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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Western Dream

Bonjour Blogsphere!

It's another lazy Sunday here in grey Paris, and it is the perfect kind of day to curl up with a good book or snuggle under the covers and watch a movie. Speaking of which, yesterday my lovely husband took me out to see "From Paris with Love". While the movie did not have much of a plot and required little to no thought, we enjoyed it. Not only was it fun to see a movie that takes place in our city (especially when Thomas nudges me and goes, "Look! it's the street near Chatelet I got horribly lost on!" or when we see the 93, Paris's version of Compton, and flash back to the time we accidentally ended up there after dark when we forgot to change RERs and had to walk for more than 20 minutes to another metro station because all taxis refused to attempt to pick us up there....), we also enjoyed the references to Pulp Fiction. John Travolta really seemed to enjoy playing an insanely crazy dude as well.

But now it is Sunday evening, and we've come to the part of Sundays which I always hate- reality has started setting in that tomorrow, I have to actually work again. Bleh. Bleh bleh bleh.

Lapin a la Mode Tips du Jour


Ruffled 'Round the Edges
Ruffled 'Round the Edges by Lapin a la Mode featuring Faith boots

Ever since vintage shopping last week, I've started salavating over cowboy boots. I don't know why I suddenly want to own a pair, but I do. They can add a bit of dirt to a girlie outfit, or they can countrify an ensemble. My tip for purchasing a pair is to check vintage and consignment stores. I saw a huge selection of cowboy boots at Fripes Star for 30€. Not only are they cheaper, but having a pair of worn cowboy boots (as opposed to brand spankin' new) add a bit more authenticity to the whole look.

See that cute pink powder puff on the bottom left? That is one of my favorite Benefit products- it contains a soft glitter powder with a very light scent. It can give you a sparkle without dealing with messy powders, and is a lot more subtle than what the 13 year olds down the street are dusting all over themselves for the school dance.

Click of French Culture
My sweet husband has suggested that today's click of French culture revolve around what has him fixated on his iPhone screen- the Paris/Marseille match. The French, like many other Europeans, absolutely worship the original football- SOCCER. The biggest rivalry in French soccer is Paris Saint Germain vs. Marseille. Paris is by far the biggest city in France, but much of the rest of the French find the Parisians to be slightly snobby. Marseille, on the other hand, is mainly a blue collar city, focused on shipping routes in the Med. It is full of crime (heard of the original French Connection? This is the city.) but historically is the best team in the south of France. So, the Paris SG vs. Marseille match is a symbolic match between the proud Parisians and the rest of the country. To read more, click here. My husband, born and raised in the Paris Banlieue (suburbs) is a diehard Paris SG fan, so I will be chanting, "Paris SG c'est Magique!" tonight!

A bientot!
Liz Anne

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Flowers and Philosykos

Bonjour blogsphere!

As I sit through another marathon session of conference calls, I can't help but daydream about the sunny days coming with springtime in Paris. I can't wait for the leaves to turn green and the many parks of Paris to be brimming with flowers... The legends really are true- Paris is magical in the spring! For now, I'll just be thankful to be in a country that is not getting absolutely pounded with snow, and possibly pick up some pretty flowers to break up the grey.

Lapin a la Mode Tips du Jour
Flowers and Philosykos
Flowers and Philosykos by Lapin a la Mode featuring Proenza Schouler bags

I've been obsessed with the Philosykos fragrance line from Diptyque since September of last year, and I finally broke down and bought both the perfume and the body lotion last week (it is hard to justify any perfume purchases when you have accumulated over a hundred different scents over four years of working in cosmetics.... boy do I miss all the gratis from those days!). Let me just say, I am so glad I finally got it. The scent is just delicious and perfect for spring. The main note of the fragrance is fig, but it also has an earthy tone to it that reminds me of soil after a spring rain. It is very unique.

A second item in the collection that deserves to be written about are the Guerlain Meteorites. Before bare minerals was even dreamed up, these babies were created to even out skin tone and texture as well as provide your complexion with a soft luminescence. It is the perfect product for people who don't wear makeup, or the perfect finishing powder for those who do. An additional plus, the box containing the product is said to be a replica of Marie Antoinette's jewelry box!

Click of French Culture

One of the most previously popular haunts during fashion week (and now more of a tourist attraction) is the Hotel Costes, located on rue St. Honore. While the bar and courtyard cafe are known as a place to see and be seen, one of the original draws to this locale is the music itself. The DJs play this fabulous lounge music which fits perfectly with the dark, plush decor, and just has a way of seeping into your consciousness without being too loud and distracting. For those of you who don't want to pay the 17 euro cocktail prices, you can still enjoy the music at home through their collection of cd's. Not only are they perfect for a classy soiree background, but they are a great way to discover some lesser known artists. (My husband's and my favorite discovery was a band called Slow Train.)

Eeeek. Outlook Reminders popping up! Looks like I need to jump on yet another conference call. Have a fabulous day everyone!

A bientot,
Liz Anne

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Nibbles and Nail Polish

Bonjour blogsphere,

The weather is getting warmer, but the sky is grey and rainy so I'm perking myself up with a nice warm cup of my Dammann Freres tea. Ever since we received a basket of their teas last Christmas, I've been a fan, but after finally taking the time to check out the shop two weeks ago and discovering the Cerisier de Chine flavor (green tea with cherry), I'm completely addicted! It's definitely a great defense against the end of winter blues.

Lapin a la Mode Picks du Jour

Fishy Feet
Fishy Feet by Lapin a la Mode featuring Bliss socks

So, while on my honeymoon to Thailand, I dicovered a phenomenal, ilbeit bizarre foot polishing method- FISH SPA! For those of you who are Ugly Betty fans, you may remember Vanessa Williams dipping her feet into a bucket of fishies for the perfect pedicure. It's a real treatment, where the fishies eat off only the dead skin, exposing healthy, soft skin. No, dear readers, it does not hurt, just tickle slightly. And afterwards (especially if the fishies are snacking for at least a half hour) I tend to feel the circulation in my feet improve. I've just discovered that a new Fish Spa has opened in Paris and am absolutely psyched to try it out, even if it is much more costly than the Thai prices. For more on the fishies themselves, click here.

To maintain soft, smooth feet at home, I love using the Spa Socks and Sock Salve from Bliss (available at Sephora). I am also a big fan of Sephora's nail polish stickers- it's like french manicures for dummies that have a seriously long lasting power!

Finally, if you are looking for some summery shoes and want classic, investment pieces, check out Jimmy Choo's new 24:7 line. The house has rereleased some of the most popular shoes of the brand in this capsule collection (including the red shoes pictured).

Click of French Culture
If you're ever jonesing for some asian cuisine while you are in Paris, the location "moins cher" is the 13th arrondisement. This area is known as the Chinatown of Paris, and is chock full of restaurants catering to many Asian tastes including Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Szechuan, Cantonese, and Vietnamese. Usually my lovely husband and myself can gorge ourselves silly while spending half of what we would at restaurants in other areas. Also, the asian grocery store chain (HQ'ed of course in the 13th), Freres Tang, hosts every ingredient you could possibly need for cooking any type of Asian cuisine and some of the cheapest (and freshest) produce in Paris.

On that note, I'm starving- I think it's time to rustle up some dinner for my hungry husband!

A bientot!
-Liz Anne

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Printemps and Perfumistas

Bonjour blogsphere!

The days are finally getting tangibly longer and today it was nearly warm enough to traipse around the 8th without a coat. I can feel myself coming out of a long hibernation which the grey days of winter always traps me in. While this weekend weather may be only a preview of spring- it would be amazing if my compatriot Punxsutawney Phil is actually wrong about his weather prognastication of 6 more weeks of winter! (Yes, dear readers, this blogger grew up in the wilds of Western PA, in a town next to that of Groundhog's Day fame.) I am absolutely ready to don my favorite Chanel wedges and throw on one of my many floaty spring dresses and pack my collection of boots up for another year!

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour
Lately, I have been spending some time with fellow blogger Tasha (www.fashiondevotion.com), whose awesome blog focuses on her journey of replenishing her wardrobe on budget and her acclimation to life in France. (We are both foreign girls who have fallen hopelessly for our Frenchmen) Keeping in that vein, today's tip is for those of you feeling a strain on your pocketbook and can't rationalize doling out the money on your usual skincare. The single most important part of any woman's regime is her moisturizer- sacrifice everything else first. My personal drugstore brand of choice has always been L'Oreal; not only do they own some great high end brands like Lancome and Kiehls, but they spend the most on research and development of any cosmetic company.

Click of French Culture
As many of you know, France is famous for its perfumes, but did you know that one of the ancient royal parfumeries is still alive and kicking? Many of you know Guerlain from the mass marketed Insolence and Shalimar (of classic renown), but did you know that the house of Guerlain was given the title of His Magesty's Official Perfumer and created fragrances for the likes of Queen Victoria and Queen Isabella of Spain? Guerlain's perfume Jicky (created in 1889) is considered to be the first modern fragrance, and the first to incorporate synthetic scents. Shalimar (created by accident in 1925 when another bottle spilled into a bottle of Jicky) is one of the top fragrances of all time, but the house has many fabulous lesser known perfumes available only at the Guerlain stores or some high end department stores. These fragrances are much more complex and sophisticated than most of what is available on the mass market, giving Guerlain a real cult following amongst perfumistas... My personal favorites are Cuir Beluga, Iris Ganache, La Petite Robe Noir, and Spiritueuse Double Vanilla. If you are in Paris, be sure to check out one of the Guerlain shops and take a whiff of some of these unique scents.

Speaking of shopping- I need to go grab some grub for dinner! Have a great weekend all!

-A bientot!
Liz Anne