Chic Parisian

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

2015-01-01T18:54:00.001-08:00

When I think about 2015. I have 365 days ahead of me. What am I going to make this year about?
I use to make resolutions but now (maybe because I am a busy mom) I like to just focus on one word. Kind of like a theme for the year. I think this year for me is going to be about LOVE.

It is so simple right? but when i think about it LOVE is what makes the world go round, GOD is LOVE!

So that is what I am going to focus on this year. Try to live a life of LOVE. Every encounter, my thoughts, the way I connect with people. Learn how to lead a life with LOVE.

What about you guys? do you make resolutions every year?

I would love to know!

Also below is a few snippets from our Christmas. It was such a special day. Check it out if your into that sort of things ;-)

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

Apple picking !

2014-10-02T20:49:00.001-07:00

I love apple picking! I think it is such a nice tradition that I intend to keep in our family. This year we went to the Stowe Farm in Millbury, MA. The farm is close to Jeremy's brother Matt and his fiancee Meg, so we just got to visit them and get those apples!

We had a great time running around, picking apples (sweating our A... off). As we got there thought, they said that because of the weather this year, the apples came quickly so very few apples were remaining on the trees. We still managed to bring home a big bag full of fruit. For those whom did not want to try too hard like us (cause you know... we're tough like that) they had big bucket of apples to fill your bag with so nobody loses ;-)

Here are a few photos from our day below

^^He wanted to be with Dad the whole time^^

^^The girls^^

^^Where is Jeremy's backpack??^^

^^My munchkin and me^^

^^My boys^^

^^My nieces^^

^^ My niece R. Love her<3 p="">

^^"Mommy I all done! Now new one please!"^^

^^ It was such a hot day. Thank God we brought water!^^

^^ This boy seriously! so handsome!^^

^^ Don't judge this picture, I know it is not straight and all but there was so many people in there that it was kind of difficult to get a good shot without a hand or a head in front of it^^

^^Family photo! yay! it's so rare!^^

^^ FB profile pick!!^^

The END !

Past year apple picking HERE

Mathieu at this very moment

2014-09-24T20:27:00.002-07:00

A little bit about Mathieu because his third birthday is just around the corner.

Mister Mathieu Loves violins. He especially loves to watch someone play the violin or any musical instrument for that matter. He will pretend playing the violin with crayons sometimes if his violin is not handy or he will make beatbox sounds with his mouth or play the drums on tables. He is so into music I cannot even explain it.

He also loves the Mouse and the Motorcycle book. So we had to get him a toy motorcycle. Since that day I am happy to report that the cool red motorcycle is enjoying a prime spot in Mathieu's hand at bedtime, and that he and dinosaur have become fast friends. Ask Mathieu about it. He will tell you the whole story.

Mathieu loves to sing all kinds of songs. His favorite right now is a song from Daniel tiger the one that say "Clean up pick up put away! clean up everyday". and then sometimes when i try to join he'll say "no Maman! I sing!".

He all of a sudden became more adventurous with food, which, thanks God! Because I was pretty much convinced that he was going to be a rice and plain yogurt until he was forty, but for the past few days he has been discovering all kinds of things. It's really funny when he wants to try something and he pulls a face afterwards and says "hummm! yummy mommy!" with a big smile.

Mathieu always says thank you and sorry. If he walks into me not paying attention or drops something on the floor he will quickly say, "sorry!". If another boy at the playground pushes him and and the boy's mom asks him to apologize, Mathieu will usually apologize first. Because he is sweet. He's kind of a dream boat.

He has straight dark brown hair and funny toes that moves independently of each other like his daddy. He loves to answer the door and escort people out when we've got guests. and brushing his teeth. He hates having his hair washed (although we are doing better now). His favorite movies are cars 1&2 and every night he likes to ask me "Maman fireworks?" and I respond "no mon amour not tonight! next year!"

I love being his Maman so much.

July // part two

2014-09-11T17:45:00.002-07:00

Off course there was a New York trip. I got to spend a couple of days with Margaux while Jeremy held down the fort at home. Let me tell you it was nice to be away from my babies for more than just a couple of hours.

I was extremely nervous though at the beginning because I was not sure how Clemence would feel about formula because I did not pump enough milk before leaving (me being super organized you know). After a few tries she just went with it which just allowed me to relax and enjoy this little break. We WALKED so much! my step sister lives on the upper east side so we just walked from there to central park and midtown.

Below are a few photos from this trip to NYC.

View front my sister's apartment

A cute building that stood out from the other ones.

Ugh! so want one now!

Spices!!!

There was a bunch of touristy stuff of course ;-)

View from the top of the Rock

Central park

Some time square action

It makes my head spin

Cute pink restaurant we had dinner at the night we arrived

The end! (That picture was for Mathieu he loves Taxi cabs)

July // Part one

2014-08-08T09:11:00.001-07:00

Welcome! To the time in my life were everything feels completely surreal. This July was stupidly fun! I had my little sister over, beach days, shopping, a couple of days in NY and finished it up with my other little sister spending the month of August with us! Yoohoo!

I must have forgotten how much i need my sisters around. or my parents, or my brothers, or my cousins and aunts. I just need someone that has that funny weird french humor and love in them to remind me how everything inside me is suppose to work, and why I am the way I am.
If it makes sense, Having Margaux around has reminded me to take some things less seriously and others more seriously.

Below are a few photos from a day at the beach :

We played in the waves together, build damns and sand castles and went on a hunt to find cool looking rocks. The water was so shallow and warm from the low tide and I was so pride of Mathieu for wading in bravely past his belly as he played in it. We've come a long way since those bath time where getting his hair wet to wash it was a big battle ;-)

Ughhh... how much I would love to live on the beach all summer. I just can't get enough of this sweet ocean smell and now that Mathieu is liking it I have to try hard to make it to the beach more often this summer.

^^^ The best we could do. don't judge please. lol

^^^ Time to destroy it!!! He did not understand why we were telling him to jump on it at first. He soon understood :-)

^^^Telling Baba all about those waves and rocks.

^^^ Look at this view!!! We are fortunate enough to have family friends who own a house on this private beach down the Cape. So we get to park our car at their house and have fun!

^^^ oh! and selfie of course!

Until next time Beach!!! we'll be back SOON!

Life lately

2014-07-19T21:32:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! I feel like it's been so long, I hope you are all doing really well!

My little sister is here since the beginning of July so we've been out pretty much every day since she got here. Between parks, splash pads, shopping and late nights sisterly talks I've just been way to tired to write anything. By the way, how awesome are sisterly talks honestly. They make your soul feel so good! So, yes! I am in a GREAT mood! and the kids are too!

here are some photos from the past week or two :

Mathieu loves puddles as you can see :-)

Ice cream truck!!! we shared a couple of their frozen lemonade. Yum! (but over priced if you ask me)

Swan boats! I love them! they are so pretty! Btw i just noticed that the driver is pedaling people around the pond. I can't imagine their legs after a whole day.

"Maman!!! fait moi tourner PLEAAASE"

Just posing... cause you know... I can... Lol

At the Curious George store in Cambridge. When we got inside Mathieu said "Hey! oo oo aa aa George"

Harvard square

Mon amour!

At Shake Shack. I was debating weather or not I should try their "shroom burger"

Waiting for his food. ugh! he is so handsome!!!

And I tried it! It is delicious! I feel like it is always risky to try a veggie burger in restaurants. You never know what you will end up with.

A day with me

2014-06-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I have been wanting to do a "Vlog" video on Youtube for a while now but there was always something in the way... one day i looked like crap and another day the house was messy and so on you know ? but then when i though about it. if i made everything look perfect ALL the time on video it would just be "fake". and i don't want to do that.

So roll your drums kids !
Here is my very first ever vlog video!
Brought to you by!... nobody!

let the show begin! muahaha!

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

Clemence and musical instruments

2014-06-17T19:58:00.001-07:00

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

Around here lately. oh! and last week's grocery run!

2014-06-10T20:51:00.004-07:00

Hello Mamas (and Papas ... although i am pretty sure only Mamas read this)

I hope you had a good weekend! over here it was a really good one! good weather, good friends and family and good food too! It looks like summer is here and we are just at the beginning too! it's so exciting.
I feel like this summer is going to be a great one. my little little sister (not so little she is 15) is going to spend the month of july with us and my other little sister (she is 25) is spending the month of august with us. AWESOME!!! (with a musical tone).

This week is a little drizzly. we ventured to the park yesterday anyway and we got lucky because it started raining right when we got to the car.
as i am writing this it stared pouring rain. Mathieu ran towards the window yelling "Maman!!! raining!! yay!!!" i love to see how he gets excited over things like rain.
it makes me realize how important it is to enjoy simple things because when i think about the rain i am usually thinking "ugh... i am going to get completely wet by the time i place both kids in the car (or take them out of the car if i am already out). so now as the rain is tapping on our living room window and Mathieu is playing with the steady rain drops sliding in through the open window i am thinking about how a good rain can be a fresh start and how comfy i am inside the apartment.

and that was a change of subject!

anyways... Here is what we've been up to and the last grocery run video.

late night hone depot run.don't ask me...

delicious chia seed pudding for breakfast

at a fair

at the park

first time by myself with the two babes at the cheesecake factory

beach day!

our four shadows

i need to know how to make this!

enjoying a glass of sangria before cleaning up

the first bouquet Mathieu ever pick and gave to me

my favorite breakfast lately (bed of bananas topped with blueberries and frozen raspberries, the center is a tablespoon of almond butter and sprinkled the whole thing with chia seeds) seriously delicous,

lunch: steamed cauliflower with a shallot white wine vinaigrette.tasty!!

they fell asleep like that. (i of course placed her in her crib after taking the picture)

she is just too cute!

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

the end.

6 month postpartum update and natural beauty products

2014-06-05T20:16:00.001-07:00

Hello beauties!!!

i finally got around to film a quick video on Youtube. the babies took their afternoon naps together today (which is super rare) so yes free timeeee!

in this video, i talk about our family life and natural beauty products. I have been committed to finding the best natural/organic beauty products for a while now and i want to share with you what works for me.

I hope you enjoy the video! Xo!

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

Today I ...

2014-05-31T20:25:00.001-07:00

Today i ...

... jumped on a bed with a two year old, a dinosaur, an owl and an elephant for twenty minutes and than pretended the animals were talking for the next hour (you know... with cool voice effects and stuff).

... read about 10 children's books in addition to reading the chugga chugga choo choo book at least 5 times.

... hit my foot on the kitchen chair and broke my pinky toe nail (Yeppp that sux)

Today i ...

... took the kids to the park and ate two grill cheese (because Mathieu said he wanted a grill cheese and when i placed his plate on the table he said "no maman... pasta!" great ...)

Today i ...

... scheduled an appointment to get my hair done. because my hair finally stopped falling from the postpartum hormonal change. (yay to that!)

Today i ...

... tried to put the babes down for a nap after lunch but they would not have it. so no quiet time for me and crying babies while cooking dinner is the result. man! i hate that!

and today i am just in a bad mood and left with a headache from the crying babies. So ... yes let's just live it at that.

luckily i know what always works to lift my spirit

there! a cute photo and some good relaxing music. that helps!

Oh and i love to use this site www.calm.com when i need to relax. i also have the app on my phone to use it on the go. let me know what you think!

Grocery run this week

2014-05-30T20:28:00.002-07:00

hello everyone!

i've been meaning to share grocery runs or recipes videos but you know... with two kids and all it is just difficult sometimes to get the camera ready and the food ready at the same time.
sooo yes, i want to share with you what i got from whole foods this week. i think it is always good to know what other families buy just so we can get an idea on what to buy and maybe try something we might not have otherwise.

so here is how we work over here. i usually go grocery shopping once a week (weekends usually). i try to alternate whole foods and trader joes week by week. sometimes though i might run low on veggies or fruits so i would need to go for a quick grocery run.

as far as budget goes, we usually try to spend less than $160 a week. i am not sure what is the right amount for a family of 4... sometimes i just think it is too much but at the same time i want to make sure we eat the right thing. i wish we had a backyard so we could plant our own organic veggies and we could save money that way too. but for now we are stuck with over priced whole foods.
i always think about this sentence" what you put into your mouth is more important to your health than most can possibly realize" from the Food Matters movie. it is sooo true! when you eat right you feel right.

now i don't want to be overboard either. i want my children to try delicious things like pastries and cookies and chocolate! once in a while it is ok. anyways... i am going onto another topic which i will leave to another post.

i hope you enjoy the video! xo!

Click the picture below to watch the video!

you will be redirected to YouTube (in a new window)

What i am listening to lately

2014-05-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Music is like a hug for your soul. I love how you can switch your mood around just by listening to a good song. it also gives me a quick boost of motivation to go workout or clean up and organize the apartment or even while cooking. the babies also really enjoy listening to music so we just end up dancing together and jumping around. Mathieu has some pretty sweet moves by the way! ahah! I guess he got that from his dad
:-).

it's been a while since i have shared some of my favorite songs with you! Below are some songs that i've been loving lately.

I would love to know what songs you've been loving too! Share them with me in the comment section so i can check them out! XOXO

Magic - Rude

Zaz - Dans ma rue

Le Griser - Volando Alto

Jah Cure - What will it take

Taking stock

2014-05-15T21:00:00.002-07:00

Photo credit to Cristina from Wanderlust Wandermust

Hello everyone! so i have seen this "taking stock" post on a few blog now (i think it originated at Pip's meet me at mike's blog) and though it would be fun for me to write one as well! so let's get started!

Making : water paintings with Mathieu
Cooking : with lots of veggies
Drinking : young coconut smoothies yum!
Reading : one more thing by B.J Novak
Wanting : to keep my closet organized. this thing just never stays neat. (how do you guys do it?)
Looking : at my babies growing. they amaze and teach me everyday.
Playing : thomas was alone on the PS3
Wasting : nothing
Sewing : nothing
Wishing : we had a backyard so we could spend more time outside when the weather is nice
Enjoying : actual conversations with Mathieu
Waiting : for my sister's to stay with us this summer
Liking : waking up to Clemence's big smile in the morning (we co-sleep)
Wondering : how heaven will be
Loving : Clemence's sweet milk breath
Hoping : I am doing everything right. it is so difficult not to compare isn't it ?
Marveling : at those blossoming trees!
Needing : a pool or a private beach... that's all you know
Smelling : ugh ... the sub shop downstairs ...
Wearing : PJ's
Following : a few blogs on Raw food recipes and lifestyle
Noticing : my body getting more strength
Knowing : that god is real
Thinking : about all the things i have to do tomorrow and to not forget to buy what i need to make homemade coconut marshmallow.
Feeling : tired and loved
Pinterest pining : recipes
Opening : a new bottle of organic shampoo! yay! i love trying new natural and organic beauty products
Giggling : when Mathieu and i play with rubber balloons. i blow them and let the air rush out which makes them fly everywhere with a fart-y noise. Mathieu laughs at this for hours! ahah
Feeling : happy

Mother's day

2014-05-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful! i hope everyone had a nice weekend. the weather in Boston was amazing - a true summer's day. mother's day was really fun i woke up to a nice red roses bouquet on the bed as well as an amazing breakfast (Jeremy's famous Brioche french toasts). we then spent most of our day outdoor. we live close to the fells reservation so we have lots of fun hiking trails around.

i cannot believe how much i love being a mother. i believe i am a better person since they were born. they changed me in a good way and i am so thankful for that. In fact i feel so much more connected with myself and this world. i also see so many things in a different light. yes sometimes they drive me crazy and i just want to go hide under my blanket with headphones on and lay there with my eyes closed for a few hours. just so i can be just me. but those moments never last long. one little smile from my babies and i am right back at it!

Happy mother's day!

Mathieu says ...

2014-05-06T05:54:00.001-07:00

I day dreamed about the day Mathieu would say cute things to me. Well, that day has come!

This morning after breakfast "Hey Maman! ummmm.... do you remember daddy?" me (sarcastically) :"yes! the guy who left the house on his bike this morning? He was so cool!".

So cute!

Raw week // one

2014-04-30T21:42:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! Happy thursday!

For the first time last week i went 100% raw for 7 days straight. it is something i wanted to try for quite a while now. It was not easy for the first two days but after that, it was almost like second nature. The key is to stay creative with the food you eat. luckily you can get lot's of great recipes ideas from blogs like The Rawtarian, Raw food recipes and youtube chanels like fully raw Kristina. Bellow are few photos of some meals during this raw week (if you follow me on instagram you probably already saw them).

I really love this lifestyle for it's numerous health benefits but also for it's purity and simplicity. I also managed to loose two and a half pounds in 7 days eating lots of fruits, vegetable and nuts and not feeling hungry.Even though i tried this diet for my wellbeing it was nice to loose some of the extra baby weight left. So if you need to loose weight you should try it out as well! it might work out for you!

I am hoping to get a raw week in once a month. and maybe will go fully raw one day... who knows... maybe when the kids are off to college or when i won't have to cook for someone. Because yes it is tough to eat just a salad when your toddler eat's Mac and cheese i have to admit that!

Life with two kids

2014-03-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Mathieu and Clémence are interacting so much lately! it is the most adorable thing ever. Mathieu has a bunch of tricks to make Clémence laugh. One of them he says " car goes faaast!" and runs around her and Clémence will crack up with her throaty laugh. They also took their first bath together last week. Their growing relationship is so so sweet to see and it makes my heart want to burst.

i cannot believe Clémence is 4+ months now. Time flies!

Also on the less glamorous side. i have been loosing my hair for two months now. it is due to the dropping estrogen. level in my body. Did you guys loose your hair too after having a baby? ugh! my hair was still glossy and full a few weeks ago.

But now i look like this

Anyways, i have a question for parents of two. when does things get easier? when do you get back on your feet and see those under eyes bags go away?

Wedding!

2014-03-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos (some with the real camera and some iphone photos) from Jeremy's cousin's wedding day in Maine. I could not take as many photos as i would usually do because it was our first time going to a wedding with babies and let me tell you! it is not easy! Also they had that super awesome photo booth that we all love so yeah, we had fun!

So congrats again to the beautiful couple! I am so excited to see what's in store for them and maybe a Baby soon ????

These stay on my fridge

My munchkin eating a lollypop (the 3rd one) and i don't know when he got that big bruise on his head :-(

oh! and a selfie just because

from my phone lately

2014-02-23T19:27:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend

2014-02-16T19:31:00.003-08:00

Hello beautiful!

i hope you had a wonderful valentine's day whether you are in a relationship or not. to me this day is about celebrating Love even though we should practice and share Love everyday. it just a reason to go the extra mile.

it should not be about buying each other gifts but more about doing something special for each other like bake a cake ;-) or send a nice card at your lover's work :-) (did both) or give a nice massage. you know. Anyways, what i want to say is "make that day count without emptying your wallet".

below are few photos from this weekend. we had two free tickets to the Boston Loves Impressionism exhibition at the MFA. the public got to vote each week for their favorite art works from a themed group of paintings for a special impressionist exhibition. Fun! So hey! we braved the cold and made it out!

Mathieu's favorite dish with heart shaped carrots (he did not care lol)

Mathieu's favorite gallery at the MFA " the musical instruments". i am so sad i forgot to take a photo of the old violin's and cellos which are his favorites.

persian instrument. Mathieu know all of them my dad would have been so proud!

Clemence was sleeping the whole time we were there but Mathieu had a blast. He was looking at each painting with interest and talked about it.

Personal favorite

and Mathieu's favorite

love him!

Fun links from around the web

2014-02-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! These past few days have just been snow snow snow which means more days inside and honestly i can't do it sometimes. Spring hurry please! i cannot wait to be able to go out for walks with the little ones and be able to get some fresh air. i have also been eating like freak so that needs to stop too... anyways... here are a few fun links from around the web (that entertaining at least):

How to find some quietude in your life ( I need that!)

Gad Elmaleh in "comedians in cars getting coffee" (Love him)

Feel better about your postpartum body (it truly reminded myself how amazing it is to be a mom)

Super cute baby moccasins (and helping a humanitarian organisation) oh! i am totally getting one of these bags!

A baby girl seeing the rain for the first time (i could not stop smiling watching this).

Stay warm! xoxo

Wednesday wishlist from Anthropologie

2014-02-05T19:43:00.001-08:00

Wednesday wishlist from Anthropologie by chic-parisian featuring Mason Pearson

From my phone lately

2014-02-05T18:41:00.005-08:00

Maternity photos

2014-02-04T21:06:00.004-08:00

Last fall i had the opportunity to get my maternity photo done my friend Cristina @ www.facebook.com/mywanderlustwandermust. She takes amazing photos and i could not be happier with the outcome of the shoot. i went with a boho look and my favorite photos are the ones with the "bare belly" which are mostly for me, but i love how they turned out so i had to share them.

photos by Cristina from Wanderlustwanermust