Farewells & Celebratory Sparklers

Chloe's departure is imminent. 

We had a close friends over for a little fete the other evening.

[how can I possibly say adieu to French wine and cheese?]

\\sparklers in the courtyard//

Bubbles & Bye-Byes

As Chloe and I are trying to find joy in our last days of Paris 

(the level of denial is very, very deep)

 blowing bubbles out of our big windows into our blooming courtyard is a good distraction.

Champagne in Plein Aire

Go hang out in the Musée de la sculpture en Plein Aire on a sunny day.

With champagne.

And your best friends.

do it.!

A Picnic of Epic Proportions

We are girls that like to eat.

And after the train and bike travel, we were hungry!

{and thirsty. Rose champagne - yes please!}

Luckily, we had packed a picnic, an enormous picnic. 

For my part, I made my own version this Tune Nicoise Sandwich and I also made a barbecue chicken (quite I hit, I would do a recipe post but I can't stand the way my point-and-shoot does food shots!) for sandwiches. 

Such a nice time with the best girls.

Alyssa quite cute and composed. 

Sophie brought this beautiful brioche for desert . 

((Satiated, very happy and ready to enter the world of Monet)) 

Easter Dinner in Toulouse

(look, Anne-Marie had my name tag already prepared! see it?)

The cliche is true. 

Traveling away from home expands your world. 

But it also makes you see what you love so much about the world that you know.

And I miss so much my family's traditions, they are incredible.

But was very lucky to be accepted into another wonderful family this Easter.

ROBBINS/EK - Dances at a Gathering/Appartement

Birthday present from best friend:  

Tickets to the ballet at the Opera National de Paris Palais Garnier. 

\\Priceless.

ROBBINS/EK

Dances at a Gathering/ Appartement

Two choreographers with radically different styles and artistic journeys offer their piercing visions of human relationships. Haunted by Chopin, Jerome Robbins brings together five pairs of dancers to the rhythm of waltzes and mazurkas. Accompanied by the group Fleshquartet, Mats Ek devises eleven sequences like so many chronicles of everyday life.

Dances at a Gathering was a mesmerizingly beautiful story of five couples. I was completely swept away by the music and the movement, I could have watched it for hours. I thought much of how spectacular  it must have been to see such a performance in earlier centuries, before modern entertainment. 

[Admire something purely beautiful]

Catherine's Playgrounds

With all her little friends.

 Looking quite dapper ol chap!

I have never wished so badly I could buy my anglophile unlimited gifts!------>

L is for Lion

I planned for January to be themed Animals, Adjectives and Action Verbs. It has been the most fun so far. Here is a fierce little lion (and one of my favorites) named Anouk in the example animal mask I made.

\\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...

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.!

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))

Thanksgiving in Paris

On Thanksgiving this last Thursday... 

A Few Happy Moments to get Through the Week

Mondays seem to always arrive with perpetual gloom - the weekend is over and the gauntlet of public transportation! metro strikes! crazy work days! naughty children! no time to eat! no time to sleep! begins. Sometimes I just need to take a deep breath and think of all the happy moments to get through it.

 Bundled and toasty cheering on the U.S.A. at the US vs France game. 

 Laughing in front of the Institut Monde du Arab waiting for the 67 bus to go work on our nesting.

Feeling magically enchanted at the Tea Room at Musee d'Orsay. 

Waiting for the 67

Chloe and I have recently fallen for the bus system. 

Reap the benefits with us.! ---->

Mark and Fred's Terrace

Yum, is it really October?

Le Anniversaire of the eldest DeFrate!

 Very excited to be galavanting around Paris in my pink maxi!!

Jarden des Grands Explorateurs

((fountains, trees and sunshine))

Saying Goodbye

---Isn't very easy...

With Mr. M taking in the Minneapolis skyline on the Stella's rooftop