tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20610241207923015712024-02-19T04:23:16.578+01:00Mr. and Mrs. in PARISThe Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-53787495464511830012012-05-08T15:26:00.001+02:002012-05-08T15:26:16.225+02:00Le Dernier Post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">I don't think I ever told you story of how the Mr. came to be. And you are in luck as it just so happens that I have an original copy of all the details stored safely away in my gmail Sent Mail folder (i.e. the email I sent to my girlfriends after the big day). It's recorded as follows:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">August 4, 2010</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Hello my closest friends!!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Big day in France!! Here are the dets on the engagement:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">We are in Arles, France (Provence region). We flew out of Atlanta Saturday and connected in Miami, direct to Paris. I had a TERRIBLE flight. We took ambian and I woke up four hours into the flight and started throwing up everywhere. You can imagine how excited all of the people around me were. It was HELL. So that was fun. Anyway, I changed clothes and we landed in France on Sunday around 9:00 AM. We spent Sunday night in Paris and took the train to Provence Monday morning. So, today we toured the Cotes du Rhone and returned to Arles around 7:30. We stopped by a little shop to pick up a bottle of wine, some camembert and a baguette. We get back to the hotel, which is this old chateau, that I am absolutely in love with. Our room room has these french windows that open onto this gorgeous courtyard with a fountain (complete with turtles). It's really indescribable. Anyway, we get back to the hotel with the food and wine and sit at a little table in our room next to the window/courtyard. The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Boyfriend* </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">went down to get a wine opener and came back up- I ask why he is so quiet and he says because I want to ask you to marry me!!!! I am IN SHOCK. Literally silent. Say OMG like 5 times. Then The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Boyfriend</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> says, "please just say yes" so of course I do.** Anyway, after a world wind of emotions and tears we are</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">engaged</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">I couldn't be happier. We are going to decide on wedding location and time by end of trip.*** Mark calendars for March through August :) (prob closer to August).**** We're going to have to see when Boyfriend has time off of school and where are going to do it. Thanks for all of the well wishes and congratulations. I can't wait to see everyone soon!!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Love,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Me</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">* It felt weird inserting "The Mr." before we were married, so The Mr. goes by "The Boyfriend" in this story</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">** Note - "please just say, yes" is not supported by The Mr.'s version of this story. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">*** Ha, yeah right. Like that happened.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">**** Again, this makes me laugh. Try January 1st, four months later. </span></span><br />
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To finish the story, we got married four months later, I quit my job at the law firm in Birmingham and moved to France two days after the wedding. As the last few days of our life in Paris wind down, I can't help but look back over this adventure of a lifetime and be so incredibly thankful for every moment. I usually roll my eyes at this kind of, "oh how wonderful and blessed my life is" kind of talk (because, honestly, isn't that a private thought?) But, I just want everyone to know that in case I die young or something horrific happens to me in the future - my heart is completely full and I could not have asked for more out of my life. To have found love, happiness and an array of fulfilling experiences that I still grapple to comprehend, makes me complete. <br />
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Ok, now that my eulogy is over - let's get this adventure rolling through Provence, shall we? To commemorate the beginning of our journey, we did one last grand tour through Provence coming full circle, making the beginning our of journey now the end. <br />
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Spring has sprung in Provence in April. The trees were all beginning to bloom and the flowers peaking out their heads. Half of the fun was driving down through the beautiful wind swept trees as we made our way from one tiny town to the next. We took the train from Paris to Aix-en-Provence, rented a car and set off exploring. <br />
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Our first stop, Les Baux. An ancient town carved out of stone sitting on top of a mountain. (Known for their fabulous olive oil).<br />
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We chose a chateau in Boulbon as our home base. We wanted an "in the country of Provence" chateau experience while being within close proximity of the big cities for dinners (Avignon and Arles). Bastide de Boulbon is one of the most charming hotel experiences we've had in France. It's run by the nicest Belgian couple who went out of their way to make our stay beyond fabulous. From the welcome drink (including the best olives I've ever had) to immaculate grounds and delicious chef cooked dinners, it was beyond fabulous. 20 minutes from Avignon and a half hour from Arles, it was a perfect home base to explore the Cotes du Rhone and hill towns during the day<br />
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First day - I vote Cotes du Rhone and the Mr. votes Roman Ruins, so we do a bit of a compromise and try to fit in both. First stop, Pont du Gard, one of the oldest, most complete roman aqueducts in Europe.<br />
The Mr. has a field day...<br />
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while I enjoyed the sun.<br />
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(if I had realized this is what I looked like, hopefully I would have stopped enjoying the sun so much).<br />
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Our next stop, and what turned out to be our favorite village in Provence, Uzès. Idyllically beautiful with streets dotted with brocante shops and restaurants, we were ready to set up shop and stay forever.<br />
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This building was for sale in the town center... perfect B&B material.<br />
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After a morning strolling through beautiful Uzès, we set off for the villages of the Cotes du Rhone. All perched atop sun drenched hills, one picturesque villages follows the next. </div>
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Vines just getting ready to bud.<br />
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Grenache and Syrah are king of the grapes in the Cotes du Rhone, making for hearty, spicy wines. The chalky limestone soil give Cotes du Rhone wines a distinctive taste, which we can't get enough of.</div>
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Our final village stop was Gigondas, one of the best red wine producers of the region. There is a great tasting room in the teeny tiny town center which lets you try as many wines as you want (blindly, without labels) from the different vineyards in the area. <br />
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Night two, we had dinner in Avignon at Le Bain Marie. I was dying for the beautiful tiny courtyard but it was a bit too cold to sit outside. The food was fantastic though, so I would highly recommend. Pictured above is the the Palace of the Popes, it's stunning to see beautifully radiating with light at night time. (Btw, Avignon is probably my pick for a home base in Provence. It has the best restaurants, shopping and overall charm of all the cities in the region. Obviously Arles is also one of our favorites as well, but it is a little bit quieter (especially in the off season). That being said, you are in Provence! The real key is to find a fabulous chateau near one of these cities and explore, but if a city is a must - choose Avignon or Arles). <br />
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On our last day in Provence, we head for the hills - Gordes and Roussillan. I think the hill towns of the Luberon are the images conjured up by most of us when we think of Provence. Consisting primarily of villages sitting on top of mountains overlooking a vine strewn valley, it is a sight that you won't quickly forget. (If you are interested in Provence and French lifestyle in general, I highly recommend Peter Mayle's book, <i>A Year in Provence. </i>Dry British humor at its best).<br />
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Now, I'm going to be honest, I thought this picture I've been looking at on pinterest for a while was Gordes.<br />
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Turns out, it is <i>Gourdon</i>. Maybe next time. </div>
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<i>Gordes</i> is also reputably jaw-dropping (and touristy). But in the off season, we found it completely quiet and delightful. </div>
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I decided I definitely need a fountain like this !<br />
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After lunch in Gordes we head next door to Roussillan. Known for it's distinctive ochre soil, Roussillan's red tile roofs make for a beautiful cap on the hilltop horizon. </div>
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The Mr. was loving playing in the Ochre cliffs.<br />
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I was praying my white jacket was not going to be ruined forever.<br />
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<i>My</i> favorite part about Rousillan was the wedding we got to watch take place in the town center. How adorbs and romantic is this? </div>
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Loving my front row seat!<br />
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Sad to say goodbye to Roussillan, we hit the road back to the Bastide followed by a drive through the Camargue and dinner in Arles. <br />
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What is the Camargue? (I didn't know before this trip). The Camargue refers to the expansive low country land between Arles and the Mediterranean, between the two arms of the Rhone river delta. It's home to many species of wildlife, most notably wild white horses, bull and pink flamingo. We decided to embark on a twilight safari through the area to see what we could see. With nothin but marsh and grasslands until you reach the coast, it's serenely quiet and beautiful. <br />
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We mostly chased after flamingo, but this was about as close as we could get. <br />
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Although it was rainy and quiet in Arles, it was still a lot of fun to go back and relive the big moment. I made the Mr. get down on one knee and reenact the entire thing. (Kidding). But it was fun and special to be back. The next morning, we said our goodbyes to Provence, stopping through Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on our way out to peak at some antique.<br />
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Eventually, we made our way back to Paris where we are now, wrapping up our lives, packing up, saying our goodbyes and enjoying one last of everything we can think of. One last crepe. One last bike ride. One last macaron. One last walk across our favorite bridge. One last stroll through Passy Plaza. One last night on the town. One last night at our favorite neighborhood restaurant. One last trip to the boulangerie for that coveted warm baguette, <i>pas trop cuites</i>. One last evening under the Eiffel. One last Sunday in the Marais. One last drink at our favorite outdoor cafes. One last scowl from the laundry mat guy. One last trip to Bon Marche (well, and Printemps, Galeries and Franck et Fils, to be honest). One last stroll through Isle St. Louis. One last obscenely crowded ride on the 9 line. One last visit with the Impressionists at the Musee d'Orsay. One last ravioli dinner from the Italian store. One last bump on an overly crowded street. One last beer at the Frog XVI (well, for the Mr.). One last longing walk down Avenue Montaigne. One last mind snapshot of every awning and window box I can contain. One last week without a sighting of the sun. One last Rose opened before five o'clock. One last deep breath of the Spring peonies overfilling every flower shop in town. One final load up at the French pharmacy. One last picnic in the Tuileries. One last brief look back over the best year of our life.<br />
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And so comes the end to Mr. and Mrs. in Paris. I can't thank you enough for all of your love and support and your loyalty to this blog. It has been one of most fulfilling experiences of my life. Who knows, maybe there will a Mr. and Mrs. in Nola in the near future. Stay tuned! Until then, au revoir.</div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-33073787721009202162012-05-04T16:24:00.000+02:002012-05-04T16:24:02.052+02:00Le Relais de l'Entrecote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Definitely the theme at this famous Parisian steak frites shop. Un steak? Please. It is not amateur hour at renowned, l'Entrecote. Come armed with your appetite or don't come at all. There is no menu here, just steak frites and more steak frites. The waitress brings out one piece of sliced steak and french fries (covered in a green, tarragon cilantro sauce) and once you finish that, she delivers round two. I've been going on and on for months wondering who could ever eat that much food. Let's just say, mystery solved. <br />
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Bon weekend, everyone!<br />
<span id="goog_1733319197"></span><span id="goog_1733319198"></span>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-87137682268021155122012-05-01T21:25:00.001+02:002012-05-01T21:25:31.189+02:00Happy May DayCan you believe it is May already? It is certainly a happy day for me because we FINALLY got our Eiffel Tower pic. (Only took us a year and a half). Does it look crooked to you? Maybe it's not the Christmas card photo I was hoping for after all...<br />
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Tea at the Bristol was fabulous, btw. If you can't swing a nights stay at this lovely hotel on your next trip to Paris, stop by for tea time in the beautiful marble salon (or, an aperatif in the ivy covered courtyard). You will not regret it!<br />
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Ok, now promise I will lay off the solo shots for a while (but how amazing does that strawberry tart look? I'm sorry to say, it tasted just as good). <br />
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Happy May, everyone.The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-15676065017438556822012-04-29T11:48:00.001+02:002012-04-29T11:48:52.454+02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Desperate for some sun this Spring (as it has refused to show it's face in Paris for the entire month of April) we head South. The key to enjoying a trip to the Riviera is choosing the best place to anchor. There is lots to see and do, but some cities are a better fit than others. For instance, Nice does not fit me. I love the old town (and especially the brocante market on Mondays) but don't like the overdeveloped beach scene. It's a fun place to be for lunch or dinner, but not where I want to wake up. I've never stayed in Cannes, only driven through, but it seems to be about the same vibe accept even less post card worthy. Then there is St. Jean Cap Ferrat. Small, glamourous and quiet but just a little too swanky for our wallet. Of course you can't forget Monaco, with it's legendary casino and the natural choice if you're cruising in on your yacht, but we usually aren't. Then there is tiny adorable Eze, perched up high on the cliff overlooking the sprawling coastal metropolis and vast Mediterranean sea. It's a good fit for someone looking for a small village with good proximity to the sea. We were looking for beautiful scenery and good restaurants at the right price (well, there isn't such a thing as the right price on the Riviera, but some are better than worse). With these variables in mind, we narrowed it down to Villafranche-sur-Mer and Antibes. As we had anchored in neighboring Cap-Ferrat on our last trip, we decided to change up the scenery and go for Antibes. <br />
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Where to begin with Antibes? I have so many good things to say about this hidden gem. I think the biggest advantage to Antibes is it's vantage point over the rest of the coast. Jutting out on a peninsula overlooking Nice all the way down to Monaco, it makes for some of the most stunning scenery I've ever seen. With the Alps towering up in the background against the bright blue sea, the inherent beauty of this place would stop anyone in their tracks. <br />
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And then there is the old fortress village of Antibes, complete with medieval ramparts enclosing the tiny city. (You can see it sticking out on the left in the picture above). Looking across, behind the sailboat, you see Nice. Further down to the right is Cap-Ferrat and Monaco, which you can catch a glimpse of from the lighthouse that towers over Antibes. Another reason I was captivated by Antibes is because it is the only Riviera town I've seen with white sandy beaches. <br />
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Once you get over her sheer beauty, you quickly realize that the inside is just as good as the outside. The old town is lined with restaurant after restaurant and it houses a great Picasso Museum in the old Grimaldi castle overlooking the water (he lived and painted in the old castle for several years). <br />
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If you do find yourself in Antibes, our favorite restaurant was Aubergine. (Reserve in advance because it is tiny!) The old town is also full of wine bars and great nightlife, so there is always plenty to do (even on a Sunday, which is when we arrived).<br />
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The Mr. was really loving the Absinth bar (which had a hat theme going on... I don't know, we just went with it). <br />
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And so comes the end to our weekend on the coast. We have a little over a week left in Paris, which I really can't believe. Mme. Grand is treating us to tea at the Bristol today as one last treat before we head out. I can't believe this is going to be my last time to stroll down Rue. Faubourg St. Honore!! The end is near. Too near. The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-35407829114311507462012-04-27T10:59:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:11:09.357+02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two of my new favs. My friends and I had fabulous meals at both Les Fines Gueules in the 1st and Le Christine in the 6th, putting both high up there on my Paris favorites list. </div>
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Les Fines Gueules is a tiny wine bar / restaurant in the first near the Louvre. It's authentically French and a those in the know kind of restaurant (I recognized a server from Frenchie sitting at the table across from us). All of the daily choices are written on a chalk board and the wine list is great. (Not much English is spoken here, so brush up on your French before you come). The menu is big enough to give you several options for each course, but small enough that you know it is changed at least weekly. </div>
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Le Christine is more in the thick of things in the heart of St. Germain des Pres. Just as charming, the English speaking staff serves up delicious inventive French fare. (The scallop carpaccio with truffles was definitely the hit at our table). A fantastic place for a romantic date or a girls dinner. </div>
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Bon Appétit! </div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-6173398937631369922012-04-25T18:06:00.001+02:002012-04-29T11:49:16.950+02:00Part II: BrittanyWe're so behind... between the packing, travels, unpacking and repacking for the move that is coming up way too quickly, I can't catch my breath. So where are we? Brittany - let's do a quick blitz.<br />
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Brittany is the part of France that, you guessed it, used to be part of Great Britain. With a strong Celtic heritage, the people love music, are red headed and freckled and quite friendly. Our first stop was the old port town of Dinan. Half-timbered and medieval, I constantly fought the desire to belt out the <i>Bonjour! Good Day!</i> song from Beauty and the Beast as we walked up and down the storybook streets. (Still disappointed the directors incorrectly cast me as Lumiere (the candlestick) instead of the lead in our 2nd grade rendition of this play, but we managed to enjoy Dinan nonetheless). <br />
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How Beauty and the Beast is this?<br />
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Our next stop was the resort town of St. Malo. A little quiet in April, but still a beautiful coastal town encased in old ramparts jutting out into the English Channel (and home to the best caramel beurre sale crepe I've ever had). <br />
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There's Great Britain!<br />
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Just kidding.<br />
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But we did argue about whether that was actually the English Channel or not.<br />
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And of course, I won. It is.<br />
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After a quick walk around the ramparts (and a crepe, or two) we hit the
road for a drive along the Emerald Coast. This drive is best done from
Dinan to Mont. St. Michel, but since we had already been to Mt. St.
Michel, we cut it short and just drove to Cancale (home to the best
oysters in Brittany...maybe even France). If you are interest in doing the Emerald Coast drive, take Rick along with you for guidance. (Or, email me and I will share the dets). <br />
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The fish soup is also delicious in Normandy and Brittany (served with croutons, cheese and rouille - {a red pepper aioli used to thicken and garnish - which I'm so pumped that I learned to make in my sauce class} the fish soup quickly became our favorite thing to order at each meal). <br />
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The mussels were quite delicious, as well.<br />
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This is Cancale.<br />
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Next, we continued our drive along the Emerald Coast and made some great stops along the way. <br />
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Can you spot the tiny little black shadow in the background?<br />
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That's Mont St. Michel! </div>
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And that is Brittany in a blitz. <br />
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Oh, and one more thing .... some cows blocked one of the roads on our way between Normandy and Brittany and I just had to document. C'est la France! (Or, Alabama? One would never know...)The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-54789925063506872832012-04-23T10:06:00.002+02:002012-04-27T11:09:05.327+02:00AntibesOk - I am pretty sure this is seriously it. I know I say that a lot, but come on... is this not the most beautiful place you've ever seen??? The Alps, the sailboats, the little old town peaking up on the left...not to mention the Mediterranean. <br />
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I don't think we are ever leaving...<br />
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(Except we are, so I'll see you back in Paris on Wednesday!)The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-91842224497823873252012-04-18T11:34:00.000+02:002012-04-29T11:49:09.608+02:00Part 1: Normandy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVqpCbnd6TObTkJvFH6gYgzJxn8Kc595b-7vbao6Rfx9g20VXLFnemhI-byVQCIp_ZaEMYe3HaClHTMBs33jsejgCykZ1zr4WU24SSZIoIFxsJn8CARJi0qZyiQStuvOcAA0PgGAvZmBu/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVqpCbnd6TObTkJvFH6gYgzJxn8Kc595b-7vbao6Rfx9g20VXLFnemhI-byVQCIp_ZaEMYe3HaClHTMBs33jsejgCykZ1zr4WU24SSZIoIFxsJn8CARJi0qZyiQStuvOcAA0PgGAvZmBu/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br />
From half-timbered towns and camembert to sweeping coastlines and oysters, a road trip through Normandy and Brittany is a great way to explore the Northern part of France while paying tribute to those that fought and lost their lives in WWII. <br />
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The best way to do this trip is to rent a car in Paris (unless you can drive a stick, and if so... see previous post). A car is necessary because it is really the only way to get to the D-day beaches (and driving through dozens of tiny French villages is half the fun). If you just want to do the D-day stuff, this can easily be done as a day trip. But, if you want to see more of this region, I would consider staying over night in Honfleur; and, if you want to add Brittany, give it two nights minimum. <br />
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Driving from Paris, we stopped for lunch in the the small village of Lyon le Foret. <br />
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After countless fields of rapeseed (one of the biggest crops in France, harvested for the seed oil)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNdnLwFwrq4vegm3VB8gVFMRdnsqmtMRo1hc5KYY0Pi4Rc6PiGDHmLLuMx0L3mNXp7fZQI65igjd9ky6Wpj6S6Gg90cyX_Dggx1i-A-sJhFCeTbB6Ab1DUPN4QSbkQP7Yqyz5NH9VD0P/s1600/DSC_9629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNdnLwFwrq4vegm3VB8gVFMRdnsqmtMRo1hc5KYY0Pi4Rc6PiGDHmLLuMx0L3mNXp7fZQI65igjd9ky6Wpj6S6Gg90cyX_Dggx1i-A-sJhFCeTbB6Ab1DUPN4QSbkQP7Yqyz5NH9VD0P/s640/DSC_9629.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
chateaux sightings<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErunlgRcvbX093LbByrDrWb62UCGCQK-YsDx3E_MbuYugG37b3auKiQRZ4YS2JoHru_2PvWp4YlYwqz7VpPwACjDfuNLY9R3WFt7SeYPT2_57MCTNRlq4AYmrGdx18ThSzaNmMJ4PY9Hl/s1600/DSC_9634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErunlgRcvbX093LbByrDrWb62UCGCQK-YsDx3E_MbuYugG37b3auKiQRZ4YS2JoHru_2PvWp4YlYwqz7VpPwACjDfuNLY9R3WFt7SeYPT2_57MCTNRlq4AYmrGdx18ThSzaNmMJ4PY9Hl/s640/DSC_9634.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
and close encounter or two with a biker...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFDBMy5L4LyobLUKDRSARb1NhfducIY06UQpKyLjBdx9rQECCLxN-MNDJ-gedc833l3a9By5yqWmdPKu12bKhI97F1sLd6yESGfgHc1ZgqpmaP1edZb1xNExEmCfQ3rYEvdOb1yLFvSuM/s1600/DSC_9635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFDBMy5L4LyobLUKDRSARb1NhfducIY06UQpKyLjBdx9rQECCLxN-MNDJ-gedc833l3a9By5yqWmdPKu12bKhI97F1sLd6yESGfgHc1ZgqpmaP1edZb1xNExEmCfQ3rYEvdOb1yLFvSuM/s640/DSC_9635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
we reached our first destination: the jagged coastal town of Étretat (although technically, our first stop was Rouen... but that ended up being an entirely different trip... again, see previous post). Dramatic views and little village novelties are the only real reason for a stop in Étretat (if you just have one day, I would skip it and go straight to Honfleur). However, if you're in the market for a Christmas card pic, this is your spot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK5DGVV71pJkLlyRqQj62Gdxfvp2wdg2OAG6cwtNqBGzwdcezfPb3sOwyDlypH0J_l4qkeOuss7LkWItNMxQirtSSSf1sVyg_KWagWHJNC68d7xm6p2RBY10-SzPCxd2GYg_7RhM2OxaU/s1600/DSC_9711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZK5DGVV71pJkLlyRqQj62Gdxfvp2wdg2OAG6cwtNqBGzwdcezfPb3sOwyDlypH0J_l4qkeOuss7LkWItNMxQirtSSSf1sVyg_KWagWHJNC68d7xm6p2RBY10-SzPCxd2GYg_7RhM2OxaU/s640/DSC_9711.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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Who knew the English Channel had such pretty blue-green water?<br />
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After a few hours in Étretat we hit the road to Honfleur, a small harbor town near the D-day beaches where the Seine meets the English Channel. With it's fresh Normandy seafood and charming B&B's, Honfleur is a great place to rest up for a long day at the D-day beaches.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDqsaYgO3uI43BYle9TqkPJJalVQ95rdLrGxidoixoyu6fCZReLOXC847oaqTdiNnY1AfO6HWSTT7FtgqVVFD7IBjlaZu3JvkrAgSIqKHsukEb7oBASx75pjM2NnAndGoz13Lq5J5XH4g/s1600/DSC_9743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDqsaYgO3uI43BYle9TqkPJJalVQ95rdLrGxidoixoyu6fCZReLOXC847oaqTdiNnY1AfO6HWSTT7FtgqVVFD7IBjlaZu3JvkrAgSIqKHsukEb7oBASx75pjM2NnAndGoz13Lq5J5XH4g/s640/DSC_9743.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
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We loved our dinner Au Bouillon Normand (try the Kir Normand - a Norman twist on traditional Kir Sauvignon with cider + cassis).<br />
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The next morning we hit the road for Bayeux, the closest city to the D-day beaches that was not destroyed in the Allied bombings. The famous Bayeux tapestry is a worthwhile visit for anyone interested in history - a thousand year old tapestry telling the story of Norman born William the Conqueror defeating Englishman Harold to take the throne of England. The exhibit is very well done and definitely worth the hour detour for a visit.<br />
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We spent the rest of the day exploring the powerful and moving D-day beach sites and memorials. This experience would make anyone proud to be an American. The Norman people continue to shower their balconies with American flags. We began at Arromanches, the site of the remains of the Port Winston Artificial Harbor and a powerful memorial film with real footage from 1944 invasion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70m1o9l4ebtMf6B_4-l0i5ZfJL5dAUNv2-bhiAEGjVyB9MNPZsvo-2R3YKasACuskF3evgOqXmABkFNk5UJsjH4J_28gOpJ38wLWdUW5p8yCYRrOhRSlZbNUuOcB-mj_SuOlKs_IXy42q/s1600/DSC_9793.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70m1o9l4ebtMf6B_4-l0i5ZfJL5dAUNv2-bhiAEGjVyB9MNPZsvo-2R3YKasACuskF3evgOqXmABkFNk5UJsjH4J_28gOpJ38wLWdUW5p8yCYRrOhRSlZbNUuOcB-mj_SuOlKs_IXy42q/s640/DSC_9793.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vierville-sur-Mer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Next stop Omaha Beach, where the highest casualty rates occurred (2,500-4,800 soldiers killed just on the first day).<br />
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Just down the road is the WWII American Cemetery and Memorial. The museum was one of the best I've seen with a wide array of information. From veteran videos to computer animation graphics and moving remembrances, it is very well done.<br />
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Our final stop - Point du Hoc Ranger Monument, where 300 hand picked US Army Rangers climbed up the jagged Norman cliffs in a short 30 minutes time frame to beat the rising tide to take the Germans' most heavily fortified position. Only about 1/3 of the Rangers survived.<br />
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Hurrying to beat the sunset, our last stop in Normandy was the thousand year old island abbey, Mont St. Michel. On a clear day, you can spot it from miles away. <br />
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Once one of the top four pilgrimage sites in Christendom, the island floats serenely into the horizon with St. Michel's gilded statue decorating the top of the spire. The abbey is built on the remains of a Romanesque church, which stands on the remains of a Carolingian church. Apparently the island and abbey are completely overrun with tourists, so we chose to admire the abbey from afar rather than trek inside. <br />
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And that is Normandy in a nutshell. It's a full two days to see everything, but easily doable if you stick to a schedule and move quickly. You could always cut out the detour to Étretat and do the D-day beaches as a day trip from Paris, but I think staying over a night makes for a fuller experience. (Dinners are half the point of any trip, if you ask me!)<br />
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Stay tuned for the rest of the trip to neighboring, Brittany. A revoir!The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-60987933144459048812012-04-13T00:19:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:09:19.755+02:00Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQMUY88qHLK15JBa7ihycJlaDd2jnDpT8rjQU-ZcW1-9n8gM1nSlfWFyf-Ly-D1iVo7yJQWp1iRMF5wJvyMzv34IpcqBaa04BE6YlP5hjc66SaJ1LLOcPwSSUrDV1vUZDIdbTMRRktrrB/s1600/roadtrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQMUY88qHLK15JBa7ihycJlaDd2jnDpT8rjQU-ZcW1-9n8gM1nSlfWFyf-Ly-D1iVo7yJQWp1iRMF5wJvyMzv34IpcqBaa04BE6YlP5hjc66SaJ1LLOcPwSSUrDV1vUZDIdbTMRRktrrB/s640/roadtrip.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>On Wednesday, we set out for Normandy eager to eat oysters and camembert, watch the waves crash against the Northern French coast and walk along the D-day beaches to remind ourselves of how proud we are to be Americans (the Mr. even had little jars to collect sand, how patriotic/sweet is that!?) The trip started off great - we hopped on an early morning train to Rouen (the city where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake... {and home to the best faience shops in France}) where we had a Hertz rental car reserved to begin the road trip. A metro ride and half mile walk (in the rain, dragging suitcases) later, we found our way to the Hertz dealership (and by dealership, I mean side counter in a sketchy gas station in the middle of no where). Using our fluent French (and when I say fluent, I mean barely conversational) and our printed Kayak.com reservation, we are given the keys to a car.... a manual car. I'm sure you see where this story is going, and first of all - yeah, ok, I guess it is embarrassing that neither of us can drive a stick. BUT we are quite aware that most cars in Europe are manual and usually it just means an extra few bucks for an automatic. Knowing this, we made sure to reserve an automatic car. And, you guessed it! Our automatic car rental was not available at the sketchy Hertz in Rouen. Or any car rental company in Rouen. Or any car rental company in the ENTIRE REGION OF NORMANDY. Moral of the story? C'est la France, of course. And if you plan on living and/or spending time in this beautifully inefficient country, learn to drive a stick. <br />
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SO, long story long - we are back in Paris. We had a nice lunch in Rouen, saw all the Joan of Arc sights, scoped out some faience and hopped on an afternoon train back to where we begin. We're going for round two on Saturday.... hopefully this time it will go a little something like this....<br />
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Beaches.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz4go-wBAy7rRmoWyP0Ym-Sg2a0usMzPNd4tf-VQmNI8AOwSG0GoeOpHCaGQq8F64UaLQlI7N9DJxMrDerKw8qd0TuiD-dL_3fOPtvz42uzgU_A1c1TNAEr-mxH2A1VHCaQKsRrCrWQGm/s1600/normandy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz4go-wBAy7rRmoWyP0Ym-Sg2a0usMzPNd4tf-VQmNI8AOwSG0GoeOpHCaGQq8F64UaLQlI7N9DJxMrDerKw8qd0TuiD-dL_3fOPtvz42uzgU_A1c1TNAEr-mxH2A1VHCaQKsRrCrWQGm/s640/normandy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/77124212338804664/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harry Potter-esque cliffs. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwLIxvZoaRBdqMiSFPaxZzSyaotpf5b1Aai6t-ICCtRV7bz8yp5RGxJUymW9G0gPeusqepWBsdKgkRDR3mhPdoctoqXebewiIt-ICMiSY52PLcs02siCgSmSQM8qR4NXletyDPJNKAZtm/s1600/normandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwLIxvZoaRBdqMiSFPaxZzSyaotpf5b1Aai6t-ICCtRV7bz8yp5RGxJUymW9G0gPeusqepWBsdKgkRDR3mhPdoctoqXebewiIt-ICMiSY52PLcs02siCgSmSQM8qR4NXletyDPJNKAZtm/s640/normandy.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652004383/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cute coastal towns.</span></div></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dXbOrzvGnR5a_MbV8-1aQ9VRWtkVwFEfTTVen9K2DpAfajhIW7kcTf-ugt8A7KdaRhh7UvzN5bnwMpkpwI6VTD7hn-M9O8eXvSld70UcDoSJg6dK8KQWusAtFU8zDA0k_9K1vCa2bWXk/s1600/honfleur2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dXbOrzvGnR5a_MbV8-1aQ9VRWtkVwFEfTTVen9K2DpAfajhIW7kcTf-ugt8A7KdaRhh7UvzN5bnwMpkpwI6VTD7hn-M9O8eXvSld70UcDoSJg6dK8KQWusAtFU8zDA0k_9K1vCa2bWXk/s640/honfleur2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/235313149249588014/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cheese.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYGYvFV2cbhQKd6yHIF7lYC242AvdP7pPsz9JFC-u3U8v8U5mAgNriN2lBPZS2cOhyBkmJZMaOSHPttFomRtgOS9i09QD-uZ0uF3yGV_xcl2nflqqcPj3_wC4Zog1K9IIz7DteyQs0XG/s1600/camembert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYGYvFV2cbhQKd6yHIF7lYC242AvdP7pPsz9JFC-u3U8v8U5mAgNriN2lBPZS2cOhyBkmJZMaOSHPttFomRtgOS9i09QD-uZ0uF3yGV_xcl2nflqqcPj3_wC4Zog1K9IIz7DteyQs0XG/s400/camembert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/106679084893416463/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo2vZ4D3N2G-acejDd4FtztGbgOe0SZknPBj0svqUhuEn9W4GuXSbQFf0GYVxtl13zv-34DrIvhDlAcpe5MwfbKpX963E452I5yrNTeBtFhE9v8vwUhdZttsmjptg215UaKY1a6cmR-0q/s1600/normandy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo2vZ4D3N2G-acejDd4FtztGbgOe0SZknPBj0svqUhuEn9W4GuXSbQFf0GYVxtl13zv-34DrIvhDlAcpe5MwfbKpX963E452I5yrNTeBtFhE9v8vwUhdZttsmjptg215UaKY1a6cmR-0q/s640/normandy3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/181832903675181961/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
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And a Mont St. Michel finale. Wish us luck!The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-50076829208775854702012-04-10T21:07:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:09:27.538+02:00Currently Coveting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL6UXwzGB0noK2X-Vfs1p2aVuoqrxmDRHM07iNmvp-YooCYw3JAZX4ofl-hhLiHvlb_kzGw_jiStVIUL6mWlE1v6CqmgwwR6iFWzcl_t5FziQruJ-diGcEM3x2oqI7XVYrS0cfDibUYjA/s1600/leather+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL6UXwzGB0noK2X-Vfs1p2aVuoqrxmDRHM07iNmvp-YooCYw3JAZX4ofl-hhLiHvlb_kzGw_jiStVIUL6mWlE1v6CqmgwwR6iFWzcl_t5FziQruJ-diGcEM3x2oqI7XVYrS0cfDibUYjA/s640/leather+jacket.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><br />
Dusty pink leather jacket with rose gold hardware. (And at a steal of a price from <a href="http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-S2012/189502/667055/LEATHER%2BJACKET" target="_blank">Zara</a>!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd1zSw5o6fXue7MvufbFy37RPVjPG3YuN-O2azY0VLMhrOGvseFGCvSEs_cdTImrKhm16rw6LCVlK_j7Chg_9qmIOP4ra25TK8SaV-NddMKbGH6qAE_tppND8_GqN3zJdKk5fEEKXc5L_/s1600/necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd1zSw5o6fXue7MvufbFy37RPVjPG3YuN-O2azY0VLMhrOGvseFGCvSEs_cdTImrKhm16rw6LCVlK_j7Chg_9qmIOP4ra25TK8SaV-NddMKbGH6qAE_tppND8_GqN3zJdKk5fEEKXc5L_/s640/necklace.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br />
Wouldn't it be perfect with this <a href="http://rstyle.me/hc4jypmpwe" target="_blank">bib necklace</a>.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDORZcfnPDNSxDo91xSdSOt26zNYdCAnF_SJh6REGUMF7QUN_HSimJXPKozzftIXd6Y_jQrHIVvCsVyyxM9mgQZ6B_Ij6AFnypCSKy_OTjtmIpoXm3jqT36-7y_PuBuIrY_9r0sgJHiuF/s1600/dvf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDORZcfnPDNSxDo91xSdSOt26zNYdCAnF_SJh6REGUMF7QUN_HSimJXPKozzftIXd6Y_jQrHIVvCsVyyxM9mgQZ6B_Ij6AFnypCSKy_OTjtmIpoXm3jqT36-7y_PuBuIrY_9r0sgJHiuF/s640/dvf3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>And these <a href="http://rstyle.me/hdmvjxmpwe" target="_blank">DVF shoes</a>?<br />
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Tres fab if you ask me! What's on your list this Spring?The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-90803001731577749762012-04-09T14:21:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:09:40.114+02:00Renovation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVX3XF6rEFbVPlhMl-8j_XD9veXSbhKq7cf2zq0PNJGUnGgkqOvBX5duIG9GQ3BkWVgRU3Dxfzmx2Cfp-jdhB2K6mvs4ZajyfFS4jw51BrIcpA71MRnL-JOSS5qvsbZ76SsIVKmr5R732/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVX3XF6rEFbVPlhMl-8j_XD9veXSbhKq7cf2zq0PNJGUnGgkqOvBX5duIG9GQ3BkWVgRU3Dxfzmx2Cfp-jdhB2K6mvs4ZajyfFS4jw51BrIcpA71MRnL-JOSS5qvsbZ76SsIVKmr5R732/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a></div>Martha said it best when she observed "Every woman has three kitchens: the kitchen she dreams of, the kitchen she is planning, and the kitchen she actually has." I don't know about you, but I have been working on my dream kitchen for at least a decade. And of course, you've seen my current kitchen...all 5 by 8 feet of it. So as you can imagine, I am enthralled with planning the kitchen in our soon to be Nola home. <br />
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However, as a first time homeowner, I desperately need your help and would love some advice from all of you kitchen vets. In this spirit, I have turned the comments on and cannot wait to hear your opinions. So please, blast away. <br />
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Here is the kitchen in the current state, as you enter from the living room.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pG1_8vd94zNt8rpk6iQlQeo_MK1bkqWMlhCHgyQEcIrt-ER-MD9M2dPlOaFIvcTldQ-fqp2Kv2S-sMrz0hnKe4sOB0cVcciK7hSo2K1U-_91deasBuEDW0dmBLAHImXOLwFW4VGq5xfK/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pG1_8vd94zNt8rpk6iQlQeo_MK1bkqWMlhCHgyQEcIrt-ER-MD9M2dPlOaFIvcTldQ-fqp2Kv2S-sMrz0hnKe4sOB0cVcciK7hSo2K1U-_91deasBuEDW0dmBLAHImXOLwFW4VGq5xfK/s640/photo+3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTchkyz4p8xStvSkRBVHnhj8gRtTlLDk4B_imI8v4Wm9sDLnXHL4oLTNml3hB0dYm38yV0xF_7J4IgU_Ge_x8lpealvdg9Y1ac9byl6MiPhdkAsdmzt9Pqabv0fk2gE27dNDx2C5_-t4w/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTchkyz4p8xStvSkRBVHnhj8gRtTlLDk4B_imI8v4Wm9sDLnXHL4oLTNml3hB0dYm38yV0xF_7J4IgU_Ge_x8lpealvdg9Y1ac9byl6MiPhdkAsdmzt9Pqabv0fk2gE27dNDx2C5_-t4w/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIklhReGcO_Pp1QhTvj-OCrUKu5vejunXJ4Mk6IZFgsA5z1kkSxvH2JVJcFq8U15QG02EPA4oy9vEUmjL3fmTRp2ksELOJCsmgKuZHFmYUW-e0luh4jqIgVmCQaz16Mo0MiWDQhQGA3S-/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIklhReGcO_Pp1QhTvj-OCrUKu5vejunXJ4Mk6IZFgsA5z1kkSxvH2JVJcFq8U15QG02EPA4oy9vEUmjL3fmTRp2ksELOJCsmgKuZHFmYUW-e0luh4jqIgVmCQaz16Mo0MiWDQhQGA3S-/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfAjZ_7PFlRIuLwm7GD5QNFgpLefpYdJxu0yjdXfa9tkELRoEPzAZAqaOo6XMvvYolaN7ApjBUc-lySY5iqcLcCq9l_hlnKMcqsfQiQYagngUYU3IdgS6puc7dJn2Qc0wm_VQnUxb6RLx/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfAjZ_7PFlRIuLwm7GD5QNFgpLefpYdJxu0yjdXfa9tkELRoEPzAZAqaOo6XMvvYolaN7ApjBUc-lySY5iqcLcCq9l_hlnKMcqsfQiQYagngUYU3IdgS6puc7dJn2Qc0wm_VQnUxb6RLx/s640/photo+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Not too bad, really. Of course, in my dream kitchen I would be replacing the black dishwasher and fridge with something stainless or cabinet covered, replacing the stovetop oven with a Viking range and probably adding some sort of built in wine cooler. But, I'm getting off course. What we <i>are</i> doing to the kitchen is replacing the counters (a white kitchen was not negotiable), adding a backsplash, installing a new sink and faucet, and finally, a window treatment and new lighting for some personality.<br />
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The Mr.'s parents have carrera gold counters and I absolutely love them, so that was a no brainer. Pictured below is our slab.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsQLFsGfFabCkc59jE6JBxedTQwW71H3WaR5hyIQ-OHkVQNfRlycbkNvcyYfT9Iil6iu32awMJit2xx_XTh14zElb2SdUaUoHy5D9daFzyvOL1wRDB2m-2XgLQ_kEuMqO3zgIL0E2hrBn/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsQLFsGfFabCkc59jE6JBxedTQwW71H3WaR5hyIQ-OHkVQNfRlycbkNvcyYfT9Iil6iu32awMJit2xx_XTh14zElb2SdUaUoHy5D9daFzyvOL1wRDB2m-2XgLQ_kEuMqO3zgIL0E2hrBn/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The first time I saw a farm sink ten years ago, I knew that I had to have one some day. The Mr. agreed. So when we found a good deal on Overstock.com, a farm sink it was.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZNqO0x5fGtlyfAal7pf_61JqbEinq-rheIzorCbdUnaka0aSOYjku4GzzHN9twFtbh-45kyedXitTPFmxkK54nvFxeM-tVQfpgN6ESsTdJ0W-Il0w2tXoVzJYgsiOjG0taboq2XzuKny/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZNqO0x5fGtlyfAal7pf_61JqbEinq-rheIzorCbdUnaka0aSOYjku4GzzHN9twFtbh-45kyedXitTPFmxkK54nvFxeM-tVQfpgN6ESsTdJ0W-Il0w2tXoVzJYgsiOjG0taboq2XzuKny/s640/photo+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Who doesn't love the idea of a big sink full of flowers?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedjtsiaudBH2Ke3f_4ZLz65qNaXqnAj4KhnNa0FoKB9ueT_8endkZcX7RXVsuGwzD4oL6zUYY1SnWXI1PBZJnVYlQJMRmfChqiOJvuDqz1gRx3G_JZbYRx5hg0AIRCPAbVoPGbkc9yxDe/s1600/farmsink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedjtsiaudBH2Ke3f_4ZLz65qNaXqnAj4KhnNa0FoKB9ueT_8endkZcX7RXVsuGwzD4oL6zUYY1SnWXI1PBZJnVYlQJMRmfChqiOJvuDqz1gRx3G_JZbYRx5hg0AIRCPAbVoPGbkc9yxDe/s640/farmsink.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
So, those are the decisions that have been made... now let's talk about what's left. First, the faucet. I've had recommendations on Grohe, love the idea of the less expensive number one seller on Amazon and am open to any other ideas people may have. It has to be a pull out with the spray and flow options, other than that we are pretty open. What do you love in your faucet? What do you wish it had?! Help!<br />
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Next up, the backsplash. An all white look is what we're going for (if you can just ignore the fridge and dishwasher). Should we backsplash just over the stove? Or, over the entire L-shape wall?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTchkyz4p8xStvSkRBVHnhj8gRtTlLDk4B_imI8v4Wm9sDLnXHL4oLTNml3hB0dYm38yV0xF_7J4IgU_Ge_x8lpealvdg9Y1ac9byl6MiPhdkAsdmzt9Pqabv0fk2gE27dNDx2C5_-t4w/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTchkyz4p8xStvSkRBVHnhj8gRtTlLDk4B_imI8v4Wm9sDLnXHL4oLTNml3hB0dYm38yV0xF_7J4IgU_Ge_x8lpealvdg9Y1ac9byl6MiPhdkAsdmzt9Pqabv0fk2gE27dNDx2C5_-t4w/s640/photo+1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
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Should we also backsplash the sink wall?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIklhReGcO_Pp1QhTvj-OCrUKu5vejunXJ4Mk6IZFgsA5z1kkSxvH2JVJcFq8U15QG02EPA4oy9vEUmjL3fmTRp2ksELOJCsmgKuZHFmYUW-e0luh4jqIgVmCQaz16Mo0MiWDQhQGA3S-/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIklhReGcO_Pp1QhTvj-OCrUKu5vejunXJ4Mk6IZFgsA5z1kkSxvH2JVJcFq8U15QG02EPA4oy9vEUmjL3fmTRp2ksELOJCsmgKuZHFmYUW-e0luh4jqIgVmCQaz16Mo0MiWDQhQGA3S-/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Once we figure out where, we need to decide with what. So far, our ideas are to use a white subway tile or a marble. The best looks are probably solid white, gray toned or warm toned. Here are some pinterest images for inspiration.<br />
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<u>Solid white</u><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsL3A95_fYyXEVoI2D_B6jOA0qUXvt6xkuQBEyMshEA6kTmvHw_txPDHqSzXVlS841Ax9htMsI8lmhoUd-B6TTjxHK7yIWQKOR6pQBHs1GMERbPo0GZzsPF0PQGnaNmtc5PmCukOB21-t/s1600/blacksplash3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsL3A95_fYyXEVoI2D_B6jOA0qUXvt6xkuQBEyMshEA6kTmvHw_txPDHqSzXVlS841Ax9htMsI8lmhoUd-B6TTjxHK7yIWQKOR6pQBHs1GMERbPo0GZzsPF0PQGnaNmtc5PmCukOB21-t/s640/blacksplash3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Gray Tone</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVMgAqrWjrLpAi6JkXr5Lr-vt-fEZIDOZ4ApETYB5Px8Jh85j-darYcZssnDsvvhxHBdTMsc8pkSzk25B2-q6Ks3i2dzIcXtlESX0b_6JfMtTnXzT1aK2Da8MqXL9A6e5nwNVJhhNlOM-/s1600/blacksplash+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVMgAqrWjrLpAi6JkXr5Lr-vt-fEZIDOZ4ApETYB5Px8Jh85j-darYcZssnDsvvhxHBdTMsc8pkSzk25B2-q6Ks3i2dzIcXtlESX0b_6JfMtTnXzT1aK2Da8MqXL9A6e5nwNVJhhNlOM-/s640/blacksplash+1.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbaACuhVom3dDgI40qOJd-d89KN6Wq72Qu0-K9P4aEzjXlMi0mASAhPoXsxq-Hg3bCEe8k3V8YhouXzeMvMVvtuY7TrGwLRvaMy45epmi-476G54UUgPEe8rzdBO2qbt36dc1yS7dubXq/s1600/backsplash4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbaACuhVom3dDgI40qOJd-d89KN6Wq72Qu0-K9P4aEzjXlMi0mASAhPoXsxq-Hg3bCEe8k3V8YhouXzeMvMVvtuY7TrGwLRvaMy45epmi-476G54UUgPEe8rzdBO2qbt36dc1yS7dubXq/s640/backsplash4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO0_Ztji3sb-7o-Oghx0YsRr-aRpI5-kDV71voIBt-26jrnjl6JQxHrlZbLpRkPIyRVpOKbHAkxXZxbVsPTVBmha1dpZIk2sMOZO6wILxT2ZwhLm9UI0q2XJwxs8IcDJVJmJppeT0YXXH/s1600/carrera+marble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO0_Ztji3sb-7o-Oghx0YsRr-aRpI5-kDV71voIBt-26jrnjl6JQxHrlZbLpRkPIyRVpOKbHAkxXZxbVsPTVBmha1dpZIk2sMOZO6wILxT2ZwhLm9UI0q2XJwxs8IcDJVJmJppeT0YXXH/s320/carrera+marble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY0mZuEBEqVeh8rMZvW7bp45H_s9UWYcNnZga_33LrHYlwOozeXruEVBXkkoDzGTA5S8458f4SCgUQ_2G9b3jHTS-VxckrouPBH8misvN69l1W574ZZejGpqZ1nJAxEiTi3I5DPlloB3Y/s1600/carrera+marble+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY0mZuEBEqVeh8rMZvW7bp45H_s9UWYcNnZga_33LrHYlwOozeXruEVBXkkoDzGTA5S8458f4SCgUQ_2G9b3jHTS-VxckrouPBH8misvN69l1W574ZZejGpqZ1nJAxEiTi3I5DPlloB3Y/s1600/carrera+marble+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<u>Warm tone</u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrzInp_18rjsKqT5lNR65_AeJm83PFcSQw3yr941VNwoT0O6BOrCN_5xq8UDENBq3ZdNql4V6WYu4vOF-Zt-7mSTq-FJTS6TlcVvVPh0dZPR4pLrWNzdpweiaQWxXa6bJ6kMr-YylBA7l/s1600/backsplash+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrzInp_18rjsKqT5lNR65_AeJm83PFcSQw3yr941VNwoT0O6BOrCN_5xq8UDENBq3ZdNql4V6WYu4vOF-Zt-7mSTq-FJTS6TlcVvVPh0dZPR4pLrWNzdpweiaQWxXa6bJ6kMr-YylBA7l/s640/backsplash+2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHSyyQQSa-KJiB17w7qn9b2uKzn4lxB16NPRtvHQgS35TC41DQ-S54kd3bcDzNJ6y3VuOd8P3hLUUK4X70CPMUJhaTDIF12lx3YchyC9SDzHrNRDsqF1NraygKogw30QaSRMeGYmxld4_/s1600/pearl+onyx+tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHSyyQQSa-KJiB17w7qn9b2uKzn4lxB16NPRtvHQgS35TC41DQ-S54kd3bcDzNJ6y3VuOd8P3hLUUK4X70CPMUJhaTDIF12lx3YchyC9SDzHrNRDsqF1NraygKogw30QaSRMeGYmxld4_/s320/pearl+onyx+tile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, my favorite - a mix between warm and grey tones (Aunt Cathy's kitchen, which also happens to have carrera gold counters). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkQwS0xFVuG1Rv4YXLlXHR4BReTBoorQvBXIsOAEJIVESmvGdJU4Vyuz0Kmf-jphWGABJ8vPF6Ol35uLkyJ4wd2MXkqHtt2iX67CJkdallavBlTa5UHw_Etgs7-5hOvnJt30TmYkpbVkN/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkQwS0xFVuG1Rv4YXLlXHR4BReTBoorQvBXIsOAEJIVESmvGdJU4Vyuz0Kmf-jphWGABJ8vPF6Ol35uLkyJ4wd2MXkqHtt2iX67CJkdallavBlTa5UHw_Etgs7-5hOvnJt30TmYkpbVkN/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly - hardware. I really don't like the chromatic silver look and am thinking about doing a pewter, a brass or possibly a gold (which I didn't like originally, but look how good the gold looks in Aunt Cathy's kitchen!) Recs? Does Restoration Hardware have the best selection? Can you get the same thing for a bit less somewhere else? Here are some pinterest pics for hardware inspiration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZsy8xBpbolTqfYgHMZ0aZeKHlGH0k4ohYpOXjxvOb-3ENVymRIj62YygX7tRBq3iHj8obEYWCM-_XAVlOc2R-5V6RcTOfMYMbT8ifqbqv4EHxcnYRCKfblVob__G07pfzO3YYDIAokhL/s1600/hardware1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZsy8xBpbolTqfYgHMZ0aZeKHlGH0k4ohYpOXjxvOb-3ENVymRIj62YygX7tRBq3iHj8obEYWCM-_XAVlOc2R-5V6RcTOfMYMbT8ifqbqv4EHxcnYRCKfblVob__G07pfzO3YYDIAokhL/s640/hardware1.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1VdzeGV-Wcjdk_Rcc4UjfN4e-vl6QbapjBMPn6__M-5iZWJe9U4lYfZDakTh1QkVA162_eQ_rxqjygZOffy_4dTQ9vbc_F7PeMHUM6ekj9va71V7JusRsZbxahJlMtc18agIMnfaiQ_u/s1600/hardware+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1VdzeGV-Wcjdk_Rcc4UjfN4e-vl6QbapjBMPn6__M-5iZWJe9U4lYfZDakTh1QkVA162_eQ_rxqjygZOffy_4dTQ9vbc_F7PeMHUM6ekj9va71V7JusRsZbxahJlMtc18agIMnfaiQ_u/s640/hardware+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcpyqTRIu17oruRP-HdxGTmbxL26fBF9PDy53UZ1tEKM4E0X3ST_Pgs11I4wdfwTBOadFK6EA_2EBPYrgV1izOOyuetHQiKcQizsDBxPmTjp2_hyphenhyphen5I_oZCXeMDo2FnoGGo598T1reShFX/s1600/hardware3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcpyqTRIu17oruRP-HdxGTmbxL26fBF9PDy53UZ1tEKM4E0X3ST_Pgs11I4wdfwTBOadFK6EA_2EBPYrgV1izOOyuetHQiKcQizsDBxPmTjp2_hyphenhyphen5I_oZCXeMDo2FnoGGo598T1reShFX/s640/hardware3.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksW0fv5zx1fqh5VPnQV827fE2v_RgGX16xswfy0hkyMnZZL8jNrrtLh0DFMXwR9owPqnuO3_o5aDF-o0f4vln9FKWbT6yWomCYHKU3yMQkyiHz3X1NQxJrM1aemrxVrLUMWrz63TW_JGq/s1600/hardeware4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksW0fv5zx1fqh5VPnQV827fE2v_RgGX16xswfy0hkyMnZZL8jNrrtLh0DFMXwR9owPqnuO3_o5aDF-o0f4vln9FKWbT6yWomCYHKU3yMQkyiHz3X1NQxJrM1aemrxVrLUMWrz63TW_JGq/s640/hardeware4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so excited to hear all of your ideas!! And of course, I will be sure to keep you updated throughout the process. Maybe we'll have to start a weekly Makeover Monday?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Biz!</div></div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-33352642564841492842012-04-08T22:35:00.001+02:002012-04-08T22:39:21.829+02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRns3OKA4Fi-LgCBWizAW6QDbpi_Qe1-6XKeAjrIEk6gdMA387iGtL2MD723dIk9zmaW9iVHEE3BGLy5ZyhyAlR0Jl0fyicIyxyd9wLzzqx6_zaDq3cmu9EsiMO8a6VTaoOD-P_4RXQH7/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRns3OKA4Fi-LgCBWizAW6QDbpi_Qe1-6XKeAjrIEk6gdMA387iGtL2MD723dIk9zmaW9iVHEE3BGLy5ZyhyAlR0Jl0fyicIyxyd9wLzzqx6_zaDq3cmu9EsiMO8a6VTaoOD-P_4RXQH7/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a></div>Happy Easter, everyone! It's been a quiet Easter for us. A forgettable brunch at Market made us home sick for my grandmother's strawberry cake and long New Orleans lunches at Patois. (Maybe it's the weather.... 50 was the high today! I couldn't even break out my white!! I'm desperately looking forward to that Southern sun). <br />
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Market is the Paris branch of the Jean-Georges empire, but it lacked any of the real substance you get at his NYC spots. (You would think that you couldn't go wrong with fontina truffle pizza, but apparently you can). Maybe this is God's way of laughing at us for trying to eat out a posh restaurant on Easter. Next time, we'll have to remember to stick to family gatherings and casseroles. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkvx0zw6OIJS25eeKpHiSn5hRdi5exJo9S-jPrCqL9bWQZB0ICrfE5_87DY2x-5YPUPTjWbJ6fH6VIaMayxLUXJkwdrFPybN-QV82cNwE_uV5WlP7h4_oI1hAODV6nDhJbB7AmHKAsfFF/s1600/easter+bunnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkvx0zw6OIJS25eeKpHiSn5hRdi5exJo9S-jPrCqL9bWQZB0ICrfE5_87DY2x-5YPUPTjWbJ6fH6VIaMayxLUXJkwdrFPybN-QV82cNwE_uV5WlP7h4_oI1hAODV6nDhJbB7AmHKAsfFF/s400/easter+bunnies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Please forgive me, but it made me laugh (and I forgot to take any pictures at Market...) </div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-24381568668421080092012-04-05T18:41:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:11:59.028+02:00Girls in Paris: Thé at le Athénée<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmGDNmmCTCfFXxjFgN7LCvzYl0RQHzT3OeCd3WS_nci4-ZSXIw-25ofX2_MCPfNFgAUiOU8nbhnZ9SfzYv4xVCYVnn31H3d0QZL_qWbRwL8roxc3SeyzU6-WpAWXk3j1uxKRveVZNLfP4/s1600/photo+5-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmGDNmmCTCfFXxjFgN7LCvzYl0RQHzT3OeCd3WS_nci4-ZSXIw-25ofX2_MCPfNFgAUiOU8nbhnZ9SfzYv4xVCYVnn31H3d0QZL_qWbRwL8roxc3SeyzU6-WpAWXk3j1uxKRveVZNLfP4/s640/photo+5-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Add it to the list. Afternoon tea and a to-die-for dessert trolley at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée is a must do in Paris. This beautiful five star on Avenue Montaigne serves tea and desserts daily starting at 2:00 pm. It makes for a fabulous girls après-midi. <br />
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The famous red awnings can be spotted all the way from Dior. You can't miss it.<br />
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The hardest part is choosing....<br />
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the tea room, or....<br />
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the green encased courtyard.<br />
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(Don't worry, we managed).<br />
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I really just can't even begin to describe to you the dessert trolley. I've never done high tea in London, and I'm sure it is fabulous, but how can anything begin to compete with French patisserie?! The ability to make something that looks this beautiful taste so good is truly an art. Pictured above is my selection of a Napoleon with orange blossom infused cream and fresh strawberries. <br />
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Ruth had the pistachio crusted almond cake, also adorned with fresh strawberries. (I am salivating just typing this).<br />
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Doesn't Ruth look like she was born for afternoon tea? Loving that little Peter Pan collar. <br />
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Lots more Girls in Paris to come! À bientôt.The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-76779141565053454762012-03-29T22:41:00.000+02:002012-03-29T22:41:12.738+02:00Bon Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBaslQXAOs_k57sfBLwp3eqapRp5LYnBC8SASn6hPSKE2EKSA3DXyM2C1uFf_fwmNuV9H26xCgdB7qsgEkSLm1p_KqPU06qukeFsjYYoRqxrzVQwsOtEN-AeNDbMpmRD3S8GhmF3h6c1R/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBaslQXAOs_k57sfBLwp3eqapRp5LYnBC8SASn6hPSKE2EKSA3DXyM2C1uFf_fwmNuV9H26xCgdB7qsgEkSLm1p_KqPU06qukeFsjYYoRqxrzVQwsOtEN-AeNDbMpmRD3S8GhmF3h6c1R/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><br />
The right bank allées are looking très belle!! I snapped this shot this morning with the iPhone. (Just never gets old!)<br />
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The Mr. hit the road today for an adventure through Scotland with some friends and I am awaiting the arrival of SIX of my best friends from college who are arriving tomorrow. So as you can imagine, I am doing everything I can not to burst at the seams. In the meantime, I'm trying to distract myself by listening to some Celine and watching Mad Men. (These are things I do not get to do when the Mr. is here). Although, honestly, I wish I was watching Downton Abbey season two, but he would kill me if cheated on him and watched ahead. (Are you not so hooked on this show?! I would probably marry Mr. Bates if I was still single and living in the early 1900's).<br />
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In other news, we have major Spring fever over here. First of all, let me tell you - it has been 70 degrees and blue skies with no clouds for the past 2 weeks in Paris. And now, everything is turning green and there are flowers overflowing all over the city. My window boxes are all planted and somehow I ended up leaving Monceau Fleurs with with this new addition as well.<br />
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I have a feeling it is not going to live long, but the ridiculously intoxicating smell is worth it even if I do (will) kill it within a week (can you even grow gardenia indoors?) Nevertheless, there is nothing like the smell of a gardenia to me. It reminds me of childhood (my grandmother grows them). One of my best memories was walking into the tiny church at my wedding and being filled with the smell. <br />
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My last randomness for you today is a few pics of some fabulous awnings. (Quite obsessed with French striped awnings... I have to figure out how to have this at my house someday). These are pictures from Palais Royale (palace turned office buildings/shops near the louvre with a gorgeous garden courtyard).<br />
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So, since the girls are arriving tomorrow you probably won't be hearing from me again until next week. Have a fabulous weekend and enjoy whatever version of Spring you have in your part of the world. <br />
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Biz.The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-55842904302626832702012-03-26T22:09:00.003+02:002012-04-27T11:10:42.420+02:00Rue of the Week + Ipod Playlist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH5wFBKg6GaWl0dWDCO7Ry3SymSUPiMhjZwmrxMXlSFfVHDgDiiU9uVLQo-LIUr1wbzdrioAHtj-7RMs1dr42q-V3VUJTfCvIQoqOLsTWp-4UrwNo1DV_pc7kvMnNX9fXimSDT9RvCLqH/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH5wFBKg6GaWl0dWDCO7Ry3SymSUPiMhjZwmrxMXlSFfVHDgDiiU9uVLQo-LIUr1wbzdrioAHtj-7RMs1dr42q-V3VUJTfCvIQoqOLsTWp-4UrwNo1DV_pc7kvMnNX9fXimSDT9RvCLqH/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a>Rue Verneuil is another favorite Rue in the 6th. (Well technically, I think half of it is in the 7th). The first three places I mentioned in the little picture above are some adorable little restaurants. The Mr. and I tried to go to Cafe des Lettres today (recommended by our Taschen's book) but it was closed for a private party. I will definitely be back though. Tucked into a little courtyard off of a beautiful street, it gets at 3 out of 5 just for ambiance. </div><br />
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Hotel Verneuil is on the end of the street closer to the 6th and is currently being renovated. (The pictures above is obv not the hotel, but a random wall that is spraypainted across the street). The hotel is in a fabulous location and I've heard it's a good value (although who knows after the renovation). <br />
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Speaking of rues, on my run today I passed a 30 year old man on a razor scooter. (The Mr. claims he has seen a family of four). Please tell me this trend is not catching on the states. A grown man on a scooter is just something I don't think I can get used to....<br />
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The weather here has been INCREDIBLE lately - low 70's and sunny for the past week. I no longer have any excuses to put off exercise. Major incentive to get my ipod into shape. Here's what I came up with for my run today (and btw, I use the term run <i>very</i> loosely.... we're talking 10 minute miles here, please don't think for a minute I'm some fit runner). ANYWAY - my playlist.<br />
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KC's new song - <b><i>What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger </i></b>(can you imagine a better running song?)<br />
Nicki Minaj - <i><b>Starships</b></i> (because I love some Nicki)<br />
Flo Rida - <i><b>Wild Ones</b></i> (love the sultry sounding girl that comes in each verse)<br />
La Fouine - <b><i>Veni, Vidi, Vici </i></b>(because French rap is awesome, remember Carrie running through Paris on Sex & the City finale?)<br />
<b><i>We Are Young</i></b> (not sure who the artist is here, but it is making me excited for my friends to come in town this weekend {a free drink for the one of you that actually reads my blog and references this shout out})<br />
Florence + The Machine - <i><b>Shake it Out </b></i>(playing in all of the showrooms AW12-13 fashion week)<br />
Taylor Swift - <i><b>Eyes Open</b></i> (I'm in the love Taylor camp)<br />
Katy Perry (sort of over her, but I was running out of options and <i><b>Part of Me</b></i> was on the top 10 chart)<br />
B.o.B - <b><i>So Good</i></b> (because life is)<br />
Kayne and Jay-Z - <b><i>Otis</i></b> (hello, who isn't listening to anything with Kayne <i>and</i> Jay-Z in the title?)<br />
And because the Mr. thought it would be funny to put this on my ipod, One Direction - <b><i>What Makes You Beautiful</i></b>. Which will probably be in my head for the rest of the week.<br />
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What are you listening to? Always love new recs!The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-56514568578187865472012-03-25T14:41:00.000+02:002012-04-27T11:11:09.360+02:00Ke and Bri do Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2tKJfRra-rkHf8n3X_GESHMXFxInwLUzRd1sTb_nyNdwpqgp8R87ZVYL9Bhi44JmWj0cKoq2rrKO9E1mdWSbWir_FHx-4IQyXjhmNmJQH_kfPQ2rOBbDmN2Rp3s-smL6s3EGCvh6kALf/s1600/quote" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2tKJfRra-rkHf8n3X_GESHMXFxInwLUzRd1sTb_nyNdwpqgp8R87ZVYL9Bhi44JmWj0cKoq2rrKO9E1mdWSbWir_FHx-4IQyXjhmNmJQH_kfPQ2rOBbDmN2Rp3s-smL6s3EGCvh6kALf/s1600/quote" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My sister-in-law and her husband were in town this weekend, reminding me of how enormous this city really is. I don't know how long you have to live here to feel completely acquainted. Having guests in town certainly pushes us out to discover new things and get reacquainted with the old. Big Bison is into food and Keen is into anything Paris, so with 70 degrees, a foodie and a francophile, we had quite the fabulous weekend re-exploring the "Windy City."<br />
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Keen and I at the hotel pre-dinner.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Big Bison enjoying a neighborhood cafe. </div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dinner at Chez l'Ami Jean. (Loved the menu, ambiance and basque cuisine. Service was incredible, but I've had better food. Think tiny French restaurant, packed with hungry people). </div><br />
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Seine river cruise (my first one in the year and a half we've been here - we did the O'Chateau champagne tasting cruise. With 70 degrees, the Seine and champagne, you really can't go wrong. Big Bison's favorite adventure of the trip). <br />
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The required Sacre Coeur trek and Montmartre visit (unfortunately, we couldn't talk them into a caricature... maybe next time).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6KjygrIUNppJEly2Bw__0cB5slDAUHkQyewnBOJcxq_1cJTh6Iae_8jOwIwkaosZakCf5xocms7c6Ad__PNSxIC1xMt8r0AVY0fk6BTjg0iajmu7tsp63xosS2I5YGUyk6BV8AbnHoKj/s1600/palais+royale" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6KjygrIUNppJEly2Bw__0cB5slDAUHkQyewnBOJcxq_1cJTh6Iae_8jOwIwkaosZakCf5xocms7c6Ad__PNSxIC1xMt8r0AVY0fk6BTjg0iajmu7tsp63xosS2I5YGUyk6BV8AbnHoKj/s640/palais+royale" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image <a href="http://hackneychateau.blogspot.fr/2011/10/chien-interdit.html" target="_blank">via</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>A stop through Jardin du Palais Royale (one of my favs... but not quite this bloomed yet).<br />
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We finished out the weekend with dinner on rue de l'arbre sec followed by a little underground cocktail club adventure - Le Ballroom du Beef Club, to be exact. A new cocktail bar in le premiere (the 1st - Keen's favorite). Ballroom is owned by the same people that do Prescription in the 6th. Think unmarked door, candle lit spiral staircase and cocktail bar that is literally underground.<br />
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And of course shopping, crepes, croques, museums, more shopping, cathedrals, a little more shopping and drink or two here and there to round out an unforgettable trip. We'll miss you Ke and Bri!The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-54239139056678791262012-03-21T19:35:00.001+01:002012-03-21T19:35:38.911+01:00Le Cooking School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcGThHLUyPB5pPcPtxiML-LaoxKuPchUlU4wg0uHqaZN0nOka9wo68boniNApmwDdfC5l-j24GXaCDKMo_3LB8848BRajkLq6mVY-zlaIuHYPpFBrXOk8-CYgZYmcJB_w-XoAnol6V14v/s1600/whisk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcGThHLUyPB5pPcPtxiML-LaoxKuPchUlU4wg0uHqaZN0nOka9wo68boniNApmwDdfC5l-j24GXaCDKMo_3LB8848BRajkLq6mVY-zlaIuHYPpFBrXOk8-CYgZYmcJB_w-XoAnol6V14v/s640/whisk.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br />
I'm taking my first Le Cordon Bleu class tomorrow. Wish me luck!<br />
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Image <a href="http://thisisnthappiness.com/" target="_blank">via</a>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-74793101500781215132012-03-20T22:58:00.000+01:002012-04-27T11:11:09.363+02:00Rue of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9dJxThB_OnUJPl6JN3Mf_oTa-mcRl2wSgoKvpI_om9ZXu2T7mPSJk-J-MSGbnUxMngc2cIpVUZXO_Yn6ywNdGz92dLXDI7r4AElupxA2ckXsE6iTKorfegMGvp32HNNcgLWZNAapYDaE/s1600/rue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9dJxThB_OnUJPl6JN3Mf_oTa-mcRl2wSgoKvpI_om9ZXu2T7mPSJk-J-MSGbnUxMngc2cIpVUZXO_Yn6ywNdGz92dLXDI7r4AElupxA2ckXsE6iTKorfegMGvp32HNNcgLWZNAapYDaE/s640/rue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Rue de Seine makes for one lovely stroll in 6th. The narrow lane lined with chic restaurants and trendy art galleries leaves little to desire. Here are a few of my favorite stops.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Da Rosa.</b></span> Delicious little Spanish place serving up charcuterie and tasty plats du jour. I love their outdoor terrace. <br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cire Trudon.</span></b> Ultra luxurious (exorbitantly expensive) French candles. I love Le Marquise. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX9Xj5MzV4DbMEXXQZFaqXlTobAe93v9yXL9JCHo2EyVMFyaelHc8Iv2ytmNzUp2ftC5mfVOxCd2iOre_iOVQv1SFxVIqpBrtacnS6s-g8TP43kxrVbh8hGqQJUuSpHYTuhly-gDfrIAy/s1600/pere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX9Xj5MzV4DbMEXXQZFaqXlTobAe93v9yXL9JCHo2EyVMFyaelHc8Iv2ytmNzUp2ftC5mfVOxCd2iOre_iOVQv1SFxVIqpBrtacnS6s-g8TP43kxrVbh8hGqQJUuSpHYTuhly-gDfrIAy/s640/pere.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Pères et Filles.</b></span> Trendy jeunes filles hang out with delicious French fare and a pleasant people watching terrace.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNgcWThMyfiwN4UZvs88UEZdXzSLlMAMs0-C0sWscsMI-ZsByp5CJC7ehB38vzUaqDcks9HVgEL0Lr6-AmPFITO-x5qZgCCbkHJUM4qqT5GFE7g_7SuzgiYP8zrHyPrTpgwn59AuYdj-c/s1600/cafe-la-palette-copie-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNgcWThMyfiwN4UZvs88UEZdXzSLlMAMs0-C0sWscsMI-ZsByp5CJC7ehB38vzUaqDcks9HVgEL0Lr6-AmPFITO-x5qZgCCbkHJUM4qqT5GFE7g_7SuzgiYP8zrHyPrTpgwn59AuYdj-c/s640/cafe-la-palette-copie-1.gif" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">La Palette</span></b>. Always overflowing with locals and tourists, alike. The perfect place to sit and enjoy a cafe on a sunny day. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD4b6liEPzxNyv12T5nemwP5O0iehKdQbxbWSJdUw7jdFsLALecKFJa5wNspkjA1caZMG6QMIM1OuoNdoYRKthe8Mna2lMuLp8Zq6_w6pfAUeEu_4DeEeeFAcSwg1mhWULgSr4BTPS3AK/s1600/BarDuMarche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD4b6liEPzxNyv12T5nemwP5O0iehKdQbxbWSJdUw7jdFsLALecKFJa5wNspkjA1caZMG6QMIM1OuoNdoYRKthe8Mna2lMuLp8Zq6_w6pfAUeEu_4DeEeeFAcSwg1mhWULgSr4BTPS3AK/s400/BarDuMarche.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bar du Marche.</span></b> Technically, I think it's on another street, but since it's on the corner, I think we can count it. It's packed every night and a fun place to squeeze in and people watch. <br />
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Happy Mecredi!<br />
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Images: 1) <a href="http://21arrondissement.com/2011/09/stavrini-koumi/" target="_blank">via</a> 2) <a href="http://www.chroniquesduplaisir.fr/2008/06/da-rosa.html" target="_blank">via</a> 3) <a href="http://www.lettl.de/g002.html" target="_blank">via</a> 4) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79886771/paris-photo-red-cafe-chairs-in-paris" target="_blank">via</a> 5) <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://idata.over-blog.com/2/69/99/43/Paris-quartiers-2/cafe-la-palette-copie-1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.le-banc-moussu.com/article-par-la-petite-porte-de-l-institut-48963981.html&usg=__hTZ2YICqxtYGQCeF0LulME95CpA=&h=666&w=500&sz=247&hl=en&start=2&sig2=ec198me5jxHrw6SsFlguQw&zoom=1&tbnid=w20KWfwMwaz1lM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=104&ei=a_ZoT-fTLYql0QXI1qSLCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcafe%2Bla%2Bpalette%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1" target="_blank">via</a> 6) <a href="http://frenchantiques.blogspot.fr/2010/09/promenade-through-st-germain-des-pres.html" target="_blank">via</a>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-7671956855813241722012-03-18T22:00:00.000+01:002012-03-18T22:00:46.505+01:00Sunday Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jomf7XUPaMO5rgBl6XzWgkvESYsbQ2j2az-RjBmDszGfF-_H5r_RVlOGfbtoAy6daSdp1GHkXUD_MaHWPGUN6NKsJ7s1FC9ylDW5s-1truORLmBLAI6SVDSiwjEz-rCdaP1Bj7gWbxoq/s1600/taking+time" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jomf7XUPaMO5rgBl6XzWgkvESYsbQ2j2az-RjBmDszGfF-_H5r_RVlOGfbtoAy6daSdp1GHkXUD_MaHWPGUN6NKsJ7s1FC9ylDW5s-1truORLmBLAI6SVDSiwjEz-rCdaP1Bj7gWbxoq/s640/taking+time" width="412" /></a></div><br />
Cheers to living life to the fullest. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_mZf5WGr8SNNrBW3C3IppOTWae5ufr4gj4fJcbixdf0qG0ZwTB-6w9w-ffM8RqzezExExGIXo8HzhZd0tUY15FQg6Uqs4Mp-sOVG4NbSVXhAUExgAzxDoemyyjHjv7-rGgbKXPZy_lc5/s1600/Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_mZf5WGr8SNNrBW3C3IppOTWae5ufr4gj4fJcbixdf0qG0ZwTB-6w9w-ffM8RqzezExExGIXo8HzhZd0tUY15FQg6Uqs4Mp-sOVG4NbSVXhAUExgAzxDoemyyjHjv7-rGgbKXPZy_lc5/s640/Photo1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
How awesome is this picture the Mr. snapped of the pont near our place? Can you guess where you've seen it? (I'll give you a hint, it was in a dream). <br />
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Have a fabulous week!!The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-59280360226477617922012-03-16T01:20:00.000+01:002012-03-18T21:03:04.760+01:00Obsession de la jour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U_ZymUrUIiLMbzo22UZMY5qau9gr_JTkoHuZJA-4xGb49_5WwvXmz8wXAbYvdZTa3u8K5_HFu-ZxoOvIztFMyJQZOeLp7wrwWgrz48bZsh0hmDc4D8VSJsAASAyoNL0mQn7vc7dojdf7/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U_ZymUrUIiLMbzo22UZMY5qau9gr_JTkoHuZJA-4xGb49_5WwvXmz8wXAbYvdZTa3u8K5_HFu-ZxoOvIztFMyJQZOeLp7wrwWgrz48bZsh0hmDc4D8VSJsAASAyoNL0mQn7vc7dojdf7/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIfFwPLBTcBG-WPu960XqwN08tAj870MgqL-JSxLVYZ7Mrzj2wUl0l2v6nibk-_FWqnm16h1IELNSwHUai3ylkyw6VU3bpYo43N1uIdpxNC-m76aEFk3Fsv-nWQClm-_7jF4CIRe0dzC/s1600/red+lips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIfFwPLBTcBG-WPu960XqwN08tAj870MgqL-JSxLVYZ7Mrzj2wUl0l2v6nibk-_FWqnm16h1IELNSwHUai3ylkyw6VU3bpYo43N1uIdpxNC-m76aEFk3Fsv-nWQClm-_7jF4CIRe0dzC/s640/red+lips.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5hgQuLUue9sOoAkO-HO4966xoZb_DAMUaw7k9gD9NH5VA8_-_Kx8eMG6tb1zZfxtHXb52eK6qHTxy-TJSQCHmuXo15Uf039WM1fSkwM1mA0cRfovggu-o_MPyPIgE020atlzl8Qrg6m0/s1600/red+lip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5hgQuLUue9sOoAkO-HO4966xoZb_DAMUaw7k9gD9NH5VA8_-_Kx8eMG6tb1zZfxtHXb52eK6qHTxy-TJSQCHmuXo15Uf039WM1fSkwM1mA0cRfovggu-o_MPyPIgE020atlzl8Qrg6m0/s640/red+lip+2.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvqnOxBMkVyTND_J5WKtRI0XMqSU7q0PpcISyKrBkZG7QnM9P2U6WCoEv7OFBW3dQwJTwcDTi8Z9i1tRLo56WFj-QyP2L0q_TIdqDP0ok88cRoVuYQR3adDJklrxFhqm184CX6pN0m0cf/s1600/red3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvqnOxBMkVyTND_J5WKtRI0XMqSU7q0PpcISyKrBkZG7QnM9P2U6WCoEv7OFBW3dQwJTwcDTi8Z9i1tRLo56WFj-QyP2L0q_TIdqDP0ok88cRoVuYQR3adDJklrxFhqm184CX6pN0m0cf/s640/red3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/123426846007114436/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7T77HG9WIdo7jsRpnn19CsWZq4ax8Ixxf6SfoAGXmb1_ab2JkjHhsKB2AlA7xJJXqMyQod1D7QMHzii71aOSYwNUd37KWooNwrrfgnJfv1TXM9MnBvv-1hqi5w3Swca_Dedyxpi0ypJl/s1600/red4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7T77HG9WIdo7jsRpnn19CsWZq4ax8Ixxf6SfoAGXmb1_ab2JkjHhsKB2AlA7xJJXqMyQod1D7QMHzii71aOSYwNUd37KWooNwrrfgnJfv1TXM9MnBvv-1hqi5w3Swca_Dedyxpi0ypJl/s640/red4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/80924124523814354/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Especially obsessed with this lovely rouge in Dragon Girl. (I had dinner with a friend wearing this particular shade and her lips were still red 3 courses and a bottle of wine later). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXtKPqnrDnKSuS9Fvi1GSv28lvlf-vPOpdvT5sAzyKqNaYmsI10lj6jhQW-WfVVQxSsaawzPBSHABrbgSNqoKan0CC46-5tv4j8nmk-k0ST0UnfVes1twGrD6aM8p0bcBtRzNZZ5yj8dY/s1600/nars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXtKPqnrDnKSuS9Fvi1GSv28lvlf-vPOpdvT5sAzyKqNaYmsI10lj6jhQW-WfVVQxSsaawzPBSHABrbgSNqoKan0CC46-5tv4j8nmk-k0ST0UnfVes1twGrD6aM8p0bcBtRzNZZ5yj8dY/s640/nars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every girl needs her red moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bon weekend! </div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-88838108372466760012012-03-14T11:39:00.000+01:002012-03-18T21:04:37.482+01:00Provence<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi053ZCEscY6H4Dj9he-NvkOQKjf5gPvkg2FMtc6umy_mbx0GWBdVLzVFQMmkaiUIONzStSA5gXThxNevObj3zmqbHbHiyrVRduLZPcWkZSYjH6SWDEaME7Ei2DEQK13xo0PS_1JgJWGDS/s1600/lavendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi053ZCEscY6H4Dj9he-NvkOQKjf5gPvkg2FMtc6umy_mbx0GWBdVLzVFQMmkaiUIONzStSA5gXThxNevObj3zmqbHbHiyrVRduLZPcWkZSYjH6SWDEaME7Ei2DEQK13xo0PS_1JgJWGDS/s640/lavendar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Fields of lavender. Boundless chateaux. Guaranteed sun. Fresh chevre and Les Baux olive oil. Limestone. Spicy wine. Isle-sur-la-Sorgue antiques. How can you not day dream about Provence?<br />
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The Mr. proposed in Provence almost two years ago, and I have been dreaming of the sun drenched fields of lavender and free flowing côtes du rhône ever since. We were in the little town of Arles enjoying a cheese plate and a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape when he got down on one knee (smart guy, I never say to no to anything when cheese is involved). Now, here we are almost two years later wrapping up this incredible adventure. <br />
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To end this journey, we are returning to the beginning and taking one last road-trip through Provence. This is what the trip looks like in my mind.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDvBNUhJAvKj2MEG6yJR_ht1vxniPNiDJoRSfIbJfUPur_BAN1DbiaSqZGWYbiNW4YB3cyWZ6yu4I-au9kASFdfAUOOMsspNYokuW7rwyq3N6GyrwIiVmi5ZSD_6zJgSUc_GOpZgYIVGP/s1600/provence2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDvBNUhJAvKj2MEG6yJR_ht1vxniPNiDJoRSfIbJfUPur_BAN1DbiaSqZGWYbiNW4YB3cyWZ6yu4I-au9kASFdfAUOOMsspNYokuW7rwyq3N6GyrwIiVmi5ZSD_6zJgSUc_GOpZgYIVGP/s640/provence2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We drive through these fields on our way, here<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyh1m7vgnmf38kITvT7tx7K-O4SFAZBpF-bYslUOhZDhP4wvuueNcFyrE1-JYM8eYqt5of2g8bhNa9eqNdQMG05hueMEw8dyMSLZ0bXeIlGgv82i4ek812LVSG6mWiiSKkqj-NBmpIZAS/s1600/provence+chateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyh1m7vgnmf38kITvT7tx7K-O4SFAZBpF-bYslUOhZDhP4wvuueNcFyrE1-JYM8eYqt5of2g8bhNa9eqNdQMG05hueMEw8dyMSLZ0bXeIlGgv82i4ek812LVSG6mWiiSKkqj-NBmpIZAS/s640/provence+chateau.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
where we will spend our evenings dining, here<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjhzeFsc-gSqsQqMaLNhORMHDOiP8E5epPU9ri0marWVG8G0aCfJhYLqYec8rYT8q7oFt8n7Fr0k6Bw3IGBlxsAmUiE7944fvQ340PKZnBmpt9UZquHSa9FhsIFSGWXfqb2dfFE-NdTKm/s1600/provence+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjhzeFsc-gSqsQqMaLNhORMHDOiP8E5epPU9ri0marWVG8G0aCfJhYLqYec8rYT8q7oFt8n7Fr0k6Bw3IGBlxsAmUiE7944fvQ340PKZnBmpt9UZquHSa9FhsIFSGWXfqb2dfFE-NdTKm/s640/provence+3.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
and our days doing this<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FCGAdNrYWG-RYrT6ki1CGBXr4IHfs2GtHpW-8WpMXRT4WyB0vH9CjKIsHaNInscDqgoeK1_m-ffs6yysUwbtiqrLjnenSnUbFEdt41YVhOAPb9wrpZoqvugKqk5J61BwgvXzbBuOc9yw/s1600/provence+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FCGAdNrYWG-RYrT6ki1CGBXr4IHfs2GtHpW-8WpMXRT4WyB0vH9CjKIsHaNInscDqgoeK1_m-ffs6yysUwbtiqrLjnenSnUbFEdt41YVhOAPb9wrpZoqvugKqk5J61BwgvXzbBuOc9yw/s400/provence+bike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
and this<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CrmWOaqCHCHk20X4yVCL5ex-qAhz3f01CGel1snON8zJk3pBpE5oruacgIZY478eTzyAT2LA9RULiIyzBiAJRm_Rb4JlyP5txKPjMWUAO76MQ941r4PdTBhyphenhyphenZ5WG5Td6_lYGCbEBLj9o/s1600/provence+gorde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CrmWOaqCHCHk20X4yVCL5ex-qAhz3f01CGel1snON8zJk3pBpE5oruacgIZY478eTzyAT2LA9RULiIyzBiAJRm_Rb4JlyP5txKPjMWUAO76MQ941r4PdTBhyphenhyphenZ5WG5Td6_lYGCbEBLj9o/s640/provence+gorde.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
before stopping for lunch, here<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-_5_OorkVh6JrBXHuy8HRRJ_BZUsWffYVDvGlNfmCRIfCN5k3ge390LB-Etkd9E7rU4_3ZV5wobN5wXluxZ6IwJsssjapL8kJq1CiiRGcoQXlo2UclbgvwJS_wxb4cA186sUe6DJctil/s1600/provence+gordes+cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-_5_OorkVh6JrBXHuy8HRRJ_BZUsWffYVDvGlNfmCRIfCN5k3ge390LB-Etkd9E7rU4_3ZV5wobN5wXluxZ6IwJsssjapL8kJq1CiiRGcoQXlo2UclbgvwJS_wxb4cA186sUe6DJctil/s640/provence+gordes+cafe.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br />
followed by an afternoon dip, here<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0y7EKcwnuuh5IQbmthRNDyoWwgUdcKxRoZde8k6gta0zp9D8wRwayfbbl4-sTndJFDL1bz-pc9LtgbjN3-3rNXDmLokCKD66RFWpyMQpBCOIy5zOYoDlJAbVxQZDv2A5l8AgTqHYVZ67J/s1600/provence+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0y7EKcwnuuh5IQbmthRNDyoWwgUdcKxRoZde8k6gta0zp9D8wRwayfbbl4-sTndJFDL1bz-pc9LtgbjN3-3rNXDmLokCKD66RFWpyMQpBCOIy5zOYoDlJAbVxQZDv2A5l8AgTqHYVZ67J/s640/provence+pool.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
Does anyone else day dream this extensively ?<br />
<br />
If you love Provence as much as I do, I recommend reading Peter Mayle's, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Provence-Peter-Mayle/dp/0679731148" target="_blank">A Year in Provence</a></i>. A very witty book about French culture, and especially Provence. Très drôle.<br />
<br />
Bon Mecredi!<br />
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Images: 1) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/111041947031841182/" target="_blank">via</a> 2) via 3) <a href="http://www.chateaudesalpilles.com/" target="_blank">via</a> 4) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/3588874672564640/" target="_blank">via</a> 5) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/193584483952283998/" target="_blank">via</a> 6) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652004530/" target="_blank">via</a> 7) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652256303/" target="_blank">via</a> 8) viaThe Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-54558668760449380802012-03-13T16:38:00.053+01:002012-03-18T21:04:16.544+01:00Spring transitions<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><div style="margin: 0pt auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/blue_jean_hot_pink/set?.embedder=2032482&.svc=blogger&id=45347203"><img alt="Blue jean + Hot Pink" border="0" force="1" height="600" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/45347203/id/wlWRParmTMmRd9xipM-Stw/size/y.jpg" title="Blue jean + Hot Pink" width="600" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> 1) </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.hm.com/gb/product/96745?article=96745-A" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">H&M</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> 2) </span></span><a href="http://www.hm.com/gb/product/98366?article=98366-B" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">MARNI chez H&M</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> 3) </span></span><a href="http://www.fanny-chaussures.com/hirica-zazie-poulain-femme-beige-noir.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hirica</span></span></a></small><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am loving blue jeans shirts and anything hot pink right now. This little ensemb seems to be a perfect Spring transition. (How much are you loving Marni for H&M? Très fab, if you ask me!)</span></span></small></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJY0vzMr5YMvKeRrhAx28BhIODexBvsKW0XaVG2svfutHb5ccc6emU1h_0DDW4_HOJzZ_HPDPOTg9X3euDoOOGirTLE9W2E5RRAXAMM2vBE2OWn7j_qekj8hAJtyVq31STQfBpiM64vyB/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJY0vzMr5YMvKeRrhAx28BhIODexBvsKW0XaVG2svfutHb5ccc6emU1h_0DDW4_HOJzZ_HPDPOTg9X3euDoOOGirTLE9W2E5RRAXAMM2vBE2OWn7j_qekj8hAJtyVq31STQfBpiM64vyB/s640/photo(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of très fab, (aren't we always?) </span></span></small><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">we are loving rue Bretagne in the Marais right now. Cafe Charlot is the perfect perch for a glass of red and people watching. (</span></span></small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was dying to stay for dinner to try the boeuf bourguignon aux tagliatelles special). Add this little piece of the Marais to your list for the next visit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></small></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">P.S. - count yourself lucky I had the strength to type this (since I know you wait aimlessly by the computer for my posts). My entire body is screaming with soreness. Spring also = bathing suit time reminder. I am trying to tone up to look like this girl on our April vaca. (A girl's got to dream!)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F4ha8jyU2YYy1SASjC_8iXxSYkTPKDkC_rHQ_A2oBnSmvgypmF0E8KA_GzMRhDWQ9zPEoKDjj3NnmAkg7_iFToC_mar4IgJx_AYMUMKUGHmnYWfQJuCpzaOT2RGFaCVlJqJ_uJ717swn/s1600/vaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F4ha8jyU2YYy1SASjC_8iXxSYkTPKDkC_rHQ_A2oBnSmvgypmF0E8KA_GzMRhDWQ9zPEoKDjj3NnmAkg7_iFToC_mar4IgJx_AYMUMKUGHmnYWfQJuCpzaOT2RGFaCVlJqJ_uJ717swn/s640/vaca.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652513140/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Biz!</span></span></span></div></div></div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-50990275344076311392012-03-12T22:04:00.000+01:002012-03-18T21:05:04.155+01:00Spring Forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69uwt9lClV5c3Fl9dppgcysnhOFp0FgX_ysGuxaIdhAFgcaIwS7tPux3bgJSZj3lISrbXxhAhyjf0guHbGICVQ-FkyZmhvisn0UwHEEzrUDUfjYqlAF54ELR7_fKU3cpWJOdsF6gpSO6r/s1600/Slide1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69uwt9lClV5c3Fl9dppgcysnhOFp0FgX_ysGuxaIdhAFgcaIwS7tPux3bgJSZj3lISrbXxhAhyjf0guHbGICVQ-FkyZmhvisn0UwHEEzrUDUfjYqlAF54ELR7_fKU3cpWJOdsF6gpSO6r/s640/Slide1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Loving all the brights this Spring. Cobalt and coral are my fav. Can't wait to break out the wedges. (It is supposed to be in the 60's in Paris this week!!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wIbJN1rPn5PMPtZygeTWHDBiytofv2sqN1HaXaKcXuR0QLF_QsSx3xsw1_rkDaqueFUdbCO0yIgf4y5mBFUn7Ad1jtKT205QM8ZKNhQqE9wLIeaq8hkWhPlVIe-WIsorWFS4dQo4KiPd/s1600/cobalt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wIbJN1rPn5PMPtZygeTWHDBiytofv2sqN1HaXaKcXuR0QLF_QsSx3xsw1_rkDaqueFUdbCO0yIgf4y5mBFUn7Ad1jtKT205QM8ZKNhQqE9wLIeaq8hkWhPlVIe-WIsorWFS4dQo4KiPd/s640/cobalt+5.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHrIEPajN_YyWB-86zLKRkOWLf9V-HAAUUdkZN39gOGgbXmPnGfbJJxELoiN9kUFXhgSr-mj346kbNiyGfidzE51-6HN0tI2YI-p2ImHNZRIyTUCWX_qIXAc8WlYQANo75XU2nv8hnNUP/s1600/cobalt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHrIEPajN_YyWB-86zLKRkOWLf9V-HAAUUdkZN39gOGgbXmPnGfbJJxELoiN9kUFXhgSr-mj346kbNiyGfidzE51-6HN0tI2YI-p2ImHNZRIyTUCWX_qIXAc8WlYQANo75XU2nv8hnNUP/s640/cobalt.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArA41Cy6sC3m9LMgcEFBhHfhpz4ZKhZhtR29DJTxcaW80Giqw3kW-LXWhiOTbaAavCayKljSXG45iSXOoIA2QLORxS0XQ9zS3PJOxtSRamEntGIpbsnzhgKgOU2JBGxLUtiF5WM3GhpLo/s1600/cobalt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArA41Cy6sC3m9LMgcEFBhHfhpz4ZKhZhtR29DJTxcaW80Giqw3kW-LXWhiOTbaAavCayKljSXG45iSXOoIA2QLORxS0XQ9zS3PJOxtSRamEntGIpbsnzhgKgOU2JBGxLUtiF5WM3GhpLo/s640/cobalt+3.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpHzhoGGchdbb17lgRBcRGfGUO4bb36XkRQEev6oQ5gbMs4NQPBDMzK0Mw1MDyc4Ey3RXxuzNvrQv2Pt2BCTQZExtLkkpnVMED0TjQWPc_XTQMVUqoaLruNj30L9RoNcYYTNYG1Lq-T8u/s1600/cobalt+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpHzhoGGchdbb17lgRBcRGfGUO4bb36XkRQEev6oQ5gbMs4NQPBDMzK0Mw1MDyc4Ey3RXxuzNvrQv2Pt2BCTQZExtLkkpnVMED0TjQWPc_XTQMVUqoaLruNj30L9RoNcYYTNYG1Lq-T8u/s640/cobalt+4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dRh7QargFMpe3JjaM3qlbq5-RJACmZh99wRfYqOe8M9qtS4eGr65fGVTgt2S1KiXZ8MrNrAGPTfpe1mjqtx81Pa7Ff-zEcAu6K1oXfxXu8Ho5FcA6Zo3gcn6mMXPndjcyT5DJKbH02ez/s1600/cobalt+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dRh7QargFMpe3JjaM3qlbq5-RJACmZh99wRfYqOe8M9qtS4eGr65fGVTgt2S1KiXZ8MrNrAGPTfpe1mjqtx81Pa7Ff-zEcAu6K1oXfxXu8Ho5FcA6Zo3gcn6mMXPndjcyT5DJKbH02ez/s400/cobalt+6.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX-n-vX4d9M6wRiOPYHVUIqifX9wkS8af44NKawLVqvDxqgLo46GdvcXUS_GcFL-TyX-47vAztdaFAGkeqIPxMZ1p6XeYVN4btF9163PAa1Kb0Oh5oKekCL_cj5unWuTFQKRFuZ2BtpV8/s1600/coral+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX-n-vX4d9M6wRiOPYHVUIqifX9wkS8af44NKawLVqvDxqgLo46GdvcXUS_GcFL-TyX-47vAztdaFAGkeqIPxMZ1p6XeYVN4btF9163PAa1Kb0Oh5oKekCL_cj5unWuTFQKRFuZ2BtpV8/s640/coral+.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0K43ZNtQqBBN4IqVs2KCtyF7jyXWbaxkYA849sMRqIaOg61kPVLyQkTmTBAhd_1f74MnwNSAR3BTT4ADY568hd8tTsDSOv7NVyb5_xeMRPLW3hePgRDqFdD10jIVduKciEL486yxICZG/s1600/coral+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0K43ZNtQqBBN4IqVs2KCtyF7jyXWbaxkYA849sMRqIaOg61kPVLyQkTmTBAhd_1f74MnwNSAR3BTT4ADY568hd8tTsDSOv7NVyb5_xeMRPLW3hePgRDqFdD10jIVduKciEL486yxICZG/s640/coral+2.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vr3U7pAOZGRXKisbwu0PmsyT4gI8HHBrAGrmtmDyjDDfs-7VbTskSZHeAlRhF0u95mJX9KxIxJWOaBlHj7e20B_hBkAdzg91Gv84EbZiegayqx9b44Qfa4IA_8tp2FdQw2HJh1Kme8Ia/s1600/coral+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vr3U7pAOZGRXKisbwu0PmsyT4gI8HHBrAGrmtmDyjDDfs-7VbTskSZHeAlRhF0u95mJX9KxIxJWOaBlHj7e20B_hBkAdzg91Gv84EbZiegayqx9b44Qfa4IA_8tp2FdQw2HJh1Kme8Ia/s640/coral+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What colors are you loving this Spring? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Image 1) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/125467539588306630/" target="_blank">via</a> 2) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/57209857735973720/" target="_blank">via</a> 3) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/193091902743007292/" target="_blank">via</a> 4) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/157274211956565528/" target="_blank">via</a> 5 <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652302271/" target="_blank">via</a> 6) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652500148/" target="_blank">via</a> 7) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652267063/" target="_blank">via</a> 8) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176062666652023705/" target="_blank">via</a> </div>The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-82641693490851877082012-03-10T14:14:00.000+01:002012-03-18T21:05:18.292+01:00It Exists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic41F8G91gzDj8KMo0RaYFEiekDa3IK8fB-ecKcqF2alBXVe4l70XmVYLniIFNv0vBSJ0pf1vChK1FAmz1JLJ-VbD67bYuY_zTIk0swkvJWq44c-oyb_yVE1z5b7E_ExtFHT8RQG1FH1pD/s1600/tumblr_l6c7qp7k7h1qb8jr2o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic41F8G91gzDj8KMo0RaYFEiekDa3IK8fB-ecKcqF2alBXVe4l70XmVYLniIFNv0vBSJ0pf1vChK1FAmz1JLJ-VbD67bYuY_zTIk0swkvJWq44c-oyb_yVE1z5b7E_ExtFHT8RQG1FH1pD/s640/tumblr_l6c7qp7k7h1qb8jr2o1_500.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Alaïa overstock boutique. S E V E N T Y percent off. Hand to God.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlcJUqgH-uNOVSi5Sqd3ekpYMJyOxVlmN9MVDOgnkSZGktxxERF_W5_iYbWypyELSyrMJ_PkaIb7GbOz0QcjBil8J1sFS3DXnH8bSI0NgUtoZaFntOdafE5Ueys62KDdyX8Pf8TG5nANy/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlcJUqgH-uNOVSi5Sqd3ekpYMJyOxVlmN9MVDOgnkSZGktxxERF_W5_iYbWypyELSyrMJ_PkaIb7GbOz0QcjBil8J1sFS3DXnH8bSI0NgUtoZaFntOdafE5Ueys62KDdyX8Pf8TG5nANy/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I will go to the grave with this address. (Although, I'll give you a hint - pinterest.com)<br />
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What a fabulous ending to a fabulous fashion week. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvRF7foVNnA/T1tR2uYar-I/AAAAAAAAH9c/7VaZGN2X3wk/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvRF7foVNnA/T1tR2uYar-I/AAAAAAAAH9c/7VaZGN2X3wk/s640/photo-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And then dinner at Chartier with the best colleague ever, Ali. These have been a few great weeks for the books.<br />
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And now for Spring. She's just around the corner.<br />
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Images via: 1) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/16466354857052312/" target="_blank">pinterest</a> 2) my iphoneThe Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061024120792301571.post-7299094141453045102012-03-07T16:45:00.000+01:002012-03-18T21:05:31.050+01:00Fashion Week Favs Part II: Americans in Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsin2cQJGZbKn2-6l7MWG1jcRC9Z_K2EzJmjH2LzSKbuW6ExgBhb5VVj5-wJbV-lg5Q-pMvyPmvQw9qga_OdNvH293C6ttu-NJuzJvpOoHWbC5Zgp21Pj1XBMbqoIaf0JH3h8I-Jh2QajP/s1600/inslee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsin2cQJGZbKn2-6l7MWG1jcRC9Z_K2EzJmjH2LzSKbuW6ExgBhb5VVj5-wJbV-lg5Q-pMvyPmvQw9qga_OdNvH293C6ttu-NJuzJvpOoHWbC5Zgp21Pj1XBMbqoIaf0JH3h8I-Jh2QajP/s640/inslee.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>Ok, again, how much do you love <a href="http://www.inslee.net/index.html" target="_blank">Inslee by Design</a>? I am clearly quite obsessed ! And I love how she has captured exactly how I feel right about now without having ever even met me. What a genius. <br />
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One of my favorite things about AW12-13 has been seeing all of the internationally successful American designers. This season, I have been working with the high-end contemporary side of the company and have learned that American designers paved the way for this growing market between contemporary and couture. We spend our days traveling around to the trade fairs in Milan and Paris looking for new, inspiring brands to bring into the multi-brand stores.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRlkJmIcVtNexYgdf2Pf8p5inpfy0uSVkzEgZllty4uO5Rga3o668NFgZMj4JIQStdCkTfIIzYOvT5jpQS4YQdVvW6Uemxp8_QKTb6l4QWY_Q3Q7oh5x2Geg0Eg-YW7KrvK5W1iheRJY5/s1600/SS12Lookbook6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRlkJmIcVtNexYgdf2Pf8p5inpfy0uSVkzEgZllty4uO5Rga3o668NFgZMj4JIQStdCkTfIIzYOvT5jpQS4YQdVvW6Uemxp8_QKTb6l4QWY_Q3Q7oh5x2Geg0Eg-YW7KrvK5W1iheRJY5/s640/SS12Lookbook6.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br />
One of my very favorite high end designers right now is <a href="https://www.dannijo.com/" target="_blank">Dannijo</a>. Danielle and Jodi Snyder are definitely not new on the scene, but this season I have been reminded about how AMAZING their jewelry is. These Florida native sisters started their company in college and are now selling through Bergdorf in NY and all over the world. They are regularly featured in all of the best mags. Danielle and I went to Vandy together where she and Jodi would frequently do trunk in our sorority house. I am OBSESSED with their collars.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd3C9594On3d3rc1KVMoDObpiqCnuFIRQuzcByKIFJDn0_AU0ka1rmeErmAfnplCUugfZmCD2VZmv5AP88ZExEWMgE05q55pSdBtQbekIIsPYrWyMVvXPpknmbS-9JJeYin1bE0DesdEe/s1600/collar+neon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd3C9594On3d3rc1KVMoDObpiqCnuFIRQuzcByKIFJDn0_AU0ka1rmeErmAfnplCUugfZmCD2VZmv5AP88ZExEWMgE05q55pSdBtQbekIIsPYrWyMVvXPpknmbS-9JJeYin1bE0DesdEe/s400/collar+neon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ICvxvn2lzgHnZLOdCm96k_dpmpZj6qqAKf4TRPnJhcqELe5L_YhyeIJnlmGyBmm7uHnUSeOsAUiqBGxK2QiQBW_2mNGCBhc1Kr8NvVayBKTFVYJ9c3iW9TaEAP72j-CQ8tTqXuBuIrs7/s1600/collar+sinatra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ICvxvn2lzgHnZLOdCm96k_dpmpZj6qqAKf4TRPnJhcqELe5L_YhyeIJnlmGyBmm7uHnUSeOsAUiqBGxK2QiQBW_2mNGCBhc1Kr8NvVayBKTFVYJ9c3iW9TaEAP72j-CQ8tTqXuBuIrs7/s400/collar+sinatra.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And these cuffs.... </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4xzaNA12Remj458prBHGkomtAhzpQ4XF_YmHmnbC6o-54UxhfTUb0U0E2YEY8A1E-5XKTRwggsO1_34c8v1Y6fJ8ETpLyME-KxgtLKOShOY3GhipkC0kYKrsV6gxUxavreqXhO9LetpC/s1600/cuff+neon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4xzaNA12Remj458prBHGkomtAhzpQ4XF_YmHmnbC6o-54UxhfTUb0U0E2YEY8A1E-5XKTRwggsO1_34c8v1Y6fJ8ETpLyME-KxgtLKOShOY3GhipkC0kYKrsV6gxUxavreqXhO9LetpC/s320/cuff+neon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-BhL9mhfN5cmS150m7ivkE_8DMWH5m0OmndAewO6Vlh0c2qvIqP_EEgchP4513PoauXtA0VZd-gor281bJCQVUWBveibFM-Dh0ylaaOhyphenhyphenk6FGdOcPgvquxN11bvdC-ZRiuGSHzVXH0AP/s1600/cuffs+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-BhL9mhfN5cmS150m7ivkE_8DMWH5m0OmndAewO6Vlh0c2qvIqP_EEgchP4513PoauXtA0VZd-gor281bJCQVUWBveibFM-Dh0ylaaOhyphenhyphenk6FGdOcPgvquxN11bvdC-ZRiuGSHzVXH0AP/s400/cuffs+colors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YYSz0DSeFSs9Svb-sQmDJcB2N2gYxRgTQ9VyTZ5gDoC3yiv56hIjGCdHsXbwhDw1GBYh5FlZ6MEX9lm4Xp8pswrMtsJPT_5tJbRvBn_e2g05FPp8sQThiwWgxNvN-VpCbmpjmXbl94L1/s1600/cuff+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YYSz0DSeFSs9Svb-sQmDJcB2N2gYxRgTQ9VyTZ5gDoC3yiv56hIjGCdHsXbwhDw1GBYh5FlZ6MEX9lm4Xp8pswrMtsJPT_5tJbRvBn_e2g05FPp8sQThiwWgxNvN-VpCbmpjmXbl94L1/s320/cuff+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And pretty much everything they make. You can find it <a href="https://www.dannijo.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had so much fun catching up with them. They treated me to a fabulous dinner at La Fountaine de Mars and finally convinced me to (to convince the Mr.) to rendevous at Bar Hemingway for drinks (where Danielle swears she ran into the Queen of Vogue, Karl and Blake Lively all on the same night a few seasons ago!!!) I've got to start frequenting the Ritz Paris more often.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRAVpZBhWUU-ASGXXPVVVMVb6wq9kofmm28jcodLWwpxonS-_yBk5wWVREv2uKvzw2xdWgorcmZ6iuma5AO4YRFg2nO-au99D1AE2ggSu66CbbhVIYZazO31F0ySSlSQWee-74L_ahycj/s1600/bar+hem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRAVpZBhWUU-ASGXXPVVVMVb6wq9kofmm28jcodLWwpxonS-_yBk5wWVREv2uKvzw2xdWgorcmZ6iuma5AO4YRFg2nO-au99D1AE2ggSu66CbbhVIYZazO31F0ySSlSQWee-74L_ahycj/s640/bar+hem.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Some other favorite American designers on the scene:<br />
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New York designer, Whitney Pozgay spent time at Kate Spade before starting her own line. It is tres chic with lots of feminine dresses and bold prints. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTNYlrq0ruZQWWL8t4ZNIK4HY-D-8QkI6Ht4K-Fl2S5c8aCCarbR8zpv1AO5xEpln27qBI5WDzoe_S7nOnvq7MJybTVvhiP7Z00qwkT6aG29htVT0LcQ102gibnckj9hkArTFzxqMwwly/s1600/loeffler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTNYlrq0ruZQWWL8t4ZNIK4HY-D-8QkI6Ht4K-Fl2S5c8aCCarbR8zpv1AO5xEpln27qBI5WDzoe_S7nOnvq7MJybTVvhiP7Z00qwkT6aG29htVT0LcQ102gibnckj9hkArTFzxqMwwly/s640/loeffler.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
At Premiere Class (trade fair in the Tuileries Jardins), we spotted Loeffler Randall - stand out shoe designer. Adore these platform beauties and always love their classic boots. (They recently started producing in Brazil instead of tres chere Italy, which helps keep their price points just right). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Lwon9L9nQYqg69Z-UvbIfUv_zSUMu1t-EzLtlRlEJ_-Y5mXh4tRK2LFfis0dlvRe1eG-mnT3vRyJuYzUI6jBTxGuwAr5R8KoYtkiH6cpMGnRJ-E4mxEZSUJnhtHLTm-gTACzNCLdhgKZ/s1600/lauren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Lwon9L9nQYqg69Z-UvbIfUv_zSUMu1t-EzLtlRlEJ_-Y5mXh4tRK2LFfis0dlvRe1eG-mnT3vRyJuYzUI6jBTxGuwAr5R8KoYtkiH6cpMGnRJ-E4mxEZSUJnhtHLTm-gTACzNCLdhgKZ/s640/lauren.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another favorite find with pretty fem blouses. I love their signature blouse that is permanent to the collection. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7kvh6ZC7oz9DueWI41TObvGR7Q4bhTX0kT_3C6Fq_3e9OZhaAsOkRSaIqwsFknnpL7wckoux9PBy_pyQmpIS1CXvP1ADmAkgynJbCz1Z78hdMbxwOLgOMQW6WMIGLoUd6ZCCKotDUCWD/s1600/lm+blouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7kvh6ZC7oz9DueWI41TObvGR7Q4bhTX0kT_3C6Fq_3e9OZhaAsOkRSaIqwsFknnpL7wckoux9PBy_pyQmpIS1CXvP1ADmAkgynJbCz1Z78hdMbxwOLgOMQW6WMIGLoUd6ZCCKotDUCWD/s640/lm+blouse.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>In Milan, we picked up Joie and Yosi Samra - two other American brands that I am loving. Joie does light silk tops in bold prints and Samra is known for their fold up ballet flats in the all the best colors. I cannot wait to add these to my summer wardrobe.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQtVXGj7bd1Nl1PxtKYaCx8Fjh6CpaqGHaf2omWaHLHR1W-5i-IztuYBfqohKEvWwyrdJIIrD4Zz17N-1U9roOEzgQAF799cWpZszqrKo6cU8DGyCKkfZR3Fiqjs83Hf2gRK2jHYakshw/s1600/yosi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQtVXGj7bd1Nl1PxtKYaCx8Fjh6CpaqGHaf2omWaHLHR1W-5i-IztuYBfqohKEvWwyrdJIIrD4Zz17N-1U9roOEzgQAF799cWpZszqrKo6cU8DGyCKkfZR3Fiqjs83Hf2gRK2jHYakshw/s640/yosi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I think we are all caught up. I hope you enjoyed this hearty dose of patriotism for the day. Have a fabulous rest of the week!! À bientôt.The Mrs.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11351939501608130217noreply@blogger.com0