A Taste of France in STL: the Demun Oyster Bar Farmer's Market

This morning I went on a neighborhood walk with new surprises in store. I absolutely love my neighborhood because just a short walk from my building I can take a calming yoga class, hit the sweet shop, check out a local boutique, enjoy a glass of wine at the wine bar, or sit and read at one of my favorite coffee shops, not to mention the two beautiful parks I can see from my windows. 

As I rounded the corner towards Kaldi's coffee for my morning cup, a new treasure awaited. Today kicked off Demun Oyster Bar's weekly hosting of the Greater St. Louis Community Farmer's Market which will take place every Saturday from 8am to noon this spring and summer. While not everything about this market is quintessentially French, shopping locally and on foot is a very Parisian way of life. 

This charming market featured meats, fish, sauces, breads and produce. Of course it was the impressive variety of loaves that caught my eye. As I explored Hummingbird Kitchen's selection, I knew in an instant the crusty gruyère was coming home with me. Gruyère is the star ingredient in one of my favorite "amuse bouches", gougères (cheese puffs). See links below for one of my favorite STL spots to enjoy these bite size pieces of heaven, as well as a gougère recipe that's on my list to try. 

Walking home with a fresh loaf of locally made bread made me feel just the slightest bit Parisian, and I loved every second. 

Check out these links mentioned above:

*Enjoy gougères right here in STL.

*Try making gougères at home.

Warm wishes from me to you and bon appétit,

Lauren 

An Evening with Modern Mrs Darcy: from the Lou to the Lou

Imagine a Friday night like this: a charming local book store, readers from near and far, and one very influential bibliotherapist. Sound like a dream? Tonight, this was my reality. And what a wonderful reality to be truly present in. 

Anne Bogel of the Modern Mrs Darcy hails from Louisville, Kentucky, but tonight you could find her right here in my hometown, St. Louis, Missouri, at the previously mentioned charming bookstore, the Novel Neighbor. Over the past several months I have gotten to know Anne via her podcast, What Should I Read Next?, and as you may have read in "My Journey", I credit her with playing a big role in reviving my reading life. Anne opens each and every one of her podcasts by reminding listeners that she doesn't "get bossy", and I think this perfectly sums up Anne's open and welcoming personality with a total lack of judgment. No matter what your reading tastes or where you are on your reading journey, Anne welcomes you with open arms. All of this I know from connecting with Anne virtually, but tonight we got the chance to make a personal connection.

The evening began with a casual meet and greet featuring bookshelves stocked with Anne's top picks. In my brief conversation with Anne, she found a way to get to know me as a reader and let me tell you, her literary matchmaking abilities are the REAL deal. I couldn't talk about my reading life without mentioning that I am a total francophile. So much of what I read transports me to France. Yet there are other common threads I have discovered amongst my favorite books. I love a strong female character who isn't afraid to buck convention and pursue her passions. I gravitate towards tales where a modern character goes on a journey rooted in the past. I want to be charmed, to feel cozy. Anne got that. We took a peek at her picks together, and I instantly noticed A Homemade Life  by Molly Wizenberg on the shelf. This was a previous pick on the podcast, a foodie memoir with a Paris connection. (Check and check.) I even got a bonus pick! Anne recommended The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes and I can't wait to dive in! 

(Short me next to tall Anne - she credited her booties.)

The meet and greet was followed by a live recording of What Should I Read Next? Anne and Holland (the owner of the Novel Neighbor) got comfortable on a chic plaid loveseat styled with pillows printed with bookish phrases including "I like big books and I cannot lie." From there, we dove into a night filled with books, books and more books. I was armed with my iPhone, Goodreads app open and at the ready for any recommendations that peaked my interest. I knew I was in heaven when Anne's third and final guest mentioned My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme as one of her favorites. This is a tale of a not so young Julia going for it, doing something for her, pursuing her deepest passions. To bring the night full circle and further confirm my recent purchase, A Homemade Life was once again recommended. Anne literally has this whole bibliotherapy thing "in the bag" (just like my newest read!).  

Whether your are already an avid reader or you desperately want to fall in love with reading again, I cannot recommend Modern Mrs Darcy and What Should I Read Next? more highly. Anne, it was great to meet you, and as you always say (and I would like to express to my blog readers as well), "happy reading everyone!" 

Warm wishes and happy reading from me to you,

Lauren 

Gifts of the Present

Saturday morning I woke up to a bright, soft glow of sunshine illuminating my bedroom. Wanting to get out into that sunshine, my boyfriend and I headed to one of our favorite local coffee spots, Kaldi’s in DeMun. After enjoying a delicious, warm cup of Highlander Grogg with a sweet mocha muffin, we headed over to Concordia Park to soak in the gorgeous day and enjoy some time with our books.

As I sat on the bench, diving into Amy Thomas’s Paris My Sweet, I almost felt as though I was sitting in a beautiful painting of spring. Creamy white, vibrant fuchsia, and bright pink blooms filled the background. An energetic dog ran freely, an enthusiastic toddler running along behind. The sun was winking behind billowy clouds against a clear blue sky, and while a chilly crisp breeze of winter lingered, its golden rays provided much welcomed moments of warmth. A symphony of birds and seminary bells brought the entire scene even more alive. Maybe this was just my imagination, but I swear the bells rang to the tune of Édith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose.

In that moment, mindful of my surroundings, I felt at peace. I felt present. I was not thinking of what had come before, or what was coming later. I was just there, taking in an immense amount of beauty.

May you also find moments of peace and beauty in the present.

Warm wishes from me to you,

Lauren