You are here: Home / Archives for French diet

Channel Your Inner French Girl

January 14, 2013 by

French girl with umbrella

(photo source)

Spring is two months away…which means January is the perfect time to dream of Paris in the Springtime! To give your fantasy a boost, check out the latest issue of Matchbookmag.com which features a full spread on how to channel (or dare we say chanel?) your inner French girl.

Suggestions include:

  • Brushing up on a few French phrases – Je t’aime
  • Getting lost in a classic French movie, ie. Amelie
  • Dressing like a French woman a la beret and a striped boatneck shirt
  • Dine like a French girl – Champagne and macarons anyone?
  • Decorate like a French girl – a little lace here, a little toile there
  • Inspire yourself by reading a French-themed book – French Women Don’t Get Fat is sure to be a favorite

Pair these suggestions with a quick wit, a clever smile, and occasional longing glance ….and voilà – Bonjour Inner French Girl!

Filed Under: Joie de Vivre Tagged With: , , , , ,

Anti-Aging Secrets of French Women

January 7, 2013 by

(Photo source)

French women are known to age gracefully; some may say they never seem to age at all. But how do they manage to remain beautiful and ageless despite the stressors of life, not to mention Father Time? Books and magazines have chronicled this mystery of the never-aging French woman, but her secret is more attainable than you think.

A recent article simplifies a French woman’s anti-aging ability, noting that she follows a few key principles:

A French woman…

  • Pampers herself – From long showers to hot bubble baths – from head to toe, she doesn’t miss one luxurious spot.
  • Remains confident – Whether or not she is really seen as beautiful by others, she truly believes that she is strong, unique, and beautiful.
  • Has style – Instead of fad fashions that come and go with the seasons, she invests in timeless pieces that are always in style.
  • Embraces her age – A French woman may seem to prolong the aging process (as seen by her outward appearance), but she also welcomes the beauty and wisdom that age brings.
  • Walks – Forgoing the gym and home equipment, a French woman exercises in the most natural way possible – she simply walks nearly everywhere she goes.
  • Watches her weight – Although she is not known to “diet”, a French woman does control her portion sizes, rarely snacking and never eating to excess.
  • Experiences a life of love  - From family, to friends, to significant others, she surrounds herself with people she loves and who love her in return.

Simply put….French women take care of themselves, starting at a young age, nurturing their bodies, spirit, and their self-esteem.

What is your anti-aging secret?

 

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: , , , ,

Why the French Grocery Shop Every Day

September 15, 2011 by

(photo source)

One thing I admire about French women (and there are many things) is their ability to shop for their meals every day. No stocking up for a month, or even a few weeks, for these girls. They don’t want to be tied down to food they have in the house, but rather eat whatever they fancy on any given day. Really, fresh meats, bread, cheese, and vegetables every day – what’s not to admire about that?

Unfortunately, most cities, suburbs, villages, etc. in the United States are not set up for you to quickly run to the store each day. Due to the time consuming drive and the endless selections everywhere we look, a quick trip to the market – or worse, Costco – can easily turn into an hour – so long that you’ve forgotten why you went there in the first place.

I am not advocating wasting food that you currently have in the house. But what would happen if we were to grocery shop like the French – changing our whole outlook on food and shopping – buying only what we need for that day or maybe the next? Would we enjoy our food more? Waste less? Would we be healthier?

If you’ve found a way to grocery shop like the French – even with a busy lifestyle; or if you’ve experienced positive results from shopping this way (ie becoming healthier, etc.) please share your secret du jour!

Ciao!

Filed Under: Food & Wine Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Doors of Provence

May 5, 2011 by

When most people think of the south of France, they think of its warm climate, hearty food and wine, and lavender fields. However, the tourist with a more discerning eye knows that there is much more to southern France than meets the eye.

A friend of mine was recently in Provence in the south of France. Upon arriving in Aix, she began taking pictures of all of the beautiful, colorful, and unique doors in the various southern cities. Taken on their own, each door may not seem like anything special. But, taken as a whole, the collage tells a story  -  a story of the old world charm of Provence – one door at a time.

It is also keen reminder that when we look beyond what is expected or what is normal, you may just a discover a host of quaint and enchanting nuances – some of which lie no further than the front door.

 

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Joie de Vivre in Epcot’s France

April 14, 2011 by

When I was first introduced to the book French Women Don’t Get Fat six years ago, I was not only enamored by the book’s topic, but completely fell in love with the book’s cover art. I immediately searched for the artist – R. Nichols – and found that he not only did Mireille Guiliano’s first book cover (and subsequent book covers) but he also designed stationary, note cards, luggage tags and more. Nichols’ distinct design is classy with clean, clear cut lines, yet carries a bit of whimsy via bold colors and fanciful settings – tres chic!

Fast forward to my recent trip to Disney World….I was beckoned by Epcot’s France to stop in and peruse the pastisserie – as I always do when I’m in a faux foreign country – as well as the gift shops. I was, at first, tempted to buy a beret, but decided that buying a beret in Epcot’s France was simply not the same as buying it from the actual country. Smart move. I continued to browse the shop and came across the books and stationary section. My gaze was immediately drawn to that unmistakable book cover by R. Nichols – that’s right, French Women Don’t Get Fat was staring at me, almost begging me to look closer. And, to my surprise, as I took a closer look, I noticed a whole card section dedicated to the art work of R. Nichols, and all with a French theme! It was truly a joie de vivre moment right in Disney World. Merci, merci, merci Disney and R. Nichols!

Obviously, it took a matter of seconds for me to select my four new cards and pay for them, the whole time smiling, feeling like I had found a wonderful treasure. When I returned from my trip, I ventured onto Nichols’ site once more to see if there were more of the “Disney” cards to order, but unfortunately not. However, the artist has designed many similar cards with French/European/Travel themes – definitely worth checking out, especially if you love France and paper as much as I do.

Ciao!

 

 

Filed Under: Joie de Vivre Tagged With: , , ,
%d bloggers like this: