tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58317478241873223522024-02-19T08:04:11.245-08:00Ever Changing, Yet Still The SameElliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-8099297078267068382014-10-14T11:50:00.000-07:002014-10-14T11:50:06.723-07:00Over The Bridge<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not a fan of bridges, specifically driving over them. I prefer to be in the middle of the bridge. I have this fear that the bridge will collapse, the car will fall in the water and I'll be trapped. A completely irrational fear as I've never seen a bridge collapse, let alone been on one while one crashes to its demise. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Golden Gate Bridge, California<br />View from the Marin Headlands</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not so afraid to walk across the bridge and I think the fear is not so much of the bridge but of being trapped should the car and I fall through the cracks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A fear of being trapped, a real physical sensation of being trapped and an emotional fear of being trapped in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A year and a half ago we moved to France for 6 months. It was to date one of the most liberating experiences I've had.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Eiffel Tower, Paris at Sunset</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We didn't sell all our possessions, but we boxed them up for storage. We sold my car and rented out our loft. I left a job I loved (and coincidently took it up again upon my return). We were fortunate that G's employer at the time Ok'ed him to telecommute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had no commitments, save French school 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks. Yet after class let out I would take my time getting home. I would take a different route most days, turning left instead of right, crossing the river one day or walking alongside it the next. Sometimes I would sit in the Luxembourg Gardens other times I'd come home, grabbing something to eat from the bakery opposite. It was idyllic, not real life. We weren't true expats. We weren't permanently making our home in France. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's a danger in living a life that requires a checklist mentality. The irony for me is I am a total checklist, plan ahead type of person but when we moved to France I realized the crucial aspect of living my life unencumbered by expectations, be they mine or others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">G and I are now walking a new path. We've been back in the USA one year and 14 days and we're living in Oakland. G's at a new job, I commute to Los Gatos 3 times a week for mine, and we're a month or so away from being "live" in our quest to parenthood. It's not what others expected and it's not what I expected, but it works, strangely enough it works - for now at least.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jack London Square, Oakland</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to blog with some regularity here and at my <a href="http://aquickglimpse.blogspot.com/">first site</a>. I recently read through old entries and I'm thankful to have documented key <a href="http://aquickglimpse.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-went-skydivingand-im-about-to-again.html">moments</a> in life as well as the perfectly mundane. As we continue on our pursuit of life, and specifically this season of adoption I want to document our journey. I have often sought and found comfort from other hopeful parents, and if nothing else I want a record of the unexpected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still harbor a fear of being trapped, holding my breath slightly when we drive across a bridge but I still do it, I still cross the bridge. </span><br />
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-63245004984977769922013-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:002013-05-06T07:36:59.027-07:00How To Be Late<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Day 2, Thursday:</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fitting for the subject of my post...<b>How To Be Late</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">To be truly successful you must first be sure to go to bed late.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Before fully allowing yourself to head to dreamland, set you alarm with two alarms (strategically spaced 15 minutes apart from each other). Merely setting the snooze button doesn't work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Sleep (preferably don't enjoy a good night's sleep)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Wake to the sound of the first alarm, barely register and hit it off.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Groggily wake to the second alarm, and hug phone close to face as you catch up on the latest Facebook news (it helps living in a different time zone to the majority of my Facebook friends, it is a sure guarantee that there were be news when I wake).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Fall back to sleep, holding iPhone as if a lover.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Wake up to the sounds of the garbage trucks, and in theory jump out of bed, but with practice...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Gradually, but not very quickly get out of bed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Shower...be sure it is a day that requires you to wash your hair.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Following your shower, decide that your eyebrows must be plucked (or your toenails painted, or some other equally non essential part of your daily grooming needs to take place there and then)!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Choose an outfit that requires a shirt to be ironed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Grab your morning hot beverage on the run.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Ride the Metro (edited: when I first wrote up this post, I didn't need to add the following step, but today in an attempt to make sure my How Tos were complete I followed them to the T, adding this next step...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Be so sleepy that you miss your exit/stop and have to get off at the following stop and loop back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Arrive at school/work/etc shockingly only a couple of minutes later (usually without the addition of the extra Metro stop, I can eek out an "on time" even with my How To Be Late Steps)!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">:)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">**Back Posting**</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Be sure to check out all the other <a href="http://storyofmylifetheblog.blogspot.de/">Bloggers</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-36800603512519523602013-05-01T14:39:00.000-07:002013-05-01T14:39:41.808-07:00Here, There and Everywhere...in 250 words!!
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Joining up for "<a href="http://storyofmylifetheblog.blogspot.fr/2013/04/blog-every-day-in-may-challenge.html">Blog Every Day in May</a>"</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was born in London, England in 1983. I can’t believe I’ll be 30 this September!! The summer before I turned 12 I moved with my parents and two brothers, one older and one younger, to California, USA. Here I rallied against my parents, God and the world as I struggled to adjust to living in America. Eventually I adjusted, and thrived, although I vowed to never marry an American. When I was 15 I was told I would never bear a child biologically, and again my world was rocked. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 2008 I married a man who knew my heart and loved me fully. It was a plus that he was French (thereby helping me keep my vow to not marry an American)!! 2010 saw me taking the pledge to become a US Citizen. Now in 2013 I’m living temporarily in France with my husband - attempting to learn the language, and loving my days exploring Paris.</span></span></div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-60260653225542198482013-04-13T12:58:00.001-07:002013-04-13T12:58:18.870-07:00French Class @ the Half Way Mark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first week of my French classes was a short week as we started on Tuesday (Monday being a holiday). The professor is very sweet and nice, too nice at times :) She does a marvelous job at explaining the lessons. The entire four hours (minus a 20 minute break) is all in French, and so if something isn't understood she'll simplify (still in French), and mime the actions, etc!! The class is made up now 12 students, as 2 students joined the second week. There are 2 Turcs, 1 Greek, 1 American (who speaks Italien fluently, lives in Italy), 1 American, 1 English-American (ME :)), 1 Guatemalan, 1 Panamanian 1 Brazilian, 1 Argentinian, 1 Saudi Arabian, and 1 Australian-Jamaican. 2 in their 30s, 2 in their teens, 1 older, and the rest in their 20s (three of us 29). It is quite the diverse group, and 12 is the perfect amount to allow time for dialogue in class as well as allowing for discrepancies in understanding. It is rather humbling though as the majority of the other students speak at least two languages, and French is their third. For the most part English is spoken, and at the break we speak in a mix of Spanish, English and French :) </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're making our way rather quickly through the book. It's a four week course, and Friday marked the end of the first half. The book has 8 chapters/units and we're almost finished with Unit 4. We take a midterm next week to track our progress (both for writing and speaking). The class instruction is comprised of lecture, student participation, writing, homework, presentations, group/partner work, listening and responding. It combines culture, grammar, vocabulary (although not in list form, just as we go about our lessons we add to our vocab knowledge - which is something I appreciate). Many of the grammar rules have exceptions, which makes it slightly difficult in understanding the rule and applying the rule.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Numbers in French are essentially math problems...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">17: dix-sept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10: dix + 7: sept </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(10+7=17)!! Simple enough, then you have...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">77: soixante-dix-sept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">60: soixante + 10:dix + 7:sept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One more...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">97: quatre-vingt-dix-sept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4: quatre x 20: vingt + 10: dix +7:sept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There have been other occasions that I've mildly grumbled to Guillaume in terms of the French language, however as each day progresses it does get a little easier (sort of)!! Some things, such as the masculin/féminin articles corresponding to the words is just something that I have to memorize. There really isn't a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best day was the Wednesday of the first week, it was the second day of class. I left the class on a high and went to the market and ordered from various vendors the food and such I needed. I successfully communicated with them my desires, and was understood and even when I did mispronounce a word or two they were pleasantly helpful in correcting me, waiting for me to repeat the correct pronunciation. I came home to G still on my high, and communicated with him in French all about my day and his face just lit up. He was thrilled to see me "speaking" French. If nothing else, I'll be a pro at shopping for our food at the end of our stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Á bientôt!! The post was getting long ;)</span></div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-45885709805372224142013-04-12T16:00:00.000-07:002013-04-13T06:15:40.383-07:00It's Not All Bad!!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm on the train to Strasbourg to meet with G and visit with the French half of my family. It's already been quite the day... G went ahead of me to Strasbourg, leaving Wednesday afternoon. So I've spent the last 48 hours alone. Usually I would relish the opportunity to be alone, enjoying the chance to be by myself in our apartment. But I think because I already spend a lot of my time alone it wasn't as enjoyable as neither G nor I imagined :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last night I made the unfortunate mistake (it's rarely a fortunate mistake!) of going to sleep late yet again. In part because I found it difficult to fall asleep without G and also because I started watching "Call of the Midwife" on Netflix. I knew that I needed to get up with ample time to get ready, finish packing and get to school with my bags in tow. That whole "ample time" thing didn't happen!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Note: I was already emotionally volatile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I get up late. I leave the apartment late. I don't forget anything...except I don't eat breakfast (a very bad thing as a hungry Ellie is either a hangry Ellie or worse a teary Ellie - can you guess what Ellie I might turn into here?!) I have my suitcase, my school bag, my handbag and yes, a bag full of dirty towels (Why? Because I don't want crunchy towels, I want to wash them at my in laws). So slightly loaded I manage the metro (down and up the stairs for the two different lines). Late? About to be, yes! I exit the Metro, walk to school - it starts spitting (raining lightly), then with each step the rain drops get heavier (kind of like the bags I'm lugging)...I arrive at school, not even 10 minutes late but I'm wet - from the rain and the sweat and I can feel my tear ducts swelling!! After a quick few breathes in the bathroom, I was mostly ready for class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Class the last two days has been a little tough...a combination of self deprecation after having gone to the cinema on Monday, watching a French romantic comedy and realizing I have a LONG way to go; and the fact that my brain is on overload right now. So basically my self outlook on learning French hasn't been the most positive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, already feeling quite low, I knew I couldn't give in to the negative emotions towards my lack of understanding, otherwise I would have been a basket case then and there in class. So, banishing the negative thoughts for the morning, class continued and surprisingly I understood most of the class. It was easier to see/hear some of the connections, plus I don't feel we covered any new information too in depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There you have it, a positive attitude/mind set goes a long way :)</span><br />
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-60495156942610963292013-04-07T14:03:00.004-07:002013-04-07T14:03:39.269-07:00Restaurants At A Glance<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I am behind in posting, I'm just compiling the reviews for the restaurants we visited within the last week...from galattes and crêpes to brunch, falafels and desserts to local neighborhood restaurants that make G seem like a giant to bistro chains and a couple more in between!! We did eat out quite a bit this week, and we're cautious of how much we eat out. It does add up when you include wine, coffee, water and dessert. BUT, there are SOOO many wonderful restaurants just in our neighborhood that we walk by and I think we'll have to come up with a plan of food tasting action :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllNu8WSlBZHvfWfujqDtcWnqWF3QRE9MD3neiVMbj7r7FxgRjOqJiLLdECilH1YWISD_CeHWALKi_PzzzNHNVFjQBt8vgvHCppgQQJTjJjsiaJRskJLzVt4nuVEQOfHxWigpd3_2UZ0A/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllNu8WSlBZHvfWfujqDtcWnqWF3QRE9MD3neiVMbj7r7FxgRjOqJiLLdECilH1YWISD_CeHWALKi_PzzzNHNVFjQBt8vgvHCppgQQJTjJjsiaJRskJLzVt4nuVEQOfHxWigpd3_2UZ0A/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last week when we wandered around we walked passed "<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d1065438-Reviews-Creperie_Suzette-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">Crêperie Suzette</a>." We were reading the menu and looking through the window when the proprietor came out and beckoned us in, and not needing any more invitation we sat down to enjoy Galettes Breton style. I had the special of the day which was goat cheese (my favorite), with honey and walnuts. The galette was tasty, although I felt that it was a tad heavy on the walnuts. Guillaume enjoyed a raclette inspired galette and we washed both down with hard apple cider. We were both too full to order a crêpe (sweet). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZookSQ3Jzx8u9pk70nsHI_julbnTmIZT8LNHPSB26m2XZ-tC7TGA_RwPW5B_wJJEDWzGXvvg0a8V-iYdtlUhY5O2V4yCnG2G6EzF9KJyFhlTH753QR9m1P_7KDGb9Mp_iUGfGhrKyJhY/s1600/IMG_1111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZookSQ3Jzx8u9pk70nsHI_julbnTmIZT8LNHPSB26m2XZ-tC7TGA_RwPW5B_wJJEDWzGXvvg0a8V-iYdtlUhY5O2V4yCnG2G6EzF9KJyFhlTH753QR9m1P_7KDGb9Mp_iUGfGhrKyJhY/s320/IMG_1111.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, having been denied the taste of a sweet crêpe I later led us to <a href="http://www.breizhcafe.com/">Breizh Cafe</a> where we savored crépes and coffee as our goûter!! Guillaume definitely chose the better crêpe - a combination with Breton style ginger caramel sauce. I had meant to order the crêpe suzette, but I mistakenly just ordered the crêpe Grand Marnier. It was tasty, but when I sampled some of the caramel sauce from G's plate I wished I had ordered one with a caramel sauce. Next time for sure. We've been trying to revisit the restaurant, but the first time we tried we didn't have a reservation and walking just in at 730PM on a Thursday night yielded no results. Friday we called around 530 for a reservation, but they were again full for the night. We hope to revisit Sunday night with our friends :) We both look forward to tasting the galette, but really I'm saving plenty of room for a sweet crêpe ;) Edited: We went back with our friends tonight, and while I enjoyed my sweet crepe immensely and will in fact be paying a visit to their store to purchase some of the caramel sauces for myself, I found the Galette just OK. Additionally, I preferred the cider at Creperie Suzette over the two different ones we had at Breizh (although that didn't stop me from drinking a few glasses ;))</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we had galettes at one and crêpes at the other, it is hard to make a direct comparison. Prices are approximately the same. Breizh Cafe is larger and did offer a wilder selection of both galettes and crêpes, as well as offering oysters and having Breton dishes. Both located in Le Marais. See links for more information.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuJk_kkFG_NgPiOfg_K4eels4aqUnLnooZmVqAZEzPaAhcxjAHmc47eqfzVGWrR_bMayEONMQgopzefDlTq_Bg8c6mYBkSiueiWc83JX-_bnocIxdg3Ftqu2AmynC69VJ_0ACE5xXKZs/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuJk_kkFG_NgPiOfg_K4eels4aqUnLnooZmVqAZEzPaAhcxjAHmc47eqfzVGWrR_bMayEONMQgopzefDlTq_Bg8c6mYBkSiueiWc83JX-_bnocIxdg3Ftqu2AmynC69VJ_0ACE5xXKZs/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brunch doesn't seem the easiest meal to find here in France, and we knew that we wanted brunch or close to it on Easter Sunday. We were already on the Left Bank for church, and we didn't want to head back to our district too soon. Guillaume can be quite talented at finding the perfect restaurant, and his skills didn't disappoint on Sunday. It was a little bit of a walk, and I was wearing heels (which was a terrible mistake on my part, and my feet were still paying the price a good 5 days after the jaunt)!! We stopped in at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Coutume/info">Coutume Cafe</a>. It is located in the 7th, on rue de Babylone and offered a delicious and large brunch. We both chose the formule which included three veinnoiserie each (served with an absolutely delicious rhubarb jam) , a hot drink, fresh squeezed orange juice, and a warm breakfast which included bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, a jacket potato with a pesto garlic cheese and toast. It was far too much for me to eat, and looking back Guillaume could have easily shared the breakfast and ordered additional drinks. It wasn't cheap, but it was good. The option we went with cost 30 Euro. We definitely want to return, having found the place to be modern yet quaint. The service was prompt, and even though they were busy I appreciated the fact that they didn't rush us out (which is the case in most all the restaurants we've frequented since we've been here).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUBbA8tePqPK9ANCaUp0ZgJZt6uq7TNr6cssGoJwSPfuYuIvHGC3FtvCRaz1mwu6xIEOsmooVHOdC5CNbISnxUJQTpRq1vQGOUbxkGeCimj9Ix8y9MPF5ZhIjeP8XyP3a-YwaVIBQYKw/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUBbA8tePqPK9ANCaUp0ZgJZt6uq7TNr6cssGoJwSPfuYuIvHGC3FtvCRaz1mwu6xIEOsmooVHOdC5CNbISnxUJQTpRq1vQGOUbxkGeCimj9Ix8y9MPF5ZhIjeP8XyP3a-YwaVIBQYKw/s320/IMG_1019.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Again, during our wanderings over the weekend we walked along rue des Rosiers and the smell of falafels flirted with our senses. We walked again along here on Monday, and I just could not get the tantalizing aroma to leave my senses. So, Tuesday night I had something on late and hadn't eaten dinner beforehand. Walking home, we detoured along rue Rosier and "The King of Falafels" ( <span style="background-color: #e5e3df; font-size: 13px;">26 Rue des Rosiers </span><span style="background-color: #e5e3df; font-size: 13px;">75004 Paris, France)</span> was open. I ordered the falafel pita to go, and it was delicious. A little tricky to eat on the go (and with braces), but it was full of flavor and it was the perfect late night "snack!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had walked our friends along the same street, and the aromas flirted with them also and like with me it stuck in the senses. Today our mission was to enjoy a falafel plate at lunch. We stopped in at "Mi Va Mi," (<span style="background-color: #e5e3df; font-size: 13px;">23 Rue des Rosiers </span><span style="background-color: #e5e3df; font-size: 13px;">75004 Paris, France)</span> and rather than attempt to eat and walk (and stay warm) we enjoyed the meal at the table inside. It has a fun and colorful interior. It has a bank of booths along one wall, and a u shaped kitchen/counters on the other side and tables in the middle. As such, it is not the roomiest of restaurants (but honestly no where seems to be here so far). I ordered a falafel pita and G had the plate combo plate (including a turkey skewer, spicy sausages, and beef patties), it was served with fries, hummus, salad, tomatoes, cucumber and eggplant. It was a LOT of food. I enjoyed my pita, feeling at first that the one I had had the other night was better. However, the more of the "white" sauce I added the more I enjoyed the pita. I think that for the "to go" option they add the sauce themselves, and as such provide a greater quantity than I knew to distribute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Using Yelp as our guide, we had found a restaurant with vegetarian options. It was just so so, and the so so because G enjoyed his steak. I ordered a chicken breast with a honey and spice sauce and pureed potatoes. The chicken was bland, the sauce more of a glaze and the potatoes just so-so!! I wanted to enjoy it more, as I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant, but it wasn't too be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Additional food stops:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apparemment-cafe.com/accueil.html">L`apparemment</a> - we stopped in for dessert and coffee. We would like to return for a meal, or to linger longer with out dessert. They provide soft leather arm chairs, and it was nice to relax in such a setting. We all had the chocolate mousse which was delicious and it was nice to relax in armchairs :) It is in Le Marais, near Breizh Cafe.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiELPeg6MW9_flplx_ltUb9EOsDPjRQzoqIligdHwHCaPjhyphenhyphenwTseV6tdBLzaRdap8uLQBAdRUzx9x7Tle6KyDSxE3oqYEi0wA3SzIt711M4ckNV1-XH7WqtzEfBkshjA2LE-3Np8TjzM/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiELPeg6MW9_flplx_ltUb9EOsDPjRQzoqIligdHwHCaPjhyphenhyphenwTseV6tdBLzaRdap8uLQBAdRUzx9x7Tle6KyDSxE3oqYEi0wA3SzIt711M4ckNV1-XH7WqtzEfBkshjA2LE-3Np8TjzM/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d719447-Reviews-Le_Temps_des_cerises-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">Les Temps des Cerises</a> - good, but not great. Our bustling neighborhood bistro. We will return :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sip - chain bistro. I think it was what I ordered because G had steak frites and had a good meal. The fries were thick and tasty. I had the goat cheese torte served with a salad. The salad was iceberg lettuce, which just isn't my favorite. The torte wasn't what I expected, and the egg and cheese had separated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.painvinfromage.com/fr/index.htm">Vin Pain Fromage</a> - another one in our neighborhood (boy, are we spoilt)!!! The ultimate fondue restaurant. We went here with friends, and the men had a meat fondue and the ladies a cheese. It was delicious!!! The simple green salad that accompanied the fondue had a delicious dressing. Good cheese, good wine and the boys really enjoyed having meat ;)</span><br />
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<br />Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-78421698409445723002013-04-06T12:54:00.000-07:002013-04-06T12:54:01.892-07:00Photo Dump<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As to not overwhelm my Facebook and IG feed I don't post all my photos on those sites. Check out some photos from the past week below!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A couple of pics at the Trocadero </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(looking out at the Eiffel Tower)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>This girl was probably about 9 years old, fully decked out with cute boots, coat, Louis Vuitton bag, and her personal smart phone camera!!!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Still not sure about this one....he was wearing a horse's head?!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the apartment</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy7o2dY3VkPme7-8gxE0HowZvtKl5iUZlQYKugeJpOEq9f_BwvKCN8ITWHWfHvFcS3cP0ulkFeMO91W3p64Mu_TpKNf7QEqv3Yjo-nkn85-osPH-8N1Y_jdhFG7vigU15d2ZCIw-eVRI/s1600/IMG_0968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy7o2dY3VkPme7-8gxE0HowZvtKl5iUZlQYKugeJpOEq9f_BwvKCN8ITWHWfHvFcS3cP0ulkFeMO91W3p64Mu_TpKNf7QEqv3Yjo-nkn85-osPH-8N1Y_jdhFG7vigU15d2ZCIw-eVRI/s320/IMG_0968.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>This just makes me laugh....we're sitting in the apartment, chilling and we're all on an Apple device (photo taken with an iPhone!!!)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>View from the bedroom window...AND sunshine!!! </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out and About</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Enjoying a crêpe and the view</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gas pump on the side of the road</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Flowers.....even though it would seem as if Paris is refusing to permit Spring its full rights, I enjoy picking a weekly bouquet of flowers!!!</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-77138149964118800902013-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:002013-04-06T09:53:00.697-07:00MIA<div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Monday friends arrived to stay with us for the week, on Tuesday I started my French class and well, the week just simply got away from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The city garbage trucks follow a pretty regular schedule, and at 8am you hear them collecting the rubbish. Additionally, our apartment is near at least two schools, maybe three and every morning save Wednesdays the street is full of the excited chatter of school children. Monday morning we awoke to silence, Monday was a holiday and the morning's sounds were absent :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our friends arrived mid afternoon, and leaving G to work we headed out for a stroll along the Seine. We walked all the way to the Eiffel Tower, enjoying the blue skies and the sunshine (a rare occurrence these days). My friend and I had stayed in Paris before either of us were married, and one incredibly hot afternoon we sat in the shade of the Trocadero for about 6 hours waiting for it to get dark. On this visit, we happily staged a photo on "our" spot, and enjoyed some people watching (see next post for some pics of the crazies).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tuesday I started my French classes at the Alliance Française (I'll write a separate post about my first week). My mornings are spent in class (9-1PM) every day, and the afternoons are mine to explore, rest, etc :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've enjoyed some great meals out with our friends, exploring more of our neighborhood, and hoping that Spring really does arrive soon :)</span></div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-69130707387613465192013-04-02T08:03:00.002-07:002013-04-02T08:03:18.932-07:00To The Moon And Back: Mon Miel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How do I count the ways I love this man...just thinking of him brings tears to my eyes. Believe me, we've had our moments and still do, but being here in Paris, in France just the two of us...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. He made a dream came true...living in Paris is my dream, and he made it come true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. He is continuing to encourage me to pursue all my dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. On my first day of French school/class he got up early with me, went and bought the croissants, and walked me to the Metro station.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Same first day of school, he met me at the end of the session for lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. He only laughed a little bit when I cried on the first day of my French class!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. He works!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. Expanding on "6" - he is working every day at home, giving me the flexibility to take classes, wander the streets, eat pastries, and pursue my dreams!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. He vacuums!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. He is a tech genius and even though Netflix and ABC player don't work in France, he in his geniuses has it working for us (sometimes you need a little English talkie talkie!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10. He fixes my phone and my laptop and has learnt to tolerate my organizational skills in regarding contacts and photos :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0shZ4KXNwewv9BCKxfoRGZFoESniCRtp2-om0_rJLyLwAVbNTiitAABkRCjuqH3zxL3nX94R7A7yReriDKZAJy3iXhdnVBn-t4hbPoamkzheAClLUYj9oWC2bo9jS5Pi7FaaafABUZZw/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0shZ4KXNwewv9BCKxfoRGZFoESniCRtp2-om0_rJLyLwAVbNTiitAABkRCjuqH3zxL3nX94R7A7yReriDKZAJy3iXhdnVBn-t4hbPoamkzheAClLUYj9oWC2bo9jS5Pi7FaaafABUZZw/s320/IMG_0915.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My sweet man expresses his love best in action, and well I would say he loves me!!! He is "Mon Miel et J'aime lui à la lune et reculer."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">#keepforwhenwerefigthing ;) #yeswereneedsanapostrophe </span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-54823151938876118742013-04-01T04:13:00.000-07:002013-04-01T04:13:26.731-07:00Weekend Wanderings Part 1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpPdmMA6_1fufskylrRVLInvUcv5s-L_AiAbQtueICOSjHMgVJXtvvS-AXOOoHvUDnv5bS5C6WsYCdZ4p8O3gYOUYoNmrBxy2AjDsZVqf_PryBH0BQXVBYKPDOoPbheaMsoFtNNrdtok/s1600/IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpPdmMA6_1fufskylrRVLInvUcv5s-L_AiAbQtueICOSjHMgVJXtvvS-AXOOoHvUDnv5bS5C6WsYCdZ4p8O3gYOUYoNmrBxy2AjDsZVqf_PryBH0BQXVBYKPDOoPbheaMsoFtNNrdtok/s320/IMG_0783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He was let out!!!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While G works hard during the week and I get to wander and explore solo, the weekends are ours to spend together and see what mischief we can get up to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saturday we had decided to explore our own neighborhood, we're minutes away from place des Vosges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As handy as the phone is, and as extent as my notes are on places to visit, see and do I did give in and purchased a Lonely Planet book about Paris. Mostly for the map (as my phone wasn't on the data plan to begin with), but it is also handy as it gives some history of the places and recommended walks/tours. We took advantage of being just minutes from the place des Vosges, and walked the Medieval Meanderings Tour (backwards). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We started with the Hôtel de Sully, walked through the "secret" door into the place des Vosges, and gradually made our way to the Musée Carnavalet (which is housed in the Hôtel Carnavalet and Hôtel Le Peletier). The place des Vosges was originally named the Royale, and is the oldest square in Paris. It was commissioned by King Henry IV in the early 17th Century. Following the King, the Aristocrats built "Hôtels" so they too could stay in the area. (Hôtels = fancy houses for the rich ;0)! The place des Vosges received its name because the Vosges (administrative) department was the first the to pay their taxes, see good things can come to those that pay ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was COLD (so cold, that later in the day we had a mini snow flurry), so we didn't stand around and appreciate the place des Vosges in its entirety. I would imagine as Spring fully breaks through, that it will be quite the beautiful place to enjoy a book and cáfe on the terraces. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_49J4wEZ7-ABDlVkB5K-2cGAXgtrGYQeINhudxiIbyXH4WZbdLR2H24bh8RPxsHz7g7jV0TWcIWjqznFX-w2jrj0_invu0FnM67BXeoZvX1K82VZO-8LTyzCENQFTRdW1GpNtmtGNmCU/s1600/IMG_0820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_49J4wEZ7-ABDlVkB5K-2cGAXgtrGYQeINhudxiIbyXH4WZbdLR2H24bh8RPxsHz7g7jV0TWcIWjqznFX-w2jrj0_invu0FnM67BXeoZvX1K82VZO-8LTyzCENQFTRdW1GpNtmtGNmCU/s320/IMG_0820.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We continued our walk, and found ourselves at the entrance for the Musée Carnavalet, a museum that houses 600,000 pieces of art in the permanent collection and is free to the public (as are other City Museums). There were som</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e beautiful pieces, and we not only enjoyed the warmth but also the display of art. Some of my favorites were the few Impressionist pieces, as well as the room on the Bastille. A period of French history I would like to read more about, and made all the more interesting as again we are just a few minutes walk from the Bastille Monument.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXy_Ruu55HQIQghS8J_Gf8SGh6BXwK8zK2wGoC8QDtJgkgQdiv8fvp9wXjI7dXDbtjrUyxPi8OH6vKjp6nPPscfVygD8w76x8_lH8emXdTFnIaCocZEL9D_8t_qJw8q6GTeEHigcstW4/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXy_Ruu55HQIQghS8J_Gf8SGh6BXwK8zK2wGoC8QDtJgkgQdiv8fvp9wXjI7dXDbtjrUyxPi8OH6vKjp6nPPscfVygD8w76x8_lH8emXdTFnIaCocZEL9D_8t_qJw8q6GTeEHigcstW4/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpCfnMfd-LS_rKRIJuO9gbaUZ7IYxkJA0xvtT-5UxWU5p-uVp7bFWHhGgG6ykOwEoTf_0Q7x6TSy0kVYKUwjdPR0FTmQLZPUSj8MM3PzZ0gS5W6WFOWB27RMUWm2YD3MjkzD1XX7mL1U/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpCfnMfd-LS_rKRIJuO9gbaUZ7IYxkJA0xvtT-5UxWU5p-uVp7bFWHhGgG6ykOwEoTf_0Q7x6TSy0kVYKUwjdPR0FTmQLZPUSj8MM3PzZ0gS5W6WFOWB27RMUWm2YD3MjkzD1XX7mL1U/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO3C93eVlbyn7gB4JjlNN6qa7S0CtpMtCa7TSJt7KJgPQtspsQo0Nchs3TPYU9Sso0FdPIq_L13VxndjCyh3lIEo3M4Vb_6P53wAqnT-rSqZb9HgWDSzJA0wwgry5b2CT_VJEXryRSPU/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO3C93eVlbyn7gB4JjlNN6qa7S0CtpMtCa7TSJt7KJgPQtspsQo0Nchs3TPYU9Sso0FdPIq_L13VxndjCyh3lIEo3M4Vb_6P53wAqnT-rSqZb9HgWDSzJA0wwgry5b2CT_VJEXryRSPU/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Both G and I agreed we would like to return to the museum and pay for the audio guide, it's a good thing we're close!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stopping for a relatively inexpensive yet tasty lunch we enjoyed galettes with hard cider at Crepes Suzette. We continued our wanderings, checking out some very cool streets in the Le Marais and vowing to return to some delicious looking food stands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More wandering, crossing over to and through Village St Paul, back over again to find Breizh Café for Crepes and a coffee. It was a crepe kind of day!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a rather pleasant day avec mon miel!!</span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-7276643584351972372013-03-30T23:45:00.000-07:002013-03-31T23:46:19.172-07:00Le 6 Paul Bert: A Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewPXukyAwF3Qczd-cdu-_gNOvecNcfaOGZjc6ByTZB0ciWwgAF4hLddjOgoSDG_9TJaoeQDbp7hQhq1OwH9n5Egqka4ZiZcX9d5xg0Ntl-GjKAnFIz9ImpClkC-_47ym12ykzKglbD1s/s1600/IMG_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewPXukyAwF3Qczd-cdu-_gNOvecNcfaOGZjc6ByTZB0ciWwgAF4hLddjOgoSDG_9TJaoeQDbp7hQhq1OwH9n5Egqka4ZiZcX9d5xg0Ntl-GjKAnFIz9ImpClkC-_47ym12ykzKglbD1s/s320/IMG_0750.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been following <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/">David Lebovitz's blog</a> for some time and now that we're actually living in Paris for 3 months, I'm eager to follow up on many of his recommendations. Just this week David </span><a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2013/03/6-paul-bert-paris-restaurant/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">posted</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> a review and recommendation of Le 6 Paul Bert.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7pq163QpR0zPgIrmPQTsv_UamPErETWBX5RVIIRosDlN6ttBwi6PW9D7tjUA-5k5wnDXU9t6zWU3N3EZjlzk0cCd6xla0SNLrHf-9t1h3xJdDbZkYRaaT3mRUy3a73GKGYsQtOSwE_w/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7pq163QpR0zPgIrmPQTsv_UamPErETWBX5RVIIRosDlN6ttBwi6PW9D7tjUA-5k5wnDXU9t6zWU3N3EZjlzk0cCd6xla0SNLrHf-9t1h3xJdDbZkYRaaT3mRUy3a73GKGYsQtOSwE_w/s320/IMG_0753.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were woefully early, even for our reservation which was on the early side. So early, that the staff were still finishing their pre service meal.;) They very nicely sat us, served as an aperitif and a small plate of their salami (which was delicious)!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The front half of the restaurant is a small <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; line-height: 19.1875px;">épicerie, where they sell charcuterie, oils, pasta, piment d'espelette, and so forth. The kitchen is small and open at the back of the kitchen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; line-height: 19.1875px;">We ordered the forumule where we chose 3 savory dishes and 1 dessert, 38 euros.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; line-height: 19.1875px;">Carpaccio de maigre, pourtargue, babeurre et grissini</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">Tartare de veau, chops de pain, oignons fumés et piments (veal tartare)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">Longe d'agneau, endive rôtie et olives (Loin of lamb, roasted endive with olives)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObPS8WmElW3GsXNUGezKOn6fniz0s77MhBTuZsUHQ6Imgb55cBGy9QoZrs6EkHy5gt9UPs3vqxEwlrYJeSf_xnoP9l59RsEnExyYB3Fv-c_iEX-22XTZcu0J0fxo8V70xiJ1Vac1t5xw/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObPS8WmElW3GsXNUGezKOn6fniz0s77MhBTuZsUHQ6Imgb55cBGy9QoZrs6EkHy5gt9UPs3vqxEwlrYJeSf_xnoP9l59RsEnExyYB3Fv-c_iEX-22XTZcu0J0fxo8V70xiJ1Vac1t5xw/s320/IMG_0778.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Asperges des Alpilles, mayonnaise fumé, haddock et oeuf vapeur (asparagus, smoked mayo, haddock and egg yoke)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">I was most unprepared for this dish, having not translated all the components prior to the dish being served. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, with a slight bite. The dish was lukewarm, and the flavors of the egg yoke and smoked mayo rounded out the dish.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">The saltiness of the olives with the roasted endive, and the melt in your mouth butter lamb with a crispy smokey layer of fat was a great way to end the savory part of the meal.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">As much as I like chocolate, I almost preferred G's. The lemon cannoli was refreshing and paired with the fromage blanc sorbet served as good palette cleanser as well as ending the meal on a nice sweet note.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">The bread was delicious, especially the piment d'espelette one :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Both G and I enjoyed our meal, and if there weren't so many other restaurants to try we would come back (and might still)!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;">6, rue Paul Bert (11th)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;">01 43 79 14 32</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Métro: Faidherbe-Chaligny</span></div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-15347776404565612532013-03-29T01:00:00.000-07:002013-03-29T01:00:07.206-07:00Keeping It Real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HmIcMvdA7-VzSHBKYQZZi6mE7AU-hedP-9UsIkX0oUhPy18V_4ZsWqsFI10ZXYRjJrEvQhmg095u5i-43g-hewNo8NPHEAdjMU0h6gCMcVjwp2d-KTzxa-HsrDdpx2cr3j0t_OOGRw/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HmIcMvdA7-VzSHBKYQZZi6mE7AU-hedP-9UsIkX0oUhPy18V_4ZsWqsFI10ZXYRjJrEvQhmg095u5i-43g-hewNo8NPHEAdjMU0h6gCMcVjwp2d-KTzxa-HsrDdpx2cr3j0t_OOGRw/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There's little wiggle room in the complaint department while you're living in Paris, not having to work (and I am aware of that), but argh my braces are just about going to drive me batty again. I had been doing rather well with coping with the invasion of metal in mouth, but in order to minimize the movement of my teeth while away for 6 months (my ortho wasn't exactly thrilled that I would be leaving the country for 6 months) and as such, I won't be having monthly adjustment visits. So, the Monday before we departed for France I had my last orthodontist appointment for 6 months and rather than rubber bands wrapped around the metal braces, they wrapped metal wires around each brace. The taste of metallic is strong in my mouth!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In other news, and keeping with the theme...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4olbogLJ-PDoN22E1Awfv0C5u8WlmLkccoo6eOFda8qGFBId5CrOwsKgBReSMHQSaOBCMJXTdL8NTxF-ENxlUZXg_3LGfIM-7grbiFGPdG-K6oqOsqT9IGwRBhKkeVJ6s96hlrZR8MFI/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4olbogLJ-PDoN22E1Awfv0C5u8WlmLkccoo6eOFda8qGFBId5CrOwsKgBReSMHQSaOBCMJXTdL8NTxF-ENxlUZXg_3LGfIM-7grbiFGPdG-K6oqOsqT9IGwRBhKkeVJ6s96hlrZR8MFI/s320/IMG_0680.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a fun morning exploring yet another market (Marché Bastille, or Richard Lenoir), this one is by far the best. Lots of selections. I successfully asked for my goods in French. I really need to practice my numbers. I have a hard time hearing/understanding the amount. I picked up some pomme de terres Charlotte (potatoes), deux poireaux (two leeks), Frisee, fraises, quatre crottin de chèvre (4 poops of goat cheese), San Danielle, and Frais Tagliatelle (the vendor here gave me deux tiramisu as a cadeau) ;) I also picked up some Paté en Croute, Friande (basically a sausage roll). We enjoyed some of this accompanied by some of the cheese we picked up the other day from famous Parisian Fromager <a href="http://www.fromagelaurentdubois.com/#/?contenu=accueil">Laurent Dubois</a>, for lunch.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap5bTWGYgdXlG-Qx3acpXm-eyP5DX3s3bT7qQzL1CTPuX6CfwBJIq268d1rbA4zQ8kCKkxfjI4Qyr4sEj_kr_vvNUsaSem6eueAwL7LTkW_sVngQsajSCj0BvTgsby1hHmn__8LXGJY0/s1600/IMG_0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap5bTWGYgdXlG-Qx3acpXm-eyP5DX3s3bT7qQzL1CTPuX6CfwBJIq268d1rbA4zQ8kCKkxfjI4Qyr4sEj_kr_vvNUsaSem6eueAwL7LTkW_sVngQsajSCj0BvTgsby1hHmn__8LXGJY0/s320/IMG_0675.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Laurent Dubois holds the highly coveted Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF), Best Craftsman in France. The MOF is a competition held in France wherein craftsman within their trade compete for the title of MOF. A pretty big deal around here!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kingsofpastry.com/">Kings of Pastry</a> is an excellent movie/documentary highlighting the journey of pastry makers as they compete for the honor of MOF.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkZhMJ0kxSWkj-nCEOz1wD1Ykip0QwQDOlNHozovHi2xsmesgKR7gpbcL1poUrPY1XDwou4wH66jtCYk0sUyrWznYIsP23de4d8IbPwG8ezoGos-UwX8r7xqCfOPBe4FXmf6zKCDnKlE/s1600/IMG_0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkZhMJ0kxSWkj-nCEOz1wD1Ykip0QwQDOlNHozovHi2xsmesgKR7gpbcL1poUrPY1XDwou4wH66jtCYk0sUyrWznYIsP23de4d8IbPwG8ezoGos-UwX8r7xqCfOPBe4FXmf6zKCDnKlE/s320/IMG_0683.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then I hit a wall...I think my long sojourn the day before caught up with me, the travel, the sleepless nights, the fact that I am in Paris (LOTS of emotions with that one, I can tell you), plus the tiniest washing machine and no dryer (something so very inconsequential and nothing terrible) and I just felt the energy drain from me. I curled up on the couch and within minutes I was asleep, and slept for 2 hours. A nap can cure nearly all that ails ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Á bientôt!!</span><br />
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-53472243259544689552013-03-28T01:00:00.000-07:002013-03-28T01:00:07.151-07:00Just Be
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB47WGeB36Aex13suCzGRZUCCcEg6XvZCPG0fqgPkIQjEp76KgmQhYuEk9T445ym6qaYJ5qMyYqiSexm-drHfMLj6J8GsRx_X5-IL8A4PA0w0hqsDA9s3z-aGl3huI0w5K4InSFgt49R0/s1600/IMG_0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB47WGeB36Aex13suCzGRZUCCcEg6XvZCPG0fqgPkIQjEp76KgmQhYuEk9T445ym6qaYJ5qMyYqiSexm-drHfMLj6J8GsRx_X5-IL8A4PA0w0hqsDA9s3z-aGl3huI0w5K4InSFgt49R0/s320/IMG_0647.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I almost don’t know what to do with myself. In the weeks leading up to moving to France, I quit both my jobs and although one was 16 hours and the other 14-16, my weeks were full, my days long and I was constantly on the go, seeing people, baking for church, working, or barely managing to keep up with household chores (which is more a matter of dislike than time)!!! Now, we’re living in a 700 square foot apartment, which means minimal clean up, I’m not working, I don’t know anyone, I have no commitments (save feeding my husband ;)), and my responsibilities include learning French and, well that’s it really!!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Granted I am only a few days into this chapter of life, and next week I both start daily 4 hour French classes and we have guests, so I am sure next week will be a different story. I have pages of places to explore, and lists of attractions I want to do but right now I feel in a trance, a time warp so to speak. Living in this time continuum, life is going on as normal back in California, and we (with some effort) pulled out of the tapestry of California and are weaving a new story.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s a great personal experiment of learning to just BE. To be with myself, to be with God, to be with G (who will no doubt wish very soon that I’ll be elsewhere). He has to work, and will do so mainly from home, so the idea is for me to make myself scarce during the day as much as possible. Although, the plan is also for him to work in one of the two bedrooms in the apartment as to let me have the freedom to roam in the front space. All elements that are being ironed out, and will change day to day, and week to week depending on weather, activities, work load (for him), visitors (we have guests next week like I mentioned, then G’s dad for a day, my aunt and uncle for a weekend, my nan, more friends mid May, and another set of friends at the end of May. Plus, we are hoping to make it to Strasbourg at least once a month, as well as a few weekend visits of our own). </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh wait, what was I saying...oh yeah, just being, no commitments....:)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFXNTScFWSyZwp4Ew7y6ShG6fILnlooob9XKGWbgtLodx4RJW1Ic7RGdtFcvIoMnW9iZsZ7ERifGmwLxbM9t7KHKg18xiRW416HyIs71ynOxe29cQ2cnQT0sKQIu8hNZPqdwod_8_ppM/s1600/IMG_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFXNTScFWSyZwp4Ew7y6ShG6fILnlooob9XKGWbgtLodx4RJW1Ic7RGdtFcvIoMnW9iZsZ7ERifGmwLxbM9t7KHKg18xiRW416HyIs71ynOxe29cQ2cnQT0sKQIu8hNZPqdwod_8_ppM/s320/IMG_0584.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday was an excellent example of “just being” though. Besides my plan to make it to the school to collect my materials, I could just “be” with me. The whole being on my own, for that whole time with minimal interaction did get a little weird. Even I can only take so much of myself ;) Towards the end of my loooong walk, I realized I was talking to myself and not just in my head, but out loud. I would be standing at the crossing, waiting for the magical green man (because I can assure, unless you are absolutely certain there aren’t any cars, you do NOT want to go without the green man’s go ahead and even then, it is a little dodgy) and I could hear someone speaking, saying something like “Wait for it, wait for it, GO!!” I quickly realized that this person was ME!! So I think things could get very interesting!!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Á bientôt mes amis!!</span></span></div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-24233145854333027052013-03-27T14:45:00.000-07:002013-03-27T14:45:00.712-07:00Directionally Challenged<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a simple plan today, I would walk from our place to the Place Monge where I would have a quick look at the market, then I would quickly walk to Alliance (the French school, where I'll begin classes next week), from there I would stroll towards the Eiffel Tower, slowly making my way home again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In theory, I did just that. However, in practice I expertly got myself lost, added an extra loop (or two) along the way, and was out for 6 hours and upon returning home felt like my feet would fall off!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See map below:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTpw8zqSrY01KFkaDCx2DvNvKQQtteuiKOdReR-izic-VYlsCLzryntuFjS-CSPq6AZxn3aI8ETpFIWpj30BaGheUrMUvheGUdSPJk_V55IExgJU2O8ribGklKpldcp1Wxxph7_93mWg/s1600/lost+in+paris+edited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTpw8zqSrY01KFkaDCx2DvNvKQQtteuiKOdReR-izic-VYlsCLzryntuFjS-CSPq6AZxn3aI8ETpFIWpj30BaGheUrMUvheGUdSPJk_V55IExgJU2O8ribGklKpldcp1Wxxph7_93mWg/s640/lost+in+paris+edited.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did have a map, not a good one and unfortunately our phones aren't yet set up to work here (hopefully by the end of the week). As an aside, it is startling how much I rely on my phone - for entertainment (FB, IG), to share updates along the way, Maps, Google for information, addresses, places to see, etc. So it will be nice when I can have use of the phone while I am out and about. Although really, I doubt having the map on the phone would have helped too much. You see from the Market (which is B), I first went towards the right direction and for some reason I second guessed myself, and crossed down ending up at C (Jardin de Plantes), and then finally looping myself back in the right direction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a good lesson for me personally, one I've been reminded of a few times in recent months. I need to trust my instincts, and not doubt that I am making the right decision. Just like in my walk, I've ended up looping back to the same point and then going forward (adding unnecessary steps along life's way)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As to my explorations:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ9pgVVmTLmvrrK-ppj0jkSvES6rdLCPke7LGPaJEXpvqlF4qdpzf0YaGRUEOEb2umYogOzKqN1j2IQYaGJogfEAYp7kRaBoemHDbhn1ZFpi95HwRjcLUtqYYhNDCEpwIAHL3UzAq9LY/s1600/IMG_0641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ9pgVVmTLmvrrK-ppj0jkSvES6rdLCPke7LGPaJEXpvqlF4qdpzf0YaGRUEOEb2umYogOzKqN1j2IQYaGJogfEAYp7kRaBoemHDbhn1ZFpi95HwRjcLUtqYYhNDCEpwIAHL3UzAq9LY/s320/IMG_0641.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The market at Place Monge was definitely better than yesterday's market at Place Maubert. It had a wider selection, and more stalls. It will be interesting to see how the markets shift as Spring really sets in motion. Yesterday's boot purchase was a thankful addition to my "walk about" wardrobe, as highs in the mid 40s aren't exactly warm!! I did spot little traces of Spring, and again look forward to seeing how the approaching season changes the City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I retrieved my book and student ID for when I start French classes next week. I will be taking a class daily from 9-1PM, and I am not too sure what to expect. I am sure the class and my experience(s) will provide ample writing material (it has to be good for something, besides just learning French ;))!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlSyZQP7BPSDmqgHBOKZMVjBfw-ZuQm6i9u_8_f6aPkDJExSeInXzYOxnuNAkGtLxGggbK9K42QauikJswoemUzzGBxj1S-ash5dKbMrIVky8GReqrakOC2GkPGkUTAoXc3XPpw8d3Lk/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlSyZQP7BPSDmqgHBOKZMVjBfw-ZuQm6i9u_8_f6aPkDJExSeInXzYOxnuNAkGtLxGggbK9K42QauikJswoemUzzGBxj1S-ash5dKbMrIVky8GReqrakOC2GkPGkUTAoXc3XPpw8d3Lk/s320/IMG_0619.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feeling rather ravenous at this point, I eagerly looked for somewhere to eat. As if he was right beside me, I heard G's voice telling me not to pick some of the places I passed as they empty. I ate at a charming Brassiere, Le Raspail. I successfully asked for a table for "Une Personne," and ordered my "plat du jour," and my "un verre de vin." Baby steps people, baby steps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did then make way towards the Eiffel Tower, making a quick stop in the Le Bon Marche and snapping a quick photo of the USA aisle (corn syrup, marshmallow fluff - strawberry and regular, and peanut butter dominating the majority of the shelf)!! More on the Eiffel Tower later, she deserves her own post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At this point I was feeling the cold, realizing that I still had to get home, and starting to feel that I had spent enough time in my own head. About 30 - 45 minutes later (after walking along the Seine, crossing a bridge, and seeing another garden) I made it to the Rue du Rivoli (which I knew eventually - a long eventually mind you, led to the turn off for our street). Once on this street I practiced a little Parisian Chicken. I won 2 out of the 3!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Á bientôt!</span><br />
<br />Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-92095655395836142612013-03-26T10:15:00.000-07:002013-03-26T10:15:02.706-07:00The First Day!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Crossing "our" bridge to the Île St Louis, sunrise?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the whole sunrise over the City didn't pan out as it was a cloudy, overcast morning. I did however enjoy my walk, almost skipping as I went. In part because of the cold, but mostly because it is a surreal sensation to wake up and walk out onto the streets of Paris. We're staying on the Right Bank, so I crossed over to the Île St Louis, and walked along the Seine until I reached a street leading to Notre Dame. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First glimpse of the Tour Eiffel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From there I had my first glimpse of the Lady. She has always been one of my favorite things about the City, but I can tell that the neighborhoods around our place will fast become my favorite. Especially in the early hours, it feels cocooned from the rest of Paris. Following the Notre Dame, I crossed back over to the Right Bank and walked by the Hôtel de Ville and along the Rue du Rivoli, eventually leading all the way down to the Bastille and looping back home, stopping to pick up breakfast at our local Boulanger (which is conveniently located a stone's throw away from our place)!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">G on the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 37px; text-align: start;">Pont de l'Archevêché</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guillaume and I next went to get our Navigo passes (allowing for easier access to the Metro and the Velib (bikes), then we sauntered along to the Marche Maubert. The Marché Maubert is the oldest market in Paris, originally it was called Palu, and began in the 5th Century. In the mid 1500s it outgrew i</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ts location on l'Île de la Cité, and moved to the current location at Place Maubert in the 5th. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Things I learnt today...</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Self Portrait, I've never looked so awake<br />and happy at 630AM!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Word of the Day -- Panier: basket</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, our neighborhood is rather friendly and I everyone I encountered today was helpful and pleasant (except for the Monoprix Cashier). From the shoe shopkeeper who spoke English with me, to the Monoprix security man who taught me panier and helped me locate one, to the gentleman in the Boulangerie who offered to help carry one of my bags out of the store for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I need to buy a cart, if I plan to buy more than a bag or two of groceries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buying 5 overloaded bags of groceries, stopping at the boulangerie, and walking home was perhaps not the smartest idea. I need to rethink grocery shopping even more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you're awake at 330, and exploring by 630, by the time 12noon rolls around you're rather tired!!! Edited: I've made it to 130, but I think a nap is now necessary :) Edited 2: a nap was enjoyed, but boy is it hard to wake up from one!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paris is quite a bit colder than California, which I knew to expect, but expecting and experiencing are quite different!!! It's OK though, it meant I needed to buy some boots and at 50% off I'ld say it wasn't a bad thing ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">À bientôt!!</span><br />
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<br />Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-88620214307417484912013-03-25T22:02:00.000-07:002013-03-25T22:02:01.309-07:00Nous sommes arrivés en France
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/578204_10151489790723459_688876648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/578204_10151489790723459_688876648_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am sitting in the stillness, with a warm cup of tea and half a leftover pain aux raisin in the cozy confines of our Paris apartment!! Our French adventure has begun. We’ll be living in Paris for three months, followed by three months in the French Riviera. Jet Lag has won the first round. I’ve been awake since 330am, after giving in to sleep at 730 last night. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It hasn’t quite sunk in yet that for the next three months I’ll be calling Paris my home, and that this stable turned apartment is where I’ll reside with G. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thankfully we are off to fortuitous start, as the flight was smooth, customs posed no problems (except as a window into the French un-system)!, our luggage (all 7 pieces) made it, and our apartment and location is better than we could have hoped.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We explored but briefly yesterday, and today I look forward to venturing out and about and stocking up on some essentials and non essentials. It’s an odd feeling knowing that I won’t be working, and my commitments and responsibilities are minor. I’m eager to see where this journey takes us.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For today, I’ll settle for watching the sun rise over the City, croissants for breakfast, a little market shopping and unpacking my clothes.</span></span></div>
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<em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">à bientôt!!! </span></em></div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-25863722633525333532012-11-27T21:34:00.000-08:002012-11-27T21:34:48.179-08:00WaitingI'm eagerly awaiting news, news of an arrival, where delivery time is not a fixed variable!! One of my dear friends is at the hospital as I type, and as she wrote on Facebook just 20 minutes ago the delivery hasn't quite happened.<br />
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Throughout the day my friend has updated Facebook a little, sent some texts and I have to say it has been pretty fun to hear the updates (one in particular made me laugh out loud)! I'm eager for her and her husband to welcome their second little one into the world. I'm so happy for this family, and look forward to seeing how this family of 3 grows into a family of 4!<br />
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It's amazing the paths that friendships take through the years. I remember very clearly meeting this friend over 12 years ago (it was quite the introduction ;)), and I've been honored to stand up as a bridesmaid when she married, seen her become a mum for the first time, and now she's about to have her second child (literally about to, as just 2 minutes ago she sent a text saying, "It's go time!")<br />
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There are some friendships that exist for a season, some that are formed for a reason and then there are friendships that navigate the twists and turns of life. I've had friendships in each category, and when I look back at the various friends I'm thankful for the gift of each friendship in my life, for the times shared together, for the joy doubled, and the sorrow halved. There are some friends that I don't have contact with now, some that I stay abreast of the latest through Facebook (for that I am thankful for Facebook), and some I see regularly (or semi regularly as schedules permit).<br />
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Life events such as marriage and parenthood cause little shifts in the friendships, sometimes they form a closer bond, and sometimes they twist away for a season as the situations allow for personal growth.<br />
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My heart is truly full for my friend tonight. I'm grateful to share in my friend's joy, to celebrate this newness of life. I look forward to meeting her new little darling, and I equally look forward to seeing the friendship continue through the years, whatever twists and turns life may bring.<br />
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**As I type this she just texted me to say "It's go time!"**Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-32252926320711868282012-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:002012-11-13T13:46:52.450-08:00My Testimony<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A couple of weeks I had the opportunity to share my testimony and how my defining moments of life continuously loop back to a lesson in trusting God. Below is what I shared...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">TRUST - it's a lesson I've been learning for the past 18 years, and sadly one that doesn't come easy for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the Summer of 1995 I left all that was familiar and known to me, to move with my parents and brothers to a distant and foreign land, at least it felt that way to me. 17 years ago when we moved from England to San Jose, California I was on the cusp of my teenager years and the move was not an easy one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was the first "test" of my faith. I had pledged a commitment to God and His Son when I was just a young child and had enjoyed the security of a loving church home, school friends, and nearby family. For the first time my trust in the One I called Saviour was put on on the line. I couldn't stand the USA. I felt lost and alone, lonely and scared. It was difficult to make friends, and when I did speak up in class it was often met with either laughter or requests to repeat certain words (garage, vase, etc).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started to keep a diary and pages were filled with the aching question of why, why God? I couldn't understand, I couldn't see beyond my hurt and confusion to see the greater picture. The verse I felt God gave me during that season was Psalm 62:8, "Trust in Him at all times you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And pour I did. I might have still struggled with trusting, but I was great at pouring my heart out. I learnt that God was big enough to handle both my joy and anger, and He did become my refuge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May 1999 I sat, with my Mum by my side as the Doctor informed me that I would never be able to biologically bear a child. This news came as a crushing blow, to my again seemingly intact world. I had long dreamt of being a mother, and experiencing motherhood not just in the raising of the child but in being pregnant, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unlike during the move I didn't question God as to why, but I did feel like the carpet had been pulled out from under me. When you're 15 and told something that has the power to dramatically impact your future it is rather unsettling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would love to say that I trusted God without question, but I didn't. The questions came, the tears, the grief of what I felt lost almost suffocated me at times. I pledged I would never marry, because I couldn't see beyond my own heartache to realize that a man would love me for me, and not if I could bear him children. How wonderful that God is bigger than any pledge of mine, how marvelous that He could see beyond my hurt and sorrow, and could see the core of my heart - wherein lay my deepest and most richest desires. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's nugget of truth to me during this season was Isaiah 54:1, "Sing, O Barren woman, you who never bore a child: burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I somewhat begrudgingly trusted, and knew, truly knew that like God promises in Jeremiah 29:11 God did have a plan for me, and they were plans to prosper me and not harm me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just like that slinky that Bill has used to illustrate the circle, I looped back round to a lesson in trust in 2004. At this point I'd like to read the verse that precedes verses 7 & 8 in Jeremiah 17, verse 5 reads "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.'"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking back at the Spring and Summer of 2004 I don't feel I had turned away from the Lord, but I was certainly complacent in my role as a Christian. I worked, I served, and I interacted with primarily all Christians - and all at the church we attended at the time. Through a series of unfortunate events that transpired, I felt abandoned and betrayed by not only God Himself but by His people. In a very real way I was utterly lost. More than the situational differences that caused me angst back in '95, now I felt that the very core of who I was, was stripped bear and all that I believed in seemed futile. There was nothing left in me to trust, I didn't even trust myself, certainly did not trust others, and couldn't bring myself to actively trust God and in God and who He was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Following these events I left both the church and subsequently the job, and began a new job as a Nanny. The wonder and delight of a 4 month old and growing little girl worked miracles in my hardening heart. Her discovery of the world and her unconditional love was a salve to my broken heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After some months I gradually and with much trepidation began to attend a new church. My brother Ronnie was a part of the youth/young adult worship team, and I first went to support him. I just attended. I didn't serve. I purposely came a couple of minutes late and left straight away. I was still a little numb and honestly not just wary of "church" people, but of God also. Overtime my heart did soften, and again God spoke truth and life into my soul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My verses for this season were from Joel Chapter 2. Joel 2:12-13, "Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Verse 25, "I will repay you for the years the locust have eaten..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And repay God did. I had met Guillaume earlier through Ronnie, but it wasn't until I began my Return to God, His people and a season of serving that I began to know Guillaume and become friends with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a few months of friendship, the beginning of 2007 saw me seeing Guillaume in a new light. I admired him greatly and valued our friendship, but something beyond admiration had began to grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During my "Return" and Joel 2 moment, I had finally been honest with myself and God in expressing my deepest desire to be married, to have a family and I had handed it over to God with an open and ready heart to receive what was next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's where Guillaume came in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the Spring of '07, I knew that Guillaume was IT for me. I felt reassured in this, all except for the small matter of Guillaume not being completely on board!! Finally my years looping the slinky of trust came into effect, and for that whole summer I rested in the knowledge that God had my back. I'll admit I had twinges of doubt, and I vividly recall sitting at a stoplight and hearing God whisper, "Do you still trust me?" For almost four months Guillaume essentially courted me, yet without any verbal commitment. For all intent purposes we were just friends. Our friends asked me constantly what was going on, and I would answer honestly of beyond being friends, I don't know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then on October 30 2007, Guillaume told me he loved me, and we began a serious commitment/relationship. At this time I hadn't yet told Guillaume about not being able to have children, and on our second date sitting at the Lighthouse in Santa Cruz, with my heart beating rapidly I told him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking back I'm so thankful that God had truly gone before me. It could have gone a completely different way, but God knew and protected me in such a special way. He gave me one of the greatest gifts in giving me the love of a strong, patient, generous, loving, loyal man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here I am five years later, married for four years, sharing my testimony with you, and yes still looping the slinky of trust. I have in no means mastered the all important lesson of trust, trust in God. In fact most all of my defining moments center around trusting God. Ultimately I do, or at least try to. But it has taken a lot of valley walking through the shadows of death, to know I don't need to fear evil for Jesus Christ my Shepherd is with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through my lessons in trust I've expanded my knowledge of who God is. It's hard to trust, harder still when you don't know the One you're trusting. Who God is remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But who He reveals himself to be in each of us can be different in the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He's been my refuge, my comforter, my provider, my teacher, my God, my healer, my disciplinarian, my father, my joy and my strength. He's been and remains my Saviour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I encourage you to hold steadfast to the truth of who God has promised and is to YOU. He is your Alpha and Omega, He is your Saviour - always!!!</span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-20602636799861782392012-08-12T23:04:00.000-07:002012-08-12T23:04:23.897-07:00The Bright Side of Life<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorites from this week...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watching my husband watch Curiosity land on Mars</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Animals Climbing on this Handsome Man</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Getting a pedicure with a fun and fresh pattern and color</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Escaping (more to come on this) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Celebrating this special lady's 30th Birthday</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My new red trench coat....my first new coat in 8 years :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This lovely boy being back in San Jose and sleeping over with his Auntie Ellie and Uncle G</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnQwx3NQaw3CQvmYOW6LOsrzOPEKv_mKyGTlXSQIzuuj4ocurXgGgcrnIFRXt68OmLRKYqQ08Ow6IQauUq-b78p3HuMXJl1bgRXBUayD8BD_qHwSs1Z4U0UZmGKR637pmPtymT7MKuoo/s1600/IMG_6386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnQwx3NQaw3CQvmYOW6LOsrzOPEKv_mKyGTlXSQIzuuj4ocurXgGgcrnIFRXt68OmLRKYqQ08Ow6IQauUq-b78p3HuMXJl1bgRXBUayD8BD_qHwSs1Z4U0UZmGKR637pmPtymT7MKuoo/s320/IMG_6386.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Being successful at trying new recipes (Blueberry Coffee Cake, Nutella Banana Oat Cookies, and Pistachio Almond Bread with Lemon Glaze)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad6kMoH7sQW44ph9PP00RpP0PaA2GJIy9tAM6OMifj2JBUllLUJYp8xaxosZbggU1LYnFaEUl7c-UjF4mWunIOvO3zavVHRDIS-pjdD-1462ffddlPJGZKidJpb_1iYKtYkPhV4fWX4g/s1600/IMG_6270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad6kMoH7sQW44ph9PP00RpP0PaA2GJIy9tAM6OMifj2JBUllLUJYp8xaxosZbggU1LYnFaEUl7c-UjF4mWunIOvO3zavVHRDIS-pjdD-1462ffddlPJGZKidJpb_1iYKtYkPhV4fWX4g/s320/IMG_6270.JPG" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Climbing Trees and Hiking with these two Munchkins</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyds5duWNSK78qQz3SHiUtRra9deSfF1K0bS2gVpN8wYCTE3UgKbRcHtGkhYwbU03dDfzVPpvJlaLGXLNU320VmQxptf6S3ABWIgO6o65Slk1fppUvefAYzYJk_hQnp-tV17JKSFD8btA/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyds5duWNSK78qQz3SHiUtRra9deSfF1K0bS2gVpN8wYCTE3UgKbRcHtGkhYwbU03dDfzVPpvJlaLGXLNU320VmQxptf6S3ABWIgO6o65Slk1fppUvefAYzYJk_hQnp-tV17JKSFD8btA/s320/IMG_6410.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This duo of Handsome boys...hubby and nephew hanging out</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another week approaches, another opportunity to see the best in each moment....</span></i>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-85485899990191793232012-08-06T20:00:00.000-07:002012-08-06T20:00:04.272-07:00Metal Mouth Diaries 13<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>My Theory of Normal...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not exactly sure what day of the MMD I had this conversation with Guillaume, but it <i>was</i> last week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been finding it quite amusing when people tell me that I'll get used to the braces, but I think I'd rather not get used to them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't see having multiple foreign objects in your mouth, without option of removal except by the Orthodontist to be something normal and to be something that my mouth gets used to, but that's just me :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Day 13 and What I Miss...</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Running my tongue over my teeth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Being able to bite into pizza, sandwiches, crusty bread</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Being able to experience the full satisfaction of flossing my teeth without it taking nearly 15 minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Sleeping without wax (and metal) in my mouth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Kissing my husband, because right now it's just too weird to kiss with a mouth full of metal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Being able to eat foods without cutting them into bites (including but not limited to cupcakes)</span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-59556994491300196612012-08-05T22:00:00.000-07:002012-08-05T22:08:31.905-07:00August is Here<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This Week's Favorites</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Homemade (by my mum) English Style Strawberry Pie</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJbLXKX67CyXzi1_JZtsumc_lnbEMj1zFljiP69mDFeZ2g9kM7qBo0zp6XId6Qor2rvUJ-lSIoQvYwR9UbrhRwxrC_-2XCK04dAKLORwFnHrgVBHLDRu9UQDrbDiZRENVCYldzYwQd2w/s1600/IMG_6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJbLXKX67CyXzi1_JZtsumc_lnbEMj1zFljiP69mDFeZ2g9kM7qBo0zp6XId6Qor2rvUJ-lSIoQvYwR9UbrhRwxrC_-2XCK04dAKLORwFnHrgVBHLDRu9UQDrbDiZRENVCYldzYwQd2w/s320/IMG_6245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Holding Hands with my DH, watching the Olympics</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxS6UCgcyIwTpYPCWmduBraySumseK0PEDLeNB0XL4T8QWWMXwndzqrg4XHJHq3lphMlFNxpyL7-U4hsF7xglMYXggZJK-eq_5q2wBDXfrLnQPYJaZugyYLpCixuy7DEijaT_zZIl9A0/s1600/IMG_6253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxS6UCgcyIwTpYPCWmduBraySumseK0PEDLeNB0XL4T8QWWMXwndzqrg4XHJHq3lphMlFNxpyL7-U4hsF7xglMYXggZJK-eq_5q2wBDXfrLnQPYJaZugyYLpCixuy7DEijaT_zZIl9A0/s320/IMG_6253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trying a new <a href="http://www.originalgravitypub.com/">local restaurant</a> and enjoying both the food and drinks</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXHaDe5ocIDEP63S1Qw5ze0r9YagBRXuaAYtq-TnTYjKe54N77jfVs2msfnw8YpROZR-si2WT2TbP8r_C-A_gibM9cdwyo_F_Es_YEt-4kw-FnxjhQUCaKhDwBmYCyG_oWSbo5r2qO8U/s1600/IMG_6251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXHaDe5ocIDEP63S1Qw5ze0r9YagBRXuaAYtq-TnTYjKe54N77jfVs2msfnw8YpROZR-si2WT2TbP8r_C-A_gibM9cdwyo_F_Es_YEt-4kw-FnxjhQUCaKhDwBmYCyG_oWSbo5r2qO8U/s320/IMG_6251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Speaking of drinks, THIS lager</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Celebrating LOVE</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipsGefsB2r6hM-d8aMYY8_Sp76CiNIil-DQPT-A0ZxGjkJHCqJu3NqbBz6nMn-EJqymryEr-n4C42_sCTUVVJd06wICWy6IlTpjU5B0QVSSUOVaVknlhkyvLFon8aRlBqIsOzOemaNmU/s1600/IMG_6258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipsGefsB2r6hM-d8aMYY8_Sp76CiNIil-DQPT-A0ZxGjkJHCqJu3NqbBz6nMn-EJqymryEr-n4C42_sCTUVVJd06wICWy6IlTpjU5B0QVSSUOVaVknlhkyvLFon8aRlBqIsOzOemaNmU/s320/IMG_6258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vgjt-3novMT6kzYE_khgefp9vyBVVlhapvICm6re69J99CuFSXNIOko4WgaF7p3rEaq6gj6LMExp8D2n8H1DDQQUuIBOJE_1XzWRXNsW9ieIO6XZOuzY0DDn27Im48qHE3kwphsmmKE/s1600/IMG_6246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vgjt-3novMT6kzYE_khgefp9vyBVVlhapvICm6re69J99CuFSXNIOko4WgaF7p3rEaq6gj6LMExp8D2n8H1DDQQUuIBOJE_1XzWRXNsW9ieIO6XZOuzY0DDn27Im48qHE3kwphsmmKE/s320/IMG_6246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...with friends</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mm9gIqR_5nY9iVwdKrRbwkE21rfv5vU4FFh7tAQS_3OC-7AG240faJQ3gsI4n29kTl627s_RvZahx_PcBFvgkAWNqPTyKZwA6nBSNAxpeaEE0YSaTcQGd53QkC5dFu4ag8iMvg9rZWQ/s1600/IMG_6254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mm9gIqR_5nY9iVwdKrRbwkE21rfv5vU4FFh7tAQS_3OC-7AG240faJQ3gsI4n29kTl627s_RvZahx_PcBFvgkAWNqPTyKZwA6nBSNAxpeaEE0YSaTcQGd53QkC5dFu4ag8iMvg9rZWQ/s320/IMG_6254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiewkxh4INGNJjKe-JpdKSTWYJK9ozC7-zacs3TKeOn3UxrKeSPS0D7MXERfklxA-YBK5D6FjyFqvmI836IXvG8mgHgigptold8OP3MQspQvg_v1acPhWHGdiZysPy_ZFvsWISm3_ME3Q/s1600/IMG_6257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiewkxh4INGNJjKe-JpdKSTWYJK9ozC7-zacs3TKeOn3UxrKeSPS0D7MXERfklxA-YBK5D6FjyFqvmI836IXvG8mgHgigptold8OP3MQspQvg_v1acPhWHGdiZysPy_ZFvsWISm3_ME3Q/s320/IMG_6257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBwycDkr7RqUaWZ0uFRv81NCKl6KpJoB4EXIoJYJ7DAb941N2qhkqt5HksxzKGrt6iRD3vetISBZGXlTmWU4p4ydnD5lFsL6mSo9MPqwjFV9jLVAhhKFRo8qmhttX7vRkJxth95fa8B4/s1600/IMG_6260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBwycDkr7RqUaWZ0uFRv81NCKl6KpJoB4EXIoJYJ7DAb941N2qhkqt5HksxzKGrt6iRD3vetISBZGXlTmWU4p4ydnD5lFsL6mSo9MPqwjFV9jLVAhhKFRo8qmhttX7vRkJxth95fa8B4/s320/IMG_6260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-82830142184584214632012-08-04T22:48:00.000-07:002012-08-05T22:49:22.720-07:00Metal Mouth Diaries 10 and 11<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Days 10 and 11</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Friday was the first day that I felt slightly normal (which reminds me to share my theory of normal), but unlike days past I was able to make it past the 2 and even 4 o' clock mark - both had been witching hours for the braces. I still needed medicine in the evening, but I didn't have the intensity of the pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We went to Moveable Feast and although I was little hesitant at what I would eat, as long as I get something that I can cut up it works just fine. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 11</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We attended a wedding at Fortino Wineries, and I purchased a dress and hair piece that coordinated with the color of my braces. It was the first social event with the braces, and eating "real" food and keeping at bay my anxiety at having food hanging around in my braces. It was a fun evening, and despite or maybe in spite of the braces I rocked my dress and had fun on the dance floor :) (Check out my Favorite things for additional photos from the wedding).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ISvl77dJXra1bubFdsY56qawEyPbBTxFBJ4gLpiDhXfmG_yN3dwLweyH-lFlXC2UjLjtDk75Q_xQxR4d-TOg6tAjEmMI3raAX9TeAli-PWpbHYZ6KNcfGxseO0hZUv-gJwD9DwjgmMg/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ISvl77dJXra1bubFdsY56qawEyPbBTxFBJ4gLpiDhXfmG_yN3dwLweyH-lFlXC2UjLjtDk75Q_xQxR4d-TOg6tAjEmMI3raAX9TeAli-PWpbHYZ6KNcfGxseO0hZUv-gJwD9DwjgmMg/s320/IMG_6255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-41685464920676021392012-08-01T22:36:00.000-07:002012-08-05T22:37:32.139-07:00Metal Mouth Diaries 8<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 8</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not much more to say from yesterday, but wanted to post the picture of my cut up PBJ. Yes, it has come to eating a PBJ with a fork. At least I am getting my appetite back!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxVFhVCfx2AOibHw0NhpASfR4KBfqpBX3iNHKzGFpg6zqMgl3hviKumn8KmbAuEgk2mhHRV-hwdoaEI6RauAN8a17HfKQ1Vaj9vJepP9uI_5Bamtoyw5ctFMUFRMR138dIDuVwkVHoWI/s1600/IMG_6223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxVFhVCfx2AOibHw0NhpASfR4KBfqpBX3iNHKzGFpg6zqMgl3hviKumn8KmbAuEgk2mhHRV-hwdoaEI6RauAN8a17HfKQ1Vaj9vJepP9uI_5Bamtoyw5ctFMUFRMR138dIDuVwkVHoWI/s320/IMG_6223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-6364633253728472412012-07-31T22:32:00.000-07:002012-08-05T22:32:53.268-07:00Metal Mouth Diaries 7<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 7</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I've jumped to day 7, I didn't think anyone would really want to hear the daily grumblings, but believe me the daily grumblings have been there :)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting braces is one of those decisions you make because you know it is the right decision. My dentist even cheered when I told her, but even though it's "right", it wouldn't have been wrong <i>not</i> to get them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I made it to a week and I was still clamping at the bit to get them off. I was almost afraid to be perceived as a wimp to the ortho so I asked G if he would do it. My sweet husband made the call for me. I had sent G a list of my symptoms and he spoke to the Orthodontist and he wasn't surprised by any of the symptoms, and said the pain/discomfort is heightened as I am an adult and that I need to give it at least two weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's more than the physical now, it's a psycho-neurotic-emotional systematical breakdown of my system. Because of the initial pain, discomfort and anxiety I've tensed up my right shoulder (typical for me as that is where I keep all my stress). Clenching my jaw at night, etc so I don't sleep well, have nightmares, wake up sore. So I wake up in the morning, blame the braces and cycle continues. Supposedly I need to do things to relax, take my mind off the braces, reduce my anxiety. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/word-relax-on-beach-thumb9360664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.dreamstime.com/word-relax-on-beach-thumb9360664.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not sure how...any suggestions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Relaxing and holding the stress in my right side is not a new problem. In the past I've woken to pain in my hands to realize I've left nail indentations in the palm of my hands as I've fist gripped so strongly in my sleep.</span>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831747824187322352.post-28368283736525152952012-07-28T11:20:00.000-07:002012-08-05T21:16:28.919-07:0010 of my Favorite Things This Week<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few of my favorite things...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fresh cut roses</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This little 8 year old angel and how she is devouring the Harry Potter Series</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdVW4T7bed7pAUExmLQ24bmfNPyMfmMIa3DgWhsy41hzsF3JJY9Vc1EgW4US3AcEJnjCx22HcscjwwFfvntCfJXljoVvy2Cv1Ey1De4G9Wv8YzunljqOm1zKjLzfjbYfrB5edvtj7ptg/s1600/IMG_6187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdVW4T7bed7pAUExmLQ24bmfNPyMfmMIa3DgWhsy41hzsF3JJY9Vc1EgW4US3AcEJnjCx22HcscjwwFfvntCfJXljoVvy2Cv1Ey1De4G9Wv8YzunljqOm1zKjLzfjbYfrB5edvtj7ptg/s320/IMG_6187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jamba Juice bought with a JJ Gift Card from my Mum :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_U8Nob8jUEE4IYnBeS44-q8LBCfEYlOuYPjfuDe1l-VPWSVBnk3YGz_m0SmXXsI9SSk2xdEBCxoCyIfuFqPa_A03DpLEM2yvAIhEcdlR_9ukvmXaME2eWtTZCgxusG-gJRjC-qlBmC8/s1600/IMG_6183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_U8Nob8jUEE4IYnBeS44-q8LBCfEYlOuYPjfuDe1l-VPWSVBnk3YGz_m0SmXXsI9SSk2xdEBCxoCyIfuFqPa_A03DpLEM2yvAIhEcdlR_9ukvmXaME2eWtTZCgxusG-gJRjC-qlBmC8/s320/IMG_6183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How the sun hits our bookcase in the late afternoon, and on into evening as the sun sets</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQXEQE3a645Xr5rQEbNMjWOTyMyTd0bndZHAQzeyTjpnGXxKzrc9yJHiiicGA9UKzMQFwRWNwdn8IX5Bj7fBZtiWN1zFFp1uwgw8GP9PUSgm2BrtUwNv7MV6gvZXEiHUJx__0WJzpBFI/s1600/IMG_6184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQXEQE3a645Xr5rQEbNMjWOTyMyTd0bndZHAQzeyTjpnGXxKzrc9yJHiiicGA9UKzMQFwRWNwdn8IX5Bj7fBZtiWN1zFFp1uwgw8GP9PUSgm2BrtUwNv7MV6gvZXEiHUJx__0WJzpBFI/s320/IMG_6184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This smile, on this 5 year old boy!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwjIX_Qv8j6pkwAhLtczgWvlMZf3EpfBvCCTWUBa1UIY52h7nD1LZHmres9Xv1cuqceJPaW3xal1O_-N_M7z4Rk7iqtrPeE7MIrluiHHmOZY0W418UziYreswcCDFQMiRNX_C-vgNoZo/s1600/IMG_6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwjIX_Qv8j6pkwAhLtczgWvlMZf3EpfBvCCTWUBa1UIY52h7nD1LZHmres9Xv1cuqceJPaW3xal1O_-N_M7z4Rk7iqtrPeE7MIrluiHHmOZY0W418UziYreswcCDFQMiRNX_C-vgNoZo/s320/IMG_6188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My "keep my bottle of Rose cold at the table" bag</span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunflowers that stretch for the sun, and remind me that when we keep our eyes on the Son we too can stand strong and tall!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This Ice Cream from Trader Joe's is DELICIOUS and has been great to have on hand this week</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking down at my freshly painted toe nails and remembering the fun outing I had getting them prettied up!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Watching the 2012 Olympics Ceremony in London, England and having my heart skip an extra beat seeing my home country!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Experiencing issues with Blogger and editing the spaces and white highlight on text</span></i>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16141902687499710895noreply@blogger.com0