This Weekend in my Everyday Château

HomeLife

Mar 14

Rest, red rouge, and healed wounds

Bon Vendredi!

This morning was a happy one. Julien got up bright and early to head to the hospital to get his cast removed. Hardly a complaint out of him the last six weeks, and sure enough, I heard him pad down the stairs early this morning, adrenaline waking him in anticipation of his arms ’ emancipation. He’s thrilled to have his arm back!

Friday means that my Vanity Tour is now live on YouTube too.

A fabulous suggestion from a follower over on Instagram and an enjoyable chance for me to share the makeup colors I’ve been wearing so far this year, the fun stories behind the décor on my dressing table, and my obsession with my red light face mask. Yes, I finally got one and I LOVE it.

It’s made by the same Swedish company that makes some of my other facial devices and they’ve offered my followers a 30% discount, which I think is fabulous. Next up, I’m going to try one of their hair removal devices… because… moustache maintenance is getting old. You’re not alone:) Oh - the facial care upkeep! But you can check them (FOREO SWEDEN) out here, and the discount code is FARMGIRL30, so have fun with that! They are top-quality and you won’t be disappointed.

Ironically, the day after I got done filming the vanity tour, my daughter came home with a new mascara that I tried and fell in LOVE with — so if I were to re-shoot this video, I would tell you about tubing mascara from Milani. It’s just a cheapie from Target, but WOW. I grabbed some this morning while we were in town getting Julien’s cast off. It’s giving Jessica Rabbit for sure.

I’ve finished a monster upper body workout scheduled for today (got to be able to launch those suitcases into the overhead compartments with ease!) and am tinkering around the house, getting it pretty for the weekend. I love weekends. They are such a welcome break from the discipline of the week. We’ve been schooling enough during the week that the kids can take Fridays off from school, so they get to go find something fun to do, I get to wrap up my work week, and put my mind towards food for the weekend. I LOVE WEEKENDS. Tonight it’s Italian Beef with high hopes that Aidan and his girlfriend will join us.

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I leave for Paris in about 16 days. The thought makes me sick and thrilled at the same time. It’s barbaric to leave my children, and it never gets easier. My prayers of safety drape over all of us, and the moment I leave, I’m counting down the minutes ‘til we can all be together again. As the Paris with Angela tours grow over the years, I hope to be able to bring them and have them shack up in a house outside the city, but for now, as I slowly build this side of the business, I have to kiss Joel and the kids goodbye, and it about wrecks me. My excitement about the trip is always subdued until I get down the road, get my tears dried, and begin to focus on the long drive to O’Hare.

For now, the piles on the guest bed have begun. I’m carefully monitoring the weather in Paris, always trying not to pack too much, but trying to pack the right things too. Being in the city is a wonderful outlet for my creative, fashion-loving side, and it’s so pleasurable for me to be “dressed” and out and about. The haircut is scheduled, and a fresh pack of my beloved Banana Republic white blouses should be here on Monday. As long as I’ve got comfortable shoes, a white blous,e and a navy blue blazer — I should be ok?

Who would like a “what I’m packing” video?

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So far, I’ve got red onions, yellow onions, and snapdragons started in the greenhouse. Julien is my right-hand man when it comes to getting all my grow lights hooked up. He’s got his work cut out for him, but I promise to give him a day or two to play Legos with two good arms before I put him to work:)

Gardener’s World starts tonight, and I tell you what, I could use an injection of garden motivation. The garden is eight years old this year, and it needs some financial investment at this point. It needs a fence, it needs gravel, and it needs an irrigation system — in fact, last year was so dry, I’m praying that everything actually comes back this year. I fear for some of my roses and hydrangea.

It all feels rather impossible and daunting, so I need me some Monty to save the day and remind me not to be “precious” about it.

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French lesson is in three hours, #flatlayfriday sale over on Insta this afternoon, family dinner at five, Old World Design Society coffee talk in the morning, and then open gym for the kids, flooring project progress tomorrow afternoon, then church, a good Sunday nap….

Life is very, very full. It’s good.

The weekend is here, and I’m here for it.