City of de-Light

I am in love with a city I have never been to. Paris is the ultimate destination, in my opinion. And it may be premature to say this, but I have saving gobs of money for months and will continue to do so to make a trip to Paris when Trey graduates (as a radiologic tech) in a year and a few months. It will be a graduation gift to ourselves. We're also planning to go to London, Amsterdam and a little town in Holland where a dear family member lives.

Check out these posts of Paris' fashionable window displays by the blog Paris Parfait:
♥ Chanel
♥ Shipwreck No. 1
♥ Shipwreck No. 2
The writer also has plenty of posts full of photos taken at Paris flea markets.

I just found this blog written by an American living in Paris. Gorgeous photos.
♥ Tongue in Cheek
And I am completely smitten with this blog I found recently. It's by a stylist and book author -- a book you probably know -- living in Amsterdam.

Weekend Trip to Natchitoches, La.

Smoochies! This is the only pic of Trey and I together on our anniversary trip. Me thinks Trey rather likes playing to the camera.

The foods, the sights, the sounds and the shopping in Natchitoches, La., is first-rate southern style at its best. Trey and I drove in mid-morning on Saturday and spent the entire day exploring. Lunch at Mamma's Oyster House, crawfish etouffee, was Ah-mazing.

(As a side note to all of you who know me, yes, this vegan broke down and ate things I'd normally shun. Hey, it was either eat or starve.)

I had no idea before I arrived that Natchitoches was so quaint. It's like a mini (very mini) and clean New Orleans just two hours from home.

Trey and I took a carriage ride through the downtown area and learned about historic homes and buildings, including the locations where the movie Steel Magnolias was filmed. We also visited the Magnolia Plantation, participated in an art exhibit openening and had sushi (very good, at that) for dinner.

Our stay at the Samuel Guy House bed and breakfast was nice, but the highlight of our accomodations was the lip-smackin' delishious complimentary breakfast on Sunday morning.

Check out more pictures of our stay in Natchitoches on my Flickr page.

Things I Adore Thursday: Lovin' on Life

It's time for another Things I Adore Thursday post, but this time I think I'll do things a little differently. I'll just pull some stuff from the heart and throw it out there for the universe to hear.

Right now I'm loving the fact that I wake up when I feel like it ♥ that my dogs are always so happy to see me ♥ that my husband thinks I'm sexy even when I'm not wearing makeup and I'm in sweatpants and a T-shirt ♥ I love that I'm healthy and full of energy ♥ that I always seem to get what I want in some form or fashion ♥ that I'm enamoured all over again with writing (one of my first loves) ♥ I love my still incomplete backyard art studio (tripple, quadruple loves on that) ♥ I adore the color of the sky on a rainy day ♥ and that fall is looming on the horizon ♥ I love the way my ad looks on the City of Dionne blog ♥ And that my hubs and I are celebrating our four-year anniversary today ♥ And even moreso that we'll be celebrating it this weekend in Natchitoches at this bed & breakfast.

So, what are you loving lately?

My Vacation Photos vs. Anthro Catalog

Image from the latest Anthropologie catalog

Finally! I got my Anthropologie catalog in the mail. To my surprise, I found that half of the photos were taken in Austin, TX, where I've had some pretty good times and hope to call home one day.

I took these photos inside Uncommon Objects, Austin

The topmost photo, from Antrho, is part of a vintage-y spread that reminds me of Uncommon Objects, the coolest labyrinth of an antique and oddities shop in Austin's SOCO. In fact, the photo could have very well been taken in the shop.

Photo from Anthro catalog

The image, above, was taken at the Jo's coffee stand next to the Austin Motel where Trey (hubby) and I once stayed while on vacation. Every morning we stopped at Jo's for coffee and breakfast. To the side of the stand is a covered deck with tables and seating where people and their pets watch morning joggers and evening passersby.

This is the photo I took of the same Jo's coffee stand.

"Shaved Ice" image from Anthro

Here is a photo from the Anthro catalog of a girl sitting in a diner. The picture at the top right of the triptych, below, was the location for that photo shoot. You can tell by the tiled, checkered wall. And just to throw in a little Louisiana lagniappe, I included a gander at the front of Uncommon Objects.

Images by me. Compare the photo on the top right, above, to the "Shaved Ice" Anthro pic.

Tales of a Beach Vacation

I'm back from my vacation and though I'm slightly under the weather I am invigorated by the brief change of scenery.

Cherry Grove Beach - two blocks from where we stayed - a few miles from Myrtle Beach.

I took lots of photos and ate copious servings of Thai food. Walks on the beach were punctuated by sea shell hunting (some of the shells will be used in upcoming one-of-a-kind necklaces!) and the chilling high gusts of wind made the water too frigid for wading.

Drinking ginger and cinnamon tea, waiting for a plate of pot stickers. Yum yum. Trey is pictured in the background.

Admittedly it wasn't the best weather for lounging at the beach so I did plenty of perusing under the cover of clouds at outdoor shopping markets.

Market Commons - an upscale outdoor shopping venue. My favorite place
I shopped at on the trip.

Inside Antrhopologie. Love, love, loved their merchandising.

The last night we were in Myrtle Beach my hubby, Trey, and I went to see Le Grand Cirque at the Palace Theatre. The show was quite similar to Cirque du Soleil. At first Trey tried to act all macho like he wasn't planning to enjoy it, but once he saw the amazing displays of strength and death-defying stunts he perked up. He didn't actually admit to loving the show but I know he did:)

Inside Antrhopologie

Now I'm easing back into my day-to-day routines getting some freelance work squared away before I dive headfirst back into Petite Minx. First objective -- fill the Etsy shop.

Restocking Thousand Words; Going on Inspiration Vacation

This evening I'll be restocking Thousand Words Photography (Ruston, La.) with some of my latest jewelry that includes silks, wooden pendants, shells and earthy-hued micro fiber "suede". Tonight is the inaugural First Fridays downtown art crawl in Ruston, and I'll be at Thousand Words for a while meeting and greeting crawlers.

So, perhaps you're wondering what the photos in this post have to do with anything I'm writing about. As usual I've been scouring the Web for inspiration and found some beachy/summery-themed pics that are getting me amped for my vacation to Myrle Beach, SC, next weekend.

These photos are also giving me ideas for more jewelry, some that will be one-of-a kinds, which I'll make available through the Petite Minx Web shop. The pictures beg me to ask the question, "What kind of jewelry do I want to wear to the beach, during the summer or while on vacation?"

Early next week and while I'm away that will be a question I'll repeatedly ponder as I sketch new designs whilst sitting at the beach under a large billowy umbrella. I can't wait to feel the warm oceanic breezes and hot sand between my toes and also doing some shopping at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. I'm so looking forward to perusing through Anthropologie and Pottery Barn, two of my favorites that I've never stepped foot in once before.

I'll be sure to post pictures of my vacation and my sketches here in the next couple of weeks.