Today heralds, I am thrilled to announce, the much anticipated return of Mimi Says, from the librarian bloggess better known as she who writes at Little Sips of Tea. Mimi was my very first guest blogger back in the day and I have always considered her to be a kindred spirit, no more so than when she is writing about the pleasures of Autumn. Enjoy! “There is a time of year when even before the first leaf falls, you can feel the seasons click…the air is crisp, summer is gone, and for the first night in a long time you need a blanket for your bed. It brings up other needs as well..” My thoughts have been turning to autumn lately, and I am starting to get the back-to-school feeling that tugs at my heart every September, so when Carrie said this in an old episode of Sex And The City yesterday, it felt as though she was echoing my thoughts and speaking directly to me. That wonderful urge for new notebooks and coloured inks; to learn something new; the memory of new school shoes and the anticipation of a new academic year laid ahead, full of possibilities…bliss! The French have a word for it…La Rentree, and I think that no matter how long ago we packed away our school books, we are never too old to stop responding to the siren call of this wonderful time of year. Now we are grown up ladies thought, it is all the more exciting! We can set our own curriculum, choose our own school rules! Instead of crisp white blouses and ankle socks, our new uniform can be whatever we want it to be. Soft layers for autumn, perhaps a new signature colour in aubergine purple, or pumpkin gold. Nail polish is no longer prohibited; instead nails tipped with the rich glossy brown on hot chocolate are positively encouraged. I am longing for a bottle of the season’s must-have colour by Chanel: Peridot. It is a wonderful muted mossy greeny-gold which reminds me of walks in autumnal woods. Instead of double maths, we can choose to learn whatever our heart desires. The evening class  brochures abound with opportunities. You can learn a new language, take up bellydancing, start flower arranging, even do a GCSE in maths! You are not confined to the pages of the brochure though, there are so many other ways to learn. Perhaps you will decide to cook your way around India, choosing a different recipe each week from the pages of a cookbook. Or you could take to the kitchen to master the art of choux pastry, turning out chocolate eclairs at the drop of a hat. You could visit the library and read your way through the entire works of a particular author, or perhaps just look around you at the women you admire, wonder ‘how does she do that?’ and then decide to learn! To me, La Rentree is the birth of a new season, the early whisperings of autumn stirring in your soul. A season of transformation. Look at the trees transform themselves as they shed their flame coloured leaves to the ground, leaving their beautiful bare branches on display. This speaks to me of the stripping away to our truest, essential selves. This is the time to ask ourselves who we are, and what we need, and to spend the cool crisp months in the school of our own creation, so when spring comes we can burst forth in bud, blossom and leaf, blooming with our new knowledge and skills. As for me, my uniform will be very Nigella…a long black jersey skirt that is soft against the skin, and pairs beautifully with pretty little jumpers in every shade from mustard to ruby, with perhaps a little duck egg blue in between. Dressy enough to make me feel that I can open the door to any kind of company, but relaxed enough that I feel ‘at home’ in them. I will never abandon my red lipstick, but for now it can take a back seat whilst I paint my nails conker brown and experiment with smokey hazy eyes. I shall be baking my way to the perfect macaroon, and working my way through the works of Dorothy Whipple. I will sign up to a workshop to learn how to put my hair up in vintage victory rolls, and even thinking of taking a weekly burlesque dance class (clothes stay firmly ON, I am happy to say!). So that is my rentree….what does yours look like?
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Serendipity, aren’t you just the loveliest little thing? New books from two of my favorite authors, Alexandra Stoddard and Victoria Moran reminding me that seeking magic in even the dullest of days is what we are designed for, and that Mommyhood is…
I don’t care if you are cringing. As she in charge of making your life less ordinary, this I know for sure: she who plans early catches the Christmas Crackers before they are all sold out. And so this is the week…
These are the days I like best. The ones where the house dances to its own tune and Judy Garland sings the harmonies. Days that smell of proper old-fashioned beeswax polish rubbed into ancient pine furniture and white chocolate cookies baking in…
Because The Frakes Family Christmas is all our Christmases. Then, now and hopefully tomorrow… Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way Browse the Bookstore Life Love…
So there I was giggling my way through "The Women of Punch" (1961) when I came across the following article and it got me thinking: should housewives wear a uniform? The Clothesline. By Hazel Townson. Why can’t housewives wear a uniform? People…
There is something so terribly British about Jane Brockett that I absolutely adore, mostly because I am of the Liverpool British variety which means I may as well be from an another country entirely… So I’m altogether thrilled to have another opportunity…
10 Comments
I absolutely love the idea of making my own curriculum… lovely, inspirational post Mimi.x
This has to be one of my favourite ever posts of yours – i loved the way you wrote it, the words, and probably because i love Autumn and the month of September – i am going to think about my rentree – thank you xxx
Lovely post, Mimi! This is one of my favorite times of year. I haven't settled on my fall uniform, or my "back to school" activities, but I'm certainly enjoying it still.
Sublime post. So full of yummy ideas! I never really considered a 'rentree' before, but it sounds delicious! I love the idea too of new tablets – in a pretty shade of course, and the different-colored inks that are out there as well. My birthday is coming up and I want a Kindle (since they're on sale now!) and a manicure with the stunning russet brown polish I've got!
I recently "found" you and am so enamored with your site that I'm neglecting my life in favor of reading ever more of your pages. I find you funny, irreverent and human, a kindred spirit in many ways. I'd like to know how you buy the "scents" you use around your home. I'm in New York in a small town and I'm not sure how to buy the things I need so I can "puttery treat" my home. I'm looking forward to getting to know you even better. I think it sounds to me that you are a great Mum and I'm excited with you on you up-coming marriage. I think if we met, we'd be friends . Currently on page 329 of your archives and loving every minute!
Oh Amanda it is always lovely when a new reader de-lurks and says hello, it thrills me, so it is lovely to meet you… As far as the things I talk about while puttering, almost all the oils, sweets, cleaning products etc can be found on Amazon.Com, so you should be able to get everything, but if you are still struggling with anything in particular let me know and I will hunt it down for you…x
I just found your reply this morning. I have been busy with your "old" posts, I'm up to page380 now. I've been canning tomatoes these last few days so I've been away from my computer. What a thrill to "speak" with you. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself at Brocante home. I wish I could just walk around the block and visit. Keep up the good work! Thank you for giving words to my thoughts and loving your home like I love mine.
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":300,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"http:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tipjar-2.png","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"BrocanteHome","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"BrocanteHome","form_subtitle":"Help Me to Keep BrocanteHome Online","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much: helping me keep Brocantehome online really means the world to me.","payment_confirmation_title":"BrocanteHome","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
I absolutely love the idea of making my own curriculum… lovely, inspirational post Mimi.x
This has to be one of my favourite ever posts of yours – i loved the way you wrote it, the words, and probably because i love Autumn and the month of September – i am going to think about my rentree – thank you xxx
Oh if only I could take credit for it! This is a guest post from the oh so talented Mimi… a women after our own hearts.x
sorry hun, i read it differently – thought it was you and your inspiration was Mimi xxx
This year, mine is all about the clothes! 😉 And, as usual, baking…
Lovely post, Mimi! This is one of my favorite times of year. I haven't settled on my fall uniform, or my "back to school" activities, but I'm certainly enjoying it still.
Sublime post. So full of yummy ideas! I never really considered a 'rentree' before, but it sounds delicious! I love the idea too of new tablets – in a pretty shade of course, and the different-colored inks that are out there as well. My birthday is coming up and I want a Kindle (since they're on sale now!) and a manicure with the stunning russet brown polish I've got!
I recently "found" you and am so enamored with your site that I'm neglecting my life in favor of reading ever more of your pages. I find you funny, irreverent and human, a kindred spirit in many ways. I'd like to know how you buy the "scents" you use around your home. I'm in New York in a small town and I'm not sure how to buy the things I need so I can "puttery treat" my home. I'm looking forward to getting to know you even better. I think it sounds to me that you are a great Mum and I'm excited with you on you up-coming marriage. I think if we met, we'd be friends . Currently on page 329 of your archives and loving every minute!
Oh Amanda it is always lovely when a new reader de-lurks and says hello, it thrills me, so it is lovely to meet you…
As far as the things I talk about while puttering, almost all the oils, sweets, cleaning products etc can be found on Amazon.Com, so you should be able to get everything, but if you are still struggling with anything in particular let me know and I will hunt it down for you…x
I just found your reply this morning. I have been busy with your "old" posts, I'm up to page380 now. I've been canning tomatoes these last few days so I've been away from my computer. What a thrill to "speak" with you. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself at Brocante home. I wish I could just walk around the block and visit. Keep up the good work! Thank you for giving words to my thoughts and loving your home like I love mine.