life lately

We have a view of the Invalides dome from our kitchen window. We took a stroll up there the other day and it was especially pretty! It's being added to my "VIST THIS" list. On this same stroll, we realized that the Eifel Tower is in full view at the end of our street. We can actually see the light show reflection on our across-the-street neighbors' windows at night.

I started my French lessons back up and my teacher is not speaking ONE. WORD. of English. That's a complete 180 from my lessons in Lorient, but I am not complaining. I'm not even sure she knows English. It's hard but I'm hopeful for learning it better! However, I went to the flower shop across the street in search for some kitchen herb plants last night. My green thumb is getting itchy! I couldn't see any so I asked Do you have herbs? (Vous avez des herbes?) in French and she told me what time it was. Better keep practicing. I left with tulips instead.

I'm especially proud of some new art on the wall... taken by the talented photographer Valérie (said in a French accent). And if you were wondering how we Mark got our Christmas tree out of the apartment, he had to saw off some limbs. I'm pretty thankful I missed that adventure. It was really fun to be here during the Christmas season. It's actually kind of strange without markets and holiday bustling.

In order to fit in around here and make some friends, we've signed ourselves up to an online make some friends website, meetup. An acquaintance of ours told us about it and said it was great. We've joined a Franco-American group and are heading to an event tonight with hundreds of other newbies in the city. I also joined a 20s & 30s girls group and am sipping tea while nibbling scones with the new members next week. We will see how it all goes, but it's fun to have the opportunities to try!

christmas & new year all in one

Merry Christmas & Happy 2014... only a few weeks late! We safely returned to the USA and back again since my last check-in. I think this was my favorite Christmas so far. Why? I'm not so sure... But maybe because looking back on 2013 and the whirlwind it was made me a appreciate sitting by the Christmas tree in my pajamas with a hot cup of coffee with everyone I hold tightest in my heart just a little more than years past. I felt pretty blessed. Cliché, but true. I can't believe we will top 2013 but we are going to try our hardest!

I was emptying the camera for the new year and came across this...

it reminds me that living simple isn't too bad.

I'm not big on resolutions but a few things I'm going work on this year:

- don't be wasteful.

- be healthy. Not healthy by eating, exercising, etc. - even though those should probably be on my list. I'm currently eating dry Frosted Flakes out of a coffee mug... - but by just enjoying every day!

- cook one new meal every week.

- keep up with the U.S. better... family, friends and news.

- make this place homey. We officially got our names on the mailbox so all the boxes need to be unpacked, things need to have homes and curtains need to be hung! I'm over this "moving" phase and sheets covering the bedroom windows. 

AND, just for you, blog a little more frequently. I've kind of fallen off the horse lately!