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paris - day 1

So now I'm finally sitting down to show and tell about my trip to Paris, with my sister, my cousin from Hawaii and my friend and cousin-in-law Anne.  Anne and I spent 7 days in Paris while my sister and cousin did 5 days then trotted off to Italy. This is day 1.

The first picture of the Arc de Triompe on our way to the hotel.  The taxi cab driver heard the click of the camera and told us to wait because we could take better pictures later and because it was so close to the hotel.

 

The improved view and close-up view:

 

This is the view from our room at the Prince de Galles Hotel which was just off the Champs-Elysees: 

  

Anne and I arrived first to Paris before my sister and cousin so this was our first stop after dropping off the bags and sort of freshening up after the looooong flight:

Laduree:

The goodies inside:

  

 

Laduree was a quick jaunt from the hotel so it wasn't far at all.  This is what we feasted on:

 

I should say we took it easy this first day.  After tasting some of the macarons and waiting for the rest of our traveling party to arrive we walked to the Arc de Triompe, took a myriad of pictures, then got ready for dinner.  We treated ourselves to a nice dinner at Les Bouquinistes upon the recommendation of Anne's sister who said that this was the best place she ever had fois gras.  While I'm not a fois gras kind of person, the sample we had was smooth and soft like butter.  This experience made me eat it two more times in Paris and nothing did compare to what it tasted like at Les Bouquinistes.    

a candle and some tea towels

I'm home alone enjoying some peace and quiet and also getting some things done.  The husband and kids went to a picnic away from the city with family since I already had plans with one of my cousins.  We went to Perch for some quick shopping.  I bought a couple of things for the home: linen tea towels with a brown flower print by Flowie  and and lovely home fragrance candle from LAFCO.  The French lilac scent is light and refreshing. It burns for more than 70 hours and once it's done, you can use the glass, which is hand made and unique from all others, for cold drinks, pencils, flowers, etc.  We had planned for some pizza at Gialina but they don't open until 5:00 p.m. today.  We went to La Corneta next door instead.  

I've yet to post about Paris which I will do in days since I feel it would be too much for one post to write everything...so stay tuned =)

   

growing with tons of energy

 

coming up soon...The City of Light...

shopping...hayes valley

Today my sister and I went shopping in Hayes Valley.  Our main store to go to was Flight 001.  We're going on a trip...a trip to PARIS!!!...next month in April.  I'm going with my sister, my cousin from Hawaii, and Anne.   The store was having a 50% sale off the flight 001 brand products.  I picked up just a few things.

I picked up a blue converse pair from HUF  - not for the trip but just because of the color.  I plan to bring my gray ones though.  I've been told from a co-worker and reading on sites  about Paris that they do wear  them.

 

We also went to Cotton Sheep.  They were having a 50% off sale on select items and I got a scarf made in Japan - woven - 100% wool - but it looks and feels like cotton.

 

We ate here  for lunch since Stacks was full.  For dessert we went to Paulette's. 

Anne told me about this store opening in San Francisco.  Very good macaroons!!!

a little girl and her little red shoes

 

 

Gray top: UNIFORM studio    |  Red shoes: ZARA  

cupcakes

I wouldn't of known about Martha Stewart's cupcake show had I not read this from JustJenn's blog.  I decided to make the Pure Cupcakes that were featured on her show. I liked the fact that she used parchment paper for cupcake liners.  Here are my pictures:

 
 

   

It was a little messy but the batter that baked on the paper easily peeled off so you still can have a clean cupcake.  I altered the recipe a bit with the self-rising and regular flour.  The recipe was really close to the Magnolia recipe except it had an extra egg and used buttermilk instead of milk - plus there was a lot more of vanilla.  A very good cupake.

Also, for my mom's b-day in January my sister and I bought cupcakes from Sibby's Cupcakery.  We bought red velvet w/ cream cheese frosting.  These were delicious and I think the best bought cupcake I've ever tried.

   

 

 

my december crafting

It's been a little while since I posted but I did do a lot of crafting in December.  I didn't have time then to post about it but I do now so here goes...

My friend commissioned me to make some zippered pouches for her xmas gifts so I made them w/ brown nylon and colored zippers.

 

I also made quick little tags with a "j" stamp I bought at Paper Source.

   

For my annual cousin exchange I made journals/mini notebooks and also personalized them.

 

 We also had a craft fair at work so I also made pouches, tissue holders, and journals for that too. My co-worker took pictures so here is my little section here.

I hope everyone's holidays went well and I hope everyone had a very Happy New Year.  I can't believe the end of January will be next week! How time flies!

cord binding

I took another exposed book binding class with one of my cousins.  This time it was with hemp cord on the spine and through the cover.  I took the class at  The San Francisco Center for the Book. Here are my pictures:

  

 

package to be on it's way

Packing it up for back tack 4:

winter scarf

Last year I started a scarf for myself and never finished...until last night. It's the same one I made for my son here.  It's a bigger version and made with yarn from artfibers: It's 66% silk and 34% lambswool.  Very soft...and actually very long.  I'm a bit sad about artfibers closing...not sure what will happen in the future but you can read more here.