My Life in Paris and Travels Around France
One of my favorite things about being in someone’s home is looking through their collection of books, usually amassed over many years. When I moved to Paris, I had to leave most of my books at home in Dallas due to weight restrictions. One day I’ll be reunited with my collection of books. This morning I was flipping through some of the books here and started thinking about my favorite coffee table books about France.
My family came to visit this September, which made it an extra special month. Every time they’re in town we go to all of our favorite spots, often times multiple times, so it’s literally a marathon of amazing meals. We also toured to Louvre, focusing on lesser-known areas but ending with the Galerie d’Apollon and the French Crown Jewels. The recent robbery makes me absolutely sick to my stomach, but I feel so fortunate that we got to see these priceless pieces. I’m hoping they will be recovered. Read on to discover exactly where I ate and drank, shopped, and what I did in the September 2025 recap.
The worst part about coming to Paris is the travel (unless you live close, of course). I’m luckily not a nervous flyer, but any long-haul flight puts a lot of physical stress on the body. Arriving in Paris is exciting and you want to hit the ground running, but jet lag can get in the way. After going back-and-forth a few times (I had 18 long-haul flights last year), I’ve come up with a list of the best ways to avoid and cure jet lag and arrive in Paris feeling your best.
My toddler’s meals at daycare in Paris make me jealous on a daily basis. As you might expect, meals are organic, seasonal, and local products are favored. Lunches feature a protein and a vegetable or carb side with a fruit as a dessert and a cheese course for the toddlers over a year old. Snack time usually includes a yogurt or cheese, a fruit or something sweet, and a bread. The menus show three different meal options from babies starting at six months, to toddlers at 12 months and up to two years old. I used to wonder why my toddler refused to eat anything on a kids menu in the US…not anymore.
If you’ve read my blog for a while you might recognize some of the items from this list of gifts for Francophiles available online. I pick things that I really love and believe in and I know will be cherished year after year. The list is compiled throughout the year and I hope it provides a little shopping inspiration either for yourself or for a loved one!
