Rue Cler

Yesterday we walked.

I was tired of taking the stroller

on the metro.

So we walked all around the 7th.

It's only about a 15 minute walk

from our flat to the "Eiffey Towey"

as Griffin calls it and 

I have been wanting to visit the 

market on Rue Cler.

We walked under the Tower,

up the Champs du Mars

toward Ecole Militaire.

We stopped for lunch 

at a cafe

and then found Rue Cler.

Once there, I was wishing

that we had waited to eat 

at one of the  cafe's on 

the sweet cobble stoned street.

On the walk home

we stopped at a playground.

I don't think we'll ever tire of 

walking around the Eiffey Towey.

Bon Weekend!

Paris Sky and In My French Kitchen

this is the view from my desk.

and this was the view out that window

late yesterday afternoon.

the sky here in paris

is just what you'd imagine..

a beautiful blue/grey.

now, i love a blue sky sunny day

just as much as the next person..

but in paris..

i love it like this.

dinner last night.

tomato/leek tart.

along with a salad

 a glass of crisp white wine..

and maybe a chocolate chip cookie

for desert..

griff and i have the whole 

day in front of us.

a beautifully cool,

grey sky day in paris.

i wonder

what we'll do today?

J'aime le ciel de Paris.

Market Day

Thank God for iphone cameras.

With everything else I lug around,

my Nikon usually doesn't make the cut.

Unless of course I know that

I'll be sitting at an outdoor cafe

people watching....

which by the way

is not happening nearly enough.

(hello preschool)

Today is market day.

Nothing really exciting today.

I really just made a quick run

to get some fruits/veggies.

And this giant bouquet 

of greenery. 

This flat is so white.

White walls, white furniture..

time for a little color.

I'm really glad I picked up this scale. 

When I bought it I just thought it was cute.

Now I'm realizing that I have to measure

all of my ingredients.

Butter doesn't come in sticks

ready for baking.

Although, I'm not complaining.

The butter is freaking amazing.

Griffy and I made chocolate chip cookies today.

Our first batch in the flat!

They turned out pretty good

considering I bought pure cane sugar 

instead of brown sugar.

And couldn't find vanilla extract.

So my friend Emily has an etsy shop.

I just received these gorgeous vintage style

earrings in the mail today!

I love them!

Please go visit her shop.

You will want everything in it!

And if you find something you like..

Em will give you 20% off your entire order..

from now until the 30th of Sept.

Use coupon code

PAM20

She accepts paypal and credit cards.

Merci Em!

Embarrassing moment # 345 and In My French Kitchen

I don't think a day has gone by

since moving here,

that I haven't completely humiliated myself somehow.

Yes, "my French" is probably the most common, 

but taking the metro is coming in at a close second.

I have a 3 year old so if I want to get out and 

see Paris, then a stroller is a must.

And let me just say..

strollers and the metro don't mix.

Or rather the stairs up and down 

to the metro.

I guess this is why I don't see strollers

very often on the metro.

I think my 3 year old is the only 3 year old

taking the metro...

all the other 3 year old French kids are 

at L'ecole maternelle.

Hmmmm.

Anyway, the other day I was picking up our 

dry cleaning in our neighborhood.

While I was waiting in line

I noticed a woman getting her hair done 

in a salon across the street.

The stylist was doing such a fabulous

job on her hair that I got it into 

my head that I wanted him to do my hair.

Now, it was raining out and 

I was not only pushing Griffin in 

his trike,

but pulling my shopping cart,

carrying my dry cleaning and an umbrella.

We stumble across the street and walk into 

the salon.

And here is how it went down....

Man: "blah blah blah"

Me: Bonjour! Parlez-vous anglais?

Man: "A little bit"

Me: I'd like to make an appointment.

Man: No.

Me: No?

Man: No.

Me: No? (with a quizzical look on my face)

Man: NO!

Everyone in the salon went silent and stared.

So, I grabbed my kid and all my crap

and stumbled out of there.

Dropping half my crap on the way out.

I'm really tempted to go back and try again.

It's so good to be cooking again!

After weeks and weeks and weeks of

living out of hotels and eating out 

3 meals a day...I'm enjoying 

being back in the kitchen.

I'm very lucky to have a great kitchen here..

although, I really wish I shipped more of my things.

I miss my kitchen aid and my waffle iron and my 

panini maker and my plates and bowls.

Anyway, Steve and I are still trying to stick 

to no carbs/sugar/wine/coffee during the week.

So, we are eating lots of fruits and veggies.

I made a ratatouille the other day.

So yummy over some quinoa.

I'm also roasting tomatoes on a daily 

basis. Also good by themselves or over some

quinoa.

On this weeks menu:

Lentil soup

Tomato/Leek tart

Coq au Vin

Tacos.

Ok, the tacos don't really fit in but

I have 4 kids.

We've found a little store that sells crafts!

Looking forward to building a stash of craft supplies!

Speaking of..

I made a new friend!

(she's very crafty!)

We found each others blogs

and we live near each other.

She has 4 kids...3 that go to

the same school as mine.

And she invited me over next week!

Check out her sweet blog...

Growing Berries

Looking forward to meeting up Nicola!

yeah!

My first amazon package!

2 new movies for Griffy

and 3 books for me.

Looks like it'll be a great rainy day in Paris!

Paris Weekending

Our weekend was busy and wonderful.

Friday night Will started soccer and then went to a 

friends' house in the suburbs.

Stephen stayed after to watch a game

and then he and his friends took the train

to Chipotle. 

I'm amazed at how quickly my kids have gone

from driving and being driven everywhere...

to taking trains, buses...all by themselves!

I think they like city life.

Saturday Steve took Will 

back out to school for another soccer practice.

Hannah, Griffy and I took the train

to Les Puces...(translates to The Fleas).

The largest Flea market in the world.

We were there for hours and didn't see

half of it.

I can't wait to go back.

Again with the "NO PHOTOS!"

Geez.

So I snuck a few with my iphone.

My purchases...

keep in mind I have to lug this stuff 

home on the train...while pushing a stroller.

I love my cafe au lait bowls!

My friend Em suggested I start a collection.

I found some linen with my initials..

the old farine and date canisters

and wire basket for magazines.

I bought the toile paper...

because I just loved it.

Still trying to figure out what to do with it.

Maybe frame it.

Saturday night

my handsome husband took me out 

to dinner.

We had a great time.

It's so hard to choose 

which restaurant to go to!

On Sunday we all took the train 

to Le Marais.

Oh do I love this part of Paris!

We went in search of La'falafel.

Ok..seriously...probably one of the best

things I've ever eaten!

There are a bunch of these falafel places

here..with lines filling the streets.

Everyone is walking around eating their falafels.

I really wish I had taken a better picture.

I was too busy eating.

When you finally make it to the window..

you had better know what you want.

(think soup nazi from Seinfeld).

It's pretty comical actually.

I'd like to make this a Sunday ritual.

Griffy had fun chasing the pigeons.

We continued walking through out 

Les Marais and stayed to listen 

to this jazz band for quite a while.

We bought their CD we loved them so much.

(notice the Praise Be To Prada graffiti :)

I'm seeing these oxford shoes 

all over the city right now.

I love them with cropped jeans.

I think I need a pair.

Heading home, we walked along the Seine...

enjoying the many booksellers.

A few people have asked me about 

my French.

I have no French so I cannot even use 

the words My and French in the same sentence.

Steve has a language tutor at work

and the children are learning at school.

We bought Rosetta Stone and are waiting for that 

to arrive so I guess I'll start there.

I get by on a daily basis with the basics...

however, I want to learn more.

Another fabulous weekend in Paris!

Le Bon Marche

yesterday, griffin and i went to bon marche.

wow.

it's one of the oldest department stores in the world...160 years old.

we wanted to ride the escalators 

up and down

all day.

but not only was i the only shopper

with a stroller..

i think i was the only one with a child.

i saw plenty of women toting along their

chien's (dogs)...but no children.

shopping at le bon marche is an experience..

and could take you an entire weekend to see 

everything.

because they have everything.

now, generally i'm not a mall girl.

i prefer boutique shopping and flea markets.

but, this...i could deal with.

i think i walked around the entire time with 

my jaw dropped.

we started out at the Le Grand Epicerie..

the food hall...

where i loaded griffin up with 

a chocolate milkshake and some

very over priced M&M's...

(to keep him occupied while i shopped of course).

only a few pics here as 

i was scolded many times...

"NO PHOTO!!!"

i did score some much needed baking soda

in the american section of the store.

i love the louis vuitton displays.

i could have stayed for hours

in the makeup section.

before we moved to paris..

i decided to start wearing some makeup.

but didn't really have a clue how to 

put it on.

(i'm 44)

before moving here, i'd throw on mascara

and some vaseline on my lips.

so...i took myself to the bobbi brown 

counter and had a makeover.

i bought everything she told me to

and now i love putting on my makeup in the morning!

we found a playground close by too.

so it was a good day for both griff and i.

j'adore shopping in paris!

What I Wear in Paris and my Flat

so we finished 7 days of the cleanse...and

i will say honestly, i've never felt better.

i have more energy, no sugar/carb cravings,

we've cut out coffee and wine during the week.

in one week, i feel like a different person.

so glad i did it!

we've had the most beautiful weather here lately.

it's getting cool at night, which i love.

but, warm and sunny during the day.

i bought this little dress years ago at T.J.Max for about 10 bucks.

sometimes i'll wear it with tights and high boots..

but i'm loving the low boots i'm seeing every where now.

these boots are Frye knockoffs from Target last year.

the j.crew black minnie pant.

i bought these last fall and wear them often.

they are comfy and slimming.

here i paired them with a black turtleneck from gap

and a grey blazer from j.crew (about 7 years ago),

and isaac mizrahi tweed kitten heels from target.

same black minnie pants...

again with black turtleneck 

and red blazer from gap

and red flats from j.crew.

and if steve and i are going out on the town...

white blouse...gap

black heels...kate spade (from marshalls)

pearls...j.crew.

love my black minnie's!

so, our flat is awesome.

we love living here.

there is just one thing...

i miss my stuff.

we were allowed to air ship 6 crates of our 

household goods.

man, did those crates fill up quickly.

so we chose this flat because it's pretty well furnished.

but, i still miss my things.

(i was up half the night thinking about

how great my leopard chair would have looked here :)

months ago..when steve took the 4 kids by himself 

to disney..i spent hours in the attic

sorting christmas decorations into one bin to bring with us here.

i go a little crazy decorating at christmas so it was hard 

to just pick a few things...

stockings..ornaments...etc.

well, that bin didn't make it. 

during the craziness of the move,

we must have put the bin in the storage pile.

i'm sick over it.

anyway, i'm so anxious to make this 

house our home.

i feel like i'm starting from scratch.

which can be fun too!

i'm betting the famous french flea markets

will be a great place to start!

Market Day

how i love market day! 

and it's a gorgeous day here in paris!

here's what we brought home...

beurre...butter

longe de pork...pork loin

mozzarella

artichauts...artichokes

poivre noire..black peppercorns

moulin a' poivre...peppermill

pommes de terre....potatoes

tomates...tomatoes

chocolate chip cookies

carottes...carrots

figues..figs

baguette

poivron rouge...red pepper

saumon...salmon (in blue bag)

quinoa

and more images from the market today....

love his leopard scarf

getting my mag fix

tea + magazines = happy

a bientot!