Things That Make Me Smile (even with one less tooth)

The pain from my wisdom tooth extraction is now under control and I'm smiling ear to ear
(with a bit of a gap on one side).
Here are some things that made me smile this week, and I hope they'll make you grin, too.

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS.

I am one of those naughty few who does NOT completely adore "Le Petit Prince."
I will even go so far as to say I hate it.
HOWEVER, I always loved the illustrations and recognized something magical about the way the book captivates the imaginations of so many.
So my heart took flight when I found the "Deluxe Pop Up Edition" at Barnes & Noble.

For a special glimpse into the pop-up, visit Amazon.com's video tour HERE.
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SHIKSA GODDESSES.

I stumbled upon this book in which a single Jewish girl suddenly becomes a hot commodity to Jewish men when she's confused for a shiksa. I don't plan to read it, but I was amused by the title.


In related news, last Sunday the greatest-converted-shiksa-since-Elizabeth-Taylor wed the mensch of her dreams.
Congrats, Ivanka! You were simply STUNNING in your Grace Kelly-inspired wedding gown!


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A NATURAL LOOK.

No make-up. Earth tones. Windblown hair. Wicker baskets. A simple bicycle.
What's not to love?

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HALLOWEEN.

My F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. holiday of the year is here!
"Hocus Pocus" will be viewed at least once this weekend. (I see you, SJP...)
I also anticipate wearing orange and black in honor of the holiday AND my alma mater;
as Tracy Jordan said on this week's "30 Rock":
"Is it Halloween or Princeton Parents' Weekend?"
I'm happy either way!

Halloween 2003: "Princeton Dorothy" for this Kansas girl in her Freshman year:
Popped collar, Westie stuffed puppy from Harrod's, Louis Vuitton in lieu of a basket.
Accompanied by Little Red Riding Hood, played by MLPR.
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No tricks, only treats,
Cxx.

Paris Recap #2: Tour de Lance

Pure Parisian sunlight streaming through a gorgeous window. What a way to wake up!

After a restful night of sleep, with visions of chateaux dancing in my head, I awoke to a beautiful day: Perfect conditions for the final leg of the Tour de France!

We rode the metro to the Concorde stop and strolled along the Rue de Rivoli looking for just the ride vantage point from which to observe the Tour. As you can see, it was PACKED!

Yellow abounds!


The race sponsors participate in a parade along the Rue de Rivoli/Champs-Elysees about an hour before the riders arrive in the City and it's full of silly float-like decorated cars and cheering masses.


Angelina, for all its stoicism, was not spared from the revelry.


Texas pride from a balcony at Hotel Le Meurice.

I purposely wore a yellow Lilly dress in honor of the Yellow Jersey!
(Sometimes I get a bit impatient and have to create my OWN fun--like swinging from trees in the Jardin des Tuileries!)

Yellow chalk drawings (many children were running around covered in chalk after creating their masterpieces) brightened up the sidewalk:



CJM and MLPR play the waiting game....

After about 45 minutes of standing near the Tuileries, we heard the helicopter overhead and knew the riders were approaching Paris at long last:


Several minutes later the team cars came through:


Followed by the day's leaders:


Followed 20 seconds afterward by the rest of the pack:

See the ACTUAL Yellow Jersey?!
(Bet he wishes he was in Lilly!)

We watched three of the 8 Paris laps, and were lucky to be standing mere feet away from the riders. As you might imagine they ride by VERY quickly. I know Lance passed me but I'm not sure I could identify him in any of the MANY multiple-burst photos I took. Just look for one of the guys an Astana jersey, I suppose!

The odd thing about the Tour is how focused the riders must be at all times. Despite riding throughout France, I wonder how many of the riders actually "see" all of the beautiful places they ride through. I may not be a professional rider, but I'm glad that instead I get to observe every lovely thing about Paris.

I'll be a spectator any day.

Next Up: Pretty Paris promenades, doorknobs, and great eats!

Don't forget to enter the Paris Presents GIVEAWAY! I'm taking entries until 5pm EST tomorrow afternoon!
Cxx.

Paris Recap #1: A Castle A Day Keeps the Medecin Away.

I am thrilled to see how many people have entered the Paris Presents GIVEAWAY so far! If you haven't entered, click here to find out how! You have 2 more days to do so!

Paris was the perfect vacation. I spent time with my boyfriend (aka "The Bunny"), rendezvoused with some very good friends (MLPR and FV), ate delicious food, enjoyed the sites (both new and familiar), and, importantly, took the time to BREATHE. Throughout my life I've been plagued by terrible stomach pains which no doctor or change in diet seem to be able to remedy, but I found that in Paris I was entirely without distress and it was WONDERFUL.

So, time for the recap. If you know me in person you're aware of how verbose I am, and also aware of how much I delight in telling stories. I have to divide the tales into a few posts, otherwise you'd be reading for a VERY long time. So, we'll start at the beginning...

Here is the Bunny, getting beauty rest en route:

Me: "Darling, wake up! It's time for breakfast!"
The Bunny's response?

Fortunately, he perked up when arrived.
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We were greeted at the airport by my dear friends MLPR and FV. As a student at Sciences-Po in Paris, MLPR spend her third year studying abroad at Princeton; I was fortunate enough to meet her at the beginning of my Freshman year and we've been dear friends ever since. FV is her delightful boyfriend who makes every moment more fun.

Trusting in M and F's wise Parisian ways, The Bunny and I allowed ourselves to be whisked away that first evening to the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, about an hour's drive outside of Paris. In 1661 this chateau hosted such a magnificent soiree that Louis XIV created Versailles out of sheer jealousy.


On Saturday evenings in the summer the estate is covered by 2,000 candles. Visitors arrive at dusk to watch the magical castle come to life as the sun sets, the candles begin to glow, and the bustling tourist trap dissolves into a chateau of one's own. (Truly, once it becomes dark you can't see the other people around you and everyone finds themselves whispering so as not to disrupt the peace; it's magnificent!)



A little princess romped around the grounds clad in a ball gown. Obviously I was jealous.


It's easy to feel lovey-dovey in a magical place like this (where Eva Longoria and Tony Parker were married, apparently):

Left: The Bunny and me; Right: MLPR and FV.

The estate offers a small cafe with al fresco seating, ample grounds for strolling, and classical music. Every August 16 they commemorate the famous fete (the one that made Louis XIV jealous) by hosting another party on the grounds with actors playing the parts of the prominent figures. Civilians are invited to participate, given that they dress in period costume. SIGN.ME.UP.
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In tomorrow's recap: Vive Le Tour!
Cxx.

Weekend Recap and Happy Surprises

FRIDAY:

• Early birthday surprise for the Bunny. Where could this cab be taking us...?

Taa Daa! "Blithe Spirit"! Angela Lansbury and cast were wonderful.

It was a delight to watch AL win a Tony only 2 days later!

SATURDAY:

• Brunch with the Bunny at Belcourt.
• Post-Brunch with TAG at Alice's Tea Cup (aka our clubhouse); yes, I ate a post-brunch.
• Stroll to Tiffany to get a new backing for my most beloved earrings. Cost of jewelry repair plus steam cleaning? Only $8.67. As I said to the customer service associate, "This is the best purchase I've ever made at Tiffany!" His response? "Yes, it IS possible!"
  

They needed a spiffying up! Don't they look great?!

These earrings are my perfect piece of jewelry. I feel like my best self when I have them on.

• Post-Tiffany stroll down 5th Avenue. I wandered into the Rock Center Anthropologie and noticed a familiar looking woman who spoke with an English accent. I quickly recognized her as an actress from "The Norman Conquests." I congratulated her on a job very well done, a compliment that she graciously accepted. I haven't enjoyed a show as much as I enjoyed "Table Manners" in a long time. Little did we know that the very next day she would be onstage with her cast at Radio City (also in Rock Center) accepting the Tony for Best Revival of a Play!
  
• Dinner at Morandi with my gorgeous friend, MBM. We shared meatballs and tagliatelle bolognese. Delicious!
  

SUNDAY:
The highlight was watching the Tonys, of course. When I was younger and an aspiring actress (I've acted since I was 5 and used to have an agent), the Tonys helped me dream. As I got older, the Tonys helped me select which shows to see on my annual trips to NYC. One of the best shows I've ever seen, "Contact", was selected as one of the shows I saw on my 16th birthday weekend celebration because I was so in awe of the Tonys performance.

Highlights from this year's awards ceremony included honors for some of the shows I most enjoyed this past season:

• Blithe Spirit: Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (Angela Lansbury)
• Equus: Best Sound Design of a Play
• Next to Normal: Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Orchestrations (tied with Billy Elliot)
• The Norman Conquests: The Bunny's friend is a producer on this show, and we were particularly pleased when it was announced that he won a Tony for "Best Revival of a Play"
  
• Shrek: Best Costume Design of a Musical

(I may well be the only person in NYC who saw "Hair" and didn't like it. Ah, well.)

MONDAY (the Happy Surprise!):
After a long and exhausting day at work, I came home and found this package from mon amie Parisienne, MLPR, waiting for me:

Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Arc de Triomphe...and Beaubourg? Or, instead, apartment buildings of the banlieue? Haha.

Back in April I mailed MLPR a pack of postcards that you can cut, fold and paste into 3-D scenes of NYC, a city that she dearly loves.

Her gift to me couldn't have been more PERFECT!
We are obviously sending propaganda to each other to inspire upcoming visits!
I can hear Paris calling my name.....
Thanks, M, for making me smile, for warming my heart, and for setting a happy tone for my week!

I do have SO SO much to be grateful for, and so many things to make me smile.

Cxx.