le weekend à Chicago

*All opinions and recommendations shared in this post are mine and mine alone, shared out of a genuine desire to share my love of all things French. 

It was almost a year ago that I posted about a weekend in Chicago with a little French flair. Tony and I have made several visits to the windy city since, but this last weekend in Chi was particularly full of the French flair que j'adore. ♥ I was amazed at the quality experiences we got out of a 24 hour get-away. 

Where we stayed: I had recently heard about the Sofitel in Chicago as Rebecca of Every Day Parisian reviewed their restaurant, Café des Architects. When we found a room on Priceline for less than $100 we couldn't pass up the chance. The Sofitel is designed by a French architect,  and seeks to bring "Parisian savoir-faire to Chicago". We were greeted with a bonjour from Chloé who got us all checked into our room with a view and gave me an authentic opportunity to parler en français. Even the room was adorned with petit French touches including an issue of France-Amérique and bath products by Lanvin. While we didn't eat at the restaurant this trip, it's on the list for future visits along with the Petit Margeaux at the Waldorf Astoria. 

A few special events: A good hotel deal is enough of an excuse for us to spend a weekend in the city, but it was doubly exciting that Jesse Kanelos Weiner of the Francofly was hosting a watercolor workshop at one of my favorite Chicago bookstores, Read It & Eat. (It is at this same shop where I heard Lindsey Tramuta speak about her book, The New Paris.) If you've been following along you know I dabble with watercolor. I have a style that isn't at all based in any official technique, so it was a lot of fun to learn more about light, shadow, and the use of complimentary colors from Jesse. 

I saw Jesse again on Saturday where she had a book signing and discussion with Rebecca (I mentioned her and her blog above) at 57th Street Books. Her latest book Paris in Stride is choc full of her beautiful watercolor illustrations, and features different self-guided walking tours that can jump start your days in Paris. My favorite thing about Jesse's book is that she gives you a place to begin and encourages your own exploration from there. It's truly a chance to be a flâneur. While Lindsey's book sheds light on the new, Jesse keeps her Paris walks a bit more timeless. The books are beautiful companions for planning a trip to Paris with a balance of both.

  

During the discussion Jesse described what she loves most about living in France. She highlighted the work/life balance, the value of time for family and leisure, and the ability to simply slow down. I truly admire the way Jesse took her passion and made it her career. She shared advice about being your own person and pursuing your passion by working toward it little by little, every day. This is advice I very much cherish and wanted to pass along to you!

A few more tastes of France in Chicago: Ever since we first visited La Fournette, an authentic French bakery in Old Town, no visits are complete without it. I changed up my order this time, adding a raisin roulade to my traditional croissant aux amandes. The roulade will definitely become a part of my regular order. It was absolument délicieux. 

What's more? I finally made it to Vosges Haut-Chocolat for a decadent chocolat chaud. I was purchasing a bag of their matcha petites on the way out and ran into Rebecca in the shop! Connecting with Rebecca and Jesse, two people who very much share my interests and passions, was a joy.

Do you seek out a French connection when you travel? I would love to hear about where you've been and the touches of French flair you've discovered.

Warm wishes and bon weekend from me to you,

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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,

Le Bric à Brac (n°7): Odds & Ends

Bonne Saint Valentin! I'm keeping it short and sweet today, and spreading the love of some of my latest favorites with another edition of Le Bric à Brac. Enjoy! 

 

LOVE is in the air. Brooklyn in Love. Amy Thomas's latest book was released on Tuesday, February 6. I preordered, received my copy in the mail, and can't wait to dive in! I absolutely adored her first book, Paris My Sweet, where she tells the tale of her year in Paris, listing must stop shops for delectable sweets along the way. Either would be the perfect way to treat yourself this Valentine's Day. :)

♥♥♥

French Frye in Paris Facebook live tours: This one was recommended to me by a reader. Merci Cheryl! Corey Frye is an American tour guide in Paris. On his French Frye in Paris Facebook page, Corey has been posting 20-30 minute live Paris tours, but you can also enjoy the replays. Episode 1 took me to the steps where Owen Wilson sat in Midnight in Paris, past the Panthéon, and finally to the Medici Fountain in the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg. A little bit of Paris wherever and whenever. A sweet treat indeed! 

Speaking of favorite Paris spots, I've made some updates to the FdSTL Paris Guide. As I reminisce on past travels and collect ideas for future travels, this list grows and evolves. My hope is that it can give you some ideas as you plan your next (or first!) trip to the City of Light. 

♥♥♥

The Simple Sophisticate podcast with Shannon Ables: If you've been here since the start, you know I talk about blogger and podcaster Shannon Ables often. She has been a big part of my journey, so I am constantly grateful that she continues to follow her dreams, sharing beautiful inspiration each day. Shannon's podcast The Simple Sophisticate comes out with a new episode every Monday. Lately, this has been a treat as I commute from work to school on Monday afternoons. You can also enjoy fresh content daily on her blog, The Simply Luxurious Life. I cannot recommend her enough. It is so fun to connect with her as a fellow Francophile, but her inspiration reaches much further, touching anyone who seeks to live their best, most contented life. 

And there we have it! I hope today's post provided you with a few unexpected treats to savor this Valentine's Day and beyond. 

Warm and loving wishes from me to you,

Le Bric à Brac (n°6): Odds & Ends

Bonjour readers and bon weekend! It has been quite a while since I've done a post in the bric-à-brac series, a series titled after the French phrase for knick knacks or odds & ends. For anyone new to the blog, it is here that I "collect" various things that I'm loving or want to recommend so that you can enjoy them too! I've also created a link under "Posts by Topic" on the right of my page. This will make it easy to scroll through the bric-à-brac archives. 

Now for today's odds & ends (note that these are my personal recommendations, not paid): 

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream: I picked up a travel size of this when I visited the Caudalie store in Paris' Montmartre neighborhood (I wanted everything, but since I traveled with a carry-on I could only purchase certain sizes). I keep this on my nightstand and absolutely LOVE it. It works miracles on my dry hands in the winter. I also have a bad habit of messing with my nails/cuticles. While the only real cure is to kick the habit, this cream heals and restores. It also smells amazing and does't leave a greasy feel. 

My bkr water bottle: I have had my eye on these water bottles since I spotted them in a shop in Copenhagen. This was a little birthday gift to myself. :) I love this water bottle because it is glass, which I prefer to plastic, and the smooth silicone sleeve keeps in protected. I purchased mine from a company that is all things natural beauty, Petit Vour. They describe the mission of bkr in the product description: "... no matter what you put on your face, if you aren’t hydrated from the inside you won’t glow." I know, I know... it's just a water bottle. But it gets me excited about drinking water. Sometimes it really is the little things. 

Clotilde Dusoulier: I've mentioned Parisian Clotilde's book Edible French here on the blog. I'm also familiar with her well known foodie blog Chocolate and Zucchini, though I only recently subscribed (I don't know what took me so long!). I can't wait to receive her posts in my inbox for food with a little Parisian flair. Clotilde was a recent guest on one of my favorite podcasts, the Earful Tower (click the link for the episode) where she and Oliver talked Paris food markets. They also discussed her new book Tasting Paris, set to hit shelves on March 20. I know this will be one I add to my francophile library. And wait... there's more! I also listened to the first episode of Clotilde's self care podcast, Change Ma Vie. I really enjoyed the content and the best part - elle parle en français. I am always looking for authentic ways to integrate French into my every days, and this podcast provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a topic I love AND practice my French. 

Pear Salad: When I bring this to lunch, my colleagues think I'm pretty fancy, but it's actually very simple. I purchase mixed greens (usually Organic Girl) and some near ripe pears. When the pears are ready, I slice them thinly and layer them on top of a bed of the greens. Then I add a few dried cranberries, some freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. It's easy and delicious, and when I prep it the night before (dressing on the side) it makes for a smooth morning and a delightful lunch break. 

There you have it, my odds and ends for this week! I hope you discovered a treasure. 

Warm wishes for a beautiful weekend 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! 

FdSTL Eleventh Day of Christmas: A French Inspired Christmas Eve Meal

Merry Christmas Eve to all! For the past four Christmases Tony and I have spent Christmas Eve ordering pizza in and watching a Christmas movie. This year we are still eating in and there will still be a holiday movie (I'm thinking The Shop Around the Corner), but we're doing things with a lot more French flair. This morning I got to unwrap an early gift. I tore away the paper to reveal a beautiful cookbook, A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse by Mimi Thorisson. Tony suggested that rather than order our usual pizza, we pick one of Mimi's recipes and give it a go. We chose her potato pie with comté cheese. A recipe from the winter section (her book is organized by seasons), it sounded like the perfect cozy comfort food on this cold Christmas Eve night. As I describe the meal below, you will find 11 French foodie words in celebration of this eleventh day of Christmas. Enjoy!

With a glass of vin rouge close by (I picked up a bottle of La Ferme Julien vin rouge at Trader Joe's), dinner preparations began with a pâte brisée, an unsweetened pastry dough that works well for both sweet and savory dishes... tonight for the savory. While the dough chilled, I started a batch of gougères avec le gruyère (I used a recipe shared by Rebecca of Every Day Parisian). These delectable bites were the perfect amuse-bouche.

les gougères

To finish the potato pie, we filled the pâte brisée with layers of les patates, les oignons, bacon and comté cheese. While our pie baked, we enjoyed a salade de poires avec les canneberges and vinaigre balsamique. I had the pears and cranberries around the house already, which inspired this dish. 

la salade de poires avec les canneberges

 Mimi Thorisson's potato pie with comté cheese

I loved our fun tradition of ordering pizza in, but I think we may have just started a whole new tradition. Creating our beautiful meal from start to finish was such a fun experience and made each bite all the more satisfying. 

*Merci beaucoup to Tony for helping me capture and edit a few photos of our dinner, and for gifting the cookbook that brought this new tradition into being. 

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas.

Joyeux Noël!

Warm wishes from me to you,

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FdSTL Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Francophile Ladies

As I type this tonight, I'm reveling in the fact that mes vacances have finally begun! Over the next eleven days, I am looking forward to a slower pace, holiday celebrations with friends and family, and more time to immerse myself in all things with a little French flair. 

In this post I'm sharing eight francophile ladies who inspire me. It's no question women (and men) all over the world are enamored of France. I'm fascinated with the fact that each time I discover a fellow francophile, she has her own unique spin on her love of France. The eight ladies I'm sharing today all have a little different perspective which is wonderful for expanding your knowledge of France, its language, and its culture. Allons-y! Let's go! 

A simply luxurious French lifestyle with Shannon Ables

Shannon was one of the first francophiles I discovered when I started looking for people who share my love of France. A high school teacher in Oregon whose love of France began with a study abroad in Angers, Shannon shares the ways in which the French culture inspires her simply luxurious life. Her mission: to pass these inspirations along so that we may all cultivate lives of true contentment. I first found Shannon via her podcast The Simple Sophisticate and am now a regular follower of her blog, The Simply Luxurious Life. She shares even more information in her book, Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman's Guide. Follow her on Instagram @thesimplyluxuriouslife.

 

Picture perfect Paris with Rebecca Plotnick
I first discovered Rebecca's blog  The Every Day Parisian through her Paris Diaries. Each time I visit her blog, her stories and images sweep me away to Paris. A Chicagoan, Rebecca loves to maintain a Parisian lifestyle at home and away. She travels to Paris often where she does much of her work as a professional photographer. I am so inspired by the way that Rebecca found a way to make a Parisian lifestyle her reality. You can purchase her beautiful work through her online shop. I purchased a few prints and they are a true window to Paris no matter where in the world you may be. Follow her on Instagram @rebeccaplotnick and @everydayparisian. 

French language love with Carrie Anne James
Carrie Anne is an American expat living in Paris and spreading the French love in all that she does. She runs French is Beautiful where she provides lessons in French language and culture online. Last August I participated in her L'Art de Vivre course (read my post about this here) and had an absolutely delightful experience. I'm so looking forward to hearing about her new course offerings this January. Get a taste of Carrie Anne's style by subscribing to her FREE daily pronunciation e-mail. Follow her on Instagram @theparisdarling and @frenchisbeautiful. 

The sweet side of Paris with Amy Thomas
Amy Thomas's book Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate)caught my eye when I was browsing one of my local book stores. I devoured her sweet memoir about a move from New York to Paris to work for Louis Vuitton. Amy never misses an opportunity to stop and savor a sweet treat, and her book includes a list of her favorite pâtisseries in both Paris and New York. She no longer posts on her blog God, I Love Paris, but it is still a wonderful place to find French inspiration. Follow her on Instagram @amythomas.nyc and @godiloveparis.


The green side of Paris with Kristen Beddard
I actually found Kristen through Rebecca's book club. Kristen's book Bonjour Kale: A Memoir of Paris, Love, and Recipes was the first of her 12 francophile book selections this year. It is in this way that I discovered Kristen's incredible Kale Project. An American who moved to Paris with her husband for his job, Kristen realized how hard it was to find kale and took it upon herself to bring kale to Paris. You've got to read it for yourself. Her story is incredibly unique. Follow her on Instagram @kristenbeddard and @thekalepoject. 

The new Paris with Lindsey Tramuta 

A food and travel journalist living in Paris with her French husband, Lindsey of the blog Lost in Cheeseland took an interest in the ways in which Paris is evolving and compiled all of her discoveries into a beautiful book called The New Paris. I had the chance to meet Lindsey at her Chicago book tour stop (read my post about this here) and used her book when planning our trip to Paris this past summer (read my post about this here). She even has a menu item named after her at Café Oberkampf in Paris (how cool is that?!) and is featured in several episodes of one of my favorite podcasts, The Earful Tower. She also has her own podcast, The New Paris Podcast, where she expands on the ideas and content of her book. Follow her on Instagram @lostncheeseland.

An artist's view of Paris with Janice MacLeod
The most recent book I finished was Janice McLeod's A Paris Year: My Day-to-Day Adventures in the Most Romantic City in the World. In this book, Janice chronicles a year in Paris through beautiful watercolor paintings, interesting anecdotes, and French cultural tidbits. Also author of Paris Letters, Janice started a project painting letters about her travels and mailing them to subscribers. You can subscribe to Janice's letters here. I'm not yet a subscriber but thinking this would be an amazing birthday gift (mine is coming up in January). Follow her on Instagram @janiceartship. 

 

Expat life in France with Janine Marsh
Last on the list today but certainly not least is Janine Marsh, author of My Good Life in France (my current read) and creator of The Good Life in France blog. Janine is an expat in France from England who was recently featured on Shannon's The Simple Sophisticate podcast (listen here). Her blog is a wonderful resource for all things France. I have recently become interested in growing my knowledge of cities/regions other than Paris and have found myself referencing her blog a lot. When she says it's everything you want to know about France and more... she's not kidding! Follow her on Instagram @thegoodlifefrance.

PS: Notice how my last francophile on the list circled back to my first francophile on the list?  This is truly a community of French love that I feel so grateful to be a part of. 

Enjoy inspiration from these eight fabulous francophiles!

Warmest of wishes for les vacances from me to you,

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