Nesting

This weekend was rather drab, but entertaining nonetheless.
Friday night I was babysitting Olympe (Dimitri and Antoine went to Bréchamps) and so, I didn't do ANYTHING. Just chilled in my pajamas and waited for the Eléonore to get home from her high school reunion I'm pretty sure :) I just let Olympe watch TV for like…three hours while I bullshitted and skyped my mom. win.

Saturday I woke up late, got dressed, ate at McDonald's with Olympe and Eléonore and then met up with Lauren and Hannah near Louvre Rivoli. We walked around and saw some cool shops. Then we went to this sweet café called the "Anticafé"
It was awesome, you pay like 4euro an hour to stay but you get free drinks, food, internet etc. It was really chill. I was feeling super pensive and didn't feel much like talking but not in a bad way. Then we wandered around Chatelet and I ran into a girl I went to college with. It was ACTUALLY insane. It's strange when two completely different world collide in such a random way. Unnerving.
Hannah and I got some food and headed back to the apartment to babysit. She was officially the first friend I have that has met the kids and the parents. It was a magical occurrence.
Then Hannah and I had, yet again, a very romantic dinner whilst the children slept. We went to bed around 2am, and it was lovely.

Sunday, we woke up around ten and made our way to Hannah's so we could chill in a real sized room and just do nothing without obligation. Right now we're watching 40 Year Old Virgin and giggling our asses off. I have no plans for tonight otherwise, and I like that just fine.
Solid weekend.

The Night The Jimmeth Reigned

Not much to say. This is our last night with the Jim Bean.
Fabulous. Hannah came out.
We wandered around Mouffetard and the Latien Quartier!
SO much joy :)

my ladies

mash our faces

forlorn

the kr3w

the traditional pee in the street

ending with a depressing eiffel tour with the
christmas tree. Thanks Hannah

#wednesdays

Maya and I (and Jimmy) Seem to have AWESOME Wednesdays.
We've decided it's going to be a thing even though Jimmy is leaving on Friday. We're not going to talk about that though because it hurts my soul.

Tonight, we had a really good night. We met at a bar near Chatelet that kind of looked like it SHOULD be a strip club, but of course wasn't. In fact, it would probably have been the most boring strip club ever because it was practically empty. In a trashy way though, I suppose it'd be a nice date place cause you have to sit super close and it's got red lighting, and it's bad to look good in red lighting.

Afterwards, we met up with Jimmy's friend Aytunch who is going to Spain this weekend to visit a girl he met like two months ago and it's adorable! So spontaneous!
We ended up at a small Irish Pub where we read romance novels aloud after Jimmy stacked bottles, and then I stacked them faster. Like a boss. I'm going to miss this.

Jimmy's Stack

My [faster] stack

Hannah Religi-O-Rama

SO, today neither Hannah nor myself went to school, but I DID wake up to my lovely lady swinging by to watch "The Hobbit" with me.

It was both of our first time, and I have to say, it was wonderful and just about everything I could have wanted it to be. I definitely need to read the book again, but for the most part I was very pleased despite all the inconsistencies. Can't win every match.

After the movie Hannah and I had a talk about religion concerning the college I went to etc. I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting during my time in Paris and there are things I'm more comfortable with, things I'm less comfortable with, and obviously things that have helped me progress further throughout this game called "life".

Such self discoveries have rendered me more comfortable with myself as a person and so without the slightest bit of denial I will state that religion is probably my least favorite thing to talk about, and potentially the most awkward conversation you could have with someone. Hannah is my homie, and even she was like "Why is this chick getting so weird right now?"

Oh, maybe because I've been abiding by rules that don't make sense to other people and the easiest way I can describe them is "apparently this is how God wants me to behave"

I believe two things for certain:
The Ten Commandments are actually very practical.
And if we're to "love our neighbors as ourselves" we should probably take the time to love ourselves! There'd be so much less hate in the world if we all just sorted out our issues and stopped using religion as a crutch to judge and condemn our fellow man.
Religion is supposed to be a guide to live a fulfilled and meaningful life where you are a good person…
SO JUST BE A GOOD PERSON AND STOP HATING ON EVERYONE…
Boom.  Peace on Earth.


Now that we're all uncomfortable…I will end this post.


P.S. Yesterday I bought really sexy shoes from Zara. I'm obsessed. I might never take them off. Makes the other two pairs of shoes I bought this weekend. nul

Olympe Turns 8

OLYMPE TURNED 8 TODAY!

It was really cute, I woke up early, saw Hannah off at the Metro and went and bought Olympe a pastry and a chocolate bear with a little string around the neck because I knew she'd like it. I also made her an awesome card. We had steak for lunch, which OBVIOUSLY made me feel awesome. (They stayed in Paris this weekend).

We ate pastries and sang, and then we all went to Eléonore's school for the 100 year anniversary and watched her perform a sketch. She was really good! I enjoyed seeing her :) It made me feel a part of the family!

Then I rushed off to meet Lauren and go shoe shopping! I bought two pairs. Oh lala.

But one pair I desperately needed since my other ankles boots are very dead.
The other pair was adorable and only 15 euro.

YOLO.

I babysat all night with Ulghor and watched Supernatural. Pas grave

Freaky Friday

Today was actually pretty easy. Typical Friday.

Been feeling kind of weird recently about my appearance. I've been feeling like because it's gotten cold I obviously need to wear warm clothes, but I don't have like a proper winter coat…and I don't want to wear like 18 layers when I go out cause then it gets hot walking around, or you have to keep track of a ton of shit wherever you go…that's been a nightmare. I left work early and chilled in my room for a little bit before heading over to Lucie's to chill with her, Genevieve, Tessa and Hannah. It was a really chill night.

I ended up dressed pretty British, and I looked COOL.
Chambray shirt, buttoned all the way up under my turnt up shirt (collar out of course) hair up, black skirt, tights, black boots, large denim jacket Hannah let me borrow.

Needless to say, I felt pretty cool.

We all just drank coffee and chatted about life, and music, and life again, and stuff. It was really good to see Lucie and Genevieve again. Lucie is leaving back to American NEXT SATURDAY. Crazy how time flies. I know she'll do big things, it was awesome knowing her and I'm glad we got to spend some time together before she leaves. Hopefully, I see her again.

After a while, Hannah and I went out for last call before catching the last metro home. It was nice to just sit with her in a pub and have a fun talk about love and our best dude friends and such.
She's a gem.  :)

Thursdays, how I love thee

I arose with the information that my darling Hannah was downstairs with a chocolate croissant for yours truly. I was beside myself. We parted from the apartment to head toward Kilo shops that she'd found the day before.

Kilo shops are awesome. They're like thrift stores but each item is marked with a different color which determines how much it's going to cost once you weigh it! It's genius. So cheap stuff is like 20euro a kilo. So when you weigh a skirt it could come out to cost 3 or 4 Euro. It's genius, like I said.

Hannah got a sweet jumper and some sexy kimono she's going to wear as a dress. That minx. After galavanting through Châtelet we returned to the house to make a gigantic omelet and eat, as per usual, as a couple. I very much enjoy our days together as well as experiencing new places, and finding better soul and jazz clubs to go out to this upcoming weekend. Twas lovely.

THEN BEFORE I GOT THE KIDS I GOT TO SEE THIS FOOL!

he loves me, best friends for this life, after I can't say...

Which meant that Hannah finally got to meet him too! He also promised to visit me in the Spring since he has a real person job now and I'm beside myself. Hannah was my witness as well so he pretty much has to or she will unleash the rage of the Welsh on his ass.
We Skyped a little bit after I got the kids too and he just made faces with Dimitri while Dimitri asked why we was naked. Good. Question.

Last night was super chill as well, finally got to see Lucie and Genevieve again with Jimmeth and Maya. It was a really good night and I'm happy everyone is back on track and still happy as ever :)

Today is also my dearest friend Jennifer's birthday. 
I miss her dearly and think of her often (like everyday)
LOVE YOU LADY

All I know is...

1. I worked all day
2. I wasn't prepared to speak French with rowdy French boys
3. However the practice was beneficial
• Elle ne comprends pas
• C'est pas vrai! Je comprends. Je réfléchis. Je ne veut pas parler maintenant. 
• Mais Danielle…
• Non, tu m'énerve!
4. One dude kind of looked like Eminem
5. Miss Canada was NOT stoked
6. No we don't want to go to Pigalle and do coke with you, tempting as it were, but no
7. On y va, said Maya
8. No we are not giving you our numbers
9. Eminem kissed me
10. I have never gotten on a metro with more haste…

Happy bloody Wednesday.

I'm in a relationship...

Hannah has decided that we go out more during the day and see what there is to see.
I'm more than happy to oblige but it's clear to me what this is.
The constant sleepovers.
The cooking together, and knowing how we like our food, our coffee, our tea.
Dancing around at home in our socks instead of going out dancing.
The way "we" like to do things and how this weekend "we didn't feel like doing anything".
The joint decisions and following like puppies.
We have SHOWS that we watch together...
We're in a relationship.

BUT it's actually really great getting out of the house and having a plan for the day. Today, Hannah and I met up and took our nice cameras to Sacré Couer to start the day. We got to sit in on a mass inside the Basilica, which was really cool but also made me wonder if Nuns have to go through some sort of voice training before they're allowed to sing to a congregation.
Real questions here folks.

Then we met up with Tessa at the Cemetery at Pére Lachaise. That's where Jim Morrison was buried, though we didn't find him today. We were too busy being super artsy and taking pictures of EVERYTHING else. After the graveyard we went toward Notre Dame area and had a coffee before I went off to get the kids. It was really nice though, I left a little early and was able to stroll by the Seine and just sit and think alone in the beautiful winter weather for a little bit. I need to buy a sketchbook for moments like these. It's felt good drawing and writing more often recently.

The night wasn't very eventful. Just chilled with Jimmeth and ate WAY too much food at the Christmas market. :)

Sacré Coeur

this one

feelin frisky

I thought she was really beautiful

These statues seem as though they're performing a play haha

"I said hear ye, verily my people, we shan't not die,
but rather allow our lives to prosper as the morning dew
and throughout eternity shall we fight for the freedom of our souls!"

dis my favorite

booty had me like

The ever beautiful Tessa

elle dort

Some Supernatural shit right here,
THEY BUSTIN OUT!

These birds be strutty...

for real though…wtf? Where are you going that's so important?

Back of Notre Dame

the Seine

Monday-Mon jour-My Day

Monday was kind to me.
I woke up next to Hannah's well, admittedly tad frightening morning face, and we ventured downstairs to eat and finish "Lie To Me". Finishing the second time is just as sad as the first time. I can't understand why they cancelled that show and if it was because it didn't have enough viewers then I don't understand WHY people don't want to watch such an awesome show with characters who are actually likable. WTF WALKING DEAD?!

Anyway, then Hannah wanted to check out some vintage shop so we headed out toward Montmartre and Pigalle area (near the Moulin Rouge) and got lost cause apparently in Paris I have no sense of direction with new places.

HOWEVER, we ended up in the Cemetière de Montmartre which was actually really beautiful. The sun was out, it was pretty cold, but the lighting and the vibes were really pleasant to say the least. As pleasant as they can be in a graveyard. I've always liked graveyards cause my dad would take me and my sister to them when we were kids. He always said that they were beautiful, peaceful places and not to be feared. They're historical and informative. It's really cool seeing and appreciating all the people who were here before us. Some for hundreds of years, some for three. Very interesting.

When I got the kids we had a really nice time until we got to the house, and I can't understand why kids DO THAT! Everything is wonderful, and you're loving your time together, and then all of a sudden they become little hellfires and ruin everything by hitting, and screaming, and stomping. WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME YOU PRICK AND NOW I HAVE TO PUNISH YOU!

After I was done for the evening I met Sweater Guy at Thirsty Mad Cat (yes that's actually the name of the establishment) and we participated in the pub quiz with a group of other people I'd met there before. It was a super chill night and I'm glad I made myself go out by myself (even though I met up with people once I arrived.) It's really cool going out without a real plan and not much verification that people you know will be present. I should do that more often. We all should.

I call this one "Smiling at your Fate"
She loves me for how clever I am.

apartments, or tombs?

toppled flowers need not fear

Ominous.

"They Built a Bridge Over My Grave"

Lazy Days in Paris

Can't believe it's the first day of December already. That's insane. I'm headed into my fourth month abroad. That's 1/3 of the way through. Where did the time go?

Well, this weekend it went to doing absolutely nothing.

It was so refreshing I'm not sure I even full appreciated the nothingness of the situation.

Friday Night: NOTHING. Hung out along. Indoors with the Winchester brothers (watching Supernatural). Glorious.

Saturday: Slept in a little bit, 10:30. Went running. Chilled around, cleaned did laundry. Hannah came over, and then we did NOTHING. It was so magical. We drank tea, and watched shows, and talked and then watched "This is the End" and "Paul" while a RAGER was going on across the courtyard. I wish we could've gotten invited. It went until like 4am and they played "Blurred Lines" four or five times. At some points in the evening I moonwalked all around the house and Ulghor was really confused as to what was happening haha.

Sunday: Hannah and I woke up at a decent hour, ventured outdoors to get pastries and sit like old men on a bench in a park. Then Tessa finally popped into town and we all walked around Opéra area to look at the Christmas displays at Gallerie Lafayette. It was cool. Then we wandered until we found an old church, which we went into and lit some candles and sat. It's so awesome looking into churches and sitting in the pews and such. I fully enjoy such adventures.

And that was pretty much it. Jimmy had just gotten back from Amsterdam so he was exhausted but we got him to rally and we went and grabbed dinner and a pub called "The Moose". Apparently on Sunday nights we like Canada. But we think this place is going to be our Sunday place. Maya swung by a little later and SHE had just gotten back from Munich.
FURTHERMORE, Hannah spent the night in my tiny ass room and it was magical as always.

What I learned: I really need to started traveling outside of Paris and France. I'm about to have no excuse NOT to when the weather gets nice. OFII WHY DID  YOU SCREW ME!

the walk from Invalides to Jimmeth's place

We missed Jimmeth

SO, I started drawing again. And what's awesome
is that some dude saw me drawing this and when
I was leaving he asked to see it. It's a spaceship over
Paris. He thought it was cool, so I gave it to him
It made me feel really awesome for some reason.

Hannah didn't much like the portrait I did of her...