Le Bric à Brac (n°6): Odds & Ends

Bonjour readers and bon weekend! It has been quite a while since I've done a post in the bric-à-brac series, a series titled after the French phrase for knick knacks or odds & ends. For anyone new to the blog, it is here that I "collect" various things that I'm loving or want to recommend so that you can enjoy them too! I've also created a link under "Posts by Topic" on the right of my page. This will make it easy to scroll through the bric-à-brac archives. 

Now for today's odds & ends (note that these are my personal recommendations, not paid): 

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream: I picked up a travel size of this when I visited the Caudalie store in Paris' Montmartre neighborhood (I wanted everything, but since I traveled with a carry-on I could only purchase certain sizes). I keep this on my nightstand and absolutely LOVE it. It works miracles on my dry hands in the winter. I also have a bad habit of messing with my nails/cuticles. While the only real cure is to kick the habit, this cream heals and restores. It also smells amazing and does't leave a greasy feel. 

My bkr water bottle: I have had my eye on these water bottles since I spotted them in a shop in Copenhagen. This was a little birthday gift to myself. :) I love this water bottle because it is glass, which I prefer to plastic, and the smooth silicone sleeve keeps in protected. I purchased mine from a company that is all things natural beauty, Petit Vour. They describe the mission of bkr in the product description: "... no matter what you put on your face, if you aren’t hydrated from the inside you won’t glow." I know, I know... it's just a water bottle. But it gets me excited about drinking water. Sometimes it really is the little things. 

Clotilde Dusoulier: I've mentioned Parisian Clotilde's book Edible French here on the blog. I'm also familiar with her well known foodie blog Chocolate and Zucchini, though I only recently subscribed (I don't know what took me so long!). I can't wait to receive her posts in my inbox for food with a little Parisian flair. Clotilde was a recent guest on one of my favorite podcasts, the Earful Tower (click the link for the episode) where she and Oliver talked Paris food markets. They also discussed her new book Tasting Paris, set to hit shelves on March 20. I know this will be one I add to my francophile library. And wait... there's more! I also listened to the first episode of Clotilde's self care podcast, Change Ma Vie. I really enjoyed the content and the best part - elle parle en français. I am always looking for authentic ways to integrate French into my every days, and this podcast provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a topic I love AND practice my French. 

Pear Salad: When I bring this to lunch, my colleagues think I'm pretty fancy, but it's actually very simple. I purchase mixed greens (usually Organic Girl) and some near ripe pears. When the pears are ready, I slice them thinly and layer them on top of a bed of the greens. Then I add a few dried cranberries, some freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. It's easy and delicious, and when I prep it the night before (dressing on the side) it makes for a smooth morning and a delightful lunch break. 

There you have it, my odds and ends for this week! I hope you discovered a treasure. 

Warm wishes for a beautiful weekend from me to you,