Things I miss about Paris

Life is good. No doubt about that. I love New York. I’m traveling. The book is doing well. But then sometimes Paris will cross my mind and it’s like a punch in the gut: startling, furious, making me want to laugh, cry and vomit all at once.

My first year home, lots of people asked what I missed most about Paris. But truthfully, I was so happy to be home, getting reacquainted with American pleasures like Whole Foods and Ben & Jerry’s and New York hangouts like Joseph Leonard and City Bakery, that I didn’t feel like I was missing Paris.

Now that I haven’t had a dose of the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) in nearly six months, I’m going through certain withdrawal. Yearning. Daydreaming. Weepiness. It’s embarrassing, I tell you.

When I think of Paris, my other city, it is these things I miss most:

• Velibing - Especially in the dark, quiet streets of the Marais at night. No, especially through the beautiful Place de la Concorde. No, especially as a way of commuting.

• French – The language. Just hearing it. Speaking it. Being comfortable with it. I’m losing it.

• Salades chevre chaud – Mmmmmmm

• Luxembourg Garden – Not that I used to go all the time. But the bright green grass, the heavy lawn chairs, the petanque and ponies… taking it all in while nibbling a snack from Pierre Hermé… oui, I miss it.

• The many splendid shades of brown, taupe and grey.

• My friends – Oh, the irony. I missed my American friends from home so very much during my two years in Paris. But now it’s all those beautiful people who became new, dear amis that I miss seeing and talking to.

• Rue Montorgueil – What I wouldn’t do to wake up this Saturday morning and be able to pop over for an Eric Kayser baguette, Comté from La Fermette, fresh apples and a pain aux raisins from Stohrer.

• The canal and all its flotsam and jetsam.

• Sitting up in my treehouse late at night, blogging about the day's adventures.

All work and no play...

... we all know the adage. Working too much is bad for our psyches, bad for relationships, bad for our asses.

Luckily, I managed to get outside and play in the sun today at Canyons Resort (Park City, Utah).

It was my first journey up a mountain all season.

And this mountain was incredible.

But time was limited. And rather than ski, we zip-lined (don't look, maman).

Across a 2000-foot canyon.

Fun and exhilarating, to be sure.

But I should have been skiing. And spinning and downward dogging. Because I had forgotten how gluttonous business trips can be.


Night after night of three-course meals, accompanied by wine, then to bed, and up to do it all over again.



Thank god it's back to New York tomorrow. Who knew Utah could be so hedonistic?

Park City pit stop

Sometimes you just really want to get out of town. Other times, you never want to leave. I've definitely been feeling clingy towards New York lately—just not enough time to enjoy the city and my friends there. A business trip that engulfs a precious weekend was hardly something I was looking forward to. Until I arrived here, in Park City.

To be fair, I was excited before we arrived and were treated to crisp mountain air, beautiful blue skies, and sweet alpine architecture.



I've never been to Park City before and was excited to discover this historic mining town with its fascinating politics and people.

But, 24 hours in, I'm finding it's a place I could certainly get used to.

Grand lodges filled with charm and comfort.

A modest but artsy community.

Fun colleagues who make it feel as much pleasure as it is business.

And we haven't even hit the slopes (or zip lines) yet...

From Paris with love

"I just bought your book at WH Smith on rue de Rivoli in front of the Tuilderies Gardens!! Have bought many a book here so it's a really magical and exciting moment to buy yours. Big kiss xoxo Mel"

If you've had a chance to read Paris, My Sweet, you know how much Mel means to me. She is light, she is love, she is inspiration. Receiving her text and photo the other day put me over the moon.

New York, New York

Don't you just love it?

My Vegan Mondays

Morning
Coffee and soy milk
Oatmeal with blueberries

Afternoon
City Bakery salad bar: sautéed Brussels sprouts and broccoli, sweet potatoes, vermicelli with asparagus and smoked tofu
Fuji apple

Evening
Well, I had every intention of making this a Vegan Monday. I mean, I met my cousins from out of town at City Bakery and didn’t have even a lick of hot chocolate, or one measly peanut butter cookie crumb. It was Vegan Monday! I'm a pro! But then I returned to my apartment and what was waiting for me?

Three pounds of glorious Levain cookies (page 175 in Paris, My Sweet). Chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, oatmeal raisin and dark chocolate chocolate chip. Two of each, wrapped with utter care. If you had such a delivery, would you eschew such joy and wonder for Vegan Monday?

Thank you, Pam and Connie, for your generosity. I am a weak, but sated and happy woman tonight.

Catching up on life

Enfin, the Blog Tour is over. A gazillion thanks to my fellow bloggers and inspirations who made it happen and were so generous with their time and support. And thanks to you all for reading and going along on the Tour!

The past couple of weeks haven’t been all working, promoting and writing. They’ve also been deliciously indulgent.

Cocktails at Gotham Bar at the Peninsula Hotel…

…and Rye in Williamsburg.

Brunch at Jack’s Wife Frieda…

… and Balthazar.

Cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcake…

… and Sprinkles.

A lovely Saturday afternoon tea party perched overlooking uptown…



…and my own launch party at the wee Bosie Tea Parolor downtown.







So far, 2012 has been an extraordinary year. Intensely busy, extremely gratifying and filled with overwhelming love and emotion. Two months in, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.

How is your 2012 shaping up??

Danielle of Paris Pastry

Do you know Paris Pastry? Or French Madame? With those names, you might think I’ve got a couple other blogs on the side. Or if you know these fabulously inspiring sites, you know Danielle, a lovely woman in the Netherlands who’s just as obsessed with baking and sweets; fashion and design and “all things French” as I am. It made perfect sense to have her wrap up this Blog Tour.

From Loubutin to Yves Saint Laurent, Portugal to Italy, Nutella cheesecake to cookie dough cupcakes, Danielle has style, she has taste and she has passion. She's incredibly warm and, yes, "sweet." When I read her posts, I feel like I have a soul sister across the ocean. Danielle, merci for being such a lovely finale to the Paris, My Sweet Blog Tour.