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Penny Linn

July 7, 2026Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Before the summer travels started, I made my way to the newest needlepoint store in New York City, Penny Linn. Located on the very very far west of Manhattan, it was an incredibly beautiful space filled with more fibers and threads that I have ever seen in my life! Very different than my usual go-to-needlepoint-stop Rita’s (which I will forever call home base and love), this shop was HUGE. Massive. It had thousands of canvases to browse and select from, although as an avid needlepointer, I wished there were larger scale canvases. That said, of course, I left with two canvases that I LOVED and so many cool threads to use for them. So if you are in need of a new needlepoint store in the city, DEFINITELY suggest going. And if you want to shop from their online store, I also love that website!

Check them out! I love their matchbox selections — so trendy and cool.

I loved this pizza box and worked on it during my time in Paris.

Completed! Ignore the belly button 😉

Did this one, too! And I love it so much!

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Can’t wait to go back there in the Fall and see what new canvases they have in store. In the meantime, I am searching for a new project, so will be browsing. their website all day today. Hope you are off to a great start this week!

Favorite Things in Paris 2026

July 2, 2026Josie Girl Leave a Comment

OK, I know last week I did a “currently loving” and mentioned a lot of what I was loving in Paris, but there is so much to love, so here is another list of my favorite current things in Paris 2026.

1. Graffiti Tunnel

Over half a mile long, this tunnel near the Tuileries is so fun to bike / run in. But you can’t be claustrophobic! I loved looking at the art as I ran by — so many talented street artists out there!

2. Biologique Recherche

Hands down my favorite facial in the world is at Biologique Recherche headquarters — unbelievable and a quarter of the prize than it would be in the USA.

3. Forte Forte

One day (during my time alone), I just went in and out of all the stores wandering and wandering. I love forte-forte as it is always one of my favorite brands. I fell in love with this crochet top, but alas, they didn’t have my size. But I loved everything in there even though I walked out empty handed.

4. Matisse Exhibit

Loved this bright and colorful exhibition at the Grand Palais filled with Matisse. I loved everything in there.

5. Assouline Bookstore

I loved this original location of the Assouline bookstore — each one of these books was beautiful and if I didn’t have to travel, I would have bought many!

6. Bourse de Commerce

Fun exhibition about fog. I always love the building more than anything, though.

7. Sunsets

Dare I say that NO city or place has the same light and sunsets as Paris. I love every night there — the skies just light up and shine bright.

8. Frenchie restaurant

One of my favorite restaurants in the world — Frenchie. It is a tasting menu, and every dish was incredible. Our problem was that it was during the heat wave and the restaurant didn’t have AC so we were dying. DYING. But the food was unbelievable.

9. Ateliers des Lumières

A fun museum I always go to when in Paris that is less known that the other major ones. It is an interactive experience and felt amaaaaazing on the hot day.

10. The Ballet

Incredible. Loved every second. Did you know that the average age of the audience in Paris is 44 years old? Compare that to NYC where the average age is 66!!!! I loved this ballet — beautiful dancing and costumes.

11. Notre Dame at Dusk

This was taken at 10 pm. Yup, incredible. Everything about it.

12. Strawberries

Strawberries in the produce stores, yes please. Best strawberries in the world.

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Hope you have a lovely long weekend celebrating the 4th of July (to those in the US). We are in the southwest of France and loving every minute here.

Space Invaders + Street Art Museum

June 29, 2026Josie Girl Leave a Comment

I have been following and “flashing” space invaders for the past two years and what fun it has been! It has been a great way to explore cities (especially when in France) and to always look up. Space invaders are created by a French artist “Invader” who has been putting up different mosaics in over 30 different countries. There are almost 5,000 of them, and thanks to an app, you can track them (“flash”) them and get credit for seeing them. It makes EVERYTHING that much more fun.

It is especially fun when traveling with the kids, because they are also determined to find them (truth be told, no one is as determined as me to find them, though).

I started off in Paris with 167 of them already found.

But after some research and investigation, I found that Invader had recently made 20 new mosaics in a part of Paris that I never been to — Villette. So I went there not once, but twice! The first time, I ran (9 miles there and back) to see the Daft Punk invader.

So cool. So happy.

My run.

Along the way, saw this invader (and the heart sticker) which obviously I loved.

The Philharmonic.

Tusia went to tennis camp in South of France for a week, and since I was alone in Paris, I made it my mission to find as many as possible. So one day, during the heat wave, I went BACK to La Villette, (by metro, and still was dying of heat).

He created all red and white ones in the area — and although there is a map that shows them — I didn’t have the map and so just walked around for hours. Apparently there are 20 of them — I only found 6. But I did see that there was an exhibit on Street Art, so of course I had to go.

Serendipitous! Street art exhibition when I was searching for street art.

Coolest building, loved the entire exhibit.

So many things to look at.

And of course they featured Invader!

More information on Invader.

All this to say, I loved searching for space invaders — it makes travel in Europe oh so fun. And I also loved the exhibition — so if you are in Paris this summer, go check it out!

Currently Loving June 2026 Part 2

June 25, 2026Josie Girl Leave a Comment

OK so yes we made it to Paris and it was a big blur — lots of friends in town that made it so much fun as well as jam packed. There is so much to love here and I could post a million posts on what I love. So I am going to start with just a few right now from the first week and then come back with more! But here is what I am loving in Paris.

1. European Espresso

It tastes and hits differently in Europe. Love it so much.