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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"Le Brunch" in Paris

Coucou readers, and happy Saturday! 

I'm here! I missed my Wednesday and Friday posts this week as I have been doing a lot of planning: some early wedding planning, back to school planning, and I even have some plans in the works to follow my dreams of further pursuing my passion for the French language. 

Does it sound like a lot? It's a lot. I've been getting through with the help of a simple mantra I learned earlier this week: "Things always work out for me." I know, it sounds a little overconfident, but the intention behind this mantra is to remind yourself that things will be accomplished and come together even if it's not in the way you originally envisioned. During overwhelming times this is really important for me to remember. 

And a little brunch break to breathe and recharge wouldn't hurt either...

Inspired by a delicious brunch with my friends Thursday morning at Half and Half here in St. Louis, I thought maybe it was time to bring "le brunch" in Paris to you! As Tory Hoen explains in her 2010 article on the Hip Paris Blog, "le brunch" has become part of Parisian culture just in the past several years. When Tony and I were in Paris, we took our brunch pretty seriously. One of my favorite meals, I had listed more brunch spots in my bullet journal guide to Paris than I did spots for any other meal. 

The first spot we tried: Claus Paris. This brunch spot made its way to the top of my list after it appeared on the Every Day Parisian Paris Guide, as well as the Lost in Cheeseland Paris Guide. Being two of my most sought after resources for everything Paris, I knew we couldn't go wrong. We didn't. :) Claus opens at 8:00am on weekdays, and so we decided to make our way over around that time. I'm really happy we did, because we were immediately asked if we had a reservation. I got nervous not knowing this would be needed, but being there as early as we were (and on a weekday) it worked out fine. We were actually seated right away in the cozy upstairs area complete with an open window to Paris and throw pillows for a little extra coziness. 

My order: Le Français
*Boisson chaude - I chose café crème.
*Jus de fruit frais - I chose fresh squeezed orange juice.
*Assortiment de 3 mini viennoiseries 
*Yogourt bio fait maison

(A delicious brunch at Claus)

Second spot: the classic Angelina salon de thé, bien sûr!  Once frequented by the likes of Coco Chanel and famous for its decadent chocolat chaud, I knew this was one spot I couldn't miss. Traditional and elegant, there was definitely a contrast from Claus' modern vibes. I was in heaven taking in my ornate surroundings as I sipped the richest cup of chocolat chaud I have ever had. My order was delivered on a small tiered serving stand for one. I felt pampered and I loved every moment. 

My order: Petit-déjeuner Parisien

*Chocolat chaud

*Jus d'orange

*Mini-viennoiseries: croissant, pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins

*Du pain avec beurre, confiture maison, miel 

(At Angelina - one of my favorite photos of me in Paris)

Finalement: Coquelicot in Montmartre. This was another spot recommended on the Every Day Parisian Paris Guide and a wonderful way to begin our morning exploration of the beautiful Montmartre district. 

My order:

*A bowl of chocolate chaud (You read that correctly and it was as amazing as it sounds.)

*A slice of brioche

*Half baguette

*Butter, jam, honey

*Fresh squeezed orange juice 

(Exploring Montmartre - Sacré-Coeur)

Are you noticing any patterns? A hot drink with an assortment of breads and spreads along with a refreshing fresh squeezed juice... I delighted in this combination time and time again because for me it was a dream. This is my favorite breakfast combination and it appears it is a favorite of the French aussi, so when in Paris...

Do you have any favorite brunch spots in Paris? I would love to hear your recommendations in the comments. Have a lovely August weekend. Maybe you will even make it to a favorite brunch spot near you. :)

Warm wishes from me to you,

Packing for Paris: My Travel Beauty Routine

(Our bathroom at the beautiful Hotel Bellerive 

in Zermatt, Switzerland)

Recently, I have been working to fine tune my beauty routine, finding not only what works best for my skin but also products that are healthy (read more on this here, here and here). When it was time to fill my dopp kit and cosmetic bag for Europe, it was incredibly important to me that I packed products that stuck to these standards (though as I've said before, I just do my best - there are no perfect products) and that would keep my skin feeling fresh  through several planes, trains and automobiles. Below, I will highlight what I brought and provide links in case you are interested in trying any of these products for yourself! Again, these opinions are honest and mine alone. 

Inside my Dopp kit:

⚜ACURE Facial Cleansing Gel (vegan and cruelty free): ACURE is a line that is easy to find at your local Target or Whole Foods. I had been using this particular cleanser for a while before heading on our trip so I knew it was one that worked well for me. It also comes in a convenient travel size, and because we chose not to check any luggage, adhering to TSA liquid regulations was incredibly important. What I love about this product: It has a nice fruity scent that isn't overpowering and leaves my skin feeling cleansed but not dry/taught as some cleansers can. It also does a great job of removing my makeup. 

⚜Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer (organic and cruelty free): While I like this product, it is the first of many healthy SPF moisturizers I want to try. I had already purchased this before our trip and the full size bottle meets TSA regulations. Because it works just fine for me and I don't want to be wasteful, I decided to continue to use it until I run out. Then I will try something new to see if I like it more. What I love about this product: I have incredibly oily skin and it is oil free so I don't feel greasy or shiny when I am wearing it. My make up also applies nicely on top. This is a mineral sunscreen (containing zinc oxide) meaning it acts as a shield and reflects the sun's rays away from the skin. What I am unsure about with this product: I don't love the scent. It isn't overly strong, but still not my favorite. In addition, it is fairly thick and takes some time to rub in completely (this can be true of mineral sunscreens in general). It does leave a white cast, but this is something I have gotten past as I also know that means my skin is being protected. If I find another healthy sunscreen I love I will report back! 

⚜Blissoma Peace Evening Calming Creme (vegan and cruelty free): This is the first product I purchased from Blissoma and it is still a favorite! And once again, the full size meets TSA guidelines. What I love about this product: It is made locally and honestly right here in St. Louis, MO. It is a light moisturizer that is easy to apply and blend, with an herbal scent that calms me into a peaceful night's sleep.  

⚜LAVANILA The Healthy Deodorant Vanilla Lavender (all natural): I have tried several aluminum free deodorants but have found myself circling back to this. Because it comes in solid form, I didn't have to cram it into my liquid ziplock which was wonderful. I could easily pack the full size. What I love about this product: While this deodorant (as with all aluminum free deodorants) is not an antiperspirant, it does do a nice job of blocking odors and leaving a fresh scent throughout most of the day. I only have to reapply once at most. In addition, aluminum free deodorants prevent that pesky yellowing that can occur on whites with antiperspirants containing aluminum. And the smell! I am a sucker for anything lavender, and this is just delightful! 

⚜Davines All In One Milk Lotion (focus on sustainable beauty): I adore my hair salon, Thirteenth & Washington, and discovered Davines products there. This All In One Milk adds hydration and shine, detangles, and controls frizz. What I love about this product: It truly does all of those things AND smells awesome! 

⚜ACURE Organics Dry Shampoo, Brunette to Dark Hair (vegan and cruelty free): Back to ACURE. Before I found this powdered dry shampoo I was using an aerosol. The smell was always overwhelming and I hated breathing it in. I was also nervous about bringing an aerosol in my carry on. Already a fan of the ACURE brand, I opted to try this for travel. AND it didn't count as a liquid! Perfect for my carry on. What I love about this product: no smell, blends in well, and truly cuts down on oils on a day when I don't wash my hair. 

Inside my cosmetic bag:

⚜Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation (cruelty free and more): A long time Bare Minerals user, I am an Alima Pure convert. I love the way this applies and blends, and better yet, I love knowing that it's healthy! 

⚜Almay Clear Complexion Concealer (This one doesn't meet the standards of health beauty, but I continue to use it because it covers my acne and acne scars like no other and blends well with my mineral makeup.) 

⚜HAN Skincare Cosmetics Pressed Blush in Coral Candy (organic and cruelty free): I was on the hunt for a healthy blush and decided to try this. It is now an absolute favorite. The Coral Candy color provides a natural flush with just a hint of shimmer that I find doubles as a highlighter, illuminating my face. 

⚜Couleur Caramel Long Eyelashes Mascara in Brown (vegan, Qualité France): Smells amazing! I know that's weird to say about a mascara but it's true! 

⚜Couleur Caramel Eyebrow Pencil in Light Brown (vegan, Qualité France): I find if I do nothing else, filling in my brows defines my face and makes me feel more put together. 

⚜Couleur Caramel Creamy and Shiny Lipstick in Glossy True Red (vegan, Qualité France): I wore a red lip almost every day in Paris, and now I can't stop. I love the look of toned town, natural makeup with a pop of red! 

What I would add next time:

⚜Blissoma Refine Clay Renewal Treatment (vegan and cruelty free): I got this product as a part of this trial kit, and I love the way it detoxes and exfoliates my skin. I was really craving a mask like this on my trip, especially after airplane travel. 

⚜Blissoma Smooth A+ Correcting Serum (vegan and cruelty free): Also a part of the trial kit linked above, this has become one of my absolute favorite products. My skin is prone to acne and this oil-free, anti-inflammatory serum really helps when cystic acne appears (especially on my chin).  

Interested in reading more about travel beauty? Check out these posts from some of my favorites for even more product recommendations! 

Garance Dore's of Atelier Dore - Travel Beauty 

Rebecca Plotnick of Every Day Parisian - Travel Makeup Bag

Whether you are packing for one last summer vacation or dreaming of future travels, I hope you enjoyed today's post. :)

Warm wishes 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,

Allora: A "Master of None" Tour of Modena, Italy

(Credit to Tony for most of the photos in this post.)

We are Master of None fans around here. Aziz Ansari and Alex Yang's Netflix original series is at the top of our list when it comes to winding down in the evenings. We especially love the beginning of season 2 when Dev (Aziz Ansari's character) is living abroad in Italy, most of which is set in Modena. 

I am familiar with Modena as it is just over 10 miles away from the home of my Italian family in Carpi, Italy. To give a little background on my connection to this family, I was fortunate to do a summer teach abroad in Italy in 2012. Alexandro, Chiara and Valeria welcomed me into their home and quickly became an important part of my life. Last summer, Tony and I hosted Valeria in St. Louis. This summer, we spent a week of our European adventure in their home. With Modena just a 13 minute train ride away, we knew we wanted to seize the chance to experience the city, Master of None style of course! 

This article was incredibly helpful in making this experience a reality. While it says you won't find most of what you saw on the show, we had a very enjoyable day walking in Dev and Francesca's (played by Alessandra Mastronardi) shoes.

From the train station, we made our way through Piazza Grande into the heart of old Modena. Just like Dev, our first stop was Bar Cappucino Da Angiolina where we grabbed due caffè and a croissant before hitting Mercato Albinelli. Dev takes Arnold (played by Eric Wareheim) here in episode 2. This is a market hall with fresh fish, meats, produce and pastries. We continued to snack our way through Modena, savoring meringues and crostata con ciliegia (cherry crostata).

After that, we stepped outside to grab a sandwich (for Tony) and un caffè (for me) at Bar Schiavoni, another spot that Dev and Arnold delight in together. As Dev and Arnold sing, "eating in Italy is my favorite thing" so when in Italy... 

 (Mercato Albinelli)

(Bar Schiavoni - Can you find us?)

Next, we journeyed to check out Menomoka. It is here that Dev and Francesca meet for coffee with friends and discuss the frequent use of the word allora in Italy. This is absolutely true. We heard it all the time! 

via GIPHY

We sat at the exact table that was used for filming, though it wasn't in the exact spot, for more coffee and another croissant. We even had the same server that they have in the show! 

(Menomoka)

Exiting Menomoka, we crossed the street to see Piazza San Francesco and stand where Dev and Francesca stood. This photo is just for fun... I took one of Tony, he took one of me, and allora... here are the results:

(Piazza San Francesco)

A walk along Via Canolino where Dev can be seen riding his bike was just the break we needed before drinks at Archer (where Dev takes Sara after lunch in episode 1).  And finally, we had to see L’Accademia Militare di Modena, in Piazza Roma before finishing the outing with a cold gelato treat. 

For Tony and I, Modena did not disappoint, and watching the episodes again after experiencing the places in real life has been a ton of fun. If you're ever in northern Italy, a Master of None tour could be the prefect way for you to visit Modena, too! 

Allora... that's all for now! I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you ever travelled in Italy? Which cities are your favorites to visit? I would love to know in the comments! 

Ciao for now and

warm wishes from me to you,

Le Bric à Brac: Odds & Ends (n°3)

Happy Sunday readers! Up to this point, Le Bric à Brac has been a Friday thing, but with our bags unpacked and the laundry done it seemed the perfect time to compile some of my favorite findings from the last few weeks and share them with you! 

⚜I've been loving my e-mails from Eurolinguiste. She recently shared some advice to help language learners simply get started. Her philosophy is that if a task can be completed in under two minutes, do the task right then and there. She adds:

"Obviously, you’re not going to finish your language study task in two minutes, but this idea is based on inertia. Once you get moving, there’s a good chance you’ll stay in motion and that two minutes will quickly become five, then ten, then twenty."

I'm also loving this Language Learning Reading Challenge. I don't think I will follow the challenge exactly (after all, it's already July) but I love the book suggestions! If you are a language learner and you haven't already, check out Shannon's site!  

⚜I recently read this article (10 Cliches About French Eating Habits That Are Actually True) and was shocked to read this quote:

"In the old Parisian cafés, where waiters are dressed in black and white, don’t expect any smiles or kind words of welcome. Don’t be surprised if the waiter show impatience if you take too much time to choose your plate. And don’t be surprised if, after that, he expect a tip from you."

Tony and I found our service in Parisian cafés to be some of the best we had on our entire European trip, and our servers always showed gratitude for our tips. I guess this goes to show you not take a stereotype at face value. It's best to experience for yourself. 

⚜I am constantly inspired by Rebecca Plotnick of Every Day Parisian. She recently posted for her one year blog anniversary, and as a fellow blogger this specific quote brought me much comfort:

"Throughout the last year, people have reminded me that they aren’t expecting a perfectly edited post it is more about the content." 

I try to edit very carefully when I post, but sometimes I can get too hung up or frustrated when I look back later and notice a small error. Rebecca's reminder that content can shine even if a few human errors slide in here and there is something I will be keeping in mind as I continue to write. This idea of perfection is something I will be exploring in a future post.

⚜ Just a fun little francophile tidbit from Frédéric of Talk in French:

"Many French couples will text their significant other on their way home «Tu as pris du pain? J'ai pris du pain.» (Did you get some bread?/ I bought some bread). Almost as a way to say "I am on my way home."

I always love these fun little sayings in other languages. :)

I hope you enjoyed these finds! 

Warm wishes from me to you,