Then and Now

I started this blog over a year ago, and I had no idea what it would come to mean to Scott and I over time.  He loves reading your comments as much as I do.  We feel like we have so  many new friends.  Most of you we will never meet, but no doubt you hold a special place in our hearts.

We found out yesterday, that Scott's cancer is back.  It still seems to be contained, but in light of this news, I truly feel I need to step away from blogging for a bit, not that I'm super consistent anyway.  I have no idea how long I'll take off... maybe a few weeks, maybe longer.  I guess GirlMeetsParis will just pop up one day and surprise you.  I wanted to let you know why I will be MIA, since I've shared about Scott's situation in the past.  

I'm not trying to be over-dramatic, but my creativity seems really stifled... my mind is swirling, but I am at peace. 

I want to leave a few thoughts with you before I sign off for awhile....  Paris gave Scott and I both an incredible gift of opening our minds and our world to other possibilities.  We love Paris sure, but for us it represents so much about change, and growth, and keeping marriage fun and vibrant.  

Here we are in 2006...

Here we are last month...

If your marriage is in the pits... DO SOMETHING, anything, to get it back on track.  Do not take that man for granted under any circumstances.  Remember all he's done for you over the years, remember that he picked YOU out of all the girls he knew, and while he's not perfect... 

well, neither are you :)

A friend sent me this awesome framed art she did for me a few weeks ago.  It symbolizes how I feel, and what I'm hanging on to.  It sits next to my sink.

I actually gave this verse to her years ago, as her family was going through heart issues with one of her children... they are still walking that road.  Life is rough, no doubt, but through it all...

God is in control, and He knows.

I will still be reading your blogs for sure, and will comment when I can... 

now... go give your husband a hug and tell him  how awesome he is!

~Teri

Flea Market Lovliness

Working on a couple of projects...so we'll do "Paris in Real Time" over the next few posts.

This is the day at The Pig Fair.

We noticed this sign in a few metro stations.

As I've mentioned before, I am not a huge fan of the flea. I find them overwhelming and confusing. However, this flea market was totally manageable and easy to get around. There was no junk so to speak, and there were items in all price ranges. 

There were so many items we wanted, but we weren't prepared mentally or financially to ship stuff home. Everything we bought had to be hand carried on the plane, or put in our luggage... which I think worked in my favor and helped me edit all the things I wanted. One mental note about this market... almost no one spoke English, but that wasn't a problem. The MO (modus operandi) of the day was drawing imaginary numbers on my palm to come up with a fair price. I usually offered 25-30% less (I had read that somewhere) and they almost always agreed.

I would have taken a million pics, but I left my camera card in my iPad at the apartment from when I downloaded the night before! My camera allowed me only 5 shots on it's internal memory, and I was done... almost brought me to tears.  We took a few videos and that was it! 

 These are all very short, I promise.  

Getting there...

In awe...

Just for fun...

For Ruth at A Beautiful Life...click here if you 
would like to order a similar bottle rack :)

I've only been to a few flea markets in Paris, so I'm no expert, but if I ever go to Paris again, I would plan my trip around this event, which happens twice a year. It was that good and that fun. Scott even got into it, even though he finds haggling horribly embarrassing...he hung out outside of the stands as I made my offers. In the end he was shocked at my nerve, but excited to be saving money.

Next blog... Food at the Fair... hope you'll check back.

~Teri

An Outfit a Day

Okay ladies... I have TEN minutes to do this post and I'm out the door.  I find it so difficult to reenter my life after being in Paris.  Still adjusting, but wanted to do a quick post.


For some reason... I decided this year to have Scott take a picture of my outfit for each day.  I was thinking that if someone hasn't been to Paris, and they are planning a trip, I wanted them to know they don't have to invest a lot of money in new clothes... unless of course, they want to... in that case... go for it!


I almost always dress in solid, dark colors or white.  Not sure why.  I like to fade into the background.  I always felt appropriate everywhere we went, but then again, we don't hang out in the fancy places :)


So... I feel a little silly now, but without time to plan a lovely post, this will have to do.  I'm already down to 7 minutes!

I knew this wasn't the most flattering, but I love this vest and it was warm!

Scarf... 5€ on the corner.

I swear this was crisp and ironed at the beginning of the day.

This was flea market day.

If you click on the pic you can see these cute flats I bought. 

Everyone wears flats in Paris!

And here we have... drum roll... the Leopard coat!

So... as you can see... only on the LAST day did I take a risk.  I guess Fashion Week and the shop windows got to me.

Will blog again soon.

Teri

P.S.  I'm not MaiTai that's for sure! Her way of dressing is my dream!

Saturday In Paris

   

                                   

Au revoir Paris. You never cease to amaze, surprise, and delight me.

Until we meet again...

XXOO


P.S. Got in last night.  Daughter had a blast at homecoming, and she sent pictures to me while we waited for our connection in Chicago.  My parents went so far above and beyond the call taking care of her.  They might sleep for a week now.  My daughter can be quite high maintenance... in a good way! :)


As I walked through the Tampa airport last night, one thought overwhelmed me... 
"Everything is so clean, shiny, spacious, and NEW looking." 


Dog and home are fine.  I have to say... as much as I love Paris...
There's no place like home!

Friday in Paris

                                    

A hodgepodge of a day...can't get into it in detail...yet!

How about... time on our favorite bridge, Pont Alexander...

Dior Fashion Show...

 a scam almost run on me, until Scott said, "No way!" then an hour later, same scam by a different woman...

the Louvre...

George V...

 a late dinner in Montmartre where we laughed until we cried... for NO reason!

I'll explain later...Bon nuit for now...taxi coming early.

Thursday in Paris

                                     

Thursday was a long day of wandering...all over St. Germain des Pres. We started at Place Vendome, where Fashion Week was in full swing. We ate a fabulous lunch of steak and pomme frites, and took off walking. We ended up making a purchase...Scott was determined I get a new purse, but instead we found a coat. I've always heard you should use leopard as an accessory. Well, even petite me decided to use it as the whole outfit. Pics to follow. I guess the shop windows got to me. 

We were also walking along and found, quite unexpectedly, some perfume a certain blog friend asked me to pick up for her... we were so surprised, and so excited.  I had written down the perfume in detail, and the shop owner explined it all to us... why we couldn`t find it at Sephora anymore, etc...she was awesome, even with the language barrier!

We walked along the river, looking for the French version of Harry Potter that we saw before, and couldn't find again...sorry Meagan, thought you might like that.  Walked on and on to get my mom something I decided we had to get...then ended up at the Marias along tiny, crooked streets...so French.

One more day...so sad...but I do miss my kids and grandkids a bit! My youngest has Homecoming, which I am missing for the second year in a row, even though we planned our trip around the date. How were we supposed to know she would get invited to Homecoming at a different High School???

 MOM...take pictures please!

We ended the evening near the apt...doing something I said I would do for years...see top photo.

Teri

Photo to go with Paris in Wed. Post

                                                    

Flea Market photo to go with previous blogpost. Here are 3 of my finds. I am so excited. I am NOT a flea market type of gal (yes, I can hear the gasps across America) and this may sound shallow, but as we walked in, I prayed, "Lord, please give me an eye today." I could not be happier!

Have I told you lately how much I love France?

Wednesday in Paris

My ever caring mother has filled us in that there are terror threats in Paris...so here is my report, live, from the scene...

Eiffel tower...yesterday we were at Notre Dame, and tons of police cars were rushing in big groups somewhere. I told Scott I bet something has happened. We just heard from mom that the E.Tower was evacuated. We are also seeing patrols everywhere...some police, some military. Today our train was stopped in the middle of our trip back into town from the flea market. They made some big announcement, in French of course, everyone looked annoyed, and got off. We followed suit, and found a way home on a diff. line. There were cops all over...not normal.

The weirdest thing is there is NOTHING on the TV! Oh well. It seems it would be on the station we watch. It's 24/7 French news in English.

We went to the flea market today and it was a dream. I got about 6 things I've been searching for in the US for over 2 years, and of course they are better now b/c they are from France. I was channeling Tracy Porter ALL day. I got an old silver gallery tray, a small oil painting for my London wall (approx. 5x7 w/ 2 in frame around) 2 French people statues (8 in), a white bust of a woman, and an old oval copper casserole! I managed to "deal" with the French, and offer less money, and they were happy to accept. NO ONE spoke English all day. Many times they would say something to Scott and I, and as we stared blankly, uproarious laughter would break out around us...apparently we were the brunt of all jokes today. Scott almost ordered lamb and kidney skewers. I insisted getting out the French/English dictionary before he ordered...we ran away quickly...but it did smell good. Suffice it to say we had HAM sandwiches at the HAM fair and even ordering that was funny.  WE don't think we are funny, but a lot of french people do! 

There are some great videos from the flea market, but they will have to wait.

Tonight...off to the steps that overlook the entire city, then some Onion Soup.

I posted a pic of some of my finds on the next post.  This trip is a blogging nightmare, but I'm trying...

Teri

Tuesday in Paris

                                     

It's Wed. morning, but last night I was just too tired to post.

Today started out with a trip to a basket store and a basket purchase. Thank you so much Debi@ Tale of Two Cities. She was in Paris last week and mentioned she saw some market bags by a friend's place. Since Scott and I had struck out, I asked her to send me the street name. She actually emailed her friend in Paris...the friend took her camera, took pics of the store so I could see the types of bags, came home, downloaded and emailed the pics to Debi who emailed them to me! Aren't Bloggers THE nicest people?

She mentioned she wasn't sure of the quality. These bags have been hanging outside awhile, but don't you just love the patina of this bag? It looks old... I love the one I chose, and bonus, it was only 12€. I posed the bag just for this photo when I saw the brown bridge. That's the Seine of course and Notre Dame to the left.

We started out yesterday at 11am. We were determined not to kill ourselves, come in early and relax, go out for a late dinner, and get up all rested and refreshed for today...the Pig Fair day. So, in our true fashion, we stayed out nonstop until 11pm! We finished the night in true fashion as well. We went down in the metro, and Scott was so sure of the line and the direction and connection we needed, we did not double check the map like we always do. We got on the train, got all situated and began riding home. It was at least 15 stops to our connection. I got this feeling something wasn't quite right. At one point I looked over at a stop, and covering the walls was the most beautiful painting of the French at war...we had never seen this. Suffice it to say we rode ALL the way across Paris to catch our connection, that had actually been 2 stops the other direction from where we got on. We just shook our heads.

We did so much, and saw so much, and relaxed so much, that we both agreed this was one of the most wonderful days we've ever had. We fell into bed last night!

I truly have so much fun stuff to blog, but it will have to wait. Hopefully, you will all continue reading over the next few weeks as I unfold our experiences, and of course I have some great photos and a few pitiful videos to go along with these future posts. We don't do anything with style and grace...we seem to always be clunking through Paris!

So...off to the flea market. We have to catch the RER...a system we've never been able to master...here goes nothing!

Will post tonight...

Teri

P.S.  I did buy a fur piece in a vintage shop yesterday in the Marais.  Scott says it is a purchase I will regret... but hey... it was only 5euro!

La Photo...

 This photo goes with the post right before it... posting from France can be maddening!

Monday in Paris

Today was another marathon day. Eight hours on foot...I'm so not kidding. We thought we were past doing this to ourselves but evidently not.

We started off at the Eiffel Tower to mail 19 postcards. Do you mind me telling you I'm beginning to hate that area of Paris? It's hard to get to, but I really wanted the postcards to have that postmark. Same as last year, only a self serve kiosk. Guess what? They only take credit cards with a European chip or CHANGE. Who carries around 20€ with of change? Not Teri and Scott! We ended up leaving...
with postcards.

We walked a million miles all over the Palais Royal, and the Opera area. We went into lots of shops and dept. stores. We finally ended up on the Champs Elysees to buy perfume for Parisienne Farmgirl (only found the Dior my dear, they didn't have the other, but I will keep my eyes open) and right down from there was an open postal WITH a real person. He was quite helpful...so...postcards mailed from the Champs Elysees! (please pronounce with a French accent, or it sounds so yucky).

We did have the most wonderful Onion Soup today, and of course I had to order pomme frites on the side...my fav!

So I leave you with one photo..because I can't download on the French computer, and my iPad only let's me choose one (at least that's all I've figured out).

Fashion trend alert... It's all about FUR, and Leopard. Every single shop window has fur, fur, fur. This is my fifth fall in Paris, and I can tell you this is a new trend. I am looking for a new leopard purse...can't wear much fur in Florida!

This is in a vintage shop in the Palais Royal...yes...the one Rachel Zoe haunts...it's BANANAS :)

The photo just disappeared, so I will send it in a post all by itself,

Sunday in Paris

Writing out postcards at lunch today.

 Our adorable waiter is behind me.

We are on Rue de Something.

Great lunch, and of course Scott out ordered me.

Mid 40's tonight, but the apt. is warm and cozy. It rained on and off all day today, but it doesn't seem to matter. Thank goodness it warms up by noon.

Lots of walking today. We went to the neighborhood where I found the straw french market bags last year. Searched a labyrinth of streets, and to save us we could not find them again. This city is a maze, but we found other cool stuff we had never seen before. A huge fountain, an old church, a bronze statue, and many awesome boutiques with so, so, so many PURSES that were calling my name. However it was like 1950's America...not a single shop was open...Sunday! But window shopping is fabulous...no need to make a decision, and quite economical!

Scott wants me to tell you that he made breakfast AND dinner today. He had to figure out the microwave, which actually has a button that says "steam clean". He ended up hitting the only button we understood over and over...it says "30 sec." The point of all this is I haven't even filled a glass with water in the kitchen...I'm on vacation!

Scott got up early 2 mornings in a row to get fresh croissants. 

Yesterday they were all out, so this morning he left earlier.  The guy in front of him got the last four. Obviously, Scott needs to get up even earlier, or find an alternate bakery! 

Well , exhaustion is calling so

Bon Nuit...

A bientôt,
Teri

P.S. Mom...can this count as an email?

We Made It

Let me say at the outset that I am typing on a french keyboard so this will be short and sweet!  This keyboard does not like me, and all the letters are in different places.

We arrived fine....well, two things did happen on the outset. The name on my ticket and the name on my passport did not match. I mainly got stares and tisk tisk from officials, but I made it through. In New York, Scott realized he left ALL his cash at home, and I only had 60 dollars on me.  Thank goodness the ATM at the Paris airport worked.

We bought roasted chicken and potatoes at an outdoor market yesterday for dinner... yum.

Today we walked 7 hours. We ate, had café and generally enjoyed the day through off and on sprinkles.  Found an awesome leopard purse but we were on St. Germain, so I knew it was too much.

Oh... spent the morning at a flea market.  May go back tomorrow. It was a bit overwhelming, but I did buy an old rusty key for 1€.  This was not the Ham Fair, which we will visit next week.

This computer keeps beeping me and I am exhausted, so I will say goodnight for now.

We are having more fun than this sounds... LOL.

*Teri*

Giveaway Winners

Okay girls... giveaway comments closed.  

A few minutes ago, I signed onto blogger, and there were three comments that had been sitting there that hadn't been moderated yet.  I usually publish comments as they come to my email.  I don't know why these didn't show up.  When I moderated those comments, they jumped in ahead of some of you that I'm sure thought you had won.

Oh the pain... I just can't stand to leave only a few people out... so... lets have a toast...

EVERYONE that commented gets a postcard!  Scott says it's only right considering how sweet, supportive, and awesome all of you were when we recently went through our health scare.

So here are the winners...  

Dawn

HighHeeledLife

Cathi 

Barb

ParisienneFarmgirl

Andrea-FadedPlains

E

Tale of Two Cities

Jenny

SimplyColette

Mya

JBeaudetStudios

You all need to send me your address asap to reynolds9@mac.com

The following people are also getting a postcard... but I have your addresses :)

Diane

Deanne

Char

Meagan

Lori

I will be looking for everyone's addresses when I get to Paris... in a few hours! 

 Hey, it seems like a few hours when you've been waiting a year to return!

~Teri

Almost There/Giveaway!

I've been perusing the Internet lately, and I've found out all sorts of goodies happening in Paris while I'm there... Here are two biggies...

Paris Fashion Week starts Sept. 28.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for Scott) the shows I would have "stood outside the entrance to try and see the rich and famous" are a couple days after we leave... Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Valentino.  

Truth be told, I would have been watching for Rachel Zoe, as well as Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs... but I digress...

Karl Lagerfeld is having an exhibition of his photography.  We aren't sure how to get tickets, but we are going to try. Take a look on Chanel's website... (couldn't get the Link button to work)
http://chanel-news.chanel.com/en/

Also...

I found an incredible bar online, and I HOPE to have the nerve to try and go.  The cocktails are 15-25€ each, but you get to sit and stare as long as you like... hours even... what will I be staring at????? 
 See here. 
 It's on the 34th floor... in a part of town I don't think I've ever been to, but maybe, just maybe, we'll give it a go.  Scott says 'no way'. Then I reminded him that when we go to Las Vegas, our gambling limit is $20 each (for our entire stay) and he has no problem losing that much money in 10 minutes, so why is he objecting to paying this for one glass of champagne, in Paris, with a view to never be equaled?  He did not follow my logic.  


Truth be told, I know the reason he doesn't want to go... can't wear jeans, and you have to get past someone before you are allowed in.  What am I thinking anyway... I don't have the nerve either.  Just in case, I'm sneaking his black dress pants and shoes into my bag. Wow... now I gotta pack my heels!

Now... the giveaway... it's really simple.  The first ten people that comment on this post, will receive a postcard from Paris!  I will post the winners tomorrow.  If your name is posted, it's your responsibility to email me your address immediately.  I plan to send these cards out right away. 
Voila... that's it!  If you aren't already a follower, I would love it if you would become one. Your chances of winning are huge, because I usually only get 8 comments or so per post... ready, set, go!

Scott and I have so many things on our 'list' of things to do, that it's overwhelming.  Here are some highlights we hope not to miss.

Go to the Ham Fair (flea market) that I mentioned a few posts back.  It takes place on an island in the Seine, where this was painted!!!  Don't you love the sense of history!!!!

Step into a few museums.

Relax in 'one' of our favorite parks.

Go here our first night, have some wine at our favorite place, Le Deauville, and eat the most fabulous shrimp pizza you can imagine, at a place I can't ever remember the name of, but I know it when I see it.

Buy a book or two. Don't you think our grandkids need to be exposed to the french language???

Eat a crepe.  

Eat somewhere mysterious.  Did you notice I've mentioned eating three times already?

Cook Heat up something here...(food again).

Sit here...

...and enjoy the view right out my window.

So whenever if I blog, it will be from that room above.

Au revoir!

~Teri

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Mom!

I know many of you have wonderful moms.  

But how many of you have a wonderful, FUN, crazy, willing to try almost anything once moms?

I do!

My mom is __0 years old today!  She is the kind of mom I strive to be.  Always supportive, ready to help, very giving to everyone, and always ready to have fun.  Whenever we would go visit our extended family in Louisiana, it was like a celebrity was coming to town.  Everyone wanted to see Charline!!!!! 

 The rest of us were just an entourage to her popularity... 

I'm really not kidding!

Same is true in our town.  Everyone at church knows her, and that's not easy considering our church is REALLY big.  She helps with the Military support group and events, decorates for the Pastor dinners, is an Encourager, helps put on women's events, and that's just what she's been up to lately.  Let me tell you, her talent knows no bounds.   

Oh... Did I mention she is a world traveler? She and my dad have been on many mission trips... Africa, Taiwan, Peru, etc. (mom, please leave a comment with the number of countries you've visited).  She is also an absolute beauty, AND a party planner extraordinaire!  Oh... did I mention she's an artist, and she's writing a BOOK?  

It's all true!

So Happy Birthday Mom!

Here's a few fun photos.  My mom's only flaw is she's photo-aphobic, so there were not a ton of pics I could choose from.  Plus, I'm only using photos that are on my computer.  I wish I had more!

And I know Charline would want me to put this disclaimer... 

"Remember friends, photos online add at least 20 lbs."

So indulge me while I take us all on a walk down memory lane.  These fun times do not even scratch the surface of all the good times she's had in her life... so far!

 

Fair Park High School drill-team practice.

Marching in Shreveport, LA.

A party she threw for my daughter's wedding.

More of that party...

A girl's trip to New Orleans.  I'm sure it was her idea that we wear boas out to brunch at the Court of Two Sister's restaurant!

We got Business Class on the way to Japan.  Who were we to turn down FREE champagne???

A charity event... notice the background... SHE decorated it, and lots more!

A few birthdays ago... QUEEN!

So mom, if you ever wondered... I LOVE YOU and I THINK YOU'RE WONDERFUL!

~Charline's Daughter!!!

The Time Has Come... Part 1

I've written many post about the perfection that is Paris... but in reality, Paris is not perfect.  It has it's flaws and it's share of strange characters just like any other diverse city.  I've decided that today, we will depart from the Perfect Paris, and I will describe for you the first of two events Scott and I experienced... it might disturb you, it might will gross you out... but I feel I must tell it.  The truth is always more interesting than perfection, don't you think? If you are easily offended, move on to another blog... now... 

you have been warned...

Perhaps some of you remember this video (click here).   It was exactly as you see it... a PERFECT day, in a PERFECT square, with PERFECT weather.  This square is located right near here...

After filming that short video, we sat leisurely for over an hour people watching.  About 20 yards from us in the middle of the sun dappled square, I noticed a rather drunk, very dirty man sitting on a bench.  He was talking to no one in particular, and had an extra large beer in his hand that he waved around as he talked and weaved back and forth rather precariously.  Most everyone that walked past him, ignored him.  One man sat at the other end of the bench, never making eye contact. The drunk man tried over and over to engage him in conversation, but the man stared straight ahead, never flinched, and left after a few minutes. 

Soon the drunk man dropped his can of beer and it rolled over the cobblestones, and stopped maybe 5 feet away... I saw 'dilemma' written all over his face.  He absolutely would not stand up, so as people passed, he begged them to pick up his beer... finally someone did, and he continued  drinking.  Now mind you, this guy is all smiles and having a grand time.  He wasn't loud, and without keen observation, you might miss him altogether.  Scott had his back to the man, so periodically, I would fill him in on the happenings, or he would turn and take a quick peek.

Next, the man decided he needed a cigarette.  He watched carefully as people passed.  Finally, one very chic couple walked by, he got their attention, and the very well dressed man handed him a cigarette, and even lit it for him!  He was one happy camper.

Now.. the main event... drunk man leaned back a little on the bench.  I thought he was fiddling with his beer can.  All of the sudden he began spewing beer all over the place.  It went maybe 5 ft straight up in the air, arced over, splashing down on the ground around him.  I started laughing and Scott turned to look.  He turned back to me, and said, 

"Teri, that is not beer... he's taking a LEAK."  

I sat there, stunned, in absolute horror.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you this lasted over a minute straight!  How could we be sure it wasn't beer??? Because we could CLEARLY see the instrument from which the spray was coming!!!!  I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry!!!  I was in shock.  Scott's comment?

"Wow, I wish I still had that kind of back-pressure!"

 Life went on around him... talk about a country where everyone minds their own business!  When he finished, he put his instrument away. There was a HUGE wet spot about 5 feet around him.  It sunk between the cobblestones quickly, but as moms and dads and children with their rolling backpacks walked through it, well... it was more than I could take.  We had to leave.  It was so unsettling.

  Scott turned to me as we walked off and said, 

"Teri, you aren't in Kansas anymore!"

My Artistic Side is Showing

Next week is my mom's birthday, and we celebrated a little early last night getting in touch with our creative side.  

Here are a few pics of mom, my daughters Lexi and Meagan, and me.

It was really fun.  If you have a Painting With a Twist in your area, you must go!

The entire class paints the same picture, but as you can see, we all had our own style!

Happy Wednesday!

~Teri

P.S. Thank you all again for such beautiful comments on Scott last week.  It meant a lot to me, and to him as well.

Paris... NINE days and counting...

Good News!

Just a quick post to say that the tests results are in on Scott and they were GOOD.

Praise the Lord... I give Him all the glory!

 Some more tests to do in Oct. AFTER we get back from Paris.

We can go to Paris in two weeks, worry free... and that's a GOOD thing!

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.  Still keeping some of you in my prayers... 

you know who you are :)

I did not borrow trouble during this time of waiting.  I think the trouble was just too big to borrow.  I hope I've learned something I will remember and take with me into the future.

Have a wonderful weekend... I know we will!!!!

~Teri