Pin much? Some days I feel like a pin maniac, virtually hopping from one site to another pinning images left and right. Photos of recipes, clothes, home decor, and jewelry all find a home on my obsessively organized Pinterest page. But in an attempt to be a doer and not just a pinner, I started prioritizing my pins on a "to be completed sometime in this lifetime" list. You could call it my own little Pinterest Challenge. I've only tried and tested a teeny, tiny sliver of the cooking, crafting, and beauty projects floating around on my virtual bulletin board, but I've learned some crucial lessons: ---> Things aren't always as pretty or tasty on Pinterest as they are in real life. Life doesn't look like a magazine? Say what?!---> Pinterest is the ultimate "hint dropper." I may or may not have given mon mari my account password. Here's to years, possibly centuries of awesome birthday presents! ---> Pin boards = gift guides. If you pin it, I might buy it or make it. Pin wisely or don't be upset when you get DIYed center pieces for your nonexistent wedding. ---> See below...Argh, Pinterest! You're so diabolical! As much as I wish 99% of the images and ideas on Pinterest were my everyday reality, the truth is that I've had just as many Pinterest failures as successes. Suffice it to say that recipes need to be tested multiple times before serving them at dinner parties and hair tutorials should be saved for the days when you're not working. Here are my discovered on Pinterest, tried in Paris boom and bust pin experiences: Pinterest LOSSES1) One not so sexy hair tutorial. Bed head hair that shouldn't be seen by anything other than your pillow. 2) Green goblin smoothie --> Aptly named because it tasted like swamp monster. Maybe I read the proportions wrong? 3) Strawberry yogurt kamut cake --> vom. It went moldy before I ate it. Kamut failure. 4) Cauliflower crust pizza --> This I blame on our bum oven, but Lauren Conrad should stick to novels. Pinterest WINS1) Overnight oats --> Don't mind eating this for breakfast 7 days a week. Nope not at all. 2) Framed dry erase board --> Way too much fun to have in the apartment. 3) Passport holder tutorial --> Hello 2011 Christmas gifts! 4) Shower cap shoe bag --> Pinterest organization freaks making me more OCD than I already am. 5) Gluten free brownies --> Oh so good and oh so simple. Are you on the Pinterest bandwagon? Do you pin more than you do or are you all over completing Pinterest projects? Tell me!
As a daily subway commuter with a 40 minute ride to and from work, I have a lot of time to reflect on the good, bad, and downright rage-inducing qualities of the Paris métro system. Too much time really. As soon as my train makes an unscheduled stop or there's the slightest flicker of the lights in my train car, my mind jumps to doomsday scenarios and I'm mentally calculating how many days I could live off the granola bar in my purse. Maybe one I think, and then I start whispering merde over and over, imagining the ferocious Frenchies clamoring after my food supply. Just before code red panicking commences, the lights switch back on and the train is on its way just a tad en retard. Whether I'm imagining catastrophic métro disasters or just trying to squeeze into a train car, riding the Paris subway system has always seemed a bit Darwinist to me. Riders' survival instincts come out in full force as they're coerced into playing the seat wrangling game by their fellow métro passengers or are required to hold their breath for fear of intoxication by body odor. Most métro rides are downright dirty, figuratively and literally. With many pleasant and not so pleasant métro experiences under my belt, I started mentally compiling a list of tips for getting from point A to point B without wanting to scream a loud stream of English profanities or body check someone with my bag (because it's come waaaay too close to that). A bottle of red and two friends helped get the list on paper, but it's about time I publicly presented my semi-ridiculous métro survival tips. To maintain your own sanity...- Pee before you ride. Don't do the "I can hold it 'til I get there" routine. You'll pay if that train gets stuck. Not that you couldn't pee right there because people do do that...which leads me to #2...
- Carry the following items with you at all times: water, snack (a decent croissant should do), hand sanitizer, tissues, and a pen. In a pinch you can use the pen and tissues to write a farewell note when you find out you'll be stuck on the track for eternity.
- Don't step in anything. If you can't confirm the identify of a substance then you should swiftly steer yourself the other direction, preferably upstream.
- Use your backpack or purse as a shield. If I'm wearing a backpack, I place it in front of me so that if the train car fills up a) no one steals anything out of it and b) no one can get too up close and personal.
- Score a prime seat and don't give it up unless an ancient person or pregnant lady is giving you the stink eye. Best seat/space? 1) Anywhere enclosed. Go after those puppies like your life depends on it. 2) Standing against the back door. 3) Up against the seat furthest from the opening door. 4) Standing in the enclosed area. Avoid getting caught in the standing area in front of the doors at all possible costs.
As a courtesy to other passengers...- Don't put your fingers anywhere near your nose. No one likes to see you digging for nose gold. Stop.
- Personal grooming should happen in your own space. Nail clipping, nail cleaning, hair untangling, skin picking--these are all things that no one else needs to see you do. Try and flick nail grim in my direction and see what happens.
- Mascara wands rank just under BB guns for eye injuries when you try to apply one last coat of lash lengthener mid-métro journey. You're going to jab your eye out.
- Manage your hair. No one likes getting a stray hair caught in their mouth because their face happens to be at the same level as your cheveux.
- Wear deodorant and don't overdo it with the perfume.
- Keep your music to yourself. Not everyone wants to listen to Rage Against the Machine at 8am.
- Try saying pardon or excusez-moi before jamming your elbow into somebody's ribcage.
- Let people off before you bully your way on. Waiting those two seconds to jump on and find a seat is mildly painful, but at least you're not being a jerk.
- If the people around you are squished like sardines and you're still sitting snug in your seat, GET UP (unless of course you've got a real deal excuse). The people around you are probably cursing you under their breath.
Beware of...- Pick pockets. They might even crawl around your feet if it's a particularly packed car. Watch yourself.
- Piggybackers. I slow play it when I know they're trying to get through the ticket turnstile with me. If you take your sweet time, they won't make it through with you. I live to see rule breakers get busted so don't try to hop in behind me.
And just for the record...Line 6 is my favorite because you can't beat the view going across the Seine from Passy to Bir-Hakeim. Line 13 is my least favorite. I'd rather eat boudin noir than ride line 13 at rush hour. The Strasbourg St. Denis stop makes me want to never ride the métro again, but Concorde makes me want to live in Paris forever. As soon as your step out of the exit, you've got an incredible cityscape. What are your métro tricks? Do you have a favorite line or métro stop? Maybe an awesome/heinous story or two?
Contrary to what mon mari thinks, I do read things other than celebrity gossips rags. I read a lot in fact. I even belong to a super dorky website called LibraryThing where I track all of the books I read. And while I adore books, there's nothing like snuggling in bed with a new magazine. Life can't get much better when you're wrapped up in cozy blankets and have 40+ glossy pages of articles and photos to read and admire or, even better, when you're soaking up the sun on a beach towel with a cool glass of lemonade to sip as you flip page after page and bask in the glow of magazine R&R...ahhh, that's relaxation! Lucky for me (and you, you'll see!) a wonderful individual at France Magazine knew about my passion for magazines and asked if I'd like to receive a copy. Bien sûr I replied, and in two weeks time I was relaxing on the couch with a cup of tea and an issue of France Magazine hot off the press. And, wait, it gets better...I received the magazine's special food and wine issue, miam, miam. France Magazine, published by the French American Cultural Foundation, celebrates French culture and fosters a shared sense of joie de vivre between North America and France. In addition to well written and illustrated articles, each issue of the magazine includes details on cultural events happening on both sides of the pond. If you're a Francophile through and through and have been to France many times or are dreaming of your first visit, France Magazine will fuel and replenish your passion for the land of cheese and wine. I know I was nearly licking the pages of my food and wine issue! As someone who can't help but compare the cultural differences between France and the United States (remember my cranky rant USA vs. France or my endless American cravings?), reading the magazine reminded me just how vibrant a cultural current the two countries share and the importance of learning from and exchanging the best qualities of each nation. I mean, the U.S. definitely needs more quality croissants, don't you think?! Of course, when I think of cross culture exchange I think of food. Can you blame me when my issue of the magazine did spreads on famous chef Jean-Louis Palladin and Alain Ducasse's new culinary program? I've worked my way through the food and wine issue, and am now totally hooked on the magazine, if for no other reason than to keep me positive about just how great living in France can be. It's an opportunity I often take for granted, and don't appreciate enough because I got lost in the day to day struggles of functioning in a society different from my own and in a language I can't seem to master. I'm excited to sign up for a year long subscription and France Magazine would also like to offer you a very special subscription rate plus an additional issue included free of charge. This is a 33% reduction off the newsstand price. To get this great deal, visit the magazine's subscription page and enter the promotion code USGIRLFM. If you decide to sign up, I hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as I do!
Want to know how a blog post develops? I'll tell you.
RED WINE
+
LISTS
+
FRIENDS
Red wine gets the creative juices flowing, lists are formed, and friends make those lists sound ridiculous. Maybe I made them ridiculous. It was a Monday night blur. You may even notice there's a list titled "shittiest" and the word pee in capital letters. You probably don't even want to know where this post is going. Or maybe you do. I promise the post will highlight Paris at it's very, very best...
In other news, Monday evening's blog post brainstorm was scribbled on the envelope that contained my acceptance letter into pastry school...ack! You might not hear or see me freaking out, but I am, like a crazy person. I'm excited and ready to throw up at the same time. You'll probably read more (potentially a lot more) about this life-changing, anxiety inducing development, but it's safe to say I need some time for this news to really sink in.
On a less joyous, but equally dramatic note, one of my mice lost an eye today. Tragic. Going to try to repair my one-eyed mouse shoe and turn that envelope scribble into something more legible. Might even eat a celebratory pastry or two...
Only a few days left for me to gobble up as many Fritos and Diet Dr. Peppers as I can before getting on a plane back to Paris, but all this Mad Libs talk of baguette and brioche has me hankering for a stop at the boulangerie as soon as I land. Today's Paris Mad Libs story is courtesy of Sedulia from the blog Rue Rude. I love reading Sedulia's blog because her posts are well written, timely, and thought provoking. I particularly enjoy the way she highlights both the big and little differences that make living in France such a wonderful and sometimes strange experience compared to the U.S. This recent post on dining times highlights one of the differences I've had the hardest time adjusting to. (I still want to eat at 6:00PM...)Here's Sedulia's story: Oh Paris!Oh la la! Nothing like the friendly sound of a manif waking you up in the morning! But no time to be facho. I need to get dressed in my chic Parisian uniform of black, black and black, then I'm off for a quick bite of brioche from the boulangerie. But wait! As soon as I get out the door, I'm greeted by the chauffeur from the ministry and forced to alter my plans for the day. Forget going to the private opening of that fabulous new exhibit at the Grand Palais over lunch. I have to take the silly limo to the side door of the Quai d'Orsay for a rendezvous with the German ambassador's deputy. Quelle chance! It seems that going to Berlin will have to wait until the workers stop striking. I may have been a failure at getting the Eurozone fixed, but who cares when I get to make a stop at Guy Savoy with Carla Bruni instead. Thankfully, I can avoid the paparazzi, enjoy a fun girls' lunch, and finish the grapefruit terrine with tea sauce before her motorcade comes and zooms us past the now dismantled Grande Roue. I just don't understand why her baby chewed up all of my baguette. Mais, c'est la vie!
Welcome to Part Deux of the Paris Mad Libs series! Today's guest Mad Libs writer is Jayme from Life en Route. Jayme is a Canadian expat who came to Paris to master the French language and discover the ins and outs of life in the French capital. Enjoy Jayme's version of the Oh Paris! Mad Libs story (and her beautiful photos too)! (For Part I of the Paris Mad Libs series click here.) Oh Paris!
Oh la la! Nothing like the charming sound of a baguette waking you up in the morning! But no time to saunter. I need to get dressed in my chic Parisian uniform of my Navigo pass and bescherelle, then I'm off for a quick bite of parapluie from Monoprix. But wait! As soon as I get out the door, I'm greeted by the man who parks his scooter RIGHT outside our window (practically inside our apartment) EVERY DAY and I'm forced to alter my plans for the day. Forget going to the 17ème arrondissement. I have to take the tiny, Parisian little dogs who dress nicer than I do to the bon marché Charles de Gaulle - Étoile Métro for a rendezvous with mon petit-ami. Quelle chance! It seems that hollering will have to wait until the workers stop striking. I may have mentioned getting the dictionary fixed, but who cares when I get to make a stop the métro platform instead. Thankfully, I can suddenly run and finish motioning before le président de la France, Nicolas Sarkozy comes and stands there shocked at la Grande Roue. I just don't understand why camera dropped on all of my baguette. Mais, c'est la vie! P.S. Despite the craziness of the story, can you pick up any clues about Jayme's life in Paris?
On Friday I arrived in my hometown of Washington, D.C. for not one, but two weddings and a little R&R in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Blogging is going on the back burner while I spend time with family and friends, but I've lined up a few special posts to keep you entertained during my absence. About a month ago, I had the crazy idea to do a Parisian take on the famous word game Mad Libs. While Mad Libs stories are usually reserved for keeping children busy during long car rides, I still love the game as an adult and thought it would be a fun and easy way to introduce you to some of my favorite bloggers while I took a vacation from the computer. Following Mad Libs protocol, guest posters were asked to give me 25 words from different parts of speech which would then be used to fill in the blanks of a Paris themed Mad Libs story that yours truly wrote (way harder than it sounds!). But in traditional Mad Libs style, guests posters were asked not to look at the story before coming up with their Paris related word choices. Fortunately, I had a few brave souls who were willing to entertain this silly idea. I'm not sure how much sense the final stories will make, but hopefully they'll give you a few laughs and reveal just how equally glamorous and unglamorous life in Paris can be. The first guest writer in the Paris Mad Libs series is Ksam from the blog Totally Frenched Out. Ksam is going on her ninth year in France, most of which she spent wondering what on Earth she was doing in this godforsaken country. Luckily a move to Paris five years in helped her figure it out, and she has spent the rest of the time falling in love with the country that has inspired so many Americans before her. Here is Ksam's version of the Paris Mad Libs story. Enjoy, and don't forget to stop by her blog and say bonjour! Oh Paris!
Oh la la! Nothing like the burp sound of a crotte waking you up in the morning! But no time to eat. I need to get dressed in my chic Parisian uniform of iPhone and chocolate, then I'm off for a quick bite of aubergine from the Seine. But wait! As soon as I get out the door, I'm greeted by a Velib and forced to alter my plans for the day. Forget going to Rue Mouffetard. I have to take the rouge berets to the fabuleux Place de la Concorde for a rendezvous with a priest. Quelle chance! It seems that peeing will have to wait until the workers stop striking. I may have sucked at getting the tarte du citron fixed, but who cares when I get to make a stop in Montmartre instead. Thankfully, I can grandly walk and finish writing before Quasimodo comes and sings at la Grande Roue. I just don't understand why Nicolas Sarkozy stomped on all of my baguette. Mais, c'est la vie!
More Paris Mad Libs on Wednesday and Friday! Stay tuned!
They're out there salting the holes used to put up the stakes for the neighborhood market tents. Yikes. It's freezing here. I believe this post from September is finally justified...winter has arrived!
With one real class left, I thought I should let you know that Paul Giamatti has been teaching my French class. Pretty awesome right? Who knew famous actors moonlighted as level two French instructors? It's pretty hard to believe what an excellent instructor he is, but considering Giamatti's role in the 2004 hit movie Sideways I'm really not surprised by his extensive knowledge of French. Just think about all the French wine he probably had to drink to prepare for that film! Okay, okay...life would be pretty swell if I were attending French classes taught my movie stars, but Paul Giamatti isn't really teaching my French course. Someone who looks just like him is! I'm serious. EXACTLY like him. And if I were more comfortable being a stalker with my phone camera I would have a picture to prove it to you. My teacher's resemblance to Giamatti and his ability to entertain the class like a Hollywood pro are two of the major reasons I've continued my language studies. Trying to communicate with my fellow French? I'm way beyond that. I'm just doing it for pure merde and giggles... Right....I wish. No, I've been in French class since the day I arrived. Having taken zero French before boarding a plane to live in Paris, I had to get my study on immediately. I've taken classes just about everywhere, ( here and here if you want to know) and now I am le tired of the whole thing. My current classes through the Mairie de Paris have been the best yet, but I'm over sitting in a room with an unmotivated crowd of seven (down from 23!) for two hours 2x/week trying to stuff present tense verb irregularities into my brain. Just like eating my vegetables, I know French practice is good for me, but man oh man I don't want to eat my vegetables anymore. I want to skip straight to dessert fluency! But like a good little nerd, I went ahead and signed up for another semester of classes. I just hope Ryan Gosling is my next professor. Pretty please with sugar on top. Time to study, eat din din, and finish off the bag of les colas I bought on a candy rampage today. À tout à l'heure
Commitments are piling up, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. This happens every once in awhile especially when living abroad starts to feel like normal life. I'm trying to adjust by using lots of highlighters, post-it notes, and decorating my planner. I actually sort of love when my agenda gets a little cooky because that means I have an excuse to redesign my time management game plan. I recently went old school again and said sayonara to my online system, and now I get to reacquaint myself with the joy of scratching items off my to do list (aaaaaaaah). And while I'm not quite at this level of organizational awesomeness, I aspire to have a life binder like Sara Cotner. I was introduced to Sara's wise ways at a teaching conference a gazillion years ago and wish I could be as put together as she is. The girl has seriously got her act together. She also planned a wedding for $2000 dollars--no small feat in today's world of wedding industry temptation. So when I'm not crushing on Sara, I'm trying to remember that life comes before blogging and that sometimes I need to step away from the computer to make time for pursuing new goals, specifically one big, giant goal that's been simmering on the sidelines for what feels like forever: pastry school. Yippee! Maybe this seems like a bizarre path to go down considering my recent gluten allergy discovery, but I am more than ready to get the pastry show on the road. Wrap me up in cute aprons and take me to the kitchen! It's time to go get the pastry school application party going! This is one thing I don't mind adding to my to do list (mostly because I write it down in glitter ink adorned with lots of smiley faces). I'm over and out to get my shizzle together and revise an application essay or two. See you soon(ish)!
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