Thank You For A Great Year!
Included in this week’s blog,
Two New Paris Memoirs to Read,
Two Places to Stay in Paris and Cannes that I recommend,
My Final 2022 Beautiful Giveaway Draw!
Will You Be The Winner?
First of all, just let me say thank you — to both my longtime, and new subscribers!– for joining me on my adventures to Paris and beyond this past year.
The purpose of my blog and website www.womanofacertainageinparis.com is to explore the magic of Paris and France, and all that it represents to die-hard francophiles!
That is, those of us who cannot get enough of France’s beauty, lifestyle, culture, fashion and cuisine.
I have been at this now since 2018. I managed to keep it going through the worst of COVID, and travelled back and forth to France twice for a month each in the last year.
Happily, I feel like I am just getting started! With lots in store for 2023.
Paris Fan Club Membership
Coming in early 2023
Level One Membership – Baguette
Level Two Membership – Croissant
Level Three Membership – Pain au chocolat
I am excited about launching a new offering in early 2023. It is called the Paris Fan Club.
This will be an annual subscription packed full of fun Paris-related activities, giveaways, books, travel resources, and my own personal Travel Kit, 8 beautiful items that I have designed for you to take on your trips to Paris or anywhere for that matter.
To give you lots of options to join, there will be Three Levels of Membership, packages that I have whimsically labelled Baguette, Croissant and Pain au chocolat.
You will be hearing more about in my January blogs.
Paris Book Club Holiday Recommendations
As you may be aware, I have assembled the ONLY list of English Language MEMOIRS (not fiction, true stories!) written by Women about Paris and France!
Over the last five years, I have read, reviewed and compiled the list which I have posted on the Book Club page of my website.
New memoirs have been sparse due to travel restrictions over the last three years.
However, I am happy to announce a couple of new books that were recently published that I think you will like.
Click on the titles to see more or to purchase them.
Diana’s Paris Book Club Pick
All Signs Point to Paris
by Natasha Sizlo
Imagine if your astrological chart showed that the love of your life was born on November 2nd, 1968 in Paris!
Would you get on a plane for the City of Light and start searching for every man who fits that description?
Probably not.
But Natasha Sizlo did. And she has good reason to believe in the stars.
How does it end? No spoiler alert from me! Oh no.
This is a fascinating stranger-than-fiction tale but it’s true.
Diana’s Paris Book Club pick
An American In Pandemic Paris
by Michelle Facos
Places to Stay in France
Travelling to Paris or Cannes in 2023 or 2024?
Paris
I have made some wonderful new friends on my many trips to Paris and France. And two of them have accommodations that I recommend. (And that are reasonably priced!)
Key2Paris is a small apartment run as a B&B by my friend Martinn. It is located on a charming sidestreet on the ground floor inside a small courtyard.
If you are looking for a view of the Eiffel Tower this is not for you, but if you want to stay in a real neighbourhood surrounded by lively Parisian street life, this is a great find!
Martinn has provided all the comforts of home and is also a gifted Paris. resource. And one cannot beat the location in the 2nd arrondissement, close to everything!
It is booked up well in advance but mon amour and I were lucky enough to squeeze in some time there in June of 2023! Maybe you will be lucky too!
Click HERE to find out more!
Outside shot of the Key2paris apartment in a quiet courtyard
Key2Paris B&B
Cannes
My dear friends Astrid and Jean-Yves have begun renting out their fab apartment in Cannes on the French Riviera!
My best friend and I stayed there in April of this year and we loved it.
It is a modern, spacious and comfortable one-bedroom, with a full living room, large balcony, and fully equipped kitchen.
Located in a quiet residential neighbourhood, we could walk to the famous Promenade de la Croissette, the spectacular boulevard along the sea in 10 minutes, and found there was so much to explore in this glamourous French Riviera city.
Don’t plan on being there during the Cannes Film Festival in May… it is nuts then!
CLICK HERE to find out more, and to contact Astrid directly use this email — cannestheplace2be@gmail.com
Tell her Diana sent you!
Promenade de la Croisette, Cannes France
View from the large balcony!
Final Giveaway of 2022
Will You Be the Winner?
Before I go, those of you who signed up as Annual Members for my 2022 Interview Series, Women Of Global Interest are once again eligible for my last GIVEAWAY Draw of the Year!
There have been three former Giveaways for terrific prizes and I hope you liked what I have chosen for this one.
Your choice of any one product from the swimwear and accessories for the mature woman at BathingBoomers.com. (Retail Value $135)
Two good friends got together to start this new line after discovering a market gap in comfortable, sun-protected, swimwear for women over 50.
Now BathingBoomers.com is growing in popularity with three main products, the Swim Dress, Shirt and Leggings plus a few accessories as they continue to expand.
Model Renee Welling in Blue Paisley Swim Shirt/I too have this Swim Shirt)
I will be doing the draw at the end of the month and if you are the Winner, I will be contacting you to see which product you would like.
You can read about Bathing Boomers in a blog I wrote in November called Swimwear For The Mature Woman. Just click on the link to find it.
Happy Holidays!
Once again, thank you.
Have a lovely holiday season wherever you are!
And I will be back with my first blog 2023 on January 5th!
Please — please end this year with a comment clicking below
where it says Leave a Comment or Read the Comments!
It means so much to me and to all my readers to hear from you!
A la prochaine fois mes amis!
Diana, Your Woman Of A Certain Age in Paris!
Brought to you by www.womanofacertainageinparis.com
Disclosure Policy: This site uses affiliate links that may generate small commissions based on clicks and purchases. The commissions help in a small part to pay for the expenses for this blog and website. So I appreciate it when you buy books through my book club page for instance. Any products that I giveaway are personally purchased by me unless otherwise specified. And I respect my subscribers’ privacy and do not share their information with any other party or organization.
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.
Have a very Merry Christmas, Diana … and all the best for good health, happiness and many Parisian adventures in 2023. Gretchen
I love your informative emails and I have enjoyed the webinar episodes as well. The book recommendations are great. I am very pleased to have discovered your platform on all things Parisienne. I always discover new locations to visit and new ideas to explore in France.
Laurie, Wonderful to hear from you and thank you so so much for the kind words. I do hope I am bringing some joy to people (as I am to myself with this endeavour). With the complex world we live in, it is important to focus on what is beautiful about it, and Paris is certainly that.
Best to you and thank you again for this comment and for following me this year. Diana
Hey Diana! Love the blog. I think you’re inspiring a lot of people with it. Hope life is great for you!
Pamela
Pamela, how kind you are to reach out. I hope you are doing well and I wish you again Happy Holidays and a great 2023! Diana
It’s been a wonderful year traveling Paris and France with you Diana, either through the entertaining interviews that you have given us or in person, BFF!
I so look forward to being part of The Paris Fan Club next year ; I am your biggest fan !
Joyeux Noel ! xoxox
And I know that my BFF. Being in Paris with you is always one of the greatest treats in my life. We have been friends through thick and thin and travelling to France is such a highlight for both of us. Thank you for being there with me.
Bonjour from Paris,
Thank you so much Diana for this great blog and be assured that I look forward to seeing you again in 2023, and hosting you. If you follow my posts, present and future on Social Media, you’ll see there is a lot to enjoy in Paris in 2023.
For the time being, I attend wonderful exhibitions and shows and I wish you a bright Holiday season. Bonne Année pour 2023. May this world be at peace and be human.
martinn in Paris.
I am thanking you Martinn for being my guide and my friend. I rely on my Paris colleagues to keep me honest and true to all that Paris has to offer.
And it goes without saying that I will be so happy to see you again in June. Let’s hope for a calm world, good health and happiness in 2023. Diana
I have become obsessed by France, it started with the Chateau de la motte on TV. Three attempts to get there for an adventure day but each cancelled because of COVID. I have decided to look in Paris. I have been there twice but didn’t see much.
Jude — you and me both. I am personally obsessed with Chateau de La Motte and the Escape to the Chateau TV series. I plan to visit them on one of my trips to France — it is one of my dreams. I do hope you get to France in 2023 — after 3 attempts, you deserve that trip. Please keep me posted. Happy Holidays — Diana
Diana I love your blog. Honestly my life is completely changing as I am on a new path or perhaps a path of spirituality that I have always been searching out and am finally entering. I have unsubscribed from practically all of my old favourites.
However I continue to love your blog and wait for it to arrive in my inbox. Thank you.
Love and Light
Happy Holidays
Christine And The Animals
Diana I also want to say that the women you chose for your show were inspiring. Thank you for your show. We must all do what we love.
Christine And The Animals ❤️🐾
Thank you so much, Christine. It means a lot to me that you are still reading my blog. I know how people are inundated these days with unwanted emails.
Thank you also for being an annual member of the Women of Global Interest Series in 2022. I am very proud of that series and of all the women who took part.
Your attendance and appreciation of their stories is validating to us. Happy Holidays, Diana
Enjoy reading your newsletter regularly!
New places/people
Original ideas
A good sense of humor
Juanita — how very kind you are to reach out. I am thrilled that you are enjoying it. It is a labour of love.
Happy Holidays wherever you are and I hope to hear from you in 2023. Diana
How do I subscribe please?
Hi Anna, I have subscribed for you … and sent you an email with the Bonus Gift. Thank you so much!
Your travel stories, features, blogs are all a breath of fresh air, Diana. I am also very much enjoying the selection of books noted in your book club ….a vicarious trip to France before getting there again in real time . Thank you for sharing these treasures with us .
Patti, I am so happy to hear this news and thank you so much for the comment. I appreciate your support.Love to hear what are some of your favourite memoirs.
Best to you and have a Happy New Year! And you must get to Paris! Diana