Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Wishlist

Hey everyone !

I hope everybody's ready for Christmas ! It's just around the corner ! 

Life has been pretty busy around here ... Guillaume and I started to move out a lot of our stuff from our appartment last Saturday and I am delighted to be home, with my family and my baby brother who came back from Canada two weeks ago ! And since Christmas is here, I guess it's time to give you a look at my wishlist :)

My dream would be to have a new phone, but since I have already changed my laptop for my birthday, I wanted to ask something else than money. I think receiving money for Christmas is sad as you have no surprise ... Deep inside, I am still a kid and I really hold on to the Christmas traditions and spirit ! And ok, I admit: I love writing my list to Santa ;)

My mum told me I will have a few surprises, but basically, this is what I have asked for ... And some other stuff that could not fit on the picture:


Eyeshadows Set Naked 3 by Urban Decay // Pretty Parfait make-up set from Benefits // Handbag  from Etam // Home Perfum from Nature et Découvertes // Workout Accessories from Decathlon // Crockery from Maison du Monde // Slippers from Etam


It is now time to go get ready, finish wrapping the last presents and watch Love Actually ! 

Have a Merry Christmas :)


Monday, December 15, 2014

December Goals

Our Christmas Tree


Hey'all !

The month of the "last times" is finally coming ! Last week was the last one to write my thesis. This is also my last week of college and probably one of the last weeks in our apartment. What makes me really happy is that it will be the last Christmas holidays I will spend studying for the exams. And it might be my last exams ever ! I am ready to finish my student life and start jump in the professional world. There will be a lot of changes in 2015 !


November Goals:
  • Be more thankful and let people know it 
  • Start writing review cards for the exams x
  • Start buying some Christmas presents 
  • Celebrate Thanksgiving 
  • Find a new place for January x
  • Save money !!! x
As I wrote it in my last article, I have been pretty ill a few weeks ago. I have also been busy studying for all the essays I had to give back this week. Well, I can say that as usual, studies took over everything else in my life ... But I am glad to say I found some time to enjoy the holiday season ! I have spent a lot of time with my friends, roaming around the Christmas market in our city.

December Goals:
  • Finish all the Christmas present on time
  • Meet Lucie while she is in France
  • Clean my bedroom at my parents
  • Read by the fireplace
  • Go to the Christmas mass
  • Find a good balance between my family and my reviews
  • Find an apartment for January/February
  • Watch 5 Christmas movies

Well, I LOVE this season ! Since I finished writing my thesis for this semester, I am fully enjoying this period of the year. I just like watching movies with Guillaume while drinking a cup of tea or just listening to Christmas carols ... My brother came home from Canada last night, and I am super excited about spending the holidays with my family ! One more week left !

What are your plans for the last month of 2014 ?



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Life Lately #4

Favorite holiday candle

Heya !

In France, we used to say that no news is good news !

It is actually the final line for me, before finishing my masters. We are nearly at the end of November, which means that the exams and all the other deadlines are just around the corner ! Saying that I am cool and relaxed would be a complete lie ! I am actually feeling more and more anxious everyday. I know this pressure will only be there for a little while, so I am trying to do my best to get through it.t

I feel really sorry for not being on he blog as often as I would like to. I actually had tones of ideas ! Fall season inspires me a lot, especially between Halloween and Christmas. But unfortunately, I am (as usual) running out of time ... I have been quite sick in the past three weeks, so I am putting my health and my studies first. I keep hoping that some day, I will be able to fully focus on my writing and on the blog !

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow American readers ! :)

Thursday, November 06, 2014

November Goals

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Hey y'all ! Happy November !

Fall is definitely settling down, here in France ! After the Indian summer we had since September, Mother Nature seems to be reclaiming her rights. It is getting colder and we had pouring rain this week. I am surprised we did not have more floods ... Also, I am realizing that the year will end in only two months and I can't believe it ! Two months left in college, two months left in our flat ... Because yes ... We are moving !

October Goals:
  • Celebrate our fourth anniversary 
  • Prepare a secret date for Guillaume x
  • Find an internship 
  • Be more serious about my studies 
  • Loose weight x
  • Start saving money x
  • Go to the hairdresser 
  • Decorate our home for the new season 
October was good ! The first good news was that I found my internship :)  That's a good thing done ! No need to worry about this anymore. Now we just have to find a new place to live, as we are moving to another city. It will probably be one of my next goals ! And the second big thing about last month was our fourth anniversary. We had a lovely day ! We bought a bottle of fizzy raspberry wine for the occasion, and tried a super restaurant. We were willing to go there for months but we could not afford it. Our anniversary was the perfect excuse to go there, and it was probably one of the best restaurant I have tried in the last couple of months ! Also, I am glad to announce that I am getting back to studies ! I am trying to focus on the two little months I have left ! 


November Goals:
  • Be more thankful and let people know it
  • Start writing review cards for the exams
  • Start buying some Christmas presents
  • Celebrate Thanksgiving
  • Find a new place for January
  • Save money !!!
It's November, so I am starting to prepare the Christmas season. As you may know, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in France, although I am trying to introduce this new tradition in our home. I know it's typically American, but I think it is great to think about what we have and be grateful for it. Especially with the Christmas madness coming ! Life is running so fast, I like the idea of sitting back and just being content of our lives. 

How do you feel about the holiday season ? What are your plans for November ?



Sunday, October 26, 2014

When life gets hard, when things change, true love remains the same.



Last Wednesday, Guillaume and I celebrated our fourth anniversary together. I cannot believe that we started to date four years ago ... It seems like it was yesterday when we first met, but I also feel as if Guillaume had always been a part of my life. And yet, we are not the same persons has when we first kissed. We have grown together and I cannot imagine my life without him.


He is my everything. He is my rock, my light, my sun.
He is always guiding me or encouraging me. 

He believes in me, even when I don't even believe in myself. 

He gave me more than anybody ever gave me. He gave me love, trust and confidence.
He made me feel worth it, valuable.




He finishes the sentences I start. I laugh before he finishes his jokes.
And just the sound of his laugh makes me giggle.

He loves me the way I am, for who I am.

He knows when I am upset, anxious or sad, just by looking into my eyes. He reads me like a open book.

He is the bravest of us, he is not afraid to bare his feelings and to let me in.
He is not afraid to make the first move when we fight or to admit he is wrong.

He is my true love, my lover, my partner, my best friend. He is my missing piece, my soul mate. 



Of course, it is not always easy. Of course, we always fight over silly things. But at the end of the day, he is always there for me. And when life became complicated or challenging, he never failed me. He never gave up on us. He patiently waited until life get us back together. And I know he is the one for me, because no matter what happens, we always overcome life's ordeals. We are more then a couple, we are a team, we are a family. 



Friday, October 17, 2014

I got an internship ! ღ 94



Hey y'all !

I have some great news to share on the blog today !

Remember my 101 in 1001 list ?  Well, I do ! One of my goals was to find two internships for my masters. I did the first one in Dublin from March to August and I have another six months to do in 2015. There are not a lot of long time internships in France and I was really worried I would not find one or would have to move far from home. Moreover, my dream job would be to create trips and most of the time only big companies do it and most of them are based in big cities. As I already said, I do not really feel comfortable in the city and it is so expensive ! I had another opportunity in Ireland but Guillaume is really attached to his family (so am I) and he was quite reluctant to follow me there.

In August, when I came back to France, I was a little tensed. I did not really know what to do, where to look. Accept the internship in Ireland ? Try elsewhere ? Was I ready to move to the other side of France ? What if Guillaume found a job in our region ? I had so many questions and no answers ... Because in our case, as students or young graduated, you cannot foresee the future and make plans in advance. So I felt really stressed about it.

I decided to start applying to big travel companies, those in the big cities. As it was a bit early, I did not get any answer. I took my time, thought about it and in September, I kept sending emails here and there, without any expectations. But only a few minutes after applying, I received a positive answer: an agency wanted to meet me ! And it was in our area: only an hour from my parents and a few kilometers from Guillaume's ! The agency is actually located near the city Guillaume and I met, when we were studying English ... I was so excited and I could not believe it ! It was too good to be true ! When I told Guillaume, he was washing the dishes (yeap, I remember this detail) and he was so happy ! We immediately started to make plans, to imagine how great it would be to stay close to our families and friends. We knew that nothing was sure, that is was only a possibility. But it was just so good to believe for a minute that we wont have to be separated again ... 

I had the interview a couple of days ago, and it did not start very well. For a few minutes, I told myself that this offer was WAY too good to be true ! That I had been silly to believe that it could actually happen. Truth is, the director forgot we were supposed to meet that morning ! Luckily, she lived nearby and came an hour later. She did not ask me about my skills or whatever, but about what I wanted to do during my internship ! I mean: what kind of boss do that ? She told me directly that the minute she read my application, she wanted me in her company. She also talked about a big project she has for the agency and which will be my main mission during my six months there. I am super excited !

I seriously never thought I would have the chance to work in our region. I know that I will miss Ireland, and despite the fact that I love this country and want to live there for years, I am absolutely ok with this decision. I am happy to be close to Granny, my parents, friends and Guillaume. And I have to admit that I would be delighted to get a job after this internship and finally settle down for a while !


Sunday, October 05, 2014

October Goals

weheartit
Happy Sunday everyone !

I hope you had a lovely week-end. It is actually the evening in France, which means it is nearly over ! But let's focus on the positive: it's autumn and the weather is still lovely. It is hard to believe that in a few weeks, we will put the radiators on and switch our summer clothes for the winter ones ! As usual, time is flying !

October is here ... Time to get back to my goals !

September Goals:
  • Write a post per week  x
  • Organize a birthday party with my friends 
  • Be more supportive with Guillaume 
  • Find an internship x
  • Answer my emails more often 
  • Be more serious about loosing weight x
  • Start saving money x

Sooo ... I am not really proud of myself ... September has been busy - I already posted about it during the week-end. I got sick several times and I also got back to college. Do you know how hard it is to get back to studies after a five months internship ? I wish I could work and earn my money instead of sitting for hours and getting bored ! Anyway ! We faced some financial difficulties as I did not receive my grant last month which meant little grocery shopping and no money saved. Our diet was not the healthiest and I had other stuff in mind so I did not really pay attention to my weight. I know I have to, doctors keep saying it, so it will (still) be a goal for next month. Finally, the good thing  this month was to be back to our place for good and spend time together with Guillaume. We also had our friends visiting us and spent a week-end with my family. Socially speaking, last month was great !

Walk on the first Sunday of Autumn

October Goals:
  • Celebrate our fourth anniversary
  • Prepare a secret date for Guillaume
  • Find an internship 
  • Be more serious about my studies
  • Loose weight 
  • Start saving money 
  • Go to the hairdresser
  • Decorate our home for the new season

October is going to be pretty busy, but in three weeks, I will have a week off ! I really can't wait and I hope it will be the occasion to relax and spend time with the family (we are all gathering at my Granny's). Love it ! Also, I hope I will have my internship found. I have an idea already, but it is not official and there are still some stuff I need to figure out ... Finger crossed ! And October is a big month for Guillaume and I ! On the 22nd, we will be celebrating our fourth anniversary ! Can't believe it ! We have nothing planned yet, but I will talk about it later on the blog !

What are your plans for October and for this new season ? 


A family week-end at the B's

Last week-end, I came back to my parents for a couple of days. I haven't seen them since I started college a month ago and it was great to come home ! Guillaume came with me and we have been lucky enough to enjoy the lovely weather. 

Home Sweet Home
I particularly enjoyed being outside. I have noticed that I got really upset about living in a city. When I was in Dublin, the noises, the traffic and the crowd made me nuts. I needed to get out in the countryside at least once a month to see green and landscapes. Have some fresh air. I guess I am a country girl after all, even if I found it really uncool when I was younger. For me, the country was boring and there was nothing to do in my area. But I see things differently now and I really cherish my countryside, my region and nature. I particularly love it during the fall season, as the leaves fall and the colors change. I had to go to an appointment early in the morning last Friday; it was just amazing to see the fog mixing with the first rays of sun, the trees turning to gold ... I am proud of where I come from. I guess it's part of growing up, accepting where you come from and feeling attached to your roots !


After my doctor appointment in the morning, we decided to have a walk in the afternoon. We took Ben with us and drove to a small village near my parents'. My pup was SO happy to get into my car and go out for a walk. Since it was not really the week-end already, there was nobody there. It was really quiet and we could fully enjoy the landscape. Plus, it was lovely out there: sunny but not too warm, walking near the river under the trees. It was a really nice walk and we even took a small boat to cross the water.



On Saturday, we had a feast for my birthday. As usual, my family gathered to celebrate, except my brother who is in Canada and my godmother who was working that day. But this year was a bit special as one of my uncle, his girlfriend and their baby boy were visiting us. I met Tom, who will turn one this week-end. It was the first time I was seeing him as they live in the West Indies and it was Tom's first trip to France. He is a funny little boy, always smiling and willing to play. He is full of life and started to walk only a few days before coming to visit us ! We had a great time, having some appetizers in the garden on Saturday evening and a lovely dinner cooked by my Dad. On Sunday, we had our last barbecue of the year and we spent some time in the garden before heading back to our place.

As usual, this week-end went too fast ! I did not even had time to realize I was there that it was already over. It was nice to get some fresh air and be with my loved ones. I already cannot wait for the holidays in three weeks !

Friday, October 03, 2014

Life Lately #3



September has been flying, as usual. I think I am only realizing today that I went back to college and celebrated my birthday just a few days ago. It's crazy !

Anyway, I had a really busy month and it was pretty hard for me to get back on track. As usual, I am wrecked after my first week back to school and I find it really weary to sit for hours and listen to professors all day long. It requires a lot of concentration and when I come home, I am just too lazy to do anything else but watch TV and cuddle on the couch. So, basically, I only started to worry about my studies TODAY !





In September, we also had some major events in the family. My cousin Philippe got married at the beginning of the month, introducing us to Felicia, his lovely bride. It was the first time we were meeting her and it was a really nice experience as the bride and her family were from Singapore and did not speak any French. It was for me the opportunity to talk in English and also to learn more about this culture and share our differences. Really really interesting week-end !


I also celebrated my birthday two weeks ago. I can't believe I am 22 ! I still picture myself as a teenager and if you ask me how old I am, my head will probably go straight to sixteen. This makes me feel old ... Especially since I found my very first grey hair last week ... Buh ! I am just trying to make fun about it. Actually, the funny part is that I found Guillaume's first grey hair a couple of days before mine. We are definitely growing old together ! As usual, September was full of celebrations and I kept eating a lot. For the wedding (I mean the entire week-end), on my birthday (even though I got sick), the next week-end (celebrating with my friends) and last week-end (with the family). My body cannot take anymore food ! I am just as stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey ...



Not that I want to apologize for giving so little news last month, but I got sick all the time. No kidding. The day after the wedding, I started to get those spots on my arms and on my hands. Then, I got itches in my mouth (as if it was burnt or something). I had to go to the doctor, because my tongue seemed bigger than usual and hurt me. He said I had a virus, so I took medicine for a week and a half. On my birthday, I has fully recovered but in the evening, I started to have a big migraine so I took another medicine, but it did not work and could not enjoy my dinner properly. Mixing medicines was a terrible idea and it did not end well ... But of course, as if it was not enough, my body decided not to fight back the aggressor and I now have a cold/flu. No, I am not complaining ! And yes, I am the kind of person who always got sick. Anyway, I have been really overwhelmed and tired over the last few weeks. Hopefully, October will be nicer to me and I will finally get used to the weather (or perhaps temperatures will be back to normal). We'll see !

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Blog in Progress

#BackToSchool
weheartit.com

A few weeks ago, my blog celebrated its first anniversary. I know that I don't post much, but I really care about writing and having this little space on the web. I like to share a bit of my everyday life with other bloggers and readers from the rest of the world.

I started blogging a while ago, when I was about thirteen. I remember opening my first blog during the summer 2006, when I spent my first holidays at my uncle's in Ireland. At that time, I candidly wrote about the things I liked, such as celebrities, my favorite ice cream's flavors, my feelings and emotions. It was a simple web page in which I spent hours decorating each article, answering comments ... I was really involved in this blog for about three years and I wrote my posts with all my heart. But at some point, I had to face plagiarism and critics. I guess it is part of blogging, but when you are only a teen, it's not easy to see that people use (most of the time anonymously) the internet to pour their hatred at you, most of the time for no reason. It didn't stop me from blogging, but I think that it lead to a sort of self-censorship. I felt it harder and harder to reveal my feelings and to wrote about personal things, as I was afraid to be judged or to make a fool of myself ...

Moreover, as I grew up, I wanted a different kind of blog. I have seen the blogosphere evolving so fast, so many people creating blogs and posting that I have to admit, I became envious. I wanted  a nice design, more and more readers ... I wanted to do like all the other bloggers and started to feel stuck. I have lost all my inspiration trying to "copy" others ... And I am not proud of it, even if I never plagiarized anyone, I know that this is not how it works. Writing about the same things, having the same pictures or the same design as other girls don't make any point. Plus, I have realized that writing and self expression do not work if you are just seeking success. I don't want to write to have more comments and viewers/followers. I want to write because I have something to say and to share. Now, I am looking for a blog that would be more like me. Something personal, more mature ... But finding a real identity when you are still in between teenage-hood and adulthood is not easy. I wish I was able to express my emotions without complaining all the time ! I think that at the moment, I am still in a process ...

Lately, I've been reading a lot of posts about how to manage your blog successfully. Some people will say I need to find a "niche" or to define a specific topic. But come on ! I am only twenty one, I am not better than the rest of us. I have nothing to teach but a lot to learn. I am not a fashionista, I am terrible at doing stuff myself, I love traveling but don't have enough money to do so ... I don't want to expose my life and impress people. I just like to talk about the things I enjoy as a simple college student entering the real world. I am no expert in anything. And I don't want to pretend I am one. When I created this blog, my intentions were to connect with other bloggers from all over the world, and that is why I decided to write in English instead of French. I felt inspired by these young women blogging about their faith, their struggle, their joy ... I wanted to be part of this community and blog again, because writing has always been important for my well being.

Even if this blog doesn't look professional at all, I think it actually reflects a lot about who I am: a young woman trying to find her place in this world.

Friday, September 05, 2014

September Goals



Hey y'all !

September has always been a big month for me. First, because I was born in September and secondly, because it is the back to school season. Therefore, this month always means that I can have a fresh start in the school system but also in my personal life. Like New Year's resolutions, September is the opportunity to make some changes in my lifestyle and start over.

But before listing my new goals for September, let's get back to August's !

August Goals:
  • Write my thesis and my report 
  • Sign up to the public library 
  • Go to the farmer market 
  • Have breakfast in bed  x
  • Order pizzas from Domino's (missed them too much !) 
  • Go to the beach 
  • Donate blood 
  • Loose weight  x

Frankly, I am surprised I did so many things last month ! I usually plan to many things to do and never achieve them. Of course, I still struggle with my weight ... But I keep working on it ! I really focused on two major goals: being reunited with my family and Guillaume, and my studies. And guess what ? I finally catch up on my assignments ! I gave my thesis and report back last Friday and had an oral exam this morning. I don't have to rush anymore and can start my (hopefully) last year of college peacefully ! So now, what about the coming month ?


September Goals:
  • Write a post per week
  • Organize a birthday party with my friends
  • Be more supportive with Guillaume
  • Find an internship
  • Answer my emails more often
  • Be more serious about loosing weight
  • Start saving money
I am aware that I am not posting as much as I should, but now that I respected the deadlines for my homework, I will have more time to devote myself to the blog. Also, I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday in a couple of days, and it will be the opportunity to meet up with my closest friends ! Moreover, I feel that I need to be there for Guillaume. He finished his last year of masters and will have his thesis defense in a few weeks, so it will be a big deal and a lot of stress. Guillaume is also looking for a job at the moment, which is much more complicated than we thought it would be. I think that he is going to need me and I have to be compassionate.

What about you ? Do you like September ? It is not Fall in France already. To be honest, the weather is a lot nicer than it was in August ! We are having a late summer and we are still enjoying a bit of sun before the new season !



Saturday, August 02, 2014

August Goals


Heya !

I have a confession to make ... I am feeling awful for leaving this blog for so long ! I was thinking about posting all the time, but I really felt that the last couple of months were a sort of break from my ordinary life. I had to put my life in "stand by" and wait until things get back to normal. It truly was an incredible experience, but now I am feeling ready to move on. The back to school season is coming soon, and I can't believe it will be my last year in university. I feel like there are a lot of things I have to change in my life right now. It is time ! And what is better than having some goals for this new month ? :)


August Goals:
  • Write my thesis and my report
  • Sign up to the public library
  • Go to the farmer market
  • Have breakfast in bed
  • Order pizzas from Domino's (missed them too much !)
  • Go to the beach
  • Donate blood
  • Loose weight

Basically, this month will be challenging for me. I will come home in two days now (still can't believe it) after being abroad for five months. I have never been away from home and from my family for so long. Of course, Guillaume came to visit (that was four months ago) and my family came in May. But still. I haven't seen France, my brother, my dog and my friends since March. So August will be about spending time with my loved ones and relaxing. Also, I am planning to start a diet (yeap, I said it). Diet is such a big word ! I really want to have a healthier way of life: eat better and exercise more. I feel that it is time for a big change, and I am ready for it !

What are your goals for August ?

Sunday, July 20, 2014

It's been a while ...


Sooo ... I know, I didn't post anything for months ... 5 months to be more precise !

When I moved to Dublin 5 months ago, I found it really hard to get used to this new lifestyle. I took the bus everyday for about 1H30 and I was absolutely exausted after a day at work ! I struggled to find a balance between work, studies (because I still have to write my thesis) and social life. Because being on my own in a new city, far from my loved ones made me feel lonely and depressed (sometimes ^^) ...

I really wanted to post something, but I wanted to make things properly. I still read some of my favorite blogs but I think I needed a sort of break. Not just blogging ... I mean, I needed to figure what I wanted to do with my life, my priorities, my goals ... It took me some weeks, it has been really hard sometimes, but I needed it.

This internship is one of the greatest work experience I never had. I have learn so much about the tourism industry but also about myself. When I started my masters, I felt so depressed and unqualified. I never studied it and I struggled a lot. I wanted to quit and I felt weak and out of my comfort zone. My internship made me realise that I was qualified enough to work in that field. That I loved it and that even if studies are not what will make me a professional, I needed them to reach my goals. I feel much more confident now, and I know that I can do whatever I want if I really want it !

I actually realised that when my manager told me to apply for a position within the company. That was a big decision to make, because I had to see with Guillaume if he was ready to follow me in Ireland, if I wanted to quit my studies to start working full time ... What did I want ? What was  home for me ? Did I really want to do this alone ?  I had an awful couple of days figuring this out .. And once I saw things clearer, I realised I needed to come home, because right now, home is with my man I love. I am only 21, I want to have time to make the biggest decisions in my life such as moving in a foreign country for a year or more. And I have to finish what I started.

So, basically, this is what happened in the last couple of weeks ! I travelled a bit, but I will post about that later ! I am now eager to get a fresh start and to blog again :)

Sunday, March 02, 2014

March Goals

I haven't been posting on my blog for ages ! There were no February goals since it was my last month in France and my only world was: ENJOY. Yes, February has been all about enjoying the simple moments of life. I have spent only two week-ends at my family's, but we cooked and had dinner together, with Guillaume as well, and it was great. We had friends coming over some Saturday night for pizzas and waffles. Was February all about eating ? Maybe ! That would explain why I can't fit into my jeans anymore. But I don't really care. This month was about letting myself go and do things I won't be allowed or able to do in the next few months.

Baking Donut's with Dad

So, March will be a big change for me. New country, new city, new job ... I am really excited about this new experience. Of course, my main goal is to make a good impression at my internship and learn a lot of new things. I am also planing on visiting my family (Zoe is performing at the end of the month)  and I have a couple of friends to see in Dublin.

My March Goals:
  • Visit my uncle, aunt and cousin
  • Celebrate Saint Paddy's day
  • Visit one new place in Ireland
  • Work on my thesis 
  • Save money
  • Loose weight
What are your goals for this new month ? :)


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

When life becomes a challenge

I am living my last weeks in France and things finally seem to go back on track ! It's a sort of revival: I swear, it feels like spring is coming or something, but for the first time in a while, I can hear the birds singing by my window. This morning, I just have the wonderful feeling that everything's gonna be ok ... :)

I had two rough weeks lately, because of my departure, because I couldn't find an accommodation, because I was too stressed and had too much work to do. The deadlines are coming really soon, but I feel that everything is well organised in my mind and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, I am worried because what's next is challenging !




Two months ago, I took one of the biggest decisions in my life: I have decided to leave Guillaume and move back to Ireland for five months. This time, I'll be working and living with complete strangers. I'll be out of my comfort zone in an unknown environment. But if I can't do that when I am 21, when will I ? I want to prove myself that I can be in a relationship but that I can be independent in my professional life as well. And I should do that now, because we are still studying, we have no real boundaries here in France, no child, no house, no pets, no jobs. We have our families, but Ireland is not that far, is it ?

So here I am, wondering about the things I want to do (and eat) before I go. Wondering about how it will be to work with Irish and international colleagues, if I will manage my budget or make friends. I love Ireland so much that, deep inside, it makes me hopeful ... It's like my second home, so nothing's gonna be wrong ! Maybe I will never want to leave ! I just keep thinking that life is scary sometimes, but also full of surprises. And no matter what's next, it will always come out with something good ! All we need is a little bit of faith ...


Friday, February 07, 2014



Since the beginning of the week, I have been worrying and complaining all the time. Because I have failed my exams, because I was tired, because I didn't have an accommodation in Dublin yet ... It's been really hard to bear all this anger and frustration. And yesterday morning, my world fell apart. I am filled with emotion as one of my friends' dad has cancer. So today, I wanted to write about someone special. Someone who's been there a lot for me: my good friend Adeline. She probably doesn't even know that I am writing this blog and she might never read this post. But whatever. She is such a good person that I want to tell you about her and how much she means to me.

When I first met her, she had this sort of halo surrounding her that made me feel safe and peaceful. The first second I saw her, I wanted to become her friend. I have always admired her, because first of all, let's be honest, she is a beautiful girl. She is not the skinny bimbo type, but yet she's gorgeous. And do you know why ? Because she loves herself the way she is, and because she has a good heart. I really appreciate her for being honest and true. Unlike other college girls, she is not gossiping or complaining all the time (and I admit, I am sometimes). She is optimistic and always encouraging her friends. Two years ago, I've been through a tough period when Guillaume was away in England. Adeline was the only person I could talk about my problems, because she is not the kind of person who will speak behind your back. I realized she was a good listener, a good confidant, but that she had been through a lot as well, which had made her stronger. Adeline is the kind of person who would change your life, make you grow up and see life completely differently...

This makes me feel terrible. Why does she have to go through this ? And how can I help her ? I suddenly feel stupid and childish. In these hard times, you realize that life is so fragile and so tough. I am just feeling tiny and useless ... I know you don't know her, but if you have read this, please think and pray for her and her family in this difficult moment of their life. Thank you,


Friday, January 31, 2014

Happy birthday to the sweetest little girl !

About eleven years ago, at the beginning of January, I found a piece of paper in the playground of my school. There were nothing but numbers written on it: 30/01/2003. I thought it was weird, as this day did not happen yet and I threw the paper away. But on January 30th 2003, a couple of days later, my little cousin Zoe was born. I already had other cousins from my age, but Zoe and I have a special connection. We get on well like friends, despite our different ages. Our family keeps thinking that she is a mini-me and that we look a lot alike. Through the years, I have spent most of my summer holidays with her in Ireland, and I ended up living at her place last year. We like the same songs and the same tv programs and unconsciously, she does the same things I did when I was her age, like performing during family dinners or when there are guests. When you see Zoe and I walking together, you could think we are sisters, even if she is ten years younger. And to me, she is like the little sister I never had.

Christmas, 2007


You should know that Zoe is Irish and French. She speaks English fluently but she used to have some difficulties with French, which was really funny when she tried to pronounce some French names with the letter "r" or made cute grammar mistakes. She is the sweetest girl I know. Zoe is only eleven, but she has such a big heart ... When she comes to visit my parents, she buys some sweets and she is like "Are you sure EVERYONE loves it ?". It is so funny because I have never met a kid of her age who likes buying gifts and presents for other people. She always gives her toys and old clothes to other children who come from large families or gives them to charity (well, except the bed she had as a baby because she wants her children to have it ! Yes she does !).




One happy family, June 2013


She is only eleven, but she is very gifted. Since she was a toddler, she always said: "When I will be older, I will be a mother, a singer and a teacher !". The fun fact is that she still believes it ! She is good at school, even if we speak French at home and no one speaks Irish. She also has a wonderful voice and sings in her school's choir.  She will also be performing in an opera in March and I am so happy to be there to support her !

Last year, when I moved to Ireland for my semester abroad, I had some of my friends in the same college. She knew all of them. When she first met Guillaume, she asked him so many questions that she probably knew more stuff than I did ! She knew his sisters' names, their age, how many uncles and aunts he had ...  I like that she gets on well with Guillaume. I remember when he came to visit last year, I found them chatting in my room about Harry Potter and kids books, it was so funny ! Zoe cares about her family and her friends, but in the good way. One day, when she was upset, I asked her if it was because of school. She told me that one girl was messing with her and I asked her if that was the reason why she was sad and she said: "No, I just don't want to do my homework. I don't like this girl, so I don't care what she says about me." Well, I should take that as a lesson ! I think it's unbelievable to hear that from the mouth of an eleven years old girl, especially in our society in which what people think of us matter so (too ?) much. 


Yesterday, my baby cousin turned eleven, and I had to write something about her and how amazing she is. 
I hope she will read this someday and understand how much I love her. Happy Birthday Zoe ! :)



Tuesday, January 14, 2014

January Goals




I know, it's been almost two weeks since I wrote my last post ! And no, it's never too late to catch up and write about my January goals ! :)  Basically, my life has been about studying for my thesis, going to class, organizing my stay in Ireland and spending as many time as possible with Guillaume. The beginning of 2014 is much busier than I thought !


My December Goals
  • Decorate our home for Christmas
  • Study for my exams
  • Plan a party for New Year's Eve
  • Send out Christmas Cards
  • Spend time with my family

I have to say December was pretty great. Of course, it has been tough with my exams to take and all the craziness of Christmas shopping. But yet, it has been a wonderful time. Strangely, I did not care so much about my exams' results. I know I will have to repeat  at least one of them, but I thought: "I've done my best, if it doesn't work out, then I will do something else". And yaaay ! For the first time since I have started this blog, I have achieved all of my goals ! We decorated our home for the very first time, I have stayed a week at my parents' and I even had the chance to spend time with Guillaume's family. On New Year's Eve, we were invited by two friends of ours and we spent the evening with another couple of friends. It was a great way to end 2013, wishing the best for the new year coming ! 


My January Goals
  • Give my blood (I know ... again ! It's been 3 months already !)
  • Save 150€ for Dublin
  • Buy new clothes for the internship
  • Start studying for the February exams
  • Finish all the papers for the internship
  • Go to the restaurant with Guillaume

It's not too late for you to make your goals ! What are they ? :)

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Goodbye 2013 ! Hello 2014 !



2013 has been a very special year to me. From January to May, I had the experience of a lifetime and had the chance to live in my dream country: Ireland. I took my small car all along the Brittany coasts, took a boat for 18 hours and learnt how to drive on the left side. I have lived for four months with incredible people who were and will always be a great inspiration in my life: my uncle, my aunt and my cousin. I have spent quality time with Zoe and get closer to her, I now consider her as a little sister. I have also met new people and rediscovered others. For the first time in my life, I have realized that some of my friends were really important to me, that I could rely on them no matter the distance or our past.




In 2013, I have been away from Guillaume for four months, for the second time since we are together. This time, he has been the one waiting for me to come home. He has been incredibly patient and supportive, he opened up about his feelings and his fears. And he has been a wonderful boyfriend in the good as in the bad moments. This year was a huge step forward for us, since we moved together in September. After dreaming of it for a year or so, we found the perfect little place for the both of us. It took me time to realize how much I loved it, how cozy it was and that actually, it was our home. We have also celebrated our third year as a couple !


In 2013, I got my bachelor degree in English and finished up a three years program in my former university. I passed with pretty good grades, which gave me the opportunity to enter in a master in tourism. I remember how excited I was when I was accepted ! I moved to a new city, went to a new university and studied new courses. But actually, things did not turn that well ... I could not say if it was a good or a bad thing. This is probably a lesson I should learn from last year: never take things for granted. It is not because you succeed in one thing that you will always be successful. Even if you struggle, you have to do your best and fight for your dreams and what you believe in.


I wish 2014 will be as good as 2013, because even if I felt hopeless and confused sometimes, I have been lucky and I am thankful for all the wonderful moments I had and shared with amazing people ! I want 2014 to be about love, friendship and success (big word, but I just want to prove myself that I can do it !). In 2014, I will also be healthier, because love is also about loving myself and treating my body well. I am also really concerned about the spiritual side of it, so I will stop thinking of those who have been hurting me in the past. I will try to forgive and forget. In 2014, I will be more of an adult than a girl. I will be more mature and responsible; I want to be a good person.

To all of you who are stopping by and reading me, I wish you a Happy New Year. I wish you health, happiness, love and success ! May 2014 be yours ;)

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