Magic

How great are those literary stockings?   I would love to wear such  fancy hosiery at my next book launch. If you happen to see a pair in a shop, please let me know!

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

(Images via Vogue and Coffee, Crush Cul de Sac, Ficaodona)

Happiness is...

I really love that first image, found on Pinterest. If any of you are there, let's meet up! You can find me here.

Did any of you watch the Mad Men premiere? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts. Although I was thrilled to be reunited with the cast, I was a little disappointed with the first episode. It felt as though the characters weren't portrayed in the best  positive light. But maybe it's just me. Let's hope things pick up steam again next week. And I can't wait for Betty to be back...(she should have been there, non?)

Don't forget to participate in the Jenesequa Book Giveaway, you have until the 29th!

(Images via Neo-Traditionalist, here and here)

Happy Monday!-(scenes of spring)

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed a fantastic weekend! The weather was sensational again, unseasonably hot and it was truly amazing. The doors were left open, tiny shoots started growing and the warm sunshine felt wonderful.

Apparently, it will be like this all week long. Amen.

I'm leaving you with some lovely spring scenes from Jigsaw's recent collection, a soft and romantic way to start the week.

You must have control of the authorship of your own destiny.  The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand.  ~Irene C. Kassorla

(Images via Making Magique, Lonny, Pinterest and Glitter guide)

Happy Friday!!!

Happy Friday!! I hope you had a wonderful week! Mine was hectic and involved working until midnight three nights in a row, attending a family get together and dealing with a water problem.

Needless to say, I'm looking for some relaxation and down time and hopefully, a yoga class.

I came across another gorgeous Taschen book that celebrates the beauty of the City of Light through photographs. It looks divine, n'est-ce pas?

"Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order."  Samuel Beckett

(Images we heart it and Matchbook mag)

Inspiration: positive affirmations

I've been reading a lot lately about the power of positive affirmations. Given that they're supposed to bring into your life what your mind focuses on the most, I've been repeating a few affirmations on regular basis. After all, positive thoughts can't hurt, right?

Well, I can now confirm that it totally works! I received an exciting new writing project yesterday from one of the companies I've been thinking about approaching to offer my services!

I've also started doing hot yoga and I absolutely love it. The toxin release is amazing, making me feel calmer and more centered. Although I thought I would totally pass out before the end of the first class, the endurance I've developed is something I'm proud of.

Here's to adding positive energy to our lives.

(Images via here)

Ring out the old, ring in the new!

Hello my friends! I hope you had a fantastic holiday! What are you up to this week? I am hard at work today on two projects, trying to move them forward as best and quickly as I can. I've also decided to start a more healthy routine that involves more exercise as it's proven that your brain functions much better after a cardio workout. I hope this will help me with the writing!

If you have trouble sticking to any resolutions, I encourage you to read this piece by Greg Dinkin, perhaps his five step process can help put you on the right path for the new year!

"Ring out the old, ring in the new, 

Ring, happy bells, across the snow: 

The year is going, let him go; 

Ring out the false, ring in the true."
 

Alfred Lord Tennyson

(Images via Zsa Zsa Bellagio)

Happy Monday + Sparkle!!!

Happy Monday!! Hope that you had a fantastic weekend!

Mine was very relaxing. I took it easy as I've been feeling a tad run down lately. Perhaps it's due to the change of seasons?

I'm delighted to share an article I wrote for the U of Sherbrooke law student newspaper. Because it's written in French, I thought I would share the translation here:

The 5 things that I know for sure:

1-Living a creative life is more rewarding than simply making lots money.  I once worked 14 hour days fueled by excessive ambition but had no spare time to pursue my artistic passions.  Sure,  I was making good money but I was seriously unhappy. Then I met a psychic in New York who told me that I was missing my calling as a writer. It took me a while to take her advice seriously but I eventually resigned from my cushy job and wrote my first novel, which has been the most rewarding event in my professional life.

2-Expensive handbags don't make you happy. When I was working around the clock as a lawyer, I often compensated on weekends by buying things.  Although it was fun for a while to parade around town with the season's "it" bag,  it soon lost its appeal and left me feeling empty.

3-To reach new horizons, you must lose sight of the shore. I've often repeated this quote to myself over the years. Going through a major career change can be very scary but it's important to look ahead and not dwell on the past.

4-Success is the culmination of a series of failures.  Like so many authors, when I first sent my manuscript to agents and publishers, I received countless rejection letters but I never gave up on my goal to be published no matter how discouraged I felt.   Eventually, a door opened for me and it was the right one.

5-Never let anyone get in the way of your dreams. Once you decide to make a major change in your life, many people might feel intimidated or uncomfortable with your willingness to take risks and may become vocal about it.   Don't let the naysayers rain on your parade, it's negative energy that you don't need at this crucial juncture in your life.

( images via Glitter Guide, Bijou and Boheme and Pool lover)

Greetings from NYC

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle." - Steve Jobs

 

Tuesday Inspiration

I've been playing around with collages lately, trying to upgrade my blogging techniques and I must say that I'm loving it! Next up for me is a Photoshop tutorial, where I'm sure to go crazy. 

As bloggers, it's important to keep up with new tools but finding the time to do so can be challenging.

I leave you today with this inspirational quote about the importance of continuously learning and perfecting new skills:

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence. -Abigail Adams

Another quote that merits sharing: I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma. Eartha Kitt

Have a wonderful day! 

(Images via Visualize us, We heart it and Musings in Femininity)

Happy Friday + Cheers from the backwoods!

 

I thought I would post a little tribute to the start of New York Fashion Week from the backwoods of Canada.( aka my cottage.)

While many of you were shopping and partying it up during Fashion Night Out yesterday evening, I was working on my fourth draft of J'Adore Paris in my very unglamorous flannel pj's with my best friends ( my coffee maker + Diet Coke ) and loyal pooch Leo.

You see writing a novel is a lonely gig and is far from glamorous or easy. Some days, it flows and you're on top of the world. Other days, you simply want to pull your hair out and throw in the towel and go back to doing whatever it was that you were doing before.  (In my case, billing my time as a lawyer.)

Then after the clouds pass, luckily, there is a glimmer of hope; something that pulls you back to your story, your craft. For me, it's the lovely messages received from my readers, a wonderful & inspirational blog post , or a simple quote:

 And I'm back at it in full swing.

Any success requires huge amounts of hard work, unflinching dedication and sacrifices.

As for the shopping & parties I missed last night, well I did a bit of my own online! :o)

Have a wonderful day, 

Isabelle

(images, via Serendipity)

Inspirational Thought

 

"Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”  Winston Churchill

Are you planning a quick trip to Paris this summer? Check out More Magazine's wardrobe suggestions for under $100!

(image via The Fashion Spot)

Happy Summer!!!

LET THE SUMMER....

May your summer months ahead be filled with simple pleasures, great books, friends and family, sunshine and joy!!

“Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language" Henry James

PS: For a lovely summer decor, take a look at these gorgeous wall stickers!

(images via Lilies and lace and Silviastickers)

Champagne and the stars

"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

— F Scott Fitzgerald

I've made it to the chapter about Scott Fitzgerald in Hemingway's, The Moveable Feast and it is quite entertaining. You can imagine both of them drinking whiskey at La Closerie des Lilacs in Paris. They were both real characters and the book renders a vivid portrait of their friendship and sometimes rivalry.

I am looking forward to attending the Gaultier exhibit this evening and catching up with friends at the event.

(images via We hear it, Glitter Guide, Vogue and Coffee)

Happy Friday!!!

It's Friday, there isn't a cloud in the sky, I'm working on my second novel, what more can you ask? Congratulations to the winners of the Savvy Reader book giveaway, and the one at My Little Fashion Diary it was a huge success!

There will be another one coming up soon, so please visit again!

If you want to take a peek at Gwyneth Paltrow's glamorous new cookbook launch at a palatial home in the West Village, read on here.

Have a great day!

(images via we heart it, FGR)

WHY NOT....?

....life is too short not to!

Pssssst, want the recipe for those gorgeous treats, take a look here!

(images via Katespade and The Bride's Cafe)