Friday, March 8, 2019

Dreams and Women...

Have you travelled to France?

If not, are you dreaming of a trip?

Can you visualize yourself walking along the Seine,
or sitting outside a cafe sipping a cafe creme?

Wandering along the cobblestones streets...
lighting a candle in a church
perusing the shops.

Travelling was personal dream of mine for years.

I read numerous books on Paris and France...
they whet my appetite and I thought it may be possible
"where there is a will there is a way"
so I took French language classes,
saved money
then the year I turned 60 I went...
It was the trip of a lifetime.

Keeping the feeling of France alive...
I continue reading books set in France,
saving money and am dreaming again of French countryside and Paris.

Today on International Women's Day...we honour women.

Sharon Santoni is a great example of an industrious, creative, and energetic woman.
Sharon continues to reinvent and challenge herself,
she is an inspiration for those of us who have yet to fulfill all their dreams.

My Stylish French Box was created by Sharon...
You may be familiar with her beautiful books or the lovely blog she writes
about her life in the countryside surrounding her gorgeous home in Normandy.

Recently she also launched her online magazine...

The February box theme was The Parisian woman...



The velvet pouchette features a photo taken in Paris by Sharon.


The beret is made of soft thick wool...
the red lip gloss is ultra moisturizing and perfect for everyday wear.


I love the wee pop of red atop the beret.


Some quotes to ponder and inspire on International Women's Day. 



“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~


        "The education and empowerment of women throughout the world 
                      cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, 
                                    just and peaceful life for all."    

                                             ~ Aung San Suu Kyi ~



              "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

                                              ~ Michelle Obama ~




"I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and                 confidently themselves, who bring light into the world."

                                                  ~ Meryl Streep ~



             “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 
                                         ~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~



14 comments:

Madame Là-bas said...

It's wonderful to have a dream place to visit! I try to keep a bit of Paris in my life at all times. I brought French soap to Oaxaca. That beret is so cute! The red makes it. You could be an imp in a children's story. Enjoy!

La Vie Quotidienne said...

You look adorable in the beret. Very cute.

Patricia said...

Lovely to dream of France! I have been to Paris several times, but am very excited to be going to Provence later in the year. Your beret is the sweetest, with its little touch of red, so perfectly You. Happy International Women's day, and thank you for those wonderful quotes.

Anonymous said...

Your beret looks fabulous. Not everyone wears a beret well. The pop of red makes it all very international. I've traveled all my life. Domestically and internationally. As a youth, we moved every couple years, due to my father's work. I married a Brit and his extended family lives throughout Europe. Hence ongoing travel. There are many advantages to travel experience. How nice that you greatly enjoy your adventures traveling in Europe. Your upcoming trip sounds superb. Susan (P.S. - Looking forward to your visit with icon, Linda Wright.)

LA CONTESSA said...

KEEP DREAMING There is TIME for ANOTHER TRIP or THREE!!
XX

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I would love to be an imp!
We bring home the feelings that we experience when we are travelling...the scents, flavours, sights, sounds and the scenery are the best souvenirs.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Thank you Adrienne!
Its made from a soft sumptuous wool fabric, very easy to wear.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I look forward to hearing about your Provence trip as we will be there in the fall...we are planning to stay close to Aix and drive to villages exploring for about a week.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Your are so fortunate that you have been able to travel so much...and from an early age too! I suppose having family there must make it a priority.
I hope Linda will be in the shop when I am in Paris...she loves to go to Morrocco so she might be away. Retired now and living on a modest pension I find travel to Europe is a luxury, I save a bit every month and put it in my travel account so I do spend a lot of time dreaming as I wait!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The dreams are very much alive.
Where in Italy did you live?

Anonymous said...

You look lovely in the beret-the touch of red is so adorable
Dreaming of travel is almost as good as traveling itself (and than,afterwards-a lot of memories.... all of this was very important to me,one meets new people,new customs and cultures, it's really the truth that travel broadens one's mind and widens our horizons....)-your travel seems so nice and full of interesting things and places indeed
I'm so curious about the culinary course....
Dottoressa

Anonymous said...

It's great you're planning another trip. It really is about priorities - we have a financial planner (fee only - not a salesperson) who insists that most educators are saving wayyyyyyy too much money in paid-off houses, cars, second homes, RVs, etc. He insists (despite everything we've been taught by our frugal parents) that our job is to actually spend money doing the things we want to do. Because we have excellent pensions/medical benefits, we do not need to save money in RSPs (only to have other benefits clawed back), and our kids (with good fortune, will likely be well-established fully-functioning adults by the time we die) do not actually need to inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars. He's given us a lot to think about - and to question our parents' ways of doing things.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Travel teaches us more about other cultures and our eyes are opened to the beauty of other countries landscapes...I agree with you that planning is a bit part of the process and it seems that trips always start with a dream!

Anonymous said...

Not all of us have the means for for overseas travel. Through hardship and unplanned events we live on tight budgets. Those of you blessed with good pensions or inheritances are indeed fortunate.
Many have the same dreams as you but will not be able to fulfill them.