Personal Post: I Love Paris...Texas (Part1)

I Love Paris...Texas

 Circa: 2015

I spent last weekend in Paris....well, Paris, Texas that is! At the last minute, I had the opportunity to head home before the big rush at work this Spring and I took it. While I love our new home and the life we have built in one of the sweetest towns in Texas, it is always nice to get back to my roots and where my heart is... Paris!

My weekend started at my favorite place, Paris Bakery! It has all the charm and beauty of a hundred year old bakery tucked away on one of the many streets of France but or version includes a cowboys on the wall, paying tribute to our rough and tumble past! 

Everything they make is delicious, but I was lucky enough be there for my FAVORITE lunch, the oven-fried green tomatoes with monterey jack on cheddar scallion bread with a cup of chili! Words can't properly express how much I love this sandwich..and really fried green tomatoes in general. I even devoted a blog post to the subject that you can find here. Once again they did not disappoint! And if once wasn't enough I stopped in the next morning for breakfast. If you are ever in the Paris area Paris Bakery is a MUST! 

After a delicious lunch and shopping at some of my favorite stores in beautiful downtown Paris (coming in Part 2) I had to stop and take a few shots of these amazing murals right off the square. It is such a clever and beautiful way to offer a glimpse into the city's past while bringing life to some of the town's older buildings. It makes my heart happy to see how local artists are helping to revitalize and preserve our downtown. 

I personally adore this lovely lady with her bike! 

My next stop was to visit my sister and her husband on their gorgeous farm just outside of Paris. I can't wait for them to finish their guest bedroom so I can spend the night and wake up with the sunrise and have coffee with the cows. While I enjoy the conveniences of the city I love getting away to the country every now and then!   


Ever since I heard that they had a new, four-legged, addition to their family I was dying to meet her. This sweet girl was abandoned by her mother after her birth and my sister and her husband have been caring for her ever since. After a few close calls and long nights I am very happy to report that she seems to be on her way to a happy and healthy life. Who knew my sister's nursing skills would come in so handy on the farm? 

While I was there I took it upon myself to name her Little Miss Elly May Dejoux. I am not sure if the name stuck after I left but that is what she will always be to me. Since she is still a baby and nursing she tends to think anything and everything is a bottle ...including fingers. Someone please get that sweet girl a pacifier stat! Just Kidding! I am still debating on bringing her back to Houston with me sometime while she is still small enough to ride in my car. I think our backyard is big enough! Not kidding! 

After playtime and snuggles with Elly I couldn't wait to see my sister's home and her newly remodeled bathroom. It looked amazing and of course I forgot to take pictures! I am going to just have to talk her into coming on the blog occasionally as a guest writer because she has amazing decorating skills of her own, just with a rustic touch. When I reach for a silver tray or tea cup she grabs a piece of antique barn wood and a mason jar! 

We'll this is where the first part of "I Love Paris" ends and look for part two next week when I can't wait to share some of my favorite shopping spots with you! I hope that everyone has a a wonderful week! 

Personal Post: Life at the Museum

Life at the Museum 

Circa: 2014



Historic 1883 John and Lottie Moore Home

It's been a busy few weeks at the museum to say the least! Between a Murder Mystery Event, Thanksgiving and Christmas Candlelight Tours I have hardly had time to sleep, let alone blog. However with Christmas quickly approaching things are beginning to slow down  and  I will be able to bring you some fabulous holiday posts starting today!  While I love sharing my favorite recipes, D.I.Y. projects, decorating ideas and more, I thought that it would be fun to share something a little more personal and give you a  glimpse into my life at the museum.  

 

This fall we had the opportunity to create new and wonderful events for the museum, many of which we have been dreaming about for a year or two! In November we hosted our first Murder Mystery Event at the Historic Moore Mansion. Following the untimely death of our speaker, guests searched the home high and low for clues in an attempt to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice. Now, when I say search the home high and low I meant it.  One of my first tasks was to clean a 131 year old attic. To most it would be a daunting and possibly depressing job, however I jumped at the chance and dragged/recruited one of our amazing interns to help! I discovered that all you need is a great attitude, plenty of brooms and a fabulous soundtrack! "Shake It Off" was a favorite for the day and very appropriate due to the large amounts of dust on everything.  

Katie and I cleaning up the attic

The Murder Mystery event was amazing and we already have plans to host another one this spring! My husband was a great sport and provided the "dead body" for our evening. Sadly to his dismay he was murdered before the hors d'oeuvres and champagne were served. He is truly the best and I don't know what I would do without him.

Chris and I before he was murdered on the stairs...

Following the Murder Mystery I turned my attention to my next project, preparing the Cottage for our annual Candlelight Tours. Every year during the first week of December  our museum offers special evening tours of our beautiful historic homes that are decorated for Christmas and lit by candles. This year I had the pleasure of decorating our historic 1850's cottage for this holiday season with the assistance of our wonderful docents and staff. Our cottage is a wonderful home that was built in Richmond, Texas in 1855 by the grandson of the Jane Long "The Mother of Texas."

The theme was Christmas during the Civil War in Texas and we led guests on a guided tour of this home sharing a glimpse of how the family would have celebrated Christmas Eve in 1861. It was a magical evening and sitting in the home filled with candlelight and Christmas carols echoing in the background, for a moment you felt as is you had been transported back in time. 

Oh and did I mention that I had to dress in costume to lead our tours? It is a tough job but someone has to do it!

While the museum may keep me busy, it also offers wonderful opportunities and memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.  If you would like to see a little more of my everyday vintage life you can  follow me on Instagram at Jessn012!