Don’t you wish you were in Paris right now? ME TOO. So much so that I decided to pretend I was in France for the day, without having to pack a single bag, dig out my passport or fly thousands of miles (or spend a gazillion dollars for that matter). If I wasn’t able to bring myself to Paris, I’d bring Paris to me. From what to wear to what to eat to what to listen to, here’s how I celebrated my Francophile-ness in my own home (and you can too!).
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1. Get dressed like a French girl. You might be tempted to lounge around the house in sweats and a tank, but seriously, would a stylish French lady EVER be caught wearing that even in the privacy of their own home? I think not. Put on your most on-fleek, yes-I-could-be-in-Paris-right-now outfit. You could go classic (think striped shirts, a scarf on your neck and a pair of slim pants) or get some tips from our 15 New Ways to Nail French Girl Style for a more modern spin. There are some looks that are totally TD.
2. Smell like a French woman. The French love their perfumes, so for your day of embracing all things francais, you should dab on a scent that conjures up Paris. The world’s most famous perfume — Chanel No. 5 — is TOTALLY French, albeit old-school. Other classics include Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs, Guerlain Shalimar and Yves Saint Laurent Opium. I went with my old stand-by from high school days, the aptly named Paris by Yves Saint Laurent. It’s a mix of mimosa, orange flower, rose, moss, sandalwood and amber, and it totally takes me away to the city of lights (and being 16!).
3. Enjoy the sweet sounds of French music. The French have a unique sound, especially their music from the ’60s. I pulled out a few iconic French singers for my day of living French, including Serge Gainsbourg (his songs with Brigitte Bardot are ah-mazing!), France Gall and Francoise Hardy. I also threw on more contemporary sounds from the likes of Stereolab and Stereo Total. Additionally, if it’s more up your alley, you could enjoy some modern sounds from Daft Punk, Air, Phoenix or Justice.
4. Do a French-inspired DIY. A super chic (and easy) project to tackle is our ascot scarves tutorial, or do some decoupage (we’ve got some sweeeeet suggestions here). I spent my day of celebrating Frenchness working on my embroidery ode to Brigitte Bardot, where I filled in the rose that the GORG French starlet of yore is holding in an old vintage pic.
View this post on InstagramChanel's SS17 lookbook is best paired with French Rosé. #whatilearnedinparis
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5. Drink some French wine. You gots to! On a beautiful day like this, I grabbed a lovely rosé. But really, any Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy or Champagne will do!
6. Eat all the French foods! Okay, maybe not all of them. Not only will you get a tummy ache, but some things just aren’t that tasty (we’re talking to you, escargot and frog legs). But I’m alllllll for the cheese, macarons, croissants, crème brûlée, cheese, Salade Niçoise, boeuf bourguignon, steak frites, cheese and even more cheese. To really get the taste of France, I bought some brie and a freshly baked baguette and snacked on that. For dinner, I made a totally delish bistro style beef stew, and we had a few super yummy macarons for dessert. So, so yum!
7. Watch a French movie. I dare you to watch Amélie and not want to book a plane ticket to Paris, like tout de suite. It’s oh so irresistible and oh so French. To get in the mood, you might also wanna watch movies that honor three of France’s most famous women, like Coco Before Chanel, La Vie en Rose (about Edith Piaf) or The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. If you’re feeling like going old school, check out Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, François Truffaut’s Jules and Jim or Luis Buñuel’s Belle du Jour. (Photo via Miramax)
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8. Get Some French Inspo from Instagram. Following these peeps will have random French pics pop up on your Instagram feed all day long! I spent some time following some new French faves like Lindsey Tramuta (@lostncheeseland) for drool-worthy food pics; Joanna Lemanska (@misscoolpics) and VuTheara Kham (@vutheara ) for iconic images of Paris; Anne Hidalgo (the mayor of Paris) and all the chic ladies on our 15 French Girl Instagram Accounts You Need to Follow list.
What’s your fave way to celebrate that French lifestyle? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know!
(Featured photo via Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.