as they did mine.  

A Beautiful Tribute To Women

My daughter found this video months ago and shared it with me.  I "stumbled-upon" it today and was reminded how beautiful it is.  Hope you enjoy it as well.   

Paris Before We Met

I am in the process of weeding things from my surroundings as our family gets ready to pack up the last 12 years of our life and come July split off in different directions as we go through a monumental shift in how and where we live our lives.  As a result, I have been going through things and of course, get all caught up and side-tracked in old photographs, magazines, the dilemmas of, "Do I keep this Mother's Day card from 1987 and where do I pack it if I do?"  All things that take me totally off track from what I am supposed to be doing--downsizing!

I am a lover of many things but antiques are right up there for me.  During a phase when I had a small business, I was constantly at auctions, digging around for that great find (many of which I kept for myself......that's allowed).  Often times, I would buy something that ended up being auctioned off along with a box full of junk which I would then get to search through and hopefully find the elusive pot of gold.  Here are two items that although will not get me millions at Sotheby's, make me happy just the same.  

This is Opéra Garnier as it looked at the turn of the 20th century.  This building is the piece de resistance in Baron Haussman's urban planning crusade of Paris.  Designed by Charles Garnier, a young, unknown architect at the time, Mr. Garnier beat out over 170 of his contemporaries in winning the right to design this opulent, over the top structure.  It is magnificent and deserves a trip inside should you be in Paris--a tour would be nice, but to experience a performance here is a different memory to take home with you altogether.  

Here's a photograph of the Champs Elysées, looking towards the Arc de Triomphe from the Place de la Concord--that is quite a mouthful.  Check out the horse in the center.  How crazy is that.  I can just hear Maurice Chevailier singing "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" as he strolled down this very same boulevard in the movie Gigi.

Photo Credit:  Personal Collection

Arm Candy

I'm thinking that if I purchase these beauties now and wear them up my arm, no one will notice what's happening to my neck!

These bracelets are the work of Mark Davis and can be found on Twist.  They are made from vintage Bakelite that has been set with Amethyst, Shapphire, Orange and Pink Topaz, Spessarite and Rhodolite.  I want to send you to his website but it isn't up yet.  In the meantime, head to Twist and explore.  It's fantastic.  

Photo credits:  Twistonline.com

Not Enough Nora Ephron

Yesterday I ran out and bought Nora Ephron's "I Feel Bad About My Neck", a witty commentary on aging (if indeed, there is anything funny about aging!) and read it front to back without getting up.  I love her sense of humor and always look forward to what she has to say.  Occasionally, but not often enough, there will be a new post on her blog at Huffingtonpost.com, where she pokes fun at all things ridiculous in Washington--that in itself could keep her busy forever-- and I am left wishing I could say what she says or was at least clever enough to think it.  In her latest book, she laments time wrecking havoc on her neck, eyes and numerous other body parts that women of a certain age will certainly relate to.  She also scatters words of wisdom throughout concerning what she has learned to be true on her life's journey. Since she is just a bit older than I, much of what she talks about hit home but she did leave me with one point of gratitude....I am going to enjoy what little time I have left with my neck looking as it does before it goes to hell.  

Where Am I Going?

"Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness."

Eckhart Tolle