We saw chalkboards all over Paris. From restaurants to little shops and even florist markets. And the handwriting always seemed impeccable. They were an efficient way for people to see what was available inside without having to pop into the restaurant or shop. Like the little sign in the middle, chalkboards were also used in store windows to display the prices of items. Efficient yet very personal.
Have you ever gone to a place and felt instantly connected? To the people, to the culture, to the way of life? And never have visited there before? This was Paris. So many things felt so familiar.
Sitting in a little café, I’d notice people, especially their mannerisms and facial characteristics. They looked like my family. Like the people I grew up with. It was so strange, yet so familiar. I’ll admit, I have a French ancestry, but I just never dreamed I’d feel so connected to a place and a people so far away.
Kacey and I are heading off to explore the world. While we are away, though, we hope to pop back in with a few updates. In the meantime, here are a few blogs with lots of Parisian inspiration to tide you over. I’ve been looking at them for weeks and getting very excited about Paris! Au revoir, mes amie!
During our visit to Gruene, we stopped in at The Gruene Antique Company and picked up a few goodies. I love perusing antique shops, and I’m always on the lookout for cool things. I keep an eye out for anything letterpress and miniature perfume bottles.
I can’t really pinpoint when and how my miniature perfume collection got started, but I have quite a few. And, although I don’t actively collect them any longer, I saw this tiny orange Hermés box and couldn’t pass it up! When I first spotted it, I didn’t even realize it housed perfumes. It was sitting next to several other bottles that I was fixating on, and I was telling myself I didn’t need them. I picked up the tangerine box, opened it and realized what treasures it contained. Three unopened, vintage, miniature Hermés perfumes. Definitely not something you find everyday. After debating a while, I decided they should come home with me.
Then, in a little wooden box, we spotted letterpress lead type. We shifted through them for quite a while and decided these characters would make their way home with us, too.
This weekend, Kacey and I found ourselves back in Texas for a little three day weekend getaway. We drove to Houston and San Marcos and stopped at several towns in between. One of those was the town of Gruene. It’s a charming + historic town full of antiques stores and quant little shops. It’s also home to Texas’s oldest dance hall. What we didn’t know? Gruene was having one of their monthly Market Days where people sell their handmade goods [and only handmade goods - how great is that?!].
Hope you all had a lovely weekend – one filled with beautiful weather!
ps – Aren’t the colors in the photo beautiful?! | photo via flickr.
My sweet cousin sent Kacey and I a bon voyage card [no, we're not going just yet]. Inside were colorful Euros. What I found fascinating? The Euros are all different sizes based on denomination.
I’m a huge, huge butter fan, and I snatched this Irish butter up when I spotted it at our local market this weekend. It’s quite delish!
Reading up on Paris, I’ve come across several mentions of how good French butter is. I can’t wait to slather some on a nice baguette! Soon. Real soon.
Also in Austin, we discovered Hey Cupcake!’s shiny Airstream with a big ole cupcake on top. Of course I had to take a taste of their sweet treats. And they were definitely yummy!