Spring is.. springing!

Spring hasn't completely sprung, but I can tell that it's getting close.

Today is sunny, warm and beautiful. I love these optimistic days, because I always find that people, like dormant animals, begin emerging from their homes. The streets seem to be bustling with energy. Especially in a quiet town like this one, it's nice to see some life!

And, because Spring is here and almost in full swing, I need to start eating lighter meals. It's easy, especially in France, to carb overload. I am so looking forward to moving into our apartment and being able to make my own meals, but until then, I will have to make do. C'est la vie! (It's life!)

My favorite quick and easy meal to make is a salad. I have found that what the French consider a "traditional" salad is very different from what I am accustomed to back home. However, no matter what kind of salad - you cannot go wrong with a salad. You can basically throw anything you have onto a plate and call it a salad. I enjoy playing with flavors and mixing fruits and veggies together in my salads.

This salad was super delicious! My mom inspired me with a recipe she'd sent me this morning to add mango to my salad. I didn't have all the ingredients she sent me but I made my own creation in the meantime! Try it, too! It's simple: lettuce (of your choice), tomato, avocado, mango, walnuts, and mint (adds such a nice burst of flavor!!) with my go-to vinaigrette (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper).  Mmmmm!!!

What are your favorite ingredients to add to salads?

Tour de France: Mulhouse

Saturday afternoon my love and I took a short road trip to nearby Mulhouse. The downtown area not only has Zara, H&M, traditional French stores, but it also has 2 Subways!! Unfortunately, we had just eaten lunch followed by delicious Belgian waffles (mine with chocolate chips inside and his with Nutella on top) so we didn't get Subway. However, now that I know where to find a Subway and that I can hit Zara while I'm there, I'll definitely be back to Mulhouse very soon!

The sun was shining and the downtown was full of Spring-hopefuls like myself (although our actual reason for traveling to Mulhouse was to find me a warmer jacket!! :( booo!)

It was a very nice day, and I look forward to many more just like that (especially when I get gifts!!!). Kidding! Seriously though, being alone together is a gift in itself! I do enjoy all the time we have been spending with his family. Everyone is so nice to me, and I love getting to know them but I feel like our time together... alone... is very limited. I guess what is better about living this way is that we really get a chance to cherish the few moments we have alone together. We are more in love than ever these days. Sometimes I need to pinch myself! My heart is full, and I am happy.

before purchasing the warmer jacket - in my Zara Spring jacket that I just love!

me in my warmer jacket!

Be Grateful.

With all that is happening in this Crazy World, I think we should all take a moment to be grateful for what we do have... whoever said the grass is always greener on the other side hasn't seen this terribly devastating earthquake in Japan or the chaos that is an earthquake followed by sickness in Haiti or the mayhem in Libya or the political uproar that has been tainting Egypt this year. Whoever said that hasn't been to countries where food and/or water are scarce or to countries where education is a privilege and not a right. Whoever says that should walk a mile in someone else's shoes - perhaps even a someone who doesn't have shoes. I think it is about time we start being grateful for all the things we do have, because... maybe, just maybe... the grass isn't always greener on the other side...

                                                                xoxo Kaylan

Tour de France: Belfort

Train Station by night - Directly across from the Best Western Hotel Belfort, the beautiful and accommodating hotel which I am currently calling home or la maison

Lion of Belfort - made by the same sculptor that did the Statue of Liberty. 

View from the Fort at the top of Belfort (where the Lion of Belfort is located)

My first stop on my Tour de France is obviously Belfort because that's where I'm living; and I had to put my pile of suitcases somewhere! Belfort is a quaint town that is full of colors and rain. It rains a lot here, and when it's not raining, it's cloudy. However, I will say that this week, we were blessed with a few very sunny days that gave me the slightest glimpse of hope as to what Belfort will be like when it is Spring! The people were out on the streets and everyone was smiling. I couldn't tell you what they were saying, but by all the energy and the buzz, I could tell they were just as happy to see the sun as I was.


To be fair, it is a different lifestyle than I am used to so in my critiques, it is only the opinion of an outsider that grew up in a foreign culture. However, I must say that a few things are quite strange here. See below...

1. On Monday, I ventured out on the town only to find that the stores would not open until 2pm (I wonder what they do all morning).
2. Nothing (except for maybe 2 pizza places which are open until 10pm and a few kebab restaurants) is open after 8pm (I wonder how they make money). Don't say they see that they are losing out on so much business? I am not the only one crawling the streets at 8:30 looking for a place to get some food! I grew up where food stores are open 24/7 and pizza places are open until 2am. It is so strange to walk the streets and see every business closed. As I sat at the front desk of the hotel, I heard all of the guests checking in asking what restaurants were open, and the receptionist could give them only 2 options: pizza or kebab. Most opted to wait for the wonderful breakfast put on at the hotel! I see a business opportunity in Belfort... open a restaurant with many options and keep it open until midnight!
3. The last train stops at 7pm (I guess it's good for the hotel business).
4. I wonder if school is mandatory. I see kids walking around all day long.

Well, I think that's all I can think of for now, but I am sure there is plenty more where that came from... next stop on my Tour de France... still to be determined.

Until then, au revoir et a bientot! Bisous!

Back in Action!

I have neglected to blog for over three months now because life has been a bit crazy (hence the title of the blog). Let me catch you up!

Thanks to the wonderful and beautiful Katherine's hookup, my love and I rang in the New Year in high style at a swanky loft party in midtown NYC. I loved the chance to dress up, and I love seeing my man looking as handsome as ever in his suit, vest, and tie! He cleans up well! Unfortunately, I have ZERO pictures to share because we were having such a great time!

My wish for the New Year was simple: bliss. Maybe it's not logical or practical but I have been hoping and praying for a year that would be simple, painless, and blissfully happy. Last year, although full of many great memories, was a bit of a disaster. I was robbed. I moved twice. I changed my job's location yet again. I could go on... but on the positive, I was blessed with good health as was my family. I met the love of my life. My true friends became clear to me. Personally, I grew stronger.

Fast forward to March 2011 and I'm living in France. I am excited for what the future will bring. I will be sure to be a better blogger so I can keep my friends and family in the states in the know. By reading my blog, you can come on this journey with me as I stop wishing for bliss and start creating it.