The Rose Garden at L'Hay-les-Roses Paris

Undoubtedly the most beautiful rose garden in the world, L'Hay-les Roses was created in 1899 by Jules Gravereaux and restored in 1939 just outside of paris in Val-du-Marne. It houses an ancient collection of rare roses, 85% of the 16,000 plants were created before 1950. The fragrance is spectacular as you can well imagine. These photos are taken in mid June when the roses are in full bloom. It is a glorious sight to behold and the primary reason I went to visit Paris in the first place. I collect pink moss roses which are very old and a bit hard to find but have a strong fragrance and beautiful form.

French Pastry Shop Kitchen Makeover

After indulging in as many Parisienne Patisseries (French pastry shops) as humanly possible, I decided to redecorate my kitchen to remind me of my delicious experience. First I painted the walls white with a pale pink border around the top. Next I painted my cabinets black. Then I painted the breakfast nook pale pink as well. I sewed the Austrian balloon shades out of pink chiffon and hung them in the breakfast nook. I added an iron bistro set and a french desk to act as a small buffet. I found the wooden letters at Micheal's Craft store and spelled out Patisserie. I painted them black to match my cabinets and trimmed them in gold. Then I bought the filigree wall art and roses from the thrift store and painted them black and gold as well. The fleur de lis black tiles were from JoAnn Fabric and remind me of Sid Dickens tiles. I hung a little french chalk board to draw pictures on or write grocery shopping lists next to the refridgerator. I bought black chandelier shades and pink crystals for the chandelier and hung a gold reproduction mirror from Ross to reflect the light above my stove. Then I bought fake chocolate bon bons, cakes and tarts to display on cakes plates under cloches. I made pink and black labes for each item and wrote them in French. Voila! My own little slice of Paris. To celebrate my new kitchen I made Illy espresso cappuccino and Martha Stewarts Rose-water Madeleines. http://www.illyusa.com/

Recipe for Rose-water Madeleines from Martha Stewart Weddings

Ingredients

Makes 20

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and room temperature

1 tablespoon rose water

2 to 3 tablespoons sanding sugar

Pink powdered food color, any shade

Butter-flavored cooking spray

Directions

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In electric mixer, beat eggs and 1/2 cup granulated sugar on medium until light, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Fold in flour mixture. Fold in butter. Cover with plastic; chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees.place rack in center. Spray two scallop-shell pans with cooking spray. Use spoon to fill molds three-quarters full. Bake 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees. Bake 5 to 8 minutes more, until lightly golden. Immediately tap out madeleines onto a cooling rack. (Let madeleines cool scallop side up to avoid any creases or lines from rack.) Repeat with remaining batter. Let cool. Make rose-water syrup by combining remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar; reduce to a simmer, and cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes to combine. Set aside to cool. When cool, stir in rose water. Set aside. Place sanding sugar in a small bowl. Use a toothpick to add small amounts of powdered food color to sanding sugar, stirring until you get desired shade of pink. Use a small paint brush to sugar edges of madeleines one at a time; dip brush into rose-water syrup, and paint rim of each madeleine. Sprinkle sanding sugar over damp edges. Repeat on remaining madeleines. Madeleines are best served within 1 to 2 days of baking. Store in airtight container Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Rose-Water Madeleines

Hey Doll Face

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography

Natural beauty products in cute packaging are hard to come by. Especially in cute pink retro packaging. But thanks to Doll Face I can have the best of both worlds in skin care. http://www.dollfacebeauty.com/ Doll Face makes completely organic natural beauty cocktails for your skin in glass bottles that can be reused or recycled. Each product has a real cocktail recipe that comes with it on the box. So cute. You can also order these travel cases to keep it in. Shown here are the mini travel set in the round case and a full size train case with a couple of other essential travel products as well. Saving cream, toothpaste, mini blowdryer and flat iron.

The Art of Shaving makes a women's line of shaving products with natuaral rose water to heal and moisturize the skin. The cream is so luxurious with no harsh chemicals to dry out the skin. http://www.theartofshaving.com/

Rose flavored toothpaste from Breath Pallette was developed by a Japanese doctor to heal gums and preserve tastebuds. http://www.breathpalette.com/

Mini blowdryer and flat iron from Babyliss are quiet and handy and come in a pale pearlized pink to match. Love it! Now all I need is a cosmo and a ticket to Paris.

Little Pink Handbags

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography

Last year I fell in love with Christian Louboutin's pink tulle cluch featured in Elle and several bridal magazines. Unfortunately the price tag was $875.00 What's a girl to do? So I drove to TJ Maxx and bought a silver Jessica McClintock cluch and set about transforming it with some old jewelry and a little pink tulle. I gathered yards and yards of pink tulle on the sewing machine and carfully hand stiched it onto my handbag until all the silver satin was completley covered. Then I added rows of rhinestones by taking apart a bracelet. I glued on a vintage bow pin with a pearl center on one side of the top and a peice of an old rhinstone ring on the other side. The effect was similar and will have to do for a girl on a budget.

The next handbag I converted is made of pink ostrich feather. I added some additional ostrich in a paler shade from an old boa and pinned a vintage rhinestone brooch to the top for a touch of glamour. This is the perfect size for a credit card and a tube of lipgloss but not much more. I always get lots of compliments on this bag and love to swing it from my wrist and watch the feathers flutter in the wind. This bag looks great with a pair of jeans and my pink stilletos for a casual date with my hubby.

The little satin makeup bag was a pretty pink color but nothing special. To jazz it up a bit I added a large slubbed silk bow and stiched a rhinestone tiara on the center. Then I added a large pearl on a ribbon to the zipper pull to make it princess worthy.

Hope this has inspired you to get out your glue guns girls. Don't be limited by your wallets, where there's a will there's a way! Live beautifully.

Jill Stuart Makeup Fit For A Queen

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography

Jill Stuart makeup is my favorite discovery lately. It's really all about the packaging but the product is excellent quality as well. I would love nothing more than to fly to Japan and spend an afternoon playing in makeup at her boutique. For now I just order off the internet and wait anxiously for my packages to arrive. It gives me something to look forward to in the mail instead of bills. Her makeup is generally sheer and sparkly. Lots and lots of glitter for the princess in all of us. Even the nail polish is quite sheer but multi dimensional with sparkles galore. The compacts are plastic although they look silver. They are adorned with pink diamonds, ribbons, tassels and charms. Even the eyelash curler is pink metal with a diamond charm. My favorite product is the Blush Blossom cheek powder. I ordered it in Sweetpea and love the pearly pink glow it adds to the apples of my cheeks and the subtle fruity fragrance. The glosses are a bit too sheer so I add a little color with her charming lip liners complete with jewel shaped caps. I admit I am a makeup junkie and have drawers full of tubes and compacts used once or twice. But Jill Stuart is different. It offers an experiece when you put it on. Just for a moment I can almost identify with Marie Antoinette sitting at her vanity blushing her cheeks with beautiful puffs and silver jars. The packaging transports you to the realm of fantasy where everything is lovely for a few moments.

My Jill Stuart makeup routine for pale Norwegian skin:

1. Prime face with Pure Lasting Makup Base

1. Cover pores on nose with Pore Solid Essence

3. Brush on Moist Silk Powder Foundation in 101 Linen

4. Apply eyeshadow- usually three colors depending on what I'm wearing

5. Apply liquid eyeliner in black..I like to turn up at the ends like old hollywood glamour

6. Curl lashes and apply mascara and if it's a really special date, glue on false eyelashes

7. Highlight cheek bones with a shimmer highlighter in color 101 Marshmellow Puffy

8. Apply Blush Blossom in 01 Romantic Sweet Pea

9. Put on lipliner and a gloss to match outfit

10. If I have time for nail polish I file my nails and brush on a base coat, two coats of nail lacquer color and a top coat

Voila!

Sleeping Beauty

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography

Branche Pillow Case photo from http://www.branchebeautysleep.com/

When it comes to bedtime, there are a few essentials for insuring sweet dreams. I usually begin by taking off my rings and putting on a nice hand cream such as Gianna Rose Hand and Body Cream. I can't seem to fall asleep when my hands feel dry. This cream is very moisturizing without feeling greasy at all. Nothing seems to quench thirsty skin quite like it. Lighting a candle to set a dreamy mood while I go through my nitetime rituals seems to slow down my racing thoughts. I especially love this Pink Pepper candle by D. L. and Co. It burns clean with soy wax and essential oils instead of sythentic fragrance. The glass bowl it is poured in is frosted pink and has a lovely glow. Finally, when it's lights out, I can't sleep without an eyemask to block out the street lamps that seem to penetrate my curtains. Mary Green makes these lovely silk charmeuse eyemasks that are so comfy to wear. http://www.marygreen.com/ Silk will not wick moisture out of your skin like cotton and therefore makes it the perfect fabric to wear next to the delicate skin around your eyes. I also purchased this pink silk charmeuse pillowcase from http://www.branche.com/ to protect my hair from split ends and my face from moisture loss. It's a gorgeous heavy silk satin pillowcase that looks and feels luxurous. To care for silk, wash by hand in cool water with a mild detergent. Lay wet silk on a towel and roll it up to press out the excess water. Then put your silk in a plastic bag and cool it in the freezer before ironing it on low. This will help keep silk shiny and supple. Sweet Dreams my Beauties!