One day in Paris after lunch at Bistro Le P’tit Troquet on Rue Cler, we decided to walk to the end of this cobblestone street so favored by Rick Steves.  We happened upon a chocolate shop called La Mere de Famille and decided to go in.  It had a good feel to it, the type of feel that a one-of-a-kind store has (even though we later learned that the shop has several locations).  We decided to try a few different pieces of chocolate so I inquired about the price of a box.  The price seemed reasonable (If I remember correctly, it was in the $20-30 range), so I decided to buy a box.  We stood in the small shop and chose a plethora of chocolates.  I kept waiting for the salesperson to tell us that there was no more room in the box, but we kept filling, filling, filling up the box with more pieces.  Quite a different experience from places like Godiva.  We were thrilled to discover that the chocolate was fantastic.  My mother deems it some of the best chocolate she has ever had, even better than Jean-Paul Hévin’s chocolates.

I later learned that La Mere de Famille is the oldest sweet shop in Paris, dating back to 1761!  Don’t we know them when we see them?!  We may have not made it to the Paris Chocolate Festival (an item on my agenda that ultimately did not fit our schedule), but we stumbled upon something good!

Dear Readers, I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas or a festive time celebrating whichever holiday you observe. I had planned to do a series of holiday posts, but as you can see, that plan did not come to fruition. I’m returning to blogging on a regular basis now. You can expect me to wrap up my Paris trip coverage in the next several days and then begin to cover a wider variety of stylish things.

While in Paris, my mother and I had one night set aside for a dinner for just the two of us. After considering several restaurants, we ended up not making a reservation. Given our trip’s busy pace and our lack of sleep, I was tired. That evening we decided to just begin at the destination we had chosen for a drink and then figure out where to have dinner afterwards. After considering a few elegant bars, (Bar Hemingway at The Ritz is closed since The Ritz is under renovation until 2014) my mother chose Le Bar 228 at Le Meurice. She said that the photos on the website reminded her of The Oak Room at the Plaza, which is also currently closed, but remains our special place in New York.

Le Bar 228 certainly had the same feel as The Oak Room, with its wooden bar and elegant surroundings. Despite its superior formality, Le Bar 228 has an even more intimate feel than The Oak Room; the room is smaller, and unlike The Oak Room, there are no windows. The atmosphere inspired me to one day have a library with a bar modeled after this gorgeous room of luscious paintings and wood paneled walls with inlaid gold details. We sat and chatted while sipping champagne cocktails, enjoying the best bar snacks ever, and listening to live piano and bass. The room was cozy and quiet. Although the furnishings were formal and the servers wearing tuxes, there was still a relaxed feeling to the bar.

Le Meurice has an extensive drink menu. Now drinks at Le Bar 228 are not cheap… But in choosing a location in which to have a rare cocktail out, I take the same approach that I do with shopping: one high priced drink in an amazing atmosphere is more valuable to me than 3 cheap drinks in a mediocre setting. A cocktail or a cappuccino is a great way to enjoy surroundings that might not otherwise fit into your budget.

The atmosphere of Le Bar 228 and Le Meurice in general, combined with our weariness, made us want to stay. Le Meurice has a grand and expensive restaurant, aptly named, Restaurant Le Meurice, but we didn’t even inquire about availability. We had noticed several people dining in the open area adjacent to Le Bar 228, and we decided to have our dinner there. I later learned that this dining area is called Restaurant Le Dali, as it boasts Dali inspired decorative touches, including a Dalinien chair with feet in the form of ladies shoes and a lobster on a telephone. The menu was not large, but it featured salads, burgers, and dessert. A good salad appealed to us both that evening, so we ordered a comice pear salad with almonds and Comte cheese and an order of fries. The salad had a wonderful combination of flavors and the fries were just as good as McDonald’s, high praise. I also ordered a chocolate mousse cake. After we finished our meal, we headed back to Le Bar 228 for a nightcap.

I have been to many places where I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere, in Paris and elsewhere, but I can’t say that I’ve ever enjoyed another atmosphere more than that at Le Meurice. As I said to my mother, “I’m ready to be taken up to my room!”

I’d also like to mention that the people watching at Le Meurice was at its finest. I spotted better fashion here than anywhere else on my entire trip; elegant dresses and coats, fabulous Chanel bags… It makes sense, given Le Meurice’s location on the rue du Rivoli, overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries, that it would be filled with fashionable people. Paris Fashion Week shows often take place in buildings surrounding The Tuileries Gardens and The Tuileries are a popular meeting spot for French fashion editors and other fashion lovers.

When it was nearing our departure time at Le Meurice, I asked our server where we could call a taxi. He replied that he would call one for us. When the taxi arrived, he and another gentlemen retrieved our coats and helped us into them. Outside, a black Mercdedes taxi was waiting. A luxurious experience from start to finish. On my next trip to Paris, you can count on me making at least one trip to Le Meurice.

My first major acquisition from Paris was the black leather tote bag that I wrote about last night. My second major acquision was abeautiful Hermes black leather Rivale bracelet purchased for me by my mother.

On our first trip to Europe, my mother unexpectedly purchased me a small diamond ring while visiting a diamond factory in Amsterdam. Yes, my mother bought me my first diamond, a fact I cherish. I wear the diamond ring every day, so it’s yet another purchase that was well made considering the frequency of use, not to mention the sentimental value.

As on our previous trip to Europe, my mother wanted to buy me a special piece of jewelry to commemorate our trip to Paris. I had been eyeing some Hermes bracelets with the possible intention of buying one. I adore the Collier de Chien, but it’s pricey and it was actually unavailable at the Hermes store on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. I was able to try on one of the Collier de Chiens that was reserved for another customer, though. Although I loved the bracelet, I didn’t find it to be as wearable for every day. I absolutely adored the Rivale, however, and when I tried it on in the store with my Hermes “H” aka “clic clack” bracelet that my parents gave me for my birthday last year, the two looked just right together.

So now I have yet another piece that I wear almost every day. I love these Hermes bracelets. They match my leather tote, compliment casual or business attire, and they are in perfect harmony with my style. When I look down at my wrist, I have a bracelet celebrating a milestone birthday and a bracelet celebrating my second trip to Europe with my mother. I love having physical possessions that remind me of my parents and my travels to Europe with my mother. My travels in Europe with my mother have been some of the most fun and meaningful experiences I’ve had in life so far. I hope there will be more in our future.

Do you have items that you wear every day? Are they associated with a specific person and/or experience?

My clothing and accessory acquisitions in Paris were few, but they were significant. I mentioned buying a few pieces of clothing and toys for Baby Boy and my sweater purchases at Monoprix and Cos. There were two other important items that I brought home with me.

The first is my purchase, a new black leather tote bag. I’ve been on a quest for a black leather tote bag since early spring. I’ve looked high (priced) and low (priced) to find that perfect item. Do you ever find yourself searching for that perfect item? I must also have a doctoral degree in that subject.

My big-ticket purchases are typically driven by utility. I’m willing to fork over more cash when purchasing something that will be worn frequently. I don’t understand an unwillingness to spend 5 times more on a handbag than a reasonably priced coat. A coat is seasonal and probably not even worn every day during its season, whereas a handbag, if properly purchased, can be worn year-round, every day. Yes, I’m referencing cost per wear, that phrase that was so en vogue a couple of years ago but which we’re probably all a bit tired of now. The concept is still just as relevant today. But I digress.

I saved money for shopping in Paris, and then off I went, with the dictate implanted in my brain that I must remember to set aside enough money to buy a black leather tote bag; after all, that’s what I really needed. The lovely Gucci tote bag that I bought as a gift for myself after being admitted to the bar was getting beyond the well-worn stage and my mother had told me more than once that I needed a new bag. In a future post, I’ll share the black tote bags I considered and other great black leather tote bags.

Anyway, I thought I would keep my eye out for a black leather tote in Paris, but I didn’t expect to find one there, and certainly not one that would be any cheaper than the bag I already had on the brain. I was partially correct. I found a tote bag. It wasn’t cheaper than the one I had on the brain, but— it was cheaper than it would have been in the U.S.

Not even 10 minutes after beginning to browse Galeries Lafayette after that lovely brunch at Angelina that I mentioned here, my hawk eyes focused on a chocolate brown leather Givenchy Antigona tote bag. For months I had held the black version of this tote bag in highest esteem as the type of bag to which I would aspire when searching for my black leather tote bag. I certainly had no intention of paying the steep price. But once again I was drawn to the bag, and upon seeing it for the first time in person, I was compelled to try it on. The chocolate brown was absolutely gorgeous, but as I told the salesperson, “I’m really looking for a black leather tote.” She replied that she had the tote in black and disappeared and reappeared in an instant with the lovely black leather goodness. I slipped it on my arm. It looked just right. At that moment, my mother appeared out of nowhere and said, “Oooooh!” My mother is a woman of discriminating taste, so any item that gets this sort of reception from her is certainly special. I asked the saleswoman the price and I was surprised to learn that it sounded rather reasonable.

Back at the apartment that night, I calculated the conversion rate. I was a bit baffled. I then visited Barneys website to check the price of the item. Although European items are typically a little cheaper when purchased in Europe, I was astounded to learn that the same bag was about $600 more at Barneys. I told myself that this might be the bag to buy, but that I would have to wait and see what else I found in Paris before I decided to buy it.

Dear readers, you know what happened next, I held out for the bag. Because I would rather have something beautiful and functional that I wear every day than several items that are nice but not as well-loved and frequently worn. That and I find it difficult to pass up a a savings of approximately $700 (after tax refund) on a beautiful designer handbag.

I must confess that while waiting for the salesperson to wrap up my tote bag, I was tempted to pick up a pair of the Givenchy shark tooth ballet flats, which were also cheaper in Paris than in the U.S. They were très chic. But I resisted the impulse.

The salesperson packaged my tote bag up in a gigantic Givenchy bag tied with black ribbon. I don’t remember the last time I toted a shopping bag so large, and it was kind of fun to walk the streets of Paris with an obnoxiously large yet chic shopping bag. It felt like a little public celebration of my purchase. As I sat in the window of Café de la Paix with my best friend later that morning and afternoon, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the bag was catching the attention of passersby. Before opening my purchase, I posed for photos with it in the apartment we rented, the French flag flying in the background of a nearby building.

I can report that I’ve been quite happy with my purchase. I wear it daily and it works just as well as a travel bag and baby bag as it does as a work bag. One of my favorite aspects of the bag is the wonderfully aromatic scent of the leather. That scent is one of my favorites.

Do you tend to search for the “perfect item?”

What are your thoughts on the “cost per wear” concept?

1. Realize that Paris, despite what many say, is not the most child-friendly city. Prior to my trip, I read that if dining with a small child past 7 p.m., one might be met with disapproval, but I didn’t expect to feel that having a child in Paris was out of the ordinary. Yes, there are children in Paris, but you may still receive stares from people who appear as if they have never encountered a child on the street before. Surprisingly, I noticed more children out on a cold evening in Montmarte, which has more of nightlife element than many parts of Paris, than I did in other places. It could be that the hip neighborhood draws more young families than other areas of Paris.

2. Take the bus. Every piece of advice I read about taking public transportation with children prior to my trip recommended taking the bus instead of the metro, and my experience confirmed this. Some metro stations have elevators, but many do not. Unlike the subway stations in New York, there typically isn’t a single set of stairs at the entrance/exit to a subway station, but rather several sets of stairs throughout. And, on the bus in Paris, unlike in New York, you’re able to travel without folding up your stroller.

3. Pack a fold up booster seat and stroller. Some restaurants in Paris have high chairs, but for those that do not, I recommend traveling with a fold-up booster seat that can fit into the storage pocket on your stroller. Having a lightweight, umbrella stroller is also helpful for situations where you will have to fold up your stroller and store it.

4. Have snacks on hand. Although this is good advice for any situation, it is especially important when traveling. There’s no need to pack a ton of snacks in your suitcase; fruit and vegetable pouches are sold at stores like Monoprix.

5. Take a beloved stuff animal. I allowed Baby Boy to pick out one stuffed animal to take with us on the trip; he appropriately picked his stuffed giraffe, a gift from my best friend and her beau, who live in Paris. Having a stuffed animal along gives a child a sense of comfort when in new surroundings.

6. Plan activities around your child’s interests. It can be difficult to balance adult and child activities, but everyone will be happier if the little ones get to do some things that they enjoy. One of my favorite aspects of the trip was seeing Baby Boy experience a new place with new things for the first time. Because Baby Boy is obsessed with all modes of transportation, we made a special trip to Le Train Bleu restaurant, rode the metro, took a Seine river cruise, rode the bus, and spent some time simply watching the buses go by. Along with playing on the playground with French children, Baby Boy also enjoyed going up in the Eiffel Tower and riding the nearby carousel.

7. Prepare your child for the trip before your trip. As I mentioned in this post, I prepared Baby Boy for our trip to Paris by reading books about Paris. We talked about what we would see and do in Paris. While we were visiting, he was able to recognize some of the things we had read about. And after our trip, he still talks about the things that we saw and did in Paris.

8. Expect your child’s sleep patterns to alter. The time change and flight will require your child at least several days to adjust. Baby Boy didn’t fully adjust to the time change during the week we were in Paris; he slept later each day than he usually does at home. On the first day in Paris, he napped practically the entire day; it’s good to plan an activity that children wouldn’t ordinarily enjoy, such as shopping, on the first day.

9. Have someone on hand to care for your child while you do those activities that are hard/impossible to do with a child. Paris can be a wonderful place to explore with a child; novel sights and sounds are good for a child’s brain, but there are of course some places and activities where it’s not appropriate to bring a child. For both you and your child’s sake, I recommend having a third (or fourth person) available who can spend time with your child while you take advantage of Paris. On our trip, my best friend watched Baby Boy so my mom and I could have some precious time together and my mom did the same so I could spend some quality time with my best friend. Of course, if you don’t have someone you know available to care for your child, English speaking babysitting services are abundant in Paris.

10. Buy mementos for your child to keep the memories alive after the trip ends. An Eiffel Tower figurine is an excellent memento. Since Baby Boy loves buses, we made sure to pick up quality replicas of the Paris bus and ambulance; he also received a Paris garbage truck as a birthday gift from my parents. He loves playing with these items, pointing to them, and stating that they are from Paris. It’s a good way for him to remember the trip.