Summer School (1987)

Lately I've had the urge to set an alarm on my phone reminding me of important things. The kinds of things you find yourself remembering at the weirdest times, like "Reminder for Thursday: Life goes by really fast so take a moment to appreciate small things you're likely to forget."

"Reminder for Friday: Allow everyone you meet to make an impact on your life (good/bad) or Learn a lesson from those you meet."

July has been kind and cruel to me. Full of some really great days and some crabby days. Full of really good luck like getting a Queen Bed and Box Spring for free on Craigslist, but then really bad luck like losing the box spring on I-40. I'm not lying when I say I'm happy to see July go and August to be here, even though there is still a few days left.

I was looking forward to watching New Year's Eve (2011). I shouldn't have been so excited. It is a bit of a continuation of Valentine's Day (2010) with character and plot changes.  It was cute and entertaining but not my favorite film. It follows about 10 stories but is not a traditional anthology film. Some of my favorite faces graced the screen which is always a tasty delight, especially Michelle Pfeiffer. 

July began for me with a little bit of a relocation. It's better financially to live off campus, and better for my sanity. Although I have nothing terrible to say about my roommate freshman year, I can honestly say I like my space and privacy. Who doesn't, am-i-right? It's times like this it pays to be a non traditional student. I can't help but be a little excited to have a place to escape to when school becomes a little much. 

I've been splitting my time between Fayetteville, Winston Salem and Wilmington and some days touch down in all three. Driving must have become a little monotonous because the other day I got into an accident on I-40. My poor bumper! That just postpones little things I wanted to get, nothing necessary. 

If only it were this easy....

Lemoncello Cake from Luigis

While I visit Fayetteville I pick up shifts at my old restaurant and spend hours catching up with people I've known for almost 10 years. It feels like a family reunion. But after a double I get home looking like:

Especially because Brandon's Dad visited from Hawaii and Brandon has been off the whole month of July so it's late night hangouts with family & friends. 

Sake and Miso

There were some very great moments in July: My sister-in-law getting married. She made a beautiful bride. Her minister? None other than Brandon J. Hurley. Yup. Brandon became certified to marry his sister. (Not in a West Virginian way) (Sorry, Austin). 

Brandon, Van and I went to Busch Gardens recently and had a very good time!

My bff, Mia

Van & Mia, this pic describes them perfectly 

Brandon soaked

Van shooting hoops

France was perfectly clad in pink... 

trying to look cool on the Griffon

Beautiful owl

There's still 6 days left in July, but it's going to be spent running around like a decapitated chicken. Brandon deploys this week and I'm moving to Winston Salem and starting a new job. That's a lot, so wish me luck. 

I love people like this!!!!

Paris, je t'aime (2006)

"We'll always have Paris." 

- Casablanca

Like any typical girl who hasn't been to Paris, I often find myself fantasizing about the first time I'll get to see this city. I remember getting excited in high school and college classes when we were assigned a report on a country or city. I always found a way to choose Paris. My presentations even included a barret and the serenading of Louis Armstrong's La Vie en Rose. 

Most of what I've been watching lately has been referencing Paris so I've totally got macaroons on the mind. I was very close to having the best language software on my computer to learn French over the summer. Instead I've settled for any DVD available with French subtitles or just films that take place in France.

Sabrina (1954) is on my list of top Parisian favorites. Audrey Hepburn originated the role of Sabrina in 1954. A modern day fairytale, Chaeuffer's daughter lives above the garage and watcehes as the love of her life and his family live their life of luxury and fortune. Her father, who feels she needs to find herself away from her fantasy beaux, sends her to Paris. Nobody was ready for who returns. 

French Kiss(1995). Starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein. Kate rushes to Paris to win back the love of her life, along the way she encounters con-man, Luke Tessier. 

Something's Gotta Give (2003) although this film doesn't take place in Paris, Diane's character, Erica, has some kind of soul connection to Paris and the French culture. With soft frech music as the soundtrack and the occasional conversation in French, this film has a way of picking me up when I'm feeling blue. Even with a 10 minute long crying montage. 

One of my guilty pleasures is the TV show, Sex and the City. A show that MANY people try to make me ashamed of. I agree it is chalk full of the cheesiest puns ever. But I connected early on with these girls and have learned a lot of life lessons from the show. 

I think it was very appropriate to end the series in Paris. 

Who didn't love Moulin Rouge(2001)?

My girlfriend Jen took a trip to Paris, a brilliant writer, she documented her travels on a fashion heavy and charming blog:

http://www.fairytalefashionista.com/2010/03/paris-je-taime-part-deux.html

Paroozing etsy is bittersweet at times because you run the risk of coming across little gems such as:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71383418/winter-in-paris-ring-snow-globe-eiffel

Twice I've toyed with the idea of ordering this little slice of heaven and both times they've been completely sold out. You'd think I'd learn my lesson and just order it. That's where life steps in and a blown tire ruins the day...

I know I've mentioned my favorite type of film plenty of times, and here is another mention. Anthology films! One of the first I saw was, 

Paris, je t'aime (2006). I'm very excited to watch New Year's Eve (2011) tonight. 

When traveling I take advantage of food I don't get back home. My absolute favorite snacks are pastries, especially croissants. To have one homemade from it's motherland would be the icing on... a pastry! (that was a very Sex and the City pun)

http://www.nadege-patisserie.com/

http://www.laduree.fr/en/fabricant/produits/patisseries

If I haven't argued my case enough about Paris being one of the greatest cities in the world then let's chat about the history of film... again. France is easily considered the birth place of cinema. The Lumiere Brothers invented the cinematographe in 1895. Their silent documentary film, The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station is considered the birth of cinematography. There were 4 firms in the early days of the industry: The Lumiere Bros, Georges Melies, Freres, and the Gaumont Co. Although is was the first to bow out, Georges Melies is my favorite of the early pioneers. In my earlier blogs, thanks to my editing class and American Cinema, I blogged tirelessly about Georges and the Lumiere Brothers and then again when I saw Hugo(2011). The French film industry suffered after World War 1. This allowed for the Us to step in. 

There are a million places to visit in Paris, I'm sure as in New York. But I have my own little list of places I have to see, starting with the most obvious.

1) The Eiffel Tower

2) The Louvre

3) Bohemian Paris

4) Notre Dame

5) The Sorbonne

6) Seine River (Sunset cruise)

7) The Catacombs

8) The Champo Theatre

9) The Luxembourg Garden

10)and probably a double decker bus tour of EVERYTHING!

This video couldn't have graced my inbox at a more perfect time thanks to Austin for sharing. 

For those not making the connection, Beauty and the Beast takes place in France. :)