. . . tall leather boots less and less in these past bright and sun-lit days, happily replacing them with peep-toe pumps and sky-high sandals and what can only be described as stunningly beautiful works of art, such as these origami-inspired palest pink louboutins . . .
. . . recently whisked away to the beautiful city of montréal, a captivating place overflowing with arts & culture and european charm, and for a few days, was lost in the utter romance of cobblestone streets and leisurely dinners, wonderfully ornate architecture and macarons in quaint cafés . . . 
freshly baked & still-warm bagels from st-viateur
croissants & café au lait at olive et gourmando
view from the city's namesake, le mont royal
the beautiful shop, moutarde
insanely delicious salted caramel truffles & chocolate à boire avec épices with homemade marshmallows at les chocolats de chloé
“Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.”
I know I already asked your elves to build me a Jack Arnold house, but I found a few little last minute things. Some of them would even fit in my stocking rather nicely. If it wouldn't be too hard, Santa. I know you are busy giving to all the good little girls and boys, but these items are just too good to resist! I will mail my letter to you at the North Pole.
You know I'm kidding, of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lately have been considering adventurous animal prints such as leopard and cheetah as accents, such as throw cushions and especially when mixed with crisp whites and feminine florals . . .
. . . or on the floor, perfectly paired with white trim and seagrass walls
. . . perhaps even a few fun Fall fashion accessories:
Another beautiful, crisp Fall day full of possibilities is dissipating into golden rays of early afternoon sunlight . . . There are old friends to write, projects to complete, and parties to attend . . .
{Natalia Vodianova photographed by Mario Testino}
{via desire to inspire}
{unless, of course, you are a sulky heiress . . via All Things Bright and Beautiful}
{christian louboutin's countryside chateau} 
{Jeffers Design Group}
{photography by didier delmas for elle decoration}
{photography by Paul Costello for Domino}
{luxist via design smack}
{via retro home by suzanne trochme}
The be-ribboned Louboutins that grace my sidebar and starred in a recent Christmas post caused a stir, not unlike the shoes' designer, Christian Louboutin, who has been causing a sensation in the fashion and design worlds since he opened his first boutique in 1992.
Born and raised in Paris, Christian Louboutin was a landscape gardener before opening his Right Bank, Paris boutique. The story of how Louboutin came to be a shoe designer has reached near mythic proportions, beginning with one fateful day as he passed by the Museum of Oceanic Art in Paris, where he noticed a sign that would forever change his life: an image of a stiletto heel crossed out by two thick lines reminding women who were visiting the museum not to scratch the wooden floors with their high heels. Not believing that something so beautiful could have such negative connotations, it is said that from this moment on, his fascination with shoes would grow into an obsession of sketching them in the hopes of one day bringing his sketches to life.
He once famously stated in an interview {style.com} that he created shoes for pure pleasure--"a shoe you can not run, you can not even walk--if you want to run in a shoe, buy a sneaker." Anyone who has ever teetered in a pair of his four-inch heels will concur that running is not an option! Louboutin has also been quoted as saying, "It is better to be graceful in flats, than not be able to walk in heels."
This remarkable designer has a trapeze installed in his office, considers Caroline of Monaco and Catherine Deneuve his friends, and Roger Vivier a mentor. He divides his time between his Left Bank, Paris apartment, a château in the French countryside, and an Egyptian retreat.
Here is a glimpse of Louboutin's stunning countryside château . . .
{Christian Louboutin}
