PARIS: Family Style

I can't believe our time in Paris

is going by so quickly.

We only have about a month left.

I'd like to say it's flown by,

because it feels like just yesterday

we were in Hawaii...

but the truth is,

we have done so much!

We've loved getting to know our little neighborhood

here in the Marais...

We've had such a great time exploring the city with my students...

and finding our own special spots

when it's just us out running errands alone.

We've had friends come and go

to make the weekends a bit sweeter...

It's been so wonderful!

We aren't finished yet...

but it's weird when you realize

you are over the halfway point

of something.

But that's where we are at now...

and so it's time to savour every thing bit longer

and be a bit more intentional with how we spend our days...

I'm so glad to take these sweet photos back with us

to help us remember this fun time of life.

Thanks, Noah, for capturing our springtime in Paris.

It's so us.

Not perfectly groomed or dressed,

but just here...

wandering around a city that we love

and enjoying the day for what it is.

Anyway, here are a few of them
to show you a quick glimpse
of our little "la vie quotidienne."

*photography by Noah Darnell

Is This Thing On?

No blog posts in a week?

Ah, yes...

I've slipped into the black hole

of the chaos of my semester.

Forgive me.

I'm here.

I'm just busy!

(Who isn't?)

So in the void of thought-provoking blogging,

here are just some awesome things

that I have seen, discovered or eaten 

since we touched down in France.

CHATEAUX

We had such a great day in the Loire Valley last week.

It's such a quick trip from Paris,

I think you should definitely make a day of it

when you plan your trip to Paris.

Hop a TGV from Gare Montparnasse

and head to Tours.

In about an hour and some change,

you'll be there.

Plan to rent a car

and hit the open road.

Chambord, Ambroise & Chenonceau

are the destinations awaiting you.

You definitely won't regret this decision.

(It'll be an all day event, if you plan to do it right.)

SANDRO OUTLET

If you come to Paris and you're in the Marais, 

take a quick jump up from the St. Paul metro stop

to the Sandro outlet on Rue de Sevigne.

I bought some awesome silk pants there (€20)

and an amazing white cocktail drew (€40) there today.

The sweet girls working there said they get new stock in

about ever other day. 

(I have a feeling I'm about to become so much poorer.)

NOT-TOO-SWEET TREATS

I'm all about pastries,

but for some reason

I've been drawn to the simpler choices

when wandering into the boulangerie lately.

Spongey madelines, almond-tinged financiers...

these are a few of my favorite things.

BOOT CAFE

While Paris is known for many lovely things...

it isn't know for great coffee.

Unless you're wanting a tiny espresso

in a pretty cafe,

"real" coffee is hard to come by.

Lucky me for stumbling on a new shop, Boot Cafe,

right next to my metro stop, San Sebastien Froissart.

The new coffee shop sits where a cobbler used to be

(hence the name)....

Grab a cafe creme 

and a piece of the blood orange + pistachio cake

to start off your morning in the Marais.

ON THE MARKET

I love Marche Aux Puces as much as the next American,

but the trek out to Pore de Clignacourt is a bit of a haul 

and the prices can be a bit steep.

(I can't get stay away from it though.)

I was so excited to see the more-local market

pop up on Boulevard Beaumarchais over the weekend.

I'm hoping it's a weekly thing. 

(Any locals able to weigh in on this?)

So many great "Paris" things...

from old street signs to discarded china.

I got two really cool books for 0.50 each.

GIVING ME THE LOOK

First, Viola has mastered "the look."

She gives it on command and we think it's so funny.

We are sadly having to reign it in now

because she's taking it a little too far 

and using her new super power for evil....

But honestly... it makes me laugh.

Also, I'm getting the look.

The Paris look.

With being pregnant (and huge!)

and then post-baby messiness

and then nursing chubbiness (am I the only person who gained weight while nursing?)

and then 2 year old wardrobe apathy,

I had basically given up and given into a wardrobe cycle

of about 4 items + 3 scarves.

See below for documentation of said repeated items.

Being back here is awakening my old self

and I'm actually freshening up my closet a bit.

I'm working on the extra pudge I've slapped on,

but no place like Paris to make you want to lose weight

and wear some great new clothes.

* * *

That's all I've got for now. 

Keep following the fun on Instagram.

Things are getting exciting.

If you're looking to spruce up your closet, too,

here are some pieces that make me say, "Oh la la!"

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

Now You Know: Champagne?

If there's one thing I've learned

while living in France,

is that people are particular 

about their sparkling wine....

Excusez-moi, "champagne."

Because, in France, mon ami,

you can find Champagne

most every where you go...

since it's made there.

If you go to a cafe in London,

you may find other bubbles on the menu

but just because it's pretty and sparkling,

doesn't mean it's "Champagne."

It could sparkling wine from Italy, Spain or Napa.

(Though, you won't see American wine on a European menu too often.)

Champagne is the name that is given ONLY

to sparkling wine grown in the Champagne region in France.

Only.

And they get really fussy if you give it's name 

to anything that isn't from that area.

So here's a quick tutorial for you 

so that you can speak of the sparkling

and babble of bubbles 

correctly where ever it is

you find yourself.

Are there bubbles in your glass?

It's sparkling!

Is it from France?

Then it's probably Champagne...

but check that the bottle says so.

Is it from Italy?

Then it's not Champagne- it's prosecco.

Is it from Spain?

Then it's not Champagne- it's cava.

* * * 

Look at that.

We've all got a bit smarter 

and more refined.

Cheers to that.

*image via

Paris: Le Premier Jour

Well, we're here.

In Paris,

and it's so nice to be back.

We've been running errands

to get the semester started (tomorrow!)

and getting to see a few bits of the city

in the process.

No Eiffel Tower or Louvre have been seen yet,

but that doesn't mean we've missed the essence of Paris.

It's oozing out of the cafes...

 and the buildings.

It's good to be back.

We splurged and bought a beater stroller

today at Monoprix

that is about 5673 times smaller than our normal one.

Apparently, it doubles as a baby whisperer.

Viola can't stay awake in it...

and it is awesome.

We're referring to it our "the au pair."

We'll be staying in the Marais

and working near Le Bastille.

Any favorite spots

that I need to try out while I'm here?

Your wish is my command.

(Crepe stands & ice cream especially welcome.)

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

French Women Don't Get Facelifts.

Just last week,

Tyler & I were talking about

the wrinkles we've acquired

over the past year.

Whether it's getting older

(hello, 30, I see you, too!),

having a baby,

loosing a baby,

or a combination of them all-

for the first time,

I look in the mirror

and see someone noticeable older

looking back at me.

Tyler & I both poke at 

our random grey hairs

and eye wrinkles

with fascination and shock.

But we don't really mind.

In fact, we both wear them proudly...

Somehow it would feel cheap

to have gone through life

without them...

So, here we sit,

at 31 (him) and nearly 30 (moi).

I've splurged on some fancy skin cream

to slow down the process, 

but at the same time-

it's made me start to think 

about what it means to age

and how I feel about it.

And guess what?

I feel good about it.

image

I like the idea of being 40... 50... 60-

and not just that,

I like the idea of looking like that, too.

I don't want to always pretend like I'm 21...

or dress like that.

(Somehow I should toss in a not-Forever-21-line,

but I'm lazy and... well, you get the jist anyway.)

As we discussed what it meant

to own our ages,

I told Tyler I'll be happy to be 40...

"but a French forty."

Because somehow French women act their age

while also looking completely relevant & attractive.

So with this topic on my mind,

I was really excited to see

that this book is out.

This is the sequel to the famous

"Why French Women Don't Get Fat,"

Mireille Guiliano wrote a new book addressing 

how women in France

balance ageing and beauty.

While I'm not committing

to 100% of everything Giuliano says,

I think there is something really beautiful

(and normal!)

about owning your age.

(Book available here.)

*  *  *

Here are some highlights from the book

(via InStyle's clever review)

to give you a taste:

1. See the “you” now.
In order to “manage your aging,” Guiliano says it’s important to see yourself as you truly are now– on the inside and outside. Instead of living in the past and seeing the younger (and probably slimmer) you, Guiliano advises women to “stop kidding themselves” and starting seeing the you now.

In her signature tell-it-like-it-is tone, Guiliano writes: “Realistically projecting, assessing the options, then shaping what we can and should be doing during the various later stages of life’s road is the powerful mental medicine that can cure some of our ills and enhance our pleasures through life.”

“Certainly in France, a woman in her forties and fifties is still alluring and seen as an object of desire and acts the part. She feels it and acts it, but doesn’t pretend she is ageless.”

2. Think like a French woman.
What we really love about French Women Don’t Get Facelifts is Guiliano’s ability to make aging gracefully seem fun and easy. It’s clear that Guiliano enjoys life and living it to the fullest. In her book, she encourages women to do the same by adopting a French woman’s attitude. She writes: “And French women, if they are anything, are individualistic in how they present themselves. Their outer package is infused with inner style and beauty and an ‘I don’t give a damn posture (which half the time they don’t, but they still dress to buy the morning’s baguette).’”

3. A little goes a long way. 
Throughout Guiliano’s book, she reminds us of the ineffectiveness of crash-dieting and extreme cosmetic procedures, such as facelifts. In a why-torture-yourself tone, Guiliano talks about the importance of daily activity that’s not necessarily strenuous, the power of a great haircut, dressing your age, having the right shoes, and other lifestyle adjustments to make as you grow older.

“Through your decades you can evolve with the times without losing your established identity,” she writes. “You can refresh your brand without going for a complete makeover and attempting to become some new person. That’s a bit like a crash diet, and such diets don’t work.”

4. Listen to your body. 
Guiliano also stresses the importance of recognizing the “five-pound alert.” She says that if you don’t take action after gaining five pounds, then you will just keep gaining and it will become harder to lose the weight. Guiliano’s secret to maintaining consistent numbers on the scale lies in her dietary choices. In one chapter called, “An Anti-Aging Food Prescription,” Guiliano includes 15 recipes that she says have been part of her nutritional plan since her fifties, and some recipes since much earlier.

 5. Attitude is key.
At the end of the day, Guiliano believes attitude is most effective in appearing and feeling younger. Referring to attitude as a “magic pill” to looking younger, Guiliano says French women approach aging with a different mindset than women from most cultures, and that is what makes the difference – not grooming, clothing, nutrition or face and skin care. It is attitude, she says.

And along with this anti-aging attitude come two elements that save us in life. Guiliano writes: “…according to Indian journalist and novelist Tarun J. Tejpal, [they are] love and laughter. If you have one of the two, all is well. If you have both, you are invincible. Now there’s an attitude.”

The French Camel

There are tons of reason 

I'm excited to get back to France,

but I can't deny that 

the refresh to my style 

won't be a big one.

I've been wearing the same clothes

for a realllly long time...

pretty much since we last were in Paris.

Not that I'm waiting to 

dump beaucoups of cash

in the haute couturiers of France...

But simply because I'm so inspired

by the effortless chic style

of the women in Paris.

I need to absorb some of that...

because the look I have is 

miles away from chic.

It's more.... 

wrinkled and snagged.

One item I do have ready

from our last life in Paris

is my camel coat.

photo by noah darnell

This piece is perfect for Paris

in so many ways.

It's dressy, but quiet.

It's warm, but allows layers.

It's casual, but cleaned-up.

It's one of my favorite souvenirs I've ever bought.

It makes me feel 40% less of an impostor
and almost like a local 
wandering through places like the Luxembourg Gardens.

_________

In the post-Christmas sales,

there are some more great tan coats

currently up for grabs.

Check my picks below

to update your look

with items that are tres cheap.

(Well, at least, at great sale prices.)

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

Paris? Mais, Oui!

With the craziness of holidays, baby, work

combined with me being an air-head,

I almost forgot to say it here:

We are headed (back) to Paris for the spring!

This February, we are headed back

to the City of Lights

for another springtime of 

crepes, chambray, picnics along the river, Degas,

pastries, Monoprix sales, steak-frites, freezing in the Paris weather,

and making memories that will stay with us forever.

It's not exactly uprooting your life

to go somewhere else for 3 months,

but what great things in life

come without a bit of hard work & trade-off?

Instead of feeling interrupted or burdened

I feel thankful for my boss + job

and grateful for a husband 

who is supportive and 

who can, for the most part, work anywhere.

... and, I'm excited to dress Viola in French baby clothes.

*    *   *

To take a peek at our previous life in Paris,

take a wander through here.

*image

*quote

Pack Your Bags: Carcassonne France

We were eating dinner tonight

and in the middle of my (second) bowl of soup,

a thought appeared in my brain

out of nowhere:

I never blogged about Carcassonne!

I'd been so excited to share 

this hidden gem

tucked in the Southwest of France

with you & the rest of the blogging world...

I edited the pictures,

I put them in a folder on my desktop,

and then...

well, honestly, who knows.

But here it is today!

Better late than never, right?

With a place this special,

the answer is: absolutely.

*      *     * 

It was about 1.5 hours drive

from where we were staying

(remember the crazy-gorgeous-yet-affordable Chateau Les Carrasses?)

to Carcassonne....

On our way towards the Spanish border,

I grew increasingly allured to drive

to Barcelona for dinner.

{Tyler did not, however, or this Carcassonne adventure would have ended here.}

All I knew about Carcassonne before arriving

was that it was a medieval city...

which, to me, meant

it was a city during the medieval times

and not today.

So imagine my surprise when 

we walked through the city gates

and then realized:

it's still an active/real place!

The flavor of the city

(and yes, I believe that cities have distinct flavors)

was undoubtedly French...

with strong Spanish notes.

A crepe stand would sit next 

to a store selling handmade espadrilles...

A cafe sign would have the price

for une biere & una cerveza.

It was one of those days in traveling

when you are left totally refreshed

even after a long day out.

The four of us

(Tyler, Lauren, Viola & our dear friend, Kyla)

wandered through the cobblestone streets,

explored the gorgeously preserved castle overlooking the valley,

and, obviously, ate enormous crepes

stuffed with nutella, coconut & almonds.

I've tried to say it in previous posts,

but I'll say it again:

the southwest of France

is one of the best-kept secrets there is.

Affordable, stunning, rich with history & gorgeous.

It's waiting for you.

*   *   *

More Southwest France posts here

for your drooling pleasure!

Chateau Les Carrasses | Baby's First Swim