i love my boys

love is a canvas furnished by nature 
and embroidered by imagination.

-voltaire 

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rainy days {my obsessions}

anyone who says sunshine brings happiness 
has never danced in the rain. 

- author unknown

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christmas love {happy lights!}

i simply can't get enough of anything and everything christmas! back in october i shared a few images from one of my favourite stores, vintage home, as they were setting out all of their fabulous christmas decor and decorating their trees.  today i want to share another favourite- christmas lights!  ever since i was a little girl, one of my very favourite things to do during the holiday season is to walk or drive around the valley and look at all of the christmas lights, decorations and storefronts at night.  i feel that same childlike excitement every year when the christmas decorations go up on the street lamps on main street, when the stores fill their window displays with flowers and decorations, but most of all, when a few spots in particular put up their lights.

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{the culinary institute of america at greystone}

this building holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, but the most important being that this is where my husband and were married.  i have loved this building as long as i can remember and one of the happiest days of the year for me is when they put up their christmas decorations and lights.  so much so, that when my husband and i decided to have a winter wedding, i briefly tried to plan it around the window of time when these decorations would still be up!

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{far niente}

i wish that i had been able to capture a better photo as this one does not do justice to how spectacular this display truly is.  i could wander around under those lit trees happily for hours.

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{beckstoffer vineyards}

this little wagon and tree makes me smile every year.  i love it.  these are the little things that i look forward to every christmas season and just another reason why i love living in the napa valley.

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{sutter home}

obviously another favourite and high up on my list.  these lights are always fabulous and have quickly become one of my son's favourite spots as well.

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{the goodman building}

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{vintage home}

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{in the window of vintage home}

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{footcandy}

a bit obsessed with these christian louboutin flats...

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{fideaux}

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{mario's}

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{burgess cellars}

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bistro jeanty {je t'aime}

whether enjoying a long, lazy dinner out on the covered patio during a hot summer evening, or savouring an intimate lunch by the fire on a crisp autumn afternoon, i am always sure to find my perfect meal at bistro jeanty. as an insatiable foodie and an unabashed francophile...bistro jeanty more than serves its purpose as my noshing haven.  i absolutely adore everything about this cozy and welcoming french bistro with it's authentic decor, happy and friendly staff and of course the amazing food!

that being said, you can imagine that when i had the opportunity to peek into the kitchen and spend an afternoon enjoying and photographing all the fabulousness that is bistro jeanty, i was a happy girl!

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{menu}

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{the perfect seat for lunch}

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{the community table}

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{service bar}

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{chef adding the final touches to the steamy salade aux lardons et oeuf mollet}

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{herbs}

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{escargot}

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{vintage bicycle with bread basket}

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{helmets + goat}

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{plats du jour}

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{salade aux lardons et oeuf mollet}
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{crème de tomate en croute}
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{rillettes de canard}
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{outdoor bistro table}

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{bicycle out front}

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the saint helena tree tunnel {loved since childhood}

not once, in my almost 33 years of life,  have i driven through the tree tunnel just north of main street in saint helena, and not marveled at the beauty of those elms or been reminded of all the times that i've held my breath while driving beneath those amazing and historic trees.

now that i'm a mother, a new dimension of excitement and joy has been added to the tree tunnel experience.  my son, a highly observant and always enthusiastic nature lover, has embraced the tree tunnel with the same love and excitement as i did as a child...and i couldn't be happier.

whether on our way to preschool in the morning, making a quick trip to the market or just on a drive to take a look at what's around...we love our breath holding contests and we love our tree tunnel.

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