#11 French Garden House

French Garden House.
Doesn't that name just invoke thoughts of a French chateau filled with antiques and surrounded by meandering gardens!?!
It does for me.
Probably because I know Lidy the owner of French Garden House and her home does have a lovely garden and is filled with beauty! And it does one better than a French chateau... her place is just a hop skip and a jump from the California coast!!
Lidy is an amazing woman with impeccable style and a flare for decorating. She is a natural host and her home is not just beautiful, it's cozy!
I met Lidy at the same time I met (Karen and Andrea) and she is the one who introduced me to this whole blogging world. She had me over to her beautiful home for tea and we set up my blog. She patiently answered my questions like " How do I go on other people's blogs?" "How do I leave a comment?" REALLY! I was pathetic, but left with the promise that if I just dove right in I would love blogging.
She was right!
Lidy has graciously offered to host our next Birthday Bash Giveaway! Our next winner will receive a Luxurious FAUX Mink Couture Baby Jacket directly from the French Garden House Les Petits Boutique. The Jacket comes in sizes 6-12 months and 12-24 months in Cream and 12-24 months in Chocolate. Perfect for the upcoming winter chill or for the glamorous baby's Halloween costume!

Here is how you can win...

Main entry (mandatory): Check out one of the 12 French Garden House boutiques then come back to this post and leave a comment telling us one of your favorite things.

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You must do the main entry!!! (I'll take you out of the contest if that isn't done, no matter how many extra entries you do!!)In addition to the main entry you can get loads of extra entries if you...

~Follow the French Garden House Blog or let me know you already do (3 entries)

~Subscribe to the French Garden House RSS feed, in their header (3 entries)

~Follow French Garden House on twitter here! Or let me know you already do. Leave your Twitter ID in the comment. (2 entries)

~Tweet about the giveaway, can be done daily. Copy and paste this for the tweet: "Win a Luxurious Mink Couture Baby Jacket @elislids Birthday Bash hosted by @frenchgarden here http://bit.ly/2j0qTP" If you don't have twitter you can FB for this one. (2 entries per day)

~Visit one of the other French Garden House boutiques (as in a different one from your main entry) and let us know another item that you are in love with. (1 entry)

~Add the "Eli's Lids Giveaway" button in our sidebar to your blog or let me know you already did (2 entries per blog)~Follow the Eli's Lids blog (2 entries)

~Become a fan of Eli's Lids on Facebook or let me know you already are (2 entries)

~Follow Eli's Lids on Twitter, leave your Twitter ID in the comment or let me know you already do (1 entry)

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you add our giveaway button to your blog leave 2 separate comments.

***Giveaway open one week! Ends Monday October 5th 9:00pm PST***
Now meet, Lidy, one of my favorite blogging friends...
Tell us a bit about your family…
I married my European boyfriend when I just turned 19, that was 35 years ago! {He just gets nicer as the years go by.} We have two daughters, one son in law and the most adorable grandbaby. We live near the Beach in Southern California, where the weather is mostly perfect.
What will readers find when they visit the French Garden House blog?
I try to combine all the things I love on my blog. I happily write about the antiques I love and sell, going to flea markets,our garden, making a happy home, recipes,
pretty much a blend of anything and everything! Since it's also the blog for my shop French Garden House, I also highlight what's new at the shop, and give tips on how to buy vintage and antique.

Your home is filled with beauty! 3 tips for our homes...
1. More than anything, the thing that makes a home beautiful is the love that fills it. It doesn't really matter what your style is, or how much money you can spend, your home should make everyone inside of it feel comfortable and hugged. It doesn't take a huge amount of time to arrange a few things in a charming way, light a candle, fill a bowl with apples to make it "HOME"
2. Make your home personal, put your family's stamp on it! When we moved into this house, our family choose a scripture to paint over our doorway. After much debate, we chose: With God All Things Are Possible Matthew 19:26. I wanted that to be the last thing any of us saw before we headed out to the outside world.
3. Use seasonal decorations. Right now I love bowls of Apples, and Pears as centerpieces. {Not just pretty, a handy and healthy snack too} Cut a few flowers, and put them in a little vase. I have had wonderful "floral arrangements" that were just a few branches from the garden. Anytime you bring nature into your home, it's a treat. That's really what bringing beauty into your home is, isn't it? To take just a little time to bring beauty inside of your home.
Your two favorite items for sale?
I really can't choose two. I only sell what I love, so I love all of them! I have a weakness for anything Victorian, especially Children's clothes, shoes and toys.
I love French Antiques, from furniture to Porcelain Tea Cups. I love antique books, I love gardening pots, you get the idea. I love all of them. {sorry!}
What inspires you?
I get inspiration from so many things. I am very visual, so my inspiration usually comes from something I see. Artists and Designers inspire me. Our garden inspires me, Antiques and their untold stories of the past inspire me. Other women I know {like you!} who have their own business and are holding firmly to their dream while still being wives and mothers inspire me.

Don't forget to enter all our current Birthday Bash giveaways...
...vintage inspired cake plates from Suzie Says here! Ends 9/29
...designer Labor and Delivery Gown by B.Y.O.G. here! Ends 10/2
See the full list of giveaways coming the next 2 months here!