Great Reads: Paris My Sweet

Photo via Lost in Cheeseland

February 1st marked the much anticipated release of Amy Thomas' first book, Paris My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate). A self-proclaimed sweet-freak, Amy's delightful book chronicles her experiences eating her way through Paris while working for Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysées. While it is undeniably all very glamorous, Amy doesn't hold back from sharing her difficulties living the expat life in the city of lights. Suffering from a torn New Yorker/Parisian identity crisis, tough assignments at work, and difficulties assimilating with les parisiens, Amy's book is an honest account of her time in Paris that perfectly parallels her journey to find the best sweets in the city.

As an avid reader of Amy's blog, God I Love Paris, you can bet I had this book pre-ordered weeks before it's release. Dragging my feet home from a long day of class last Friday, I suddenly remembered what would be waiting for me at my doorstep... The manilla Amazon envelope with Amy's book inside. Let's just say that by weekends end, I had devoured the entire thing and wished (oh so badly) that it wasn't over. Honestly, I loved every second of this book : from her hilarious dating stories and oh-so-perfect observations of les parisiens, to her vivid, mouth-watering descriptions of the best sweets Paris and New York have to offer, Amy had me totally hooked!

You can purchase Amy's book here, read an interview with her at paris (im)perfect, or get acquainted with her at her blog, God I Love Paris!

Happy reading and à bientôt!

KARL by Karl Lagerfeld Launches Tomorrow!

The much anticipated and buzzed about KARL by Karl Lagerfeld womenswear line launches tomorrow, January 25th, on Net-A-Porter! And... once again, I find myself yearning to be in Paris to witness the mysterious KARL cube that has been set up in St-Germain-des-Prés. According to Vogue, the legendary designer himself will be opening the cube tomorrow at 4:30pm for his devoted fans on the left bank.

Can't make it to Paris? Understandable. But if you happen to be in New York, don't miss out on Net-A-Porter's celebration and KARL pop up shop at 375 Bleecker Street starting at 10:30am tomorrow. The first 50 guests will receive special gifts from the new line and one lucky shopper will get a $1500 gift certificate to Net-A-Porter.com. Other participating cities include London, Sydney, and Berlin. As for the rest of us, we can shop the collection online at at Net-A-Porter starting tomorrow at 7:30am PST.

The womenswear line consists of over 70 different pieces and with prices ranging from $35-$1350, well... let's just hope the site doesn't crash! Here's a little preview...

Photo via Vogue

Happy shopping and à bientôt!

The Swedes Take Paris

That's right. The iconic swedish fashion label, Acne, opened its doors to stylish, minimalist shoppers everywhere last month in Paris. In what used to be a garage now exists the impressively sleek and modern boutique offering up some coveted scandinavian style. As a major Acne fan, I am just dying to visit this store at its chic Marais address (3 rue Froissart). Grab a buckwheat crêpe at Breizh Café, stroll through the Place des Vosges, and stop in for some sartorial eye candy at Acne? Sounds like the perfect afternoon in Paris to me.

Photos from the Acne boutique opening - via 10 Days in Paris

On another note - I will now be taking on a second virtual project writing for the style section over at the Savoia. Unlike this little blog here, the Savoia is a full website with several contributing authors and a much larger readership so I'm very excited! My first post went live today so please take a second and go check it out!

À bientôt!

Paris in November

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but now that finals are over, it's about time I shared some photos from Paris...

Along the Seine River - Notre Dame and the Pont de l'Archevêché



Afternoon walk through Père Lachaise cemetery

Afternoon sunset at Père Lachaise


Croissant cooking class at La Cuisine de Paris

Clear, sunny Sunday at Sacré Coeur

Chanel purse in the Karl Lagerfeld's Printemps Christmas windows

We absolutely lucked out with the weather during our stay in Paris. 9 days out of 10 we had clear, blue skies, a soft orange glow from the distant sun, and little need for a coat. My mandatory visit to the Père Lachaise cemetery was hauntingly beautiful at sunset and the view from the top of Sacré Coeur on a Sunday was stunning. Couldn't have asked for anything better!

One morning, Francesca and I took a croissant cooking class at La Cuisine de Paris. Just along the Seine and two blocks down from l'Hôtel de Ville, this charming little cooking school offers cooking classes in French and English. For three hours we worked in pairs rolling thick layer upon layer of butter into dough to create classic croissants, pain au chocolats, and croissants aux amandes. It was a fun class (definitely made me appreciate croissants more!) and the chef we worked with was really great. Check out Lost in Cheeseland's interview with one of La Cuisine de Paris's founders, Jane Bertch, or head straight to their website to see their full schedule of classes!

Now, I'm back in Portland for the holidays with lots of fun things lined up in the next few weeks... Got tickets to see Foster the People on Wednesday, picking up the Christmas tree tomorrow, and most of my friends will be home by the end of the week... Life is good! Hope you are all well and staying warm wherever you are!

À bientôt!

Back from Paris: New In

Well, we're back from Paris! I'm slowly recovering from jet lag, but I think the overall lack of sleep these past 10 days is the real reason I keep falling asleep at 7:30pm every night. Needless to say, it was a very successful séjour à Paris. Among the many things we accomplished... Many a strolls through the Jardin des Tuileries, Concorde, Père Lachaise, and St. Germain, lovely breakfasts at Eric Kayser, shopping at the Bon Marché, Printemps, Isabel Marant, and Zara (to name a few), a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner at the Bristol, a visit to the Grand Palais to admire the incredible Stein collection of paintings, many long dinners with friends and family, several fabulous nights out on the town, and an abundance of champagne and rosé... I'm still in the process of uploading/organizing all of the photos, but visuals of these adventures will be up soon!

I just wanted to share with you now my favorite purchase of the entire trip: this lovely Jérôme Dreyfuss bag. I already did a post on this fabulous French designer back in September, but my love for this label lives on. I instantly fell for the sac Bobbi as the perfect going-out bag. It has just the right amount of surprise with the gold chain strap, rich burgundy python leather, and zip details on the bottom, without overpowering the rest of a look.

This next week is packed with papers, projects, and finals, all while simultaneously trying to take my mind off the fact that I'm no longer in Paris... But, it's the last day of November which means the Christmas festivities may commence! And there's no reason to be down during the holidays. I just can't wait to go home next week, take a deep breath, relax, and fill my days with friends, family, cooking, great food, and Christmas music, movies, and parties.

I hope you are all doing well! If you're overwhelmed with work like I am, well, "Bon courage !" as they say in France. More updates on the trip to come this week...

À bientôt!

Looking Forward to Paris: Part 3

I am so excited for Paris right now, I don't even think I can manage an introduction.... So we'll just get right to it - A few more things I simply can't wait to do while in Paris.

Drinks at Prescription Cocktail Club: You could easily walk past this two-level bar near Odéon without even knowing it. Down Rue Mazarine you won't hear any sounds and you won't see any flashing Prescription Cocktail Club signs either. As much as this gem of a bar has tried to keep under the radar, in the past year or so it has become quite the popular spot for the chic after-work crowds. On weekends, the place is packed with 20-30 somethings sipping on Prescription's delicious drinks and loudly talking over the hip music. On weekdays though, this little bar is usually pretty mellow; a stylish spot to enjoy a drink before going out on the town. When you walk into the dim lit space it feels as though you've walked into someone's lavish study. Books line the walls and a spiral staircase openly connects the two floors. Even if it's not your "scene," the drinks alone are worth it. Freshly squeezed juices from every fruit imaginable are kept cool and masterfully mixed with top quality alcohols to create a drink that is truly unique and delicious.

Photos via 60 by 80

Photo by Carter

Shopping and Drinks/Snacks at Merci: A beautiful and spacious concept store in the Marais district of Paris, Merci has become one of my new favorite shopping destinations. It's a little ways from the center hub of the Marais, but the walk is absolutely worth it. The two-level, lofted space (apparently, this post is dedicated to multi-level establishments) is home to men's and women's clothing, unique jewelry, home and kitchen goods, as well as books, stationary, art, and a beautiful little flower shop. Plus, a portion of the profits are donated to charities, so you can feel good about your purchases. Then, when you're all shopped out, go sit and enjoy some fresh squeezed juices or home-made iced teas with a small bite to eat at Merci's charming little café. It's the perfect way to spend an afternoon!

Photos via Sunday Suppers

Photo by Carter

Picking Up the Essentials at the French Pharmacy: French pharmacies are heaven. Whenever I come to Paris, I always have a list about a page long of all the things I need to pick up for family and friends, and myself of course, at the pharmacy. So, whenever I'm walking about the city and see one of those flashing green pharmacy signs, I scurry on in to pick up the essentials. My friend Sophie swears by Spidefen, a French ibuprofen, for her headaches, and their massive selection of beauty products are magic. As for me, I'm a huge fan of the Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oatmilk and the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré facial cream. I've also heard great things about Bioderma's Créaline H20 make-up remover, Biotherm's body scrub, and Darphin's firming body cream. The pharmacy is full of great finds so I'll be sure to share them with you when I get back!

Photo via Cosme-De.com

I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday! À bientôt!

In Case You Didn't Know...

J'ADORE Isabel Marant.

Check out this fun video of models expressing their love for the Parisian designer too:

Come on... A short sleeved, over-sized field jacket? Embellished vests? Metallic dresses? Short shorts and chunky knits? Heaven. Finished off with that perfectly messy hair and easy, natural make-up, the Isabel Marant girl is effortlessly cool, edgy, and confident.

You know you're looking at a great designer when they have succeeded in establishing such a powerful brand and image of what it means to live life in their clothes. It's inspiring moments like these that make fashion the fascinating industry that it is.

Looking Forward to Paris: Part 2

Oy... these days leading up to Paris are just too loooong. Nevertheless, the countdown continues at 7 days to go! Here are a few more things I will be looking forward to until then...

Our Rental Apartment in Saint Germain: When I visited Paris this Summer, I booked a lovely apartment on Rue du Bac through vacation-rental agency, Haven in Paris. I was so impressed by the quality of the apartment, the incredible services offered, their friendly staff, and the simplicity of the rental process, that I booked with them again for this trip. In my opinion, there is nothing better than seeing Paris like a local, and having your own apartment as opposed to staying in a hotel is key to achieving this. I love getting to know the neighborhood and being able to cook in the apartment (we plan to make a Thanksgiving dinner!), entertain friends, and enjoy a leisurely apéro before stepping out for dinner. Not only do you end up saving a lot of money, but you also get a lot more space for your euro, which is great - especially when you are traveling with friends!

Photos of the apartment via Haven in Paris

A Walk Through the Jardin du Luxembourg: Every time I go to Paris, I have to visit the Jardin du Luxembourg. The park is absolutely beautiful and I've had so many great memories here of all the times I've visited since I was a child. On weekends, the park is always full of couples sitting and chatting with friends as their children run around playing and floating boats in the pond. It's a truly charming scene and I couldn't be happier that it is less than a mile away from our apartment this trip! I love walking through the park, sitting on a bench, people watching, and then enjoying un café or un verre de vin at Le Rostand, a classic cafe just across the street.

My mother, Harris, me, and Francesca walking through the park in late March of this year

The fam

Shopping at Le Bon Marché: My favorite department store in the entire world. Enough said. But seriously, this place is heaven on earth. Every floor is meticulous; beautifully designed, organized, and the sales people are usually very friendly (I've only had one bad experience out of many). Of course, they house every single one of my favorite French brands (Carven, Céline, Isabel Marant, Sandro, and Maje... just to name a few) and La Grande Épicerie is absolutely to die for with specialty foods from all over the world and a bakery section that smells divine. It just can't get much better than that - except at this time of year, when they put up their annual Christmas decorations. Oh la laaa c'est beau!

Well, that's all for now... More to come later this week! Have a very happy Wednesday and à bientôt!

Looking Forward to Paris

With Paris only 9 days away, my head is just swimming with thoughts of all the things I want to do while I am there. In case you are wondering - yes, I am totally that person who makes lists of all the places they want to see, all the restaurants they want to try, and all the museums they need to peruse. And while this may be an organized way of traveling, I realize now that I cannot put so much pressure on myself to get everything checked off my list because Paris is a city full of surprises. Linda Donahue put it nicely in a piece she wrote for one of my favorite expat-in-Paris blogs, Lost in Cheeseland, when she said "each time, I would inevitably abandon my itinerary and allow myself to just get lost."

This may sound horrifying at first... get lost? In a big city? But getting lost in Paris, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to truly get to know it. Instead of looking down at your little map, or reading every passing street sign in order to navigate the way to your next location, you are simply lost... It's a romantic idea that may arguably only work in Paris, but once you've allowed yourself to let go of the itineraries and schedules, only then will you begin to take in everything that surrounds you. And it is this leisurely calm and joie de vivre that I love most about the French.

Nevertheless, there are things that I am looking forward to. No plans or itineraries, but simple delights I will be enjoying in 9 days time...

The Express Walkways at the Charles de Gaulle Airport: this may sound strange, but for me, there is nothing like arriving in Paris. As such, I've taken a liking to some of the little things about the airport that make me pinch myself and realize I really am in Paris. Sure, but the express walkways?? I'm telling you, these walkways are so cool. They seem miles long and connect the terminal going up and down and all around. None of that fussy American stuff where you have to get off every 40 feet.

The Ferris Wheel and Vin Chaud at Concorde: every year around this time, Place de la Concorde transforms and takes on a cheerful Holiday spirit with a Ferris Wheel, little shops selling candy, games, and vin chaud. There's just nothing like being a total tourist for 30 minutes and taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel to get a gorgeous view of the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Champs Elysées, and the Tour Eiffel. Followed by a nice, long walk through the park with some vin chaud (hot spiced wine), you just couldn't ask for a better afternoon.

Lily on the Ferris Wheel

Lily eating some delicious candy in the park

The vin chaud stall

View of the Champs Elysées from the Ferris Wheel

View of the park and the Louvre from the Ferris Wheel

Dinner at La Bocca della Verita: Lily and I discovered La Bocca della Verita, a quaint little Italian restaurant hidden away on a tiny street in the 7th, around this time last year when we were living in Paris. The décor is incredibly warm and simple, the service is always friendly, and the food is absolutely to die for. Appetizers consist of gorgeous plates of grilled vegetables, rocket salads with shavings of parmesan, special Italian meats, and creamy mozzarella. Entrées consist of lemon-artichoke-pepper pasta, white truffle cheese tortellini, goat cheese ravioli with thyme and honey, and beautifully prepared meats and fish... just to name a few. With a stellar wine list and the perfect ambiance for a relaxing dinner among friends, this restaurant has become one of my absolute favorites in Paris.

Photos via La Bocca Della Verita website

Ahhhh these pictures are getting me so excited for Paris! Many more of these "looking forward to Paris" moments to come this week.

Happy Monday and à bientôt!

Stylish in Paris: Taylor Tomasi Hill

Okay, so she may not be a parisienne, but for style icon Taylor Tomasi Hill, I'm willing to bend the rules a bit. The obsession all started when I stumbled upon this video that Taylor did for Barney's a while back. As I watched Taylor style her favorite looks for the Fall season, I was struck by how fresh and keen her sense of fashion is. Pulling together a number of different head-to-toe looks, Taylor demonstrates her skills and impeccable eye by adding a few tweaks of her own in this video. I just love how she knots the bottom of the white Derek Lam dress and incorporates leather or animal print into almost every look. Check it out...

Taylor's Take: Taylor Tomasi Hill Styles Amanda Hearst in Her Fall Must-Haves for Barneys New York from Barneys The Window on Vimeo.

As the Style and Accessories Director at Marie Claire, Taylor Tomasi Hill never fails to impress me with her knockout ensembles. She always manages to create something interesting and eye-catching without overdoing it - A perfect role model for those of us (aka me) who like to keep it simple but could use some excitement in their wardrobe. In keeping with the overall Parisian theme of this blog, all of these fabulous shots of Taylor were taken on the streets of Paris during fashion week earlier last month... How's that for bending the rules!

Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons leather dress / Balenciaga blouse, Proenza Schouler sequined skirt

Thakoon skirt / Unknown Blush Pink chiffon dress

Dries Van Noten top


Alexander Wang top, Balenciaga skirt, Comme des Garçons wallet / And the rad dog print t-shirt is Men's Givenchy
All photos via The Cut, Tommy Ton for Style.com, The Fashion Spot, and Harper's BAZAAR

Granted, Taylor's gorgeous looks, scorching, red hair, and killer legs help her cause, but there is just no arguing that she is one of the most stylish women in the industry. She's already bumped Marie Claire up on my reading material radar and I just can't wait to see what she'll come up with next. How's that for some fashion inspiration?

Happy Friday - I hope you all have a fun and relaxing weekend ahead of you! The Paris countdown continues at T-11 days... Oooohh mannn!

À bientôt!

OooOOoOoO it's Halloween Weekend!

Hey! It's almost Halloween! How on earth did that happen? Does anyone else feel like October just flew by? Well, I'm not complaining... the end of October truly marks the beginning of my absolute favorite time of year. The leaves are blanketing the streets in magnificent colors of burnt orange and deep yellow, the air feels a little more crisp with every passing day, and there seems to be an ever-present scent of evergreen in the air... that is, if you're in Portland of course.

Luckily, I'm headed back home this weekend to partake in some serious Halloween festivities: sip on some warm apple cider, visit the Sauvie's Island pumpkin patch, brave the haunted corn maze at night, and host a scary movie marathon for some close friends. Ever since I became "too old to dress up and trick or treat," (?!?) this has been my favorite way to spend Halloween. There's just nothing better than the feeling of the holidays, and Halloween is no different. I love seeing how creative neighbors get in decorating their houses, hearing all my friends brainstorm their costume ideas, and feeling that giddy childhood sensation of excitement in the air. If you're still not convinced, well then, you can't beat a day that's devoted entirely to free candy: just try and say no to that argument, my friend.

Needless to say, I'm quite the Halloween person. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I spent the holiday in Paris last year. No one tells you on the study abroad brochure that Parisians don't celebrate Halloween! There are no "13 days of Halloween" on the television, no abundance of candy in the markets, and definitely no Parisians sporting costumes in and out of the métro. The horror!

Okay, so I'm being a little dramatic. Paris is awesome, there is really no need to complain. But I was feeling a little homesick for my favorite holiday, so ma copine Lily and I decided to get creative. And creative we were! After a little research and planning, we came up with an entire 'Halloween in Paris' agenda: a spooky visit to the famous Catacombs, an eerie, albeit beautiful, stroll through the Père Lachaise cemetery at sunset, a scary movie marathon (think Casper, Sleepy Hollow, and Dracula), finished off with a scrumptious Sunday brunch at home.

Adorable Lily on the métro. See, no costumes!

Claustrophobic walkways at the Catacombs

Real human skulls and bones creatively stacked (seriously, who's job was that??) along the walkways at the Catacombs

Mysterious and consistent drops of water falling from the short ceilings of the Catacombs... hmmm

"Where is she, the dead? Always future or past. She is hardly present and then she is already no more."

Graves at the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Lily laughing in the face of fear at the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Beautiful sunset over the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Sunday Brunch: jus d'orange, bananes, fraises, oeufs brouillés, pain aux raisins, et pain au chocolat!

While it may not have been as "festive" as Halloween at home, Lily and I sure had a great weekend in Paris last year. It just goes to show that when you are willing to get a little creative, you can make new traditions in new places with new friends. Now, exactly one year later, Lily and I will be meeting in Portland to indulge in all of the traditions we so fondly reminisced over while we were abroad :)

So, how will you be spending Halloween this year? What are some of your favorite traditions? Whatever you may have planned, I hope you are all looking forward to a fun weekend (wherever you may be)!

Joyeux Halloween and à bientôt!