Happy Monday

Happy Monday, everyone!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. 

We did. 

Food, fun, sunshine, naps, champagne and corgis! 

Thanks so much for coming by!

xoxo - Tonya
Image:  Peony and Milk Glass by Oh, Joy! Photography.

Sunday Morning

We're making Peach Bellinis here at Chateau Bee Charmer.....

They're sooooooo good.

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

Image:  Ornate Parisian Door by Melanie Alexandra Photography.

Happy Weekend!

Have a lovely, lovely weekend my darlings!

And I'll see you on Monday!!

xoxo - Tonya
Image:  Victorian Lace by Shannon Leigh Studios Photography.

The Weekly Bean

She's got no time for you people.

She takes several minutes out of her busy schedule of running the world every day to let Finn groom her ears and face.....

This Charming Closet

Jane has asked for an Emerson Fry update! 

So we'll have one next week. 

In the meantime, look at the beautiful box she sent my dress in!

This Charming House

Here are a couple of quick house updates:

The bar continues to grow - complete with a spiffy new silver tray from West Elm and some vintage swizzle sticks from Etsy!  We also got a vintage decanter for the Boy's new 12 year old scotch.

He's thrilled with it!  The scotch and the decanter. 

Oh - and he requested the swizzle sticks, which he also loves. 

And here's a better shot of the new pink chair - complete with our new little acrylic nesting tables....

I'm not sure I mentioned them before.

Here's a shot:

They're the PeekABoo Nesting Tables from CB2. 

I like that they're classic and that they also sort of go away.

Wednesday - Run Away Without Leaving Home

Have I mentioned that I am jonesing for Paris?  HARD? 

I am.  And I know I've already posted about it once this week but it's my blog, coming out of my brain and my brain is in Paris....

I know it's hard for y'all to have to deal with this kind of torture.....
Image:  Notre Dame Outdoor Cafe and Bistro by Pamela Jane Photography.

The Needle and the Damage Done?

I had to go to the dermatologist last week.  No big deal. 

Now, let me say that this particular dermatologist is also known for her skills in the cosmetic surgery arena - you know, botox, laser peels and restalyne - and I've always figured that when I get ready to start nipping and tucking, she'll be my first stop. 

And I feel pretty good about this but still feel that I'm not quite there yet.  On the other hand, I also think that if you wait until you're 'there' you might be a little too late. 

Still - I've always thought to myself 'Well, maybe next year.'

Lately, though, I've been looking at the lines around my eyes and beginning to think that I may be tipping over into an area where I need to start doing more than thinking about it.  Maybe this is next year.   Maybe I need to schedule a consultation at least. 

So when I went bopping on over there to see about my little rash, I thought maybe it would be a good opportunity to dip my toe into the water. 

Well, darlings, I dipped my toe into an ocean of trepidation and ran out of there like a scalded chicken. 

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad.  But as I sat looking around the room at the other (mostly) ladies you could just tell the ones who were there for rashes and the ones who were there to have 20 years of sun damage blasted off of their faces.  And there was a lot of sun damage in that room. 

I felt so strange.  So vain.  So petty.  I'm a serious person, with a serious job.  I'm not one of these women who've spent my days playing tennis and laying by the pool and spending my husband's money (not that there's anything wrong with that... OK, I'm a judgmental bitch... I do have a problem with it). 

But I bought my own damn Louis Vuittons! 

Maybe Monday afternoons are not the time when the single, professional girls hit up the botox clinic.

Maybe they're there for early or late appointments.  Maybe I just need to hit it at a better time to get the unintentional support I crave.  Although what I really crave is dark glasses and the secret entrance.

It's not that I look down on these women - hell, I AM one of them.  This particular doctor is known for her subtle approach and none of these women looked 'overdone'.  But they just looked like they were trying so hard. 

Too much makeup.  Too much perfume.  Too much hairspray. 

And then I look at myself and wonder if I need more makeup and more hairspray. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am struggling with getting older.  I knew - GOD how I knew - how to be 37.  I thought I'd be 37 forever.  I LOVED 37.  I would stay 37.

But I'm almost 45.  That's 5 years less than 50.  And I now know that I cannot be 37 forever.  I also KNOW I don't know how to be 50 (let alone what comes after that). 

I want to look like a good me but not a weirdo.  The problem is that the 'me' that I like is 37 and I have to let that go. 

I see famous women who won't do this.  I mean, I saw Courtney Cox on Anderson Cooper.  Her forehead was frozen and she did not have full control of her lower jaw.  She looked so plastic.  And I don't want to be like her.   I want to age gracefully while continuously looking 10 - 15 years younger than I really am! 

Is that so wrong?

So there it is.  I'm 44 and looking down the barrel of laser peels and restalyne injections and scared shitless. 

The only thing worse than looking old and tired and saggy and gray is looking weird and frozen and pathetic. 

I know this is a ridiculous problem.  There are people out there with real problems and I am not currently one of them.  But I know I can't be the only person out there feeling like this. 

And you know, we haven't had a single girl freakout in a long, long time.....

Random Pretty Man

People have complained to me about the lack of Random Pretty Men around here lately....

They're all like "Tonya, I know you're smitten but where's Mark Harmon?" 

So here he is. 

And I love the belt buckle.....

Tuesday's Girl

'If you are going to be underestimated by people who speak more rapidly, the temptation is to speak slowly and strategically and outwit them.'

Doris Betts 

The Weight

Rest In Peace, Levon Helm.

Monday Night

By popular demand - we have one little Bean trying to get SOMEBODY to give her some left overs.

Because she's starving.....

Happy Monday

So - this has been the best spring that I can remember.  It may help that we really have had very little winter here in Charlotte.  Seriously, 50 and breezy has been about as bad as it's been.

This weekend on Sunday was breezy, rainy and cool.  But you know what?  I love spring days like that.  Especially when I know that it'll be 80 degrees again in a couple of days.

I caught up with some old friends this weekend.  The Boy was away and although I missed him, it's nice to know that I can still be content and myself without him.  It's nice to miss someone and look forward to their return.  It's not nice to be crazy and weird when you're away from them.  I'm happy to report that I'm happily smitten.

The other reason I love breezy, rainy spring days is that those are my favorite days in Paris.  I have a ridiculous love for Paris (in case you haven't noticed) and I often pine for it.  Any little hint of the feeling I have when I'm there is welcome and loved.  I got that on Sunday this weekend.

I hope you all had a great week last week.  Mine sort of flew by in some ways and seemed really interminable in others.  Maybe that's the way it is?  Oh well.

Thank you all very much for stopping by.

xoxo - Tonya
Image:  Spring Daffodil by Photo Echos.

Sunday Morning

I can't get to Paris in under 10 minutes.  Luckily, I can get to Cafe Monte and pretend my ass off.

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

Image:  Rainy Night in Paris by Patricia Turo.

Happy Monday

Hey!

We're taking the week off...

I know, I'm a bad blogger.

I have a lot going on right now and I'm smitten so I've been preferring to spend my time with The Boy and I haven't been able to direct a lot of my attention to the blog.  And I feel really bad about it because the blog is important to me.  So I'm gonna take the week off and think about it and hopefully come back recharged. 

So have a great week and we'll be back soon.
Image:  Hoboken in Bloom by Urban Antique Photography.

Wednesday - Run Away Without Leaving Home

Word....
Image:  I Love Bacon by LuciusArt.

Tuesday's Girl

'Soar, eat ether, see what has never been seen; depart, be lost, but climb.'

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Happy Monday

Happy Monday!

Ok - I was a lazy slug all weekend.

Not really.  I cooked a lot and took care of the Beans and snogged a boy...... 

But overall I would characterize the weekend as 'sluggy'....

In a great way.

I hope y'all had a great Easter!
Image:  Orange Flower by Sparks of Fire.

Saturday Morning

The most wonderful thing about spring: 

Warm enough for purple tulips, chilly enough for the fire on weekend mornings.

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

Image:  April Showers Paris by London Dream Photography.

Happy Weekend!

Happy Weekend, everybody!

The Beans and I are out of here......
Image:  Easter Eggs by Basic Design Photography.

The Weekly Bean

Sometimes,  it's a hard pup life for Finn.....

It's the Easter Bunnies!

Bunnies!

For Easter!!

Wednesday - Run Away Without Leaving Home

Image:  Paris at Sunset by Rebecca Plotnick.

Tuesday's Girl

"You're just a bee charmer, Idgie Threadgoode.  That's what you are, a bee charmer."

Fannie Flagg, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe

This Charming Face

I've been looking for a stronger over the counter retinol product and this is it. 

It's called Glow by Dr. Brandt and you can get it at Sephora - $85.00.

I've been using it for about a week now and I love it. 

If you're ready to step up the retinol - go get some! 

This Charming Handbag Addict

So - the Boy and I played the lottery last week and we were so sure we were gonna win. 

I had it all planned out and my first stop was gonna be Neiman Marcus to buy the Prada Double-Handle Tote in Fuchsia....

But here's the thing:  We DIDN'T win!  Can you believe it?  We couldn't either....

So I will just have to keep lusting for the Prada from afar.

Happy Monday

Hey!

Happy Monday!

It's a short week - yay!!! 
Image:  Queen Anne's Lace by Carl Christensen.

Saturday Night

The Kentucky/Louisville game wore her out.

The Bee Charmer Loves Paris

Image:  English Roses at the Paris Flower Market by Rebecca Plotnick.