We just celebrated Christmas in July: our Christmas present to The Queen Mum was a girls trip to Savannah, and we were finally able to coordinate the trip this past weekend. All 5 daughters, 3 daughters-in-law, and Mom: almost everyone made it. So 9 of us flew in from 4 states for a 4 day week-end in Sweat-vannah.

And of course when Moi travels, she shops! Savannah is filled with fun and unusual shops, and we shopped them all! A few of Moi finds were:

• a mini French vintage pillbox from The Paris Market and Brocante
  
• serving tongs decorated with blue sea glass from Eclectibles

• a kitchen timer at Kitchens on the Square. I love it because it sits easily on my stovetop, has a magnet that can attach to the micro, and a huge clip to attach to my shirt if I’m wandering around the apartment. And of course, because it’s blue!

And a pair of bevel-edge spatulas that are supposed to be the best-ever because they’re heat resistant up to  500°, and the beveled edges make it easier to get underneath the food.

And for TBG?    pickles! The last time we were in Savannah he discovered his all-time favorite pickles. We couldn’t remember the names of the pickles, or the stores, but I tracked them down:

• Good and Evil Pickles from Southern Gents Antiques, a charming antiques shop with a gourmet food section

• Sweet Fire Pickles from The Peanut Shop

12 jars of pickles are being shipped to TBG. Now I just need to find shelf space for all those pickle jars…

Moi tip: planning your own girls week-end in Savannah? Here are a few more things in Savannah that make Moi happy :

• walking tour with Bobby Davis of Explore Savannah
• hoe cakes and pulled pork at Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons (and a little Butt Massage to take home!)
• the peach martini at Vic’s on the River
• touring The Mercer Williams House
• dinner at The Olde Pink House
• a NY-style slice at Vinnie Van Go-Go’s Pizza in City Market
• $2 Bud Lights, great music and a fun crowd at Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Saloon

It all started with Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong yellow rubberband bracelet: we lived in Paris at the time, he was of course our Tour de France hero. Wearing the bracelet was a fun chic way to proclaim our national pride, plus it inspired envy in all our French friends who of course wanted their own LiveStrong band. Trading ensued.

Wearing one or multiple rubber wristbands has become an increasingly trendy way to proclaim your allegiances:

• pink Race for the Cure (even a pink thumb-band)
• school colors to honor your alma mater
• white fundraiser for your church

This year the kids are even more into rubberband bracelets with SillyBandz, in colorful animal and logo shapes.

The trend has expanded to include adult fashionista arms layered with stretchable bangles made of rubber, beads, stones and metal.

Moi? I went classic retro for my wrist band. On my recent Paris trip I strolled into Cartier and selected the Cartier Trinity Wristband, Cartier’s symbol of love, friendship and fidelity. TBG gifted me several pieces from the Trinity collection throughout our 30th anniversary year, so the Trinity collection is very personal to me. As I always mix silver and gold jewelry, the circles of pink, yellow and white gold are very Moi.

But did I choose classic black cord? Mais non! My trinity wristband is made of French blue cord, bien sur! and if I tire of the blue (highly doubtful) Cartier will graciously make a new band at any time, in the color of your choice. Hmmm, that could be a dangerous promise!

Moi tip: If you like the Cartier Trinity Wristband and are traveling to Paris soon, consider buying your bracelet on your trip. With the current euro v. dollar exchange rate the bracelets are priced cheaper in Paris, and with your non EU resident status you can get your VAT refund at the airport, saving another approximately 15%. This strategy works for most French luxury goods.

There’s a new kiosk at Columbus Circle Times Warner Center in NYC: Canine Caviar of Manhattan. Yes, the name caught Moi attention too, so I had to stop and check it out: Mignette might need something.

Not only are there the typical tres cher (very expensive) gourmet doggie dinners, treats, California Rolls (yes, you read that correctly) and sweet potato chews, but Canine Caviar also will make and deliver Doggie Gift Baskets to your favorite petite chien.

Canine Caviar says they are “holistic” and “perfect pet food with naturally preserved allergen free food.” This is their first stand-alone store, their website lists other retailers where their pet foods can be purchases, they also sell online.

the details

Moi tip: they also sell products for cats.

If you’ve been reading along you know three things that make Moi happy are Paris, antiques and my iPhone. You may also know that I’m on twitter, and in addition to having twitter followers, I’ve been following some new favorites that make me happy. And Monday morning I read:

Our Flea Markets of Paris App has Launched! Check it out on itunes!

http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/keys-to-the-fleas/id380432477?mt=8

So immediately I clicked on the link, went to iPhones, read about the new app by Claudia Strasser, and within seconds had purchased, downloaded, and was excitedly reading and mental note-taking on some of my fave and soon-to-be-fave Paris flea markets.

I first discovered Claudia Strasser and The Paris Apartment on twitter through The Antiques Diva, it then led me to Claudia’s blog. The Paris Apartment is a romantic, sensual Parisian shopping spree of all that is fun and fanciful and fabulous, with enticements to translate vintage finds into our modern lives. Like Claudia I’ve lived in NYC and South Florida as well as Paris and could relate to many of her adventures in shopping, and fell passionately in love with her photos of antiques and Parisian decor and lifestyle. Claudia’s passion for the fleas extends to her Paris Apartment books, shopping trips, and interior design. Her passion pays off in Keys to the Fleas: it’s a Paris flea market shopping guide extraordinaire!

the details:

I’m shopping now!

We had a sunset cocktail on the terrace last week for 20 of TBG’s colleagues, and I was organizing a casual menu that would withstand the record-setting heat and humidity. As people would be arriving from work the food needed to be served in stages. Hmmm… what could I serve that would require me to buy Moi fave Stacey’s Simply Naked Pita Chips?

My sister L’s Mexicorn Dip!

I needed 2 bags of chips, which proclaimed 33% more chips free, and were priced 2 for $5. To be safe, I bought 3 bags.

I wasn’t safe enough. As guests were arriving I opened a bag of chips and poured them on the serving tray: most of the chips were crumbled bits of salty dust, no way would they scoop up dip. I quickly picked out the biggest pieces, and poured off the crumbled. 2nd bag: same. 3rd bag: ditto. Out of 3 8oz bags of Stacey’s Pita Chips I had enough large chips to fill one tray, not the 2 I had planned. And alot of left over Mexicorn Dip and pita chip crumbs.

Sister L’s Mexicorn Dip
2 cans Mexicorn
3 green onions chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro chopped
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayo
16 oz sour cream
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp lime juice

Drain mexicorn. Add green onions, cilantro and grated cheese. Mix mayo, sour cream, cumin, cayenne and lime juice in separate bowl. Add to other ingredients and chill for a few hours.

Serve with Stacey’s Simply Naked Pita Chips. If you’re lucky. I’ve heard rumours my sister-in-law C has a jello recipe using broken pretzels: would that work with pita chip crumbs?

Moi tip: I don’t like mayonnaise, especially in the heat. I replace the mayo with Fage Greek Yogurt.

One of the joys of summer is being able to go barefoot. I don’t run, but my son, my nephew and Omaha bff J are all runners. So usually I’m hearing about 5 mile runs, mini-marathons, blisters, shin splints and all the other daily runners’ chatter.

The latest runners’ chatter: last week my son little M bought a pair of rubber running socks by Vibram FiveFingers. Designed for all types of sports including running, watersports, yoga, and gym workouts these “barefoot” workout shoes are designed to protect and strengthen the foot while enhancing performance. They look strange: like tight rubber toe socks. But they have extra padding on the bottom. He’s run in them several times already and says his feet and shins feel great, but his calf muscles are sore from the different running position.

My nephew warns that barefoot shoes can be very problematic on concrete, and podiatrists aren’t recommending them. He tells me the barefoot running kick started by the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. It documents a Mexican tribe of amazing runners that only run in their bare feet and sandals. The book’s author Christopher McDougall makes the case that we are all built to run barefoot, so we should all start doing it. My nephew also says that some experts say running shoes are unnatural and lead to more injuries than they help prevent.

Omaha bff J is checking into women’s styles and colors. What’s your verdict?

Vibram $85 – $110 at shoe and athletic stores, or online at www.vibramfivefingers.com. Assorted mens and womens styles and colors.

Moi comment: Why don’t they call them FiveToes??? fyi: He also bought a pair of 5-toe socks to go with the FiveFinger shoes, I guess to keep his feet warm in the colder months.

Grease is the word! In fact, all the words to all the songs in Grease will be sung out loud all over the US in a major Grease sing-a-along. Girls Night Out, Date Night, or your High School Reunion: do it!

Yes, get your calendars out and find a theatre near you! Starting July 8 theaters across the country will be playing the original 1978 Grease with the words dancing across the bottom of the screen, begging you to sing-a-long with Sandy and Danny and all the gang from Rydell High.

Grease: You’re The One That I Want! ooo ooo ooo, honey!

Where Grease is playing in some of Moi favorite cities:

• NEW YORK
  AMC VILLAGE
  66 3rd Ave
  New York, NY 10003-5506
  (888) 262-4386

• CHICAGO
  AMC RIVER EAST
  322 East Illinois St
  Chicago, IL 60611
  (888) 262-4386

• MIAMI/FT LAUDERDALE
  SUNRISE GATEWAY
  1820 East Sunrise Blvd
  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304-3040
  (954) 763-7994

J’adore all things blue: blue bags of pretzel M&Ms, my new bleu sel marin (sea salt) jar from POSH Chicago, and Moi blau zwiebelmuster (blue onion) crock that I scored on a shopping trip with The Antiques Diva in Berlin. Read all about it…

And a correction:

As you can see on the crock, the old German spelling was Cacao. not Cocoa, and with a period after the o. So the last line explaining the Deutsch Rightig Sprechen und Schreiben should say:

As a result, Cacao. became Kakao.

Tschüss!

Sweet and Salty: the combination both soothes and satisfies me. Pretzel sticks dipped in nutella. Caramel ice cream speckled with sea salt. Kettle popcorn.

Finally the combo has gone mainstream: Pretzel M&Ms. I saw the commercials. I read the NYTimes piece. But they remained elusive: in NYC tracking down new products can be  tough. Grocery stores are small, and stock space extra valuable. It’s an island: getting things on and off is an expensive battle.

Our son Little M is scheduled to fly in Friday morning: I was at the point of begging him to track some down in Chicago and bring them along as rent. He’s safe: I finally scored a bag on Sunday at my local Duane Reade. They weren’t there last week. But they’re on the shelves now!

The verdict: worth the search. I couldn’t find any small individual portion bags, so I had to splurge on the big bag. I opened it the minute I exited the store. And had to sample several to be sure: pretzel M&Ms are a winner. Sweet, salty, chocolaty, crunchy. They make Moi happy!

Move over, peanut M&Ms: you’ve been replaced.

the details:

• 17 pieces 180 calories
• 30% less fat
• 9.9 oz for $4.29 at Duane Reid

Moi tip: The bright blue bag stands out on the shelf. Track down the small bag. TBG loved pretzel M&Ms too. Now how many calories were there in that 9.9 oz bag…

If you’ve been reading along you know I often mention things that make Moi happy: Starbucks tall skim chai, extra water, extra hot svp? Mignette? It’s the little things that just for one moment or all day long, make me happy. And occasionally I’m going to share some of them with you, and hope they make you happy too.

The temp in NYC is 94 again today and tres humide: perfect for a sweating glass of iced tea. TBG likes a touch of sweetness to his tea, normally he adds a squirt of honey. Newsflash: honey does not dissolve in a glass of ice cold tea.

To the rescue: simple syrup! I just opened a package from POSH Chicago with my new vintage French mineral water bottle: mine is from Aix-les-Bains. I don’t need a lot of decorative stuff cluttering up my tiny NYC apt, so I immediately put the bottle to good use by making this batch of simple syrup, which sweetens up TBGs tea, coffee, fruit salad, or even a cocktail.

Simple Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

Boil sugar and water together in a heavy saucepan about 3 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved. Allow to cool, then decant into a bottle for serving. Stores refrigerated for up to 3 months. I leave it on the counter: its gone in 2 weeks.

Moi tip: Infuse herbs or flavors into your simple syrup by adding mint, basil, lavender, rosemary, lemon or other flavors when boiling. Then strain before bottling. Try the basil syrup with vodka over ice: so refreshing!

Santé!