If you do not happen to be coming to Paris in the forseeable future, don’t worry, a lot of the Marie Puce label is also available on-line. I guess it is a bit like a virtual shopping trip to Paris!

- Emilie

Fact: In Paris it rains – a lot (sometimes it feels it is never going to stop!). All kids need a raincoat… Not just one of those flimsy little numbers out of cotton, but a real, waterproof raincoat that can withstand the elements.  And there is one classic raincoat that has been around here in France for years and years and years. The classic, yellow Petit Bateau “Ciré”, based on the coat the Breton fishermen wear out to sea. It is kind of the child equivalent to a Burberry trench — not cheap but a classic that can be handed down from sibling to sibling.

I love it, bright yellow, great for girls and boys, practical and classic. I actually have two different sized ones hanging in my hallway right now! (Oh, and they make one for women too!)

- Emilie

Here is my theory for kids shoes: Children grow so fast there seems to be no point to have more than a pair of sneakers, a pair of boots for the winter, a pair of sandals for the summer, and a simple shoe that can go with jeans and dresses and can be worn with a multitude of colours. A limited amount of shoes means that shoes have to be simple and that is hard to find. Most children’s shoes are way too complicated  (in the case of my girls — appliqued flowers, butterflies, sequins and different shades of pink!). I also have a problem with overpriced shoes since, as I mentioned earlier, children do grow so darn fast.

I was very glad to find out that I am not the only person who feels this way. The founders of Clotaire, a new children’s shoe label, wanted to design a simple, reasonably priced shoe that works in all situations, and have done so very successfully. They have exactly two shoe designs: a derby and a low boot in several great colours, which can be worn both by girls, boys (and I reckon by their mums too). I have to say, I am completely won over by the simplicity and style of the designs!

- Emilie

Every once in a while I can get very excited about a new child related invention. My latest discovery? The Bubble Bum. I grant you, it is a bit of a silly name, but check this out: it is an inflatable car seat, that rolls into a tiny bag when deflated. For non-car owners like me this invention could be the answer to a lot of problems: I spend my time dragging car seats around with me when I am renting cars which, though necessary, is such a pain.

Especially since I have started using the Autolib’ service, the great new Parisian electric cars, I have been trying to figure out the car seat situation for my girls and the Bubble Bum is a great solution!

- Emilie

P.S. The photo is of the girls on their Bubble Bum car seats on our latest outing in an Autolib’. Good times!

Rarely has a pair of shoes made her so happy — in her mind they are a mixture between highheels and tap dancing shoes (not too sure what our downstairs neighbours think about that). And they do look cute; they are kind of the forerunner to crocs, easy to slip on, comfortable and more protective than sandals. I could not find Coco’s pair online, but check out this pair from My Little Attitude which are lovely and very similar! Clog dancing pretty much guaranteed.

- Emilie

So here is my list of what to do in Paris with your family for a weekend (or more!) in Paris:

SEE:

The Pompidou Centre – great for the whole family. The permanent collection is world-class and well laid out, not too big and not too small. The ground floor has a little exhibition center just for kids that normally runs parallel to the temporary exhibitions and helps kids understand the exhibition. If nothing else, taking the rolling staircases, which are on the outside of the building in the plastic tubes, is an activity in itself.

The Galerie de l’Evolution – Paris’s natural history museum, which has recently been renovated and is worth a visit, especially if it is rainy outside. It is a beautiful space and is set in the Jardin des Plantes, the Botantical Gardens. It is a lovely to have a walk around in.

The Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes – Also in the Jardin des Plantes is the Menagerie, a little zoo that has been around since the mid-19th century and has not changed a lot since then. It is a great size for smaller children and very charming.

The Sacrée Coeur and Montmartre – Montmartre and the Sacrée Coeur is a fun place to explore – unfortunately a lot of tourists agree with this, so the main streets are often packed with tourists. It is quite easy to avoid them though, as the groups normally stick to a few road and squares.

I recommend taking the funicular (easily my favourite public transportation vehicle) up to the top of the hill (you pay with a metro ticket). The view of Paris from the Sacrée Coeur is one of the best. If you walk back down the steps you will find a beautiful old merry-go-round – you might recognize it from the movie Amelie Poulain.

Musée D’Orsay – The Musée d’Orsay is a really accessible museum for kids from about 5 years and up. It houses a lot of the famous impressionists, so it is a great introduction to art and famous artwork that your kids might already know. It is right in the heart of Paris on the right bank of the Seine, beside the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, the perfect place to go and have a run about in after a museum visit. Do note that one of the crazy things about parks in France is one is often not allowed on the grass and there are fierce looking officers with whistles paroling the parks to make sure it stays that way!

Cité des Enfants - The cité des Enfants is based in the Science Museum a little bit outside the centre of Paris at La Villette. It is definitely worth the treck out if you are staying for a few days. All the exhibitions are interactive, educational and fun. I have been there with my kids and it is quite interesting how different kids gravitate towards different part of the exhibition. The exhibitions are divided between a section for 2-7 year olds and a section for 5-12 year olds. I would advise booking tickets in advance from the museum’s website.

PLAY:

Luxembourg Gardens – The Luxembourg Gardens is possibly my favourite park in Paris – it is beautiful and very, very Parisian. Again you will stumble over the problem that it is hard to find a piece of grass to sit on, but you can sit on the famous chairs, go on the merry-go-round, rent little boats to push around the little pond with a stick, visit the play area (you will notice all the French parents sitting on the benches outside the area while the foreign parents are running around the area trying to keep an eye on their children).

Jardin d’Acclimatisation – the Jardin d’Acclimatisation is situated in the bois de Bologne, on the west side of Paris. This is without a doubt my children’s favourite park. It is a bit like a permanent fun fair with rollercoaster rides, a domestic animal zoo with some random lama’s chucked in, little ponies to ride on, swings, a little water park and several play areas. There is a little train that goes from Porte Maillot to the Jardin which children love!

Parc Floral – on the other side of Paris in the east is the Parc Floral, situated in the bois the Vincennes. It has a great play area and also over the summer has a great climbing circuit through the trees from 6 years onwards. Children are put into harnesses and get to climb and swing through the forest. The Parc Floral also hosts open air concerts (mostly classic and jazz) during the summer months.

Parc de la Villette – If you have trekked out to the Cité des Enfants, don’t miss the play area in the Parc de la Villette. It has some of the best play equipment I have seen, for all age groups.

EAT:

Petit Café du Monde – Though it is tucked away in a residental area in the 11th arrondissement, do stop by this café if you are in the area. It is especially good if you have small kids as there is a great play area and parents can relax with a good coffee and a piece of organic cake while kids play.

Pain Quotidien – The Pain Quotidien has branches all around the world, but I wanted to include this in my list as it has something 99% of French cafés have not: highchair and a changing table. The branch I go to is right in the middle of Paris in the Marais, and it is a good brunch/ lunch pit stop.

Salon de Thé Bonpoint – This tea room is in the basement of the beautiful flagship store of Bonpoint. It is a perfect place to stop for lunch after a morning of shopping around St Germain or after having had a run around the Luxembourg Gardens which are only a few minutes walk.

Rose Bakery – Courtney introduced me to Rose Bakery as I was refusing to go to an English bistro in Paris. She insisted and I now love this place. It is especially good for breakfast, if you are not a huge fan of the croissant and pain au chocolat’s on offer in French cafés. There are several branches of Rose Bakery in Paris..

Marché des Enfants Rouges – The Marché des enfants rouges is situated in the north part of the Marais and is such a fun places for kids as you order your food from the different stalls and sit down along long table and benches to eat your food. There is a great Japanese stand, but you can also choose between crepes and creole food to name a few.

Café de l’Industrie – This is as classic a French hip café as they come. I like it because they like kids in this place. No special extras are offered to them but no one minds if things get spilt of if a table is a bit noisy. There is a very reasonable kids menu if you ask if it.

SHOP:

Bon Marché – I am not a big fan of department stores, but if you are looking for a place that has everything under one roof, the Bon Marché is the place to go. It is not as crowded as the Galerie Lafayette on the other side of the Seine, and the toy department is fabulous, as it the children’s clothes department (and the shoe department, and the handbag department…)

Marie Puce is a lovely little boutique in the heart of the 6th arrondissement. Beautifully designed French clothes, mostly made in France. Classic with a interesting twist. Definitely worth having a look at. (If you don’t happen to be coming to Paris in the near future you can also shop on their website.

Serendipity is just down the road from Marie Puce, it is made the most famous interior design shop for children in Paris. It mixes it’s own designs together with carefully chosen pieces. You will find everything her from beds to room accessories.

Bonpoint – The flagship store of this label is well worth a visit, there are rooms after rooms of beautiful children’s clothes, housed in a beautiful house, just off the Luxembourg Gardens.

Bonton – Bonton used to be under the Bonpoint umbrella but is now flying on it’s own. The recently opened flagship store on the boulevard Filles de Calvaire in the 3rd is great, there is a hairdresser, the lovely Bonton clothes, an interior deco department, a great little book department, accessories for birthday parties

Wowo – Wowo is a tiny children’s clothes boutique just across the street from Bonton on the rue Froissart with sweet, quirky designs. They have a great collection of baby, boys and girls clothes. I also love their fabric which they sell in store by the meter.

Petit French Trotters – French Trotters has been around for year and has a great collection of women’s clothes. Pretty much next door, Petit French Trotters has opened with an equally great collections of children’s clothes.

Alice à Paris – Alice à Paris has managed a rare feat: stylish French clothes at very reasonable prices, I stop in one of the boutiques a couple of times a year to stock up.  There are several boutiques around Paris.

Talc – Another great French label and a big favourite with the mom’s out here. The boutique is in the 6th in the rue Jacob. The designs are simple but comfy and fun. The clothes are often recognisable by the cute animal ears sewn on top of the hoods.

Soeur – this one is an interesting one as this shop designs for the teenage market from about 10 years up (though both Esther and I have found some pretty nice pieces for ourselves there). The Soeur style does represent the style a lot of teenage girls in Paris dress – relaxed but with style. The boutique is the the rue Bonaparte also in the 6th.

SLEEP:

Georges V – This is THE address if you are staying in Paris grand style. Products based on the age of the style will be supplied, each child receives a present on it’s arrival, a children’s hairdresser can be ordered to come to the room and games and toys can be borrowed from reception. The Georges V comes with a prices but I am sure the service is impeccable

I-Escape is one of my favourite website to find hotels on and their list of Paris family-friendly hotels is really good

VRBO is a great way to find a holiday flat without using an agency. A few friends of mine have used VRBO to find a short term rental in Paris and have always been really happy with the flats they have found. Staying in a flat if you are travelling with kids does have advantages, as being able to cook meals at home after a long day of sightseeing can be a life saver!

Now I do like my fashion as much as the next Parisian and I do also like to dress my children well. I have been trying to be a lot more conscious about buying ethical and environmentally friendly clothes. Nixie Clothing is one of the brands I have recently discovered and I love it. The clothes are beautiful and whimsical, perfect for the upcoming few months. The fabrics (mostly vintage) are sourced locally in the UK and the clothes are made locally too. Question is: when are they going to start making clothes in my size?

- Emilie

Have you had a peek at the new summer collection by Nils and Happy to See You, one of my favourite French labels? The summer collection is so darling. Simple cotton tops, dresses and tunics for boys and girls. I love the fact that all the clothes exist for girls and also their dolls. I have also noticed that some tops are now available for moms too (size S and M)!

All the clothes are made in France. I do have a soft spot for locally made things– it is so rare!

- Emilie

]]> http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/04/23/nils-and-happy-to-see-you-2/feed/ 4 http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/04/20/giant-coloring-poster/ http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/04/20/giant-coloring-poster/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:00:26 +0000 Emilie in Paris http://babyccinokids.com/blog/?p=28693

Here is yet again a product that I am officially buying for the good of my children, but to be honest, I actually also want it myself. It is a 3m (which I believe is 10 ft) long giant colouring poster! Can you imagine pulling this out of your hat one rainy weekend, when everyone is cranky and a little bit bored?? I reckon this could be a hit for the whole family! It can be used as wallpaper that kids officially can draw on,  or you can spread it out on the floor or use as a tablecloth for a party — the possibilities are endless.

- Emilie

Here in France we have some great patisseries, from croissants to profiteroles. But sometimes there is nothing more delicious to eat with a good cup of tea, than a piece of shortbread. I think even the French would agree…

My friend Audrey and I have made it our mission to put together the perfect recipe and, over the last week, we have been taking turns at turning up at work with a box of  freshly baked shortbread. We have been accused of trying to sabotage people’s waistlines, which could not be further from the truth! Finding the perfect shortbread recipe is a serious endeavor, and sacrifices need to be made!

I find it particularly interesting how many variations there can be for a cookie that is made out of 4 main ingredients: butter, sugar, flour and a pinch of salt! Who knew? So here is our recipe, I would love to hear what your think about it, especially if there are some genuine Scots out there who might have some secret tips!

Shortbread:

• 100 g of white sugar
• 170 g of soft butter
• 200 g of flour
• 100 g of rice flour
• 1 pinch of salt

Mix together the sugar, salt and the butter until the mixture colour and becomes pale yellow. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and the rice flour and add it to the butter/ sugar mix. Mix it until if becomes a big round ball. Wrap the ball in cellophane and let it cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Pre-heat the oven to 160° Celsius.  Roll out the dough to make a rough square and cut the dough into fingers. They should be about 5mm thick. Prick them a couple of times with a fork and bake until barely golden. Sprinkle with a bit of extra sugar. By the way you can replace the rice flour with normal flour, it just gives the cookie an extra bit of crunch.

- Emilie

In our little household, we have actually gone through more tea sets than an elephant in a china shop. These tea sets have been made out of plastic, china, paper…most of them have been truely hideous, especially as they have been coloured on with markers and otherwise defaced.

A tea set is the ultimate toy though and little Violette can spend hours making tea, pouring out the tea and serving it to her imaginary friends (she actually still thinks it is called a “coffa’ tea” -mix between a coffee and a cup of tea… which cracks me up every single time).

So I have been on the lookout for a new tea set and discovered this super sweet set by Natalie Lété, one of my favourite current designers. I want one in my size! I love the retro bright colours and the little suitcase it comes in. This little tea set is perfect to have my coffa’ tea served in…

- Emilie

We have the Paris Map and I am now thinking of adding the London Map to our collection. We travel to London so much, it is such a cute reminder of our travels. The maps have recently been revisited with new vibrant colours… how lovely is the London Bus Red of the image above? Also new at Famille Summerbelle are the laser-cut maps, which I think look so great too, they are kind of the grown up version of the screen printed maps!

- Emilie

Here is a little list:

Marie from Paris is a lovely story that takes you through the everyday life of a typical little Parisian, from school to family traditions. My girls love it, as Marie lives almost the same life as they and their friends do.

Henri’s Walk to Paris — a beautifully illustrated book I discovered via Black Eiffel. It’s such a cute story about a boy who dreams about coming to Paris. One day he packs up his lunch and gets on his way. He soon realized that Paris is very different from where he comes from.

Paris – City Walks with Kids are the big set of cards I have written about previously. Each card has a different itinerary on it, taking you to loads of interesting places. They are specially designed to make sure that the walk is not too long and boring for kids. It is a great idea, as you don’t need to lug around a whole guide book with you.

Paris, Mon Imagier is a little book for smaller children, with illustrations of all things Parisian with the words in French and in English. A great first introduction to Paris.

Paris Pop-Up is maybe not the most practical book to have, but a cool thing to have as a memory of your trip. You will find all the famous buildings and sites in this book with a description of each on of them.

Paper City Paris: even if I just recently wrote about these, I wanted to mention this downloadable craft by Made By Joel again, just because it is so cute and such a lovely way to learn about Paris through play.

-Emilie

I have recently done a little bit of work on our flat and it’s amazing what a lick of paint and a few new accessories can do! It sometimes feels like I have moved into a new apartment! It is equally amazing how long it takes for even the smallest renovation to finish. Though the decorators left a month ago, I am still hanging up pictures and screwing in hooks and shelves. My excuse is that I am taking my time to find exactly the right place to hang the pictures and exactly the right hooks to screw in.

Some of the hooks I found was from a lovely little label called: My Little Home. They are really cute and have a nice vintage feel to them. I love the muted colours and the discreet little stars and dots painted on them…

- Emilie

Spring poked its head around the corner and very quickly disappeared again here in Paris! In our brief window of sunshine, I got excited and started unpacking our summer clothes that I had stored away over the winter. I came across a super cute dress of Violette’s that I made ages ago, from the most versatile pattern I have ever bought. I have made dresses, tunics and nightgowns based on this pattern from size 6 months to 5 year old, each of them being a success. I think this must also be one of the easiest patterns I know, without buttonholes, smocking or zips. Coco, Violette and I had a lot of fun looking through my little stash of fabrics and choosing some for new summer dresses.

If you are feeling like I did this weekend, motivated to quickly put together a simple but cute little summer dress, I really recommend this pattern! By the way: the photo of Violette was taken by the very talented Monika Elena last summer in the Tuileries Gardens. She is going to be in Paris in May for children’s photo sessions, in case anyone wants to book a session with her!

- Emilie

]]> http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/03/22/madeline-dress/feed/ 7 http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/03/21/dinner-with-emilie-from-babyccino-kids/ http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2012/03/21/dinner-with-emilie-from-babyccino-kids/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:00:12 +0000 Emilie in Paris http://babyccinokids.com/blog/?p=27893
For us dinner can be the best of times and it can be the worst of times…. For my daughters and I, it is such an important moment to catch up after a long day. It can also be a moment of frustration,when 3 tired females have different opinions on how the meal is supposed to go down and what is edible and what isn’t…

As I work full time, I only pick the kids up from school at 6pm, so it is a mad rush getting home, getting a meal ready, doing homework, squeezing in a bath and a bedtime story. I try to pre-cook at least 3 meals during the weekend, so I don’t have to think when I get home during the week. Big favorites are lasagne (a simplified variation on this one) and shepherd’s pie (with as many vegetables squeezed in as possible) and all sorts of soups (from vegetable to chicken noodle) — basically dishes which can be easily re-heated. I also often pre-make some pasta sauces in big batches and freeze them.

A BIG treat is crepes: the girls get the toppings ready while I make the batter and everyone is allowed to put together their own concoctions. Last time we did it, Violette insisted on a houmous and tomato crepe…. who can argue with that? I think I it is even possible to pre-make to batter the night before but I have never tried this! I do usually serve up a grated carrot salad first, as there is very little interest in vegetables once the crepes are ready. I do think that kids will survive if they don’t always get a freshly cooked meal made from scratch. Scrabbled eggs with toast and a salad is totally ok, too. The girls are given a fairly healthy 3 course meal for school lunch here in France, so I feel that dinner can be simpler.

We usually eat in the kitchen and I do insist on the girls sitting down properly and eating without getting up and down — it is such a good way of finding out how their day went! The girls are getting very good at setting the table and stacking the dishwasher after dinner. The table does always look a bit rock’n roll after they have set it, but, as they say, Rome was not built in a day.

Friday nights are our favorite nights, as I try to make it into a film night, with pizza (delivery), popcorn, ice cream and a movie we all like. We put blankets and cushions on the floor and a cheeky glass of red wine for me is mandatory. The girls get to stay up a little bit later and it is so cozy to relax and ease into the weekend.

Here is one of my favourite recipes for a chicken and broccoli stirfry that I can prepare the night before and then cook up in about 15 mins when we get back home. It so easy and delicious.

You will need:

• a small head of broccoli
• 2 small chicken breasts
• 1 egg
• 200 gr of egg noodles

And for the marinade: lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, 1 shallot, a pinch of sugar and anything else you fancy (coriander, chilli..)

In the evening I make a marinade out lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce and pinch of sugar, a chopped échalotte and a crushed garlic clove. Then I cube some chicken breasts and add them to the marinade. I cover the bowl and stick it in the fridge over night and until the next evening when I get home. When I get home I quickly soak some noodles in boiling water. I then just need to put the marinated chicken into a wok with the sauce and start frying it up. While it is cooking, I wash and chop up a head of broccoli and stir-fry it with the chicken. Finally, I add in the noodles and for a finishing touch pour over it a whipped egg, to slightly blend all the ingredients together. It literally takes me 15 minutes from the moment I arrive through the door to the moment dinner is on the table! (It is a hectic 15 mins, I admit).

Rome must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Maybe because of the warm light so unique to this city which makes its palazzi in hues of gold and terracotta glow at sunset. Perhaps it has to do with the beauty of its flowering balconies and rooftops or the regal stance of the pine and sycamore trees that line the river and fill the parks. Of course it could be the abundance of wealth in monuments and churches, important ruins and treasures. And to top it off, that balmy climate, so mellow in each season giving a romantic feeling you can’t get enough of as you walk the cobblestone streets and listen to the sweet sounds of Roma. Here are some ideas for a weekend in Rome…

SEE:
CASTEL S. ANGELO - Castel Sant’Angelo has ramps and secret passages, weapons and artillery, frescoes and even papal bedchambers. Be sure to visit the terrace with amazing views of Rome at the top. The covered passage (passetto) is a battlement wall which connects it to St. Peter’s and served as an escape route for the Pope when he was under siege.

THE COLISEUM - Symbol of Rome with its gladiator games and wild animal hunts, the arena featured seating for 50,000 spectators. At times it was filled with water so that naval battles could be held. It is, of course, the best attraction in Rome.

ST. PETER’S DOME -  Climbing the Cupola… There are 320 steps to the top of the dome, if you’re up for a strenuous walk. By taking the elevator, you can see the view into the basilica from inside the dome while standing amidst the beautiful mosaics that line the walls. The narrow steps that wind around the elevator reach the roof and offer outstanding views of the square and all of Rome.

PANTHEON - The Pantheon’s huge dome has a large opening which is the temple’s only source of natural light. It is 27 feet in diameter and open to the sky (the floor is gently sloped to allow for runoff of rainwater). Its extremely thick walls, 16 huge columns and gigantic bronze doors strike an impression on visitors as a reminder of the great Roman empire.

PLAY:
VILLA BORGHESE - The second largest public park in Rome, it was once residence to the Borghese family. With its fountains, gardens, forests, historical buildings and museums, it has an almost fairy tale feel to it. There are many attractions for children, such as pony rides, bicycle rental and four-seat cycling with assisted pedalling near the CASINA DI RAFFAELLO. This is a magical daycare – a workshop where children can play and are free to use their imagination. At the GIARDINO DEL LAGO, a pond with classic temple in the middle and exotic vegetation all around, you can rent a small row boat. There is a movie theatre for children, the CINEMA DEI PICCOLI and BIOPARCO, a zoo where children can see many animals and learn about habitats and animal conservation. (there’s also a self-service restaurant ideal for children). Be sure to ride or walk to the Pincio above Piazza del Popolo where there is a magnificent view of Rome.

EXPLORA MUSEUM - Explora is a customized town for children, based on the principle of learning by doing. The Museum gives children the opportunity to have fun in a stimulating environment while touching, testing and playing. Workshops and temporary exhibitions are all ‘hands-on’ experiences. Children enter pint-sized scenes of everyday life where they can shop at a supermarket, purchase stamps at a post office, play in a television studio or climb aboard a fire engine. They can even enter a multimedia room where energy is produced by air, waves or light.

TECHNOTOWN VILLA TORLONIA - A medieval villa has been restored to entertain children from 8-17 in an area dedicated to nature and technology. It’s located on the grounds of the beautiful Villa Torlonia park, where there is a neo-classic villa, now museum, which was once the summer home for Mussolini. There are interactive games with special effects and interactive floors such as a time machine to discover ancient parts of Rome in which two teams compete, scenes are shown on 3 screens, and a virtual glove and glasses are worn. In all, there are 8 rooms containing sophisticated technology and educational games to enjoy in a fun, creative way. Also worth a visit while in the park is the Casina delle Civette, for its Swiss lodge look and stained glass windows. Enjoy a bite to eat at the adjacent restaurant, la Limonaia.

GIANICOLO HILL - Every day on Gianicolo hill, a cannon blast marks the noon hour. The cannon is located just below one of the largest and most panoramic terraces of the city, the piazza dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi. Also worth seeing for children is the special outdoor puppet theatre which puts on shows daily. (free of charge, but an tip is appreciated)

EAT:
GUSTO - At Gusto, the gastronomic experience equals quality in its dishes and service but also a moment to savour in slow life. Taste is shown in its interior design, music, art and emporium. Gusto is a model for concept food, located in Piazza Augusto Imperatore, an important historical area of Rome, facing ancient ruins. It includes a restaurant, pizzeria, wine bar and shop, cheese bar, seafood and vegetable restaurant as well as a bookshop and emporium. You can eat indoors in the international setting or outdoors under the arcade by Piacentini with views of the piazza and the Ara Pacis Museum.

GELATERIA VENCHI - With a motto that declares, “Once you taste it, you’ll understand,” you’ve just got to try it.
Superb ice cream that will make you want more. Use of simple genuine elements: milk, fresh cream, sugar and fibers along with prime ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, pistachios and fresh fruits. The result is ice cream which is genuine, rich in taste and all Italian, with particular care for nutritional values, manufacturing procedures and respect for the land. Flavors range from traditional Venchi classics for chocolate and cream lovers to fresh seasonal fruits, granite and fruit popsicles in summertime.

Antica Enoteca della Croce - Ever popular with locals, artists and shoppers for a drink or a meal, the Antica Enoteca has been around since 1842. You can sample wines, eat tasty dishes from the buffet served on the polished wood and brass bar or choose something from the restaurant menu. In warmer months there are tables set up outside.

LA BUVETTE -This elegant tea room/snack bar/restaurant has the look and feel of an old cafè with its tasteful surroundings and  professional service. The chef suggests a traditional Italian and French menu. Hand-made pasta and prime ingredients make up first and second courses while the desserts are all homemade with the perfect mix of chocolate, fruits and cream. In the morning you can find an excellent breakfast buffet and at 5p.m. tea and cakes.

SHOP:
Il PESCIOLINO ROSSO - The shop marks the return of toys which are hand-crafted traditional treasures. Carefully made with natural colours and non-toxic materials, and chosen to stimulate the curiosity and creativity of children, these toys also help parents discover  the pleasure of playtime in which the toy becomes an ideal companion for travel and life.

There are books by many Italian editors which include texts by important children’s authors while the toys come from many different countries including Japan, United States (Manhattan Toy) and Scandinavian countries. They are made out of natural materials, in fabric, crochet work and wood with a special care for design. Close attention has been dedicated to promoting the child’s educational and recreational development by respecting the area where the toys have been made. Many of these companies produce their line in the Far East where they have chosen to follow local traditions.
Upon request, children’s bedrooms are designed with custom-made furnishings.

BONPOINT - Bonpoint, an exclusive French line of clothing from age zero to sixteen is haute couture for the young. Fabrics are highest quality cottons and linens. The designs are not trendy, but give a bit of a modern edge to otherwise classic designs. Piazza S. Lorenzo in Lucina

PINCO PALLINO - Pinco Pallino’s fashionable address is next to Tiffany’s on Via del Babuino. Designers and owners, Imelda and Stefano Cavalleri export their unique line of children’s fashion worldwide. With stores in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, they feature whimsical designs as well as classic and contemporary cuts and cater to the young globe trotter with a princely wallet.

METTIMI GIU - Near the Spanish steps, this shop has casual and sporty clothes for newborns to 15-year olds and their mothers. It sells nice sweatshirts, jackets, jerseys and jeans in a variety of fun brands including Oilily. Via Dei Due Macelli 59

CARTONNAGE LEGATORIA DELL’ORSO - Handcrafted creations in which the client is free to choose the type of paper, ribbons and canvas which come from different parts of the world, often handmade with natural colors or recycled. They can be used to create objects, invitations, albums, books, boxes or place cards for special events. Federica, with her sweet smile and gentle hands creates precious handicrafts of extreme precision. Julia Roberts shopped here as she filmed Eat, Pray and Love next door. Via dell’Orso, 39

STAY:

VILLA LAETITIA - This historic residence owned by the Fendi family, consists of a series of small apartments, with creatively designed interiors.

HOTEL DE RUSSIE - An oasis in the midst of the bustling city centre, this luxury 5 star hotel features terraced gardens and an exclusive health club.

CASA HOWARD - The charm and elegance of a private home in a fantastic location.

RESIDENCE VITTORIA – Apartments in the center of Rome that are modern and functional.

PORTRAIT SUITES - Luxurious Italian style with custom-made hospitality.

H&H HOME - Located in an 18th century building, the apartment has modern facilities and a small balcony. Bicycles, tours around Rome and even babysitting are some of the services offered.

- Emilie

BE ORGANIZED: I think it was Courtney’s husband who once told me that the reason he was so organized was because he was actually quite a lazy person (Apologies Michael, if I am quoting the wrong person). A truer word has never been spoken: a bit of organization makes life a LOT easier. Now people knowing me will laugh at this point, as I am one of the least organized people on the planet. But everything is relative and even at my very low level, being organized has made life a lot less stressful. Small things like setting the breakfast table in the evenings, getting clothes for the whole family ready at night, having a shower at night and not in the morning, ordering food online and pre-cooking dinner for the following days is important to a single-parent household. We can’t just pop out quickly to the shops if something is missing nor do we have the spare time to choose an outfit for work when we are trying to dress and feed two children in the morning. At one point I started putting my girls to bed in a a pair of leggings and a t-shirt so that in the morning I just had to slip a dress on top of them and they would be ready — basically I try to come up with things that will just make life run a little bit more smoothly with a bit of forward planning.

LOWER STANDARDS: I think it’s quite normal for single parents to try to do way too many things to compensate for the lack of a traditional family set-up, as we (or I) constantly feel guilty. But it’s not worth it. I have tried to decide on what is important to me and what isn’t. Turns out that a lot of things are not that important. My kids have turned up at birthday parties with the present wrapped up in magazine pages because I had run out of wrapping paper — nobody cared. We have had pasta with olive oil for dinner, because I didn’t have the time to buy food… and the kids survived. Sometimes their clothes are not ironed and perfectly co-ordinated or their hair is not properly brushed. Sometimes guests have turned up and the beds have not been made yet or the dishes washed and stashed away. I have officially decided that this is totally ok!

GIVE YOURSELF A TIME OUT: This point is essential and yet the one most of us totally fail at. Because most single parents work full time and deal with kids and everything else, we have relatively little time for ourselves. It is very important to somehow find the time even if it seems impossible. The problem is that if we don’t find some space to do something for ourselves we burn out, which is no good for anyone. I have tried many things: yoga, tennis, weekend away, massages and going out. I have not been able to keep one thing up consistently, but I have found that even just trying out new things and planning adventures has kept me a little bit more sane. The one thing that is easy to do is to simply walk for a good 20 mins with some good music on. Even if I am just walking along the metro line to work, it does clear my head!

Anyway, these are just little things that work for me. If you have other tips for what works for you, please share!

- Emilie

This past weekend Coco, Violette and I popped round to visit a new little theatre school and children’s bookshop right by our house called Attrape Nuages. I totally recommend it if you live in Paris — it is super cute! We picked up a really cool little shadow theatre, which has been the sole source of entertainment in our household for the last few days. I actually hadn’t the faintest clue how a shadow theatre works, but it is such a simple idea! Who knew?

The theatre comes with all the bits and pieces you need to replay Little Red Ridinghood, even with a little flashlight. If you get tired of Little Red Ridinghood, there are refills for other stories. I am going to try and make some of my own characters and backdrops with some of the girls drawings, I reckon it could be a fun craft project…

Check out this little YouTube video to show how the whole thing works.

- Emilie