Well here we are again, meeting up virtually for some inspiration and decorating ideas. But before we get started, how was your weekend? Did you accomplish all you had hoped? I had a nice weekend but ended up not finishing all of my work because I started watching French films and once I start I cannot stop! I love French movies and have several favorite actors from Paris — one being Romain Duris, do you know him? He was in both “Paris” and “Molière”, both are films that I highly recommend for the atmosphere and acting, but also the ability they have to lift you from your seat, transporting you into another place and time.

Paris was a film that I think all who complain about life should watch because the story is very touching and surely will make you cry but also may help you to value your life a little more. We need films like that now and then, don’t we? It’s so easy to whine and fall into the habit of complaining, feeling as though enough is never enough. All it takes is Romain Duris in this film to realize that so many of us have it really, really well.

Romain is such a gem to watch, what a talent… and I loved his apartment, especially the scenes from his balcony shown above where he cultivates a few plants and flowers. You know what? I’m one of the few who has been glad that the weather is so gray because I’ve finally had the time to watch some of my DVDs and through them I have been gaining inspiration and encouragement – a few movies I suggest from my most recently viewed list, French and other, include: Paris, Molière, The Reader, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Coco Before Chanel (love), Miss Potter, Priceless and The Science of Sleep (so creative!).

I’ll be back soon with some Monday inspirations for you, so I’ll see you soon. xo

Oh and a BIG P.S. – It has been confirmed that I’ll be in the April 2010 issue of Myself magazine, a woman’s magazine in Germany published by Conde Nast. It will be on newsstands March 17th and the article is about “pro” bloggers in Germany, I’ll be profiled along with Nicole from Delicious Days and I believe one other though I’m unsure of whom so I’ll have to wait until March 17th.

(photo: cinemovies)

33 Responses to “Good Morning, Monday!”

1 Michelle commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 9:56 am

congrats on the publicity! Looking forward to reading about that.
How’s the flat hunting going? Have you found somewhere now? Did I miss that chapter?!
M x
2 Sarah commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:03 am

I do love the movie ‘Paris’. I recommend ‘2 Days in Paris’, it’s always good for a laugh.
3 Samia commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:09 am

Congratulations Holly! That’s fantastic news! :) And I adore french movies as well, thanks for the recommendations. Coco Avant Chanel IS love. And the Science of Sleep is very strange and super creative, I actually created an alternate movie title opening sequence for it for a motion video class last year – but I need to go back to it and edit before posting it. My weekend was great, but I too did not accomplish all I wanted. I did get to rest a little though, caught up with friends and had some me time, which is always good! Happy Monday everyone! :D
4 Brigitte commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:10 am

Thank you for the movie ideas! I don’t often watch foreign films, because they always make me cry. I am a silly American who wants my movies fluffy or actiony.

I did accomplish everything I wanted to this weekend! Including my homework for your class. :)
Brigitte´s last blog ..Bloggerific! My Inspiration Board
5 decor8 commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:10 am

Michelle thank you for asking! :) It’s still in process… taking me a longer time that I had anticipated. It’s cold, grey, snowy — I think most people are staying put right now and are not that motivated to move — but I am very particular about the district that I live in and the size of the apartment and when you have a longer lists of needs it automatically makes the search much harder. But on a positive note, one just listed that I plan to see in a few weeks and Spring is coming so perhaps I’ll find a place then. Thankfully I’m not working on deadline, my current apartment is small but comfortable and very, very cheap to live in so I’m able to save more money the longer I live here which is never a bad thing. :)
6 Melissa Allam commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:13 am

Well, I got up this morning perusing my favorite blogs and trying to come up with something for my own post today. I did get accomplished all that I hoped to this weekend. I worked on a couple guest posts which challenged me in writing way beyond some of my own posting and now I don’t have anything left for my own. That’s okay though, because I feel happy with what I accomplished. I even got crafty and sewed up some little suprise Valentines for friends. It was a good weekend. Good to see you had time to rest and be inspired this weekend also Holly.
Melissa Allam´s last blog ..No Rain On My Parade!
7 Nataliya commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:31 am

Hi Holly,
I could suggest a film I loved: Coco Chanel. It came out a year before, Coco Before Chanel, in 2008. I have a feeling you might love it as well. It is the same story but told a bit differently.

N
Nataliya´s last blog ..San Diego, Part 1
8 katrin commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:20 am

Hello everyone, I loved “Paris” as well, Romain Duris` performance is very intense….and as shown on the posted picture, my favorite french actress is Juliette Binoche. Vulnerable, powerful, beautiful, she`s a phenomenon to me…and the love story she is a part of in “Paris” is so sweet…I remember her striptease – a little celebration.
9 Livi commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:32 am

im a sucker for french films as well. thank you for the suggestion! my weekend was a lot of relaxing and spending time with the husband which is great because thats hard to fit in during the week. but i would have loved to have accomplished a little bit more tactile things!
Livi´s last blog ..emma style
10 Lydia commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:41 am

Holly,
I’ve never commented before and first off, I would like to say that I really love your blog. Not only are the pictures and stories of the independent artists beautiful and touching, the insight you offer and the fact that you actually are involved and invested in your blog and the features you present makes for a more enjoyable reading experience. You make us think! So the reason I commented was b/c of the picture you posted of the wonderfully talented Romain Duris! 2 films I would HIGHLY recommend that the wonderful Mr. Duris stars in are “Gadjo Dilo” (The Crazy Stranger) and “L’auberge Espangole” (The Spanish Apartment). They are not French films per se, but if you like European foreign movies, they are great, especially Gadjo Dilo. Hope you get a chance to watch them!
11 Gosia commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Thank you for your movie pics… still some of them left to be watched, but most of all, congratulations on your magazine feature. It’s soooo deserved!
Gosia´s last blog ..Picture a Day: Joining the Celebration
12 Hanna commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 12:30 pm

Brotherhood of the Wolf is soooo pretty and hardly anyone I know has seen it. Hmmm, maybe I will watch it this week…
Hanna´s last blog ..Blogroll: Creative Life Part 2
13 Yoli commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 12:59 pm

Good Morning Ms.Holly! Looks like you are having a wonderful Monday.
14 Virginia commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 1:13 pm

sad but wonderful movie…
15 hawthorne girl commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

I loved th film Paris and I love everything Romain Duris is in. Have you seen the film Exils? It’s a very cool film about Romain’s character going from Paris to his homeland of Algeria. Beautiful visually and an amazing soundtrack.
hawthorne girl´s last blog ..fashion friday
16 Pam commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 3:25 pm

I love The Science of Sleep. I have to check out these other films. I have plenty of time with this snow and getting another foot of it tomorrow. I really miss spring.
17 goldene commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 4:14 pm

i have to see the movie. definitely.
(and i have to agree with lydia: “l’auberge espagnole” and its sequel “les poupées russes” are really nice…)

congratulations on the “myself” publication!
goldene´s last blog ..naturellement
18 Meredith commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 4:16 pm

Congratulations on the magazine feature! That’s wonderful. And thanks for all the great movie suggestions. I know what I’ll be doing on the next wintry night we have.
Meredith´s last blog ..Smallable Children’s Decor
19 Artemis commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Happy for you! I also have a very happy weekend (watching movies for smart kids), writing, writing and writing :)
Artemis´s last blog ..{ Icy Snow }
20 glitzkrieg commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 7:13 pm

Thank you! Paris is now on my list as a can’t miss. I looooove Juliette Binoche. Bleu and Amelie are gorgeous French flicks too, don’t you think?

I had a rather lovely weekend because, well, it was my birthday! I realized just in time that next year my bday will be the same day as the Superbowl (oh no!) so I celebrated doubly hard. ;)
21 JENNIFER RAMOS commented:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:18 pm

Congrats about the magazine…of course :)
We usually do Netflix nights on Sundays…..my husband & I were watching a film the other day and a preview for this film popped up…. I thought it looked touching…Will check it out thanks!

I A-D-O-R-E foreign films!
22 Mel commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 1:20 am

I am loving all the movies you are giving me to add to my list! Have you thought of doing *another* blog full of film reviews?? :)
Mel´s last blog ..new ideas …
23 Melibu commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 4:06 am

I’m in love with Romain Duris ;-)
I had a big big crush on him in “l’Auberge espagnole”.
But you also have to see “de battre mon coeur s’est arrêté” (my heart stopped beating). He’s wonderful in this movie.
Melibu´s last blog ..Huit – Letempspresse.org
24 decor8 commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 4:22 am

Melibu – Oh thank you for the suggestions…. I have to see those now too. :)
25 Laura Gaskill commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:08 am

Woot woot! I hope you’ll post photos of the article if you can, as I think it will be impossible to find here in the States!

I am really enjoying your film recommendations – I also loved Miss Potter, Priceless, and the Science of Sleep, and I just added a few of the mentioned to my netflix queue :)
Laura Gaskill´s last blog ..Inspiration Assignment
26 decor8 commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:18 am

Laura – Ah, thanks and yes I’ll post it. My photo will be in it so I will fly it high and proud because it’s a first time for me in Germany! :) :) I also cannot wait to see if more Germans start reading decor8 after the article, I wonder you know?
27 catherine commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 11:48 am

Holly: I am sure you have seen it but if not “Paris, Je T’Aime”. 18 short films by 18 different directors. FABULOUS!
Cat
28 Miss B commented:
February 9th, 2010 at 3:47 pm

Congrats Holly! How exciting (and well deserved). Thank you for the movie rec I am always on the look out for new movies to add to my Netflix queue:)
Miss B´s last blog ..THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT REFRESHER COURSE
29 lemelimelodeval commented:
February 10th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Hi,

I agreed with previous posts about l’auberge espagnole & les poupées russes.
I am a big fan of both Klapisch (who is the Director) and Duris.
From the same director, I would recomend you “Le Péril Jeune”,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_P%C3%A9ril_jeune, which is the first movie in which Romain Dury plays and “Chacun cherche son chat” both of them are taking place in Paris.
30 Steph commented:
February 11th, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Oh, congrats on the publicity! I have to chime in and share one of my favorite french movies – Rumba. It’s a most charming, quirky, and colorful movie. It made me want to paint my living room kelly green!
Steph´s last blog ..Parties – Book Club Party
31 Mandy commented:
February 12th, 2010 at 2:16 am

Oh , I think french films are so inspirational, even if you don’t enjoy the film the decor rarely disappoints , ” My wife is an Actress” has a beautiful apartment in it. Thanks for a great post
Mandy´s last blog ..FIVE FRIDAY FAVORITES
32 Saioa commented:
February 15th, 2010 at 9:26 am

I recommended Julia & Juliet too, it’s a wonderful film, I love it.
Saioa´s last blog ..Macarons party
33 Brooklyn commented:
February 20th, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Hey! Thanks a ton for all the movie suggestions. As I’m a college grad (December) and don’t have alot to do while living at home and applying to jobs- I really appreciate it! I’d love to see more blogs like this :)

-Brooklyn

http://letsmaketheworldcare.blogspot.com/ (new blog I started in my down time- not sure if I’m keeping the theme yet).

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