Welcome to April, a month of looking forward to the sunny days, afternoon picnics and even some cozy rainy days at home. I can never tell if I love the spring or autumn season more because they are both so special in their own ways, but I do love how spring brings with it a sense of renewal and colorfulness after the short and cold days of winter have passed. As I begin to settle back into my routine this week after visiting Paris, I am going about my days with all the inspiration from my time in the city of lights and infusing more joie de virve into my everyday life as much as possible. Travel always reminds me that we can be inspired by what we experience while away and bring those charming pieces back with us to enjoy at home too. Things such as visiting new places in our own hometown, immersing ourselves in more culture, making the world our own personal runway, and savoring exquisite foods, quite time, books, films, flowers, music, and beauty is something that we can create and enjoy now in our everyday lives. So let us create our own version of Paris at home this season and find those petite tresors that we do so love and want more of. I do hope you enjoy the beautiful weekend ahead and for now cozy up and start this Friday with another curated weekly post.
SHOPPING, BOOKS, MEDIA, ETC.
Two brands that I love are Morris & Co. and Spode, so when I saw this Spode Morris & Co. Teapot and Mug set at Macy’s, I instantly fell in love. And they are also having their VIP sale until Sunday which means this beautiful set is one sale for only $61.59. If you are looking for a simple, but elegant tea set then this one would be a beautiful set to have.
Now that April is here picnic season is officially upon us and if you are looking for a picnic basket of your own then Anthropologie has this beautiful woven wood personal Picinic basket for only $78.00. I also love how it has the ability to zip up inside as well.
Spring style is in the air already and this open stitch pullover sweater from Banana Republic Factory would be a great wardrobe piece for having a layer that can cover you up but also breathe well too when it’s warmer out.
A quality set of steak knives are worth every penny of their investment, but luckily there is a great set that can be purchased for less than $100 with these Jean Dubost Laguiole set of 6 steak knife set. I especially love the green and mixed blue colors.
If you too purchase flowers every week for the home, then a reusable flower carrier would be an item that you may be interested in getting and this floral print flower carrier from Target is only $5. I have one that I got from Trader Joe’s several years ago, but I love using it instead of the plastic bags from the store as a way of being more sustainable and also, the flower carrier protects the flowers much better too.
One cannot help but be inspired when watching With Love, Meghan….especially Meghan’s own personal style and these editor mid-rise striped trouser pants from Express very much reminded me of something she would wear with a lovely neutral top.
Finding storage solutions for the home can be a time-consuming task with so many different options available out there, but this upright folio grass handwoven basket from Target is not only a beautiful storage solution, but I love that it can either sit upright or could also be hung from a wall. It also has that Nancy Meyer’s feel to it and at only $15, is a great budget friendly purchase too.
While in Paris I picked up this book, The Flaneur: A Stroll Through the Paradoxes of Paris by Edmund White. The title immediately caught my attention and the cover so pretty with the iconic chairs of Paris. This book is a unique and eclectic view of Paris through the eyes of a fierce and witty intellect. The acclaimed writer Edmund White, who lived in Paris for sixteen years, wanders through the avenues and along the quays, into parts of the city virtually unknown to visitors and indeed to many locals, luring the reader into the fascinating and seductive backstreets of his personal Paris. A book that is sure to be savored and enjoyed.
As spring is now upon this book,
And because we can never have too many gardening book recommendations for spring,
And for our seasonal romance readers (me included), Say you’ll Remember Me from Abby Jimenez looks to be the perfect romance to cozy up to this month. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a playful yet deeply emotional romance where one date is all it takes for two people to know they’re perfect for each other . . . until one of them moves 2,000 miles away the next day. I am ready to pick up a copy to be savored by the pool already.
When I saw the new trailer for Étoile I knew that this would be one show that I absolutely would be watching this month. Coming out on Amazon Prime on April 24 and is from the creators of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls so you already know it’s going to be a great show; this is sure to delight any Francophile or fan of the arts. And….you’ll most likely recognize a few familiar faces too.
I couldn’t help but tune into this episode on Parisian Vibe as they explore the fascinating reemergence of books as symbols of status and intellectual engagement. From the viral ‘Book in Pocket Challenge’ led by Jacob Elordi to the booming sales of classics like Dostoevsky’s ‘White Knights,’ books have reclaimed their cultural significance in 2025. Watch as they delve into the role of social media, celebrity endorsements, and the shift towards valuing knowledge and mindfulness over materialism.
And since I am always inspired by small space decor, this tour of a 700 sqft Parisian Style in NYC’s West Village was a lovely watch full of inspiration.
articles of interest
If you are getting excited about the newest Downton Abbey movie, then here is an article from Town & Country, Everything We Know About the Third Downton Abbey Movie for a little sneak peek.
If you were looking for even more style inspiration from With Love, Meghan, then you can read here, Meghan Markle Spilled the Exact Pieces She Has in Her Closet—Including an Under-$100 Trench Coat from The EveryGirl.
I simply adore French linens and will try to purchase them whenever I can, so this article on How to Curate the Perfect Collection of French Linens form My French Country Home was a great article to read for inspiration.
Blue and White is a classic and elegant pairing of colors and reading through Teatime Magazine’s Springtime in Blue & White was a lovely read for all the beautiful blue & white details.
While not exactly an article to read, I did enjoy listening to Kimberly Wilson’s newest podcast episode including Jamie Cat Callen. Jamie Cat Callan is known for her French lifestyle books, mostly recently, Parisian Charm School from Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of The Writers Toolbox from Chronicle Books. She is currently finishing her novel about an American girl in Paris during the tumultuous month of May 1968.
Seasonal drinks are a great way to savor the simple pleasures of each season and this violet champagne cocktail from Victoria Magazine looks as delicious as it is beautiful.
Last year when we went on a spring picnic, I made this delicious parmesan and asparagus tart from Nicolas Fairford’s blog, and it was such a great seasonal picnic food to enjoy outdoors. Also, this article provides other recipes as well and I may need to try a new one for this year’s picnics.
in case you missed it…
As I settled back into my regular routine after a week in Paris, this week on the blog I started us off with a simple, yet inspiring post of simply sophisticated things, but that were simply not things to incorporate into your life for more elegance and sophistication as well as sharing the first travel diary for Paris. This weekend I will also have a mini post of what I purchased while traveling in Paris as well. The next Paris travel diary post will be up next Wednesday, so be sure to check back then for even more Paris here on the blog.
Simply Sophisticated Things (That Aren’t Things)
Travel Diary – The Timeless Beauty of Paris
I love the idea of bringing back ideas from travel to your own home and life! When I was in Spain in the fall, my husband and I spent two nights in Madrid with a friend. We had a wonderful time but he smoked all night (Europeans love to smoke!) and my throat is sensitive to smoke. I woke up with such a sore throat and really wanted tea. He didn’t have tea but he had honey and lemon so I heated water and added the honey and lemon. It was such a delightful treat and somehow I’d never had it before. Since then I often make it at home and it reminds me of my time in Spain!
That sounds so cozy 😌 traveling exposes us to so many new ideas and routines that we get to bring back home for ourselves to enjoy and even though yours came about due to necessity, it still sounds like a lovely pleasantry that you were able to bring back home to savor.