11.11.2011

Hmm...





Saw this bizarre window display a couple of weeks ago while walking around town. I know it's hard to see through the grating, but it's a very pro-USA collection of messages. However, some of the messages are a little extreme like, "Goddamn USA's enemies" and what makes it more bizarre is that the messages seem to be in a child's handwriting. This window is also very near a sign on the building with a middle school's name. But the sign looks kind of old...I can't tell if the building still operate as a school or not...and if it does, I don't know if this window is part of the school or not.

I went by a couple days a go and the display appears to have taken down.

Weird.

What the F(rench)? - #2

So. F***ing. French. A magazine cover featuring a French soccer player, Eric Cantona. Also found this very intense picture of him here. Check out that unibrow! (Interestingly, according to my research, there is no French translation for unibrow.)

Marbles - Les Billes n. f




A.'s treasured marble collection, neatly organized. I'd say it's pretty awesome for a six year old.


I like these.

Rebellion


The other day, R. did not want to take a shower when I told him to. So he decided to climb out the window. Unfortunately for him, it was grated and made for an uncomfortable place to hang out. He was feeling much more cooperative once I helped him down.

11.09.2011

Les Bulles D'Agathe

I would like to suggest that anyone who has to regularly spend time with young, rambunctious children invest in a bottle or two of the Bulles D'Agathe (Agatha's bubbles) by wonderful perfumer Francis Kurkdjian.

I recently bought some from über-cool Parisian store Colette. (They ship to the US too!) So, what is it, exactly? Perfumed bubbles! It comes with a wand and everything! It's kind of a perfume concept art thing. Mr. K instructs the user to blow to bubbles and then try to burst a few with your nose so that you get a little whiff of the perfume. When you've done it a few times, there is a little trace of the perfume about the room so I guess this product could technically be lumped into the home fragrance category, but it's really more of an experience thing in my mind. Just a small, pleasurable, sensory experience - the kind of I love.

Anyway, got them a few days ago but today in a moment of desperation while trying to keep control of the kids, it occurred to me that they might enjoy playing with them. So, I told them about Mr. K's instructions and for a good 15 minutes I just blew bubbles at them and watched as they desperately chased and tried to burst them with their noses, sometimes throwing themselves headlong onto the floor in the attempt. It was marvelous. They loved it, and while I mildly resent them for forcing me into using my expensive bubbles to control them, I'm nevertheless grateful for the few minutes of relative peace I had while we all played together.

So, the ones I have, like I mentioned above, are from Colette and are only sold there. But the perfume house has four other scents: Herbs, Mint, Pear and Violet which are available in the US. (I definitely want to add to my fancy bubble collection with some of those.) :)

Well worth the coin I think, if either purpose appeals to you: controlling children or having a philosophical, yet lighthearted, sensory experience.

P.S. The bubble chase really was quite hilarious. Going to capture it on film and post it here as soon as possible.

11.05.2011

Obsessed

On a note unrelated to France, I am in love with this show. Check it out! It's da jam!

Weather Report & French Lesson - Rain Vocabulary

(photo found here)
It has been raining almost non-stop for about two weeks and is supposed to continue the rest of the week. I happen to be a gal who likes rainy days, however, I do not like navigating the city's poorly drained streets without rain boots!

This song comes to mind...


Also this one...


So I thought this would be a good opportunity to go over some rain vocab...

Pleuvoir v. - to rain

Il pleut - it's raining/it rains

Pluie n. (f) - rain
i.e. J'adore la pluie! - I love the rain!
Goutte de pluie n. (f) - raindrop
Trombe d'eau n. (f) or Pluie torrentielle n. (f) - rainstorm
Orage n. (m) - thunderstorm
Pluviomètre n. (m) - rain gauge
Pluvieux (m) / Pluvieuse (f) adj. - rainy
Imperméable n. (m) - raincoat
Parapluie n. (m) - umbrella
Bottes de pluie n. (f.pl.) - rain boots
i.e. J'ai besoin de bottes de pluie putain! = I need some f***ing rain boots!

*Wish I had these from J. Crew :(


One more rain song for the road: