Category Archives: sponsored

les marquis de ladurée

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**February 2017 UPDATE: this space is now dedicated entirely to macarons**

I recently had the honor and thrill of photographing Les Marquis de Ladurée in Paris. Dedicated entirely to chocolate, this boutique is unique to Paris. As a lover of all things Ladurée, my expectations were high, and Les Marquis did not disappoint. From the logo, to the interiors, to the chocolate…I died and went to Francophile heaven. This exclusive boutique is the passion project of Mr. David Holder, the Chairman of Ladurée. He wanted to create a special home for chocolat within the brand, while maintaining the Ladurée standards of beauty and taste. The dedication to exceptional ingredients from around the world, combined with and artisanal production, is quite impressive. Well done, sir.

 

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a hip haven in paris

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This was my view for a week in Paris, and I have good news for you – it can be yours too. Renting an apartment is, in my opinion, the best way to experience a city. Having worked with Haven in Paris before and loving the experience, I reached out to them again for this trip. I have them to thank for my new obsession with Montmartre, which I got to know intimately while staying there. I had always heard about the unique vibe, and boy did I feel it – it’s palpable. The first thing I did after checking in (and being kindly greeted) was wander charming side streets and discover new perspectives of Paris. I’m getting ahead of myself though, as I’ll be sharing a neighborhood tour separately, soon. First, let me give you a tour of the apartment, which is classic yet modern, spacious yet cozy, and just like the neighborhood…very hip.

 

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While the interiors are beautiful and thoughtfully curated, the balcony beckons you. Every morning I found myself there in a somewhat meditative state, saying good morning to the city. The rooftops of Paris are so iconic and beautiful…I could have just sat and stared at this view all day. With the Invalides, Roue de Paris, and the tip of the Arc de Triomphe in plain sight, it’s breathtaking! Located on a quiet street (but close enough to the buzz and heartbeat of the 18th), you can watch as residents lovingly hang their clothes to dry, listen as children laugh and play in a school courtyard, and the bells of the local church announce the hour. It’s a quick walk to the local market for fresh fruit, and the boulangerie for croissants and a warm, crisp baguette – is there anything better?! Ok maybe the butter…maybe the salty, creamy, butter is the best part. Ugh, that’s like choosing your favorite child, I can’t do it. Le petit dej with a view…#yesplease. Click through for more!

 

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peel stick love

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Our powder room makeover is finally complete, thanks to a second collaboration with Chasing Paper! You may have seen the sneak peek a few weeks ago, and now I can finally share it. Ever since discovering their removable wallpaper and going “wild” in Henry and Marie’s room, I’ve been obsessed with finding another place for it. Our (tiny) powder room proved to be the perfect space for their speckle print paper, which is both classic and modern thanks to the carefree (freehand) dot pattern. It elevated this bathroom to another level – it’s so much more interesting and fun (the dog tail hook helps too).

 

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In addition to the paper, we updated the mirror and light (you’re not missing anything by not seeing the before photos – although I did share the process along the way on snapchat: hutchsusan). It’s very tricky to photograph such a tiny space (and I’m not a contortionist, lol) but I did my best! The details are always my favorite stage of the decorating process, and I found a happy home for the Napoleon + Josephine silhouettes recently gifted to me (merci Amy), along with the vintage brass swans I acquired in LA. There’s not really room for much more in there…less is more in this case!

 

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As you can see, it’s a tiny space just inside the front door of our loft. It makes me so happy to see those speckled dots peeking through from the bathroom doorway – it’s the perfect accent. Small spaces are the perfect place to make a bold statement, and I especially love using wallpaper in powder rooms (no shower/tub means hardly any humidity, which is not a friend of wallpaper). Pro tip: prints also make perfect camouflage for quirky spaces. Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you have to give up on wallpaper – check out all the amazing (removable) options on the Chasing Paper site!

 

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resources: wallpaper | mirror | light | dog hook | shoe cabinet | all other items vintage

wallpaper c/o chasing paper, all words and opinions are my own.

french for paris

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The blossoms are blooming here in Pennsylvania, despite Mother Nature being very confused (it’s currently 45 degrees). From what I’m seeing on my friends snapchats and images, the blooms are beginning in Paris, and I’m hoping to see them in ten days, eek! I’m crazy busy getting both home + work life in order before I go, but right now I’m making time to review my French. As you may have seen in my French is Beautiful series, I’ve been studying and improving thanks to (my friend + tutor) Carrie Anne James. Even after years of speaking French, I always review and refresh my knowledge before a trip. Speaking the language (even at a basic level) shows respect, makes things easier, and therefore, more enjoyable.

The French for Paris audio program covers all the basics for navigating and enjoying Paris, and while it’s quite comprehensive, it’s not overwhelming. Carrie Anne teaches you to improvise in conversation, not just imitate, as well as offering cultural tips to help you understand why certain things are said (or not). There are also some fun extras, like the “traveling with kids” bonus lesson, which I’m honored to have inspired! Also included in the course is a guide to Carrie’s favorite places in Paris, which I’ve devoured. While all of her program offerings are amazing (see them here), if you have plans to travel to Paris (and France in general), this one’s for you. Tell her I sent you…merci à tous!

image courtesy of Ashley Ludaescher Photography

*my tutoring is c/o French is Beautiful…these words + opinions are my own*

ladurée with kids – nyc edition

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As I’ve said many times, I never miss an opportunity to go to Ladurée when in NYC. I most often find myself at the Soho location since it’s one of my favorite neighborhoods, and they have such ample, beautiful dining spaces. I couldn’t wait to give the kids another experience – having been fortunate enough to experience the flagship in Paris, they knew they were in for a treat. As soon as Henry + Marie heard the words Ladurée + macarons, they were giddy with anticipation (as was I, bien sur). I was equally thrilled to dine in the (recently) winterized outdoor garden, flooded with natural light….the kind that photographers dream of and seek out, especially in this often dreary season. I got a bit snap happy, it was so dreamy!

 

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I’m such a sucker for anything with a Ladurée logo on it, and we were all pretty excited about these exclusive little coloring books + crayons. It really helped keep the kids entertained while waiting for our tea + treats, which in turn makes for a more enjoyable time for mommy + daddy! We ordered tea for us (marie antoinette pour moi, melange for my mr. fleurishing), hot chocolate for the kids, and of course, macarons. We were pleasantly surprised when we also received their latest pastry creation, the honey tart. It’s a limited edition treat that certainly gets you in the mood for spring.

 

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I must admit that even though Marie was born an old soul, she still shocks us at times with her maturity and grace. She was very excited to use a big girl teacup, and while we were a bit apprehensive about it (hello potential hot chocolate disaster), she handled it like a pro. Henry was more interested in the macarons of course, especially his precious green pistachio ones (as evidenced below and in this video). Many thanks to Ladurée for having us, we had such a lovely time!

 

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this post is sponsored by ladurée…as always, all words + opinions are my own.