Bardot in Blue

Bonjour!!! I know I just did a post featuring this amazing new blog Bardot in Blue but you have to check out this post on the Alice in Wonderland (one of my favorites) inspired windows in Paris. Be careful, you will fall down a rabbit hole in her blog to a place of wonder, enchantment, and beauty....

Saving Hollywoodland....

Size: 138 acres


Location: Between the Los Angeles Basin and the San Fernando Valley See map

Recreation Value: bordered by Griffith Park and frequented by hikers and other lovers of sweeping LA basin views.

Habitat Value: rare ecosystem, home to butterflies, the coast horned lizard, and the Plummer's mariposa lily.

Best-known human feature: The Hollywood Sign

That Cahuenga Peak has remained undeveloped to this day is a lucky result of Howard Hughes' difficulty with women. A remnant open space in a spreading sea of development, the peak had already become famous as a backdrop for the Hollywood Sign when the famed industrialist, aviator, and film producer bought it in 1940. Hughes planned to build a mansion for his girlfriend, famed film star Ginger Rogers, whom he intended to marry.

But the relationship failed before the house got built. The reason for the breakup was Hughes’s indiscreet infidelity. Rogers dumped Hughes as he lay in a hospital bed after a serious car crash. She returned all of his gifts of jewelry in a basket before hurling her emerald engagement ring at him.

Huges died in 1976, and the land remained in his estate for another 20 years. In all that time--sixty years total-- hikers drifted over from Griffith Park, butterflies bred in the chamise, and lizards scuttled beneath the chaparral. The city expanded to the edge of the peak, making it even more valuable as a rare close-to-home open space. And the Hollywood Sign and its undeveloped backdrop became a symbol of fame, fortune, and infinite opportunity--the Hollywood Dream.

In 2002, the Hughes estate put 138-acre Cahuenga Peak on the market, presenting a rare opportunity to protect a large, iconic open space in the heart of the nation's most densely settled region. The City of Los Angeles hoped to purchase the land as a natural extension of Griffith Park. But at the height of the real estate market, fundraising fell short, and a development group from Chicago scooped up the property and secured rights to build several estates along the ridgeline.

With the land subdivided, it was again listed for sale in 2008 for $22 million--and once again it seemed that there might be a chance to protect it. In April 2009, The Trust for Public Land secured a one-year option to purchase the property with the hopes of preserving it for generations to come. And because of the falling real estate market, this second chance comes at a very reasonable price of $12.5 million, a little more than half of what the land was listed for in 2008.

Visit back tomorrow for a fun post about the history of the sign and some amazing pics. Thank you!

For more information about the campaign and how to help, please visit SaveHollywoodland.org 

This is the listing for the property, pretty incredible.

 

Reblogged Via SaveHollywoodLand.org

Boundless Beauty

Bonjour Mes Amis!

What a whirlwind month it has been and it shows no sign of slowing down soon. I have so many ideas and so many new things I would like to add to the blog and share with you, so many ideas and so little time. 

As I have been gathering my thoughts and visiting your amazing blogs for inspiration and motivation I have run into so many new and amazing sites. I just wanted to share some of them here with you today. Just when I think I couldn't possibly see anymore beauty or new discoveries, I do! Isn't that a wonderful thought? Beauty is never ending and bountiful, it's literally behind every corner.  Enjoy!

I am loving Bardot in Blue this blog is a dream! A decadent site about a girl from California living in Paris. She is truly chic and her style is flawless.

A peek into her apartment will capture your Paris loving heart. Her endless soirees and stunning photography will leave you inspired and ready to sell your belonging and move to Paris! Just gorgeous!!!!

Mahogany Maddison is my new favorite addiction. I am loving this blog! The author Ebony is amazing! She is writing two books, writing two blogs, managing two facebook pages, running a cupcake business and opening a Shabby Chic pop-up shop! Whew, that's a lot of work. Her site is fun, flirty, and fabulous!!! Just be careful if you visit her other blog Mrs. Robinson's Cupcakes you might gain ten pounds looking at her divine confections! Yummy!

Cashon & Co is an amazing blog and website. I love everything about this gorgeous blog. It is inspiring, thought provoking, beautiful, and uplifting. 

I'm obsessed with this post in particular.  I can't wait to read all of the posts I'm behind on. Everytime I log on I always leave with something unexpected and beautiful. She also has a design firm and the website is exquisite.

I'll leave you with these words from her blog. I read this from her sidebar with every visit,

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; your friends and parents will: stay in touch.

You don't have to win every argument; agree to disagree.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.

Over prepare, and then go with the flow.

Be eccentric now, don't wait for old age to wear purple.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Your children only get one childhood.

If we threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Regina Brett, 90 years old

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

Image via Life.com

Bonjour Mes Amis! The weather outside is dreary and wet to say the least here in California and across much of the Nation. The perfect opportunity to cuddle up with the Boys and drink some hot cider. I can't wait to run up to the mountains for a snow day! I love this weather.

Image: Source Unknown

Here are some pics of The Eiffel Tower in bad weather. Isn't she grand and beautiful no matter what the weather!?!

Image via Flickr

To all of you in this wet and snowy weather, please stay safe and warm. It's the perfect opportunity to take a leisurely day to cuddle up with the ones you love and enjoy a little rest and enjoy the storm! Best wishes to you all!