And the Oscar goes to...

If you watched the Academy Awards last night, you probably know by now that Milena Canonero, the costume designer for "Marie Antoinette" won the award for best costume design. According to Oscar.com, this was Canonero's eighth Oscar nomination. Other contenders for the award this year were The Queen, The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, and Curse of the Golden Flower. In my opinion this award was well-deserved...the costumes in "Marie Antoinette" are any girl's dream and easily beat the other nominees!

-R*

Correction-it's macarOns, not macarOOns!

Thanks to Shabby in the City for correcting me on my previous post about Ladurée bakery and their macarons. Macaroons and Macarons are completely different foods; macarons are not the coconut-y cookies I thought they were. After doing some research I discovered that the French macarons are actually a pastry made of egg whites, sugar, almond powder, and icing sugar. The result is a sweet and moist filling sandwiched between two domes of pastry that is slightly crunchy. In contrast, Macaroons as we know them are a cross between cookie and confection, similar to a meringue. Coconut is the dominant ingredient. This would explain the obvious difference in the two treats' appearances!
I have corrected the Ladurée post, and resolved to fully do my research from here on out!
If ever you see something in my posts that needs to be corrected, please do not hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks!

-R*

The Louis chair reinvented

Everyone knows the Louis chair-you see it everywhere. I've always admired it for its classic elegance and charisma. Check out this modernized version of the chair, called the Louis Ghost. Designed by Philippe Starck and Kartell, it's made of polycarbonate and comes in clear as well as transparent colors: yellow, sunset-orange, ice blue, and crystal green. The description claims it's also very resistant and stable. Buy one for $334 or a set of 4 for $1,212 at highbrowfurniture.com.
This chair is perfect for putting a modern twist on a romantic and 18th century-style room.


-R*

Living the glam life with Brocade Home

Who says you have to follow the decorating norms? If you're a girl like me, you want a feminine and glamorous bedroom, one that has "girl power" written all over it. If you like decorating that's baroque and kinda reminiscent of Versailles, Brocade Home is just the thing us girls need. A spin off from its parent company, Restoration Hardware, Brocade Home launched in the fall of 2006. It's an innovative home furnishings company selling everything from beds to bath towels. Not to mention they have some pretty fancy chandeliers for sale as well. Check out their Spring 2007 catalog, pictured left, online. Or request a catalog by mail on their website. Let me know if you've ever bought anything from Brocade Home, and if so, what.


-R*

Show off your goodies, part I

By goodies, I mean your desserts. Macaroons and candied fruits, more specifically. You're going to need something attractive to display your confections on, and tiered serving trays do just that. These were in any well-appointed home in the 18th century, and they're a good investment: they do their thing while also serving as a work of art. So for your next party, check out these food stands:24" Atlantis Food Stand / Dessert Tray - 3 Tiers
This stainless steel, silver-finished dessert stand defines elegance. Just think of the food arrangements you could do with this. While it's a bit pricey at $225, it really is a great piece. You can buy it here at a website called Sarah's Sweet Fountains. Did I mention this website also sells some neat-looking fondue items?Tiered Pedestal Serving Plates-set of 3
Not only is this dessert stand a steal at $19.99, it's a two-in-one kind of thing: the 3 glass stands are stackable, so you can stack them on top of each other for a tiered-stand, or use one by itself as a simple yet chic cake stand. Buy it online at Target.

If either of these don't suit your fancy, you can find tons of serving stands in various styles on Ebay. From modern to vintage, you're sure to find something you like there. Once you get your serving stand(s), pile on the goodies and show 'em off!

Your comments and/or suggestions are appreciated=)

-R*

Ladurée: it's a candy-colored world

Just as popular now as they were in the 18th century, gourmet macarons are a tribute to the glamorous lifestyle of Marie Antoinette. The pink macarons on the left are from the famous Ladurée bakery in Paris, and are rose petal flavored. They come in many other colors and flavors, including but not limited to: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, raspberry, lemon, etc.

There are also many pretty boxes you can order them in. My favorite is the blue “Bonaparte” box. If you’re looking for a great gift, check out their gift sets. There’s even a “Marie Antoinette” gift set decked out in purple and green. Speaking of which, the candy-colored macarons seen in the 2006 movie "Marie Antoinette" were supplied by Ladurée itself! By now you’re probably wondering where you can get your hands on these delicious treats. The Ladurée shops are located throughout Paris, and there are other locations in Monaco, Geneva, and London as well. Unfortunately, many of us live on the other side of the world (like me) and can only dream about these macarons in our sleep. But wait: Gesine, a confectionary and gourmet market in Vermont, offers French-recipe macaroons with a twist in maple, mocha, or lemon flavors. You can order them online at their website. Bon apetit!

Know of any bakeries in your area that sell killer macarons? Or a website where you can order them online? Leave a comment with your name and the name of the bakery/company in this post.

-R*

Welcome to Pretty in Bleu!

Coming soon: food, fashion, home and entertainment, Marie Antoinette style of course!

Check back later for the first post. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

-R*