Day 110 from France: Notre Dame & The Madeleine

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...

Everything a Man Needs

Karen - Day 109 - Burbank, CA

"Mom! Mom! The guys are here to give us a new driveway!"

"That's great honey."

"Mom! Look at that truck! A fork lift, jackhammer, giant truck, it's everything a man needs."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Off to do some errands.

Then lunch.

4 and I go to a little tiny restaurant called Cafe Verona.

I love this place. We call it our secret garden.

I have the Filetto Al Carpaccio.

I can only eat about half of it.

Back home, Hubby's making more BBQ for dinner.

It's a meat lovers paradise today.

And to think I was a vegan not too many years ago.

But that is a story for another day.

------------------------------------------------

I'm so excited to tell you that I won something! I love Little Blue Deer, and while I was visiting, there was a drawing for some beautiful earrings from Folksy Chic. I don't know how I won, but I love them!

Day 109 from France: Georges V Metro

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...

Karen- Day 108 - The Little Cake I Didn't Know About

Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jimmy's birthdays are in the same week so we had a party for both of them.

I baked the birthday cake. I had just taken the cakes out of the oven when Hubby walks in.

Hubby: "Didn't you make an extra little cake?"

Me: "An extra cake? Why would I make an extra cake?"

Hubby: "My mom used to make me a little cake everytime she made a cake."

(In 13 years I've never heard this story.)

Me: "Well, that's because your mom is a saint and I suck."

(I'm not being sarcastic it's true.)

Cut to me whipping up a batch of cupcakes for 4......and Hubby. So I don't feel the brick wall of shame for forgetting to make the little tiny cake that is apparently a tradition even though this is the first time I've ever heard about it.

Presents are ready.

Cake is ready.

Off we go.

Their house is so pretty.

I love this bathroom.

Grandpa is such a good sport.

We all start making dinner.

Fresh everything.

Dinner is yummy and healthy.

The cake.

Aunt Bonnie: "Will you write 'Thank Mom, We Love You' instead of 'Happy Birthday'? Because, really, if it wasn't for my Mom none of us would be here together.

Isn't that cool?

Day 108 from France: Hollywood?

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...

Looks like they're shooting a WWII era film in the VIIIième arrondissement near Parc Monceau.

Happy Halloween!

We went to a Harvest Festival yesterday with some friends.

My your Halloween include Princesses, Angels,

Superheroes,

and Elephants!

2 Halloween parties down.

2 Halloween parties and 2 Jack O Lanterns to go!

Go Team!

Hey Shaboomy, I want to see some French costumes!

Rated PG of course.

Karen - Day 107 - Chinatown

Karen sends her posts from Burbank, CA

For my new phase of FSE I do a little research and find a walking tour of Chinatown, print it out and we're ready to go.

Hubby: "What's that?"

Me: "A self guided walking tour of Chinatown."

Hubby: "Chinatown's only about 3 blocks."

Me: "But I don't know where it is or anything about it."

Hubby: "I do."

Me: "What? When was this?"

Hubby: "Back in the day."

Obviously this is a surprise to me. I bring the self guided walking tour along anyway.

"Momma look! Dragons."

I caught Hubby looking at one of his old haunts.

Many years ago, before I met him, Hubby was a bass guitar player in a punk band. They played in the building he's looking at. He said people would climb in the second floor windows to get in free.

Now it's a fancy shop.

He said he used to eat here all the time.

4 was having fun.

We bought a few things then it was time to eat.

Hubby spotted a restaurant with a lot of locals in it. He said this is how you know a place is really good. Don't go for flash, go with the locals.

(Who needs Anthony Bourdain when I've got Hubby?)

The first thing we see when we walk in are the roasted ducks.

I'm in the right place.

We order a simple lunch.

Rice.

Soup.

Kung Pao Shrimp.

I spice it up.

It was the best Chinese food I've ever had. Next time I'm getting some of that Duck.

My treasures from the day.

We were done by noon and on our way home.

While I ran errands, Hubby and 4 were home playing with the Chinese Party Snaps

You throw them on the ground and they pop.

4 passed out early and stayed asleep for the rest of the night.

Sleep Tight.