Weekend Favorites: Hurry you are late!

Wool, silk, crocodile...white. The Parisian women have been turning heads in ultra chic under garments layered with warm cozy sweaters. This is it ladies, what you will see on the streets of Paris this fall-winter 2011-2012. The light hearted fabrics paired with gold accessories and black boots is the way to go. Don't be shy, while you are running late for a stroll with a pal slip that comfy sweater over your nightie. Be sure to accessorize or else you will disappear in the crowd.

Other looks I've stumbled upon while flipping through my favorite french mags...GRAZIA, ELLE, and PARIS MATCH.

Great Christmas party outfit By Marelene Birger

Nail Candy

Face by Stockholm just won the 2011 Nail Polish Awards for 'Most vivid Shades'

Lastly, the perfect holiday dress.

Perfect party dress By Marelene Birger

Have a beautiful day!  Sunny today in Paris. Marathon training during lunch. 

Bisous fois dix.

Sex and coffee in Paris.

Hear ye hear ye! Top headlines in Paris as of last week: free condoms with a coffee in Parisien bars and cafes. Ladies and gents, the big news of the day... enjoy a delicious cup of mocha and safe sex!

Victoria Beckham's Emporio Armani ad summer 2009 (I thought it was appropriate)

The coffee and condoms will be offered in bars and restaurants located in the 18e arrondissement Today in Paris.

The campaign is obviously directed towards todays tweeners which are being exposed to sex at an early age. With hopes that the Twilight era will protect themselves from a mishap or Even worse a half-human half-vampire hybrid named Renesmee (ok ok i did watch Twilight). Where was I? Right, free condoms in Paris. Over 130 000 condoms were distributed in cafes and bars found in the 3e, 4e, 9e, 10e, 19e, and 20e arrondissements. Here is the info.

(1) 3e arrondissement: Info
(2) 4^e arrondissement:
28 november - 4 décember: Info
(3) 9^e arrondissement 
30 november - 5 décember: Info
(4) 13e arrondissement 
30 novembre - 4 décember: List of bars and cafes in pdf 
(5) 18e arrondissement 
28 november - 4 décember: Info 
(6) 19e arrondissement 
1^st - 4 décember: Info
 

So sattle up, buckle down, and ride away safely ;)

Happy sexing or sexting (I can't keep up with this lingo)!

Bisous fois dix

What to eat when...

HAPPY MONDAY! I know double blah. It's always around this time of the year when it starts getting colder day by day. After a successful Thanksgiving weekend here in Paris, it's back to the daily grind. P.S, is it just me or does is everyone at work sick?! Enjoy this post of what to eat when...

(1) You can't afford to get sick.

Grab a slice of watermelon. It's packed with an antioxidant called glutathione and it will help you replenish necessary fluids.

(2) You are restless and absolutely need to fall asleep before your big meeting tomorrow!


POPCORN! Yup, that's right. Help yourself to two cups of popcorn. The carbs will create serotine allowing your body to relax and de-stress.

(3) You are stressed out. 


Chocolate. A few squares of dark chocolate will do the trick and fight those raging hormones.

(4) You are feeling mega negative. 

Prepare some fresh salmon in the oven or frying pan. The omega-3 fatty acids will lift your spirits.

(5) You are heading to the gym and starving. 


Make yourself a smoothie about an hour before you go. Combine fruit, low-fat milk and protein powder.

(6) Urg, Migraine. 


Prevent those bang-your-head-against-your-desk headaches by eating a hearty breakfast with a cup of oatmeal and almonds and a glass of green tea. The oatmeal and almonds are full of magnesium and the green tea is infused with anti-inflammatory magic that will bring down the swelling in your blood vessels.

(7) Falling asleep after a hearty lunch. 


Almonds and pistachios! (Not too many, they are very high in calories) The fiber and protein will give you a boost. Oh, and try some cranberries for that sugar boost.

(8) When are you taking antibiotics. 

Yogurt will give you the necessary calcium to keep you strong while your body fights against whatever you are battling.

If you are in France. STAY WARM. Paris is getting colder and colder. Have a beautiful day!

Bisous fois dix.

Taco Friday!

Let's go to MEXICO! (for the evening at least). Source

Happy Friday all!

I hope you are ready and raring for a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend.
I thought I would share a top secret step-by-step recipe for our rustic mouth-watering tacos.

Give these a go over the weekend if you've had enough of the Thanksgiving leftovers.

Finished product: VOILA!!

Tortilla Recipe:

1kg Flour
2 Table spoons Salt
1 Table spoon Baking Powder
1.5 Cups Warm water
1 Cup Cooking Oil

Mouth-watering additional ingredients:

Feta CHEESEEEEEEEEE (drool)
Cilantro (double drool)
Shredded Chicken
Tabasco Sauce
Re-fried Beans (home made: heat up in frying pan, add a little bit of oil and mash away!)
Diced Tomatoes
Limes
Shreddred Cabbage (for that extra crunch)

Pill up the additional ingredients on those fresh off the frying pan tortillas, squeeze that lime, squirt that tabasco sauce and indulge.

I hope you enjoyed my first step by step recipe! Many more to come, brace yourselves.

Have a beautiful greyish day in Paris and I hope its much nicer anywhere else!

Bisous fois dix.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you all a warm, toasty, full-of-love-and-laughter Thanksgiving. 

 This year, my boyfriend and I will be preparing a feast for our 8 closest 

friends in Paris. I am thankful for:

(1) the unconditional love from my family in Canada

(2) My beautiful friends from each corner of the world

(3) my boyfriend (for the better person he has helped me become)

(4) Feta Cheese

(5) New Hermes Booties coming in the mail anytime soon.

(6) My super cool sister that is mostly too busy to call me. 

She still is my no. 1 person in the world.

(7) The internet
(8) Living in Paris
(9) My job in the Oil and Gas industry.
(10) Being able to come home to the Coolest place in the World.

Bisous fois dix.                                                                    

A sparkling surprise on the Champs Elysées : Marks & Spencer

Goodmorning All! I wish you a warm, toasty and loving THANKSGIVING!!! With that comes great news from Paris. A brand spanking new 1400m squared Marks & Spencer will open its doors to all the fashion-hungry tourists on Thursday the 24th of November at 11:30 ten years after originally closing in France.

Marks & Spencer will take up three floors of lingerie and the latest ready to wear collections for women. Guess who will be there?! Ryan Reynolds and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley so grab your free autographs today in Paris. The british department store will take the number 100 on the most famous street in the world, non other than the Champs Elysees. By the way, have you seen this years light display? What do you think?

Lights from 2011-2012

It might be a little hard to make out from this picture. There are strings of small circular mirrors hanging from the branches and three halos filled with lights on each tree. The mirrors are in place to reflect the light given from the halos, obviously. The total of 600 halos on the 200 hundred trees ligning the famous street are controlled seperately.

I mean this is a huge deal for Parisians. I'm talking gossip of the year (ok I'm exaggerating a little bit). It really does look original in comparison to the previous years (which I preferred). Here are some from the past:

Lights from 2010

Lights from 2006-2007

Lights from 2004

 I tried finding pictures from the 90s of the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights, they pretty much stay the same either white or blue strings hung from the trunk upward. Let's not forget the drop dead gorgeous display from Galerie Lafayette each year.

Well I hope you enjoyed a little enlightenment* from yours truly... Have a great day! As per usual, overcast and rainy today in Paris.

Bisous fois dix

*my obvious attempt at a sarcastic joke

Restaurant Review: Ave Maria

Do you feel like getting lost in Brazil, surrounded by Parisiens? Eating food that melts in your mouth? This place actually exists. I promise. It's called Ave Maria. The best kept culinary secret in Paris. Ave Maria is frequented by local hipsters flocking together from each corner of Paris. Beware: reservations are not accepted. I recommend arriving at 20h00 to avoid the dinner rush. Dress code is casual and the decor of the restaurant represents the food that they serve, eclectic and all over the place.

Metro Oberkampkf on the 9 line or Metro Parmentier: 1 rue Jacquare, Oberkampf, 75011 Paris, France 01 47 00 61 73

The cuisine is Brazilian mixed with African soul and a little bit of caribbean spice. Example main courses : Amazonian Fish and Chips, Woman On Top, and Himalayan Dream. Price range from 16-29 €.

The Woman on Top : Before

The Woman on Top : After

For me, the best part about this hot spot are the cocktails. A perfectly well made mojito (which is, to say the least, extremely rare in Paris). A succulent Batida (coconut milk, white rum, served with mint) and frostry margaritas for 6-7 €.

Enjoy the atmosphere and mouth watering food with a group of 2-6 people (I say this because 7-8 people is too much for this humble hole in the wall). 4-6 is perfect because seating is limited to benches and picnic tables.

I know it doesn't have the glamour of a Parisien bistro BUT I am all about delicious and well priced food. SO this if you are like me, check this place out.

Overcast in Paris today. Today is the day for some marathon training.

Bisous fois dix

Weekend Favorites: Thanksgiving prep and then some.

Whew, what a busy weekend! After returning the overly priced items of clothing I purchased last week (not mentioning the store hint: rhymes with Tara) and competing the entire Sunday it certainly did not feel like a weekend should. In any case, I've had Thanksgiving to-do lists overtaking my thoughts for the past few days and I decided that it was time to create a plan. Here are some helpful hints for those of you that will be entertaining in North America and the very few of us celebrating in Paris.

(1) Prepare your guest list and double check that everyone left an R.S.V.P. I mean leftovers are great and all but you don't want to get stuck with not having enough food.

(2) Shop early to avoid lines (grocery stores can get crowed in North America). Shop here in Paris.

Discover Paris' most exciting emporium for all-American edibles, and the culinary aids to create them perfectly

(3) Prepare the turkey size that you will need and the recipes before you hit the store. To order a turkey in Paris: First of all turkeys in France are not as big as they are in North America. So keep that in mind when you are preparing your guest list.  You can find a 10kg turkey if you have a good butcher and be sure to order in advance. If your butcher can't do it or laughs in your face or doesn't understand what you are saying go to the butcher at 79 rue Seine 75006 PARIS (01 55 42 65 65).

(4) Go shopping the day before.

(5) Set the table the morning of oh and prepare your glam outfit as well.

(6) Cook your heart and soul away the day of. Try not to make dishes that you have never done before or test them out a few days ahead of the event.

(7) Keep it simple and have fun!

For the decor, I added some ideas below. If you are like me, I prefer to keep it simple and classy. This year I adore red berries, anywhere and everywhere and in everything! You can also insert falls leaves into glass ornaments and hang them from light fixtures.

Personalize with name tags around wine glasses. Source

Simple and easy to prepare. Have fun picking leaves outside!

So easy and looks great at night. Source

Berries Berries BERRIES! Pick them up at your local market (my favorite is marche Raspail in Paris neat Montparnasse)

Easy peasy decor with nature accents! Who doesn't love pine cones around the house. Source

Personalize with cute cards placed around your table setting. Source

Et Voilà! Plenty of creative ideas and tips for your big day! Don't stress too much (that's more for me) and enjoy your company. IF, everything goes and to shit and you burn the your turkey have no fear! Enjoy a traditional turkey dinner at Le Saint-Martin. It is located near Canal St-Martin so nice for a walk after that large dinner. Today in Paris, overcast and light rain. I'm definetely not enjoying the view from my new desk at work. Blah.

bisous fois dix.

Red Red Wine: Beaujolais

Hi guys! In France, it is officially time to celebrate Beaujolais! On the Third Thursday of every November the country celebrates a very young wine (6 weeks old) called Beaujolais from the historical region of Beaujolais. This is probably one of the countrie's most popular 'commercialised holidays' (yes, it even beats Halloween). Festivals take place all over the country with the largest in Beaujeu. The massive party is called Sarmentelles.

In Lyon (South-East of France) they host Beaujolympiades!

And in Paris, you can find a vast array of parties held by certain restaurants and bars.

Here is a list of places to celebrate the french tradition and get really drunk (hey, I'm allowed to be blunt. It's my blog).

(1)  Le Petit Chavignol, rue de Tocqueville in the XVIIe arrondissement

(2)  Le Marché des Enfants Rouges, in the Marais, lots of hippies and late-night parties

(3)  Rue de Verneuil, shopping and drinking! YES PLEASE

(4) Rue des Martyrs, in Montmartre, go here for a village vibe with a lot of locals.

(5) Rue Paul Lelong, in the 2nd, the intersection is blocked for this fiesta

(6) at the Mairie in the 2nd arrondissement

I hope this map helps.

Beaujolais wine is served chilled and can be paired with picnic foods and salads! What a great way to celebrate tradition.

Source

Have fun and enjoy this year's Beaujolais. This will be a perfect wine to serve as an Aperitif (drink before dinner) for Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for my tips on how to prepare a stress free Thanksgiving feast in Paris.

bisous fois dix