Petersham Nurseries

Are you off barbecuing your breakfast somewhere nice today? Or are you stuck at home catching up on painting homework or whatever. I thought I'd take you off on a nice outing to Petersham Nurseries. Believe me you could do far worse and there's no traffic to fight etc.

They have huge sheds filled to the limit with treasures you will instantly want to own.

Like these glorious over size pots. Does one HAVE to have a garden to own these? Is it obligatory?A tree trunk table. I so need this!!! Who knew?Every place your eye lands there are divine little still life setups.Someone here is a painter, that's for sure...

French Women Don't and Do

More hot tips today on how the French Fem does it PBers.

In Paris last month, I spotted Jamie Cat Callan's book, French Women Don't Sleep Alone at W.H.Smith's and took note. I met charmer Jamie at a Champagne party for francophile bloggers last January. I'm enthralled with her book - a kind of memoire-report on Frenchie fem dos and don'ts. The intro focuses on the influence of Jamie's French grandmere. Always dressed to perfection - hat, gloves, stockings, high heels, Grandmere was quite demanding of Jamie.
A bit of a cool cucumber too... Yet Jamie's French grandmother, in her hay day was a vaudville dancer and singer not unlike writer, Colette! How do you like them pommes/apples? Jamie's book is full of anacdotal tips she picked up while living and traveling in France on how French women do it.
How they get their man!
Certainment lingerie plays an important role in the seduction process. I remember Fr Girl dragging me down to Printemp's new lingerie department to drool over their goodies.
I was very ho-hum.
Give me a good patisserie like Blé Sucré anyday. I do get the lingerie look worn on the outside - pale pink ruffles paired with a biker leather jacket. But going into Chantal Thomass' grand emporium of ultra fine scraps of chiffon I've yet to conquer. I'm probably too American, too puritanical or too too. I refuse to shell out €€€ on a couple of lacy triangles unless it's a chausson au pomme. Miam-miam

Back to Jamie's book - evidently a surefire winner with les mecs/guys is the combo of boots and skirt and I have the photos to prove it.
Jamie says, the French girl does not date.

She throws a dinner party instead.

Mon dieu! Where are my cookbooks?

Love this French couple in the Palais-Royal don't you?
Guess what?

W.H.Smith thinks Jamie is FAB.

They've invited her to Paris to promote the new SATC 2
Quelle lucky duck

Must start wearing boots and skirts.
Must learn to love lingerie.

Must, must, must start cooking!

Key$a says it all in Boots N boys

'Boots and boys (Boots and boys)
They bring me so much joy (Bring me joy)
I gotta sing it
I wear 'em both so pretty
As I walk in the city'

BONJOUR BOOTS N BOYS!

Miam-Miam

This morning I got an email from Cindy:

Bonjour Carol - What does "miam-miam" mean?

This complex question is keeping me up nights.Basic translation of miam-miam is your everyday,

Yum Yum or nom nom

It's used more extensively in France. It's true miam-miam is a kid's word like yum yum. But in Paris you'll hear miam miams coming out of the most sophisticated mouths.
Hugo and Victor guimauve  A French cultural nuance that takes getting used to - this woman is having a severe attack of the Miams. She's trying to merge with the window - something the French call "le leche vitrine" meaning to lick the windows.Miams HQ. A customer is desperately calling for help on what to buy.Paris vending machines makes me go miam. These are in every Metro station. I've lost more $$$ than I like to think, trying to grab a bag.Jaime Mascaro Ballerinas = miam miam

At ART-PARIS a drool-worthy white Pentex. I took a picture.Very maimable beau mec at Art-Paris

I send NYC pictures to French Girl to miam-miam over.
Fr Girl has not sent me a single miamable picture of Paris.

I let out a big miam when first I saw Bear. Merci Lola.

Both Bear and I miam-miam over chocolat chaud.

 What makes you go miam-miam?

Which btw is pronouced something like yam-yam.
BONJOUR MIAM MIAM!

Alexis Mabille

When I got this announcement from Angelina, all I could think of was the gazillion knives and forks I've used gobbling up their divine Mont Blanc. More knives and forks and a beautiful buche de noel with a silver bow on it designed by Alexis Mabille. Honestly does anyone do bows better than the French?Alexis Mabille is doing bows up the whazoo right and left and everyone is eating them up. What's not to love about Mabille's French bows? Strategically placed in just the right spot to gently/doucement attract attention.

YUM!
Or rather miam-miam

I went looking for bows I've painted.

Macaron Bow, original art, watercolor

Tiffany Bow, original art, watercolor

Eiffel Bow, original art,watercolor
Next Monday I'll be able gaze at Paris bows.

BONJOUR Alexis Mabille

Madame de la Lafayette

Madame de la Lafayette,watercolor on Etsy,watercolor

Parisienne Anne Corrons of MesVitrinesNYC (now Mes VitrinesParis/London) gave me a detailed tour of the first Xmas vitrines in Paris...i.e. Galeries Lafayette!

MIAM-MIAM

A fantasie tea party for two...
Dreamy Nicole Kidman-like femmes...

One of them very much turned...

Upside down!
What was in the tea?

Anne tells me this means BIG Xmas!

Anne about to take a shot, and I'm about to go off to Philadelphia for the Holiday. Here's hoping I don't get turned upside down and you either!!!
See you next week...
BON HOLIDAY!