0 French Girl's Books

 I sent a desperate email to French Girl in Shanghai,

'WHERE R THE COOKIES?'

 Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

The COOKIES were in French Girl's book case (still full) holding up her books.

 U R what U read.

French Girl reads many cookbooks including Jill Colonna's Mad About Macarons.

 I asked her about this one -
The Principle of the little penguin.

It's a book to calm you down.

Oh :O

 Fr Girl is a big fan of cookbook author, Sophie Dudemaine.

So is chef Marthe!

 Elle Magazine is every French girl's bible no matter her age.

Never ever throw one away!

R U kidding?

 French girls in general LURVE these aroma bougies/candles.

 Diptyque ('Baies' is Fr Girl's personal flavor).

 Diptyque bougies serve many purposes.

Wall decor for one. Along with Repetto bags.

No wonder Fr Girl had a fit when I tried to throw mine out.

 When the candle burns down it makes a perfect brush holder. I bet FG has enough of these empties to have a big drinks soiree...

 By the way, just in case you think I'm nuts for noticing ladybugs/coccinelle (bringers of happiness) everywhere in Paris, please note FG has one doing happiness duty here.

 Everyone things French Girls have so much confidence. That certain ineffable something or other, that je ne sait quoi and a load of other bla bla bla.

Guess what?

French girls read self-help books too.

Who knew?

 This one illustrated by Soledad Bravi tells you what positive words to tell yourself bla bla bla

 It's also useful to cut up and add to the decor of your apartment...

 French girls do seem very gifted at home decor.

Some people are not major clutterers
like some other people :(

 I think the French are more crazy for tea than the British.

I brought FG this artisanal tea tin from Tay Teas

Tea title:'Better Than Sex'
Ha!

 My London assignment - bring back FG a tin of Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey Classic. Useful too as book ends.

 I'm sending French Lulu to Fortnum and Masons window for her birthday. That's a switch.

Store Windows #17

 French Girl has her own book out in fact!

 She shoots Paris windows one evening a week et voila!

All French Girls admire FAB icon, Ines de la Fressange. They need to know about Parisian Chic just as much as we do :O

Go figure...

0 Paris Je T'Aime

 Last night I saw this sign at a Bagel place in Paris. It also said I♥New York and I♥Bagels in the window.

 Remember the movie 'PARIS JE T'AIME'?

The music is perfect for how I feel this trip.

 Yesterday I saw this adorable French kiddie dans la rue.

 Yesterday I met YSL's latest French Bull terrier, Moujik (at Yves St. Laurant's studio visit) Il est adorable vraiment! Le Roi de chiens de Paris.

 Yesterday I had a simple repast with French Girl - du fromage (from La fromagerie bien sur), du confiteur, du salade des lentilles.

 I didn't know it's OK to put jam on top of your cheese (chevre frais). There's always something new to learn from French Girl - she's my Parisian encyclopedia.

 Last night leaving French Girl's apartment I waved goodby to the Tour Eiffel.

 I visited the Babar exhibit at the musee des arts decoratifs on Tuesday.

 Yesterday I returned to pick up a Babar book and they gave me a gift-with-purchase! A new friend for Bear. He's happy as a clam.

 This morning the view off my balcon..

Altogether this trip to Paris has been extraordinary.

Somehow reading Pamela Druckerman's Bringing Up Bebe helped break through an invisible wall that exists with the French.

The famous French 'attention to detail' does not just apply to perfect pastries or delicious parfums.

Showing respect for their rules + kindness makes life much easier here.

I got to have a coffee with Pamela and yesterday she emailed me to please vote for her on Time Magazine as a contributor of worth for 2012.

If you enjoyed her book or the lecons learned here please give her your support.

Her book made my trip so special.

Bye Bye Paris!

What is it with the French and our Coca Cola?

I simply don't get why it has such a place of honor on the table like here at Cafe de Flore?



It's ubiquitous - on cafe tables...

Even on cafe table mats?!

While I was having an elegant breakfast at cafe Pouchkine...

French-speaking fellow eaters were imbibing horrid caca 'coca'.

What's up with that?

Eating lunch with Jill/Mad about Macarons at Jean-Paul Hevin, I couldn't help notice an attractive couple drinking coca with their lunch! OUCH et yuck.

No wonder French wines are suffering...

Can you imagine my shock to see French sandwiches wrapped in coca-cola bags...

Then put into Coca-Cola carrier bags :O

And worse news yet:

French Girl has mini cans in her fridge. Does it get any worse than this? I ask you. What can we do as Americans to stop this heresy? The French are NOT perfect!!

Au Revoir Coca!!!

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0 Fr Girls Apartment3

Time for the latest update on French Girl's apartment. There are always changes and restoration going on. In March the milk jug hung on the right side of the cuisine wall.

Now it hangs on left.

(I did not question this major decor decision since I'm not fond of a trip to the guillotine)

French Girl is evidently milk jug-happy.

But so is Le Boulanger des Invalides Jocteur

so can you be in better company? I think not.

I love these new hand-made lavender sachets on the radiator.

Plus a bouquet of dried lavender straight from French Girl's mothers jardin. The sale du bain smells pretty wonderful.

Another new detail noted - this witty lamp shade from BHV.

Isn't this perfection?

Your scarves lined up ready to go instead of folded and stacked in a pile.

French Girl, like some American girls is crazy for souvenir trash (in this case New York residue). Shouldn't French Girl consider giving up her Parisien fashion PR job and come to New York to help us all get Frenchified? She'd instantly have a booming decor biz. When she was here for two days the witty ideas came pouring out. I must make an effort to put them into action!

It's true that French Girl's father is a maitre of bricolage/DIY. He can create and assemble whatever her heart desires in a matter of days. I suggested that Fr. Girl's pere might like to visit New York but so far no go :(

I'm quite proud to have been deemed worthy to grace Fr Girls' walls. She is one of my best painting subjects.

BONJOUR Fr Girl!