\\Home according to my instagram...\\

Christmas Crowns

Being festive on Christmas dinner.!

 But what did we eat? 

The Nordstrom women really out did themselves this time...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Well, night before Christmas Eve. I am absolutely reveling being at home with family and friends. And enjoying our beautiful and spacious house that my Bethie has so immaculately decorated for Christmas.

 Hand-knitted stockings hung on the fireplace.

 A merry little ornament that was one of my favorites when I was little.

Oh Christmas tree!

ps - I am so excited to have my real camera back.!

Minnehaha Falls

It feels so good to be home -

 (and with my Mr. M!)

Orgami Sushi with Mr. M

 There is another thing that I am quite enjoying about being back in my home state..

And that is being able to spend time with my wonderful Mr. M! He wined me and dined me the other night with the delicious, delicious sushi at Orgami (mmmm Sari and Nine and a Half Weeks roll).

Pretty happy about it.!

A White Christmas? Perhaps?

A few little snowflakes are coming down! I was so surprised to come home to a Minnesota in December without snow! I hope it comes by Christmas!

Because She is Irresistible

And wants to wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Reunited with HB

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Weirdly addicting.?

The Bean

Happy to be in Chicago to try to take care of my visa woes. I had felt so nervous but spending time with my amazing grandparents really reassured me and I was calm during my appointment at the Consulate and afterwards walked around Millennium Park in kind of a self-reflective daze. 

**Being super cool in front of the Bean**

The Devil, Miss Prym and Some Hot Chocolate

In my visa-related stress, I somehow arrived at Bougival a half an hour early today. It is small, there aren't many places to go, but it was too rainy to stand outside and wait. So I ventured into a the local tabac and had a little cup of really delicious hot chocolate and read some pages from The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho. I quite like this quote from the introduction concerning the premise of the book.
“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” 
I felt much more calm afterwards. 

Laduree on Blvd. Haussmann

Laduree on Boulevard Haussmann was bustling and looking quite, quite festive this afternoon!

Naturally - macarons are the perfect little gift.!

Cendrillon

As it is the holiday season, we have felt compelled to attend  a play or a show of some sort. 

Chloe was able to get tickets to Cendrillon (Cinderella, originally a French story) through her work.

((at least we got to get dressed up))

I think the anticipation was much more enjoyable than the actual play. They over sold the theatre so although we had tickets, we had to sit on the steps. For the whole two hours. Of a dark, depressive, dimly lit, intrepretive, music and set free, skewed and weird story of Cinderella. We probably just should have left.

Lesson: French theater can be a lot darker than you would expect!

Shakespeare and Company

On the gift search for a very special person in my life,

 I decided to finally go to the renown Shakespeare and Company bookstore.. 

Louis Vuitton

On the Avenue des Champs-Élysées

((It perpetually has a line stretching around the exterior to go see some monogrammed things.))

\\Paris is so beautiful//

The Ferris wheel on Place de Concorde, which we must go on.!

Champs-Élysées Marche de Noel

More Christmas markets! 

Lots more cute little things ----->

Taxi

Unsentimental, driving around..

The Amazing Steins

//just saw an incredible exhibit about the amazing Stein family at the Grand Palais// 

 The Picasso, Renior, the Mattisse. Oh, the Mattise!

Femme Nue Allongee

Le Cahier du Carmen

It was Saturday night in Paris.
 We were three girls that wanted to get dressed up and go out. 
Sophie told us about Carmen, a nightclub in a bar in the north of Paris. 

Cheers to Laduree

With Christina, Rachel and of course my dear Chlosephine cheering Laduree macarons and drinking champagne atop the Eiffel Tower at 11:00am on a Saturday. Perfect.

Windy Eiffel Tower

Up the Eiffel Tower again...!

Irises

Christina and I lost Chloe the other Saturday morning when we were wondering around in Montmarte after the best brunch ever.

She had become distracted by some irises.

((purple can be quite captivating))

American Church in Paris

In the spirit of Advent and Christmas, Chloe and I went to the American Church in Paris this Sunday...

There is a chill in the air

-Notre Dame through the falling leaves of the trees lining the Seine-
As winter strips the leaves from around us, so that we may see the distant regions they formerly concealed, so age takes away our enjoyments only to enlarge the prospect of the coming eternity. - Jean Paul
I think about my own mortality too much.

La Marche de Noel at La Defense

Okay, I have something to admit - I am obsessed with Christmas.