Emailed tips & tricks...

I loathe email forwards but every now and then I get a good one. The below tips are from one such email but I have no idea who to credit! Maybe the same Nigerian Prince that needs my money to free his fortune?

* Cut an apple then secure it with a rubber band in its original shape so it doesn't brown before lunch.

* Score x's in a box top for an easy cupcake carrier/holder

* Turn a muffin pan upside down to make cookie dough cups to hold fruit or ice cream.

* Hull strawberries using a plastic straw...easy & fast!

* Use egg cartons to hold delicate ornaments.

* Install a tension rod in your kitchen cabinet to hold spray bottles, giving you lots of room for other essentials.

* Bread tags make great tech cord labels.

* Rub a walnut over wood furniture to erase dings & scrapes.

* Store rolls of wrapping paper on the ceiling by installing wire from the wall to the door frame for easy organization.

* iPhones & iPads can be placed in bowls to amplify sounds without additional gear.

* Baby powder removes sand from feet in a snap. A travel sized bottle is the perfect addition to your beach bag.

* Use shower caps as covers for shoes to prevent dirty soles from touching clean clothes.

* Install magnetic strips inside bathroom cabinets to hold hair pins, tweezers, nail clippers, etc.

* Freeze aloe vera gel in an ice cube tray for individual sunburn relieving doses.

* Sheet sets are folded and slipped inside one of the matching pillowcases for easy storage and to keep the set together.


* Using a rubber band cover the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner with hosiery to sweep up lost treasures like earring backs, etc.

queen of fashion...

Anyone that knows me well knows I have always been fascinated by Marie Antoinette.  A tragic and misunderstood figure, doomed to fail, Marie Antoinette had a most delightful fashion sense with a long lasting impact on style. I won't bore you with historical details since others have already blazed that trail leaps and bounds beyond what I could write here.  Book recommendations on the subject are:

Marie Antoinette by Antonia Frasier

&

Queen of Fashion by Caroline Weber

I have a few Marie Antoinette related odds and ends I've collected over the years however my prized possession are eight dinner plates from the Queen's table, no doubt looted during the revolution.  They were purchased at auction by my great grandmother and were given to me while in high school.  I've had the good sense to securely stash them off site all these years...I just don't feel adult enough to house them at Chez Fox.

Behold the loveliness:

I am beyond excited for my upcoming trip to France so that I can finally visit Versailles...

xx
JDF

"Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?”
- Marie Antoinette

Indiana Flower & Patio Show...

This weekend I visited the Indiana Flower & Patio Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds with extended family. I don't own a patio (or a home) so I wasn't all that excited at first but it turned out to be a pleasant day and I saw some cool things:

There's at least two of these round, red barns on the grounds and I think they're so beautiful. Fire & water seems to be the big trend in patios these days and this display was my favorite (sadly, my photo doesn't do it justice). I adore the smell of hyacinth and I think I stopped to sniff each arrangement. My son & I had lots of fun peeking through this steel hole in the wall.

This giant balloon rainbow greeted us upon arrival to the show. The flowers available for sale were so lush and the pavilion smelled lovely! We'll be planting a garden at my mother's house this spring and I'd like to divide the space like this grid to keep us organized. I fell head over heels for this hanging bed --- It made me really want to have a patio. 

These whisper thin, string spheres were marvelous and housed a light bulb in each...they'd look great over a dining table. I bought these peachy pink roses to brighten my home. This repurposed wine bottle fountain was a big hit with our group. I am really into air plants since they're pretty low maintenance. Hanging them in glass ornaments could be a terrific way for me to introduce more greenery into Chez Fox.

The Five 1.6

First update of the new year: Friday's Five Favorites is now simply called The Five. Instead of choosing a theme I'll be selecting the top five people, places or things that interested me most during the week.

side note: I have an obsession with the number 5...just in case you were wondering.

{ The Five }

The Hampton Popcorn Company - To be honest I purchased this tub of popcorn because I couldn't resist the packaging. However, the "Hampton Style Parmesan" popcorn was a mix of salty and sweet and was so delicious it didn't even last a full day at Chez Fox.

Chanel Shade Parade - This isn't new but I still love to watch it from time to time...It's so fun, expertly done and I love the use of Chanel's iconic strands of pearls, leather and chain straps and the model scale of Mademoiselle Chanel's legendary circular staircase.

pink chevron pillows - I spotted these pillows across the aisle while picking up dish soap and experienced love at first sight. They had to be mine!

e-reader sleeve - I received a Kindle for Christmas but have been unsatisfied with the sleeve/cover options. At the same time, I had been admiring a brown leather sleeve made for the Nook at Barnes & Noble but for use as a clutch or receipt holder. The Kindle is just a wee bit smaller than the Nook so I'm now the proud owner of a multitasking, supple leather sleeve!

BECCA Lip & Cheek Creme - I adore double duty beauty products and love the creamy formula of this lip & cheek multitasker by BECCA Cosmetics. I love this brand so much I want to share some of their gorgeous products with you! Stay tuned for an exciting giveaway later this month.

sleeping beauty...

I first became obsessed with sleep masks after my first viewing of Breakfast at Tiffany's...so glamorous! I always take one with me when I fly (which isn't much these days) so I hadn't purchased a new one until I discovered Branche. I had a hard time choosing from the beautiful pastel colors but I ended up with blush (below). In addition to the luxurious silk masks there are also charmeuse pillowcases that are easier on hair and skin during sleep than standard bed linens. The pillowcases and masks come in eight elegant colors and are incredibly soft!

Bring out your inner Holly Golightly!

Belle De Nuit Eye Masque in Blush $38