Everyone seems to have a gift guide, so it got me thinking about what I would recommend. I thought about things that I had particularly appreciated this year, either in my travels or my day-to-day life. Some are quite expensive, others are more in the stocking stuffer category. All of them are little luxuries that are an upgrade, or un surclassement (uhn sir-class-mehn) on things I use regularly.
Filt net bag – I talked about how much I like my tri-color net bag on the blog a few weeks ago. Apparently, Ikea now has a less expensive, version and there are some on Amazon, not by Filt, of course. You can get the real thing at Anthropologie, however.
Bagnet – This is a super-strong magnet, encased in leather, that keeps my purse or tote off dirty floors. They have some holiday specials on their site right now, so I might buy another one for me and one to gift.
ID card holder – Like many other people, I need an ID card to open exterior doors where I work. A standard lanyard just wasn’t cutting it for me. I finally sprang for one at Brighton and it definitely lifts a daily object to a higher plane.
Cashmere socks – Last year, my daughter asked for cashmere socks for Christmas, praising their luxurious coziness. After I finished buying for her, I discovered a couple of pairs I’d bought on sale at Brooks Brothers and tucked in a drawer. Oh my. Simply delightful.
A happy umbrella – When it rains, it’s sufficiently dreary without everyone carrying a black umbrella. I asked for “a happy umbrella” for my birthday. I wanted a full-sized one, rather than a collapsable model, which made the search more complex, but I eventually found one that makes me smile in the rain.
Breakfast-in-bed tray My husband brings me breakfast in bed every single day (except if he’s traveling, but then the cat lets me down). He was using a small tray, but I saw a nice one with folding legs and ordered it “for him.” It makes my favorite morning ritual even better. I noticed a similar one at Barnes and Noble last week. You could be just as popular at your home, or maybe someone will serve you.
Membership to The Trustees of Reservations – This spring, I visited Fruitlands, a former Transcendentalist community in Massachusetts. I learned that this is just one of many properties maintained and protected by The Trustees. I bought a membership for the year that allowed my husband and I to enjoy so many of their properties. If you’re not in or near Massachusetts, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have a similar organisation that you can support with a membership.
Waterford silk throw I love a cuddly throw. Last year, I upgraded the ones in our livingroom to pure brushed silk. They are super warm and soft as well as very elegant. In addition, our cat loves them. Drape one over your legs and you’re a cat magnet. I got mine on Ruelala.com, the flash-sale website, at a substantial discount.
Bose sound cancelling headphones This is the splurge recommendation. As much as I love traveling, I loathe the experience of being in a plane. The engine drone drives me nuts, not to mention all of the other noises. These headphones put me in my own bubble. I sleep so much better and am much more able to function when I land.
Joyeux Fêtes!
French podcasts are a great way to develop listening comprehension and learn from interesting people. I use the Apple podcast app on my iPad to listen to them as I get ready for work. Here are my favorites, for the high intermediate to advanced listener, roughly rated in order of degree of difficulty, from easiest to the most challenging:
I’m always looking for ways to practice French between visits to Paris. I found a Netflix series, originally broadcast in France, called Dix pour cent, referred to as Call My Agent! in English. The story revolves around a Parisian talent agency that is trying to stay afloat after the sudden death of the senior agent. The title refers to the fact that agents typically receive ten per cent of their clients’ earnings.
There is a returning cast of characters with the same type of personal and professional issues that we all can relate to, plus a cluster of more unusual problems that make for an entertaining show. In addition, each episode features at least one French star playing him or herself and appearing as clients of the agency. Some of the big names who appear include Cécile de France, Nathalie Baye, and Juliette Binoche. They look like they’re having fun.
I recently had a French mystery explained for me, the difference between neuf and nouveau, both of which mean “new.” I’ve been reading 
Meurtre à Blackness Road
Vigée Le Brun: 
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, 
I got a new handbag when I was in Paris. What kind, you ask. Hermès? Chanel? No, I am now the proud carrier of un filet
My Filt bag is so light that I can slip it inside a larger bag in case I go shopping, but it’s surprisingly roomy. I can fit everything I need for the day inside, including my full-size camera! While Filt bags do come in classic natural cotton, they are also available in a wide variety of colors, in solids as well as stripes.
They also have large bags, fit for a load of groceries, so you can be stylish while you save the environment, one plastic bag at a time. Filt does ship all over the world from their website, but the shipping costs can be pretty steep. Since I came home, I’ve seen them in a few shops in the States and I found them online at a reasonable price 
