Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Tropical Expressions

Mademoiselle Mermaid's photo print shop, Mermaid Sightings, is growing!!


I am super pleased to announce this week that all 100+ original fine art prints are now available in 3 sizes:
-4x6 $7.00
-5x7 $10.00
-8x10 $20.00 


 Presented in lovely ivory mats, these prints make fabulous little gifts to have on hand...or create a gallery style wall with a bunch of your favs!!


 Get the scoop at Mermaid Sightings on Etsy!!
...New tropical expressions added daily!!

Love,
MademoiselleMermaid

Radiant Orchid: Color of the Year 2014


Along with each new year comes the fun of dreaming new dreams, setting inspiring goals, decluttering my space, 'n re-energizing my life for a fresh start!!

But there's another, not-so-obvious thing that I look forward to 
with the new year....It's the revealing of Pantone's Color of the Year!!

This time around, I'm delighted to find it's an exotic shade of pinky-purple, called Radiant Orchid.
According to Pantone, "Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates joy, love and health."
...I love the sound of that!!

...and I LVE featuring it here, in an imaginative interpretation of a  
Hawaiian lei necklace!! 
This charming, tropical piece features hand-knotted glass pearls, a rhinestone brooch, and orchid fabric flowers!!




If you've made it part of your mission in 2014 to dress more creatively and develop your personal style, then the color of the year is a great jumping-off point!! A brilliant Radiant Orchid lipstick would be fine introduction...or the color would be divinely beautiful mixed with red and pink in a large-scale floral print!!

...Lavender is lovely alongside Radiant Orchid, and I also love lush shades of green as a complement, accessorizing the color as nature does!!



Love,
MademoiselleMermaid


Sunday, January 5, 2014

5 Things That Changed My Life in 2013

While thinking back on 2013 and trying to come up with the one "thing" that really changed my life in the year past...
I found I really couldn't narrow it down.
There are 5 truly amazing things that came my way in 2013...
...5 things that are so ingrained in my every day now,
that I can't remember life with out them!!



1. The Nutribullet
This neato little kitchen gadget probably doesn't need much introduction!! Featuring a simple, easy to use (and clean!) design, the Nutribullet has been an essential way for me to up my fruits 'n veggies intake. I have always loved smoothies...but I didn't know how much I would really enjoy having them on a daily basis...until it was sooo easy to make them on my own!!...(pssst the secret is the frozen bananas!!) My favorite recipe consists of a handful of organic greens, mint, frozen strawberries, a frozen banana, and a touch of lime. Honorable mention goes to my quick breakfast smoothie made with bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, and almond milk!!

2. Spoonk Mat
The Spoonk is another cool gadget, but it might need a bit more of an introduction!! It's basically a modern day bed of nails, that I've been laying on for 15 minutes a day, for several months now. The result has been fantastic!! (You can read all the thinking behind it on their website.) When I use it at night, right before bed, it releases all of the tension in my back, and I always wake up energized and fresh-faced the next morning!!...It keeps me in tip-top, sewing condition!!

3. Tranquility du Jour Daybook
With room for collaging dreams, emphasis on living beautifully, daily checklists for mindfulness, yoga, and gratitude practices, this is the daybook/planner of my dreams!! Decked out in whimsical illustrations and peppered with French phrases, it couldn't be more perfect for my lifestyle!!

4. V-Moda Headphones
I credit this year's long, fulfilling, enlivening workouts in part to some great reggae tunes, but mostly it's been these fantastic headphones that have kept me in the zone!! They aren't totally noise cancelling (which is great for when I am out power walking,) but the sound is so rich and invigorating...from an audiobook, to podcast, to the latest Kenny Chesney album...they're coming in crystal clear!!

5. Grocery Delivery
2013 was the year that I stopped (having to) go to the grocery store!! I had flirted with the idea of grocery delivery in the past, but I was under the impression that it was expensive or a hassle. But online grocery shopping gets easier every time you do it!! By now, I have an enormous history of items I have purchased, so I just scroll through it every Thursday, dropping all those items in my grocery "cart"...with just a click!! Another unforeseen advantage of buying groceries this way, is that you usually have a few hours to make any changes to your order. So, if I place an order and a couple of hours later realize that I'm out of olive oil...no problem!! I just add it to my order...in the nick of time!!

So there you have it!!...The 5 things that really enhanced my life over the last year....

...And if I really, really had to just keep one, then I would have to go with the sensational Nutribullet...but then my to-do lists wouldn't be as neat as they are, my back wouldn't be so loose, and my workouts wouldn't be quite as interesting;)...
LVE them all!!
Love,
MademoiselleMermaid


Saturday, January 4, 2014

A Dozen Roses


Those seed catalogs always seem to know just when to show up...
turning my dreary, grey, January skies back to sun shining blue!!

They're the source of inspiration for dozens of gardening daydreams...
and they're the inspiration behind this collection of a dozen roses too!!

I've dusted off my pruning shears...and selected twelve of my favorite 
rose garden-inspired pieces:


...Wishing you the chance this weekend, to curl up by the fireplace with a cup of something yummy in hand, and let the seeds of your imagination take root!!
Love,
MademoiselleMermaid

Friday, January 3, 2014

Winter Dreams

Combining my love of photography and my love of fashion 
has really been a dream come true for me!!
Flower photography has always been at the of my work behind the lens,
and I adore the idea of immortalizing the fleeting beauty of the blossoms that cross my path, by transforming them into wearable art objects.

Here's one of my all-time favorite shots, featuring a gorgeous bunch of fuchsias that were hanging in a basket over my head, one sunny afternoon in Malibu.


...It looks fabulous under a bit of glass in a vintage-inspired pendant...
♥Flower Pendant on Etsy.


...Enchanting as an organic cotton print, sewn into a lovely turban...
♥Fuchsias Turban on Etsy.


...or how about as a unique cotton tote, perfect for stashing your farmers market finds in?!!
♥Fuchsias Tote on Etsy.

It's never too early to think spring!!
Flowers and gardens are what winter dreams are made of=)
Love,
MademoiselleMermaid

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year


A Very Happy New Year to You!!
Love,
MademoiselleMermaid

New Pics of a Classic Favorite

2014 is off to a fabulous 'n fashionable start at Mademoiselle Mermaid!!
...but before I move on to what's new, new, new 
...and what's on this Mermaid's radar for 2014,
I'm so delighted to share a gorgeous new pic of a classic favorite!!...

(Burgundy velvet turban, from a Holiday photo shoot.)

Find this perennial favorite right here
...Available in 24 delightful colors!!

Happy, Happy New Year!!

Love,
MademoiselleMermaid