Dreadlocks and French Truckstops

Bonjour blogsphere!

One perk of working from home is that even if I am forced to be on conf calls until 10 pm at night, I can take a few hours for shopping in the afternoon and still work an 8-10 hour day. Today was one of those days where my trusty shopping partner Tasha and I took in some retail therapy at my neighborhood department stores. I believe I have found the ultimate pair of sunglasses for me, but am going to pray they are still available next month for purchase. (I think.) They are gorgeous Tom Ford shades that fit perfectly and are a blonde color to match my hair... *happy sigh, wishful prayer*.

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour

So, preface- while I am definitely not remotely as skinny as the cartoon girl on my blog header, my hair is actually as long as hers these days. My hair has always been a point of pride and rebellion for me. My mom is a sporty version of Mrs. Brady, and when I was very little, the three of us shared the same short haircut. I decided at about age three that I wanted to have long pigtails and get to wear ribbons in my hair, so I begged and cried to my parents to let me have long hair. And since then (other than an unfortunate time in 8th grade when I was persuaded by our town’s main stylist and my mom to cut my hair nearly to my chin- definitely the height of my ugly duckling phase), I have maintained hair at least a little past my shoulders. I have always wondered what I would look like with hair down to my waist, and swore I would grow it that long before having children. My hair has not reached that point yet, but it could be a reality in six months if I don’t cut my hair. (Although, I waiver weekly on whether or not my hair is too long and needs a few inches chopped off… thanks to my haircare products, the ends are very healthy still, so it’s not a necessity) My hair has, however, always been a challenge. It’s not *really* curly, or *really* straight, and left to its own devices, my hair would turn into fabulous natural dreadlocks in approximately 36 hours. (The greatest discovery of my childhood was conditioner).

So suffice it to say, once I found products that tame my tangles and smooth my frizz, I became very loyal to said products. I swear by my Matrix Sleek Look shampoo and conditioner (As well as their smoother used prior to flat ironing). The only problem is that while I can buy the industrial sized tubs in Walmart in the US for about $20 on special, the small version of these products cost about $30 here in Europe. So, anytime I go back to the US, or family or friends come here, these products indubitably find their way into the traveler's suitcase.

That being said, there is a point which my hair reaches when it gets too much of Sleek Look built up in it (I wash my hair every single day. Otherwise, I become a disgusting greaseball.), so I try to use a deep cleaning shampoo once a month or so to refresh my hair. (It usually works to give my hair back some bounce). No matter what kind of shampoo you are using, it's good to change it up now and again (or use said deep cleaning shampoo) in order to get rid of any build up.

Click of French Culture

Growing up in the remote woods of western PA, our main hangout was the Truckstop (My little hamlet happens to have Interstate 80 traverse it), which always had good, basic food at low prices. While France does not have the TA (Truckstops of America chain), they have something called "Relais Routiers", which is basically an association of super cheap restaurants that offer a lot of high quality meals and sometimes even accomodation. These restaurants tend to buy ingredients in bulk, focusing on low cost seasonal ingredients, so the menus change regularly. Thomas and I are lucky enough to live a 3 minute walk from Paris's only one. We've only been one time, but not only was it the cheapest restaurant we've tried in the area, but the food... absolutely delicious! The fries were just... indescribably yummy! Everything was definitely homemade, and the menu was just handwritten on a piece of plain white paper. We definitely need to head back! (hint hint to my husband who is a devout follower of this blog) For more on Relais Routiers, click here.

Speaking of food, I need to start on dinner! A bientot!

-Liz Anne

The Scent of Spring and Sunday Brunch

Bonjour blogsphere!

So, I started the treatment for my adrenal insuffiency on Friday, and I have to tell you, it was like a miracle cure. I feel like I've come out of a very deep slumber and all the cobwebs have been dusted off my brain. I have energy. I want to go running. It's bizarre, but I'm loving every minute of it! Let's hope it continues (and continues to inspire my gym trips!)... I had so much energy, that Thomas and I actually woke up in time to brunch! More on that later... :-)

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour

Scent of Spring by Lapin a la Mode on Polyvore.com

I have always been a fan of matching my fragrance to the current season. The picture above features some of my favorite scents to wear in spring. All of the scents are light and airy with a soft kiss of flowers. I have never been a fan of any overbearing floral scents, especially anything heavy on gardenia. I tend to go for clean florals featuring iris (Narcisso Roderiguez) or orange blossom (Escale a Portofino). I also like my spring fragrances to have a bit of an earthy smell to them, which is probably why I am obsessed this year with Philosykos. It is also probably the main reason that for the last 8 years, I have worn Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey- it has a bit of a woody undertone to it, but it is a gorgeous scent and has amazing staying power.

Click of French Culture
Most vistors to Paris flock in droves to the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, but Paris is overflowing with many great smaller museums that not only allow you to avoid long lines but also have some great offerings. Today Thomas and I visited the Jacquemart-Andre Museum, which is just a few minutes walk from chez nous. (We see it every single time we drive to and from our apartment, and we've been saying for nearly two years we should go visit. Well worth it!) This museum was a gift of its former owners to the city of Paris. At the end of the 19th century, the area where I currently live (oringally called Monceau) was encorporated into Paris. All the buildings were torn down and big avenues were created and new houses were built (named after their architect, Hausmann). Many of the upper middle class and the rich flocked to this area and built townhouses as well. The original owners were art collectors, so there are a lot of beautiful pieces on display (including some gorgeous sculpures), but what is most notable is the architecture and the furniture, etc. in the house itself. The house is pretty much in its original state- so you get a great feel for what it is what like to live there. The most impressive part is the double helix stairway in the light and airy winter garden (complete with full skylight and tons of mirrors).

If you go, I recommend going for Sunday Brunch. The museum converted one of the rooms into a fabulous cafe so you get dine surrounded by sumptuous decor. In summer, they open up tables on the terrace as well, with a view of the small French garden and courtyard. The food is limited- there's mainly salads, pastries, and on Sunday a special brunch, but it is excellent. For more on the cafe, click here. For any of you who are lemon merengue pie fans, theirs is not to be missed!

Alright, the apartment is still not 100% clean and I can hear Thomas's stomach rumbling from here! Oy!

A bientot!
Liz Anne

How French Socialized Medicine Literally Saved My Life

Bonjour blogsphere,

Today's entry is going to be a little different from the normal one, due to the importance of the subject (and my lack of time to polyvore). For the past year, I have seen many of my American comrades bash the idea of socialized healthcare and state how horrible it will be if a uniform healthcare bill passes in the US, how it will ruin the quality of treatment, blah blah blah...

In France, we have a mix of public and private healthcare. Everyone has access to the same basic coverage through national insurance funds, to which every employer and employee contributes. The government picks up the tab for the unemployed who cannot gain coverage through a family member. This equates to everyone having a basic level of healthcare. You can choose your own doctor. If you pay a bit extra, you can have additional insurance that will also cover you if you want to have better care, such as more expensive doctors or private hospital rooms. For more on French Healthcare, click here.

The French doctors have literally saved my life and have diagnosed something through a routine check-up (and a battery tests to confirm the results) that the American doctors completely missed. For the last 12 years (and maybe longer), I have been constantly been suffering from being tired all the time. US doctors tested me for mono at least 6 times, allergies, and a few other things. They never figured out what was wrong with me, and just chalked it up to a virus each time. It was expensive (I had blue cross blue shield); I usually had to pay a lot out of pocket to see the doctor and pay for the prescriptions until I hit my deductible. I came into the French doctor's office looking to have a yearly check-up and talk about starting on a weight loss program, not mentioning any symptoms (after 12 years, I am used to it and just chalked it up to me being normal). The doctor ordered a series of bloodtests to check everything, and caught that I had extremely low cortisol levels- the hormone that is produced under stress. They have now diagnosed that I have adrenal insufficiency for certain, and I am now undergoing more tests to find the cause of it. This adrenal insufficiency explains so many things, including my constant craving for salty foods, my love of potatoes, never have the energy to exercise, and my constant fatigue. The problem is not life threatening, the hormones can be replaced with daily medication, and I will be able to live a long and healthy life. However, undiagnosed, people who have this disease can go into shock and even die. I have actually gone into adrenal shock before (it happened earlier this year for sure based on the symptoms- we called the doctor in the middle of the night and he came and gave me a shot... please note doctors in France do make house calls) at least one time and possibly more. So I have the French healthcare system and the French doctors to thank for the rest of my life; they were able to diagnose a serious problem that the American doctors overlooked for years. I am so relieved to finally know that there really is something wrong and that it can be easily fixed. The doctor is still going to need to find the underlying cause of the adrenal insufficiency, but at least I can start treatment right away and will finally be physically awake again!

Do I pay more taxes in France than I did in the US? Probably. But I don't need to pay for healthcare, which ate up some of my old salary. I also have no deductible, and am 100% reimbursed for all the many tests I have had performed. The prescription pills which I will most likely need to take for the rest of my life cost 4€ a month (the rest covered by my basic social security). It is also nearly impossible to cut people's salaries (when my company announced their job cuts, my American coworkers saw their salaries drop the next paycheck by 5-10% or more. They could not do anything with French workers- also be aware that my company is cash rich and was not really in a position where they would be even close to going bankrupt without the salary cuts- they used the recession as an acceptable excuse to cut costs all the while padding their own bottom line.), sever permanent contracts, and you have a lot more unemployement benefits. And to be honest, at the end of the day, I make more than enough to live a comfortable life and have the ability to splurge on the occasional Jimmy Choo pumps or Chanel sandals, and I doubt I would be making nearly as much as I currently make if I still resided in the good ol' USA.

So, lesson is that socialized healthcare is not necessarily as evil or as rotten as you may think. It just may need to be deployed properly. France's system is not perfect; but it is definitely better than any treatment I have received in the US and technically, I owe the French medical system my life.

A bientot,
Liz

Sailor Tops and St Lazare

Bonjour blogsphere!

One major benefit of our location (aside from the fact that I live in the middle of Paris's best shopping district) is that we live right next to St. Lazare, one of Paris's biggest train and metro stations. I can get to practically anywhere in the city without having to change metros more than once, and there is a line that is a straight shot to my office. Monday, I was finally motivated to actually shed my pj's before noon and head to the office. I was all proud of myself for being ready to head out the door by 8:15, hoping to pounce on my e-mails before 9. When I entered the crowded station, I realized that it was the first day of the month, ie the day all of Paris recharges their metro pass and I too would have to brave the lines because I was out of one way tickets. Thank goodness I had made a last minute shoe switch and was not wearing my highest Jimmy Choo booties that are the kind of shoes meant to be stood in for five minute intervals only!

Lapin a la Mode Tips du Jour

Weekend a Normandie by Lapin a la Mode featuring Jimmy Choo pumps

Today's collection is inspired again by my vintage shopping- Fripes Star had a massive garbage bag full of blue and white sailor tops for 1€. I have always liked the nautical look, and was really excited last year when D&G had a decidedly maritime spring collection. I am still kicking myself for not buying the dress in the picture- it was nearly what I wore to my legal wedding (although I have to say the Jean Paul Gaultier dress was perfect- it matched the decor of the Mairie, the town hall we were legally hitched in. Plus, the legal ceremony took place in March, and it was not exactly halter dress weather...).

Today's makeup tip- if you are tired, bronzer is one of the best ways to perk up your visage. Bronzer adds a bit of natural flush and glow to your skin without looking unnatural like some hues of blush. If you are low maintenance, you can use it instead of pressed powder for a quick pick me up midday. The key to application is to essentially make a W; go down the cheekbone, up to the nose, and down and up the other cheekbone. My bronzer of choice is Chanel's; I have used it for years, and it is one of the few items I consistently buy. Their choice of shades also tends to veer away from the orange tinge some bronzers have. I also like bronzers by Borghese and Lancome.

I have become decidedly obsessed with Proenza Schouler bags recently. I don't know the reason why, but their aesthetic really appeals to me. I horribly picky about purses, so being enamoured by one is particularly rare. Too bad I can't stomach the price tag right now.... But I can dream... (Also, I have not really seen Proenza Schouler here in Paris- maybe that will be one of my next shopping missions)

Click of French Culture
The classic blue and white stripe nautical shirt has its origins in the Normandy region of France. During the latter part of the 1çth century, recruits to the French navy wore the blue and white striped shirts during their training period, while sailors would wear blue and white striped sweaters (Officers got all blue sweaters). Saint James, a company named after its town of origin in Normandy, began mass producing these sweaters in the late 1800s. When visiting the region, Coco Chanel fell in love with the look, and began wearing one of the blue and white t-shirts, feminizing it a bit with ribbons. To read more about the history of these shirts, click here. Saint James is still alive and kicking today, with Angelina Jolie as a recent spokesmodel for the brand. Click here to visit their website.

All right, it is time to boot up the work computer and dive into more e-mail. Yippee.

A bientot!
-Liz Anne