parisviabrooklyn

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

2012-02-12T17:14:00.002+01:00

"My love is your love it would take an eternity to break us...If I should die this very day, don't cry because on earth we wasn't meant to stay and no matter what the people say, I'll be waiting for you after the judgement day"

Fearless

2012-02-08T20:25:00.002+01:00

Im getting ready to embark on some new adventures, and its funny I have been asked if I am scared to pursue this journey and the answer is an astounding no!

I am a pretty low key person and would never describe myself as an adventurous person, at least in the traditional sense of the word (am super scared of heights, animals, rollercoasters, etc) but I am not afraid of taking chances.

The past few years have proven that more than ever, I am always up for a new challenge, I dont take no for an answer, and will keep on keeping on until I reach my goals.

As I get older and take more ownership of myself, I realize that these are my strengths.

In the words of Jay -Z " I will not lose"...

Color Me Badd

2012-02-04T13:03:00.001+01:00

After I recent trip to Morocco I came to a realization....why is it that that some cities lack color (cough, cough NYC (except for their brownstones mostly in Brooklyn and certain areas of Manhattan), Paris (with the exception of Montmarte) while others are full of it, especially in Latin America and Africa.

Colored buildings just give off such a positive aura for me, and makes the surroundings so much more visually pleasing, here are some examples:

Lotus Flower Bomb

2012-01-21T14:58:00.000+01:00

This is the kind of video that makes me sing like Im a video girl :) No but seriously this song has been on repeat, dont know if Im late on discovering this song since Im in France but anyway Im feeling it! :) Especially with Miguel who is my new favorite artist!

Shhhh....Lets Play Taboo

2012-01-21T12:14:00.000+01:00

In France they are notoriously secretive about money, it is not something which is to be spoken about publicly. Rich people try to avoid showing that they are rich, and this is actually something I appreciate, however for me the ish hits the fan with companies who are secretive when I my opinion this subject should be completely transparent.

Often job opportunities are posted and under the salary section it is posted:

Salary to be negociated....Uhhhhh......

In addition often during interviews they often ask what your current salary is, in my opinion as a test to see what is the minimum salary they can get away with offering a potential candidate. This is completely different from my experience in the U.S. where employers tend to be as transparent as possible. Honesty is the best policy because this can avoid potential candidates wasting their time....

...

2012-01-21T11:58:00.002+01:00

Everything is relative to each person and their individual experience...The problem is when people are unable to see past themselves and their own circumstances...

How to Navigate Les Soldes!

2012-01-14T18:31:00.001+01:00

I dont want to brag or anything but I think I have finally got the hang of France's biannual sales to give tips to others. Oh what the heck, I will just admit it, I am the Queen of the soldes! Anyone who knows me knows I love a good deal! :)

However this skill took time to develop, in the beginning I thought to go to any and every store in order to find the best deals, now I just go to my favorites, because I realize it is a waste of time going to random stores. My favorite store in France is H&M? Why H&M you may ask, instead of a French brand? French sizes are smaller than U.S. ones meaning that a Large French size is actually a Medium U.S. size, believe me I had to learn this the hard way! And French clothes dont go over ones curves, the way American ones do. Ofcourse H&M is not American but it isnt French either, so its international size system has proven to be the most accurate one I have seen in France. Thats why I go either there or to vintage stores where the sizes are atypical.

Anyhoo back to the soldes, I now go exclusively to H&M because thats where I can find the best deals with clothes that actually fit properly. I also tend to buy a good pair of boots from Bata or André. Wherever you go, you should follow the following tips:

-Go in the store with the goal of zipping in and then zipping out, shopping is exhausting therefore the more time one can save the better!

-Look from afar, the sales are everywhere however so are the shoppers leaving the stores to be packed beyond belief, therefore learn to eye things from afar, unless you want to spend hours in a store.

-Have an idea of what your looking for before hand epecially items that are more of needs, than random wants. Because while you can find great deals, you dont want to spend loads of money on random things which you might never wear anyway, therefore it best to have a list even if its just to have a more narrow focus when making the purchases.

-Go to your favorite stores, because they are most likely to have discounts on items you really like, what a great feeling when you find an item you eyed earlier in the season which was too expensive for you and is now priced down! :)

-Enjoy and spend the least amount of money on the most amount of things! :)

French Calender

2012-01-13T15:28:00.001+01:00

After living in France for two years, I have learned their rhythm of working.

-Work is not to be done on Monday or Friday
-Work is not supposed to be done early in the morning, or late afternoon
-Nothing is done in January as everyone is coming back from vacation and spends the whole month catching up
-February to April tend to be productive
-This ends with Easter break, by the time everyone comes back in early May, everyone is already looking to summer break
-May-July tend to be somewhat productive, however once its the end of July dont expect anyone in the office until Mid September
-From Mid-September to October everyone catches up on all of the work from the summer
-October-end of November is productive
-December 1st marks the end of the productivity period as everyone is looking foward to Xmas break, and voila that is the French calender! :)

Do You Know What Today Is?....It's Our Anniversary

2012-01-13T11:16:00.001+01:00

As I walking to work today, I came to the realization that January makes five years since I first stepped foot in France! And oh what a ride it has been.

I traveled outside of the country for the first time in my life, I made awesome life long friends, and of course met my future husband, and of course one of the most life altering experiences, became a Mom while graduating from college along the way!

ALOT can and has happened in five years, and I love it. I look foward to where the next five years will bring me. One thing that is for sure? When I first stepped off that plane at Charles De Gaulle Airport, it was the beginning of a life long love (sometimes not all the time! ;) love affair with a city 3, 000 miles away from my hometown. It also gave birth to a travel obsession! (Chloe at three years old has already been to London, NYC, Paris, and San Juan!).

Although where ever my life will lead me, I will ALWAYS be a die-hard New Yorker! Can you say Brooklyn! :)

Pop Culture Blurb

2012-01-07T15:32:00.000+01:00


Beyonce is a trooper for still wearing heels even though shes nine months pregnant and her feet are swollen! Wow, although its true I remember an interview where she said she wears heels ALL THE TIME and cant even walk in flats.

Did this really come as a surprise to anyone???

-I wonder what Kanye West thinks when he sees Amber Rose with Wiz Khalifa (who just give me a strange almost feminine vibe, dont ask why I couldnt tell you)

But in anycase...


To this

She went from this....

Please Stop...

2012-01-03T16:18:00.002+01:00

No words....

Pass Me the Water Please!

2012-01-03T06:48:00.004+01:00

After living in France for the past two and a half years I must admit that I have become quite the wine drinker, bread eater, etc... I mean its only natural, these two items go hand in hand with being French, however I can tell that none of these are helping me to get any slimmer. Its pretty obvious that one should limit their bread intake, however wine has become quite the dinner companion and dont even get me started on sangria! :)

Its funny because I am actually not at all a fan of alcohol, I cannot stand the taste of beer or champagne (I dont even drink soda!). Often my friends laugh at me, because whenever I go out, I exclusively drink sweet cocktails which I tend to slurp down because of their sweet almost juice like taste lol.

In any case, I have made a conscious decision to replace that "verre du vin", with a big glass of water and nothing else!

You can read more about alcohol and the debate on whether or not its good for you here.

That Would Be the Best Memory

2012-01-02T10:28:00.001+01:00

One of my favorite memories? Singing love songs back in the day like those by Boys to Men as if I knew what they were talking about :)

Happy New Year 2012!

2011-12-31T13:19:00.003+01:00

I dont know why but it seems like for many people 2011 was a pretty rough year. I can say for me it was pretty lukewarm, the lowest point of this year was my grandmother passing away in November, and the highest point going back to NYC in May for a good friends wedding. I cannot say that 2011 accomplished alot,it was a very stagnant year.

And for me that can only mean one thing for 2012...There is only one place to go from here and that is up all the way! :)

Back to the Basics

2011-12-28T10:22:00.001+01:00

People can and will surprise you including ourselves, we sometimes forget what used to be natural to us and at that time, we must go back to the basics...

Random Fact

2011-12-28T09:50:00.001+01:00

When I was little my dream was to work in a bookstore like Barnes & Noble....

2012

2011-12-28T09:48:00.001+01:00

2011 was about recovery, 2012 is about advancing and putting plans into action :)

The French Work Place

2011-12-18T15:34:00.000+01:00

Lets just say that during my time in France, I have seen people do things in the workplace that they would never even dare do in the states! Here is a list of things you may see while working in France:

Collegues screaming "putain" which means fuck ALL THE TIME
During so called important meetings, people start talking about gossip
Males think its ok to keep talking about how beaufiful women are
Every single collegue gives a "bise" even the collegues that you have nothing to do with (and in your mind are taking advantage) and even when people are sick they still must give you a kiss
Managers who smoke in their office (supposedly out of the window)
Politics...the French like to play politics in the workplace, meaning that instead of taking responsibility for their actions they go around in circles so that eventually you can forget who was really at fault
Speaking of responsibility, they love to blame others! Its never their fault
The offices are perpetually understaffed, leading workers to do sometimes 10 jobs at a time!

The list can go on and on! The root of this? For me its the fact that most have contracts which cannot be terminated, and only a SERIOUS violation can get someone fired, and most companies just do not want to go through the trouble of taking legal action, therefore anything goes. In the meantime, I just observe...

Random Sunday Thoughts

2011-12-18T15:17:00.001+01:00

Dont you hate when someone asks "is that ok" and you know that if you say no you will seem like a bad person?

Hair Magic

2011-12-11T14:56:00.001+01:00

My favorite shea butter product by Garnier

Blue Magic

Its been almost one year since my hair relaxer disaster, I would say that I am still recovering but I feel about 75% close to where my hair was before. I will post pictures of this journey in the new year. Some products which have helped me along the way? Shea butter, it has truly been a hair savior! In addition to Blue Magic which I used to use when I was little (back to the basics much? lol)

I have also learned a few lessons along the way such as hair should be treated with tlc EVERY step of the way. I seriously just learned this because before I used to just use any shampoo on my hair aka the cheapest brand, thinking it wasnt important, when in fact is one of the most critical steps since your hair is stripped of moisture during the process.

Other lessons, there aren't really "black" and "white" products, all of it is just marketing and a "black" product may not actually do much for your hair. However it is true I think I learned this lesson since I am living in Paris, and have limited access to products for people of color, and I dont feel like taking a trek to Barbes everytime I need something, therefore I had to improvise and use products I have access to, some of which are actually shockingly good!

The most important lesson? No relaxers or weaves EVER again!

Paris Vs. New York

2011-12-11T10:52:00.001+01:00

Another difference between Paris & New York?

La Defense, 92000

Midtown, NYC

Headquarters of major companies in Paris, tend to be built in the suburbs, while in NYC everything is more centralized. In Paris this dynamic makes it a bit more complicated when you want to get from point A to point B...

2011-11-19T15:39:00.001+01:00

Loving Rihanna's talk that talk style, giving me such a bad little rascal vibe :)

I'm A Big Girl Now

2011-11-19T15:32:00.001+01:00

Chloe has changed so much in the past year. No more:

Strollers
Sippy Cups
Diapers
Pacifier

Plus she started school! Can you say big girl! :)

Can I Get A What What

2011-11-16T12:45:00.001+01:00

Sometimes especially on a day like this with good news I just want to

And listen to music like this!"I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!" :)

Making a List, Checking It Twice

2011-11-05T16:54:00.003+01:00

Can I just say that ever since I was little I have been obsessed with making lists! And before you jump to conclusions I am not necessarily a control freak nor the most organized person in the world, but seeing something written on paper just makes me feel better.

Your Hot & Your Cold

2011-11-02T20:21:00.003+01:00

I think I know one of the key and when I write key I mean key differences between America and France...temperature.

Americans are really quick to put on an a.c. when the weather gets hot, while the French look down upon it, meanwhile let the temperature get just a little bit cooler and everyone and I mean everyone (landlord, metro, bus, etc) put the heat on like its freezing making it almost uncomfortable, while back in NY its laughable to put the heat on in October (sans the random freak snowstorm last week :).

Some like it hot I guess :)

Who Do They Think They Are?

2011-10-25T10:54:00.002+02:00

Yesterday I took the metro and had a shocking experience. There was an Indian man on the Metro speaking loudly on his cell phone. Albeit he was speaking pretty loudly, however last time I checked France was a free society. However to my dismay people around him were openly laughing at him and what they found to be a "strange" dialect.

To my utter disgust, when it was time for some voyagers to get off the train (keep in mind these people were not travelling together) they told the man "on ne comprends pas ton truc, parles moins forte" translating into "we do not understand you, talk lower".

I was so stunned, that I wanted to say something to these people and put them in their place, however it all happened so fast I did not get the chance to. But I must say that this really disturbed me, because it shows that many French people think the same, and they still have a long way to go before actually embracing their motto "liberté, égalité, fraternité".

It reminded me of one of my friends I made while studying abroad who speaks EXCELLENT French (she is actually teaching French at a university in NYC), I remember her telling me a story about her time as an au pair in Neuilly (which is a rich suburb of Paris) since she did not have a phone in her room, she would make phone calls back home outside on a public phone. Her native language is Spanish, and there were time when she would have emotional conversations with her family (which is all but normal when you have a child studying abroad). There was one incident when a passer by stopped her and told her also to stop speaking "this language" so loudly...which leads me to the question who do they think they are???

Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-05T08:45:00.000+02:00

Love this!

One Comb Does NOT Fit All!

2011-10-02T18:07:00.006+02:00

You know of my worst hair experiences in France, was when I was so desperate do straighten my hair for my birthday I ended up going to a salon to put it nicely wasnt used to doing "hair" like mine.

I definitely should have known bettter however since in France most of the hairdressers are actually closed on Sundays, leaving their Saturdays to be completely booked, since during the week they close usually around 6 or 7 pm. As I finish work at 6, it is not really practical unless I want to take off time from work just to do my hair!

Therefore one desperate Saturday since the one hair dresser used to "my type of hair" was not taking walkins, I was forced to go to this other salon as I REALLY wanted to get my hair done.

It wasnt that bad, except when we got to the part where she had to comb through my dried hair, ANYONE who knows about black hair care knows that black hair which has just been washed is in its most fragile state and should be combed with tlc which entails using a wide tooth comb however when I tried to tell the hairdresser this, she attempted to brush off my concern, telling me that was not true, and this comb with the smallest possible teeth could be used on anyones hair including mine. As the sound of the little comb struggling to go through my precious strands became louder and louder, I finally had to stop her and say NO! One comb does not fit all!

Les Banlieues

2011-10-01T16:29:00.003+02:00

Ok so about a year ago we moved to a near by suburb for the following reasons:
-Our apartment was small as hell
-It was old as hell
-Just not a suitable place to raise a family period.

As you probably already know, I come from Brooklyn, NY which is one of the five boroughs which make up New York City. So I am used to living "outside". Its true that especially when speaking to foreigners there is always an "Oh" that follows when they find out Im not from Manhattan. However any native New Yorker knows, especially in the age of gentrification that the Brooklyn of today is not the one shown in films full of shoot outs and crime.

This "Oh" is especially emphasized when in Paris. Today Chloe started her English playgroup for the first time. I thought it would be a great idea to enroll her now since she started preschool. When I arrived there were a few other parents waiting and we started talking when one of them mentioned that she traveled from the 16th, they then asked me where did I come from and there was a silent "OH" followed by a "WOW" with her exclaming you really came from far, when in reality it only took me 30 minutes to get there. And 30 minutes traveling time is actually nothing from a Native New Yorker used to at least a 1 hour commute.

Its interesting that in Paris, one feels that they know everything about you based on where you live, where in NYC it is just not possible. I have heard that some people coming from the Seint Saint Denis district checks can be refused, as stores believe that customers coming from this area are all scam artists.

Yet on the news yesterday I learned that in order to buy a 50 square meter apartment in Paris, a couple must make 8, 000€ net, in addition to have 150, 000€ in savings, in a country where the average salary is 1, 500€ this statistic is pretty shocking.

It leaves the question, are all Parisians renters, or are they all rich by French standards? The answer is an astounding no. In anycase people do feel more relieved when they hear that one is from Paris. But that leaves another question, because SHOCKINGLY there are actually rich suburbs out there! Yes Neuilly is one of the richest sections of France, and is where Sarkozy used to call home. How is it possible that one of the richest zipcodes is in a suburb?!?!?!

Last year when I was working as an English teacher, I asked the question to one of my students, "so you come from a suburb" since suburb is the English translation of "banlieues" and she pratically screached "no this is not a suburb" (Saint Germain En Laye is another wealthy suburb of Paris) and I responded "so what is it?" and she was a bit flabbergasted and eventually conceded that it was indeed a suburb.

I posed the question to a collegue and she told me that when one comes from a wealthy suburb it is considered "region parisienne" while when one comes from a "bad" suburb it is called "le banlieue", all this goes to show that in Paris, they really have a hang up on labels to the point where they are willing to call a closet home....

Where You Belong

2011-10-01T15:56:00.001+02:00

I have said it before and I will say it again, I LOVE to put people in there place where they belong....its just sweeter that way

Crossed Fingers

2011-09-27T11:31:00.003+02:00

I dont know why but I have a feeling there will be alot of changes and for the better in 2012 or at least I hope so...

Resemblance

2011-09-21T21:25:00.000+02:00

Gosh Willow looks like a young Jada!

Polka Dots Much???

2011-09-20T11:24:00.006+02:00

Adding Insult to Injury

2011-09-16T16:18:00.002+02:00

“I spent the '90s trying to hide out, trying to duck the full celebrity cacophony ... I started to get sick of myself sitting on a couch, holding a joint, hiding out. It started feeling pathetic. It became very clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn't living an interesting life myself.

"I think that my marriage [to actress Jennifer Aniston] had something to do with it. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn’t."

Brad Pitt

Reality Check

2011-09-14T09:40:00.003+02:00

Some people need to get over themselves. Period.

Americana

2011-09-10T09:56:00.007+02:00

I have made a resolution that I will celebrate my American holidays this year, after not celebrating for two years in a row! Being in France will not get in the way of my dressing Chloe up for Halloween and eating pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, and thats that!

Careless Whisper

2011-09-10T09:54:00.004+02:00

I dont know why but seeing this advertisement for a George Michael concert makes me feel really old!

Random Thought

2011-09-05T21:54:00.001+02:00

Am I the only one who lays there outfit out each night before the next day? Hey it saves ALOT of time!!! :)

DSK

2011-09-05T21:47:00.002+02:00

Ok I have not mentioned anything about this whole sad ordeal regarding Dominique Strauss Kahn. I will offer one tibit I was at JFK airport at the same time he got arrested.

I really don't want to get into the details of this case, or discuss my opinion. However one thing that REALLY annoys me is Anne Sinclair and her smiling face. Regardless of what you think happened, it has been proven that sex did occur between the two parties whether mutual or forced, and for DSK's wife to REPEATEDLY show her face publicly supporting a husband who has not only cheated on her numerous times, but also globally embarrassed her is just sickening to me. I know it is not good to judge people but please at least attempt to show some dignity....

11 Steps on How to Break Your Hair & Recover :)

2011-09-03T12:20:00.005+02:00

1). Take your natural hair for granted
2). Get your hair relaxed and add a weave at the same time for the sake of experimentation
3). Do it again two months later and allow the hairdresser to tell you its normal to add relaxer to hair that was already relaxed
4). Try to do a retouch yourself
5). Do it again
6). Add black hair dye
7). Watch the back of your hair break off
8). Swear off relaxers for the rest of your life
9). Give your hair the break it deserves
10). Allow a headband, and hair pieces to become your best friend
11). Wear a bonnet to bed each nite

And voila on the road to recovery! :)

Cultural Differences

2011-09-03T12:09:00.002+02:00

Random Observation:

French buildings are not built with stoops which means that people are unable to just loiter around in front of a building and instead go to cafes. Unlike NYC where everyone and their mother hang around sitting on the stoop especially in the summertime

A Picture Can Speak A Thousand Words...

2011-08-21T14:44:00.004+02:00

Here is a map of Paris with a breakdown of each arrondisement :)

Enfin!

2011-08-21T12:02:00.002+02:00

It has finally happened! After two years of living in Paris I can say that I finally feel at home:) It has taken ALOT of getting used to, alot of complaints, sighs, and all sorts of emotions to reach this point.

I have a wonderful husband and daughter, we live in a nice place and I actually like my job and feel that I can grow. I also have my niche, while they are not numerous (quality over quantity) I have friends I can vent to both here and back home :)

In addition I also just have my "habitudes" my ideal day is going vintage shopping in the Marais, or buying cheap books at Saint Michel or better yet for free at my local library :)

And of course cannot forget strolling around the Seine something which always makes me feel good.

Yes je suis chez moi enfin :)

Halle Berry & Chocolate Cake

2011-08-17T19:56:00.005+02:00

Ok so Halle Berry just turned 45 and is looking better than ever!!!! Can you say hot mama? lol...When asked how does she maintain her great body this is what her trainer had to say...

“Up your cardio sessions and eat five times a day while avoiding sugar, flour, lactose, cheese, dough, rice, and pasta. If you want to lose weight and look camera ready like Halle, you can have carbs two times a week.”

I can understand the cardio thing and even eating five times a day....but giving up all that is definitely easier said then done, but I am definitely going to try! lol

Byebye chocolate cake :(

Oh Really?

2011-08-17T11:40:00.003+02:00

You know one thing that has always fascinated me in Paris? No not the Parisiens but the expats. You see expats come in all different shapes, sizes, and forms. However I think they can generally be placed into two groups:

-Those who come to Paris and just automatically fit in, meaning they have tons of French friends, they hang out on rooftops, etc and are basically become honorary Parisians within a week of arrival. It seems that they never have to deal with the infamous French bureaucracy.

-Then there are those like me, and I know I am not the only one who it takes a hell of alot more time. Its definitely more of a one day at a time process. You dont meet other French people and become friends...just like that at the snap of a finger...and dealing with the bureaucracy is definitely a pain. It just is easier to meet other expats than Frenchies.

No don't get me wrong I have definitely had my days, I really do believe that Paris is one of the best places in the world that one can do study abroad. However the real life is far different from the student experience, especially when you have actual responsibilities, picking up the kids from school, working from 9-6 (Yes 9-6 not 9-5 not the 35 work week which comes to mind when thinking of France) you barely have time to breath let alone meet new people especially Frenchies...

But heck even for those without responsibilities I have heard it can be difficult to break through that French friendship wall...thats why its always interesting for those who at least looking from the outside in, it seems there is no problem at all...I guess its just a question of perception???

Kid Friendly Paris

2011-08-15T16:18:00.000+02:00

Ok so I have to admit one of the things I miss most about NYC is the whole city that never sleeps culture, no matter what the scenario there is ALWAYS something to do. Now when you have kids this becomes even more important.

While Paris has some of the best playgrounds I have ever seen, the city does not always give off a kid friendly vibe. Add to that being a a foreigner, you really have to dig to find appropriate activities...well I did just that and here it goes:

Playmobil Fun Park...It is just like it sounds a giant fun park for kids to keep them entertained for hours.

http://www.playmobil.fr/on/demandware.store/Sites-FR-Site/fr_FR/Link-Page?cid=TNP_INFOS

If there is one I thing I miss more than the city that never sleeps culture, its also the abundance of summer activities in th city, it is impossible not to keep busy! I mean Paris tries but most of the time unfortunately fails, that is why so many people travel outside of the city, staycation does not exist here. I know it sounds bizarre for one of the most visited cities in the world.

However I guess I can understand because dealing with the weather is already so incredibly unpredictable. In any case there are SOME summer events to be found such as the Scenes d'ete at Parc de la Villette. I definitely have a soft spot for this place as the 19th arrondisement was the first place I lived in Paris. While this is not geared specifically for kids these free concerts are definitely a family friendly activity.

http://www.villette.com/agenda/Scenes-d-ete-2011.htm

Other free concerts are held at Bercy Village. Bercy Village for me is one of those hidden Parisian treasures. Not many people know about it and it is truely a charming little village within the city. Add some free music to the mix and hopefully hold the rain and you have an event you will definitely enjoy.

http://www.bercyvillage.com/Les-Rendez-vous-Terrasses-de-l-ete.html

Le Jardin d'Acclimatation should be on the to-do list of any Parisien parent. Not only are there rides perfect for the little ones, but they also hold all sorts of workshops in cooking, gardening, etc which both children and parents can participate in... check their website for more information.

http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/evenement/le-jardin-en-musique/

Cite des Sciences has been on my list of things to do for awhile. I finally went a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised and impressed at the depth of the activities and how they encouraged children of all ages to discover. Please be warned however that the visits are timed, and you will NOT have enough time to see everything. I personally think its just a sales method to make you come visit and pay again :)

http://www.cite-sciences.fr/cs/Satellite?cid=1193649993012&pagename=Portail/CDE-ng/PortailLayout&pid=1193649996694&c=Page

Yes I know that shopping centers are not the first thing one thinks of when they think of Paris. However they do exist here, and they are always a way to keep kids occupied especially on a rainy day.

Val D'Europe Village is a well known shopping center near EuroDisney which actually holds activities for kids on wednesdays (since there is no school here then) and on Saturdays. Visit their site for more information.
http://www.valdeurope.fr/106-13603-Mercredis-Samedis-d-enfants.php

Cafezoide is a cultural center just for kids. They hold activities throughout the week for children of all ages. It is located in the 19th arrondisement of Paris.

http://www.cafezoide.asso.fr/

The Little Tykes Theatre is a great activity for Anglo Saxon parents in Paris. Young children actually participate in creating a theater piece. Its great practice at a young age! Plus no committment is required you can either book for a series of workshops, or just drop in its your choice!

http://www.littletykestheatre.moonfruit.com/#/fees/4540061987

Sea Life Aquarium is located in Val d'Europe. Going to an aquarium is always a safe bet with kids. However I must admit my expectations are pretty high as a Brookly native, used to the huge museum at Coney Island. Last year when I visited the aquarium at Trocedero I was a bit disappointed since it was so small that is why I would recommend Sea Life.

http://www.visitsealife.com/paris/

Musee en Herbe is a pretty great idea! Its a museum/cultural center for children offering various artistic workshops including one centered around Keith Herring. How cool is that? Imagine your kid can say I participated in a Keith Herring art workshop in Paris when they get older :)

http://www.musee-en-herbe.com/

Fete Foraine at the Tuileries Garden in the summer, is something that can be enjoyed equally by children, parents, and even if you dont have children.

You get the best of both worlds, an amusement park in one of the most beautiful places in the world, does not get much better than that :)

http://www.feteforaine-jardindestuileries.com/index.html

Theatre de Guignol is basically a puppet show offered throughout various locations in Paris. It takes place on Wednesdays and the weekends.

http://www.paris.fr/loisirs/activites-dans-les-parcs/guignols-spectacles-pour-enfants/p6563

Last Saturday I went to Paris Plage. The last time I went was in 2009 and there wasnt much to see. It was just amusing to see people people acting like it was a real beach. However when I went on Saturday with my three year old we actually had fun, they really raised it up a notch this year with all sorts of water activities such as rowing, surfing, etc. The best part its all free! :)

Perspective

2011-03-28T10:17:00.003+02:00

Funny how things come into perspective as you get older. I guess time and experience, are the only ways we can understand our past. For example our parents, we might not have understood why our parents did certain things, but with time it all becomes clear.

I think this is also true in regards to change, experience can make a no become a yes and vice versa. Meaning things that we said we would never do, we end up doing...

Spring Has Sprung

2011-03-15T13:15:00.002+01:00

Walking around the other day, and I looked up and saw this^^^^...You know what that means :)

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

2011-03-14T16:38:00.003+01:00

Its funny how there are certain things you cannot hide from...for example " I will always see your face...in mine"

Fashion Mondays

2011-03-14T13:04:00.003+01:00

Observation: Have you ever noticed how mustard is such a hipster color? No really, I came to this realization the other day, anytime I see someone with mustard clothing, they are almost always a hipster!

Holidayz

2011-02-14T17:42:00.002+01:00

One of the biggest stereotypes about Americans is how they are fake, especially in relation to holidays. Meaning that on a day like today, Valentines Day, they go all out to show their loved ones, how much they love them, to compensate for not doing it throughout the year. The same goes, for Christmas, Easter, and every other commercialized holiday, and extends to other American staples such as baby showers, bridal showers, etc.

As an American I can say that I often found some of these overcommercialized celebrations to be tacky, all just efforts for companies to make profits in the name of a holiday.

Living in Paris I can say that it is a completely different experience which has me thinking because what was once tacky, I realized might just be plain old fun. Why not take the time out to celebrate gift giving, love, or wear costumes on Halloween?

The stereotype is in fact true Americans like to have fun, and why shouldnt they?

In France, and I assume many other European countries there is the synical point of view that all of these are just marketing techinques but as an American in Paris, I have realized it is just a way to make" la vie en rose"...

Grammaire

2011-01-24T16:49:00.004+01:00

I feel my French is getting better day by day, and now with my job I can see even my written French is improving as prior it was going down the drain...:)

Healthy Meal Options

2011-01-21T11:18:00.004+01:00

On my quest to eat healthy, I realized one of my biggest obstacles, is eating out especially for lunch. It becomes so easy to overindulge especially since in France employers offer meal tickets encouraging employees to eat meals.

Some meals I have discovered which "have a bigger bang" for their calories. Meaning actually feeling full after a low calorie meal.

Here are some of the meals.

-Rice cakes are boring by nature, but they dont have to be with toppings such as hummus, tuna, etc. (I have discovered rice cakes are a great substitute for bread)

-Pureed carrots, trust me its not only for babies, its tastes really good and leaves you feeling full, and the best part is VERY low calorie. I personally like to mix it for tuna, to have a meaty taste.

-Small, and I mean small amount of granola with yogurt

More coming soon...

Tips

2011-01-20T09:12:00.003+01:00

3 Things I have discovered recently

-Almond oil is great for hair
-Calorie restriction is a good way to begin a weight loss plan
-If you have all different types of hair on your head like me try to use different products on the different parts of your hair. As weird as it may seem, but these different textures, need different products, even on the same head! :)

More tips coming soon.

Themes for 2011

2011-01-20T09:10:00.003+01:00

Trimming pounds, split ends and euros...:)

2010

2010-12-22T21:59:00.003+01:00

How would I sum up 2010??? I think as the year people came out of the woodwork...people whose whereabouts I thought of for years were finally discovered...lets see what will be in store for '11...

Memories

2010-12-20T21:05:00.003+01:00

You know how you know you are getting old? When you remember that day like it was yesterday...only it wasn't...

Provocation

2010-12-19T16:13:00.004+01:00

Its funny how depending on the circumstances, ones actions can be perceived as being provocking...I guess it depends on the persons intent when doing something, is it simply innocent, or made in order to receive a reaction?...

Hair Rehab

2010-12-19T16:10:00.002+01:00

I will NEVER again relax my hair, I went back to the dark side this past spring out of curiousity and the false pretense it would make dealing with my hair easier...WRONG! I am currently in hair rehab until further notice, growing out my hair...

Prince Charming

2010-12-16T23:37:00.002+01:00

Some people just have charm weeping through their pores...

Lucky Charms

2010-12-13T21:05:00.003+01:00

Does luck actually exist? Are there actually good luck charms? Can people be good luck charms? And are the concepts of being lucky or unlucky real? Or is it all nonsense, for we create our own luck or lack thereof based on the decisions that we make? Or is it all just a labyrinth based on destiny?

The Power of Attraction

2010-11-19T20:20:00.002+01:00

Its funny how body language or misinterpretation of body language can turn a simple greeting into so much more...

Workout Plan

2010-11-13T19:28:00.003+01:00

So I took a one month gym membership, managing to squeeze that hour in places where I before said would be impossible. And I have to say it feels pretty darn good, being in a place where the only thing you can do is work out...Im still trying to figure out what I will do once the month is up.

I am considering buying a machine for the apt, as I have discovered a new love for the elliptical machine...we will see how that goes, for now I have lost a couple of kilos, and just love the way I feel after leaving the gym...Im hoping this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship :)

Thought of the Day

2010-11-13T19:25:00.002+01:00

Benefit of the Doubt, we should all think about who deserves this in our lives...

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-11-13T19:22:00.002+01:00

My idea of a perfect rainy Saturday day?

Acting silly with Chloe
Going to the gym
Reading a novel cuddled in bed
Going vintage or used book shopping
Going to an exhibition
And last but not least blogging :)

Hair Updates

2010-11-07T17:10:00.004+01:00

I hadnt had a perm in over 5 years, but in April I decided to perm my hair for the first time in a long time. I guess what really pushed me to do it was because I wanted to get a weave, the results were amazing, however as the months have gone on, my hair has become weaker and weaker...And I find myself back at Square 1 regretting that I ever resorted back to that "creamy crack" therefore I have once again decided to give my hair a break...I have learned my lesson!

Observations

2010-11-07T17:05:00.002+01:00

French people sure do love themselves orange/peach/yellow wallpaper(I detest these colors because they remind me of the 70s)...And now that we are on that topic French people love wallpaper in general...why I dont know, I mean I guess it seems like a good idea but getting it off is a big mess and not worth the stress whatever floats their boats :)

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

2010-10-27T13:53:00.004+02:00

Do you know in France they consider President Obama to be America's first mixed president, while in America we refer to him as the nation's first Black president...is one right and the other wrong???

Wavelength

2010-10-27T13:42:00.005+02:00

I have been living in France for over a year now...its funny how time flies, over the past year so many things have happened, my Chloe has been growing into a beautiful little girl with her own personality, she is very girly and very organized and SUPER friendly, I changed jobs, had about 5 vacations (Normandy 2wice, Fuertaventura, Barcelona and of course back home to NYC). How very French of me! lol

Emotionally also had ups and downs, I think I am finally fully immersed in France, although it did/does take getting used to it.

Relationshipwise, all relationships whether romantic or non romantic have their ups and downs, sometimes these struggles help to make the relationship stronger as a whole, while other ups and down cans never be recovered from.

The most recent change is our move, we are in the process of moving into a bigger place we havent moved in yet but that will be quite a process, but in the end a change for the better.

Today is the Day

2010-10-27T13:34:00.003+02:00

After so much thinking and telling myself that I dont have the time, I am finally going to the gym TODAY!!! No turning back>>>>

Food for Thought

2010-10-25T17:48:00.005+02:00

Center of gravity...its not just a physics concept. I have realized it is important to realize one's center of gravity, what bring things into focus in your life, what are the forces in your life which bring you down, bring you up and pull you away?...

Facebook Evolution

2010-10-21T23:00:00.007+02:00

You can learn alot about yourself by looking through your facebook profile...Active Nov 2004-Present.

Example one thing Ive learned is that I like to recycle my hairdos... :)

2010-10-20T21:42:00.002+02:00

Love.it.grows.

Top Myths About France: Healthcare

2010-10-15T11:03:00.004+02:00

1°. Healthcare in France is free and is the best system in the world...NOT TRUE!

Unless you are extremely poor, you have to pay for a large amount of healthcare costs, in addition to the money that is taken out of taxes to help fund the Social Security system. Most people have mutelles that they pay each month, and even with these mutelles all costs are NOT covered. As the US is now changing its healthcare system for the better, France is heading for the worst, as costs previously generously refunded by the government, are slowly becoming more and more of the patients responsibilty.

In addition it is SUPER expensive to take care of dental and eye costs here. I paid more for my glasses here than I ever did in the States, fyi, I paid nothing in the States contrary to beliefs about the American healthcare system being horrible and super expensive. Also I had a dentists appointment here the other day, and was shocked at the quality of the care, it was almost like a dentist appointment in the Middle Ages, a little scrap, scrap and VOILA we were done, WTH? lol...the Dentist had the nerve to tell me in the US, we go overboard in the way we care for our teeth, oh really???

Even the fact that nothing is really done to combat smoking here, speaks alot on the state of the healthcare system here...

Workout Plan

2010-08-22T10:22:00.003+02:00

I have decided to get a gym membership...being a Mom and working full time its difficult to find the TIME. However I thought about it and realized I will never find the TIME unless I make a concerted effort to do so. I still have baby weight which WONT come off...and obviously I want a better stomach but I have done enough research to realize that I must lose OVERALL weight if I want to get anywhere... If you want to you can...so we will c, I will start off with a plan for a month to see how much I can realistically work out per week and then take it by there, hopefully there will be results by the end of the year, we will c...I will keep you updated....

Les Rêves

2010-07-16T22:52:00.004+02:00

Dreams are funny, I never thought mine to mean much. Coming from a Haitian background, dreams are considered to be really important, reflecting on lifes events or better yet what will come. Mine never seemed to amount to much, I honestly can barely remember my dreams the next day. It is only after sometimes feeling extremely tired during the day that I realize the reason is because I was rudely awaken from a dream by my alarm clock. I end up having bits and pieces of the dream in my mind while going about my day. I have realized though as I have grown older I tend to remember more of my dreams, and they have started to make more sense...

Its funny with dreams, there are certain things that we sometimes which would occur, and even though the likelihood of these events actually happening in real life is zero to none, dreams allow us to go THERE...a world where ANYTHING is possible even the IMPOSSIBLE whether that be patching up broken relationships, turning back time or controlling the future.

Dreams can sometimes be intrusive for we sometimes see those we dont want to see...so this goes out to YOU, and YOU know who you are...stop visiting me in my dreams, if you wont visit me in person...nitey nite :)

Home Sweet Home

2010-07-10T17:07:00.003+02:00

So I went back home for two weeks...I didn't know what to expect, as soon as I landed I quickly realized it was like I never left, yet I was seeing my city...New York City through different eyes as if for the first time. Places which I took for granted before became moments to be savored, since I do not know the next time that I will be in NY.

Its funny how home will always be home and somethings never change...I have to say it was really refreshing to be back and to see familiar faces. Its hard sometimes living in another country because my roots will always be in NYC. Whether or not I have a love/hate relationship with my city what New Yorker doesnt??? :°

I also came to the realization that I love my friends, they were all so helpful and welcoming...being an only child it wasnt always so easy growing up finding my "niche" of friends, many of them have come and gone over the years, but I must say I am proud of the fact that even if alot of time lapses between our get togethers, it ends up being like we last saw each other the day before.

I definitely enjoyed my stay it was full of reunions and good food, what more can you ask for??? :) Although I definitely could have done without the Sahara like weather! lol

Truth or Dare

2010-06-08T20:41:00.002+02:00

If you present yourself in a certain way DONT except people to respect you...I dare you to actually think they will...

Patrick Blanc

2010-05-17T19:52:00.004+02:00

I just wanted to mention Patrick Blanc, he is a French botanist who does SUPERCOOL work, while Paris is the City of Lights, it is certainly NOT the City of Space. But ofcourse everyone wants to have gardens and access to pretty flowers, so Monsieur Blanc has planted vertical gardens all over Paris, and has projects all over the world

Les Halles

CaixaForum in Madrid, Spain}

Musee Quai Branly, one of the coolest museums in Paris btw! :)

you can read more about Patrick Blanc here

Metisse

2010-05-17T19:32:00.008+02:00

Who am I? I am a constant believer that this question which is so often asked cannot definitively be answered, for in life there are too many variables which change the answer. Some of us may change each day, while for others change happens only after a drastic or traumatic event, whatever the case, the person we were as a child, changes as we become adults, and basically never ends until the day we die.

All that is to say it is interesting for me living in another country to actually see the change in the way I view myself as well as the way others view me. Its funny because in Paris I am many different things to different people. In many instances the people of Arab descent ask me if I am African, the people of African descent ask me if I am from the Carribean, the people of "French" descent ask me what I feel seems to be a favorite word of the French "est-ce que vous etes metisse". While in NY I normally get "your Dominican right?"

Whats even funnier is that I honestly never really viewed myself as American, it was only after travelling and living in another country that I realized what a key part of my identity this was. I used to say back in high school whenever people asked me "black", Im just "black" lol...and to this the response would be "no but I mean what are you really?"

In France the question of identity has been a HOT topic and its actually annoyed me because I just find it hard to understand the arrongance and outlandishness of posing the question who is REALLY French, what the heck does that mean? In my eyes one is French if they were born in France period, regardless of if they have an accent or not. Its unfortunate but as a minority I can tell that I am treated differently because of my American accent which is considered to be "charmant", it wouldnt be so charming however if I came from the African or Asian continents. I have always wondered how in a country with so many immigrants from the Eastern world, that they cater only to Western cultures, examples the announcements in the metro why are they in Italian, German, and English yet not Arabic? I remember going to Little Haiti in Miami and being shocked at hearing bus announcements in both English and Haitian Creole, while I thought it was hilarious, it shows that the place respects their residents.

But again in the end I am just a regular Haitian-Egyptian American girl from Brooklyn living in Paris and that is all :)

Leader Price

2010-05-12T10:48:00.001+02:00

Can I just say how much I LOVE Leader Price! They are the BEST!!! :) The food is SUPER cheap, so you know Im there! lol....I have spoken to many people about the price of living in NY compared to Paris and have heard ALOT of complaints about the price of food here, I actually think the complete opposite because while in the States you have many different brands leading to LOTs of competition and LOTs of different prices, over here there aren't many brands and as a result the prices remain the same meaning NO coupon-cutting over here! lol

Justify My Love

2010-05-12T10:40:00.004+02:00

Its funny how people want you to justify their feelings or their actions, inadvertantly placing blame on people who have nothing to do with a situation. I am an open person BUT there are certain things I CANNOT and will NEVER justify, and maybe when people come to this realization they will feel more at peace. Age is supposed to bring about wisdom. I cannot live my life in the past, only learn from it, live and be happy in the present and look foward to the future and all of the promises it holds. People must learn to move on and concentrate on things that ACTUALLY matter it is the only way one can live a positive lifestyle, for we all know that negative energy breeds ONLY negativity and positive energy can breed only POSITIVITY....

Options

2010-05-07T15:05:00.001+02:00

Always keep your options open...

La Queue

2010-05-05T13:04:00.005+02:00

I have come to the realization that French people have a problem with lines, they dont quite know how it works. First example today I had class at a pretty high scale bank near Opera, there were two receptionists, one was on the phone and the other was speaking with the guest who had come in before me, so I waited behind him patiently, when suddenly another guest comes in and instead of standing behind me at the front of the line, she goes to the other end despite seeing clearly that I was waiting before she was, and as soon as the receptionist got off the phone she went up as if I wasnt waiting at all.

This is NOT the first time this kind of thing has happened, yesterday at La Poste which is RIDICULOUSLY slow, there was only one worker, so therefore the line was VERY long and VERY slow, but this is to be expected, what I didnt expect was a slightly overweight woman to go to the front of the line where there was a black woman and ask to skip the line because she was "supposedly" handicapped, obviously I have nothing against handicapped people but this is the first I heard of someone who walked in perfectly fine, have a handicap which prevented her from sitting on a waiting chair, if you know of this disease, please tell me!

On top of that there was an extremely old woman who had come in earlier and she did as any other person who follows the rules would do which is to sit on the waiting chairs until it was her turn, despite ACTUALLY having a reason to skip the line.

The black woman at the front of the line told her straight up "no", pointing to the clock on the wall and saying she had to go, so the lady being the persuasive person she was, asked the 2nd person in line who happened to be in front of me, he gave in, and I was just completely bewildered, when I attempted to ask what was going on, and why was it that after waiting almost 20min, this lady coming out of NOWHERE was skipping the line, she responded defensively stating " J'ai une carte prioritaire, est-ce que vous voulez voir?" TOTAL BALONY! I just said to myself "Laisse tomber" but really couldnt believe it.

There have been many similar incidents since my time in France, its funny when I tell people Paris is kind of slow for me, people look at me stranger because they cant understand. BUT being a native New Yorker, I am used to things going fast, and to being done efficently and to people ACTUALLY following rules, but things in France are SOMETIMES done differently...there have been countless times where at the supermarches, people try to skip the line, claiming that it will only take a few seconds, as if everyonelse's purchases will take hours...I think there should be an etiquette course given here, until then to the BACK of the line...:)

Metro, Boulot, Dodo

2010-05-04T15:45:00.006+02:00

So I went away on vacation to Fuertaventura recently, I honestly didnt know much about the place before leaving. It is a part of the Canary Islands, I wasnt expecting much based on my lack of info, BUT boy was I pleasantly surprised. I can honestly say that it was the best vacation of my life. It was actually a late honeymoon me and my hubby took.I did things I never thought I would do, touching a crocodile, and riding a camel through a safari. It was also funny because there were TONS of German tourists at the hotel, making it really an experience, as many of them did not speak French OR English, they still tried to communicate despite the lack of a common language, when I write communicate I mean REALLY communicate resorting to facial expressions and weird noises! lol...The nudists were also quite interesting to see, especially since a majority of them were old people!
The hotel was AMAZING, it was the first time I stayed in a 4 star hotel, Im usually a budget traveller but I have to say the service was really up to par.

This trip helped me to appreciate a certain aspect of French life which is the importance of vacation, it really can do wonders for the body, mind and soul. I can say that I feel renewed. The place was truly a paradise, with lots of food, love, sun, romance, more food, alcohol, and fun...but now back to real life "la vie quotidienne"...I will just have to live with my memories of this trip....

Disney Vault

2010-04-23T21:46:00.002+02:00

When I was growing up I used to see those Disney commercials speaking about the dreaded "Disney Vault", I remember being scared and thinking to myself WOW where will those movies go? Why in the world were they going into a vault??? I was too naive to realize that this was just a marketing ploy to scare children into forcing their parents to buy Disney products. However I have come to the realization that life can be like a "vault" in which people come and go, some leaving permanately, some making "guest appearances", etc...

Chloé

2010-04-23T21:43:00.002+02:00

Your face is like a dream, a better dream than I could have ever imagined...

French Phrases of the Day

2010-04-21T22:25:00.004+02:00

There are many French phrases which make me laugh just due to the way they sound. Today I will focus on the word "truc" which is a casual way of saying thing

"Truc de ouf"- REALLY crazy!

"Truc et machin"- that thingy

They bring the LOLs everytime I hear them! LOL

Riddle

2010-04-21T22:22:00.005+02:00

Funny how interchangable labels are, there are some labels we carry for life, some which change, some which we want, yet will never have, some out of reach, some we used to have which we want back, and of course the labels that are to come...

You once were...your are no longer...you have become....you will be...

Hennes & Mauritz

2010-04-20T20:17:00.003+02:00

Can I just mention that I love H&M? Im especially loving their bath products, while I probably wouldnt buy their perfume (Even I have limits on cheapness), their lotions and body washes smell nice and are cheap!

Twitter Post

2010-04-20T19:47:00.002+02:00

Why is French packaging so DARN hard to open? I know Im NOT the only one who thinks so!

Foul

2010-04-17T14:22:00.007+02:00

I recently had a falling out with someone who I thought I was tight with and I have to admit that it was kind of painful, it was painful only because the friendship wasnt what I thought it was, as an only child it is hard enough to make friends, so normally when I do makes friends, its with people who I plan on knowing for a long time, this feeling is especially magnified living in a new country where it is REALLY difficult to meet new people...so anyway we had our falling out but what hurt me more than the falling out was the fact that the person acted like I was being a baby, when in reality I did not feel I was asking for much, I reached out to this person to discuss the issue and instead of listening to me, they basically mocked me, and I was stunned because I really made an error of judgement because the only reason I even reached out to the person was because I thought the friendship was one worth saving.

All that is to say it was just another lesson learned. Its funny because I had a similar experience before I left NYC, only I was in the opposite shoes, I had a friend who felt I was not making enough of an investment in our friendship and I will admit it, I was annoyed, I felt WOW this person was inconsiderate, why couldn't they understand how busy I was between baby, work, school, and my move??? I now realize that it was indeed me who was being inconsiderate, and for that I apologize in the end you live and you learn and then continue to live and to learn...

Featured Person of the Day

2010-04-17T11:39:00.002+02:00

Just wanted to shout out Harry Roselmack, he became France's first black evening news anchorman back in 2006, and is currently one of France's most popular journalists. He also hosts his own investigative series. You can read more about him here

Days of Our Lives

2010-04-16T19:33:00.004+02:00

Funny how chapters that we thought were closed, open up when we least expect them to...

Philosophy 101

2010-04-16T11:12:00.009+02:00

My time in France has led me to do alot of thinking about myself and the world in general. I think one of the biggest lessons I have learned is to NEVER judge people, because ultimately we never truly know whats going on in peoples lives. Its funny with all the technology out there, imagine if instead of the I-pad, there was an I-thought, something in which you could hear the thoughts of others as they say in French "Ça va être le bordel! " which means that things would be crazy!

One thought that has remained in my head is character, what do I want people to think about when they think of me, do I want them to have positive or negative memories? Its funny how we try in this era of Facebook, etc to basically sell and filter ourselves and put out only the positive instead of the negative, featuring only the qualities which we want people to know about, even the pictures can be deceptive, because come on, who will put a BAD picture of themselves online?

Unfortunately I have come to the realization that sometimes when the damage has already been done, the damage may not be able to be repaired and it is too late for the impression to be changed. But even if that is the case we can start now, it is never too late, we should all leave people with positive impressions of ourselves. I realize how important it is even to just share a smile with someone and try to brighten up their day you just might give help to someone who needs it.

I had a conversation with one of my students the other day about the science of laughing, basically asking the question "Why do we laugh"...and we discussed the ironic fact that if someone is seen alone laughing or even smiling people will think this person is weird and question why they are laughing, its kind of sad that in public we are supposed to have serious personalities, why not question the fact that more people dont smile or laugh in public?

Life is too short for nonsense, its funny how a little tear can end up completely destroying something, this is why I realize now how important it is to spread positivity and NOT negativity because its not worth it and in the end it only comes back to you...

More Random

2010-04-16T11:04:00.002+02:00

1). Just a quick note to follow up on my post about Nicki Minaj and Perez Hilton, so yesterday it was announced that she would be joining Lady Gagas tour after dropping out of Rihannas, ahhhh so it all makes sense now! Because Perez Hilton is a Lady Gaga freak!

2). Can I just mention that I appreciate how the soups here have WAY less sodium than in the States, no Ramen Noodles over here! lol

Sarkozy DOES speak English!

2010-04-15T16:56:00.003+02:00

So up until now I had never heard French President Nicolas Sarkozy utter even ONE word of English something which I have always found bizarre and hilarious! Btw, if he needs an English teacher, I can make a recommendation! :) Anyway he did an interview with Katie Couric, if you want to giggle fast foward to 11:52! LOL

Word of the Day

2010-04-15T16:48:00.005+02:00

Genuine

Meaning: Someone who is real

Uses: Genuine is a concept which does not exist anymore

Walk Walk Fashion Baby

2010-04-15T16:29:00.005+02:00

Just want to mention stores that I love to shop in Paris, and of course they are budget friendly! Many of these are actually not French owned but again you can get some great clothes at a great price

1). Lefties a Spanish chain with a location at the Montparnasse shopping center

2). New Look a UK chain with a location at Forum des Halles

3). C& A, a big department store which I dont really like the clothes too much but they are good for their jewelry and childrens clothing, there are locations all over Paris

4). Tally Weijl, a Swiss chain with a location again at Forum des Halles and a new one on Boulevard Haussmann

5). Finally there is the perennial fav H&M, with locations all over Paris but notably NOT on the Champs Elysée

Happy Shopping!