c'est si bon style.

are you loving all the fashion week designs as much as i am?

i am just coveting so many of the pieces that have been revealed.

each one lovelier. edgier. prettier. chicer. than the one before. 

i was especially tickled to see that one plucky pioneer of a designer

fancies the same sort of thing as your truly.

mister marc jacobs. we are kindred spirits.

sharing the same infinity for bold stripes & ruffles. 

indulge yourself in some fancy footwork 

as these models walk the line.

bold. black. & white.

perfectly crisp. perfectly chic.

swooning over this skirt & blazer.

i mean. really. does it get any better?!

perfectly parisian. in every possible way.

bold stripes. scalloped edges. pointy toes. & a structured handbag.

now. this. is. what. i. call.

c'est si bon style.

a pop of red is always a swell idea.

and i just couldn't love those ruffles & buttons any more.

must. have. this. blouse.

{although i am certain i would wear some pretty pants, too}

well. hello. loveliest of all lovely swing jackets.

that collar. that button. that color.

chic to boot. 

well done. mister marc. well done.

you are so impossibly smart with your fashions. 

{images courtesy of vogue.com}

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pamper yourself.

i don't know about all of you little lovelies.

but i have been so. overwhelmingly. busy these last several weeks.

with school starting back up & moving into our new home

i have had very few minutes to just breathe.

let alone enjoy my bi-weekly manicure & pedicure.

it got me thinking.

is this just a busy time of year for everyone?

and i think it is.

but oh. how wonderful it is to lead our busy little lives.

lives that are. no doubt. filled with many blessings.

that being said.

i certainly do miss my down time.

my time to just relax. exactly as i please. 

and right now. i would do just about anything for a trip to the spa.

{girlfriend. my face is crying for a deep cleanse & peel.}

the idea of wearing an ultra plush bathrobe. comfy slippers. 

& sipping on minted water while indulging in aromatics

is just oh so appealing right now. 

can i get an amen?

well. it just so happens that one of you lucky girlies will get to do just that.

dr. k's med spa has so generously offered to giveaway 

a one hour massage & a one hour facial

to one terrificly deserving c'est si bon reader.

dr. k's med spa is the ultimate when it comes to wellness & rejuvenation.

offering a huge variety of services. you are sure to leave feeling

beautiful. refreshed. & indulged. 

and let's be honest. what girl doesn't love feeling that way?

to enter in this little giveaway simply follow these steps:

1. "like" the dr. k's med spa facebook page.

2. leave a comment on the blog or facebook telling us why you deserve this treat.

3. share this post on your facebook page. or twitter.

every girlie girl would be thrilled to win this treat.

the perfect excuse to totally & utterly pamper yourself.

{i secretly wish that i could win this giveaway}

not only is dr. k just a miracle worker when it comes to beautifying us ladies.

he is also a miracle worker in much more significant ways.

in hopes to encourage awareness & research. 

dr. k's med spa is hosting a benefit for autism. 

& they would love to personally extend an invitation to all of you.

be certain to check out this invitation for more details about the event.

it truly is a great cause. & it will be a lot of fun, too.

so. little lovelies. go ahead and enter in this lovely giveaway.

winner will be announced september 19. 

{oh. and please only enter if you are in the tampa bay & surrounding areas.}

go ahead & pamper yourself.

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kate spade fall 2012.

as if i needed any more reasons to love kate spade. 

the girl has done it again. 

& this time she is totally spot on.

well, hello little polka dotties.

with red. black. & tan? yes, please!

in the words of brad goreski: 

think paris. think flirty. think cocktail party. 

luxe to the max.

i am coveting this gorgeous tan & black ostrich handbag.

it is perfectly structured in the most ladylike of manners.

she is terribly chic, wouldn't you say?!

outfit obsession with polka dot overload.

i am just dying over the layer-upon-layer of polka dotted pretties.

the shoes. the tights. the pants. the blouse.

this is proof that black & white polka dots can never be overdone.

these tights are impossibly flirty. & have me begging to do the cha cha.

i mean. really. can kate be any wittier with her designs?

these little babies paired with an oversized polka dotted skirt is spot on.

not to mention these tan pumps are adorned with the loveliest of all bows.

love. love. love.

red & black & chic all over.

bursting at the seams with femininity. 

and. well. this is just to impress my lovie.

i am quite certain that he would marry me all over again 

if i were to don this dictionary clutch.

he has the greatest penchant for diction

and i fancy that about him.

i am not sure how i landed such a 

dashingly handsome beau with brains to boot. 

swoon.

aren't these designs just the most darling?

i love how they are the perfect mix of demure & flirt.

brilliant, kate. just brilliant. 

you know what else i love about this?

the kate spade models were lifted to great displays on black & white pedestals

that were totally inspired by the cour d'honneur at the palais royal.

a parisian palace built in 1629. that now coexists with this 20th century installation.

so terrificly chic in the most neo-traditional style.

tell me.

which piece from the kate spade fall collection are you coveting?

or are you like me... and refuse to pick just one?!

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bows.

it just goes without saying.

i am a perennial lover of bows.

i love bows on my shoes. bows on my belts. & bows on my purses.

bows on my clothes. bows in my hair. & bows on my scarves.

i love them in all shapes & sizes. but i especially love

oversized. dramatic. & over-the-top bows. 

this blouse & bow belong in my closet.

love. love. love. this big beauty.

big beautiful bows make my heart pitter-patter.

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cheers to a long weekend.

hip. hip. hooray.

it is a gloriously long weekend.

having a grand ol' night with my lovie.

in our new home. in our jammies. eating our fave take-out.

i mean. really...

does it get any better?!

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the heart of a servant.

lovie & i are officially moved into our 

brand. spankin. new. forever. & ever. home. 

how fun is that?!

we have truly been up to our elbows in boxes.

& sprinkled with paint from head to toe.

we may have cold water showers. craftsmen co-existing beside us. 
& the dirtiest of all floors.

but we would not have it any other way. 

we are totally & completely nesting together.

in our most perfect pretty little home. 

when we bought the house the landscaping was in need of some extra. extra love.
& every room in the house needs a fresh coat {or two} of paint.
we knew that looking forward. every weekend on our calendar from here on out
 would be filled a great abundance of projects.
 planting projects. painting projects. placement projects.
just plain fun projects. 

and what better way to kick off all of this great fun.
than with some of our most dear friends & family.

let. me. tell. you.
lovie & i are surrounded by such loving. giving. thoughtful people.
words fail to express how wonderfully generous they are.

i'm talking friends that show up & demand to help with all the needed work.
friends that offer. & they won't accept no thank you for an answer.
friends that clear their weekend schedules to help.
showing up in their grubbiest of clothes. 
paint brushes in each garden-gloved-hand.
giving up hours & hours of their saturday. 
just to help. just to help us. 

why we are so deserving of this outpour of love... i will never know.

so tonight my heart is overflowing with gratitude for you.
our big strong tree chopper. our horticultural expert & adviser. 
our energetic weed puller. our personal landscape artist. our resident raker. 
our treasurer-hunter-clay-potter-finder. our pro baseboard painter.
our master paint roller. our meticulous window scraper. our superb cutter-inner. 
our woodwork detailer. & our tiniest little cheering section. 
you make my heart overflow with happiness.

thank you all- and you know who you are- for all of your help.
you have helped create the start to our happy home.
& you have created such beautiful memories that we will forever cherish.
you. my friends. exemplify the heart of a servant.

spending my evening writing thank you notes to the loveliest of all lovelies.

{and of course, on the loveliest of all lovely papers a la sugar paper.}

thank you for the hard work. thank you for the laughs. 

thank you for the conversations. 

thank you for you. 

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john wind giveaway winner.

giddyup. girlfriend.

ms. jennee. of camo meets couture. 

you are the lucky winner of the latest c'est si bon giveaway.

you will soon be donning the john wind equestrian chic necklace. 

congrats. sweet friend. 

please email me at kristen{dot}brett{at}gmail{dot}com

with your shipping information. 

thanks for being a c'est si bon reader. 

xoxo. 

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houndstooth fashions.

i happen to adore a houndstooth print. 

oversized. mini. head-to-toe. pop of accessory.

any way it is styled. i simply love it. 

there is just something so classically terrific about this print. 

i am thrilled to see this black & white pattern sprinkling the stores this fall.

vince camuto. the limited. nordstrom. kate spade. and the like.

everywhere you look you will spot a little houdstooth drama.

if i could only get my little hands on this pretty.

how stunning is this top?!

the neckline & the wide sleeves are just magnificent.

the oversized print & the cinched waist are perfection.

this look is so impossibly chic. 

love. love. love. this extra-oversized houndstooth blouse.

blair waldorf sure does know a thing or two about chic simplicity.

everything about this blouse has my name written all over it.

the high waisted skirt. the bow neck tie. oh my!

menswear is so on trend this fall. 

especially when it is paired with houndstooth.

i am swooning over this blazer & clutch. 

black & white & chic all over. 

i can hardly wait to get my hands on some houndstooth pieces.

& thankfully. this black & white print blends perfectly with my fall theme.

a closet full of black. red. & tan.

i am totally coveting a number of the items in vince camuto's fall collection.

{available now at nordies}

well, hello. houndstooth blouse perfection.

i will certainly be donning this top with a pair of black skinnies.

& a pair of red ballet flats would complete this looks.

tres chic. 

also adoring these vince camuto houndstooth ankle pants. 

the print is to teeny-tiny that you cannot see it in this image...

but trust me. these are surely houndstooth & they are terrificly chic. 

the limited also has a great selection of houndstooth pieces.

especially when it comes to accent pieces & accessories.

i can think of a million ways to style this houndstooth scarf.

i would don it with a monochromatic black get-up.

perfectly chic. perfectly jackie o. 

and how stinkin cute are these little houndstooth tights?! 

they would be darling with a little black shift dress.

love. love. love. 

these are just a few of my all-time fave houndstooth pieces.

i could go on & on sharing every pretty piece i am swooning over.

but what about you?

do you love this trend?

{images courtesy of nordstrom. limited. vince camuto. chic department}

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chic collection.

per usual. jcrew nailed their fall collection.

i am currently coveting each & every piece.

especially these three chic get-ups. 

you belong with me. little pretties.

oooh.la.la.

{images courtesy of jcrew}

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ashley brooke designs.

every girlie girl loves a great papery.

and yours truly is surely no exception.

in recent days.

we have shared a deep penchant for chic stationery. 

we have swooned over exquisite thank you notes.. 

& we have lusted over the most lovely of all invitations..

it is so perfectly clear to see that 

i. adore. paper. goods.

most simply put. it just boils down to the glorious truth that...

every c'est si bon girl loves spending free moments jotting hand written notes.

relishing in the pure joy that comes from beautiful penmanship on beautiful paper.

savoring the moment of sealing the envelope. picking a stamp. & dropping it in the mail.

knowing that in a few short days. someone will be overjoyed to find that

they have a personalized letter waiting just for them.

to friend. with love. 

so i have just the best news. hear me now. sweet friends.

i have found the most darling of all personalized stationery designers.

the lovely. adorable. and terrificly talented.

little miss ashley brooke. of ashley brooke designs.

oh. and did i mention she is so stinkin beautiful. too?! 

you see. 

i stumbled upon ashley's designs months ago. 

& it was love at first sight.

her simplistic & sweet style instantly stole my heart.

every since then i have been terribly coveting a set of her darling customized cards. 

following her blog had me smitten with her designs.

but following her facebook left me admiring her sweet disposition.

a woman who loves the Lord. & spends time in His words.

a woman who is a loving wife. & a sweet mama to her pups.

a woman who knows how to live life with the utmost grace & kindness.

i knew we just had to be friends.

so. i emailed her with my most unnecessary necessity of wanting to be pals. 

and i would like to think we are now blogger friends forever.

ashley was so generous to take a moment & allow me to interview her.

and so here i am tonight. to share with you. the girl behind 

ashley brooke designs. 

i am married (almost 3 years!) to the most adorable man.

 he is most definitely my better half. 

plus… his name is pretty awesome, it’s Manolo… like the shoe!? 

so how could a girl resist?! 

plus we have two adorable little pups that complete our family, sam and lucy!

if I am being completely honest 

ashley brooke designs came about through a series of unfortunate events. 

when i graduated i had a fantastic job at a fancy interior design firm.

my dream job. 

as we all know, the economy and market took a turn for the worst, 

meaning the last hired (me) was laid off. 

for weeks i literally knocked on interior design firm doors.

 all dressed up handing out my resume left and right. 

no one was hiring, everyone was in pure panic mode. 

so i did what any newly college graduate does with out a job, 

i moved home! 

luckily for me, my parents have a beautiful photography studio 

where they desperately needed a re-touch artist (or so they said!).

 i, of course, took the job! 

my dad taught me a little bit every day about photoshop, 

since they hired a retouch artist who had never used photoshop before, 

he had a big task a head of him. 

photoshop and I clicked, there was something about it that I just loved, 

and I became quite a good little retouch artist. but, we all knew, including me that this was just until I figured things out. 

my parents encouraged me to experiment with my art, 

using photoshop and their large printers. my dad constantly said 

“just play around, see what happens” 

so that’s what i did. 

and of course my birthday rolled around and i needed some stationery to write thank you notes. i sketched out a few fun illustrations, scanned them in to my work computer, my dad showed me how to crop everything and print! 

voila! homemade stationery.

 from that day on, i had a new vision, a new passion, and definitely, a new obsession.

the success of ashley brooke designs is certainly a collaboration of

a lot of hard work, a great support team, many long nights, 

and a few wonderful bloggers who took a chance on me. 

i will forever be grateful to erin from blue-eyed bride and 

nina from according to nina for giving me my first big chance to shine!

since then things have just taken off.

i get my inspiration from fashion, typography, layout design, textiles….. 

the list could go on and on!!

 and if i could collaborate with one designer,

it would most surely be

kate spade!

my faith means everything to me. just everything.

right now my fave scripture is 1 John 4:18. 

"there is no fear in love. but perfect love drives out fear."

but it’s subject to change ;)

i have been loving the devotionals on my Bible App lately! 

at the moment I am doing the Promises for Your Everyday Life. 

i really try to live out my faith in my everyday business life.
and i try to do this by the way i treat people.

 

finally, i have so many dreams and goals. 

the business has come leaps and bounds from the first year, 

and the funny thing is that it’s not at all what I thought it was going to look like. 

well. sweet. sweet ashley.

i think it your darling little brand has turned out to be such a hit.

& isn't it always amazing when things turn out so much grander than we

ever could have imagined them to be?!

the Lord's providence far surpasses even our greatest hopes & dreams. 

so. my friends. 

if you are ever looking for some sweet paper goods. 

or are wishing to treat yourself to some customized cards.

be sure to swing by ashley brooke designs to see her pretties. 

here are a few of my all-time fave picks. 

i think i need this little pretty.

a customized change of address card is surely a necessity. 

how impossibly sweet are these baby shower invites?

i just adore that polka-dottie dress.

lovely from the desk of notecards.

perfect for a friendly note to say well, hello.

tell me friends.

which ashley brooke design is your fave?! 

take a sneak peak & let me know.

{i am certain they will inspire you to jot a few handwritten notes}

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