exchange rate - Travel Now

As with the costs of oil, the EURO has dropped significantly in value.  If you can afford it, and have the time for it, now is definitely the time to travel and shop.  The sales will start in Paris in a few days, the Euro is at its lowest rate against the dollar in years.  If only I was well enough, but perhaps this summer.  We can hope.

Simplicity in Provence

Over the years, reading books written by outsiders about Provence, about decorating in a French Country style, or Provencal cooking,  and so on, I've concluded most are missing the point.   Most are too complex, too busy, just trying to hard to be something they are not and don't really want to be.  Spending time in Provence comes down to my mantra in life, keeping it simple.  Not complicating my existence with unnecessary things, just what we need.  We have gotten there, but it has taken us a long time to achieve it, to understand it, to really live it.  Maybe we will never live in a "tiny house" but we will continue to work on this forever.

French romance

I think we all recognize that romance in France is different than in the US.  Somehow  it feels more romantic just being in France, the atmosphere, the food, the air, the light.  But it is just the perception of an American in France?

So, here is an article about a young French woman in the US discussing dating.  Very interesting.  We can both learn from each other.

https://www.yahoo.com/style/how-to-date-like-a-french-girl-lola-rykiel-106545311843.html

Fun at Galeries Lafeyette

Saw this article at it capture my imagination, to sleep in the iconic store and get up bright and early with a personal shopper, money to spend, from the first moment of the January sale - had I know about the contest I would definitely have entered.  Would think it requires spending the night planning the next day's attack, put if you're going to put in an all nighter, sounds much better than school or work.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/shoppers-win-sleepover-iconic-paris-store-article-1.2051955