Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Je mange

One of the days we were in Paris we decided to split up.  The boys went to Invalides and Mandi and I had a day of shopping, eating macaroons for lunch, and champagne.

Our first stop was the Galeries Lafayette...

even the shopping malls in Paris are amazing!!



One of my favorite purchases was this top...


this is not something I would typically buy, but I kept coming back to this.  Once I tried it on I knew I had to have it.  As an added bonus, the collar is removable.


I also picked up a little something for my girls...




All the shopping made us girls hungry and I knew the perfect spot.  The original Laduree is just around the corner from the Galeries Lafayette, why not have macaroons for lunch?!!?  I mean we were on vacation!!




We went to the cafe side first for lunch...




then into the store to take home a box or two...



This would be the only time I would describe a cookie as "beautiful"





After a little champagne to celebrate....


then a little something for our second wind...


we met up with the boys again.




Our plan for this evening was to go on a wine tasting.  When we showed up at the wine shop it was sold out!!  ( I never would of thought a Tuesday night in January would be sold out) so we decided to go on our own wine tasting...

We walked the streets of the 1st arrondisement...




and every time we saw a cute cafe we would go in for a bottle of wine...





we ended up drinking a lot of wine that night...



At the end of the night we found a quaint jazz bar...


then ended with dinner from a street vendor at 2 am...

This hands down was my best day in Paris!!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Scenes from my weekend

We had a great stay-cation this weekend, I sometimes forget what a great city I live in!!


Saturday afternoon we headed downtown to the arch...




It was bad planning on my part, I didn't even think that tickets to the top would be sold out.  We did go to the museum at the base of the arch, then we headed over to the wax museum....


where we spent a some time going through the 3 floors of wax figures...

some of it was a bit scary for the girls...



We then headed over to the club, checked in, ordered room service for the kids and headed downstairs to our event...


The gala was an auction to raise money for improvements to the pool.  I spend pretty much every day during the summer at the pool so I had to bid on something...


I am now the proud owner of a juicer.  I can't wait to try this out.  I keep hearing how much everyone loves their juicers!!



Sunday we woke up and it was Scarlett's birthday so we all went out for pancakes...


then we headed home.  Libby made her sister a delicious cake...

we did presents...

then Dr Beautiful had to go into work.


Today they are demolishing the labor and delivery wing where the hubs works and where I delivered all 3 of my kids, so we popped in at the hospital last night to get one last shot of the rooms.


Matthew arrived in this room


and I had the girls in the same room


  It was actually bittersweet because I know that I am done having babies.   It feels like yesterday I was in labor.  This weekend made me feel very blessed!!

Happy Monday

Friday, January 25, 2013

Girl Friday

Happy Weekend, is it that time again already??

Tonight we are just hanging with the kids and having our standard Friday night meal...


Saturday we are having a little stay-cation with the kids.  The hubby and I have a gala (love saying that word) at our club downtown...  



Our club also has about 70 suites for members to spend the night, so we decided it would be fun to stay downtown Saturday night.  Dr Beautiful and I can go to our event in the grand ballroom...


and the kids can stay upstairs in a room, order room service, and watch a movie...



We thought it would be fun to head down in the afternoon and go up the arch...


and enjoy the city...


when we wake up Sunday morning, this one will be 4!!!


so we have a special birthday brunch lined up before we head home...


Bon weekend mes amies!!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

J'aime Paris

Brace yourself for a photo bomb today, I am so excited to share the Paris part of our tip!!

Our trip began with our friends, at the airport, last Saturday afternoon...

then we took off for France...


8 hours later I was home!  We dropped our bags at our apartment, and the adventure began...



 but only after I admired the view from our balcony....




Since we were already on Ile de la cite, we decided our first stop had to be Notre Dame which was in our "backyard"

Sunday mass was going on and it was beautiful...






then we walked down the streets of Ile St Louis...




We were in desperate need of a pick me up at this time, so it was on to Harry's New York bar, where the Bloody Mary was invented...



Time to tackle more of the city.  Since it was Sunday, I thought it was appropriate we visit another church that was on my radar.  St Francais Xavier, inside you will find the fully intact body of St Madeleine who was the patron saint at the school where I used to teach. (thanks M for the heads up) 

Of course, we were in Paris so you are easily distracted by cafes and brasseries.  On our way to the church we ducked in a cafe for a light lunch...

and was so excited when I looked up and saw this hanging on the wall...
(yes that is a Missouri license)



2 bottles of wine later we were off again.  We found the church...

and St. Madeleine....



Our first day was winding down.  Dinner and wine....



then we called it a day!
We had the streets to ourselves at 1am and I loved it!!



Day 2 was another busy day!!


We started at the L'ouvre

and all it's glory



(a little tid bit of info, if you are ever in the L'ouvre you can take an art class...)



then onto Tuilleries...



which took us straight to the Champs Elysses...

which has the best shopping in the world...
(the famous store front where Carrie fell in the last episode of Sex and the City)



After a little shopping, lunch and an afternoon cocktail we continued on....

towards the eiffel tower...



you have to walk by the overpass where Princess Diana was killed, and 16 years later people still leave flowers for her...



Finally we reached our destination....



I never get tired of going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the views are amazing...

I love going at dusk, by the time we came down the tower was glowing...


Day 2 was busy yet so much fun, it was time to relax...

and call it a day...

more to come on Paris mes amies!!