Another Classic French Movie Moment

I went this afternoon to see New Years Eve, the movie.  Classic chick-flick, so of course I trekked across the city to see it at 2:30.  

There is always a point in every movie I go to see where I 'get' something in the movie that no one else understands.  This movie was no different.  Matthew Broderick, playing the boss of Hilary Swank's character, stepped out of his limo and was introduced as Mr. Buellerton.  I died out laughing while everyone else in the theater remained silent.  Because why, of course, would they have seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off??????

Bueller....Bueller....Bueller...

Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

-Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Home for the Holidays

Well, I'm signing off tonight for the next 17 or so days. Marie-Césare and I leave Paris tomorrow at 2:30. I'm so exhausted from a whirlwind few weeks that I can't even tell you how excited I am to sleep a little later and on an actual mattress. Ha!

We went to dance this morning and it was "open door" day. So, I stayed and was the parental cheerleader for Marie-Césare. She did well, although she is so peculiar about the way she does things that it slowed her down a bit. Her teacher, Cami, is really sweet and everything you would want in your little girls dance teacher. Andddd, the first song she played was from Mary Poppins and continued with a few of my favorite Disney classics so I liked her even more.  I will post videos and pictures after I get back when its not 1 am.  

This afternoon we made cotton ball santas...

Sorry for the sideways photo...its sooo lateee...

Opened really awesome Christmas gifts thanks to an awesome package from my mother...

And painted our nails with the new OPI Muppet Collection's "Rainbow Connection."

I'm babysitting tonight, school tomorrow at 8 am, picking up Marie-Césare from school at 11:30, and catching the train...2 1/2 hour train ride and whew. C'est les vacances!!!

I hate not having great Internet there, but it's too much trouble to lug my computer back and forth. I hope each and every one of you have an excellent holiday with your families...whatever corner of this world that may be in and whatever time zone you may be a part of. I hope my friends in the southern hemisphere have great Christmas barbecues filled with warmth and sunshine (still so bizarre for me to imagine) and those of you to the north I wish you a very Merry, white, and snowy Christmas. Me? I'll be somewhere in between hot and cold, sun and snow, and American and French. I'll be thinking about my family and wishing I was in Tennessee, but another Christmas with my "adopted" family who loves me I am sure just as much as my "real" (as opposed to fake..but you know what I mean..)  family does in the south of France doesn't sound half bad does it? I believe it will suit me just fine.

Although next Christmas, no matter where I am in this world, I am going home for the holidays. You can bet your bottom dollar.

Favorite phrase of the Day

I gave Marie-Césare some tomatoes for dinner tonight.  After the first bite she began screaming and screaming at me.  There is something in my mouth that hurts really bad!!!!  Make it stop!! 

I looked in, and of course, she has a teeny tiny ulcer that the tomatoes really got angry with.  

"Maggie,  I don't think we should go to pony lessons tomorrow because I have an ulcer."

I see the light!

Well friends and family, I can now say I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  No, not the tiny flickering light that you think might be the end, but the definite archway of the exit.  I had a rdv with the visa office the 22nd of December, but went today to avoid having to come back to Paris over my holidays.  After arguing with the man at acceuil for 10 minutes that I needed to see someone today, he realized I was relentless and just gave up.  He took me back to guichet Z where I then asked to talk to the lady that I did the last time, Marie.  Turns out Marie wasn't working today, so I turned that situation to my favor.  

I told the new girl that I had called a few days ago and Marie told me to come in whenever I needed and give them my documents.  (100% not true...but Marie wasn't there so who was she to know?)  I sat down immediately and gave her all the documents Marie told me to come back with.  I waited in the salle d'attente for 20 minutes or so while she discussed some things with her coworkers and put some information into the computers.  "Mademoiselle Phil-peaux, venez avec moi" I heard from a distance and went and sat down with a different woman, who was very pleasant and agreeable to be around (surprising for French administration workers).  My paperwork from my school says that I am enrolled until June, 2012 but am only paid up until March, 2012.  True story.  She said that she could either do my visa now but only renew it until the end of March and then I would have to start the process all over again to get it renewed until I leave, or I could make another rdv for mid-January, go pay at my school, get proof, and not have to pay the 70 euros for the tax stamps again...and it would more than likely get renewed until the end of August, 2012.  Um, yes please, I will take the second option.  

SO, long story short.  Best outcome is that I go January 10th, with proof that I am paid up until the end of the year, they take everything and I will get my visa back 1 month later.  Not so ideal...they will discover some other loophole that I need to jump through for yet another signature, another fee, or another official document.  It's a good thing I'm head over heels in love with Paris...if I wasn't, I'm not sure it would be worth it!  

Envy

Things I'm envying lately.  

Longchamp Gatsby Bag in Paon, 570 euros

Kate Spade "Charm" Heel, $325.00

Apparently, I have already blogged these shoes before as my dad quickly pointed out to me.  But, seeing as how no one got the point, I think I will blog them again. *hint, hint*  I have wanted these shoes for a couple of years now, and as soon as I come back to a world with a real income...I think they will have to be purchased!!

Les Lumières de Noël

I have been out enjoying Christmas lights!!  Friday night after work Laura and I wandered around Place de la Concorde, Place Vendôme, and Madeleine and this is what we found!  

Roundabout in front of Champs Élysées-Clemenceau

We also paid 10 euros to go on the massive tourist trap, the Roue de Paris.  The giant ferris wheel that is right between Place de la Concorde and Tuileries.  I remember wanting to do it last year, but was certain I wouldn't miss out this year.  There wasn't a long line...and I got a few good shots, but nothing to drool over.  

Looking over to the Hotel de Crillon

Obelisk and the Champs Élysées

The perfect Parisian trifecta:  Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, and Champs Élysées

Christmas lights at Place Vendôme

Window displays at Dolce and Gabbana

Window displays at Galliano

I don't like this concept...but he's beautiful, non?  

Hermès

Today I ventured out to La Défense to the Christmas markets.  They are supposedly the biggest in the Paris area, and were pretty well laid out I will say!  

Donuts and Beignets..yum.

Home sweet home, Rue de Courcelles

We did end up taking a closer look at the Hôtel de Crillon.  It is, what I think, the most beautiful hotel in all of Paris.  It is stunningly beautiful with columns and hand painted ceilings, the service and security is top notch, and the location directly on the Place de la Concorde isn't too shabby either.  The amount of detail that this hotel puts into its daily activities is world class....as if the Lamborghini's and Ferrari's out front don't give that away.  

I wanted to go in and take a peek around so badly....but I just wasn't dressed appropriately.  Beautiful people were prancing around in evening gowns and long-tailed coats with diamonds dripping from every earlobe and finger and what did I have an eye on?  Their lush hotel room.  Typical.  

So if anyone is winning the lottery or just has an extra couple of thousand to spare, I would love to stay here...just one night.  I think that's all it will take.  

English Christmas Dinner

Yesterday a few of my fine English friends got together and prepared a typical, Christmas dinner for us non-Brits.  I put on my new dress (hesitating to be anything but proper at a proper English dinner) and headed to Saint-Germain-des-Prés to my friend Alison's beautiful apartment.  Well, her families' beautiful apartment.  The father of her host family is American and there were subtle things about the apartment that gave that away immediately.  A washer and a dryer, floss on the cabinet in the bathroom, and an alarm clock on the nightstand to name a few.  

The kitchen was buzzing with talk of parsnips, pea soup, and mince meat pies.  With our secret santa gifts stashed on the coffee table and the second course in the oven, we poured wine and sat down to a delicious first course of pea and lettuce soup.  I normally hate iceberg lettuce, but mix it up with some peas and butter and I'm game!  I even asked for seconds to bring home with me for dinner.  

Sarah and Rozy

Before the next big course, we pulled our "crackers" open, first by crossing our arms and one person getting the end of everyones popper.  Inside were your typical paper crowns, jokes, and toys.  Laura found an eye patch in hers, I had some magic cards, and Rozy got a compass.  For some reason...everywhere she pointed was north.  

Our resident professional bird carver, Taylor, got to work on the delicious centerpiece.  Normally it would be a roast or a turkey, but since both of those options are very expensive here...chicken it was.  

We enjoyed our "parsnip course" of parsnips and carrots, stuffing balls, brussel sprouts and broccoli, roasted potatoes, nut stuffing, and bread pudding.  A very full and colorful plate.  

Sarah, Alison, Laura, me, and Rozy

We sat our overly stuffed selves on the couch for a much needed rest after all the delectable food.  Dessert was offered but it was absolutely certain we all needed a 30 minute break.  We passed around our secret santa gifts, took a group photo....

or tried to....

There we go...finally got it right.  

And settled in for mince meat pies and a chocolate yule log.  

Tell me this doesn't look delicious....

I practically had to be rolled out of the apartment and could have laid on their comfy couch with rain drizzling on the huge windowpanes all afternoon.  Sending out a huge thank you to those of you that sent me on a small Christmas trip to London for the afternoon!  

Drumroll please.....

The finished product at the Lachaize residence.  Not too shabby, huh?  I am enjoying it anyway. 

Our homemade candy garland.

I have to babysit next Wednesday night and to be honest, I'm looking forward to putting Marie-Césare to bed and just sitting around the tree for a little while by myself with a cup of hot cider.  Bliss.