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 ;-)

Things of beauty...

Today Boo is doing her first ever horse riding competition. It's dressage which means she has to have the outfit. This is so me. It's all about the outfit. With plaited hair and a velvet hat, riding jacket and fresh new jodphurs I will send her off. I am just about to bust with pride and if she comes home with a rosette, all the better.

And so to a general wondering; in the words of Robert Frost:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -  

I took the one less traveled by.

Do you think it's better to take the road less travelled? I refer to career choices, when a 'career' was not meant to be the priority for me, it's hard to tell whether to take a leap or to stay safe and known. I need your counsel...

Palest blue tutus...it's Nutcracker ballet season coming up...

Let the madness begin; every year, my lusting after a very luxe MaxMara Cube coat, complete with collars and cuffs.

This amazingly pretty image was taken by my good friend Natasha from 'She Left on a Monday'...from her first wedding shoot; the lawyer-come-fledgling-photographer...

If only...Valentino studded shoes...YUM.

via The Sartorialist

I have dressage on the brain...I don't ride horses, but how exquisite is this?

by Mario Testino for Vogue

via tinywhitedaisies

Love her posture...and the halloween legs!

These are my 'I got new boots' boots...my friend N said they make her think of Nanny Mcphee and my friend D says they make her think of Mary Poppins...thoughts please?!! I love 'em.

by Belle and Boo

Watching re-runs of SATC, I found an episode I had never seen; where she dances with 'The Russian' in an Oscar de la Renta dress in Macdonalds. Inspired...

Keira in vintage print.

Sumptuousness from Elie Saab...

I think it might be a great weekend...

So many things of beauty...

A week of unexpected things. A week that I thought would be tough was easy. Life is taking on an autumnal rhythm now. My son and I went to the beach for a beach hut picnic. So deserted now that the tourists have left and the beach is restored to a place for dog-walkers and people looking for the freshest of air. We wondered through the sand dunes whilst he chattered away, as only five year old boys do, about nothing, about something; whatever happened to enter his little head. Just so lovely; one of those moments that I much more aware of now as daily he grows older and wiser. One time in the future when he is a surly teenager I will remember times like that walk on the beach.

Meanwhile, I have been thinking a lot about clothes (no change) and hair (off to hairdresser tomorrow), the blocked drains and empty oil tank associated with our old, old house. In between the constant half term commentary of the Boos, this is what floats in and out of my mind.

And finally to blogging. I still question why I blog and what it all means (so typical me; just let it go Lou). I look back on posts and see parts of myself that I have shared and the lovely comments I get and it's all completely and utterly validating. This can only be a good thing so I continue...always on the look out for the perfect image or mulling over thoughts in my head that might just expand into a blog post. Who'd have thought?!

I have some many lovely pictures to share today - sometimes I have to hem myself in as there's just too much beauty!

Blake Lively at a recent premiere...love the neckline detail...

via The Vogue Diaries

by Elizabeth Messina

Still and always my favourite; Arne Jacobsen chairs, best when paired old and new.

via sweetiepie

Simple and perfect...

Charlize Theron, so beautiful.

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson (he'll always be Pacey Witter in 'Dawson's Creek' to me!) Steppin' out.

It's hot chocolate and marshmallow season...

The elusive perfect pony tail...I covet this...

What a view. I would like to sit on this porch, on my Adirondack chair, glass of wine in reach, husking corn on the cob for dinner!

Country Living

 

Here's to Friday Fabulousness!