Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Monday, March 7, 2011

My bedroom in B&W

My brother Francois took these photos...
I love no 1 & no 2. For the past week, I have been living in this fur vintage jacket, bought for 20 Euros during my last trip to France (very Isabel Marant according to my friend Mandy) and either this pair of Swedish Hasbeens or that one (they were in the sale!)





Photo 1: Sweet sign bought in New-Zealand, Vintage mirror given by Elodie for my birthday years ago
Photo 2:
Mila's 3-D black glasses, B&W photography book. Photo 3: Print on the wall by Therese Sennerholt, Owl vase by House Doctor, linen headboard made by my mum and I, linen pillow covers from Merci Photo 4: 4-string cluster lightKathleen Hills Photo 5: Vintage fur jacket bought in France for 20 Euros, Swedish hasbeens clogs (see retail therapy here).

Mon frere Francois a pris ces photos...
J'adore la photo no 1 & no 2. Cela fait une semaine que je vis dans cette veste en fourrure vintage, achete pour 20 Euros lors de mon dernier voyage en France (tres Isabel Marant selon ma copine Mandy) et soit cette pair de sabots Swedish Hasbeens ou celle-la (les deux etaient en solde!)



Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sweet Paul magazine

The Spring issue of Sweet Paul magazine is out and if you're not familiar with this mag yet, you're missing out on something good because it is one of the best digital magazines out there with inspiring stylism from Paul Lowe, a Norwegian guy who settled down in NYC.
It was Paul's stylism that inspired me to re-vamp our toilets in France with pages from a book and his blog is always full of yummy recipes, beautiful shots and great little crafts projects.
As this is a Special Kids issues, we have a few of our products featured in this issue: the Angel babygro and the Royal Bird rocking chair.
I'm very happy because they've used one of my favourite photos...One I took of Mila when she was 18 months I think (still fitting in her 12 months old babygro...that's just say everything about the height in my side of the family!) on the beach in Cazaux, where we have our holidays home.
She was still a baby, so cute and cuddly, with gorgeous blond curls...the same little girl that came out two nights ago with that!
Mila: "Maman, I don't know what to do, I wanted to have a playdate with Nicolas on Thursday but Jean WANTS to have a playdate with me on Thursday.."
Me: "yeah so...?"
Mila: "...well I don't know which boy to choose..."
I think I'm going to have to tell her Dad to fit an electronic anti-boys thingy at home...I mean Jean has kissed her twice already...on the lips! :-)






Le nouveau numero de Sweet Paul magazine est dispo et si vous n'etes pas familier avec ce magazine, vous manquez un truc vraiment sympa parce que c'est un des meilleurs magazines digital avec un stylisme magnifique de Paul Lowe, un norvegian qui s'est installe a NYC.
C'etait le stylisme de Paul qui m'avait inspire pour recouvrir nos toilettes en France avec les pages d'un livre et son blog est toujours plein de recettes delicieuses, des photos magnifiques et des petits projets a faire.
Comme c'est un no Special Kids, nous avons qqs produits qui y figurent notamment le babygro Ange et le Rocking chair Royal Bird.
Je suis contente parce qu'ils ont utilises une de mes photos preferees...une que j'avais prise de Mila quand elle avait encore 18 months je crois (elle rentrait encore dans son babygro taille 12 mois...ce qui resume en gros la hauteur moyenne du cote de ma famiile) sur la plage de Cazaux, ou nous avons notre maison de vacances.
C'etait encore un bebe, si mignonne et caline, avec de belles boucles blondes...la meme petite fille qui, il y a deux soirs, m'a sort ca!
Mila: "Maman, je ne sais pas quoi faire, je voudrais inviter Nicolas pour jouer Jeudi mais Jean VEUT venir s'amuser avec moi Jeudi..."
Me: "oui et alors ...?"
Mila: "...et bien je ne sais pas quel garcon choisir..."
Je crois que je vais demander a son pere d'installer un truc anti-garcon a la maison ...Je ne veux pas dire mais Jean l'a embrasse deux fois deja...sur les levres! :-)



Friday, February 25, 2011

White stairs....

Half-term is coming to an end...Two more days left in France until our next get-together in April and some great memories of our few days skiing in Andorra with Mila (5 1/2 years old) and Lily (7 years old) before heading back to London (I strongly recommend Andorra to any families who want to go skiing with young children...).
And to top it up, Steve has finally agreed to try white stairs at home so now I can't wait to get back and get rid of our old carpet to get something like this!
I'm also thinking that I may even revamp one of the top bedrooms using Piet Hein Eek's scrapwood wallpaper on one wall...I'm still hesitating between PHE-1, PHE-2 and PHE-3 but I think it would look great against white floorboards. What do you think?

Stairs from Paul Massey's house
Les vacances de Fevrier arrivent a leur fin...Encore deux jours en France avant de tous nous retrouver en Avril et de super souvenirs de nos quelques jours au ski en Andorre avec Mila et Lily (je recommende l'Andorre a tous ceux qui ont de jeunes enfants et veulent aller skier...)
Et la cerise sur le gateau, c'est que Steve a enfin accepte qu'on passe notre escalier a Londres en blanc, du coup il me tarde de rentrer et de nous debarrasser de la vieille moquette pour arriver a un truc canon comme ca!
Je me disais, je pourrais meme refaire une des chambres du 2eme etage en mettant le
papier peint Bois de recup' de Piet Hein Eek sur un mur...J'hesite encore entre PHE-1, PHE-2 et PHE-3 mais je pense que ca aurait l'air super beau contre le plancher peint en blanc. Qu'est ce que vous en pensez?



Saturday, February 12, 2011

The cycle of life

On our way to their dance class, at the back of the car, Mila summarizes the cycle of Life to her friend Clara....
First, you're a baby..
Then a toddler...
Then une petite fille...
Then a teenager...
Then a mother...
Then a grandmother...
Then a great grand-mother...
And then you die!"

Here we go, that's clear and simple!

(C) Cortoboy

En allant a leur cours de danse, a l'arriere de la voiture, Mila resume le cycle de vie a son amie Clara....
D'abord, tu es un bebe..
Ensuite un toddler...
Ensuite une petite fille...
Ensuite une adolescente...
Ensuite une maman...
Ensuite une grand-mere...
Ensuite une arriere grand-mere...
Et ensuite tu meurs!"
La voila, c'est simple et clair!



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Breast stories

This morning Steve got u at 6.30 to take Lucas for a run so I went to get Mila (5 1/2 years old) to have a little cuddle. Here it goes....
Mila: "What is this big?" (she said pointing at my breasts)
Me: "My breasts" (which are not big btw but seemed bigger lying on my side!)
Mila: "Why don't I have breasts"
Me: "Only women have breasts"
Mila: "Marie-Noelle doesn't have breasts" (Marie-Noelle is her teacher - who is going to be over the moon if she reads this)
Me: ":-) I'm sure she has, she is a woman"
Mila: "She is not a woman, she is my 'maitresse' (teacher)
Me: "Well she is a woman, only grown-up girls have breasts and you are still a little girl..."
Mila: 'I'm not a little girl, I'm a teenager"....

I wish you a a great day!


Ce matin, Steve s'est leve a 6.30 pour courir avec Lucas alors j'en ai profite pour aller chercher Mila (5 1/2 years old) dans son lit et avoir un petit calin.
Mila: "C'est quoi ce gros truc?"
Moi: "Mes seins" (qui d'ailleurs ne sont vraiment pas gros mais qui ont l'air beaucoup plus gros allongé sur le coté!)
Mila: "Pourquoi je n'ai pas de seins?"
Moi: "Parce que seulement les femmes ont des seins"
Mila: "Marie-Noelle n'a pas de seins" (Marie-Noelle, c'est sa maitresse - qui va etre contente si elle lit ca)
Moi: ":-) je suis sure qu'elle en a, c'est une femme"
Mila: "Ce n'est pas une femme, c'est ma maitresse'
Moi: "Well c'est une femme, et seulement les grandes filles ont des seins et toi tu es encore une petite fille..."
Mila: "Je ne suis pas une petite fille, je suis une adolescente"....

Je vous souhaite une bonne journee! :-)



Sunday, January 23, 2011

Parisian thoughts and New Year resolutions

Today, we had a wonderful time in Paris. We went to see the Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition which was amazing (and started super well when one staff member asked us to jump the very long queue because we had children with us!) and caught up with some friends who had moved back from London to Paris last Summer. Sadly, Steve and Mila went back to London tonight and while Elodie, Lily and Christophe are asleep, I'm wide awake thinking about stuff...
Last night, we had an interesting discussion about family...Elodie felt that for my mum, I was the one who mattered and I thought, she had a relationship and a trust with my dad, especially when it came to sharing books to read, which I hadn't - which is funny because when we were young and at home, it was the other way round. Anyway...that's what is going on in our heads and it doesn't mean that's the reality because luckily, we come from a pretty loving family.
Elodie and I love each other and we are so in tune that we feel like twins so there was no hard feeling, just an honest discussion how things were for us but it got me thinking...
As Steve and Christophe rightly put it...at our age, it doesn't really matter anymore. Parents are parents. They try their best, sometimes they f...up big time and one feels pretty happy to blame them for the rest of our lives (and I'm glad I'm past that!) and sometimes, well we just accept that they are the way they are. As any of us can drop dead anytime tomorrow, it's really not important if they wind us up from time to time or if they feel the need to give us advices we dont request. What matters is that we make the most of the people we love and how we perceive things. Do we want to focus on the things that frustrate us or can we just embrace their differences, be centrered and love them no matter what?
So I don't know about you but I know that this year, more than ever, I want to make 2011 a year dedicated to family and friends and while I'm at it, I will also endeavour to improve my listening skills and to be less obsessed by work. Voila, it's in writing! :-) and now I'm going to bed because I'm off to Maison & Objet for the next two days and then at MERCI on Wednesday.
What's your new year resolution?

(C) BODIE and FOU. All images are family photos.
Aujoud'hui, nous avons passe une super journee a Paris a l'expo de Jean-Michel Basquiat qui etait tout simplement geniale (et qui a commence super bien quand un employe du musee nous a fait venir passer devant la longue queue parce que nous avions des enfants). Malheureusement Steve et Mila sont rentres sur Londres ce soir et alors que Elodie, Lily et Christophe dorment, moi je suis super eveillee en train de reflechir a des trucs...
Hier soir, nous avons eu une conversation interessante sur la famille...Elodie trouvait que pour notre mere, il n'y avait que moi qui comptait et moi, je trouvais qu'elle avait une relation et une confiance avec mon pere, surtout quand il s'agissait de partager ses auteurs preferes, que je n'avais pas - ce qui est marrant, c'est que lorsque nous etions encore a la maison, c'etait l'inverse. Et puis bon...ca c'est notre version des faits..ca ne veut pas dire que ce soit la realite parce qu'au final, nous avons la chance d'etre tous tres famille.
Elodie et moi on s'adore et nous sommes tellement sur la meme longueur d'ondes que c'est comme si nous etions jumelles donc, il n'y avait pas de tension entre nous, juste une honnete discussion ou on expliquait comment nous ressentions les choses mais cela m'a fait reflechir....
Comme Steve & Christophe l'ont justement souligne...a notre age, ce n'est plus vraiment tres grave. Les parents sont des parents. Ils font ce qu'ils peuvent, parfois ils merdent serieusement et c'est facile de tout leur mettre sur le dos quand les choses ne vont pas dans notre vie (un cap que j'ai passe il y a tres longtemps!) et parfois, et bien, on les accepte juste comme ils sont. Comme n'importe qui d'entre nous peut partir du jour au lendemain, au final ce n'est pas tres grave si ils nous prennent le chou de temps en temps ou si ils ont besoin de nous donner des conseils qu'on ne leur demande pas. Ce qui est important c'est que l'on profite au maximum des gens que l'on aime et comment nous, nous percevons les choses. Est ce que nous voulons focaliser sur les trucs qui nous frustrent ou embrasser nos differences, etre centre et les aimer quand meme?
Donc je ne sais pas pour vous mais moi, j'ai decide que 2011 va etre une annee dediee a la famille et aux amis! Et pendant que j'y suis, je vais aussi faire de mon mieux pour ameliorer mon ecoute des autres et etre moins obsedee par le boulot. Voila, c'est ecrit! :-) et puis maintenant je vais aller me coucher, parce que je vais etre a Maison & Objet pendant les deux prochains jours et a MERCI Mercredi.
Quelles sont vos nouvelles resolutions pour 2011?



Thursday, December 30, 2010

Aspirations for 2011 and One Little Word

To read about my Aspiration, not Resolution for 2011 and my One Little Word I have chosen to focus on for the year, please click HERE


Both Joe and I wish you all a very HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!!

Love to all of you,
Debbie

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Inspiration 12.2

Ok, confession time -- I find that I really struggle to get excited about homes that are practical for families with children (I know it's awful, but I just can't) and I that I really, really struggle with family homes that also happen to be in white-washed Manhattan lofts.

Something about those spaces reminds me of a ridiculously pretentious pre-school atmosphere where kids can draw on the walls because some Swiss study from 1972 found that giving kids free reign over their aesthetic environment boosts self-esteem and creativity by 1.8 percent, and the whole this is just......UGH.

So I couldn't believe my eyes when I found one of those homes that I not only don't despise, but actually really like. In particular, I appreciate the restrained color palette (white, marigold and royal blue is quite nice compared to the typical primary color explosion in a lot of similar lofts) and the fact that it doesn't pander to the kiddies, with a level of refinement that I think might just do a lot more for the kiddos than a more infantile design.

So how bad am I? Will anyone else climb out on this limb with me?

(Originally featured in Martha Stewart Living)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

My Toy Room to Teen Room Transformation!

My children are entering the teen years now. As they grow and change the needs of our home have changed as well. One of the bedrooms over our garage had been a "toy room", filled with plastic Little Tikes Kitchens, Legos and Trains- a place for forts and building castles. My teenage daughter suggested that we re-decorate the "Toy Room" to be more Teen Friendly. I agreed and so (sadly for Mom) we have said to goodbye to Pokemon and American Girl Dolls.
Here is the room Before (actually we have two identical rooms above our garage, they are mirror images of each other and this photo is of other side). Like all decorating projects we had Goals, Restrictions and a Budget. The Goal was a room for for sleepovers, a place to do school projects where they could spread things out (and not be near their parents), and a place to hangout with friends and watch Movies and I-Chat! Our main Restriction was the doorway size. It is only 27 inches wide. And our Budget was $2500.
Here is the room after we ripped up the old carpet. Then we painted the trim BM White Dove and the walls BM Lighthouse Landing. Paint cost $4o. Paint, as always is an immediate improvement!
The kids were allowed to choose everything in the room and I treated them like clients on our shopping trip. We found this great, thick wool rug at HomeGoods for $600. (did I mention how much I love HomeGoods for rugs??) The kids liked the Pottery Barn feel and the blue and brown color scheme. While we were there the kids scouted some great pillows that matched and two small microfiber ottomans. All together we spent $800.
Meanwhile at home, my sister, who LOVES to organize, came over and sorted through all our arts and crafts supplies and organized everything in the old bins which used to hold plastic food and Matchbox cars. Now it is a perfect go to space for all the supplies we need for projects at school.
Thank you, Sandra! Cost - priceless!
We couldn't let go of the blocks, (well I couldn't) so they stayed put and we moved an old bookcase into the walk in closet for extra storage for paper and other supplies.
Dramatic drum roll.... Here is the Before.
And the After! We found this thin couch at Macy's and once we took the feet off it fit through our tiny doorway! The sectional microfiber couch was $1400 and the bar table and leather stools $199. at Overstock.com.
Inspirational artwork was $50 on clearance! Bookcase, side table, and TV we already had!
The total Teen Hangout Room Makeover cost was.....$2489!!
We still had money left over for a Movie and some snacks!! We found some wonderful bargains, stayed with in our budget and came out with a great room! The kids are thrilled and call it their "Hang Out Room" - I call it a success!!
'
Also a heartfelt thank you to the many, many kind readers who sent me get well wishes and prayers. I am truly blessed to have so many friends in blogland. I was beyond touched! xoxo
(all photos Willow Decor and not to be copied without permission)