Bonne annee!




2012 has been a bit challenging at times but I can say that I feel blessed for being in good health and being surrounded by so many wonderful people.
 I wish you all a new year of health, wealth, success and happiness!

Hope the New Year showers you with all that is beautiful!

Think less. Feel more.


Winter Warmers

Baby it's cold outside... time to put up the tree, decorate the house, start the Christmas shopping and... cook yummy food that will keep you warm!

Here are my favorites:



Here are some cool blogs:
Mommyhungry  /   Cookingclassy   /  Chockohlawtay  /  Fullbellies  /  Bakeforhappykids

If you know any "cool" cooking blogs, please let me know :)

With love,
B-lou

Turkey day is coming up y'all

Thanksgiving is right around the corner...and I am not here to teach you how to perfectly cook a turkey...because I can't. But I would like to bring up an idea that is not "food-related" and a little bit of history is always good...

Where does the tradition of Thanksgiving come from?

"Celebrated on the 4th Thursday on November, this American festival is an acknowledgement of gratitude for a plentiful harvest. 
In 1620, one hundred people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to land at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in America. However, their first winter was severe and their crops failed in the new climate and half of them died due to lack of fresh food. The few who survived were saved as Native Americans of the Iroquois tribe taught them how to grow corn and other crops.
In the next autumn ,1621, bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested. The settlers had much to be thankful for, so a feast was planned. They invited the Iroquois chief and his tribe for this feast. The Indians brought turkeys and other wild game for the settlers. And the feast consisted of cranberries, corn turkey and deer, along with dishes taught by the Indians. 
Each year, the settlers decided to celebrate the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks. In 1776, after the U.S. became independent, the government recommended that a thanksgiving day be held to celebrate the occasion. 
President George Washington suggested November 26 as Thanksgiving Day. 
The date was again shifted in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the fourth Thursday of November to lengthen the shopping period before Christmas."

Therefore, since this holiday is about "being thankful", make sure you to put a little special note on the table for each of your relative with a "special thanks".
That way, it is not only about "great food" but also about being thankful.


Picture 1        Picture 3           Picture 4          Free cards

With love,
B-lou

Coco love



Laptop skin

Have you ever heard about "laptop skin?"
The concept is simple but genius. The laptop skin is a precision-cut vinyl adhesive material, that is designed to be durable and to give laptops a unique, customized look while also protecting the laptop from scratches and other damage from wear and tear.

Perfect for me since I take care of my laptop the same way people handle suitcases at the airport...Yes...not so careful! So if you are like me, go on the website: society6 and get a cool laptop skin!
You can also get an ipad skin or a new iphone cover! So many cool art prints to choose from!

(click on the pictures to get the direct link)



With love,
B-lou

VOTE VOTE VOTE


Show your election day spirit today!

And remember.... you need to VOTE so you can let your democratic voice talk. 
Make sure you do your part but do not complain about the result, not everybody thinks alike. Just accept the way democracy works and hope for the best!



Women:  Every woman will have at least one item that is blue or red in the closet. I am not worried.

Men: Check out the brand "vineyard vines", they came up with very cool designs for the election: 
(click on the picture to get the direct link)




Happy Fall Yall


I absolutely adore Fall. This season is so perfect! Not too hot, not too cold yet...just perfect!
Plus, there are so many fun things to do when it is fall. Even if you are not a "crafty" person usually, this is THE time of year when you will become one!
Halloween is coming up...time to decorate the house, make fun treats, yummy drinks and do many other "crafty" things!

Here are my favorite ideas: (click on pictures to get the direct link)

  
 


With love,
B-lou
 

Think Pink

The month of October is the month for breast cancer awareness.
If we are in good health and blessed, we should take a minute to think about other people struggling and finding ways to help them if we can.

Check out this website:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-support

Here are some ways to help:

Plus you can buy anything in pink with the pink ribbon to help. 
Who doesn't love to wear pink anyway? :)

The Best of the Red Carpet


Clutches love!

You can never have too many clutches!


      Cheap:                                                             Expensive:
     http://www.aldoshoes.com                                http://www.barneys.com
                    http://us.topshop.com                                        http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com
                http://us.asos.com                                            http://www.saksfifthavenue.com



Get minty with me!

I know that summer is technically over but I am against it!
The sun is still bright and shining outside so I am not about to start wearing dark colors... NO NO!
Get minty with me instead! ;)


Labor day weekend... Time to get creative

Here are some ideas: (click on the pictures to go to the direct website)

                         

Let the creativity begin !

With love,
B-lou

Healthy mind, healthy life

Dear followers, I always talk about wine & food but I need to talk to you guys about being healthy and exercising because it is VERY important. I've always been an athlete so I've learned that doing a sport on a regular basis can help your body and your mind in so many ways.

When I came to the USA, of course, like everybody else I was choked by the number of obese people. Reason #1 : the food isn't healthy, you have to look for information more carefully than before. Read the back of each product and do NOT get fooled by the words "healthy, light,low-fat"... because it really doesn't mean anything!
Reason #2:  there is a lack of exercising since you have to drive everywhere, so you just jump in your car all the time instead of walking. So try to walk as much as you can!

Nowadays, you see commercials for losing weight in order looking like Angelina Jolie everyday...BUT this post is not meant to make you wanna be 90pounds. I just want to share with you the benefits of exercising so you can understand why it is important. There is a difference between being skinny and healthy. We want to be HEALTHY!

#1 Exercise controls weight - Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

#2 Exercise combats health conditions and diseases-  Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

#3 Exercise improves mood- Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. If need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help.

#4 Exercise boosts energy- Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.

#5 Exercise promotes better sleep- Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

#6 Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life- Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.

#7 Exercise can be fun- Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy.

Good websites to help:
http://www.self.com
http://www.health.com

HELP...as much as you can

I like the magazine Marie Claire because it makes me keep up with fashion, what's in and out but also, it always has a lot of interesting articles talking about powerful women, women's problems in the world...
Last year, I found an article about women in Afghanistan who were facing terrible injustices; theses women are most of the times raped, their husbands hurt them constantly...but they are not allowed to leave the house. If they do, it is called "moral crimes" and they go to jail for that. (or sometimes they endure worse things than jail). (here is the link: http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/opinion/afghan-women-in-prison-feature)

This month, we got an update on the situation:
-2,000 readers bought NOT GUILTY t-shirts, which raised $30,000 to aid victims
-103,000 signed a petition to end this terrible practice
In December, the President started releasing from prison more women...but there are still thousands of women that remain behind bars.

To help:
-make a donation on the website: awjp.org
(for $25 you will get a t-shirt and provide a week's supply of milk)
(for $100 you will provide a month's salary for an in-prison teacher or midwife)

I consider myself fortunate, I am healthy, independant and free. So I try to do what I can to help others in need.. And if you are just as fortunate as I am, try to do the same.

With love,
B-lou

Long dresses...Keep it classy AND...sexy!

Long dresses (or also called "maxi dresses") have been back in style for quite a long time now and I just love it!
There is one for every occasion. Also, one designer once said that "we don't need to show skin to be sexy". I couldn't agree more.


With love,
B-lou

Post Vacation Blues

So apparently everyone who enjoys traveling is subject to what is common as "post-vacations blues". I definitely feel like I am part of that "stage". I usually don't mind studying/working but right now it doesnt seem as much fun.
Getting back into the routine of work can be a source of stress but... here are some solutions :
- Expect to feel deflated after a great vacation
- Realize that your vacation doesn't necessarily ends there
- Think about how your vacation can have a good impact in your actual life
- Stay connected with the world of travel and... start planning your next trip! (even if it doesn't happen soon, at least you get to dream about something ! )





Flower Power

Headbands are great, it is such a cool accessory! It adds more style to your outfit and it make your hair look wonderful all at once! (especially if you are like me and drying your hair perfectly + straightening it after to make it look perfect isnt your thing...headbands are the way to go!)

AND... Floral garland headbands are rocking this summer! SO Hippy-Chic, you will will them!
You can make your own if you are crafty enough; if not, go get your own, you will look amazing!




With love,
B-lou

No more plastic bag!

For a few years now in France, we have been trying to use less plastic bags. In most of the grocery stores, there is a ban on plastic bags and therefore, nowadays, you have to pay to get a plastic bag/ or any kind of bag. The grocery stores are forcing the customers to bring their own "reusable shopping bag" instead of wasting lots and lots of plastic bags.
The process took a while, since customers didn't agree with the idea at first. But later on, they probably have realized that the use of resuable shopping bag was a good idea and great for the environment.

You can find reusable shopping/grocery bag in a lot of stores; for example I found mine at Marshalls for $0.99 ! (it is very cheap, so you have no excuse anymore. go buy one...tomorrow!)

Or make it yourself, like this one: (click on the picture)


With love,
B-lou

Summer---> France





New apt, new life

I recently moved to a new city and I am currently in the process of decorating my new apartment. I absolutely love looking for ideas online and going to as many stores as possible just to find the "one piece" of decoration that will make the whole place come together (well in my mind anyway...and so far everybody has agreed with "most" of my decisions).
Of course, the site http://pinterest.com is a great way to get ideas but it can get a little overwhelming. I start looking for stuff that are supposed to "match" but two seconds later I got side tracked and want to change my whole living room. (which is not possible since I do have a credit card limit..unfortunately). So don't be like me...Make sure you focus on one style and one style only. Or one/two colors.

So if you are moving or deciding to change something in your place, make sure you keep your focus I think that's the hardest part. 

Here are my favorite stores (with very affordable prices)
-http://www.worldmarket.com
-http://www.ikea.com/us
-http://www.overstock.com

Bon voyage

Being from a European country makes traveling a lot easier. We can discover so many different countries by paying $50 for a train or plane ticket. Also, every big airplane companies connect at some point in Paris, so going to Asia is not too difficult anymore (but still expensive though).
I am a "travel fanatic". I wish I could explore a new country every week. But...unfortunately my finances limit me to studying and enjoying only "once a year vacation" for now. But I keep my hopes up, I will travel (almost) all the over the world before my time runs out.


Here are some interesting destinations these days:  
-Sabi Sands, South Africa
-Madeira, Portugal
-Maldives
-Phi Phi Le, Thailand
-Oracabessa, Jamaica
-Greece
-Egypt



"Yummy sushi"

The "sushi world" has exploded in the last recent years. The famous Japanese food has became so popular even if it is only "rice rolled up with something else". But we must admit that for some reason we are all loving it! Some of us thinks about sushi as being "yummy" and some of us thinks about sushi as being healthy... but be careful because not all the sushi rolls are good for you, so I'm gonna help you pick the good ones!

                              Good
1) Tuna roll    2) Avocado roll    3) Cucumber roll






VS

                                                                                                                 Bad
1) Shrimp tempura roll    2) Eel and avocado roll   3) Philadelphia roll    4) Spicy tuna roll