Double Date Night

Double Date Night is almost as amazing as witnessing the Double Rainbow Video on YouTube.  Really!  It is one of my favorite things to do and it's because Fred is really good at planning them.  Typically they are a surprise, which means they turn out to be on nights where I'm wearing jeans with holes all over and not a lick of make-up.  Surprises also aren't my forte, in fact, when I was young, I used to un-wrap my Christmas presents and wrap them back up...sorry Mom!  Yet Fred somehow gracefully manages to keep his lips sealed even through the annoyance of me asking like a 5 year old incessantly what we are doing. 

This past week he took me to a restaurant in Neuilly, Chez Papinou.  My favorite part about this restaurant was that you got to go downstairs into their wine cave to chose the bottle of wine you wanted for dinner.  I liked that and when I saw it, it made me want a basement with a wine cave, but that might be dangerous.  Fred had steak haché and I chose the veal lasagna off the daily specials menu...both fantastic.  A restaurant always gets extra points in my book when good service is included, as it is not really a requirement in France;)

Wine Cave at Chez Papinou...clearly just Fred and I down there at that moment

So date night #2 was actually my idea.  I am equally as terrible at keeping a surprise as I am in finding out, but somehow I managed to breathe deep and avoid blurting out what I had planned.  A scenic scooter ride past Concorde and The Louvre and we were in the 1st arrondissement.  Generally not an area we tend to hangout in, but were surprised at the amount of cool looking bars and restaurants that didn't seem too hoity-toity.  The Lobster Bar just opened a little over a month ago and doesn't take reservations so I was nervous we weren't going to get a seat, but thankfully the small bar had two empties and we bellied-up and started with some drinks and tapas.  The dinner menu makes it easy to choose from with only two options...lobster roll or crab roll.  We both opted for lobster and it was delish!  It felt like I was having a little taste of America in Paris...loved it! 

How was this a double date night for me you might ask?  Well, when I got up to 'powder my nose', mon cheri payed the billed...so sweet...and also meant that I would now go back and get the shoes I was eyeing up at Jonak.

The added bonus to double date night was that Fred made a replication of the lobster roll we had but with crab and shrimp...it was really tasty and reminded me that I'm lucky my man knows how to cook so well!

Bisous xx

Home Sweet Home

Today I'm writing this blog entry while enjoying a sunny 75° day, blaring Supertramp on our new balcony...yes, we moved! While moving I was thinking of the differences between moving in Paris and back in the states. I of course tried to be thrifty and find boxes at the grocery store, which I did, but when I brought them home I noticed a dead cockroach stuck to the bottom, sick! So instead I went to buy some, a lot, and they were expensive...maybe they are in the states too and I just don't remember but it pained me to spend that much on cardboard.  There were so many boxes it seemed as if we were moving a family of four and I started feeling bad for those who offered to help us.  Not only were there so many boxes but neither apartment had an elevator...yes, in Paris, not all apartments have elevators.  I look at it as it's better for you to take the stairs than take an elevator anyway, just obviously not in heels. I cannot leave out the fact that I didn't have to help move any of these boxes. That is a first. In the U.S. I remember a time when my friend and I hired movers but I'm pretty sure we did all the heavy lifting. Another time my movers were late and I had to be out of the apartment and I moved it all down to the alley by myself.  I have to admit I felt guilty but grateful for those who helped!! Many thanks to them!  So now here we are...all moved in and everything in it's place.  It's an exciting time for us...a new chapter and I couldn't be happier!

 

 

 

If you are moving in Paris, this is where I got the boxes http://www.demenagerseul.com/

Side note...moving on Sunday is better than Saturday...less traffic:)

 

Bisous xx

Bunny Hill

I stocked up on a bunch of magazines for our road trip to the Alps.  Reading actual books in the car makes me car sick but for some reason reading gossip magazines has no affect on me.  One of the first articles I read was about the staggering number of deaths in the Alps over the past month....slightly unsettling for someone who hasn't been skiing in years. As we prepared to embark on day 1 of hitting the slopes, I reminded Fred that I wanted to start off taking a leisure ski down the 'bunny hill'.  I figured that after a few good runs down that and I would be good to go...just like getting back on a bike.  We started our ascend and I was initially focused on the breathtaking views surrounding me, a freshly fallen snow covered the mountains, the air was fresh and crisp, and I felt like I was a little closer to heaven on that chairlift ride.  But suddenly, I realized that the chairlift wasn't stopping and we were clearly surpassing any bunny hill that might have existed.  I asked Fred if he was taking me to a black diamond because seriously that is what it looked like and I didn't think it was funny, but he calmly told me that we were just going down a green run which is pretty much the next step up from the bunny hill.  Regardless of where we were going, I had 2 options...I could either take this chairlift on a round trip or I could put my big girl pants on and give it a go.  As I gathered by bearings, after literally pushing Fred to the ground on my exit from the lift, I started my descend and all I could think was why didn't I rent the helmet that they suggest you wear just to save an extra 6€ a day...I know at that moment I was thinking 6€ could be my nightly bottle of wine, but how stupid of me to have put wine over my physical safety.  It felt as if I was going down that mountain at 20 miles per hour, until a ski school of 4 and 5 year olds passed me by and then it felt more like 1 mile an hour.  That group of kids reminded me that when in doubt put your skis into the shape of a pie, or as the french say, chasse neige, and slowly but surely I made it to the bottom and I was suddenly back in a state of euphoria.  Thankfully, Fred was patient and helped me re-learn my ski skills and by the end of the week I was skiing like Lindsey Vonn....just kidding, but I was able to keep up with under 5 kids classes which made me proud.

The ski station we stayed at was awesome...Les Orres...a little village of its own...everything you need right at your fingertips.  One of the best french things is called raclette...kind of like fondue but better, as you heat up thick slices of cheese to drizzle over mouth-watering cuts of charcuterie.  It's gluttonous but so good! 

 



The pictures below don't say enough of how beautiful the Alps are in person.  I feel very blessed to have been able to experience this and hope Fred thinks I improved enough to take me again next year:)

Bisous xx

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 





 

 



Top Chef

Before moving to Paris, my cooking skills were below average, embarrassingly below average.  My recipe repertoire consisted of Mexican, bruschetta and every once in awhile, lasagna.  I would spend lengthy amounts of time at the grocery store and market trying to conjure up recipes to impress my man.  I would mostly find myself stuck in the yogurt isle wondering how there could be so many different kinds and trying to carefully pick the best one.  When I realized I couldn't serve yogurt for dinner and all other options seemed bound for disaster, I would opt for Mexican...hoping my Chipotle-like burrito would knock his socks off.  I knew early on that Fred was probably frightened by my cooking skills.  At one point he sent me to the store to get lettuce and I am came home with cabbage...they kind of look alike.  I'm pretty sure that's why he only allows me to be his assistant in the kitchen which means doing the boring stuff like peeling vegetables.  While he cooks, I find myself hovering over his shoulder which I'm sure is super annoying but I do it anyway.  He has perfected the classics and is innovative with the basics not to mention his presentation is always sublime .  I remember trying to impress him with my lasagna, which wasn't bad, but he came around the next week and whipped one up that is seriously the best I've ever tasted and no, it wasn't made with horse meat.  I felt disappointed and defeated, but if I were to be better than him, perhaps he would stop cooking for me, so I'm going to remain a mediocre cook.  One of his best recipes is Osso Bucco...not his exact recipe as that needs to remain secret!

 

 





While I will never be a top chef, my cooking skills have improved over the year.  I even made cheesecake the other week which turned out shockingly well.  I have to give the credit of my progress to Fred and thank him for constantly surprising my taste buds! 

 

Bisous xx

 



Detox

In the past my detox regimen consisted of Gatorade, Apollo Café and a marathon of Real Housewives.  Truth be told, it might be the same today except that the latter two aren't available here in Paris.  Now, I wasn't exactly on the hunt to find a replacement regimen, but on our way to the market I noticed a new little shop...Kusmi Tea.  Inside was a colorful display of teas all available for your sniffing.  I felt like a kid in a candy store except I was surrounded by tea, which kids definitely wouldn't find exciting, but I did which made me feel kind of old...  Anyways, there were dozens of different blends ranging from your traditional Chamomile and Earl Grey to your more exotic blends like Bourbon Vanilla and Zoubrovka.  And then there it was, literally right under my nose, Detox, from their Wellness Collection.  We were sold.  A base of green tea with hints of lemon and lemon grass.  Invigorating.  Not to mention the benefits of tea most likely outweigh those of Gatorade.  The difference too being that whether it be after a long night of champagne drinking or just a normal Tuesday, Detox is always good.  And yes, I am absolutely sipping on some as I write I this post.  Long story short, try Kusmi Tea if you haven't already. 

 

P.S. They have fabulous packaging and great gift sets...just saying :)

 



Bisous xx

Cheers

Anyone that knows me would undoubtedly say my favorite bar in the states is The Harp.  Seeing as though I am no longer in close enough proximity to go there, I had to find something like it here in Paris, and I did.  It's called Le Bloc.  No, it's not an Irish pub nor am I consuming the same amounts of Jameson, but it has the same welcoming feel and it's fun.  The staff is nice, the food is good and the drinks are awesome...I'm rarely without a mojito in hand.  If you find that you've worn out your welcome or want to venture on, you're in a great area to do that as Batignolles has plenty of bars and restaurants to see.

When I decide to leave my comfort zone, I am continually surprised. Out for an afternoon stroll in Bastille, we stumbled upon a dingy, but awesome bar.  As we entered Tape they were playing Wu-Tang Clan and scents of spray paint were lingering in the air from freshly painted graffiti.  Naturally, I ordered a mojito which was only 5€...thank you happy hour.  Not too many spots to sit in this place, so if you go, go early.

We don't just drink, we eat as well, so next time I will write about food:)

Bisous xx

Namaste

When I first arrived in Paris I was a little afraid to be in a situation where I might have to speak in French with someone, obviously because my vocabulary at that point consisted of "bonjour" and "je m'appelle Megan", so I found myself doing the safe things like walking or going to the grocery store. I quickly realized that I needed to face my fears and just get out there...I'm still doing that today!

One of the first "new" things I did was go to a yoga class, predominantly because I knew there wasn't going to be much talking. The first class was great...I didn't understand a word of what he said, but I could look around the room and follow the others. I was in heaven. I felt apart of something. And I have been going back ever since. Of course now I can understand when he says to "raise your butt up" or "lock your fingers", so I consider a language course as well to justify the price.

As well as trying new things, it was important for me to find something in Paris that brought me some solitude, that was yoga. It doesn't seem to be as popular as it is in the states and there are no Lululemon stores here either(they do ship to France), but there are definitely some good studios to check out.

My personal favorites:

http://www.yogastyleparis.com/

Best deal with Yoga Style is your first 30 days for 30€...no other studios in the city come close to that price!

http://www.bikramrivegauche.com/

Brand new studio and offers classes in English

Bisous xx