As much fun as it is to entertain a group , I always enjoy a little one-on-one time with a friend. These moments allow us to share more intimate details of our lives and not just the superficial things.
We started our girls day at Cafe Flore located in the Madison Park area of Seattle. Delicious alternative, vegetarian cuisine prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
{Me}"Susan, why did you order these YAM fries..?"
{Susan} "I know, amazing right?"
{Me} ".. Mmmm, this dip.. mayo.."
We got to talking about hosting an event, preparing lots of delicious food, and then observing that some women just sort of pick at food and don't really eat.
{Susan}"I think they just go home and eat.."
I find it entertaining when a celebrity/super model does an interview about what she eats. Usually it's fruit in the morning, chicken and vegetables for lunch, and fish and vegetables for dinner. Really? Who can eat like that for more than a day or so? As soon as I deprive myself of something, I just want more.
Speaking in general terms, it does appear that the French culture has it down when it comes to food. I doubt the thin French women eat pastries on the daily basis, but I do believe they might take a bite here and there. Small portions, eating a little of this.. and a little of that. An appreciation for food.. each bite artfully prepared.
American's have been tagged with a super-size image... "you can always tell the American's in Europe.. they're always large..." is what I've heard over and over again. Well, I wouldn't say we ALL fit that image, but I understand the basis to the comment. I believe many of us are obsessed with dieting and body image, and it's messing us up.
Share a dessert, taking just a couple bites, savor your food, set the fork down and take a deep breath between bites. Sip water with lemon, sangria, or wine. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.. don't be afraid of FATS.. they help us absorb important nutrients and are wonderful for the skin. Fats will help satiate you so you don't crave all those carbohydrates. Choose fats coming from olives, avocados, and nuts, and fish. Consider preparing fresh, unprocessed food, rather than fast food when possible. Fresh butter in moderation is okay, a little sweet honey.. moderation.. a little of this, a little of that.
These are the rules I try to live by.
.
{Susan} "When you were in Paris, what did you think about the women?"
I'd say that American women are a little more chiseled, driven and determined to be thin.
I was at the gym the other day and my instructor suddenly yells ... "I'll be D*** if I will have any fat on my butt!"
Well, there you have it.
Seems a lot of French women chose a softer, gentler approach to fitness.. pilates, yoga, lots of walking. I appreciate that philosophy. Some fitness buffs just get carried away and I don't think "hammering" one's body regularly is healthy emotionally or physically. This doesn't mean that a LITTLE weight baring exercise is a bad thing. In fact, as we mature.. weight training will help us maintain our muscle mass (which will speed up the rate we burn calories) and keep our bones healthy. Choose something that is do-able for YOU. A common sense approach. If you don't like the gym, find a friend to walk with. Accept yourself, your body, be realistic. It's probably better to be a few pounds overweight than to be a yo-yo dieter. Personally, I don't think a little muscle on a woman is unattractive. I like the feeling of being able to lift my plant pots from the nursery out of my car, and I'm strong enough to move my furniture if I'd like to.
Peach, jicama, pistachio nuts, arugula, mixed greens...
Make each bite count. Fill your body with the fuel it needs to energize your body. Enjoy a little of what you like every day. Embrace life .. learn how to pair food and wine!
Shiitake Mushroom, cheese, baguette.. This was served french dip style.
CAFE FLORA cookbook
Next stop is Frenchy's for a pedicure. The service was excellent and the boutique was filled with all kinds of fun French-inspired perfumes, lingerie, and jewelry.
French women are unique when it comes to fashion and make up. According to some of the papers I read in Paris (it was Fashion Week) the French don't follow a lot of fashion trends. They have a simple way of dressing with lots of neutrals and a splash of color (scarf, bag, etc), flats with dresses.. sometimes heels. I loved that there wasn't all this BLING everywhere! Simple accessories, very sophisticated and pretty.
Hair is up in a soft bun or down.. very soft, healthy, pretty. Confident, relaxed, not worried if somethings not perfect..
Make up is simple. Dark eyes with pale lips, or red lips and light eyes. A classic look that appears as if the application process is like a secret recipe passed down from Mom to Daughter for generations.
Botox? I'm sure there is some but I didn't see some of the extremes that I might see on Hollywood or South Beach. Unfortunately many French people believe that those extremes represent American women. Sad, right? Do you know someone that has gone over the top with cosmetic augmentation?
I don't.. Seeing these extremes is very sad and display a level of desperateness (fear of aging) in a woman. That.. to me, is very unattractive.
French women enjoy their perfume and cosmetics. I've heard that a visit to an Aesthetician is a MUST on the regular basis. Healthy hair, beautiful skin appear to be the foundation to beauty. I would agree!
That said, I am always curious why smoking still remains in vogue. Cigarettes... addictive, suppress the appetite, age us prematurely... All I could think of (after working nearly 30 years in the field of Nutrition and now Dermatology) was ... your beautiful skin, your body...
While visiting Hotel Costes in PARIS...
it was warm, crowded, everyone was smoking.. the delicious French perfume ... it was intoxicating and for a second I wondered if I'd wandered into an opium den! A cultural experience indeed. Slow down.. relax... enjoy life..
c'est la vie!!!
The service was excellent at Frenchy's and the boutique was filled with lingerie, cover ups, French perfume and cosmetics. {susan checking out the mark downs.. lots of really cute stuff}
Reds are so French! Maybe we will choose one of these colors for our pedicure today?
{Me} "..Susan, let's get some of this YSL red lipstick and go a little FRENCHY today!"
{Susan} " Oui!"
Have a wonderful week ahead!
xx
leslie