Atypical 60

It’s no surprise that I turned 70 earlier this month.  My celebration lasted quite a while from a weekend in New York City that was gifted by my three children to a fantastic dinner last night at our favorite restaurant—Springmill Café in Conshy!

I’m still over-the-moon thinking of my NYC weekend!

And while I am absolutely blessed to have made it to 70, there have been changes that, I would be lying and completely dishonest if I said they didn’t bother me.

One of those changes is in my skin.  Those changes occurred starting at around 50 years, with noticing more lines and wrinkles and slightly drier skin both on my face and body.  I think the biggest changes, though, took place during the past few years.

My hands now look like “old lady” hands.  Those age spots and crinkles are quite visible.  However, I did manage to, after decades, grow out my natural nails and get regular manicures.

Hands are the biggest sign of age. I remember a time when my hands were as smooth as a baby’s behind.  They still are but with the texture of a baby hippo!

It’s the changes in my face that I’ve noticed the most. My complexion has gotten ruddier.  Spots on my face seemingly popped up overnight—and I am not talking about cute freckles either!  The drier skin has made exceptions for actual dry patches.  The eyelids have morphed into crepe paper, making it difficult to apply liner.

Don’t let anyone fool you. THIS is 70-year old skin without any makeup or enhancement.  Decades of sun damage. Age spots. Wrinkles. Ruddiness and uneven skin texture–and disappearing brows. It ain’t pretty folks.  But I know how to work it!

UPDATE:  In February of 2024, I wrote a blog post regarding Il Makiage Foundation.  In the course of a year, this foundation no longer works for me.  I no longer order and have had a challenge trying to stop my subscription but I am pushing the dates back until my card expires.  My skin has just changed and I’m annoyed that Il Makiage makes it difficult to cancel.   Here’s my review in case you hadn’t read it.  Il Makiage Review

Application of makeup has also changed.  I’m more mindful of how I’m applying.  And, as less-is more at this juncture, ALL foundation has been thrown into the trash and my new best friends are skin tints.

Not allota product can change the appearance so let’s go……….

Another thing of note.  Since I’m purchasing less makeup—I’m spending more on individual items and brands—simply because I am worth it. Add to the fact, drug store prices have risen astronomically so for a few dollars more, I’m treating my skin!

So let us commence and I shall share the products that I’m using presently and I’ll let you know which are my favorites!  Note. This is cosmetics only. I’ll get to skincare in another post but I do make sure skin is cleaned, and serum and moisturizer is applied!

And Embryolisse remains my GOAT of moisturizers before applying cosmetics.

The concealers and/or eye brighteners.  Call them what you will. They are applied to the eyes to brighten, conceal blueness and discoloration.  I use two and will tell you which I prefer.

First, DRMTLGY Luminous Eye Corrector.  Yes. I ordered two products from this brand. This Eye Corrector is one of the products.  It is said to cover discoloration and acts as a “brightener” and also “vanishes” fine lines.  The cost? 44 USD.

The applicator actually feels great and gives a cooling effect when applying. The issue is that when you “pump” the tube, way too much pruduct comes out. And when one is spending forty-four bucks, that can be very wasteful.

It definitely does the job with brightening–I’ll give them that.  And the application is smooth. But my lines do not vanish.  That is what drives me crazy.  There is no need to to add it vanishes fine lines.  Just go with the brightening and correcting and it’ll be fine.

Is it aging and mature-skin friendly.  Yeah. “Vanishing” fine lines withstanding, it is friendly to older skin.

Do I like this? Yeah. But for the price, I would not repurchase. Overall the product is good but the amount of money for too much product to be pumped out unless you know to use a LIGHT HAND, I can’t justify the repurchase. Again–it’s a good product and if it were less than 25 USD, I would repurchase…

Overall, a good product but for $44, I cannot justify a repurchase.

Glossier Stretch Balm Concealer:  I love this. And have been using it for years.  In fact, I have two unopened boxes as backup.  In my humble opinion, Glossier products, while advertised mostly to attract a younger demographic, are incredibly mature-skin friendly!

I’m going with a stock photo because you do not want to see what my little pot looks like. It’s almost all gone….

 

The texture LOOKS like it could be dry and cakey but it isn’t. Honestly, this is the greatest concealer.  I don’t use it only on my eyes.  I have a very red nose and it covers the redness. This is a great product!

Here’s the thing about this product. It is definitely a godsend for dry skin.  I’ve read many reviews that state it is somewhat greasy.  It isn’t.  At least on drier, mature skin it isn’t greasy at all.  I prefer this to the DRMTLGY correcter because it does correct and does a better job at covering discolorations while brightening at the same time.  I apply with a tiny beauty sponge and it does a beautiful job. The wrinkles stay but this is quite hydrating.  And at  22 USD, it is a very, very good deal.  Glossier Stretch Balm Concealer is also great in that you do NOT need a lot of product.  I’ve had my opened pot for over a year. This is a definite repurchase for me.

The Main Event:  FACE TINTS Originally, this post was to be exclusively about the face tints that I use and like and or don’t care for.  However, you know me and my penchant for jumping from one thing to another.  But, these are the products I really wanted to focus on.  All but one of these are great.  Let’s move on, shall we?

Stay with me friends–I know this is gonna be long but all but one are worth repurchasing!

WAIT!  I left one of my favorites out of the group! How could I do this?

Serum Face Tint by Typology.  So nice, I purchased twice…

Well, I didn’t completely forget. I added it to a previous photo meant for this post!

Starting off with the  Serum Face Tint by Typology I’m a fan.   You need but a drop or two to apply the product to your face.  NOTE: I apply all the face tints with my fingers and smooth with my palms.  It’s the best way and the coverage is just enough to get rid of the ruddiness and even out the skin.  Flaws such as age spots aren’t going to be completely hidden but remember these are NOT foundations. They are a different product alltogether.

The formula is more of a liquid but it is nice and light.  What I’m NOT crazy about is the “dropper”.  Although it is very sanitary, I have to squeeze the rubberized top a few times to get a drop or two. It isn’t a deal-breaker though because the product is very good.  At 44.90 USD, Typology Serum Face Tint is a bit pricey but for use on the entire face with a minimum amount of product, it’s worth it.

Now, I’m gonna go there.  The product is made in France. There are no stores in the States where you can purchase–the products can be purchased online only and the only “store” they are sold at is Printemps in Paris.  I do not know if the pricing has been affected by the tariffs but since tariffs are now in effect, I’m not purchasing until further notice.  I have enough products.

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer. This is the one I am not crazy about–in fact, I am purging it.  

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer:  This was purchased some time ago in the clearance area of TJ Maxx.  It has since been repackaged and, I believe rebranded. The cost is, at Nordstrom, 48 USD. I don’t think it is worth it, but other might disagree.  For me, it is too yellow.  Years ago, when Oona was in high school, she was a fan. I purchased the foundation and it was just too yellow. Some things don’t change.  I found this to have a nice texture but when the shade doesn’t work. It isn’t worth the effort to keep it.  Luckily, I paid about six bucks for it.

MAC Studio Radiance

VERY liquidy but does a decent job of evening out the skin tone!

I have NO idea why this is referred to as a fact and body FOUNDATION. My thought process is this USED to be called a skin tint but I do believe it was rebranded because perhaps as a skin tint it didn’t sell.

There is definitely a learning curve to this product because it IS very liquidy but once you get the gist, it’s smooth sailing.  I use my fingers and hands and, at times, pat with a beauty sponge. I use this only on my face and not my body!

Anyway, (because we all know that AnywayS is not a word) this product is very good. I purchased the old skin tint by MAC and purchased this and they are both the same. Light coverage. Second skin. It’s fine and at 44 USD, it seems to be the average price of these tints!

THIS.  Perfect for summer and any outdoor activities all year.

ELTA MD UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen:  Having had skin cancer thrice, when I’m outdoors–which is mostly in summer because in winter I hibernate like a momma bear, I purchased this at my dermatologist’s office.  What a shock when I received a full-price refund because my medical insurance covered the cost! and at 42 USD that was a nice surprise.

The texture is akin to a mousse. The pump distributes the perfect amount of product.  This comes out of the can looking darker but like a miracle just blends into your skin to enhance your natural skin tone.  At first, it feels just a tad dry, then the dryness dissipates and it feels like nothing! This is a summer staple.

This sunscreen is EXCELLENT and, if you can be lucky to purchase from your derm, maybe your medical insurance will reimburse you!

You can see from the looks of the cap that I use this A LOT! And I do!

GLOSSIER Perfecting Skin Tint: *Sigh* Why doesn’t Glossier start marketing this to mature audiences?  Again, like the MAC skin tint, there was a learning curve to this because it is very liquidy.  However, once you get it, you can’t help but have this on hand at all times.  This filthy-capped bottle is my fourth over the course of a few years.  I used to switch between foundation and skin tint but now, it’s purely the tint.  On days when I ponder whether to just go bare-faced or not, I reach for this.  Again, I apply with fingers and palm and it just blends in beautifully.  It doesn’t cover. It just leaves a nice finish to my skin and at this point–many days, that’s all I want.  Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint comes in at 28 USD for a 1 oz bottle.  I have to say, Glossier products are priced VERY fairly and are so worth the money.  My only gripe with the brand is they don’t realize who mature-skin friendly their products are.  It’s a shame!  But then, maybe the pricing would rise so I’ll keep my mouth shut.  For now.

I like this much better than the corrector. And it’s more cost-effective.

DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer  How can this be 29 USD when the small corrector is 44?  Explain this to me because I am confused.  This is a GREAT value for the money.  It is the best product I’ve ever purchased from Instagram advertising. Not a mousse, but not a runny liquid, it is somewhere in the middle. I like the pump as a ton of product doesn’t pour out.  It looks darker than when applied, and, again, goes on like a second skin.

You can subscribe to this product and will save a few dollars as the subscription price is 23.20 USD but I would be hesitant to subscribe and here’s why:  I subscribed to I’l Makiage.  The product is impossible to cancel and my only recourse is, as explained earlier in this post, to wait till my credit card expires or pushing back the date of the next order.  I am not a fan of subscriptions but you can use your judgement on that.  I think the 29 dollar price point is very fair.

OVERALL Thoughts on Skin Tints:  I’m a fan.  Trust me, aging  wreaks havoc on your skin–especially if you’ve been a beach lover or sun lover all your life.  Sun damage can be controlled but it cannot be reversed. Neither can the process of wrinkles or ruddiness or age spots and yada yada.  However, we can enhance what we have with products and these skin tints are wonderful for aged skin.  The key is chosing what works for you.

Since I have various brands, I rotate them.  Nothing special to my method with the exception of the Glossier. I really do use it on days when I have to ponder going bare faced–usually to work.

WAIT! THERE’s MORE!  You really didn’t think I would stop at the skin tints–dis you?   Before I go on, however, you know how much I despise shilling?  And I never want my blog to turn into a sea of advertisement. That’s why if I recommend a product where I receive a commission, I am transparent about it. Below is that product. And it is effing great…..

The greatest gel eyeliner for mature eyes……… Drumroll please…

Revant Cosmetics Gel Pencil Eyeliner:  First off, this is advertised for  Mature eyes and, I have to say, it is true.  I stopped wearing eyeliner a while ago. It was just becoming an annoyance to me.  The liquid liner was getting stuck in creases and just became one big mess.  Pencils were skipping on the crepe paper texture of my lids and when I tightlined, the liners were settling on my lower lids.  I’m not even going where the liners turned into “gunk” and collected in my tear ducts. That drove my husband cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and he was constantly running after me with a tissue to wipe the gunk off.

It’s unfortunate because  wearing glasses–without liner my eyes have a tendancy to disappear.  The other unfortunate thing is my lazy-crossed eye. Eye liner allowed me to use the liner so that my eye could appear a bit more normal.

Then something happened.  Revant reached out to me to see if I wanted to try their liners.  I said yes but my expectations were low.

Oh yes.  My low expectations were low for a VERY short time!

I was sent a box of the various colors of pencils.  Black. Charcoal. Brown. Green. and Purple.     All the colors are wonderfully intense with, for me, the exception of the purple. The purple doesn’t make my eyes pop and I look a bit as though I was crying.  Which, is no big deal because not every color works for everyone.    And because my daughter’s coloring lends itself better to brown brow products and mascara and liner, I gave her the liner–and she loves it!

A boxfull of liner!  But did they do the job?

Surprisingly, I was blown away with the green.  Green shadow has never worked for me at all–but this green gel liner pencil works beautifully. It’s crazy! The green is intense and just really looks nice with my hazel eyes.   I use the black, the charcoal and the green on rotation.

But–is the gel eyeliner worth the 20 USD for one pencil?  Is it worth buying multiples as the price is lowered per each when you buy two or three at a time?

Yes. It is. My crossed-eyes are extremely happy.  THIS LINER STAYS PUT!  It’s astounding.  The liner doesn’t collect on the bottom waterline when applied to the top for tightlining.  The liner glides on and doesn’t skip or snag in those crepe-paper spots on the lids.  My husband is thrilled because he is no longer wasting tissues and running after me because there is no gunk collecting in my tear ducts!

The sharpener really works to keep the pencil pointy!

And, having sensitive eyes, application is a cinch.  There is also an added sharpener at the end of the pencil.  This is greatly appreciated because lord knows how many sharpeners I own that don’t work on every pencil. I love a sharp point and this works without wasting a ton of product.

Honestly, if you are a fan of eyeliner, as I am, then this is an epic liner.  The folks at Revant have also given me a code:  ATYPICAL allowing you to save ten percent on your order. That is in addition to any other sales the brand has.    I’m going to use my own code to order more!

Other Bits:  I flip flop between eyeshadow sticks and powder. My preference is powder and always neutrals as the sticks can dry out and surprisingly, can be difficult to work with.

Powder:  I ALWAYS powder under my eyes.  Why?  One word:  Mascara.  Powdering lightly keeps the mascara from turning me into a racoon-eyed monster.  The powder that I use is Chanel. It is so finely milled it is like air. It does not cake up. It is beautiful.

Contour and blush. I’m not big on contour because I’m lazy AF. If there is a special occasion, I’ll add and I do prefer the Fenty stick in Amber.  I’ve had it forever and I’m sure it’s expired but it still does the job.  Same with blush. I  have liked the Tarte Cheek Stain  for over a decade. Mine is so old that the packaging has changed but I checked on the website and it’s on sale for 15 USD so if you are interested.  Again, I’m sure this is expired but I don’t care. No welts have appeared on my face yet.

So that’s it.  I do want to thank the folks at Revant for sending me the eyeliners and if I am raving, then you know those shadows are excellent. Give ’em a try. You won’t be disappointed!

See? From this to that! It doesn’t take much. Just some face tint and a great liner and some gloss on the lips and a great head of fake hair and you’re good to go!

It has been a while since my last blog post but mentally, I am not there.  The effects of the political administration have made me both physically and emotionally ill.  However, I need to shake it off and so, this past weekend was the well-needed cure….

In three weeks, I will be 70 years old. Truth be told, it isn’t the easiest birthday to come to terms with. But this past weekend was perfect!  My three kiddos, Jake, Roman and Oona treated me (along with my husband) to a weekend in New York City.

And a fine early birthday it was!!

Jake flew out from LA but was in the city for business purposes.  Oona flew in from Cincinnati and Roman..well, he lives in the city so he took the subway to be with us. It was a fantastic time from Friday afternoon to late Sunday morning.  I couldn’t have rubbed Aladdin’s lamp to wish for a better time.

Here’s how it rolled:

Friday:   Vincent picked me up at work at noon.  We were blessed with weather that welcomed the beginning of the new spring season.  After dropping Chippy off at PetSmart for the weekend, we were on our way.  Check-in at Hotel Chelsea was at a great time of 3:00 PM.  Jake took care of the reservations so everything ran smoothly.

Casually dressed for our drive into The Big Apple.  I’m wearing big NYC hair too! Nashville by Margu wigs! Don’t mind the mess. I’m transitioning my winter clothing for the summer!

No traffic as we made our way from the PA and NJ Turnpikes to the Holland tunnel and finally, to our destination.

Friday afternoon 1PM headed to the Holland Tunnel…

No traffic. Beautiful Day. Clear to see the skyline!

And now–we’re in the City. Ahhh. It’s so beautiful!

We arrived at the Hotel a few minutes before check-in. And, as always, a practitioner of time management, I ran from car to front desk to get a parking voucher for our car.  The hotel had a discounted pricing for a garage around the corner. And, our room was ready.  I headed back to the car, handed my husband the room key and told him to drop our bags in the room so we could drive around the corner to the garage.

We’ve arrived!

Marilyn is seated next door. Greeting us with a ukulele tune!

Bags dropped off, my husband told me I would LOVE the room, and off we went.

Spring in the city.  Depending where you are, the east and west ends of Manhattan can have a wind-tunnel effect due to the rivers Hudson and Harlem.  The side streets were windy but, the warmth of the sun made the walk back to the hotel more than bearable.

There weren’t a lot of people walking on side streets due to the wind!

*** Of note:  Back in the late 1970’s/early 80’s one of my friends lived in Chelsea, not too far from the hotel.   It was a great time to be young and living in the city.  Rents were affordable.  Bar drinks were cheap. There was a grittiness that was appealing and slightly romanticized.  NYC had not become completely regentrified yet and there was a charm that could be appreciated by those of us who lived there.

Now, Chelsea, although retaining much of its charm, is turning into Cityburbia with fast-food joints and Fed Ex centers and the annoying bike lane.  Guiliani’s Disneyesque Times Square it making the way downtown, and I do miss the grittiness of the city. But–that’s another story and that’s change.

Back to the hotel.

I was astounded at the old-school beauty of the Hotel Chelsea.  Doors leading to corridors with elaborate chandeliers overhead.  Crown molding which I, in my mind, had visions of taking a crowbar out, dismantling the molding and bringing it home.  Paintings in the hallways were fun.  Artistically designed to please the guests—it was like walking back into time.

Plenty of old-world charm and oh boy, if these walls could talk!

Our room was even greater.  I almost cried at the beauty of the hardwood floors.  They brought to mind memories of our house before moving to Long Island and visualized every apartment in Manhattan that I’ve lived in.   The room was perfect!  Nice closet space.  The bathroom’s deep tub and golden fixtures made me smile.

The hardwood floors made me misty-eyed.

The bed was incredibly comfortable!

And for those having a throwback to the 1970’s, the name of the hotel is embriodered on the sheets–just in case you wake up not knowing where you are!

The loveseat and cushioned chairs gave a comfort of being in one’s favorite sunny nook at home.

The furnishings were delightfully funky and quirky and I loved that!

Tons of fun works of art in halls, rooms and throughout the hotel made us smile!

It was a pleasurable place to rest before meeting up with the kids.  Roman arrived first, and was impressed with the room.  Then Jake, arrived and a few minutes later, Oona.  She met one of her friends who was working in the city and they caught up on old times.

Everyone loved the room and Vincent and I suggested before dinner, we head to the Hotel’s bar for cocktails on us!  As mom would have it, I asked Jake for the millionth time “do you think you’ll move back east—to New York.”  And, with a Cheshire Cat grin, he responded “I have something to tell you…”  He broke the news to me that he and his girlfriend of many years had purchased a home in LA.   I guess that was my closure.  Anyway, there are enough bedrooms in the house for multiple guests so hopefully, we will be spending Christmas in California!

LA! Home of the SNL skit “The Californians”.  Maybe I’ll become one!  “Ouuuu, mah son is, like, sooo Californian”  and I can’t wait to get there and envelope myself in the Cali Culture!

Downstairs at the Hotel’s Bar area, it was nice to see a crowd on a Friday evening–I haven”t experienced that since my days on Wall Street–fun times!  Our host seated us in an area of living room vibes!  A series of large rooms across from the bar area lent itself well for many patrons.  There was a wedding reception in one room.  And in ours, people unwinding from a busy week.  We enjoyed catching up with each other while enjoying perfectly-blended drinks then it was off to dinner.

A toast to the weekend! As usual, my big mouth is opened! We had a cocktail blast!

On this Friday evening, the wind died down from the afternoon and we walked from the hotel to The Cookshop. It has been a while that I have dined in a restaurant with a youthful and fun vibe and The Cookshop was it.  Jake has been here before and said the food was good. He wasn’t lying!

Dinner at Cookshop!

We started off with Deviled Eggs which, admittedly, I was envious. They were better than mine!  We also had the focaccia which was served with whipped ricotta flavored with lemon and Rosemary.  Diet begone for a bit—the carbs are getting’ in my belly! The oysters we ordered were incredibly fresh and more delicious than Garron Noone!

Yum!  I didn’t take a lot of pics because we were having fun and eating.  The oysters were extremely fresh.  The dipping butter for the Focaccia was out of this world. 

I had the spaghetti because it’s Lent and I’m not eating meat on Fridays.  Vincent had a pizza, Roman, a burger; Jake had the very healthy Fluke and Oona opted for a pork chop. Lots of lively conversation and good times.  There is nothing that can be said derogatorily about service in NYC restaurants. Service was outstanding. Overall, it was wonderful food and a fantastic time.

The family that dines together…loves food and stays together!

A slow walk back to the hotel on the side streets adorned with beautiful brownstone homes.  I couldn’t help but wonder just what do people do for a living to be able to afford living in the city in such magnificent homes.  Not all of them are millionaires. Some have been handed these homes down as an inheritance and some..well, they were smart enough to buy when nobody else wanted them. But why can’t I live back here???

We spotted this at the same time. I fell in love with the owners without even knowing who they are. I love NY!

After we bid good night to Jake and Oona at their hotel and bit Roman farewell at his subway stop, it was off to an incredibly peaceful sleep on a very comfortable bed at the Hotel!

Saturday:   Rise and shine! And I deserved a hot soak in the oversized tub!  Lots of Epsom salts, and thinking about the previous evening put a smile on my face but today was to be a busy one.  After getting dressed, I enjoyed two Nespresso’s while waiting for the kids to arrive.

This tub though.  Deep and wide and like a mini-spa.  I could have spent all morning soaking but I had things to do and places to go!

Knowing it was going to be a busy day, I wore my old reliable J. Crew Pixi pants from the year of the flood, a turtleneck, light scarf and loafers. All I needed to change for dinner was my shoes!

The day was gorgeous. That early spring day where the sun is shining and when you take that first step outdoors, it’s brisk and cool, but as you begin walking, you end up carrying your outerwear!

Could not have asked for a better day! The sun was shining.  The weather was warm. It was delightful!

We walked over to The Smith, 27^th and Broadway but first made a flea market stop.  It was fun to browse through but better deals can be found at a local thrift shop.  The Smith was buzzing!  And a good part of it was it being the first glorious weekend of spring.  Families with young kids. Lone diners.  Couples. Large groups.  It was fun to be in a lively, and not subdued atmosphere!

If you’re in NYC, might I suggest stopping at one of The Smith locations for brunch.  We were at the Nomad location.  

Another wonderful meal!

I had Shrimp & Grits and those grits were outstanding!  Vincent went with a plain salad—which is why he is a thin Frenchman and I have a belly that could house a baby kangaroo. Jake went with the Ranchero Scramble a Tex-Mex blend dish, Roman opted for Avocado Toast and Oona the Smith Eggs Benedict.  We were happy and stuffed and ready for more walking when we left.

Chock-full of shrimp and real grits, this was just what I needed!

The purpose of this constitutional was to head to the Palace Theatre to see Glengarry Glen Ross starring Bill Burr, Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKeon.  More on that in a bit.

Who knew an early birthday weekend would be so epic?

We made a side stop. Roman was smart enough to have the foresight of knowing we would all need to use the bathrooms so he got us passes for Rock Center!  They were well-appreciated! We had a little tour of the SNL studio where he works then it was on to walk to the theatre. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a play.  Kinky Boots was the last one and my favorite play has always been Albert Innaurato’s Gemini, which I was lucky enough to see Danny Aiello in—twice! We are going back a bit.

A look upward at the SNL site.

Me and my babies. “Live from New York…”

It truly was a fun afternoon!

My stepdaughter, Claire, was a part of the Glengarry treat but was unable to be there.

The play was a hoot—a dark comedy with very dramatic moments.  The best cursing play of all time.  Even I can’t curse with the finesse of these guys—and I have a very astute foul mouth!

What a cast…

And for me, it was even more exciting to see David St. Hubbins aka Michael McKean in the play!

Seriously though, watching these powerhouse actors was a goosebumps-on-your-arms experience . It is always a thrill to see stellar theatre acting and the comedian Bill Burr was the most natural—my theory is he’s used to stand up comedy and preforming live.  It was a full house and we all enjoyed it.

The Palace theatre–all seats are great…

I was able to snap this pic as the cast left the stage.  The standing ovation was well-deserved!

Because we had to hurry it up a bit for dinner, we took the subway halfway back to the hotel.  JHC, I miss the NYC subway so much.  The older I get, the more I despise driving. I lack patience and there are way too many arrogant drivers.  I long to just be able to walk up the street, get into a subway car and ride underneath all the bad drivers hovering on the road above me.

See how happy I am to be on the subway?  As one who despises driving in the suburbs and who misses public transportation–I was in my glories!

We had an hour to get ready before heading downtown to Le CouCou.  This was going to be a dinner event!  The sister restaurant to La Bourse et la Vie in Paris.  Both run by the same chef but the one in NYC has a Michelin star!

All dressed appropriately, yes. Appropriately, there is an underlying dress code at LeCouCou. No ties or jackets are required but it is suggested to elevate your mode of dress for dining. No baseball caps or those mesh shorts men wear in January.  Dress nice. And it is always a pleasure to dress for dinner. It was an even better pleasure to see my children dressed so well.  They always understand the assignment.

Meeting up in the hotel lobby to head to dinner!

When we arrived at the restaurant, I was not prepared for what lied ahead of us. It was spectacular.  The aesthetic was elegant—magnificent chandeliers, beautifully set tables, high ceilings, subdued lighting.  All the boxes were checked.  The service was wonderful too. From the moment we arrived, we were treated as though we were regular patrons.  I received Birthday greetings from all!

Le CouCou was abuzz.  And it is a magnificant restaurant!

Table for five–beautifully appointed.

Five people can oftentimes be difficult to seat but the table was a very accommodating size.  We started out with yellowfin tuna, scallop, espelette oil, spring onions and the buckwheat fried monkfish, cucumbers, and curry vinaigrette.  Both were gorgeously presented and tasted even better.   After that we had Crépinette de volaille au foie gras which was   chicken and foie gras, last year’s pear.  We had a good laugh because we couldn’t figure out what “last year’s pears” meant—and when we inquired, it was what it was—pears from last year!

A sampling of what we started off with

The pears last year were a most excellent vintage!

Oona’s roasted duckling!  Make way!

More food!

I went with a small plate for my main dish.  Sweetbreads. I can’t pass those glandular delights by.  They were served in a tarragon cream sauce with maitake mushrooms.  Pommes Dauphine, puffy potatoes were served on the side.  I’ll tell you right now—the sauce was incredible.  Roman and Vincent kept dipping bread into the sauce—it could have been soup—that’s how good it was!

The sweetbreads.  THE SWEETBREADS!  If I lived in Soho, I would order this for takeout once a week!

Oona and Jake had the roasted duckling, Roman had sea bass and Vincent had his usual filet de boeuf.  Everyone was very pleased.  And the great thing that Roman pointed out was the portion sizes.  They weren’t huge portions, but weren’t bite-sized either.  The portions were perfect!

Vincent’s steak, bone marrow and purred potatoes. Our meal was exquisite!

We placed Vincent in charge of ordering the wine and he went with a bottle of the least expensive which turned out to be a nice hearty but light red.

Dessert?  Oui!  Jake and I ordered Marjolaine—but mine came with a candle and a “Happy Birthday message! Vincent had lemon sorbet, Oona had Vacherin aux fruits exotiques  which was the most amazing dessert I have ever seen or tasted in a long time. A passion mango sorbet, with coconut cream (you could not even taste the coconut) in a perfect meringue. Roman had a baba au rhum which didn’t look like a typical baba. It resembled a big slice of sponge cake accompanied by two bottles of rhum!  We had a good chuckle over that!

My Birthday Dessert!  They should have given me 70 of these!

We were also presented with mini-Madeliene cakes and..

mini macarons!  How cute is that?

Hands down, it was the best birthday meal I have ever had in my life!

Best dinner ever!

Back at the hotel for more cocktails, we ended a fantastic evening!

Back at the hotel for a nightcap. Either Mommy had too many enjoyable spirits or I am studying Cinema Verite–the art of the shaky camera!

Sunday:    Ahh.  All good things must come to an end.  Jake and Oona were flying to Cincinnati. Jake for business and to see the boys and Oona to go home.  Roman spent the night with Jake at his hotel and met us for a late breakfast/early brunch.   We headed downstairs to the Café Chelsea for well-needed coffee.  With Vincent’s two croissants, my avocado toast and Roman’s eggs, we ended the weekend.

A delightful breakfast at the hotel.

Vincent ended up ordering two croissants!

I had avocado toast with poached eggs and Roman had eggs!

With bags in tow, we bid Roman a big thanks and goodbye at the subway, and we walked over to get the car.   One stop was made—I stopped into Aesop for a jar of the brand’s excellent hand cream.  I treated myself!

My gift to me. Every time I apply it on my hands, I think of the weekend!

And as we bid farewell to New York City—just like that—it was over.

Goodbye New York.  Goodbye Jake and Roman and Oona.

An entire weekend of just enjoying my kids. Like old times.  Only this time, they took care of me.  I was teary-eyed the rest of the day.  Not in a morose way, just in that way, where you go back in time to the present and you realize that, regardless of how bad a parent you thought you were, you can look at your kids with pride and realize you did a great job raising them!

They will forever be my little kiddles!

Allow me to give my opinion on what I liked for 2024.  There are items I used that will not be repurchased.  It isn’t because I despised the, it’s simply they didn’t work for me. There are a couple of reasons for not repurchasing products.  If I find something is lackluster and very expensive but doesn’t work wonders, it will be a one-off.  If a product doesn’t live up to the hype, I won’t repurchase.  If I find the product just doesn’t work for me despite what Instagram and Social Media influencers promised with their filler-filled and filtered visages, I won’t purchase; or, if I foolishly spent money on said product(s), I deserve to feel like a fool.

LOL! I’m spending this gray and freezing Saturday enjoying writing this post. Dressed to the nines in pajamas!

2024 was the year I started to wear less makeup.  I didn’t take a cue from the gorgeous Pamela Anderson, I just realized that at my age of soon-to-be 70, less is more. Heavy makeup and foundations can look caked-on.  The foundations will also creep into those wrinkles and crevices making you look older.  NO foundation, despite what influencers or social media ads pontificate, is going to make a 50, 60, 70 and older year-old woman look 25 or thirty. Truth.  Stop being delusional!

2024. The year I decided that less (makeup) is more!

Foundation is a naught for me I rely on skin tints to give my skin a bit of an extra “oomph.”

Contour?  Never got fully into it.  I do like a bit of a bronzer—especially in winter when I am vampire-pale.

Let us just get into my recommendations and other opinions.

Skincare: As a firm believer of a good night’s sleep, protecting your face from the elements, and washing that makeup off every night, skincare is basic for me.  Not loyal to many brands when it comes to caring for my skin, I cannot exist without Albolene makeup remover. It is, as I have said in the past, lard for the face.  It has been around for years and on an average, I will pay ten bucks for a substantial tub full. I think this is my fourth mention over the years of this wonder product!

This image is from a past blog post. I cannot ever run out of this. It is my holy grail of makeup remover!

It does have a balm-like texture and when I see brands and influencers yapping about the greatness of any new balm, I chuckle.  They are overpriced and over-scented.  Gimme unscented Albolene any day.  It is the greatest makeup remover out there.

I also love Jergen’s body lotion. The original scented.  The one that smells like cherries and almonds. I slather this on all year. The scent reminds me of days gone by.  Decades gone by.  And, it does the job.

Legs, arms, neck. Jergens original scent is the one moisturizer I have used since childhood!

Inasmuch as I love Albolene, I follow up by cleaning my face with water and…whatever facial scrub is within my reach.  Skin cleansers all do the same job.  Apply, work it in with H20 and rinse. Two dollars to Thirty dollars.  When you are finished—your face is clean. Kudos to those using a washcloth.  You are my people!

I buy this in bulk at Walmart. Cheap and when they get extra grimy from mascara I trash them.

Toners?  I’ll use the ones I have on hand (i.e. Fragonard’s Fleur d’Oranger) and mostly in the summer when my skin gets sweaty.  In the winter I tend to leave my skin alone because toners can be drying.  At least for my very dry skin they are. I love the Fragonard toner because it is so light and my face never feels taut after application. The price in the USA is about $21 per bottle but I purchase cheaper in France.  I very much recommend this.

Best toner out there.  And the scent.  Orange Blossom.  Warms my heart! 

Serums?  I will admit, I do like the snail ones. I was thrilled to see this in the stocking that Jake, Roman and Oona had in my stocking this Christmas.  I’ve purchased this on repeat and it’s the one serum I always return to.

I’m also subscribed to this serum on Amazon.  I save a dollar or so by subscribing

Guerlain’s Abeille Royalle Skincare Line:  I received three full-sized products from this line from Influencer.  I received it to write a review, which I did and post a picture on Instagram, which I did.

The items I received were:  The Fortifying Lotion with Royal Jelly, The Double -R Serum, and the Advanced Youth Watery Oil.  This trio retails for $285. There is no way I would repurchase unless I won a few million bucks in the Lottery.    To be perfectly honest with you, this trio is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  I received it in early Autumn and the Serum and Watery Oil are both almost finished.  The Fortifying lotion is ¾ full.  Based on the two items alone, one would have to repurchase at least one time during the year, making the products pricier. Not gonna lie, I noticed that my skin had a glow to it after a couple of months.  Wrinkles were still there.  Redness was too.  However, my skin still really looked better.

These products are great but way out of my price range.

It’s too bad that the products are so expensive.  My recommendation on this trio is—if you are the one percent and can afford it with no thought that it is pricey—buy it.  If you are retired and on a fixed income, or working to make ends meet (as many of us Boomers do), do not go into debt for it.  Ask for it for next Christmas!

Of Note:  The one brand that I did get hooked on in 2024 was Typology.  The skincare products are excellent, albeit, not cheap. Not as pricey as the Guerlain.  The products can be purchased online at:   Typology.com  I could kick myself in the ass because the only store the products are sold in is Printemps.  I cannot believe that I was in that store, shopped there and wasn’t aware they were sold at that location.

Some serums and creams from Typology.  The Face Balm and Moisturizer will definitely be a repurchase.

Anyway……in 2024, I started ordering the products.  The serums are good but I’m not sure about repurchasing.  What I will repurchase from the brand’s skincare line is the Lipid-Replenishing Face Balm and the Nourishing Moisturizer.  The Face Balm is great for applying before heading out into the winter weather.  It is a great product for daytime use.  The Nourishing Moisturizer, I use at night (among other products).

These “limited editions” really bother me.  I keep this face scrub at my bathtub because I love to use it while taking a bath.  Now it isn’t available. I’m pissed.

I really loved the cleansing face scrub but it was limited edition and no longer available.   What I suggest is trying out the products before deciding on which work for you.  I ordered their Discovery gift set which has ten products.  Many of which I have but I love the smaller sizes for travel…

Lots of mini-goodies in this Discovery Set.  I haven’t used anything yet because it arrived last night!

…..I ordered the Travel Set and it worked perfectly when we were in Paris last month.  I was able to put the products, in the pouch they came in, in my carry-on and had no problem.  The sizes are TSA-approved!

This travel set is perfect.  And the sizes are TSA-approved which means you can put them in a carry-on or purse!

They arrived in this pouch which you can throw other products in as well!

These French skincare products:

I wrote about these in my last post regarding our Paris trip.  The A313 is something I would not repurchase. The hype is ridiculous.  I’ve read reviews that women saw a difference in one application. That is bullshit.  The Biafine is something that I would repurchase though. It’s pretty darn good!

And, as usual, I cannot be without my Embryolisse.  Picked two more tubes in France.  If you can’t make it to France, buy it from Amazon! * Full disclosure. Any links to Amazon, I receive a minute commission. I am not an affiliate of any other site.

Makeup:  Let us talk about it.  Since I am wearing less these days.

I’ll show you which products I used go get from point A to point B! Without a TON of makeup!

Skin Tints: Coming back to Typology, I am absolutely loving their face tint.  Because I am no longer working in Corporate and am at the State Hospital, I don’t wear face makeup every day.  However, when I am going out and about and, on those days, when I want my skin to look not as winter-sickly, I will use the skin tint.  This is the bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is undetectable since it doesn’t cake up and doesn’t slip into wrinkles. It works wonders to tone down the redness yet it is as light as a feather. Like a second skin.  It stays put all day as well. I cannot say enough great things about this. And yes. I have two of these and will absolutely repurchase.

The skin tints and the shimmering dry oil.  I honestly have no idea what the difference from T 10 to T 12 is. They both work the same.  The shimmering dry oil is fantastic for just a tiny glow up.  The bottle will last forever.

I know the lighting is weird but look at the photo on the far right. It was taken before adding the skin tint. See how blotchy and red my skin is?  The Typology skin tint evened out everything .  Wrinkles are still there.  So is my skin texture but my redness is gone!

It’s akin to Brylcreem because ” a little dab’ll do ya”!

Glossier also has a face tint that I’m quite fond of. It is lighter in weight than the Typology and doesn’t cover the redness as well, but still—it is a wonderful skin tone.  I have a backup and would repurchase.

Glossier is another “mature” skin friendly brand.  The Futuredew gives a nice glow under the Glossier skin tint!  And the concealer is wonderful!

MAC Cosmetics as a “Face and Body Foundation” that is not a foundation—it is more of a skin tint and it is good.  I would not repurchase simply because I’m ridiculously happy with Typology.

Although deemed a foundation, the MAC body and face “foundation” is more of a heavier skin tint.   I also used the Merit lip oil a lot in 2024.

Concealers: I am hooked on Glossier’s concealer and have been for a few years.  It isn’t for everyone because many deem it “greasy.”  If you have dry skin, such as mature skin, this concealer is wonderful.  It comes in a pot and I apply it with a mini blender sponge. It works as both an eyeshadow primer and brightens the undereye as well as conceals.

The Glossier concealer.  Works great for super-dry skin!

Eyebrows:  Ugh. The older we get; the eyebrows disappear and make their way to the chin! (Have a tweezer on hand at all times).  There was a time when I had thick brows. No more.   My eyebrow pencil or pen, of choice for 2024 was the same as previous years.  e.l.f.  has the best brow pencil.  It is downright cheap, it has a spoolee at one end and product on the other.  It works. It fills the brows in and that is what you want. One does not need to spend a lot of money.

Used regularly through 2024 as you can tell from the marks on the pencil.

The brow gel that I use to keep them in place?  I have a few.  The one I like the best and used the most in 2024 is the Typology.  It has a good amount of product in the tube and you need but a light hand to keep those brows in place.  It isn’t the cheapest in price on the market but it works.

You can see this brow gell has been well-used!

Eye Shadow:  I don’t like colors in eyeshadows. A bit of glitter?  Yeah.  But, no color except for neutrals.  Although I have way too many neutral eye shadow palettes, these were the ones I used the most in 2024.  The Mally palette was discontinued a long time ago but I found three of them on eBay so I’m good for a while.   The Kat Von D palette has also been discontinued.  I’ve had this for years and the shadows work well.

I’ve hit pan on three of these palettes. What can I say? I’m a fan of neutrals because I feel they make the eyes more awake and attractive!

The Jones Road palette is the only one not discontinued. And it is very good.The MAC palette?  I made it myself.  Purchased individual shades and can replace them as needed.

There’s not much more I can say on this subject because a neutral is a neutral is a neutral.  My personal thoughts are neutrals work well for the mature woman.

Mascara:  OMG!  I LOVE mascara! I’m that one who also loves a bit of a clumpy mascara because they make the lashes look fuller—especially from far away! I use a lot of mascara.  A LOT!

I use all of these mascaras.  They make the lashes look thicker!

Every mascara pictured is a repurchase except for the yellow tube by Nocibé.  I’ll repurchase on my next trip to France.  It was purchased last summer in Theoule.   Our lashes thin out as we age and I can’t stand a weak mascara.  I’ve also learned that not wearing eyeliner and mascara only makes the lasher look longer.

 

Lips:  Okay.  Back to Typology.  Their lip oils are wonderful for my perpetually-chapped lips.   The Powder Pink shade is gorgeous and the Ruby Red when applied very lightly is nice for dressing up! Suffice it to say, I am NOT a red-lip person, but this lip oil isn’t a harsh red.  The Luminous Glow lip oil is my favorite. I use it every day and will be repurchasing into 2025! The staying power isn’t great but sets the tone for a hydrated kisser!

2024. The year of the lip oil for me.  I’ve read pros and cons regarding these oils but in my opinion, I think they work well for the woman of the mature demographic. Granted–they don’t last long but they give a good base for hydration.

My go-to’s and most go back past 2024.  Lip stick and gloss!  Loreal’s Number 165.  A beautiful pink, I’ve been wearing this shade for years and I have multiples for various purses.  Guerlain’s Kiss Kiss Rose Glow is another balm with color that works well.  Again, not as harsh as a deeper lipstick, my preference these days is balms.   Jone Road Cool Gloss.  This squeeze tube is great for a bit of a glittery glow and shine.  Chanel Coco Baume in Dreamy White.  Plain.  Simple. Basic.  Hydrates lips beautifully.

These are all in a pouch that is in my everyday purse.  

Here are the shades.  165 is the prettiest pink ever!

Here’s the finished face.  I applied too much of the Jones Road gloss as you can see.  But. This is the face of age.  And that skin tint is far better than any foundation!

Bronzer and Blush:  During the summer, the people at Boom got in touch with me to see if I would like to sample their Boomstick Bronze.  Naturally, I accepted the offer but, what happened was I never received the bronzer, in error I was sent the Boomstick Parisian Red blush stick.  I did get in touch with them to let them know of the error and the bronzer was sent.

These sticks by Boom are a 2024 treasure!

 

Let me tell you, I have not used any other blush since receiving this. It was, hands down, the greatest error ever sent to me. I use it every day.  I love it.  The “red” is more of a pink on my skin and blends so well with my natural skin tone.

The bronzer is also quite nice.  I use it almost daily to add a bit of depth and to warm up my face.  Sometimes I’ll use it alone and sometimes over a skin tint.  I apply it by rubbing a brush over it then lightly brushing on my face.

I apply each product with a brush instead of applying from tube to face!

At $28 per stick, I think this is a fair price—especially considering you don’t need a lot of product.

That’s about all folks.  My skincare routine is simple.  I don’t spend hours mulling over taking care of my skin.  I follow a basic routine.

As far as makeup goes, I don’t wear as much as I used to.  In addition, if something “drugstore” such as e.l.f. works—I’ll buy it.  I don’t mind spending money on other items but I have a limit.  As much as I loved the Guerlain trio, I simply cannot justify the price.

Done!  I took these photos by the window where the light is brighter. I’m no makeup artist but for the most part, all of these products work well….

AND, for those who cannot bear to see an ageing face…

Here is “fake” face me. The kind that makeup and skincare companies use to entice older women to buy products.  They foolishly believe makeup will make them look 25 again.  Ain’t happening.  Embrace your age. It sucks at times but overall, be glad you’re around!

Thoughts welcomed in comments.  How much would you spend upwards on skincare and makeup?  Are you wearing less or more as you age?  What tips to you have and what favorites?

There is always something to share regarding shopping, dining and other tips and unwanted advice when it comes to our trips to Paris.  This year was no exception.  I learn something with every trip and this time around, learned that due to the crowds that have been visiting, we will need to get tickets to the Louvre and Orsay in advance.

Never before have we ever had to wait in a line to enter the Louvre or Orsay. We learned a valuable lesson during this trip. In the future. GET THE TICKETS!!

So, like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, let’s start at the very beginning…

Packing:  There is a new (or perhaps not-so-new) trend with packing only carry-on bags for a week, two weeks, three weeks and more.  If it works for you, fine.  However, over the years I’ve noticed that the description of carry -on baggage is changing. Backpacks, as personal items are getting bigger.  The carry-on measurements oftentimes go past what qualifies.  Luckily airlines are catching on to this and making people check their many carry-on items.  I bring one carry on, one personal item and check the rest of my luggage which consists of a large suitcase. The suitcase is filthy and I prefer it that way.  However, the past two trips I’ve taken, I have used a cheap cover from Amazon and I am able to spot my suitcase immediately.

This suitcase is absolutely filthy on the outside. However, it serves the purpose of having a ton of space for all my clothing, beauty items and stuff that I’ll buy to take home!

I purchased a cover for it to make it look more presentable. My Longchamp carry-on is perfect for my wigs, a change of clothing just in case and fits beautifully in the overhead.  The vintage LV Randonee (that I had the vachetta replaced) is shoved under the airline seat. It is a workhorse of a bag!

Allow me to explain why this is a pet-peeve. Its inconsiderate of other passengers. I want my carry on to be in the overhead directly above me. I don’t want some self-important traveler who is sitting ten rows in front of me taking up my overhead space. It is a vicious cycle.

Buy an Air Tag.  I love mine. I can track my luggage and when I arrive at my destination, I can see where it is…

Besides, winter weather can be challenging.  Some days it can be warm enough for a blazer and others, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, and the heaviest winter coat you own.  I am not stuffing that stuff into a carry on to get wrinkled.

This is December in Paris. The day started out cold but by afternoon, I was wearing a blazer. Pack for changes in the weather!

My point is, be mindful when packing—that is all.

Accommodations:   When my husband’s aunt, Daniele was alive, we stayed with her at her apartment. I got spoiled.  It was a penthouse apartment.  We had a view of the Eiffel Tower sticking its head above the buildings.  She had a housekeeper and cook. I didn’t have to wash clothing or iron and all my meals were taken care of and were spectacular.

It was great to be in her kitchen and see this fun view! And at night, the view from her living room had this tower sparkling!

After Daniele passed, it was time to stay at hotels.  We enjoyed staying at the Prince de Conti but it is now under renovation.  One year we stayed at Citadines which was next door to Daniele’s apartment at 53 quai des Grandes Augustines.  It was horrible. The carpeting was filthy and there was a very questionable large stain on the sofa. Suffice it to say, we never returned.

This time we stayed at Hotel de Buci on Rue de Buci. We LOVED it and will be staying there in the future.  The hotel isn’t inexpensive but it is not on the price point of staying at the Plaza Athenee.

This is now our favorite hotel…

The staff was incredibly accommodating and nice.  The rooms beautiful. The bathroom had a tub.  The housekeeping staff was amazing and the in-house breakfast was excellent.  I didn’t get to the spa because there was no time but if time allowed, I would have.

The staff was incredibly nice, and attentive.

This was our room and I am still coveting that wallpaper!

The hidden door to the bathroom–proving how details are so wonderful!

And the location!  Smack in the Sixth!  It was ridiculously convenient—for us!

My advice for accommodations is, first, find the area you want to stay in. Then research, research, research hotels.  Google is your friend when it comes to this.  And don’t ignore reviews.  Keep away from influencer reviews because they are receiving the stay as a gift so everything will be sunshine pumped up your a$$.  Trip Advisor and Google reviews have opinions from people who pay.  Do you catch my drift?  For us, the sixth is always special.  From the time I met Vincent’s aunt, Daniele Delorme, we had the best connection. She was my second mother and I could not stay anywhere else!

Many prefer Airbnb but for us, it is too risky.  I’ve read too many horror stories and the French government is putting more and more regulations on these types of rentals.  There are agencies you can reach out to rent apartments for the short-term so I suggest, if you do not want to stay in a hotel—head to Google to find a real-estate agent specializing in short-term rentals.

Accommodations can make or break your stay so be mindful!

Shopping: Who doesn’t love shopping in Paris (or any city for that matter)?  With a plethora of small shops and boutiques to the luxury designer houses, and to the flea markets, Paris offers something for everyone who loves to shop.

This store, Oona, on Rue Dauphine has been here for quite a few years. The items are simple and beautiful..and my daughter is named Oona! Shopping in small shops is a pleasurable experience!

I have found out there are two ways to approach shopping.  One is to take a designated shopping day.  The other is to incorporate shopping around seeing the sites.  For example, if you are going to be in the First Arrondissement at the Louvre or seeing other sites, you can incorporate heading to a shop or two in the area.

Faure le Page, in the First Arrondissement, is a great boutique to drop into if you are out and about seeing the sights nearby.  I had a very nice time shopping here in 2023.

And you do not need to spend a fortune either.   Paris offers some great discounts.   If you are not a “luxury” bag person, I very strongly suggest you head to Sophie Sacs on Rue de Rennes. It is a tiny shop (it used to be even tinier until and expansion a few years ago) with tons of leather bags and even some vegan bags to choose from. Small bags. Large bags.  Buttery soft bags. Structured bags.  Small leather and non-leather goods. It’s all here.  And the owner is so sweet. He is extremely helpful and always has a smile on his face.  Over the years I’ve made many purchases at this shop.

I snapped this pic when the shop was closed. It is tiny but is a treasure trove!

 

This time around I purchased a small cross-body bag that holds a lot more than you would think.  It is very expensive looking and cost only €45!

At 45 euros, this bag was well-worth it. Made-In-Italy, leather, it is small but holds the essentials! Proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune!

Inasmuch as luxury bags are concerned, I’m rather fond of Louis Vuitton. And although most of my LV bags are vintage that were purchased from Japan and sent to LV repair for Vachetta replacement, I purchased items from the Louis Vuitton boutique on Blvd. St.-Germain.   It’s never crowded (except during the Holidays and even then, it isn’t too bad) but last month I waited 5 minutes to get in due to the Black Friday weekend.

This year’s purchase was the LV MM Agenda. It’s already chock full of everything to keep me organized..

The staff is wonderful.  In fact, I am recommending if you go to try to make an appointment with Cumba Balde, I have added a photo of her card. She is both amazing and adorable!  The manager of the store is equally adorable.  You will receive great assistance and the shop is small and very user-friendly if you do not like a huge shop.

Make the appointment with Ms. Balde. She is great! And while you’re at it, make a dinner reservation at La Bourse et la Vie. The meal was marvelous!

Case in point.  I wanted to purchase a MM Agenda. I was so jet-lagged when we went in on Saturday, November 30^th, that when I (Oops. I mean my husband) purchased it, I forgot to get my initials heat-stamped.  I went back later in the week and there was no issue.  I am waiting for our next visit to purchase a Pochette Metis—and I look forward to seeing Ms. Balde and the store’s manager!

This trip was my “bag” trip.  I saw a large tote that piqued my interest. It was from Le Tanneur, a leather goods shop that has been in Paris since 1898.  But when I saw the tote in real life, I wasn’t in love with it. Instead, I opted for a smaller cross-body bag, the Sophie.

The year of my cross-body bags!

Pleased with the roominess and quality of this bag!

And now I will tell you a story about the in-store VAT tax refund.

Read carefully.

We went to Galeries Lafayette to admire the store’s windows all done up for Christmas.  Then we went in to see the tree, which was nice.  Galeries Lafayette has done better but still, it was nice.  We also had put aside some time for a bit of shopping.  Vincent purchased a cashmere sweater but at that point, the store was just too crowded for me.

Nice but not spectacular

Instead, we headed across the street to Printemps—which was delightfully more manageable. While there we noticed an area where Le Tanneur bags were being sold. Rather than head to the brand’s shop on Rue de Sevres, very close to our hotel, it was easier to look at Printemps.  Purchase in hand we were ready to walk back to the hotel with a stop at Monoprix.

The display that drew me in.

I cannot recall how we found out, but we did discover that both Printemps and Galeries Lafayette have in-house areas where you can get your VAT refund immediately.

What is the VAT refund?  Explanation.  For non-EU residents it is a tax refund that can be received at around 12 percent of the purchase. For purchases over 100 Euros and more, this VAT refund is decent.

You can head to the kiosk at the airport and submit the forms before heading to your flight or…. some stores have an area where you can get the VAT refund sooner than later.  Some stores work differently.  No matter how the stores work, you must have your passport at time of purchase and have a few moments to allow the sales assistants to fill the information for you.

For convenience sake, head to the airport extra early to go to the VAT kiosk. There could be a line and maybe not! Better be safe than sorry!

Now. Pay attention. It was not until a few days after making these purchases that we were made aware of the in-house VAT (we never bothered in years past because our flights were always very early). Printemps VAT rule was that you could not use the in-house VAT refund process after three days of purchase. 

So…. that Friday, after going to the Opera Garnier, we headed to Galeries Lafayette to get the VAT refund on the sweater Vincent purchased.  Then, as a lark we headed to Printemps to do more shopping and to see, if we could, in fact, get the refund even though it was past three days of purchase.

We headed to Chanel Beauty to purchase a bottle of Mademoiselle for Oona and for a bottle of Chance for Vincent’s daughter and granddaughter.  Oh. And I also picked up a lip balm.

Off we went to the VAT Refund area.  Here’s where you need to realize how helpful the sales assistants are.   Before acquiring the refund for the Chanel items, we asked about acquiring a refund for the Le Tanneur purse.

It was suggested to head to the Le Tanneur area, ask for a refund on the purse then immediately repurchase.  I was a bit skeptical because I’ve read and heard horror stories that under no circumstances will a refund be given in any store in Paris.

Do not believe everything you hear.

Upon explaining our situation to the sales assistant, she went to get a manager. We were able to return and repurchase the bag with no issues whatsoever.  Did it help that my husband did all the talking in his native tongue?  I dunno. Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is there was no issue and everyone involved was pleasant with me being rather humble and very grateful.

Off we went to get the refund.  The machines are self-explanatory.  You need your passport and receipt of purchase and there are assistants there to guide you through the process.  You have the choice of getting cash or having it go to your card. We chose cash and it was easy-peasy.

At Printemps

Important information

There are a number of VAT kiosks in an organized line..

You can readily scan your documents..

Opt for cash if you want and that’s it!

For the Louis Vuitton purchase and Guerlain purchases we made at Samaritaine, we had the paperwork filled out and dropped it off at the Kiosk at CDG airport.  I am confident our next statement will have the refund.

 

I realize this is long-winded but it’s really a good thing to know you can get a VAT refund at some stores on the same day. Caveat:  There is a small fee for this processing, but it is more convenient.

Scent was another big expenditure.

I ran out of La Petite Robe Noire and L’Instant—two scents from Guerlain that are my go-to’s.   Might I mention that at both Guerlain and Chanel, a ton of samples were stuffed into the bags! My husband picked up his favorite Guerlain scent.  This was done at Samaritaine Dept. Store and, once again, the assistance was stellar.

It wasn’t all about my purchases. This is my husband’s favorite scent. It’s his signature and smells soooooo good! Oh lalalalala!

My favorite “Spring” scent..

I can’t find the photo I took but I’m so happy that L’Instant now comes in the old-school Guerlain bottles. It’s my “winter” scent!

Clothing is something I do not buy in Paris because my body leans towards the athletic side and I’m big-boned. The clothing doesn’t fit well for me.

At the airport’s Duty Free I picked up Paris St. Germain beanie hats for my sons.

What to wear: Head to any travel group on social media and you will see a plethora of posts on what to wear.  It is even worse on TikTok and YouTube.

Wear whatever you want to wear.  Exception being pajama bottoms while out and about or skirts that are so short that you can see your Origin of the World when you bend over.  “They” say not to wear leggings but, I’ve seen plenty of women out and about in them. The responses that I’ve seen by armchair fashionistas on what to wear and what not to wear are almost laughable.

My Temu special. The coat was around $25. And it is perfect. Kept me warm. Nobody knew it was a cheapie. As long as you are neat and not wearing anything offensive, you’ll be fine!

Years ago, Paris, as in New York or any large city whether abroad or domestically, was a mecca of women (and men) dressed to the nines.  I remember going shopping in Manhattan as a child and we had to dress up. Even when attending a movie or going to the theatre. My mother would not have it any other way.

It used to be like that in Paris. In fact, when I first started visiting, I would get more dressed up than down.  Now, my ensembles consisted of jeans (skinny ones at that) during the day and even for a casual dinner, and black pointe pants.  In addition, I wore black sweaters.  It’s easier for me to be monochromatic and take one color (black) than an assortment because I’m lazy and don’t want to spend time mulling over what to wear.  I took two pairs of loafers. One black and one cordovan.   I wore a sweater dress once. Out to dinner. With boots. That was it.

My go-to dinner outfit. Black ballet flats. Black pointe ankle pants. Black sweater. Scarf.  Comfortable yet appropriate.

Please for your sanity. Unless you will be parading up and down looking for approval on Avenue Foch in the 16^th, wear what you deem most comfortable and what is you!  Don’t dress to impress.  You are the one who matters.  Nobody knows you. Nobody cares. Just take a bath or shower, put on deodorant, and brush your teeth.

This was the Paris my husband’s grandfather photographed. One no longer needs to dress as if in a Jacques-Henri Lartigue photo.

The French are Different.  Learn Basic Words:  and phrases.  Always—and I stress, always say “Bonjour” upon entering an establishment.  I forgot my “bonjour” at a museum and my husband elbowed me harder than any elbow I have ever given to tourists when I lived in NYC.   I made up for it with a huge “bonjour” and the museum guide thought it was the funniest thing ever.  All three of us ended up laughing.  But seriously, that one word will make for pleasantries throughout your day.  Leaving or exiting?  An “au revoir” will do or better yet “bonne journee”.  You don’t have to be fluent or half-fluent.  Know your shoe size.  Know colors.  Use your “merci” (thank you) and your “s’il te plaît » (please). The French are very polite.  Unlike here in the USA (Yes. I am being honest) where everything is fake-friendly with the big toothy smile and everyone knows your name, in France the tone is a bit formal.  And extremely polite.

Don’t ever do this with a baguette unless you want to start another French Revolution!  Be respectful and polite!

Also, use your indoor voice.  Trust me. I come from a very LOUD NY FAMILY.  Usually, a week or so before heading to France my husband will gently remind me to practice my indoor voice. AKA my soft voice.  It is difficult but it can be done!

Transportation:  Paris is a great city for hoofin’ it. (walking).  Even during the colder months, it is not bitter cold and walking is a great way to exercise.  Have difficulty walking or have an impairment?  Uber and cabs are your friends. For us, G7 is our cab of choice and we’ve been using them for two decades.  The metro is another easy and quick way to get around.  I will be honest here.  My husband grew up in a privileged household and did not use the metro—he rode buses and his two cents is ride the bus. It gives you an opportunity to see Paris from the streets.

While some tourists do not like G7, we have never had an issue. It’s the cab company we use.

Another thing about the Metro.  Many online forums will have horror stories blown out of proportion regarding pick pockets.  Use your common sense.  Carry that bag close to your person.  Be mindful of your surroundings.   The funny thing is I never read about foreigners to the States being petrified of guns and our mass shootings.  Paris is safer than any major city in the USA.  Remember that.

I’ve been on the Metro only a handful of times. However, living in NYC has taught me to be aware of my surroundings. In New York, the subway was my mode of travel. If I lived in Paris, I would be taking the metro every day.  Just be mindful.

If you love to drive. And I mean love to drive—especially in cities, might I suggest renting a car?  Hear me out on this.  Having a vehicle allows you freedom.  It’s so much easier to drive out of Paris and enjoy a beautiful drive to Vaux-le-Vicomte or Chantilly, Fontainebleau or even Versailles.  You can do a little detour and drive through quaint villages. Or enjoy the scenery.

Driving in Paris is definitely a challange. But..you don’t need to be James Bond to drive there. Would I drive in Paris? No. It is a bit more challenging than NYC but my husband LOVES driving in his home town!

About an hour’s drive and we were in the splendor of Fontainebleu.

We even saw horses!

Also, when you are driving, you are on your schedule and not the schedule of a train or bus.  It allows you some freedom.  I’m not saying this is for everyone.  I am merely suggesting if you love driving, rent a car!

It’s also fun to see the sights from different views.

Besides–who doesn’t love to have their own private chauffeur?

Good Eats – The Restaurants, Bistros, Cafes:  Let me make myself clear.  Although I am not a food snob, but  I have no patience for those who say they don’t like French cuisine. You do not have to be a fan of escargot or bone marrow, but you can always find a great roast chicken and steak frites.

And you can also get a great burger. The burgers at Cafe de Paris on Rue de Buci are the best I’ve ever had in my life! Two years in a row!

We take the pragmatic route and include our meals into our budget.  One thing we do, and this is not for everyone, we skip lunch. There is a method to our madness here and has nothing to do with a budget.  It is all about time.

Having a substantial breakfast allows us to make the most of our day.  Many venues clear out during the lunch hours and are less crowded.  This is blissful.   Also, we cannot see sitting for an hour or two eating lunch when we know we’re going to have a very substantial dinner.  Our time in Paris and throughout France is limited to weeks at a time.  We want to make the most of it.

Beware of dining establishments with pages and pages of menu offerings.   They are sure to be tourist traps.  Oftentimes the fare is frozen food warmed up.  Again, it is a personal choice.

Many deem one of our favorite restaurants as a tourist trap but we disagree.  Le Procope.  It is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris.  Voltaire, Balzac, Danton, Ben Franklin and more enjoyed meals, conversation, and great debate there.  It is a bit of history that brings you back to a time completely different than that of which we presently live.

Disreguard any pretentious or disparaging reviews of Procope. It’s fine! The service is wonderful. The food very good. And it is chock-full of history!

Table settings are perfect.  The offerings are old-school.  I was infuriated when Rognons (kidneys) were taken off the menu but now they are back and I am a happy camper. The food is fine.  It isn’t haute cuisine but is consistently very good.

Reservations are a must and don’t be offended by what I will tell you next.  Dress appropriately.  On our first night during last month’s visit, making reservations for dinner completely slipped our minds.  When my husband suggested we stop at Procope to see if we could get a reservation for that night, I doubted we could but…. I went along with it.

Both of us were dressed appropriately.  Not like slobs.  My husband very politely and nicely asked if we could get a reservation for that night at 7 :30 PM.   With a smile, we got the reservation and the people behind us were turned away.  My guess—you don’t go into a restaurant wearing a baseball cap, shorts, and sneakers to ask for a last-minute reservation or any reservation.  Use common sense.

Allard is another favorite.  Seriously. We love dining out in Paris!

Being older and American and Franco-American, we made all our dinner reservations between 7 o’clock and 8 :00 PM.   An earlier timeframe allows for walking around to exercise the extra calories off!

Neighborhood places are wonderful.  Blend in with the locals.  Try to dine in the arrondissement where you are staying because you will discover fantastic gems of places.

Try to order in the French language—even if your knowledge is basic, it will be greatly appreciated.

The French Pharmacie : Pharmacies in Paris and throughout France are wonderful.  They aren’t chains like CVS or Rite-Aid.  Each has its individual flair and if you come down with a cold or sore throat or any minor mishap, you will be well-taken care of.

CityPharma is where I head when I want to purchase skincare.

Let’s talk about the other subject matter of the French pharmacie.  Skincare products. Go online to any travel forum or head to Instagram or TikTok and Influencers will pontificate how OBSESSED they are with French skincare brands and how the price point is so great.

Yes.  And. No. The price of skincare is worth the trip to a pharmacie when in Paris or any part of France.  But you need to know what is best for your needs.

For example—I am a huge fan of Embryolisse.  I love this cream and have been using it for years. It really does a great job moisturizing my dry skin.  A couple of years ago, CityPharma, my pharmacie of choice for skincare items, ran out of stock.  Instead, another brand was suggested and I purchased.  I hated it. It was nowhere near the job Embryolisse did.  When I arrived home, I ordered on Amazon making me spend more money in the end.

My well-used and well-loved Embryolisse. I cannot live without it.

There is also an obsession with A313 Pomade.  It is good but isn’t a Holy Grail.  Many women swear by it.  For me, it’s good for the bleak, cold, dry of winter.  I use it only at night.  Would I purchase again?   Probably not.

Biafine is a cream I would repurchase.  Being the one with skin that tends to burn, this is soothing. Last summer while in France, I got a bit of sun poisoning on my lips, blowing them up as though I had filler.  A pharmacist recommended this and I’ve been using it since.

Hands down, it is just as good as Embryolisse for moisturizing skin. The size of the tube is generous soi t lasts for a long time.

The lip balm pictured here was the worst I’ve ever used. However, it might be good for you. 

Last month I was looking for a good lip balm due to my perpetually chapped lips during winter.  At CityPharma the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm was recommended.  I can’t stand it! First, you need to squeeze the tube hard to get product out.  And it doesn’t spread smoothly.  I prefer the Chanel overpriced lip balm or the generic € 1 generic lip balms that are available.

My point?  You can purchase great skincare products for a fraction of the price but know your skin.

Little Things:  I’m not big on tacky souvenirs. And I try to make purchases that will fit into my every-day life.  That’s why one of the little things I love are the shopping sacs from Monoprix.  I buy them in multiples and give them as little gifts.  I keep one in every purse because you just never know when you will need a stop at the market and these are sustainable.

The Monoprix sacs I purchased. And the Borjois mascara. I LOVE this brand’s mascara!

Its also fun to purchase ornaments for the Christmas tree. Something to remember year after year.

Picked this up at Opera Garnier

This from Musee Marmottan

Sometimes it is the little things that help to make a trip more enjoyable. I hope some of this unwanted advise was helpful!

I LOVE these slippers from the hotel. The reminder is very pragmatic!

Amazing how in a few days, our December visit to Paris is now last year!

Happy 2025 to everyone.  Another year of the blog and at year’s end it will be ten years ago I started this baby.  LOL—not much growth, but I love our small circle of friends. I feel like I am writing for family!  It is my blog family and all the best for this new year!

Back to the trip…We left off on Wednesday, December 4^th….

Thursday, December 5, 2024

The time spent here just flies by way too quickly.  The good thing is when we arrive home, it’ll be time to dive into baking and preparing food ahead of time for Christmas and knowing my boys will be arriving!

Today is a normal lazy-but-not-lazy day for us. We have the car so we’ll head to the Cimetière in Montparnasse to visit Danièle, Yves, and my husband’s cousin, Zazi.  It is a calm place, this cemetery, with a blend of new Head stones mixed with historical and, at times, decaying structures to mark those who have left us.

Autumn leaves surrounding the grave of Vincent’s aunt, Daniele and her husband Yves.

There is a ton of history in the cemetery..

…and we head out to explore Paris by car.

I did a bit of tidying up, we stayed for a while and spoke of fond memories then we were off again. This time to Rue de Rennes for a bit of shopping. We parked the car at the usual garage (I’ll be covering that in another post), and headed over to FNAC so Vincent could buy some novels in the French language.  Then we stopped at Sophie Sacs.

FNAC is such a great store and there are many throughout France. It’s Best Buy on steroids but with books and journals and all sorts of great items!

Let me tell you about Sophie Sacs in case you hadn’t read past posts of mine.  I didn’t discover this mecca of leather bags and accessories.  My friend, Barbie Snitzer, recommended this shop years ago and I have been going ever since.  If you are planning to head to Paris any time sooner or later, and you are not into luxury or designer bags, you must head to this shop.

The fact Sophie Sacs has been at this location for years is proof that not everyone wants a luxury bag. I have quite a few bags from this shop and it is always a pleasure to head here.  The owner is so nice!

The owner is such a nice man and he always has a smile on his face.  This time around I treated myself to a brown leather crossbody bag. At €45 it was a great price and it is a beautiful bag that holds quite a bit.

This brown cross-body bag is perfect for running errands and holds quite a bit!

After getting back in the car, we decided to drive around.  I know this may sound odd to some, but my husband loves driving in Paris.  It is where he grew up from childhood into adulthood.  He loves Paris.  It makes him happy to return.   It is a perfect way to view the City in it’s everyday situations. We even drove to the street named after my husband’s grandfather.

I always get a kick out of seeing this street sign. It’s so cute!

With the car now parked for the remainder of the day, we walked around the sixth arrondissement as a form of exercise. We headed into Eglise St. Germain des pres again because I wanted to light more candles.  Stopped into a religious shop to purchase rosaries for both my sisters and sister-in-law and headed back to the hotel to relax before heading to Allard for dinner.

The rosaries were packaged nicely.  As soon as I arrived home, they were sent off!

In Paris, one cannot visit enough churches. I lit a lot of candles!

Forget “Where’s Waldo”–Can you spot the Eiffel?

Allard remains one of our favorite restaurants in Paris.  It is old-school and elegant; a step back in time.  And, naturally, the food is always excellent.  The perfect end to another fun day.

Somem shots of the interior.  It’s very elegant and old-school.  

Vincent started out with the Frogs legs and I had the lentil veloute with duck foie gras. My veloute was excellent.  As usual, my husband loved the frog’s legs.

My choice of main plate was the sweetbreads. I had the same during our 2023 visit. So very delicious!

While he had the seared beef with peppered sauce. 

The wine was excellent..

…as was dessert.  Floating Island and some kind of ice cream. 

A brisk walk around the corner to the hotel and it was back for a good night’s sleep!

Friday, December 6th, 2024

As our visit winds down, today is a busy one. Actually, this is the most ambitious day we’ve had in Paris in years!  Vincent did manage to get tickets in advance for the Opera Garnier.  In all the years I’ve been to Paris, I had never been here and it certainly did not disappoint.  The building is gorgeous.  It is that place where you can stand still and visualize patrons of the opera and ballet during the Belle Epoque era dressed in their evening finery out for a night of entertainment and to be seen.

Although we had tickets, we did wait a few minutes on a line and once we entered, I was mesmerized at how beautiful the Opera Garnier was..

It was nice to see such well-behaved children on a field trip. It’s also wonderful to see that France really allows children to be exposed to all things cultural. 

I want this flooring in my house.

Because of the lighting and my outdated iPhone, it was difficult to take photos..

The stairway is magnificent

This is my jam. The costumes. It was such a great surprise to see. These are from Giselle!  Aren’t they beautiful?

And more costumes!

I could have stayed all day here but we had things to do and places to see. Off we go…

I look like a million bucks in my cheap Temu coat!  Off we go!

We headed back to Printemps and Galeries Lafayette for  VAT tax refunds.  The process was easy and I am not going to go into detail on this post because it is a long description.  I will broach this subject in my next blog post. And yes, you can get an immediate refund at stores.  To be continued.

Leaving Printemps after receiving our VAT tax. I have a lot to tell you about that but I’ll explain more in the next blog post!

We headed back to the hotel to drop off items that we purchased and to change because the weather took a change for the warmer!

How warm was it?  I got rid of the coat and wore a blazer!  

We walked over to yet another church: St. Germain l’Auxerrois. The church was built in the 13th century, making it older than me.  Seriously, I have spent so much time in churches during this trip that I started to grow wings and a halo formed around my head!

The Church was beautiful and it gave me another opportunity to light candles.

With this being a very busy day, we headed to the Bourse de Commence housing the Pinault Collection.  The building is beautiful. Subjectively, the “collection” is questionable in my strong opinion.  I love art.  Modern art, up to a point.  Some of this was just not art and I will let you decide for yourself.

 

Sorry not sorry but I can’t call this great art.

I did find this interesting and liked it though.

The Bourse is a beautiful building though.

With the day buzzing by, we hailed a cab and headed over to the Pantheon.  I had been there years ago and wanted a refresher.  It did not fail to please and I got to see the crypt of Alexandre Dumas, my favorite author.

I LOVE the Pantheon.  From Foucault’s Penddulum, which is completely mesmerizing to the beautiful sculptures to the infamous crypts. It’s a must-visit and I am glad we returned!

My favorite author of all time–Alexandre Dumas.  I thanked him for his great novels!

The afternoon sun was fading into twilight as we made our way back to the hotel to enjoy an aperitif or two before heading out to dinner.  Tonight, it is dinner at La Jacobine.  Okay. I have a little backstory about La Jacobine.  It was recommended on a video by Les Frenchies (a husband and wife who live in Paris).  We had been to other restaurants they have recommended and had wonderful meals.  I wanted to go here.  My husband was not looking forward to dining here because steak frites was not on the menu. Hey—bone marrow and kidneys weren’t either but I didn’t care. I just wanted to have dinner here.   It is a small place.  Reservations are needed.

Let’s say I am no Jacques-Henri Lartigue when it comes to photography.  La Jacobine is so charming. This tiny restaurant is housed in a passage at the end of Rue St. Andre des Arts.  Reservations are a must!

We were led to our table (which my husband loved) and proceeded to order.   He was, however, happy to see escargot as a starter.  He ordered it and enjoyed every little snail.  I had the foie gras mille-feuille with fig jam.  Allow me to say this is one of the top three entrees I have ever had in my life.

The foie gras mille-feuille with fig jam was, hands down, one of the best entrees I have ever had.

Vincent loved his escargots!

We both had tagines.   Duck tagine for me and Chicken tagine for him.  Both were off-the-charts incredible.  I was thrilled because the stress I had to go through thinking if Vincent didn’t like the meal, I would never hear the end of it.  Suffice it to say, La Jacobine was such a success that we will be back and have since been recommending it!

Our tagines were incredibly delicious.  As you can see, we ate with gusto!

We had an inexpensive bottle of wine and it was really, really good!

Wait! This ambitious day was not over.  We walked over to Notre Dame. We were not aware that our trip to Paris would occur during the reopening of the cathedral. It was impossible to get close to the structure but it was fun.  The crowd was in a good mood and I was able to get decent photos of the church.  Too bad I could not gain entrance to light a few candles.

Although you couldn’t get close, Notre Dame was beautifully illuminated.

Nothing like a selfie in front of Notre Dame after lots of wine.

Place St. Michel on the way back to the hotel.

Back to the hotel for a well-deserved sleep.

Saturday, September 7th, 2024

Our last day. As soon as we woke up, I packed everything.  I cannot pack at the last minute.  We headed down to breakfast to enjoy our last breakfast then, in the rain, walked over to get the car.

Our last breakfast.  I ate so much smoked salmon I started to grow fins and scales.  Seriously, Hotel Buci had a great breakfast spread!

We drove to Musee Marmottan. The former home of Paul Marmottan, this museum houses a large collection of paintings by Monet.The biggest surprise was the exhibition of Trompe-L’œil from 1520 to the present.  It was absolutely mind-boggling!

My man Monet.  THIS museum is another must-see. I cannot believe in all the years I have been going to Paris, this was my first time here!

 

Beautiful pantings..

A couple of Monet family photos.  His daughter was gorgeous!

The Trompe l’oiel exhibit was fantastic. I could have spent hours here!

Back to the car and to sunshine.  We decided to take a last drive through the city.

Back outside and happy.  This was the only day I wore a good amount of makeup.  

Why aren’t Christmas trees in the USA sold with built-in stands the way they are in France?

A festive Eiffel Tower outside a restaurant.

Dior never looked more beautiful!

All of Paris had a touch of holiday embellishment!

And as we started to enter the area around the 6th arrondissement, streets were blocked off because it was…………the reopening of Notre Dame and Donald Trump arrived.  I swear to God that sub-human is a hemorrhoid up my…………. I will not say anything else.

I must say, though, that the Parisien police are in great shape!

It was quite the spectacle.  Police officers everywhere.  Roads and streets blocked and cut off to traffic.  Luckily, Vincent knows every street in Paris as was able to get us back to where we needed to be.

Pont Neuf was blocked off from traffic..

Crowds all over the 6th.

Due to the outpouring of people to visit Notre Dame, or to catch a glimpse, it was a sea of humanity all through the sixth. And police officers.  And police vans. As we walked from the hotel to the restaurant for our last dinner of this trip, it was quite the sight.

I was tempted to ask an officer if he could drive me to Samaritaine Dept. Store.  My husband was not amused.

In 2023, our « last » dinner of the trip was at Chez Fernand Christine. We decided to make this a tradition with being our last dinner of this year’s trip. The restaurant is charming.  Small.  The staff is the best.  I started out with bone marrow and then with kidneys.  Vincent had his escargots and steak frites.  We were both very pleased. We ate everything and even made room for a Creme Brulee to share.  And then it was back to the hotel.

Basically a repeat of the meal we had in 2023.  For him, escargot (again) for me, bone marrow (again)

I swear we are predictable diners.  For him, steak frites.  For me, kidneys–I just can’t get enough of them!

More wine..

And a pleasant server who understood my feelings toward the LOUD Americans at the table across from us!

Sunday, December, 2024

Our flight was at one in the afternoon, but we left very early to anticipate weekend traffic and crowds at the airport. CDG is not the best airport to navigate and the crowds can be horrific at times.  And wouldn’t you know, early on this Sunday morning, there was an accident on the way to the airport and traffic crawled for quite some time.  This is specifically why getting an earlier start to any airport is necessary.

One last glimpse at the flowers in the lobby of Hotel Buci that were changed every day.

Surprisingly, the airport was not crowded when we arrived.  We made our way down to the VAT kiosk (not all stores have instant VAT refunds. I’ll write about that in the next post) and the process was easy-peasy.   Checking the baggage was quick.  TSA was quick.  Customs was quick.  It was a 1,2,3 experience—which is not the norm.

Duty-free was all decked out for the holiday season.

With some time to kill before heading to the gate, we did some duty-free shopping. This is a great way to get rid of extra euros.

How can anyone not resist this?

With light rain and no delays, we were off. And back home!  Just. Like. That.

Ready to Board!

And just like that–our week is over!

Thank you for reading about our trip!  Hope you enjoyed and Happy New Year!

 

Before I continue, thank you for your patience.  Since the election, it has been a whirlwind of activity.  Time to grieve because of the reelection, Thanksgiving, work, our great trip back to Paris and Christmas.  Here goes!!!

“The worst part about traveling, is traveling” Catherine Lartigue. November 29, 2024

Yes people. I said that. And I stand by my quote.  Why?  Simply because the worst part of traveling is the traveling itself. The stuff you must go through to reach your destination.  The packing. The lugging.  Getting to the airport. Bag check in. TSA check in.  Waiting to board. Hoping your plane is not delayed or that the gate is not changed.  The crowds gathering to await their group number to board.  The stress of hoping there is room in the overhead bin.  It’s honestly, the worst part.  At least it is Part One of the worst part.

When you arrive at your destination, there is the never-ending line to go through customs. Then waiting for your luggage.  Then, upon arriving to your hotel, depending upon the time you do arrive, you cannot check in until later in the afternoon.  And so, you walk about your destination in dire need of a shower or bath, or at least a swipe or two of deodorant.

Lest I forget to mention the cramped quarters in ecomony!

And then it gets much, much better.  That’s how we started our visit back to the City of Lights at this ending of 2024!  So come along.  Now that we’ve arrived you can read about our week of relaxation and just taking it easy!

Bonjour Paris!

Friday into Saturday, November 30^th to December 1st

Luckily everything fell into place.  We used the same driver, Anton, that we used when we flew to Nice over the summer.  He’s great and it was a smart choice on our part to not have to deal with the stress of airport parking.  I thought traffic would be horrible since we left on Black Friday but the traffic was not bad.  Speaking of Black Friday, the airport was almost empty when we arrived, checking our bags was a breeze and the TSA pre-check was just as quick.  We had a good amount of time to kill before boarding.  I had a book to read and there was no stress.

This book was very enjoyable. He’s got balls to do what he did and succeed!

The plane took off on time and we were on our way to Paris!

My husband does a great job with his planning.  He reserved the last seats on the plane. Which meant there were two seats and plenty of space between the seats and the window.  I had lots of room to place my stuff and overall, the flight was almost comfortable. I watched a movie “Going Varsity in Mariachi” and loved it so much that I watched it a second time. And read. And dozed off a bit and before I knew it, we were ready to land!

If you get the chance to watch it (I think it is on Netflix) by all means do!

In Nice I was able to piggy-back on my husband’s EU passport but could not do so at CDG. It wasn’t a big deal this time around because we must have been the lone flight to land. It took all of five minutes to go through customs.  With my air tag attached to my luggage, I was able to track the location and it landed when we did.  Approximately three minutes after arriving at the baggage claim, we were ready to get a cab into Paris Centre.

Speaking of the cab…we must have gotten a cab driver who was a former LeMans race contestant.  This guy zoomed all the way from the airport in record time. He was legend!!  We arrived at the hotel very early but, again, it was not a big deal because we were able to drop our luggage off and head to breakfast and a day of playing “let’s-stay-awake-before-check-in.”

I kid you not, our cab driver was epic greatness.  He drove like a winning race car driver and we arrived in Paris Centre in less than a half hour.

By now, our “first” breakfast tradition is at Café de Paris on Rue de Buci. Our “regular” server wasn’t there. I hope he didn’t quit!  And we sat down to enjoy our typical “arrival-in-Paris” breakfast of Café Crème, tartine, croissant and enjoyed!

Since it was early, we headed over to St., Sulpice (I was unable to crash Mass this time around) for my routine of lighting candles for thanks that I can travel here and safely.  The candles were also lit for family and friends.  Ever the Catholic-school compliant student, we also headed to Eglise St.-Germain-des-Pres.  The church had undergone a cleaning and looked more beautiful inside than ever—I thought back on Daniele’s funeral when the church was in a state of disrepair.

St. Sulpice welcomed us with Christmas trees. Check out the way the French use the tree trunk as a stand. So sustainable!

I’m not even going to separate the St. Sulpice pics from St. Germain ones because I was jet-lagged.

I wanted to go to Confession because the priest in the confessional looked bored. My husband, however, said the priest didn’t have all day to listen to me.

We walked some more, over to Place Furstemberg to pause and admire this charming square, strolled along lazily (because we were getting tired at this juncture) along Rue Dauphine which, over the years has turned from a classic shopping street into a tourist hallway.  We headed over to Samaritaine Dept. Store.  It was mobbed with people doing their Black Friday shopping on Saturday.

This tour car was parked in the square. Who knew the French were Burnt-orange, University of Texas fans?

My favorite florist on the square!

Walking over toward Samaritaine..

Yes. Black Friday has become a thing in Paris–and this was Saturday!

At this point it was time to head back across Pont Neuf to the hotel to formally check in.  This time around we stayed at Hotel de Buci.  And it won’t be the last time.  We fell in love with this boutique hotel.  Everything about it was perfection.  The staff is incredible…well, I will write more about that later.

Our room at Hotel de Buci.  I’m not going to give full details because this hotel deserves it’s own blog post. It. Was. Incredible!! And the staff?  They were amazing!

As tired as we were, we knew it would be a huge error to take a nap—we would never wake up. So off we went, on foot, to hang in the sixth.   Okay.  My love for Louis Vuitton remains.  I had been in search of the monogram MM Agenda and my favorite sellers from Japan had a few that were not worth the price asked.  It was time to just buy a brand new one for myself (actually, it was time for my husband to buy it—I give credit where it is due). The St. Germain location is never crowded but since it was the day after Black Friday and it seemed all our global visitors and the French were shopping for the holidays; I had to wait outside on a line.  Within five minutes we were greeted inside and received stellar help.  The manager of the store was very impressed with my vintage Randonnée bag that had the vachetta replaced by LV repair.

From the products, holiday packaging and service.  The St. Germain LV shop is an absolute pleasure!

NOTE:  I did NOT bring a protective bag to keep the pickpockets away.  I used my Randonnée—it is large and carries everything but the kitchen sink. Anyone who would even attempt to pick through this bag would deserve what they stole because they would have to rummage through a ton of my stuff.

NOTE 2:  Do not keep checking the weather report.  We were expecting rain almost every day but the reports were wrong. It rained one full day and a half of another.  One of the days I wore only a blazer as outerwear because it was so warm!

Agenda in tow, we realized that we failed to make dinner reservations for the evening meal.  We couldn’t get into La Jacobine but we managed to make resos for later in the week.  My husband had an idea to head to Procope so off we went.   While there a group was turned away for reservations so I shrugged it off that our efforts would be in vain.  They weren’t and we got a 7:30 PM reservation! Lighting those candles at church helped!

Upstairs at Procope!

Might I say a few words about the restaurant Procope?  Many people cannot stand it. They feel the food is inferior and the restaurant is a tourist trap.  Be that as it may, this is a historic restaurant and one of the oldest in France.  Georges Danton, my beloved historical figure, had many meals there as did Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Honoré Balzac.   And locals dine there.  My husband had many a family meal there growing up.  The food it fine.  I was angry at the restaurant for deleting rognons (kidneys) from the menu, but they are back and I ordered them and they were spectacular!

A little bit of Olives to accompany our aperitifs, I started with the Ravoli, which I’ve had in the past and love.  Vincent never strays afar from escargot!

I was overjoyed to see kidneys on the menu again and ordered them. They were delicious.  As usual, my husband ordered steak.  Dessert was a refreshing ice cream!

NOTE:  Everyone, especially first-timers think they are a food critic. Pay no mind to them. If you want to head to a historical restaurant that others deem “touristy” go!  And enjoy!

Back to the hotel for a long-needed slumber.

Sunday, December 1^st

 Vincent woke me up.  It was 10:00 AM.  Unlike many tourists who are out and about at seven in the morning, we tend to sleep later at times.  This was one of those times.  Too lazy to leave the hotel to walk a total of two blocks to Café de Paris, we decided to get ready in record time and head downstairs to have breakfast in the hotel.  We ended up having breakfast at the hotel every day from thereon in because the breakfasts were wonderful and convenient.

When I say I got ready in record time, I wasn’t kidding. I threw on mascara, lip balm and hair! 

Most of the guests were already out and about when we arrived for breakfast but it was excellent. Fresh bread.  Fresh croissants (which my husband had many), great coffee and a nice view from the glass roof!

Okay. Before I continue, we realized that visitors to Paris have grown in numbers over the years.  We took it for granted that on this first Sunday of the month the Orsay would not be crowded.  We couldn’t even get in.  Not quite discouraged, we walked over to the Louvre.  We couldn’t get in. It wasn’t a big deal but it was a bit surprising.  Next visit we will get tickets.  Ya live. Ya learn.

The line at the Louvre was worse.  Neither of us believe in spending time on lines such as this.  We opted to walk around.

When you can’t get into the Louvre you do silly things like taking a photo of your bare feet in 40 degree weather..

..and remind yourself that the French still smoke!

All was not lost though because the weather was cold but not unbearably so.  With gloves, a scarf and hat, it was perfect for just walking around.  And walk we did!  We ended up walking over to Galeries Lafayette to check out the Christmas decorations and tree.  I do not know if its because we are getting up there in age or what but the enormous crowd at Galeries Lafayette made me nearly claustrophic.  We ended up buying a cashmere sweater for Vincent then left to head across to Printemps Department Store.  The window displays were magnificent and did not fail to please or make everyone happy.  I hadn’t realized the store sold Le Tanneur bags and one of the brand’s bags was on my Wishlist.  My plan was to purchase a large black tote I admired online.  Suffice it to say, I wasn’t thrilled with it IRL and I ended buying a small cross-body bag which I am now loving.

 

There are good years for the Galeries Lafayette tree and not-so-good years. This years was okay. It was much better in real life than photos.

The window displays were beautiful and highly animated.  Who knew FAO Schwarz opened at Galeries Lafayette?

Printemps was much more manageable than Galeries Lafayette for shopping.  It was a more subdued crowd…

I purchassed a lovely cross-body bag at Printemps and my husband a cashmere sweater at Galeries Lafayette.

We stopped at Monoprix for a few items then headed back to the hotel.  We walked a lot that day.  And after a rest we headed to Chez Paul on Place Dauphine to meet up with Vincent’s family.  It was so much fun and I did not take pictures because it was a family moment.  Great food.  Great fun. Great family time!

I was able to pick up the mascara by Bourjois that I love.  These sacs at Monoprix are a great little souvenier to give away or keep.  

NOTE: You don’t necessarily have to set aside a day or two for shopping, it can easily be incorporated into your daily outings!

Our aperitifs before family arrived.  Family is private and that’s why I didn’t take pics!

And the weekend was over as we headed back to the hotel to prepare for the week!

A view of Pont Neuf as we walked back from dinner!

Monday, December 2^nd

Headed downstairs to breakfast, then walked a few blocks to get the car rental.  I’ll say that if you are in Paris, and want to rent a car to get out of the city, Sixt car rental is the way to go. The staff is great and very helpful and our Audi was perfect.

Getting the Sixt car rental. This guy!  He was so stinking helpful and nice! We rented from Sixt last year and will do so next year!

We headed to Fontainebleau on this Monday.  Personally, I love this chateau. I prefer it to Versailles—it’s more intimate.  We’ve been multiple times and never get tired of it.  My better half was especially happy because it was not decorated for Christmas.  Yet.

The weather was fantastic. Nice and sunny. Not too cold. Perfect for walking the grounds.  And the drive was extremely pleasant!

I would wear every single one of these outfits.  In fact, if I could get away with it, I would treat myself to Napoleon’s coat.  It’s just my style!

Today’s Influencers could NEVER match this decor!  This is the real deal and is absolutely stunning.  I’m especially fond of the throne!

We practically had the place to ourselves which is a pleasure compared to the throngs of people taking selfies at the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles!

I don’t think Francois Premier realized what a valuable piece of real estate he built!

The afternoon lighting in the courtyard was everything!

The look when you realize this chateau is yours.  LOL! In my dreams!

Goodbye chateau. Thank you for having us!

A relaxing drive back to Paris Centre to park the car at the lot at Marche St. Germain and a bit of rest before heading out to dinner at La Bourse et la Vie.  This was our first time dining here at the recommendation of a “Les Frenchies” video.  Oh.  My.  God.   This meal was one of the greatest I have ever had in my life.  My phone’s camera got wonky so I couldn’t take a lot of photos.  That said, the restaurant is small.  Very small and reservations are recommended.

Ready for dinner.  I took a very casual approach to dressing during this trip. Jeans and black pants. No socks!

The staff is so incredibly professional and knowledgeable and the food was off—the-charts stupendous.   I started with foie gras and confiture which was excellent and we both had steak.  Mine always bleu.  The meal was that meal you remember long after you’ve dined and we will definitely be back next year!

The staff was extremely professional and very attentive to detail..

We had kir royals made with creme de peche and I will tell you–this was better than a kir royal!

I started with foie gras with confiture. It was outstanding..

Steak..(au poivre)

Frites. Simple perfection..

Dessert..

Wine that was emptied by us in no time!

This is definitely a “return to”. It was crazy great!

Tuesday, December 3

Another drive outside of Paris Centre! This time to Blandy le Tours to Chateau de Blandy.  In the past, we have passed by this chateau but it was never open.  I “read” on Google that it was open beginning at 1 PM for tours.  But I didn’t look at the days it was closed.  So off we went on our adventure only to discover that……………..the Chateau was closed.

Closed. I must have read Google wrong! No worries because we diverted our road trip!

It isn’t every day we get to drive on a road like this..

We headed to visit Evie’s grave. I am always charmed by this tiny chapel at the cemetary.

There’s a lot of history in this place!

We passed by this little community room named after my husband’s uncle.

For us it wasn’t a big deal because we drove to Saint-Hilarion to visit Vincent’s mother, Evie’s grave and drive around.  Heading back to Paris, it was a chance to enjoy the city by car and take an “eyeful” of pics of the Eiffle Tower!

An eyefull of the Eiffel!

As it was a lazy day, we headed to Café de Paris for dinner.  Once again, as last year’s visit, I had the greatest burger of my life.  Vincent had his usual Steak Frites.

Here’s a better photo of the best burger on earth. Juicy. Cheddary. Bleu.  I want more!

NOTE: You know, I see such incredibly aggressive itineraries of people visiting Paris and the one thing I find daunting is that they squeeze so many sites in and run around from here to there quickly and they have no time to savor the City of Lights.  My advice is take your time.  Enjoy every second.  Just chill.  And with that, I say Bonne Nuit!

 Wednesday, December 4^th

 I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already!  Time is going way too fast.  I woke up with a bit of an oncoming cold.  It could be from my great idea of taking a barefoot pic of me on Sunday.  Before we got the car, I stopped at a pharmacie to see if I could get something.  Those pharmacists are like doctors.  I was handed a pack of pastilles to sooth my throat that happened to work like a charm and we were off.

I should have bought more of these!

This time to Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte.  My favorite place of all things decorated for Christmas.  And this year it did not disappoint.  The theme was various children’s stories and I was there for it.  Much to the dismay of my husband; however, he ended up enjoying the decorations much more than last year’s.

It was a foggy day as we headed to Vaux le Vicomte.  But it set the mood!

The mood was set for hundreds of years back..

..into history..

..a wooden soldier greeted us..

..as we made our way to the carriage house

Our driver is ready.

And our coach is embellished with white holiday lights!

This year’s theme–childhood stories and fairy tales.  Here is Snow White’s tree and the table is set for the seven dwarfs!

Mice creating Cinderella’s attire.

Two of the three bears await Goldilocks.

I was thrilled to see an homage to The Princess and the Pea. It’s special for me because I always told Oona she was like the princess in that story!

The pea-green is beautiful..

And here lies our beautiful princess with a bag of peas underneath the matresses!

The Red Riding Hood tree!  I took a video but was unable to transfer it over to here!

An artistically beautiful Nativity.

For additional fun, we drove a few miles to Blandy thinking that perhaps we could get in to see the chateau.  After all, we had the car and ..why not?  Strike two.  It was closed. We drove back to Paris Centre laughing about our second failed attempt to visit Chateau Blandy le Tour.

Meanwhile, back at Blandy le Tour..

..something is brewing because the trees are at the ready.

..and perhaps a small Christmas market?  Who knows because it was closed. Again! 

Dinner this evening?  Chez Rene! Wednesday was andouillette night and my husband was all about it—especially since Ernest in Cannes closed and he was unable to enjoy the “old-gym-socks-scented” treat.  Again, I savored over the Rognons!

Back at Chez Rene

It is so wonderfully old school Parisian.

Greeted with this cream-cheese type dip for bread.

I started out with the bone marrow. Honestly, I would make a great Labrador Retriever because I would even eat the bones.  I fear what my innards look like.  Bone Marrow is delicious!

Vincent started out with a healthier plate of Frog’s legs.

I just cannot pass the Rognons at Chez Rene up. They are “offally” delicious!

And my husband had his fix of Andouillette..

The frites were perfect!

As was the wine. It was additional medicine for my throat!

And back to the hotel for a night of peaceful slumber!

A pleasant evening for sure.

Okay. I’m stopping here because I don’t want to lose your interest.  Part Two will be upon us this week so stay tuned!

I know it is almost two weeks later; two weeks after a new president of these not-so-United States was elected for a second term. I started writing a blog post over a week ago.  My original post was scathing.  It went beyond scathing.  It was vile.  And it was so because I was so incredibly angry.

And two weeks later, I remain angry.  But I am also disgusted and saddened. I am not shocked because the ignorance and stupidity of those who voted for him outnumbered the lazy slobs who couldn’t get off their asses to vote.  I am also not shocked because many younger people used the Palestine/Gaza excuse for either not voting at all or voting for him.

Excuse me, but this election was about America and our future.  Our backyard of 50 states if you will and no other country.

Lady Liberty weeps along with us.

And as time marches on there are those who have voter remorse.

Here’s a breakdown. Thank you to the Latina women because they are a lot smarter than their men.

Boomers who didn’t bother to investigate researching that the president-elect has a goal of cutting social security.  Cutting it out completely.  And his Republican Congress is giddy with delight over this.  He also wants to stop Medicaid and Medicare.

I do not feel sorry for nor do I have empathy for those who voted against my demographic.  I voted for all of us to continue with our Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid.  I voted that way because I have a moral compass.

He also promised to cut Veterans’ benefits.  Just think about that.  The vets who fought for our freedom, our democracy –many losing life and limb, and a man who had bone-spurs and was too cowardly to fight for America, was elected by a good number of those same vets.

I do not feel sorry for any veteran that voted for that man.  No empathy either.  Although I thank you for your service, that is all you will get from me.  Thanks.  And sincere thanks.  But will I feel bad when you lose your benefits?  Nope.  You voted against yourselves.

Latino men.  Gotta be macho. Don’t want a woman president.  The deportations will commence and when your friends and/or a relative or two are given the heave-ho.  You voted for that.  I did not.

White ladies.  To you I say only that I hope none of your daughters, nieces, or friends’ daughters get raped.  And pregnant by the rapist because you will have one very interesting wedding reception.  After all, isn’t that what your fake Christianity wants?  Pro-life? You can marry the young women off to their rapists!

And I do not feel sorry for you either.  When your white husband decides to leave you high and dry and you have nothing—I will not shed so much as a tear or thoughts and prayers for you.  You voted against the rights for all women.

As a collective, all who voted for that man voted against civil rights for LGBTQ community.  You fear drag queens but welcome the very politicians who want to take every freedom away from all of us.

I guess the garbage voted for the garbage!

The president-elect  damaged our country in a way nobody could have imagined. He incited hate and rage and racism and bigotry and misogynistic behavior along with violence.  He sat back while he talked and encourage his cult to storm the Capitol on January 6^th, a day America should have never forgotten.

The friend to Putin and lover of Adolf Hitler has, once again, been elected President of these United States.

You voted against everything that is good for America.  You voted to support a rapist.   You voted to support a racist. You voted to support a man who does not give a shit about you, your family, your neighbors, your coworkers, and the list goes on. He cares only about himself and his billionaire buddies that will get big tax cuts.

I guess his voters were not listening to economics class.

Those who voted for Trump have no clue what a tariff is. A Tariff is used to restrict imports from other countries. A tax if you will.  They increase the price of the goods imported. Therefore, imported items will become pricey.  And the consumer will have to pay the higher price of purchase because corporations will raise the prices of goods ranging from food, to clothing to automobiles and just about anything else one may need.

Yes. You voted for the price of eggs and gas to be lowered.  You didn’t do your math homework.

This makes me miss New York now more than ever.

And in Ohio, the Nazi’s marched. These Beta Boys who refused to wear masks during Covid, are now wearing masks to disguise their faces because they are cowards.  Imagine that.  NaziAmerika!

Miserable cowardly Beta Boys are afraid to show their faces. They should have been thrown into prison for life.

So yeah, a man who pontificated that he loves the uneducated, said America was garbage was voted into office.

On election night, my husband and I made a toast to Kamala Harris.  She had a plan to bring the middle classes back.  She had a plan to assist couples get homes.  And instead, people elected a convicted felon.

Here’s to you Kamala.  You gave us hope…

And we love you!

You reap what you sow and to those who voted for him, I hope you are sowing what you reaped forever.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to fly to Cincinnati and visit my daughter, Oona, my son-in-law, Sam, and my adorable grandsons, Owen, and Bennett. The weekend was a blast and it was wonderful to spend time with everyone.

On the way home, however, my plane was delayed.  By two hours.  And instead of going batshit crazy, as I would have in my younger days, I just shrugged and opened my phone to peruse social media sites.

And in Number One comes Candy Crush!!

And I as I started scrolling through Instagram, it appeared that every other post was either an annoying ad or an even more annoying reel of any given influencer—either young or our demographic showcasing, with a huge smile, their perfect home. The smile, most likely being “I have this and you only wish you did.”

Yeah Gweneth. We get it. You’re wealthy and we are not. Enough with your humblebragging.  

MY foyer looks like this:  Normal.  Shoes on the rug. A rack filled with jackets and dog leashes and little wicker draws stuffed with more shoes.  I’m humble.  And not bragging!

Watching the reels, I could view elaborate autumn décor not only inside their homes but outside on their porches and entryways.  Huge crescent-shaped driveways festooned with pumpkins, mums, corn husks and whatever else autumn brings our way.

Seriously, all those pumpkins would rot on my little porch..

This was MY version of being overly-ambitious.  And this morning when I took them out to the trash, they were rotten and moldy–and I had them for less than a week!

Overly ambitious tablescapes that made me think…. where do they place the food and plates? And it isn’t just autumn décor.  Some of these people have seasonal décor schemes for their entire homes! It was overwhelming for me to imagine doing this for every season in my own home. Where does one store all that stuff? It must be exhausting to decorate one’s home with a complete overhaul four times a year.

I’m not saying this isn’t great looking. Because it DOES look wonderful. But come on…when one works all day, all one wants is to have less shit on the table because it is less to clean up.

And this?  Beautiful but not realistic. Where does the food go?

What. Ever. Happened. To. The. Normal. Home.

I think back to my childhood.  When we lived in Queens, we lived in a two-family house. We were on the bottom level and my grandparents on the top level. It was a small home but it was charming. The floors were hardwood.  The walls solid plaster. No sheetrock and they were beautiful.  As our family grew, my parents turned the dining room into a living room and the old living room became their bedroom. It was nothing unusual.  Most families did that. Our kitchen was large enough to eat meals in and there was no question about bigger space.

This is a very old picture of our house in Ozone Park, New York. Queens. The elevated “A” train ran directly behind our home. My grandparents lived on top and we lived on the bottom. To this day, it is my favorite house. I don’t care how plain and basic it is. The inside was beautiful in an old-school way. 

When the family grew too big for the house, we moved to Long Island.  The house was bigger but not elaborate.  My mother kept the house in immaculate condition.  We may not have had the most expensive furniture, but it worked for a family with five kids, a stay-at-home mother, and a NYC police officer dad.

My parents and me.  Even back then I was prone to the snarky side-eye.  Even being cross-eyed!

I grew up in normal houses.

This is the NORMAL house we moved to from Queens.  Richland Blvd. in Bay Shore, NY! 

It got me to thinking.  Does anyone live in a house with a normal interior anymore?  Does everyone rip walls down and restructure their dwellings every so often?  Are their kitchens remodeled on a regular basis?  Am I the only one out there with a bathroom that is not a spa?

We have two bathrooms and a powder room. The closest to a spa that this one is, is that we are having it painted. Notice my sign on the color I prefer.  A bathroom serves two purposes. To clean your body and to eliminate waste. Oh yeah. Actually three. To store all the skincare!

It made me take stock of the interior of our own home.  We have been here for ten years.  We purchased it when it was approximately seven years old.  Essentially, our house is 17 years. The bones are great.  The walls, we like to keep white because white makes a room look bigger and white looks clean.

What I absolutely despise about our home is the carpeting. I hate it. We almost didn’t purchase it because of my hatred for carpeting.  But, in all the homes we looked at, carpeting was the one item that all the homes had.  We did replace the carpeting that was in the dining area with hardwood, thankfully because I cannot imagine eating in a room with a carpeted floor.

Good thing I am not a celebrity. I would be deemed “difficult” as I would refuse to walk the red carpet. THAT’S how much I despise carpeting!

In our living room we have two sofas.  One is about 16 years old—an Ethan Allen number that was very expensive.  The other, a sofa from Raymour and Flanagan.  I love both because they are an off white, both are slipcovered and I can remove the covers to clean them.  There is an antique dresser in which I house tablecloths and napkins.  It is functional as is aesthetically pleasing.

View of the living room.  It looks pretty nice. Doesn’t it?

Basic and pragmatic…

And here is what the sofas look like in every-day life. Covered in throws because Chippy lives and loves to lay over both of them…and snack on the throws as well. This, my friends, is our normal!

There is an armoire which houses the small TV set on the top portion and on the bottom games and such.  I love that piece so much because it is the first item I purchased while I was going through my divorce.  It was not cheap but wasn’t out-of-bounds expensive.  It is the first piece of furniture I bought on my own and I am very emotionally attached to it.

After I lose my house in the divorce, I moved into an apartment and purchased this armoire. It cost $700 and I will never get rid of it. It is a symbol of my hard times.  But UGH…that effing carpeting. I abhor it!

Our dining room table and chairs is casual farm style that we purchased when we moved here.  I like it. I like the normalcy of it.  It is large enough for me to use it as my “blogging” office and my husband and I eat all our meals there.  And during the holidays, it is just what we need.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing out-of-the-ordinary.  In my eyes, it is fine.

No elaborate tablescapes here. My laptop is my decor. However, on Christmas and on some Thanksgivings, as well as family dinners, I do dress it up a bit!

The autumnal décor in the house consists of autumn-colored flowers, two jack-o-lanterns that I carved yesterday and an autumnal wreath on the front door. That is it.

My autumn decor. A wreath, which, earlier this morning was replaced with a Christmas one.  Autumn flowers and the carved pumpkins that rotted within 6 days!

And the day after Halloween, I’ll go full tilt boogie into decorating for Christmas.  The bannisters will be festooned with greenery, lights and ribbons as will the two trees.  For the first time ever, we purchased a fake tree for the living room.  We are both too tired to get the real tree and pick up needles the remainder of the year.  As empty-nesters, Santa doesn’t visit us any more nor does that elf who cannot make up it’s mind which shelf to sit upon.

This is on the front door now!

The point is, I love my normal house. I love the big normal bed that welcomes us when we arrive home from our travels.

I love our big comfy bed.  I despise that shitty carpeting.

I love my sunroom.

My favorite spot in the house. I LOVE my loveseat. It’s broken in and not perfect. 

I love every normal room in our normal house just like I loved the normal kitchen with avocado appliances that we grew up with on Long Island.

My mother was such a fan of the avacado. TBH, it might not be to my taste but I look back at those appliances fondly.  

There is something warming, cozy and lovingly familiar with the normalcy of living in a normal house.

Even down to the tin dollhouses of the 1960’s. I love the normal aesthetic!

Tell me dear readers, what’s your take on this?  Are you happy to be in a normal house? I can bet you most definitely are!

As most of you most precious friends of this blog may recall, and simply because we are all around the same age—the 1963 movie “The Stripper” starring Joanne Woodward as the struggling, aging, actress who turned to stripping her clothing off and bumping and grinding her way, in her newly seedy existence to pay her bills.

Hmmm. I wonder what The Long Island Catholic newspaper rated this movie. It was most likely either A-f which was “Adults with Reservations” (whatever that meant ) or C for “Condemned”! 

Although, ever the precocious young music fan, I do remember loving the theme from the film, written, and composed by David Rose.  It was a huge hit and I’m pretty sure that one of my siblings was conceived to their Catholic rhythm method to the beats of that instrumental.

I’m sure one of my siblings was conceived to the rytthm of this song!

But that isn’t the sort of stripper I reach for—whether inward or outward.

I’m talking of the process of stripping my clothes off every weekday as I return home from work.  And a few other ways I enjoy less clothing.

And if I WAS a stripper, I would relate more to the Chris Farley (R.I.P) version! We have the same belly!

Now, do not get me wrong.  I love my clothes.  All those corporate ensembles I wore as an executive assistant—I adored them, and enjoyed the process of planning my daily outfits.  And as casual as the dress code is at the hospital in which I am employed, I become joyful in playing around with how I’m going to wear jeans, J. Crew pixie pants and the like.

In the year of working for the State Hospital, I no longer miss these ensembles. However, the tartan kilt will still be worn–it’s comfy!!

When traveling?  I’m your girl that doesn’t throw two weeks’ worth of clothing into a carryon.  My wigs go there.  I lug an oversized suitcase around with a month’s worth of cloths that I won’t even wear.  Having a choice is important to me.

Hey!  I’m going away for the weekend!  I’ll live in one pair of leggings and a Tee shirt but I love a choice!

And if there is an “occasion” such as a wedding or event (that I am usually not invited to), I can assure you that my entire being will be shoved into a great dress!  And heels (even though I won’t be able to walk in them.

As formally dressed as I was for Oona’s wedding, this Calvin Klein dress was incredibly comfortable. It had a built-in bra!

Running errands, from the most mundane to the full-on mall trip, will have me looking stylish.

 

I wore this to the mall after work last Friday. It was perfect for work and shopping!

However, something happens as soon as I arrive home from anywhere.  The clothes come off.  And no, I don’t run around the house naked.  My slob clothes come on.

Here’s how it rolls:

Clumsily, I open the front door.  Often, I’ll be carrying so much shit that it will take me at least ten minutes to turn the handle of the front door and carry myself through the threshold.

Basically, this is me at the front door arriving home from work every day. Except I am carrying more stuff!

Then, as I hit the first few steps, I reach into my shirt, any top, or if a dress, I hike up the bottom and, while the item is on, my hands will reach into the sleeve and magically take the bra off.

There’s nothing like disrobing up the stairs. And Chippy is always waiting to assist!

Next, the hair comes off.  By this point I figure this is my exercise for the day:  Running up the stairs.  Carrying the weight of my life. It requires strength!

And that is my same reaction as my wig is taken off!

Now that I’m on the second landing, I drop the purse and overfilled tote bag on the dining room table.   After all, the dining room table is the great multitasking piece of furniture.  From using it as my office (I’m writing my blog post on my laptop which is placed upon the dining room table), and using it to place all my stuff on. Oh yeah. We eat at this table too.

Yup!  My multi-tasking dining room table! 99.9 percent of the time it looks like this!

Wig and bra in hand, the shoes come off as I get ready to climb up the final set of stairs.  My finale to this obstacle course.

My clothing is finally thrown off my body!

WE NOW INTERRUPT THIS BLOG POST  TO GIVE YOU AN UNPAID, UNSPONSORED AD ABOUT MY NEW FAVORITE BRA!!!

I got tired of my titties being squished into bras that were underwired, digging into the soft, pillowy flesh of my bosom.  The overflow from side boobage was also annoying as were the bra straps that always fell down.

So I ordered these bras from Temu.

The cost was $17.99 for five bras. How could I resist?  The bras are front-closure and the straps really aren’t straps. They are a micro blend and wide and don’t fall down!

And even though the bras are softly padded, behind you will see two little insert pads (they did not come with the bras. I had these)

There’s a little pocket in the bra to place extra padding.  Don’t mind the dark spot on the pad, I washed it specifically for this post and it didn’t dry. The large fits my 36 C bust perfectly.

OK. BACK TO THE BLOG!!

In my panties, I carefully hang or fold my jeans.  If the top needs to be washed, it gets tossed into the laundry basket. If it can be worn again, it gets folded nicely and placed in a drawer.

And speaking of drawers…. the drawers on my body, or as the proper individual would refer to them as my panties or underpants, they get tossed in the laundry basket.

How lazy AM I?  The drawers, which are thrown on the floor, are picked up by my foot. I won’t even bend down.  I am a disgraceful individual.

Am I embarrassed by the jiggly bits my naked body is shaking?  Nah.  It’s me. They are my jiggly bits.  But I like to cover them.  Especially since I’m most-likely awaiting an Amazon delivery and don’t want to be arrested for answering the door in my birthday suit.

Instead, I slip into a pair of Old Navy Holiday pajamas.  Caveat: These are worn from October through May.  When the weather warms up, it’s an old sundress that has been stained from my sloppy cooking.

My favorite at-home clothing. Old Navy PJ’s.  As much as I love them at home, it disgusts me when I see people on airplanes wearing these.

Speaking for myself, I take extreme pleasure in dressing like the ultimate lazy, slovenly, piggy when I’m home.  Within the confines of our townchateau, I can plop on a sofa and read a book in my pajamas that are old, raggy, ripped in unmentionable places and not have to worry about bending down.

 

The Frenchman doesn’t mind this for I am the one who introduced this rather formal specimen into the joy of dressing down at home. By explaining that his cashmere sweaters or expensive trousers would live a longer life if he took them off when he is home and, instead, dresses in the one pair of sweats he owns and an old tee from his tennis club, he would be a happier person.  He has followed my advice and remains both grateful, happy, and buys less clothing so that I may buy more!

It goes a bit further though.  When family comes over for dinner—whether randomly visiting or for holidays, I don’t ask them to dress up.  Rather, I prefer casual comfort. The table will be beautifully set.  The food glorious food will be delicious.  And why should they wear clothing that they will be afraid to mar if a spot of gravy is spilled or if anything falls into their lap of clothing?  No. Come over. Wear what you want.  But dress for comfort!

The usual holiday table when guests come over..

The usual holiday table after the guests leave!

It’s an odd paradox.  Because when we do go out for dinner, I love to dress.

Sometimes dresses. Sometimes pants. But when we head out to dinner, I always dress up a bit!

I will make sure that, even heading to the mall, I will not be wearing sweats or pajama bottoms.

Do you roll the same way? I’m curious about this because I wonder if I am the anomaly or the norm?

As an aside, on this Tuesday, the first of October, I’m home from work.  I’m in a pair of Old Navy Holiday pajamas from last year because I took a sick day.

My ensemble today.  Holiday PJ’s. I did throw on some lipstick and a wig so I would feel slightly better but the wig is coming off.

I woke up yesterday with a bout of Gastroenteritis.  I’m prone to this stomach condition. For me, it is due largely to stress (think election).  But I must tell you, unless you have had this, you cannot imagine just how bad the stomach cramping is.  Those cramps are bend-over-forward cramps.  Birthing contractions are more enjoyable!

This was me yesterday. All I want for dinner tonight is chicken noodle soup.

When I was headed to work yesterday, I could feel the onset.  I honestly spent more time in the bathroom on the toilet than at my desk working.  Luckily, I can run fast or I would not have made it to the bathroom without soiling my jeans.  But to be safe, I shoved almost an entire roll of toilet paper into my panties.

A month ago, I had to prep for my Colonoscopy. At least I was home. Yesterday. I was NOT home. I had to run to the bathroom all day. I felt like this !

It. Was. Painstaking.

That said, we’re two months away from December. The remainder of the year is going to zoom no matter what we wear! No matter what we don’t wear. We will be making plans. We won’t be making plans. Overall, let’s enjoy the remainder of 2024!