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.

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...

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.

via { whi }