C'est le weekend!

Here's a photo of the Sacre Coeur that I took last year. I know it's wishful thinking to hope for sun, what with the baltic weather we've been having for...forever, but there's nothing wrong with as cloud man, Gavin Pretor Pinney would say 'blue sky thinking'.

On the topic of wishful thinking, which also includes the subject of happiness, I just watched a brilliant TED talk by Dan Gilbert that I think everyone should watch. It's inspiring and food for thought. And when you watched this - go watch author of Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert's.




Happy weekends and have great Easters.

Paris Living #1: Stefano Pilati

I spotted this amazingly eclectic and colourful Paris apartment on Architectural Digest yesterday, owned by fashion designer Stefano Pilati - he's the former creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, and is now head of design at Ermenegildo Zegna. (Love those pink socks.) Although it's not quite as serene and calm a space as I'd choose myself (mind you the muted colours of the bedroom aren't far off) I thought it was a really lovely use of colour, furniture and art. It's a great example of the mix between old and new, and of course it's in Paris.

Pick of Pins #1

I spend so much time on Pinterest every week that I'm going to start a little weekly edit of my favourite finds. I chose these four because:

1. This is a great little mantra to live by for 2013
2. I love that couch, serene colours and the aesthetic - it looks like a really calm living space
3. Brooklyn Bridge - for one day I will live in NYC
4. And the cover of volume 2 of Cereal magazine. I love the photography, styling and overall aesthetic of this lovely new travel and food tome.

Pardon my French...

I started my French lessons yesterday, hence no post - I ran out of time trying to post to Art Wednesday and write an Easter weekend guide for DistrictMTV. And if I'm honest, I'm still suffering from the weekend. It was great, packed as usual, but I didn't get enough sleep as this weekend I:

+ Went to a friend's birthday party, in a little flat near Canal Saint Martin on Friday night.
+ Ate chinese for lunch at La Taverne de Zhao.
+ Bought a black tee from American Apparel
+ Had dinner at a friend's parents' beautiful flat in the 9 arrondissement on Saturday.
+ Then went to a friend's house-warming in the 10th followed by a dance at a club called Memphis. It was as bad as it sounds.
+ Got home at 7am on Sunday morning and slept til noon.

So after a full weekend, yesterday was hard work, especially the 3 hours of French. But the lesson was good and I'm looking forward to today's.

C'est le weekend

Image credits: 1. [here] 2. [here] 3. [here] 4. [here] all via my tumblr Rue Rodier

So I managed to sign up for French lessons yesterday - hence the first image. I had to take a test, which was pretty nerve-wracking and my brain was frazzled afterwards, but I think I did better than expected. I start Monday for six weeks and they've placed me in the last week of the first level - so not a complete beginner, which is a relief!

I've also been thinking about how to redecorate our bedroom. At the moment it's a horrible bright yellow, which when we still had the semi-see through curtains up, it felt like we were sleeping inside the Swedish flag. Not cool. I love these easy, and super cosy-looking grey bedsheets and blanket.

The Portuguese and I have also signed up to the gym and start on the 1st April after he comes back from Porto. I'd like to say that this is what I'll be looking like on a bike in the gym, ahem.

And cakes, because we are celebrating a friend's birthday tonight. I love these cupcakes with white frosting that's been crafted to make them look like rose heads.

Hope you have lovely weekends.

Whilst in Paris

Image credit: Hannah Lemholt Photography via [here]

I'm going to the Alliance francaise today to sign up for French lessons and to take a test to see if I'm a complete beginner, or if I can go into the next level. I'm secretly hoping I'm not a complete beginner - I have GCSE French, so that should count for something right? Probably not, but it's worth a shot. Anyway what with finally taking the plunge and starting French lessons, I thought it made sense to outline a few things that I would like to achieve whilst living in Paris, and particularly this year, as it's the year I turn 30.

To be honest, I never thought that would turn 30 in Paris, I've always loved the city, but never envisaged myself living here. I thought I'd be in New York by now, but then life (or love) can take you on weird and wonderful journeys. So while I'm here, I need to make the most of it. I'm not going to make a list of things to do before I turn 30, as I only have just over a month (eek!), but instead make a list of the things I'd like to get done in Paris, in my 30th year. So here goes:

1. So first up, learn French

2. Buy and learn how to use a digital SLR camera - I'd like to start taking my own photos for the blog

3. Learn a new skill - besides French and photography, I'd like to learn how to either knit or sew properly

4. Make cushion covers to replace the horrible brown ones currently on our sofas

5. Go to two exhibitions a month - you'd think that editing Art Wednesday I would get to see tonnes of shows, but the truth is, I'm usually edited other writers' words about their trip to an exhibition.

6. Take up dance lessons again.

7. Learn about wine - and more importantly French wine.

8. And to accompany the wine - learn to cook French food.

9. Visit two new countries - it's been my aim for the last few years, to visit two new countries a year. Last year I went to Sweden and Belgium. The year before that it was Portugal and Morocco.

10. Have city breaks to Istanbul and Beirut - we are currently organising these.

11. Travel to India.

12. Stick to an exercise routine.

13. Be less fearful about... everything.

14. Worry less.

15. Go to a festival in France and one in the UK.

16. Laugh more.

17. Set up a monthly girls get-together.

18. Shop at markets in Paris.

19. Make more French friends.

20. Host themed dinners - this sounds a little cheesy, but I've been reading Nathan Turner's American Style and have been completely inspired by the themed dinner parties he threw in his shop in LA.

Ok, so there's quite a few there, and it's a list I probably should have done at the beginning of the year, but I'm going to try hard to tick them off. I may have to delve back into The Happiness Project for a little helping hand with some of these. (If you haven't read it yet - read it! It's life-changing.)

What do you want to get done this year?

March Wish List

1. Riley washed silk T-shirt from Equipment
2. Pink Animal Jacquard Skirt from Whistles
3. Foldover clutch from Claire Vivier
4. Klaia Cage Ring from Odette NYC
5. Sunglasses from Illesteva
6. Cotu White leather boots from Superga

Better late than never, here's my March wish list. Lots of pinks and white, perfect for spring. I don't think it's quite warm enough yet to wear these in Paris, but I can but dream.