So my dear friend Quinn (who has just very recently left Paris for the Land Down Under to follow her ♥ -but she will be back someday, let’s say in like 2-3 years…) has been going to a café in the 9th for well over a year. And she has been going, religiously. I think she’s still the Mayor on Foursquare even though she is no longer in Paris! She kept telling me to go there, and me never “finding the time” to hike over there put it off and off. And then Quinn left… 
Her café of choice? : Kooka Boora.
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Can I start by stating, to just make it all clear, that I LOVED THIS BOOK!
A Little Paris Café Story
24 MayGala Concert & Cocktail : Giveaway!
21 MayImage credit : Sinfonietta
Sinfonietta Paris is a new Chamber Music orchestra and the brainchild endeavor of Michael Boone, former head of the music department at the University of Colorado. I met Michael at the Kooka Boora café at the same time I met Very-Intersting-and-talented-dude (which you’ll read about in my next post!). Just another proof that Paris still attracts artists and amazing people with talent!
An artist and “activist” of sorts who wants to make sure classical music creation is something that is perpetuated more by young musicians and music professionals; he has created Sinfonietta. “Composed of nine to seventeen young professional artists who have trained at many of the world’s finest conservatories and festivals, Sinfonietta Paris is a vibrant new chamber orchestra based in Paris, France, dedicated expressly to musicians and soloists at the beginning of brilliant performing careers.” You can support them with donations here. Continue reading
Lessons In French : book review
12 May
I was contacted in March by February Partners–a book PR and marketing firm based in New York City and asked if I would like to review a copy of Hilary Reyl’s first novel titled : “Lessons in French”. I told them, sure…why not, and then forgot about it until I received the book a few weeks later. Honestly I did not know the author, and I never really expected to discover a book that really made me feel anything. I was assuming that this would be another one of those “Paris books” about how a girl comes to Paris and falls in love, and writes about how she adjusted and nana-ni nana-na as we say in French. I also assumed I would have to write some bland review about how it was a “nice charming portrait of Paris and what it is like to come live here”… Boy was I wrong!
Can I start by stating, to just make it all clear, that I LOVED THIS BOOK!
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Âllo Quoi!
24 AprI have been here in France for more than ten years now….and over that time I have learned a few things about phone calls and courtesy. Often times, foreigners (being one myself I can speak from experience) have a harder time communicating over the phone. Especially understanding the person on the other end of the line. Perfecting that comes with practice. Another thing that comes with practice is finding the right words to use over the phone. I feel I have come to a point where I can perfectly manage phone calls using all the French courtesies and phrases that I have so diligently added to my repertoire over the past decade.
Quinntessences & LH Designs
18 AprMissing You In Paris from Prete Moi Paris on Vimeo.
As a Paris expat blogger, I am always happy to let you all know about my other fellow expat friends and bloggers. I am thrilled to present you with two fabulous ladies today!
Quinn Connors as the model and stylist of the mini style story above, and jewelry designer Leonor Heleno of Leonor Heleno Jewelry Designs.
Both of these two are expats in Paris, and are talented and creative ladies in their own right. Continue reading
My take on the “French Lover”
15 AprBenjamin Millepied & his wife Nathalie Portman
I was interviewed by Eloïse Daviaud for the NT1 show En Mode Gossip, about the French Lover. It seems the French are enchanted that Hollywood is gaga for several hommes français that are infiltrating the star system over on the sunny Californian coast. I have to say, Guillaume Canet, Jean Dujardin, Benjamin Millepied and those other Frenchies are dashing and droll, and they certainly export a different type of romance, one that is suave and charming, and has less of those heroic-savior-of-the-world proportions that we so often see in American film characters/stars.
Organic Elegance : Rose Bakery Tea Room
14 AprRose Bakery Opens at Le Bon Marché
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Earlier this month, the third edition to the Rose Bakery Paris family opened on the second floor at the Bon Marché on Paris’ Left Bank. After establishing a worldwide presence from Paris and London to Seoul and Tokyo, culinary power couple Rose and Jean-Charles Carrarini brought their organic, English tastes into a chic, Parisian atmosphere and opened the Rose Bakery Tea Room. “In respecting our values for what they are, and not what they represent, our move into the Bon Marché Rive Gauche avoids all stereotypes. Each of our locations is always very personalized. The space changes, but our cuisine remains the same.” Continue reading
My @ExpatsBlog Writing Contest Entry
26 MarI have written a fun little post for Expats Blog who is holding a writing contest. They have 80…yes 80! entries!!! So I need all the help I can get!
Just wanted to give you all a heads up, in case you wanted to show some love and head over to their site to read it and comment on it at the bottom of the article! Each comment gets me more votes!!! So please add your “two cents”!
I wrote an article about what I think are the top ten Complaint/Clichés in the city of Paris. A little humor to get you through the week!?!
Bises!
L’Amour (or less) by Jennyphoria
25 FebI HAVE GOT TO SHARE THIS WITH ALL OF YOU!
One of my fellow Paris expat bloggers, has made a few serendipitous rencontres, and come up with a pretty fantastic idea, about love in Paris no less. Yes! Jennifer Geraghty is a screen writer and actress who took the precarious plunge two years ago to try to make it in the city of love and light. After much hard work and a huge bundle of her contagious sense of humor, she has launched her project. This lady is determined (just read her posts about getting through the ominous French administrative system in order to stay here), but she is also determined to succeed. And I think she is just about to…
From Jennyphoria
She has a series of shows already written, and shot, all on the subject of love and dating in Paris. Want to know how to snag a Frenchman? Want to know the secrets to dating the French? Want to know what all the mystery is about?!? Well read on…
Chéri je t’aime ♥
14 FebPhoto : Keith Pitts Photography
It’s Valentine’s day… ♥
Ever since leaving the United States, I stopped making it a big deal. I didn’t boycott it though, even in my years as a single girl. That would be too drastic.
But Valentine’s day has never been a huge commercialized event in France. Well, until now. Most of the shop windows are sprouting V-day décor, and everyone and their brother is offering a Valentine’s day special. The Hallmark holidays are here to stay I think in France. They have seen what great commercial profit that can be.
Chéri and I have always done a little something…be it a dinner out together, or a dinner in together, or a little gift… But nothing too extravagant. And I just can’t go back to buying into too much of that over-commercialized-almost-forced declaration of love. I prefer to tell him EVERY day… Continue reading
Project Optimism : Little Sunday Luxuries
10 FebI often complain about not having enough time. But perhaps I am just not appreciative enough of the time I do have.
In an effort to be more optimist about the time I do have, I am writing this post to illustrate how I can and do appreciate it.
The most luxurious luxuries of all is time.
Sunday is the one day of the week where I have that luxury. And so I love to spend all that luxurious time allowing myself to indulge in other little luxuries, since, well, I have the time to do so!
Sunday for Chéri and I starts with a nice long sleep-in until around 11:00, then breakfast in bed with a pair of folding trays that we received for Christmas from his parents. (It was my favorite gift, believe me!) 
We usually watch Jon Stewart on streaming to make sure we are kept up-to-date with American politics.
Once we have had our fill of yankee humor, soft boiled eggs, toast, jam and mariage frères tea (currently we are sipping their “black magic” blend), we allow ourselves extra time in the shower which offers me the chance to enjoy things like fancy bath gels. I am using up a little bottle of lilac, rose and geranium mix by Abahna that we found in a lovely boutique on a recent weekend trip to Brussels. This lovely bath essentials company excels in creating products for the “ceremony of bathing” as they call it. I save the bottle just for use on Sundays so that I can enjoy the scent and the lather to its fullest. Continue reading
Le Temple – Kitsch your heart out!
20 Jan
Frédérique of The Wedding Tea Room, and I, were heading to grab a drink the other night for some.quick facetime and a chat to toss around promotional ideas for her upcoming DIY workshop. We met at République as it was convenient foot us both. But I didn’t want to go anywhere on the Place de la République which is mostly populated by chain restaurants, cafés and fast food joints. So we walked literally a minute south of the place and stumbled upon a place that had written “Le Temple” on the awning. Obvious name as the metro station Temple is just across the street. Continue reading
A Grand Moment
29 DecI had another one of those starry-eyed moments the other night. One of those catch-your-breath-oh-my-god-is-this-really-my-life moments.
I work for the most prestigious luxury house in France, and every year they throw a big event for all their employees in the Paris region. They have a ceremony to handsomely recognize those who have loyally worked for them for 40 or 50 years, and then graciously throw a party for the rest of us. Every year the event is held in some magnificent venue, this year we were told it would be in the Grand Palais.
Americana Nostalgia Diner in Paris
21 DecSo, since Obama has been in the white house, Americana has gained enormous amounts of popularity over here in Paris. I can see a great difference from the days when Parisians were protesting the war in Iraq (protest which I participated in my first year here in the city of Lights and Love).
Americana diners are popping up all over the city and the hamburger has become a super trendy meal, with popular websites like My Little Paris writing about the “best burger in Paris” and the Ralph Lauren restaurant Ralph’s serving a whopping 27€ but apparently über delish! I don’t know if I could allow myself though to chose that menu item when I go there (as I am planning in it sooner or later) because they do serve Maine Lobster on the menu, and that for me is a vital part of my New England-raised-and-educated desires, much more so than a burger. But that will be for another post. There is also the extremely popular food truck Le Camion Qui Fume, where people stand in line for an hour for street food burger and fries. They have even published a recipe book! Burgers are back and totally popular among the trendy chic in the chicest city in the world.
I do think that I shall write a post with my review of all the different Americana burger joints in the city, but I still haven’t tasted them all! I am working on that, slowly but surely. My most recent tasting was at Chibby’s Diner. An adorable Americana Diner that brings you back to a nostalgic time in the USA, right here in the middle of Paris.
Thanksgiving in Paris
22 NovThis is the first year in 6 years that I have had Thanksgiving off and can spend it with my husband and in-laws without feeling rushed or having to celebrate a few days later on Sunday. This year I get to take my time in the kitchen with my mother in law, we get to cook together and chat, and share recipes, and I will write them all down in a little notebook and cherish them so I can pass them on one day (because her stuffing recipe is quite literally the best thing you could ever ever eat…). This will be a Thanksgiving to remember!
My dairy-free pumpkin pie
What I miss about NYC
9 NovIn wake of the storm Sandy, I have had New York on my mind a lot lately. I have been checking up on friends who live there or in the area, I have donated funds to a friend who is making trips there frequently with supplies that people donate. It’s heartbreaking to know that winter is arriving in giant strides, and there are people in New York and New Jersey who’s homes have been torn away from them by mother nature. Imagine no longer having your home? None of your belongings. No bed of your own to sleep in. Your couch where you would curl up with a good book, gone. Your kitchen where you were planning on making a giant turkey for your family and loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving…disappeared. Scary thought, non? If you can, please take the time to go donate, or spread the word to keep people aware that the problem is not over.
So in the aftermath of this terrible storm, and all the reminiscing I have done about New York lately, I thought I would share with you my favorite things in New York. Continue reading
♥ Prête-Moi Paris celebrates 3 years! ♥
23 Oct♥ ♥ ♥
Moi, Photo by Kasia Dietz
So Prête-Moi Paris turned 3 years old very recently (plus I am celebrating 10 years since my arrival in Paris!!!) and I thought I deserved a party….so I threw one!
Within just one month’s time of organisation, I gathered together some of the best people and elements I know in the City of Lights, to collaborate with and help me create and event that not only I would enjoy and celebrate but where my friends could benefit too! There was champagne, and cupcakes and frills and a specially made cocktail (a recipe post is in the works), and lots of pink, and sweets, and awesome prizes that were raffled off (for free of course) so that I could promote some of my favorite brands and services that I have blogged about or tested over the past three years.
Happy 3rd Birthday Prête-Moi Paris! from Prete Moi Paris on Vimeo. Continue reading
Celebrate Halloween in the City of Lights
21 OctPost by Jenny Baily
How To Celebrate Halloween in Paris
Photo : Leucippus (on Flickr) or here
Although not a typically French occasion, Halloween is a wicked excuse to coddle your creative side, and slip into something scary. If you’re keen to dress up and celebrate, there are still plenty of places to go to show off your costume. From ghost walks in the city’s old town to a spooky day out at Disneyland Paris, we’ve rounded up a list of the top Halloween hotspots to celebrate the late-October occasion. Continue reading
CupCake Camp Paris – III COMING SOON!
12 OctCUPCAKE CAMP RETURNS TO PARIS : Third Time’s a Charm as The City of Light Gears Up for the 3rd Edition of this Annual Charity Event
27 October 2012.
(version française en bas!)
Cupcake Camp Paris III
Paris, France, 1 September 2012 – Cupcake Camp Paris is back and it promises to be bigger and better than ever for its 3rd annual edition! Cupcake fans of all ages, Parisians, expats, and bakers of all levels are invited to gather at Le Comptoir Général, along the Canal St-Martin for the 3rd installment of Cupcake Camp Paris; this year will be a special Halloween-themed event. Attendees will taste, share, and judge (for those who want to participate in the contests) their home-made cupcakes in a friendly and festive atmosphere. There will also be contests and a raffle with an amazing variety of prizes.
Cupcake Camp Paris III:
Saturday, October 27, 2012
15H – 17H
Le Comptoir Général
80 Quai de Jemmapes
75010 Paris
(Sign up to bake cupcakes for the competition or just for sharing!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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