Trop Chaud

The Meghan, , 1 Comment

French Word(s) of the Day: trop chaud (troh show)- too hot 

 

Mother Nature has been testing us all with her heat waves.  Perhaps she’s trying to burn us all of the face of the Earth?  Because in case you were wondering, 100 degrees Fahrenheit is hot.

You know how much I love my lists, so here’s my handy-dandy Surviving a Scorching Summer guide (note: these are in no way environmentally friendly):

  1. Do not go outside
  2. Ever
  3. I mean it
  4. If you have to go outside, get ice cream.
  5. Or make friends with someone who has a pool.  Use them for their pool.
  6. Wear sunscreen.
  7. Don’t bother to make your hair look pretty; it won’t by the end of the day.  In fact, your hair may need sunscreen.  Indulge it.
  8. Get air conditioning.  Ignore everyone who says air conditioning is bad for your health/ pollutes the air.  Try not to say, “I told you so” when they ask if they can use your air conditioning because their homes are unlivable.  (But really, I did tell you so.)
  9. In a pinch, standing in front of the refrigerator will do.
  10. Plan a trip to the South Pole.  I hear it’s lovely this time of year.

Of course, I’m currently wearing tights, a scarf and a sweater because it’s so cold in our office building.  I’m expecting it to start snowing any minute.  Never fear; I’ll go outside and thaw in under 20 seconds.

Just curious, has anyone attempted to fry an egg on the sidewalk?  Does that work?

Nouvel Appart

The Meghan, 3 Comments

French Word of the Day: hipster (eep-stehr)- hipster (it’s hard to find a direct translation for this)

 

I’ve finally vacated the suburbs and moved on up to the north side (of Chicago).  I’ve been without the internets for 2 months, but we just had it installed so I’m back at long last.

My coworker, Rocio, and I have moved into a place only 15 minutes from our place of work.  I’ve missed city living since leaving my beloved Paris.  (Driving everywhere?  No, thank you.)

We found an apartment whose previous tenants were hipsters, so you know it’s all artsy.  I’ve made a guide for those looking for apartments in the near future….

 

How to tell if the apartment you’re viewing is currently owned by hipsters:

 

  1. Brick wall with a bike hanging on it
  2. Lack of furniture
  3. Scent of pot
  4. Typewriter for purely decorative purposes
  5. Bookshelves filled with obscure, artsy books
  6. Stacks of vinyl records
  7. Clutter everywhere
  8. Unmade beds
  9. The current tenant, glaring at you

 

Feel free to add to this list.

Image

BON ANNIVERSAIRE, MAMAN!

The Meghan, , 4 Comments

French Word of the Day: maman (mah mah)- mom (or mum, if you want to be British about it)

Many of you (read: most), don’t know my mom, but she’s quite the fabulous lady.  Her name is Siobhan (sha-vohn), and everyone loves her. The woman knows how to live.  She wants to enjoy life now, not in some far distance future.  In my eyes, this is the best philosophy.

She’s extremely witty, and my friends always get really excited whenever I have a new story of her latest adventures.  Our conversation today after someone talked about a robber they’d encountered:

Me: You know who would win against a robber?

Friend #1: Siobhan?  Because she would.

Friend #2: I’d put money on Siobhan.

She would also win in a fight against most super-villains.

My mom is turning 50 today!  Isn’t that awesome?!

So this is my mom:

I know exactly what you’re thinking: she looks goooooooooood for 50.

My genes rock.

It’s also my mom’s musical soulmate, Lady Gaga’s, birthday today.  You may not know this, but my mom and Lady Gaga are friends.

Mom gives her bff, Lady Gaga, a hug

Naturally, I think this song is appropriate for their big day:

Love you, Mom!  Happy birthday!

Betsy’s Wedding

The Meghan, , 2 Comments

French Word(s) of the Day: sels de bain (sell day bahn)- bath salts

I have just a few more photos from Betsy’s wedding.  (Side note: Betsy’s Wedding is the title of both a book and an apparently awful Molly Ringwald movie.)

My cousin, Todd, let me know that he follows this blog, so he gets a shout out.

He brought two of his daughters to the wedding.  They let me paint their nails, which was very trusting of them as I’m very good at spilling things.  Luckily, everything managed to stay on their nails.

Very classy, ladies!

Betsy had a photo from our grandparents’ wedding.  I rarely get to see any, but I LOVE old photos.  (Look at my grandmother’s hat and my grandfather’s bow tie!  I wonder if there are any more photos…)

For gifts, Betsy put together a table of bath salts.  I know nothing about bath salts, but Todd’s daughter, Hope, is way more bath-salt forward than I am.  She made sure I got the good stuff.

Having the bath salts at the airport was an adventure.  Almost everyone who brought them through security had their bags searched.  Obviously, bath salts are a major security threat.  We can’t have anyone making their baths smell pretty.

I’m not really sure what bath salts actually do.

Everyone is well aware of my love for cake?  Yes?  (A massive cake post will occur in the future.  Wait for it.)

Betsy’s cake passed the Meghan Taste Test. I took several pictures, but managed to capture my twin and myself in the mirror intently staring at it in this one, so it’s the one being chosen.

Betsy’s wedding get’s an A+, unlike the Molly Ringwald version.

An Elvish Chapel

The Meghan, , , , , , 3 Comments

French Word of the Day: la chapelle (lah shap-el)- the chapel

When I think of a destination wedding, beaches and European castles come to mind. One word that doesn’t? Arkansas.

However, having just returned from one there, I must change my opinion. My cousin chose a chapel that looks like something straight out of Lord of the Rings.

Ah, if only all buildings were in the middle of the woods.  Arkansas, well done.

Proper Macarons

The Meghan, , 1 Comment

French Word of the Day: macaron (mac-rown)- macaron

I’m going to clear something up for everyone.  This is not a macaron:

Courtesy of What's Cooking America

That’s a macaroon.  It’s Italian, has coconut, and isn’t what I’ve been craving the last few weeks.

This, my friends, is a macaron:

Courtesy of Ladurée

Ladurée, a world-famous, expensive (or “priced well above market value” if you want to be politically correct), French tea salon chain, even has a little story on their website about the origin.  They mention adding a pinch of “know-how;” I can only assume what they’re referring to has addictive properties.

Jenna came into town this weekend for a grad school interview, and we met up.

I had found some proper macarons in Chicago, so I insisted she accompany me there.  She resisted saying, “No, I don’t want to eat anything delicious today!” but I eventually convinced her.  (Actual conversation- Me: Macarons?   Jenna: Yes! When and where?)

We went here:

And had our mint tea and our macarons.

It was a perfect afternoon.

Some Sparkly Hearts for Everyone

The Meghan, , , , 2 Comments

French Word(s) of the Day: scintillement (sun-teal-mon)- glitter

You can tell it’s that time of year again… Le jour de la Saint–Valentin.  (I don’t know why the French used the feminine definite article for a male saint, but I’m going to roll with it.)

Saint Valentine performed marriage ceremonies for couples at a time when it was illegal for them to marry.  He was imprisoned for his efforts, and eventually stoned and beheaded.  So naturally, we celebrate him with sparkly hearts and chocolate.

Accordingly, the current most-searched terms on my blog are: pink sparkly love hearts, valentine’s day glitter cards, bon saint valentin (spelled various different ways), pink valentine heart gif, and…   Snooki?  I’m not going to dwell on that one.  If you want Snooki to be your valentine, more power to you.

Here’s to love in all its forms!  This lovely street art can be found on rue Saint Lazare.

And because it’s tradition, sparkly pink hearts:

Thank You for the Information

The Meghan, , 1 Comment

French Word(s) of the Day: les parents (lay pair-awn)- the parents

Because I’ve been to France, everyone emails me anytime anything even remotely related to France, the French, or French words appears in the news or their lives. Someone going to France? Email Meghan! A French phrase just appeared in your book? Email Meghan! The French did something to another country? Email Meghan! Want to decorate your kitchen in the French style? Obviously, Meghan studied decorating in France; email her!

(Anyone who asks me any decorating questions will be directed to Google or  HGTV.)

Don’t get me wrong- I love France. I love hearing about it, and will discuss it for hours at end if given the opportunity. By all means, continue to send me things and ask questions.

However, I have no children and no intention to have any soon, but I’ve been repeatedly sent an article entitled “Why French Parents Are Superior.” Save holding up a sign that says, “Yeah, I’ve seen it. Thanks.” I think posting a link to it on the blog is the only way to stop people from emailing/ texting/ telling me all about it.

For all those crazy, helicopter, American parents out there, here you go: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816.html

Transportation

The Meghan, , , , 1 Comment

French Word of the Day: Métro (met-row)- metro

I love public transportation.  It lets me walk and think.  I don’t have to worry about hitting anyone while reading, because someone else is driving.

Paris has an amazing system.  You pretty much can’t beat it.  The métro alone goes all over the place.  You have to search pretty hard NOT to find a stop somewhere nearby.

Pigalle was in Amélie, for all the fans out there.  If you want to see more places, here’s a lovely little list.

You should also know that the inside of the trains aren’t generally as nice as the one I took a picture of.  That’s a new train.

Chicago’s El system isn’t quite as widespread as the metro.  It’s not bad, the stop are just much further apart.

I’ll give this to Chicago, though- it has some lovely stations on its El system.

My favorite is Quincy, which was built in 1897.

I’m assuming the blue plastic edgings are from the original 1897 materials.

In this case, Paris wins in efficiency and Chicago wins in old-timey aesthetic.