Exciting News! We Will be Hosting A Virtuoso Voyage with Seabourn Ultra Luxury Cruises - Monte Carlo to Barcelona - October 2023 - Join Us!

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Exciting News! We Will be Hosting A Virtuoso Voyage with Seabourn Ultra Luxury Cruises - Monte Carlo to Barcelona - October 2023 - Join Us!

How does frolicking on the French Riviera sound about now?

In October, Scott and I plan to set sail on the luxurious Seabourn Sojourn from Monte Carlo to Barcelona on a 10-day cruise with stops in Elba, Amalfi, and Taormina (Italy), Valletta (Malta), St. Tropez and La Ciotat (France), as well as Palamos (Spain) before disembarking in Barcelona on this spectacular itinerary.

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A Visit to Classic Provence with a Sweet Stay at La Maison D'Uzès

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A Visit to Classic Provence with a Sweet Stay at La Maison D'Uzès

Provence is everything you have likely pictured in your mind’s eye. Pastel houses, shimmery sunlight, colorful window boxes of blooms, with pastel café tables dotting the gardens and patios ready for a moment of reflection over a robust Café Crème or chilled rosé. The lifestyle in Provence is simply irresistible.

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A Visit to Charming Baumanière in Les Baux-de-Provence

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A Visit to Charming Baumanière in Les Baux-de-Provence

On a cloudless day with brilliant azure skies we arrived at Baumanière in Les Baux de Provence. Trust me, for any lovers of French gardens the grounds were the stuff of dreams! Pure Provencial charm embellished with towering cypress, clipped boxwood hedges - fragrant rosemary, lavender, citrus and roses - enhanced with vintage ironwork and the classic eggshell blue painted trims. Café sets placed under trees and trellises create alfresco living at it’s french best.

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A Springtime Visit to Paris and the Chic Le Royal Monceau

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A Springtime Visit to Paris and the Chic Le Royal Monceau

Last month we had the pleasure of returning to one of our favorite destinations, Paris. It was a quick stop over on our way to Provence and the French Riviera but we made the most of time. We checked into the Le Royal Monceau and were immediately taken with the touch of whimsy (note upside down flower pot arrangement) and sleek, modern vibe of this Philippe Starck designed hotel. Our suite came complete with delicious welcoming macaroons, plush robes, linens and Clarins bath products and even a guitar for Mr. C.T. They thought of everything!

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Postcard from Paris, Provence and the Cote d'Azur

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Postcard from Paris, Provence and the Cote d'Azur

Paris, Provence and the Cote d’Azur. These destinations, though different in feel, bring to mind a kalidescope of colors, textures, flavors and views of this picturesque country. Though it is late March we’re enjoying mostly sunny days and warm breezes on the French Riviera. Rain in Paris only adds to the watercolor effect of shimmering streets.

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On the Horizon for Curated Travel: Paris, Provence and the Cote d'Azur

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On the Horizon for Curated Travel: Paris, Provence and the Cote d'Azur

Whether it’s a carefully crafted, detailed itinerary or a bold freestyle adventure, there is always much to anticipate with travel. We have one of those highly anticipated trips planned in our near future. It’s partially for work/partially for play but in the world of luxury travel they meld very nicely together. I’ve been invited to explore luxury resorts on the French Riviera next week and I’m excited that Mr. C.T. will be joining me.

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A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves

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A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves

Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world.  We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago.

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A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch

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A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch

One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it’s easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.

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Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment

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Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment

With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.

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Postcard from Paris!

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Postcard from Paris

The early morning light of Paris is streaming in through the luxurious linen curtains, as I sit here at the marble-topped table with my laptop. The chandelier above me is sparkling.  My husband is still slumbering in the next room and I have Carli Bruni softly crooning in french on Spotify.

I want to remember moments like this forever.

Life in Paris is very sweet.

I just noticed the patisserie across the street is already open. :) We had steaming café crèmes with a pain au chocolat croissant yesterday that blew our minds. There are no croissants in the world like France.

Is it something in the water?

File Jul 16, 8 24 26 AM.jpeg

Yesterday I awoke to texts checking to see if we were okay after the horrific attack in Nice at the Bastille Day celebration. We were just fine, but I had felt nervous about Bastille Day celebrations since we booked this trip to Europe back in November after the terror attacks in Paris.

I shared my thoughts yesterday morning on Instagram:

stylemindchic.

Another beautiful day dawns in Paris...We are excited to be celebrating retirement and my birthday today in this magnificent city, yet we are deeply saddened over the news from Nice and the losses they have suffered. We are safe and sound in this charming apartment Thank you for the texts, emails and comments checking in on us. 💕Scott and I were in the final stages of booking this trip to Europe when the terror attacks happened in Paris. I'll admit it, I've been nervous about our return to Paris. The images of terror don't fade easily from mind. When people are gunned down while dining at a cafe, enjoying a concert or watching fireworks, there is no sense to it...I saw military weapons and heard sirens at the airport yesterday. I wanted to get out of the "soft target" zone asap. Scott went out in the crowds for fireworks for Bastille Day late last night, but I did not. We will be out enjoying this summer day in one of our favorite places. 💐☀️ Terror and tragedy can happen anywhere, anytime. We want to be cautious, be we cannot let fear dictate our lives. We will continue to enjoy the adventure of travel and not let the dark side steal our joy. 💖✈️🌎 #france#paris#travel#travelgram#instagram#nicefrance#traveltales#wanderlust#traveling

And with that, we continue to enjoy the adventure of travel, this lovely apartment, and our last few days in Paris. I'm overwhelmed by the kind birthday wishes I received yesterday. Merci!!  55 is off to a fabulous start!

Here's to embracing the joy of today!

Au Revoir