Bonne Annee!

We wish the brightest of New Years and 2011

Warmly,

Duchess & Bird

Preparing for Our Company

Besides all the tree trimming, baking, entertaining and decorating that is d'rigeur for this time of year, Duchess and I love to prepare the guest rooms for our guests.  We have traveled widely and know what pleases us besides fresh sheets, a stack of fluffy towels and an array of pillows.

We have a few rules we follow to ensure our guests feel like VIPs.
Lighting~ a bedside lamp should be tall enough to read by (the above photo has a low lamp that would just shine in your eyes!)
Comfort~ The closet should be well stocked with extra blankets or quilts in case your guest get chilly during the night.  Try and find some pretty padded or wood hangers for their clothes.  Get the wire ones out of there!  A book you know they will enjoy and a few magazines of their interest is a well received treat.  If you don't have room for a chair and ottoman try to have a luggage rack for them to use while unpacking.  You don't want dirty suitcases on your lovely bed.

Hunger pangs~ It is fun to fill little boxes with treats for your guests to nibble while they read in bed.  We use our florentine boxes and just line them with wax paper.  Y Hard candy, chocolate and homemade cookies would be sure to delight them.  A basket of fresh fruit is welcomed.  Water in a carafe with its own glass is a necessity.

 Things not to forget~  We always have a pretty stack of stationery and a pad of paper and pens beside the bed or in a drawer nearby. With everyone using smart phones it is nice to have a docking station so they can listen to their music selections and charge their phones.  A spare robe and slippers is very well appreciated when theirs is  just too bulky to bring along.

Of course there is always the possibility your guest will not want to leave!

Bon Soir!

Bon Anniversaire a Nous

Today marks the one year anniversary of Duchess and Bird.  What started as a "what if" between two old friends has become a  delightful reality.
This year has seen us in San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Denver, Dallas, and towns in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire searching for treasures for you.   We are branching out in 2011, adding "Tour Guides" to our resumes as we endeavor to introduce Paris to a group of women going for the first time.  We will be at their beck and call, but are going early to scour the French and Belgian flea markets for Duchess and Bird.  We anticipate adding more tours to Paris in the future, so do check in with us if you are interested.
We hope you have been in touch with your Pierce Brosnans and Gerard Butlers, ( see post below) to whisper your Christmas wishes to them.  You must remember, however, that Pierce and Gerard belong to US, and will be getting us something special again this year.  So you will need to find your own guys who are eager to indulge you.   You can be sure that they have all been in touch with us, and  have put your specially chosen gifts right here on Duchess and Bird. Go to "Gerard's Picks" to find the very one that has your name on it.  They want to spoil you.  Let them!

Thank you, one and all, for helping to make our first year such a grand and exciting adventure. We hope you will return to visit us often, and we look forward to meeting new friends.  We sincerely hope you enjoy the beginning of this wondrous holiday season.

The Purse That Gerard Bought

Okay, yeah it's big.  But I don't hear Bird complaining when she has "flea market" blisters and wonders if I happen to have a Band-Aid.  Or has a little foie gras in her teeth and desperately needs floss.  Or how about a stray hair on the chinny chin...  Tweezers?  Mais oui!  But the poor shop-keepers!   They are horrified as they watch me meander through  tiny aisles of crystal and china, and I believe I hear sighs of relief when I leave.  But here's the thing:  Gerard Butler bought me this huge purple leather bag.  When we were kids, Bird's mother used to wrap up a lovely gift for herself and put it under the Christmas tree, "from Frank Sinatra."  Bird continued this tradition with her annual gift from "Pierce Brosnan."  Last year I believe it was a lovely cashmere throw, but don't tell her husband.  I saw this lovely bag and just knew that Gerard wanted me to have it.  He loves me this much, you see.   So, walk softly and carry a big bag.  Your friends will thank you.
A bientot, mes amis
The Bag Lady

It's All Happening In The Metro!

One day, as we sat waiting for our train, our attention was drawn to a gentleman on the other side of the tracks yelling at us in a long strring of french and huge arm waving.  Luckily Duchess could understand bits of it but before she could translate for me I noticed a group of raggity preteens heading towards us.

 There weren't many people near us on our side and it was dawning on me we were quickly being approached by a band of gypsies!  Duchess and I quickly moved our handbags to the front of us and stared these urchins down!  They were not going to pick our pockets if we had anything to say about it!  And, pleassse! have you seen the size of Duchess's handbag??!  She could knock over a herd raging bulls if she had to!

But we don't want to discourage you from using this wonderful system.  Every stop is a wonder in different designs.  The Louvre stop has Egyptian wonders, the tile work in others is marvelous and some of the best musicians play in their echoing hallways. Its always a theater but do watch your backs for maundering gypsies!

Magic Happens!

I was walking along a deserted street at dusk talking to my lover and planning our evening together.   All of a sudden a crazy lady jumps out of a side street and snaps a photo.  Merdi! What is a stylish french girl to do?  I just ignore her and continue my conversation with Frederic and discussing our plans.  Is Paris not full of crazy people these days?

Paris Favorites

We always stop by this enchanting place when we first arrive to pick up the latest issue of "Paris Walks" to see what is new and walks we haven't be on before.  These low cost walks are in English, always entertaining and the groups that show up for them can be 2 people to 10 and the international mix is wonderful.

Do you recognize where we are by the quote above one of the doorways?