A 'Bumpkin-less' Country Kitchen

Here's a little peak around my kitchen.  I live in an older house with a kitchen that has traditional country bones, so without emphasizing the 'bumpkin' in 'country' I decided to do it justice and paint everything white for a fresh, clean look.  I decorated with vintage reds, blues and mints to hint of the French countryside, and I polished off the look with glossy white dishes and marble accents.  Perhaps the coolest piece is the old Redpath sugar sac that I purchased at a flea market and mounted to an art canvas.  For my next kitchen - I'm going full throttle MODERN. Bah, I'd be hard-pressed to convince anyone of that! 

J xx

Cire Trudon

Cire Trudon

I love when things cease to be what they are to become something greater.  Case in point: Cire Trudon's wax bust candles.  Is it a candle bust? Or a bust candle?  Ha ha!  Whatever it is, it's REALLY good looking.  Cire Trudon began selling wax in France in 1643. Their candles prospered to become the appointed wax manufacturer for the royal court, and ultimately lit the last days of Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution"^(TISLstyle).  I adore the Napoleon and Marie Antoinette busts!  I gotta see Cire Trudon's flagship store in Paris for myself.  Well, I just need to go back to Paris - period.

J xx

Mission: Closet

Pandora

Provide

Sweatshirts & Bling

I Feel Absolutely Fabulous

I love this trend!  Pairing a blingy necklace with a cozy sweatshirt is such a fantastic contradiction.  Your dramatic jewels are no longer reserved for those 'once in a blue moon' black tie events.  Casual sweaters with bling have an antique vibe.  And those of us who love antiques, love it for their distinct patina - 90% polish/ 10% tarnish.  So if you're rocking this trend, you kinda look like a walking antique.  But in a GOOD way!  When balanced by the cute, fashion forward gal wearing it - BOOM!  You've officially tickled my fancy.  Fashion is so fun, isn't it?!

J xx

Style Scrapbook

Socialbliss

Sequins & Stripes

They All Hate Us

Style/Stalk

The Maasai Project

Pikolinos

I just learned of The Maasai Project; a joint marketing effort with Pikolinos footwear and 1,600 women from The Maasai Tribe in Kenya and Northern Tanzania.  The project aims to improve the quality of living for the Maasai communities and the profits from this collection go to the Maasai women, who receive a fair wage allowing them to support their families, their culture, and lifestyle, and to have access to basic needs such as food and medicine ^(Pikolinos).  Pikolinos distributes their leathers among the villages and the women embroider them and their beautiful designs are sent back to Pikolinos' production facility in Elche, Spain where they're made into footwear and accessories.

The lovely Olivia Palermo is this year's ambassador of the project and who better to spread the word to the fashion and blogging communities!  Click here to shop the Maasai-Pikolinos Collection for gorgeous sandals and bags. And check out this video and amazing photos from Olivia's recent visit to Kenya.  I just hope they soon introduce jewelry into the mix, handcrafted by the talented Maasai women - so stunning!

J xx

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Olivia Palermo Lookbook

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Pikolinos

Pastel Invasion

They're here!  Have you fallen victim to their unabashedly girly charm?  Pastels are back in town and making me itch for warmer weather.  Tonight I painted my nails with Estée Lauder's 'Lilac Leather' lacquer (say that 3 times fast) from their 'Heavy Petals', spring '13 collection.  My nails look fab and I have a feeling the other goodies I gathered here will have the same effect.  Embrace the pastel invasion - it means spring is almost here!  

J xx

Estée Lauder

Missoni

Society6

Diane von Furstenberg