Raining in Paris...

I believe one of the secrets to staying in love and staying "happily" married, are memories. Even when you look across the room, and think, "I'm going to kill him someday," you can still look back on memories, and fall in love all over again.

In the past four years, Scott and I have made enough memories to last a lifetime. We love nothing more than to sit and talk about the things we've experienced in France. One such memory went like this...

We were walking around in Paris with no plans, no particular place to go, and ended up here around three in the afternoon...

We decided we would lie in the grass between Trocodero and the tower, (as we did the year before) and stay until the lights came on. When we got there, those silly French had changed the rules, and this area was now off limits,

(the French can be really weird about their grass).

So we continued walking until we came upon a park to one side of the tower. We decided to stay there, and have a picnic. We took off down one street, bought some wine and some grapes (we had glasses, a corkscrew, and cashews in our backpack... 'always be prepared' is my Eagle Scout husband's motto) and headed back to the park.

The afternoon was perfect, and we polished off that bottle like there was no tomorrow.

We were acting a little goofy (I wonder why) and took some silly pictures. Scott had just bought me a new purse the day before, and I was just a little bit excited, so I took this photo, and entitled it 'these are a few of my favorite things'.

A few more shots from that day...

After awhile, we decided to change locations to get a closer view of the tower.

We explored a bit...

and came upon this little park...

We felt it had been built just for the two of us. No one else was there... we had it all to ourselves. Now remember, we have invested THREE hours into seeing the lights come on. Within about 15 minutes of getting to our new spot, the wind started up, the temperature dropped, and the clouds rolled in (the top photo shows us right as this storm was rolling in). We just looked at each other and thought,

"It wouldn't dare..."

Well, it did! It began to sprinkle. We hopped a fence, and stood under a tree. It began to rain harder and slowly the drips made it through the tree, and on to us.

Was I worried about getting wet... catching cold? NO, I was worried about my brand new LOUIS VUITTON. Despite the cold temperature, I whipped off my jacket, and wrapped up my purse. By now, it's POURING. We decided to make a run for it. We had no idea where a metro was from there, so we just blindly ran through the deserted streets. We popped into a small store, bought two umbrellas, looked at a map, and carried on. We jumped on the metro, and didn't speak. I was too afraid to look at my purse, which I had clutched to my chest, still wrapped in my now soaked jacket. I was shivering in my thin white tee, had water dripping from my hair, down my face, and Scott had the NERVE to say, "I think you are having a bad hair day..."

We got off the metro in Montmartre, and when we came up the stairs, the streets were dry. It hadn't rained up there! We walked through Place de Terre to our apartment, getting lots of stares (everyone there was dry) and went up the elevator in our building. We remained silent... both wondering if the purse survived

(hey... it cost more than a few $).

The moment of truth had arrived... I laid my purse down on the bed. I began to upwrap it like it was a newborn baby, checking for 10 fingers and toes... we held our breath...

IT SURVIVED!

I was mainly worried about the leather being water stained, but it was perfect.

Relief... euphoria...

After all this, Scott's response was...

"Let's open another bottle of wine to celebrate!"

~Only in Paris my friends... only in Paris~

My Sixth Photo

So... I haven't blogged in awhile. My mom is doing fine with her ankle in a cast, so I can't blame that...

I guess I'm just sorta out of things to say...

But, I've been inspired once again by the very person that talked me into this whole blogging thing... Ruth at The Beautiful Life. She tagged me to blog about the 6th photo I ever published on Blogger. I went to the very bottom of my blog archives, worked my way forward, and came up with this...

~Now, a few thoughts... first of all, how over-processed can hair get???? I naturally have very dark brown hair... this photo makes me laugh... but I am only trying to cover the gray!

~Another thought is how much I miss those earrings. They were cz hoops, and I wore them almost everyday for years (when I find what I like, I tend to stick with it... that rectangular silver ring on my right hand was bought in New York 9 years ago, and I wear it almost everyday). I took those earrings off one night, laid them on the coffee table, the dog got one, and well... the rest is history. I have searched for 2 years, and am still searching for a replacement pair. *sigh*

~Another thought I have is how cool that jacket I'm wearing is. I got it at Marshall's one day for about $15. Gotta love that.

~I am also thinking about that cold, wintery afternoon when I was eating that crepe. The wind was often biting cold, and the crepes just steam in your hand, and you can't help but take a bite way before you should.

~My final thought on this photo... and the post that went with it, (Dreams Are Made to be Followed) has rather cool timing. The post was about following your heart and your dreams, and not to let anyone talk you out of them...

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

Now is the time to admit to you, that even though I told you a few posts back that my husband I were returning to Europe in the fall, and would NOT be visiting Paris... well... our dreams continue to only be fulfilled in ONE place... we just made our reservations for 10 days in September.

Here's the apartment we will be staying in this fall.

Isn't that the chicest place you've ever seen?????? BONUS... for the first time, after four different apartments, we will have a door to the bedroom. We may never even shut it, but just the thought of a door, makes us feel oh, so, special~

Yes, some of our friends and family have rolled their eyes when they found out we were once again returning to Paris. I don't know why they are surprised, when we keep telling them we are going to live there someday. Maybe just in our dreams, but hey, they are "our" dreams afterall!

C'est la vie!

Home Sweet Home

We had an awesome time on our cruise...

Cayman Islands

Friends we went with...Mexico

The Black and White Gals

Best Friends

Five day cruise... gained 3 pounds... I guess there's not as much walking around on "The Fun Ship" as there is in Paris :).

However, my mom broke her ankle in two places last night, so I will not be blogging for awhile.

I will check in with some of you periodically though! I'm sure reading blogs will continue to be my mom's favorite pastime, especially while she's laid up. We talk about Parisian Farmgirl and Tale of Two Cities like we are all best friends! LOL.

~Teri~

Finally... It's Spring Break!

Gone Cruisin'...

Check you on the flip side!

~Teri~

London in Real Time

Too busy to blog in words...

So I'll V-log today!

First video... arriving in London on the Eurostar from Paris. Notice our energy, our excitement, our absolute confidence. It kinda shows you how difficult Paris can be, since we are SO excited about everything being in English.

About 15 minutes after this video was taken, we were on the Tube. Stop after stop went by, and everyone was getting off... soon the Tube was empty, except for one guy. He looked at us and said,

"Are you sure you are on the right line? You sound like tourists...and this line is going to the outskirts of London, and it's not a very nice area."

WE WERE SO ON THE WRONG LINE... our confidence was dashed!!!!!!

Next video... taken at dinner, an hour or so before we had to make it back to the station and catch the train back to Paris. We were really, really, tired... but I was getting my Fish-n-Chips no matter what!!!

Last but not least... my big PAYOFF. I've wanted to have Fish-n-Chips somewhere beside Epcot for a long time... and here it is!

So... hope you've enjoyed "London in Real Time." Yes, my goofiness knows no bounds!

~Teri

Things Are Happening...

Until I went to Paris for the first time back in 2006 I have to say,

I really didn't like to travel.

I like home...

home is the best...

staying home, or close to it, was "playing it safe"...

and yet, if I had stayed home, or gone somewhere I'd been before, my life would not be anything like it is now. The same year I went to Paris, I had an opportunity to go to

South America...

and Japan...

So much changed for me that year and a half, including how I feel about travel. I learn a lot about myself everytime I go somewhere. It's like a gift each time... to be unwrapped, and explored.

So... there's a lot on the horizon (God willing, as always) and my bags are packed in my mind.

Hope you'll join me this spring, summer, and fall. Here's a preview...

Cruising the Caribbean...

Throwing a wedding in Peru for this man and his fiance...

Going back to Europe...

I know it's going to shock you, but I think we will be going somewhere different than Paris. I think we've got Paris down pat, and it's time to go for it in another country or two. We haven't chosen where yet. We have an opportunity we can't refuse which I'll share later. Sometimes when an unexpected opportunity presents itself, you gotta go for it! Wow, have I ever changed!

Scott has thrown my "play it safe" plan out the window... THANK GOODNESS.

~Teri

P.S. Never fear, I will be packing my Flip video camera with me!

Here's a quiet spot in the Luxembourg Gardens...

Someone's Going to Hollywood!

From a Mother's Heart...

I know all of you with adult children will get this. If you still have little ones at home, enjoy it... time really does fly!

I know the reason I was put on this earth.... I've never doubted it... it was to be a mom. A mom to these three kids...

I was pretty confident in my abilities to be a mom, even a good mom. I had a good example. But all that flew out the window as they became teenagers. All the control I had over their each and every move was over. I had to let them go... and I knew they were going into a really different world than I grew up in. It was hard. It still is hard...

As I sat in church yesterday, my eyes filled with tears. Reality hit. My son is moving... not like when he moved to college, that was easy... now he is really moving... far, far away, to a place that... well... has a reputation. Over and over in my head questions loomed...

Have I told him everything I need to?

Have I taught him everything I should have?

Have I been a good enough example?

I always knew this day was coming. He's had his eyes on Hollywood forever. In fact, he's often told me, "Mom, the day I saw Jurassic Park, was the day I KNEW I wanted to make movies." He was five years old at the time. He's never wavered one bit. I'm so glad he has a passion... not everyone is lucky enough to find their passion so early.

(On a movie set in Florida)

So Thursday afternoon, Wes and Scott will load up in his car, and begin the cross-country trek from Florida to California. I know as soon as they drive off, I will feel better. I've given him to the Lord (again ;).

It's time for him to go... he's SO ready to go... he needs to go.

Scott will help him unload at his apartment in North Hollywood, and catch a plane home... Wes will begin looking for a job, and that will be that.

Another milestone passed...

So, it's off to Los Angeles... the City of Angels... and I've prayed a whole pack of them to surround him!

Good Luck Wes... I know you're gonna love it, and I know you'll do great!!!

Paris in Real Time

I have always marveled at how quiet the city of Paris is... but there are beautiful sounds everywhere that capture the essence of the city...

Here are a few of my favorites...

From our apartment. Oh how I wish I could hear this sound on a daily basis...

From the steps of Sacre Coeur. We've seen this guy 2 years in a row. I could sit here for hours... and often do. I marvel that he hauls this harp up and down these steps. One late night Scott and I took a bottle of Champagne to these steps and sat gazing at the city... seriously... I felt like I was in a novel...

Okay... close your eyes or you might get vertigo... but aren't these French guys the CUTEST? I just adore them ;)

Oh gee... now I miss it more than ever!

'sniff'

~Teri

A Favorite Spot

Scott and I are sitting here, and he has been telling me how I haven't done a Paris post in awhile... he's so right.

So together we decided I should blog about our favorite little restaurant in Montmarte on Rue Lepic. It only has about 10 tables, sits at the top of a steep hill, and we found it quite by accident

(as usual)

but we LOVE it.

Just a few shots... we are drooling...

Daytime

Snails...

Night shot

So if you're ever in Paris, give this spot a whirl... you won't be disappointed!

The service is great, the food excellent, and the ambiance...

to die for!

Happy Eating~

Teri

Out of Touch

Hey friends...

Been so out of touch. My daughter has been really sick. Visits to the doctor and finally the emergency room led to no definitive diagnosis, but I'm believing that to be a blessing. Considering the alternative, sometimes no news is good news.

Sooooooooooo...

Two things are making me really happy today...

(1) Lexi is finally feeling better and returned to school this morning!!!!

AND

(2) SPRING is in the air!

Will be blogging soon!

~Teri

Another Fabulous Product

I have gotten so many comments on my short videos, that I decided to post another one. I sent this impromptu video to Deanne, my oldest and dearest friend in the whole world, a few weeks ago, and decided to share it with you. She loves organization as much as I do, thus... me sending her this silly video.

Here we are... someday I'll do a post about her... she it truly one of a kind, and I only have one question... has she always been this tall, or am I shrinking???

The video is self explanatory. I love to be organized and I love it when I can open my purse and put my hands on something instantly! It makes me feel so pulled together, a feeling I relish because it's so rare!

If you want something like this... go to amazon, and type in Kwiki, or purse organizer. It has made my life SO MUCH easier... at least when it comes to my purse obsession. Plus, BONUS, they have gone down in price since I ordered mine last year.

Again, I am in no way associated with anything I show you. Just feel like passing on good info to my girls!

Have a great weekend~

Teri

The Big Reveal...

So... big reveal #1... my London Wall!

Why do I call it my London Wall, when almost everything on my wall has to do with France? It's because I got the idea from Tracy Porter (click to see her version) and she calls her wall that, because it reminds her of London where the hotel walls are all full of lusciousness. I truly love Tracy, she inspires me everyday, and helps me look at life a little less seriously.

My wall doesn't have any real antiques... yet... but I love it so much because it was... drumroll... FREE!!!

Everything on the wall except the crown carving, ($5-TJMaxx) was already in my house. Don't you love repurposing and breathing life into things that were so-so on their own, but rearranged and refluffed...VOILA... a whole new situation! Of course this wall will grow and change as I add to it. The wall actually goes up 14 feet to an opening to the gameroom upstairs...

so I gotta LOT of wall to work with!

Sooooooooooo, hope you enjoy this short video. Sorry for the out-of-focus close-ups....oops!

Great day to you all... soon... reveal #2!

~Teri

Almost There...

I am having trouble downloading new pics of my finished project... boo!

So instead I will have to tease you with some more mystery pics of a second project I've been working on...

Hoping to reveal both projects later this week... and now I'm getting embarrassed that I've built it up WAY too much! Oh well... it's coming soon anyway!!!

Love you all, and thanks for all the lovely comments about my granddaughter. You will soon meet my new grandson. Now that WILL be a big reveal...coming in June!

Does life get any better?

~Teri