vacations are so tiring

I spent all week on my mom's farm. It was so tiring.

Playing with my niece, eating croissants every day (really good, locally made ones), playing Drawsome with my sister, going to the Olympia Farmer's Market, etc. You get the idea; it was a really strenuous week.

So today I recuperated by going to acupuncture and having lunch at my favorite cafe here in Seattle, Cafe Presse. The cafe was full of  chattering diners and bright April sunlight. I enjoyed a cup or two (or three) of the strong chocolately Vita coffee they serve and munched on grilled sardines and a fresh baguette. The latest issue of Marie Claire kept me company.

And now for Friday's Fashion Fact. Today it's a new word that keeps popping up in magazines.

Soigné
 

adj. -\swän-ˈyā\-

(As defined by Merriam-Webster)

1. Well-groomed, sleek

2. Elegantly maintained or designed

Glad I looked it up cuz I woulda pronounced it "Soy-nay"

Let the horn tooting commence

Oh neat-o! I'm on the Marie Claire website!

See the rest of the winners here!

Photo courtesy of MarieClaire.com

up/down

There have been so many ups and downs today! First thing in the morning, a little bird, a lark specifically, came to tell me some good news. This lark, of Happy, Honey, and Lark, said that I am in the October issue of Marie Claire!!! I have been to 5 different grocery stores hoping to find the issue, but apparently only some subscribers have received it so far. Not me of course, mine always comes late :/ BUT I AM IN IT!!! Can't wait to see how the pictures turned out!

Downside of my day (week, month, year), my feet have been doing quite poorly. I haven't talked about it much, but it seems the pain in the ball of my foot is chronic. I've bought Danskos and am seeing a podiatrist, so hopefully it will eventually heal. I also just found out some very sad news regarding a family friend. Knowing that she lived a very long, wonderful life is a comfort to me and, I hope, a comfort to her family. Ok, so not to end on a sad note... well, I'm working a lot which means I'm not quite as broke as I usually am and the weather was gorgeous today! And didn't my husband do a nice job taking these photos? He was mostly patient with me and kept giving me tips on how to pose. Mostly, though, he just said "look model-y" and "stop moving." In these photos: Forever21 blouse Thrifted maxi skirt Aldo bag Neon Xhilaration bra

Birthday, giveaway, and big news!

Today is the one year anniversary of Fleur d'Elise! It's been a great year :) I have met so many wonderful bloggers and connected to so many amazing blogs and communities, thanks to this blog.

Some Stats:
In total, I've posted 131 blogs articles (not including this one)
Gained 104 followers via Google
Since I started using StatCounter.com in April, I've had over 4000 visitors

Here is a picture from my first post

This is from my second post


The past couple of weeks I've been immensely busy with work and planning my wedding reception, but I've been thinking about the blog and all of you a lot. Mostly I just feel guilty; I've neglected something I really care about, but sometimes it can't be helped! I've also been trying to figure out how to my measure my blog's success now that it's a year old. Is it the number of followers? The number of comments? The number of affiliates or official recognitions? It would make more sense that success is a product of all those things, and not just one.

For instance, 104 followers is a drop in the bucket when compared to the fan base of other more established bloggers, but I am lucky and flattered to have everyone of you. I'm also thrilled to share some awesome news with you: I've been contacted by Glamour for a street style photo shoot and I am a finalist in Marie Claire's What I Love About Me Contest! I am not guaranteed to be in either magazine, but the simple fact that they would even be interested in considering me for publication is completely awesome! As stressed as I am this week, I am feel completely blessed. Thank you all for your support and readership. I would not have come so far without it.

And now for my official THANK YOU! It's time for another giveaway!

One lucky reader will win this necklace and vibrant lipstick. The necklace is from Forever21 and features a Goldstone pendant and I've added a pink ribbon. It's very similar to a bracelet I made back in January. The lipstick is a Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren. It's a gorgeous, creamy orange-red and is one of the colors I recommended in this post. It's a fantastic shade for Summer and will look stunning with dark and muted colors this Fall.

Ok, so to enter:
Follow me via Google or BlogLovin' +1
Like Fleur d'Elise on Facebook +1
Link to my blog/giveaway on your blog +2
Remember to leave me a comment with your name and email and links!

The giveaway will end in one week. Good luck!