Paris In Film

- Paris, March 2015

We Went To Paris

The weekend before last, Thom and I went to Paris. Booked on a whim when Eurostar had a sale, the trip was a welcome break from the repetitive nature our weekends have taken on of late. We loved it.

How to do Paris the Thom & Charlotte way
Book a cheap hotel near Montmartre - marvel at the French definition of a twin room, find it very amusing when one of you accidentally kicks the panel on the side of the bath, and it falls off. Spend 9 straight hours walking in random circles around the city, somehow managing to cover off both tourist attractions and more random pursuits, such as tiny Parisian pet shops. Watch in wonder as Thom falls madly in love with a (adorable, admittedly) French hamster, who will forever now be known as ‘George.’ Eat macarons in Montmartre after fighting off men trying to lure you in with friendship bracelets. Nap. Watch a strange TV show consisting of sloths yawning, while Ed Sheeran plays in the background. Get very drunk on cheap wine, play never have I ever. Take a stroll through the sex district in pursuit of a place to drink – stumble into a private club that lets you off being on the guest list, purely because they have no idea what you’re saying to them. Leave very quickly. Eat a Royale with cheese in bed whilst watching the French version of The Voice. Walk some more. Go to an enormous and slightly terrifying flea market, where everything appears to be made of tartan. Eat a baguette. Buy souvenirs. Go home.

To visit
- Shakespeare & Company – the most beautiful bookshop I’ve ever encountered.
- Sacre Coeur – more specifically, the outside of it. The view is worth the lifetime of steps/the harsh realisation that you need to get yourself to a gym, immediately.
- & the obvious ones, too – The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, the love lock bridge, etc.

To eat
- Macarons – available at most bakeries.
- Crème Brulee and a cup of tea – Café Des Deux Moulins (the Amelie café.)

To remember
Look up, the architecture is beautiful.

Little Loves

1. Harry Potter onesie, by Peter Alexander. This - my first and only onesie - is one of the best things I've ever worn to bed. Given to me by Sam for my 26th birthday, it is both comfortable and the perfect fit, and it hasn't shrunk in the wash like many other things seem to do in our house (unexpected bonus.) First worn just after midnight on the day of my birthday, whilst lying on my bed with Sam laughing about failed romance. Since worn for much less interesting pursuits, like sleeping.  So cool, so cool.

2. The Rosie Project. I picked this up on a whim whilst charity shop book shopping (my weakness) and am now around halfway through. It's a charming and easy read, with lots of oddities that keep you wanting to learn more about each character, and I love the style in which it is written - a style that reminds me a lot of a favourite of mine, Silver Linings Playbook. At this point, I'd recommend it. I'll let you know if it's all downhill from here.

3. Clans of Scotland tartan scarf. I spent new year in Edinburgh, and inbetween Hogmanay celebrations, and dodgy fake accents, and a questionable club called The Hive that was actually FAB, I went in search of 'the perfect tartan scarf' - an endeavor my severely hungover housemate was less than enthused by. This one isn't actually as chunky as what I wanted, but I loved the colours, so I went for it anyway. It can now be found around my neck or on a hook behind my door, depending on my mood. And on the weather, obviously.


Listening to: On My Own, A Little Fall of Rain, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables #LesMis
Reading: Ellie's Favourite Things, The Laowai Life, Tiny Little Mixtapes

Raspberry Meld

How to recover from an emotional blog post: Re-decorate your room on a whim.

(Side note: Dictionary.com defines 'whim' as "an odd or capricious notion or desire; a sudden or freakish fancy" - Adorable.)

I'm in love.

Micro Pleasures (1-10)

From the hedgehogs on my bedsheets, to the box of teabags by my kettle, to the gothic mirror I found in a junk shop in my third year of university, and have carted with me everywhere since, I'm constantly surrounding myself with things that bring me little moments of happiness. 'Micro Pleasures,' as The Goddess Experience would call them. The debris of a life well lived, as the older generation might say. 'My stuff' as I'd go about it.

On Saturday, Thom suggested we begin a 'gratuity jar,' to put some positivity into our collective lives. This escalated to become a colour coded 'gratuity calendar,' with a different coloured post it note for each housemate and then, for me at least, it became an idea for a blog series. Much like the '100 things that make me happy' lists I put together way back in another life, these posts will be used to document the things that bring me joy, or pleasure, as the title suggests. Because what better way is there to combat loneliness and romantic drama than to take stock of the things in life that make you crazy happy? No better way, that's what. Absolutely none whatsoever.

Here goes nothing...

1. My four legged feline friends. Erm, can we just take note of how tiny Charlie looks in Thom's arms? I love this.



2. Sanctuary spa candles.

3. Photography by David Bailey.



4. The blackboard in our living room. This is where we leave each other notes. Random, ridiculous notes. Mostly just quotes, really. And ripped out pictures of Taylor Swift with 'long live the queen' scrawled across them.

5. Movie posters on bedroom walls.

6. Receiving a text message from someone adorable.



7. Proper pyjamas. Yes, this is what I mean when I say I'm going to 'slip into something more comfortable' - eat your heart out gentlemen.

8. Time spent on the sofa with housemates, discussing absolutely everything, watching Big Bang Theory, and eating our weight in Camembert.

9. Camembert. Baked and served with crusty bread.



10. This necklace. Because it is exactly my taste in jewellery, and because Sam gave it to me for Christmas, which just shows how well she knows me. I've worn it every day since.

Gingerbread Milk: A Christmas Drink Recipe

I use the word ‘recipe’ very loosely here, as this is probably the most basic of Christmassy drinks. But it’s delicious. And you’ll thank me for it. So…

What you will need: Monin Gingerbread syrup, whole milk, ground cinnamon, a pan, & a cup.
What you will need to do: Heat your milk, pour, add gingerbread syrup to taste, stir, sprinkle cinnamon on top, drink.

Et voilà! Gingerbread milk.

Next to try? Schnocoa. More on that story as it develops…

My New Housemate Has An Awesome Voice, Let's All Listen To Him Sing

Other Gabrielle Aplin favourites include: Panic Cord. Home. The Power of Love.
Other Thom favourites include: Absolutely everything he ever says and does (#HousemateLove)