{the first snowfall & a little romance}

. . . there is just something about this time of year that makes everyday feel even more romantic -- perhaps it is the millions of tiny twinkling lights, or the champagne, or catching of one's breath at the sight of the first snowfall, each floating snowflake drifting soundlessly and beautifully against the window pane, whatever it may be, somehow, everything feels tinged with a little romance . . .

{p.s.} and to p., meet me under the mistletoe x


{image: tiffany & co. via confetti and cocktails}

{take me away № 08 | holiday etiquette}

{hosting & being a house guest }

At many points throughout the year, we may welcome guests to stay in our homes as well as be guests in others’ homes, but particularly so with the holidays just around the corner.



And whether you will be living with friends or family during such time, it is always lovely to be both a generous and welcoming host, as well as a considerate guest.



For this week's {take me away}, we shall explore different tips and ideas on how to be gracious in both circumstances . . .

[click below to read sarah's thoughtful tips for being a welcoming hostess, as well as a gracious guest this holiday season] x

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{holiday inspiration : gold sequined fairy lights}

. . . and while we're on the topic of sequins and fairy lights, imagine the utter delight upon happening upon strands of lights in the shape of gilded sequins -- somehow, have a feeling that the holidays will never be the same again . . .

{p.s.} rocco led fairy lights, £35, via habitat


{discovered via house to home via twitter}

{style inspiration: noir & blanc}

. . . a rainy, rainy tuesday with still much to do, but happily, a houndstooth bow blouse and a high-waisted pencil skirt keeps things polished [& far from dreary] and brighten up the workday -- that, and of course, a break for coffee and a few macarons . . .

{p.s.} this week's {take me away} still to come x


{image: leighton meester, still from gossip girl via the road not taken; blouse by alexander mcqueen paired with double breasted pencil skirt}

{table for two: pure vegetarian by laksmi, finland}

. . . helsinki-based photographer & vegetarian, lakshmi wennäkoski-bielicki's, portfolio is so captivating, it is enough to make one regret not being even slightly proficient in the kitchen -- the light and utterly lovely photographs are every bit as stunning as the dishes featured -- delectable things such as pulla, a finnish sweet bread, handmade pasta with sage & pinenuts, and fig tart with frozen pecan pudding . . .





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{a new week & feeling festive}

. . . monday, monday, and it's back to work, and yet, there is something different in the air, making it nearly impossible not to daydream and plan, and everywhere, trees are twinkling with fairy lights and a little magic, and everything, as if over night, feels a little more festive . . .

happy monday! hope your week is off to a perfect start,
roséline xo


{image: another}

{hope you've had a beautiful weekend + links}

. . . this weekend was spent on dinner dates, following afternoons wandering about the shops, intoxicating new fragrances and impossibly decadent fleur de sel chocolate, the scent of french cade & lavender always drifting romantically through the air, and evening walks in the rain . . .

hope you've had a wonderfully lovely weekend, and it's beautiful where you are, roséline xo

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a f e w l o v e l y l i n k s :

* places : a manor in oxfordshire
* fashion : smokey eyes & a chignon
* at home with : anouck lepere, antwerp
* books : bals & ballets russes
* places : the surf lodge, montuak
* inspiration : simply ornate
* tabletop : sterling silver & bits of gold
* décor : a room with a view
* tabletop : black & gold
* photographer : peter bagi
* places : a swedish manor
* fashion : sequins & tulle and juliet balconies
* inspiration : adventure awaits
* tabletop : country chic
* recipe : nanaimo bars
* in the bedroom : cosy winter nights

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N E W • F O R • T H E • W E E K / E N D :

* at the shops : antique tulle & french lace
* décor inspiration : the new traditional
* tabletop inspiration : sunrise & cerulean
* for the holidays : elderflower champagne cocktail

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{as always, a few things you may have missed:}

* around and about & hello
* how to : iphone photography & favourite apps
* places : the greenbrier hotel
* take me away № 07 : la maison du chocolat
* monday, monday & a few lovely links

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{image: photography by elizabeth messina at kiss the groom via pinterest}

{décor inspiration: the new traditional}

above, boxes, books and art from china and paris flea markets

. . . must confess, has been far too long since have stopped to pick up a magazine, but after happening upon this dramatic and stunning home featured in house beautiful on anna's blog last week, had immediately made a note to purchase the digital version for the ipad, but after stopping by the bookstore on the way home one night, and gazing upon this west hollywood home again, completely fell in love with the glossy pages and this breezy take on traditional . . .


above, a dramatic entrance




above, the 'very dramatic and sexy' black lacquered guest bath, complete with a regency ebony-and-bone mirror

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{at the shops: heirloom lingerie by claire pettibone}

. . . antique tulle and ivory french lace embroidered with cream silk ribbon flowers and pearls -- claire pettibone's limited edition heirloom lingerie collection has thoughts already drifting to the sheer romance of cosy winter nights . . .

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{for the holidays : elderflower champagne cocktail}

. . . perhaps one of the simplest & loveliest cocktails ever: a glass, some ice, three-quarters of dry champagne or prosecco, a thinly sliced cucumber and fresh mint, and a splash of st. germain, an enchanting elixir of handpicked wild elderflower blossoms from the foothills of the french alps, and it's time to celebrate . . .


{image & recipe from zested}

{tabletop inspiration : sunrise & cerulean}

. . . when it comes to table settings, nearly always prefer a light and ethereal colour palette -- white and gold and perhaps, only on occasion, a dash of hollywood cerise, but as the days drift steadily toward chillier temperatures, have been falling for deeper and richer hues -- cobalt & hermès, sunrise & cerulean -- intermingled, of course, with elegantly patterned table linens and astonishingly lovely chandeliers dripping in glittering crystals and bits of gold . . .





{images: eddie ross for lonny via simply smitten}

{around & about and hello}

. . . the first half of the week was so stunningly busy, decided to take a little time, on wednesday afternoon, for spending in the last [breathtaking] autumn sunlight, a gallery exhibit, a traipse about the city, past parks and shops, and a very lovely lunch date . . .

hope you're having an equally splendid week so far,
roséline xo


{images: waddesdon manor, rear elevation | by bestfor / richard via encore! life // chasing reverie via note to self}

{take me away № 07 | la maison du chocolat}

{creator of legendary chocolates}

Movies have been made, novels have been written, and even songs have been sung about chocolate—celebrating its tradition, its magic and its wonderment.



And whether you prefer creamy, milk chocolate as smooth as silk, or enjoy the stark bitterness of a deep and intensely flavored dark chocolate, some say chocolate preferences can say a lot about a person. For whosoever has a love affair with chocolate, shall always . . .



If you plan to travel to Paris, Cannes, London, New York, Tokyo, or Hong Kong, you might make a stop at the legendary chocolatier, Robert Linxe's La Maison du Chocolat.



Originally founded in Paris, and "with over thirty years of expertise and ever evolving creativity", some might say the perfection of Linxe’s creations is unrivaled, and that the experience alone is worth a trip.



Made only of the purest, freshest ingredients, legendary chocolatier Robert Linxe's mouthwatering confections are noble, artistic creations that capture the essence of chocolate in its truest form and exalt its taste in every exquisitely memorable bite . . .


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{how to : iphone photography & favourite apps}

. . . it has been said that the best camera is the one you have with you, and with all the running around these days, and always so many lovely things to capture while traipsing about, often the only camera on hand is my iphone, which have come to rely on more and more for so many things, but especially the camera; and since joining instagram some time ago, have been having the loveliest time sharing little glimpses here and there, of everyday life, and have been asked, time and again, about the photographs in my stream -- how to split images into frames, how to get that dreamy, romantic sparkle, and so on -- and so, thought it might be fun to share a few favourite apps along the way . . .

{p.s.} for those not using iphones & apps, you can view the photographs online with: instagrid // heroku // followgram


lyon in the rain // instagram with toaster filter





"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever . . . it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."

~ Aaron Siskind

above, instagram filters : early bird & toaster


T W E L V E F A V O U R I T E A P P S

. . . normally only use two or three apps other than instagram, but p prefers to play around with a broader range, and so, a few of our favourites:

1. accu camera : to steady shots
2. shake it : for polaroid-like effects
3. ps express : for cropping & rotating images
4. snapspeed : a powerful app for selective photo edits & filters
5. instagram : for filters & sharing
6. pro hdr : for combining two of the same images to extend the dynamic range
7. picfx : for filters & favourite {this is glamorous} bokeh effects
8. lens flare : for a large collection of amazing lens flare effects
9. pic frame : to split images into separate frames & create collages
10. toy slr : for creating focus & blur
11. picture show : fun exposures & mirror filters
12. dramatic black & white : for converting images to black & white and adding sharpness

chandelier // apps used: instagram with toaster filter, picframe & picfx




a few favourite things // intsagram with toaster filter


light effects of image on the right, created with picfx


door in geneva // apps used: instagram, picframe & picfx




the window seat of an airplane // instagram with early bird filter, no light effects, only the magical reflection of the sun's golden rays . . .
morning latte // apps used: instagram, picframe & picfx



self-portrait: vintage necklace & french dots //instagram with toaster filter



iOS 5 : new & updated features

1. press the up volume button to take a photo
2. access the camera from the lock screen by double tapping the home screen and touching the camera icon
3. when taking a picture, touch on the screen where you want the exposure and focus to be measured from
4. turn on the grid from the options tab, which can help with composition and to keep your image straight
5. use two fingers to pinch the screen to access the zoom feature

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. . . and may have missed a few -- would love to know the favourite apps you're currently using?

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{images: all iphone photography by roséline on instagram}