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Valentine’s #DateNight Ready

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Beauty, date night ideas, Fashion, Holidays, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

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Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I’m feelin’ extra lovey-dovey this year, with my new lil’ guy here in my arms. Our newborn son is the sweetest cuddliest Valentine I could ask for! Since family will be in town helping with baby, I have this crazy idea that the hubs & I will be able to sneak out for a nice dinner BUT in reality, that might actually be a quick run out to the fro-yo shop 🙂 However the evening plays out, I want to make Feb. 14th feel somewhat romantical during this trying transitional period known as the newborn stage. It’s helped me to do some little things to feel pretty & vibrant these days, even if I am sleep deprived & a tad hormonal. Even if it’s just a date night in, here are some fun things I’m using to get Valentine’s date night ready…

Add Some Sparkle:  I love how necklaces dress up a basic tee like magic. I’m relying on them to be a quick outfit pick-me-up when all I want to wear these days are comfy clothes. Y’all may have heard of fibi & clo, a women’s shoe and accessories brand that offers unique and eye-catching sparkly designs. As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, jewelry gift ideas can come in large supply, but when they are affordable and on trend – even better. They recently released an all-new line of jewelry that is purposefully paired with their signature sandals. I recently got the Seahorn Necklace & the Montauk Necklace ($55 each) and am fawning over the amount of semi-precious stones on each…so sparkly!fibi & clo jewelry

Putting on a Fresh Face:  One of the rituals I’ve tried to keep up with post-delivery is putting on my makeup. I’m a makeup-lovin’ girl, and for me, it’s something about getting ready for the day & putting on a fresh face of make up that makes me feel like normal again. Even if I’m not leaving the house, the process just helps me feel good about myself. I received a shipment of a new-to-me makeup line, CATRICE Cosmetics, and I have to say: I’m impressed with both the product and price point. Catrice CosmeticsIf you’re not familiar with CATRICE, they are a European brand who just launched stateside. Originally from Germany, they are now available in 60 countries world wide and expanding to 300 ULTA locations in the U.S. this year. CATRICE is known for being a luxury product at an amazing price point, offering a wide range of complexion, eye and lip products, featuring luxury packaging, innovative ingredients and beautiful, on-trend shades.

New Night Cream:  One of my favorite non-toxic skincare lines, PUR attitude, has just released Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème, a high-performance anti-aging cream that delivers key ingredients into the skin overnight via a natural polymer time-released technology.Night Creme While the health benefits of eating fermented, probiotic foods are widely accepted in the food industry at this time, their use in skin care is relatively new. Fermenting natural oils restructures complex molecules, transforming them into tiny “superfoods” for the skin, providing faster absorption that results in healthier, younger-looking skin. Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème uses a fermented olive oil for superior performance. –Kind of like Kombucha for the skin!

 

 

New Year’s Beauty Refresh

28 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, health & wellness, Life[style], Pregnancy, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

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New year, new leaf. Taking a minute this month to clean out my medicine cabinet and refresh my regular routines. This is the perfect time to replace or clean brushes (makeup, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, etc.), exfoliate that dead wintery skin with a mask & new hydrating products, and revive hair with a good healthy cleanse. Here are some new products I’m trying as part of my New Year’s beauty routine refresh:

Face Masks:  Get radiant, younger-looking skin from Vichy’s Mineral Face Masks born from earth, water and rock. Whether used alone or for multi-masking, these face masks are empowered by natural minerals such as Bentonite Clay to leave your skin feeling fresh and purified. VichyRight now, I especially love the Quenching Mineral Mask by Vichy (pictured on the left). A deeply hydrating mineralizing face mask, it contains Vitamin B3 to soothe and replenish the skin with 24-HR hydration. It immediately hydrates, soothes and strengthens skin with 10% concentration of Vichy Thermal Mineralizing Water (which is rich in 15 minerals that help skin resist everyday aggressors for strong, healthy skin.)

New Toothbrush:  After my last teeth cleaning when I was tenderly informed of a condition called Pregnancy Gingivitis (hint hint?), I know it’s time to get back on track and make dental care a top priority. Doctor Plotka’s is the leading toothbrush for better health because it contains antimicrobial bristles infused with silver! I first heard about the health benefits of silver from my interview with designer Rebecca Minkoff and have been intrigued by its uses ever since. Not only are the bristles antimicrobial, but they mimic flossing and are long-lasting. Time to toss out our current brushes and try these for fresh & healthy teeth in the new year.Doctor Plotka's

Toner for your Scalp:  Although a day on the slopes, a walk in the rare peek of sunshine, or basking in the low-humidity air can make for perfect winter days, they also make a dry mess out of your hair & scalp. That’s why I’m trying out something I’ve never used before: a purifying scalp and hair toner. –Have you heard about girls who “wash” their hair in Apple Cider Vinegar? Well, Essential Rinse is a new product along those lines…but the formula smells great and has that lower pH, which will clarify and purify the hair instantly. Apparently it’s very easy to use: after cleansing with shampoo, massage the product into wet hair & scalp, distributing evenly with your fingers before rinsing thoroughly with water.Essential Rinse

 

Life[style]: Sept. ’17 — Getting that Glow

16 Saturday Sep 2017

Posted by in Au Naturale, Beauty, Fashion, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

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I’m always hunting for new tools & products to help me attain that inner glow. Anything labeled lightening, brightening, revitalizing…I’m all about it! Here’s a round-up of items that enhance that glow effortlessly.

Shine bright like a diamond:  Something about the way a real diamond sparkles & reflects the light brings out lightening effects elsewhere, like the whites of your eyes & brightness of your teeth. When you put one on, it’s like your whole face lights up! –Talk about adding another meaning to the saying Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.Diamond Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Diamonds Direct in The Domain for their “Love Comes Once in a Tacori Blue Moon” designer event. The selection of diamond engagement rings & colorful fashion pieces they have right now is astounding! I learned about current trends with wearing diamonds: mixing metals is “in” and you can add stacks of fun stylish bands to wear next to your engagement ring & wedding band. They are running an incredible September financing offer (0% APR for 5 years), so now is the time to buy that perfect bauble you’ve been eyeing!

Start fresh & boost illumination:  Cleansing my face twice a day is a non-negotiable! I like to start with a fresh palette for my serums & makeup. With two newly released products from Nerium International, you can set yourself up with a clean fresh glow to start the day!

First, the Double-Cleansing Botanical Face Wash is an advanced, lightweight one-step facial cleanser that goes on as a nourishing oil and transforms to a foamy lather with the addition of water, to remove both makeup and impurities. It leaves behind soft, smooth, comfortably clean and hydrated skin. This multifunctional facial wash does double-duty as a makeup remover and is delicate enough to be used morning and night. Nerium 1Then, applying a few pumps of their new IllumaBoost Brightening & Shield fights discoloration and recovers your healthy glow for a fresher looking complexion. This booster ‘serum’ features a breakthrough delivery system that dispenses a fresh & potent dose of vitamin C plus other proprietary & proven ingredients to help brighten, hydrate and protect skin by simply adding a few pumps to any skincare product or directly to one’s face.

Brighten those eyes:  A brand new therapeutic treatment for ‘Bad Eye Days’ comes in FreezeFrames Cool Eye Wear, providing soothing relief to puffy tired eyes through a never-before-seen unisex sunglass line. FreezeFrames were first conceptualized as a dual-purpose device for both 100% UVA-UVB sun protection and cooling eye therapy.Freeze FramesReusable gel pads magnetically click into place within the frame casing and are anatomically engineered to discretely target zone-specific problematic eye areas unlike any other eye care product on the market today. These patented “Gel-Pad” attachments soothe ‘the puffy and tired’ with gentle cooling compression customary of how a nurse might apply ice to swollen symptomatic eyes areas.

Wear after a spa or medical treatment to decrease pain and bruising while also increasing the healing. Use to soothe allergic puffiness, PMS inflammation, computer dry eye strain, or revitalize after a long flight. Helpful also in relieving headache and migraine symptoms. End result: look and feel ‘cool’ while on-the-go!

Parents of preschoolers: Making weekly dates a priority and how to fit them in your schedule

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Austin, Texas, date night ideas, Faith, Married Life, Motherhood, Uncategorized

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day dates

Two years into this whole parenthood thing, I’m just getting used to the concept of “date-night.”  When you’re married & childless, any occasion, day-or-night, can be turned into a “date”…heck, your whole life outside of work is one big date!  And score! –each dinner out, movie, concert, whatever all result in getting to take your hottie home at the end of the night.  Young married life is pretty freakin’ great.  International travel.  An MBA.  Spontaneous weekend getaways.  Fancy meals at hot new restaurants.  I look back on that stage fulfilled to have gotten so much time together, just as husband and wife.

Then comes baby in a baby carriage!  #Blessed, but married life as you know it won’t be the same for at least 20+ years.  I’ve talked about Fearless Mom before but just as a quick refresh, it’s a moms lecture series with small group breakouts that meets weekly on Wed. mornings.  It’s a ministry of Lake Hills Church here in Austin and it’s been a place of comfort, learning, and camaraderie for me as a mom.  I’ve absorbed so much parenting truth.  Things like:

  • Marriage:  how the parenting pendulum swings between wife and mom
  • 20/20 Parenting:  discipline for the next 20 years, rather than the next 20 mins
  • Mom Guilt:  be aware and intentional with your thoughts – YOU are enough
  • Social Media:  Wherever you are, be all there. #putdownthephone

All. of. this.  Seriously, I’ve loved it so much!  If you’re not in Austin, you can follow along at home.  Anyway, one of the lessons of the past couple sessions has been to set a date night and keep it regularly.  –But it’s hard, y’all!  Here are the reasons why we’ve never been able to keep a regular weekly date night:

  • Babysitters are expensive.  No lie, I had a professional nanny who babysits on her off hours quote me “$15-$17/hr. for one child under the age of 5.” –Ugh, our ‘one child under the age of 5’ goes to bed by 7:30.  The sitter may be super-qualified, but I just can’t allow myself to pay someone $17/hr. to sit at the house while my little one sleeps.  I need to find some good minimum wage-level high schoolers in the neighborhood, for real.
  • Movies are pricey, too.  Many of the cinemas around where we live are these new luxury-style set-ups where you choose an assigned seat in a comfy leather armchair and have servers wait on you throughout the show.  Plus, all those bigger recliners with tables and wide aisles for food service = less space available in each theatre.  Anytime we get an itch to go to the movies on a whim, it’s like NO –tickets sold out a week ago.
  • I’m tired, honey.  Frankly, I’m tired all the time.  But I’m especially sleepy after like 9 p.m.  And honestly, on a Friday night with a glass of red wine in his system, so is the husband…I’ll catch him crashed out on the couch by 9:30 at night.  Also, no one enjoys looking down at their watch during a date.  If I do happen to get a second wind and want to party ’til midnight, the child’s still waking up at the same early bird hour that she always does the next day.  Um, where are the babysitters for the morning after?

But still, the notion of prioritizing your marriage during parenthood remains so important.  At Fearless Mom, I’ve heard it put like this:  Connect daily.  Date weekly.  Retreat annually.  So, dating doesn’t need to happen at night, right?  Here are some alternative date-night periods where we’ve carved in some couple-time:

  • During Preschool:  Our little one goes to a half-day program twice a week at the local church.  They call it Preschool, but it’s more of a Mother’s Day Out.  It’s rare, but if the hubs is open for lunch, I’ll throw out the idea of a lunch-date…he loves to eat out, so it’s not a hard sell.  Sometimes we’ll drive to the East side to check out the latest buzzed about restaurant that just opened.  But really, any meal out that we can eat together, hot & uninterrupted, is “date” enough for us!
  • When the Grandparents are Around:  Whether they’re visiting us or if we’re home for the holidays, we try to find an opportunity to sneak off for a moment to ourselves.  Just get in the car and find something to do outside the realm of parenthood!  Usually, it’s just us going see a movie or grab a drink with a friend.  BUT If you can get Grandma to sign-off for the overnight shift, this is an ideal chance for a one-night staycation at a hotel.  It’s amazing with the illusion of a real vacation can do for tired parents’ souls.
  • Daytime:  This is our key window!  I’m all about the day-dates vs. date-night.  Saturday mid-day is a great time for your weekly date.  Babysitters are less likely to be booked up, and the littles are awake & energetic so they’ll be earning that hourly rate 😉 Plus, there are opportunities for fun, active, outdoorsy dates.  Something to spice-up that married dating game besides the usual dinner & a movie, ya know?  We recently went on an indoor skydiving day-date that I can’t wait to tell y’all more about.  Blog post on our experience at iFLY coming soon!

Transitional Dressing: Summer-to-Fall ’15

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Happy fall, y’all!  Today is the Autumnal Equinox, marking the official first day of the fall season.  Here in Austin we’ve got highs in the mid-90s…you could say it’s gone from ‘hottest’ to ‘hotter.’  Although we’ve got a tiny bit of reprieve from the hot hot heat of August, it’s still difficult to fully embrace all the beautiful cool-weather wares arriving in stores.  

However, one cannot resist getting in the fall spirit, am I right?!?  The arrival of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, college football games on TV, kids’ back-to-school activities, and that certain crispness in the air are some of my favorite signs of the shifting seasons.  And of course, who can resist the temptations of fall fashion?!?  Since I’ve learned the hard way by burning up in my flannel button-down and sweating through my sweater one too many times, here are some tips for dressing for fall when it still feels like summer:

1.  Rethink Outerwear:  when you want to wear THIS [insert weather-inappropriate fall trend here], sub for THAT…at least until the temps dip below 70 😉

Camo jackets?  –Go with an army-green utility vest.

Plaid blanket scarf?  –Opt for a statement necklace for equal sartorial flair.

Tribal-print Poncho? –Sub a colorful kimono for now.  (Kimono pictured below is from Luxe Apothetique at The Domain) 

 
2.  Keep the fabric, tweak the cut:  fall fabrics such as chunky sweaters, suede, raw selvage denim, etc. can be functional in this heat by adjusting the silhouette.

Chunky knit sweater = drop the turtle neck & wool blend and find a short sleeve version in cotton weave.

Suede pants with flare leg = try microsuede shorts instead.

Skinny jeans = wear your denim shorts awhile longer…looks just as cute with your fall booties, too! (Boyfriend cut-offs pictured below are by Joe’s Jeans and from Luxe Apothetique)   

3.  It’s all about the accessories:  incorporate the colors of fall in small ways that carry big impact.

–Fringe on fringe on fringe:  loving it on skirts, boots & clutches

–Hats:  floppy fedoras in marsala or olive

–Booties:  suede & in a neutral tone such as clay or stone

–Scarves:  lightweight knit and colorfully saturated in fall’s folkloric prints

–Seasonal jewelry:  Austin-favorite  jewelry line, Kendra Scott, debuts a new collection each ‘season’ — a no-fail, all-weather way to stay on-trend seasonally.  (These Kendra Scott ‘Fran’ Earrings in Iridescent Opalite pictured below are from Luxe Apothetique at The Domain, too!) 

 

New year, new digs

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Happy New Year’s Eve, people!  What. a. year.  We moved to –and fell in love with– Austin, my husband graduated with his MBA from UNC, we traveled to India (and Ryan to Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, & Guam), my Grandmother Bowers passed away, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, and we learned we are becoming Aunt & Uncle to a little niece in March.  A year full of ups and downs making up the colorful canvas of life.  But, this post is about home, and moving, and change, and simply loving where you live.  Moving to Austin has been such a welcome change for us.  One of the things that’s made our move to Texas so splendid is where we live.  Upon moving from Missouri to Texas, we learned from previous real estate investment missteps to rent awhile before buying.  We decided to spend a year figuring out which neighborhoods fit our lifestyle, where we most like to hang out, and where we won’t have to spend our lives sitting in Austin traffic.  We were about to throw our hands up in disgust at the rental market when we talked our way into the leasing agent staying late and showing us the property at Gables Park Plaza.  This place has been perfect for our transition:  fun social events for residents, a sweet & oh-so-pretty concierge, and perfectly located on the southern edge of downtown –walking distance to West 6th St. bars, Whole Foods Market, and steps from the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail.  The building amenities are fab, too:  a gym with a spectacular view of the lake, rooftop pool & grilling area, and a nice lounge with free coffee (you can bet my sleepybutt takes advantage of that one in the mornings!)  Most of all, we had the best little unit we could ask for:

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5th floor, 1200+ sq. ft., plus an outdoor living area with a lovely view of the water.  Lots of coffee was consumed watching the morning runners, rowers, & SUP’ers glide by, not to mention glasses of wine enjoyed in the evening, soaking in colorful Texas sunsets.  Here’s a quick snapshot I took of while sitting outside enjoying one such sunset:

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Well, as the year passed and mortgage rates continued to stay jaw-droppingly low, we casually began to revisit the options for home ownership again.  After about three months combing through what felt like every corner of South Austin, we finally found it:  a new construction townhome, good value at price per sq. ft., quality upgrades included at no additional cost, fun location in 78704’s SoLa, etc.  Well, just in time for the holidays, we received an email from our builder informing us that, due to lack of labor supply, closing would be pushed back from Feb. 15th to June 19th.  Delayed by FOUR months?!?  OMG.  We acted fast, scrambling to renew the contract on our current place –which we had previously opted-out of– only to find out that it had already been pre-leased.  Not surprised…it IS a great unit and we were sad to say goodbye to those sunset views over the lake.  Kinda bummed no longer have the flex space in my living room for a “reading nook,” too:

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The dread and frustration of knowing we would have to move out but not in to our new home was slightly alleviated by finding another unit in our building (well, nabbing the only thing available).  The move was relatively seamless & simple, stress-free as moving can get…it is still moving, after all.  But our new place is down on the ground level, with a back door leading out to the central courtyard, which is spotted by trees, little tables & chairs, and doggies saying hello.  …and little poops.  I swear, we are a dog-friendly building and I take pride in that but I’ll quickly become the poop police if I catch owner’s not picking up after their pooches.  We went down by 500 sq. ft. so it’s tight, but I suppose we can handle it for six months.  We love living here in this building so it’s all good.  The husband’s happy, too — the downsize means he’s spending less in rent for a few months.  And, change is good, especially at the new year.  That’s not to say it’s been an easy holiday season…moving three days before Christmas, hosting one family and flying to see another.  It’s left me sleepy, a little glad to have gotten past the holidays, and SO ready for the new year & all 2013 will bring.  Cheers!!!

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Happy Fashion Week!

10 Monday Sep 2012

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Ah, it’s that time of year again:  the kids are back at school, the weather’s becoming crisp & cool, and row after row of fans gather to watch the action play out…  No, I’m not paying homage to football season — I’m talking about Fashion Week!  Wouldn’t you agree that Fall is the absolute best time of year to celebrate fashion…magazines release their mammoth September issues (um, my Vogue this year is a phone book!), bloggers & stylists map out their top trend predictions, and stores begin to stock gorgeous indulgent wardrobe pieces from our favorite labels.  I swoon over the touch of quality cashmere, that badass-feeling I assume in leather, and how skinny I somehow appear in the season’s latest skinny jeans.  Fall is simply fashion at its finest.

Back in mid-August, some girlfriends and I kicked things off downtown in the 2nd Street Shopping District.  As part of Austin Fashion Week, we hit up a few of our local boutiques to see what was going on and our favorite party of the evening was at Hemline, by far.  Since they were founded in New Orleans’ French Quarter, they held a fitting Southern Summer Soiree complete with Cajun food, Abita beer on tap, and a couple designer trunk shows.  I spent the evening with senses satisfied by the huge spread of boiled shrimp, jambalaya (don’t doubt — I straight up GRUB at even the hautest of fashion events if the food is that good!), complimentary chardonnay, and watching live “mannequins” model the featured designers’ sartorial samples.  This totally free, no RSVP required, open to the public event was such an engaging mix of southern hospitality, food, and fashion!

The next Austin Fashion Week event I attended was the official after party.  I had a couple of sorority sisters in town from Houston and this was the perfect choice for a let’s-do-something-different type of Saturday night.  Although this was a ticketed event, we were able to snag a sweet friends & family discount that made it totally worthwhile.  This was another fashion week party with gourmet catering & open bar, not to mention all the utterly interesting expressions of fine arts.  Some of the acts to take the runway stage included:

a pop rockin’ violinist…

a laser-lighted songstress…

an interpretative dancer…
~Pretty sure the bundle of fabric she’s holding was a progeny she just symbolically birthed…maybe she’s presenting it up Lion King-style in sacrifice to the fashion gods?  😉

…and “living statue installations,” just to name a few.

After the final runway show, –where the models wore illuminated medallions sewn into goth Victorian dress (picture Iron Man meets Helena Bonham Carter)– we enjoyed some chocolate-covered strawberries, spotted a few local “celebs,” took pics with a couple of the models, and left for a nightcap at the W Living Room.

***Ladies Night!***

Next, came Fashion’s Night Out 2012!  I celebrated last year in Kansas City bouncing around the Country Club Plaza but my second time participating in FNO festivities was enjoyed right here in the ATX at Saks.  My friend Lori and I made the drive out to Arboretum Market and were greeted by libations, an aerialist swinging around in the shoe department, and her super-friendly super-chic personal shopper.  I tried on a killer Parker black leather dress & a Joie white lace crop top while helping Lori determine that she simply couldn’t leave without an amazing Theory leather jacket, among other goodies.  In our excited state of fashion reverie, we completely missed out on the goodie bags, dinner buffet, and cupcake station, but no matter; we had such fun making our own party in the fancy Fifth Avenue Club dressing room.

I’ve never been to NYFW, but maybe one day I’ll get to catch a major designer’s runway show in New York, Paris, or London.  Until then, there have been plenty of opportunities locally to satisfy my craving for fresh fall fashion.  So, while New York’s top fashionistas are currently cabbing to & from Lincoln Center as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I’ve got plenty o’ parties to keep me busy right here at home, thank you.  While the weather here is still kinda hot as hades, all these fun events about town would put even the most devout jorts & flip-flops wearin’ Austinite into the fall fashion spirit!  Next up, there’s the events of TRIBEZA Style Week as an option to attend and, then…darlings, there’s just plain ol’ shopping.  –I’m thinking my own autumn wardrobe would be rounded out nicely with something in the color du jour:  oxblood, a little lace, a little leather, and the perfect shade of dark lipstick.  Tres chic!

O Canada

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Bonjour from France!  Well not so much, but it’s definitely quite French-esque here, among all these French Canadians.  My husband and I are summering in Montreal this week, exploring the city’s local attractions and enjoying the gourmet gastronomy.  French is the native language and it has been such a pleasure to my ears!  Everyone we interact with can speak English to us just fine, but I’ve yet to hear any locals speaking it amongst themselves.  It’s all French, all the time – on the dinner menus, in the live street music and radio alike, in the playful shouts of children in the park.  Obvi, I’m loving it!

After our 6-hour commute, we arrived yesterday afternoon immediately greeted by fantastic weather.  Cool & crisp even in August, we’re delighting in highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s — a much-welcomed break from Austin’s current 100-degree temps.  Here, there is a light breeze that smells so fresh under the sunshine.

As soon as we got to our hotel & freshened up, we took to the streets.  Our first stop was a charming unpretentious restaurant in Old Montreal where we ordered cheese fondue & an interesting goat cheese-stuffed zucchini flower concoction.  –Expect a blog post to cover the incredible gourmet French food and French wines in which we’re indulging during this trip.  My goal is to have French food everyday.  –Hey,  I’m on vacation and I’m going to allow indulgence…after all, I start classes at Barre3, the new Pilates/ballet fusion studio located at the base of our building, as soon as I get back.  Hello, Black Swan body!  😉

My husband Ryan with a glass of French Bordeaux at our first stop in Montreal, L’Assommoir Notre-Dame

After dinner #1 (yes — the food is so tempting, we ate TWO dinners last night!), we went straight to one of the city’s top landmarks, Basilique Notre Dame.  We marveled at the architecture and shared some kisses in the square.  As we walked away, organ music spilling from the church’s windows bid us adieu.  Next, we stumbled upon Place Jacques Cartier, a lively pedestrian-only area with shops, Parisian-style terrace dining, and street performers.  I marveled at how many people of all ages were out and about on a Monday night.  A mix of locals and tourists were soaking in the summer night with ice cream cones, park bench chats, street music performances, and post-bistro strolls home.  As live violin music filled the atmosphere, we took pictures of Montreal City Hall at sunset before heading to an outdoor café for more wine and people watching.

Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal

Even though he detests sleeping in (he’s a Carpe Diem! kinda guy), after a long wedding weekend hosting out of state guests and a few early mornings the last couple days, my husband allowed me the luxury to lounge in bed this morning.  With crisp sheets and a fur throw, the bed at our hotel is so comfy we couldn’t help but treat ourselves to a late breakfast-in-bed from room service.  Now, we’re all ready to go for Day 2 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada…we’re off to climb Mount Royal!

Bonjour!

26 Thursday Jul 2012

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Hello and welcome to my blog!  This is a first and exciting venture for me, as I miss writing (ye olde college days!) and always daydreamed about the look & feel of my very own personalized space in the blogosphere.  The vision for “Blog Joie de Vivre” is to be a travel & lifestyle blog, chronicling my international (& share-worthy domestic) travel experiences as well as the beautifully chic everyday moments in life.  Posts will focus on a product, a person, a place, etc. which is positively pretty, subtly striking, keenly enjoyable…anything that contributed to an unabashed feeling of Joie de Vivre, or enthusiasm, zest, gusto, relish, enjoyment, and gaiety.  In choosing the overarching theme for my first blog, I chose the French saying Joie de Vivre for a few reasons:

  • I’m obsessed with all things French.  Ah, where do I begin?  Let’s start with my tummy…  French food:  I mean –let’s be serious– they invented the concept of Gourmet.  So gourmet, in fact, that the ultimate French delicacy, black truffles, are worth their weight in gold.  French style:  the idea of Haute Couture was birthed in 1860s Paris, now the home of personal pine-worthy houses of Chanel, Hermès, Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent.  French cities:  My ultimate travel destination is Paris, the City of Light…oh, how I dream of the day I get to go!  And let’s not forget the French Riviera, dolls.  French culture & history:  the lavish ignorance of Marie Antoinette, saying, “Let them eat cake!” in response to her subjects’ having no bread to eat…the splendor of Versailles…the French Revolution.  The French language.  My goodness, I could go on and on.  French fries:  just kidding!
  • My (tiny bit of) French heritage.  Building on my obsession with all things French, I was determined to dig into my French lineage.  Yes, I’m all retired grandma saying this, but researching your genealogy is like deciphering a treasure map.  Try it out with an online search — you’ll find tons!  Better yet, just chat up to the Grandparentals — love how they’re so full of lore & happy to tell it, right?  Anyway, turns out my ancestor Mr. Caillet was a founder of La Reunion (est. 1855), an intended but ill-fated French socialist utopian colony, in the present-day Reunion District of Dallas, TX.  French philosopher Charles Fourier’s views inspired the founding of La Reunion, which advocated communal production & profit, equal voting rights, right to work & own land, etc.  While this whole socialist-colony concept seems a little cult-y cray cray in our modern view, I was so excited to discover this little known unique facet of my ancestry.  Most importantly, I might add that it solidified my always-known, but never really proved notion that I’m a 5th generation Texan, which I’m so so SO proud to claim.  Also, justifiable that my affection for all things French is because well, of my inherent French-ness?  Doing the math, looks like I’m probably only like 1/16th or 1/36th French…hey, I’ll take it.
  • Joie de Vivre is everything.  Everyone has goals in life, whether it be centered around your career, your physique, your relationships, your education-level, and so on.  Basically, I think they all boil down to –well, mine, anyway– the basic, consistent enjoyment of life.  What’s more, it’s about the joy & enthusiasm for your OWN life, not the life you envy, not the life of a paparazzi’d celeb in US Weekly, not even the life you dream of or aspire for, but your life today, right now, every moment.  Because I’m realizing that’s really all we have.  Look, I know life’s not all hearts & flowers (hello, Fifty Shades reference! teehee) but me personally, I tend to get bogged down by the little things…spilt milk, if you will.  I’m annoyed by that tendency I have, because we really are so privileged.  Basically, I didn’t title this “Blog Joie de Vivre” because I’m so freakin’ overflowing with joy that had to share it with the world, but because I aspire to simply be joyous and let it shine, daily.  And, if that’s just not doable, to simply affirm to myself (and my readers) to stop and smell the wildflowers…just because it makes you smile.  Thus, “Joie de Vivre” (n.) the hearty or carefree enjoyment of life.