Smart is Sexy Sunday's: Marie-Thérèse Child of Terror

Marie-Thérèse, Child of Terror by Susan Nagel (biography review)

It was the summer of 2006 that I took my first trip to Versailles. The gilded rooms and endless hallways, abundance of gold, paintings, fountains, furniture, flourishing gardens - it was incredible. And that was just the first hour. After that, I was overwhelmed. Wandering its extensive grounds peaked my curiosity. I wanted to learn about Versailles and the life that had once existed here; especially it's last queen, and her equally ill-fated husband. The rest so to speak, was history.
Three Marie Antoinette biographies ( along with one on Louis XVI, and a return to Versailles) later, my interest has blossomed into a near obsession. I have bloodlines memorized, favorite historians, and I now get giddy when I watch PBS documentaries: "Hey, I read her book!".

Look ma! I have my own billboard

That's me. On a billboard.

Wonder Wednesday: Pink and The Scents of Summer

The sweltering heatwave of summer here in Northern California seems, much to my sorrow, to have passed. I love nothing more than the suffocating, panting heat of the season. When the temperatures are high, the roses just outside my window bloom longer; their scent is stronger. I feel the urge to wear perfume: it seems more romantic. I think of Paris and Rome and sweat that rolls down the backs of legs - no movement or effort needed.
The summer calls for midnight fans, homemade Popsicles and the flimsiest of clothing. Also on the list: wind chimes, floating candles, and hair that hasn't been styled in days. 

Summer Hiatus

Weekend Blogger Round Up: In a Whimsical Mood

Puppies! And BLOG GIVEAWAY!

The above bumper sticker is what inspired this post. About a year ago I became a foster parent to my beloved cat, Eloise Fleur. When we first brought her home she had feline leukemia, and feline AIDS. How could I walk away from her? She had been adopted when she was a smaller kitten, but when she hit the 5 month mark her "family" lost interest. She needed someone who would love her unconditionally - little did I know just how much of a joy she would be for me in my life. I know we have all seen the video, but I really do want to adopt all the cats in the world, and give them bow ties.

How hilarious it is that this post is titled "Puppies", and so far I've only talked about my cat?

 This adorable puppy is my most recent friend. Eloise isn't quite sure how she feels about him, but deep down, I know she loves him. If she didn't, she wouldn't have attempted to sit on him like she did last week. Love. He belongs to my neighbor, and is of chiwawa breed. He falls asleep in my hands, and absolutely melts my heart!

So, as you may have heard, Amber's Mouthwash 3 year anniversary is on the 23rd of this month. To celebrate, I am holding a giveaway for my readers! Please see video below:



To enter the contest simply leave a comment, and tell me when you became a follower! Contest runs until the end of the month. Good luck everyone!

Duck, Duck, GOOSE! Aka Summer Sequins

I've never really had the discussion as to the (cultural) appropriation of sequins in summer. I'll just take that as a hint that it's perfectly okay. (Even if it wasn't I'd wear them anyway.) In all logicality, is there a better season than summer to wear sequins? The sun is shining bright and lets the little tiny disks live up to their full potential. Far be it from me to deny them their sparking rights!

French Lessons: Mini Tour de France

Welcome back to the deuxième versement of Amber's Mouthwash French Lessons! Today, I am super excited. I have discovered something that I cannot wait to share with you, and visit myself!

Paris summer trip, 2006

Can you imagine seeing all the highlights of not just Paris, but of France? Imagine experiencing the grandeur of Versailles, the castles of the Loire Valley, the cathedrals of northwestern France, Mont St. Michel, the vineyards of Bordeaux, the sun-drenched buildings of the South, and everything in between? Sounds magical, doesn't it? What if I told you that you could do ALL of this not in a year, a month, not even a week - but in a day? Pas possible! you'd say. But, mais oui! C'est possible! And, you will even have time for votre dejeuner. I promise.

nomming on the Pont des Arts, Paris summer trip 2006

Guest Post by Ellie of City Brewed: The Art Of Thrifting

This month's guest post comes to us from Ellie, the blogger behind the quite amazing City Brewed blog. She decided to start City Brewed as a place to document her personal style when she made the move from Florida, to New York. While she is a fairly new blogger (started in January), she's already been seen on the likes of Teen Vogue, Elle, and Nine West (just to name a few)! Ellie girl, I give you major props! I am so thrilled to have her as a guest here on Amber's Mouthwash. Today, Ellie gives us some tips on:

The Art of Thrifting 

 

Thrifting can be one of two things: an exciting excursion where you bring home a boat-load of awesome pieces, or a day of disappointment and an empty handed fashionista. I’ve been in both situations, and let me tell you, the second outcome is not thrilling. That, my friend, is when I decided something needed to be done. I needed to perfect the art of thrifting. 

1.Grab a Coffee

Wonder Wednesday post: Clear Skin

This is my first Wonder Wednesday post. What are Wonder Wednesday posts? I have decided that they will be a picking of DIY's, tutorials, reviews, inspiration or editorial. Anything that brings curiosity and wonder. I will be creating these posts twice monthly, and should you ever want to sort through them, I have a link button set up in the sidebar.

This month's first W.W post is about clear skin. I know that for some of us this can be a touchy subject: maybe some have struggled with not-so clear skin in the past - or maybe some are still struggling with it. It is easily a sensitive subject. Here I share some of my tried and true products, in hopes that some of these will work for you too! For me two of my best discoveries have been the facial wash and the moisturizer. And the facial brush. Okay, so pretty much everything I mention in the video.

Have any questions? I'll be happy to try and answer them! I certainly do not have all the answers to clear skin, and I don't have the solution to all skincare problems, but I have shifted through enough skincare products to know that when you (finally!) find a few, or a combination of a few that do work, hold on and stock up!

PS a very excited welcome to my new follower Fashionnard. I am so thrilled to have you here!!

Ivanhoe, CA

Forever 21 silk dress, wal-mart flats and Aldo bag

Weekend Blogger Round Up

This is my first post of my Weekend Blogger Round-Up! This weekend we start with Jennifer of I know, Right?, who does a book review. What do Alfred Hitchcock and Francis Ford Coppola have in common? Head on over to her blog to find out!

Miss Zeva of Fated to be Hated has a custom laptop bag made, and

On these hot lazy days

Finding pleasure in the small (and hot!) moments of summer. I feel the most blessed when I am with those that I love, lounging barefoot in the grass with a good book in hand. It doesn't matter what state, 

country, or even if there's a cloud in the sky...just as long as I have sunshine.  

Also, on a serendipitous whim, I decided to color the ends of my hair pink...

Wandering Sunny California Hills in Rhinestones

Ok. So my outfit was slightly out of touch with reality; wandering the California hills (complete with snake friendly tall grass) in chiffon and high-water capris, perhaps, was not the wisest choice.  But in my defense it was a picnic, and I was uber excited. I mean, back in the day women used to wander prairies in ankle length skirts! At least my ankles were getting some air.

French Lessons: Améliorer and Play on Words

Bonjour lovelies! Au jourd'hui on commençe la premiere leçon en français! Are you excited? I am! While I am far from being fluent in the language, learning and speaking French is passion of mine - and I hope to spend at least a year in the country soon. I have been blessed to have visited France several times, and I cannot wait to go back!
Ok! Commencons! Let's begin!

Sitting in Le Café des Deux Moulins, in the 18th, Feb 2011.

Today's French word of the day is:  améliorer [ah-may-leuh-rayh], which means to improve.  Améliorer is a regular -ER verb, meaning it's present tense endings are:

-e    -ons
-es    -ez
-e    -ent

Try it in a sentence:
Je suis d'améliorer ma vocabulaire quand j'utilise le mot "améliorer". 
I am improving my vocabulary when I use the word "improve".

Je suis chercher pour m'améliore toujours.
I am always looking/searching for ways to improve myself.

Ma poupounette, si le dejeuner est fade, tu besoin l'améliorer!
My dear, if the lunch is bland/boring/tasteless, you need to improve it!

My absolute favorite scene from the movie. The complimentary colors make me so happy!

Also, a fun little association I have with this word is the French movie, Amélie. For those of you who have seen it, you know that Amélie, the main character goes around improving other peoples lives. Fun little play on words, isn't it?

For my next lesson we're taking an entire tour of France, but not in the way you think!

Bisous!

PS I wanted to thank all of you for sharing your interest in my previous post, on the rape victims in Libya. I will certainly keep you updated on my efforts to get them aid!