Postcards from Paris: {Oh, That Josephine!}

Just thinking about those good ole' days.
Bisous,
Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {soldes, soldes, soldes!}

The Sales are everywhere! 

The entire city is filled with them.

The country even.

I try and stick to my agenda each time I go out to run my errands, especially when my errands fall near some of my favorite shops. I find that the minute I use the one excuse to just see what my temptations are, I seem to make more excuses than just that one after I go in and take a look. Things like, well I don't own shoes that color or that seems like a classic design that will take me all the way through summer. You know along the lines of those sort of things. It can feel like that price tag is very manipulative by revealing the price it was initially, and then the price you would have to pay. I really feel like that is my downfall. My friend talks herself out of it by repeating to herself that she doesn't want these rejected items. She feels that the things on sale are only things other people with money have rejected. But that just doesn't work with me. 

Just gotta stick to my agenda.

Bisous,

Reba

 

Polaroids from Paris: {Initially Intimidating Italian}

Ristorante Premiata Drogheria Di Meglio
90, rue Legendre
75017 Paris
I wanted to wait until I had someone with me before I went in to eat at this place. The honest truth is that I was really intimidated by the entire scene inside. The front facade is this pretty little shade of green, almost like sea-foam, and all of the font on the menus is in this elaborate Italian-esque script. It appeared to be like a little secret, as if the only people who dine there are family members and close friends. I felt as though I couldn't just walk in and be their friend. So I figured I needed a plan. My plan was to bring my friend Renee. She knows more french than I do, and has a pretty cute laugh. So if we mess up together we could just go about laughing the whole thing off or something like that. Even she seemed a little intimidated, but we decided that we would just walk in and see how we felt immediately. If we got an awkward vibe we would ditch the scene, if we were welcomed we would embrace it. Sure enough we were welcomed. Our basket was always refilled with bread, and the folks loved us. The owner, so he seemed, loved to talk in English with us, but he seemed modest about it.
The woman, his side-kick, wanted us to guess her age, and tell her how good she looked, and all that jazz. She was older than we guessed, but of course, you guessed that.
And at the end of the meal they kept on offering little treats.
The whole experience was like visiting your friend's Italian grand-parents. Initially intimidating, but food makes it all good.

Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {Ces grandes hauteurs}

Made especially famous after Amelie made her mark with International cinema, the Sacre Coeur remains one of my favorite scenes in Paris. Standing proudly on top of the Martyr's Mont, it adds a sense of elegance to Montmartre. Every time I make the trek up the steps, my sight is always satisfied.
The weather has been rather moderate, and whenever I think about the temperature I knock on wood that it continues. Even though it's only January I like to think of an early Spring.
Enjoy the weekend, and hopefully the weather is to everyone's liking.
Bon week-end a tous.
Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {nous aimons MUJI}

We had a pleasant afternoon, the little girl I watch and myself folding patterned paper into little animals. It was a Christmas gift to her,that both she and I seem entertained by. Found at MUJI
Even though Muji isn't unique to Paris, I love it all the same. I find that I can't go in without discovering something that would make life more convenient, like this origami alphabet book pictured above. Not only is it a clever gift, but it also makes teaching english good fun.

MUJI
51 avenue ternes
75017
Paris

one amongst several others in the city.

Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {Public Displays of Affection}

Perhaps this is not the obvious display of affection, especially from Paris. Though there is a bountiful amount of expected P.D.A in Paris, it is after all the city of love. I want to steer away from that notion and draw particular attention to some public displays that may be arguably be signs of affection towards the city. In fact one may argue that defacing the beautiful, historic architecture of Haussman is a sign of disrespect, and in a sense I agree. I don't care much for graffiti without any concept. I notice frivolous markings every so often, and I don't really get it. It's as though those markings surfaced purely out of boredom.

But this guy Invader, seems to have some intention in mind. Perhaps it stems from boredom, but at least it offers more, a sense of entertainment. So it may not be because he loves his city and wants to embellish the architecture. Maybe it is purely a self-centered expression, but from my viewpoint, anything that adds a little quirk to my surroundings is alright by me.

Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {Les Puces des Batignolles}

Les Puces des Batignolles
110 rue Legendre
75017, Paris
Good brunch on Saturday mornings with hot cocoa served breakfast-style, in a bowl.
The best cobb salad I've had in Paris. Yes, actually the only cobb salad I've had in Paris, but very satisfying to say the least. And a wonderful selection of desserts. One of the best tiramisus I have eaten. I believe the lady fingers are in fact speculoos biscuits, and my description for speculoos will have to wait for another post because I honestly believe it deserves a post of it's own. Also, rumor has it that Woody Allen has eaten here. Perhaps, it's just that, a rumor. Really though, what's a celebrity-siting against hot cocoa in a bowl and speculoos tiramisu?
Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {Place des Vosges}

I hope that everyone enjoyed their weekend. I was surprised with the blue skies we had in Paris. There was a glimpse of warmth in the air, and one could almost have been fooled to think that an early spring was on it's way.  An activity that I never tire of would have to be sitting in the Place des Vosges, ideally with a falafel in hand. No matter the season, I find such satisfaction while sitting surrounded by such a scene. Place des Vosges centered in Le Marais hosted Victor Hugo for a period of time, and is supposedly the oldest planned square in the city of Paris. The architecture appeals to me because it's constructed with bricks. It's rare to see buildings with bricks in the city, and I find myself automatically appreciating any brick structure within the first few moments my eyes catch glimpse of one. Though it's said that brick was for the poorer man, I honestly find the brick palace surrounding Place des Vosges to be one of the most elegant in all of Paris.
I have a distinct memory of my first time in Paris surrounding the square; it was of creme brulee and people watching. Mostly now I rely on a falafel to satisfy my hunger, but the people watching is still the best in that little square of Place des Vosges.

Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {une calme promenade}

Soldes begins next week. All of the price mark-downs appearing through the shop-windows and the assorted colored tags that mark off a certain percentage will all look so appealing. I know I will be tempted, and I've already got a shoe store in mind. As for today there seemed to be a calmness to my stroll. Last time I took to a long walk it was during Christmas shopping. There were so many people out and about checking off their Christmas lists. I have a feeling that next week may be similar, but as for this week there was space.
 I just strolled and window shopped. I re-walked along some of my favorite routes in this city that I've walked several times before, and I simply just took my time. I was fortunate to have this week off. I made no strict timelines for my days. If I could continue along in this pace for just a bit longer I would.
I hope that everyone had a happy first week to this happy new year. There are so many wonderful things to look forward to and enjoy.
Bon week-end
et

Bisous,

Reba

Polaroids from Paris: {Avoiding the Creeps at the Creperie}

During my studies abroad in Lacoste, France; we took a small trip up to Paris for a few days. It was the first time I had gone to Paris. I remember my dad responding to an email which I admitted in eating too many crepes. He wrote, "A crepe a day keeps the creeps away." I thought it was clever. Not only did it seem to justify my spending, it also made me feel at ease in a foreign international city. As if, I would avoid any creepy situation only if I had indulged in a crepe. After reading his words of wisdom, I remember sharing the advice to a specific guilt-burdened friend. Her response was something like, "good, because I've been eating way more than one crepe a day, so does that mean I'm extra safe from the creeps?"

It's exactly what I did for dinner last night, avoided any encounter with a possible creep, and took my dad's advice. My friend Renee treated me to a belated-birthday dinner. I had spotted this Creperie when I first moved to the Batignolles area. I was charmed by it's exterior right off the bat. Not only did we satisfy our cravings with one crepe, we both ate two.

Bisous,

Reba