Living on Cloud Nine: April 2023

What's Up Wednesday..WOW APRIL

Happy middle of the week, friends! Can I just get a wow WOW for what the month of April has been! What a whirlwind of goodness. Of course, the weather’s been up and down, but I’ve never let that detour me from having fun, lol.

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK: I have been eating extra healthy and one thing I am devouring is a salad mixture with Marinated mozzarella balls, the oil from them, tomatoes, cucumbers and a tablespoon of pesto; so easy,

so colorful and so yummy!

For a quick meal, we have also been loving the Costco Chicken Fillets with Brioche buns!

AND when Not eating Healthy NUTELLA BISCUITS that we first got in Paris. Can't fun d hear but Mr. Nine found on Amazon.

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT: Our trip to London and Paris. We left exactly one month ago today and Oh, I wish we would’ve had longer. All the recaps are on the blog in the last couple weeks. Here is a favorite picture from the trip with Mr. Nine.

3: WHAT I’M LOVING: They opened our pool on Monday, so I cannot wait till it gets a little warmer and we can enjoy. SPRING: Flowing Trees, Spring Blooms, Green Grass, and Bird's Chirping!

Obviously Queen of the Pool if I own 2 shirts, LOL. Lots on Ebay HERE

And Shopping with Sweet Stella. She is so good in the stores.

4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO: LOTS! Including Going to Greenhouses with Mom gathering our posies. Attending a fabulous Laura Geller Luncheon and girl time with the Blonde Squad last week in Chicago.

The Amazing Laura Geller...funny, precious and smart!

5: WHAT I’M DREADING: Summertime going way too fast.

6. WHAT I'M WORKING ON: Tons always and booking our Mother's Day Brunch!

7: WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT: Well, I think that’s a given, having first time grand-babies, those twins are going to be so much fun! See post HERE where I announced this..

We got the kids unisex onesies in Paris and put in their Easter Eggs.

There are those beauties, will find out sexes in a few short weeks!

8: WHAT I’M WATCHING & READING: Ted Lasso, Yellow Jackets, American Idol. Sad to see Ryan Secrest go but I am loving Live with Kelly and Mark!

Reading:

The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey. Get it HERE.

AND NEXT: The Mostly True Story or Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley. Get it HERE.

Because my mom said it is one of the rare 5/5 stars!

9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Country, Classic Rock, 80's

10: WHAT I’M WEARING: Since I never did a dedicated post to what I wore in Europe and many you have asked for it, here are a few of my favorite trip outfits with links! I have several more with pieces from Chicwish and I will share in a dedicated post. ALL the outfits are also listed on my LTK. (Like to Know It.

Trench HERE // Hat HERE // Shoes HERE //

BAG HERE

( I absolutely NEEDED this bag, it was perfect!)

Blazer HERE // Jeans HERE // Belt HERE // Tee HERE // Boots HERE

(wore these boots A LOT as comfortable AND waterproof)

Top HERE // Beret HERE // Pants HERE // Shoes HERE // Belt HERE

Trench HERE // Hat HERE// Skirt HERE //Shoes HERE

Sweater HERE // Tee HERE //Bag HERE // Boots HERE

Jacket HERE // Pants HERE // Boots HERE

Jacket HERE// Jeans HERE // Sneakers HERE

Coat HERE // Dress HERE // Sneakers HERE // Sunnies HERE

11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND: Planting some of my annuals in flower pots and getting the landscape beds ready and hopefully some sort of shenanigans. Here are last year's front steps posies.

12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH: Mother’s Day, A visit from an Aunt and Uncle, Pool Time, lots of flower tending, our Anniversary with maybe a getaway!

13: FAVORITE AMAZON FIND: see number one, lol, because the delicious Nutella Biscuits deserve another mention. AND you can get individual Biscuit Pouches for lunches too!

Hope your week is going GREAT!

LOVE YA ALL!

LINKING-UP with Momfessionals Friday Favorites, Style on the Daily // Metamorphosis Monday // Thursday Fashion Files //

Love your Creativity // Hello Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday

xoxo

PARIS 2023 Days 3 & 4

Day 3 in Paris was an extra good day because it was my birthday! I can’t think of a better way to start a birthday, then with room service at one of the most amazing hotels and looking out the window to see the Eiffel Tower! The Hotel even had a dessert with a candle in it for me. That was probably my favorite sweet treat of the entire trip!

The Louvre Museum was right across the street from us, and we were so excited to get a tour of it. When I had originally looked, all tours were booked, but it was such an additional treat to see Aphrodite and the Mona Lisa on my birthday!

My Louvre Outfit

She's a beauty!!

I may have gotten reminded "ma'am, you're too close'" lol

We came back to our hotel and changed, for me into something cute and ended up being my favorite outfit for the trip, to go up to the cobblestone hilly streets of Montmartre, the most charming in my opinion of all of Paris! I was so excited to garner a reservation at the coveted le Maison Rose, and we had the best waiter. Now the entire restaurant probably only seats about 16 people, but he told each of them to sing happy birthday to me with my name when he brought me out dessert with a candle. It was so sweet and charming.

Then Mr. Nine and I strolled around the area which was so romantic. We saw the most Parisian guy on the planet with his cat playing the accordion. We also saw the beautiful Scare-Coeur.

SO CHARMING!!

We saw The Moulin Rouge, but I must tell you that area scared me a little bit. I didn’t realize it was a bunch of nasty shops if you know what I mean, shops, lol.

So, we hightailed it out of there and did a little shopping on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Some stores had moving mannequins but the Louis Vuitton one scared me. It’s a collab with Yayoi Kusama an I did not love it, lol

Got my first macaroons. The ones at Pierre Herme were the best!

We headed back to get ready for the dinner cruise on the Seine River. This is a cruise where you can see all the major attractions at night and old were they glorious, the Eiffel tower was lit up blue. The food was a four-course meal and just OK but the ambience including the dinner cruise singer was fabulous and they also saying happy birthday to me with a candle along with another gal on board the boat who had a birthday too. SO MUCH FUN!!

Yes, they filled all those glasses and we drank it all. LOL

OH that Eiffel Tower Blue!

The next morning was finally one that we had a little more time to relax, until our first adventure at Sainte Chapelle, the church with all the amazing Stain glass. Another great story behind this landmark.

Lower level is beautiful too

We walked over to see Notre Dame, and while it was still under renovation, it was not as impressive as I thought it would be.

It was such a beautiful day we were dying to be able to eat alfresco, but we’re struggling with where to eat in the St. Germain area. We stumbled upon an adorable café, and when I looked it up, they had great reviews and boy was it smart on! Not only was it charming, but the brunch food was probably my favorite in Paris. AND WE ATE OUTSIDE!!!

The café was right across from the Luxembourg Garden so we strolled through there and then we’re ready to do a little shopping.

I had my heart set on certain things, and we were happy to find those in the area. My most favorite purchase came from Saint Laurent, it was fun to be able to get a YSL purse and card/coin purse, which are from Paris, in Paris, lol. Another favorite was the perfumery, Fragonard and Angelina, where they had the most delightful tea and hot chocolate.

Ready for a break we stopped for cappuccino and cocktails, what’s better than that for an afternoon and Paris! We even had snacks and oh so fun to people watch and enjoy the afternoon and sunshine. And More Maccaroons. And By the Louvre again.

We were just so elated to finally see the sunshine in the able to stroll like that without horrible winds and cold. So, we continued on in our hotel area as I was looking for a Diptyque candle store. We also saw the Palais Royal. I cannot believe I didn't sit o one of those but we were so tired.

I also needed to get a photo taken in a pair of flip flops by cute café for a brand. The weather was not conducive to flip-flops, but you better believe I made it work pulled them out of my bag, swapped out my sneakers and cut the cute shot with a giant teddy bear. Look

at the French lady on the left in the window probably sating "Those crazy Americans'" lol!

We were a little hungry, so we ended up just going to the café across from our hotel and grabbing a pizza because we hadn’t had any substantial food since brunch.

Then it was back to our hotel! We were blessed with a sunset to enjoy last Eiffel Tower views ...

and then one last sparkle! After seeing the weather forecast, we wish we could’ve stayed about three more days to get carbon copies of this one, but hopefully someday we will get back.