July was a music-less month of working in Normandy, so this month's offering is full of good songs. Discoveries from a few new favorites : French groups Chateau Marmont, La Femme, plus a bad-ass (too cool for spotify) Interpol cover from Azealia Banks, seen below.
And now for the rest.
xoxo.
18 months in Paris and my accent is getting...better. Slowly.
Visual learners should grab a copy of French Slanguage, a hilariously simple way to master the basics.
Visual learners should grab a copy of French Slanguage, a hilariously simple way to master the basics.
xoxo.
Paris is divided into 20 arrondisements, each with it's own special style and type of resident. I used to get drunk and cry about the fact that calling the 16e home meant I was doomed to a life of side-stepping around old ladies walking their dogs and navigating trotinette-ridden sidewalks, while my other friends who called the 3e and 11e home could claim cool bars and new boutiques as their daily flow.
While our only landmark may be the marble stretch called Trocadero, over-run with overpriced crepe stands and obnoxious key-chain vendors, the video is good for a laugh, and frightening accurate as a depication of Paris.
You can thank Paris for, among other things, being the home to fashion's most notorious labels {Chanel, YSL, Balmain, Céline}
In true cyclical fashion, the logo craze of the '90s has morphed into a faux-go craze of the '10s. Screen-printed onto gilded slouchy tees, the most recognizable logos have got a makeover. I want them all.
xoxo.
And on this last day of May, here are the 14 tracks that I can't get out of my head. { click through for the rest }
xoxo.
Bonne fete des Meres ! The origin of Mother's Day is somewhat disputed, between the town of Artas and the city of Paris, but officially since 1950, the last sunday in May is when French mamans are showered with gifts and hugs.
As always, the window displays are adorable.
xoxo.
This month's favorite tracks are heavily influenced by my new favorite band, Bastille.
Not only are they a-m-a-z-i-n-g live, but they're true 90s kids who released a mix album, sampling from T.L.C., and City High, among others. You'll recognize Corona's Rhythm of the Night in their cover, Of the Night, a track so catchy you'll accidentally spend two hours hitting replay.
xoxo.
Not only are they a-m-a-z-i-n-g live, but they're true 90s kids who released a mix album, sampling from T.L.C., and City High, among others. You'll recognize Corona's Rhythm of the Night in their cover, Of the Night, a track so catchy you'll accidentally spend two hours hitting replay.
xoxo.
Just as soon as April hit, so too did a storm of health-centric articles, turning the newstands of Paris from a mess of colorful covers to an attack on the kilos amassed from winter hibernation. My beloved monthly mailbox magazines changed from fun and frivoulous fashion spreads, taken over by a health obsession. There was nowhere to turn without seeing the words, "MAIGRIR," "EQUILIBRE," and "MINCIR" in big block letters. { Despite being printed in spring-y, pretty pastel colors, the block letters were telling me I was doing something very wrong. }
The 'equilibre' attitude even seeped into my everday life through conversations with the French women in my life. All of a sudden I started to notice hearing the phrase "faire attention" in while preparing or more often, during weekly meals.
xoxo.
The 'equilibre' attitude even seeped into my everday life through conversations with the French women in my life. All of a sudden I started to notice hearing the phrase "faire attention" in while preparing or more often, during weekly meals.
What exactly is a diet equilibre, anyway ?
A search of my favorite glossy magazine, Glamour Paris, results in a whopping 37 results for the term "equilibre." Enjoy.
And if you haven't read it already, French Women Don't Get Fat is a must-read. Just as interesting are Mierelle's blog-posts on the importance of maintaining equilibrum.
Finally, it's all good and well and repsonsibilty to practice moderation, but I won't pretend that I didn't play Ben Howards' Keep Your Head Up on repeat to write this piece. One can only be so strong.
xoxo.
xoxo.
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| via {yx} |
An end-of-the-week stroll through a favorite quartier today led me to stumble across the most brightly-colored { and classically French } advert.
Nothing but the basics : a great set of legs, a tri-colore palette and a tulle-textured skirt.
xoxo.
Nothing but the basics : a great set of legs, a tri-colore palette and a tulle-textured skirt.
xoxo.
This weekend, the film-aficionados over at Hulu have decided to make the Criterion Collection gratuit.
For the next 72-hours, hope for the rainy weather that merits a guilt-free film marathon. With so many to choose from, it pays to be strategic. If you find yourself overwhelmed, take a look at my picks below.
Chinese Roulette (1976)
Cléo From 5 to 7 (1961)
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
Belle de Jour (1967)
Or really anything New Wave.
And for the internationals, don't forget that you too can get your fix of all things American.
For the next 72-hours, hope for the rainy weather that merits a guilt-free film marathon. With so many to choose from, it pays to be strategic. If you find yourself overwhelmed, take a look at my picks below.
Chinese Roulette (1976)
Cléo From 5 to 7 (1961)
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
Belle de Jour (1967)
Or really anything New Wave.
And for the internationals, don't forget that you too can get your fix of all things American.
I've already mentioned my obsession with Devour--hand-picked YouTube videos that cater to my nerd-slash-artsy side. In another rainy-day internet browsing spree I came across the genius of Matthieu Frost.
Je craque over the outfits and pride myself on recognizing the view out her window as being just two metro stops from my own....bref, this video is everything I pretend to be on a daily basis.
Off to pick up my own copy of Jalouse.
xoxo.
Good morning readers! After finally getting my act together, I'm happy to announce my latest project within the scope of this blog: book reviews of French-American novels, specifically those focused on the illusive 'year-abroad.'
As an American in Paris for over a year now (g-a-s-p), I've got enough of my own life experiences to offer, and will gladly judge the work of others in whose footsteps I'm inadvertently following.
//
Salut les lecteurs ! C'est avec plaisir que j'announce un nouvelle facet de mon blog: les critiques des romans Franco-Américain ! Ecrire les novels d'une fille (ou garçon qui passe un an a Paris est vraiment a la mode : allez-y a votre librarie ou meme amazon pour chercher entre les collections enorme d'aventures et histoires personelles des Anglo-phones en France.
Comme Américaine a Paris, je trouve ce trend tres interessante, assez que je decidais lire tout les romains ce que je peux trouver. En lisant le plus vite que possible pour écrire un commentaire pensif et intellectuel, j'espere aider mes amis qui cherchent un compte realistic (et assez amusant) d'une vie quotidienne a Paris.
As an American in Paris for over a year now (g-a-s-p), I've got enough of my own life experiences to offer, and will gladly judge the work of others in whose footsteps I'm inadvertently following.
//
Salut les lecteurs ! C'est avec plaisir que j'announce un nouvelle facet de mon blog: les critiques des romans Franco-Américain ! Ecrire les novels d'une fille (ou garçon qui passe un an a Paris est vraiment a la mode : allez-y a votre librarie ou meme amazon pour chercher entre les collections enorme d'aventures et histoires personelles des Anglo-phones en France.
Comme Américaine a Paris, je trouve ce trend tres interessante, assez que je decidais lire tout les romains ce que je peux trouver. En lisant le plus vite que possible pour écrire un commentaire pensif et intellectuel, j'espere aider mes amis qui cherchent un compte realistic (et assez amusant) d'une vie quotidienne a Paris.
My latest coup de coeur is stocked on the shelves of my local supermarche, ie. it's not expensive. Entrez Garnier L'huile merveilleuse: huile d'argan + camélia
Argan oil first entered my life through the advice of a friend and fellow American-in-Paris who had lugged her brightly-hued teal bottles with her, convinced that the one thing Paris lacked was proper hair care.
{ Sidenote: Seemingly perfect French girls spotted on the metro with enviously-long locks are hiding a secret. Many an abrupt-metro-break has lanced me into other passengers, giving me an up-close and personal view of their meter-long split-ends. Je ne veux pas. }
Two drops are just enough to smooth out any fly aways and condition the worst winter damage. Officially hooked.
The only thing more frustrating than waiting six extra hours to watch American television shows online is realizing you're blocked from streaming them because you live abroad.
Rude.
The technology addiction I've been fueling since freshman year of college has made my life sans-Pandora and Hulu nearly unbearable. For the last year I bothered with spotty streaming of my favorite shows from bizarre sites that attacked me with an endless stream of scandalous pop-up ads. I was one New Girl marathon away from a nasty Trojan virus or spyware mishap.
Entrez HotSpot Shield.
Serving dual purposes as an IP-blocker and VPN client, this program means I can get back to discovering new music and easily watch HD shows and movies.
xoxo.
Rude.
The technology addiction I've been fueling since freshman year of college has made my life sans-Pandora and Hulu nearly unbearable. For the last year I bothered with spotty streaming of my favorite shows from bizarre sites that attacked me with an endless stream of scandalous pop-up ads. I was one New Girl marathon away from a nasty Trojan virus or spyware mishap.
Entrez HotSpot Shield.
Serving dual purposes as an IP-blocker and VPN client, this program means I can get back to discovering new music and easily watch HD shows and movies.
xoxo.
C'est la rentree et voila, mes chansons préférée de ce mois. Profitez avec un peu de tout : le disco, hits of the '80s, pop & slow jamz... joyeux janvier !
xoxo.
The start of a new year means the making { and subsequent breaking } of resolutions for self-improvement.
Leading a double-life (half foreign-language-speaking-child-care-taker and half photo-taking-and-sight-seeing American in Paris) means I get to make two lists. Since I already have a great relationship with the kids I watch, 2013 is going to be a year of subtle changes, inspired by my sole desire to be a cool au pair.
As your loving au pair, I promise:
1. to always carry a pack of tissues with me, be it for your after-school meltdowns and tears, your runny nose or to wipe off the remains of your hastily-eaten breakfast before school.
2. to always bring the best pack of cookies when I fetch you from school. Nothing is worse than sitting through eight hours of school to be handed Fig Newtons surrounded by a sea of pain au chocolat
3. to only wear UGGs when I walk you to school in the morning, to better keep up with you.
4. to cook pasta no more than two times a week.
5. to let you play with my iPhone every other time you ask. you're the reason i bought that super-duty otterbox case in the first place...
//
Comme fille au pair, je promets:
1. Avoir toujours un sachet des mouchoirs pour les petits crises, les larmes, les malades ou la nutella qui reste sur la visage apres petit-dej.
2. Prendre le meilleure sachet de gouter dans la placard quand je viens chercher a l'école. (Les heureux enfants font une heureuse fille au pair.)
3. Porter les UGGs chaque matin au lieu des bottines pour rester en contact des enfants en trottinettes.
4. Ne prepare le pate plus qu'une deux fois par semaine.
5. Donne-les le droit de jouer des jeux video sur mon iPhone quelque fois. Sauf quand j'attends un texto d'un beau gosse...
Leading a double-life (half foreign-language-speaking-child-care-taker and half photo-taking-and-sight-seeing American in Paris) means I get to make two lists. Since I already have a great relationship with the kids I watch, 2013 is going to be a year of subtle changes, inspired by my sole desire to be a cool au pair.
As your loving au pair, I promise:
1. to always carry a pack of tissues with me, be it for your after-school meltdowns and tears, your runny nose or to wipe off the remains of your hastily-eaten breakfast before school.
2. to always bring the best pack of cookies when I fetch you from school. Nothing is worse than sitting through eight hours of school to be handed Fig Newtons surrounded by a sea of pain au chocolat
3. to only wear UGGs when I walk you to school in the morning, to better keep up with you.
4. to cook pasta no more than two times a week.
5. to let you play with my iPhone every other time you ask. you're the reason i bought that super-duty otterbox case in the first place...
//
Comme fille au pair, je promets:
1. Avoir toujours un sachet des mouchoirs pour les petits crises, les larmes, les malades ou la nutella qui reste sur la visage apres petit-dej.
2. Prendre le meilleure sachet de gouter dans la placard quand je viens chercher a l'école. (Les heureux enfants font une heureuse fille au pair.)
3. Porter les UGGs chaque matin au lieu des bottines pour rester en contact des enfants en trottinettes.
4. Ne prepare le pate plus qu'une deux fois par semaine.
5. Donne-les le droit de jouer des jeux video sur mon iPhone quelque fois. Sauf quand j'attends un texto d'un beau gosse...
L'Epiphanie. Le fête des rois. Puff pastries, golden crowns and champagne.
The span between the months of November to February should be renamed The Holidays. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Fête des Rois and Valentine's Day, these 100+ days mean one thing: lots o' cake.
In France, le fête des rois celebrates the Epiphany,
In true French form, the holiday is celebrated with a 'cake' that resembles a giant almond-filled puff pastry for those of us from less advanced culinary regions. It is delicious. The youngest member of the party hides underneath the table and unknowingly decides which piece will be served to every member. Whoever bites into their piece to find the hidden figurine becomes king, and crowns a queen.
//
Entre les mois de Novembre et Février, il y a assez des fetes pour renommer cette periode--Les Holidays. Sans surprise (et comme on habite en France), tout le monde fete avec un gateaux.
Religieusement, le fete des rois celebre l'Epiphany. Grace d'être vivre dans le pays de la farine, le fete suit la tradition de manger un gâteux d'une bonne pâtissière. Dedans, il y a un fève cachee. Le plus jeune membre du fete se met sous la table, et sans voir, decide qui va recevoir quel part du gâteux. Sans savoir, tout le monde engloutit, en espérant de trouver le fève. Quiconque le trouve gagne le droit de porter le couronne de roi et peut choisir son reine.
Pour les adultes, le fete est fait plus sympa avec une bouteille de champagne. Ou deux...
xoxo.
