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Let’s Fly Away…

Hi vmac + cheese readers! I’m Lisa from Elembee, Etc and Elembee Creative — let’s fly away, shall we? While Victoria is touring Provence, I thought it would be fun for us to tour another area of France — and give Victoria some ideas for her next trip! What better way to celebrate an anniversary than with a tour of the Champagne region? You could rent a sports car (red, of course!) and drive the French countryside along the Route du Champagne, stopping at all the little wineries along the way. And don’t forget to try the Langres, a local cheese served by pouring champagne on top! Have you visited Champagne, or any other region? Where would you recommend going?

{Image Credits: pjfromuk on flickr, Max Wanger via Cup of JoOEnoVasion ChampenoiseHotel Jean MoetLes CrayêresLonely PlanetJari Kurrittu on flickr}

About the column: I absolutely LOVE Lisa’s Let’s Fly Away column. It’s a guaranteed insta-daydream. She has so many more pretty graphics like this one that focus on fashion, interiors, and general life schtuff. Check it out!

 

Color Study: Orange and Copper

Hello! I’m Becca from {extra}ordinary wonders. I’m very honored to be guest posting while Victoria is enjoying her vacation in France. This color study was inspired by the hues that Victoria loves – orange, copper, golds, and neutrals. I was really feeling for rich copper tones, and oranges verging on red. These rich vibrant hues remind me of cool autumn days, copper bottom pots, and terracotta planters. For me these hues feel optimistic and happy, yet have substance as well.

About the column: Becca runs a series called “Color Study,” and between this and her beautiful sketchbook drawings and paintings…it was tough for me to choose a column for her to share with you all! She’s an extraordinarily talented artist. I told her I would buy that last piece…girlfriend should seriously sell her work, don’t you think?

 

6.1.12

This week I…

+ Honestly? I worked on a couple client projects and got stuff ready for our trip. I went to the gym twice. Had dinner with my uncle. Did some laundry. That’s really it. Such is life when you have a short week and are getting ready for a big vacay! Oh, but I did guest post over here.

Well kids, we’re off to France! Fear not — I’ve got over two solid weeks of ridiculously good content raring and ready to go. I can say that it’s ridiculously good because I didn’t write it. Some super fabulous and talented bloggers did. Beginning next Monday, I’m kicking off a guest post series that will highlight the best that some of my favorite blogs have to offer. From delicious recipes, to heartfelt essays, to graphics and points of view that inspire, I’m so excited to share the columns and voices that make me excited to open my Google reader. As you’re reading along over the next couple weeks, at the bottom of each post, you’ll find a short description about the column, or why I selected that particular blogger. I hope that you’ll enjoy it, and maybe even find a blog (or two, or three) to follow!

I know you’ve been losing sleep at night wondering whether or not I’m going to be posting updates from the frontlines of France. Yes and no. While I won’t be publishing anything here on the blog, I do plan on instagramming. So be sure to follow along there if you want the requisite photos of the Eiffel Tower and baguettes and things. If you’re not on Instagram, fear not: you can see my photo stream by clicking on the ‘I’ logo at the top of the right sidebar there.

See you kids in a few weeks! Until then….Bon Juin et au revoir!

{Image Credit: Jose Villa}

 

Summer Spots

Print Dress | Speckled Tumblers

A little bit obsessed with a mottled effect for summer time. Such an easy way to bring lots of fun, bright colors into a single piece. Imagine if you were wearing that dress at an outdoor barbecue while carrying a mojito around in one of those tumblers. Sounds like a perfect (and perfectly fashionable) afternoon to me!

First Position

It’s funny how sometimes things can be a part of your life for so long, and then all of a sudden they’re not. That’s how it is with me and dancing. I started dancing when I was 3 and was pretty serious about it until late in high school. What started out as a one class a week thing as a toddler quickly became a 3 to 4 class a week thing, plus weekend rehearsals, as a teenager. I did everything — tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, pointe. And though dance took up a significant portion of my life and my time, it was nothing like the kids who are featured in the documentary First Position.

Have you heard about this film? It’s a must see, especially if, like me, you grew up doing ballet. The film centers around 7 kids who are all preparing to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix, an annual ballet competition that ends with awards, scholarships, and even contracts to dance at the world’s top ballet schools. The work these kids put in to have a career as a dancer (and it’s a short career at that) is astounding. It also made me realize I need to stretch, like, a lot more often. And that I miss dancing. Here’s the trailer for the movie (it was on OnDemand here in SF, so if you have digital cable, see if you can order it!):

Did any of you grow up dancing? Isn’t it strange when you spend your childhood so devoted to something, then one day it’s over?

{Image Credits: Bex Singleton for Ballet News UK; Emuu!!! Flickr; J.Crew TumblrSan Francisco Ballet School, found via here; J.Crew Tumblr}