After watching an episode of House Hunters International in the countryside of France and reading Jordan’s posts about the beginnings of her stay in Paris, now I’ve come across Jordan’s sister Gabrielle who is staying in Normandy.  My jaw dropped when I saw where her family are staying for the next few months…

Can I please relocate to France too?  Even just for a year… what an amazing life experience, especially to have as a family.

{images shown belongs to Design Mom}

The idea of meatballs sounds pretty good to me for this weekend, but what about making meatballs and making Italian Wedding Soup with them?  Super yum, that’s what I think.

What are you making this weekend?

{image shown belongs to Smitten Kitchen}

The “earthy-crunchy” girl in me loves the free-spirited nature of this beautiful wedding in France.  Love the dress, all the wildflower and feather details, and the especially the traditional band.  From Tigers to Lilies.

{images shown from Tigers to Lilies; different photographers listed there}

We stayed in Vermont for our 5 year anniversary (as a couple, not being married) and 5 years later, we returned.  It better not be another 5 years before we go back again!  This was our only Christmas gift to each other this past holiday: a quick getaway somewhere in New England during the winter and this place was absolutely perfect.  As much as I love B&B’s, I really wanted to go away and be completely alone: alone with my husband and alone in the woods.  We both needed major “downtime” and we definitely were able to do just that.  We brought all our own food and cooked all our meals, read books and magazines, rested and slept in, watched movies, relaxed and sat around listening to music, and I even worked a little (yes, it’s crazy but I was desperate for no wifi and no distractions to get some work done!).  It was heaven on earth and I felt like I was living in White Christmas.  It proved to be too cold for us to really venture out (we had plans to try snowshoeing), but I just couldn’t get past the subzero temperatures.  Now I can say I really know what -15 F feels like!  Thankfully, our cozy little log cabin was warm and comfortable the entire time.  I realized it really is possible to completely, truly relax (even a “type A person” like me can, something I didn’t think possible)… although it all goes away when you get back home.  It pains me to think it’s over and past already, I really wish we had spent longer up in our home-away-from-home.  I’m so thankful though that we had the chance to go.

{for more of my vermont getaway photos, check out my Flickr}

I won’t be back in this space till next Wednesday when I return from a few nights away in Vermont with my husband.  We decided to forgo Christmas gifts for each other this past holiday and instead do a weekend away together in January or February instead.  We found a good deal on a little log cabin and we’re going to squirrel ourselves away in the snow.  We might try snowshoeing for the first time, but the weather is suppose to be frigid… On one of the days the high will be -2 F (the low will be -14!) so I’m not sure how much we’ll get out.  I’m just so excited to get away from the norm for a few days and sit by a fire!

See you next Wednesday and happy weekend.

{image shown from ★Diane★ on Flickr}

Loving this set of images from Lobster & Swan on Flickr…

{images shown belong to Lobster & Swan}

Doesn’t this wedding in Malibu look so romantic?  The idea of sitting in a meadow underneath such a majestic, old tree lit up with candles and twinkly lights sounds so perfect to me.

{images shown via Once Wed; photography by Glen Allsop}

Next addition to my bucket list: someday attend the Alt Design Summit.  It’s too far away to travel for me (plus the cost of registration, on top of travel fees) but I would LOVE to attend this conference.  Practically all of my favorite blog writers, designers, photographers, and other creative folk will be attending and speaking.  I think I’d be completely starstruck!  Hope everyone enjoys what looks to be an amazing event.

{image shown via Design*Sponge; logo belongs to Alt Design Summit}

Love this mini book idea for favors for an event (from frolic!).  This totally makes me want to get back into bookmaking!  It’s been a while (haven’t made one since my college days) but I really love the process of making a journal or sketchbook from scratch.  Full post with more images on Project Wedding.

{images shown belong to frolic!}

Today’s eye candy is everything on Stripe & Field’s website.  Simple and truly elegant.

{images shown belong to Stripe & Field}