A well loved Chesterfield...

... is a piece to hold on to

via: Maisondumonde.com

Like a woman...

...  it gets a few lines but is more beautiful and comfortable with age

via: lousboosandshoes.blogspot.com

I WISH I'd realised this many years ago before re-homing ours...

via: nowandthen.tumblr.com

... I should have found it a quiet corner to rest 

via: gilt.com

... until I was seduced into wanting it again

via: Google.com.au

... with a new look.

The need to have one creeps slowly up my wishlist with every winter approach...

via: Pinterest

... as time spent lounging indoors increases. 

The thing about a Chesterfield is it's at home in any setting...

... from traditional to contemporary and everything in between...

... a Chesterfield moves in and softly whispers: 

"come, sit down and tell all"

via: browndresswithwhitedots

... seduction

via: greigedesign.blogspot.com

Your place?

via: Design-ties.blogspot.com.au

... or mine?

via: browndresswithwhitedots

Have a lovely weekend!

x

The little black jacket...

... by Chanel 

7 decades and still timeless!

Photo: KARL LAGERFELD/CHANEL

... chic 

... nothing beats a classic little jacket with jeans

Via: Neotraditionalist.com

... romantic

Via: hiddengarments.cn

... casual

Via:natandg.com

 ...  rock chic

Via: Google

... theatrical

Via: Pacificweddings.com

... bridal

Via: Old snobriety

... ageless

Via: Old Snobriety

... multicultural

Via: Sparkspiration

... unisex

Via: Google

... versatile

Via: Vogue.nl

... Gorgeous

Via: Pinterest

... OK... one word

... any suggestions?

Have a lovely weekend!

x

Happy Marc Jacobs Friday! ...

....  his show went with a distinct citrus zing at Paris fashion week this week!

Louis Vuitton's spring/summer 2013 collection by Marc Jacobs with Louis Vuitton livery

  "My goal is the same.  Every time, I want to beat myself"

... his sentiment I agree with

...  it's a new season!... opportunity to refresh my Goals!

... The show space was dominated by four shiny escalators, craned into the Louvre courtyard

... models appeared in pairs at the top of the escalators

... each walked in step with her twin along the catwalk

  ...the concept showed off the contrast in the collection

... a very short dress beside a floor length one

... a chess-set monochrome

Photography: Benoit Tessier/Ruetters

... leathery brown and a brisk lemon evocative of order and neatness

This was the first Louis Vuitton show ever not to feature the LV monogram

... instead he pushed the 124-year old Damier check to the fore; usually seen in tan and chocolate, it was remade in white and lemon squares for tiny handbags on the catwalk....yummmmm!

 ... it will doubtlessly be evident in first-class cabins summer 2013! 

So exciting to get a glimpse of what's to come next spring

... but for now with a beautiful autumn and a long winter ahead I am once again planning!

Some tips for planning your short term goals:

Write them down: it gives them more force (and sets intention to acti)

Be Precise: set dates, times and amounts so that you can measure your achievement

Set Priorities: this will help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by having too many goals and will focus your attention on the most important

Set performance, not outcome goals: take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible

Be realistic: (this doesn't mean tucking dreams away, one small step at a time can realise wildest dreams!) - so maybe set incremental steps toward the bigger dream goals - it's important to set goals that you can achieve

Please share with me your own tips:-)

... wishing you a fabulous weekend:-)

Fiona

xx

More on Venice...Looking up!

... I love Venice so much I dream one day to have a small place there

... I'm always telling our children (and anyone who will listen!) that it's important to have your dreams and to believe you can realise them... if you want them enough

...with this in mind on our short trip I spent a LOT of time looking up!

... my neck is still stiff:-)

... I love every detail and the handsome architecture

... balconies, window grills and shutters...mmmmm

... so much character and soul

... aged to perfection! 

... wherever you go you are crossing a little bridge and there is a view to capture

... the operatic gondoleers fill the air with heart warming opera

... it echos off the walls and beneath the bridges

... everyone is smiling... how could you not?

... eventually we found our away from the crowds

...  for many hours we strolled through streets, across bridges, along passages and to the furthest part of the island, I read house numbers from 17 - 4997a! along the route

... all things considered (unless the lottery that we rarely part take in comes good for us), I think we'd be resident at the bigger numbers given that they're further from the main tourist attractions

... we ditched the guide book and got our own feel for the place

... there was such joy being in the thick of it all, soaking up the atmosphere

... finding quiet corners to contemplate the stillness and the beauty

... after the downpour the water rose quickly to street level

... I wondered how many residents own their own boat?

... the compromises are acceptable

... and when I weigh it all up

... could there be a more perfect location to want a tiny piece of?

...for me?

.. NO:-)

Where do you dream of?

Have a dreamily lovely weekend!

xx

A perfect romantic getaway .....

...The St Clemente Palace
...sits handsomely on it's own private island just off Venice
... it was a dream location to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary last week
... we had a FANTASTIC time!

.... The historic surroundings of the hotel courtyards and grounds date back to the second half of the 17th Centrury when it was a monastery.  

... wonderful symmetry and recurring patterns 

... so many beautiful corners to discover

... dinner is served looking out over the lagoon, although we were too late in the season to enjoy the experience and opted to eat inside

... most unique and so very cute are the scores of domestic bunnies who scurry around and meditate in the sunshine undeterred by human presence

... the beautiful private Island of St Clemente dates back to 1131

... the lobby

... corridors lit with Murano chandeliers and decorated with fine antiques

... looking out at dusk

....returning home after a day on Venice

...  the most serene place I have ever had the pleasure to be in the best company

...Below are some popular sights of Venice, a further post this week will look at the less discovered 

..arriving at Venice

... so many people at the waterside!

... the Doge Palace in view

... in St Marks Square outside the Basilica

... this exact day five years ago we almost had this square to ourselves!

... we were surprised by the crowds this late in the season

... coffee at The Florian, of course!

... more coffees as the rain came down!  

... very apt as it poured all day on our wedding day

... one of my favourite spots on the square

...and the magnificent Grand canal from the busy Rialto bridge

...  I can stand and watch life pass by here for ever!

...and lastly a bit of SHOPPING!!!!

is that Salvatore Ferragamo behind that gondola!!?

... Oh yes it was!

... I have Happy Anniversary shoes!!!!

... maybe next time:-)

... Bottega  Vanetta

... it's all here!

... the church of San Antonio was a good place to thank god for 25 years of a very happy marriage

... Great to have been away

... Good to be home

Have a lovely week!

xx