Black Friday

Have you been naughty or nice? It is the biggest shopping day of the year after all. While you are out shopping and see Santa around, it's a good time to think if you are going to stick with being naughty or nice. Whichever way you choose to go, here is a great selection to keep you in your proper spirit.

Black Friday is an American tradition. It follows the day after Thanksgiving and is the biggest day of the year. It kicks off the Christmas shopping season into full swing. Since I live in France and not all my readers are American, I have chosen to explain this aspect. Here in Europe, Christmas shopping decorations are already up, and people begin shopping more at a snail's pace. There is not one official day that it begins like in the US.

I am also offering a discount in my shop from Friday til Monday for 20% off to celebrate the season. Go to my shop, reveriefrance and at checkout us the code: BLACKFRIDAY to get the discount. If you need help, email me at my etsy shop and I will be happy to assist you.

A Dreamy Place

It is such a gloomy day here in Paris. Luckily Ayça, the owner of a lovely wedding shop called Ayawedding at Etsy created a dreamy place to brighten all our days.

Thanksgiving Harvest

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I know Summer was a blur,and now there is a slight chill in the air. If you don't have everything ready yet for the holidays, I suggest you check out Etsy. Don't let this holiday slide past you like the others with the same old hum ho stuff. Get in touch with your unique self and express it this holiday. I have found so many wonderful things that lifted my spirits and helped me remember why I bother at all. Check it out and see if it doesn't inspire you to enjoy the Fall season.

Which Witch is Which?

Halloween generally isn't celebrated in Europe like it is in the U.S. Although in the last few years, especially with all the expats, some of that good ol' witches brew has made it's way here. I created a new treasury today in the spirit of Halloween from some of my fellow teammates on European Street Team. It is a fun treasury to pick your favorite witch. Enjoy!

Pumpkin mystery

My husband goes off to the doctor a comes home with a pumpkin. I'd like to think that the doctor prescribed lots of fresh fruits and vegitables, but I know that is not the case. However, he ran into a colleague who has a garden and from time to time gives him some wonderful items from his garden. In thanks, I am presently working on writing a recipe for zucchini bread into French with metric measurements. It appears that what is common in the U.S.,zucchini bread, is non-

existant in France.

Now, what to do with that Pumpkin? Usually I make a wonderful soup in the Fall and Winter, but it's too warm for that. I used to write recipes for a place in LA and sell the food items there, so creating a new recipe is nothing new to me.

My first idea is pumpkin raviolis. However, my second idea is pumpkin gazbacho. I'll let you know later what this pumpkin will morph into along with the recipe. In the meantime, if any of you have some pumpkin recipes you want to share, feel free to share.

Hot Fall Fashion

What are you wearing this Fall? I made this treasury from my fellow Etsians. All the clothes are handmade. The boots and handbag are vintage. Both mean quality. Handmade is hand crafted with care. Vintage means it stood the test of time. This treasury made the front page. I created it for all of you who are still putting your Fall wardrobe together. Enjoy!

What is ephemera?

From reveriefrance

Ephemera is a term used to describe most printed items on paper. These items can range from newspapers, trading cards, invitations, posters, bookmarks, postcards, letters, tickets, magazines, stock certificates, banners, etc. Naturally, things written or printed on paper were not really intended to last a long time. Thz word ephemera originated with the greeks, with the word meaning things that last a day. Obviously, many last more than a day. In fact, there are many avid collectors of these little historic treasures. People have found many methods to preserve ephemera for generations to come.

I collect ephemera myself and have a nice selection in my Etsy shop, Reveriefrance. Here is one example that I just got in. I have many more than I'm working to get photographed and uploaded to share with you.

The one I have here is from 1960. It is a French school poster that was used in France for education purposes. A vintage one in good shape is hard to come by as many were heavily used in the classroom on a daily basis. The posters were painted by well known artists. They are double sided, so there are actually two posters in one.

The one I am posting first, was done by two artists; G. Bonnatti and G. Michel. On one side, it has a French Seaport. On the other side, it has the construction of a house. These posters are huge! They are 39" by 25", and a photo on your computer doesn't really do them justice. Growing up in America, I don't recall having such magnificent posters at school.

Some of these posters are quite rare. In searching, I was hard pressed to find the same one elsewhere. Sure, there may be other school posters, but not this one and not of this quality. The ones I have in are in mint condition. They were in the school wharehouse and never were ued in the classroom. I received them in the same container that they were originally shipped to the school. I feel fortunate discovering these treasures. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Lazy Sunday

I just read this blog post and am sharing with all you other bloggers out there. It's inciteful. Hopefully it makes you think a little, as it does me.

In my lazy Sunday, I have been looking at some great stuff on Etsy, making a treasury of Woodland Splendors and getting ready to put more stock in the shop. I'm practically drowing in ephemera right now! I've found some great pieces. It will just take time to get them all prepared, photographed and viewable. What's your lazy Sunday like?

Etsy Blog Team: Blog Etiquette and How to Get the Most from Your Blog Work

Etsy Blog Team: Blog Etiquette and How to Get the Most from Your Blog Work

What is an aioli?

From reveriefrance

An aioli that most will encounter will be closely resembling a mayonaise with garlic. However,depending on which area of France you are in, you may get a different answer. In each village and town in the South of France, they have their own recipe, and each recipe is the real one. In fact, using mayonaise and aioli in the same sentence can be dangerous for your health, unless you find wars healthy.

Aioli, in French l'aïoli originally was a sauce composed of olive oil and garlic that are emulsified together with a mortar and pestle. A mortar is a bowl that generally has ridges inside of it that aid in grinding spices or herbs. A pestle is a shaped like a miniature baseball bat that is used to strike inside the bowl, will release the juices from the garlic and emuslify them with the olive oil. This is a tedius process that requires a lot of practice and patience. A true aioli is a labor of love. The end results are supposed to be rich, subtle and aluring.

I know you are dying to jump in there are start on your first aioli. I suggest you start with making a homemade mayonaise first. I realised I had been in France too long when I reached for the mayonaise in the fridge, didn't have enough and decided to make some more instead of running to the store. I'm glad I did. I don't know if i will ever buy maynaise again. It's so easy. I'll share my recipe with you. Maybe in about twenty years when I have a beach cottage in south of France, I'll get cracking on my aioli.

Here is my recipe and a photo of the end result.

2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (you can use whatever salt you have)
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 lemon (juice of one lemon)
pinch of sugar
1 clove garlic (peel and chop)
Fresh ground pepper

I use a handheld stick blender, but you could use a regular blender or beat by hand but be prepared for a workout!

Put the two egg yolks in your mixing bowl. Add the salt,lemon juice, garlic, sugar and blend in light pulses. When that is all incorporated and a little foamy, slowly drizzle in the olive oil a little at a time. You can drizzle some olive oil in, stop pouring until it's well incorporated, then drizzle some more. You will notice it getting thicker and increase in volume. When it begins to look thick like a mayonaise, you can begin to taste it to see if you need to ajust it to your taste by adding salt or something else. You can also add fresh herbs if you like, but wait until the last minute for that.

Life in the dark ages

When I moved to France, I was aware that it was full of history and often called the Museum City. It never occurred to me that I'd be living IN history!

My hot water heater broke a few weeks ago. It feels like forever and such a painful reality, I am trying really hard not to remember the actual day. I must say that I fully understand what life must have been like for those oh so many ages ago in France, boiling water just to take a bath, wash your hair, do dishes, etc. It's a nightmare! The best part is when my back went into full spasms after trying to wash my hair upside down. Is it legal that our whole building has no hot water for so long? I don't think so! However, good luck getting someone to do something about it. Living in Paris is much like living in New York City for that. Sure, there are laws to protect people, but who says the city has enough employees to police all of the offenders. There is such a housing shortage in Paris too, much like New York, that people have little choice other than to manage. The owners of the building have said that they fired the old repair company and have enlisted a new one. Some people in the building seem enraged posting notes on the lobby wall, but most just walk by with a simple, bonsoir, and nothing more. I feel perplexed, being American. Are they not disturbed? Or are they just in shock like me?

Let's hit the road!

This treasury really inspires me to start packing! The problem is, I already have many times. It's all that packing that caused this sunbelt child to land in Paris.

My life is one big determined accident. I was determined to come to Paris. I was determined to study French to get the most out of it. I studied my little tail feathers off and was able to attend three different universities, two of them being in France. I was also determined not to get inovolved with someone who could interfere with my goals. That's where the accident came in. I met him, my husband now,who altered all my plans. The funny thing is, I didn't meet him in Paris or anywhere in France. He is French, however I met him online while studying,after I returned to the US.  It appears that we had a lot in common, art, history, a dry sense of humor, because here we are now living in Paris, for better or for worse. I'll tell you about the better and the worst of it later, and here it always arrives.

We both love discussing travel, history and art. My head is full of useless knowledge and tidbits about France, past and present. From time to time, I will give cameo's about some of the French artists, some of which have work in my shop. I will also fill your head with useless facts about France and how my poor dog is surviving culture shock.

'Let's Hit The Road!' by tabachin

Antique French Map ... reveriefrance $12.00	Custom signs, eg: G... rusticrevivals $38.00	Natural and Black D... valburgesscoll... $6.00	WASHINGTON / SEATTL... leathermaps $29.90
Steampunk Cigarette... CosmicFirefly $55.00	Vintage 1921 Map of... salvagesupplie... $5.00	Country Road Quilt ... PatchworkMount... $195.00	The Little Wren Hou... gardenfinds $35.00
Fly By Nite Inn Bir... craftsbymerle $30.00	Anthropomorphics Pe... SouthwestCraft... $52.00	Antique Diecast Pen... SamsWelding $6.50	Vintage Postcard - ... PaperMoChez $2.75
Boat Work One in Se... bouldnart $49.95	Large Train Set 6 C... mikebtoys $59.95	Map of the World An... 7Cotton $12.50	Vintage 20s 30s W... VixVintage $285.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.