things making me happy right now.

The original plan was for me to go home last Saturday, but life happens and things change and now I'm still in France. It is, of course, a disappointment for me as I was really excited to get home, but I will get back to the people and places I love soon enough. Until then, I need to remain positive! And, I'm doing that by savoring the little things that are making me happy right now!  :)

1. a homemade candlelit lunch for one with tabouli salad, ratatouille, and peppery tortilla chips

2. creating a little home gym for myself now that my insanely overpriced gym membership has ended (the gym was also disturbingly dusty)

3. the wonderful and luxe gift my guy gave me for no reason at all (well, I'm reason enough, aren't I?!!) - Guerlain face creams made with this amazing orchid that lives for something like 160 years so it fights anti-aging (but I'm still not sure if he was hinting that I'm getting wrinkles!? lol)

4. my amazing perfume that makes me smell and feel feminine and chic

5. uummmm socialized medicine!!! upon my last visit to the pharmacy, the lady bagged my stockpile of meds and said, "bonne journée," and I stood there dumbfounded and said, "c'est totalement gratuit? incroyable!" Then, I neatly arranged my treasures in a mason jar.

6. my not so beautiful but delicious first attempt at vegan cinnamon apple muffins (the trick - more applesauce, less vegan butter for a moist, yet healthy treat!) sorry, I know the word moist creeps a lot of people out. oops there I go again with it.

 

7. (not pictured because I'm not into that whole taking pictures of myself thing) something making me super happy: I had to buy new jeans and belts because my hard work is paying off!! :)

One thing not making me happy : this craptastic weather. I swear the ratio of crappy days to beautiful days here is not in favor of the latter. Boo! But, hiding out inside and listening to Ingrid Michaelson's soothing songs on repeat is a nice dose of wonderful.

amsterdam.

view from hotel window

all the bikes from the hotel window

see my excitement upon finding this place in the video below

Two weekends ago we spent our weekend in Amsterdam. It was a short, spontaneous trip. My guy was going there on business starting that Sunday and Friday night he suggested I come a day early (the following day) so I could meet his friend, see the city, and spend a night out dancing our butts off. And, so that's what we did. We arrived Saturday evening. I met his very nice friend (whose English had a very wonderful Croatian accent). We stayed out until the wee hours of the morning - because, well, why not? Sunday we enjoyed an Asian food festival and had one too many (or not) veggie spring rolls. We had to, of course, go to a French fry place and eat French fries smothered in ketchup (although there were about 20 different toppings to choose from). We walked all around the city - Bopping in and out of shops, looking at old buildings, marveling at bikers and houseboats aplenty, and paying 1€ to use the 'loo' all the while. We ate at a delicious Thai restaurant for dinner (SOOO good!). Then, Monday morning I was on the first flight back to France. Boo!

The nice thing about Amsterdam is that almost everyone speaks English. It made things very easy for us English-speakers. There are so many tourists in Amsterdam, but luckily, my guy had studied in Holland while in University so he knew a little bit about the city to help us steer clear of too much touristy stuff. 

I first went to Amsterdam in 2005 with my sister. We did the whole hostel, meeting people, being young thing. It was so much fun. We went to coffee shops. I ate space cake which was a big thing for me as I was a vegan. I figured, when in Amsterdam, eat space cake. We went to the Anne Frank house which was so so so moving and something I would love to do every time I am in Amsterdam. Our youthful trip was wonderful and fun (and a trip to remember!), but it is always a different experience doing things with someone new. It is nice to walk through a strange city, seeing new things, and holding the hand of someone you adore. I enjoy that... a lot. I don't think I will ever tire of walking through strange cities and seeing new things and holding the hand of that someone I adore. ....as long as life is always as spontaneous and bizarre as it is now. Because, as I have said before, I bore easily.

Video below makes clear two things. The first is that I love Asian food. The second is that I am a pig! 

a dose of positive thinking.

 what I'm listening to right now:

Have a wonderful weekend!

wonderful things make wonderful days.

Today was some kind of holy day here. After 4 straight weeks of rain (sprinkled with snow and hail), the sun came out! It was miraculous and beautiful and refreshing and oh, so pleasant. Needless to say, it has been a wonderful few days.

Although this was not a traditional Christmas and it was my first Christmas away from the family, it was wonderful in its own way. We made a bunch of hors d'oeuvres and filled the table with these wonderful treats. We had traditional French things such as toast points with smoked salmon and foie gras (I obviously did not do any eating of that). We had shrimp cocktail, miniature sauce covered crackers with different cheeses and olives on top (and served hot out of the oven), pasta, and cheese (my favorite from the Basque region).

We skyped with my family and watched them open the presents we gave them. We danced in the apartment together. Then, we exchanged gifts.

Christmas day was unusual but equally as wonderful. We started with homemade pancakes, watched five movies, and munched on leftovers throughout the day.

Perhaps it wasn't a traditional Christmas but it was a wonderful weekend spent with a guy who sometimes needs to sit back, relax, and disconnect from his work.

My vacation started today! I spent it doing some returns, catching up on e-mails, driving 45 minutes (and back) to get us Subway foot-longs and just relaxing!

The sky is incredible tonight. There is a crescent moon and the North Star is incredibly bright. Seeing that beautiful sunset on my way home from my extremely unnecessary trip to Subway was a wonderful ending to my relaxing day.

I'm juicing up the iPod now and then I'm off to hit the gym! Any recommendations for workout music?

Well, here's what I'm listening to now:

the little things.

I have been so sick these past few days. It started Friday night. I had a mildly sore throat that evolved into a terribly sore throat by Saturday. I didn't really mind, because I assumed it was a consequence of the changing weather and a wonderful opportunity to lay on the couch watching Felicity re-runs all day. I did manage to peel myself off the couch in time to get out for a run while the sun was still shining. It was too beautiful a day to stay wrapped up in blankets. I stopped every so often on my run to pick flowers to put in a mason jar in my living room. It is such a cute touch in the apartment. Although, I probably looked like such a flower child running with flowers in my hand decked out in head to toe pink running gear!

Sunday I was magically feeling much better and had a lovely day with the one I love. It was a wonderful day - a day full of compromising. I wanted to wake early, in time for breakfast at the hotel. I wanted to go for a romantic walk all afternoon around the beautiful town as the sun shone down on everything. My hands became full as I shed layer after layer. It was hot and we were burning in the blazing sun, but not the kind of burning that leaves you red, the kind of burning that reminds you you're alive. My guy tagged along dutifully, because the compromise was this: I chose what to do in the morning and the afternoon was all his!

Around 3 o'clock, "his part of the day" commenced. He wanted me to make lunch. I whipped up some grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches on delicious, crunchy bread I had picked up fresh from the corner boulangerie. I quickly cut up and fried homemade french fries. This has become somewhat of a staple in our little apartment. Sure, it is wildly unhealthy but for two people always on the move - comfort food is a welcomed pleasure (plus, after 7 years of veganism and I can't even remember how many years of not eating cheese, this new thing... this amazing sandwich full of butter and cheese has become somewhat of a revelation, seriously how could I have been missing out on this for all those years?). After our greasy, gooey lunch we took a long nap and watched movies all night.

To me, this was a perfect day. Besides the fact that it was his first day off in (no lie) 20 days, we both had the opportunity to share with the other what makes us happy. Me - a long walk through the winding streets and hidden trails of this historic town. Him - an afternoon of maxin' and relaxin' with his favorite gal (that's me!).

It may just be the little things in life that really do make us happy. Those little things fill in all the nooks and crannies in my heart. Whether it be a sweet package from my Mom, new flowers in my apartment, or a wonderful day spent with the one I love... these little moments, these small treasures... well, they just fill me up with the kind of happiness that envelopes me with love.  It makes me feel safe.

So as for the current state of my health.... UGH!!! By Monday I was back to being sick, and it seems to be getting worse by the day. I will try to get to the doctor, but this isn't as easy as you may think. I need to bring my translator (my guy) along but he usually doesn't have the time to take lunch let alone leave for over an hour to get me to a doctor. I canceled my classes today after my first class was a bit gross, coughing, sneezing and swallowing flem as I tried to annunciate pronunciation.

I am just so thankful that I had a small reprieve from my sickness on Sunday, allowing me the chance to have some much-needed time with my guy. Maybe being sick now stinks, but that's life and it could be much worse.   A little coughing and sneezing never killed anyone (right!?).

Now I lay me down to sleep...

a new perspective.

I think something we all need to consider is perspective. Life is all about the way you look at things, and this fact has the ability to shape your entire life. The past, present, and future. It is one of those glass half full theories. I can look back at pieces of my life and have regrets or have flashbacks of paralyzing memories or I can take the high road and consider something hard to come to terms with... maybe everything does happen for a reason. I need to truly, wholeheartedly believe this. There is an Arabic word - mektoub - which simply, eloquently means 'it is written,' so maybe each and every moment, the good and the bad were written, predetermined for us. I now have a new perspective - and can I tell you how incredibly wonderful and life changing it is?

For example, instead of looking at my new "city" as one that doesn't compare to home and to the hustle and bustle of NYC, I've learned to love it for its simplicity, its quiet streets, and its amazing history. I finally see it as a beautiful place. Honestly, it is like I have been given a new set of eyes (thankfully, still blue!). With a little bit of perspective, I am able to see this place in a whole new light. I don't want to stop taking pictures. I want to capture this wonderful city in daylight and at dusk. I want to capture the changing colors as autumn unfolds. I just want to enjoy every beautiful moment. How many people can say they have a huge fort in the middle of their city!?

And, this theory pertains to everything in life - friendships, relationships, why I picked the university I picked, why I chose the career I chose, and even why I decided to come to France - it was all written. Knowing that I can't change anything gives me more strength to enjoy and to live in the moment. It gives me more strength to be the person I know I am meant to be. What is meant to happen will happen, and I can't stop missing out on wonderful moments because I'm too busy analyzing the past or stressing over which path is the next one to take. It's like my life is a fantastic, wild ride down the Amazon. I will hit some bumps, my boat may flip over, it won't always be glamorous, but I will get back in and keep trekking down that river.

I am enjoying the ride. Are you?

Pictures from my weekend (in my fabulous city!!!):

My little movie review.

::127 Hours::
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I guess I missed all the news headlines about this real life event happening. The night before my love and I went to see 127 Hours, my father (thinking I knew the story) decided to tell me about the something completely disturbing that happens in the movie. Wellllllll, I won't say it here because then I will ruin it for you like he did for me! However, all I can say is that the whole movie I was sitting there wondering... when is THAT going to happen!? Nonetheless, the movie really kept my attention. I was curious if the director would be able to keep my attention for 127 Hours worth of being trapped - and he did. Kudos to the genius behind Slumdog Millionaire, A.R.Rahman. The movie was truly magnificent. It doesn't hurt that James Franco is positively dreamy. This movie also really made my love and I want to be a little more outdoorsy!!

::Love and Other Drugs::
Okay, so anyone that knows me knows that I am a big cry baby. I admit that without shame. Just like any movie, I was in tears after minutes. I don't even think it was that sad, but love is just so precious to me and I am a sucker for a love story. This movie is inspiring, happy, sad, fulllllllll of naked bodies (Jake G's ass is worth the $11), and well, overall one of those feel good movies. I left there wanting to be a better girlfriend. I feel like I am so lucky that my love and I are happy and healthy and we should be more grateful to have each other and be better about telling/showing each other that!


::All Good Things::
One word. Creepy. This movie was really good. I love Kirsten Dunst and was happy to see her in a movie since it's been a while. And, who doesn't love Ryan Gosling after The Notebook (we give him a pass on Lars and the Real Girl)? Anyway, Kirsten plays the role of Kathie Durst, the wife of a wealthy real estate heir in NYC. They meet, fall madly in love, and then the truth starts to unravel about her husband, Robert Durst's past psychological issues. If the movie was portraying the truth, then creepy is all I can say because it seems pretty obvious that Robert Durst killed his wife. The case remains unsolved and he is a free man, living in Florida today.


::The Next Three Days::
My love and I went to see this movie at our favorite theatre on 2nd Ave. on Saturday. This movie was full of suspense and once again had me crying. It is fiction but still had me afterward replaying all the possible scenarios. It is the story of a woman who is falsely charged with murder and sentenced to life in jail. Her husband all but goes absolutely nuts doing whatever it takes to get her out of jail. It was soooo good!

::Tiny Furniture::
Last night, my friend Holley and I went to see Tiny Furniture. It was a quirky, Indie film about a girl discovering herself after having just graduated college. She moves back in with her artist mother and arrogant sister and is dealing with the trials and tribulations of living at home, living in NYC, looking for love, etc. It was a cute movie but more than a little odd.