l’art, l’amour et l’heure du cocktail
bonjour, allo, santé et tchin tchin. hi all, how’s your fall unfolding? i love when the weather gets that crisp fresh feeling and the air has just the slightest chill. not to rush the season and look too far ahead but it’s that time of year when we naturally start to hibernate and nest a little. for many of us that means entertaining and although i’m not a big drinker, i’ve been thinking about putting a bar together for the impending festivities. i got inspired when i heard from my friend and colleague, doni belau. she’s the editor and brilliant mind behind a girl’s guide to paris and has just released a fantastic book titled ‘Paris Cocktails’. she’s offered to host a giveaway here today on the blog so if you’re interested, you can either purchase a copy at the link above or enter your name in the comments and we’ll announce the winner next week.
all images on pinterest.com/parisapartment/bars
there’s something about the history of alcohol that has a hint of glamour and mystery to it and looking into it for this post led to a laundry list of its origns in early france. from the aperitif to wines, champagnes and liqueurs, the ways to inebriate ourselves seem infinite. the french alone were responsible for absynthe, anisette, bénédictine, cognac, chambord, cointreau, coffee liqueur, pastis, triple sec, crème de menthe, chardonnay, cabernet and dubonnet.
lots of great old books have been written on the subject of mixing, blending and inventing new concoctions over the years and some were even banned during prohibition. hard to believe that times could have been so very different and to think that it was actually illegal at one point to possess alcohol, punishable by imprisonment!
as a lightweight, i don’t really indulge but do love the whole culture from the bottles to the barware. below are some of the ways creative people have used traditional bar carts as well as some innovative alternatives.
using a brass shelving unit allows for overhead lighting, and glass doors showcase pretty glass and unique decanters
using an old steamer trunk lets you pack it up when not in use
just a simple woven tray on a glass top table wth a few accents adds instant sophistication
who woulda thought?
any cabinet can be mirrored on the inside for a glam look that closes up tight.
a makeshift bar on a dresser for impromptu parties
and even a petite half table can make a luxe statement
the options are as endless and varied as the designers who are inspired to raise the bar
i think i could live with this one very happily. a lot of thought has been given to the subject and just digging around a little bit was an absolutely beautiful dive into this tiny table that packs such a punch. below are a couple dissections of what it takes to put one of these bad boys together:
so…to celebrate Doni’s new book hailing the cocktail culture, leave your name and email in the comments to be entered to win.
From the publisher: Bring the romance and elegance of Paris into your home with cocktail recipes from leading French mixologists and the signature drink recipes of Parisian hot spots. More than just a cocktail book, Paris Cocktails celebrates the art of drinking like the French, with entertaining tips for throwing a perfectly Parisian cocktail party, revelations on the latest trends in French mixology, reviews of the best bars in both America and Paris where you can find the true French cocktail experience, and musings from French and non-French alike who have mastered the art of French drinking.
girlsguidetoparis.com-paris-cocktails-by-doni-belau
et alors, let’s wrap it up with a big French toast, a vôtre santé!
a good book has no ending –RD Cumming
bonne journée tout le monde~ i want to start the day by sharing a delicious book that was sent to me for review by Harper Collins. it’s a gorgeous tome and the perfect excuse to host a giveaway!
i was sent two copies of ‘The Paris Style Guide‘ by Elodie Rambaud, an interior decorator and stylist who has put together a book of parisian destinations of all kinds including, green and flower markets. antiques shops and repair, craft and art supplies and couture ateliers.
she goes on to tell us the address, phone numbers and website as well as the metro. i like that she’s included festivals and fairs, and matches each of the recommendations with a map at the back to cross reference in a couple of different ways.
the book is nice and thick, not something you’d neccessarily toss in your bag for the day but it’s a great resource and like me, you can always take pics of the pages…which i had to stop doing too many before reposting every pretty page if it!
some of the resources are really unusual like where to get film for your polaroid, Chanel embroideries and random curiousities that sometimes only locals really see.
elodie lives in paris and works as a prop stylist. she says she works with objects to tell stories and focuses on lifestyle, food and decorating.
suffice it to say she has a deep inside scoop.
in the 10 chapters she does surprise us here and there with unusual shopping stuff but also includes what to do in a weekend, dealing with wifi and communication, getting around and some hotel recommendations.
note that this book was published this year so it may change pretty quickly. but then again so much in paris has stood the test of time. hopefully it will be very slow in changing and these merchants will see a boost due to the book and be there for years to come as so many of them have. she features some shopkeepers with 100+ years in business.
anyway if you’d like a copy submit your name in the comments and we’ll draw a winner over the weekend. till then, have a great day!
let’s eat cake
bonjour toute le monde, ça va? i hope you’re having a great holiday weekend. it’s been BBQ central for so many days i’ve lost track and am finally finding a few minutes to myself. of course that translates into falling down a beautiful rabbit hole known as the world wide web of wonder. i wanted to share two divinely lovely things, the first is my dear friend and source of endless inspiration, haleigh walsworth of making magique. she has an exquisitely gorgeous life that she shares through her blog and allows us into her personal world of deliciousness. i could practically eat her photos and want to revel in every post
of course a girl like haleigh couldn’t go unnoticed, and not just cause she’s a modern audrey heburn/brigitte bardot, (basically the toast of paris…in my mind anyway, and i love putting her on that pedestal), but rather because she’s the essence of magic herself. she’s taken her life in paris and turned it into a full blown lifestyle brand. the more i watch her grow the more i learn from her, mainly never to lose my joie de vivre and to be utterly fearless in every aspect of life. what did that attitude earn her?
for starters, her very own blog on Lancôme where she has been charged with the glorious task of writing about everything from beauty
to fashion,
culture,
travel and cuisine.
so you can imagine how happy i was when she asked me to collaborate on a piece for her blog at Lancôme.
ta da!
this post got me thinking about what my blog readers might be interested in hearing about, talking about, sharing and what you’re working on. are you carving out a bit of paris in your life, are you working on your brand, interested in collaborating, connecting with and empowering other women (and men) and encouraging them to flourish? i’d like do lots of this and want this next part of my life to be filled with that. basically overflowing with beauty and inspiration. you inspire me…what are you up to and into?
the paris apartment 