RSS Feed

Posts Tagged ‘movies’

  1. The bucket theory

    May 9, 2012 by Audrey

    When I first arrived in Lyon, I met up for drinks with my friends Y. As I was telling her about my new arrival adventures: getting a cell-phone, getting all my administrative paperwork in progress, settling down in my grandmother’s house and helping her with the daily chores and with the overall packing of the house, trying to get my social life together and seeing some friends, keeping an eye on my Philadelphia clients, keeping up with the blog… and complaining that I missed going to the gym and I was looking for a good one; she looked at me puzzled and asked: “How do you fit it all in?”

    I didn’t feel like I was doing anything extravagant… How could she, a working-mother-of-two, wonder how I could fit everything into a single-working-from-home-free-as-a-bird life? I have no obligation to anyone but my clients, the administration (once in a while) and myself. I don’t have anyone depending on me, and someone else is making my meals… How can I NOT fit it all in?

    Well, if you noticed, I took a 10-days hiatus from blogging. Why? Because Y. was right to be doubtful. It appears that I’m no wonder woman and that I have to stop putting everything at the same level. Obviously, after taking a short break to visit my parents, I short-circuited. Was I drowning myself into work and all that good stuff to avoid looking at the reality: I have no idea where my life is going? One can think so. I don’t know. All I know is that if I want to keep my sanity and keep everyone happy: clients, friends, family… I’m going to have to do some serious prioritization.

    Enters “the bucket theory”. It’s a classic from time management training and it’s time for me to use it. That’s how it goes: how do you fit big rocks, stones, sand and water in a bucket? You only can if you start from the bigger items. Fill your bucket with water first and you won’t be able to add anything else to it!

    Same thing goes with my days; putting my bucket together would look like:

    1. The Rocks:
    Weekdays: my clients. Whether they’re French or American; whether it’s about working on projects or working on administrative stuff to get the business going, or even attending networking events. This is my #1 priority.
    Weekends: my friends and family. Time with others is always time well spent.

    2. The Stones:
    Me, myself and I: doing the things that I like and the things that I need. Feeding my creative side by taking time for reading, writing, going to the movies or seeing an exhibit; taking care of my body by not skipping the gym – 10K here I come!

    3. The Sand:
    The not-so-fun stuff that needs to get done: grocery shopping, cleaning the house, running errands, doing all this administrative craziness…

    4. The Water:
    The fillers. Everything else.

    If I can stick to that plan, I should be in good shape, right?

    How do you manage your time? What’s in your bucket?

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: ,,,,,,, | No Comments

  2. A rom-com feast…

    March 15, 2012 by Audrey

    Lately I have been on a classic movie kick. But with Spring in the air, I’m feeling more and more inclined to watch a good romantic comedy here and there. Love is in the air, so why not on my screen?

    My 10 all-time favorite rom-coms (in alphabetical order):

    Bridget Jones Diary - A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary. Self-help books, cigarettes and bunny ears… what not to love?

    Elizabethtown - During an outrageous memorial for a Southern patriarch, an unexpected romance blooms between a young woman and man. For the road-trip I always wanted to take but never had the chance to.

    Four Weddings & a Funeral - Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love. Because the first 4 words in that movie are “fuck”, “fuck”, “fuck” and “fuck”. Brilliant.

    Just like heaven - A lonely landscape architect (Ruffalo) falls for the spirit of beautiful woman (Witherspoon) who used to live in his new apartment. Although the book If Only It Were True by Mark Levy is a thousand times better than the movie.

    Love Actually - Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. Best Christmas movie EVER. Mandatory viewing at least once every December.

    Moulin Rouge - A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets in this stylish musical, with music drawn from familiar 20th century sources. For the music, the colors and the crazy elephant tower.

    Music & Lyrics - A washed up singer is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an aspiring teen sensation. Though he’s never written a decent lyric in his life, he sparks with an offbeat younger woman with a flair for words. If you’re not a Hugh Grant or Drew Barrymore fan, just watch the PoP! goes my heart music video…

    My best friend’s wedding - When a woman’s long-time friend says he’s engaged, she realizes she loves him herself… and sets out to get him, with only days before the wedding. For Rupert Everett singing Say a little prayer.

    Strictly Ballroom - A maverick dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner. There had to be one dance movie… tie with Dirty Dancing. Best part is the documentary on Ballroom Dancing in Australia, in the bonus features of the DVD.

    The Holiday - Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other’s countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love. And, of course, there had to be one Jude Law movie… and who wouldn’t melt for Mr. Napkin Head?

    I’m actually a little worried about myself when I realize that Hugh Grant is in 4 out of those 10 movies… I swear I don’t have any particular crush on him. Guess I just like British humor…

    Did I miss any (didn’t include any classics on purpose – cannot compare orange and tomatoes)? What would be your top 3?

    Category Culture | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  3. Closet classics: The Little Black Dress

    February 23, 2012 by Audrey

    Fact: every woman’s closet needs to have a Little Black Dress. It will always be on style, it will always be chic and it will turn out to be the best default option for any evening-wear moment in life: date night, cocktail with the girls, office dinner party… You can’t go wrong with the LBD.

    The History of the Little Black Dress starts with the 1920’s designs of Coco Chanel. Published in Vogue (1926), “it was an apparently simple yet elegant sheath, in black crêpe de Chine, with long, narrow sleeves, worn with a string of white pearls;…” says Justine Picardine in her Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life. In the 1960’s Audrey Hepburn, as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, wore a dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy and epitomized the standard for wearing little black dresses. Holly’s confidence, charms and chic look were inspiring to women through the 60’s and on. As the fashion industry embraced the LBD it has evolved but the essence of the little black dress has stayed the same.

    I personally not just own one Little Black Dress but three (first signs of addiction maybe). Two of them have a little bit of Mad Men’s Joan Harris to them, the third one is more office/boyfriend parents-friendly; and there’s no better choice in case of a closet nightmare than to fall back on one of those staples.

    If you don’t already own a LBD, go get one. There’s one for every shape and every budget.

    Then comes the accessorizing… Here are a few items to gather that will always work with your Little Black Dress:
    - Slingback (preferably peep-toe) shoes.
    - A little bit of sparkle with costume or precious jewelry (think drop earrings).
    - A cardigan for the times you’ll have to “undress” your dress or cover shoulders and necklines.
    - A small clutch is a lovely, discreet look. Try a dazzling or sparkling color to dress it up for the evening.
    - Finally, for the most daring of us, long black gloves in the evening are guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

    Category Fashion | Tags: ,,,,,, | No Comments

  4. What happened to slips?

    January 31, 2012 by Audrey

    I have been on a classic movie binge lately and I can’t help but noticing those gorgeous women wearing silk slips under their dresses. Mad Men anyone? And I wonder… What happened to slips? Modern clothing? The pants taking over women’s wardrobes? Probably a little bit of both and more…

    In her New York Time article What’s sexy now? The slip, back in 2006, Ruth La Ferla linked the renewed interest to the lingerie icon to Old Hollywood: “Historically Hollywood has served up slips as a contradictory symbol of girlishness and womanly predation, one that glides between the poles of trashiness and class. A subtle invitation to misbehave, slips were impressed on the popular consciousness by stars like Ms. Taylor, not only dangerously feline in “Cat,” but elegantly debauched as she nursed a Scotch wearing satin and lace in “Butterfield 8.”" She saw a trend. And she was right.

    Whether it’s an additional layer against cold weather, a solution for that little-too-sheer dress that’s staying in the closet or simply the idea of waking-up your inner Joan Holloway… the slip is an addition you might want to consider in your wardrobe.

    From the modern Calvin Klein Stretch Satin Slip with its simple lines, basic colors and affordable price to the luxuriously girly Rosamosario Rosso Disera silk-chiffon slip there are many options out there for all tastes and all budgets.

    What’s your take on it? Do you own one? What are your pros & cons?

    Category Fashion | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  5. Me Day

    January 23, 2012 by Audrey

    So, as I mentioned in my previous post, yesterday was my birthday. I wanted the celebration to be simple and sophisticated. And it was.

    First, I woke-up to a white Philadelphia. It made me smile. My “Indian name” is Birthday In The Snow… A long story for another post some day.

    Second, I treated myself to a movie: The Artist. And it was a perfect balance of beautiful picture and incredible acting. Just laughed a little bit when I was able to hear Jean Dujardin’s French accent in the only spoken line he has in the entire movie. Cute.

    Third, K. and M. took care of my birthday dinner: some tofu/pineapple/collard greens concoction (M. is vegan) that was a delight for the taste buds. Funny that I actually happen to really like Tofu, and I’m not sure they even knew that.

    Mr. J.J. was in charge of my birthday dessert, Creme Brulee. Second year in a row, I think it’s starting to become a tradition. I’m wondering he’s going to make that happen next year.

    It was a small dinner at home, just 5 of us, and it was wonderful. We cracked open a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, left-over from New Year’s Eve and had conversation about sex, death and nuclear pipes. What’s not to love?

    Next and final pit-stop was at R2L, and its fantastic view of the city. There, a dozen of my friends gathered around a dessert plate (playing second serving with desserts here, don’t tell anyone), gesture of the establishment and their adorable Sales & Marketing Manager.

    I realized several things last night:

    1. I couldn’t have been better surrounded than by the people that were there. They’re the friends that stuck with me through good times and rough patches.

    2. I have a LOT of girl friends… Gentleman, they’re such an amazing group of ladies… It you don’t snag the single ones quick someone else will!

    3. My tolerance to SideCars is highly improved – which I’m grateful for. The day my tolerance for brandy/bourbon/whiskey-based drinks will be directly proportional to my love for them will be a happy day.

    So, here we are, the beginning of another year. It’s going to be a fantastic journey!

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  6. Halloween at Tiffany’s

    November 1, 2011 by Audrey

    Just like every year, come September, the question on my mind is what will I be this year for Halloween? Just like every year the headache last probably until October 15th. I hate last minute decisions on costumes.

    A good costume, in my opinion, should reflect something personal; have a story beyond the disguise. I have had some good costumes over my years in the U.S.

    I was a cowgirl (American archetype) when my American friend, A., was a French girl (with stripe t-shirt, beret, baguette, the whole 9-yards).

    I was “Frenchy”, the Grease character.

    I was the Little Red Riding Hood, with my 6’4 student as the Big Bad Wolf.

    I was Magenta, as a tribute to one of my favorite movie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show; and as another play around the French theme (French maid outfit).

    This year, my first idea was to be Colette, the French flight attendant on the new ABC series Pan Am. I love the 1960ies style. That was not thinking as original as I thought… Before I could figure something out, all the flight attendants were gone. And when I say “costume”, I really mean minimal piece of clothing that shows more flesh than fabric. I would have really loved to dig up a vintage blue suit but that didn’t happen.

    After spending a Sunday afternoon researching possible Halloween costumes and spending time at Masquerade, I could not bring myself to wear any of those pre-packaged slutty outfits. Just couldn’t.

    So I raid the little girl aisle for a tiara, picked up a couple sets of white beads, long black gloves and a cigarette holder from the 1920ies aisle and grab a paper cup from my favorite coffee shop… And there we go! A tribute from Audrey to Audrey. Not too bad, right?

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: ,, | 1 Comment

  7. I don’t know how she does it

    October 8, 2011 by Audrey

    Well, I don’t either. And I often wonder how I wouldn’t do it if I had a husband and two kids to take care of. Truth is, I bet I would do it. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to do it. And most of all, I don’t think women should be expected to; unless juggling with multiple lives is really what they’re striving for.

    As for the movie, it’s an entertaining hour and a half for any respectable 30-something that is actually not trying to do it all. It’s like a sequel of Carrie-Bradshaw-got-married: a Sarah-Jessica Parker one-woman show. Oddly, the one thing I noticed about SJP, beside the fact that I couldn’t identify which character she’s playing if there was not a context around it, is that her hands look old. Very old.

    On top of my list after seeing that movie: get a manicure, buy hand lotion.

    As for the lists… Which are, in my opinion, an important character in that movie… Well, yes, I make lists. Lots of lists: grocery lists, wish lists, to-do lists, 5-year plan goals lists, Netflix lists… I’m sure I’m forgetting some. They keep me on track. They give me a feeling of accomplishment every time I check something off one of them. Does this mean I’m an overachiever spinning my wheels in yogurt? You tell me.

    Category Seeing | Tags: , | No Comments