La Grande Librairie

I've been a 'francophile' for most of my life, it began with a childhood friend and her family -
emigres from Grenoble. I was in the presence of the mystique of the femme and have been aware of it all these years. I have chased it in my dreams. Celine and Judith, mother and daughter, the icon and the trainee. I wish I had been more observant, more studious. There I was, practically in the cradle of chic myself....dumbing along like a klutzy American. Umm.
Recently I was made aware of a french television program, specifically one episode of La Grande Librairie. http://www.france5.fr/la-grande-librairie/index.php?page=article&numsite=1403&id_rubrique=1406&id_article=5417 It made my dreams swirl again, the raw je ne sais quoi delivered by 4 unique, intelligent women. I couldn't understand their rapid fire speech, but I was captivated by the tone of their voices, their clothes and body language. Each writer had a 'look' and portrayed it very comfortably (bien dans sa peau), with posture and hand gestures and general presence. I found myself watching the show over and over, often as background and now I'm understanding more and more of what these authors are saying. It's become a basic french language lesson along with a lesson in the art of the french femme. And what have I learned?
Some basics - minimal makeup, great hair, toned body, keen mind.
I believe that the French are more disciplined than we are. They push children to study hard.
They expect amenities in life (food, wine, vacation) but don't over do even the good things.

THE ELEGANT NATURAL RECESSIONISTA WORKS WORK

Generally I prefer la rentree for organization. The start of the school year, the end of summer,
whatever it is - gets me going. Making resolutions in January seems so common. Alors, I have to reevaluate many things right now and premiere among them is - work. Making money. Our recent financial past is not good. Now is the time to promote and hustle and make the most of my appraisal license. Per usual, I got into something (appraisal) at an unusual time. And you'd think a bad time, but you'd be wrong. There is tons of work for RE appraisers. My petite hurdle is weaning away from my current employer to some other sources: banks, attorneys etc. so I get more of the cold hard stuff. Some calculations seem to show I can just about double the fee per report. More money, same work (and always learning a better, faster way).
CURRENTLY ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR THE RECESSIONISTA - making work ultra lucrative will add considerably to it's je ne sais quoi, not to mention what it'll do for the joie de vivre meter.

Mark Bittman's NY Times article - Recessionista: The 2009 Kitchen Primer

Here is the link to Mark Bittman's NY Times article about
updating your kitchen pantry: http://tinyurl.com/77ojmy.
As I read thru the list, I plan to add more dried beans, homemade
salad dressings (I have lots of great recipes, but the kids have
different ideas about Ranch, for example), grains, frozen
veggies, sweet potatoes and spinach. There is a chance that we
will grow the spinach in our upcoming garden(s) and the beans as
well. I did grow and dry some beans a few years back, but the Recessionista
will make more of an effort to draw a decent yield. She must get
started on seed selection and sprouting etc. We'd like beans to eat
raw, umm like snow peas, and some to save for adding to
our pasta fagoli all winter long.

Everyday Traveler Lifestyle

When I travel I dress a bit better everyday from a smaller cache. I look more sharply at the surface and smell more consciously of the scents. Novelty sharpens the mundane. In 1920, an independently wealthy young woman on the Grand Tour with no history of employment or need spun out her days on the beach, swimming and walking, cooking, browsing thru musems and small shopping expeditions - sometimes biking - for bread and cheese and fruit, earrings and chocolate, champagne - tanned and toned and relaxed.

ELEGANT NATURAL 2009

An elegant natural in 2009.
Recessionista
Blending simple frugality and modern
reality to create a joie de vivre
with je ne sais quoi and pleasure for all.
‘Euro’izing as inspiration.
Exteriors: Garden/Biking/Walking

Out of necessity I must produce lots of appraisal
work. This must be done as efficiently as possible.
Vision and follow thru are essential.

Vision and follow thru, planning and action are
essential to traveling fully in the moment. Some
goals and guidelines - ie travel and savings, spiritual
and creative output, will spur output.