Olivia Palermo at Rochas Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2012 Show During PFW

Olivia Palermo was spotted at the Ready to Wear Fall/Winter Rochas fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday (February 29).
The former “City” chick looked darling in an all-black ensemble as she made her way to her front row spot to ensure an up close look at next season’s trends.
At the beginning of the month, Olivia announced that she is the face of Rochas upcoming fragrance line.
"I am so excited to be working with Rochas," she told WWD February 13.
"While Rochas has ingrained French roots, I think every woman can get the sense of joie de vivre and confidence in their style that the Parisians emanate. I always like to be a bit more fashion-forward and playful in my style choices when I visit Paris."

Click here for more posts on Olivia
credit - celebrity-gossip.net, nydailynews.com, tlfan, Elle
~Kelli at Hills Freak

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Video: Grandparents For Marriage Equality

Grandparents For Marriage Equality 

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LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Spring 2012 Lookbook

From The Budget Babe
The LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's lookbook just came out, and if this doesn't put you in a good mood, I don't know what will! This girl's on roll, with her growing lifestyle site, beauty blog and People StyleWatch gig. Her spring collection is feminine, colorful and California-cool, which is exactly what we've come to expect. There are spring dresses, skinny jeans, and breezy blouses in a mix of floral prints and light brights like coral, dusty rose and sky blue. A perfect little black dress, faux-leather jacket and tailored blazer and great wardrobe staples while a yellow and white colorblock top, peplum vest and high-low skirt will let you check off all the latest trends without spending too much. Some of the set styling is undeniably saccharine (crochet in an English garden; misting orchids in the greenhouse; serving pink lemonade on the veranda) but you know you're going to Pin-it anyways! I'm taking some beauty notes, too, that fishtail braid and those bright red nails are calling my name.

This is my favourite lookbook so far - love!
Click here for more posts on Lauren Conrad
credit - The Budget Babe
~Kelli at Hills Freak

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French windows - where to buy the real thing!

Yesterday I showed you my favourite pictures of the beautiful œil de boeuf windows on the rooftops of France. and  I promised to tell you where they can be found today if you want one in your home.

These window frames look beautiful hung on a wall as they are or used as mirror frames.  The very heavy pieces look great propped up against a wall.

 It is unusual to find œil de boeuf frames for sale in brocante fairs.  The only reason they would be dismounted from their rooftop would be if a house was being pulled down or if the window frame was badly damaged  and in need of repair.

But I do know a good address  ......   Atelier de Campagne is a name known to many in the blogging world.  The team of Trinidad, Martin and Johan work tirelessly to find, restore and supply to their discerning clients all over the world.  Their blog and their facebook page are fun to follow and a good way of keeping up to date with sales.

 I have never had the opportunity to visit them in California, but we have spoken on the phone and  I'm looking forward to meeting them here this summer.

Trinidad and Martin are based in California, taking care of their clients at the Center Street Antiques store and fielding all enquiries.  Johan is Belgian and he does a lot of the sourcing.   We joked on the phone about the joys of getting up WAY too early, or even missing a night's sleep to be sure of finding the best pieces at a fair.

But look well how it pays off!!

They fill a container in Europe and ship it back to California where it is unpacked with care and prepared
for their famous sales.  In fact the next container sale is quite soon; April 7th and 8th.

If you love the authentic French look, and want the real thing, not reproduction then this is the address for you.  Just take a look at the photos of the goodies already on their way back and if you need any details give them a call or drop them a line.  You can also sign up for their newsletter here.

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A Hard Hat Evening

East Cooper Habitat for Humanity recently celebrated 21 years of helping to provide affordable, simple, and safe homes for Lowcountry families.  We fully support the work they do in our community (stay tuned this Spring for more details about our Builder's Blitz when we'll build a home for a Mt. Pleasant family in ONE WEEK'S TIME!)  Over their 21 years here in Charleston, ECHH has provided 63 families with a new home!

Catching up with Greg Thomas, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity's Executive Director

Structures Designer and Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Deborah Way, recently had the opportunity to attend their anniversary celebration, A Hard Hat Evening, at The Atrium at Blackbaud on Daniel Island.  The event's highlight was definitely reconnecting with friends in the Habitat community, but the night also included a silent auction fundraiser.  Auction items included an African safari, restaurant gift cards, spa services,a trip to Bali, art work, jewelry, and much more!

 

 One lucky bidder now has 4 hours of skilled "handyman" service from Structures Building Company!  

A Hard Hat Evening also included recognition for Cathy Remington, the event's coordinator and Vice President of the Board of Directors, who has been organizing the fundraiser for 6 years.  ECHH honored Cathy with the East Cooper Habitat for Humanity Golden Hammer Award for her extraordinary volunteer service in spearheading many events and for serving on the Board of Directors.  In their 21 years of existence, ECHH has only honored 4 others with this award!  Many thanks to Cathy and all those at East Cooper Habitat for Humanity for what they do for local families!

Interested in supporting East Cooper Habitat for Humanity by attending a fundraiser or through volunteer service?  Visit their website for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities!

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Tax Time

Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

You talk about your withholding! The coin was being kept in the fish's mouth so Jesus could pay His taxes. In these verses, Peter has to "angle" for the tribute money.

I have noticed something this year that disturbs me. More and more people are totally dependent on tax returns for getting over the hump. When they don't get the amount they were expecting, or when it has to be applied to another need than for what it was earmarked or if it came in late, they were pretty perturbed. It shows that we shouldn't be depending on such things as uncertain riches which have a tendency to take wings and fly away. (I Tim 6:17, Prov 23:5)

A friend of mine, a little miffed by having to pay in this year rather than receiving a refund, asked me if the Bible says we have to pay taxes.

We began to look up the Scriptures which applied and were a bit overwhelmed by the vast amount of verses showing that it is right to do so.

But of all the verses, nowhere does it say that we are to be over-taxed or even that we are to pay them with joy and happiness. But, we are to pay taxes. Paul and Jesus taught that we are responsible, even under despots like Herod and Caesar!

I pray that God will give you grace to get your taxes paid and that you might have enough of a refund to be a blessing to His work this year.

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