We're Dancing As Fast As We Can!

Seems when it rains, it pours!

After "break" in receiving new inventory (if you call a week a break), we're now flooded with it! But oh how wonderful it is!!

**BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER -- ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE ON OUR NEW ITEMS PAGE - THE QUICKEST LINK TO USE TO ACCESS THEM ALL. *

For months there has been a "buzz" about a new addition to the store we've been working on that we're SO excited about and now the first of the new "exclusives" have been rolled out...

**BE SURE TO CLICK ALL THE PICS FOR BEAUTIFUL DETAIL!**

We've been in the design/fabrication stages of creating a line of truly beautiful, elegant and unique pillows and the first of them to be available are constructed of something very , very special...vintage French ticking fabric that is SO strong and dense it must have a count of like 2,000 threads per inch! This stuff is practically bullet-proof -- really something to work with.

The fabric was a once in a lifetime find and we've made as many pillows from it as possible, conserving the fabric like a miser to use every last inch of it.

So far, we have several designs we think you'll love -- all impeccably embroidered -- creating a pillow accent that will last a lifetime and really make a statement.

The Crown Crest pillow (below) is rectangular, measuring 10.5" x 14" .

This bold Crown pillow is 12" square. Both sizes are the PERFECT "toss pillow" size -- the kind that guests don't have to fuss with or politely try to find another spot for when they sit down.

Additionally, there is a Vintage Keys pillow and below it is shown in a charcoal/soft grey colorway. Going forward, this design is going to be done in the black/charcoal.

**A note about the color-quality in the pics below -- the red fabric appears too pink -- it is more closely depicted by the photos of the larger pillows above.**

This pillow is a smaller, accent pillow done in a 10" square -- we can see this on an antique French chair!

We have just one of the charcoal/grey pillows and if you would like to purchase it, please email us and we'll set it aside for you. It does not appear on the website, since there is only one, so please contact us ifyou'd like it! Once it is sold, it will not be produced in these lighter colors again. Be quick if you'd like this pillow -- it is the only one we have!

Currently, also in the works are our "Mathematicus" pillows (that's Latin in case you're wondering) -- they provide that bold, graphic statement that we so love! (SEE PIC BELOW!)

Of course, anyone who knows me probably wonders how I, of all people, would choose to create a line of anything with the word "math" in it, since they know that dealing with math or any form of crunching numbers at all has me reaching for sharp objects to jab into my... oh, never mind...

Since this pillow appeared on our blog and on the site, next to the huge burlap pillow cover we had for sale, we've been getting many inquiries into the "No. 34" pillow!

The Mathematicus range will be available shortly and we've got a call-back list growing from people who have asked to be notified when the "real" pillows are available. If you'd like to be added to that list, just shoot us an email and we'll add you! (info@thebeautifullife.com)

EXTRA-SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE MATHEMATICUS PILLOWS:

We will be happy to take your custom order for whatever number you'd like on your pillow(s)! So, if you have funny thing about a certain number (I do -- mine is "34" & no, I'm not telling why) we're happy to make up a pillow with your "special number" on it!

Otherwise, we'll have some "stock" numbers ready to ship which you'll love equally as well, since its the bold statement they make that we love, no matter what the number.

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Next, we're thrilled to finally carry these fabulous housekeeping products, some of which I've personally used for years but somehow never got around to adding to the store. There is laundry powder (very concentrated stuff!), herbal dryer sachets, dusting liquid, fabulous-smelling furniture wax/polish, and some out-of-this-world candles!

They're now in stock and they will become a fast favorite of yours, too! ALL of the products are SUPER highly FRAGRANCED and will make your housekeeping tasks a pleasure. And as a bonus, your home will SMELL fabulous when you're done!

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Another range of items we've finally added for sale are some that we use routinely in our packaging/shipping of orders that we send out.

We are so happy to now off you the beautiful silk seam binding ribbon (beautifully packaged on stamped cards!) and a selection of custom, made-for-us tags that we think you'll love being able to finally have for yourself!

There are "Pastry Tags" -- a collection of various Gateux (French for Pastry/Cakes) tags, perfect for the coming flurry of giving of baked goods! There are beautiful French "Pour Vous" tags (French for 'For You') - a thoughtful and lovely gift tag!

And don't you just know we LOVE this crown tag!

We get comment after comment about how thrilled our customers are when their packages arrive all "gussied up" with pretty paper, ribbon and tags...Well, now you may purchase a select offering of our tags for your own decorating and gift-giving use!

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~~~BEST-FOR-LAST ALERT!~~~

What's French, grey, spiky, and on the highly sough-after/endangered list??? A French porcupine? Rare French sea urchin?

GIVE UP?????

CHECK OUT THIS BEAST!

The excitement surrounding these racks has only been equally by the passion our customers have had about the English "Pure Butter" and "Cheese" platters we once carried (and we even now continue to get inquiries about those weekly!).

Originally used in France for air-drying wine bottles, these are now one of the most sought-after home products I know of. If you wanted to buy an original, vintage rack from France, lets just say you're into way more than the cost of these reproductions. Trust me.

Last Christmas, my own bottle rack was used to hold my huge collection of Christmas mugs and it was the hit of every party or gathering we had. The kids especially loved being able to stand there and gaze up at this strange-looking thing and choose their own special mug. :)

It makes a FABULOUS craft-station implement as well! We have one in our "packing room" which holds spools and spools of ribbons, scissors, hole punches, pretty tags, etc... During our Christmas Tour Of Homes last year, the rack holding all the ribbons, etc. was a real hit with the ladies coming through -- they all wanted one for their craft area.

These racks looks as great in a modern loft-style kitchen as they do in a period/historic home's kitchen. They're one of those items that is so universally appealing, it "holds its own" anywhere.

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So, as you can see, its been a busy time here and yet a thrilling time, as well. By way of a "heads up" - much of what we introduced in the last post (new items) are now just about gone.

The response to those items was huge and, not to be pushy but....I'm just saying....if you wanted any of the things you saw in the last post, well....you know what they say -- 'She who hesitates..." :)

"Keep Calm" posters IN STOCK; Favorite books & music listed.

As mentioned in the last post, the "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" posters are now in stock and ready to order and ship! Yay! They look great and even have an almost vintage-y look! I just love them! CLICK HERE TO GET ONE!

Another addition to the site that we added this week is a compilation of the books (Decoration Francaise Books) that have been a tremendous artistic and creative inspiration for me as well as the music (Musique Francaise) that "fuels" each day around here... It's just a fun way to share with you the essence of being here without being here, if you know what I mean. ;)

We have not physically stocked all these books and cd's we've listed. Better, we've partnered with Amazon.com and simply provided links to the page(s) on Amazon where each book or cd is listed. For the book/cd purchases, you checkout directly with Amazon. We just thought we'd list our fave books and music, giving you a little insight into what life's like around here inspiration-wise.

I feel terrible that all the incredible new items we have gotten in are STILL NOT up on the site!! Between there just not seeming to be enough hours in the day, and the off & on rain (making for too-cloudy photographing conditions) we are lagging behind in processing the newer items up onto the site. I'll say this, though -- once you see them all, it will be well worth the wait...

"KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" -- SAGE ADVICE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

THEY SAY TIMING IS EVERYTHING....

For months and months I've been planning to carry these FABULOUS posters and just hadn't gotten around to getting them up and on the site for sale.

THEN BOOM! Over the last week or so it would seem the economic world as we know it is crashing in around us all. Then, yesterday's serious slide of the market down 700+ points....

Could there be a more pertinent, well-said reminder for us all?

A couple of things about this poster (really a public service announcement for England during WWII) are amazing:

1.) It is but one out of a series of posters commissioned to be displayed throughout Britain when World War II broke out. It was essentially a message from King George VI to his subjects, reassuring them that all possible measures were being taken to ensure the defense of the country. Sort of an encapsulated statement epitomizing that wonderful British "stiff upper lip" approach to things.

Its simple message is possibly more relevant to life today than it was then. But you know what? For some reason, this particular PSA was barely put before the public.

The poster was held in reserve for use only in times of extreme crisis. Although thousands were produced, only a handful ever saw the light of day

Its as though it was supposed to be held for us now.

2.) This poster is just sky-rocketing in popularity -- being found now on any number of objects, from mugs to totebags to pendants! But this, my friends, is basically as close to the original as you will get apart from uncovering an original vintage stash. The red color is the original, authentic color. The poster is now available in a myriad of colors (which we will also be offering) but red was the original. A real attention-getter, to be sure!

So, this simple but eloquent declaration, never seen by the generation it was intended for, is now not only very much of-the-moment in terms of our current "situation" but it is also fast on its way to becoming the next decor "craze" (not sure I like that term, but...).

We're expecting delivery of the posters within days (FROM THE UK!) and as soon as they're in, we'll get them up on the site straight away!

The posters measure 23.5" tall x 16.5 wide and will come rolled and unframed.

ALSO COMING SOON....Be on the look-out for other VERY HIP prints and framable notecards!! YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE YOUR EYES!!! :)

One last little thing...as you watch the events around you (economically, politically, whatever) unfold on the news each night, just keep it all in perspective. No matter what is swirling around you that would seek to cause you to panic, worry, be dispairing, it pales in comparison to all that you no doubt DO have that can't be taken away. Enjoy your family, every day. Maybe even choose to turn OFF the news occasionally.

Give someone a extra smile -- maybe a stranger in the grocery store trying to figure out which item to take back out of the cart so they don't break this week's budget. Look around, they're everywhere -- people who will stop dead in their tracks because you just simply looked them in the eye and warmly smiled. Try it.

You get just one time around, only get one shot at this -- one chance to find out the one thing that you don't want to miss.

One ride, one try, one life to love...

Share some love today -- surely someone out there who's watched too much news needs an extra dose. :)

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE...OF MY POND / ALLIGATOR 'STALK-ARAZZI'

THIS IS WHAT I SAW AS I GLANCED UP FROM MY KITCHEN SINK WHILE PREPARING CURRIED CHICKEN FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT....

Last evening while I was in the kitchen fixing dinner, our old friend "Ally" made an appearance just outside my window on the bank of our pond. "Ally" is one of the alligators living in the pond on our property and as best as I can tell, it is now a pretty "healthy" 7 or 8 feet long. You could say its our version of "Nessie" the Loch Ness Monster -- elusive and somewhat even of a myth. Ahh...but now I have proof!!

Its been a while since I've gotten a glimpse of the alligator that calls our pond "home" and its apparent that he/she is eating well. The last time I saw it, it was quite a bit smaller and it appears there is something in the pond that is sustaining him/her!

THESE PICTURES DON'T DO MUCH TO REALLY GIVE YOU THE PROPER IDEA OF THE SIZE/LENGTH...BUT THEY PROVE IT'S THERE! :)

I'm also sure that this is not the only alligator we have out there -- and I'm pretty sure that it knows when we are looking at it because without exception, every time we see it, go to get the camera or decide to walk outside to get a closer look, it inevitably turns around and slides back into the water. No lie -- everytime! I feel like a member of the paparazzi, running through the house to find my camera, only to find the alligator gone by the time I get back to the window... So, even though these pics are blurry, at least I got them this time!

YEP...RIGHT ON CUE... HE/SHE IS TURNING AROUND TO SLIDE BACK INTO THE WATER -- GUESS IT SAW ME WITH MY CAMERA AND BINOCULARS AGAIN!

And, trust me, we keep an eye on our sweet dog, Nick, whenever he goes outside. Being a Lab, he's bred to love the water and he's been known to head straight for a swim in the pond. Since the appearance of the alligators a couple of years ago, we are vigilant about keeping him out of the pond! :)

Just thought I'd share a little bit of "Florida living" with you. And for those of you who find this whole alligator things horrifying, I do, too! But, I think I might be just as mortified to see a moose or a big bear or deer appear in my yard (if I lived up north), so I guess we all have our own regional "oddities". :)

On a totally different subject, we took in a HUGE new shipment yesterday and only unpacked it very late last night....I will be busy taking pics of all the new goodies (no more alligator pictures!) so I can get the things up on the site! Stay tuned!

Enjoy this fine, last day September!

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRING, LOLA B'S HAS ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Ladies, prepare to hand over your wallet to Kasey at Lola B Boutique...Its just that simple.

Either that, or just leave your credit card on file with her -- start a "tab" -- whatever. Just be forewarned, this store that's only been "live" online for a week now is going to take your pocketbook by storm! But beautifully so! :)

I have been waiting and waiting for this store to be available to those of us who aren't up in the Illinois area -- I've been reading Kasey's blog as long as I can remember, drooling over the images of her sweet store on her blog, and now more and more of what she carries in the shop is appearing on her webstore! Even since I placed my order (just a few days ago) she's added MORE that I simply MUST have! (Oh dear, I wonder if hubby is reading this...).

As I just said, I only placed my order just a few days ago and what appeared on my front porch today?? I feel like singing "Got a package, got a package..."

When I opened it, the first big "WOW'S" were the beautiful and strong lavender scent (I bought some lavender-scented laundry soap -- and now I REALLY hope hubby isn't reading this...) and the beautiful presentation of the goodies.

I had already ripped open the "No Soliciting" sign before thinking to grab my camera, so its unwrapped, but I left the bag of laundry soap intact so you could get an idea of what awaits you when YOU order!

The little "Please No Soliciting" sign is just precious. If you have to basically tell someone to go away, this has to be the prettiest way to do it! (Just a note: I was in such a hurry to get the sign photographed, I didn't even stop to sweep up the porch -- well, what's a little dirt between friends, I ask you?)

I also can't wait to try the laundry soap. Wait. That means doing laundry. Well...like the little sign I bought, at least this fabby new soap will make an otherwise unpleasant task more beautiful! :) OH! And I also received a little lavender bud sachet -- to put in the dryer to match the lavender scent of my soap! LOVING THIS!!! I am actually looking for laundry to do around here and coming up empty-handed! Never thought I'd hear myself saying "Don't you people have any dirty clothes around here?"

On a related note, you'll notice from reading Kasey's blog that she was one of many other great shops from around the country who attended the Country Living Fair in Ohio a week or so ago and very soon I'll be doing a blog post devoted to an interview Kasey agreed to do with me all about her experience at the Fair. You WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!!

If you are among the many shop owners who wanted to participate but for some reason couldn't (like me) this year, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT miss reading this upcoming interview with Kasey! Whenever you have the chance to learn from someone else's experience (hard knocks) its a crime not to do so! :)

Give Kasey's blog a read and Lola B Boutique a look-see. And I say again, better just hand over that credit card now...

SAVANNAH: "GHOST CATS", FIRES SCARES, THE PARIS MARKET AND....DOORS!!

This was the first sign (no pun intended) that we were officially almost there....little did we know the adventure awaiting us!!

Almost 6 hours later, we were there at last!! The gorgeous, gracious and historic Marshall House Inn. Immediately ready at the car door was THE most gracious, friendly and enthusiastic door man, Carlton. Yes -- "Carlton, The Door Man". He and the others were very likely the most friendly hotel staff we'd ever dealt with. Its worth a stay at The Marshall House just to be in the company of Carlton! :)

While getting us settled into our room, Carlton gave us the usual run-down given to guests upon check-in: where the a/c control was, list of amenities during our stay, etc., but what was not so "usual" was the list of 'don't say I didn't warn you' happenings that had supposedly occurred there over the years.... As I'd mentioned in the last post, I just so happened to innocently book us in what is known as one of Savannah's 'haunted inns' -- The Marshall house even having appeared on The Travel Channel's list of America's Most Haunted Destinations. So...our buddy Carlton is telling us about guests' windows being shut by themselves, several sitings of a "ghost cat" (SAY WHAT??) in the hotel by different guests during many different stays. Oh the list went on, but suffice to say, we got a good chuckle and bid Carlton good-day.

So....we are in the room NO MORE THAN TEN MINUTES, freshening up and about ready to leave again to go explore Savannah and get some dinner when the most obnoxious sound of a shrieking fire alarm cannot be ignored (believe me, we tried).

We thought surely it was a mistake and that it would go off any second. After enduring the ear-drum splitting sound for about a minute or so straight, my hubby phones the front desk and they AFFIRM -- the fire alarm was not accidentally set off and in fact the building is being evacuated.... What? A prankster ghost at work already?

We dutifully left our room and headed for the sidewalk in front of the building where there were already two fire trucks and many firemen scattering about to investigate. Good news -- the "all clear" was given very quickly and our time spent out on the sidewalk was only about 5 minutes at most and rather fun, as the guests had an impromptu chance to "mingle". Even the firemen were enjoying the "fun" and several of the guests actually had their pictures taken with them. :)

We went out "exploring the city and oh the things we saw. Being a native Floridian, it doesn't take much civic or architectural history to really impress me. So, trust me when I say I was just simply awe-struck by all the jaw-dropping detail and beauty crammed into a relatively small space. Building after building, house after house, facade after facade...one more beautiful than the last.

I kept thinking that so much of the town's ambiance was reminiscent of picturesque towns in Europe. Below, as you can see, we were able to drive on some of the oldest roads (you almost can't even call them "roads" -- more like paths) my car has certainly ever seen! They were small/narrow and steep! Made for some interesting driving at times! :)

OK....ARE YOU READY??? YOU SURE??? WELL...WE SAVED THE BEST FOR THE NEXT DAY..... OUR TRIP TO SAVANNAH WAS PRETTY MUCH PLANNED AROUND THIS STORE ALONE:

The Paris Market & Brocante -- a destination all its own...

I completely forgot to ask the sales staff if their famous Paris Metro sign was for sale. You see it in every picture taken of this store and since just about everything else in the store (no matter how big!) had a price tag on it somewhere, who knows? Maybe I could have shoved the sign in the back of the SUV...? :)

Here is Olivia with her Paris Market straw tote shopping bag -- even their shopping bags are perfect!!! SPEND THAT GIFT CERTIFICATE, OLIVIA!!

The store was all we'd dreamed it would be -- AND MORE. Here's a little example of how incredible it was. Now, I know before I even write this that there may be some who will read this and think I've simply lost my mind and need to get a life, but trust me, if you go, you'll get it....

Here's what happened....I was so already so overwhelmed by just being there -- it was like seeing my own store, only as I dream for it to be. It took me forever just to cross through the front door of the place, and once I entered, I was like Alice stepping through the Looking Glass.

OK, so my hubby & Olivia are with me, hubby obviously also enjoying all that he's seeing. But, since I planned to look at ABSOLUTELY EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE STORE, he had already made his way to their lower level of shopping and had already scoped it all out downstairs.

So, as I finally began making my way downstairs to join him (after who knows how long upstairs!) I see him sort of "heading me off at the pass", waving his arms at me and kind of giving me the "no, you can't come down here" look....He knows me too well. He'd already figured out that if I was that intrigued just by their main floor, I was going to be in big trouble down stairs. He's so sweet.

Sure enough...I got to the bottom of the stairs, took a quick glance around at what was before me, and ....well....I BEGAN TO CRY!!!

OK -- does that sound absolutely crazy to anyone? Hasn't anyone else been so overcome by total sensory overload of beauty that their senses simply couldn't absorb any more?

I quickly composed myself and trust me, I managed to still put a hurtin' on the shopping aspect, but later, when trying to explain to Doug my unusual reaction, this is the only way I could describe it:

I saw my store.

The store I've envision all these many years while only being online. The Paris Market was full of many of the same items I already carry, and many that I would carry if I didn't have to concern myself with shipping. The smells, the music -- they were playing THE EXACT SAME SONGS I have been downloading for years, in anticipation of already having my music playlist done for my store-to-be.

So, I stood there at the bottom of those stairs and all I could manage to utter, with tears welling up, was "This is MY store...this is the store I'm supposed to have..."

I further summed it up like this -- picture a woman whose arms ache for a child, but she so far has not been able to bear one. She has the name picked out, the room already decorated in her mind and even some of the nursery's decor already purchased (in faith). She falls asleep one day and dreams of her child -- she's allowed somehow to see THE child she will one day truly bear and raise. But...the dream lasts only an hour and at the end she must say her tearful good-byes to the one she's waited for, ached for and prayed for so many years.

Yes, she now has more to cling to, a real hope and promise to hold on to until the time comes for real. But the idea of standing there, beholding the face of that child even for a short time is overwhelming to all her senses.

A few months back, I wrote a post some months back called "Lessons From Mr. Magorium And My Own Wonder Emporium", discussing my longing to finally "birth" my dream of a "real" store. How the desire for it had become more than a dream but somehow an ache -- feeling so, so ready to bring it about now, as never before. Read that post -- perhaps my reaction there in the middle of the lower level of The Paris Market will "gel" for you. :)

Beauty abounds at The Paris Market -- I hope one day soon you'll experience it, too....

OK...So there is more to Savannah than The Paris Market (although I'd go back again just for that place!!).

Below are pics of a building that exemplifies their kind of architecture -- no expense spared by those building this city hundreds of years ago!

The blue accents along the roof line/eaves are actually individual tiles in the most incredible lapis blue!!

Savannah chronicles their rich past in many ways and in many places -- this handsome statue of James Ogelthorpe was but one of many, many seen dotting the squares/parks about town...From what we read about this statue, they have him facing away from the town, facing south toward Florida since back then, as Georgia's primary military threat was from the Spaniards in St. Augustine, Florida...and since no military man ever has his back to his enemy, he faces away from Savannah-proper toward the south...Hopefully, he harbors no hard feelings for me, a Floridan there appreciating his town's beauty. :)

As I said, so much of Savannah seemed to visually hark to Europe, what you might imagine Victorian England or France to look like....Just look at this otherwise commonplace stairway leading up to an in-town home...Vines everywhere, the rich patina of the iron handrail and the well-worn stone steps...Beauty truly oozes from every inch of this town.

I was particularly taken by their doors and doorways...The door on the left was just one of many beckoning you into yet another fabulous antique shop. This one, however, was particularly charming, since to get to it, you stepped down several steps into a small entryway where on the deep black-green door was a sign that asked simply "Please Ring First".

The door on the right is just simply handsome and I had to have a picture. The ironwork on the doors is so ornate -- you just don't see that anymore.

OK...Speaking of doors....

One of the other stops my daughter had on her list was an architectural salvage place she'd read about. She is in the midst of planning a re-do for her bedroom at home and she immediately spotted "a little something" that would be PERFECT for the new look coming for her room. Perhaps leaned against the wall on top of what will become her desk. Maybe she can use the doors to hang little mementos from...or they can just stand there looking gorgeous.

We're planning to swap desks -- I currently use an antique English library table which she has secretly coveted for years. I will get her Pottey Barn file drawer desk and she will get my antique table/desk...Oh what we won't do for our kids...

Check it out:

We snagged a set of VERY OLD teak garden doors from India (gardens have doors??). Me oh my, what a find... Like owning the doors to The Secret Garden. Happy Birthday, Olivia! (I kind of like how they look out on our porch!) :)

Wanna see what I came home with from that place -- FOR FREE???

A pile of OLD BAGS! (And one of our cats, Bugsy, is already claiming one for himself!)

Eight FABULOUS old burlap coffee bean sacks!!! And even now we are STILL having COFFEE BEANS FALL OUT OF THEM!! Too funny!

The guy at the salvage place probably thought we were two nutty gals, going as crazy for his pile of burlap bags destined for the rubbish bin as we did for the exquisite finds in his shop! Go figure!

He said we could take all we wanted since he constantly gets more with every shipment from overseas! Oh the things that make our heart sing! Some gals want diamonds...I swoon for burlap coffee bags. Doug lucked out! ;)

Well, that ends my diatribe about our trip. I know I should have taken more pictures, but honestly, there was SO much I could have taken pictures of and I didn't want to endure the rolling eyes of Doug & Olivia the entire trip as my camera would again be reached for and I'd hold everyone up for "just one more picture!".

Do yourself a favor! Book a stay in Savannah!! I know I'm already dreaming of heading back -- maybe at Christmas? Don't you just know they do it up right for Christmas in Savannah??

P.S...A huge "thank you" to my sisters Val and Minnie for enabling us to even take this trip by overseeing things for us while we were gone!!! THANK YOU!!

GEORGIA ON MY MIND!

For the first time in YEARS (last real vacation was to Maine in 1997) we are hitting the road - and it comes at a time when we ALL need it!

The occasion? My sweet Olivia's 18th birthday! The destination? Savannah! More precisely, The Paris Market & Brocante! WOO-HOO! Ya'll, if you live anywhere near that store, I'd advise you to get there and get what you want, because when we leave that store, there will be NOTHIN' LEFT! :)

Olivia has been pulling pages from various magazines that feature travel stories on Savannah or on The Paris Market in particular. She's been stowing said magazine pages in a file (yes, she's a type-A personality and has a filing system for these things. Well, I do too -- can you say "stuffed in a drawer somewhere??") along with pages about other cities she'd like to see (Chicago, Seattle, Paris...).

Well, of all the cities in the file, Savannah was the most accessible for us considering we'd be driving and it would have to be a whirlwind trip. So, the hotel reservations were made and we've kept the trip a secret from Olivia until last night.

Victoria magazine did the feature shown below on The Paris Market in a very recent issue -- it makes the store sound incredible -- I just know it will be!

Oh, I found out that the place I chose for us to stay at was listed on The Travel Channel's list of "America's Most Haunted Hotels & Inns". Great. So here's the thing -- I've made it known that if I hear so much as even ONE thing go "bump" in the night, its OUT TO THE CAR for me! Its practicially as big as a Sherman tank and I'll sleep out there, thank you very much! :)

This is a picture of the hotel in its early days -- it dates back to the same era as our house does, so it will be interesting to stay there and see if there are any similarities architecturally....

This is how the hotel looks today -- quite lovely for her age, isn't she? Oh that we could be so well preserved! :)

Above is a picture (from the inn's media kit) of the beautifully restored hotel -- the best of old and new!

So anyway, last night we couldn't keep the secret any longer and we presented Olivia with a gift certificate to The Paris Market ... a little confusing to her until we filled her in on "the plan" -- "HONEY! WE'RE GOIN' TO SAVANNAH!"

So...off we go and even though we'll be back in what will seem like the blink of an eye, it will surely be a real memory-making trip for us all.

Can't wait to share the beauty of that gorgeous old city and all the landmarks and architecture steeped in history. No doubt it is going to be sensory-overload, but oh what a way to over-do it!