Mes GRANDES Nouvelles: Fleur de St. Louis is going to France!

Here I am in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris this past summer, the day of my engagement to Tony.  ♥ Paris had my heart well before that trip, and now it is a city that means more to me than I ever imagined it could. 

⚜⚜⚜

Just before the arrival of 2018, I posted 12 Dreams for Doing in the new year. Among them: making it back not only to Paris but to other parts of France, and trying a little solo travel. Today I am beyond thrilled to share mes GRANDES nouvelles, my big news, with you! As of a few weeks ago, these dreams have become my reality and I will be spending the 2018-2019 school year teaching English to primary students in the Académie de Amiens (a school district north of Paris). For me, the opportunity to join my passion for teaching with my passion for the French language and culture is truly a dream come true. 

Spending an extended period truly immersing myself in France has always been my dream, but the journey to arrive at this point began about three years ago when I started paying attention to my inner voice, honoring that my passion for all things French was more than a hobby on the side. It became important to me that I find ways to integrate my passion into my every days and I became very intentional about making that happen. Getting back into my studies of the French language at the Alliance Française de St. Louis was a start, followed by the creation of this blog and the decision to finish my degree en français.

I believe that if you follow your dreams, doors will open. It was because I chose to commence with these endeavors that I learned about TAPIF, a Teaching Assistant Program in France. This program would allow me to spend 7 months teaching English while living in France. My first thought: this sounds amazing, but could I really do this? And then I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

I casually mentioned it to Tony, and his immediate response was that this would be an incredible opportunity that he knew I would really enjoy. From that moment, he has been my biggest supporter and source of encouragement. To know that I get to marry someone who believes in my dreams as much as I do has made my heart so incredibly full. While this is something I am very much doing for myself, it is also an experience we are thrilled about as a couple. Tony will be visiting me in France several times (we already have one of his tickets!). We are so grateful for this opportunity to continue to travel the world together. He knows that when it is time to take a big leap towards his dreams, I will be right there by his side. We will be taking this year to chase dreams and travel, followed by our wedding in 2019. I can only imagine what the future holds for us.☺

I don't say bon voyage until September, and there are many preparations that will occur in the meantime. I will be sharing my journey to France and in France here on the blog if you are interested in following along! There is much more to come!

Warmest of wishes from me to you 

as I celebrate this next chapter of my journey,

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FdSTL Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Sweet Sayings

Bonjour mes lecteurs, my readers! Aujourd'hui I share seven sweet sayings en français from a few of my favorite French language Instagram accounts. If you're like me, you find yourself scrolling through Instagram often, so why not make it an opportunity to bring more French into your every day? The sweet sayings I chose today reminded me of the wonderful family time the holiday season brings. Enjoy and be sure to give these accounts a follow!

@frenchisbeautiful

I love this account by Carrie Anne James (you can also follow her at @theparisdarling). What I like best about Carrie Anne's posts is that she always provides audio so that you can hear the French pronunciation. Joyeux Noël de moi à vous. Enjoy the time to être en famille. :)

(Merry Christmas!) + (to be with family)

@missfrancophile

Mélissa is the face behind this beautiful account. A French teacher in Australia, she shares not only phrases, but also information about grammar and sounds. I love that with family you can always faites comme chez vous and indulge with un bon vin blanc ou rouge. 

(make yourself at home) +  (a good white wine)

@frenchwords

Their motto: "Every day a new French word, quote, or idiom. Why? Because French is beautiful." There's nothing quite like a good éclat de rire. Some of my favorite family memories are those of us laughing so hard it hurts. Things are simply better ensemble. 

If you were counting, that was six. The last sweet saying is a wish I would like to share with each of you this holiday season.

Soyez heureux, en bonne santé, et rempli de joie. 

Be happy, healthy, and full of joy.

Warm wishes to you and your family from me to you,

FdSTL Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Chatty Cows

Bon dimanche! It's time for day four where I will extend on yesterday's theme of language. This French cow is probably more interested in his lunch than having a chat, but he's in luck because today we will do all of the talking. Butter, cheese, cream... cows are a very important part of la cuisine française and thus an integral part of the French culture and way of life. It's no wonder that cows often slip into French conversations. Here are four French cow idioms that are sure to make you sound all the more French! 

Vachement

(really, really)

The Earful Tower with Oliver Gee has become one of my most listened to podcasts. Oliver Gee is an Australian expat in Paris looking to better understand France. Some of my favorite episodes are those that center around language, like this episode where guests share 24 favorite French words. Vachement was the favorite word of Lisa Anselmo, author of My (Part-Time) Paris Life. Note: I haven't had a chance to read this one but is high on my list! ThoughtCo offers a lot more information on this cow inspired word (here). Here is one example they provide of how one might use vachement: Il est vachement bien, ce bouquin. This book is really, really great. 

(click the image for a link to the book)

La vache!

(Holy cow!)

This is another cow phrase I heard on the Earful Tower, and once again ThoughtCo does an amazing job of going more in depth (here). La vache, les français parlent beaucoup de vaches! Holy cow, the French talk a lot about cows! 

Aller à quelqu'un comme un tablier à une vache

(fitting someone like an apron fits a cow)

I just finished Clotilde Dusoulier's book, Edible French. This is a lovely book for lovers of the French language full of food related French idioms and beautiful illustrations by Mélina Josserand. If you need a last minute holiday gift for a francophile in your life, this book would be perfect! Of course she included a cow expression. This was the first time I'd seen this one and I really enjoyed it. J'ai commandé un chemisier sur Internet, mais il me va comme un tablier à une vache. I ordered a blouse online, but it fits me like an apron fits a cow... not so good. :/ 

(click the image for a link to the book)

Parler français comme une vache espagnole

(to speak French like a Spanish cow)

If someone says tu parle français comme une vache espagnole it is definitely less than a compliment. However, with these four French cow idioms in your arsenal I'm sure you'll sound French, even to the French (as Géraldine of Comme Une Française always says!). 

And last but not least, a bonus! If your a fan of La Vache Qui Rit, Laughing Cow Cheese, I think you'll find the story of why the cow is laughing très intéressant. Read the story here. 

Je suis vachement contente que vous êtes ici.

I am really, really glad that you are here.

Warm wishes from me to you,

FdSTL Third Day of Christmas: Three French Phrases

Happy Saturday and third day of Christmas here on Fleur de St. Louis! For today's petit cadeau I'm sharing three French phrases to add to your French language répertoire (a vrai ami meaning a word that means the same in English as it does in French). 

This post is appearing on the blog a little later in the day today because Tony and I, nous avons fait la grasse matinée. And here we have French phrase #1:

faire la grasse matinée

(to sleep in)

Listen to Carrie Anne James of French is Beautiful pronounce this lovely phrase here (her accent is truly beautiful). I plan to faire la grasse matinée a few times over my holiday vacation. :)

Speaking of holiday vacation, if you are planning to extend your time off by taking a day before or after your already given vacation days, you are very French indeed as the French love to faire le pont. Here's French phrase #2: 

faire le pont

(to have an extra long weekend)

Pont means bridge en français. This year Christmas is on a Monday and already attached to the weekend. However, next year Christmas falls on a Tuesday. Many of us will already have Monday off to observe Christmas Eve, but for those that don't you may choose to faire le pont. Instead of going into work for one day between the weekend and Christmas, you would take Monday off to "bridge" your weekend with your holiday. Who doesn't love a nice, extended vacation? I love that the French have a phrase to express this. You can read more about this phrase here on ThoughtCo. I have found myself coming to this site often as I expand my knowledge of the French language. 

Finally, as we enjoy this holiday and transition into a new year, many of us will avoir un projet. Here we have today's French phrase #3:

avoir un projet 

(to make plans, to have a future vision)

The start of a new year is such a lovely time. A fresh start leaves you feeling like there is nothing but opportunity and possibility. I know I will certainly avoir un projet for 2018. One or two of these plans may even already be in the works... ;) 

I hope you enjoyed today's post and maybe even added a phrase or two to your French language knowledge. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! I'm looking forward to seeing you back tomorrow for the next post in this Fleur de St. Louis days of Christmas series.

Warm wishes from me to you 

(today in St. Louis it is an oddly warm December day at 61°),

J'ai du pain sur la planche.

Bonjour readers, and bon dimanche! 

It's 9:00pm central time and I am winding down my weekend, but I'm here! You may have noticed I missed my regular post last Sunday. I am so grateful to the French for having the perfect phrase to express just how I am feeling in this moment... j'ai du pain sur la planche, I have bread on my breadboard. This French idiom means you have a lot to do, a lot on your plate. I definitely have a lot on my plate. 

Almost two months ago I posted about feeling overwhelmed during la rentrée, the back to school transition (read that post here). At the time, I was searching for the best way to organize my time, pursue my passions, and remain gentle with myself. That last piece has proven more difficult than I anticipated, and at times I'll admit that when the bread is spilling off of my breadboard I am less than gentle with myself. I spend so much energy trying to keep the bread on the board when I could accept that I need to let some of it go and THAT IS OK. 

I speak so often about life providing you with just the piece of wisdom you need in the moment if only you are willing to listen and seek it out. Today as I started to go through some unread e-mails backing up in my inbox, I discovered one. In her recent post Why Not... Extinguish Self-Doubt?, Shannon Ables of the Simply Luxurious Life writes about providing yourself nurture:

If your life has just been through a whirlwind of emotion and upheaval, step back and care for yourself. Self-doubt can rise up when we refuse to acknowledge that we need to regroup, recharge and be reminded that while such unwanted events can happen, they don’t always happen and in fact may be happening for a good reason to set us down the right path to accomplish what we truly desire. It’s hard to see such a truth when we are emotionally frazzled, so be kind to yourself and gentle until you are ready to get up and step forward again.

I'm in the process of acknowledging these things, and of giving myself some of that much needed time. I'm trying to give myself permission to step away from the breadboard for a moment in order to regroup and recharge. Right now, that might look like late or sporadic posts, extended deadlines, fewer Instagram updates... but part of my mission here at Fleur de St. Louis is to share the journey with you, the good and the difficult, building a community of support... with a little French flair of course! 

Some bric à brac, odds and ends, before I sign off today:

⚜I want to say merci to Paper Write Service for an incredibly gracious comment on a recent post: 

Your page is really inspirational and lovely to visit with all the amazing elements to keep a person coming back. Keep posting more.

I will continue to do just that, and to encourage your comments that make this space a community where wellness, learning and creativity flourish! 

⚜For more French expressions with pain, bread, check out this link. I've really been enjoying the French language resources ThoughtCo. has to offer.  

⚜I've mentioned Carrie Anne James of French is Beautiful before on the blog (click here for that post) and want to continue to highlight her phenomenal French language resources as well. I recently signed up for her FREE daily pronunciation e-mail and received this audio lesson in my inbox today. It is perfectly fitting for my life right now - I think I need a day or two to ne faites rien as I regroup and recharge. 

Stay tuned for more content here on Fleur de St. Louis... I've got a few projects underway that I look forward to sharing with you. They are unfolding in their own time as I continue to honor that need to be gentle with myself. 

I am so glad that you stopped by today.

Extra warm wishes from me to you,

What makes the French language French?

What makes the French language French?

Qu'est-ce qui fait que la langue française est la langue française?

As I have returned to school to finish my bachelor's in French, the way that I think about language has greatly evolved. If you've been here, you know by now that the French language is ma passion. I've set out to explore what makes the French language French, giving it a sensuel and beautiful quality that draws me back again and again. Today, I will share some of my discoveries avec vous.

"[You talk about] how seemingly easy it is to learn French... that already made me think... maybe that's one of the reasons French is still taught in the United States as an option among Spanish." (Lindsay Traumata, The New Paris podcast Ep. 10)

"Is French simply English in code? Mais non!" (guest speaker in one of my université courses)

There seems to exist this idea that French is an easy language for English speakers to learn, that the differences between the languages aren't so significant. After all, we share the same alphabet. We even share some of the same words. It was probably easy for you to understand my use of the word sensuel above. 

In the same episode of the New Paris Podcast referenced above, author Lauren Collins describes her book When in French, explaining that she wanted to explore the following question:

Can a language change the way you see the world?

(click image for more info)

We'll get to this question more at the end of the post, but I want to start with the more concrete aspects of language. Of course, one must understand various grammatical rules when learning a second language. 

I'm currently helping my fiancé with his French I class. One of his biggest questions: Why do French words have genders, and how do you know when something is feminine or masculine? 

This focus on gender is such a multifaceted aspect of the French language. Inanimate objects have gender and it doesn't always make sense. It often simply is. Ice cream is a girl - la glace  but a cake is a boy - le gâteau. And that all encompassing noun/pronoun "it" we use so often in English? It doesn't exist in the French language (Did you catch how I used it there? There it is again!). One must consider the gender of the noun and refer to "it" according to its gender. My ice cream? Elle (she) est du chocolat. My cake? Il (he) est vanille. The role gender plays in French goes beyond what I've explained here, but you get the idea.

You may have noticed at the beginning of this post that I said I wanted to share some of my discoveries avec vous, or with you. I used vous here as the plural as I am speaking to many of you, but vous can also be used in the singular as a more formal and polite way to say "you". In English everyone is "you". In French, there is a distinction between tu (informal) and vous (formal) that is very important to understand. My teacher is vous. My classmate of the same age is tu. With this example, you can see that social norms are very closely tied to the use of the language. 

This brings me back to Lauren's question: can a language change the way yo used the world? 

I believe the real magic goes beyond the application of grammatical rules. When understood and spoken fluently, how does the mental and physical production of the French language impact your interactions with the world around you? 

"English is a much more straight forward language, especially when it comes to genderism. In France we've got all of these adjectives, all of these ways of describing things (flourishing), where as in English we get straight to the point." (excerpt of a conversation from the Earful Tower podcast Ep. 5) 

"You're one person in English, and then you're one person in French." (excerpt of a conversation from the Earful Tower podcast Ep. 5) 

It seems that "when in French" (to reference Lauren Collins' book) the world around you literally flourishes in a new way. This is why la langue française is ma passion. I find the language absolutely beautiful, and the way I feel about myself and the world around me in French is all the more beautiful, too. 

I hope you've enjoyed today's post, though I know I've barely scratched the surface on what is a very grand idea: the relationship between language and culture. If anything, my hope is that you leave the blog today thinking more deeply about language as an expression of ourselves and the world around us. I know this is something I have pondered as of late, and my discoveries have been fascinating. 

Do you speak French or a language other than English? How do you feel the language changes the way you see the world? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This is one of those questions that is best explored through conversation and a sharing of experiences. 

Merci beaucoup, as always, for being here and for taking some time to let learning (with a little French flair) flourish with me today.

Warm wishes for a beautiful fall Sunday from me to you,

Inspiration de la semaine (inspiration of the week):

Podcasts. I reference them so often because they are an incredible, FREE resource for continually expanding your knowledge of the world around you. I can't recommend the two I've mentioned in the post above more highly. If you are a fellow francophile or simply a lover of language and culture, check them out!

⚜The New Paris podcast with Lindsey Tramuta 

⚜The Earful Tower podcast with Oliver Gee

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Mes pensées et la réalité possible (My thoughts and the possible reality)

Bonjour! J'espère que vous avez un beau dimanche. I hope you are having a lovely Sunday. Vous m'avez manqué. I have missed you, or as it translates in French - you have been missing from me. As a result of one of my courses this semester I have been thinking a lot about language and how it interacts with culture and the way we see the world. You have been missing from me. It's such a beautiful phrase, expressing that without you I have not been whole. You are an important part of who I am. I just love that.

I am thankful for this time to write. I'm sitting here with a hot cup of coffee, the sun is flooding the apartment, and all is calm. I am very much at peace. For me, it is so important that I have found this time as last week marked la rentrée, the start of the school year, for my 4th graders and for me as I continue my journey as a student, following my dream of achieving fluency in French. If I said I was balancing all of this with total grace and ease, I would be lying to you and lying to myself. This transition has been a challenge, but I am grateful for the guidance of so many as I consider the best way to organize my time, pursue my passions, and remain gentle with myself. 

Today I am going to share some of the thoughts (mes pensées) that have been streaming through my head during this busy time, and the inspirational advice I have found that is helping me to reframe my outlook and find more of that grace and ease I am striving for. 



Ma pensée: I can't stop everything and go for a run with you. I'll never get all of this done. 

La réalité possible: Wednesday was my first evening of juggling 4th grade and my university studies. I was sitting on the couch (frantically) working, and Tony walked in smiling and said immediately: "Go get changed, we're going for a run!" You already know what my initial reaction was... but I overcame that negativity, laced up my sneakers, and hit the trail. The air was cool, the Hamilton soundtrack reminded me to "rise up", and for about 30 minutes I just completely let go. What did I discover? My work was waiting for me right where I'd left it, and I was able to finish it with a lot more calm and a lot less resentment. This moment of self care was completely spontaneous (I want to do more of this), but for me I know scheduling time for calm and being intentional about my self care will make a big difference as I navigate through la rentrée, and the rest of the year for that matter. I'm committing to two yoga classes a week. I sign up on Sunday and schedule it into my planner just like I would a meeting or an appointment. These things have to be just as much of a priority as everything else, and I know as I saw on Wednesday that tending to my body and mind will only increase my productivity. 



Ma pensée: SEVEN novels en français in one semester?! Plan on not seeing me for a while. 

La réalité possible: This one really got me. And I guarantee the time I spent worrying about it could have gotten me through a considerable chunk of a novel. Thank goodness for Carrie Anne of French is Beautiful and the support communities she has developed and fostered. On the French is Beautiful Book Club Facebook page, a fellow Francophile asked how she should approach reading in French - should she look up every word, or just read through to get an overall sense of the story/content? Carrie Anne responded that both are wonderful, it just depends on your time and intention. I jumped in on the conversation and shared the above assignment. Carrie Anne's response completely inspired me to look at this challenge in a new light:

The reality is that this assignment is going to get me closer to my goal of total fluency, and that is a gift. On a related note, Carrie Anne has also inspired me through her l'art de VIVRE course that I am currently taking. This past week's theme was l'amour, love, and with that Carrie Anne shared just how important family and quality time with family is to the French. We spent some quality time with Tony's family last night, and as I shared my French reading challenge, his sister gave me a very simple but important reminder: Break it up into manageable chunks. Work through one novel at a time. It was advice I could have told myself, but surrounded by the warmth of family, this gentle reminder and feeling of support was just what I needed.



Ma pensée: It might be June before I get back to my art. 

La réalité possible: Ah, this thought! It has been almost three months now since I've gotten serious about pursuing my art and launching a shop on Etsy, yet I continue to tell myself it's not the right time. I'm pretty sure I've even made excuses here on the blog. I'll share the dream, then come back with one reason or another that now is not the time. Enter the incredibly inspirational Cathy Heller, host of the podcast Don't Keep Your Day Job. As I was listening yesterday, she shared the most beautiful advice about just beginning: you don't have to know the first 8 steps. You don't even have to know the first 2. All you have to do is figure out the first step, and take it. The rest will begin to come naturally. So I'm just going to take the first step and try something. I just opened Fleur de St. Louis Atelier! Right now I am selling my personalized "classics" paintings in a limited quantity of 4 per month. It is my dream to share my artistic passion with you and bring a little extra joy to your every day. I do have to honor what I can handle at this time, so I appreciate your patience as this item is hand made personally for you with lots of love. Enjoy! :) 



Ma pensée: Wait... I've also got this blog going too!!! 

La réalité possible: My plan is to be here every Sunday, just like this, sharing the content I love with you. My vision is that you will enjoy the weekly post as your rest and restore for the week ahead. 

As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here. I have said it before and I will say it again, this community means so much to me. I hope today's post inspires you to reframe any negative thoughts that might be swimming around in your head, and also to go for your dreams one step at a time.

Warm wishes and lots of love from me to you,

Étudiez le français avec Frantastique!

Bonjour et bon lundi à tous! Hello and happy Monday everyone! Just two more days until la rentrée, back to school for my students. It's also la retnrée for me as I continue my French studies at a local university. And speaking of studying la langue française, I discovered a resource in the past few days that I am so excited about, I had to share it with you! 

As I was reading my e-mails yesterday, I discovered two links to Frenchly, a site full of francophile content. On the top bar, I noticed a link to a daily e-mail to learn French. I am in the process of designing a plan to better incorporate my French studies into my every day, so I thought I'd give it a try! Et voila... Frantastique! 

I am only on jour deux but already so impressed! The lessons are designed around a little story (and it's a bit humorous). There are opportunities to listen and read en français, and excellent reviews of grammar concepts (all explained en français) + cultural tidbits to enhance your French language studies. 

Feedback is immediate and reviews are built in, personalized to your grammar and vocabulary needs. There are even opportunities to skip concepts you know you have already mastered.

Today, they shared this message with me: 

After completing the first 7 lessons of Frantastique, you’ll receive a detailed, personalized pedagogical report called the ‘Portfolio’. We hope you enjoy it, then frame it on a wall somewhere.

How fantastic to get an overall view of where you are on you French journey so that studying can become more focused and purposeful. After one month, you can use what you've gained to continue studies on your own, or you can continue by purchasing from a variety of monthly subscription options. (As always, I am sharing this with you because I am always on the lookout for awesome resources. These opinions are mine and mine alone.) 

If you are a total beginner or someone looking to fine tune your French language skills, Frantastique might just be the resource for you! Click any Frantastique link in this post or click here to get started! 

Do you know of any awesome (and potentially FREE) online resources for French language learning? I am always ready to discover new things, so share in the comments if you do! You can also refer to some of my past language learning posts for more resources and ideas:

*Coffee Break French
*Sites pour apprendre le français
*Lire en français

Warm wishes and happy language learning from me to you,

Follow your dreams and doors will open.

Today I met with one of my professors that will be working with me this semester as I begin to take steps toward my dream of finishing my BA in French. She was so welcoming and encouraging, and as I walked out of her office I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I am currently in the exact place I am meant to be at this moment. 

I got to this place because I made a decision to stop thinking/wondering about what my life might be if I followed the passions that speak to me and took action. I stopped fighting against what my heart was telling me and I began to let it take me downstream. I continued dreaming, but partnered it with doing. Since I made that decision to pursue my passions, so many doors have opened for me.

I got to that meeting with my professor because I started asking questions about what it would look like to continue my studies in French. I asked an acquaintance who put my question out to colleagues on Facebook. From there, a local university reached out and I felt an inviting warmth. I started setting up meetings, filling out applications, making a plan... but it didn't feel like work. Of course I put a lot of time and effort into it, but because it was all in the name of a dream I have had for many years now, it came naturally.

A few days ago I saw a friend who I haven't seen in a while. She told me that she noticed a positive change in me, that I was singing a whole different tune than I was singing this time last year. Those words meant the world to me, because not only am I noticing those changes in myself but I am projecting a much better version of myself out into the world.

I was inspired to share this story with you as I recently started listening to the podcast Don't Keep Your Day Job with Cathy Heller. The first several episodes have all had a similar theme: get clear about what it is you really want in life and then take action. Don't just dream it, do it. And then share your story.

I'm on my journey now, and I feel so incredibly energized. It is my sincere hope that in sharing my story with you here on Fleur de St. Louis that you will feel inspired to do, to take action toward whatever it is that you are carrying in your heart. Don't write it off as impossible. Just see where it takes you, and I am confident doors will open for you too. 

And one final note that can be challenging: be patient. The doors might not open right away. One of my favorite bloggers Shannon Ables touched on this in her weekly newsletter on Friday. Her words say it so beautifully that I wanted to share them with you:

"Isn't that a wonderful lesson to always remember: Sometimes the outcomes we want take time. Sometimes we need to trust what we don't want to hear at the moment, "you're not ready, the situation you are hoping for isn't ready for you", is actually what will better serve us down the road. If you are hearing just those phrases, take it as a nudging to enjoy the life you have right now. Savor it, jump in head first and make the most of it because as we know, life's path can change without expectation, and often for the better. So why not be someone who had it good before, but now has it quite wonderful now, and you can celebrate because you know you made the most of both chapters."

The professor I mentioned in the beginning left me with some simple but powerful advice: "Just enjoy." Wherever you are on your journey, enjoy it as it unfolds. As Shannon communicated through her newsletter, I believe that most of the time there is amazing in store, something that we may have never even imagined. 

There are so many wonderful people who have been encouraging me along the way. If you have something you are thinking about taking action on but you just need that nudge, send me an e-mail or leave a comment below. I would love to talk to you so that we can encourage each other on our journeys to live the life of our dreams.

Warmest wishes! 

Happy dreaming AND doing from me to you,

Le Bric à Brac: Odds & Ends (n°3)

Happy Sunday readers! Up to this point, Le Bric à Brac has been a Friday thing, but with our bags unpacked and the laundry done it seemed the perfect time to compile some of my favorite findings from the last few weeks and share them with you! 

⚜I've been loving my e-mails from Eurolinguiste. She recently shared some advice to help language learners simply get started. Her philosophy is that if a task can be completed in under two minutes, do the task right then and there. She adds:

"Obviously, you’re not going to finish your language study task in two minutes, but this idea is based on inertia. Once you get moving, there’s a good chance you’ll stay in motion and that two minutes will quickly become five, then ten, then twenty."

I'm also loving this Language Learning Reading Challenge. I don't think I will follow the challenge exactly (after all, it's already July) but I love the book suggestions! If you are a language learner and you haven't already, check out Shannon's site!  

⚜I recently read this article (10 Cliches About French Eating Habits That Are Actually True) and was shocked to read this quote:

"In the old Parisian cafés, where waiters are dressed in black and white, don’t expect any smiles or kind words of welcome. Don’t be surprised if the waiter show impatience if you take too much time to choose your plate. And don’t be surprised if, after that, he expect a tip from you."

Tony and I found our service in Parisian cafés to be some of the best we had on our entire European trip, and our servers always showed gratitude for our tips. I guess this goes to show you not take a stereotype at face value. It's best to experience for yourself. 

⚜I am constantly inspired by Rebecca Plotnick of Every Day Parisian. She recently posted for her one year blog anniversary, and as a fellow blogger this specific quote brought me much comfort:

"Throughout the last year, people have reminded me that they aren’t expecting a perfectly edited post it is more about the content." 

I try to edit very carefully when I post, but sometimes I can get too hung up or frustrated when I look back later and notice a small error. Rebecca's reminder that content can shine even if a few human errors slide in here and there is something I will be keeping in mind as I continue to write. This idea of perfection is something I will be exploring in a future post.

⚜ Just a fun little francophile tidbit from Frédéric of Talk in French:

"Many French couples will text their significant other on their way home «Tu as pris du pain? J'ai pris du pain.» (Did you get some bread?/ I bought some bread). Almost as a way to say "I am on my way home."

I always love these fun little sayings in other languages. :)

I hope you enjoyed these finds! 

Warm wishes from me to you,