Clearing Out

I have been cleaning out my closets again. I am trying to reduce my belongings to two suitcases. I was going to take some more things to the thrift store today. Some of the items are still in excellent condition though and,inspired by Kristi, I thought I would see if any of you would like them before I give them away.

First I have three Longchamp Pliage bags. The brown and red are the small folding handbags 8x8x5.5 and the purple is the zippered backpack 10x12x4. The backpack still has the tags on it (it was a gift and I am not a backpack person). The small handbags have been used but are still in good condition. All of these fold for easy packing. Magnums.net has descriptions of both of these bags on the website.

I also have two Missoni items. First is a knit scarf. I have only worn this once, the colors don't really work for me. I also have a poncho. It just doesn't look good on me so it needs a new home. The scarf is approximately 72" long and about 10" wide. I think the poncho is a one size fits all but there is no size on it so I can't really tell. It is a little hard to measure.



If you would like something please post here or send me an e-mail at celiajuno@aol.com. I will wait until Monday. If more than one person wants something I will have a drawing. The items no one wants I will give to the thrift store.

At My French Table

A few weeks ago I discovered a new blog, Une Petite Folie. If you have not yet read her blog please click on the link on the side of my blog and visit. She is a very talented photographer and has the most wonderful pictures of France on her blog. While reading her blog I noticed a book listed on the side of her blog, At My French Table.

This book reminds me so much of Vicki Archer's My French Life. The author, Jane Webster, is also Australian and moved with her family to France to renovate an old home. Ms. Webster's chateau is located in Normandy in the village of Bosgouet. This book is full of luscious pictures of the Normandy region as well as Paris. She tells the story of her family's move to France, adjusting to life in France and renovating the chateau. Ms. Webster really loves cook and is an excellent chef so her book also features a lot of information about shopping for a preparing food in France. There are many recipes which are divided by season (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall). The photos that illustrate the recipe sections are mouth-watering.

Though I have not had an opportunity to read the entire book, I just received it today, I can already it will be a favorite. It will probably stay right by my bed next to Ms. Archer's book. Like My French Life, At My French Table would make an excellent coffee table book. Unfortunately this book is not available in the States yet, if you want it ( and you know you do) you will need to order it from Amazon UK.

Ms. Webster's home, Chateau Bosgouet, is open for week long stays. Her website lists the available dates along with sample itineraries under the Visiting Chefs section. I hope that she offers similar programs next year because I would love to stay here, Normandy is one of the regions I am considering as my French home.

Just a little update

OK, so here's a France plan update.

1. I added another $200 to the France fund, money received via consignment sales.

2. I have not been doing a good job with my French lessons. I fell after stepping in a pothole while walking Winston and broke my I-pod. (I also sprained my ankle.) I haven't replaced the I-pod yet so I haven't been listening to my lessons. I did watch Amelie and Venus Beauty Institute without subtitles. I have seen them so many times I am starting to understand many of the words. In addition, I bought two easy French readers (found at the Junior League thrift shop for $1.00.)

3. So far I have researched the Provence,Cote d'Azur and Normandy areas for places I might like to live. I have already written a post about one village. I will be posting more in the next couple of weeks.

4. I am going to Atlanta next month so I will see about visiting the consulate when I am there.

I have added another blog list section for blogs written by people who have relocated to France. If you know any other blogs you think I would enjoy or would be helpful to me please let me know. I have also added a list of some of my favorite books, movies that are about France or French related.

I am really starting to believe my dream may come true.

Simple Pleasures: Cloth Napkins

I love sitting down to a perfectly dressed table. It makes eating so much more pleasurable. As a single woman, however, I very rarely set the table for myself. I just grab what I need from the kitchen on my way to the table or (horror of horrors) the sofa. Today, at lunch, I decided to go ahead and set myself a place at my table. It wasn't very fancy: fork, knife and napkin. I didn't use a paper napkin though, I opened up my linen drawer and pulled out a cloth napkin.

There is something very civilized about using a cloth napkin. I am not sure why we don't use these more often. I guess most people (myself included) seem to think it is easier to just use paper and throw them away. I wash sheets, towels and other linens every week so it really doesn't add any more work if I use the cloth napkin. I don't even have to iron them because no one is here but me.

My lunch today was just pasta with parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes but using the cloth napkins made it feel like I was dining in a fine restaurant.

Do you ever use cloth napkins?

La Mer

No, this is not a post about skin cream. It is partially about the sea. I love the sea, I love the smell, the sound, the feel. I live near the water now. It is one of the reasons I decided to move from Atlanta.To me the sea represents freedom and adventure, two things I would like to have more of in my life.

As I have been researching France I have discovered that all of the towns and villages I am attracted to are near the sea. One of my favorites is Villefranche-sur-mer. This litle town is located about five miles east of Nice on the Cote d'Azur. Despite being a heavily touristed area, most of the large cruise ships anchor here for visits to Nice and Monaco, it feels like a quaint and quiet fishing village. Small sailing boats dot the harbor. It is not as big as Nice or as fancy as Cannes and St. Tropez and that is what appeals to me. I have been lucky enough to have visited twice, both times I wanted to stay forever. In addition, I have recommended the village to a few friends all of whom thanked me for the suggestion.

Villefranche-sur-mer has everything I need to live a nice life: parks, museums, beaches, shops, markets, cafes, trains, and lovely architecture. There is also an excellent French language school, the Institut de Francais, that offers a French language immersion course. In addition, being so close to Nice, it has easy access to high speed rail for travel throughout Europe and an international airport should I need to get home in a hurry.

I found this video on YouTube and thought I would add it so that you can get an idea of the beauty of the village.

Julie & Julia

I love Julia Child, she is one of my heroes. She is proof to me that good things can happen after forty, (she was 50 when her first cookbook was published.) Her memoir, My Life in France, is another of my favorite books and my copy of her cookbook is one of my prized possessions.

There is a new movie coming out next month partially based on My Life in France. Meryl Streep is playing Julia and I can't wait to see it. Here's the trailer.

Wardrobe Please

Today's post on Already Pretty is about Movies and TV with great style. I loved this post, I think movie wardrobes are really important. Bad clothes can ruin a movie for me, shallow I know, but its part of the fun of the movie. My favorite movie wardrobes are:

1. Grace Kelly/ Rear Window

This is not my favorite of the Kelly/Hitchcock movies (To Catch a Thief takes that honor) but I think her wardrobe in this movie is the best of the three. Cool, classic, sophisticated beauty.

2. Audrey Hepburn/ Breakfast at Tiffany's


Holly's clothes are fabulous and classic. I would love to have every piece hanging in my closet. My favorites: the Trench coat and her Wayfarer sunglasses.

3. Catherine Deneuve/ The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Another fabulous trench coat. I need to get one. And I need a fabulous blue scarf to go with it. I love the pastel colors of her wardrobe in this film. And she has the perfect flat black shoes. Catherine is perfection.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow/ A Perfect Murder

This was a terrible movie but her clothes are worth at least one viewing. Clean lines, dark colors, pearls, hermes scarves and a Kelly. Hmm, could be my wardrobe. I love her hair in this movie too, I wish I could wear mine that short.

5. Julia Ormond/ Sabrina
Again, terrible remake but her fabulous wardrobe and the Paris scenes keep me watching.

6. Marion Cotillard/ A Good Year

A little more casual but lovely just the same. That purple dress she wears is beautiful. My favorite outfit though is the knit top and skirt she wears when she finds Max in the pool. I wish I looked that good.

What are your favorites?