Big Announcement

Celebrating Six Years of Marriage

Then

This weekend my husband and I will be celebrating six years of marriage. Many things have changed since then (especially the precious, wonderful, sweet addition to our family a year ago). Along with the arrival of our baby girl, we have barely been able to have any alone time. {We've been on maybe five dates in one year and have been away from her one time for about 36 hours.}

Well, we are taking a mini vacation for the next couple of days ALL ALONE. Now, that just feels so weird to say, but it is SO needed. We really do miss each other. I am guessing that you understand what I mean when I say "miss each other." I feel selfish for saying that, but I understand that a family is only as strong as husband and wife's relationship.

Now
I know that we will be so anxious to come back home after being away from baby girl for two days. My husband and I keep joking about how she will change in the two days that we are away. She has been taking several steps on her own now (yeah, she's a late walker), and we keep joking that she'll be running by the time we come back!

For all of my students who visit on Fridays for French lessons, there will be a "walk." No class! Yea!!

About my surprise...I know that I told you last Friday that I'd share with you my news, but timing now is not the best! But you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out this one if you are just a little observant! Hmmmm.....

French Lesson No. 11 - Le Salon

Coucou, mes amis! If it seems like I haven't been around much, it's because I haven't! I've been a busy woman these last two weeks, and I have a little surprise I have been waiting to share with you! Very soon! Very soon...you will know!

This French lesson is a French lesson mixed into a little story I want to share!

Today's Objectives

• Vocabulaire - le salon & l'anatomie
• Expressing what you like and don't like

~The bust that I've always wanted~

We'll just pretend that I am only talking about the statue!

Vocabulaire - L'Anatomie

Eyes = les yeux

Nose = le nez

Mouth = la bouche

Chest= la poitrine

Head = la tête

Hair = les cheveux

(Note the plural form in French "hairs." This is a good example of how English is not always logical. Do we have ONE big hair or many hairs??? I think the French have it right this time!)

{My story} A couple of weeks ago, I went on a short vacation with some women in my family to Fredericksburg, Texas. We were shopping and buying like mad women released from their cages! (Well, maybe I have exaggerated a tad).

One thing that I have always been on the prowl for is a bust for a mantle in our home. Bust statues, in my opinion, are one of the main objets d'art you would find in a grand Paris apartment, and since I love this style, a classic, feminine bust is on my "to buy" list. As I was walking through one of the best home furnishing stores in Fredericksburg, I caught a glimpse of the perfect bust. (Oh, I am having fun with these double entendres!)

Long story short, I was unable to bring her home with me (as the price was too steep and the trunk of the car was packed to full capacity!)

And what did I stumble upon this week? A gorgeous image from Nonsense & Sensibility. Once I saw this photo, I knew that I had to borrow it for today's French lesson. Little did I know the surprise that was inside...Oui! mon buste!!! Regardez au centre de l'image à côté de la cheminée! Mon buste parfait dans toute de sa gloire! So, I guess she wasn't the rarity that I thought she was (or shall I say he since it is a masculine object)!

Vocabulaire - Le Salon

Livingroom = le salon OR la salle de séjour

Shelf = l'étagère (f)

Fireplace = la cheminée

Books = les livres

Lamp = la lampe

Couch = le canapé

Painting = le tableau

Expressing likes and dislikes

Aimer in French means "to like"

Adorer in French means "to adore"

J'aime = I like

J'adore= I adore

Examples

J'aime la lampe en verre. = I like the glass lamp.

J'adore le canapé rose. = I adore the pink couch.

Making these negative:

ne...pas goes around the verb (Note n'....pas goes around a verb that begins with a French vowel sound)

Je n'aime pas = I don't like

Je n'adore pas = I don't adore

Example

Je n'aime pas les livres par Al Gore = I don't like books by Al Gore.

Bon week-end à tous! The next time I speak to you, I will share the exciting news!

A Flickr of a Beautiful Artist

In my quest for beautiful images for French Friday Lessons, I stumbled upon my absolute favorite artist on Flickr. She is the subject and creator of the beautiful image I used on last Friday's post of the innocent couple wearing white. Her profile name is Rosiehardy. Interestingly, even her name transports me back to my childhood as the elements of her name are very closely related to my closest childhood friend from the tender age of three.

The first image in this post was my first impression of Rosiehardy, and it is still my favorite. It intrigued me to search deeper into her portfolio where I found a well of beautiful artistry. Rosiehardy is the creator, subject, and editor of her photos. (Although I am not sure if she has a photographer or is also the photographer with a self-timer on her camera.)

All of her pictures are laden with emotion--love, frustration, sorrow, intimacy, awareness...and many of her images explore various strong emotions between a man and a woman. Not only does she express these emotions in her art, but she also includes a lenghthy caption along with each of her photos, which is uncommon in my experience on Flickr.

Rosiehardy has a impressive following on Flickr, and you can see why. She is a beautiful woman with a beautifully creative mind. I love the color palette of many of her images. They are muted and these muted tones give them a dream-like quality. Of course, I have selected some of the more feminine, pretty images...Some of her images are, well, the opposite, yet they still interest me.

French Lesson No. 10 - What Is It Made Of?

Bonjour, mes amis! This week has been a little hectic around here. Little Amelia has outgrown her morning nap, and I really miss that free hour and a half in the morning to get things done. I guess I will eventually adjust-J'espère

Today's Objectives:

• Vocabulaire - for what things are made of
• Reading - Practice reading in French!
  I have decided to add into this lesson a few very short paragraphs in French to help you to practice reading in French (we all need that reinforcement). Of course, I will give you the English version in case you need it.

en soie = made of silk

les rideaux en soie = silk curtains/drapes

Les rideaux en soie autour du lit donnent cette chambre un air royal. J'aime le mélange de motifs- les rayures et les fioritures.

The silk curtains around the bed give this room a regal air. I like the mixture of patterns-the stripes and flourishes.

en verre= made of glass
la bouteille en verre = glass bottle

J'utilise de temps en temps une bouteille de parfum en verre comme un petit vase pour un petit bouquet dans la salle de bain.
From time to time, I use a glass perfume bottle as a small vase for a small bouquet in the bathroom.

en coton=made of cotton
la robe en coton = a cotton dress

la chemise en coton = a (man's) shirt

Regardez ce couple-ci. Ils ont l'air purs et innocents en portant ces vêtments en coton. Une belle image tranquille n'est-ce pas?
Look at this couple. They look pure and innocent while wearing these cotton clothes. This is a beautiful and tranquil picture, isn't it?

en papier=made of paper

une fleur en papier = a paper flower

une chaussure en papier = a paper shoe

Noel, la fondatrice de Fanciful Designs, a fait cette chaussure blanche en papier. Elle a été inspirée par l'anniversaire de mariage de ses parents quand elle l'a créée. La chaussure est legère, romantique, et parfaitement charmante!

Noel, the founder of Fanciful Designs, made this white, paper shoe. She was inspired by her parent's wedding anniversary when she created it. The shoe is light, romantic, and perfectly charming!

en plastique=made of plastic

les boutons en plastique = plastic buttons

en cuir = made of leather

une malle en cuir = a leather trunk

une valise en cuir = a leather suitcase

Noel a trouvé cette malle en cuir il y quelques années à un marche aux puces en Californie. La malle a la marque Goyard-Paris. Quel trésor!
Noel found this leather trunk at a flea market in California a couple of years ago. The trunk has the mark, Goyard-Paris. What a treasure!

_{Images #1 and 2-Flickr-xjavierx #3. a la parisienne}

#4.Flickr- Rosiehardy #5. Fanciful Designs #6. a la parisienne

#7. Fanciful Designs

Elie Saab's Dreamy Dresses

As I was flipping through a recent subscription of Vogue magazine I stumbled upon the most beautiful haute couture dress I had ever seen. It was a dusty pink dress with chiffon roses sewn all over the bottom by Elie Saab. I searched and searched on the Internet for a copy of this picture and never found it until tonight.

I've never really known much about Elie Saab until recently, and I'd have to say that his work ranks up there with Dior in its beauty and femininity.

This dress has reminds me of a beautiful candelabra with the remnants of melted candlewax



Mischa Barton in Elie Saab Spring 2009 Haute Couture

I love this grayish lilac dress

...and dove gray...one of my favorite colors to wear

Look at the delicate and sensuous back of this dove gray dress

....so Dreamy!

A la prochaine!