The Sunday Session: Part deux (finally!)

1 What are you reading?



I 'm attempting to finally finish "The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson. It's funny, heart warming, captivating and I'm annoyed at myself for not finishing it first time around as it really is as bloody brilliant as the reviews say. I recommend charging to your nearest charity shop and find a copy and then pass it immediately onto someone else so they can belly laugh as well!  



2 What are you watching?


Thanks to someone updating their Facebook status last night (we would have completely missed it otherwise!! Thank goodness for social media!) we've started watching the third Series of "Borgen" this weekend on BBC 4 and it's started off as brilliantly as Series 3 ended. The Danish Political drama is still filling the gap that "The Killing" has left in our lives and high five to the BBC who are showing 2 episodes every Saturday!

Also back on our British screens is "Masterchef: The Professionals" on BBC 2 which is a relief as I've watched so much of the Australian series that 'I'm starting to guess the dishes and ingredients before they happen.

Last night we watched Ryan Gosling in "Lars and the real girl". If you haven't seen it and you're a Ryan Gosling fan be prepared to see him in a totally different light! I hadn't read the blurb or even heard of it so was not prepared for the brilliant but heart-wrenching tale. 



3 Where have you been?

We went South to see one of my oldest friends from Uni get married at the weekend and it was magical, cold, romantic and I felt so happy for her and so proud as she deserves her happy ever after. It was very much a reality check as friends are beginning to get married and have babies. Is it time to grow up?!


4 What made you smile?

I found the old emails my buddy Dan and I sent to friends and family when we were travelling around Europe and it included an email from my Mum checking that we hadn't been kidnapped in Croatia as we had forgotten to call before we left Hungary. Not sure what's worse; the risk of being kidnapped or the fact that she had just emailed her concerns to us and hoped for the best?!


5 Most listened to?

• Delilah, Strong for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvVW7u2y4LQ
• Sky Ferreira, Everything is embaressing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEamE0MYPkg
• Robotaki, Walking on a dream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKm2jdzB2n0

6 Who deserves a mention?

Design sponge

I discovered Design Sponge via one of Essiebutton and Gemsmaquillage's TTYL videos (See here) and have not been able to stop scrolling through the pages and pages of well put together interior design spaces. The photos are brilliant quality, the style a mix of vintage, restored and mid century categorised by State, Country and style and now I know that there is a book to go with it I'll be hinting over the next few weeks! (Please boyfriend!!)

7 Favourite purchase?

These boots from New Look. My All Saints army boots finally gave up this Autumn and although I don't expect these to match their lifespan I think they'll at least last the Winter. 



8 Most used site/app/game?

This Month, in preparation for our Holiday to Paris in little over a Month, I've been upping my French lessons and Dualingo has been a brilliant on the go tool to improve both my vocabulary and my tenses. It's silly and easy to pick up and mixes the written with the spoken (with an option to not use the mic if you're on the train for example) and with a leader board that shows your friends progress it's good for motivation too! Some of the sentences are very silly (This morning I had "The pig has a large fly") but I've since discovered that they have made some of the silliest into t.shirts so I know a few people who might get one for xmas!

If you're looking to pick up a language I highly recommend Dualingo although the choice seems to be limited to a few European languages at the moment.


9 Something good to eat? Drink!

This Months lineup...

Chai Latte has taken over my life. I'm fully on the bandwagon and I can't see my getting off this side of "the worst Winter Britain has ever seen". It's amazing with milk, with water, in the mornings, at work and with a tiny dash of Nutella.



10 Random favourite

I think I've mentioned this before but seeing as they've moved I feel it's only right to mention Artemis and Nao of Junkaholique. The Husband and wife team run their own jewellery company, have the most beautiful home and sense of style and a little girl who wears Artemis' handmade knits adorably well. Their blog is inspiring as it is endearing. A weekly read for both the Boyfriend and I.

Paris when it sizzles - a few favourites

There's a little entry on the calendar scribbled next to a date very close to Christmas that has got me bubbling with excitement.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that my heart belongs in Paris. This isn't a love affair caused by a holiday as a child or the fact that I'm a sucker for a cliché; it's more of a spiritual/cultural/meaningful connection that means I feel more at home in Paris than anywhere else in the world.

I once visited Paris on my own when I found out my Parents were getting a divorce. Sitting on a picnic blanket outside the Louvre in the "jardin de tuileries" with a small bottle of wine and some freshly baked bread and cheese I realised that the city could help to mend broken hearts as well as it could join two together.

So, after that lengthy intro I think that a little post of my favourite Parisian/French favourites is apt now that we're planning our next trip there.

Music

This song never fails to make me smile and Ms Denamur's sexy French vocals are the perfect soundtrack for a wine fuelled evening.

Films 

Midnight in Paris

A Woody Allen film that captures some of the literary greats such as the infamous drunk Hemingway and Gatsby writer F. Scott Fitzgerald as well as artists Toulouse-Lautrec and Dali.


The story itself is magical, romantic and delightful. It won't feature on any "cool" critic's lists but that won't matter because the scenery, the era, the costumes and the script will bring a smile to your face and make you wish you were wandering the city at midnight too. 



Before sunset

The second in the trilogy and my favourite of them all. (Quelle surprise!) The continuation of 2 strangers on a journey who meet through Europe and fall in love. Who doesn't love a film that features everyone's favourite Parisian bookshop?





 Paris when it sizzles, Charade, Funny face...



Audrey Hepburn is essentially the most beautiful screen siren/Parisian tour guide there is and numerous films featuring the starlet are set in the city and capture both times gone by and how some things about Paris will never change.

Places 

The aforementioned "jardin de tuileries" holds a bitter/sweet place in my heart and will always be my destination should I ever need to escape by myself. For anyone that's seen Amelie; the steps at the Sacre coeur are where Nino finds clues and where you can ride the traditional merry-go-round and is a beautiful look out point over the higgledy piggledy chimney tops of Paris.

The "Shakespeare and company" book shop situated near to the Notre Dame is now infamous and well worth a visit for bookworms and/or English speakers alike. On exiting the bookshop you are round the corner from some of the best record and second hand book stalls in Paris.

Whilst famous landmarks such as the Eiffel tower and the Concord are worth a trip, I definitely think that a walk to the top of l'arc de triomphe at night is the best time to go. The twinkling lights of the city and the darkness surrounding you makes it feel like you're the only ones seeing the landmarks of the city; a stolen view that could mirror what Hemingway or Hepburn saw whilst arm in arm with another.

There are a zillion other places that I adore but to save this post and your eyes I'll end it there with a clip featuring Ms Tautou...