Summer, London etc.

Its finally proper summertime in Paris and I'm still in that honeymoon phase where I'm welcoming the heat after that horrid dismal spring ,even though we are just a few days away from roasting in our 7th floor South facing apartment that has sun literally all day.

Quite chipper all in all though hubby and me back to a more manageable schedule, where we even get to see each other, but he still gives me the occasional night off so that I can meet friends for wifely support cocktails ( fantastic totally affordable cocktails at Experimental Cocktail Club and Curio Parlour) and watch The Age of Innocence without his sighs of boredom.

Other reasons for being chipper is this blog which is just adorable : http://mrslilien.squarespace.com/ and Parisian women finally got out their color and seeing their summer style is quite uplifting after the same old black all winter.

aaaaand our magnificently planned trip to London next week. (sorry this is going to be boastful) highlights include: Afternoon Tea at Claridges, lunch at Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the Dorchester ( 3 michelin stars , yeay), goin to dean street townhouse with hubby plus two of our lovely handsome friends, then museums, Anthropologie, the hummingbird bakery and of course the raison d'etre for the whole trip my sister in laws becoming a DR. graduation ceremony! ( so nice to have a DR. in the family ) Whew it will be another whirlwind London trip but this ime at least we get to 'profite' as the French say...

Yes that pic is of a plastic cup with champagne and a strawberry in front of the Seine.

1 Year...

It seems unreal that a year ago today we had our wedding.And now marriage, happy and exhilarating frustrating at times and fulfilling The first year has been quite a ride but actually feels almost better then expected.Its nice to just focus on building life together.

And just to relive it a bit , our first dance song:

Mommy love

In honour of my mami's birthday today I thought I'd post a photo just to illustrate how amazingly cool she is. (or in the case of the photo...was in the 70's)She is such a powerful intelligent thoughtful woman and I'm so lucky to have her in my life.As you can see on the photo she has amazing style too. Can't wait to go home in august and spend some time with her.

Tomatoes and Engagements on my mind...

I'm feeling quite excited. This weekend I found a perfect little red summer dress, and bought it on the spot ( after trying it on of course) quite unusual for me. Usually I need to deliberate longer but this was perfection ( And I learned from past mistakes like the lovely navy Tara Jarmon dress I never got and still mourn) , the husband loves it for the décolleté it gives me I love the happy colour and it will look great with my turquoise necklace on dinner with friends this Thursday. The same day found the perfect retro-red ( more tomato then red wine red) lipstick at Sephora, Lancome's rouge absolu in 134 but I'm waiting if my insider connection at Lancome can get me one before I pony up 28 euro for a lipstick. Still love yellow but this red obsession seems to become a theme this Summer for me. (I'm also living in my red quilted ballerinas at the moment)

On another exciting note I get the feeling that one of my close friends is getting engaged soon. Its a feeling .. a sense ... and I'm hoping.Either way if or once it will happen I'll be over the top happy for her .. not to mention that it would be the perfect excuse to pour over all the girly wedding stuff with her ...;

News & Cupcakes

Got a new found respect for all those corporate wives doctor's wives and all the others who never get to see their men. I'm not complaining, I've had some lovely times with friends lately and easing back into managing my time seeing friends and such ( and still planning to go back to the gym- hopefully next week) but its hard on the relationship to only have one day a week, not even. Currently hubby is working 11 am to 3am with only a 45 min break 6 days a week with only Thursdays off. I of course work Thursdays so its only the evening..I just miss spending time with my husband hanging out, cooking together , being silly, having friends over for dinner. Not to mention that occasionally get sick off keeping everything afloat at home (and that's without kids pets and a big house) Good news is that its for a limited time and financially totally worth it. Now of course I wish I wouldn't worry bout hubby getting keeling over from exhaustion.

On a happier note I got to take one of my lovely bridesmaids to her patisserie blow-out (came as a perk of the bridesmaids job). It was so great we had our StHonore with a side of macaroons for her and a side of cupcake for me. Its officialLaduree cupcakes take the cake ! Best ever, maybe not the traditional simple cupcake with butter cream, but so pretty and sumptuous 3 layered fruit / jelly/ butter cream filling inside. Worth every penny of the 7,50 Euro. Which et me tell you is the most I ever paid for a cupcake.

Books and Candy..

I finally figured out my perfect book scheme. I keep going to WHSmiths,to browse and for magazines and tea. As for the books... I make notes of all the books I like then go home ad put them on my amazon. uk wishlist , and every few weeks I order a load of them. Works for me and its gives me lil mini (book) Christmas every few weeks, but at least I don't feel beaten down by crazy WHSmith Paris prices.

Am completely enthralled with Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert , its exactly the book i needed right now. Whenever in my life I need to figure out for myself something I like to read and study it . Problem is that marriage as such has either the boring survey/ study books , or the silly slf help books ( how to save a bad marriage etc) but marriage as such ... its hard to find something interesting and wortwhile. Weird really , there is sooo much about finding the guy ,planning the wedding,raising the kids, but marriage I guess as a topic is simply not sexy enough. Either way Committed is great ( even tho I wasn't crazy about Eat, Pray Love), part novel , part family biography , some history some philosophy some survey and biology mixed it . Its a bit indefinable as a book but then again so is the subject matter , really.

Oh and what's more heavenly then spending an afternoon reading books magazines with some good tea and candy .. ( just one of my private ideas of heaven) on one of my last ramblings around the city with my friend D. we found this charming old school candy shop in the 5th near Metro Cardinal Lemoine. ( of course neither remember the name nor the address but its really close to the Sugarplum Cake Shop ( in itself worth a trip to the 5th) , so enjoy the search for candy..

Comin Home Baby

and the 'An Education' version: