Let’s Have a Pique-nique

Bonjour, amis!

If you know me even a smidge then you know I love French culture. One thing the french excel at is a picnic…or in french a pique-nique. They better, they invented it. So where did it come from? It originated in the 17th century as a social gathering where each one invited would bring something to share. It started with the upper class but, eventually all were invited to be involved. But today, in France a pique-nique is still a popular thing to do.

So let’s throw one together. The main thing is to keep it simple but beautiful. Another thing the french do well. I can honestly say that so much of this was already in my fridge but it’s always good to prepare.

Let’s build a perfect french picnic.

• Crudités (veggies)-

  I used mini cucumber and cherry tomatoes (I know, I know that’s a fruit)..I also drizzled balsamic glaze to punch them up a notch. Typically, I always have these two things in my fridge. A frequent meal of mine is a tuna steak and these two things are the base.

• Fruit-

  Blueberries and strawberries (two things I always have on hand because my kids eat them constantly)

• BREAD!

  Any french picnic worth its salt needs some delicious bread. I used baguette which I also made my sandwich with. Also, I added water crackers for another vehicle option.

• Meat-

  I went with salami and capocollo

• Cheese-

  One thing I did seek out? These adorable baby Brie wheels. Omg you guys. They’re so cute. Also just enough. No one wants to buy a huge wheel if you’re not going to use it all.

• Fruit spread

  Apricot and red raspberry are what I chose.

• A sandwich (duh.)

  I went with a very traditional french sandwich. Simple. Raspberry spread, prosciutto, and Brie. That’s it.

• Bubbles!

  Or whatever you like to drink but I feel like some champagne or fizzy rosé is the ticket in this situation.

  The best part about having yourself a french picnic is it doesn’t have to be hard. You can use half of what I did. Or double it. And nothing has to be the same as what I used. It’s just a good blueprint.

“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.” – John Keats

Everyday Elegance

Happy Monday!

If there is one thing I advocate it’s glamour. Every day, all the time. The word itself is Scottish and means magic. Who wouldn’t want to add that to their life? I think two words that go hand in hand are Glamour and Elegance.

And that is today’s Dior Dictionary Word:

The day doesn’t have to be special or unique. It could be an average morning that is pretty much the same as all the others. But here is where you add your sparkle to the day. A lot of people associate “glamour and elegance” with money. Which is a shame because it has nothing to do with a dollar sign. It’s is a state of mind and I’m here to help add a little shine to an ordinary day. I work from home so it may differ from person to person but here are five fast tips on how to add some glamour to your every day life.

Ways to add elegance and glamour to every day life:

Start your day with music! Whatever makes you feel good. In my house I always have artists like Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt, Ray Lamontagne, and various French artists playing.

If you work from home still get ready. Sure there are some days I sit in sweats and am totally useless but let me tell you getting ready makes me want to be more productive and actually be ready for the day ahead.

Wear lingerie! Even if no one sees it. The point is that it’s for you. You don’t have to be a collector like me but it makes you feel great and stand up a little straighter, too.

Keep fresh flowers in the house. This is one thing I’ve done for years and definitely makes me happy.

Invest in “you time”. This is so important because we all lead very busy lives and this is a huge part of self care. It could just be sitting outside and enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

Never skip perfume! My current favorite is Chanel Coco Noir.

Have a signature meal to cook. For me, it’s fresh pasta, sauce, and bread.

Don’t obsess over your looks but put yourself together. I have a 2 minute face that I’ll put on when I’m not “going anywhere”. Just BB Cream, brows, and mascara. You feel put together even if it’s just for your toddler to see.

Keep in mind, things like this are important because most of it is self care. And what’s more important than that?

I hope your week starts off sparkly!