This & That: No. 69

Simplistic, elegant food, simple, classic style, a book I can’t wait to read, a film worth watching and more . . .

~Blog

1. Glamour in the Country

As someone who fell in love with the UK last year, I was delighted to discover Lisa aka as Lula Belle’s blog Glamour in the Country. As she explores the UK and shares with her readers the glamorous discoveries – English afternoon teas, museums, events and travels – I look forward to following her on her upcoming inaugural trip to Paris, and I think you might enjoy perusing her blog as well.

~Blog Post to Read

2. 10 Common Characteristics of Average People by LifeHack

Sometimes all it takes is a reminder of what not to do to keep us motivated on a path toward our goals. Some may wonder why we don’t slow down and relax more often or why we are so driven – those of us who always choose to chase down a goal, and so when I read Life Hack’s post “10 Common Characteristics of Average People” I was reassured that indeed it will take hard work and creative thinking, but the effort is worth it.

~Book

3. French Women Don’t Get Facelifts: The Secret of Aging with Style & Attitude by Mireille Guiliano

While the film based on Mireille Guiliano’s 2004 New York Times Best Seller French Women Don’t Get Fat is nearly complete, Guiliano is about to release yet another book as part of her successful French Women series – French Women Don’t Get Facelifts: The Secret of Aging with Style and Attitude. Set to be released December 24th, you can pre-order your copy here.

Mireille offers tips via her gifted knack for story-telling about how to continue to look beautiful and feel fabulous without going under the knife. I for one cannot wait to get my hands on it.

~Cooking

4. Bouchon by Thomas Keller

Over the weekend, I was busy in the kitchen making my way through a few of Thomas Keller’s French bistro inspired recipes offered in his successful cookbook Bouchon which focus on utilizing quality ingredients, simple, yet proven techniques resulting in exquisite food. Trying the Cauliflower Gratin and the Chocolate Mousse (shared yesterday on the blog), I came away a convert to his way of thinking about food and cooking. (Next on my list, the roasted chicken.)

~Film

5. Blue Jasmine

Written and directed by Woody Allen, Cate Blanchett stars as a New York socialite who has lost it all due to her husband (played by Alec Baldwin’s) shady financial dealings (a younger version of Bernie Madoff) and has flown to San Francisco to live with her sister (played by Sally Hawkins). Critics across the board are raving about Blanchett’s performance and already calling for the Oscar nomination and even the trophy to be placed in her hands.

While it was released in New York and Los Angeles just last weekend, look for it to be available soon across the country. An interesting insight into the haves, the have nots and the used to haves and how everyone handles their seemingly singular situation. Here are a few reviews to read – New Yorker, LA Times, New York Times.

~Shopping

~Petit Bateau (sale) Sailor-Striped sweatshirt in heavy jersey

A few weeks ago, while still in Paris, I stepped into Petit Bateau and enjoyed some of the great sale prices on classic nautical tops, similar to the sailor-striped short-sleeve sweatshirt in heavy jersey. One of the items that was not for sale, but certainly caught my attention was their sailor-stripe hooded sweater shirt. Oversized if purchasing the large, it would be the ideal lounge jacket for walking along the beach, sitting outside in the evenings or in the fall, strolling through the fallen leaves. Needless to say, it’s on my wishlist. And if you haven’t subscribed already, be sure to sign up for their newsletter and receive a promo code for 25% off your first purchase.