J'adore Paris

Walking through an airport terminal in Charles De Gaulle is a bit like stepping into an alternate universe. It seems Paris is one of the most highly fantasized places on earth...little girls dreaming of fashion and frolicking, with hopes of one day gleaning something from their (the French) seeming unparalleled sophistication. Me...I just went for the macarons, and well...a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower!

The night my bestie, Charline and I decided to go to Paris was a fit of Carpe Diem; A spur of the moment decision to go that very next weekend. Then you hear the words, 'Yeah, I'll be in Paris next weekend,' float out of your mouth, and it's surreal, and a bit incomprehensible.

That first night we learned a great deal of Paris, that is, the outskirts: The Paris no one dreams about because they never see it. Upon stepping onto the Metro platform, you abandon the notion of being a tourist, and embody the French, otherwise, you will get lost (which we did). Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon which glass you favor), we went out there as dreamers, with only the Lord's favor, and 100 euros of which to keep us for two days.

 In those two days, we managed to float through opaque Parisian afternoons taking in the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, wander through street artists in Montmartre (which I later found out was the whimsical stomping ground of Amelie Poulain), and breathe in all the glitz of the Champs Elysees. In the evening, we got to experience why Paris is called the 'City of Lights.' After all the gray, everything seemed to take on a glow, like being in a field of fireflies, except a vast city of lovers, artists, and chimera. Every hour, the Eiffel Tower sparkles in the night, and upon sight, you suddenly feel wistful, as if you should take at least one chance that night.

Out of everything we encountered, we adored Montmartre the most. It's exactly what you think of when you think about Paris: little shops and cafe's clustered about it's center, artists admiring the Cathedral and jumping at the chance to turn you into art; Also, archaic looking restaurants that make you think this is how it was when the Moulin Rouge was in full effect and artists came far and wide just to sip green fairies, and write.

Laduree is everything is seems to be: beautiful and delicious. Every single dessert looks picture perfect, exactly as they did in the film Marie Antoinette. We had the pleasure of going to the Champs Elysees location, and it was a lovely choice. The queue of macaron enthusiasts lengthened until it was almost outside of the front door! Unfortunately, I did not get to purchase an official box, as they were a bit pricey, but I did have as many macarons as I could afford. My favorite was the vanilla flavored macaron: so creamy, and spotted with pure vanilla bean! Later on, we decided we couldn't leave without having a coffee in their decadent restaurant. We were met with suited staff, ready to take our orders, and who presented us with a little cup of coffee with heated milk (with a Laduree handle holder that is now pasted in my Life Book) and a Cinnamon Iced Frappe (which really means Iced coffee, not the blended iced Frappucinos we're used to). Our coffees, combined with soft light, 18th Century furnishings and gold etched ceilings, made for the perfect evening!

By the end of the trip, we had walked 20 hours total, gotten lost at least 6 times, jumped on and off of the Metro, eyed the handsomeness that is the French Man, bought Wine and two large bottles of water for only (around) 4 Euro, dined on mussels and roast chicken, a small cup of cookie gelato, been harassed by souvenir sellers under the Eiffel Tower (6 Keychains for 1 Euro), found two cool pink 'J'adore Paris' tanks, gorged ourselves on sweet croissants, felt our way through the dark hallways of our hotel before discovering a light switch, and were completely exhausted. Aches were discovered in placed we had no idea could hurt, but was it worth it? Absolutely!

Everyone should go even if it's only once in their lifetimes.

Borrow A Page From a French Girls' Book: Body Love

As I read over this passage, I couldn't help but pass it on! It's so important to become comfortable in your own skin, to love your body, and embrace it in its whole. In Psalm 139:13-16, David spoke to God in awe and in gratefulness of how He created him fearfully and wonderfully. God, Himself, created each of us in His image. How astounding is this news once fully taken in? That means the whole of you is beautiful and lovely, and not in a vain way, but truthfully. He's placed too much in you, for you to allow media, magazines, and others to bring you to an insecure place. 

The excerpt was so inspiring to me, because once you reach this freedom where you love who you are, and the framework that God Himself sculpted, you cannot be touched by jarring negativity. I especially adored: 'Love your body, and your children will grow up loving theirs.' It just reminds us that our choices, not only affect us, but also those who will look up to us. I would love to watch my daughter carry on a healthy self-esteem and love for her body as a result of my cultivating it in her life! 

I thought the photograph was a beautiful representation of loving yourself. I pray that the nudity is not offensive to you. I just felt moved to find a tastefully nude photograph to enhance the point of embracing your full self. 

Bonne Nuit!

Source: Blackbyrd

Beauty in Bloom

Here's a hot-pick snagged straight from my Wishpot List. Beauty in Bloom is a treasure penned by Australia native, Natalie Bloom. Ms. Bloom is the founder of the Bloom makeup line, which launched in 1993! She started off creating greeting cards, and soon branched out into massage oils, and finally makeup.

I cannot wait to receive this in the post!   It's seems to be quite an eccentric makeup/style manual, as it takes on the form of a scrapbook of sorts. Inside, you'll find beautiful illustrations, quotes about life, makeup/style, and cultivating the beauty around you.  It also promises other whimsical bits about nature, notebooks, and more, which I'm excited to look into. Many style books I've observed seek to tell you what's right and what's wrong in the fashion world. What you should have in your closet, and what you shouldn't even form your lips to speak on. However, its quite refreshing to see a book which seems to communicate with its audience as a friend, immerse you in the beauty of illustrations, all the while glowing with the possibility of creating your own world of beauty. As soon as I've received it, I'll do a 'post-review' on whether it lives up to its promises. Beauty in Bloom retails for £8.49 ($12.71)

Photograph Source: Bloom Cosmetics

I am the one who haunts your dreams of mountains sunk below the sea.

Play Crack The Sky is a song that you chance upon, and what treasure you find in it! I love songs that are lyrically beautiful. Songs that you want to dig into, so that you can know the deeper meaning under the surface.  I love this part of the song because it rises like the crashing waves it describes. The acoustic guitars, and the echoing verses brought chills the first time I listened to it. These kinds of songs help me to envision my novel in a greater way, and I thank God for them! I can't wait to experience some more of Brand New! 

My Dearest Fanny...

Ask yourself my love whether you are not very cruel to have so entrammelled me, so destroyed my freedom. Will you confess this in the Letter you must write immediately and do all you can to console me in it--make it rich as a draught of poppies to intoxicate me--write the softest words and kiss them that I may at least touch my lips where yours have been. For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair. I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days--three such days with you I could fill with much more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.  

I've been waiting to see the movie, Bright Star, for ages. I actually was never a big fan of Keats, until I purchased the book of letters he wrote to his love, Fanny. His words debunk the whole notion that guys have no affinity to express their love to women through words. As I read, I wished I had a pen to underline every precious gem of vulnerability that I could soak out of it. What I love most about the love expressed in the past, is it seems to have taken more work, more time, more effort, and therefore the love seemed more idyllic. I know its possible to achieve now, its just figuring out whether we will leave behind our fast paces to actually know someone.

Jane Campion, director of Bright Star, put together this wonderful production scrapbook of the movie. Beautiful photographs, letters, sketches, and lovely little bits and bobbins to pilfer through. It's too lovely to miss.

 

The Meadow by Alexandre Desplat

{you can listen to this at my music

parser on the menu bar labelled

'Cacophony'}

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Bits and bobbins inspiring me now:

My Tumblr

Before I started using Tumblr, I just found it to be another superfluous blogging platform. 

Some of my good friends, Gabbie and Jen in particular, encouraged me to get on, and so I did.

Now, I just can't seem to ween myself away from it. Its like the moleskine of blogging platforms. I love that it separates everything into quotes, videos, text, audio, photographs. That seems to make each post significant. I also love that I don't feel the need to speak in paragraphs over there: just short and poetically.

with the lovely tumblr comes

Tumblr Audio Parser

This widget compiles all of your musical posts into this

kaleidoscopic symphony of a page. 

To hear my music picks, click on "Cacophony" in the menu bar!

I was privileged to have read a draft of the script and it affected me in such a personal way.

You all know I adore Rob, but Rob aside, this story is beautiful, 

its characters flawed and lovely. 

It's one of those stories that reminds me why I write.

{Another Remember Me related post coming in the near future.}

(picture photoshopped by me, wink wink!)

By Guy De Maupassant

It's absolutely one of those scandalous novels,

and yes, it has the obvious Rob affiliation.

But, it's surprisingly refreshing for classic literature. 

This translation is gorgeous. 

Some books, you read.

Others you read, and inhale, and speak aloud

and teach yourself how to write with it.

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{weheartit }

Polaroids are like photographic crack to me. Quick snaps, not meant to take themselves seriously, or try too hard to be a masterpiece...they just are. It's all about little moments. Or the big moments, depending on what glass it is for you. They seem very personal to me, like it could very well be someone's diary in photographs.

I think I might use polaroids for my wedding photos {in addition to the glossy masterpieces}. Also, when I graduate from Grad school, I'm definitely using polaroid to make that day extra surreal.

I happened upon a 20 pack on ebay for only $19.99. That's the cheapest I could find. I'll post the snaps as soon as they come.

Now, to choose a moleskine for them....

Chinnamerig

his is my tree Chinnamerig. I dubbed him this after smelling his scent outside of my apartment door when my parents surprised me with him. We haven't had a tree in two years, so it was a serendipitous surprise. The name just came out of my mouth as I jokingly grappled for one, and it stuck!

I hoped to make him an eclectic tree, so I dug out my valentines day angel bear/heart lights, and strung them along his bottom half. We haven't completely dolled him up yet, but he's perfect to me. Smaller than the monstrous trees we've had, but just right.

I thank my Lord Jesus for getting my family and I through this year. He helped me to achieve such amazing feats this year, from graduation to getting into graduate school, and continued to provide for us! He's truly a marvelous God, I love Him, and thank Him for saving us!

Even though its a bit too late, as retail has caused me to completely lose sight of really celebrating this season the way it should be, here's what I would've done. I find the singer 'A Fine Frenzy,' to be quite intriguing. She's like a more eclectic Jewel. She's come out with a Christmas album, and although I don't have it, it inspired me to wonder how she would decorate. I can imagine it would be natural and DIY. Handmade birds nests of twigs adorning the trees, asymetrical stars, or snowflakes made from yarn, or cut from construction paper. Steaming cocoa in an adorable ceramic mug. There's probably more, but I am a bit exhausted. I just know it would be homey, and wonderful.

Tonight, I even got to see the huge tree in Rockefeller Center! It seemed to be even more gorgeous than it was last year! Good times.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Cheers

Brit.

a gift from my grandma.i cannot really describe the smell.but forever it will smell like mountains,welsh words, and lines on my dream cartographie,to my mind.

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(Harpers Bazaar December 2009 Issue)

{"The first symptom of love in a young man is shyness; the first symptom in a woman, it's boldness."}

-Victor Hugo

his is the very best photo shoot that our own, Edward and Bella, have ever done! I chose the quote to go along with it because they all seemed to have this aura of young love: excitement, romance, exclusivity. The last photograph is one of my favorites of the set, because it has this beautiful gothic atmosphere, imbuing intimacy and secrecy.

I would like to think that new love is characterized both by a sense of personal familiarity and capriciousness. On one hand, you know the color of their eyes, what books they love, the bashfulness in the way they eye you under their lids and turn red. You know the music of their laugh, the tone of their voices at two a.m., how they feel about people and their favorite nooks.

On the other hand, you can't know what they are thinking. You could run away with them, and think you have their movements pinned down, and they turn around and do something all the more bewildering, perhaps beguiling,  than you thought could be.

Remember when you fell in love for the first time? All those emotions that made you feel like a teenager, running through the streets in the rain with your hand in theirs? In that moment, home is wherever their hands were.

Elements of Style

am definitely a fashion dilettante, who hordes issues of Teen Vogue and Lula like treasures, yet hasn't really allowed myself to fully explore further.

Now that I've graduated college, I have a lot more time to sit and think on how I can update my style. This year I've taken the time to actually experiment a bit with colours, styles, and hair. Thankfully, Megan of Charade Style , has managed to write and entire series dedicated to finding your own personal style. It's packed with nuggets of inspiration that encourage you to find styles that flow from your own tastes, and not just another instructional on how we all should jump on the bandwagon and follow the trend.

It seems most styling dilemmas have less to do with what's worn, and more to do with the confidence of the wearer. This is not to say that there aren't certain garments, and other unmentionables which should be retired and never seen again {in my opinion, endless florals, and any kind of animal prints fit this mold}. However, if you feel confident, and lovely in animal prints or florals, your confidence could totally turn a fashion don't into something fresh, and well...you!

This is what I am after. Although, I've always been kind of blah with fashion, whenever I decided to pretty myself up, I was would never walk down the road of status quo. This year I've decided to kind of fuse all of my fashion likes together to create something all my own.

fashion1 by brittany-megan featuring Forever21


I love mixing vintage with new garments. I love whimsical, girly garments with bows and lace. I love punky studs, bright colours, sometimes neon. I love certain garments with polka dots. I love incorporating accessories with cameo pieces, vintage lockets, pearls {faux}. I love mixing classy {maybe even straight laced/conventional} with artistic, abstract oddities. I am twenty-four, there's no reason I should be shrouding myself in black potato sacks. I am learning this day by day. I usually don't like very bright things that bring attention to myself. However, as much as I would rather limit certain bright colours, I learned that it was the attention I was afraid of. So I now incorporate more of these accents, because they are fresh, individual, and fun! Who can beat that? I don't want to be obnoxious, but I don't want to be invisible any longer.

Cheers.

"Own your reality..."

{photographs from weheartit.com. If you are the photographer of one of these beautiful photographs, contact me, and I will give credit. if you would like for me to take it down, I will do so}

ometimes I feel like a little brown girl with little pink wildflower barrettes swinging with my pony tails.There are so many things I want to be.

A Novelist

A Photographer

A Bible Scholar

An Etymologist

A Free verse artist

Graphic Designer

There are tons more compiled to my personal dream cartographie.  Nevertheless, the enemies, 'safety,' and 'conventionality,' meet me on a long dirt road before I even start. Once you graduate from higher education you are met with two choices, a boring cubicle filled with stale air, or, a thrilling life of creation and purpose. The cubicle comes with health benefits and what seems like a steady paycheck, but how much is it worth if you lose all of the colours that makes you...you?

So I choose fun, because life is short enough as it is.

I choose dreams because they are all I have.

I choose to trust in the Lord, and the miracles He has in store for me.

I choose to do it all, without regret, unabashedly.

And when my whimsical epic has been written, others will see blue, and wildflowers, love for God, lines, upon lines of words, sunshine, funky style, a wide smile. A life lived!