My Future Birkin

You know you've made it to the top when you own a Birkin.  The classic Hermès bag is named after singer/actress Jane Birkin and has become synonymous with fame and wealth.

It's taken some time, but I've finally decided upon what my perfect Birkin bag would will be.

A 35mm Orange Togo Birkin with Palladium Hardware.

And there you have it...my future Birkin.

xo Ceilidh

Louboutin Pilule Handbag

There are some things in life you just need.  Food.  Water.  Clothing.  The Louboutin Pilule Handbag. Money.  Shelter.  Love.  Family.  The list goes on...

Ok.  So maybe I don't need the handbag...but I definitely want it.

Being a pharmacist, I really don't think there could be a bag that would be any more perfect for me.

 It also comes in red/black.

See more here.

xo Ceilidh

Loubis I Love: Daf Booty 160mm

Looking ahead to fall, here are some Loubis I would die to get my hands on feet in!

Shoes don't get much sexier than this!

xo Ceilidh

Hermès Chic

I trimmed the ribbon from my Hermès box to make a chic bracelet for myself for the day!

xo Ceilidh

The Art of Packing from Louis Vuitton

Learn how to neatly pack your luggage courtesy of Louis Vuitton!

xo Ceilidh

My Very First Hèrmes Scarf!

As an eternal lover of Paris, you can imagine that I have always wanted an Hèrmes scarf.  Such an item is the epitome of luxury and when making such an investment, you want to ensure that the product you choose be timeless...something to cherish for a lifetime.

On my last trip to Paris, I visited the flagship store on rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré.  As you might have guessed, the store was reaming with tourists hoping to purchase their little bit of Paris.  It was so packed that, in my opinion, it was almost impossible to move, let alone spend the time to scavenge through the wondrous array of scarves they have available.  Alas, the time was not right for me to purchase my long-awaited scarf.

Flash-forward nearly a year to the present day.  I have been spending more and more time online searching for my perfect Hèrmes scarf...and then I stumbled upon it.  The Cheval de Mer.  

In my mind, the perfect Hèrmes scarf has always been white, with accents of blue.  The Cheval de Mer fits this description almost to a T.  It's actually more of a cream colour, but still perfect in my mind.  When I was younger I used to spend a lot of time sailing, something that I very much love to do, so having the ship on the scarf brings even more meaning to it.

As you can see, these photos were taken with the scarf just being taken straight out of the box...the fresh creases in the silk are still intact!

...And how could you forget the quintessential Hèrmes horse? Another must if you are going to be purchasing one of their scarves.  Equine features make any Hèrmes instantly recognizable to the educated eye ;)

Cheval de Mer

Silk Twill Scarf, Hand-rolled

36" x 36"

I have to thank my amazing husband for purchasing this beautiful scarf for me for my birthday! I love you ;)

xo Ceilidh

Eiffel Tower Charm

You may remember a post I wrote a while ago showing you the Eiffel Tower charms from Tiffany & Co.  Well, yesterday was my birthday, and I received one of the charms as a gift!

I've recently decided that I wanted to start one of my own Tiffany & Co. charm bracelets (you can see my favourites on Pinterest), so this is a perfect way to start my collection.  Which are your favourite charms?

xo Ceilidh

Ladurée Celebrates 150 Years!

Famed bakery Ladurée is celebrating 150 years this year and what better way to celebrate than with one of their Chantilly candles in a limited-edition gift box?!  

Photo courtesy of kateshapland.com

Two-thousand and twelve also marks the ten year anniversary of Ladurée's perfumed candle line, so the choice of the Chantilly candle to celebrate such a landmark is really quite appropriate.


Also of note, Ladurée has opened a pop-up shop in the Carrousel de Louvre.  What could be more perfect than a visit to the Mona Lisa followed by a few macarons while shopping around the Carrousel? If you're in Paris, check it out at:

Ladurée Carrousel du Louvre

99 rue de Rivoli

75001 

ParisTel : +33 (0)1 42 61 58 89

Every day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

xo Ceilidh

Papyrus Macaron Bag

Papyrus is one of my favourite places to purchase stationary.  A little while back I found the cutest macaron bag there that I just had to share!

I thought it would be the perfect bag to use to bring my lunch to work...especially since it has a little fork and spoon embroidered on the top edges.

I absolutely love the embellishments on the macarons.  Aren't they fun?! Only Pierre Hermé  macarons could be as sweet!

xo Ceilidh

Les Misérables Movie Trailer

Have you seen the new movie trailer for Les Misérables? I am so excited to see it! It is coming to theatres December 14, 2012, so we have a bit of a wait, but I'm sure it will be well worth it.  

The cast is quite superb, including the likes of Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.  Doesn't Anne sound beautiful singing I dreamed a dream?


I actually bought the Les Misérables book a couple of years ago but haven't had a chance to read it yet.  Now that the opportunity has presented itself, I think I'll have to start reading it though.

The author of Les Misérables is Victor Hugo, the literary genius who also brought us The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.  I visited Hugo's house, near Place des Vosages, when I was in Paris in 2010 (see picture below).

I hope your weekend is off to a good start!

xo Ceilidh

Fashion Friday: Chanel Cruise 2012/13

As you know, Versailles is one of my favourite places in the world.  I dream of the opulence Marie Antoinette once had at her fingertips!

For the Chanel Cruise 2012/13 Collection, Karl Lagerfeld took the collection to the site of all things formidable -- Versailles.  Check out the Details of the Collection below.

P.S.  Am I the only one who wants to get there hand on some of those interlocking CC beauty marks?!

Ceilidh

Dior's Secret Garden Versailles Film

Whenever Dior + Versailles are a pairing, something exquisite is always the result.  That's why I was so excited when Dior announced that they had a secret to reveal on May 3rd at the Château de Versailles.  Well, friends, here it is.  The new Dior video!

A film by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Starring Daria Strokus, Melissa Stasiuk and Xiao Wen Ju in La Galeries Des Glaces - Château de Versailles.

Music by Depeche Mode: 'Enjoy the Silence'

*sigh* I can only imagine what it would be like to walk down the Galeries Des Glaces without anyone else there obstructing the view of its magnificence!

Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/Dior

Isn't the CD logo constructed of flowers in the gardens brilliant!

A great start to the day :)

xo Ceilidh

Eiffel Tower Laser-Cut Favour Boxes

I just found one of the greatest things on the internet.  Eiffel Tower laser-cut favour boxes.  They are from the KatBluStudio on Etsy and they make me happy when I look at them!

Photo courtesy of etsy.com

Wouldn't these be perfect for wedding favours or even a bridal shower or birthday party?! There are 24 colours to choose from too so you can customize them to the colours of your event.  How convenient!

Time to start planning your next party!

xo Ceilidh

Paris My Sweet - List of Bakeries

I bought Paris My Sweet - A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) when it first came out earlier this year, and I have been dying to share it with you! The book is by Amy Thomas, New York writer of the sugar-ridden blog Sweet Freak.  Paris My Sweet follows Amy through her sweet adventures while she was living in Paris writing ad copy for *gasp* Louis Vuitton.  Could I be more jealous?! Living in Paris, eating Parisian pastries and working for Louis Vuitton?! The book flips back in forth/provides comparisons between Paris and New York and the best of the best of their sweet pastries.

Photo courtesy of parispastry.blogspot.com

It was great! I loved the descriptions of the pastries.  They had me salivating as my eyes glossed over the page. Best of all Amy shares some of her favourite bakeries across the City of Lights.  I've made it easy for you to locate all of the bakeries featured in her book via their website simply by clicking on the links below.

A l’Étoile d’Or

A la Flûte Gana

À la Mère de Famille

Angelina

Au 35

Blé Sucre

Bob’s Juice Bar

The Bottle Shop

Café Constant

Chez Janou

Chez Jeannette

Chez l’Ami Jean

Columbus Café

Coquelicot

Cosi

Cupcakes & Co.

Cupcakes Berko

Du Pain et Des Idées

Eggs & Co.

Eric Kayser

Experimental Cocktail Club

Fauchon

Gaya Rive Gauche

Gérard Mulot

H.A.N.D. (Have A Nice Day)

Hôtel Amour

Hugo et Victor

Il Gelate

J’Go

Jacques Genin

Jean-Paul Hévin

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

L’Epicuriste

La Coupole

La Pâtisserie des Rêves

Ladurée

Laura Todd

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

Le Comptoir de Relais

Le Grand Vefour

Le Moulin de la Vierge

Le Select

Le Verre Volé

Lenôtre

Les Deux Abeilles

Les Deux Magots

Les Petits Mitrons

Lili’s Brownies Café

Lola’s Cookies

Merce and the Muse

Michel Chaudun

Michel Cluizel

Pain de Sucre

Pierre Hermé

Pralus Chocolatier

Rose Bakery

Sadaharu Aoki

Stohrer

Sugar Daze

Sweet Pea Baking

Syrie's Cupcakes

As I was scrolling through the pages of the book, reading about Amy's escapades working in Paris, I couldn't help but wonder...I wonder what type of discount she gets working at Louis Vuitton? I would *die* for a LV purse, so of course, I wanted to know!  Insight was provided, and I have to admit...I was a little shocked.  Louis Vuitton store discount for employees? Zero.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I was!

Wondering what Ms. Thomas talks about in the book?

Prelude: Le Tour du Chocolate

Chapter 1: A Whole New Batch of Bonbons

Chapter 2: Cupcakes -- The Comfort of Home

Chapter 3: Stick-to-Your-Teeth Hot Cocoa

Chapter 4: Bonding over French Viennoiseries

Chapter 5: The Big Apple Does Macarons

Chapter 6: Crumbling over Perfection

Chapter 7: Cakes to be Loved and Cherished

Chapter 8: A Good Chocolate Chip Cookie Is Hard to Find

Chapter 9: The Ecstasy of Madeleines and Muffins

Chapter 10: Carrot Cake Is the New Banana Cake

Chapter 11: Resurrection Comes from Baba au Rhum

Chapter 12: French Toast or Pain Perdu, That Is the Question

Chapter 13: One of Life's Best Surprises: The Baker's Dozen

You know, I didn't realize French Toast is actually called pain perdu (lost bread???) in French.  I also didn't realize that it's mainly served as a dessert in France...I'm so used to eating it for breakfast! Great for a sugar fix early in the morning ;)

Hope your day is sweet as sugar!

xo Ceilidh

Jean Paul Gaultier for Diet Coke

Diet Coke has done it again! This time they've paired up with Jean Paul Gaultier to release a collection of Madonna-inspired bottles.  Gaultier was the designer behind Madonna's famed Blonde Ambition tour and has taken pieces from his past designs (i.e. the cone bra) and incorporated them into the bottle.

Photo courtesy of hypebeast.com

Diet Coke release several videos leading up the the release of the JPG-inspired bottles.  You can see them below.

Here is the final ad, introducing the Madonna-esque bottles.

Unfortunately, the bottles are only slated for release in Europe.

See other collaborations with Diet Coke here.

xo Ceilidh

Robert Doisneau's 100th Birthday

As you may have noticed when opening your web browser today, Google is celebrating the birthday of famous photographer Robert Doisneau.

Photo courtesy of guardian.co.uk

Take a look at a previous post I did on the French photographer here.

xo Ceilidh

Ladurée Inspired Cake with Cameo

Ladurée has to be my favourite place in the world to visit for sweets.  It really is such a magical place.  Every girl's dream!  This Ladurée-inspired wedding cake by Culinary Cakes really is what dream are made of.  The gold swags and pastel colours match perfectly with the luxurious Ladurée packaging.  The edible cameo adds the perfect finishing touch.  What's not to love?

Photo courtesy of brides.com

xo Ceilidh

Les Adieux à la reine

Oh, I just found the most wonderful photos! A new Marie Antoinette film is now in theatres.  Les Adieux à la Reine is a French film (sorry Anglophones--myself included!), and the screen snaps are to die over.  The talented and beautiful Diane Kruger plays Marie Antoinette around the time of the storming of the Bastille.  Feast your eyes me fellow Francophiles!

All photos courtesy of commeaucinema.com

xo Ceilidh

Parisian Easter Dessert Table

With only a couple of weeks until Easter, I thought I'd share this cute Parisian-themed Easter dessert table by Laura's Little Party.  Of course I love everything Paris, but I really like how the "Parisian" theme was incorporated into this Easter season! Aren't those pink chocolate Easter bunnies charming?

All  photos courtesy of thepartypressblog.com

xo Ceilidh

Eiffel Tower - Fleur de Lis - Toile - Wedding Cake

This cake is drop. dead. gorgeous!

Photo courtesy of brides.com

It was featured in Cake Central magazine...which, if you haven't had a chance to look at, you definitely should!  The Eiffel Tower is printed on edible fondant in a toile print.  Lace and fleur de lis embellishments were also used.  Stunning!

xo Ceilidh

Bread Baking Books

I've been a little bread obsessed recently, which may account for the fact that I have acquired 3 new bread baking cookbooks in the past couple of months.  I've attempted the croissant and the pain au chocolat...next on my list, the baguette.

I've actually only used the cookbooks for the croissant recipe (Fine Cooking) and haven't had a chance to make anything else, but I am really looking forward to it!  I've been eating a lot of baguettes lately (with goat cheese...drizzled in olive oil and rosemary...so good!) so I think the next step is to try to make them on my own. 

 

I took a flip through the three books, so here's what I have to say about them:

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

I like this book just because of the concept behind it.  "Mix enough dough for several loves and store it in the refrigerator".  I know that I personally don't have time to mix and knead dough every morning.  This book gives you the flexibility of making the dough ahead of time and then refrigerating it for the next couple of weeks.  Then, when ready, you just take the dough and shape it into the loaf that you want (the "five minutes a day"), let it rise, then bake it.  It's perfect for the everyday person who may not have enough time to prepare home baked loaves chaque matin.

The Bread Baker's Apprentice

Next up, The Bread Baker's Apprentice, is a collection of "break breakthroughs" by a former apprentice at some of France's well-known boulangeries.  I'll be honest, this book is a bit more complex.  Measurements, timing and temperature are exact.  I think it is targeted towards the more skilled of bread bakers.  Perhaps I will keep it on my shelf until I'm more comfortable with my skills in the kitchen.  I find it a bit intimidating.

Fine Cooking Breads

I love looking through Fine Cooking for all of my recipes.  This book covers all of the basics...flatbreads, biscuits, yeast breads, quick breads...basically an all encompassing book.  Recipes are fun and easy.  It's actually more of a magazine-style "book" than an actual book, but it's covers are thicker making it a bit sturdier for kitchen-use. There are lots of photos, both of the steps involved in the preparation process and the finished product.  I love that.  I am a very visual person and like to see exactly what is involved, so it's good that way.

I'll keep you updated on all of my kitchen adventures :)

xo Ceilidh

Kate Moss -- Vogue Nippon -- April 2012

I am obsessed with the Vogue Nippon April 2012 spread featuring Kate Moss.  It is very Versaille/French Countryside with a little bit of Paris in the mix.  The haute couture spread features designs by the likes of Chanel, Dior & Miu Miu to name a few.  Breathtaking!

All photos courtesy of styleite.com

This is how I'd like to envision myself living in the era of Marie Antoinette.  Aren't all of these shots gorgeous?

xo Ceilidh

Pains au Chocolat

I made some pains au chocolat this morning for breakfast.  I have been craving them for a couple of weeks now, so I figured it was time to get my lazy butt up and give them a try! As you may remember, I made some croissants a little while back, which was quite the endeavour.  I wanted the pains au chocolat to be different.  I wanted to eat my breakfast by 10am this time instead of 2pm (which happened when I made the croissants -- so time consuming!).

I used this recipe from dinner with Julie to make them and the turned out quite nicely.  What I learned from making the croissants is that is essential to make the dough the day before.  It can be quite a process making these tasty little pastries, but if you divide the work over two days it doesn't seem nearly as bad.

I used Baker's Chocolate instead of the suggested Bernard Callebaut and brushed the tops of the pastries with egg before putting them in the oven.  They claimed to get about 36 pains au chocolat out of the recipe, but I ended up with 12 decent size flaky treats.

Needless to say, my craving is now satisfied.

xo Ceilidh