Monday, October 10, 2011

Aimee's Grande Paris Adventure Part II "Charmed I'm Sure"

~  Last week ~
illustrated Paris-loving city girl Aimee
convinced three of the other Ooh La Frou Frou city girls
that they should join her on a week-long
... and before they knew it ...
~ Hope, Aimee, Belle and Alex ~
found themselves at a glamorous french apartment
in the 7th arrondissement in Paris' Rive Gauche
on a charming street called
~Rue De Grenelle ~
and
~ just like magic ~
they felt that they were
real Paris girls.

Let's fly away ...
and peek in at one of their very Parisian days ...


~ It's Early Morning in Paris ~
and the sun sparkles like diamonds
scattered across the floor of the
beautiful paris apartment on
Rue De Grenelle.

Aimee awakens from a night of sweet misty
~ Paris Carousel Dreams ~
... could dreams be any sweeter than carousel dreams? ...



While dressing for the day,
the girls discover that it's
~ absolutely necessary ~
to try on several outfits in order to find
just the right look of
~ Paris Chic ~

Aimee applies the perfect finishing touch ...
 glamorous smokey eyes.
She also practices the perfect pout.

~ Soon They're Ready For The Day To Begin ~
and they step out
onto magical Paris streets.

French music drifts through the air ...

as the girls
stroll to the illustrious
 Les Deux Magots sidewalk cafe
for a cappuccino and croissant ...
while sophisticated Parisians with their
very fancy Parisian dogs
pass by.


~ Next On Their Agenda For The Day ~
... a date with pink macarons ...

Last week, I mentioned that REAL Paris girl
offered some fun suggestions for the girls'
Grande Paris Adventure
and one of those suggestions
was a macaron-making class at the astonishingly beautiful
Café Lenôtre.

Café Lenôtre au Pavillon Elysée
10, Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris 8ème

Alex, of course, was très thrilled with Milla's suggestion,
as she loves nothing better than baking and entertaining!
As the girls begin their four-hour class,
they sip cups of rich coffee
and nibble the french pastries that are served ...
and each leaves with a box of her own beautiful macarons ...
~ but Alex leaves with a little something extra ~
... daydreams ... of fabulous parties-to-be
adorned with macaron topiaries!

~ Oh-So-Full ~
from the pastries of the morning,
the decision is made to walk~walk~walk all afternoon.
Hope loves nothing better than shopping
and is right at home in pretty boutique fitting rooms anywhere ...

... so she was thrilled when they headed off to try out the fitting rooms
of Paris boutiques large and small ... 


... they made a stop by the very chic high-end
left bank department store ...
Le Bon Marche
and went up the escalators and down the escalators
several times.

They learned that the french are serious about perfume ...
they even have a word for a lingering fragrance trail ...
le sillage ...
so after visiting the gorgeous Parisian Perfumery Caron ...

the girls felt as if they were in a lovely pink cloud of scent ...
and definitely had their own
le sillage ...

~ Ever So Tired ~
from a day of macaron-making and shopping,
the girls take their macarons and beautiful shopping bags
back to their french apartment and collapse on their french beds
until time to get ready for a
~ Glamorous Paris Evening ~

Following yet another suggestion from Milla ...
they head over for drinks at the Plaza Athenee Bar.
They quickly decide that every nook and cranny
in the Plaza Athenee is a dream-come-true ...

and in the lovely bar ... even the cocktails are a dream ...

Following cocktails, the girls leave for dinner
at a lovely restaurant called
~ meaning "Pleasure Garden of the Lilacs" ~
Belle is in heaven, as she's a southern-girl-living-in-the-city
and the lovely, lush courtyard garden reminds her of the
beautiful southern courtyards of her hometown.
While they wait for their table, they toast a fabulous day in Paris
with one of the bar's world-renowned Champagne Juleps. 

Walking slowly back to their apartment-for-the-week,
surrounded by sparkling Paris lights ...

... the girls all agree that the City of Light is aptly named.
Even taxis lights that say taxi like this ...
are just somehow more
~ ever-so-ooh-la-la ~

They gather up their memories of the day,
tuck themselves into their silky french sheets
and drift off, whispering ...
"Bonne Nuit, Sweet Paris ... Charmed, I'm Sure."
Please join us next week for Part III and the final episode of
"Aimee's Grande Paris Adventure."

Au revoir, darlings!


The characters that star in the
Ooh La Frou Frou Collection card line:
Hope Aimee Belle Alex Sunny Violet Tiffany and Cherie
are fictional, as are their glamorous fantasy adventures on the blog.
They were created by, and the blog is written by, the artist and creator of
Ooh La Frou Frou, Sandra Shelton Markwalder.

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT:
All illustration on this blog
and on all Ooh La Frou Frou Collection cards
is the work of artist
Sandra Shelton Markwalder.

Ooh La Frou Frou Collection cards
can be viewed and purchased at

Many photos used in this post were edited by
Ooh La Frou Frou by putting them in charm frames.
Photo Sources:
1.  Plane over sparkling lights and 1A. Paris Carousel
2. Paris street
3. Photo of Les Deux Magots (edited by me)
4. Macarons (edited by me)
5. Lenotre Paris
6. Lenotre Paris logo (edited by me)
7. Lenotre topiaries (edited by me)
8. Christian Louboutin store (edited by me)
9. Chanel store (edited by me)
10. Pink dress in window (edited by me)
11. Le Bon Marche escalators (edited by me)
12. Le Bon Marche exterior (edited by me)
13. Caron Paris store
14. Plaza Athenee Paris exterior
15. Plaza Athenee interior
16 and 17. Two Plaza Athenee Bar photos (edited by me)
18. La Closerie des Lilas (edited by me)
19. Paris at night
20. Taxi Parisien (edited by me)

41 comments:

Vannessa@Luxuria said...

Absolutely genius Sandy. I love the way you created the charms for the bracelet, and your first illustration is gorgeous. I won't dare ask how long these divine posts take you ;-) So talented!!

Fabrizia Spinelli said...

Wow this post is fantastic, I adore it! And the illustration are fantastic, love the one with the girl with all their bagages!
Take a look at my blog, and if you like it, follow me, I'll be waiting for you!

Cosa mi metto???

Unknown said...

What a pretty and glamourous post. These ladies sure know how to live it up the right way. Along the way we all learn so much with them. That charm bracelet is divine! Have a great week darling!
xoxo

http://onestyleatatime.blogspot.com/

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I want Aimee to be my travel partner!!

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Oh I so wish I were there with the lovely ladies! We would have so much fun at Caron and maybe I could even get them into some of the fragrance houses to create their own fragrances. That would be so much fun! :)

xoxo

Layers and Layers said...

of course i went back to read part one first ... an absolute feast for the eyes and a lovely walk down memory lane. the video at the end brought a tear to my eye. great suggestions all round for the girls & this girl to enjoy the day and starting the evening at the Plaza Athenee (I'm determined to spend my next visit there) ...
Beautiful work again Sandy. Amazing :)

SoapyMermaid said...

wonderful post! it reminds me of my escapades to paris with either my lovers (restaurants, walking in paris streets by night) either my sisters (shopping, macaroons..). I want the same charms bracelet! I have one with all the monument of paris : it is very kitsch but i love it.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post! I love the charms :D Paris is so beautiful <3 Especially at night, I think, when the Eiffel Tower lights up. I once stood watching it under a full moon. Magic.

(I also think Venice would be a cool place to blog about, but that's just me because its my favourite city...)

Unknown said...

amazing blog!!beautiful!!i'm following you!!

Fashion-isha said...

This post swept me away...for a just a few moments...like a delicious short novel! I love your creativity and never ever get sick of your posts. And your artwork is just fabulous!
xo
Sharon

kristina@beancakes ★ said...

hi sandy!! so glad to see you back!! i'm a full on francophile so this post really did it for me!! such gorgeous illustrations that you do ~ they are simply exquisite!! and now i'm craving some pink macarons!!
bises ~ kristina

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Vanessa @ Luxuria: So glad you enjoy the illustrations and thank you for the compliment on the first one. You're right, the posts are pretty time-intensive, but they're an important part of my card line brand. I have started a new schedule for the blog, however. I think of the blog very much as a weekly television show and am going to be creating my schedule in the same way that shows do. I'm planning on the fall season being through November. Then I will take December off to enjoy my family (just like the shows on tv do). Then I'll be back the second week in January and will continue the posts through May. Then I'll take the summer off (just like the shows do ;) As the card line is growing, my schedule is too! So stay tuned ... xo

Fabrizia: Hi lovely! Welcome to Ooh La Frou Frou! So glad you stopped by and I'd be happy to drop by to see you soon ... hope you will be a part of all of the Ooh La Frou Frou fun in the future!

Fashionista622: Thanks, sweets! I, too, learn a lot when researching for the posts ;) Glad you enjoyed the charm bracelet ... it's really the way I think of memories ... jewels!

Kristin: Wonder if they'd have room for you and I as stowaways next time? LOL .. thanks, Kristin, for stopping by ;)

The Alternative Wife: Hi Dawn! Oh my gosh, how exciting would it be to have your own signature fragrance made for you! You're right ... that would be glamorous fun for the girls and they'd love to accompany you sometime! ;) xoxo

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Layers and Layers: Oh, thank you Sharon! I'm so glad the video touched you and that the Paris posts took you back to your memories! The hard part about writing about Paris is that there is so much beauty, it's hard to narrow down the many things to do! And I agree ... how wonderful staying at the Plaza Athenee would be ... the cherry on the macaron! xo

Soapy Mermaid: Aww, that's fabulous that the posts remind you of your dates, walking along the Paris streets and time with your sisters. Love reading how each person is taken either back to somewhere in their past or taken somewhere in a fantasy that plants a seed for the future! Thanks, sweetie, for stopping by! xo

Sarah-L-B: Thank you, love. So glad you stopped by ... I can imagine how incredibly beautiful the Eiffel Tower must have been by the light of a full moon! xo

Sabrina: Thank you, Sabrina! Welcome to Ooh La Frou Frou ... so happy to have you join in all of the glamorous fun! xo

Fashion-isha: So glad it feels like a delicious short novel! Exactly the feeling I'd like you to have ... so that makes me very happy ;) Have a glamorous week, sweet! xo

Alela Sirah said...

Super cute blog!!!!
http://fashionablyspeakn.blogspot.com/2011/10/colored-skinny-jeans.html

Margarita Bloom said...

How divine! I love Louis Armstrong..and so perfect for this post. Le sigh...I want to go to Paris with the girls... Love the vintage carousel!!!!

Your illustration are always soo pretty...my fav part...her little tootsies at the bottom of the dressing room door! giggle..

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful post! Your illustration of the girls outside their apartment is one of your best yet. Amazing stuff Sandy.

Anonymous said...

Oh the music, the macarons... and milla's fabulous suggestions... I felt like I was transported to Paris for a while there! What a super glamorous post!! I really need to book my flights for Paris next year...

Amazing illustrations Sandy xo

www.styleonthecouch.com

Unknown said...

Sandy, this is so lovely--I adore your idea of using the charms to fill with images of your girls and Paris! I'd also really like a pink macaron about now S'il vous plait!

xo Mary Jo

Unknown said...

Just loving the illustration of all the girls in front of their 7th arrondisment apartment!!! So so fab!

And, Paris. Take me away....wish I was there right now.

Have a fantastic week, Sandy!!!!
xoxo Elizabeth

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Alela Sirah: Thank you ... so glad you could stop by Ooh La Frou Frou! Welcome to the fun! xo

Margarita Bloom: I love Louis Armstrong too! And thank you for the compliment on the illustrations .. the dressing room illustration that you love with the tootsies has been requested by several to be a card ... so that will be coming up soon! xo

notjamilla: Thanks so much, Milla ... AND THANK YOU for all of your fabulous suggestions! xo
Mary Jo at TrustYourStyle: Thank ou, Mary Jo! I think it would be fun to have a REAL glamorous charm bracelet just jam-packed with photos of a fabulous trip like this! xo

Pretty Pink Tulips: Thank you for the compliment on the apartment illustration, darling ... it was a fun one to do! xo

Isabelle Lafleche said...

Thank you for your message! So exciting!! This is wonderful!!! Isabelle XOXO

classiq said...

Ah, Paris! What a lovely, charming post! And Milla is an excellent guide. Beautiful illustrations, Sandy! Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Ada

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Isabelle Lafleche: Thanks for stopping by, Isabelle ... you-know-what will be a fun addition to next week's post ;) xo

Classiq: Hi lovely. Thanks so much for the compliment on the illustrations. When I knew I'd be "taking" the girls to Paris, I knew Milla would be a fabulous guide ... her suggestions were spot on! ;) xo

Silver Magpies said...

I've missed the girls! Love their luggage and so glad they went to the Plaza Athenee.

genuinstyle said...

Your blog is so beautiful and it inspires me to visit Paris again! Amazing job you do on this blog!. I hope youre having a wonderful week too :) Take care

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous post! Absolutely love the charm bracelet picture and the sillage one, too, so very cute!

Unknown said...

Oh my oh my! I think I'm ready for a trip to Paris. Haven't been yet but, dying to go and your post confirms it yet again -- I definitely need to go! Hopefully, one day soon.

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Silver Magpies: I'm with you ... if anyone says Plaza Athenee, I will be more than happy to tag along! Thanks so much for dropping by, darling .. missed you too! xo

genuinstyle: Thank you, sweetie, for the wonderful comment on the blog! Luv yours too! xo

Cafe Bellini: haha thanks! Couldn't resist a pretty pink cloud of scent especially in lovely Paris! So glad you could drop by, love! xo

Heather Pranitis: Hi Heather, darling ... so glad you could stop by the blog! I'm with you, let's just pick up and go! ;) xo

Glitterista said...

Sandy--let's go! ;)

There is not much that gets me more in the mood for Parisian daydreams than that song. Unbelievable post! ;)

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Glitterista: YES ... let's do it! And I too think that Louis Armstrong makes you feel just like you're really there. I have the soundtrack from "Something's Gotta Give" and it has so many of these great french songs on them ... I love walking around the house with that music playing in the background! ooh la la! Thanks for commenting, darling! xoxo

HAMPTON HOSTESS said...

Dear Sandy,
You are such a genius! I love your stories along with your gorgeous illustrations--so much talent! Have a lovely weekend, Barbara

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Hampton Hostess: Thank you, love! What a wonderful compliment and I'm so very happy you enjoy the blog and cards and are a part of the Ooh La Frou Frou glamorous fun! ;) xo

Gorgeous Glam said...

Fabulous! Nice little trip ;) I adore the first image you did!! Looking so glam ! Have a nice wknd! xo -Taj

Georgianna said...

A magical tour, Sandy! Perfection! Plaza Athenee is on my list for next time now. :)

Miriam said...

Lovely entry with great illustrations! Paris is a magic city, and I really want to go back :) Have a great weekend!

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Georgianna: Hi Georgianna ~ isn't the Plaza Athenee simply gorgeous? I'd too would LOVE to stay there ... what a treat that would be (added, of course, to the treat that simply being in Paris would be!). Thanks for stopping by, Georgianna ;) xo

Miriam: Thanks so much for your compliment on my illustrationsm Miriam ... very much appreciated! Thank you for being a part of the Ooh La Frou Frou glamorous fun! xo

Karena said...

Sandy very late to this fabulous Paris trip...a dream for me. I can see the ladies had an amazing time. All of your images are gorgeous!

Oh, I have a Dezigner Pillows Giveaway; I hope you will join in!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Angelica Ng said...

Hehehe that photo of the plane is so cute! And come to think of it, smokey eyes and a nice pout ARE the quinessentail Parisienne look! Huh!

My oh my those boutiques...you must stop before my dream of going to Paris overwhelms me lol!

http://red-soledfashionista.blogspot.com/

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Karena: Thanks so much for the compliment on the illustrations, Karena love. So glad you were able to drop by and take our fantasy trip to Paris! I'd love to check out your giveaway ... will head over soon ;) xo

Angelica Ng: Hi sweetie! Do you have on your smokey eyes and pout today? (lol) So glad you could stop by for a quick trip to Paris! xoxo

Unknown said...

Sandy, I just got bac from Paris, bt your fabulous post made me wish I could be back to Paris again! Such a great selection of images; eachne of thm so delicious, I just feel like I need to reach through the screen and touch it. What a fantastic way to start my Sunday! Thank you for this fabulous delight!

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Couture Millinery Atelier: Hi love! What a beautiful Sunday surprise to have you drop by for a visit! Thank you for the lovely compliments on the post ... anything Paris is always glamorous to write about! Hope you had a fabulous time in Paris ... can't wait to hear more about it ... have a lovely week ahead, darling! xo