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Francophiles! Polish your French or begin to learn the language of the culture you love from a highly recommended language school, a new cookbook from a favorite Great British Bakeoff stand-out, a new series on AppleTV receiving great buzz, books about flowers and novels to intrigue as well as a book from a British author focused on eating well simply. Also, clothing for summer, fantastic sales on items for fall, and vintage décor finds to delight. And yep! Much more!
Books
—Blooming Flowers: A Seasonal History of Plants and People by Kasia Boddy
Traveling through the seasons and touching on all of the blooms associated and seen during each one, Kasia Boddy’s book Blooming Flowers pairs illustrations with historical information beginning centuries ago and from across the globe looking at the “wealth of floral associations that have been passed down in perfumes, poems, and paintings; in the design of buildings, clothes, and jewelry; in songs, TV shows, and children’s names; and in nearly every religious, social, and political ritual. Boddy also “considers how the sunflower, poppy, rose, lily—and many others—have given rise to meaning, value, and inspiration throughout history, and why they are integral to so many different cultures.”
—Counterfeit: A Novel by Kristin Chen
Released this past June and recommended by many newspapers and magazines including The New York Times Book Review, Kristin Chen’s novel Counterfeit has been described as “a stylish and feminist caper with a strong point of view and an axe to grind. Peering behind the curtain of the upscale designer storefronts and the Chinese factories where luxury goods are produced, Kirstin Chen interrogates the myth of the model minority through two unforgettable women determined to demand more from life.”
—Simply Good For You by Amelia Freer
Upon listening to an interview with author and renowned nutritional therapist,Amelia Freer recently, I quickly became curious about her cookbook Simply Good For You which was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. Sharing 100 recipes that are quick, easy and “quite simply, good for you” if you are trying to figure out how to elevate not only how you feel but also enjoy your food, this is a book for you.
British Finds
—A Good Day to Bake: Simple Baking Recipes for Every Mood by Benjamina Ebuehi
In 2016, Benjamina Ebuehi nearly made it to the quarterfinals of the Great British Bake-Off, and along the way, she became a baker to love. In her new cookbook A Good Day to Bake, released this past March, she shares 70 recipes each embracing “simplicity, mindfulness and the therapeutic comforts of baking.” I had a chance to flip through this cookbook recently and found myself wanting to try nearly every recipe I flipped to. I had to restrain myself from purchasing it as it was not on my list whilst at the grocery store, but I knew for sure I wanted to share it with you.

—Vintage Striped Wooden Table Lamp, handmade

Signature, conversation and stunning pieces for the home are not something you see in somebody else’s home which makes them hard to find. This handmade vintage lamp, circa 1950s or 1960s, is just such a lamp. Found on Vinterior.co, a British décor antique and vintage online site that connects you directly to the dealer, if this lamp speaks to you, patiently wait for the dealer to return from holiday, and in the meantime, send them an email saying you’d like to negotiate a price. I LOVE this lamp and hopefully it will find its way to a home that will savor its unique beauty.
Décor & Garden
—Create Academy, 20% off courses (month of August)
If you have had your eye on any of the now more than a couple of handful of masterclass courses available through Create Academy, August would be a perfect month to purchase them because they are now 20% off. AND because once you purchase the course, it is yours forever, don’t feel you have to take the course in August if you don’t have time. Watch it when you do and save some money along the way. Having thoroughly enjoyed Rita Konig’s interior design course in 2020 (the first course that Create Academy offered), chef Thomasina Miers’ cooking course has just caught my eye. Watch the trailer for it below. Once you become a member (simply sign up for a course), use the promo code MEMBERS20 to save 20% at checkout.
—Vintage Pedestal Side Table, Mahogany (20% off), 1stDibs

With now four tea tables in my home, Le Papillon, when I find one that is high quality, I want to share. They just fit into those small gaps so well offering a place for a drink or bouquet of flowers or a simple vignette of décor detail.
Learn more about the history of tea tables and why having one in your home may be just right for you as well.
—Mid-Century Bamboo and Rattan Bar Cart, 20% off, 1stDibs

If you have been looking for a unique bar cart, this would be a timeless choice. While still an investment, currently, it is 20% off.
Francophile Find
—Now Open for Enrollment: Fall Classes (online and in-person), Alliance de Française, Washington DC (recommended)
So, I have set a goal for myself to step back into French language classes and do my darnedest to improve my French speaking and overall language skills. Washington D.C.’s Alliance Française came highly recommended from readers of TSLL blog who have taken their courses, and while I have taken French courses before from other places that offer classes, I haven’t been able to build a strong foundation. Having taken the oral placement exam this past July (allot about 30-40 minutes to talk with a professor via the phone), I now know which courses to begin with, and will be taking a course this fall to hopefully continue forward with future courses as this Alliance de Française offers an abundance of options depending upon what you need and want to learn.
Enrollment is open now for fall courses that begin mid-September and run through mid-November.
Shopping
—Cassandra’s Kitchen Lodge Cast Iron Skillet (two sizes)
If you are looking for a cast iron skillet to add to your batterie de cuisine, this Lodge skillet will most definitely be with you for your lifetime and then some. Available in both a 10″ and 12″ size, be sure to use the promo code simplyluxurious and save 10% off the entire site.

—FarFetch Sale, 20% off (free shipping)
Thinking about my fall capsule wardrobe and assessing where and what the gaps or missing pieces are, I discovered that FarFetch’s current sale includes many top designers’ fall and winter coats available at reduced prices. Theory’s wool-cashmere coat in light blue is on sale, and I recommend it as I have the light grey version and love its classic style, as it fits well and is comfortable. Also this Barbour Delphine check-print jacket is available at a great price. Many other coats and other items are on sale, so if you know what your capsule wardrobe needs, this is a great opportunity to peruse the entire sale. I have spotlighted a few favorites below, but all of the finds are in the scroll below the collage.





SHOP THE SALE:
This past week Net-a-Porter’s site was down for maintenance. Now it is back up, but as a way of apologizing to shoppers for the interruption, they are offering a site-wide discount. Enjoy 10% off everything when you use the promo code SORRY10. I have spotlighted a few things below such as this robe which I live when I wake up in the chilly mornings and prior to going to bed after a long soak, but be sure to cross-check your shopping list and wishlist to see if the price if now more affordable for your budget – and then scoop it up if it is!





SHOP THE SALE:
—Tuckernuck White Eyelet Palmer Dress

Summer is upon us and white eyelet pieces just do not go out of style. This Palmer dress is a fun piece to wear for either day or night.
—Val V Neck Cashmere Sweater, La Ligne

Yep, I am looking to fall and eager to start donning sweaters. And this oversized beauty has my attention. In hot pink, if you like me have cool undertones, it will complement your visage nicely without being shocking (which I know seems impossible as it is ‘hot pink’, but on the right skin tone, it becomes quite stunning and not overwhelming).
—Andie Navy 100% Organic Cotton Dress, La Ligne

One more find from La Ligne because summer is not over yet, and this dress will easily be in style for years to come. Midi-length, gently capped sleeves and a classic silhouette and neutral hue – navy.
Television
—Surface, AppleTV+
Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine is behind the new drama series Surface on AppleTV+ that debuted last Friday and is receiving high praise. Starring British actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw from the “The Morning Show” as Sophie, ), it is “set in high-end San Francisco and centers around a woman who has suffered a traumatic head injury that has left her with extreme memory loss, believed to be a result of a suicide attempt. As Sophie embarks on a quest to put the pieces of her life back together with the help of her husband and friends, she begins to question whether or not the truth she is told is in fact the truth she has lived.” Have a look at the trailer below and begin streaming episodes now.

This lovely summer flower lined walk is for sale . . . and so is the house and land they grow upon. ?
Located in an ideal historic part of Bend, it can be yours. You can take the tour here if you are like me and just love a good cottage. ☺️

I pass by this cottage on one of my many morning walking routes with Norman as it is two blocks away from Drake Park, and for years it has captured my attention. I am sad to see it being sold as the owners take such good care of it, but hopefully the new owner will as well. It has been on the market for quite a while for Bend real estate (56 days). Such charm and so much potential inside as the foundational pieces have been tended to well. They even have an artist’s studio in the back garden. Oh, and the flowers on the front walk – aren’t they just . . . wow! The pairing of the rudbeckia (yellow flower with black center) and purple scabiosa (a flower I just learned about this week at the farmers’ market – thank you Roots Wild!), classic cottage gardening at its finest in Bend, something we don’t see a lot of here, but I am overjoyed to see such a property.

This week at Le Papillon has been garden focused as the generosity of one of my neighbors provided the welcoming of three amur maple trees to my north garden. (Check out August’s A Cuppa Moments where I share a ‘before’ video of this part of my garden and my plans for what I would like to do to transform it over the next couple of years). I am beyond grateful for this opportunity as such trees are foundational investments, and along with the trees themselves, it was a wonderful memory of working with my neighbors, four of us plus two pups – Norman and a new pup my neighbor just welcomed into their lives, that I will always remember each time I step foot back into this part of my garden. Needless to say, as the trees were not easy to remove from their original homes, each day (it took us two mornings), I was exhausted and savored a long hot bath or shower once we wrapped up for the day. However, all it took was going out to see them or gazing out the window where they now are planted to provide an exterior backdrop (and a bit of privacy) to remind me that good things often take great effort, and in this case, very kind and special neighbors I am grateful to live amongst as well.
The upcoming weekend will find Norman and I at home, and I plan to tape a few more episodes of the cooking show (three to go before we wrap on Season 5!) as well as separate my newly sown foxgloves (seeds were sown in mid-June). So tickled they are doing well. And speaking of sowing seeds, a few of my sweet peas sown this past spring are blooming! Wahoo! After three years, I finally have figured out where they are happiest being planted.
As you can tell, my garden has my attention as of late, but food as well has been at the forefront of my mind having the opportunity to be invited to two dinner parties this past week, and one group of people in particular who also loved food, our conversation was quite fun. The other dinner party required only a walk across the road as my neighbor invited me for a mid-week dinner to welcome a new neighbor into her home, and as all of the welcoming neighbors had worked on transplanting the trees talked about above and moving is no small task, each one of us was ready to relax and unwind, and yep, we talked about gardening as well. ☺️
I hope your summer is continuing to go well, and you are finding time to savor Mother Nature or a slower pace or good food or good company or all four or a mix and match. ? Thank you for choosing to stop by today, and look below to find a handful or posts and one video I thought you might enjoy. Until Monday, bonne journée.
~One more reason to prioritize traveling! Traveling is good for your mental health [Chopra]
~Summer and time by the sea just go together, and if you cannot get to the ocean this summer, taking this tour of a 1760s Captain’s Cottage by the Sea in Maine may help as it did for me. [My Scandinavian Home]
~Gardeners, here is a post if you too are working to keep your plants alive in the summer heat. [Middle-sized Garden]
~Are you an extrovert, but also identify as being HSP? This is the article for you – How to Thrive as an Extroverted HSP [Highly Sensitive Refuge]
~A task I tended to last week in the garden, pruning the fruit trees. It’s that time! And Gardeners’ World shows you how in this video and post tutorial.
~Another task I need to tend to more regularly – cleaning my yoga mat and how to do it effectively and simply. [Wire Cutter]
~Museums Off the Beaten Path in Paris worth visiting [HipParis]
~England’s Lionesses had an awesome victory in the Euro Cup on Sunday and on the same day the Tour de France Femmes wrapped up after a long absence for decades. Both events inspired an article to read found in Le Monde – Women’s Sports Must be Made Even More Visible.
~The necessity and power of art during wartime [The New York Times]
~Being sensitive is not a weakness. Truth! Here’s Why.
~The Grit and Polish revealed their new primary bathroom and it is quite sweet!
~If you don’t yet have a console table, here are reasons why to consider welcoming one into your home. [House & Garden UK]
~A couple of weeks ago I recommended exploring the streaming channel, Criterion, for film noir, classic and independent films worth exploring that are hard to find. Minnie Driver shares her favorite films worth watching in this video and in so doing teaches the viewer so much about film history. And it is the last film she recommends that I cannot wait to watch. Oh! And her style – those earrings, the eye glasses. Love everything she is wearing. 🙂
~Explore last week’s This & That: July 29, 2022

A new series to bring the laughs, a return of a favorite series on a new network, a luxuriously cosy dog bed for our four-legged companions, quality summer clothing at 20% off with an exclusive TSLL code, books for HSPs, the financially-focused, parents of college-bound students and students themselves, a French teacup and saucer I love and think you will too, and still so much more.
~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse and sometimes welcome into your life mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in today’s post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.
How serendipitous, Kristin Chen’s Counterfeit is sitting on my bedside table ready to be read after I collected it from the library. (Currently reading the Untethered Soul on your recommendation). I find Reese Ws book club often makes recommendations I enjoy.
Surface has also caught my attention, there’s seems to be so much good drama available on AppleTV+ – having subscribed for The Morning Show I now have quite the list!
I love all of your style recommendations, and coupled with your last post I’m thinking carefully about what I want to purchase going forward.
Your last week with your neighbours, gardening and sharing dinner parties sounds quite lovely.
Have a wonderful weekend all
Sarah
How serendipitous indeed! The reviews of Counterfeit were too good to pass up and the plot was unique, so I wanted to share. Tickled you chose to read it as well. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by Sarah and saying hello. Have a wonderful weekend as well. 🙂
Wonderful thought provoking recommendations as always Shannon! Thank you
Thank you for stopping by Suschee. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend.
Happy weekend! Looking forward to watching a few streaming films this weekend. I have discovered a series on HBO called “Julia” that is delightful and full of Julia Child’s humor and charm. Thank you for the armchair tour of the lovely cottage in Bend. Enjoy the beautiful summer walks in your neighborhood
Shannon!
Karen, Thank you for stopping by! And great minds and similar interests we must have! The series called Julia you speak of that is on HBO was a Petit Plaisir on the podcast (ep #326). Here is the link and review of the series. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 🙂
https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/juliaseriespp326/
Shannon, thank you for pointing me to your excellent review of the HBO Max series “Julia”. I think the British actress Sarah Lancashire is superb playing Julia. She was so good in the PBS series “Halifax”. I have treasured the experience of being able to walk into Julia’s kitchen as it was displayed in the Smithsonian.
Very nice post, Shannon! Thank you. I am in the middle of Thomasina‘s cooking course, and it is terrific. You will enjoy it!
Thank you for sharing Heather. I am inching ever closer to signing up soon! ☺️
Thank you, Shannon! Marvelous job as usual!
Surface looks so stylish, like a modern film noir. I canceled
my AppleTV because there is so much to watch that I cannot
get to a lot of times. I think I’ll renew for Surface. However I’m looking to your cooking show!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend!!
Shannon,
I first discovered Amelia Freer when I took her class on Create Academy and have since purchased all of her books. She has a new one coming out later this year called The Organized Cook. Try one of her books or just take the class. i think you will enjoy her approach to healthly eating.
Phyliss, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with her classes and for the heads up on her new one. They both sounds great! 🙂
Shannon, you out did yourself with this T&T. Loved the links to the houses in Bend and Maine, totally out of my price range for buying or renting either, but a girl can dream.
Love Minnie Driver and her movie recommendations, An angel at my table in on my next to watch list. Got some tips from watering my garden during the heat/drought, we have both in Colorado.
Loved the tree project in this months Cuppa, and glad the trees are in, it’s hard work I know I planted two in my front garden but watching them grow and change during the seasons, is such a joy
I tried to get Counterfeit from my library but for all forms it was double digit holds?, so I may need to purchase this one, sounds wonderful. Have a lovely week everyone.
Thank you for stopping by Josanne and sharing what you enjoyed. The beauty of our trees. The appreciation truly does deepen as you have shared when we know the effort and have watched them mature as well as change through each season. Beautifully described, such a joy indeed. Wishing you a wonderful new week. ?
It might not be the weekend but I enjoyed browsing this and that this morning. I loved the cottage but was shocked at the price, even in dollars but what inspiration. I saw Amelia has a new book out and am quite tempted as I have been following her on Instagram for awhile. Off to look up counterfeit now. X
Nicola, Thank you for stopping whenever it is best. ? Yes, the cottage price is quite high. Really what that price reflects is a large lot (which is rare in town) and an ideal location (you can walk everywhere to the heart of Bend), a very mature and historic part of town.
And yes, so grateful to Phyllis for sharing the new book coming out from Amelia Freer. I look forward to exploring it as well.
Thank you again for popping by and saying hello. Wishing you a wonderful week. ☺️