putyourflareon's Xanga

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:12:41 GMT

Putyourflareon is here.

and here.

Friday, July 01, 2005

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 11:35:30 GMT

I've moved...

My new blog home is: http://putyourflareon.blogs.com

Come and say HI!

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Thu, 12 May 2005 08:33:47 GMT

I woke up this morning and my teeth were aching. Not a dull ache but a modulating aching feeling resonating from each tooth in my mouth. I actually brought this on myself. When my sister came to visit me, she brought me a Crest white strip whitening kit (requested by me). I had used them before and never experienced any kind of sensitivities problems until now. Perhaps they have changed the formula but all I know is my teeth are hurting me to the point it's making my eyes water. What can I do short of going and paying a fortune for a dentist to look at my teeth? Dental work in France is very poorly reimbursed by the social securty.

Do any of you know any home remedies for aching teeth? It's not so much my gums but my teeth.

On the topic of teeth, a fellow expat's son is experiencing tooth issues and it sparked a rather funny memory to back when I was still losing my baby teeth. I remember my front left tooth was loose and all crooked and unwilling to come out. I had tried to pull it out myself but was unsuccessful. I showed it to my mother who slightly wiggled it and said that it wasn't ready to come out yet and then took me to see my father for a second opinion.

My mother marched me down to the basement where my father had set up his office. Already, the basement was a scary place in our house and my father's office was even scarier. I remember clearly that he was busy reading a book, my mother told me father what was going on and then left me alone with him. He peered at my over his glasses and beckoned me over so that he could have a look at this rogue tooth. I asked him not to take it out as I was afraid it was going to hurt and he reassured me that he wasn't going to take it out. He wiggled it and then told me to sit down on his lap. He said he was going to pinch my gum a little to make it feel better but wasn't going to take the tooth out because it wasn't ready (so he said...). So, I willingly sat on his lap, sure that he was going to do me no harm and let him have a look at my tooth. Less than a few seconds passed, he pinched my gum, I felt no pain and he sent me on my way. I ran upstairs to look and saw a GAPING HOLE in my mouth. The tooth was gone! I went back to the stairs to ask to see my tooth when I overheard my mom and dad talking and my mom saying that she was glad that he pulled it out so that he would be the one to blame if it hurt too much. And my dad laughed and saying that what he's there for.

Many more teeth found their way into my father's hand. He had his special way of pulling out baby teeth without us ever knowing it. Thinking back I never question how my dad did it but now that I'm older and will have kids someday I wonder how we become good parents? At least, I have two good examples to follow.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Wed, 11 May 2005 10:25:52 GMT

I <3 Sephora

My skin care ritual is like a religion to me. My bible is the each notice of use included with each skin care product I use and my temple of worship is Sephora. As a member of the Sephora religion it means also being a fidelity card holder thus promising I only shop for my skin care and beauty needs at Sephora. Which in return they reward and spoil you for being a loyal follower with the following goodies: Every quarter I am given a day where all my purchases are 20% off. Every time I spend 100€, I am gifted a 10% coupon good for one entire day of mad shopping at the Sephora of my choice (mine's on the Champs Elysees!) and don't forget the random goodies they send to you in the mail. And finally, for my birthday, I was sent a 10% coupon good for the entire day that also doubles the points I earn on any of my purchases and this very hip and practical bag.

I *heart* Sephora.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Tue, 10 May 2005 16:15:49 GMT

I <3 Picard

After work tonight, I had time to run to the store to prepare for our delivery from Picard. Prepare? Yes, of course, let me explain... A few weeks ago J bought me a blender. A shiney, silver blender. Probably the prettiest blender I've ever owned. Ahem, the only one, actaully. Anyway... I had been complaining that I wanted to make a smoothie. I wanted to drink a cool, fruity smoothie but alas we didn't have a blender thus no smoothie for moi. The blender arrived a few weeks ago and has sat in the kitchen unused until today. The day before yesterday J and I ordered our groceries online from Picard. I don't know if there is anything like Picard in the states but let just say that the French know how to cook and they know how to freeze it well for later. Now that J and I are working in the evenings we're not in the mood to cook anymore. Besides, J doesn't really cook, he re-heats (hi, love!) though he does it very well. So, here's where Picard saves the day. They have everything you can imagine, frozen. Perfect for us as we are fairely incapable of keeping fresh food in the house. That would require going to the market which would require getting up early and cutting into our much needed beauty sleep and I digress... Anyway, our wonderful delivery from Picard tonight consisted of everything from chicken breasts, scalllops, bio peas, choy suey, curry sauce, ice cream cones, raspberries and rissotto. I could hardly contain my excitement as the delivery man unloaded all these frozen goodies onto my kitchen table. Imagine me boucing around the kitchen the second he was out of sight and before the delivery man clacked the door shut, I was dumping yogurt, milk, raspberries and ice cubes into my virgin-shake-making-blender and pulverizing my way to smoothie heaven.

Here's the result:

Isn't my blender pretty? And the smoothie was damn good!
All visitors chez moi will be graced with a Flare shake, I promise!

*edit* in all the excitement of writing about Picard I forgot to mention what I had to prepare for, I had to run to the store and pick up some yogurt and milk to make the smoothie. And also, dance around the kitchen a few times before the Picard guy came.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Tue, 10 May 2005 07:29:01 GMT

So, as you know we didn't move last night. Can I tell you that working today has been a pain in the a$$!!! Everything that I need is in the bottom of each box I meticulously packed last night and I refuse to unpack anything because I'll just have to pack it up again. We were warned this morning that we should be prepared to move at a moment's notice. Goodbye productivity, hello procrastination. :)

Well, at least I look cute today... got my hair cut over the weekend and have been having an amazing hair day TWO days in a row.

A random note... I just aquired a new site meter that tells me how people are finding my site. Mostly people are finding through redircts from other expats sites or from blog societies I belong to. But someone found me yesterday be doing a search for popping blackheads. Ew. They were linked to my face vaccuming adventure.

And finally, I wanted to send some hugs and good vibes to ViVi, a fellow expat in France. Thinking about you, girl...

Monday, May 09, 2005

Mon, 09 May 2005 19:35:56 GMT

Jumping the Gun

We were scheduled to move this evening but the desk of the big, big boss has not arrived and since he doesn't have a desk no one gets to move. Guess who spent the entire day packing her desk only to have to unpack it tomorrow so that she can work. Way to plan things, management.

The cleanest my desk has ever been!

Monday, May 02, 2005

Mon, 02 May 2005 11:16:08 GMT

Home

I finally saw Garden State this weekend. I was especially curious after the random dream I had a few weeks ago. And I must say that I loved every moment of this film. The whole thing about going home after such a long time and Zach Braff's deer-in-head-lights-face.... god, I have so been there. The last time I went back to Kansas, I saw old friends and they were still doing the same old stuff. I sat on their old ratty couch as if the 10 years that's gone by had never happened. I'm in the time warp... everyone is moving but me. I don't belong anymore as much as they want me to. Had I ever really belonged? It's such a surreal feeling.

I love how in the end of the movie he goes back for her. Because he's been searching for his home for so many years and he realized that his home is with her. I was overwhelmed at the end of the film and more so last night when I went to bed thinking about where my home is. It's right here. It's with J. I awoke this morning and kissed his sleepy eyes and realized that for the first time in my life I feel like I belong.

Sunday, May 01, 2005

Sun, 01 May 2005 17:59:31 GMT

The weather in Paris has been absolutely magnificent! What a wonderful way to ring in the month of May. The scent of mugets on every street corner. Mugets are the mayday flowers given to your loved ones on the 1st of May. And I finally had my first ice cream of them season! Had a friend visiting this weekend from Le Havre which meant a weekend of girly fun with her and her. Yay for girlfriends. A few moments from this weekend...

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 07:11:05 GMT

Revitalize Yourself