Paris Plage

PARISIAN SUMMER = Sun, rain, humidity, tourists, long lines and pasty white Parisians in tiny bathing suits lying on the beach along the Seine. WT?! A beach along the river, you ask? Oh yes, the summer phenomena is back my friends.

Since 2002, the city has been putting on "Paris Plage" for the denizens of Paris. They bring in tons of sand, boxed palm trees and lounge chairs and set them up along one side of the Seine to re-create the beach. I went there yesterday to check it out.

It was pretty fun to people watch...oh, the eye candy and the eye sores. Yowza! Teeny weeny suits on guys and gals and I spied many shades of rosey-uh-oh-I'm-really-gonna-hurt-tomorrow skin in the crowd. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere though and it was so nice to bury my feet in some sand. All that was missing was the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves...."ain't nuthin' like the real thang baby."

6 weeks and counting...

Brocante Fever

Last weekend the hubs and I hit the road back to Champagne to see some friends, drink some bubbly and check out the goods at the annual brocante in Charleville. Tu veux une armoire? Look no further. Begging for a buffet? Et voila! The sun was beating down so hard that the tar on the streets was melting- thank goodness I was wearing a crappy pair of Converse and not some cute sandals! ha.

With all the treasures to be found, I came away with a solo bag of pretty ribbon to jazz up future gifts. Believe me, ice cream grandma would've been in our back seat in a minute if we had somewhere fun to put her! (Thinking back, she'd look super-bon in our teeny backyard! Missed opportunity- crap.)

Oh well, there's always next year!
A toute de suite!

My Sweet Girl

I just wanted to take a moment to say that I truly miss my girl, Maddie. We met on February 14th, 2000 and we had to say goodbye on June 26th, 2010. Madeline was with me for 10 1/2 years of her life, and I'm awfully glad she decided to let me provide her forever home. She was my sweet, loving and often crazy dog for a long time, and I miss her. I'm grateful she stayed with me as long as she could, and even more grateful she's somewhere lounging in the sun and chasing small critters to her hearts content.

Thanks to both Kristina and Gracie for being so good to her, and giving her just what she always wanted: companionship and love.

Paris Made By Hand

A short while ago, a very stylish friend of mine sent me a cool book to explore Paris with...(hmmm...who could that be? xxK) I've read through it a gazillion times and have marked all the cool little places I want to check out. So far, the hubs and I have hit 3 of them.

Yesterday, we checked out... Le Petit Atelier de Paris- OMG. Talk about minimalist cuteness at its BEST! The front window is adorable and enticing with simple white ceramic doodads hung with care. I want to buy EVERYTHING there! Not to mention the sweet little pup dozing off in his little wooden house in the shop. gasp- tres tres mignon! We will go there together ladies. Oh yes, we will go there.

Pep's - apparently the ultimo in umbrella fixer-upping. His wee (and I mean weeeee) shop is in a secret garden-esque courtyard that's 400 years old! Alas, Pep only works for 3 hours on Saturdays so no dice in checking out the merch, but we peeped inside and oooh the treasures that await.
Merci beaucoup for the fun book Kristina!!

Take Me Out to the Baaaaaaallllllll Game (esp if it's in San Francisco!)

A couple months ago, when Jet Blue was having one of those fantastic sales, Mark and I decided to go to San Francisco. More importantly, when the Red Sox would be playing the Giants. Yes, ladies, I've planned trips around concerts, shopping, and parades...this was my first ball game. And because of the Hollywood Bowl season, we had to be back before Sunday.

So here's how we managed to eat, drink, and be merry for thirty-two hours:

10:30 am:

Mark swore by the food at Dottie's True Blue Cafe. Warned me there would be a line and we would probably wait an hour. He was right. But man, was it delicious. I went a little carb crazy - how could you not? Black bean cakes, I'm in. Share some blueberry-cornmeal cakes, don't mind if I do. Food made with love. Worth all the calories, honest. I think I even used REAL sugar in my coffee.

1:00pm:

We dropped our bags off at the Hotel Adagio and headed to Union Square. Since it was extra chilly at noon, and knowing we were seeing a night game, I convinced Mark we had to go to Neimans to buy a sweater. In reality, it was so I could have a popover. Found a thin layering T on the rounder and a seat at the bar. Two sidecars later, the popover arrived. With a view of Union Square and strawberry jam melting on the hot pastry, we spent a couple hours taking in the customers and enjoying the booze.

5:30pm:

This may be one of the best ball parks for location, location, location. And the only time I've seen a game where I wish I was wearing North Face. Man, Chilly! We arrived early enough to watch batting practice, wave to the kayakers in the bay, and walk around the stadium.

We wore Red Sox hats to represent the nation (and to regulate our core temperatures). Even after my veggie dog and cinnamon walnuts (okay, and Irish coffee) I was becoming a human popsicle. We lasted six innings. The Red Sox were loosing and I couldn't feel my feet. I even passed up a Flashmob Michael Jackson Dance Party so I could be back in the hotel to watch the ninth inning on TV.

Our first day was great. Our second day...dare I say, even better? Stay tuned.

The Carnies are Coming!

Yesterday, I went to the Sorbonne to register for my summer course. It took all but 5 minutes to get in and out and I even got a cool student ID card. (which I will not share cuz the pic was taken after a sweaty walk uphill and a case of the pre-menstrual bloat) Since the day was so nice, I decided to take a walk through the Tuileries Gardens to the W.H. Smith to buy a magazine.

BAD idea...My sandals were giving me insane blisters and the little pebbles kept finding their way in and rubbing up against them. Hobble hobble, Ow. 6 bandaids later...

GOOD idea...At the end of the garden they were setting up for a summer carnival and lordy what I came upon was a party prop dream! Do you think this guy would fit in Donny's living room?!? Oy vay!

It's OFFICIAL...ete est ici enfin!

Summer, oh how I love thee...let me count the ways...

UN...Merci, I'm dying to take you guys there!
It's like Anthropologie on crack and it's a guaranteed 'love at first sight' moment. I mean, check out the cuteness that greets you at the door! Even they are announcing the arrival of my favorite time of year...sigh, just lovely. I could stay in this store all day. Three levels of retail happiness filled with a chotchki lovers delights.

DEUX...design shops filled with oodles of cool stuff like these lamps. Me likey!

TROIS...what's summer's day without a little froyo (yes, it's faux Pinkberry, but who cares!) and a little street entertainment?

ET VOILA!!!

L'art de la ville

I knew I'd seen him somewhere on my way to the gym when Kristina posted him earlier.There he is, the sweet little giraffe...peeking out at me from the sun-shiny, cobblestone cul-de-sac where he lives. Hearts & flowers float around him, just as they should...

Turn the corner and flash your open mouth smiles cuz your personal paparazzo is waiting to snap your pic! Supreeeeze! Gah.

Reading Is Sexy

I still laugh when I tell people I'm in a book club, don't know why. I'm no fan of Oprah, so don't go thinking she inspired it. I was invited by Keri Luna, didn't know anyone other than her when it started, and so far I'm loving it. I love to read, and having a reason to make time for it has been awesome. Keri and I co-hosted at her house last Sunday and threw a themed "Wuthering Heights" tea. You can't ask me for a theme and not expect a car-load full of gak to go along with it. I think we might have overwhelmed the other book clubbers with the English tea cups, dainty linens and crustless cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches, but a good time was had by all. Plua, there were bonnets and top hats for some fun old-timey picture taking. *bonnet in photo handmade by Keri!*

ps, I got so busy with life and tea party planning that I didn't even finish the book... Book Club FAIL!

Taiko Drums and Champagne

Friday nights with the hubs = going out = a happy Grace

(cuz that means I don't have to cook!)

We checked out a ballet at the Bastille Opera tonight; it was a Japanese story called Kaguyahime.Gaggles of my peeps showed and it was quite a percussion spectacular. Taiko drums, gold lame and champagne during the break. Cheers to that! 

Afterwards, we walked to our favorite American burger joint- B.I.A. (Breakfast in America) and got in right before a party of 12 showed up...passed on the chili cheese fries this time and had a yummy omelet with home fries for dinner. Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?!