{read} Kiki and Coco in Paris

I'm completely smitten with Kiki and Coco in Paris by Nina Gruener. I learned about it the same way I learn about most of the coolest things I've ever learned about, via GOOP.com. I ordered it a few weeks ago, and it's been on constant nap-time and night-time story rotation. At first I felt a little silly about loving it so much because...did my kids really like it? Or was I just selfishly pushing my obsession with Paris and cute clothes on them?

Well, my 4 year old daughter asks to read it at every sleep and my 2 year old daughter was recently hanging halfway over her crib yelling "read more CooooooCoooooooooooooo!!!!" at 9:45pm. So if that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is. Equal parts stylish and sentimental, this book made me want to cry but also immediately go shoe shopping. It's a simple, pretty scrapbook of a Parisian adventure starring a little girl (Kiki) and her doll (Coco). This book has also put these really cool dolls by Jess Brown on my radar, which I really could have done without because they are ungodly expensive. But reallllllly want to put one in an Easter basket. As I told my husband, "I want to get this crazily expensive doll and then give all the other toys and dolls away and just start from scratch with nothing but wooden and hand-made loveliness." (He nicely pretended to know what I was talking about, and then quickly changed the subject).

Back to the book: it's adorable;  so please get it or check it out from your library or give it to someone you love as a present.

What books have you and your family enjoyed recently?

Book Review: Lessons from Madame Chic

I love reading those little "better living through cuter shoes" type books that you can find at Anthropologie or well-edited boutiques (or Amazon for typically a lot cheaper). I also love reading any sort of Parisian lifestyle guide. Plus I (impractically since I live in South Florida) took French from 7th grade thru college. So when I saw Jennifer L. Scott's Lessons from Madame Chic, I didn't think twice about zapping it to my iPad.

I expected the typical "wear scarves!...don't snack!...buy a little black dress!" type recommendations, but I did not expect to find so much thoughtful and authentic advice. Scott's chapter on the 10 item wardrobe is life-changing (or at least closet-changing). It explains why you should invest in basic wardrobe pieces, but that you can't just shove shove a cashmere sweater into a bursting-at-the-seams closet and expect to channel that effortlessly elegant je ne sais quoi. Lessons from Madame Chic outlines Scott's experience as a foreign exchange student living at the home of famille Chic. The reader learns from Scott as Scott learns from Madame Chic about style, food, exercise, cooking, entertaining, interior design and more. It's a lifestyle guide that's not full of frustrating Pinterest-y type scenarios that leave you feeling like a failure- but a real insight into the differences between the Americans and French and what we can all stand to learn from the latter. Other favorite (and unexpected) chapters are: Reject the new Materialism, Seek Out the Arts and Always Use the Best Things You Have (I am sipping from a rarely used wedding teacup as I write this).

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Lessons from Madame Chic, but I read the book before I read  Jennifer's delightful blog: The Daily Connoisseur. This might be backwards, but it worked for me because after reading the book & wanting more- I was then able to browse Jennifer's blog archives, and watch her charming and informative videos. I have no idea how she manages to make formality seem so down-to-earth and likable, but she really excels at it.

Anyhoo- if you're looking for a fun little gift (for someone else or yourself...) this book has my highest recommendation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Tell me, what books are you enjoying these days?

photos from paris

My mom called me a few months ago and asked me look at two important dates on my calendar: one was a book fair in South Carolina (exciting, but...) the second was a trip to France! 

As you can imagine, I did not need to check my calendar regarding the trip to France. I would cross off whatever was currently scheduled and be ready to go with a lengthy personal itinerary of museums, sights, shopping and food. 

Unfortunately when I returned from la-la land and tuned back into the conversation, I heard my mom wrapping things up with something along the lines of "well ok, if you're sure you don't need us for anything that week...we'll send pictures!" 

Hmmmph.

Here they are.

 Paris skyline

 La Seine

Notre-Dame 

Tour Eiffel 

Musee de Louvre

photos by Michael O'Bryon Photography (aka: my dad)