I Love Paris In The Springtime

What better place to spend Valentine's Day

than in Paris.

A few years ago we were invited by

friends, Paula and Craig to come to Paris and stay

with them while they were directors of the BYU study

abroad in Paris.  They invited us in February and we

were there over Valentine's Day.

Their apartment was just about two blocks from the

Eiffel Tower. This had to be the most

romantic Valentine's Day ever.

If you have read my profile you have read how it was my

goal to hit all of the wonderful chocolate shoppes there.

My sweetheart bought me this chocolate box filled with

chocolates there.  We were able to bring it all the

way home with us so that we could show it off to

the kids.

Paris in the springtime is my inspiration for this

tablescape today as I join

Susan

at

Between Naps On The Porch

for my favorite event of the week

Tablescapes Thursday.

While we were there we had the chance to visit

the castle country.

With my love for design and architecture, this was a

delight.

I think this fabulous castle out in the country was

famous for over 150 chimneys.

Here we are just before we entered the

Eiffel tower for lunch.

I had to include this gorgeous plate that I had at the

Eiffel Tower Restaurant.  It was a lobster salad.

Don't you love that plate?  Everything was so elegant.

Lunch is often a less expensive way to experience

a famous restaurant.

One last peek at the fabulous architecture before I

show you the table I constructed in remembrance

of my Paris Valentines.

All of my fun European inspired dishes come from Home Goods,

who by the way were kind enough to send me a gift certificate

to say thank you for using their dishes in my tablescapes.

What a surprise that was.

I love these salad plates that remind me of the

castle country.

I found four different ones.

I layered them over a square plate from Tai Pan.

I have this thing for square plates.  It probably

comes from eating off of them at great restaurants.

Black and white and taupe make up the table.

I love this taupe linen with French-inspired script covering it.

I brought in my garden sculpture of the Eiffel tower to

center the tablescape.

Don't you love the fancy butter knives on

the little roll plate and

mercury glass votives with a little crown on them?

The crown reminds me of the castles and

our trip to Versailles.

I threw in the iconic fleur de lys.

These great wooden chargers are from Pier 1.

They anchor the placesetting and give it a flourish.

The votives came from Tai Pan.

A closer detail on the butter knife.  I have had

these silver plated knives for years and they

came in 4 designs.  I bought them from Home Goods.

Black flatware, black goblets and black and white napkins

with a silver plated napkin ring.

Peek past the napkin to see a bowl with the

Eiffel tower.  The bowls feature different

famous European buildings on them.

I think it is time to light the candles to create a

romantic mood.

I love the look through the mercury glass.

The jeweled crown just pops out.

I can't leave Paris without including some more chocolate

One of our favorite stops was a little crepe and

waffle stand right outside of the Louvre.  Here

my hubby is gloriously enjoying a Belgian waffle topped

with hot Nutella and whipped cream.

Our final pastry shoppe indulgence.  Everything we

had in Paris was fabulous.  It was a food lover's heaven.

And to be really naughty, I am ending with our

favorite

BREAKFAST

while we were there in Paris.  These are a chocolate, chocolate

eclair and a chocolate napoleon that came from the bakery

just around the corner.

Other mornings we had fresh croissants, dipped in hot chocolate.

For you fellow chocoholics, Paris is heaven when it comes

to chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

(Just a note, we walked everywhere so eating this

richly didn't kill us!!)

I will be sharing this with

Tablescapes Thursday

Foodie Friday

Feathered Nest

Favorite Things

French Obsession Party

Sources

Table Topper - Tai Pan

Large square plate - Tai Pan

Eiffel tower garden sculpture - Target

European architectural dishes - Home Goods

Flatware - Target

Goblets - Pier 1

Napkins - Home Goods

Napkin rings - Wal Mart

Butter knives - Home Goods

Votives - Tai Pan