travelin garb.

in less than one little month

we will be in orvieto, italy.

my family. our dearest family friends. my lovie. and me.

for two whole pasta-eating. vineyard-touring. bicycle-riding. weeks.

i.can.hardly.wait.

i have only been to italy once before. and that was six years ago.

it was such a memorable trip, as it was the last trip we took with our sweet patrick.

naturally, we can hardly wait to go back to the sites we enjoyed with our precious boy.

during that european trip, 

we made history that is far richer than any history book could deliver.

history that looks like this.

thats our sweet patrick in the red.

my darling brother.

and while i am certain that bittersweet moments traveling through italy

will bring the sting of tears to our eyes.

i can hardly wait to explore the country again.

we are staying in a villa in orvieto.

the villa sleeps nineteen. its like a big slumber party.

doesn't it look like the street from under the tuscan sun?! 

i am so excited to submerse myself with the culture in the italian countryside. 

and of course,

my traveling garb is totally on my mind.

i have always been a terribly awful packer.

i never pack enough of the right things. and i always pack too many wrong things.

so, this time i am really going to plan out what will go in my little suitcase. 

i want to look euro-chic.

you know, casual. breezy. simple. chic. 

so i am thinking linen pants. paper bag skirts. fitted tees.

my go-to for this look is the one-and-only emerson fry.

this darling skirt is tip-top on my list.

love the lightweight texture. love the simplicity.

perfectly street-chic in every way.

plus it looks so comfy. 

great for traveling. walking. wandering. through italia. 

i adore this pink colored skirt.

and i need these camel sandals to go with it.

and of course, a kelly green skirt would be lovely, too.

i love the simplistic lines of this skirt. they are universally flattering for all ladies.

plus, the two button waist line is cute to boot.

if this isn't summertime euro-chic, i don't know what is.

love. love. love the midi length of this dress.

the lines are classic. the colors are meant to be donned in tuscany.

and again. those camel sandals. 

must. have. in. my. closet. 

are you loving these street-chic looks as much as i am?

if yes. and of course you said yes.

you must see all that miss emerson fry has to offer.

{click on the button on the right side bar for quick perusing}

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glam grab winner.

congrats

renee hampton.

you are the winner of the glam grab giveaway.

i love this gold gilded cross bracelet so much,

that it is hard to give it away.

but i am thrilled that you are the lucky winner. 

thank you for being a c'est si bon reader.

xoxo.

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beach papery & gifts giveaway winner.

oh, i am so thrilled for you 

mrs. micah washinski.

you are going on a one-hundred dollar shopping spree

at the darling little beach papery & gifts. 

i can hardly wait to see what you pick out.

you will adore this sweet little shop.

thank you for being a c'est si bon girl.

xoxo.

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our next house.

oh, the unlimited possibilities are just what i fancy. 

my mind has been swimming in pretty ideas for our new home.

{mind you, we do not have a new home. we are still homeless. but we will find one soon}

it is just that all this house hunting business has really got me excited.

i have become consumed with dreaming up 

floor plans. color schemes. landscaping. & architectural design.

mapping out room flows. mudrooms. & laundry rooms.

and boy, oh boy. 

i have dreamt up quite a fancy little home for us.

{sorry lovie}

having lived in our little bungalow for three-almost-four years now.

i have learned some important house must-haves.

you know, the essential things.

like an indoor laundry station. and in-kitchen seating.

a cozy family room. & a bathroom with two sinks. 

but i have also learned some not-so essential house must-haves. 

and i will be certain to include them in our next house, wherever that may be.

like a big. rounded. charleston style front door.

that door sure knows how to welcome a visitor in style. 

and moss-trimmed pavers. 

an absolute must have. 

a tailored garage adorned with greenery.

a lovely way to be welcomed home at the end of a work day.

and flower boxes to decorate the windows. 

white flowers are a must.

a reading room streaming with natural light.

with overstuffed chairs to lounge upon.

and a large glossy black bookshelf filled with fitzgerald & hemingway.

sets of old encyclopedias & new cookbooks.

these framed doors that lead to the backyard.

with outdoor seating. or maybe a pool.

or a dutch door would be equally as lovely.

perfect for letting in a nice cool breeze. 

an exposed silver closet boasting with years of love.

if those silvers could talk they would share a wealth of wisdom.

and a vanity in a marble bathroom.

fresh flowers. pretty perfumes. & all sorts of accoutrements. 

nothing too fancy or over-the-top.

you know, just the most necessary. most important. most essential.

most loveliest things that my next house most certainly must have.

... hey, a girl can dream.

{images courtesy of pinterest. sara kate studios. houndstooth&nail. cece&co. elements of style. unknown}

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glam grab.

alright, little lovelies. 

i have something incredibly fun to share with you.

you all know that i am a huge lover of jewels.

bangles. baubles. bracelets.

the bigger the better & stack 'em up high.

i would save all my pennies to have a collection of endless jewels.

i am a big believer in the thought that

accessories make your outfit.

one could wear a simple tee and jeans... 

but rock chic & bold accessories

and that outfit soars from ordinary to extraordinary. 

i do not follow any rules when it comes to accessorizing.

and often times i really go overboard.

and i happen to love that.

i have had several people inquire about how i coordinate my jewels,

so i thought i would share some tips on how to make it work.

the go-to-everyday armful of jewels.

i truly wear an excessive amount of bangles & baubles nearly everyday.

always pair different sizes & shapes when stacking your jewels.

i find that combining structured bangles with textured bracelets always looks the best.

always go for an eclectic yet purposeful look.

for example, choose to work with all gold pieces,

but choose pieces that would not typically go together.

my go-to.

three classic bangles of varying width.

one chain gold bracelet with charms dangling off.

one over-sized, chunky, gold link piece.

two dainty gold beaded bracelets.

throw them all on and let the jingle-jangle begin. 

the statement necklace.

i always boast of the importance of a dramatic necklace. and i always will. 

my biggest tip when accessorizing with a necklace.

bigger is always better.

go bold. go chunky. go for a statement. 

everyone can pull off a dramatic necklace. and everyone should. 

don't pay a pretty penny.

it is pretty clear, i am a jewelry junkie.

but sadly many jewels can leave your piggy bank dry.

but dripping in jewels does not have to cost a pretty penny.

you certainly do not have to buy high-end pieces to achieve the look you want. 

find shops & boutiques that carry funky jewels at a reasonable price.

my new fave go-to for insanely well priced bling is 

glam grab.

Glam Grab Accessory Auctions presents an exciting, new way 

to shop online for designer-inspired contemporary jewelry and accessories. 

In step with the latest, fashion-forward trends, Glam Grab features

 its limited collections every Monday evening on its Facebook page. 

Here, style-conscious fans have the opportunity to bid on 

fixed-price treasures ranging from just $15-40. 

Don't miss an auction, 'Like' Glam Grab on Facebook to 

catch previews of their baubles and to bid. 

Auctions held every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. Central. 

how wonderfully cool is that?!

and their jewels are amazing. check it out.

glam grab has an abundance of great pieces for every girl's style. 

be sure to check them out to participate in the monday night auctions. 

oh, but there is more.

glam grab is generously giving one c'est si bon reader a sweet treat.

this beautiful cross bracelet is the prize

for one of you, my loves. 

to enter in this giveaway, follow the following steps. 

"like" the glam grab facebook page.

"like" the c'est si bon facebook page.

and lastly, 

leave a comment sharing your fave piece 

from the glam grab look book above.

winner will be announced may 13.

but don't miss the auction tomorrow night!

thanks, glam grab.

c'est si bon adores you.

{images courtesy of glam grab. and pinterest. unknown}

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book obsession.

i recently stumbled upon the glossy pages of a most lovely book.

paris in color.

i found it at anthro,

which is where i find all my fave coffee table books.

i could spend hours submersing myself in this pretty little book.

over and over again. as the pages will never become old to me.

each page is overflowing with images from the city of lights.

organized into color hues from vivid violet to opulent orange.

and each page boasts the beauty of its color,

as if saying 

i am the color that defines paris.

the flowers are saturated in hues of purple.

and the buggies are bursting yellow rays.

natural beiges seem chic as ever.

and noir brings great drama. 

orange blooms sing cheerfulness along the streets.

while red chairs invite passerby's to rest awhile.

blues sprinkle the city all over.

you must go find this book.

you will enjoy flipping through the pages.

imagining yourself walking the parisian streets snapping away.

living colorfully. 

{all images courtesy of paris in color}

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john wind giveaway winner.

oh, happy day to you, 

ms. anne mackenzie henderson.

you are the winner of the beautiful john wind jewels.

i hope you have the loveliest of all mother's days.

enjoy the sweet day with your sweet family. 

thank you for being a c'est si bon reader.

xoxo. 

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my fave shop around the corner.

i really have a huge adoration for little boutiquie shops.

vintage stores. paperies. silver shops. gift markets. book stores. bakeries.

it doesn't matter what type of shop it is.

i just simply have a penchant for terribly sweet little shops. 

i love spending lengthy hours perusing the shelves.

finding new gems & old treasures. 

pretty little tokens & oversized pieces.

classic pieces of literature & glossy coffee table books.

it is pure bliss. 

just give me a cinnamon iced coffee. a big tote bag. & a darling shop.

and this my idea of a most lovely little afternoon jaunt. 

i have several little shops that i frequent in our area.

a great little vintage shop just over the bridge. 

a darling bakery in our downtown.

a stately silver store on the other side of town.

a garden shop just a short drive away.

and a handful of gift shops sprinkled around.

i adore them all.

but i really adore one little shop most of all.

not just because the store boasts impeccable style & design.

but because i truly adore the sweet little owner.

and her sidekick + one.

(sidekick sarah is expecting baby number one)

never have i met sweeter. more joyful. more enthusiastic. more gracious. ladies.

than the ladies of the one and only

beach papery and gifts. 

yun stanton is the owner & the creative mind behind the shop.

and let me tell you, the girl has got style.

she knows how to dress a room like you've never seen.

the master of correspondence etiquette. the queen of decorating christmas trees.

the centerpiece extraordinaire. and the gift giving guru.

she practically overflows with style & class.

sarah is equally as wonderful.

quick to help. and ever quicker to laugh.

she will greet you with a cheerful hello & a helping hand. 

together.

these ladies are just the greatest.

beach papery & gifts truly has it all.

stationery. invites. save the dates. cards of all sorts.

wreaths. frames. and wall decor galore.

books. and trinkets. and treasures of wit. 

an abundance of gifts for little & big moments.

and everything you could possibly imagine in between. 

vietri. waterford. mackenzie-childs. are also available.

now. this is a sweet surprise. 

i have a very special giveaway for one c'est si bon reader.

a one-hundred dollar shopping spree

at the beach papery & gifts.

do you know the tremendous fun you could have with this?!

oh, and don't fret if you are not a local.

as they will ship to you whatever you should choose.

to enter in this amazing giveaway. follow these simple three steps. 

"like" the c'est si bon facebook page.

and

"like" the beach papery & gifts facebook page.

and then

share this link on your own facebook wall for new friends to see.

the winner will be announced on may 9.

good luck & happy shopping. 

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le petite pup.

i have really exciting news, my darlings.

i. am. an. auntie.

to the most loveable. most snugglie. most darling little man.

meet jakes.

the newest member of the brett clan.

and doggonit.

he sure is a cutie.

jakes spent his first weekend out at the beach house.

and i think he had a great time getting a little sand on his, eh, paws.

this little pup is so loved already.

no bones about it.

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emerson fry giveaway winner.

congrats to the emerson fry giveaway winner.

ms. samantha of the brunette one.

excited for you to rock your very own emerson fry gold coin necklace.

we can't wait to see how you style it. 

will it be solo or stacked?!

be sure to post pictures on your blog. 

oh, and for all you other darlings out there, 

be sure to check out all the goods over at 

emerson fry.

they have the most chic styles ever.

i promise you will adore all of her pieces. 

thanks for being a c'est si bon reader, samantha.

xoxo

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