For Jenn.

Exactly a year ago I was in Paris. I can't believe it's been a year since Joseph & I's trip to Europe. Times flies doesn't it?! This post is to remember the awesome times I had in Paris, but also to inspire and recommend places to one of my favorite people, Jenn, from eden in Des Moines. I hope this helps in getting some ideas for your trip to Paris!

1.) Tour Eiffel

Obviously, you can't go to Paris and not at least stand in front of the Eiffel Tower! There's two ways to go up. You can either take an elevator to the first two levels and then the last elevator to the top or you can take the stairs to the first two levels and then get on the elevator to the top. I personally really liked taking the stairs. You can more time to enjoy the trip up. You can see the entire city.

2.) Arc de Triomphe

We went to see the Arc de Triomphe at about sunset time. The whole trip up to the top was very interesting. You get to see models of the structure & how the surroundings around it have changed. Once at the the top you can see the Eiffel Tower from one side, the Champ-Elysees from another and just all the lights of the city. We were about to leave, when we realized it would be about 45 minutes before the lit up the Eiffel Tower for the first time of the night. So we waited and it was so worth the wait. Seeing it was truly amazing. Joseph played City of Blinding Lights on his iPod while we saw the (10) minute light show. Unforgettable.

3.) Avenue des Champs-Elysees

From the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you can see the Champs-Elysees all lit up at night. So Beautiful. I could have stood there all night. After leaving the Arc, we walked down the Champs-Elysees. We stopped into many stores (because I wanted to, completely against Joseph's will) and even walked through the many levels of the Louis Vuitton flagship store. Talk about being in heaven. I wish I could have moved into it. Even if you aren't buying anything, it's worth going into and seeing everything.

As we made it to end of the Champ-Elysees at Place de la Concorde, we took a picture in front of this fountain. The lights of the city truly are blinding, maybe because you feel like you are walking on cloud nine.

4.) Musee du Louvre

We walked around/through the Louvre's grounds the first night we arrived in Paris. I had to see it. I feel silly saying it, but I didn't know its beauty existed until I saw The DaVinci Code. Ever since that movie, I knew I had to make my way to the Louvre. It was even more beautiful in person. Everything about the Louvre's grounds was immaculate and gorgeous. We went into the museum but didn't actually pay to walk through and see all of the history and art, such as the original Mona Lisa painting.

5.) Cathedrale de Notre-Dame

One of the "Things to do in Paris" was be a hunchback at Notre-Dame. The inside of the cathedral was beyond words. We sat for a while in the service, roamed the cathedral and eventually paid to go to the top. However, it wasn't until after we paid that they told us we wouldn't be able to go up to the roof that day because of some random reason. Oh well, it was still worth it.

P.S. For us it was kind of hard to find, but we realized throughout our entire trip, 90% of the time that we were "lost", within a few minutes the thing we were looking for would be right in front of us :)

6.) Montmartre

Before arriving in Paris, we were in Amsterdam and while in Amsterdam, we visited the Van Gogh (one of my favorite artists, aside from Monet) museum. As we learned more and more about Van Gogh, the more and more I wanted to feel connected to him. Silly, I know. However, we learned he had spent a lot of time in Montmartre getting inspiration for his painting. So being in Montmartre had a whole new meaning for me.

The first stop was seeing the Moulin Rouge. Joseph had already prepared me by telling me it was a let down. But it was still worth seeing for me and on the way up to Montmartre.

Since Joseph kind of knew his way around Montmartre (even though he didn't remember how to get there but we somehow stumbled upon it) he wanted to visit this little bar that he had visited it his first time in Paris. I'm sure for him it was a crazy experience to be back there after a few years. As you can see people leave keepsakes, notes, or any memory of themselves on walls in hopes of coming back and finding them. Joseph couldn't remember where he had placed his note previously, so we made a new one and placed it close to the ceiling above one of the corners of our bar booths. It's written on an eclipse bubble gum container (it was all we had at the time) in case you see it :)

One of the other sites to see while up on the hill of Montmartre is Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. It's a beautiful cathedral, but most importantly is the view from in front of it of Paris. Truly gorgeous.

On our way back to our hotel from Montmartre, Joseph bought a Barrett and dared me to wear it throughout the city. I don't think he thought I would actually do it but I did it and got the funniest looks.

7.) Opera House

I had this weird obsession with the Opera House. I think the stop off of the Metro is even called the Opera Stop. I thought it was just amazingly beautiful and what made it even better was a big band playing outside of it. While standing in front of it, we found Cafe de la Paix.

Joseph's parents had been to Paris weeks before and told us to have a nice dinner here on them. So, while stopping to see the Opera house, I made a reservation, we came back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. It was the best meal I think I have even had in my life (mostly because I was in Paris and at a beautiful restaurant). We kind of went all out and even ordered Foie Gras. It was interesting... worth trying!

8.) The Legendary Parisian: Chanel

How could you love Fashion and not visit the Chanel Flagship on Rue Cambon. It sits on a quiet, almost hidden street, behind Place Vendome and next to Hotel Castille. Above the Chanel boutique is Coco Chanel's apartment, you can't go up of course unless you're Rachel Zoe or Carl Lagerfeld, but it's worth dreaming about!

If we had more time, here are some things I thought would have been worth seeing:

*Mariage Freres - Has the finest teas in the world, this is at the top of my list for next time, some day

*Museum of Fashion & Textiles - It was closed the time I was there but also a must see for me!

*Musee d'Orsay - Was left off my list, accidentally...

*Les Catacombes - We tried desperately to find the catacombs, but had no luck.

Here are some hopefully helpful tips:

1.) All of Paris' big museums are FREE the first Sunday of the month which includes the Louvre & Musee d'Orsay!

2.) In January (which is when I think you are going) there is a Parade de Montmartre

3.) Buy a Carte Orange for the Metro - You'll need it to get around

4.) Walk down Rue St. Martin - Cheap & Chic chopping :) Got a great pea coat for $30

5.) Starting at 10 p.m. the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 10 minutes every hour until 1 a.m.

6.) Walk through a least one park - Jardin du Carrousel

7.) Make a list of "Things To Do" while in Paris, because when you're there you'll probably forget some!

Here were some of the things on my list aside from the ones I posted above:

Smoke a Cigarette at Montmartre
Wear A French Barret
Eat a Croissant
Try Escargot
Drink French Champagne
Try Foie Gras
Eat Quiche, Crepes, & Pain Au Chocolat
Drink a Cafe Au Lait
Have a Baguette for Lunch
See the City at night
Place an order speaking only French

and finally Kiss on top of the Eiffel Tower :)

Love.

Katie, I have to agree with your recent post, love does make the ride worth while. Thanks!

If you like to watch people's action (as I do) and really pay attention, you will be able to see their emotions written all over their face or know what they are feeling by their actions because as we all know, actions speak louder than words.

Here are some displays of love that I have recently seen that really warmed my heart:

*Making someone breakfast in bed

*Treating someone to a nice dinner

*Running your hands through some one's hair

*Watching kids laugh & play and only worrying

about their happiness

*Stroking some one's face gently

*Wearing a loved ones necklace or clothing in hopes of feeling closer to them

*Taking care of a someone when they are sick

*Using only your best things for someone

*Remembering little details about someone that most people don't know

*Putting someone else first

Happy Anniversary.

I can't believe it has been five years since Joseph and I first started dating. We met at Columbia College in Chicago in 2004 and have been going strong (for the most part) since then.

This is one of the first pictures we took together about a week or so before making it official. We took a little trip to the beach close to the Magnificent Mile downtown Chicago.

Year #1
After a year of attending Columbia together, we made the move to Des Moines to attend Grand View College. Our first year anniversary was celebrated with dinner at Splash, one of my favorite restaurants in Des Moines.

After dinner, we walked downtown a bit. We took this picture with the "Umbrella" structure.

Year # 2
I arranged a little candle lit dining area for us in our apartment. I made a Smoked Salmon dip, and we drank a bottle of Moscato before heading out to dinner.

We went out to dinner at Bistro Montage. Also one of my favorite places to eat while in Des Moines, even if I have only been there a few times :)

Year #3 - TBA (I can't remember what we did, but I will update ASAP)

*Update: Joseph and I went out to a fabulous dinner at Sage Restaurant. We shared some scallops for an appetizer, and I ordered the Skate Wing for an entree. I loved it, but Joseph thought it was gross. :)

We obviously didn't take any pictures! Shoot.

Year #4

A trip to Europe, in which we were in London for our actual anniversary. We started the day at the London Eye. It had the most amazing views, even though it was a bit chilly & cloudy.

And then we walked over the Tower Bridge that extends over the Thames River. Later that day, we went to one of my favorite places in London, The Tate Modern.

For dinner, we went this cute little Spanish restaurant. I had Paella. Yummy :) It was truly a magical anniversary and one that must been topped with the years to come.

Year #5 - TBD (Joseph is planning something special for tonight)

Stay tuned...

El Día de los Muertos.

The Day of the Dead or day(s) of the dead start on Sunday and go until Monday in conjunction with All Saints Day & All Souls Day. If you're not completely familiar with this "holiday" it is celebrated by people of Spanish or Mexican decent in which family & friends gather to pray and remember those that they have lost.

I thank God that I haven't lost anyone extremely close to me and haven't had to attend many funerals but five years ago my friend, Lourdes, lost her little brother, whom she was extremely close to. She remembers him often by wearing a pair of his jeans, some of his bracelets, and hanging his art in her house. He was a HUGE loss to her. I can still see in the pain in her eyes when she talks about him.

Lourdes was asked to make an altar for him at the Centro Cultural de la Raza museum in Balboa Park. Of course, it was extremely important to her, so Joseph & I attended the festivities Sunday night.

Lourdes explained to me how every single little thing that she placed on his altar has a specific meaning or representation of who her brother was. The white cross at the bottom made of sea salt has to do with the earth/ground and his connection with it.

You can see his picture there is the back. The skull to the left of it is something that she made after he died. She wrote things about him to describe who he was to her and all the people whose lives he touched.

The museum was decorated with skulls, bright colors, candles, & reminders of others who have passed.

The Virgin Mary is a very important figure in the Latin culture.

Lourdes also placed Clamato, her brother's favorite beer, and freshly made tamales on his altar.

The skull here had a lot of red candle wax all over the face. Lourdes told me that since his death, every year on El Dia de los Muertos, she would burn candles on it and has never cleaned it off.

I also noticed that people were taking shots of Tequila that was on his altar. Lourdes said she had already taken about (6) and invited that I join in to celebrate her brother.

Aside from all the installations, people were dressed up for the occasion, there was face painting, tamales for sale, art for sale, and various cultural dances throughout the night. This was the first year I truly felt connected to this holiday that I always kind of shrugged off. It was a great experience.

Baby + Pink.

On Sunday, I was invited to a baby shower for my manager at work. It will be her second child, but her first girl so of course, everything was pink themed with a touch of brown. Denise, one of our co-workers (and my favorite person to work with), was the hostess and put everything together herself.

She individually wrapped all of the silverware in these pink & brown napkins tied with polka-dot ribbon and had little stickers made with our manager's name, and the date of the shower.

She served a pasta salad, tortilla sandwiches, fresh fruit & veggies, Sangria, & even Sweet Tea Vodka. I tried both but stuck with the Sangria for the afternoon.

Aside from eating and socializing, we played some pretty fun games, even ones that I had never even heard of or played before.

For dessert, we had Hazelnut Coffee & these Red Velvet cupcakes from Cupcakes Squared!

We ended the night by sitting out on Denise's outdoor patio. She has the most amazing view of the Bay as well as the City.

Happy Halloween.

I was planning on dressing up for Halloween, but last minute I managed to pull this costume together and only spent about $3 total on the whole thing:

Head Band* for Mickey Ears: J.Crew

Round Circles for Ears: Recycled Black Bag

White Gloves: Latex Gloves from work

Shoes: Shoes for Crews

Pants: J.Crew

Shorts: J.Crew

Shirt: H&M

*The only thing purchased for the entire costume!

Culinary Skills.

As I mentioned here, I have learned a thing or two from my classes at Williams-Sonoma. Here is the appetizer that I made for fun one night, along with the main dish:

Inside of this delicious appetizer is a small Wheel of Brie & a few spoon fulls of Fresh Pesto all wrapped up in a Puff Pastry. It was one of the easiest appetizers I have ever made and probably one of the most delicious as well. I am salivating just thinking about it.

The main dish on the other hand, was one of the longest (time wise) recipes I have ever made. The total cook time to make these very tasty bowls of French Onion Soup was close to three hours. I guess I didn't mention that we didn't have dinner until about 9 p.m. Ooops! :) It was well worth it though.

DM Sculpture Garden.

If you aren't familiar with the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Garden is Des Moines, then here are some key facts:

1.) It's located from 10th to 15th Streets between Grand Avenue & Locust Street.

2.) It consists of 24 Sculptures

3.) The collection is estimated at over $4o million

4.) It is guarded day & night with security camera's and motion sensors

5.) It is the largest single public gift in Des Moines' history

To learn more about it and watch an interesting video, please click here.

As promised*, a picture of The Nomad. My favorite sculpture :)

Technique Class: Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres

Last week, I attended my class at Williams-Sonoma for the Holiday Hors d'Oeurves.

As usual we got our little packet full of recipes and advice from Chuck :)

This time we even got a little Thanksgiving Cooking Guide. It had more recipes, ideas, a grocery list, and features a lot of the W-S products you can buy to make life easier.

The first thing we learned how to make were Gougeres. They are a French appetizer that are airy golden cheese puffs. Yummy!


The next thing we learned how to make were these little Cheese Crackers. They were so good. They reminded me of warm Cheese-It's. I couldn't keep my hands off of them!

The last thing we learned how to make was this amazing appetizer consisting of puff pastry, brie, and apricot preserves. I did end up making it for part of our dinner one night (that post to come soon!)