In honor of Bastille Day, I am revisiting a map of the 3rd Arrondissement that I picked up at Les Puces in Paris around this time last summer. It hangs on my living room wall, and whenever I look at it I am reminded of wine-and-charcuterie-filled evenings at L’Art Brut on Rue Quincampoix, shopping at Manoush on Rue Vieille du Temple, and wandering the galleries (and studying in the lounges) at the Centre Pompidou; reveling in the giddy lateness of the summer sunsets and the sublime spirit of Paris after nightfall, when a precious silence envelopes the city and light from the streetlamps falls upon the smooth cobblestones and pools there like teardrops.

Little treasures themselves, sweets and accessories come in the most beautiful boxes - especially the French ones. Tiny boxes are one of my favorite kinds of ephemera, and also one of the most practical, as they double as storage for other tiny pieces of ephemera that would otherwise clutter up my life. In particular I appreciate Fauchon’s anticipation of reuse by producing less ephemeral tin chocolate boxes.

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Hermès | Indian Fantasies scarf : Christmas gift from my kind boss, Hugh

Fauchon | Chocolat : from the Place de la Madeleine flagship store

Tiffany & Co. | Monogrammed moneyclip : anniversary gift to my love, Alik

Ladurée | Macarons, of course : from the Saint-Germain shop

Kate Spade | Neon gumdrop studs : birthday gift from my dear friend, Alli