I am completely infatuated with IKEA's new SOMMARLOV collection of pretty paper goods.
The flowery prints are reminiscent of Liberty of London - so sweet and colorful.
Perfect for summer entertaining!
The collection includes paper napkins, plates, trays, tablecloths, serving pieces and cups. They don't appear to be sold on-line, but are definitely worth a visit to your local shop.
:-)
Jessica
Well, as promised, I woke up bright and early this past Sunday morning so that I could be at Target right when the doors opened. Now that, my friends, is dedication.
Having been traumatized by past Missoni and Liberty of London openings, I got there super, super early. So early it seems, that I was the only one there.
Well, just me and the security guard. O.K., so maybe "The Shops" aren't exactly Missoni, but I wasn't taking any chances. So, I waited in the car in the empty parking lot (with the doors locked) until a few other (crazy) shoppers showed up and I felt safe enough to venture out of my car. A quick poll determined that of the five of us there, three were there specifically for "The Shops", while the other two didn't have the slightest clue what I was talking about. You will be proud (but perhaps not surprised) to hear that I was the very first person in line.
And as soon as those doors opened, I made a beeline for the new displays.
I headed for the home items from "Privet House" first.
They were nice and seemed to be of high quality. Lots of patterned melamine dishes and serving pieces. A few pillows and tote bags. Not really my colors, but definitely fresh and modern and perfect for summer entertaining. Can you guess what I bought from this display?
Next, I ran to "The Candy Store" end cap.
Here's what it looked like when I got there....
And here is what it looked like when I left...
I wonder who bought all those polka dot lollipops??? Next up was the "Polka Dog Bakery" display.
Very cute and very pretty packaging, but I didn't buy anything because our dog just happens to be a very finicky eater. I almost bought some boxes just because I liked the colors, but I applaud myself for having the self-control to put them back on the shelf. :-)
The items from "The Cos Bar" looked very urban-chic, but maybe just a little too hip for me...
Plus, the colors kinda reminded me of Halloween, sooooo....no.
Finally, the clothing items from "The Webster" looked nice enough, but I didn't really see anything that I was overly excited about and ultimately left without buying anything from the collection.
All in all, I love "The Shops" concept and it was lots of fun to see all the new product lines. Were they worth getting up at 6 am on a Sunday morning? Not completely sure. But those lollipops with the Necco Wafer polka dots sure are cool...
Happy Tuesday!
Jessica
Yes, it's back to the sweets! Lola's was a must-see on my list when we were in London. I already had their cookbook and, from the look of it, I just knew it would be my kind of place. And I was right...
This pretty shop has a modern edge that I love...
And their "hand-crafted" cupcakes are truly delicious.
Lots of flavors to choose from, too!
I'll be back tomorrow to share my little early morning adventure to Target yesterday to visit "The Shops"!
XOXO
Jessica
In case you haven't heard, Target is introducing a new shopping concept starting tomorrow, May 6th! They will be launching "The Shops at Target", a collection of five boutique brands chosen from specialty shops from around the country - they include home goods from Privet, cosmetics from Cos Bar, clothing from The Webster, and dog treats from Polka Dog Bakery. But I am especially excited about the items from the Candy Store - a beautiful candy shop that we've had the pleasure of visiting while in San Francisco.
You can check out a really cool video about all of it right here.
I guess you know where I will be tomorrow morning! Happy shopping!
:-)
Jessica
(* These photos are from our trip to The Candy Store last year - not items that Target will be selling.)
OK, so after our lunch, we continued to shop the fabulous flea markets of Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.
As we went up and down all the little alleys, following various twists and turns, we came to what is perhaps my favorite market of all: Vernaison...
It is by no means the fanciest, but it is (in my opinion), one of the most fun. Here, you can dig through boxes of old millinery flowers,
search through stacks of vintage fabric,
and maybe - just maybe - find yourself something spectacular.
I love the "hunt" and this market provides that to the nth degree!
Here's just some of what we stumbled upon...
Now, I am by no means an expert when it comes to the Paris flea markets (and there are plenty of good guides out there that can give you plenty of advice on the specifics - like directions, transportation, etc..), but I do have a few tips...
1. Don't try to see all the markets in one day. Honestly, it's not even really possible. If you have the time, try to spend several days exploring them.
2. Bring cash (Euros) and haggle! I didn't pay full price for anything I bought and neither should you. Just be polite and make it a reasonable offer. I don't speak French (only took one semester of it in junior high before switching to Spanish!), but most dealers are pleased if you just greet them with a nice "Bonjour". Many do speak some English, but if not, you can still communicate by writing your offer on paper - so don't forget a small pad of paper and a pen.
3. Dress nicely, but not "expensively". In other words, leave the Louis Vuitton at home. If you don't, you won't get as good a deal. Plus, it's important to note that the area surrounding the markets can be a bit sketchy.
4. Bring a large tote to carry all your purchases. This seems obvious, but it's a must. The markets are vast and lugging your precious finds for hours on end can become a bit of a pain - literally!
5. Consult your travel guide and plan where to stop for lunch ahead of time. All that shopping and walking will undoubtedly leave you hungry for a snack and you don't want a bad meal or a bad experience (see my last post).
6. It's another no-brainer, but wear comfortable shoes! Seriously! One summer, I wore what I thought were a really comfortable pair of flip-flops to the markets, but by the end of the day I was limping and had to practically use an entire box of band-aids just to make it back to the hotel.
7. Don't get too frustrated. If you're like me, you'll want to take everything home with you and this will not be possible. Unless you plan to ship a container home (how fantastic would that be!), you will probably be limited to what you can fit in your suitcases. So, shop "small" and plan ahead. We always travel with either an extra empty suitcase or a large duffel bag that we can use to transport our treasures back home. And sadly, no, that beautiful French armoire probably won't fit.
:-)
Jessica
While there are a great many things that I love about Paris (the gorgeous architecture, the beautiful museums, the incredible food, etc...), the Paris flea markets have got to be at the very top of my list.
I consider myself a fairly experienced flea market shopper. I mean, I've been to Brimfield, I can tell the difference between reproductions and authentic pieces, and I can even bargain like a pro (well, kinda of). Yet, despite all the hundreds of hours I've probably spent antiquing, nothing really prepares one for the Paris Flea Markets. Each time I go, I am just completely blown away. Just the sheer size of the markets is awe-inspiring. They go on and on and on...the further "in" you go, the better they seem to get.
But it's really "the stuff" that makes them so incredible.
There are just so many things...and so many things that you would never find here in the States - at least not on a typical trip to the local antique center.
I could continue to blather on about all I saw, but it is probably best to just show you...
After an intense morning of shopping, we needed a break and the girls were hungry, so we stopped for lunch at a really cute cafe. And aside from the fact that the waitress totally lied to us and told us we could only order full meals for all four of us (while the French couple at the next table sat down and just ordered coffee!), the burgers were still pretty delish!
I'll be back tomorrow with photos from our afternoon shopping and some helpful tips...
XOXO
Jessica
I am totally and utterly in love with this wonderful lilac-scented solid perfume by Pacifica.
The fragrance is heavenly, the packaging is pretty, and it's perfect for summer travel! Plus, it's a real bargain at just $9.00!
And if French Lilac isn't your thing, you can chose from a bunch of other wonderful scents like orange blossom and mango grapefruit.
:-)
Jessica
Ah, Paris in the Springtime....the beautiful architecture, the magical Seine river, the blossoming, flowering trees...
And, oh yeah, the RIBBON shops!!!!
Yes, I'm not sure if you all remember, but several years ago we took another trip to Paris and I was so looking forward to visiting some haberdashery shops that I had always dreamt of seeing in person. I was so excited and filled with anticipation - camera in hand, Euros in my pocket and ready to be spent. The only problem? The shops were all closed. Yup. Every single one of them. It was August and unbeknownst to me (who had never been to Paris in August before) - everything closes down while the Parisians escape for "holiday"! So, you see, this recent trip was to be a corrective experience for me. I chance to get it right. And so I did. Behold, Ultramod...
Can you believe all those ribbons? Many are new, but some are definitely vintage,
Love the old, green storage boxes. I have no idea what was in them, but I can imagine it was lots of beautiful things.
They had an incredible selection of buttons. One woman in the shop was looking for a replacement for a her Chanel jacket.
The shop was pretty pricey (especially given the exchange rate), but these little beauties were a bargain...
Gorgeous vintage velvets.
I never did find a website for Ultramod, but it is located at 4 Rue de Choiseul 75002 Paris, France.
And, if you go, please call first to find out if they're open. :-)
XOXO
Jessica
Yup, more candy! Today's featured shop is especially beautiful - old-fashioned in style and in my fav color palette.
My visit to Mrs. Kibbles Sweet Shoppe may have alone justified my airfare to London! :-)
One look at those rows of glass jars filled with pretty candies and I just about keeled over.
So much pastel prettiness in one small space!
XOXO
Jessica
