This photograph by Pamela Hanson http://www.pamelahanson.com/fashion   has always captured my fantasty of living in a European city in my small apartment overlooking a bustling boulevard.

For some reason I imagine this is a very small apartment, maybe even a studio apartment where this woman lives.  It just appeals to my love of small homes, small apartments, few possessions, but ones that are meaningful.

One thing I have always loved about Europeans (at least the ones I have known personally) is that they were all so nonmaterialistic.

It wasn’t about buying, buying, buying. It was about living.

For them, life wasn’t about having things. Life was about having experiences.

I have tried to embrace this in my own life.

I remember reading in Entre Nous, how French women “make do” with their clothing, their belongings, even their husbands — not trying to change them to meet their expectations.

I like to remember this philosophy of making do when I cook — using up the ingredients I already have in my cupboards and refrigerator; when I “shop” my closet — working with the clothes I have instead of believing I need more of them; with my belongings — for instance, I will place one pot ontop of another for a voila! instant double boiler instead of thinking I need to go buy a new kitchen accoutrement.

I am trying to live my life this way and hopefully get out of debt and then only spend my money on things like books, movies, language classes, cashmere sweaters, wine, good food, piano lessons for my kids, etc.

White button-up blouse from husband’s closet

Levis rolled up

VIntage Mexican silver choker

Turquoise sandals (Target)

Menu:

Breakfast: small dish plain whole milk yogurt; coffee

Lunch: hard roll with laughing cow cheese spread; leftover green salad; carrots

Dinner: McDonald’s cheeseburger brought home; wine (It was for convenience sake and didn’t taste that great.)

Finances:

$65 at market

$9 at Savers for (NEW!) Halloween costumes for kids (I buy them here every year)

European Chic

I am truly a xenofile. I especially am drawn to Europeans. Over the years, my best friends have been from other countries. It just seems that we relate the best. I am not an oddball with them, but one of a kind.

Since I moved to the Midwest I have naturally become friends with women from France and Italy.

Well, I hope this doesn’t sound too bitchy if you live in the Midwest, but ever since I’ve moved here, I never ever find inspiration in what the other women around me are wearing. Granted, I am not hanging out downtown or in the “hip” areas of the Metro. I usually am exclusively around other mothers.

Well, besides my French and Italian friends, whom are always an inspiration, I rarely see anyone whose style I like. (I had a friend tell me this weekend that I was the ONLY woman she ever sees who wears lipstick even). So anyway, when my child started preschool this year, I immediately noticed the style of another mom who was also dropping off her child.

She wore, dark, nearly black jeans cuffed, tweedish ballet slippers with many colors in them, a purple teeshirt with a ruby red cardigan over it and a funky redish hanging necklace. Cute.

Well it ends up she’s from Germany.

I enjoy seeing her every week because she always has something different on that is simple, yet chic.

Today she had on a gray low cut tshirt with a brown cardigan over it, dark jeans and brown suedish flats. She had a silk scarf in red, black, browns and grays knotted in an ascot style at her neck.

She also always has her red patent leather handbag, which is lovely.

Anyway, it is so much fun to have someone whose style I admire cross my path. Sad that it is so rare. I know there is a lot more important things to wory about rather than how you dress, but sometimes I think with just a little effort, you can improve your self esteem and maybe even your life a little.

I have fallen in love with many restaurants, cafes and bars during my annual trips to NYC, but this restaurant has become my favorite. It’s a few doors down from Katz Deli. You can see why. The ambience is fabulous. Dripping candles onto rough-hewn plank tables that could seat a dozen, a shrine on a buffet in the corner. The lighting! The mood! The staff! I loved it. For coffee, my favorite cafe is Robert Arbor (of Joie de Vivre)’s Le Gamin on Houston Street.