🗼Let's Pretend We're in Paris for a Minute
Your gateway to the City of Light.
🥳 Happy Wednesday!
This week, we’re pretending we’ve jetted off to Paris—oui oui, mon ami! Inspired by my visits to the City of Light with friends and family, as well as the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, I’m bringing some of that Parisian magic right here to Sandrapop!
Grab your comfiest PJs, let your hair down (or throw it up in a messy bun—no judgment here!), and let’s get ready to add a splash of French fancy to our chill night in. Who’s ready for some cheeky fun à la Parisienne? 🇫🇷
Can you think of a more classic Parisian cocktail than the French 75? Neither can I! It's like a party in a glass that dates back to World War I, and trust me, it packs a punch as powerful as its namesake, the fierce French 75mm field gun.
A perfect mix of sophistication and fun, it blends gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, and champagne in a sparkling glass of joy that might just have you saying, “Oh là là!” Zest up your evening with this chic little number toast to fabulous nights with the recipe below.
RECIPE:
1.5 oz gin
1 tsp sugar or simple syrup
Juice of half a lemon
Shake over ice and strain into a glass filled with cracked ice. Top with Champagne… à votre santé! 🥂
If you love oysters and caviar, then you’re in luck! In Paris, my girlfriends and I made last-minute reservations at La Maison du Caviar, a surprisingly sophisticated spot in the 8th arrondissement right off the Champs-Élysées. This cozy little place is a caviar lover’s dream, specializing in all sorts of mouthgasmic yumminess.
Of course, is it even a ladies brunch without champagne!? We were lucky—it was early afternoon and we had the whole place to ourselves. In the busy heart of Paris, that’s practically unheard of! We initially debated between La Maison du Caviar and Caviar Kaspia, another restaurant specializing in caviar, which I plan to hit up on my next trip to Paris with the hubs (we’re only 2 hours away by train—perfect for a romantic weekend getaway!).
Bonus: If oysters and caviar don't tickle your fancy (totally get it!), you might want to dive into David Lebovitz's Newsletter instead. I've been a fan of his blog for ages, so it was a cool surprise to see him thriving here too! As a professional cook and pastry chef based in Paris, he shares not only mouthwatering recipes but also snippets of his everyday life in the City of Light. Check it out for a taste of Parisian culinary adventures!
Who else has daydreamed about ditching it all and living it up in a Parisian pied-à-terre?! If I ever make that bold leap to live out my Paris dreams, let's be real, my pad wouldn’t hold a candle to the swanky digs of Marie Daage, the queen of tabletop design. Her decor is drool-worthy, but it's her unstoppable energy and passion for her craft that really steal the show. She’s so spirited and enthusiastic, it makes you want to dive into her world—or at least steal a few design tips! Here’s to hoping I’ve got half her verve and flair when I’m rocking her age. What do you think—shall we start hunting for our fantasy French flats?
Bonus: Anna Kloots, author of “My Own Magic” and an American living in Paris, has the most feminine, gorgeous Parisian apartment I’ve ever seen!
Guilty pleasure “Emily in Paris” will be back for Season 4! Do you think Emily and Gabriel will get together after last season’s mega cliffhanger!?
Paris Fashion Week is coming up soon, from 18-23 June 2024! Are you into that sort of thing? I would love to go one day with my friends Shammara and Gia because they’re into fashion and they would make it super fun! If you’ve gone, did you like it?
Only 72 days until the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics! Which sports are on your must-watch list? I'm all about Swimming, Diving, and Gymnastics, but this year my husband snagged four tickets to the Women’s Football semi-final in July. Can't wait to see the action live! What about you? What events are you looking forward to?
For you Swiftie fans (yes, midlifers love Taylor too!), you already know that Taylor Swift was in Paris on her Eras Tour. She stayed at Hôtel De Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel that cost her $21,000 a night. Nbd (gulp). What would you do with $21,000?!
You love chess? I know nothing about chess but apparently Paris is hosting the Live Final Of the 2024 Speed Chess Championship. There’s a prize pool of $175,000 - wow. Maybe I should learn…
Oh, Parisian women and their fashion—how do they do it? Stroll through any Paris street, and you'll swear the sidewalks are runways. Seriously, they could throw on an old trench coat, wrap a ratty scarf around their neck, and somehow look like they stepped out of a luxury fashion ad. It’s not just the clothes but their cool, breezy confidence. From effortlessly chic ballet flats to that perfectly tousled hair, they always look stunning. Here are some fashionable French midlife women that are slaying the game.
I have a girl crush on Eva Green, ever since I saw her in “300: Rise of an Empire”.
Marion Cotillard is just so gorgeous and looks good in anything. If you haven’t seen “A Good Year”, watch it this weekend. So good! She’s also a staunch environmentalist and a spokesperson for Greenpeace.
Assa Traore is an activist against police violence ever since her little brother was found dead in a Paris police station in 2016. She’s organized demonstrations of up to 80,000 and was declared Time Magazine’s Guardian of the Year in 2020.
Taking inspiration from these women, here are some of the things that I love which make me think of Parisian style:
1. Nars Lipstick Red Lizard
2. Rouje Rahima Dreass Short Printed Stretch Linen Dress
3. KJ Beckett Dents Paris Fingerless Leather Driving Gloves - Yellow
4. Carre de Paris EPERON D'OR HERMES SCARF BY HENRI D'ORIGNY 90 CM SILK TWILL RED COL.
5. L’Ecurie Paris Barbara - Material Acetate Black
6. Carel Paris NERI Yellow upcycled naplack leather slingback pumps
ICYMI:
Big hugs and a heartfelt thank you for reading! I’m pumped to keep bringing you all the fun and creativity straight to your inbox each week. Putting these newsletters together is so much fun, and I hope you’re loving them just as much.
Don’t forget to show some love—like the post, leave your thoughts in the comments, and share this newsletter with your nearest and dearest. Your support is what helps Sandrapop flourish, inviting more awesome folks like you into our cozy Sandrapop family. 💕
Thanks again for spending time with me! Wishing you a stellar week ahead,
Sandra
P.S. Your feedback lights up my day! Drop me a line by replying to this email with your ideas, feedback, or anything you’d love to see next. Let's keep the magic alive!
Sandra! The pajama poll needs an option for naked! 🤣
Fun episode today… and a surprise to see that delicious caviar we had! I must try the French 70s!
I think it's all about the confidence of French women!