n o t y o u r u s u a l F r e n c h b r e a d o n F r i d a y . . .

h e l l o L o v e l i e s .

this post is quite a departure from my usual carte du jour.
( the images are not mine. i have placed a link to all at the end of today's post. )

the first time i visited France, i was seventeen. Charles de Gaulle had just left office.

( he passed the following year.)

i stood curbside, on the Champs Elysee and watched the Bastille Day Parade.

i remember thinking . . .

. . . this city has not forgotten WWII.

i can't even imagine going about my daily life amidst war.

it is told that general von Choltitz defied Hitler's order to destroy Paris because he loved this city.

if true . . . thank goodness.

 Madame FearNot . . . you go girl!

the past (1944) placed upon present (2014).

the city of light and love,

protected by 

all who loved her.

citizens . . .

 soldiers . . .

victors . . .

ville de l'amour.


withLove.


:: images found ici! ::

W e d n e s d a y = w e l l n e s s

h e l l o L o v e l i e s !

it's time for a little focus on self care.

one does not have to spend a ton of money to reap the benefits of a spa experience. 

( bring it home, baby! )

have you ever dry brushed?

i read about it.

. . . thought about it.

. . . last summer, i even pinned this nice little post from Free People.

if you have never tried this healthy and beneficial ritual, i encourage you to do so!

 ( if you have...

...you know what i am talking about! )

after brushing, 

i take to the shower or bath, and rinse the brush with soap and hot water for the next day. 

after my shower or magnesium mineral bath, 

 i spray myself with jojoba oil, or drop a little of the j.o. into my current body butter.

 h - e - a - v - e - n !

i have noticed an improvement with my circulation, and my skin is baby soft!

home self care has become a wonderful ritual and a new hobby for me.

i have completely immersed myself into natural skin and body care.

. . . and for the finale this image that i found here, (omgosh don't you LOVE it?),

roll up your jeans, take your shoes off,  and find the nearest swing!

withLove!

i t ' s a l l g o o d !

h e l l o L o v e l i e s !

i hope that you are a well and raring to go on this Monday morning!

i am easing my way back into blog land.

i just have to share a couple things that happened while i was away.


Chrislyn posted this precious announcement . . .

the number "3" is very big around here!

we're  e l a t e d !

and


my son, Jay won a regional Edward R. Murrow award for his story

about a homeless college football recruit.

the story went national, and the NCAA allowed Antoine to arrive to

"the Blue", (Boise State University), a little earlier so he would have a home.


***


on a silly note . . .

 Saturday afternoon, i took my first "selfie".

(  i have been very resistant to this phenomenon. )

 i forgot to remove my polka dot readers from the top of my head.

but . . .

what the heck, this is me.

 my readers are never farther than a reach away. i refuse to wear them around my neck.

hey!

i will just call them my crown!

on the first image i clicked on a filter on my phone called magic.

( hmmmmm . . . it sorta softened up those fine lines.)

nice!

# 2 is the real deal, complete with the popcorn ceiling.

we live a Jimmy Carter inspired stereotypical Pacific Northwest Contemporary

energy miser home built in 1979.  we thought that we would only be here

five or six years.  the babies came, and five years later,  i left my career to be at home and

work part time as a para educator at their elementary school.

then there was college for two.

we may not have fancy, but lovelies, i wake up every day and i feel good!

my mantra is . . .

"this may not be the house of my dreams, but it's a house of so many dreams true!"

and, speaking of the past!

forty two years ago today, i married Mr D!

i have been with him twice a many years as i lived before him.

( we married at 21. )

on Saturday he told me exactly what i was wearing the night he met me.

i still remember "what i wore" too!

withLove!