{have a sundrenched weekend + links}

. . . hello! hope you are well, and had meant send along a few lovely links on friday, but sometimes even the best-made plans can fall by the wayside, and now, away, away for a perfectly wonderful few days, but a quick hello to send along fondest weekend wishes . . .

hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* travel: to sleep in the open air
* recipe: nutella doughnuts
* fascinating: historic russian homes
* diy: photo wall {via creature comforts}
* summertime inspiration: going on a picnic & sunday in the park
* perfectly pretty: french nurseries
* design: maps that fit your style
* home inspiration: mirror, mirror
* celebrate: a summertime party
* just in time for wimbledon: love all
* fond farewell: last of the peonies {via prettygood}

{as always, some things this week you may have missed:}
* hello: out the door & thursday thoughts
* hazy summer days: play of light & shadow
* lace bangle set give-away: and the winner is . . .
* blog inspiration: linen & lavender
* a new week: happy monday!
* first day of summer: italian silk & manicured gardens
* at home with: freunde von freunden
* hello: & a few things

{& new for the weekend:}
* pure romance: a tiny victorian cottage

{images: laura ponte, laura hayden & oriol elcacho by manuel outumuro for marie claire spain, june 2010}

{two lovely things: iron console + on the water}

{two lovely things:} pretty peonies and floral etched wine glasses + daydreaming on still waters . . .

{p.s.} see also:
* at this moment: bar carts
* more here + here

{images: photography by neil mersh for elle decoration uk july 2004; editorial - outward bound, angela lindvall by carter smith for vogue uk}

{lost in love and chicago}

While it may be true that shall never tire of Paris or the south of France, always ready for new adventures and sometimes fun to go somewhere completely different, and on the last long weekend of the summer: The Windy City . . .

. . . despite there being not much use outside the hotel lobby for gold strappy heels, sequined jackets, and silk and linen dresses -- all of the things in my carrying cases -- there were, happily, fresh lake breezes and miles of beaches, afternoon boat rides and expansive parks, marble fountains, and art and architecture . . .

cloud gate, outdoor sculpture by british artist anish kapoor


endless summer, navy pier

toasted coconut & strawberry marshmallows

dusk

frank gehry-designed jay pritzker pavilion in millennium park

cocktails + view from the ninety-sixth floor

the modern wing of the art institute of chicago, designed by pritzker prize–winning architect renzo piano, whose work includes the centre georges pompidou in paris; the art institute's impressionist & postimpressionist collection is considered the most important outside of france

buckingham fountain, made of pink marble and modeled by edward bennett after the latona basin at versailles


afternoon on the water

{and afterall:} pink cotton candy, afternoons along the beach and on the water, a late-summer picnic, sipping champagne in the courtyard of the art institute by moonlight -- and especially -- all the time in the world together on the last long weekend of the summer . . .

{images: 6, 12, 13 - this is glamorous; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 - p for this is glamorous; 10 - via renzo piano}

{midnight breezes + belated weekend wishes}

Somehow another week has come and gone -- a little late with the weekend wishes -- hope it's lovely where you are . . . here it's midnight breezes and talking until dawn, crème brûlée and new discoveries . . .

Have a beautiful, beautiful weekend!
xo


{p.s.} a few lovely links:
* fun flag necklaces
* darling details at matthew williamson
* august celebration
* brand new cannelle et vanille
* pretty summer dresses
* blueberries for breakfast
* blueberry cream cakes
* more nautical inspiration

{images: 1 - belle chantelle; 2 - architectural digest via brabourne farm}

{a blue christmas}

Having such fun sifting through boxes of Christmas ornaments and sentimental things . . .

{Do you go all-out with holiday decorating, and if yes, how soon do you begin?}

{images: 1 - photography by lisa cohen; 2 - current j.crew catalogue, cropping & photo-editing by tig; 3- country homes via flickr}