Les choses de la beauté...

Well, here we are again; another week where time seems to have been on fast-forward. I have been having those sentimental thoughts again - you know how partial I am to them. You see I am returning to work next week...whaaaaat? I know, I KNOW, but hey, it's time. More of that next week, but in the meantime I am wallowing in the 'this is my last free Friday' feeling. I have a quiet weekend planned; settling in to a book and eating well. Conserving energy and getting fresh air.

Thank you to my wonderful guest bloggers this week...I have really enjoyed these diaries of others. More to come, but in the meantime thank you so much for your kind and supportive comments.

Things of beauty this week is en français, well just because, juste parce que pourquoi pas? So chic...so why not? You know how French women have that style, that elegance; how do they do it? Oh to be more like them! Enjoy...

bee-stung lips...clemence poesy

...vintage carrie in Paris...

life is in little pleasures...

...french plaits...which I still can't do...such an important life skill when you have a daughter!

via dust jacket attic

...lunchtime, Paris style...photograph by the Sartorialist

french cafe life via tom el bez photography

photograph by Jamie Beck

...marion cottilard in vanity fair

Wishing you a chic, relaxed weekend!

How does she do it?

Happy Wednesday...this week is sprinting by; I can not get over how much there is going on at the moment. No time to stop, so just to say this is what's happening here right now...

...more apples than I know what to do with; we have a glut in our garden orchard...

...after school football practice...

...puppy fun...

...and more puppy fun...

I went to see 'I don't know how she does it' last night with some friends. I read this book years ago and found it such an accurate depiction of my life it was almost disconcerting. The film plays out the whole working mother debate and at times when watching, my heart literally ached with the empathy I had for SJP's character. I found it thought-provoking, although the film itself was fairly average. Her handbag had a starring role (...and best supporting actress goes to the Mulberry Alexa!); it was in almost every scene and as I have one I spent a lot of time looking at it!

Interestingly the film has a different ending to the book...so I felt that the matter of working motherhood was entirely unresolved at the end! I guess I have to accept there will never be an answer to this one.

I have come to the conclusion that whether working mother or not, life has a frenetic pace. No matter whether I decide it or not, there is something about this time of my life that demands energy and resilience. Time for some peace and quiet?! Yes please...

Things of beauty...

Here we are again! Some weeks, Friday arrives and I feel like I blinked and the week flew by; today is one such Friday.

I have been thinking about childhood and how each stage of your children's lives seems to be the defining stage. But then it passes and you realise that it was just one phase in the whole journey of parenthood. I have attended lots of school events this week and have observed the Boos standing amongst their peers. The realisation hits every time how much they have grown. Especially my daughter, whose contemporaries have been by her side at her school since she was 4. To see them all grow up - how worldly and mature they seem now. And just to cement that view, Boo then returns home and asks me 'what is antidisestablishmentarianism Mummy?'. Pipped to the post by 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' for being the longest word in the dictionary, apparently. You have to think on your feet as a parent! They break up from school today for nearly a month....eeek.

A weekend ahead of more activities - I am longing for some quiet time. It's Mothers Day on Sunday so maybe then? I have tactically scheduled a duvet day on Monday...can't wait.

...the stunning Natalia Vodianova photograph by Annie Leibovitz...

via Toast home

Vilhelm Hammershøi, Portrait of a Young Girl, 1885

photograph by Polly Wreford

I just love this buttonhole...the second I have posted lately...buttonholes should be worn more often I think.

Photograph by Braedon Photography

Photograph by Mario Sierra

via skona hem

Almost certainly, we will have some beach time this Easter holidays...



There is something about this row of scarves that I  just love...

via tiny white daisies

The bun: my new happy hair do - although mine will never be quite as resplendent as SJP's...

Photograph by Sara Kauss via Hey Gorgeous

Daddy has been working alot lately...

Photograph by Mario Sierra via Sarah Klassen Haute Design

Photograph by Lars Ranek

Photograph Mikkel Vang

Have a wonderful, restful weekend...!

A things of beauty retrospective...

Who would have thought? Almost a year since I delved into the world of blog and here I am. This post as we end the year is a retrospective of some of my favourite images and everything that is 'Lou, Boos and Shoes'...

Here's to a wonderful New Year.

...my girl on the beach; meet Boo...

Me looking at you, looking at me; the strange but sweet voyeurism of the blogging world...P.S. this is not me but kinda wish it was!

It's all about a picture that speaks to me...whether it's a kitchen sink...

Or a hairdo...

Dresses, dresses and more dresses...Vogue style...

...Lara Stone...

Pants of the rumba variety - courtesy of my lovely friend Simone...one of the best, unanticipated gifts of blogging is friendship.

Houses that take your breath away...

Beautiful, graceful, ballet girls...

The sentimental art; 'Brothers and Sisters' painted by Jessie Wilcox Smith. This reminds me completely of my older brother and I.

A nice cuppa tea...earl grey?

My shoe fascination...

Running for fun...

Stoical beauty...

...Carolyn Besette-Kennedy...

George Clooney; OH YES...

My slight preoccupation with Vegas...

Ooops there he is again...you don't mind do you?

My love of photos of people leaving...

Eames rockers...I want I want I want...in 2011 maybe?

Quotes to ponder; my mind like a sponge...

Love and life and life and love...

My friend Alexa...

My friend Olivia...

My friend Sarah...

A healthy dose of 1980's nostalgia...

...'Tootsie'...

Musings in Danish blue...

My straight-forward, face-on, 'here is what I think' blog posts...

Pictures of impossible beauty...

Handbags to die for...

And that lovely 'see you next time' feeling...

I've had an absolute ball...and you have been lovely and stylish and kind and thought-provoking...

Lots and lots of love, Lou Lou xxx

P.S. Come back next week for giveaway fun! It's just like shopping...but free ;-)