Today we drove into the mountains and saw some mind-blowing scenery. Those Rockies sure are breathtaking! The best moment was when we drove by a family of deer. The Mama was just chilling on the side of the road, so we stopped to look at her. Lo and behold! There were eight deer behind her, including Papa, and they weren’t the least bit afraid. They just hung around there and let us take their pictures. It was beautiful.

Then we went to Red Rocks Amphitheater (Remember that U2 concert?) Can I just say…WOW. Totally awesome. I like Toronto, but we just don’t get views like this, do we? It was lovely to spend the day in the mountains, especially after we braved the malls yesterday on Black Friday. For those of you not in the “shopping know,” Black Friday has nothing to do with the stock market. It’s actually the day after American Thanksgiving and it officially kicks off the the Christmas season. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so we wanted to check it out. I’m happy to report that the economy seems in FINE shape, at least here in Denver. Consumers hit those malls hard to get their Christmas shopping on, and although we had a festive time (took Jessie to meet Santa), it was refreshing for us city slickers to spend today out in the great oudoors.

Mama and her posse

Red Rocks

Greetings from the ‘Mile High’ city, where the sun is brighter and the sky is bluer. (True. There’s less water vapour in the air a mile above sea level so it really is blindingly bright over here.) What’s this all got to so with LIV and shopping? Nothing. I don’t even have a clever segue.
I’m not even here on LIV related business.

But I do feel like chatting about NUMPH!. I LOVE Numph! It’s a really cool clothing line from Denmark with a great story behind it. It all began when a wealthy businessman gave seven young, creative women – all fashion designers – a big WAD of money and encouraged them to create the type of clothes they wished to wear themselves. They were given total freedom with their designs and you can really see their spontenaiety and creativity in each piece of clothing. Numph collections are always ecclectic, edgy and quirky. We sold out of the Numph spring collection in ONE WEEK. The ‘Numphs’ are true artists:
“Our dream was to create a brand from scratch which is different and stronger simply
because nümph sums up our experiences and creativity: cutting edge, twisted, feminine and rough, vulnerable and strong.” – the ‘numphs’

Christel black skirt $70!!

Green heart sweater $129

My little numph in Numph

Numph T-shirt art

I wasn’t planning on getting this personal so early in our relationship – after all, we’re just getting to know each other – but I have to share this story because it is truly miraculous.

Last year this month, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was very advanced, and by June, it had spread to her bones. We were told there was no cure, that she was in “palliative care.”

A few weeks ago, she started to experience some pain in her back and legs, so she went for an MRI to determine how much the tumours on her spine had grown. We all had a deep sense of foreboding. I started trying to mentally prepare myself for losing her, which is an impossible task, especially because our lives our so intertwined. I am her only child, we are business partners, she has helped me raise my daughter, we share a summer home in Maine, and let’s face it, I still feel totally dependent on her for most everything. To say we are close is an understatement. I love her so much and have spent the past few weeks waiting for the results in a sort of numbed denial.

On the day she was supposed to call for the results, I burst in our office and said, “Don’t call for the results. Let’s just act as if you’re totally well. We don’t need to know.”
She said, “I’ve already decided I’m well.” She didn’t call for the results that day, and we were happy.

She called the next day. The nurse told her the tumours were GONE. They had shrunk to the point of being indiscernable on the MRI. Today, my mom is cancer-free. She is, according to her nurse, in stage ZERO. Can you BELIEVE it?? It is an absolute miracle. From stage four to stage zero!

Tonight we celebrated at Auberge du Pommier. I am so grateful. Isn’t amazing just to know that anything is possible?

Celebrating life

I love you Marsha

The Au Lit "Board of Directors": Husband Mig, Mom & Jessie

Welcome to entry #2 of my LIV by Au Lit blog. A little background about me and my fam: I’m one of the owners. My partners are my Mom (Peggy, who founded Au Lit Fine Linens almost 28 years ago in Montreal) and my husband Miguel. We are a very tight-knit family business (and my four-year-old daughter is not far behind.) She loves “merchandising” at LIV, and this morning I found her playing “LIV” in her bedroom. She had taken most of her clothes out of her drawers and placed them all over her room, and she’d even added some of her books and ‘tchochkes’ to sell too! She said to me, “I’m working at the LIV Christmas party today and my daughter is home with her Daddy.”

So cute. I never wanted anything to do with my mom’s business when I was little and look at me now. I’ve usurped the whole operation!

Anyway, it’s a warm, spring-like November day and Julie is doing the Au Lit Christmas merchandising. It’s hard to wrap your head around Christmas wreaths and flannel PJ’s when the birds are chirpring outside and people are walking around in T-shirts and yes, shorts. (Saw someone this morning in shorts. REALLY?) But speaking of flannel PJ’s, Au Lit has just put out my favourites of the season by BedHead. They’re adorable! Pink and blue flannel with birds. You might have seen them featured in In Style magazine. As the proud owner of many flannel BedHead jammies, I can promise you they’re everything you’ve ever wanted in a cozy jammy, and they get better and better over time.
If you like jammies as much as I do, you’ll also love Scanty’s holiday collection at LIV. Lots of peace symbols and owls, super cozy and a nice price point too.

So…happy holiday shopping!

Bedhead flannel jammies

Scanty holiday jammies

Jessie Faith - Merchandiser

Au Lit Fine Linens Holiday

Linda's beautiful ribbons

Au Lit Fine Linens Chalet collection

Behold...Another exquisite job by Julie and her merchandising team