Rated PG-13 for Strong Language and Mild Violence

All the Pretty Things


I have been collecting pictures of all the little things that make Paris beautiful.  Obviously, we all know about the monuments, architecture, culture, history, etc.  There is so much more to it though!  Starting with...

The Sweet Treats

How am I supposed to resist three of my favorite things rolled into one??  Pastry, delicious sweet cream, strawberries... Really, how?!

I was not the biggest macaron fan in the beginning of our life in Paris, but I am a changed lady.  They are delightful little bites of goodness.  And so dang cute!

What in the world is this?  Pretty sure it's a lump of sugar.

If you have not experienced the pain au chocolot, you have not lived.  These caught my eye from a mile away because they were the size of my HEAD!  Now, I know I have a head the size of a child's, but that is still a pretty substantial pastry.  Drool-worthy, indeed.

You may be wondering "Where does the PG-13 rating come in?"  I'll tell ya.

Right after I snapped these two pictures...

... I was verbally attacked.  A man dressed in a suit pretending to be on his cell phone came up to my friend Kelly and I (because he heard us speaking English) and said this... brace yourselves... "Obama is a f%@*ing n!#&$r.  All Americans are f%@*ing idiots!  F%@* America!"

A few things happened then.  

1)  I laughed.  I laughed because that was the SECOND time that exact man said that exact thing to me on that exact street.  I had actually told Kelly about it the first time, so I just laughed because I couldn't believe she was seeing it first hand.  Also, our friend Julie was approached by this same charmer on that street with the same lovely message a few weeks earlier.

2)  I got mad at myself for not having some outrageously clever comeback.  (Where is Bequi when you need her?)  The best I could come up with was "Get a life".  Really, that's what I said, haha!  I am so threatening.  Then, 30 seconds later my brain was filled with witty insults.  Darn, I hate when that happens.  Kyle thinks I should have said "World War II"... definitely the last thing I would have thought up :)  Actually, "Get a life" is precisely what I think he should do.

I also wanted to point out that while I am, in fact, an American, Kelly is Canadian.  How does he know if he is insulting an American or a Canadian when he hears someone speaking English from across the way?  Think he would have heard me out?  Doubtful.

3)  I was grateful that I didn't deliver one of my witty insults because that man is clearly nuts.  He probably would have given me a knuckle sandwich.  

You just have to laugh at foolish people like that.  Or throw rocks at them the next time you pass them on the street... :)

Fabulous Fruit Stands

The fruits and veggies in France are so delicious.  I don't know what it is, but I'm guessing they aren't mass produced like in the US and therefore are natural and so full of flavor.  They're beautiful, too!

I couldn't leave out two of the French superstars... the fromage (oh the delicious cheese everywhere!)...

 and the baguette - perhaps the biggest temptress of them all for me.

There are non-food related things here, too.  Like all the fresh flower stands.  Fresh flowers enrich my life :)

The plan of attack


It would be so easy to indulge in all these delightful French treats - believe me, I have seriously considered it.  But, then I would look like a strange, swollen version of myself come wedding time.  Must be strong.  Let's be real though, we're only going to be living here for three years and I cannot resist the temptation for six months out of the first year!  


So, the plan is to eat delicious, home-cooked, healthy meals at home during the week, and workout everyday.  Then, on the weekends, go nuts.  I figure I can at least maintain my weight this way, right?

Shrimp Salad for lunch yesterday.

Then fish, asparagus and salad for dinner.

Wine isn't the healthiest, but I'm just trying to stay in shape, I'm not dead!  Besides, I hear the 3 euro 2010 vintage is low calorie ;)

This picture was taken out our front window right after we ate dinner - it was 9:10 at NIGHT!  I can't get over it.

Missing Post

Last week I posted about my crime fighting adventures here in Paris.  Then, two days later half of it disappeared along with the pictures I posted.  Most of it is not worth going back and re-posting, but there have been requests for my amazing artwork to be displayed again.

Back by PAULpular demand.

Bisous!

Maygan