Smog alarm

This evening one of the girls came running to me: "Mommy, mommy! Come and look at the sky. You should take a picture!". It was a beautiful sunset indeed. Unfortunately, the beauty of it was mainly due to the high smog intensity (particulate matter). For the last couple of days, the air quality has been extremely bad here .
Not only can you feel it, you can even see it...

Also tonight, as I went into my room to get something, I found this in our bed:

All I could think was "ain't she sweet, our little baby...".

Christmas party at the gym

Yesterday, we went to H.'s gym club's Christmas party. It's actually also M.'s gym club, but she was too old to participate. She's 8! I guess the club or la Mairie has a budgetary problem. At "le gymnase", where the event took place (and a different one than the one where they practice)there was another problem: the heating didn't do it. It was freezing in there! Good the kids had an obstacle course to keep warm. Nothing like that for the parents, however...

No pictures of the event, though, for the simple reason I messed up every single one of them. They all came out blurry. So, I can only show you the "static" ones of a gym that obviously has seen better days...
I REALLY need to READ the BOOK!!


Festive, huh!


Lines...


and more lines.


I guess the heating is not the only thing needing a little fix...


Can you spot the tennis balls??


Oh yes, and Santa made his appearance, too. He promised H. a "dinette" (a little kitchen). I think we might be in trouble...


Note: When re-reading this post, I think I sound a little, well, ungrateful. The kids did have fun and the coaches did a wonderful job. Santa even brought chocolates and had a little chat with every single kid. I just wanted to put that straight...

Sarkobama mystery solved...

Remember how I last week wrote about the "Sarkobama" posters I spotted on Boulevard Haussmann? The posters showed up in many other places in Paris over the past week and no one seemed to be able to find out who or what was behind this campaign. That is until yesterday. Yesterday, Greenpeace finally admitted to be at the origin of the campaign and immediately kicked off the sequel, "Yes, you must!" . In doing so, Greenpeace wants to draw attention to the EU Conference on Climat Change which will be held in Poznan on December 11-12th. And as France is still presiding the EU until the end of this month, they urge Sarkozy to bring the change so much needed. Will he be as successful as his pal, Obama, last month? We're about to find out...

Velvet

I took this picture at the Opéra Garnier - I finally made it there last Thursday and had a guided tour. What a magnificent place! Though I'm not sure if this sofa sits comfortably at all - I didn't try it - I liked it's simplicity, the red velvet, the light...

Sarko goes Obama

I came across these posters today as I was strolling along Boulevard Haussmann. They were posted on the boards reserved for next week's French social elections. It's clear the Obama-campaign has inspired many. I haven't been able to find out who's behind them and I'm not the only one left puzzled by them, apparently.

Or, was it "sa-sienne", Carla, maybe?

Couleurs locales

If it's gray outside, let's bring in some color myself, I thought! These pictures were taken in the Montmartre area and at the Place or Marché St-Pierre, on a slightly sunnier day, I admit. It's a nice and colorful neighborhood, even on a gray autumn day.
If you are (or are not!) in need of fabric or anything related then the area around Place St.-Pierre is the place to be with Dreyfus - Marché St.-Pierre probably the most famous and largest store, but many smaller and equally interesting stores can be found in the surrounding streets. Looking for upholstery, silk for an evening gown, cotton for a summer dress, oilcloth, linen... you name it, you'll find it here.

And now we're talking about sewing anyway, here's another store I really like and where I can't leave without buying at least a piece of ribbon: L'entrée des fournisseurs (pictures below), near Place des Vosges. They carry the most beautiful ribbons, gorgeous (wooden, bone, vintage,...) buttons, yarn, fabric (liberty - really expensive!, and linen), felt, patterns, ... And everything is displayed so beautifully here and makes worth the visit!