Bastille Day!

Cocoa and Lavender

In honor of my French husband, today's post is all about Bastille Day!  I remember being in Paris with him while we were dating on the 14 of July and watching the parade and the planes fly by from his family's apartment window.  It was amazing!

Now we do our best to bring a little bit of France home for our children to enjoy.  Here are a few little things that you might like to bring a taste of Bastille day to your family. 

Wonderful recipes for your Bastille Day fete (or any summer day!) from Cocoa and Lavender.

Try this French Inspired Cocktail - The Green Beast

A few fashion lessons from our favorite French Style Icons.

A few tips from my friends at BeautySnob so that we can do as the French do! 

Win Wednesday - French Impressions

Dallas author and interior designer, Betty Lou Phillips, is one of my favorites!  She is so charming, talented and gracious.  Her interior design firm, Interiors by BLP, is in demand all over the world and her new book, French Impressions, is her tenth interior design book!  Amazing!  


Each page of French Impressions is more beautiful than the next.  The photographs are gorgeous and give great interior design ideas for everything from a grand dining room to a kitchen pantry.  Every detail of a home, from the laundry room to the closet, should have beautiful decor and her ideas and inspirations are fantastic.  


You can get your copy of French Impressions at a book signing event at Neiman Marcus Downtown on Thursday, October 14 anytime between 1-3.


Betty Lou also shares tips on living like the French!  She shares all sorts of tips for dinner party etiquette all from a uniquely French perspective.  


She writes:


-Be aware of the 15 minute rule. If asked to arrive at 8, appear exactly 15 minutes after the appointed hour.  do not arrive any earlier or more than five minutes later.


-It is unacceptable to apply lipstick at the table.  In fact, it simply is NOT done.  French women are united in the belief that "a woman must never put on lipstick in public; one does that in private."  "She must never let anyone witness her grooming in public."


-Do not cut salad; fold a leaf with the fork or the help of a small piece of bread.  It is rare that leaves are large or unwieldy, since most hostesses see to that.


-Some Parisians say it is a supreme compliment to the hostess for a guest ask for recipe; but do so later, not at table.


-If asked to pass the salt, pass only the salt, not the salt and pepper.  Here, the two are inseparable but not in France.  Since salt has superstitious connotations, place it within easy reach rather than handing it directly to the person. 


-Between courses hands must rest on the table, not in one's lap.  


-Try a portion of every course.  Unless allergic to a food being served, it is a faux pas not to do so. 


To win a copy of French Impressions,
-Sign up for our newsletter
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-or leave a comment on this blog!


The winner will be announced on Friday so check back to see if it is you!  Good Luck!