Antique hydrangeas, a little humor, and a French cookbook




Seattle is beautiful in the fall. The leaves are beginning to change color and the air feels cool and crisp.  I especially notice the change in the morning when I'm out walking my English Springers (the girls!)  Before you know it, I'll be wearing gloves and a coat again!
Making subtle changes in my home at the beginning of each season is so fun! Today I removed my white flowers and replaced them with antique hydrangeas. Have you seen these at your local florist?

My  color palette is neutral. Adding a pop of color here and there makes it so easy to change the feel of a room. A green topiary will be perfect sitting next to these hydrangeas!  These are easy to dry and store for the following year.


While we are on the subject of fall.. today I am visiting my friend Tina over at The Enchanted Home for the start of her "a perfect fall day" series.  I  met Tina about a year ago (before starting my own  blog) while she was building her dream home.  I fell in love with her sense of style and home decor.  She doesn't know this.. but my very first blog comment was on HER blog :)  Also a fan of french decor, silver and blue and white porcelain, I was so excited when she opened her on-line store    If you haven't visited.. head over! 


GORGEOUS!

Moving on..  I believe a good sense of humor is really important in life.  That said, in honor of my birthday last week my friends offered up their best in funny cards.  Here are a couple of my favorites..





I'm SO glad they're not voting me off!!



I received this wonderful cookbook and wanted to share it with you.  The recipes are French bistro style and I enjoy the author's simple approach to preparing food. 

   The author is Laura Washburn.  Originally from America, she studied in France and now resides in London.
here






Soup au Pistou
MARTIN BRIGDALE





Before I sign off.. have you noticed all the new phone cases that have come out for the Fall?!  


Kate Spade New Your Girl
..you can get it monogrammed!

Monogrammed phone case

.. and when you're feeling like a little cheetah :)

 MICHAEL Michael Kors Signature iPhone 4 & 4S Case
Chetah-print phone case


I am looking for a fall bag.. can't decide what style and color to get.  What do you think of this one?  
Michael Kors

Also wanted to thank all of you that left a comment on my last post ONE UP  ..  I appreciate your honesty and all of your perspectives on what I consider to be an important topic for discussion.  

Have a great week ahead!
xx
leslie

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55 comments:

  1. I am visiting from Enchanted Home. Enchanted was also the first blog I ever followed. I loved watching Tina's dream home come together - isn't it stunning?

    I am a new follower.

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  2. i love you blue and white with the antique hydrangeas! Those birthday cards are hilarious! I'm also loving that the leaves here in DC are just beginning to change colors.

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  3. Hi Leslie... Loved your entry over on the Enchanted Home! I'm a new blogger and so glad to find your beautiful blog. I also have "mature skin." Glad I found your blog. All the best...KC

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  4. Happy Belated Birthday, Leslie!! I love your cards....especially the sweater gal, LOL :) :) Your antique hydrangeas are gorgeous. And so is your blue and white collection.
    xoxo,
    Loi

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  5. Always enjoy another cookbook! I will certainly check this one out. I, like so many others, have also been following The Enchanted Home for some time. It is a great blog with lots of great information. Regarding the hydrangeas, I love them.

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  6. What a great post as usual! I also love hydrangeas but I was laughing out loud at those cards - the remote one is awesome! :) Loved your post today at Tina's too - happy Fall...I love this time of year. :)

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  7. Those antique hydrangeas look gorgeous paired with your blue and white vases. I agree that a sense of humor is so important in life. You must be looking forward to trying out some of those tasty looking recipes in that French cookbook. Off to check out your post on the Enchanted Home.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  8. Interesting post and so much to comment on, Leslie. Firstly - just popped over to The Enchanted Home and enjoyed reading your answers - got me in the mood for the new season. Love the muted shades of the hydrangeas and the birthday cards really made me chuckle. As for the Michael Kors bag - perfect colour, style, size - love it! Enjoy the rest of your week.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. I love your birthday cards leslie... they are brilliant... and as for those beautiful hydrangeas.. they look fabulous. I have just vivited Tina and adored your post... so thank you for making my afternoon such a treat... xv

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  10. I love those deep hues of hydrangeas in the fall. But then I love everything about hydrangeas. I have been a big fan of The Enchanted Home for quite awhile, because Tina speaks my language: Blue and White, and almost everything she carries in her online store. It's love at first sight.
    I'm loving that new little Kate Spade phone cover. Too cute.
    That cook book looks promising. Enjoy.

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  11. Hi new to your blog and really happy to find it! I am a reader of The Enhcanted Home and really really enjoyed your post on fall. It got me so in the mood to put on cozy socks, stay home and cook soup! Am your newest follower.

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  12. loving those cards! your hydrangea look incredible. i have my plain old white and green ones everywhere around the house right now.

    i will visit you at tina's now!

    smiles to you, leslie.

    michele

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  13. I love your posts, they are all so "rich". Though I appreciated very much the insight you gave in your last post about the way women look at each other, I wasn't able to leave a comment, because the subject was so touchy and what you said was really exhaustive .
    I love hydrangeas, though my latest experience with them was rather scary: my mother in law has wonderful bushes full of pink, light blue and light purple flowers. I took some home and arranged them in a vase. A few minutes later a crowd of coachroaches (or similar) was running in all directions, and by the time I took the vase out, the small insects had scattered everywhere in my kitchen......
    Your friend's house looks very chic, I like her style.
    You definitely got a lot of funny cards for your birthday: happy bday by the way!
    French recipes are very appealing, post some when you try them!
    Thumbs up for the bag!
    xo Coco

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    1. Leslie sorry, I didn't know that exhaustive means exhausting!!What I wanted to say is that your post explained so well what goes on inside when we look at other women, that I didn't feel the need to add anything. Your post are a pleasure to read from cover to cover!And my English sometimes is not clear...sorry for the misunderstanding!!have a great day

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  14. I so miss Seattle in the Fall. Love that MK bag!!

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  15. they are gorgeous! and i love the animal print iphone cover, too cool!

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  16. i absolutely adore hydrangeas
    probably my favorite flower of all time, fresh or dried
    can't get enough of them
    brett

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  18. Hi Leslie..thank YOU for being my guest today!! I love hydrangeas as my blog will atttest:) in all their many gorgeous colors...not a bad one from what I have seen and they look stunning in the blue and white vases!! Thanks for featuring them, you do them beautiful justice:)

    Everyone loved your post as did I, you really have me in this super cozy feeling mood to embrace all that fall is...so thanks for that! Hope you have a great day and sending you big birthday wishes and a warm hug!!

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  19. Hi, new follower here, found you from Enchanted Home. Really liked your post. Happy birthday and the cookbook looks beautiful. I agree life without humor and laughter would be awfully boring. Your flowers are so pretty too.

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  20. Happy belated birthday! Those cards are hilarious!
    I can just imagine how beautiful your home is....
    Love love that Michael Kors bag, it's perfect for fall!

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  21. Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day! I adored hydrangeas and wish I could grown them, but the Texas heat is just too much!

    Love the bag!!

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  22. Catching up on my trouverlesoleil! Eye candy as usual...you know I like the hydrangeas! Now maybe someday I will figure out how to put an icon next to my comment;) xxSusan

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  23. Happy Late Birthday, Leslie! so sorry I missed it! I hate being so busy! I really do! I really also love antique hydrangeas…nothing like them! Can't wait for fall here in Alabama….it's coming!!! It's going to be in the 40's in the morning! Go figure! Even in the deep South…miracles do happen! Hope you are doing well! sure seems like you are! thanks for your friendship!

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  24. Lovely! Happy Belated Birthday! It sounds like it was magnificent! May all your wishes come true this year my dear!

    Those hydrangeas are beautiful. I'm like you in that I like to change the inside of my home to match the seasons occurring on the outside. :)

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  25. Hi Leslie,

    Love all the birthday cards and hope you had a wonderful day. All the best for happy days ahead.
    Hydrangeas are such beautiful flowers, I have a few growing and often think once the flowers are dried they take on a gorgeous vintage look, love the colours.
    Enjoy fall and love the cell phone covers and the tan bag are fabulous.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  26. In the northern hemisphere you say Fall while down here in the Antipodes we say Autumn.
    There are some very funny greeting cards around these days and it is nice to be able to share laughter with our girlfriends. Oh and I love the bag!
    xx

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  27. Happy belated birthday, Beautiful!! I'm a Sept. bday too! I just read your guest post over at Tina's beautiful! Are those vases in this post from her shop? Love the Kate Spade phone cases but I don't like the hard shell cases because I like to stick my phone in my back pocket. J Crew has some fun ones too. xo

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  28. Beautiful blooms for Autumn... and yeah, that Kors bag wouldn't go astray either :)

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  29. Oh Leslie dearest,

    FIRST THINGS FIRST...I need to put your blog on my sidebar! There are so many wonderful people and it is hard to keep up with everyone so it will be easier for me to put your blog there....

    OH TINA'S BLOG is fabulous, non? That manor of hers is just out of this world. And your hydrangea arrangement is just superb. In the winter, I so enjoy using the dried flowers in my wreaths for that natural effect.

    Thank you for coming to visit me! It is always so nice to see your beautiful smile! Anita

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  30. Great pics, very inspirational!! I really like the color of the bag you want to buy.
    Best Regards
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

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  31. i gotta get my fall flowers for outside - thank you for reminding me - i gotta stop on my way home from work tonight!

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  32. AMAZING:) this post makes me so happy. You are very talanted. I hope everything is ok with you:)

    If you want some autumn inspiration...check out my new post:)

    have a great weekend dear

    LOVE Maria

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  33. Leslie,
    I just found your site thanks to Tina, The Enchanted Home. I like your perfect fall day!
    I just returned from your area, visited my best friend who lives on Bainbridge Island...ideal weather.
    Karen

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  34. Loved your post over at the Enchanted home! Everything was perfect in my book!

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  35. Loving that Micheal Kors bag - everything about it!

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  36. The M. Kors bag is gorgeous and I love those cards :) Papyrus? Well behaved women never do make history do they?? lol!

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  37. Dear Leslie
    I feel that autumn is coming too. The mornings are so cool... I don' t like cold seasons but it's something romantic in the autumn, I think.. Your hydrangeas fit to this atmosphere :)
    Best wishes from me to You! Are You Virgo zodiac sign, like my husband? :) His birthday was 18th.
    Bag is tempting :)
    bye, bye
    marta

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  38. Those hydrangeas are stunning!! I've never seen that color before! And that MK bag...it's beautiful. That is such a great color. It will go with anything!!

    Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings

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  39. I bet Seattle is gorgeous in fall. Your hydrangeas are beautiful and I love the MK bag. A pair of boots would be perfect with that bag for fall.

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  40. Hey Leslie! Love the hydrangeas - they always remind me of my gran as she grew them in her garden xo

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  41. Dear Leslie, love reading your posts, and every time I conclude that we have so much in common (the neutral colour palette witha splash of vibrant colour haha). Hope you have a sparkling weekend! xo Caroline

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  42. Leslie, That bag is gorgeous and a perfect birthday gift for yourself. I just used my birthday money and bought a bag too. I like to do that each year and have a nice little collection now.

    I just love the blue willow ware with the hydrangeas!
    Have a lovely weekend!
    xo
    Kim
    p.s. love the card with the hot flashes!

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  43. Lovely post!!! I loved your sense of humor pics. Love the cook book. Thanks for the visit. Xo
    Isabelle

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  44. Hi Leslie! I adore hydrangeas and want to get some of the antique versions I can take out each year for Autumn:) Love that Michael Kors bag!!Have a fabulous weekend!
    ~Anne

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  45. Hiya doll, gorgeous bag..what a great treat for you :) And I think I'll be looking for this book as it looks great. I love cooking :) Precious cards, it's great to have friends to joke around with like that, makes life grander. I hope you are well & have a wonderful weekend xo

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  46. Leslie, I have NOT missed reading, while away my ipad wouldn't let me comment???

    Love the post...love your blue

    Have a great weekend!

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  47. I dont mind the Micheal Kors bag for myself. Lovely inspirational photos. Do you like to follow each other on GFC and bloglovin? Let me know will love to follow you back.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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  48. Thanks for that wonderful comment on my blog! I love those cell cases!! Have a great weekend!
    xo
    Sharon

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  49. Hi Leslie,

    Just discovered your blog, I like the way you write. So cute your comments and pictures about the iPhone covers since I covered the same topic on my blog a few days ago.

    Have a great weekend!

    Catherine xo

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  50. Love all the ideas for the home Leslie and I am a cell phone cover addict hehe so the iphone cases were so fun to see! I need a monogramed one :)

    xoDale
    http://www.savvyspice.com/

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  51. Fantastic post!
    I really love that bag :)
    xxx

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  52. I just visited Tina's place, and fell in love with her blog and her home! Thanks for introduce her to me, Leslie!
    As far as shown those amusing birthday cards, I imagine that your birthday party  have been at least entertaining with that group of friends so funny!
    I send you a huge kiss and lots of love for your birthday, sweetie! from the southern end of the world, although with several days of delay ...

    Big hugs!

    Inés
    SimplyClassyMe.blogspot.com

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  53. feast for the eyes and soul!!!
    xx




    http://style-squared.blogspot.ca/

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  54. Love the blue and white, Leslie. Just beautiful.

    I like that Michael Kors bag, too. Those sayings were funny.

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Thank you so much for stopping by!

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