FdSTL Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Golden Things

With just a week until Christmas day, it's possible you've got a little last minute shopping to do. Today's post features five golden things, cinq choses dorés, that I love - all $100 or under. Maybe you'll find something here for a francophile friend (and it's OK if that francophile friend is you!). Bon shopping! 

Book Darts Line Markers in Brass (kind of gold...)

These little guys are my favorite for marking favorite quotes and lines in my francophile books (and all of my reads). A perfect gift paired with one of my favorites (here) or one of the 17 suggestions on the latest episode of the Simple Sophisticate podcast (listen here).

Caudalie's Beauty Elixir

I had so much fun visiting a Caudalie store in Paris. Tony and I traveled with carry-ons only, so I had to limit my purchases to items 3.4 oz. or less. This travel size mist was just the thing. I love a spritz of this elixir when I wake up in the morning, or to refresh my skin in the late afternoon. Caudalie has added the gold details to the bottle to celebrate the product's 20th birthday, and I love the packaging of this little stocking stuffer. :) 

Parisian Chic Look Book by Ines de la Fressange

A major name in French fashion, Ines de la Fessange has put out several francophile books that I enjoy including Parisian Chic and the Parisian Chic City Guide. In this style book, she provides the ingredients for a Parisian inspired wardrobe, as well as inspirational outfit ideas for whatever life might bring. 

Nest Festive Petite Candle Trio 

My mom and I got hooked on these candles on our last trip to Chicago. The Bloomingdale's Home Store was burning the Holiday Candle (far right) and we came home with the Birchwood Pine (center). I haven't tried the Sugar Cookie (left) but based on my experiences with the other two, I bet it is wonderful. These are beautiful candles that your eyes and your nose will adore!

Jenny Present Engraved Cuff Bracelet

To me, this bracelet encompasses the French appreciation of life's simple luxuries. I wear mine almost every day as a reminder to enjoy the little things, whether that be a walk in the park or a warm cup of coffee or tea. Plus, it's from a company right here in St. Louis, MO! 

À demain for the sixth day !

Warmest wishes from me to you,

L'Art de Vivre avec French is Beautiful

Each week for the past 4 weeks, a little bit of Paris has arrived in my inbox. Through the lens of French/Parisian culture I have had the opportunity to explore beauty, wellness, love, and style. I have connected with francophiles from around the country and around the world, deeply touched by their words of wisdom and encouragement. 

Mais comment est-ce possible? How is all of this possible? It's all merci to Carrie Anne James of French is Beautiful for pursuing her passion, believing in her dreams, and letting her French love radiate. Her unique 4 week l'art de VIVRE course included a weekly e-book text, video, audio, and Facebook group interactions. In addition, we participated in two group coaching calls that allowed us to ask Carrie Anne questions live. Hearing the voices of the beautiful women from our online community was a wonderful experience! 

Today, I'm going to share my top takeaways from the course with you. If the course sounds like something that would interest you, check out Carrie Anne's offerings on the French is Beautiful site. You can also follow her on Instagram @french is beautiful OR @theparisdarling for her latest course offerings and even more French content related to both language and culture. Now for my top takeaways from this course that I will carry with me always 💕: 

beauty: la beauté

That French girl je ne sais quoi we all envy is actually the result of very mindful self care, the result of focusing on inner confidence as much or more than on outward appearance. And perfection is never the goal. A few French girl beauty secrets: she takes the time to truly know herself, she feels at ease, and she rocks a classic red lip every now and then. 😉

love: l'amour

Si on sème de l'amour on recueille d'amour. If you sow love, you reap love. The French way is to spend quality time with those you love, to spend a beautiful Sunday with family, a dinner party at home with a close group of friends, to experience a feeling of oneness with votre amour, your romantic love.

wellness: le bien-être

My favorite topic of the course. L'équilibre. Balance. This is the French way. Seeking wellness is not a reaction to a high stressed life as it can be in American culture. Seeking wellness IS life. The French focus on experiencing joy and low levels of stress. Leaning on those tight knit relationship described above and focusing on solutions rather than sulking... that is the mindset of the French. "Work can wait. Love does not." Inspiring words from Carrie Anne. The French listen to their bodies and hearts, follow their joy, and as a result enjoy a reality where time seemingly creates more of itself. Moving forward from this course, I will definitely be focusing on mon bien-être first and foremost. 

style: le style

This encompasses all of the above: your inner feelings about yourself, your relationships, and the way you carry yourself and present yourself to the world. I'm going to quote Carrie Anne's beautiful words here:

"Your personal style is an imprint left upon whom you love, it is a reflection of where you go, it is inspired by what you do and it begins by knowing who you are + what you love." 

Notice that above there is no mention of clothing. Clothes are an expression of style, not style itself. You can read more about my journey with personal style here.



There you have it, a small dose of inspiration from my l'art de VIVRE experience. I say small because I truly am scratching the surface with big picture take aways. To dive deep and experience meaningful conversations and connections surrounding these topics, the course is absolutely the way to go. I cannot recommend it more highly. It was something I looked forward to each week and something I will dearly miss now that it's done... but I find joy in knowing a new course could be just around the corner, and I will be following French is Beautiful closely so that I can seize the next opportunity. 

I hope you have a beautiful week.

Warm wishes from me to you,

Inspiration de la semaine (inspiration of the week):

⚜ I made my first sale at the Fleur de St. Louis Atelier! This is an example of me moving towards my joy. The shop is starting small, but I never the less chose to commence. If you are interested, you can visit the shop here. Enjoy. :)

⚜The Fleur de St. Louis Instagram community hit 400 this weekend! The happiness I feel in my heart as I continue to follow my joy and grow connections with others doing the same is immense. Merci to everyone who is here for the journey! 

⚜Fleur de St. Louis now has a Facebook community! Search Fleur de St. Louis Communauté on Facebook and request to join. My dream is that this will be a space for connecting through the lenses of wellness, learning, and creativity with a little French flair, and much much more! 

August Giveaway: A personal creation from me to you!

Bonjour, readers! It has been such a wonderful experience connecting with you on a more personal level through this summer of Fleur de St. Louis giveaways. I'm hoping to do the same again next summer! :) June's giveaway featured creativity, July's giveaway featured learning, and so it would only be fitting that August's giveaway feature wellness. I have found that at the heart of feeling well is doing what you love. This month I'm sharing one of my passions with you. 

I've been getting back to my art lately. My bullet journal offers a wonderful creative outlet, but I also love watercolor (l'aquarelle in French - I adore this word). Reading Rae Dunn's France: Inspiration du Jour and Kate Schelter's Classic Style really inspired me to get back to it, and I am incredibly grateful.

    

(Click images for links to these beautiful books.) 

I intended to paint often on our European adventure and it just didn't happen as I'd imagined it would. When we got home and settled back in to every day life, I was craving it big time. One day I completely lost track of time, playing with my new Prima Marketing watercolor sets and painting a few of my favorite things. 

(Click the image for a link to these little watercolor "confections".)

(I hung my "classics" next to my closet to enjoy each day as I am getting dressed.)

It was so much fun, I asked a few of my closest friends if they would be willing to send me pictures of 10 to 12 of their "classics". Below you see my friend Megan's classics. I especially love the little tub of Vaseline. So her! She's planning to frame hers, too. :) 

There's something so special about creating a unique piece for someone that is 100% them. I would LOVE to do this for one of you! Here's how to enter the August giveaway:

Between now and Friday, August 18 at midnight CST, leave a comment here on the blog or on Instagram with your name and the first item that comes to mind when you think of your "classics". 

Ex: Lauren - navy and white striped anything! 

Tag a friend who you think might enjoy the Fleur de St. Louis community for a bonus entry! I will announce the winner on Saturday, August 19 and get in touch with you so that I can get started on your "uniquely you" art piece! I am so excited to share this passion with you!

Warm wishes and bon chance from me to you,

Joignez-vous à moi! Join me!

(Image from Carrie Anne's French is Beautiful - click for a direct link to her page.)

Bonjour readers, and happy Sunday! I hope it's a beautiful Sunday wherever you are. Here in St. Louis it's 68 degrees and overcast. We've got the coffee made and the record player on, and we can feel Fall slowly coming. It's my favorite time of year so I am so excited!

Another thing I am so excited about? Carrie Anne James of French is Beautiful launched a new course offering today that I am delighted to share with you! I have already featured Carrie's French Weekend e-mail subscription (FREE - simply subscribe on her site), and aujourd'hui she announced a 4 week online course that will cover topics in French beauty, style, love, and wellness: L'art de VIVRE! 

I've already secured my spot and it would be so fun if you would join me! Simply head over to her site via this link and sign up maintenant! I've never come across a francophile experience quite like this and my inner French girl couldn't miss this opportunity!

Warm wishes de moi à vous, 

Developing Your Personal Style from Within

I have had a complicated relationship with style. I adore it, but for a long time I didn't feel like I was hitting the mark I wanted to hit. I would envy the style of others, or find myself trying too hard to emulate someone else's style rather than channeling my own personal style. I would scour Pinterest for looks that caught my eye and try to recreate them to a tee. I've been a victim of fast fashion, buying cheap because I simply wanted more options or, in the moment, something new and "exciting". I would often wear these items once and never again. On one occasion I went and bought a dress for a wedding reception hours before because I felt I had nothing to wear. My closet was completely full. I was disconnected from my personal style and wasting too much money and energy without actually feeling like the best version of me. 

What I know now is that it was never about the clothes. Clothes are one way to present your best self to the world, but in order to do that you have to be in touch with who you are. I didn't need to be jealous of another's style, but simply to admire their self awareness and confidence, striving to find those inside of myself. I didn't need to copy Pinterest, but rather use it as a tool for inspiration to find what I like, what I'm drawn to. And that fast fashion? I never felt better when I had more, and I quickly realized less would free me of the stress and spending so that I could style myself with happiness and confidence. Have I "hit the mark"? No. Because just like I talked about in my Wellness Wednesday post a few weeks ago, perfection isn't the goal. On her blog The Simply Luxurious Life, Shannon Ables recently posted 10 Tips to Evolve into Your Signature Style. Here's an excerpt from her post:

"Gradually add the items you need as you find what you love. Have patience and don't feel you have to look "perfect" each time you pull an outfit together. What makes it ideal is the woman who wears it. What is your mood, are you enthusiastic about what you are doing? Are you happy with the life you are living? Clothing is fun, but it is an accessory to the life we are building for ourselves." 

I love this quote because Shannon honors the value of a specially curated wardrobe that expresses the true you, yet she looks beyond the surface to the woman within. I recently read Classic Style by Kate Schelter where Kate echoes Shannon's sentiment. She explains her personal style evolution:

"My style was growing into a reflection of the person I was actually becoming as I followed my dreams."

(Click to view on Amazon)

Outward style comes after first taking the time to know yourself and courageously move in the direction of your dreams. When you feel like the best version of you, you are ready to reveal yourself to the world. 

What I have  come to discover and what I wanted to share with you today is that style is a ton of fun. It's good to want to dress in a way that makes you feel your best as you go out into the world. But the inner journey is, in my opinion, at the core of personal style. It is when you embrace who you truly are, let go of insecurities, stop comparing, and follow what speaks to your soul that a real personal style is developed. It is, like everything worth pursuing in life, a journey. 

(Click image for original source)

It all comes back to the unique and wonderful you. 

Warmest of wishes and a very happy Monday from me to you,

Francophile Friday (n°7): Shopping in Paris from A to S

Sézane. Sept-Cinq. Sessùn. Sandro. All Parisian shopping favorites, and for good reason... and I find it fun that they all begin with S! I visited each of these shops on my recent trip to Paris and was just as charmed as I had imagined I would be. Today's Francophile Friday post features a few of my favorites: Sézane and Sept-Cinq. I will give you some background on these beautiful shops and take you inside, sharing my experiences and purchases! 

If you're a regular here at Fleur de St. Louis, you know I did my research before heading to my one of my favorite cities on earth. One resource I used that I can't recommend enough is The New Paris by Lindsey Tramuta. (I also had the chance to hear Lindsey speak and you can read more about that here.)

(Click the image to shop this book.)

Lindsey's section on new shopping and crafts features "unique Parisian brands...made with heart." Among these: Sézane and Sept-Cinq, of course! 

Sézane, France's premier online only brand, was founded by Morgane Sézalory in 2013. Here's a statement from the site describing the brand:

"When you order a Sézane piece, you are in effect, with one simple click, ordering unique designs directly from our finest workshops to your home. No shop, no intermediary."

You may be familiar with Sézane's collaboration with Madewell. Two of my favorite worlds colliding. Magic! Classic breton striped shirts embroidered with sweet little French phrases... what's not to love? And there was absolutely nothing not to love about L'Appartement Sézane located in Paris's 2nd arrondissement, the showroom where you can see and feel the items first hand, try on, and place orders. 

(Sézane, mon amour. 

Mes ballerines: Repetto)

L'Appartement Sézane's homey and elegant yet minimalist design truly makes it a gallery where the beautifully made, quality clothing and accessories shine. But be sure to stay up to date on seasonal collections and monthly "capsule" collections as favorite items go quickly! I ordered this adorable le baiser (the kiss) tee to commemorate a most romantic visit to Paris, but I was also admiring the beautiful shoes and lifestyle accessories. 

(Click image for its source and to shop Sézane!)

Another reason to love Sézane? Morgane Sézalory's story. Morgane is a self taught designer who started Sézane as a small business. In The New Paris, she tells Lindsey that "from the beginning, [her] goal was to find what made [her] happy and run with it professionally." I am always inspired by women who find a way to merge passion and career. When asked in an interview with Garance Doré what makes her designs "uniquely Parisian" she answers with the same attitude of passion and a constant quest for growth:

"I’ve never wanted Sézane to be defined with a specific style… Sézane is like a woman, it’s always evolving, it’s living."

 (A peek through the window of the beautiful L'Appartement Sézane)

⚜⚜⚜

Walk 15 minutes south into the 1st arrondissement and you will find Sept-Cinq nestled in the Forum des Halles, a métro station and shopping center. (Sept-Cinq also has a Pigalle location.) Lindsey gives some background on Sept-Cinq in The New Paris noting that it "began as a bonafide business-school project for Lorna Moquet and Audrey Gallier [and] became a bonafide entrepreneurial venture after graduation." This boutique offers a beautiful collection of small home items, stationary, shoes, and accessories. It also doubles as a salon de thé where you can enjoy tea or coffee alongside a delectable treat. 

Other guides that mention Sept-Cinq:

      

In 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go, Marcia DeSanctis credits her discovery of Sept-Cinq to a friend with a "brilliant eye". In Parisian Chic City Guide, Ines de la Fressange refers to it as "the quintessence of the city". With reviews like these, I absolutely had to check it out! 

Even with these glowing recommendations, I wandered to Sept-Cing on a sunny Sunday afternoon not truly knowing what to expect. What I discovered was an unbelievable treat! 

Enter the Forum des Halles location of Sept-Cinq. To your right, you are overwhelmed with a beautifully curated boutique. To your left, you are welcomed by a charming salon de thé. I instantly fell in love, and what was meant to be one stop on my afternoon of wandering turned into my afternoon. 

(Inside Sept-Cinq)

A creator of stationary myself, I spent much of my time admiring the beautiful cards, prints and books. I was tickled to spot this Paris poster by Garance Doré that I've had my eye on. Wandering through the boutique, I was pulled in by the soft touch and creative prints of these Meilleur Ami foulards de soie (silk scarves). While it was the Brooklyn that initially caught my eye, it was this version dotted with mini croissants that stole my heart. Zoé, one of the sales girls, showed me all of the ways the scarf could be worn: infinity, tied around the neck, as a headband... you can see another use I discovered below.

(My Meilleur Ami scarf dresses up this cognac tote beautifully.)

Heading to the register with my scarf and a few postcards for friends, I also spotted a small map intended for those discovering Paris alone. It seemed very fitting for my solo outing, so I added one to my stack. Zoé was also kind enough to open a Citix60 Paris guide for me to peruse while I enjoyed a goûter in the salon de thé. I ended up grabbing that, too, before I left...

      

After meeting Zoé in the boutique, I met Capucine in the salon de thé. I ordered a café filtre (a traditional drip coffee, the first I had seen in Paris) and she suggested the raspberry vanilla cake. It didn't take much to sell me on that!

There I sat, for about an hour, using the Citix60 Paris guide to add to the Paris list in my bullet journal and writing postcards to friends. Capucine even stopped by my table, intrigued by my journal, and provided me with a lovely opportunity to practice my French. We talked travel and exchanged contact information. I hope to be in touch with her again soon! It was a wonderful solo outing in Paris indeed. 

Considering this one Francophile Friday post only got me through describing TWO of my favorite Parisian spots, you know there is a lot more where that came from. I cannot wait to continue to share my Paris favorites and memories with you. Until then, enjoy a beautiful weekend!

Warm wishes and happy shopping (in Paris or wherever you are) from me to you,

Le Bric à Brac: Odds & Ends (n°2)

Coucou, readers! (Another, more casual way to greet en français.) I told you... I couldn't stay away ALL week. Maybe le bric à brac is becoming a vendredi tradition! This week's odds & ends have a lot of French flair, but you will also find some history, some yoga, and a little bit of travel. Speaking of travel, Tony and I are off for 3 weeks in Europe TOMORROW! It feels crazy that a long anticipated trip is finally here, and we could not be more excited. If you'd like to follow along, add me on Instagram @fleurdestlouis. I have a feeling most of my updates will be posted there. Enjoy, and bon weekend! 

⚜St. Louis's French History: Founder Pierre Laclède (interesting read!) 


⚜7 More Signs You're Moving in the Right Direction - another inspiring post from the Simply Luxurious Life on pursuing your dreams.


⚜French Chic: Decoding the Secrets of Paris Fashion via HiP Paris Blog (Loved this post!)


⚜Dreaming of Sézane... will definitely pay a visit to L'Appartement Sézane in Paris.


⚜Learn French through Yoga (Thanks Carrie Anne for sharing this link!)


⚜I'm taking the Busy Language Learner Course with Shannon from Eurolinguiste. I LOVED this piece of advice:

"The thing is, a lot of language learning involves memorizing and internalizing information, so short and focused study sessions are actually far more effective. Five minutes with flash cards, ten minutes reading about a specific grammar rule, or a fifteen minute podcast are time extremely well spent."  

⚜Currently packing for Europe with my Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 and these handy eBags packing cubes! 

As always, warmest of wishes from me to you,