Hello Monday … Hello Gratitude

Hello my friends!

There has been a lot going of good things going on here these days

so I thought I would take the time today 

for some

Gratitude!

First off

I am ever so grateful to send out my first crown 

to

Paris!

As a  returning designer

it was a real moment for me

to walk into Fed Ex

and 

say I needed to send this to

Paris!

You might have seen me mention on InstaGram

that the ever stylish Haleigh

form my favorite Paris based style blog 

Making Magique

(she is also the official blogger for Lancome)

contacted me that she wanted one of my crowns

I was over joyed with excitement!

My fabulous crown is on it's 

to Paris as I type!

I am also so grateful for the simple pleasure

of our picture perfect weather here 

in SoCal!

We have had  some much needed rain

and 

now some wonderful sun

I just can't wait to get out into my garden!

Speaking of Paris

I had the privilege  of attending another of 

The French Basketeer
cooking classes!

Andrea herself has recently returned from Paris

and 

brought back some fabulous 

French utensils for purchase!

Some of them are almost too pretty for me to use!

This month's class was 

Valentine in theme

and 

was as over the top 

in beauty and taste as always!

But my favorite

each time I attend

is always the company 

of the extraordinary women that come to the classes!

Andrea has a special magic about her

that pulls together  the most amazing people

whether it be at her lavish parties

or

her remarkable classes.

If you are in the Laguna area

nothing beats a Saturday afternoon 

learning from Andrea!

Everything done by 

the French Basketeer

is always amazing

and 

picture perfect!

Last week Andrea also took her  cooking show

on the road to the  home of the always glamorous

Contessa who writes the 

Vintage Henhouse.

You can see Contessa's post about the fabulous event

HERE

Also in attendance was  the always stylish Jennifer from

A Well Styled Life

you can read her stylish account of the afternoon 

HERE

Andrea's  smashing finish to her 

Valentine class!

Nothing says fabulous party

like a sparkling cake

garnished form the garden!

My cooking  classes always end

being picked up by my

ever handsome husband

so we can make sure to 

get  down to  beach in Laguna

for sunset cocktails and dinner.

Making for a perfect all around Saturday in my book!

In closing my gratitude list this week

I have a very grateful heart 

for you my readers
and
the great response to my newest Wednesday feature.

Last week in an attempt to keep my blog 

transparent and relevant

I started a new weekly feature
HERE

where I not only style one garment three ways

but show how I look to begin with

in order to fully share the transformative power of accessories.

I think  many times

we are all shown so many images of only

the young

that looking in the mirror can be a surprise.

Of course

maybe that's just me.

But I am on a mission
to learn to celebrate

the woman

I am today

imperfections and all!

I want to see my wrinkles as a beautiful thing.

I want to see my by now

misshapened feet

as beautiful

in that they have allowed me to do what I have done
and
continue to get me where I want to go!

I want to look at my hands that are no longer young

and
 be mesmerized

by all that they have done in this life 

and 

all the potential to do

yet to come.

I have realized

in my idea

of learning to crown ourselves

it is the internal shift that is most important.

A shift in the realization

of being enough

no matter ones age or appearance.

When I take the time 

To Crown Myself

I realize

not only

am I enough

but

just

how much 

I have to give.
Giving in and of itself
equals life relevance.

It is with a grateful heart
dear readers

I thank you for following along.

For if we can all learn

to Crown Ourselves

the Ripple Effect

will be enormous!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life