{work of art: paper flower wreaths}

. . . happened upon these beautiful and incredibly handmade paper flower wreaths that bring back memories of the intricate paper flower tiaras in the chanel spring 2008 couture show and are perfect for a frosty january morning . . .

{p.s.} blossoms in the bedroom

"a new year is unfolding – like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within"

{paper flower wreaths by dana barbieri}

I COULD USE A SPA VACATION

So it's a new new year and we all make resolutions. Everyone's looking to lose 5 or 10 pounds. Especially after the holiday season with all those extra goodies and temptations around, it' s really easy to get a little carried away.
I would like to spend a little more time this year not being so stressed all the time. I think I need to get carried away. Yes, carried way to Cal-a-Vie. I've been dreaming of this spa vacation for quite sometime. I will have to put it on my bucket list, but not before winning the lottery though. I'll need to win that too if I ever dream of getting there. Take a look and you'll see, maybe you'll want to win the lottery too. Then we can go there together and hangout out, unwind, have some spa treatments, eat amazing nutritional gourmet cuisine and hang out with Oprah, Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman etc......
I dream that Oprah and Brooke are actually there the same week that I am and we quickly become BFF's during our stay. Hey, if I'm going to dream of going there, I might as well make it a good one. What would your dream be?Celebrities who love Cal-a Vie

Two hundred acres of beautiful terrain with rose bushes and gardenias, along with hillsides of olive, lemon and orange trees make a bucolic setting for a wonderful vacation stay

You can stay for 3, 4 or 7 nights

at the destination spa voted #1 in North AmericaEnjoy all the beauty and listen to the cascading central stream
gurgling throughout the spa
Even hear the water trickling from the antique fountains
Relax in the meditation center. It is a chapel from a 16th century convent in Dijon, France that has been brought to Cal-a-Vie and reconstructed on their beautiful grounds

Twenty six private Mediterranean style villas are available for your stay. Each villa is uniquely decorated with handcrafted furniture and fine European linens
Cal-a-vie has been voted the number one spa for interior design
You can see why
Spa treatments are given in ultra luxurious surroundings with imported tiles and tubs for seaweed wraps, hydrotherapy and mud scrubs
Have a wet or dry sauna, a hot stone message or reflexology to help you to unwind in beautiful interiors filled with
fine French and Italian antiques
Workout clothing is provided for you
along with the white fluffy robes

Take a dip in the pool built with imported Greek limestone

or a Pilates class

or do a little cardio in the fitness center with a 17th century Italian chandelierThere's labyrinth walking
and hiking on the beautiful terrain
and when you're done exercising...
you can enjoy the gourmet meals tailor made to your caloric needs
Even indulge in a guiltless dessert of Apple Phylo Strudel
Dine in elegant surroundings
Take a cooking class
or attend a nutrition lecture
Then head to bed for a restful night's sleep in the luxury of your own private villa

Wow, I feel so much more relaxed already. I feel like I just dropped 5 lbs, too, just by looking at all that exercise equipment. The only things missing are the friendships I could have made with Oprah and Brooke. Oh well.
But I look at it this way, I just saved almost $8,000 for the 7 nights I didn't have to spend to stay in my private villa.
Take the Virtual Tour
of Cal-a Vie here

{colour inspiration: white + a brand new year}

. . . a cold and bright early january morning and glitters of white floating outside the window, in perfect alignment with the fresh and blank slate of a brand new year, and after a long good-bye to the past year in a little white dress, delighted to come across the magic that is tim walker in shades of white and gold -- white for all that's new, and gold for the dreams yet to be . . .

hope the new year is off to a beautiful start,
xo

{p.s.} more of the dress above

{editorial: the handmade's tale; models: gemma ward, caroline trentini, lily cole; photography by tim walker for vogue australia february 2006 via brilliants of nataliya`s life}

{fashion inspiration: yves saint laurent}

. . . the holiday decorations have been taken down, and there's nothing left to do but dream of open-toed shoes, and especially silver ysl cage heels with navy velvet ribbons . . .

{p.s.} more spring things:
* the garden collection
* pretty pastels

{via the cherry blossom girl}