Invitation à l'Inspiration

Bonjour mes lecteurs!  Hello readers!

Merci pour votre patience. These slow winter months here on Fleur de St. Louis have very much been a reflection of my life. I chose the word F R E E as my theme for 2018, and creating a sense of freedom has required me to s l o w down, to make space for the life I desire to flourish.

And with flourishing in mind, how fortuitous that today also marks the arrival of spring. It was just about this time a year ago when I was full of inspiration and decided to commence, to begin this community. Today, my words from that very post are bringing me back to my intention: "That which has the potential to blossom from simply beginning can stretch beyond your wildest dreams. You just have to take that leap."

While I haven't been as present here on the blog, I have been working towards taking some exciting leaps that I look forward to sharing with you soon. But for today, in honor of le printemps - a season that represents renewal and growth - I am going to talk inspiration and what I am doing to invite more of it into my life. :)

This week is my spring break, mes vacances de printemps. If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I spent my first first rainy and cloudy day off immersing myself in the things I adore.

Voila a beautiful Paris photograph by the talented Rebecca Plotnick, a BAIES diptyque candle (my first time burning it and it smelled amazing), and author Angie Niles' Bright Lights Paris.

Immediately this inspiration sparked an organic flow. Angie's book is organized by neighborhood and each chapter paints a picture of a woman who might live there. As I explored Paris alongside the Tuileries girl, taking a day trip outside of Paris to Versailles, I knew I needed to watch Marie Antoinette. It had been years and I had forgotten what a treat this film is (not to mention it is chock-full of beautiful pâtisseries). 

 

The Tuileries girl also took me back to Angelina where just this past summer I had the pleasure of sipping a chocolat chaud in the very same room where Coco Chanel herself once enjoyed this simple luxury. 

chocolat chaud at Angelina on rue de Rivoli

The thought of a rich and decadent chocolat chaud reminded me that I have been wanting to try the sipping chocolate at St. Louis's own chocolaterie : Bissinger's. I will definitely be making time this week to enjoy a cup. Paired with Georgianna Lane's Paris in Bloom, this sounds like just the way to bid adieu to winter and say bienvenue to spring. 

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Today's post was a bit of a potpourri, but I am so glad that you are here, that you have been patient during my pause, and I hope it serves as an invitation à l'inspiration for you! 

How do you invite more inspiration into your life? I would love to know in the comments below. 

Warm wishes from me to you,

The Good Life in 2018: Inspiration from My Good Life in France

It's your year.

Today is the beginning of anything you want.

As we rang in 2018, many messages like these appeared on my Instagram feed. A new year brings the promise of possibility, the feeling that you have the power to bring about any change your heart desires. It's easy to feel inspired by these words, to feel fired up and ready to take on the world. But just as quickly as you're energized, you can also feel stuck. What does it really look like to make a year "your year"? How do you actually achieve the good life you seek this year and in all of the years to come? It all feels so big. 

It was quite serendipitous that I chose to read Janine Marsh's My Good Life in France as 2017 went on it's way and 2018 was welcomed. Janine's story of expat life in France where no one waits in lines, the time on the invitation is never truly the time you're expected, and you can say goodbye to lunch hour errands (all of the shops will be closed) beautifully illustrates what it means to live life in the moment and move in the direction of your dreams. Like you and me, Janine doesn't have all of the answers. She does, however, possess the courage to listen to her heart and take leaps of faith that, while scary, are also very right. Here are some tips I learned from My Good Life in France that I plan to consider as I seek my good life in 2018. Enjoy!

It might not always be logical. It might even seem completely insane, but sometimes you just feel it. 

When Janine arrived at the rundown barn in rural northern France that would eventually become her home, she simply had a feeling. Was it logical to leave her successful job in England with a promotion approaching? To leave family and friends and start a life in a country that is famous for it's incredibly complicated bureaucratic processes? No logic here. But sometimes the right decision lies beyond logic and reason, and Janine's story is a beautiful example. 

When the opportunity comes and you feel the pull, don't let it pass you by. 

"As I mulled over the options I had, I knew what mum would say, that sometimes you have to go with your heart, you have to give a different life a chance before it was too late." 

Today I was reminded of the quote "someday is not a day of the week". It's easy to have a dream or goal, whatever it may be, and push it off to someday. But how long will we push it off, and if we continue to do this will we ultimately let the dream pass us by? The words of wisdom imparted by Janine's mother are words I plan to consider this year as I continue the process of creating my most contented life.

Work/life balance is key.

The French get this and I love them for it. In one scene in her book, Janine quotes the proprietor at a local bar who says "there is more to life than all métro-boulot-dodo." Metro. Work. Sleep. I love this phrase en français. It is so easy to get caught up in the rhythm of the day to day, to blame a lack of time as the cause of an unfollowed dream. This year I want to continue to work on finding balance and keeping things in perspective. 

The good life you seek might be closer than you think.

"Here in the countryside, people may not be wealthy or live in swish posh houses, but in so many ways the good life is all around if you take the time to find it." 

In one of my favorite posts of 2017 (read it here) I describe living the good life right where you are. While some dreams take longer to come to fruition, theres no reason you can't experience the good life in other ways right here in the present moment. 

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Janine's book was a delightful read and I only scratched the surface here. I didn't want to reveal too much as I hope you add it to your 2018 reading list! You can read more from Janine on her blog, The Good Life France. I have been referencing this a lot as I research cities and regions in France other than Paris. This is another reason I loved this book - I got to know northern France a little bit better. :) 

You can also listen to an interview with Janine on The Simple Sophisticate podcast, episode 167. While you're over on The Simply Luxurious Life blog, you might also want to check out Shannon's post 2018: Finding the Courage to Make it Amazing for more inspiration as you kick off 2018. 

Here's to our good lives in 2018 and beyond.

Warm wishes from me to you,

PS: We're kicking off the new year with a little Fleur de St. Louis milestone. This is the 100th post! Thank you so much to those of you have been here since the beginning, and those of you who have discovered the blog along the way. This project is a big part of my good life, and the community that surrounds it truly makes it what it is. Merci beaucoup! 

A Taste of France in STL: Nathaniel Reid Bakery

I was already out and about on this sunny Monday morning, so it made sense to make my way to Nathaniel Reid for fresh pastries and coffee. Not that I really needed an excuse other than the fact that right here in St. Louis, MO we have the great pleasure of enjoying delectable pastries from internationally recognized pastry chef Nathaniel Reid. 

(Nathaniel Reid Bakery, 11243 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122)

Reid is a graduate of Paris' Le Cordon Bleu. Talk about a Paris connection! In an interview with St. Louis' own Feast Magazine, he describes the design of the bakery, highlighting the windows that allow customers to watch the pastry chefs in action. He mentions the reward of seeing customer reactions as they enter the space, and I can attest to Reid's genuine joy in this as he personally came to the counter to wish me a good morning and thank me for coming in. 

Now to share what I picked up this morning. I was standing before the glorious case of delectables incredibly conflicted. Chocolate croissant or almond croissant? Then what should appear before my eyes but a chocolate almond croissant! The best of both worlds! I chose one of these beauties for today's breakfast and grabbed a traditional croissant for later (I think I'll use it to make a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch). And to share with my fiancé? A Ruby (raspberry tea, chocolate mousse, raspberries) which reminded me of the artfully made delicacies we saw behind the cases in Paris' very own pâtisseries just a few weeks ago. 

I rounded out my Parisian morning by pairing Nathaniel Reid's chocolate almond croissant with Lauren Collins' When in French, allowing myself to travel to France right in my own living room. This buttery, flaky, melt in your mouth croissant that was bursting with flavor transported me if only for a moment. :) 

You already know what I am going to say. If you are a fellow St. Louisan allez! Go to Nathaniel Reid bakery, right now if you can! But in all seriousness, we are very fortunate to have this wonderful treat, and I highly recommend a visit the next time you are out and about town and find yourself craving a little taste of France right here in STL. 

Warm wishes and bon appétit from me to you,

Passez une bonne semaine! Have a wonderful week!

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July Giveaway: J'adore les livres!

Bon weekend readers! Tony and I are in the Copenhagen airport and beginning our journey home. Our time in Europe has been unforgettable, and we are excited to bring our memories and new ideas back to our every day lives.

It will be a few days until I get some fresh content up on the blog (get ready for skincare, makeup, travel wardrobe, and PARIS) so I wanted to give you a chance to enjoy some of the older posts... with a little added fun! It's time for the Fleur de St. Louis July giveaway! Last month I focused on one of my missions here: creativity. This month's give away will focus on learning, and one of my favorite ways to learn is to read. 

Here's how it works: 

⚜Between now and Monday at midnight CST, spend some time exploring the blog. Your task: to find a book that I have mentioned here that also interests you. :)

⚜Return to this July giveaway post and leave a comment with your name, e-mail, and the title of the book you would love to receive. Bonus entry if you also subscribe to Fleur de St. Louis by e-mail (current subscribers will also get this)! 

⚜Wait patiently until Tuesday to find out if the winner is you! One Fleur de St. Louis reader will receive the book of their choice in the mail with a few extra surprises!

Merci for being a part of this community. I hope this giveaway brings you a little weekend fun. Enjoy! I look forward to your comments. 

Warm wishes and happy reading from me to you,

Bon Voyage: Amsterdam

Bonjour, hallo, ciao! It's a beautiful and clear morning in Zermatt, Switzerland. I'm sitting at the desk in our lovely hotel room as Tony captures photos of the Matterhorn view from our balcony. We keep looking at each other and saying how lucky we are. To be together. To be experiencing all of these beautiful places. A LOT has happened since our stop in Amsterdam a week ago, but I'm going to continue to recap our travels in order (for the most part). Tomorrow I will be back to tell you about a very special something from our last day in Paris because I'm anxious to share and I think many of you are anxious to hear more. ;-)

We arrived at Amsterdam Centraal station on Tuesday, June 27. Walking the streets of the city to our hotel, our immediate impression was that it was much noisier and not quite as clean as Copenhagen. Then, we got to Prisengracht and the scene changed. The canal was lined with trees, charming homes and shops. It was quiet and calm. We knew in an instant Amsterdam was going to be up there on our list just as Copenhagen had been. 

After a long day of travel, our hotel room at Andaz was a welcome retreat. We settled in and cleaned up before hitting the streets for a little evening exploration.

With Amsterdam, I didn't really know what to expect. It's not a city I know much about and the only research I had done was with my 500 Hidden Secrets of Amsterdam book (find link below) in the Copenhagen airport. This stop was going to include a lot of wandering which excited me! 

(I picked up that pen holder at HAY in Copenhagen.)

First on the list: traditional Amsterdam apple pie at Winkel 43. What's not to love about a city that's famous for apple pie?! We also tasted another traditional snack, bitterballen. They were the perfect warm bite on a brisk evening. On our walk home, we passed the Anne Frank House. With such a short stay, we opted to do more discovery versus wait in long lines, but this will definitely be on my list for a future trip. Just standing in front of the house was a moving experience for me. 

City Vibes:

Amsterdam was a city with an overall leisurely pace. Different neighborhoods had very different vibes as I described at the beginning of the post, and we definitely preferred it by the canals near our hotel. There, the streets were relatively quiet and it was fun to watch bikers out and about. The women here were impressive. One mom had a baby and a preteen on her bike, pedaling up a cobblestone hill! It was quite the site. The canals were lined with nice shops and boutiques, and it was a perfect mix of new and traditional. 

Favorite Finds:

While breakfast at Pancakes Amsterdam may have been pretty touristy, it was nothing short of delicious! Tony ordered ham & cheese Dutch pancake, and I had one with yogurt and some of the most delectable strawberries I have ever tasted. Hut Spot was one of our very favorites. We got an Amsterdam print to add to the travel wall in our apartment (I will post a photo of the wall when we return). Wandering the streets we discovered Pluk café and boutique which was probably my favorite. There, I got a croissant phone case and an Amsterdam tote that has been perfect for carrying the souvenirs we are picking up along the way. 

(Pluk Amsterdam)

I also enjoyed Skin Cosmetics. I was in need of a serious skin detox after all of the trains and planes, and the saleswoman here was incredibly helpful. I picked up a mask by REN, a skincare company that "uses only 100% plant and mineral derived actives and is free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients." I've used it twice so far and really love it! Stay tuned for an entire post about the beauty products I used and picked up on my travels. 

A final favorite: dinner at Papeneiland. We enjoyed toasties, bitterballen, and of course we couldn't resist another slice of apple pie. This one was the most delicious of all. 

Style Watch:

Style in Amsterdam was not nearly as defined as that in Copenhagen. Looks were overall casual and typically included sneakers. I did see women on bikes in stilettos! This city definitely inspired me to want to get my bike out more back in St. Louis. A few of my favorite looks on the streets: stripe tee + blazer + dark jeans and cream waffle knit sweater + dark jeans. 

Overall Impressions:

As I previously mentioned, I had few ideas or expectations when we arrived in Amsterdam. The city charmed me completely, and I would love to go back and explore more in the future! 

Coming soon to the blog - our Paris adventures! I cannot wait to share our four days in Paris with you. :) Just a reminder that you can follow me on Instagram @fleurdestlouis. It's much easier for me to post there on the go if you'd like more frequent updates. Tony is also posting wonderful photos @tonyclawsonstl. Until my next post (which will be an incredibly exciting one), I'll be taking in the beautiful scenery in Zermatt! 

Warm wishes and bon voyage from me to you,

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Bon Voyage: Copenhagen

Hallo from Amsterdam! We arrived yesterday evening, and before I let the city sweep me off my feet (just from our little bit of wandering I have a good feeling), I wanted to recap my first visit to Copenhagen!

Tony and I arrived in Copenhagen on Sunday and checked into our boat. That's right, we stayed on a boat! Everyone at CPH Living was incredibly nice, and our accommodations were just right. It was lovely to open the windows and feel a breeze on the water, and everything we wanted to explore was within walking distance. Not to mention, they provided a nice breakfast of fruit, yogurt, bread, cheeses, pastries, juice, coffee, and tea that was the perfect pick me up before we headed out for a day of exploring. 

City Vibes:
Welcoming, relaxed, laid back and cozy, cozy, cozy! I was expecting to feel the hygge here and Copenhagen did not disappoint. From candles on the tables at Copenhagen Street Food to blankets on almost every restaurant chair (I got cozy over dinner at mother), comfort and warmth surrounded us. The city was also incredibly clean with hardly any litter on the sidewalks and streets. Everywhere we went I felt very safe. 

(Cozy in Copenhagen at 55°F in late June)

Favorite Finds:
Tony found RIST Kaffebar where we started our full day of exploration. There, we grabbed a yogurt with muesli and two lattes. And how can I forget sweet treats at Lauras! The hindbærsnitte was a sophisticated Pop Tart that paired with my coffee wonderfully (second cup that morning...)! 

I also used the cityx60 Copenhagen book (link below) to learn a little bit about the city's treasures before we arrived. From that list, we shopped Scandinavian housewares at Hay House and had a beautiful experience at Cinnober Independent Bookshop where we picked up a notebook, a small rubber stamp for my bullet journal, and a guide to Amsterdam (more to come on this guide in my next post). Torvehallerne market was a fun stop for foods from around the world. We had tacos and gelato for lunch. 

I think my absolute favorite find of the day was one that wasn't on our list. This goes to show that wandering can be the best way to travel. We stumbled upon DORA after our morning coffees and couldn't get enough. Quite literally. We picked up two kitchen towels but already have a few more items that wouldn't fit in our backpacks in our online cart. We can't wait to add these new finds to our home for our own touch of hygge. I also have my eye on this necklace. You will instantly understand why! 

Style Watch:
Checking out the style in each city we visit is one of my favorite parts. On trend in Copenhagen: black tights and sneakers (usually black as well). Colors are generally muted (black, navy, gray, olive, tan) and jackets are a staple. Be it a classic trench, a black leather jacket, or a navy wool coat, even June can be brisk in Copenhagen and these layers shield from the wind with style. Scarves are ALWAYS a good idea. Women generally wear their hair pulled back in a pony tail or bun which has them bike or boat ready at a moment's notice. And the best accessory - a bike with a basket and bell. It was so fun to see how these were always an extension of the rider's overall style. 

(The Dune London shoes I picked up at Illum. I wanted something suitable for walking, yet also stylish. I'm always a sucker for bows. PS: This photo was taken at the botanical garden. Absolutely stunning! And free!)

Overall Impression: 
Love love loved it! We missed some of the more touristy things, but we decided before heading out on this journey that our goal was to get to know the city and its neighborhoods more than it was to check off the big attractions. Plus, I know we'll be back (we actually get a bonus afternoon the day before we fly home out of CPH). 

I hope you enjoyed a small window into our travels and maybe found some inspiration for your future travels! For more frequent updates, follow me on Instagram @fleurdestlouis. It's much easier for me to post there on the go. Tony is also posting wonderful photos @tonyclawsonstl. Until my next post, I'm off to explore Amsterdam! 

Warm wishes and bon voyage from me to you,

Lauren 

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