Sunday, January 11, 2009

AUREA Turns 1 Year Old!

Though I started using this url in 2006, when attending a theater festival, it wasn't until January 11, 2008, that I created AUREA. For the past year, I have been thrilled by the comments and emails I have been receiving from Internet surfers and have become friends with extraordinary fellow bloggers.
To celebrate AUREA's birthday, I thought I'd re-publish some of my very first posts. In the days to come, I will also re-publish those of my posts that attracted most comments...

January 13, 2008: First Flower PostWhen asked how she would apportion the household money, Nancy Mitford replied that she would spend it all on flowers, saving a mere pound for "everything else". Without taking it to such extremes, I have decided that from now on, I would always have flowers around my Paris apartment. These are white hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis); their scent is exquisite.

Jan. 14, 08: First Fashion PostI love my 'petit bonnet' (little wool hat)... It's actually cashmere, and I purchased it at the super cool Ateliers de la Maille, rue des Francs-Bourgeois in the Marais, where they sell nothing but very cool, sleek knits. And now they're having a big sale, too.

Jan. 15, 08: First Yummy Post

They're beautiful and so tasty... Today I'm making the Japanese dessert Anko (very easy).
Anko lovers can also head for Yamazaki (chaussée de la Muette, in the 16th arrondissement), a Japanese & French pastry shop in Paris.

Jan. 16, 08: First Bookworm PostAs my living room turns more into a book-clogged library every day, I wonder whether I should leave the volumes' dust covers on. There's something about the naked spines of hardcovers that I find elegant and timeless. Where do you stand on this issue?
Read the rest of the post here...

Jan 17, 08: Introducing Benjy
A savvy Parisian with a taste for cheese and cashmere, an accomplished soccer player and a philosopher too (7 pounds of wisdom in the shape of a dachshund), Benjy will occasionally share his musings with us.
You can leave questions for him c/o his amanuensis (Mary-Laure) and, his schedule permitting, he will answer via this blog. His many areas of expertise include etiquette (how's a dog to behave on the train, the subway, the restaurant...), fashion (what to wear in Paris in the winter), relationships (just go ahead and sniff everyone is his motto) and especially pretty girls (he can't get enough of Mary-Laure's lovely girlfriends!), as well as animals' rights (fur-wearers beware).

A billion Thanx to all of you, and especially to Joanna, Marie, Jo and Pia, who were the first one to leave me comments and support my blogging efforts.
And happy birthdays to my friends Ana (yesterday) and Mariame (today)!

41 comments:

Joanna Goddard said...

happy birthday, aurea! thanks for the mention, mary-laure, and i'm so happy you began blogging! xo

Candace said...

Here's to many more years of blissful blogging, Mary-Laure!

:)

Seeker said...

Happy blogaviversary!!!!!

xoxo

Jessie Cacciola said...

congratulations! :)

Anonymous said...

Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire!!!! Alays a pleasure to read your blog...and uffff just a mention of the Marais makes my heart skip a beat...;)

gros bisou!!
nancy

marie said...

happy birthday! im so happy visiting your blog :) have a lovely week and say hi to benjy for me

Kwana said...

Happy 1st Birthday! I'm so glad you are in the blog world. You and your photographs always make me smile.

My Castle in Spain said...

Happy happy blogging Mary-Laure !!
it's always a joy to read you (be it for the literary posts or little chapeaux-posts)

cheers to you !

Kai said...

Happy Blogiversary!!

Glad to have found you. :D

Becky said...

Happy Blog-versary!

Gabbi said...

¡Feliz Cumpleaños querida Mary-Laure!

I loved reading your old posts, such a stylish hat and you and little Benji look very cute in that photo.

Wishing you the very best this upcoming blogger year :) and look forward to your future posts!xoxo

Mary-Laure said...

SEEKER, KAI and BFLAT - I didn't know that new word (blogversary), it's really cool.

MARIE - your message will be relayed to the Oracle...

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SWEET WISHES!

corine said...

Happy first year. Isn't blogging fantastic?

limonana said...

happy birthday to your lovely sweet blog! here's to many many more wonderful posts...

Rebekah said...

Happy Birthday! I really enjoy visiting you here.

You have an award at my blog...come and get it! :)

Mary-Laure said...

CORINE - yes, blogging is fabulous. It really made a BIG difference in my life to be able to share what I love with all you amazing, supportive and tasteful...

REBEKAH - oh thank you, how wonderful to get an award just on AUREA's birthday!!!

Laura in Paris said...

Happy Blog Birthday, Aurea. I was delighted to read again your first posts, such in line with all those that came afterwards, a pleasant harmony I must say.
Congratulations.

Hila said...

Happy blog-birthday Mary-Laure - yours is one of my favourite blogs :)

Alya said...

Oh my God we share the same blog birthdays! My blog turned one January 11 too!

Anonymous said...

Les posts sur le Festival d'Avignon furent une étrange entreprise : écrire en anglais sur un evenement ephemere et local comme le théatre, qui plus est, essentiellement destiné à un public francophone. Il n'y avais pas de photos non plus qui sont pour beaucoup dans le plaisir que nous avons à revenir te visiter sur ton blog. Tu as fais tant de progrès depuis. Mais j'aime aussi ces textes improbables.

Anonymous said...

Les posts sur le Festival d'Avignon furent une étrange entreprise : écrire en anglais sur un evenement ephemere et local comme le théatre, qui plus est, essentiellement destiné à un public francophone. Il n'y avait pas de photos non plus qui sont pour beaucoup dans le plaisir que nous avons à revenir te visiter sur ton blog. Tu as fais tant de progrès depuis. Mais j'aime aussi ces textes improbables.

Anonymous said...

Les posts sur le Festival d'Avignon furent une étrange entreprise : écrire en anglais sur un evenement ephemere et local comme le théatre, qui plus est, essentiellement destiné à un public francophone. Il n'y avait pas de photos non plus qui sont pour beaucoup dans le plaisir que nous avons à revenir te visiter sur ton blog. Tu as fais tant de progrès depuis. Mais j'aime aussi ces textes improbables.

Elena said...

Happy Anniversary! Lovely blog and yummy, yummy dog!

Jo said...

happy one year blog birthday!!! and many, many more!

thank you for the shout-out, i am happy we've been blog friends for so long now n_n

kisses for you!!

Joie de vivre said...

Congratulations! Aw, they grow so fast! :)

Laura said...

Happy Anniversary sweetie! I always love my visit to you. Your classic pictures and keen eye shows your knowledge for beauty of all things.

Jill said...

happy blog anniversary Mary-Laure! i have so enjoyed reading your blog this past year with your unique experiences, great photos, and your terrific writing style. and i look forward to much more!

Rachel said...

Happy bloggy birthday! Can't wait to see what the next year holds.

Anairam said...

Happy Blog Birthday - what a lovely selection of posts!

Anonymous said...

happy happy blog birthday dear marie-laure! it's been wonderful meeting you through our blogs and in person, I look forward to the next time we catch up. Enjoy your blog anniversary! And thank you so much for mentioning me! xx

Joanna said...

Happy 1st blog birthday, Mary-Laure! It's been such a delight reading your posts and meeting you in person. Hopefully we can reschedule our beach walk soon. I'll be checking the weather this week to see if this wind plans on dying down a bit!

heidi said...

Happy Blogiversary!!!!!!! -xxooh

artycho said...

Happy blogday Mary-Laure! I am so glad we met through here!

Line said...

congratulations!

lune_blanc said...

You love Anko?
You are the second non-japanese person who loves Anko lol (first being Gabbi) Many people find it hard to get used the texture I think...my father LOVES Anko and japanese sweets he eats loads a day.
My entire house is becoming a library too Mary-Laure, all my family members are bookwarms, and my father has QUITE a collection.
We can throw away anything but books lol

Roxana said...

Happy Happy Anniversary, Mary-Laure! it is such a lovely and captivating world you have here, I can only wish that you never stop blogging!!!

and I am crazy about anko too! (hi there, Michiko, you see, there are many more non-Japanese people out there loving anko than you think! :-)

Certain Creatures said...

OH happy blogaversary!
I always enjoy visiting AUREA so much!
and btw.. that photo of you and your doggie is sooo cute!
xx

Mary-Laure said...

HILA - oh you know you are also one of my favorites, with your combination of style, sass and high culture.

ALYA - happy blogversary to you too!

TRAVELER'S SOUL - les posts sur Avignon etaient une histoire differente, pas du tout orientee vers le visuel. Je n'avais pas mon Lumix a l'epoque, tu te souviens?

JOIE DE VIVRE - LOL.
They do grow fast! Next thing I know my blog will be heading for college or something...

LAURA - your sweet words made me blush, thank you.

PIA - how could I NOT mention you? You've been a terrific inspiration. Where will we meet next?

MICHIKO - your father sounds like a great person! I'd love to know more about your family.
Yum, anko, I have to see where I can find it in Los Angeles. Gabbi may know, I'll ask her.

ROXANA - it's so cool that you like anko too! Let me know if you try to make it. It's very easy.

Candace said...

Mary-Laure, your Aurea is like a painter's canvas with a palette of colors that become richer with each passing day.

Your words, your photography are the brushes with which you paint your wonderful imagery. I look forward to another year of your art.

BTW, guard your Lumix, or I might steal it away!

:)

Anonymous said...

oui je me souviens.

Fifi Flowers said...

Happy Blog Birthday! Love visiting you... and your new adventures in beach land!
ENJOY!
Fifi