A Long Distance Love Affair

Postcards from Paris #1 - January/February 2012

Belle Inspiration Magazine

It pains me to say this, but I have finally come to terms with the fact that I cannot return to my beloved Paris until next Fall (and this Fall isn't even here yet! SIGH). Mr. Gorgeous' work schedule and motherhood take precedence - je sais que vous comprenez. Better yet, my Paris inspired cyber-jewelry-shop - Sistah - is finally beginning to take flight. Though I still count myself among the fledgling, sales are dramatically picking up and, come September, my bracelets will be carried in two brick & mortar boutiques (and I have my eye on three more). So I'm busy, busy, busy ;-} But this has left me with a conundrum...

Postcards from Paris was born during a girlfriend champagne luncheon with the fantabulous Madame Mimi Bleu (for the full story see here). The premise was simple - create a themed feature for Belle around a few of my photos of Paris - create postcards from Paris. And that's what I did. Postcards has been a resounding success and a supreme joy to write. Bien sur, my postcards are reliant on my returning to my beloved city often - hence my conundrum: how to keep Postcards alive until I can once again resume my regular sojourns to Paris? My solution? Write Postcards TO Paris. Again, the premise is simple: the same visual format and combination of journalistic and artistic content about finding Parisian oases in the States. And I knew just where to start...

Postcards to Paris #1 - July/August 2013

Belle Inspiration Magazine

"Even though I'm not right there, 

we still share a long distance love affair."

- Carl Thomas

For nearly a decade ma mere divine and I have been members of an informal club of Francophiles. Three to four times a year we attend a prix fixe 'French Masters' wine dinner hosted by our favorite States-side French restaurant - a lavish five course, wine paired dinner followed by an art lecture and visual presentation by a curator from the Art Institute of Chicago. This night's theme - Impressionism, Fashion & Modernity: 1860-1880. Our evening always begins with champagne and catching up with too seldom seen friends. Then dinner began...

First course:

Oysters w/ Leek & Bacon Sauce

Chilled Melon & Blueberry Soup

Rustico Pepper Cheese w/ Raisin Bread

Patch Block Sauvignon Blanc

*Bien sur, mom and I opted for champagne ;-}

We were also treated to a short wine lecture by a representative of one of the wine houses that provided some of the wine for the evening, Vidal-Fleury

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song 

above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 

- J.R.R. Tolkien

For a glorious hour, the Art Institute of Chicago's curator shared some truly stunning images from their permanent Impressionist collection and took questions.  Through it all, mom and I sat at our usual table in the far corner (by far the best view of the room and screen, the perfect people-watching perch), laughed and talked about Paris. Through it all, I discreetly took pictures with my trusty Nikon. And although we were 4,000 miles away, for a night we were in our beloved Paris ;-}

As the night unfolded I realized that I had made the right decision. For years before I realized my dream of regular sojourns to Paris, I had appeased my Paris-Jones by finding and  piecing together bits of Paris into a soul satisfying life-tapestry here in the States: decorating a room in my home, planning a party, a floral arrangement, revamping my wardrobe, a place, an event, a moment. Heck, that's what I do here at Pour l'Amour! And that has increased ten-fold since my regular visits began; because of them. I look forward to finding and sharing States side Parisian inspiration with you and Belle's readers. I'm working on my next Postcard to Paris and I can't wait to share it with you ;-}

*I used none of the photos that appear in my inaugural 'Postcards to Paris' in the latest edition of Belle Inspiration Magazine and have written new content for this post. To enjoy my first Postcards to Paris, in its original entirety, you'll have to get Belle's latest edition - please do, I'd love to know what you think.

Vivre! Rire! Aimer!

Temple