We were supposed to go to Paris for a few days and right now we would be on the coast of Spain in a little town called Sitges… if not for the d@-n virus. I know, “cry me the blues”…we are all in the same boat. How are YOU holding up?
Here are some good things when you can’t go to Paris…
Shopping on eBay For A Vintage French Hat Rack
It was so fun to see the box from France arrive with my vintage hat rack a couple of days ago! Almost as good as buying it at the Puces de Vanves flea market in Paris (yeah, right). Have you shopped on eBay lately? Vintage French hat racks.
This is by our front door where we drop off keys and Chief’s leashes in the basket. The heavy iron umbrella stand was actually bought at a Paris flea market…and I carried it back to our apartment on the metro across town.
Fresh Lavender ~Trés Provençal
My friend Maribeth send some fresh lavender from her garden in Napa, California. It smells heavenly and reminds me of this trip every time I pass it and of shopping here and all the lavender.
Comfortable Stay At Home Dress
I grabbed this Smocked Gauze Shift Dress from Target thinking that I could wear it as a bathing suit cover-up (so important with my extra quarantine lbs.). But I tried it on with some jewelry and wore it to my weekly highly anticipated Trader Joe’s run (with a mask, of course)! And now it’s even on sale for only $24. This is an extra small (I’m only 5’1″) and it is supposed to be loose and blousy. I would size up if you wanted it longer. Comes in other colors, too.
Similar stretch bracelets and here for $13 • Straw Tote • Rancher Hat • Hoop Earrings • The Tory Burch sandals are a couple of years old, but these are similar.
How About Some Rosé?
The top left was painted by my cousin, Janice of our apartment when we lived in Paris…and the other two were purchased in Paris.
There, wasn’t that almost as good as going to Paris? HA! Not. Might as well pour yourself a little glass of rosé 🙂
Come back on Thursday as we will be showing some beautiful outdoor spaces from around the country from some of my favorite bloggers!
Thanks for visiting!
Mary Ann
Marty M says
Omg — Sitges — that is my most favorite Mediterranean town ever. I hope you get to go soon!
Mary Ann Pickett says
We haven’t been. Next year!!!
Tamara says
The blues are bad! Rose has been my companion too often, but I’m on a fitness kick now. We were supposed to be on a family trip to Ireland.
Love that comfy dress from Target!
Mary Ann Pickett says
You will be going to Ireland in the future!
Lee says
Hi Mary Ann,
Hard to believe you are mom to two adults – you look more like their older sister. Love the black dress! I think you showed Janice’s painting before. It is one my favorites of your artwork and the Paris avenue is so interesting.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Ha…not if you saw me up close, Lee. I love Janice’s painting of our apartment…she came to visit right after she married my cousin.
Karen B. says
What lovely finds. I’d be disappointed if I had to cancel Paris too! I think you’ve made the best of a disappointing situation. Hopefully, a rescheduled trip will be in your not too distant future. Fingers crossed we can see some improved numbers on this virus in the next several months.
xo,
Karen
Mary Ann Pickett says
I know. We rescheduled the Spain part for next year, Karen, otherwise, we would have lost our deposit. So there is that! Thanks for commenting.
Sheila in SF says
Loved you ideas in place of a trip to Paris. That’s a neat hat rack. I’ve been enjoying my garden lovely lavender so reminiscent of France along with some a glass of rose.
Mary Ann Pickett says
How perfect, Sheila!
Margaret Langenberg says
I have loved your posts during this Pandemic (nicest way to put it) and my state (Nebraska) was one that just put lots of restrictions out without shutting the state down. Our numbers are still increasing. I enjoyed your upbeat posts during this trying time. I had to laugh when you showed the art from Paris. The one on the top right I have a jigsaw puzzle including the same blue car, only it is during winter. How crazy is that.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Wow…must be the same artist! We bought it from the artist of the beach scene and she said her husband did the one with the blue car!
Linda R Salazar says
Cute dress Mary Ann! (you should see what I wear around the house…yikes!) I love lavender too…I have some shower gel from Matanzas Creek winery that smells wonderful! They have an online lavender market that sells all kinds of products but the shower gel is the only thing I have ever tried.
I think I mentioned before that I sell on ebay as a hobby. But the last couple years I have been purchasing items as well and have saved quite a bit of money. Last week for some reason I decided to see if any sellers had any faux Christmas garland from Pottery Barn. One of the Goodwill sellers had some 8 ft. brand new ones (that light up) for $30.00 and no shipping charge! It arrived yesterday in the original PB box and is beautiful.
Linda
Mary Ann Pickett says
Is it your name that you sell under, Linda? Cindy Hattersley gets some good deals on eBay, too. I need to look more often. It’s fun. I will look up the products from Matanzas Creek. Thanks!
Linda R Salazar says
I sell under calgal19572014. Two-thirds of my listings are my in-law’s stuff, the rest I have picked up at garage/estate sales or have things I no longer need. It’s really turned into a fun hobby. It can get a little addicting lol. My sister got me started selling about 6 years ago and then after my husbands parents passed we ended up with a lot of their things even though there was 7 siblings. Some items we kept but the majority I put on ebay. My father-in-law was from Santa Fe so they had many collectibles from the Southwest but collected everything really. I’ve gotten to be an expert on fossils !
Gail says
Fun post Mary Ann. The ol’ virus sure has thrown many wrenches into lots of people’s travel plans, but it gives one something to look forward to in the future. Love your new hat rack and I love the tote hanging on it with the tassel. You look so cute in that cool looking shift dress, I’m always looking for cool summer dresses with that length sleeve! Thanks for the Paris tease, almost as good as being there.
Happy Sunday!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Ha! Sure Gail. I could wear that dress every day. My mom called them “housecoats.”
Kristen says
I LOVED this post!!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Thanks so much, Kristen!
Karen H. says
Lucky you for grabbing the French hat rack. Love how you styled the entryway with it. Mary Ann, we would love to see any pics of your French apartment, please?! Happy dining out today!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Karen, I can’t find many photos…but I should look. It was 20 years ago. Our son, downloaded lots of photos and those were not in there so I need to sift through hard copies.