Look for the positive

sometimes i just need a slap in the face...
(luckily this usually happens figuratively)

this morning, it was via my necklace...

I seriously can't believe I forget this, but I do...all the time.

the negatives just seem to jump in front of me...
and as a sinner in a very fallen world...i literally have to remind myself
with a note on my bedside table to:

Look for the positive

You'll find that it's actually not too difficult
because, although we live in a tainted world with things that break, disappoint,
and bring us limited satisfaction...
we also live under a God who pours out His grace abundantly,
has overcome the world,
whose love is unfailing,
and who cares for us.
--wow--


as I've been adjusting to lots of change in the last 2 years,
my relationships with family and friends have been incredibly important
but have also changed
the most obvious change being the distance
which often makes me sad
but
I AM BLESSED
to have friends and family
who care for me so well
from across the world!

Forever Young

Remember the story of these two??

Well, on November 26th 2011 they made it official!!

I was SO happy to be a part of my friend's big day

So joyful for you two--
Mr. and Mrs. Travis Young


--with all my love and support

easy as pie

here comes another confession...I don't enjoy cooking/baking. I feel like it's a sin for a woman to say that...or at least a turn off to the average man, but I'm definitely learning that I can't keep eating sandwiches and pasta for the rest of my life.

For this reason, real simple, pintrest, and food gawker have been my best friends in the kitchen. I never knew how many delicious things you could make with 3 ingredients in 10 minutes. Little by little I've stepped it up and tried the more complicated recipes that require you to do things like "sprinkle with the zest", "whisk vigorously", and "flute edges attractively"...but it's the amature friendly recipes that I'm having fun with.

Here are a few (and my "what not to do next time" tips):

Parmesan Hash Brown Cups

Mix together with 2 tbsp of olive oil
Spoon mixture evenly into 12 muffin cups
With the back of a spoon, gently pack mixture into each cup
Bake for 60-75 minutes at 350 degrees

Unfortunately I rushed out the door to a "breakfast for dinner" party, so there is no finished product picture...but next time:
*use less salt
*I estimated 20 ounces from a 30 ounce bag..should have used more (I think 4 cups)
*In my opinion they were overcooked. I would try 50 mins.

This one is SUPER easy, fun, and will be gone in 5 mins
1. Prepare bundt pan by spraying it with cooking spray
2. Pop 2 bags of popcorn (remove kernals that didn't pop)
3. Mix in 2 cups of m&ms (I used peanut butter m&ms)
4. Mix in 1-1/2 broken pretzel sticks
5. Melt 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter over low in a large saucepan
6. Add 16oz. bag of marshmallows (8cups)
7. Stir until smooth
8. Pour over popcorn mix
9. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and then press into the bundt pan
10. Cover with foil and let set for at least an hour to cool

I've made this twice now and it's a big hit.
I'm not sure I would do anything differently!

Apple Pie (in an apple)

Use a pre-made pie crust to top it off
(cut flowers with a cookie cutter and make some holes to release vapor while baking)
Bake at 370°F for about 40 minutes

There are quite a few things I would do differently...but it was definitely tasty enough to try again...so, for next time:
*get bigger apples (and the granny apple was a little too tart)
*carve out less (make sure the apple will hold up when cooking)
*coat the pie crust with some melted butter and sugar
*I'm not sure how, but I would cook them differently..maybe broil them?
The apple "shell" didn't hold up very well :(

And if you're really going for *special* you should try and add some SPECULOUS

Next up on the menu: Three Cheese Pasta Bake (hey--it's a step up from my classic noodles with butter and parmesan).

Confessions of a wannabe bloggerista

Confession#1: Blogger and I were on a break. It was messy. I needed space. But distance made the heart grow fonder. So, you'll be seeing me around more often.

Confession #2: california is cool and all...but im having a hard time coming up with something as interesting as parisian pastries to blog about

Confession #3: because i've benefited greatly by other bloggers courage and willingness to be vulnerable and expose parts of their life (from craftiness to crappiness) --I'm motivated to do the same. it's totally scary and not comfortable, but let's be REAL people! so go ahead--laugh with me at my poor attempts to be crafty, fit in with the O.C. hipsters, learn to cook, and live this life Jesus came to give me, and wants me to live to the fullest.

"you see the depths of my heart, and you love me the same"

Confession #4: im addicted to pintrest...that felt good to get off my chest.

a true Turkish delight

funny story...
Grabbing this little bottle was one of the best mistakes I ever made. At our mid-year conference in Spain, STINT teams from all over came together for a week and one of the fun things we did was a Bazaar. Every team brought cultural things from their country and got a chance to trade with different countries. The catch was, each team had 30 seconds! I like to think of myself as a good shopper, but I'm bound to make some bad decisions in 30 seconds!
I quickly grabbed this bottle thinking that I was getting some great olive oil from Greece or Italy...but it turned out to be body wash from Turkey....like I said, best mistake ever!

My roommates and I fell in love with this so much so that when we traveled to Turkey at the end of the year, our goal was to find this body wash!!

I have very sensitive skin, so I'm picky when it comes to skin care..but here's why I love it:
it's NATURAL
it lathers really well with only a small amount
no oily residue...you feel clean and smooth
very light fragrance

I bought two bottles to last me a while...but I'm already searching the web to find more online...no luck yet, but i'll keep you posted because it's a must try!!

I'm home!...?

hopefully this doesn't come across as too much of a “downer”...I really am so happy to be home. Catching up with friends, home-cooked meals, walking on the beach, playing with my 2 dogs, driving my car with the windows down and music up...♪these are a few of my favorite things♪

However, this “reverse culture shock” thing is real! As much as I prepared myself for what to expect, it's a whole different reality once you're actually back.

I've been back in America for a little over 1 week and the best way to describe the transition is: weird.

There are the typical cultural differences like:

*everyone speaking english...much louder
*friendlier service....no one does it better than chick-fil-a
*bigger portions...Big Gulp? Really? Do you really need more fl.oz. than your stomach can hold?
*bigger people...everyone really seems huge after being in France
*driving everywhere...love this, but learning to walk everywhere in a city was the best lesson for me...I guess i'll have to park at the back of the lots to at least walk some ;)

but the biggest shock for me wasn't actually cultural...it was just being home.

For 308 days my home was Paris, for the next 37 days it's Ponte Vedra, and after that it will be Irvine, California.

Talk about change! My “home” is changing, people around me have changed, and I've changed! And to me, that is the biggest adjustment.

For 308 days I was in a different reality. I was aware of the fact that I was changing, but it was harder to prepare myself for the changes happening in a reality far away from me. My mom is more laid-back, my dad is changing jobs, my sister became a doctor and moved away, I have a new dog, some friends have moved for jobs, some are married, some are out of the country.

Basically, life went on.

Duh! Right? But it's a stranger concept than I ever expected it to be.

This is a fun, fast, exciting, challenging, and humbling time in my life...with lots of changes along the way. Whether they are easy or hard to cope with, I'm so thankful to be able to rest in the solid, unchanging truth that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

He loves me unconditionally, will provide for me, strengthens me, and is my source of joy regardless of circumstances. This--is la joie de vivre

Candelaria

Finally...some authentic, delicious, decently priced mexican food in Paris!!

52 rue de Saintonge 75003 Paris

tacos in the tiny front, secret swanky bar in the back....literally, it's behind the small white door that looks like only staff should open....thanks to the other blogs, we knew to check it out

Tacos 2-5 €
Cocktails 12 €
*they also have Dos Equis! 4 €


I ♥ mexican food!

Teaser

i was so excited for the release of this song today...and it just leaves me more excited for the album!

soak it up

one of my favorite ways to relax is a good bubble bath



my miniature european stlyle bath tub isn't quite made for bubble baths...so it was a special treat to have one this weekend while I was out of town.

I bet you could use some relaxation too...so take a bubble bath! Even if you need to schedule it in...block an hour out, turn on some Norah Jones, and soak it up!

Valleys of sorrow to rivers of Joy

I will sing of your mercy that brings me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy.

I'm always so encouraged by the honesty and openness of others...and since this blog's purpose is to share the experiences I have to live life to the fullest (not just cupcakes and flowers...the difficult ones too), I'll take a turn at sharing...

I have lots to be joyful about. Don't get me wrong.

But I have pain as well. And I'm learning what it looks like to be joyful in all circumstances.

The healing process is hard. It takes time. Wounds can easily be re-opened. And even when they completely heal, the scar is a permanent reminder.

But it's a reminder of so much more than the pain. It's a reminder of the healing.

Today, I am in the healing process, but am joyful because of the mercy and love the Father is pouring onto my wound.

“The love of God is his doing whatever needs to be done, at whatever cost to himself or to us, so that we will see and be satisfied by the love of God in Christ forever and ever.”

-John Piper

joys of the metro

The metro can really suck. Large crowds, horrible smells, crammed cars...but every now and then, you have a pleasant surprise like this one


(Pachelbel Canon performance in the Châtelet metro station)

and it reminds me that i'm in one of the coolest cities on earth. And just like that, i'm quite happy to be in the metro.

"Window Licking"

In America you would go “window shopping”, but in France, it's “Lèche-vitrines” (Window Licking).

The store-front window displays in Paris are the best I've ever seen...I am actually tempted to lick them they're so good (if only they weren't covered in dirt from the polluted air).

The new trend now is to not only be creative with your window displays, but to give the shopper a unique experience throughout the entire store. The concept is called : Concept Stores.

Merci is one of the newer concept stores in Paris and is dedicated to fashion, furniture, books, interior design, and much more. It's like an art exhibit and fashion retail store combined. But on the highest level...almost to the point of sensory overload, but in a good way.

You can shop collections dedicated especially for Merci, top brands like YSL and Stella McCartney, or unique creations from young local deisngers. And you can also create your own fragrance by Annick Goutal. And the best part is, profits are donated to organizations in Madagascar and India.

And to finish it off, sink into one of the antique leather chairs in Merci's cozy tearoom and reading area.

Address: 111 boulevard Beaumarchais
Metro: Saint-Sebastien Froissart
Open: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

http://www.merci-merci.com/

Paris Pastries- 20eme

Au 140
140 rue de Belleville
Paris, 75020

best baguette in Paris in 2001
second best croissant in Paris
pastry shop next door
homemade ice cream and sorbets
yes please!

I loved the detail in this patisserie!

My selection:
A soft almond cookie, topped with a mound of creamy vanilla custard,
garnished with fresh strawberries and jelly fruit bites
*this was one of my favorite pastries I've tried so far

Lauren's choice:
a little less exciting than a diamond ring, but she liked it ;)
Raspberry almond tart topped with
fresh raspberries, mangos, and mango mousse

Jen's Choice:
Tiramisu
(did you know this means "pick me up" in Italian??)
layers of delicious mascarpone, coffee dipped biscuits,
and cocoa flavored liquor

we've made it to the end of the arrondissement "snail", but will be curling our way around to the 12th next week!

Paris Pastries- 19eme

MUAAHAHAHAHA (evil sneaky laugh)

My roommate, Jen, and I have been planning these Paris Pastry days with an ulterior motive, and now I can finally shout it from the...keyboard.

LAUREN HUGHES IS ENGAGED!!!!!!!

Here's the scoop. Lauren and Travis have been dating for over 4 years. However, since late August, Lauren has been in Paris doing an internship while Travis has been finishing school in Florida. So...that's 8 months apart people! Crazy! (thank goodness for skype!)
Lauren has been in love with Paris forever, so the idea of being proposed to here has been a dream of hers. She knew Travis would visit at some point during our year here and they had talked about marriage...so the proposal part of the visit wasn't as much of a surprise as the WHEN IS HE COMING?! part...and trust me, the suspension was killing her!

A few months ago Travis told Jen and I about his plans to come and pop the question. He booked the ticket, bought the ring, and had the proposal spot picked out....our job was getting her there. The trouble was, ANYTHING out of the ordinary would tip her off, and the park he picked was definitely out of the ordinary. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is in the 19th, off a random metro line, and far away from where we would typically hang out...but, challenge accepted!
We knew we needed to plan some kind of weekly thing starting right away so that in 8 weeks it wouldn't be random to say “hey, let's go to the 19th!”.
And this "A Patisserie for Each Parisian Arrondissement" blog was where we found our brilliant plan

VOILA!

In order to be in the 19th by week 8, we had to start with the 14th (where we live) and skip the 2 weeks we were out of town. It was PERFECT!


And the best part is, SHE WAS SURPRISED!

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
(The gazebo at the top of the hill is where he proposed)

Lauren and Jen

Lauren and Me

the "gland" pastry...meaning "acorn" in French

This choux pastry is filled with crème pâtissière,
covered in icing with sprinkles for the acorn's cup



enough about the pastries...here's the real show

we were almost halfway across the bridge before she stopped texting,
looked up and saw TRAVIS!
She immediately dropped her bag and ran!

we had 6 paparazzi on them!
(me, jen, Hannah, Brett, John, and Clark)

down on one knee!

She said yes!
(a few times)

the BLING!

Travis and Lauren are finally engaged!! I could not be more happy for these two love birds as they spend the next few days in Paris and the rest of their lives together!

Oh, and don't worry...
Just because the surprise is over doesn't mean Paris Pastry days are done! :)