Joie de Viver ~ Affordable Luxuries

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With Christmas less than a week away, I thought I would share with you some items that I have started to incorporate into my everyday life (and some that are on my wish list) that don't break the bank - but definitely add a luxurious feeling to everyday living.  These would be great gifts for anyone on your list or a little treat for yourself.






Laura Mercier ~Almond Coconut Milk Honey Bath ~ The delicious scent of almond coconut milk and honey infuse the bath water, emitting a gentle fragrance, turning my bathroom into a relaxing and soothing luxurious oasis. After twenty minutes or so submerging my body in this heavenly liquid, my body is left feeling refreshed, nourished and silky smooth.


Crabtree & Evelyn~ Vanilla handwash ~ We were gifted this wonderful luxurious handwash by our friends from Vermont. Mon ami says it's all she uses in her bathrooms and since trying it, ~  it will be the signature handwash at chateau High Heeled Life too! even Mr. G. loves the vanilla scent it exudes.

On my Wish List ~
Trianon

Cire Trudon ~ I recently discovered the world of Cire Trudon candles and to say I'm beyond excited is an understatement. These candles are known for the quality of their wax, which is made from rice, soy and copra (coconut kernal). It burns cleanly, doesn't drip, lasts a long time, is biodegradable and is particularly well suited to carrying pigment and scent. The glass containers used for the scented candles are hand made in Vinci, Italy.

G. Lalo Stationary ~ There are many luxury brands of writing stationary to choose from, but few have a history that dates back almost 400 years. I have started using G. Lalo Verge de France stationary and whether using a ball point pen or my fountain pen, both glide magically across the page with ease. Lavender and champagne are my choice colours in size 5 3/4 X 8 1/2 ~ perfect for short notes and letters.

On my wish List ~
"Versailles" Collection 

Originating in Paris in 1919, G. Lalo quickly rose to be 'de rigueur' for social stationery in Paris and in the royal courts across Europe with its handcrafted stationery. Two aspects of G. Lalo stationery contribute to its fame: the quality of its papers and the elegance of its presentation. A paper is selected and allowed to bear G. Lalo's exclusive watermark only after exacting examination of its texture, weight, finish and color.

Verge paper has the look and feel of handmade paper. It even has the grid of parallel translucent lines ("vergeures") made as the paper was laid to dry. These grids are very helpful as guides for handwriting. Verge paper was made by hand in huge vats, and today, G. Lalo makes the same paper according to traditional methods but with modern techniques.

On my Wish List ~
The Butterfly

Lampe Berger ~ To cleanse and fragrance the air in our home we use various scents from Lampe Berger depending on season and the rooms. Paris Chic is a favourite for spring and summer , throughout the main living areas. For the kitchen I love Almond Pear or Orange Cinnamon; when cooking a delicious meal So Neutral is a great option (especially when cooking fish dishes) - removes odors without adding fragrance. To freshen up the air in the bedrooms (most important when it's winter and windows are rarely open) Lavender fields is our choice.The first Lampe Berger lamp was created in 1898 by Maurice Berger, a pharmacy dispenser, to purify the air in hospital wards.

Hot Water Bottle ~ on cold winter nights who doesn't enjoy the warmth created by an old fashion tradition ... the hot water bottle? Instead of just having the plastic touch your feet ... why not up the comfy factor with a cashmere hot water bottle cover. These are from Restoration Hardware, but you can easily find them in most shops that carry the standard hot water bottle. I have seen them also in Alpaca , wool, faux fur, and velvet.

WHAT ARE YOUR LITTLE AFFORDABLE LUXURIES?

Sharing this post with:  A Return to Loveliness Tuesday ~  My Simple Country Life for The Country Homemaker Hop ;Katherine of Katherine’s Corner for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop; Kathy of A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday;Sheri at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home; Courtney of French Country Cottage for Feather Your Nest Friday; At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday; Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. ~  What Inspires Me Friday

Cup of Tea & Scents for the Home...Thinking Out-Loud ~

When I sit down to enjoy my afternoon cup of tea, more often than not I seem to reach for a lemon or cinnamon blend of something or other. Without realizing it, this afternoon ritual of taking time for myself with a cup of tea inherently included a form of Aromatherapy ~ various scents can change our mood; making us feel better, more revitalized and relaxed. Lemon ~ is a scent that helps to get one's thoughts in order to be able to concentrate on them. Cinnamon ~ is said to assist in  regaining a little focus in your life. Interesting that these are areas that I continue to find challenging, especially mid-day when fatigue starts to settle in or it has been a day of chaos, noise and busyness.

This started me thinking on ways to increase the use of scents in our home in a natural way. Looking around I realized that I have been using our Lampe Berger lamps more for decor than there actual purpose and that I rarely burn candles anymore - evident by the drawer full of orphaned candles. 

Since enlisting the Lampe Berger lamps back into service, visiting friends have started commenting on how tranquil the air in our home is upon entering. Unlike plug-ins and spray air-fresheners, there are not heavy perfumed smells or chemicals being released into the air.

Lampe Berger ~ To cleanse and fragrance the air in our home we use various scents from Lampe Berger depending on season and the rooms. Paris Chic is a favourite for spring and summer , throughout the main living areas. For the kitchen I love Almond Pear or Orange Cinnamon; when cooking a delicious meal So Neutral is a great option (especially when cooking fish dishes) - removes odors without adding fragrance. To freshen up the air in the bedrooms (most important when it's winter and windows are rarely open) Lavender fields is our choice.


We are fortunate to own a few of the wonderful Lampe Berger lamps, some simple, and  a couple vintage pieces which I found via Mariette's Back to Basics boutique (a fabulous on-line boutique for exquisite gifts from time passed).  The Butterfly (pictured) and Four Seasons in the patterned collection of Lampe  Berger have waiting spots in our home ~ one day they will be added to our little collection.

A little background:The first Lampe Berger lamp was created in 1898 by Maurice Berger, a pharmacy dispenser, to purify the air in hospital wards.

Going through my "collection" of orphaned candles, and with Mr. G's nose sense (as you know from reading this blog - my sense of smell tends to come and go since my little detour in life). We discovered many had literally lost their scent, while others did not smell anything like what the description of their scent suggested. Having become more aware of the important role scent plays in our day to day life and it's ability to alter our mood, we started searching for candles that would also be healthy and provide a pleasing look. That's when we stumbled across Cire Trudon candles. On an outing to a local boutique that carries Cire Trudon candles we were able to sample various scents and have come up with one that I look forward to writing my letters by.


Cire Trudon ~ I recently discovered the world of Cire Trudon candles and to say I'm beyond excited is an understatement. These candles are known for the quality of their wax, which is made from rice, soy and copra (coconut kernal). It burns cleanly, doesn't drip, lasts a long time, is biodegradable and is particularly well suited to carrying pigment and scent. The glass containers used for the scented candles are hand made in Vinci, Italy.

Trianon is the candle from the collection which is most associated with Marie Antoinette and I will start my venture into the world of Cire Trudon with it. It is going to be my little luxury treat in the new year. Hopefully purchased at their Paris boutique location, but I would be happy to acquire one or two via a local retailer. 

A little background: In 1643 a salesman named Claude Trudon arrived in Paris and became the owner of a store in Rue Saint-Honoré. He was a grocer but also a wax merchant and supplied his customers with candles for lighting their homes and for the parish. Trudon grew and began supplying the French court and the most important churches. The Trudon company supplied Versailles until the very end of the monarchy. As Napoleon’s wax producer during the Empire, the company survived the arrival of domestic lighting and the birth of the "electric revolution" continuing to prosper.It is now the oldest and most prestigious wax manufacturer in the world.

My teacup today, is a fine porcelain china teacup from Teavana ~ a birthday gift from my brother and sister-in-love a couple years ago. The shape of the handle enables better grip of the cup- especially when your hand can be a little weak at times. The blossom tree design is slightly raised and the colour of orange/red with yellow brightens the day on cold winter like days. The lid for the cup helps to keep the warmth of tea a little longer, especially if one drifts off in a relaxing day dream.

I also like the strainer insert ... perfect for loose leaf tea or for holding the teabag placed on the small saucer.

Our snack with afternoon tea is a strawberry and cream flaky with a few cubes of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The tea is original chai from Pukka ~ an organic black tea gently spiced with cinnamon,cardamom and ginger.

What scents do you enjoy in your home?

What do you use to bring these scents into your home?

Sharing this post with:  Little red House for Mosaic Mondays ~Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea ~ Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea time Tuesday ~ Artful Affirmations and Martha's favorites for Teacup Tuesday  Table Top Tuesday ~  A Return to Loveliness Tuesday ~  between naps on the front porch Thursday My Simple Country Life for The Country Homemaker Hop ;Katherine of Katherine’s Corner for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop; Kathy of A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday;Sheri at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home; Courtney of French Country Cottage for Feather Your Nest Friday;Alison of Stuff and Nonsense for Fridays Unfold; At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday; Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. ~  What Inspires Me Friday