Your Custom Text Here
Happy FRENCHIE FRIDAY!! Earlier in the week THIS arrived in the mail!! It's Frenchie-Opoly!! Monopoly with Frenchie cuteness all over it! This is so awesome. Thank you to Tyden for thinking of "Stella" and sending this super cool game to us.... it will get played often, I'm sure;)
Here's a closer view of the game, front and back... in case there are any other Frenchie owners out there that are now jealous and need one for yourself! ;)
This is one of the most exciting days in my life. My closet used to me a room I avoided at all costs... and for someone who loves clothes and fashion as much as I do, that was a little depressing for me. One of our goals this year is to "beautify" our home and do some simple things to make our home more enjoyable. One of those things includes our master closet. It's one room in our house that was very hard to keep clean because we didn't have good usable space. Here's how it looked before, same view as above... and I'll have you know, this is after I cleaned it!!
I had tried to organize it before... but without having any shelves or places for shoes....it got out of control and never appeared organized. My shoes ended up lined up in my bedroom! I LOVE my clothes and have always dreamed of being able to actually see them and display them in a way that made me HAPPY! Here it is emptied out...
Well today.... my dream came true. I keep going in there just to look at it because it's so beautiful. I have my purses "displayed" on a shelf now where I can see them! I have my Marc Jacobs patent platinum shoes... my first special purchase on my very first trip to NYC on a shelf where I can SEE them. I can just SEE all my clothes that I take pride in and they are beautifully organized. These are things that can really impact your life. This thing that we've been putting off has made me so unbelievably HAPPY!! If the room was just a little bigger... I'd totally hang out in there. Here's some more pics of our new beauty...
So, the carpet was cut out around the edges to install the closets, so we haven't gotten the new carpet yet.... so that's the last step! It would have added quite a lot to the cost to have the wood "backing" added. What this means is they put the wood paneling on the back of all the shelves in the unit. This makes it look really "built in". What I chose to do instead.... and therefore save money.... was to paint the closet a very complimentary color to the wood to make it appear more built in. You can see the walls here and there at the back of the shelves, so this way it looks very warm and nice. It matches SO MUCH MORE than leaving the walls white! I used Benjamin Moore "Quietude". It's in the "Color Stories" color collection that I am absolutely obsessed with. They are gorgeous colors that I have used in five room in my house now....I LOVE how they all have turned out. The grays in that palette are amazing. I bought their color wheel because I refer to it so much!
Here's some of the other colors I have used in my home.... bedroom: "Evening Gown". It's like a LIGHT taupe-gray/brown with a little pink to it. It's probably my favorite color in my house. I have a "linen" tufted bed and matching "linen" curtains from Restoration Hardware and the colors go together so well. Very neutral, soft and calming. I use darker gray linen bedding to add some depth. I also painted an old nightstand and dresser and changed the knobs in a darker gray to match...it's amazing what a little paint can do...they were headed for the trash before paint renewed them! I chose "Actic Seal" for those. Here's some pics of the colors...I think they go well with the colors we chose for the closet...
Some of the darker woods that were available for the closet built ins looked really nice and rich.... but we went with the lighter to match the colors in our bedroom and the color of our wood floors which are "ash"...light colored.
Our boys rooms, they are both off to college now so I have painted their rooms and updated both for guest rooms when they are gone....and a nice place when they are visiting....In used "Castle Gate" and Upper West Side" for them. Both beautiful neutral grays, one just darker than the other.
In the guest bath, I used a darker gray called "Wool Peacoat" and did a white stripe with hooks on it from Anthropologie for towels instead of towel bars. I have a trick to get such a clean stripe! Use Mod Podge!! (found that trick on Pinterest of course!)
Sorry, I'm getting off track from my closet! I just get so excited about the paint colors I have chosen I thought I'd take a moment to share what I've tried and love in case you need to choose some colors for your home.... it can be overwhelming!!
Here's a few more pics of our new closet...
I love this "telescoping tie rack" for my husband!!... it slides out.
I have a "telescoping garment rack" that slides out to hang things temporarily... LOVE this!
We each have a slide out laundry hamper that has a removable liner....
Update: added a rug (until we get new carpet) and an ottoman that can fit more boots in it...DONE! I think I'm going to pour myself a glass of champagne and go sit in there! LOL!
Also, I added my "special" shoe boxes that I couldn't part with to the top shelf... just for decoration:) ...
It's amazing how much bigger our closet looks now! The use of space is SO efficient now and everything has a place! My husband laughs at me HOW excited I am over this closet. He's just happy I'm happy. He doesn't really get it. He has a "shop" that he loves where he keeps all his tools, bikes, snowboards, surfboards.... I told him, "You know how you LOVE your "shop"?....this closet is like my "shop". :)
-I live in the North Bay area and used Closet Crafters. They are in Santa Rosa, locally owned...Frank, the owner came out to take a look at our needs and did such an amazing job. He inventoried our closet and designed a closet just for us. They are SO fast too. From the first time he came out, the job was complete in less than 2 weeks. They build everything right there in Santa Rosa. I made another estimate appointment with California Closets...the soonest they could even come out for an estimate was a month out...another two weeks from NOW! I guess I should call and cancel that;) LOL! Thanks Closet Crafters, the laundry room is next! :)
If you are familiar with me AT ALL, you know that one of my favorite things is Champagne. If I have had any friends in the past that used to "not like" Champagne....after hanging out with me long enough...I can't tell you how many people I've converted into loving it! My husband even likes it! One of the things about Champagne that I love so much is the "Happy" that comes with it. No, I'm not talking about the buzz...though that's not bad either :) ...I'm talking about the "celebratory" feel that comes with Champagne. It's the HAPPIEST of all cocktails in my opinion! It used to be reserved for those special occasions when people would "toast", take a sip, and that was it. Well, those days are over and bubbly has become something that you can drink anytime!! Here's my motto... and another fun sign I made (it originally said "beer", so I switched it to Champagne, of course.)
I've learned a lot about sparkling wine and champagne over the years because it interests me. I started out drinking sweet Ballatore with my girlfriends while watching chick flicks and eating popcorn! That was in my 20's...now that I'm in my 40's I've moved on from the Ballatore and have been fortunate enough to taste a wide range of amazing Champagnes from high end well-known's like Dom and Cristal to local Sparkling's that honestly can be just as good, if not better. These days when my girlfriends and I see one another... we all bring the BUBBLY!
When a girlfriend of mine told me about a "Champagne Tasting Room" going into Sonoma Square, I was very excited to go visit. I've been to a few of the Sparkling wineries in the area...very lucky to live in the wine country...but they only carry what they make. I do love Gloria Ferrer winery and have been a member there for quite some time. I feel like I should own stock in that place for how many people I've referred there who have joined their wine club! LOL! But when I found 'SIGH' Tasting Room...this was just my kind of place. I've been to the "Bubble Lounge" in San Francisco and Flute Bar in New York...this place is different, more fun!
The sound a bottle of Champagne makes when you open it, that "pop"...can actually be different depending on how you open it. Some have said you can either open Champagne with a "bang or a whisper". People like to open it with a bang on celebrations, the cork goes flying and the bubbles flow over! It should actually be opened by twisting slowly to get the sound of a whisper...or "SIGH". Hence, the very cute name.
I've met the owner of SIGH, Jayme Powers (AKA "Bubble Boss") a couple of times and she just looks like she would be the owner. She is so cute and "bubbly" and is constantly smiling. She is so personable and friendly and you can really tell she loves what she does.
She stocks a rotating menu of 25+ Champagnes and Sparkling Wines from all over the world. High-end's straight from France... to "budget bubbly" that tastes great! I LOVE that they carry wines that you won't easily find anywhere else. You won't find wines here that you can find at your local grocery store or BevMo. Because of that, it's a treat to go taste here because you get to try things you don't have the opportunity to taste anywhere else! SIGH offers small tastes, flights, by the glass...and bottles! Sonoma Plaza Park is directly across the street and it is one of only THREE parks in California where you can legally drink! Perfect to buy a bottle, some plastic flutes, and take it to a picnic in the park! The tasting room is small and cozy, with pillows... cute decorated tables. They also carry fun accessories like champagne glasses and gift cards... they even carry one bottled beer for the men out there who get dragged to the Champagne bar with their wives....Miller High Life!! Why? Because it's the "Champagne of Beers" of course!! It's these cute details that set this place apart.
Okay, here's the REALLY FUN part that I got to experience last weekend... there is actually a third way to open Champagne at SIGH... (I've seen Cameron Diaz do it in a movie, but have never seen it in person!)
If you buy a bottle at SIGH, they will use a Saber to open it!! How cool is that??! (Don't try this at home....it can be dangerous!...there, that's my disclaimer.) We bought a bottle and here she is demonstrating and opening OUR bottle! (My video was longer... with her demonstrating how to do this, but it was too large of a file for the website, so here's the most FUN part of the video!!)... take a look!
Click here: IMG_4193SIGHVIDEO
Not even one drop spilled!! Here's the happy pic of my husband and I... look at the top of that bottle cut clean OFF!! Now that was what I call FUN!
They do sell the Saber in the tasting room.... I really want one and one of these days I will have my own personal Saber!!! (You can use other knives, she even said she's seen it done with an iPad!! The trick is a blunt blade actually... but of course I want the pretty one! ;)
When I talked to Jayme as we were leaving and asked her if it was okay if I put the video on my website.... she said "absolutely"...she also said she'd teach me to Saber a bottle! Well Jayme, I will definitely be taking you up on that! That is MY KIND OF PARTY TRICK!! :)
So..if you love Champagne like I do...and you are ever in Sonoma, CA.... beautiful wine country.... stop by SIGH on Sonoma Square and do some tasting, take home a unique bottle of bubbly, and maybe even see the Saber in action!! Thanks SIGH for making life a little HAPPIER!!
My French Bulldog "Stella" even likes "FRENCH" Champagne!! :)
For more information, visit sighsonoma.com
The pictures on this post were either taken by me or are from the SIGH website.
For "Frenchie Friday" I have to share this adorable video of this man surprising his wife with a French Bulldog puppy that she thought was already taken.... little did she know her husband had gotten her for her and planned this surprise! Reminds me of the first moment I saw my "Stella"...my husband got her for me for my birthday! (I knew about her though and actually picked her out;) See how HAPPY Frenchie's make you?? :) Enjoy! See the Hope Shared video of this cute introduction here...they call it "Pure Happiness"!!
They just have the cutest face!! Here's my "Stella"... (don't want to upset Stella by posting ONLY about another Frenchie! LOL!)
(Just a side note... this is a super cute video, but these people obviously talked about getting THIS puppy beforehand, so I'm not recommending buying a "surprise" puppy for anyone! ...because sometimes that's how these cuties end up in rescues! Just saying'! A dog is a huge responsibility!)
On this Frenchie Friday, I'll give you a glimpse into the life of "Stella". She has a pretty good life....like most French Bulldogs, she is completely spoiled.
She has her own "dining table"...since she has a mega-esophagus, she has to eat with her head a little elevated. She eats three small meals a day and gets "burped" after she eats...it's sounds like a big deal, but it's not...it's become easy;) Being a vet nurse, I know she was brought to me for a reason... otherwise she might have ended up in a Frenchie Rescue!
She gets mail! Yes, she has had friends send her cards with her likeness... knit her cute collars... and send her toys! What dogs get mail!? Stella does!!
She enjoys good champagne... just like her mother;)... a little "Dog Perignon"...
She's a mighty "duck hunter"... I realize this is a Loon (her dad is from Minnesota), but close enough...
She waits for her dad to come home from work...
She gets a little nervous when mom brings home things that look like her...
She gets "photo-bombed" by her favorite toy Pekachu while she's sleeping...
She goes for short walks....
...then rests again...on all her babies...
It's good to be "Stella"... Enjoy your Friday, "Stella-style"!!!
I bet you didn't know Frenchies could FLY! Many people don't know how playful French Bulldogs are! Yes, they are couch potatoes, but they have also been known to love agility classes and ours LOVES to fetch! Aside from not being able to play for too long because of her "smashed" face... we have to tell her when it's time for a break... she is actually quite agile! Our Frenchie, "Stella" goes out of her way to jump from furniture to furniture, essentially making her own "agility course" on her way to fetch her toys! It's very entertaining. She loves to run, jump and play hard.... (if you click on the pictures you can see them larger)
With that being said.... she sleeps even harder because she wears herself out! It's so funny, she'll "tip over" onto her side and my husband and I will laugh... and say "the pig tipped!" She gets herself sleeping into all kinds of very interesting positions...and snores loudly...
Hope this gave you a laugh.... enjoy the little, or big, characters in your life and have a Happy "Frenchie Friday"!
I'm going to take "Stella" for a walk, she deserves one today for giving all of you a giggle at her expense! :) ...AND because it's DAY 6 of the FITNESS CHALLENGE!! Get out there and walk!!