la ValerosaMama in Paris
Posted on April 23, 2014
I live far from where I grew up, which means I often miss family events like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. This year, my mother had a milestone birthday, and we thought it would be fun to celebrate an important year by planning a little Parisian getaway, just us two ladies.
Here are some of my favorite photos of my beautiful Mama in Paris.
The sweet life
Posted on April 22, 2014
Since we were largely in Paris to celebrate my mother’s birthday, we thought it would be fun to try to visit at least one pastry shop everyday for a little something sweet. While we used David Lebovitz’s Paris Pastry App as our primary guide, as we wandered around the city, we found ourselves visiting any chocolaterie, patisserie, crepe stand, or ice cream cart that caught our eye. I’ve never eaten so many wonderful, and beautiful, sweet things in a single week. Here are a few of our favorites.
Le carrousel
Posted on April 21, 2014
On our last day in Paris, my mother and I were walking past the carousel at the Hotel de Ville. In a moment of whimsy, she decided that a few rounds on the carousel were in order, and before I knew it, she had paid the fee, found a pretty place to sit, and was going round and round looking as pleased as I’ve ever seen her.
It’s Friday, I’m in love
Posted on April 18, 2014
As much as I’d be happy to be back in Paris right now, ideally in this pink-treed park, I’m excited for the weekend. The Mister has a big birthday coming up soon, so we’re having a little party to celebrate on Saturday. It’s always wonderful to gather up friends and family, and, in a way, it feels like a little bit of a kick off for the fun and busy summer ahead.
Here are a few photos of a lovely park we found near the Jardin de Reuilly. Every single tree was blooming pink, and as we sat on the benches showers of blush-colored petals rained down us. Hope you have a great weekend!
Through the city streets
Posted on April 17, 2014
Paris has many charms. Monuments, palaces, parks, amazing food, and great shopping. But I’m more than content just wandering up and down the city streets, admiring the buildings, and watching the hustle and bustle of people going on about their everyday lives. Those city scenes are what I love most about Paris, and what I most look forward to about going back.
Wanderings: Jardin du Luxembourg
Posted on April 16, 2014
After such a long and bitterly cold winter, it feels so amazing to be able to sit outside, feel the sun on my face and not freeze my toes off. We whiled away several lazy hours in the Jardin du Luxembourg, admiring the tulips and the geometric rows of trees, but most especially the children sailing boats in the basin. Most of them were adorable and so well behaved, but one rambunctious pair had more fun beating the water and each other with the boat pole, than sailing the boat itself. We giggled for nearly an hour as their poor nanny chased them round and round the basin, trying to keep them from falling in, punching each other, or whacking passersby by with the boat pole.
Marché Baudoyer
Posted on April 15, 2014
An outdoor market is the perfect place to pick up a few things for picnic in Paris. A baguette here, some cheese at the stall over there, a few fresh strawberries, and you’re ready to find the perfect shady spot along the Seine to watch the world pass by. We stumbled across a few markets while we were in Paris. This beauty was open on a Saturday morning, not far from the Hotel de Ville.
It’s Friday, I’m in love
Posted on April 11, 2014
I’ve been having fun reminiscing about Paris through photos over the last few days, and have more to share over the coming weeks. But still, I’m happy to be spending a weekend at home snuggled up to my Mister. We first visited Paris together, and while I was happy to be there at all, many of my favorite places there made me miss him and others new ones I wanted to share with him. I’m already dreaming of another visit, this time together.
Wanderings: Le mur des je t’aime
Posted on April 10, 2014
It’s nice to visit certain places again and again. Eventually you make your way through all the major sights and can spend your time getting to know the city itself. The layout of the streets, the rhythms of the neighborhoods, and all the little details that lie just off the most beaten path. I have that feeling for New York, and, slowly, I’m getting it for Paris.
One of the details on my list for this trip was to visit Le Mur des Je t’aime, a mural in the little park just behind the Abbesses metro entrance. Upon the blue tiled wall, created by Claire Kito and Frédéric Baron, the words I love you are written in 250 different languages, interspersed here and there with pieces of a broken heart.
Wanderings: Awash in pink at Notre Dame
Posted on April 9, 2014
Notre Dame is lovely on any day, but haloed by these lush pink blossoms, it seems to have an extra special magic in early spring. They were in bloom the last time I was in Paris, and I was happy for a chance to see them cast their rosy glow on the cathedral once again.
This particular variety of tree was blooming on my wedding day, and ever since I’ve had a particular fondness for them. In my mind, I call them carnation trees, but I think they are actually Kwanzan Cherry trees. Any gardener friends out there know for sure?
The magic spell you cast
Posted on April 8, 2014
It’s hard to imagine anything lovelier than Paris in springtime, and my mother and I couldn’t have timed our visit any better. The city was aglow with freshly blossomed trees and tulips, and we basked in their glow, spending idle hours sitting on benches and enjoying the sweet smell of blooms on the breeze.
It’s Friday, I’m in love (with Paris)
Posted on April 4, 2014
Today is our last full day in Paris and I’m a little sad that the week has flown by so quickly. We’ve had the loveliest weather and have taken full advantage by spending hours in the various gorgeous parks and sitting at outdoor cafe tables.
I’ll be back next week with more photos from our travels, but for now, here’s what I’ve been up to on Instagram. Have a great weekend!
Springtime in Paris
Posted on April 1, 2014
Hello from Paris! It seems like every tree in the city is bursting with blossoms, and we’ve had a lovely time strolling around and relaxing on park benches.
It’s Friday, I’m in love
Posted on March 14, 2014
My favorite guy, in Paris
The weekend is here and I’m still missing my guy and counting the days until he is home. I’m on call Saturday and Sunday so I’ll mostly be spending time at home, watching bad movies on Netflix, eating avocado on baguette, and hopefully playing around with my new camera lens. Hope you have a great weekend!
Paris in black and white
Posted on November 7, 2013
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Last November, we snuck away for a few days in the Dominican Republic. This year, as our jobs and schedules grow ever more hectic, I’m wishing for a few lazy days to wander around Paris with my guy. We even went out for dinner at our favorite neighborhood French bistro over the weekend. We had a fantastic evening, but still, I’ve found myself going through photos from our visit last year. Here are a few black and whites.
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Paris, je rêve de toi
Posted on October 24, 2013
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Lately I’ve had Paris on my mind non-stop. Cobbled streets, ripe cheeses, crowded cafes, and blue rooftops. I’m hoping to make another little trip in the spring, just for a few days.
Until then, I’ll be going through my old photos and, perhaps, reading a few French food memoirs. I’ve been thinking of picking up Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris (Clotilde Dusoulier), Mastering the Art of French Eating (Ann Mah), and Cooking for Mr. Latte (Amanda Hesser). If you’ve read any of them, I’d love to hear what you think.
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A slight shift: To and Fromage
Posted on September 9, 2013
Saturday night’s cheese platter
Over the cheese course at dinner on Saturday, the mister joked that it was a shame I hadn’t called my blog “to and fro….mage.” I think my face immediately fell, because, honestly, it was the perfect name. Why couldn’t he have been so clever twelve days ago? Most likely we were eating cheese when I mentioned that I was going to try a blog for sharing photos.
Oh well. In honor of the change, here are a few photos of delightful cheese experiences we have had in recent times.
Digging in to a communal cheese platter in Paris
Cheddar feast on St. Patrick’s Day
Selection from our first Beaujolais Nouveau party (we’ve now hosted three)
Sampling Tulum cheese, which is ripened in a goat skin, on the Asia side of Istanbul
Parmesan and 80 year old balsamic vinegar from a friend’s family in Italy
Rainy day picnic in Paris
Cheese plate in Galata Square, Istanbul
Cheese, prosciutto, and pesto picnic on the Tiber River in Rome
