Such Pretty Things

Pretty London: VV Rouleaux

Sooooo, I apologize for the little blogging break, but I just got back from a week in London. The girls had a few extra days off surrounding the holiday weekend, so we figured we would get out of town for a bit. I am still fighting some serious jet-lag, but I wanted to show you some highlights from our trip. I've previously written about VV Rouleaux, but I never miss an opportunity to visit this gloriously beautiful haberdashery. The brainchild of Annabel Lewis, a former florist, VV Rouleaux is a ribbon and millinery lovers dream come true. The storefront window entices the eye like a candy shop.

Once inside, roll upon roll of pretty ribbon greets you...

There are antique crates filled with delicate millinery blossoms...

And even more crates...

Stunning hat-making supplies and feathers...

The shop comprises two levels...

The lower level is filled with tons of fancy trims, birds, butterflies, even more millinery flowers, etc...

Definitely a can't miss shop if you find yourself in London!

Back soon...

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

Pretty Shopping: Le Grande Epicerie, Paris

It is rainy with dark gray skies here today, so not ideal for photo-taking. So, I thought I would share one of my all-time favorite Parisian shops, La Grande Epicerie at Bon Marche.

Le Bon Marche ("the good market") is one of the best known department stores in Paris. And, while I love to look at all the latest designer fashions and accessories, my favorite department in Bon Marche is this massive gourmet food emporium. If you love cooking or baking (or just eating!), you need to put this place on your bucket list.

This is where I purchased those incredible French sprinkles that I wrote about the other day.

They have an extensive and incredible selection of beautiful candy, unusual baking supplies, and the prettiest sugars you will ever see.

They also carry lots of items I have never seen here in the States. Like this fabulous Violette beverage...

Yes, you know I brought one of those back! And these pretty syrups...

And colorful cookies!

I found so many pretty things at La Grande Epicerie (as is evidenced by that first shot of my quickly filling shopping basket). It is definitely a shop worth visiting!

XOXO

Jessica

 

Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie Restaurant and Patisserie has been on my L.A. list of places to go for a number of years now.  I had read numerous rave reviews about their delicious cuisine and beautiful macarons and had been dying to get there. This trip, I finally made it and Bottega Louie did not disappoint.  First of all, the restaurant itself is absolutely stunning - with high ceilings, marble counters, and an super-chic bar.

The bakery counter is loaded with every sweet imaginable.

Eclair, anyone?

But it is the macarons that are truly the star of the show...

I mean, just look at them...

I have seen many a macaron over the years, but never any as vibrantly and beautifuly hued as these.

The colors - in every shade of the rainbow - are just incredible! And they are soooo delish!

Bottega Louie also has the prettiest pastel candies and marshmallows...

It took me some time to get there, but now that I've experienced Bottega Louie - I am counting the minutes until I can go back!

XOXO

Jessica

Sweet Lady Jane

For me, a trip to Los Angeles is just not complete without cake.  Yup, cake!  And not just any cake either - it must be cake from Sweet Lady Jane.

Sweet Lady Jane is not your average bakery. Their cakes and baked goods are nothing short of incredible.  In fact, National Geographic selected SLJ as the number one patisserie in the WORLD!

The cake selection is extensive.

Triple Berry Shortcake is my fav, but I also love the Old-fashioned Chocolate, the Coconut, and the Raspberry Lemon.  And how can you not love a cake called "Princess"?

You can buy the cakes by the slice, so grab some friends and try a few different flavors.

They have beautiful cupcakes, too!

Sweet Lady Jane has two delicious locations - in West Hollywood and Santa Monica (right down the street from Shabby Chic!).

:-)

Jessica

Pretty Resources: California Millinery Supply

If you live in the Los Angeles area or find yourself there for a visit, you must make the time to explore California Millinery Supply.

Located in downtown L.A., California Millinery is a jewel of a shop. It is one of those rare places that seems to be fixed in another time - a time when millinery flowers were hand-made petal by petal, where hats were decorated with exotic, colorful plumes of feathers, and vintage silk ribbons from France were a must for any garment.

This past visit, I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with the owner, Irene Arroyo. Irene is such a lovely, lovely person and she's an expert when it comes to her stock. Whether you are in need of some delicate veiling, a very specific color of vintage grosgrain ribbon, or a buckram hat frame, Irene is there with friendly help and advice.

The shop itself is incredible.  Just the sheer amount of inventory (much of it vintage) is not to be believed...

Digging through the treasure trove of boxes and bins will be rewarded with a bounty of beautiful velvet bows, tiny millinery fruits, and silk flowers.

There are fabrics and feathers and trims everywhere you look.

And you don't need to be a professional milliner to appreciate this shop. Anyone who loves vintage trims, fashion, costume design, or crafts will find something wonderful here. If you do get a chance to stop by California Millinery Supply, give yourself plenty of time to explore...after all, that's the best part. :-)

XO

Jessica

Shabby Chic Couture Flower Market

Did you know that Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture shop in Santa Monica hosts "Flower Market Fridays"? It's true! On Fridays and Saturdays, you can find beautiful, fresh floral arrangements with Rachel's signature touch.

The blooms are so lovely  - often placed in pretty glass mason jars and tied with delicate ribbon.  I was fortunate to be in L.A. over the weekend and made sure to stop by...

Is this not the sweetest arrangement?

Perfect as always, Rachel.  Perfect.

XOXO

Jessica

Summer Bling

For the first time this summer, the girls are actually both in camp at the same time. So, I am enjoying having a few hours each day for a little grown-up time all to myself - working out at the gym, meeting friends for coffee, and SHOPPING! If truth be told, sometimes I like nothing better than to spend an hour or two strolling around the mall all by myself. I can actually take the time to try things on, I don't have to stop every 20 minutes to get someone a soft pretzel or Dippin' Dots, and I can leisurely look around at all my favorite shops. Forever 21 is one of my guilty pleasures.  It's fun, cheap, and, yes, maybe a little too young for me.  :-)  But I love it nonetheless. Especially the jewelry and accessories.  I like to challenge myself to find the most expensive looking bargains - all in my favorite colors, of course. So, today, I thought I'd share some of my recent finds with you. Like this gorgeous faux-gem encrusted bracelet...

This ring is so completely fabulous - opaque aqua faceted stones and crystal rhinestones!

These pastel earrings are stunning.  And under $5!

I had to get this pair of blingy earrings for Mini-mini-me - she doesn't have pierced ears yet and these are clip-ons!  Perfect for her next dress-up party!

Happy Shopping!

XOXO

Jessica

Shabby Chic Couture, London

If you've been reading my blog for some time, then you know that Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture shops are possibly my most favorite places on earth. When traveling to New York or Los Angeles, I never miss a chance to visit. This past trip to the UK marked my very first visit to Rachel's London shop. It is located on a quiet street near Portobello Road, home of the famous flea market. From the moment I saw the pale lavender awning waving in the distance, my heart was aflutter.

The shop is absolutely lovely.

While perhaps not as large as her other shops, it is filled with many wonderful treasures.

Every detail is attended to - from the gorgeous tags...

...to the hand-picked antiques.

Fortunately for us, the merchandise is basically the same as what you will find here in her U.S. shops...

Yummy ruffles.

The famous Union Jack pillows in a myriad of pretty fabrics.

The breathtakingly beautiful Petticoat tablecloth.

Piles of prettiness...

Fabric samples for the bespoke bedding lines.

Sequins and tulle, too.

Sigh. Until next time, Rachel...

:-)

Jessica

Target Tuesday: Dedication

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

The Paris Flea Markets: Part Deux

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