Yesterday I 'Walked On By' on my way to the pool and didn't buy a pastry either before or after. I took the Metro both ways this time instead of strolling and only had 1€ in my pocket for the pool locker. You get it back when you leave but there isn't much you can buy at a patisserie...OK maybe a couple of chouquettes but I escaped. Day #1 pastry-free. Just 20 more to go before its a so-called habit. Good luck to that. It does also help to eat breakfast before I leave the house I discovered...
Yesterday I met up with makeup artists Veronique Marot and Tracey Gray-Mann at the new Dynamo show at Grand Palais. You can always spot a makeup artist in Paris. It's a guarantee they won't be wearing a lick of makeup.
Here is Tracey in a green light room with no makeup
But very FAB shoes.
Isabel Marant's hot hot sneaker high heel from a few years ago.
The BIG horsey running shoe is the new IN thing. Garance has given it her seal of approval. I'm aghast to see it everywhere. You look down and think, Oh an American. You look up and say, Oh no a Frenchie. Honestly what next? If you're wondering what to wear in Paris next visit look in the bottom of your closet - it's lurking there. Just add brightly colored jeans and you're set.
As for the Dynamo exhibit unless you LOVE flashing, blinding lights and pitch dark rooms leave it for the 5 year olds and the guys.
Well that's what I think...
Well that's what I think...
Louvre closed due to pick pocket related strike.
Ooh la la.
As usual (comme d'habitude or something like that) I was just having a look at the Guardian website and saw that the Louvre was closed today due to a strike by workers fed up with pickpockets and other petit criminals. Jeepers! Hard to imagine and really rather a downer. Do you think that the workers over reacted, or are art-dazed tourists really being taken advantage of while they search for the Mona Lisa.
Frankly I'm not surprised. The place is a crazy zoo of people milling around every which way - a pickpocket's dream come true. I went on Monday to see the new German show (another exhibit you can skip IMHO) and I couldn't wait to get out of there.
Yesterday post-blinding, flashing lights we went to the Tuileries to gaze at Spring beginnings and meetup with photographer Carla Coulson at a cafe. While Tracy and Veronique were marveling over the new shoots all I could think was if this was New York you wouldn't see a nano-second of dirt and the flowers would all be in full bloom and freshly replaced next week with new ones. C'est la vie in Paris. I guess it's more au naturel here...
Remember Carla Coulson who made me look so glamourous at her photo shoot in Paris I can never leave the house again without makeup.
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| And I have Veronique Marot for the gorge makeup makeover. |
Yesterday of course both clever Carla and Veronique ordered only an expresso (2.30 euros) at the cafe and I stupidly ordered a not very good Nestle Hot chocolate for a ridiculous 4.80. Will I never learn I'm just renting a seat?
You might enjoy taking a look at Tracy's blog with all her fab makeup recommendations. I did.
Today I went to the pool and the pool was closed for 'technical difficulties'. Oh. I managed to stroll home without eating a pastry AGAIN! Well with 1 euro in your pocket there's not much choice in Paris. I did take this picture for you.
Today I went to the pool and the pool was closed for 'technical difficulties'. Oh. I managed to stroll home without eating a pastry AGAIN! Well with 1 euro in your pocket there's not much choice in Paris. I did take this picture for you.
I had my daughter take a photo of the macaron shop yesterday with her phone:)
ReplyDeleteNot like your macarons shops but it was thrilling nonetheless..
I certainly do remember that glam photoshoot w...the nouveau makeup..
Loved it..
Nice to see it again.
Guess what? we are expecting 20 cms of snow cette nuit.
Pauvre moi.
No Spring gardens yet.
Soooo sorry about more SNOW!
DeleteNot fair at all ;(
Je sais..Pas possible!
DeleteHad to chuckle when I read about the flowers au natural versus the New Yorker method of planting them when in full bloom already. I never thought about those Park Avenue tulips NOT slowly emerging from their winter sleep! It's a mad world. ;-)
ReplyDeleteExactly! They 'blanket' the ground with full-blown flowers. Process is not on the menu. Get to the finish line vite. And showing off I guess...
DeleteCG...I piled on 20-pounds when my mother died from over indulging in wine and pastry that year. Have a light frame, and always thin. Decided that on the first of every month that would be my 'free day' and in between creating healthy future. Worked for me. Now weigh what did at 20. And really look forward to my treat day for being 'good.'
ReplyDeleteLOVE the post! Also that photo of you, so stylish and smart!
Good for you! Developing a little restraint in this town takes all the wiles you can dream up like going out with no €€€ in your pockets...
DeleteThe Louvre closing made NBC Nightly News! Add the pool closure and it is tempting to think Paris is going to the dogs...but wait! No daily dog today!
ReplyDeleteYou must be feeling good about going to the pool & skipping pastry. You know, sometimes I think it takes less than 21 days for a new habit to kick in...The white shoes: oh dear...(what I mean is, I don't like them! Did you mention what the Scrabble photo is about? I'm curious about those mugs. Sounds like fun meeting up with your friends...
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting I'm renting a chair at a cafe rather than buying a drink...
DeleteQuel Horreur, Carol, French women in high topped sneakers! I avoid like the plague anything that would cause a native to think "Ah American tourist". Now you tell me the French have fallen for the ugly sneaker look! Incroyable!
ReplyDeleteYes high top sneakers +. A hot dog in your hand and yr French. Just don't eat the thing in the street!
DeleteCarol, you've made me laugh with the notion of Parisiennes actually wearing ...designer sneakers. This will surely pass.
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning that Guardian news about crime at the Louvre. I really do not like the idea of tourists being taken advantage of by criminals in a museum.
The photo of you is lovely...you are so chic!
I did look at Tracy's blog and thank her for the info about the various shadows, blushes, glosses and lacquers. I've read the Grace Coddington book and also highly recommend it.
xo
Thank You Frances!
DeleteI listen to the news on the radio mindlessly and don't pay attention enough...ooopla
The pink makeup could almost be turned into one of those gateau. Maybe that's the way to think of them..as tasting like makeup?
ReplyDeleteLucinda
Carol, love your red glasses! Very becoming!
ReplyDeleteIf you need to worry about kilos...ummmmmm....gulp! I am in deep trouble!!!
Wonderful pictures!
Just wish I could handle those great shoes!
There's something about that shot of the woman in the green room that I like - maybe it is the crazy dance like moment that you snapped the shot.
ReplyDeleteThe shoes are interesting - I don't know what else to call them :)
I like the enlarged shot of you - very elegant!
Two days pastry free! I think you could only attempt such heroics if you were staying for quite a while, as you are. When you only have one week or two, then there is absolutely no point, and it would be detrimental to go pastry free- quelle horreur. The Louvre being shut made news in Australia too. Rather dispiriting, especially along with your news about skimming the other day.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Ouise and I didn't say pastry-free ALL day long. Just to start off the day...
DeleteOh good. I was marvelling at your willpower!
DeleteHello My dear Carol! I did not know you were doing a reportage on our outing but I must admit it does well describe our afternoon! ...However, I don't want to contradict you or anything, but Tracey and I were both wearing make up! LOL! The trick is to make it look natural! I saw Tracey put herself together in 5 minutes while we chatted and I saw her: put on her moisturizer, followed by light foundation, a bit of concealer, some blush, mascara, and to finish it off she even brushed her brows! Ha hah! Which is just about what I did as well before I left the house! You should see me when I'm REALLY not wearing make-up! YIKES!
ReplyDeleteToo funny about the make-less look
DeleteI wonder are the goats back in the Tuilerie gardens?. I was amazed to see them last summer but they are used to keep the grass down. I saw them on an grass embankment near one of the ponds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day! Congrats on your early success fending off the pastry tempters that lurk around every Paris corner. As for eating on the street, I did see a well-dressed woman on the sidewalk eating a pain au chocolat very discreetly as we, the only other people in a two block radius, passed by. I even snapped a pic as proof, just in case I needed it. Maybe the French just sneak their treats on empty streets when (they think) no one is watching. :) x Katie
ReplyDeleteI waiting to see a picture of the pastries....oh what heaven....you are stronger than I....your makeup looks wonderful , as I was a makeup artist for Bobbi Brown and Chanel.
ReplyDeleteI had the best time teaching women how to make themselves look ten years younger...
Lynne
Veronique Marot did my hair and makeup at the Carla Coulson shoot - they work as a team
DeleteYou are SO pretty~ why haven't we seen a photo of you before? You don't want to look ten years younger~ people would think you were in high school ! I'm commenting on this post a wee belated as my daughter and I are just back from a week in England. Did you see my wave from across the channel? We were almost entirely in Rye.
ReplyDelete