Meet The Winner …
Margaret Ann Gendreau from Vancouver, Canada, was the winner of my Giveaway Draw for the beautiful travel-themed pink and gray silk scarf from Green Scarf Boutique.
This week her gift arrived in the mail and it wasn’t long before Margaret Ann was posing for pictures!
It looks great on her doesn’t it?
My 3rd Giveaway Winner. No wonder she is celebrating!
Paris Times Three
Margaret Ann loves Paris. She has been three times. Her first visit was when she was backpacking around Europe like many of us did. She was 23 years old and remembers being mesmerized by the “joie de vivre” of Paris street life.
Two years ago, Margaret Ann returned to the City Of Light to celebrate 60 years of friendship with her BF, Bonnie. They both turned 70 years old that year.
One of their fondest memories was walking into Notre Dame Cathedral just before mass on a Sunday morning to the majestic sound of chanting. I bet she is grateful now that she did that!
Margaret Ann in front of the Eiffel Tower.
And finally last year, Margaret Ann went to Paris with her husband, Pierre. (Her husband is a Canadian francophone and he had never been to Europe!)
Margaret Ann and Pierre’s first night in Paris having an apéritif at La Fontaine Sully bistro.
They both loved the experience so much that whenever they see something that doesn’t measure up they look at each other and chuckle “Well, it isn’t Paris!”
Margaret Ann Recommends:
Here are a few of Margaret Ann’s recommendations when visiting Paris –
1. “Take the Hop-on Hop-off Seine Cruise (instead or in addition to the similar one by bus) It stops at 8 different locations and is a great way to see the city.
2. “Spend a day in Le Marais district (4th arrondissement).” I agree. So much to see, do and eat there.
3. “Take an afternoon stroll straight down from the Arc de Triomphe along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to the Louvre. It’s a must do at least once.”
Margaret Ann was recommended to my blog by her good friend Juliette Wood, and that was what made her eligible to win my Giveaway. Thank you Juliette.
Margaret Ann and Juliette Wood – Loyal blog followers!
NEXT GIVEAWAY:
My SUMMER Giveaway Draw will be announced next week. So hope you will keep reading!
ANTI-AGING SKIN CARE NOTES
Riversol
In my search to find a skin care line that I can get behind and bring to you, I have finished my 15-Day Trial of Riversol. This is a very good line that specializes in anti-aging, and they are really promoting their brand, hence the generous 15-day trial. I encourage you to try it.
This is the first line that I have tested with many more to go but I was impressed mostly with their “Anti-Aging Restorative Serum.”
It was very light, dries quickly and tightens the skin ever so slightly.
Bliss Botanicals
The next product I am trying is called BLISS Botanicals. This is also a Canadian line out of Saskatchewan. I like that they use minimal packaging and organic certified ingredients in each and every product.
Bliss Organics for Aging/Mature Skin
I am trying their products for “aging and mature skin”. These include their “radiance serum”, “renewing nightly moisturizer” and “anti-oxidant sun screen.” They threw in a small pot of their daily moisturizer which I did not see on their website.
If you have tried this line, please let me know. I will be experimenting with some U.S. and French brands too in future.
And many many thanks to all of you who have been contacting me with your suggestions. Very helpful.
#womanofacertainageinparisskincare
Diana Bishop the founder of The Success Story Program and A Woman of a Certain Age in Paris as well as a well-known correspondent with over 25 years working for CTV, CBC News, and NBC News. She loves travel, writing, and all things Parisienne.
YES she looks absolutely stunning in that beautiful scarf! What great taste! And I STILL love the way you write, Diana – style envy!
Thank you Christine. That is immensely kind of you to say. And the scarf was so beautiful that I had trouble putting it in the mail.
I wanted to keep it for myself!
It IS a beautiful scarf and I was so happy for “MA” (as we know her here!)… but I did suffer some envy also, Diana, when I saw her with it! Thanks again for the opportunity to reward a great friend, and for making us “famous” in your blog!!
Can’t wait for your skin care recommendations!
Juliette
Don’t worry Juliette. There are other Giveaways coming! Thank you so much for your participation in this one. Diana
It does look great on you Margaret; the rose colour is such a nice shade on you. What fun a modelling session between two good friends. Terrific! Can’t wait to see next week’s blog & giveaway announcement. Looking forward to Sunday’s with Paris. Enjoying your blog articles very much, for me with my little guy running around, I always miss reading, this gives me all that pleasure I was missing.
This has all been such a pleasant surprise for me. Thank you so much Diana. This would not have happened without my firend Juliette’s recommendation of your fabulous blog. The scarf really is beautiful and lovely to wear. Diana, I enjoyed our conversation and exchanging emails with you. My husband and I both had quite a few loud and hearty laughs doing our little “photo shoot”. I’m looking forward to all the future blogs and especially recommendations for products you are trying out for us!
My first visit to Paris, I was five. I have been many times since as my most of my mother’s family live there. They are all French born from India, Euro-Asian and moved to France after India declared its independence (after a brief sojourn in Vietname. My mother met my father during the second world war and is the only one to have left her French heritage behind.
I’m also thinking this is serendipitous that your winner is from Vancouver as I am here visiting my daughter, son-in-love and grandson for a couple of weeks. I feel it’s a good omen for me with your Chanel No. 5 giveaway! 🙂
I am also loving reading your blog so shall continue to scroll and comment as time passes. I too am a woman of a ‘certain’ age though I like to think of it as a magnificent age!
Louise, thank you for all three of your wonderful comments. I have added you to my subscriber list if that is ok with you?
That automatically qualifies for the Perfume Draw!
I love that your first visit to Paris was at 5 years of age. How lucky you have been!
I look forward to hearing from you in future blogs.