French Californian

I've moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 17 May 2014 22:58:00 +0000

I've moved! French Californian has changed hosting platforms, so go check me out at www.FrenchCalifornian.com! (ps: it's the same address as before, so nothing much has changed, even I don't really understand it). But go look at the cool new design!

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Visual Diary: Rainy Days, Petit Palais, and other Life Things

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:39:00 +0000

The past couple weeks have been quite drizzly, blustery, and chilly. I find that time seems to be passing more quickly and naturally now - I've stopped counting the passing weekends, and stopped feeling panicky about the unknown future. The residence card should be in the works as we speak, and I've got a babysitting job lined up for the fall. I've even managed to pick up a little side job for a couple months, which will fund both my student loan payments due in June, as well as my summertime-BFF-Spain trip planned for August. I am far from having everything figured out, but who ever really does?

I was walking through a long, conveyor-belt strip in the Montparnasse metro station a while back, and noticed an advertisement that stretched the entire length of the tunnel. The Paris metro always contains ads for spectacles and temporary art exhibitions, and this particular one was adorned with Belle Epoque images of the Eiffel Tower, World's Fair, Toulouse-Lautrec posters, the Moulin Rouge... basically the quintessential historical Paris. I know I had to see the exhibition asap, because that's my time period! It was housed within the gorgeous Petit Palais and had a wide variety of both art and "cultural artefacts," if you will. Photographs, posters, paintings, garments, books, furniture, an Art Nouveau metro archway, you name it. I tried to get pictures of things, but the lighting is always impossibly low in these kind of exhibitions. We failed to buy advance tickets online to avoid the line, but in the end managed to pick a good day and only waited in the queue for about 25 minutes, and ate some pastries to pass the time!

This week was the first of my new short-term babysitting gig, so I've been out of the house more often than usual, and have focused less on my blog. However, I have been working on a new wordpress-based site design that I'm really excited about! I have a vision for this blog, one that reaches out into other realms, and I really feel that I can achieve this vision if I just keep working at it a little everyday.

Married life has also been especially excellent as of late. I've had a pessimistic, jaded, fearful view of marriage for many years, but I'm happy to say that our relationship at the moment is blatantly defying every single one of those apprehensions. I love everything about this guy, and regardless of what I do with my life, at least I have this really weird, funny, caring person next to me. <3 I will cherish this Instax photo for the rest of my life:

À bientôt mes amies!

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Art History Lesson: Impressionists you've never heard of, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 May 2014 16:28:00 +0000

If you've taken any kind of art class, whether it be studio art when you were 12 years old or "Art Appreciation 101" in university, you've definitely, without a doubt, heard of the French Impressionists. I don't even want to know how many times I've sat through lessons about how urbanisation, industrialisation, photography, leisure time, democratization of society, Orientalism, and of course, a desire to break the traditional rules of Fine Art all came together to create probably the most widely-known art movement of all time. Don't get me wrong, I adore this kind of art; In fact, these are my favorite types of paintings to see in museums and galleries; Musée D'orsay will always be my favorite. However, sometimes it's nice to learn something new, to see a fresh side of an otherwise over-exhausted subject.

That's why I was so pleasantly surprised to hear of an American Impressionist exhibition at Giverny's Musée des Impressionnismes (You can see my trip to Monet's garden at Giverny here). When do you ever hear names like Cecilia Beaux, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, or John Henry Twachtman? I spent years of my life studying these things and never once heard their names, but I like to think that I'm continuing my education on my own. You don't ever have to stop learning , thinking, and improving.

One artist that really stood out to me at this exhibition was John Henry Twachtman. They had mainly his winter scenes, which at first glance appeared as dull, muddy canvases, but once I stopped for a few more seconds, I realised how beautifully stubtle the colours were. Once I researched him on the internet at home, I saw that he actually was not afraid of color. I chose the works below for their use of color.

{May Morn, 1899, John Henry Twachtman, National Museum of American Art}

What always draws me into a painting are the colours. It always fascinates me to find that shadows aren't gray - they're actually lavender, violet, deep turquoise, sea green, and cerulean blue; And highlights aren't just white - they're soft creams, tinted grays, feathery blues, and pastel pinks. Once you're able to see that whites aren't really white, and blacks aren't actually black, art really transforms, and you may even start to see the variation in color and light in your daily life.

The other thing that really gets me, is the atmosphere Twachtman is able to create. You can almost feel the morning fog over the river in the picture above, and the wintery chill in the air below.

{Winter, 1898, John Henry Twachtman}

These other ones I simply chose because of their beautiful colours. Can you see the rainbow colours in the snow of the last image?? It's so cool!! Or is it just me who thinks that's amazing? :)

{Meadow Flowers (Golden Rod and Wild Aster), 1892, John Henry Twachtman, Brooklyn Museum, New York}

{The Cabbage Patch, 1890-93, John Henry Twachtman}

{Winter Landscape, John Henry Twachtman}

I would really love to make this into a series called "Art Lessons." I have one more planned about Impressionists you've never heard of. What do you think of this Art History series? Would you read it? Honest opinions please!

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Wandering Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Did you know that in French, one walks in a street, and not on one? I think that's quite poetic. To be in a street suggests that the road, the buildings, the trees, the people, are surrounding and enveloping you. You're not just present in a place, but part of it.

If you couldn't tell by the large title image, I'm starting a recurring series called Wandering Wednesdays. I can't say that I'll have pictures of miscellaneous Parisian street scenes every single week on Wednesdays, or that I'll literally be doing the wandering specifically on Wednesdays, but it made for a good title, so I'm sticking with it! And when I do have some lovely pictures to post, I'll post them on Wednesdays!

Okay - I think I've repeated the word "Wednesday" far too many times by now! Enjoy these pictures, most of which were taken between Invalides and Pont de L'Alma, also known as the 7th arrondissement. An exception in the first two, which were taken at the Grand Palais and on Pont Alexandre III. I've also included probably my favorite French song by Miss Bardot for your listening pleasure

Un Jour Comme un Autre by Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot on Grooveshark

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Something's Brewing in Canal Saint Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 13:26:00 +0000

The 10th Arrondissement has long been a forgotten neighbourhood of Paris, overshadowed by the romance of Montmartre above, and the cool vibe of the Marais below. Although it has always boasted the Canal Saint Martin, a favorite summertime picnic spot of young hip thangs from that side of town, the rest of the surrounding streets are home to multicultural establishments: African, Indian, East European, Turkish, Italian, Asian, and probably any other non-French influence you can think of has staked a claim here.

Over the past few years, the 10th has become increasingly more gentrified, and although I dislike this word and phenomenon for many reasons, you can't deny the perks that come with such an economic shift. Now bear with me, I have zero actual knowledge of economic systems, but here are my thoughts: On one hand, property values increase, driving the poorer community out, bringing in more tourists, and eventually spoiling what had made the area charming in the first place. I don't believe this has happened yet - the neighbourhood does not bring in a ton of tourists, but I will say it attracts a lot of young foreign residents. Lots of international students, bloggers, and people who work in the arts, and those are my kind of people!

One of the best results of this transformation of the 10th is the birth of new restaurants. I decided to try a few to see what the fuss was all about. What they all have in common is intimacy, good service, quality ingredients, and simple, yet cool interior design. The facades rarely have signage and look unassuming from the outside, the dining rooms are small and often have communal seating, the waiters are actually kind, helpful, and willing to speak English, unlike most traditional French establishments, and the food is usually organic, in season, unique, and health-conscious. The experiences I've had thus far have been extremely positive! Let me tell you about a few restaurants I've visited.

First, is Holy Belly, known for its changing, monthly menu and seasonal ingredients. They even stock microbrews that are made in France. I've heard that microbreweries are quite commonplace in the north of France, and I think it's time to bring that tradition down to Paris! I'm not a huge beer drinker, but I love the idea of supporting small producers.

Holy Belly has vegetarian options, but I had a dish with lamb curry and salad, as well as a cappuccino, which was top-notch quality. And can we all take a small moment to appreciate the text on the sign above that reads, "hook a brother up."

The service is outstanding, the servers smiling as they bring your food. This kind of simple kindness is so refreshing in Paris! I hope it becomes a trend outside of this neighbourhood, although I highly doubt it will, since French servers don't rely on tips like they do in America.

Next, is an English fish n' chips joint cleverly called The Sunken Chip - see what they did there?? It's more of a takeaway/fast food environment, but that doesn't mean their floors are dirty or service brusque. The man who helped us was super nice, the white subway tile lining the entire place was sparkling and bright, and the menu was straightforward and easy to understand.

I went for a cream soda with my fish, and asked for a side of tartar sauce, since I wasn't familiar with mushy peas, a staple of the English variety of this dish. I've only ever had California-style fish n' chips, which generally consists of thinner fish strips and tartar sauce as an absolute necessity (often accompanied with some white clam chowder, yum). I really enjoyed this meal though, despite the subtle cultural differences.

Another establishment that I would like to mention is the Bakery that resides next door to the Sunken Chip. It's called Liberté, and they had one of the best coffee cream puffs I've ever had. Their spread wasn't typically French - it had a slight variations on the normal staples, and a few additions I've never seen before. Not to mention the place is aesthetically pleasing. Marble and glass counter, patterned tile, rough loft-like walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open like shutters. Yes, just yes.

There are some other places I want to visit soon, and most of them are on Rue des Vinaigriers, or very close by. There's a vegan hippie restaurant and epicerie that sells raw cacao and aloe vera branches, and a build-your-own Korean stir-fry café, as well as a handful of coffee shops that actually take pride in the quality of their coffee, which is surpassingly hard to come by in Paris.

Here are the places I mentioned, plus more:

Holy Belly
19 Rue Lucien Sampaix
metro Jacques Bonsergent

The Sunken Chip
39 Rue des Vinaigriers
CONTACT@THESUNKENCHIP

Boulangerie - Liberté par Benoît Castel
Patisserie
39 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010 Paris

Sol Semilla - Vegan Restaurant and Épicerie
23 rue des vinaigriers

Ten Belles - Awesome coffee shop
10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles

Jules et Shim - Korean stir-fry
22 rue des Vinaigriers

If you've been to any of these places, tell me if you liked them! And up next here on the blog is either an Art History post, or pictures of my random walks through Paris.

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Places I once knew

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:54:00 +0000

The other day, I revisited my old neighbourhood. Just walking down that familiar street brought memories that had entirely faded from my brain, rushing back with clarity. I remembered small, impossible details like what my friend ordered that time we ate at the café downstairs, the happy conversation I had with the nearby florist, discussing the contents of paté with my Mother when she visited, shopping for a tiny christmas tree with my best friend, the nearby church I had visited when I was at my lowest... I could go on for days.

But instead of making me happy, these memories just made me sad. I spent the rest of the day mulling over why sadness was my first reaction, and I still haven't quite figured it out.

Older Chests by Damien Rice on Grooveshark

What struck me was the familiar feeling of the weather. When I surfaced from the metro that very first early-autumn day in Paris, the skies were clear and blue, with some happy clouds, the sun was warm, but there was a slight chill in the air. And when I returned, a year and a half later, on a beautiful spring day, it felt so similar. How can everything look and feel the same, yet you've changed so much?

I started wondering who lives in my apartment now. Are they also a student, do they love it as much as I did, what place in the world did they travel from to arrive here in Paris? Do the people I walked past everyday still live in this neighbourhood? And even more than that - did my presence in this minuscule corner of the universe make any impression? Does a part of me still linger here?

I thought about my hometown, how even though I love the desert landscape and spending time with my family in our cozy house, I always end up feeling a little melancholy whenever I return. It's like the puzzle piece (me) doesn't quite fit comfortably anymore, and even though I am somewhat bothered by the awkwardness, there's nothing I can do to change that.

My mind then began to wander; what makes ME who I am? Is it the collective experiences, people, and places I've encountered? The spaces I've inhabited? The things I eat, the conversations I've had, the relationships and heartbreaks I've endured?

I don't think I'll ever come to discover a final version of myself - I truly feel like being human, by definition, is a constant transformational experience. Although I've always sought change in my life, never wanting to become boring or stagnant, I sure do have a hard time coping with the passage of good times.

Maybe the memories of my old Parisian apartment make me sad because I associate that time of my life with a better version of myself - a version with more passion and actual goals. Maybe I'm glorifying the past, and maybe I need to stop doing that.

“Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

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April Outfit and Face of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 16:25:00 +0000

Today, I'm bringing you a quick outfit-of-the-day. I don't do these very often, partly because it's a tiny bit out of my comfort zone, but also because my wardrobe is relatively minimal at the moment, since I moved to France with only 1.5 suitcases in tow. I was looking back on my outfit posts within the last few months, and I realised they all look the same: Black, gray, and my one colour of choice, burgundy. Although I completely believe in the idea of a "capsule" wardrobe, where the mixing-and-matching possibilities are endless, it doesn't make for the most varied outfit posts.

With warmer weather around the corner, and skinny jeans becoming less of a prevalent trend, I decided to add some lighter pieces into my wardrobe, and this lace dress is one of them. I also got some loose-fitting trousers that are basically constructed like pajama pants, a peach coloured blouse, and a floral kimono. I really feel like just these few pieces transform my wardrobe!

Originally, this white dress was going to be the dress I wore for our elopement to NYC, but I just couldn't bring myself to get married in a dress that cost 12 euro from Forever21, which is why I eventually found a better quality dress for the special day!

I paired this dress with my burgundy (once again) moto jacket from Target. I think dresses that are fitted at the waist look best with a shorter-length top layer. It was a sunny, yet crisp spring day, so I kept my legs bare but bundled up my neck with a super fuzzy scarf from Zara. It really felt strange to have my legs free, as I've been wearing black pants as a staple for months upon months upon months!

Outfit Details
Dress: Forever21
Jacket: Target
Shoes: Forever 21
Scarf: Zara

I'm adding another element to the typical OOTD, and showing you my FACE of the day, inspired by those beauty bloggers out there! I was feeling very peachy today, so I used some warm, luminescent blush, a rose-gold eyeshadow, coral lip butter, and natural-looking foundation, so that my nose freckles showed through.

Foundation: Dior Forever
Blush: Benefit blush in Sugarbomb
Eyeshadow: Rimmell Glam'eyes in 019 Sun Safari
Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 015 Tutti Frutti

I often find myself thinking about what focus I want this blog to take and even the level of dedication I'm willing to make. I really don't foresee me creating many outfit or beauty posts, but I think they provide a bit of a personal touch to my blog, so I think I'll continue to do them... once a month perhaps? I much more enjoy writing about my experiences, travels, thoughts, and artists I find across the internet. Who knows, that may change in the future, but I like that I have the freedom to make this internet space whatever fits me best. :) I would absolutely love to start a YouTube channel as well! I see these YouTubers and Bloggers out there who are super successful, and make a career out of this, and I would absolutely love to do what they do. I just don't see how it could happen. I suppose it comes in small steps... but that's probably better saved for a separate post!

Until next time.

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Springtime in Monet's Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Being a girl who took started French lessons in high school and studied Art in college, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Impressionism, or any artwork during that time period actually. Degas' cropped Ballerina scenes, Van Gogh's vibrating and tortuous genre scenes, and Monet's expansive waterlily canvases. It's all so fascinating, the history behind these artistic revolutions; and what makes it even more fascinating, more so than seeing the canvases in a museum, is seeing the source of inspiration itself. I had the privilege of seeing Claude Monet's private gardens last Saturday, as well as his home.

The village is called Giverny, and it's about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Paris. Gravelly roads, wooden shutters, and rolling green hills - it was something out of a fairy tale. I really didn't know what to expect from the garden, but I knew there would be a waterlily pond. Boy, were my expectations blown out of the water: Rows upon rows of brightly-colored tulips, poppies, daffodils, forget-me-nots, and pansies, just bopping their heads lightly in the breeze. The intense sunshine enhanced their colour to a fluorescent hue; I had to squint so much my eyes started watering a little bit! Even my camera had a difficult time capturing the brightness of the scene.

I've truly never seen anything like it. I had such a fun time zooming in on these flowers, exploring the floral forest with the lens. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed photographing something as much as this. I tried to narrow it down so this post wouldn't be super long, but it was hard!

The chickens here had hilarious hairstyles!!

The lily pond was just as amazing, although I imagine it's even better during summertime, when the waterlilies bloom. I could easily see how Monet was inspired to paint his famous waterlily paintings here. The still water reflected not only the light, filtered through weeping willow branches, but also the flowers and plants placed on the banks, variations in green with random bits of red. The colours and abstractions that resulted on the water's surface were amazing.

After idling away a decent span of time among the flowers, we went on an exploratory walk in the surrounding village. We spotted some people sitting high upon a hilltop, wondering how on earth they had hiked up that high. Well - with a bit of poking around, we were able to find a grassy walking trail, put on our explorer caps, and hiked up. Even though this part wasn't necessarily the most beautiful, It felt very special to me. One of my favourite paintings by Monet is the one of a woman, standing on a grassy hill, the breeze blowing her skirt. Although I was not carrying a parasol or wearing a fantastic full skirt, I truly felt like the scene I found myself in had the same feeling as a Monet painting. And how could I complain about this view? If I had a large blanket, this would have been a fantastic time for a picnic.

Once we reluctantly left Giverny and arrived back at the Vernon train station, we discoverd that the next train back into Paris would arrive in TWO hours! So we walked slowly around the town, admiring the half-timbered buildings that seemed so much older than the tall concrete buildings of Paris. Here are a couple snaps from our train-waiting period:

I think what struck me most about this trip was the feeling of adventure it gave me. It's been quite a while since I've felt that spark of passion, freedom, and novelty. Even Paris, although amazing, can become predictable over time; Giverny was something I've never, ever done before, and I loved that feeling. I can't wait to get that travel-high again some time soon! Tell me about a time that you felt that spark of adventure in the comments below!

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Promenade Plantée & Rue Crèmieux

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 17:41:00 +0000

The weather has been treating us SO well lately, so a buddy and I decided to soak it all in last Thursday. We started the day with a long lunch at Holy Belly, a somewhat-newly opened café/restaurant that prides itself on using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and boasting a monthly-rotating menu, a small selection of microbrews, and a pinball machine. I'm working on a more in-depth review of this restaurant for another website, so I'll leave it at this for now: It's yummy and I highly recommend.

Next, we chose to search out the enigmatic Rue Crèmieux. I had seen Instagram photos of this mysterious pedestrian street, most often not location-tagged, so I had only a slight inkling of where it might be located. This road is like a legend that I've always wanted to track down but which never crosses my mind at the right time - a small, alternate reality where color lives. Okay, I sound a bit dramatic, but it truly is uncharacteristic of Parisian architecture, and I'm happy to say I finally found it! These are just a few of the facades that captured my special attention with their color combinations. Sadly, the road is only 144 meters long (I looked it up)!

Just a block away from Rue Crèmieux is the Promenade Plantée, and if you're familiar at all with New York City, it's like Paris's version of the High Line. A long walkway/park constructed atop an old, abandoned railway line, raised above street level, so your view is a mix of greenery, sky, apartment building windows, and rooftops. It's a fantastic place to go for a brisk walk or jog, but there's also benches dispersed frequently to sit and have a quick picnic - like we did with a couple of éclairs bought from a nearby bakery. We walked the entire thing, starting east of Bastille and continuing the length of about three metro stops. The promenade runs parallel to Boulevard Daumesnil.

This was my first time exploring the 12th Arrondissement, and it has a different vibe than the rest of Paris. More of the buildings are modern and... let's just say it's not as fancy. But it has some cool things to offer! Hopefully I'll be able to discover some more great things about this generally overlooked arrondissement.

Up next, my amazing trip to Giverny. I'm telling you, the flower photos from Giverny are going to blow these photos away!! Okay, I'm getting excited to write my next post now!

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Found Objects of April

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 17:26:00 +0000

Things have been relatively quiet over here lately. I've been running small errands around Versailles and quietly searching out new inspirations to keep me feeling interested and alive, and some of the things that keep me going are the creations of other humans: blogs, artist portfolios, new music, etc. There's an entire world of creativity that exists and thrives on the internet, I'd even say that the interwebs, at least for those who have access to it, has become integrated into our very concept of reality - or at least has become an expression of it. Today, you can see nearly the entire world from your computer screen, things that you wouldn't have seen otherwise. I think it's so amazing - so let me share some of what I've found with you.

I've titled this new series "Found Objects" because each link or tid-bit or song is something I've stumbled upon whilst strolling through the internet, much like found-objects within artistic practice are discovered: by chance.

First, is this playlist I've assembled for you. For the past year or so, I've been enamoured with electronic anthems that get the blood pumping, but lately none of that has felt right. I haven't listened to any music at all, since I wasn't sure what I liked, or what felt like me anymore. I think we all go through seasons and changes in life, and I feel like I'm just now starting to discover what my next season will feel like. Instead of the electro-hip vibe I've been ruminating in since my first stay in Paris, I've been hearkening back a bit more towards my high-school indie-ish loves - think Elliot Smith, Radiohead's In Rainbows album, Damien Rice, and The Frames. Many of the songs below, however, have an electronic element. Most are picked from albums that are genre-bending, slightly strange, a bit dark, and best listened to full-length and meditatively through good-quality headphones (or loudly in a car, a luxury I no longer have here in France).
April 9th 2014 by Hannah Wilson on Grooveshark

Next, is Olivia Rae James, who has a photography portfolio and blog that are overflowing with gorgeous photography. The kind of photography that is both visually stunning, yet easy-to-understsand. She captures the real magic of everyday scenes. No scene is over-aggrandized, yet everything she captures enchants the eye.

Culture Keeper is where Jonathan Randall Grant assembles the experiences, collaborations, vision, and imagery of his life. He shares his unique and uncomplicated perspective with others, and I love his honest writing style. It is not a typical, run-of-the-mill site, and he is not a typical person - and that's what makes it so nice to explore.

Anomie is an online shop, recently opened by a young lady called Chelsea, who does a mighty fine job of assembling a superb collection of homewares, accessories, and clothing that are entirely handmade. Most of the brands she stocks are small, start-up companies. She also has a little YouTube channel called ChelseaWears, and she's a delightful person!

I really enjoyed putting together this post. I think I'll make a habit of it every month, if I remember, that is ;)

Until next time.

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Cupcakes, FroYo, and Thoughts on Food Fads

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 12:24:00 +0000

The other day I was pondering all the semi-recent food trends that have swept the United States, or at least California. I can think of FroYo, bubble tea, and cupcakes, just to name a few of the most prominent. There are two things that Americans love: Food and Invention. We love a new idea, a fresh take on something previously seen as ordinary. Take fruit for instance - only Americans would think "hey, lets organize this fruit into a bouquet that people can eat, and call it 'Edible Arrangements!" And think of Sprinkles Cupcakes, with their cupcake ATM! I can't wait to see what crops up next... 3D printed food, anyone?

I've noticed that these food novelties aren't quite as big here in Paris; The French are more protective of tradition, which is why you can find baguettes and pain au chocolat on literally any street corner. One exception is burgers, the un-sophisticatd meal you can eat with your hands, which weren't always a staple on many Parisian menus like they are today. You can find bubble tea (for which I had a craving the other day), but usually tucked away in nondescript corners, and I have yet to see a single frozen yogurt establishment like Pinkberry or Yogurtland. As far as the cupcake trend goes, I would say it's part of a larger tendency toward specialty sweet-shops, as opposed to general Bakeries. Popelini, for instance, specialises in fancy cream puffs, while l'Éclair de Genie makes uber gourmet éclairs that are literally a work of art.

I hadn't noticed any cupcake shops around Paris, so after a simple Google search, I found this one, called Miss Cupcake. After looking at the location, I realized I've walked past it numerous times without really noticing it! In fact, I've eaten at the vegetarian restaurant next-door. Sometimes, when you're not looking for something, it escapes your attention. Miss cupcake has two locations, one in Montmartre and one in the Marais, two of my favourite neighbourhoods.

First of all, this place is adorable; A little pastel jewelry box that smells like freshly-baked goods. Pink, lavender, and mint-green with a mix of painted wood, floral wallpaper, pink houndstooth upholstery, and a white marble table-top. I chose an apricot-pistachio cupcake with a cappucino, and my friend went for the Blueberry-Vanilla. After politely eating the cupcake with a spoon (SO not american, to eat a cupcake with a utensil), we split a cookie, which was also delicious.

Overall, this is an adorable place to stop in, especially if you've just done some vintage shopping nearby at Chine Machine or Vintage Désir like I had (I got myself a denim jacket that I'm very excited to wear for spring).

Paris is all about the beautiful traditions, but it's nice to have a little freshness here and there with specialty coffee shops, cafes, and bakeries. I'm looking forward to discovering more of these little corners and small businesses.

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Perhaps the Most Romantic Spot in Paris, and Week Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 20:10:00 +0000

This week's highlights have been defined by one thing: The SUNSHINE! I don't think one fully understands the positive affects of that heavenly burning ball of gas, high up in the sky, until you live somewhere that experiences rain more than three times per year. Not only sunshine, but also sorbet, a new work opportunity, an American diner, and perhaps the most romantic spot in Paris. A big claim to make, I realise, but keep reading, people. Keep reading.

Last Sunday, a friend and I had brunch at Rose Bakery, a Franco-British establishment with a few locations around Paris. It's been quite hyped up in "hipster circles" (for lack of a better term), and for good reason. The façade and interior are unassuming and comfortable, the food feels hearty, simple, and of good quality. That morning, I had a cappuccino, a pear cranberry muffin, and a quiche. The muffin wasn't all sugar, and the quiche differed from French quiches in that it was square-shaped and had a sturdier crust. Only got a snapshot of the pretty foam on my cappuccino.

After brunch, we took a trip to the flea market at St. Ouen. I hadn't planned on coming, so without having any idea of what I was looking for, I left with nothing. In in all honesty, it's quite overpriced. We had a fun time admiring all the crazy things, though. There's even a little brasserie embedded within the open-air, alley-section of the market, and that afternoon we heard some live French music emanating from inside.

Next stop that Sunday was, of course, ice cream. How can you say no to ice cream? The lines at every single retailer of Berthillon on Île-Saint-Louis was lengthy, but the wait was so worth it. I went for my usual salted caramel, but changed it up a bit with an extra scoop of Mango sorbet. On our way across a bridge and down to the riverbank, a strange man asked us for a taste of our ice cream cones... "je peux goûter, je peux goûter?" I responded with a strong "NON" and a highly protective arm gesture. Don't mess with my ice cream! Do you see the dense line of people chilling on the river bank? The sun really lures the people out.

We just couldn't bear to end our sunny day there, so we hopped on a bus to Luxembourg, and had a walk-through. No joke, every single park seat was occupied. Even the section of grass that people are permitted to sit on was packed full with grass-loungers. The diffused sunlight cast long shadows of the trees on the ground.

Fast forward to Thursday, when I had my first experience in a new opportunity. I don't want to call it an internship, because that's not what it is. Officially, it's something of an "exchange." An exchange of my time for use of their space. It's at an art gallery, allows me to learn about a portion of the art market, take on small projects, and in the meantime, build up a reference for the future. It's nothing fancy or too interesting, but at least it's something to fill up my time and to build up my resumé ever so slightly. The gallery is near my old neighbourhood and very close to the Eiffel Tower, so it's a lovely area to visit once a week. I took this picture below in the Champs de Mars during a little walk I had nearby.

Fast forward once again to this Saturday, when I met a couple friends for a traditional American diner brunch and some more island-time. Breakfast in America is the perfect place for lost expats and homesick university exchange students. This time around I had an omelet with potatoes, a root beer, and a slice of pecan pie! Ellen and I (both American) invited my new Serbian acquantance along for a little slice of America; it's always so fun to show other cultures some of your home country!

The most amazing thing happened that day. When we surfaced from the metro, the skies were horribly gray, the weather was cold, and the wind was strong, but upon exiting the diner, the skies had suddenly become a bright blue canvas filled with white pillow-clouds.

Charles Dickens really sums it up: “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

We walked through a nearby park, meandered down a narrow street, and ended up at Notre Dame, once again. I seriously should branch out! I always end up right at the islands somehow!

Since I hadn't been there since last Fall, I said to Ellen, "Let's go check out this little park at the tip of this island!" So - we did. If I had been there with Erik, we definitely would have been one of the many couples being cute and cuddly on the river banks. The park covers the triangular tip of the island, with paved space all around to sit, legs dangling over the sloped edge. If the temperature was a bit warmer, a blanket, a bottle of wine, and some sandwiches would have been in order. I think the best part about this section of the Seine were the the romantic weeping willows - it's no coincidence that Taylor Swift films a bulk of her "Begin Again" video under these very willows, it's just so damn romantic. Combined with the unreal sky, it was too much to handle.

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There's more to France than Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:43:00 +0000

Yesterday, the Paris area saw some of the worst air pollution... ever. At least that's what the news articles keep saying, and judging by the visible haze suspended in the sky, obscuring trees and buildings, I gotta believe them. It didn't stop me from having a lovely little walk through a village outside of Paris, however. Villennes-Sur-Seine, complete with weeping willows over a river, adorable stone houses, and a charming garden on the side of a hill. The atmosphere felt pleasantly warm, thick, and cozy, probably enhanced by the dense smog in the air.

I wouldn't have made the trek out there if it weren't for some official business to take care of - I was picking up some official translations of documents needed to apply for a residence card. I'm glad I did go, because it made me realize that there's more to see here than Paris... small villages and towns with medieval churches, ivy-covered walls, small, quiet streets, quaint cafes, and stone fountains. This short afternoon trek has inspired me to branch outward, see what lies outside of the Paris grandeur.

Here are just a few things I noticed while waiting for the next train back home:

On my first trip to France with my mother during high school, we visited smaller towns and chateaus in wine country, and I have the desire to revisit many of those places - Chartres with it's amazing gothic cathedral, Mont Saint Michel surrounded by water, Rouen with its colourful timbered buildings...

Once spring is in full bloom, the first thing on my to-see list is Monet's house and gardens at Giverny. Can't wait!

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Plans Fail: A Sudden Trip to New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:34:00 +0000

Moving to France to eat croissants and macarons all day might sound “easy” or “spontaneous,” but it actually takes a lot of planning and, how do I put it? …logistical manoeuvres. There are a few ways to get here: as a student, as a student/au pair, as a worker, or as the family member of a European person. The option that made the most sense for Erik and I was to become family members, i.e.: get married.

Up until last week, we had been planning on marrying in Sweden, Erik being a Swede and all. We had the tickets bought, we had plans for me to finally meet his family, and we were about to leave in less than a week. However, when we found out that some documents we sent hadn't been deemed "official" enough, we had to make a sudden change of plans. It’s not like we have all the time in the world, either - there’s a definite timeline to apply for residency, which is constantly hanging over my head.

Our solution? New York City.

It was certainly a lot of fun, but it was also really stressful. I was born American, but in many ways, New York felt like a foreign country. After attempting to walk from the Empire State Building up to Central Park, I realised that this is NOT a city made for sightseeing walks; it’s overwhelmingly expansive. In Paris, all you have to do is pick a street - any street - and it will be beautiful or charming or interesting in some way. New York requires a lot more city knowledge. New York also feels much grittier - rougher. I would imagine that the typical New Yorker is generally a tougher kind of person.

{IT WAS COOOOOLD!}
The day we got married was the coldest we experienced during our 5-day trip, and although my bare legs were frozen, the bright sunshine and clear skies made up for it. The Manhattan City Clerk’s Marriage Bureau was quite lovely: nothing over the top, but quite a few steps up from the DMV for sure. Some of the other government buildings nearby were pretty impressive and made for a good picture of us :D

We had some great pizza at Lombardi's, saw the city from the Rockafeller building, took some taxis, admired some fire escapes, went to a couple great bars, explored the Metropolitan Museum, strolled through Central Park, and best of all, GOT MARRIED!

I’m so excited to be home. Although I wouldn’t say that France feels like home by any stretch of the imagination, when I’m with somebody I love, I feel secure. When you’re out in the big world, within endless urbanscapes that swallow you up in machine dust and human grime, in a place where you feel sick, tired, scared, and confused, the best remedy possible is to have someone by your side.

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Sunny Day in the 5th: Rue Mouffetard, Jardin des Plantes, and Tea at the Grande Mosquée

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:46:00 +0000

Sunny Day in the 5th by Hannah Wilson on Grooveshark Okay, let's face it - when I use the word Sunny, what I actually mean is that a handful of sun rays peeked through the clouds intermittently during the day. What I DON'T mean is the bright, powerful, stark sunshine of California - That kind of sunshine, my friends, I probably won't be seeing anytime soon. But for now, a few warming rays bring a much-needed feeling of warm happiness. This Saturday, I went on a little wander through the 5th Arrondissement with my friend Ellen. She introduced me to a really great Crêperie on well-known Rue Mouffetard that has made its appearances on many a travel itinerary, but which I had never heard of. In fact, I had never even walked this famous foodie road until now! I was pleasantly surprised with how charming it was - on a slight incline, full of delicious scents of roasting meat, felafel, and sweet crêpes, miscellaneous shops, an American diner... shall I go on? The Crêperie, called Au P'tit Grec, offers GINOURMOUS sweet and savoury french-style pancakes at really modest prices. Not only was the Egg, Cheese, and Ham crêpe super filling and yummy, but even the typical Nutella crêpe we had for dessert was exceptionally good - I have a theory it's the butter they use on the grill when heating. If you decide to go, be advised that there will probably be a substantial queue for both take-away and sit-down, and that the interior seating is extremely limited. But don't let that stop you! More info at the bottom of the post. The temperature was really so lovely, and strolling down Rue Mouffetard, Nutella crêpe in-hand, was bliss. And of course, flower shops only add to the ambiance. After a little brainstorming, Ellen and I made our way over to Jardin des Plantes, which was only just beginning to sprout flowers here and there. Not only is it a botanical garden during warm weather, they also had an Orchid exhibition in a massive greenhouse, a Natural History museum, and a small Zoo. We satisfied ourselves by merely walking around, as we both had no desire to stand in line and pay for entrance tickets ("help me, I'm poor" - Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids). We finished our Journey in the 5th with some hot, sweet mint tea at the Grande Mosquée de Paris. We chose to sit in the front courtyard, with white walls, blue tile work, soft, diffused lighting, and a chorus of songbirds. The tea was a nice treat, sweetened to my taste. I saw a few people enjoying sweet-smelling hookah. We had a look-see around the interior, and it certainly didn't disappoint - different rooms with painted walls, red curtains, gold accents, the works. I highly, highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area. It was so lovely to experience a little slice of Paris I had never tasted before. Just when you think you've seen it all, that there's nothing left to explore or ignite that sense of adventure and discovery - a friend takes you somewhere new. It's really made me want to branch out more, see places in Paris I've never thought to see.

Places Mentioned:
Au P'Tit Grec Crêperie - 62 Rue Mouffetard, 75005
Jardin des Plantes - 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005
2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite, 75005
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Artist Feature: Johanna Tagada / BonjourJohanna

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:12:00 +0000

As I was going through a blog-redesign binge in the wee hours of the morning last week, I realised that one of my sidebar categories reads: "Art", and I haven't featured an artist in over 3 months! :o So without further ado, let's get into some art!

Johanna Tagada is an abstract painter who also works with many different media, including painting, collage, photography, textile design, and ceramics. She's originally from France, but currently lives in Germany. Her heritage is multicultural, and so are her interests; She speaks many different languages, travels often, and is inspired by cultural heritage, especially folk art. Her irregular patterns and shapes have something of a tribal or naive feeling to them, yet the colours and sparse compositions make it feel quite modern. The pattern below, with its visible painted texture, resembles cracked mud, a motif that brings to mind the ancient past, hunter-gatherers, wild, harsh environments - What makes this image modern is the two-dimensionality and the pastel colour. The best way I can describe her colour palette is: Sun-bleached pastels.

I really enjoy the textile pattern below, as it looks a bit like a quilt - an art form that has a long history and folk-craft connotations.

In her shop, you can find many different kinds of objects, prints, pins, zines, and even hand painted t-shirts. This one's pretty adorable, and even comes with some tea leaves and a matching card! I'm calling it "The Tea Tee" ... heh heh heh.

Speaking of her store, I love the paint-dollop background she has going on! I've been looking around for web and blog-design inspiration recently, and her store has a fresh feeling to it.

If you want to learn more about Johanna, I have links to a couple interviews she's done below, as well as all her other sites. She seems like a wonderful person: unpretentious, open, creative, and optimistic, just like her art. The best way you can support her is to like/share her work, or even better, buy something from her shop!

You can find her here:
Shop - Bonjour Supermarket
Blog - Bonjour Johanna
Portfolio - Johanna Tagada
Instagram: bonjourjohannatagada
Facebook
Interview about her life
Interview about her aesthetics

My links:
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Visual Diary: Brassai Exhibition, Éclair de Genie, and Fleux

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 18:50:00 +0000

I started my Monday off right with a trip into Paris. Being low on money, I needed an activity that required little to no spending, and the free Brassai photography exhibition, Pour L'Amour de Paris, was what I decided on. I was under the impression that I was being clever by coming on a Monday, that perhaps the line would be shorter, but I was sorely mistaken. I waited in the cold wind for about an hour and a half. -___- If I had a snack, more comfortable shoes, warmer clothes, and a friend to keep me company, it wouldn't have been half bad, but by the time 45 minutes had passed, I was pretty irritable.

Was the show worth the wait? Yes and no. In my situation, no. However, bring necessary entertainment and supplies, and you'll be golden. Come well before closing time so you're not kicked out of the line... I witnessed the last 20 people in line getting turned away by a tough looking security guard as I was leaving :(

The show itself was interesting, Brassai had taken some of the most iconic images of Belle Epoque Paris, and there was quite a funny little film of zoo animals being projected in the back. There were many pictures of the streets at night, as well as people and performers in their habitat. It's always interesting to try and imagine the narrative and relationships that are being played out in a still photograph. My favourite image, the one I bought a postcard of, wasn't the famous Montmartre stairway, but a super dark picture of a black cat. All you can see are the decorative floor tiles, illuminated by some dim light source,and the eerily glowing eyes, floating in a black, empty space.

The sun had begun to set by the time I started walking back to the train station. I admired the golden light on the buildings and stopped to listen to the bells of Notre Dame ringing 6 o'clock.

The following day, my friend Ellen and I had boba tea on our minds, but what we ended up doing is another story. We did eventually find the boba place, tucked away into a tiny, hidden corner near Centre Pompidou, but before that, we discovered Éclair de Génie. Rumoured to be some of the best éclairs in Paris, and at 5-7 euros apiece, we decided to split a Rouge Baiser; a raspberry-chocolate flavoured baton of richness that looked like a work of glass art. The red colour was so vibrant, it was actually a bit startling at first glance.

We weren't sure where this boba tea place was, so we wandered around the area for a while, never a bad thing in Paris, until we came across a wonderland of novelty items, fancy iPhone cases, art books, and gorgeous Scandinavian design objects and furniture. The heavenly place was called Fleux, kinda like Flux, but with a French pronunciation.

The store was spread among 3 or 4 buildings, and just browsing though it all was like roaming through a super fun museum, a museum in which you can touch things, speak at a normal level, and if you have money enough, buy things. Most of it was waaaaaay out of my price range, but simply experiencing the visual feast was reward enough.

I want that bookshelf. Can I have that bookshelf? please? One day, when I'm filthy rich, I'll have it. :p

Places Mentioned:
Brassai, Pour L'Amour de Paris at l'Hotel de Ville
Fleux - 39 & 52 rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie75004 PARIS
Bubbolitas - 17 Rue Quincampoix, 75004

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Chateau de Versailles + Our First Dinner Soirée

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 20:31:00 +0000

Last Saturday was a busy day! During a supermarket run that morning, the sky looked bright, yet partly cloudy, and a bit windier than normal. Then, an hour later, as soon as I set foot outside to pick up my friend from the train station... Torrential downpour! My shoes and pants got soaked, and my poor H&M umbrella got snapped in half! The insane storm lasted about 5 minutes, just long enough for me to hop on a bus instead. As soon as we were walking back from the station, the sky was once again clear and sunny! ... I'm not used to this weather.

We stopped for a few to browse through an antique market, grabbed a bite to eat at a boulangerie, then headed to the palace. Here were the things I noticed this time around:

Being winter and all, the gardens are quite bare, but I did take plenty of pictures of the gardens last last summer, in this post.

That evening, Erik and I had a couple friends over for a casual dinner party, we ate tiny french pickles, bread, cheese, wine, and I cooked up a little asian stir-fry and rice. There was also much wii-U playing, it was a lot of fun with fantastic company! I am very seldom a hostess, so I was a bit nervous our guests would be bored or wouldn't like the food, but we were having such a pleasant time that we almost lost track of the time and missed the trains! It all worked out in the end. I didn't take any pictures :)

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Musée Jacquemart-André

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:30:00 +0000

Last Wednesday night, I was feeling pretty crummy about everything, asking myself existential questions like, "why am I here, what's the point of going into Paris, I'm running out of money, what is life, who am I???" So I decided, instead of wallowing in these thoughts, I should defy them and go see something I've never seen before in Paris.

I chose Musée Jacquemart-André, a relatively small museum of decorative arts in the fancy 8th arrondissement. One downside to no longer being a student, is that I no longer receive free admission to certain museums around Paris. I naively attempted to use my old Parisian student ID, but embarrassingly, the ticket woman checked the date on the back and I ended up paying the full price. oops! :p

This museum has an amazing staircase! Still not as good as the staircase at the Gustave Moreau Museum though!

I really love the colors and textures of this smoking room, the rugs, the velvety sofa, and the carved wood:

After the museum, my friend and I got "the best falafel in Paris" on Rue des Rosiers, and then some yummy ice cream at Berthillon because I am obsessed. I've been to Berthillon far, far too many times. In only managed to take this quick pic of the felafel. It was indeed delicious.

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Visual Diary: Tourist or Resident?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:18:00 +0000

It's been nearly a month since I've arrived in France, and one question has been rolling around in my mind constantly - am I a tourist, or do I live here? I think the answer to that question is a definitive, neither.

Paris doesn't have the same angelic glow it has when first laying eyes upon it, the boulangeries and rows of pretty buildings now feel normal. I still find it charming and beautiful, but the sense of adventure and discovery and exhilaration one feels when traveling to new places is definitely lacking.

I've been splitting my time between touristy outings, household tasks, and establishing new routines; Finding a favorite bakery, becoming familiar with the layout of the nearest Monoprix (A french supermarket), and learning to do laundry without a dryer. I also play a lot of video games and watch a great deal of TV. I take sporadic trips into Paris when I'm feeling energetic, but the bulk of my time has been spent doing "homey" things.

Niether of these activities - sightseeing and everyday living - feels completely accurate. I'm no longer a tourist, but I don't quite fully live here, yet. I'm looking forward to the day when I've sorted out all the paperwork for a residence permit and established a job. Lately I've been very stressed over all the little details of becoming "legal," going though all the worst-case scenarios in my mind. I've come to the conclusion, as I have many times before, that the only thing I can do is take it one step at a time. There's no use worrying about things I can't control, only handle them when they do come.

My visual diary of last week includes another trip to Montmartre and a bit of walking around Versailles:

Restauraunt - Refuge des Fondus:

Around Versailles:
This is our little window. I got some plants to spruce it up, but the intense winds the last few days have forced me to bring them inside!

This coming week I'm heading into the foreigner's welcome office to get some more solid information on applying for a residence permit, I think after that I'll feel way more in control.

After exploring a bit of the Canal area of Paris with LouLou - who is also a blogger and was kind enough to reach out and share brunch with me last week - I've been eager to find places in Paris that I've never explored, a different kind of charm.

Coming soon: Musée Jacquemart André, and Chateau de Versailles.

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This Week...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:17:00 +0000

What have I been up to this week? For starters, I got a new pair of shoes at Printemps, which I am very pleased with. I also met up with some friends, did some exploring, and some more "settling in."

Last Friday I met up with a friend from California and her roommate, who are both studying abroad for the semester. We did a little vintage shopping, and I found myself a perfect-fitting tartan mini skirt at Espace Kiliwatch. I love this store. Yes, it's wildly overpriced, BUT it has the best stock, and really is très cool. Rue Tiquetonne has a handful of really unique shops, all with an urban vibe - plus, it's narrow and extremely charming.

After spending far too much time digging through dense racks of vintage goods, we took a (very cold) stroll down Rue Montorgeuil, which is apparently known for it's great food. We decided on a small restaurant, which I don't remember the name of, and I ordered my French favorite: Confit de Canard. It's essentially duck meat marinated in it's own fat, accompanied by garlic potatoes. mmmmmm.

After catching a metro to the Marais, and adding a fourth member to our party, I decided to take us to the only bar I knew of in the area - the bar where Erik and I first met <3. I drank a small Guinness, played a round of pool, then parted ways with my new buddies. I decided to walk about a mile to the train station I needed, so that I could see Notre Dame over the Seine in the night. For me, Notre Dame is one of the few places in the city that won't ever loose its magic.

I've had many lazy days this week. staying in, cleaning, organizing, brainstorming. I made an extremely exhausting trip to ikea, mistakenly thinking that buying about 50 pounds worth of crap without having the convenience of a car to haul it with was a good idea.

While walking around Versailles a bit aimlessly, I came upon a museum I was previously unaware of: Musée Lambinet. It had a nice mix of paintings, decorative objects, and history. Also, most importantly, there was a painting of a wonderfully fluffy white cat.

During my ambles I also happened upon an antique market. However, it's only open on weekends, so I peered into the dark windows around a deserted courtyard. Maybe on Sunday I'll have a real gander at the market, when it's open.

YEsterday, I had a great American-stye breakfast with a French friend and did some shopping at the opulent Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, on Boulevard Haussmann. It was quite overwhelming, all the mirrors and multifaceted architecture, displays, and garments. Most of the things were designer, and far, far, far out of my price range, but I managed to find some shiny black, heeled dress shoes.

Coming this weekend is yet another trip to Montmartre, a visit to Rose Bakery with a new blogger acquaintance, and a birthday party to attend!

I've been taking all my pictures in France so far with my iPod, which is very convenient, but I feel the itch to start using my DSLR again.

All in all, I feel much more relaxed and happy, more settled, and more optimistic. :)

Places Mentioned:
Espace Kiliwatch: 64 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris
Musée Lambinet: 54 Boulevard de la Reine, 78000 Versailles
Versailles Antique Market: alley/courtyards near 5 Rue du Bailliage
78000 Versailles

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Visual Diary: Exploring Versailles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 22:29:00 +0000

Today I decided to explore my new town a bit more, get familiar with the streets, scope out restaurants, and make mental notes of essentials like dry cleaners and bakeries. It was quite brisk out, with a freezing wind on the larger boulevards, but as long as I kept a quick pace, it was manageable.

Here is my visual diary of the day, or at least half of it. The remainder I spent watching Kiki's Delivery Service under a blanket.

9am - Boulangerie Run

{I got a croissant, a viennoise au chocolat, a custard-chocolate-filled thing, and a quiche lorraine}

12pm - Aimless Walking

{Went for some purple lipstick today}

1:30pm - Found Antique Market

3pm - Late lunch

And that, my friends, was my day! Tomorrow, I have a vintage shopping binge planned with a fellow Californian!

À toute à l'heure!

PS: Giusy from Lulu's Sister, did a fantastic feature of my blog, which you can read here.

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Fancy Hot Chocolate + Promenade in the Marais

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:09:00 +0000

Greetings from France! It's been almost one week since I left home, and let me tell you, it has been interesting. I would be lying if I said everything was beautiful and hunky dory - in truth, it's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Don't get me wrong though, I do feel happy, but the happiness seems tinged with melancholy.

But enough of that! Let's talk about what I did this Sunday.

Erik and I took the train into Paris with Hot Chocolate on our minds, but in order to get there, we took a walk across Île-de-la-cité. Seeing Notre Dame never gets old. There were a lot of people out and about today, and the weather was absolutely perfect, with a few clouds in the sky that cleared later in the day, and zero wind.

We searched the interwebs for the best hot chocolate in Paris, and Berthillon's had made the list - not surprising, since I've loved their ice cream since I first came to Paris. This special drink is called an affogato au chocolat, and consists of a silver platter with all the ingredients needed to concoct your own personal hot coco mix, including an ice cream scoop of your choice and the best whipped cream ever. There was enough to make about two cups of it.

After we were heavy with sugar and hot milk, we took the bridge over the Seine, in the general direction of the Marais, known for its vintage shops, medieval streets, Jewish bakeries, and the best falafels in town (supposedly). On the way, we happened upon Thanksgiving, the American specialty store, stocking such things as root beer, Lucky Charms, mac n' cheese, and beef jerky, things you generally can't find elsewhere. A box of Lucky Charms was 12 euro!!! Needless to say, I got myself a root beer and called it good.

Next stop was Musée Carnavalet, a free museum dedicated to the history of Paris. The interior was charming, complete with aristocratic wallpaper and upholstered chaises. I loved the textures and the little hedge garden. We didn't spend much time here, because honestly, I have no patience for reading labels.

We then made our way back down the Marais, which was buzzing with people, past l'Hotel de Ville, over some bridges, and stopped at a large café at Place Saint Michel. The café itself is alright, nothing special, but its location directly adjacent to the metro entrance makes it a fantastic spot to people-watch. Being one of the busiest and most central stations in Paris, this was prime people-watching real estate. There are a lot of crazy-looking people in Paris, and a lot of really stylish people. I saw one man with a floor-length fur coat, formidable top hat, and embroidered handbag. I mean, where else can you find such characters?

I had myself une assiète du saucisson sec, complete with baguette and little pickles. Erik indulged in a (very) cheesy croque monsieur.

Sunday was a good day, but I still didn't feel completely like myself. I can visit paris and indulge in sweet treats as much as I want, but only time will ease the feeling of alienation I've been having. I can't work legally until I apply for residency, and I can't apply for residency until Erik and I have gotten hitched, so all I can do is wait. You'd think having oodles of free time in Paris would be a dream come true, but without any structure, I feel quite lost. I'll have to work on finding peace with this situation, and try to live completely in the moment.

Places Mentioned:
Berthillon: 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004
Thanksgiving: 20 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004
Musée Carnavalet: 23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003
Café le Départ Saint Michel: 1 Place Saint-Michel, 75005

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The day has come / what to wear to the airport

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:42:00 +0000

The day that I've been anticipating for an entire year is finally here! Moving to France. It's a huge step, and although I feel the butterflies, I also feel a sense of calm. The kind of calm that comes when everything feels right - like it's all going to work out. I had a bad week of worry, fear, and anxiety, but I'm glad to say that at this point, I'm feelin' gooood.

Deciding what to wear on an international flight has always been a slight dilemma for me. I want to be comfortable, but I also want to look like an international woman of mystery. On top of that, I have to wear the heaviest and bulkiest things in my wardrobe, since they take up too much space in my limited suitcase space. With all this in mind, this is what I came up with:

My base is some black leggings, paired with a long, oversized tee that has some gray accents. I threw on my warmest and heaviest coat, slipped on my comfortable moto boots, and topped it all off with a gray bowler. This outfit checks all my boxes, plus, it saves my hat from becoming a squished mess in my suitcase.

Can we stop and take a moment to appreciate my new textured coat? It's the warmest I've ever owned, and I love how it adds a satisfying layer of texture to any outfit. All hail TopShop, provider of all things wonderful! I also love how the gray tones in the shirt tie in the gray of the hat; Had I worn all black I think the outfit would have been quite boring.

Black Furry Coat: TopShop Petite
Oversized Patterned Tee: Daydreamer LA at Urban Outfitters
Pants: BDG at Urban Outfitters
Black Bucket Purse and Gray Bowler Hat: Forever 21
Boots: Éram

Next time I write, It'll be from another continent! À bientôt!

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Why being 23 is the worst

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 23:56:00 +0000

BuzzFeed was right - 23 IS the worst year of your 20s. We all know it because we hear it all the time - life after college is tough. It's the great unknown, the first real step into making your own life. Yes, leaving home for college at the fresh young age of 18 is a major step, but in many ways, your activities for the next four to five years are largely determined by parents and degree programs. It's after college, though, when stepping stones become nonexistent, and there isn't any clear goal in sight.

Maybe if you chose nursing or some other pragmatic major, things make a little more sense for you, and finding a job just happens naturally. But for those of us who choose majors in the liberal arts, the path seems much more obscured.

Number one question people ask me when I tell them that I graduated in Art History (with a minor in French) is: "what are you going to do with that?" My typical response is to first shrug my shoulders and then utter, noncommittally, "something in the arts…?" Then, If I have the energy, I'll explain that most museum curators, art dealers, and university professors have their PhD, and at the very least a Master's degree. What use would they have for an undergrad who didn't even bother with finding internships, fellowships, or volunteer work during her entire 5.5 years of college education? I was given fantastic tools in looking at, writing about, and understanding art, but almost zero knowledge of practical applications in the field (And this is less a fault of the school I went to and more the reality of the educational system and the art industry).

But looking at the big picture, I really have no interest in being a curator, dealer, or professor anyway; I would much rather be a contributor or artistic director to a small fashion or art magazine. The problem is: Where does one find these jobs? I have no idea. Better yet, I'd love to be a freelance writer/photographer/blogger/traveler, being my own boss and using cute cafes as my office... but how on earth does one achieve this dream? *huge incredulous shrug!!*
Aside from drawing blanks and drooling from confusion when you start thinking about the job hunt, life in your mid-twenties is also hard because your identity is changing, and you're not sure where it's going to end up. You can no longer describe yourself a "student," or "child," so what are you? You might be moving cities, which means you won't know how to orient yourself in a neighborhood or community for another year or so; you might be moving back home, where you definitely feel awkwardly misplaced, like you don't belong anymore; or you might be entering a new commitment or relationship, and you're not sure how that will affect you.

{Living room sofa at my Gramma's house, many fond memories here}
I've always been so protective, attentive, and careful about my identity. I have a fear of not having the agency to define myself, and as a result, commitment and intimacy can be difficult. I feel the constant need to make everything around me an accurate, yet somewhat fabricated, representation of who I choose to be. I believe that identity is self-contructed, and I have a very clear vision of who I want to be. The problem is, when situations in life threaten to throw this vision out of balance, I get scared.
Ever since leaving art school in SanFrancisco for a guy when I was 18, I decided that I would never settle in life, regardless of how difficult it would be or how hard I would have to work. Those quotes about taking risks, living life to the fullest, carpe diem-ing - those annoying typography images that inundate Pinteres - are actually true. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward.

PS: If you are the creator of any of the Pinterest images I used in this post, please let me know, so I can give you proper credit!

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