Fitness Tuesday: little helpers

The least it takes to lose weight is the willpower to make a change. Yeah, right. Unfortunately, when you want to see changes fast and you tend to be discouraged, you need a little more help than willpower. This is where a few select products come in. This week, I will be talking to you about the little helpers I use to boost my weight-loss. 

Kellogs fruit crisps: With only 100 calories and packed with flavour, these make an ideal sweet snack or dessert.

Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters: Sometimes you just crave something sweet, and fruit simply won't do it. Moderation is key. These divine chocolate and caramel bites contain 120 calories per pouch, which is just perfect for those "crisis moments" when the healthy alternative won't do. 

Cellulite cream: Cellulite can be genetic, or a consequence of weight fluctuation, among other causes. Exercise helps, but so does massaging a gel into problematic areas (belly, thighs, buttocks). I've been using the Nivea cream for a long time, and I like to apply it after showering. 

Green tea: Let's not go over the benefits of green tea, they're too widespread. Bottom line, whether it helps or not with weight loss, it's still good for you. It is one of my to-go drink at Starbucks (especially after  I realized how many calories the Caramel Macchiato had). Venti, with two Splenda. 

Raspberry Ketones: It's considered to be the newest fat-burner. It may be a fad, and it may work or not on you. I've been taking it for over a month, and I must say I am seeing a slight difference from past diets I've tried. I can't say the weight-loss is dramatic, and maybe it's just the placebo effect, but I am less tempted by fatty foods (I haven't had bacon in weeks, and God knows I love it!) and I did notice a certain boost in the weight I am losing. In short, just give it a try.

Ginseng herbal supplement: Those who know me know I constantly complain of being exhausted. But ever since I've been taking ginseng, I've been feeling much more energized, and it has been helping me exercise without getting tired too fast. Diet or not, I think I'll keep taking ginseng. It's a healthier alternative to caffeine. 

Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before dieting or taking dietary supplements. I am not liable for anything that happens to you if you take the products mentioned above.

However, if you do lose some weight, you're more than welcome to send me flowers. I like orchids, cannot stand anything that looks cheap or unnaturally coloured, LOVE roses but only accept red ones from men I intend to "know"; in the Biblical sense, that is.

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To Maria Callas, with love: A tribute to the greatest of all women

 

Thirty-five years ago, Maria Callas passed away in Paris, at the age of fifty-three. Only fifty-three short years, during which the little girl, born in New York to Greek immigrants who yearned so much for a son, fought for recognition and excellence. Fifty-three years, and a timeless legacy.

The way I see Maria's legacy is like looking at the genealogy in Wagner's Ring: there are the "mortals", most opera singers, with a few shining stars among them; with their controversies, their differences and their admirers, and then, there's Maria, a completely different dimension. To think of her as yet another "opera singer" is obsolete: she is, just like a work of Wagner's, so much more. She is above singing, above acting, above music. She is a priestess of the complete, full work of art in its very essence. With her obsession for detail, her sacrificing of vocal prowess and added embellishments to strengthen the drama, she becomes the very link, the intermediary between the (deceased) composer and the work, as it happens on stage, or as generations hear it.

But I don't think this near-godliness is what led me, like so many others, to love Maria Callas, almost to the point of feeling a personal connection to her. I think it is love. Yes, love, the hardest notion to define and to find (and for the unluckiest of us, to maintain). Love was what Maria was denied at her birth, by a toxic mother who wished, almost to obsession, for a son; Evangelia Callas only came to appreciate her daughter when the latter showed real talent for singing; when she finally enjoyed the fame the mother always dreamed of and never had; and when her daughter became wealthy, which goes without saying. Estranged from her mother, whom she never saw after 1950, love was something Maria yearned for, in her passionless marriage, from the audience that she could so easily disappoint with a high note that wouldn't come out, or, oh scandal, a cancellation. Love was something she got a glimpse from during her affair with Aristotle Onassis, which came to a cruel end when the latter married Jackie Kennedy.
Love was something all the heroines she brought to life had in common: from Butterfly, abandoned by her husband and in denial until the very last moment, waiting for him to come back, to Lucia, who swore herself to Edgardo, and becomes mad after she is forced into an arranged marriage; La Traviata, who gives up on the man she loves because his father won't have his son be with a demi-mondaine, and dies, consumed by unhappiness and illness; the jealous Tosca, who kills to remain faithful to her lover; Norma, Medea, so many more.
Love was what she spent her final days mourning, after Onassis, with whom she was reconciled, died. She had a glimpse of hope, only to see it vanish. Her voice was heard for the last time in Japan, in 1974. And then, she became a ghost, alone in her Parisian apartment, listening to her old recordings, to her past glorious days. Alone, and loveless.

Was death a salvation to her? Did she put an end to her days? This is not the point. The point is that this woman existed, as one realizes when they hear this voice, extinct 35 years ago but thankfully immortalized. This beauty, this transcendent passion that takes possession of you,  as if Maria, like an apparition of the Saint she was named after, makes you discover an inner complexity you did not know you had in you.


To Maria Callas, with love,

S.

Inspired by Daughters of Fortune: Elizabeth

Coat - Shirt - Skirt - Shoes - Bag - Evening gown - Sunglasses - Perfume

Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland is one of my favourite non-classical novels because of its delicate balance of the juiciness of an entertaining novel, and the great style and quality of a timeless read à la Jane Austen. A dynasty story that revolves around the world of fashion, it transports you into a world with attaching characters and their adventures. 

Elizabeth Melville, the eldest daughter, heir to a fashion house, a perfectionist and a "compulsive overachiever" is the character I relate to the most. From what I have read (and I did read the novel three times in the past year), my vision of her style is glamourous-chic, a little like Blair Waldorf without the, well, slutty aspect which they tend to overdo on Showtime (I hope this never happens if Daughters of Fortune is adapted into a movie... In which I can see Michelle Dockery play Elizabeth!). An upper-class Brit, she always carries herself with a dignity that is reflected in her style. I visualize lots of luxurious fabrics, silks, classic shapes, Old Hollywood influence and quality before quantity. 

I do hope you will be inspired to read the novel; if you have, do let me know how you see the style of the three Melville girls!

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Work essentials

My move to New York having been postponed to January (... more on that later), I mostly work from home (aside from French tutoring and an internship I won't mention here because I'd like to keep my blogging separate from it), and my work is mostly writing: for my blog; for All Things Fashion DC, where I contribute biweekly; or on a novel that is undergoing final edits (... again, more on that later).
Here are a few  essentials I like to keep on hand when I am sitting at my desk, in front of my laptop, and typing the night away!

Violet herbal tea: I am fond of everything that reminds me of Toulouse, France (my favourite city in the world), and getting a whiff of violet from a piping tea mug is quite motivating. In what way, you ask me? Thinking of Toulouse => makes me happy => I work harder => I make a great income => I save for retirement => I turn 65, move to Toulouse, where I buy a very large house => I occupy my days cooking for my husband, entertaining and taking care of the many cats (strays or shelter euthanasia-row) I will shelter (either permanently or temporarily, until someone adopts them).

Gel ink pen: I know this is the digital age, and ever since I finished high school, I've barely used a pen. I thus discover a certain pleasure in writing by hand, so I keep pens around for letter-writing (Yes, I do that!), penning down recipes that I actually like (only the best I've tested make it into my recipe book, which I have ever since I was 7), and just about anything else.

Post-it dispenser: A high-school teacher introduced me to the massive and compulsive use of post-its, and I've been hooked ever since. I don't like opening a Word document to make a list of what I need to do. Instead, I scribble down my future post ideas (or just about anything else, like an essay outline) on post-its that I stick on the shelf over my desk. Obviously, they're pink.

Fruit crisps: I used to keep a bowl of candy near me, as anyone may know how after some arduous intellectual activity, well, how do I put it... Brain. Needs. Sugar. Now. I recall a particular episode during a philosophy bac blanc (non-Francophones: the baccalauréat is the exam you need to pass to graduate from French high-school, and in the final year ("terminale"), you do one mock exam in a different subject each week) when after working on my "dissertation" for an hour and a half, my mind blanked out. My friend had cookies, but I didn't dare ask her for some, because you're not supposed to speak during an exam. All I had to snack on was a pack of chewing-gum, and I finished all twelve in less than a minute. All this to say that those fruit crisps not only are healthier than candy because they only contain 100 calories and the fiber is filling, but they actually taste like real pastry (or, to be fair to my apple-pies made from scratch, the closest you can get that comes in a wrapper).

Opera: Those who have been reading my blog for a while know my great, unlimited love for opera, the finest, most divine of all arts, and for Maria Callas... the Goddess. Whether I am studying or working, I always have an opera playing on iTunes. I suppose it inspires me to create beauty and reach for perfection. Currently, I am listening to Lucia di Lammermoor, with Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano. I recommend it to anyone.

Scented candle: Aside from the occasional allergic reaction, unlike everyone in my family (lots of allergies/sensitivity) I am very fond of scents. I always keep pots-pourris, aromatic candles, and linen sprays made from essential oil mixes. My favourite place to go for candles is Bath and Body Works; what I like the most is that they have small-sized candles, which are ideal for trying new scents. I recently picked up a few, including Black Pepper Bergamot, which is now my favourite scent, after my Sandalwood Vanilla was discontinued (I did stock up on a few candles and the home fragrance oil, but I use them very sparingly). I think I am very fond of spicy scents, maybe because this one in particular reminds me of the perfume that a man I am extremely fond of wears.


Fur blanket: Work doesn't mean one must be uncomfortable or cold. I do sit straight (okay, sometimes I work straight from bed... What, it got me an A on a politics essay once!), but I like to wrap myself into a soft fur blanket. The only problem is that when my neighbours' cat is around (and she is... a lot.), she likes to snuggle against it and becomes very possessive. The solution is to wrap myself into the blanket, then let the cat cuddle in my lap and turn on the purring machine. The blanket does somehow protect my sensitive skin against Madame Kitty's instinctive kneading.


Do you have any work or study desk essentials that you can't do without? Is there anything you particularly recommend?


On a different note, I have just been thinking, would anyone be interested into learning about opera? I could write a post about it, outlining the big styles, a little bit of chronology, and suggestions about what to begin listening to. Let me know.

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This week

My late-night work-session partner: introducing the Kitty Mug, filled with herbal tea (peppermint is my favourite).

 A little walk at Cabin John Park and passing by this little guy (who is either funny or creepy... or a little bit of both.)

 Trying on a gold-plated "lace" Stella & Dot cuff during Fashion's night out.

 Cookie-making afternoon with the baby cousins (They made everything, I supervised...)

Lavender and basil, freshly cut from the garden (I experimented Provence-inspired macaron flavours)

Cousins love <3 

How did you spend your week?

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FNO snapshots

My FNO outfit: vintage dress , brown scarf, cream lace clutch, and black stilettos.

I hope you all had a wonderful time at Fashion's Night Out DC. I have a little confession to make: this is the very first time I attend FNO. The dress I wore is also the one I wore when I saw my very first Wagner opera (The Flying Dutchman at Opéra Bastille in Paris), so I thought it would be a good omen.

I think the fatal rookie mistake I made was not to wear comfortable shoes. I went to Georgetown to attend an event at Tari, which is located at 1525 Wisconsin Avenue. Predictably, I assumed it would be around the corner of M Street and Wisconsin,  so I parked my car at a garage right there (and half the fee I paid was because I waited an hour in line (in the car) to get to the exit booth. The garage had no working elevator, and it turned out Tari was quite a hike from M Street ("but I thought..."). Add to that the fact that Georgetown is paved with slippery cobblestones, and I have a crippling fear of hill terrains, which is even worse with the very high heels I wore. Whenever I was not standing on a completely flat terrain, I could lose my balance if someone grazed me. The streets were packed, so after nearly breaking my neck five times, I took off my shoes and walked up to Tari barefoot. At this point, I had to chose between Bree-Van-De-Kamp classiness and my life. (Okay, I'm being melodramatic... Give me a break!)

Fortunately, the evening at Tari was very enjoyable. I didn't know about this boutique, which sells vintage and designer. On the second floor, I met with bloggers and accessory designers. I was very happy to meet with Julie C., from the jewelry line Stella & Dot. I am hard to impress when it comes to jewelry, mostly because everything's the same, but this line really caught my attention, especially because many of the designs (as you'll see below) are inspired by vintage jewelry. LOVE. Well, it isn't the end of it, so stay tuned!

So enjoy those Instagrams snapshots of my very first FNO! 

Quick snapshot taken in the car before I headed to Georgetown. I'll make a post with better-quality pictures of my outfit and make-up.

Dress made with Chinese porcelain at Tari.

Piano dress... What's not to love!

Stella & Dot jewelry.

Trying on a beautiful Stella & Dot choker necklace.

More Stella & Dot love...

I guess it would be painful to sit in this dress, but what would I do for fashion... <3 

How did you spend your FNO? What fun things did you do?

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Fitness Tuesday: a running app for success

Today, I will be talking to you about Interval Run, an iPhone and iPod touch app I use for my exercise routine, in my quest to lose weight.

Those who know me know I was always a disaster in gym class. I recall a particularly moment, during a parents-teachers meeting that took place at my high school auditorium, where my gym teacher, who was at a desk on the stage (out of anywhere, really), stood up herself to show my parents how I was incapable of catching a ball that was thrown at me. Like any gym teacher, this lady had a very powerful voice, bless her. So here I was, red like a tomato, as she was making an exaggerated impression of my nullity and my lack of hand-eye coordination while about a hundred parents, teachers, and students watched.

Well, the French have never been known for their softness.

In my defense, not only I am the intellectual type (I may be null in sports, but my grades elsewhere were amazing!) but I have always had a preference for more artistic forms of exercise, like ballet, belly dance, and figure skating (all three of which I have done). Also, I dealt back then with out-of-control asthma, which led me to lose my breath after ten seconds of fast walking.

However, since I have decided to shed a (lot of) few pounds to look hot-as-hell before 2013, I knew I would have to tackle running sooner or later, as it is the ideal way to burn fat, and my respiration problem couldn't be an excuse. Interval running was the solution thus recommended to me. Unfortunately, looking at my iPod every once in a while wasn't convenient, and I couldn't keep count in my head for how long I had walked or run.

This is where the app comes in, like a deus ex machina. I always resisted exercise apps, thinking they were only commercial scams and I only needed my two legs to run. But I needed something that would play my music and tell me when to run, when to walk, when I was halfway through my circuit (so I could start heading back home). So I went online, did my research, and purchased Interval Run. For $2, this app has not only all of the aforementioned criteria, but the weekly format helps you to progressively need less walking and be able to run more. Also, it tracks the programs you've done, which is very encouraging.

On my first workout, I had a five-minute warm-up walk, and then a minute of running followed by a minute and a half of walking. I cannot say that it was easy; I felt my muscles tingle, I was sore and full of cramps the next day, and I could not have held a conversation at the pace I was running. But I did not stop, not for a moment. Not to mention, I experienced for the first time an endorphin rush, and boy, that's something.
I am very happy with this app; for beginners, it can be very useful. I definitely recommend it.

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This week

One beautiful day in New York City

It's been a while I haven't made a "This week" post. There has been so many things going on in my hectic life these days, that I don't know what to chose. Also, I'm taking pictures with three different devices (a camera, a Blackberry and an iPhone... don't ask), and although I'm bending towards sticking with the iPhone and using Instagram for the pictures, I'd like to know what you think. 

But well, "This week" is back, and here are some beautiful and positive highlights of my past few days. 

Healthy lunch #1: poached egg (I practiced...) over iceberg lettuce salad with balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette!)

Storefront of L'Occitane en Provence, one of my favourite skincare and beauty brands, at Grand Central Station in New York City. 

Healthy lunch #2: Broiled flounder fillet with freshly-ground black pepper and paprika; steamed broccoli with a dash of salt and chili powder (a. true. sinful. delight.)

Naughty lunch #1 (I must treat myself for eating nothing else than green vegetables all week long!): Mojito at the Chart House in Alexandria today. 

How did you spend your week?

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