0 Bring May flowers

I think maybe in my last life I was a florist. Flowers just make me inexplicably happy.


One day, when I have an apartment of my own, I'm going to go to the market every week and buy fresh flowers and it will make everything happy and bright.

via flowers a-z on design*sponge

0 Beautiful people

This week has been bittersweet on oh so many levels. I can't tell you how excited I am to see my family and friends at home (not to mention to catch up on months' worth of sleep and lose the French wine and cheese weight). I also have had to say good-bye to the many incredible people who became my surrogate family this year. The worst part is, being completely torn about settling in New York versus coming back to France, I just don't know which of them I'll see again.


But I also couldn't have asked for a better last night in Bergerac. We played at open mic at Plus que Parfait and almost everyone I've gotten to know and love this year was in the room. Hugo and I performed "Poker Face" and "Hey Ya" and we had so much fun. (I do a pretty good Andre 3000.. hahahaha...) Then a big group of us went back to Ellie's, where she and Hugo surprised me with a bottle of champagne for my last night and we all drank and jammed some more. The good-byes were tearful, but alas, it's only proof of what an impact these people will always have on me.



some photos (the really good ones) courtesy of ellie

0 It's wedding season!

Who else is excited about the Royal Wedding? We're so pumped over here in France that my friends and I are making a full day's celebration out of it: camping out at an English pub in Bordeaux, where the ceremony will be broadcast on every TV screen, followed by a party at my friend's apartment (dress code: red, white and blue.) Apparently, cucumber sandwiches and scones will be served.

And a bonus about being over in Europe during the Wedding: I get to watch it at noon instead of six am!

Speaking of weddings, I'm slightly obsessed with this safari themed wedding. I love so much about it, like the bouquets of wildflowers, the colorful rainboots, the home-made pies in mason jars, the vintage coffee tins as vases (an idea I might have to steal!), the ceremony in a botanical garden, and that a friend played an original song on the acoustic guitar while the bride walked down the aisle.

0 Direction home

While I will definitely be sad to leave France, there are certain things I'm looking forward to at home: my mom's cooking, coffee shops with mugs bigger than your head, and of course, my dog. (Family and friends are obviously a given.) I also can't wait to drive down familiar streets again with the windows down, the sun out, and feel-good music blasting.


1. "Stuntin Like 1901" - Phoenix & Lil' Wayne [mixed by Tumblewoof]
2. "Petite Soeur" - Ben L'Oncle Soul
3. "Save Me" - Aretha Franklin [feat. Santogold, mixed by Diplo]
4. "Rumpus" - Karen O and the Kids
5. "Kiss With A Fist" - Florence and the Machine
6. "You and Me" - Penny & the Quarters
7. "L.E.S. Artistes" - Santogold
8. "Je veux" - Zaz
9. "Mr. Blue Sky" - E.L.O.
10. "Cousins" - Vampire Weekend
11. "Say Aha" - Santogold
12. "Valerie" - Mark Ronson (feat. Amy Winehouse)
13. "Armillistice" - Phoenix & Lil' Wayne [mixed by Tumblewoof]
14. "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'" - Mayer Hawthorne

1 April Travels Part II: Aix-en-Provence and Cassis

I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence three years ago, and revisiting the city only reaffirmed my love for it. Even Elise has declared it her favorite city in France (over Bordeaux!). During our two days there, we went to Cézanne's workshop, shopped in the outdoor markets, and of course, ate and drank lots and lots of delicious things. Wednesday was a day trip to Cassis, which I had also visited the first time around, but this time it was spring and the sun was out - perfect for eating lunch outside and strolling along the beach with a gelato in hand. We took a boat ride into the calanques, which are breathtaking inlets in the Mediterranean. Afterwards we had a drink along the port and people-watched until the sun went down.

photos courtesy of elise

0 A Song That Describes You

So I knock on the door
Take a step that is new
Never been here before
Is there anyone else here too
In love with beauty?



I forgot for a little bit how much I love Rufus. He's really unlike anyone else. How do you classify his music? Pop-theatrical folk? Tounge-in-cheek opera? (He actually composed an opera a couple of years ago - and dressed up as Verdi at the opening!) He has a way of bringing poetry to music that's never cheesy and always original. (Lest we not forget he sings the most beautiful version of "Hallelujah".)

I was hoping the train
Was my big number
Though I'm chugging along, put away by the crossing hand
We'll be heading for Portland, or Limburgh or Lower Manhattan
Find myself running around
I don't know what it is so get me over

But you got to do it
You got to be there

Tomorrow: travelogue, part deux!

For the record, I'm probably going to stop this 30-day song thing cause it's starting to bore me.. and I'm starting to get annoyed by all the YouTube videos on this blog (are you?).

0 April Travels Part I: Bordeaux, Madrid and Toledo

It was like a mini high school reunion. Laura came to Bordeaux on Saturday, followed by Jake on Monday night. Anna called unexpectedly on Monday afternoon to tell us she was coming down from Paris the next day, so we spent Tuesday walking along the water, drinking wine, and reminiscing about old times. Laura, Jake and I left for Madrid on Wednesday; highlights included Plaza Mayor, the Prado, a flamenco show, a day trip to Toledo, and limitless quantities of sangria and Spanish omelettes.

(photos thanks to Jake)