ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

As I briefly mentioned before Diego and I are packing our suitcases and about to embark on a new adventure-one year in Dijon, France. Famous for mustard-Dijon is also the capital of the Burgundy region of France, yes that means lots of burgundy wine! I'm so excited to spend a fall taking bike rides (can't wait to buy a bike-with a basket of course) to vineyards and trying new foods (really interested to taste French butter-people are crazy about it, can it really be that different?). Diego will be teaching Spanish language and culture at the university and I'll be teaching English, learning French, and hopefully taking some cooking classes between trips to the marche...haha. I know it's all so cliche, but who ever thought I would actually be living in France?! I'm going to live it up.

While I am already dreaming about the possibilities of daily life, we haven't actually got a place to live. We'll start the search upon arrival next week. From what I've seen online most French appartements don't come furnished so,aside from thrifting again, I'm on a mission to see what I can come up with at Ikea for the cheapest possible price. What do you think about this option for about 200 euros?

(Photos on the wall, not Ikea-and I based the prices in the French Ikea site)

chez moi...

Discovered second hand online shopping in Dijon...wouldn't these be the perfect dreamy start to our new French maison?? (haha and yes, that's a piano-I've always wanted to play)

Lighting

Add this chandelier to my dream house wish list. 

(via Elle Decor and From Me to You)

Back to the future...

These bathrooms designed by Spaniard Jaime Hayon are soo cool. So liquid and metalic-mercurial- like that amazing sculpture at the Miro museum. I would love to have a bathroom like this, wouldn't you? I found Hayon's bathrooms at the ever inspiring Spanish decor blog Vintage & Chic, but check out more of Hayon's design at his project website- it's futuristic art deco!

Los baños diseñados por Jaime Hayon son increíbles. Tan liquidos y metalicos-como mercurio-y la escultura en al museo de miro. Me encantaría tener un baño asi, ¿te gustan?. Encontré los baños en el blog Vintage & Chic, pero hay que ver mas de los diseños de Hayon en su página web-¡me encantan!

Lavendar Patio

This must smell so nice on a summer evening. And that vine covered wall...I love it.

Ps...some of the trees are already flowering here!

Este tiene que oler increíble en una noche de verano. Y esa pared cubierta...me encanta.

Pd...¡ya están floreciendo algunos arboles por aquí!

(via Design*Sponge)

new pillows

I finally made pillow covers with this bright print from Ikea (with the help of my mother-in-law, thanks!). They make the couch come alive...and are so comfy!

Por fin hice las fundas de cojín con este estampado colorido de Ikea (con la ayuda de mi suegra, gracias!). ¡Dan mucha vida al sofa...y son comodísimos!

Iris

I love how these irises look all packed together.

Me encantan estos iris tan juntitos.

(Vintage & Chic)

TinTin

Wow... awesome tin can makeover.

Increíble...una genalidad de lata reciclada.

Santa Baby

Christmas is the time to dream, and while I know neither Santa nor the 3 Kings will be bringing me a new house or decor soon, I'd love to have anything on Vintage&Chic one of my new favorite Spanish blogs. I'm all for art deco, opulent, painting covered walls in my dream house.

(all photos from Vintage&Chic)

3 days...

All the shopping is finished...the packages sent...and the presents wrapped. Now we only have to enjoy the next three days until Christmas on the new sofa and with the cutest little tree ever.

Change of plans

Alas...our escape to the country was foiled, and we ended up being in Santiago all weekend (though it wasn't nearly as bad as we had expected-and paid off!). Saturday the Pope came through, high in his Popemobile. He passed by just up the street-so about five minutes before he arrived I headed out and got this picture as he sped by. Then we went to IKEA in A Coruña-as always it was packed packed and we had to wait and wait in lines, but we did end up getting a new living room!! They finally had our sofa (Kivik) and we got a new chair and coffee table! I can't wait to get it all put together and spend an evening on it! Pictures to come. One question though...how have your Ikea experiences been? Do you always have to wait weeks for an item to be in stock? We keep having to go back and forth because a structure is in but the cover isnt, or vice versa. Have you had the same problem?

Tiny things...

I love and quiero all of the cutiecute things that madrileña Blanca Gomez sells in her Etsy shop, Cosas Mínimas. So happy and simple. A framed print would be a lovely present.

Framed

We finally put something above the sofa...the family portrait project has begun! Next step print out lovely natural black and white shots of the family (we've framed some colorful old prints and photos for now). We also finally framed the print of an antique map of Paris for the entry. I'd love to find an antique map of Spain or Galicia too.

And speaking of frames...fingers crossed that this week I finally buy new glasses!

Wall space

I've been looking for a way to decorate our over the sofa area-a huge painting would be great and we have out fingers crossed that our friend Meis one day will complete one for us-but until then I've been thinking about a frame collage-the problem being the plaster walls (not fun to put nails into!). But, I think maybe an oversized photo or two may do the trick...much easier to make myself when compared to a painting, fewer nails to put into the walls, and a great way to keep loved ones who are far away close. Oversized family portraits (not the studio kind) have been showing up all over blogland-see some of the best at Little Green Notebook. I think I want to start with this shot of my sister in Northern Michigan-I love her joy!

Harvesting

It's been a lovely sunny week and weekend in Galicia, so we decided to go to the country for a picnic, some chestnut gathering, and some fig picking. We came home with lots of loot for new recipes this week and plan to head back next weekend to pick the ripening kiwis and fix the old bike to go for a ride...I love fall.

Naptime

I want this dog!! (and the pillows too!)

Lonny

There's not a big culture of magazine subscriptions here in Spain...I know-heartbreaking, especially for a girl who grew up in a house of magazine subscriptions from National Geographic to Newsweek to Vogue and evenings at Borders. But, I am enjoying subscription free Lonny magazine online. It's always fun to flip though a gift guide...and dangerous when a click on the item takes you right to the online shop! Happy 1st birthday Lonny!

old and new

I always feel inspired and a little sad when I see furniture make-overs. Here in Spain people don't really redo furniture...old is old, and new is new...well except for buildings-obviously Spain is amazing at redoing old spaces. But, used furniture and second hand shops are pretty much non-existant. To top it off, yesterday while I was waiting for the bus after work I saw a giant garbage truck filled with old furniture, including a leather sofa, all on it's way to the dump. So sad, especially when you know the potential of that old stuff. Isn't this redone dresser from Little Green Notebook amazing?

Growing

My garden is growing. Remember when I first posted? Here it is as of today. A few tomatoes are on their way, peppers are blooming, herbs are getting out of control, and my bonsai is coming back to life

!

Changing rooms

I saw this $10,000 room makeover the other day...$10,000. Seriously?? A few stripes? New lamps? New desk? A few rearrangements. My mom, my bff, and I could do that. (Click here for the before and after.)