Favorite American Things

This is my list of products I always stock up on when I'm back home in the states. Some of them I can get here in France, but they are always much cheaper states side!

EO Hand Cleansing Gel is a natural hand sanitizer. I love the lavender scent, which is from essential oils, so it actually smells like lavender, and not some chemical concoction. I love EO products in general, but this is the one that I always have on me.

Burt's Bees. The obsession has gone international.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick and Cream Eyeliner in Caviar. I had a long term love affair with Benefit's Playstick, which they evily discontinued a few years ago, so this is my replacement. You can use it as a full foundation, or as coverup. The cream eyeliner is the end all of eyeliners. With a slant brush, you can get the thinest of lines, a smokey eye or the perfect cat eye.

Benefit's Boiing. A bit of a more hardcore coverup for under eyes. The fair color is a bit light for me, but the medium was too dark, so I mix with the foundation stick.

Seven for all Mankind Jeans. Not officially a beauty product, but the best jeans out there, hands down, and worth the money. These have been on continual rotation, all seasons, since college, and they still look good!

Cardigans and Pearls

Cardigans and pearls just seem so pulled together. On a rainy Norman day, they make me feel much more alive and ready for the day, especially in a bright coral.

Cardigan, United Colors of Benetton

I also, apparently, match my curtains!

Breaking a Few Eggs to Make an Omelet

In France, you get 2 hours for lunch, and those who can go home to eat. This means, my husband and I  eat at home together nearly everyday. I love the extra time together, but sometimes I run out of a) ideas or b) ingredients! On these days, it's time for an omelet.

Omelets are deceivingly simple. For years, I would always set out to make an omelet, and then have to call it scrambled eggs by the time I had it on the plate. This is a nearly fail-proof method I've figured out over time. Granted, the Cordon Bleu probably wouldn't call it a true omelet, but it works for me!

Start by mixing eggs and milk and whisking well.

Chop your veggies. I had a zucchini and an onion lurking at the bottom of the fridge.

 Heat a pan with olive oil, and quickly sauté your onions and veggies, just enough to give them some color.

 Pour the egg mixture over the veggies (I added some walnuts in there too to give an extra crunch).

Here's the secret. Lower the heat to medium/low (depending on your stove), cover and DON'T TOUCH for about 10 min.

Add some cheese, if you'd like. I used a soft herb cheese.

Cover and cook on low (or just turn off the burner at this point) until just ready to serve. Take a spatula and fold the omelet in half. Cut in half (or whatever division is necessary per number eating) and serve!

Bon appetît!

The Longchamps Obsession

You may have wondered what I meant by my "fancy Longchamps" that I mentioned yesterday. Let me explain...

Longchamps. The ubiquitous French bag. Seen swinging nonchalantly from the arms of girls from Paris to Marseilles. It started off innocently enough for me, I got myself a basic black "sac pliage" that I used for years, and still use to this day, despite the holes forming in the corners (too many books/ computers/ market veggies stuffed in over the years, I suppose).

But then, somehow, the one turned into... many. So many different shapes and sizes!

I never strayed from my beloved sac pliage (the soft, fabric ones, they fold in on themselves for easy storage and travel... another reason to have extras!) until my husband bought me my "fancy longchamps" in buttery leather.

What, this isn't normal?

40's style

I found this vintage style dress at H&M last weekend; H&M perpetually confuses me. Some days, it's so full of overpriced, poorly constructed pieces that I just turn and walk out of the store. Other days, I find things like this. It's even lined in a super cute printed statin!

 

I spent years looking for the perfect pair of beige heeled boots, which I found last year at J. Crew, only to ruin them a few months later at my bachelorette party (leather covered stiletto heels + a dock + being blindfolded = shoe disaster!) I managed to revive them with a generous amount of shoe polish.

When I want to feel ladylike, I carry my "fancy" Longchamps bag.

Market day

Growing up, I loved going to the farmer's market with my mom. Today, I've grown to love the tradition of the French markets, which happen twice weekly in our little town.

I put off for a long time buying a market caddy, because I felt that they were for old ladies. When I found this super cute polka dot one, I caved, and my shoulders have been thanking me for it!

My husband's grandma always says, a true Norman meal isn't complete without some potatoes!

Fall in Normandy

My husband and I went for a late fall walk on Sunday afternoon. It was the perfect fall day- crisp air, a yellow sun and crisp crunchy colored leaves.

We even came across an ewe that had just given birth, so sweet.

It was pretty muddy so I put my Aigle boots to good use. A traditional must for wet Norman weather.

The weather was also warm enough to wear just a light jacket - I've had this jean jacket since high school! It has seen many different styling choices over the years... makes me feel very American when I wear it in France.

Jean Jacket, (really old) Gap; Sweater, Banana Republic; Pants, Zara; Boots, Aigle