Bulgari at the Grand Palais

I finally made it to the Bulgari Exhibit at the Grand Palais yesterday and it was FAB FAB FAB!! The exhibit was set up in such a way that made you feel like you were literally walking through the decades. Each decade had its own room accompanied by music and icons of the time. It started with the designs from the late 1800's going all the way through 2010, covering everything in between. They also had a large collection of Elizabeth Tayor's private gems which were TO DIE FOR. 

My favorite piece of the whole collection was a turquoise and diamond encrusted necklace. I just wanted to put it on, even for like a second. Check it out for yourself...!

The whole time I just kept oohing and aahing over the most decadent pieces of jewelery I've ever seen all the while thinking umm..can someone invite me to a ball and buy me this!! It was so good that I had to buy the book at the end. I was too distracted by all the glitz to read any of the info so now I actually can. It will forever be displayed on my coffee table. 
Here are some other pictures...

 1970's

 Early 1900's...one of my favorites!

 I'll take this one too! ..I think its from the early 1900's as well as the bow below (which I also wouldn't mind!)

 I mean sooo pretty...I can't remember but I wanna say it's from the 50's

Andromaque

Hold your breath everyone.... Jillian did something cultural last night that didn't involve drinking, partying...or shopping! 
The Comédie Francaise was built in 1680 and is one of the oldest theatres in Paris. (Well it must be if it was built then right?!) I saw a Tragedy called "Andromaque" which was written by a famous French writer, Racine, in 1667 first performed in the Louvre for Louis XIV. Imagine Shakespearian langauge..but in French. Yeah, not the easiest thing to understand or follow. 
It was a nice experience though because tickets are very hard to come by so if I wasn't invited it probably would have been something I never got the chance to do. 

Exterior of the Comédie Francaise

Interior of the Theatre 

Andromaque 

Mégamind 3D

So yesterday I went to see Megamind, or Mégamind in French, with the 2 little girls I babysit for. In France they have 2 ways you can see American movies - 1.VF - French version where the voices are dubbed and 2. VO - original version with French subtitles. 
Now I'm all for going to see a French movie for learning purposes, but I must admit when the movie is meant to be in English, well..it's better that way! For example, I saw the Sex and the City movie in VF not realizing and looking at SJP but hearing French was just plain annoying.
So yesterday I saw the VF and knowing the main characters were meant to sound like Brad Pitt and Will Ferrell it was strange, but still a very cute movie. 
I was seriously amazed at how advanced 3D has become. I mean you actually feel like you can touch the movie. 

Me, Eve and Léa

TGIF

And yet another Friday is here! 

Paris literally came to a dead halt on Wednesday due to 5 centimeters of now...which is US terms is less than 2 inches. I won't go into details of how I cried and cursed walking down the streets sopping wet with my UGGs filled with ice cold water and how it took 2.5 hours to return home from work (oops I guess I just did go into detail!) but I can say that it wasn't fun.

Despite the complete mayhem, the snow did look pretty...

Rond Point des Champs Elysées

Not sure what the weekend will bring but a new Bulgari exhibit just opened at the Grand Palais which I will be going to tomorrow. A good chance to use my new camera! 

HAPPY WEEKEND TO ALL! 

Not a Moncler, but I found a coat!

Finally found a coat - and it was the perfect timing as well! It's been snowing or raining non stop since Monday and probably won't stop until..well sometime in April or May...but now I have a hood that completely covers me. It's an Alaskan Parka and it makes me look like I'm going hunting in the wilderness but I'm warm so that's all that matters! 

Only in France...

The idea of buying water, something that we can easily get for free from the tap, already sounds a bit silly. Spending 29 € on water called "Bling" is just insane. I mean let's be real here...how good can it possibly taste? I'm curious to buy it just to see if it tastes THAT much better than normal water. I'm all for splurging on a bottle of Fiji or even Voss "Artisian" water for 4€, but if I'm spending 29 € on water, it better taste like champagne!!

Bling H2O - sold at the Bon Marché Gourmet Market...and yes, the word "Bling" is in Swarovski Crystals. 

Happy Friday

For starters I'd like to say, I'M FREEZING. Granted growing up in New York, I'm quite used to sub-zero temperatures but it's only the first week of December!! What's going on!? I might need to rethink where I want to live...St.Marteen sounds nice right about now and the good news is, I'd still get to speak French! 

Dinner last night at Il Giramondo was fabulous, as it always is. The thing I love most about Italian food is the non-fussy, rustic aspect of it which this resto has down to a T. The chef is Italian and knows his stuff! He recommended a restaurant for my mom and I to eat in Rome and let me tell u! BELLISIMO!! 

This is the Bruschetta appitizer - its toasted with pesto, fresh mozerella di bufala and topped with proscuitto..all drizzled with a balsamic reduction served with tossed field greens. Say no more - it's amazing!! 

And on the way there, had to stop and admire the Eiffel Tower - come on, it is Paris after all!! And no matter how many times I see her, I can't help but smile. 

Another week down...how many more until Summer? 

Signing out for now..let's see what festivities go down this weekend...

Let it snow!

It has been unseasonably cold the past week..yesterday was -4 and today is about -6 (that's in Celsius which is about mid 20's Fahrenheit) 
We got a dusting of snow overnight...here's the Champs Elysées this morning - 

 Last night I went to dinner at Gli Angeli with my friend Laurent. It wasn't the most traditional way to spend the first night of Chanukah but that's not say we didn't enjoy the meal anyway! 
The last time my mom was in Paris we went there twice!! And one of the nights the 2 of us closed the restaurant with the owners drinking Grapa. We were tipsy to say the least! It's a very small restaurant just down the street from Places des Vosges in the Marais- perfect cozy feel for the coldest of winter nights! I ate a VERY large bowl of gnocchi with melted mozerella. No Latkes - but still amazing! 

This is my FAVORITE dish there - It's taggliatelle with creme and black truffles (that's the dollop on top!) and San Danielle proscuitto fresh from Italia...salivating yet?? 

Gli Angeli - 5 rue Saint Gilles, Paris 75003


Tonight I'm off to Il Giramondo - my favorite favorite favorite Italian restaurant in Paris! You'll have to wait to hear about it until tomorrow :) 

December? I thought it was May...

Every day on the first of the month the metro in the morning is insanely crowded due to everyone topping up their Navigo (monthly metro pass). So today, like every other 1st, it was nuts! The funny thing was though that I don't seem to be alone on the "How is it December already?" thought. Most people were going up to the entrance, trying to use their pass and were absolutely bewildered by the fact that it didn't work..then after muttering some French curses, they would laugh and wait on line to get a new one! I must say, it was quite humorous. 

But seriously I must say this year has flown by faster than ANY  in the past. I guess that means it's been THAT much fun. 

So being that it actually is December - here are some pictures of the beautiful Christmas lights / store windows in the city...and btw HAPPY CHANUKAH to all my fellow celebrators :) 

Champs Elysees 

Place Vendome - These are my favorite!! 

Rue Rambuteau - right next to my house 

Window at Printemps 

Window at BHV Department Store