"Paris Presents" Giveaway WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

I am pleased to announce that the winner of my first (and certainly not last!) giveaway is:

Sarah Elizabeth
of the blog
See Sarah Live
!!!

I can't wait to get the Mariage Freres tea, Fauchon chocolate biscuits and Longchamp key fob to Sarah Elizabeth, and hope these things will make her dream of Paris!

Sarah writes a charming blog, and she posted about my Giveaway which increased her chances of winning 10 more times; obviously it paid off!

Thanks to all who entered. It's great to get to know my readers and see their blogs.
Cxx.

Paris Recap #2: Tour de Lance

Pure Parisian sunlight streaming through a gorgeous window. What a way to wake up!

After a restful night of sleep, with visions of chateaux dancing in my head, I awoke to a beautiful day: Perfect conditions for the final leg of the Tour de France!

We rode the metro to the Concorde stop and strolled along the Rue de Rivoli looking for just the ride vantage point from which to observe the Tour. As you can see, it was PACKED!

Yellow abounds!


The race sponsors participate in a parade along the Rue de Rivoli/Champs-Elysees about an hour before the riders arrive in the City and it's full of silly float-like decorated cars and cheering masses.


Angelina, for all its stoicism, was not spared from the revelry.


Texas pride from a balcony at Hotel Le Meurice.

I purposely wore a yellow Lilly dress in honor of the Yellow Jersey!
(Sometimes I get a bit impatient and have to create my OWN fun--like swinging from trees in the Jardin des Tuileries!)

Yellow chalk drawings (many children were running around covered in chalk after creating their masterpieces) brightened up the sidewalk:



CJM and MLPR play the waiting game....

After about 45 minutes of standing near the Tuileries, we heard the helicopter overhead and knew the riders were approaching Paris at long last:


Several minutes later the team cars came through:


Followed by the day's leaders:


Followed 20 seconds afterward by the rest of the pack:

See the ACTUAL Yellow Jersey?!
(Bet he wishes he was in Lilly!)

We watched three of the 8 Paris laps, and were lucky to be standing mere feet away from the riders. As you might imagine they ride by VERY quickly. I know Lance passed me but I'm not sure I could identify him in any of the MANY multiple-burst photos I took. Just look for one of the guys an Astana jersey, I suppose!

The odd thing about the Tour is how focused the riders must be at all times. Despite riding throughout France, I wonder how many of the riders actually "see" all of the beautiful places they ride through. I may not be a professional rider, but I'm glad that instead I get to observe every lovely thing about Paris.

I'll be a spectator any day.

Next Up: Pretty Paris promenades, doorknobs, and great eats!

Don't forget to enter the Paris Presents GIVEAWAY! I'm taking entries until 5pm EST tomorrow afternoon!
Cxx.

Paris Recap #1: A Castle A Day Keeps the Medecin Away.

I am thrilled to see how many people have entered the Paris Presents GIVEAWAY so far! If you haven't entered, click here to find out how! You have 2 more days to do so!

Paris was the perfect vacation. I spent time with my boyfriend (aka "The Bunny"), rendezvoused with some very good friends (MLPR and FV), ate delicious food, enjoyed the sites (both new and familiar), and, importantly, took the time to BREATHE. Throughout my life I've been plagued by terrible stomach pains which no doctor or change in diet seem to be able to remedy, but I found that in Paris I was entirely without distress and it was WONDERFUL.

So, time for the recap. If you know me in person you're aware of how verbose I am, and also aware of how much I delight in telling stories. I have to divide the tales into a few posts, otherwise you'd be reading for a VERY long time. So, we'll start at the beginning...

Here is the Bunny, getting beauty rest en route:

Me: "Darling, wake up! It's time for breakfast!"
The Bunny's response?

Fortunately, he perked up when arrived.
--
We were greeted at the airport by my dear friends MLPR and FV. As a student at Sciences-Po in Paris, MLPR spend her third year studying abroad at Princeton; I was fortunate enough to meet her at the beginning of my Freshman year and we've been dear friends ever since. FV is her delightful boyfriend who makes every moment more fun.

Trusting in M and F's wise Parisian ways, The Bunny and I allowed ourselves to be whisked away that first evening to the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, about an hour's drive outside of Paris. In 1661 this chateau hosted such a magnificent soiree that Louis XIV created Versailles out of sheer jealousy.


On Saturday evenings in the summer the estate is covered by 2,000 candles. Visitors arrive at dusk to watch the magical castle come to life as the sun sets, the candles begin to glow, and the bustling tourist trap dissolves into a chateau of one's own. (Truly, once it becomes dark you can't see the other people around you and everyone finds themselves whispering so as not to disrupt the peace; it's magnificent!)



A little princess romped around the grounds clad in a ball gown. Obviously I was jealous.


It's easy to feel lovey-dovey in a magical place like this (where Eva Longoria and Tony Parker were married, apparently):

Left: The Bunny and me; Right: MLPR and FV.

The estate offers a small cafe with al fresco seating, ample grounds for strolling, and classical music. Every August 16 they commemorate the famous fete (the one that made Louis XIV jealous) by hosting another party on the grounds with actors playing the parts of the prominent figures. Civilians are invited to participate, given that they dress in period costume. SIGN.ME.UP.
--
In tomorrow's recap: Vive Le Tour!
Cxx.

PARIS PRESENTS GIVEAWAY!

Mesdames et Monsieurs!

I want to share the joy of my 100th post on Murphy's (New) Law--the writing of which has brought me so much joy over the last several months--with a Giveaway! Having you as readers, commenters, and friends only makes the blogging experience that much more enjoyable.

This giveaway consists of some of the loveliest petits cadeaux Paris has to offer:

• Mariage Freres tea

(Their best flavor--and my favorite--is Marco Polo. I've bought a tin for the winner!)

• Fauchon chocolate biscuits

(Perfect accompaniment for the tea! Comes in an adorable commemorative Paris tin!)

• Longchamp key fob

(A teensy pink version of the pliage bag hangs from the ring; a little la vie en rose pret-a-porter!)


The chocolate biscuits and tea lounging in front of the Eiffel Tower, waiting to go home with you!


The Fauchon is wrapped, so I'm keeping it that way. Here's the Longchamp key fob and a better look at the tea tin.

HOW TO ENTER:
Leave a comment on this post with your email address by 5pmEST this FRIDAY, AUGUST 7.

I'll announce the winner on Monday, August 10!
NOTE: If you mention this giveaway on YOUR blog, and tell me that you've done so, I'll enter your name into the giveaway 10 more times!

Bonne chance!
Cxx.

Bisous de Paris!

Bonjour, mes amis!

I have had a marvelous time in Paris--so lovely, in fact, that I haven't taken a moment to blog; I regret it and I miss you all!

It's 3.30am here and a taxi is coming in an hour to take me to the airport. Since I told you that the next time I would blog it would be from Paris this is my last chance to say a quick hello and make good on my promise.

This is also officially my 100th blog post on Murphy's (New) Law.

To celebrate the spirit of the blog and the vacation I will be giving away some Parisian treats from Fauchon and Mariage Frères...and if you spread the giveaway news on YOUR blog (and then let me know) you'll be entered ten more times to win! More details to come once I return aux Etats-Unis...

I have a quick layover in Heathrow (where I fully intend to pass the time by doing a bit of shopping), then I'll be on my way to JFK and will soon have recap posts, complete with photos, for your reading pleasure.

Je vois la vie en rose,
Cxx.

Bon Voyage!

Departure day has arrived!
I'm not yet packed and that makes me VERY proud of myself.
Pour quoi?
Well, two years ago almost to the day, I was offered a full-time job in France.
My plan was to work there for two years, apply to grad school for Art History, earn my PhD and teach at a university for the rest of my days.
What a perfectly tidy plan, non?

But that was exactly the problem. I had always been someone who lived by-the-book. Three days before I was meant to move to France, I turned down the job. It was time to cut the strings, allow myself to freefall for a bit, and take some time to catch up with the person I'd become in college.

And I don't regret a single minute of the last two years I've spent in NYC. This City brought me The Bunny, some amazing job opportunities, countless memories with friends new and old, and the assurance that is undoubtedly my true home.

And here I am. Traveling to France to see if, perhaps this time, I'll soon be ready to move there on different terms.
My plane departs in a few hours and I haven't packed a jot. I think that shows some progress, don't you?

Tipping this (adorable Coach) beret to you....

Bisous,
Cxx.

P.S. This is my 99th post. Number 100 will arrive from Paris! In honor of the occasion, I'm planning to give away something delightful that I find in the City of Lights. More details to come...