We won!

a little preview of where Cynthia and I will be heading to ring in 2010!

Who: Phoenix
Where: c'mon...
What: video by Blogotheque

ATTENTION!

I need your help!

I have entered Yves Saint Laurent's "parisienne contest" and am now
a top-ten finalist!

Winner with the most votes by December 1st will win a FREE trip to PARIS for NEW YEAR'S 2010!
Winner will be able to take a friend.
Winner will recieve goodies.

Winner will be able to do/get all for FREE!

Please help me by voting here: www.experienceparisienne.com/contest
Click the VOTE button beneath me, KATELYN O!

Vote once a day until it's over....please? pretty please?!


Merci BEAUCOUP!
xoxoKatelyn

les Trucs.

---What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time.
John Berger

* a sweet lil' Fuji instax instant camera! This Mini 7S produces near-instant, vivid, high-quality prints the size of credit card.


---Ballet is sort of a mystery to me. And I don't want to unravel that mystery.
Robert Caro

*I would LOVE to go to the nutcracker this Christmas season!

---Hear the other side.
Saint Augustine

*Photo of starlette, Marina Berti

---I was born very far from where I was supposed to be, so I'm on my way home.
-Bob Dylan

*love the autumn leaves. Wish I could see them here in BR...

Le Ballon Rouge

*So I just was reminded of this film today, there was a post on the NYTimes website about this short french film from 1956 by director Albert Lamorisse. It is about a young french boy who "meets" a red balloon. The two form an unique bond and the spend the day walking the sunkissed streets of Paris...Watch this clip if you have the time!

In other news...

---Virna Lisi, covering Esquire magazine in the '60s. Classic!

---I love BUSTS. What a strange phrase, bahhhwho cares! This is a Bernini portrait of his mistress Costanza Bonarelli, dating to the year 1636. Similiar to the photo above, it is a dileberate exposure of a woman. Here instead of gender-crossing, Bonarelli is crossing the psychological...she looks startled, lips parted as if with a 'gasp!'. I wonder if this was her face when Bernini found out of her infidelity...the story goes that he slashed her porcelain cheek in response. Tragique...

---Here are two black and white photos from the NY Times Sunday edition, focusing on the works of Bruce Davidson...

---Banana Pudding!
I'm on a serious kick. I have gone through 2 pints of Louisiana's own, Kleinpeter's Banana Pudding flavor...it is delish!
Now, I am going to turn to my Magnolia Bakery cookbook and whip up the 'real mccoy'!
*Here is the recipe!*


1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups ice cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers (no substitutions!)
4 cups sliced ripe bananas

In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding.

Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.

---I saw this photo randomly. It's Cote des Basques in Biarritz, France. Doesn't that look like heaps of fun!? Apparently, Peter Viertel, a hollywood screenwriter visited the city 50+ years ago and subsequently introduced the world of surfing to the frenchies there...and the beat goes on...:)

*snapshots*

Who knew throwing out the trash could look so modish?
Photo by *Cedric

Only in Paris...
*tu me manques!

photo-montage featuring Sofia Coppola found viaNYTimes Travel section

Fille en Rose...photo by Cedric

Now, off to dance! I hope. I hope I can dance tonight...I'll start now!
Photo of Italian starlette, Virna Lisi

still. moving.

Love the combination- juxtaposition-fusion-marriage!, of short and long:
short being the hair, long being well, the back! enchanted.

Via Garance Dore

---this photo is so fragile and pure...almost on an unearthly level.

found via Denise

---Tretorn booties. Adorable. 'Nuff said.


---I have been hearing about this film since it's precursor, Paris Je T'aime:

Here is the trailer for NY I love you
**...with a great preview song too. (Phoenix's 1901)

Wednesday.

Stamps make me happy.
I just purchased a 20 pack of Gary Cooper yesterday.

Kings of Convenience.
The Norwegian duo just came out with a new album, sure to sweep you off your feet!
Here is their latest vid...

Photos!

This one is by french photographer, Elene Usdin.
Title: "Il etait une pois..."(!)
*Roughly translated as: "Once upon a pea"...sounds better en francais.

How darling is this typewriter?!
Hermes 3000. Which instantly makes me think of a rapper. Tres Bizarre, I know but Andre...Hermes...eh?! :)

Here is a dreamlike photo from 16 year old wonder, Eleanor.

Lovely ladies...by Denise Grunstein

unexpected adventures

however cliche, i need to expect the unexpected in my life. let God's love continually knock me off my feet, and see the glory in the petit trucs (small stuff!)...above all, LOVE.

Luxuriate in the small stuff---here are my petit trucs of the day:



Presh: Daddy is bloggin' about his children's fascination with the subway system. a kid's thought process is organized chaos at its best! Click here to read!

breakfast food. you consume it, or at least i hope you do!, every single day of the 7-day week. let's play the 'ole switcheroo. a brunch! a brinner! those are winners! :) and don't forget the Bonne Maman.



bake. cook. i can only speak for myself, but it's therapeutic! these ribbon-cupcakes are just cheri.




bon journee a tous!!! xoxo--k

tranquille

So, whilst writing a paper...I listen to Pandora, that lovely music box. Every time I open it...Pandora reveals a new musicien! This time it is Dustin O'Halloran.

Read more/Listen more of Mr. O'Halloran here!

Now...story time.

Can I tell you a charming tale, avec les photos? Si! Oh merci...Bon. Let's Go!

I wish I were here, instead of writing...


I wish I could be lost in laughter with friends, instead of writing...


I wish I could be on the beach, instead of writing...


I wish I could hold a treasure(yes a bebe duck!), instead of writing...


I wish I could be on top of the world, or at least feel like it, instead of writing!


Hmm. Maybe tis true that 'writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.' ~E.L. Doctorow
Returning to the books and word (microsoft word that is :)

Adieu! xoxo

Psst. Photos found via Cachemire et Soie

welcome back!

---So I've been meaning to write on here...for Cynthia's sake really, here I am :)

sketch via Garance Dore.

---ce n'est pas moi. this is not me. it is a lovely sketch by the delightful Garance Dore...although the fact that she is sipping on a cappuccino while holding her caramel apple in the right hand....it is pretty spot-on me!

---Here are some Jolie Trucs:
***
--a bebe in yellow! ---found via some blog. (sorry, can't recall where?)


--found via:


--maybe this isn't exactly "jolie"...but I'm listening to this mix on Overdrive...
--JAYDIOHEAD

irresistible...

Paris.

---The city of lights, love, and ...me, well for another month. Yes, after I depart state-side come next Wednesday for a dear friend's wedding...I will return for a final month July 4th. EH Oui! On which I will take out a speed boat and celebrate my independance"a la 'givenchy' mode" like Liv Tyler here-->

---Back to nannying...I leave you with some Rilke:

"Children rest in love...but then they are still pure in their illusion that it is possible to belong to someone; and when they say 'mine', they make no claim to ownership; they hug and let go, and when they do hold on, it is God with whom they are still enmeshed, who draws the others to himself through there innocently open arms."

miam & mignonne

---Why hey there stranger.

---Young at heart, or so I try to be. Dressing up is great fun. I hate having to write stuff beneath a candid photo of me and the kids I hang with. Self explanatory? I think OUI.

---The 'miam' bit, which is the french version of ameri-english 'yum' is the fact that almost every Sunday after church, we head over to the old jewish quarter for a falafel. Where does one purchase this dish? Chez L'As du Falafel. Tis cheap, fast, and oh yea...extremely good. I could of had two yesterday but I, somehow, gave into self restraint instead. The rain also helped keep the indulgence away....until next Sunday.


---Found this photo of Rachel McAdams...so mignonne!

***jeunet + audrey encore for Chanel...ahh so Frenchie.

musik

Love this band Phoenix. New album coming out in May, yaay! Sad that their concert is sold out @ La Cigalle. I need to go to more concerts while I am here...
Petit Insights: Friends are gone. Birthday was grande (cannot believe I am 24 years of age). The weather is something close to heaven at the moment. Cousin Leslie is coming in May. My camera screen + my wallet are finito. I love the Bernard's N'espresso machine.

pretty in pink.

girly, girly, girly.

Sofia Coppola directs this Dior commercial, channeling back to her 'Marie Antoinette' plush, pink, macaroon-filled with a perfect blue sky that clouds my judgment in a way that only champagne could do. That I just might purchase this perfume...oh but reality hits. I can attest to her visible glee in riding her bike...I rode a bike all through the city of lights last Sunday after church, and honestly, I could of been shooting this commercial :)

bon journee!

les photos...que j'ADORE.

I just can't help myself. Patrick DeMarchelier's photos that I have illegally copied here from his exhibit in Paris this past fall are exquisite. Plus I added a photo of moi-meme (myself), because my hair is insanely long and stringy and I probably should cut it. Non, I NEED to cut it, for cheap preferably.
a bientot!

p.s. i am super excited that my friends are coming to visit me! yay for cynch and ray :)

joy in Jouy

Poission d'avril!!!! Oui, that is the french version of 'april's fools day' though i'm not being sneeky here, this is a video of me + the kids in Jouy-en-Josas.
music: 'The Bucket' by Kings of Leon....enjoy! :)

art de vivre

Happenings:

at this moment (to be honest, about 30 minutes ago) me, sipping on Mariage Frères tea, the Russian afternoon blend. A lil history for you folks: Mariage Frères has been open to the public, notably France as THE tea store, offering over 500 types of tea. Their motto? Tea: a gift from heaven, a spiritual beverage for humanity...
Classic miam-miam.

Another tid-bit. I just found out, after consuming some grand french wine, that Bic...as in Bic pens and razors (etc.)...is a French brand. Société Bic is a company based in Clichy, France, founded in 1945, best known for making disposable products including lighters, magnets, ballpoint pens, shaving razors and watersports product(via Wikipedia). I found this out because I was drinking a wine by the man himself, who started the company...Mr. Baron Bich (the wine is Chateau de Ferrand-Saint Emillion Grand Cru...)
He just shortened Bich to Bic.
Learn somethin' new every day...

This afternoon: I will be toting 3 enfants to Versailles to watch Marley et Moi (Marley and Me for you anglophones...) Slightly excited, it'll be coated with simple humor + a puppy, what more could you ask for?! (in truth, I want to see Slumdog. I must be the LAST person to have not witnessed this film that has hijacked the worlds attention...)

As for French outings. I saw Diane Von Furstenberg, the iconic designer, walking down Rue de Rivoli, possibly attending the Ready to Wear fashion shows that are in play just until tomorrow here in Paris.
Tomorrow after class I might stop by a museum to look at the photography of Steve Hiett. Here is an example of his work:



Earlier this morning, after a quick run to the grocery before heading over to watch the kiddos, I was immersed in a podcast of This American Life (if you have never listened to it...dl!) Part of the subject matter of this episode was about chimps and their habitats, specifically their retirement plans. There is apparently a national chimpanzee sanctuary located just outside of Shreveport, Louisiana appropriately named, Chimp Haven. There these chimps, the eldest "grandma" at 53 years old, that swing and munch outdoors but return each evening for their dinner and television...wow, we are alike! In short, I have to visit this place when I return to the USA.-->Who knew??!!

To end on a jolie note, here is a photo from Garance Doré site... :)

weekend

--->A little glimpse of the oh so rare moment in which i was dancing amongst the least sketchiest of peeps to none other than james brown...err maybe it was beck. it would be a novel thing to find a club in paris that actually plays oldies or even current beats other than techno. don't get me wrong, i'm down with daft punk and other experimental dj's...but just not naive and odious kids who seem to move with the beat of their own drum...and i don't like their drum. your repetition is not poetic, it's annoying.(just giving a voice to the many who witnessed a lame dj at fleche d'or...;)

--->keeping on with the subject of music...better music, in my taste:

#1.2 - The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy
par lablogotheque

**Spinto Band. Playing at Ephemere this sat. in Paris. Should I go? I remember this song from way back when (which means 2005), when I was in Nashville with friends Holly and Mindy...we dubbed this song in memory of Mindy of course. "oh mindaayy"

toodle-loo-to-you

p.s.I think I am going to start running. It's been 4 months. EEK. Going to jog behind Versailles...when in R-, I mean Paris...do what you could never do!

la de da

---Yesterday, I was in the shower thinking about how I need to buy more soap while pondering at the same moment..."when was the last time I showered?". That question is always a red flag...a BAD sign. Next thing I know I'm washing my hair for the second time and I glance toward the ceiling. Tell me,how often do you glance toward the ceiling in your shower? Because evidently, for me, it wasn't quite often. There was a MASSIVE spider web with a spider cornered and in my view, ready to attack me when necessary. I shreiked, almost slipped but grabbed the shower curtain (and luckily it did not whittle down to the hard shower floor a.k.a. 'Psycho'-style). I then proceeded to clinch the detachable shower head (everyone uses these in Europe, don't know why) and sprayed!sprayed!sprayed! eek.eek.eek.
---Got the hell out of the shower. Found a broom and made hoola-hoop-esque sweeping circular movements above my head throughout the whole bathroom.

---That evening I had a dream about an murderer in my apartment that was on the loose after already killing a single blonde woman in her bedroom with a baseball bat.This dream included a news brief that I watched attentively, with a bowl of popcorn.In dreams, nothing is rational and the news anchor proceeded to present the viewers with graphic images of the victims head.I'm talking Friday the 13th stuff. It was horrible.When I went to "sleep", the attacker was in my apartment and heading for me.Then I woke up all sweaty and sat up immediately and...well, made sure there was no attacker.
Freaky-deaky...

***Happy Valentine's weekend to me! ;)

--Here is a sweeter scene about a scurvy spider in the bathroom from the adorable film 'Annie Hall'


*I love her attire in this movie! I'm thinking about being her for Halloween 2009.

Singles Awareness Day!

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
(William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5)

*photo pulled from the sweeping, romantic film "The Painted Veil". A tale of a broken marriage and the journey between two people. It is the third cinematic adaptation of the book by the same name (author: W. Somerset Maugham). It was released in 2006 and stars Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. I saw it on a plane ride to London, back in summer 2007. Obviously, it stuck with me.
To find out more, read this review of the film HERE.

---Good morning! Here's a lil history on the 2/14 date!

The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Wikipedia.
Now, on to other "news"...

---It's a quarter till 10am, the kids are dropped off at school, it is STILL snowing outside and I just finished reading the NY Times, online.I burst into belly laughs after reading the OP section, in particular...this OP ART piece.
Here is the excerpt:

The Sweet Smell of Semantics
A dark rose, for instance, symbolized bashful shame; a foxglove, deceit. But the rules of love have shifted, and our floriography needs modernizing as well. Jason Logan illustrates some updated meanings for the flowers you’ll be sending (or receiving) on Valentine’s Day. The Symbol of Love Jason Logan, an illustrator, is the author of “If We Ever Break Up, This Is My Book.”

Here are the images:


NYTIMES LINK