A Springtime Visit to Paris and the Chic Le Royal Monceau

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A Springtime Visit to Paris and the Chic Le Royal Monceau

Last month we had the pleasure of returning to one of our favorite destinations, Paris. It was a quick stop over on our way to Provence and the French Riviera but we made the most of time. We checked into the Le Royal Monceau and were immediately taken with the touch of whimsy (note upside down flower pot arrangement) and sleek, modern vibe of this Philippe Starck designed hotel. Our suite came complete with delicious welcoming macaroons, plush robes, linens and Clarins bath products and even a guitar for Mr. C.T. They thought of everything!

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A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves

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A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves

Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world.  We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago.

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A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch

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A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch

One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it’s easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.

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Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment

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Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment

With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.

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Curated Travel: Packing Tips - Edited Accessories + New Favorites from grayc glass

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Curated Travel: Packing Tips - Edited Accessories + New Favorites from grayc glass

I've learned to minimize and refine my packing style through trial and error. I believe it was that three-week vacation to Italy and France in 2011, lugging an overweight suitcase on and off train platforms, up tiny staircases of hotels, and out of taxi cabs, that finally made me a believer in the less is more approach to packing and traveling. I was also grateful that neither Scott or I developed a hernia hoisting that bag up and down for three weeks.

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The Fascinating Thing About Travel

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The Fascinating Thing About Travel

The fascinating thing about long distance travel is how you can pack a bag, cue up in line, enter a veritable cylinder for a ride in the sky and hours later the door opens to an entirely different world. The language, the architecture, the smells, even the pace of life around you. It is a bit surreal, especially after a long flight -- or two or three -- and being awake 30+ hours, but I always love that moment. It feels like re-entry to the world or time travel, and I'm hooked on the experience. Long distance travel is grueling, but the reward is definitely worth it.

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Postcard from Paris!

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Postcard from Paris

The early morning light of Paris is streaming in through the luxurious linen curtains, as I sit here at the marble-topped table with my laptop. The chandelier above me is sparkling.  My husband is still slumbering in the next room and I have Carli Bruni softly crooning in french on Spotify.

I want to remember moments like this forever.

Life in Paris is very sweet.

I just noticed the patisserie across the street is already open. :) We had steaming café crèmes with a pain au chocolat croissant yesterday that blew our minds. There are no croissants in the world like France.

Is it something in the water?

File Jul 16, 8 24 26 AM.jpeg

Yesterday I awoke to texts checking to see if we were okay after the horrific attack in Nice at the Bastille Day celebration. We were just fine, but I had felt nervous about Bastille Day celebrations since we booked this trip to Europe back in November after the terror attacks in Paris.

I shared my thoughts yesterday morning on Instagram:

stylemindchic.

Another beautiful day dawns in Paris...We are excited to be celebrating retirement and my birthday today in this magnificent city, yet we are deeply saddened over the news from Nice and the losses they have suffered. We are safe and sound in this charming apartment Thank you for the texts, emails and comments checking in on us. 💕Scott and I were in the final stages of booking this trip to Europe when the terror attacks happened in Paris. I'll admit it, I've been nervous about our return to Paris. The images of terror don't fade easily from mind. When people are gunned down while dining at a cafe, enjoying a concert or watching fireworks, there is no sense to it...I saw military weapons and heard sirens at the airport yesterday. I wanted to get out of the "soft target" zone asap. Scott went out in the crowds for fireworks for Bastille Day late last night, but I did not. We will be out enjoying this summer day in one of our favorite places. 💐☀️ Terror and tragedy can happen anywhere, anytime. We want to be cautious, be we cannot let fear dictate our lives. We will continue to enjoy the adventure of travel and not let the dark side steal our joy. 💖✈️🌎 #france#paris#travel#travelgram#instagram#nicefrance#traveltales#wanderlust#traveling

And with that, we continue to enjoy the adventure of travel, this lovely apartment, and our last few days in Paris. I'm overwhelmed by the kind birthday wishes I received yesterday. Merci!!  55 is off to a fabulous start!

Here's to embracing the joy of today!

Au Revoir