red roses & cheap champagne

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I know I keep talking about traveling- it would seem that I’d rather be any place than here, which isn’t true, of course. I’m very comfortable in my routine and home and – if we’re being honest – sometimes I think I like the idea of travel more than the actual trip itself. It’s exhilarating to me, of course, and mesmerizing, but also stressful. You know when you get back from a vacation and feel like you need just one more day- to settle back in to your elements, to your old life?

To confess further, I’m one of those voyeuristic women that poured over Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. I think she’s a fantastic writer and storyteller, and I was enthralled by her stories of meditation and pasta, traveling and romance… along with millions of women worldwide.

So when I found Lunch in Paris, by another Elizabeth at a local paper/gift store, Paper Skyscraper, I reached for it immediately, feeling drawn to it’s promise of travel and discovery (a gorgeous watercolor cover didn’t hurt, I’m sure). I was correct; Lunch in Paris was a lovely book, full of expertly interlaced stories that never became trite or boring and a strong first-person narrative. There were also recipes, none of which I have made just yet, I’m realizing, for things like roasted, salted whole fish, and molten chocolate cake.

If you’re one of those travel-from-the-couch novel consumers, I recommend the book heartily. Not only that, but doesn’t it seem like everyone has a thing for Paris lately? It was never exactly on my bucket list… perhaps because I equated overdone romance (red roses, mostly) with Paris… but now I’m seeing a slightly more understated, chic destination- wandering flower markets and flea markets wearing cigarette pants, a pastel-colored sweater and neon-tipped flats. Here’s just a little Paris floating around the internet for you…

Imagine moving to Paris for a year- with two young kids to boot! Jordan Ferney’s Paris apartment via Oh Happy Day!

Sycamore Street Press’ letterpress french pastry print

A mint bicycle spotted in Paris by Audrey of Urbanic Paper via Parcel Post

Joy Deangdeelert Cho, of Oh Joy! in West Hollywood, enjoying a lunch of apricot chicken pot pie and pommes frites (sigh)…

Paris in Color is a book of gorgeous photography by Nichole Robertson of Little Brown Pen. I have her set of “yellow” postcards hanging in my house, and I love her photography so, so much.

Just in case you needed more convincing. This is “brown.” See the Paris Print Shop for more…