Be prepared to practice your best Parisian Pout when you see the popular comedy show “How To Become Parisian in One Hour!” This one-man show plays into every cliché and stereotype that people all over the world have of Parisians; as envied for living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world;…

  (Note: My Snap Giveaway is today! Don’t miss this special offer. Details at the bottom of this blog!) Meet Chef Astrid! This fall, my new French friends, Astrid and her husband, Jean-Yves, very graciously invited me to stay at their home in Metz (pronounced Mess). The charming city in the Lorraine region of France…

One of the reasons people come to Paris is to eat and eat well —  me included. So I was excited to learn that living in the 9th arrondissement, I was only blocks away from rue des Martyrs, where you can have one of the best gastronomic shopping experiences in this city. Rue des Martyrs: Named After…

It was not as nice a day as this  the day I decided to take  “Le Batobus.”   Similar to the Hop-on-Hop off Bus tour that you find in most cities, this is a boat tour that buses you along the Seine, allowing you to experience Paris both on land and from the water. In my…

I am so thrilled to have heard back from the Winners of my Fall Giveaway Draws. So now, I can reveal what was in the Surprise French Box.     There were 12 items that I personally purchased — and thank you, one and all,  for applying for the draw. Your continued support means the world…

I was in Paris during fall fashion week in September where common folk like myself never got anywhere near the catwalks of the world’s most renown designers from Schiaparelli to Chanel. In fact, the only thing I heard about fashion week at all was that at the L”Oréal  fashion show 74-year old actress Helen Mirren…

As I walked the long tree-lined corridor up to the gorgeous Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley, I realized that I was walking back into history and into a story, where two of the most fascinating women of the French court once took centre stage — one a wife, the other a mistress, and…

I want to introduce you to my favourite landlady — ever. This is  Mme. Dominque Carrez who very kindly rented her lovely Paris apartment to me in September.     Under French law, homeowners in certain districts of Paris can rent their residence for no more than 120 days a year, and so Dominique rents…

A few years ago, I found  myself dancing up a storm in what is known as the “little Marais market” in Paris. It was a day in June when Paris holds its annual “Fête de la Musique”, or “Make Music Day.” On this day, music of all kinds invades the city’s local neighbourhoods and streets.…

A Friday. In September. In Paris. The morning has been a bit cool, but by noon, the warmth of the sun beckons those winding down from a busy week to search for an inviting outdoor “resto” to partake in “le dejeuner”| lunch. I am embarking the following week in some French courses (which I take…