Love Me and Leave Me

wow... so its been awhile folks. I would say I'm sorry, but I had so much wonderful-ness about lately that has kept me preoccupied, that I can't say I really am. Anywho, good to be back and so much to tell.

1. I had a such a wonderful past week. My wife came for her long past due visit to the Stein household. I hadn't seen her in a little less than a whole year... shitness...an entire year...and it was a much needed reunion. She had a little extra spark about her...so positive, so wonderful, so ready to take on the world with all her talents have to offer. Anywho, we did a lot in a week, but that "a lot" that feels like not doing much at all... which I love. I showed her my favorite food co-op dans le monde, we danced in the car, made scrump didyliumptious dinners for my fam, made an impromptu decision to cut our hairs very tinsy in SF, ate the BEST veggie sandwich in Hayes Valley I've ever had, and the list goes on et on. Oh... et plus! The little one just flippin got into the Food Studies program at NYU.... booyah grandma. Et plus....

We played in the garden....

and bought peonies.

It was a great week.

2. I might just be doing the thing that would make me even happier than I already am...opening a cafe/bakery with my new great friend Lisa. I know this might be a jinx, and although I 99.9% believe in the jinx, I whole heartedly believe this will happen.... no matter how strong the god jinx is. I met this awesome chica at a BBQ gathering with my cousins a few weeks past, and it was one of those moments when everything aligns. The more we talk the more we say "holy shit this is too perfect." A great lady with great ideas and ideals that coincide with mine regarding all things food. I can't believe its happening... or at least I think it is. We've chatted a few times over sweet treats and the next step is looking at venues. I couldn't think of a better career... solving the worlds problems one chocolate laced smile at a time. I'll keep you posted...until then, ideas, suggestions welcome for cafes/bakeries....


3. So, my google reader is overflowing. I find it so much more refreshing than the pesky newspaper. Don't get me wrong I want to be informed with whatever horrible things are happening in our worlds, but more so I want to see and hear all the great projects and ventures individuals are putting out there. Its amazing. It makes me feel so nice too. There are so many talented people around, or rather people that have found what they are great at... what makes them happy and listening to that thing in their chest that goes thump. These people who have found this seem to be so gracious, so at peace with what they are doing. I think it gives me hope everyday.... and just a tince bit of anxiety when I see 213 new items in the reader to peruse each morn. Enough rambling.... here some of my new finds:

Abby Try Again - Amazing photography and a great name to boot.
The Bright Side Project - Cute interviews with the cute and talented. But, I wont lie, they have awesome giveaways everyday, and although you may be my competition, I guess sharing is worth it? Well, visit now before I change my mind and remove this.
Sweet Amandine - She hasn't updated in a bit, but I LOVE HER. You'll see why.

4. I staked my tomato plants with pretty bamboo arches and the squash blossoms are in bloom! My garden is flourishing! (Tip that Im unsure works: Plant magnolias to ward off the bad bugas... on va voir)

5. Cherries sont arrivent. Hello cherry tarts, cherry jam, cherry pie, dried cherries, fresh cherries, cherry spitting contests (which, by the way, my dad has already lost), cherry cornmeal scones, cherries jubilee*, cherry muffins... well you get the picture. I'm excited and I have the oven pre-heated and ready to go. Recipes a bientot....

7? Schmoopie just told me the other day I had luck like no other. I stopped to think about this for a few minutes and came to the self conclusion that this might be a rather large understatement. I don't think there are many days that go by when I don't think about my life for a quick second, shake my head with disbelief, and think how lucky I am. But beyond lucky. With all my great family and beyond talented and great friends....I'm just waiting for lightening or something to strike...or whatever the hell is suppose to happen. I never really know who or what to thank... so Ill just thank Trader Joe's Crunchy salted Peanut Butter. I guess its the closest thing Ive ever had to organized religion. A wonderful Deity I must say.

A Bientot:

1. Its spring and that means cherries, sun, and our annual visit to temple for the Bagel Brunch. Yum. The Steins (well, 3 out of 4) only pray over bagels and lox.

2. Bakery talk. Road trips to bakeries. Cavities to follow.

3. A quick trip to visit my long lost Costa Rican brother in Santa Cruz...

4. Shaina (aka cookie monster) est arrive.

5. San Fran for the D'Orsay exhibit. Grand ol Paris is comin for un petit visit. Woop woop. Maybe we'll squeeze a croissant in there somewhere too.

A la prochaine a tous...

*I am not exactly sure what this is... but I will. and then I will make it.

Le Printemps....

Ah spring... I would say its my favorite season, but I do believe my favorite season is always the beginning of each one.....and my least favorite always being the end of winter. That one is a no brainer. But there is something so special about the spring and for the first time.... in quite a long time... I'm in California (northern, bah ouais) for the gloriousness of this event. So what have I been doing with myself you may ask? Well, first of all, my inner 3rd grader says "M.Y.O.B." (the b standing for beeswax of course), although my other, slightly duller, journaling self will reply...

Garden Fresh. My mom and I finally got motivated to plant our garden. Well... by insinuating "we plant" I mean she buys the stuff and I do the work. Totally cool with me. And I think with her too? Huh. Ill ask . But I planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, a shit ton of herbs, cucumbers, and arugula. I think my fav is the arugula because I have very little patience and it grows pretty fast. And tasty to boot. But the garden is so fun. Its like having your own little kid... except not, because its not a pain in my ASS.

Ze Yoga. I had such a great class today. Its just that thing for me that makes most of my sucky days better and allows the good ones to keep on keepin on. Find your yoga. Maybe its cooking, or reading, or hell even some illegal substance. But, when you find whatever it is... its so goood.

Art. Since Ive been back from artsy fartsy Paris, Ive been a little more inspired to pick up my own camera and to check out what other people are doing too. Result? My dad asking me why the keyboard is slightly wet from what appears to be drool after I have been checking out the approximate 5,456 blogs I belong to. Its so fun! Ive been finding new music, inspiration, recipes, and occasionally drift to check out what the Real Housewives are fighting about behind the scenes. Whattt? fuck you ok? Don't judge me. You're KFC Double Down is my enjoyment watching a good old rift between Bethenny and Jill.
Anywho here are some of the artsy-ish blogs that have been making me smile as of late:

Blue Hour
Mocking Bird
3191

SF. I explored a few areas of the Bay's city with Xtina last week and I'm more excited that ever to move in the fall. Noe Valley and Mission are toping my list; the Mission because they have a cute park and really awesome ice cream.... Noe Valley because they have french inspired cafes. But, really... Ill move anywhere as long as I can get to and from the Rainbow Co-op in less than an hour. My cocaine. Anywho, it was the best day.

Cooking. I made homemade graham crackers last night. My intention was to make them for the little kiddies next door, but then they actually turned out really good.

Et plus....Ive spent some time with my cuzzles, although not as much as I would like, discovered I have a strange affinity for parchment paper and steel cuts oats (but preferably not together), and spent more time at the bookstore than my dad does sleeping. Oh yes, and counting down the seconds until my wondrous wife arrives for her annual visit....

Now, what I should be doing:
making catch up phone calls
having fancy hat brunches

cleaning my room so I can make it to my bed without 3 hops, 2 steps, and a jump.

Enjoy your springy day and try some asparagus.

Home...Finalement!

So, en fait, I'm home. During the past week I've been experiencing a bit of culture shock, adjusting from 2 hours spent over an espresso back to watching my dad eat a bagel in under 2 minutes flat... in a car. Quel horror! After watching mildly depressing television shows (Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution reinforces everything I wish food, or food-like substances, were not), anxious and pushy drivers tailgating my every move to and from, and mostly to, the slow lane, and the constant blaring of bass-ed out music around every street corner... I remember that I am, after all home. After realizing how much I loathe some things about the states, I remember how much I love some things about being home. Some of mon petits triumphs:

I visited the Fruit Bowl, our answer to local bakery slash veggie/fruit center, and returned home with fresh backyard eggs and ciabatta. The eggs were even better than the ones I love so in Paris.... the bread on the other hand my friends... is a different story...


An amazing dinner with my couzzles at their house, cooking and laughing together, and making fun of... in the best of ways... the frenchies and our fellow statesmen. They always give me hope for Americans.

Asparagus Season!

I can order something at a restaurant, voice concerns, problems, or stupid ramblings without practicing to myself beforehand looking like some kind of psychopath on the street. French is beautiful, but god its nice to be back.

Sun. Espresso. Back Patio. Enough. Said.

Morning Routine. Plus Yoga. Heaven.

After lunching, my mom and I stopped in at the post office to grab some stamps. Momentarily preoccupied by a 6 year old-ish child crawling all over the extremely well kept floor, our attention was re-directed to the cock-a-doodle-doos coming from the backroom. The lady in front of us dismissed it as a ringtone. Well, I know better. Welcome back.

Sacramento Co-op. Id like the frenchies show me a place they have teff, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and four types of wheat flour in one store... in bulk. Now thats what I call my oh la la.

Et plus.... mon famille et mes amies. The best dans le monde... with no bias whatsoever.


---

Driving home the other night, upon returning to the driveway that has welcomed me back home for the past 20-ish years of my life, I thought about how many different stages of Stephanie Stein that driveway has seen. Its been there there, time and time again, not judging, not laughing, not crying, just being there to welcome me back. I thought about the different ways I had entered this driveway in the past and how telling it has been of my different selves over the years. As a passenger for most of my life, taking in my surroundings, actually listening and absorbing each word my parents told me.... As a teenager whipping ferociously into the driveway when my parents told me to slow down... As a college student, not even realizing where I was, and now just being grateful that its been there, and stayed put through all these years. I know... I just moved from Paris back to Stockton, but theres something about that driveway. that means to my home that no place on Earth could ever replicate.... even if their are gunshots as a backdrop.


My home, just another one of the many journeys I find on the road.





Prochainement:


-San Fran with the lovely Xtina
-Farmers Market
-Lunch with my old Frenchie teach. Can't wait for that great look of disappointment when my first "Bonjour", avec un accent tres americain, slips out.
-Biking
-Pool. Sun. Burning. Shade.
-People apparently want to join me in the above activities.... awaiting visits... wifey, KK the Great, et Michy... A tres bientot...

Ca C'est Tout

Weiner Dogs. Thata way.

So anywho, holy shit. I'm leaving Paris.

The past couple of days I have been doing the inevitable, that I promise time and time again that I will save my poor self from each time I am in derangement. But, alas, it creeps upon us with all things great that are coming to an end: Glorification. The past couple days I have been doing my favorite choses a faire with my favorite friends in the city, laughing about how much the people annoyed us, and then accepting how much we have taken from them. I spent Monday with KK the Great, sipping cafes, having brunch with Alexis after an awkwardly hilarious yoga session, dining vegetarian in the city that resents this sub-culture to no end, and sitting for a good two hours exploring the secrets of the best chocolat chaud and french woman with cigarettes in tow on Ile Saint Louis. All day we kept returning to the inevitable mental list of the things we will miss most; some of my favorite being....

I'm going to miss (insert le sigh):

Loving the States

Two hours at a cafe, trying to rectify the world's problems, one espresso at a time

Perfect lighting

The cultural respect for food and what the French have taught me about it

Beauty. Everywhere. Anywhere.

Culture. Art. Museums. Monet. Orangerie. Monet. Orangerie.

Not working. Leisure at its finest.

Taking my time... and it not being weird.

Franglais Dinner Parties.

Hot bread from the Boulanger. Croissants. Macarons. Passion for doing things right. Intolerance for the mediocre when it matters most.... with breadstuffs.

Using the senses. Smelling it all.... well, maybe not on the metro.

Today, at my last brunch with the ladies.. sadly minus KK, we enjoyed the view from Sydney's amazing apartment where we could see Sacre Coure, La Tour Eiffel, and the rest of la vie francaise from up top. There wasn't anything fluffy about our goodbyes, they were more see you laters. We decided au lieu de opening our Parisian Boulangerie in the States, we would start a group food blog, incorporating our different food and life perspectives and coalescing them in the appreciation for the ways Paris has changed our views and lives to a certain extent. We sighed and realized that we are returning to the land of the 40 hr work week, no croissants au beurre in the morning, and 10 day vacations that are rarely taken. Lord help us...

Amrita and I continued on to discover le gout de Pierre Herme's crazy macarons, including: strawberry wasabi, Olive oil and vanilla (our decided fan favorite), and chocolate passion fruit.

Before:

The green is the olive oil vanilla... oh la la!

After:

We shared these suckers over about an hour of chatting, enjoying the company just as much as the tasting. I think thats one of the best things Paris has taught me. Enjoy. Slow down, and enjoy more.

Sneaking out the back Chez Mlle. Raja's

My times here have shown me yet another cultural perspective through its people, their oh la las, and their passion for complaining and cafes. Its back to the states where I will undoubtedly miss all I've experienced, but at the end of my half year stint... its finally time for a detox.

Thanks Paris... je vraiment t'aime.

Next stop: Stockton. Dodging bullets, one at a time...this time, in English.

Ca c'est magnifique

My new favorite place in Paris has become Musee de l'Orangerie, the museum that holds 8 huge Monet water lily works (Les Nympheas) in two oval rooms, that were constructed largely to Monet's specificities. It is a must see for any museum go-er visiting Paris, especially if you are a self proclaimed impressionist obsessionist, comme moi. The positioning of the Orangerie, or technically speaking an old greenhouse, is poetic to boot, housing the famous waterlilies between the Seine and the Tuilerie gardens.... a cohesion of water and garden. The diffused light and the minimalistic qualities of the room let the murals do the talkaty talk.... if you allow them to.

It is the art in Paris, in all its forms, and the high regard that the people here hold for it, that continuously befuddles me. Why this isn't safeguarded more in the States or elsewhere for that matter...given more attention in schools and given more importance and encouragement in terms of career/life pursuits. Afterall it is through art the way people can feel and experience life and its beauty... and the way we can all talk to one another about it, throughout time, with or without words.

I'm still not sure to what extent I embrace some of modern art's belief in the idea of everyday,real world art, but here is an implementation of curvature elsewhere nevertheless..... as interpreted this time by Ikea:

Yes, this is the metro. And yes, those are Ikea couches. Complete with their own personal bookshelf poster to back, back, back it up. I must say, I like your style.... and so do the Parisian bums.

Other thoughts?

Use more whole grain flour. Especially when baking scones. They are delicious.

First spring sun= happiness, which in fact means that I will now pry myself from my radiator and allow the imprints in my back to disappear from resting there for the last 4 months.

Colin Farrell= not so shabby singer. And dare I say Crazy Heart Soundtrack= practical genius.

A la prochaine.

et plus en plus

I had to include this photo from Mlle. Gardikas' photo collection from our party. I just love it.

A interesting side note... a friend Margo had brought a nice French lady along to the dinner party festivities. This Frenchie noted later that she felt a bit inferior in terms of attire because all the Americans were, apparently, looking rather stylish. Too bad half of our outfits were jokes, complete with onsies and bright pink fufi-wear.

Supposedly we're chic even when we're a joke. Vive les americain(e!)s.

Schmoopies et plus. 2010.

The past two weeks have been go go a-go-go and have left me a bit strapped for energy, veggies, and sanity. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. Last week I was visited by some of my favorite people dans la monde... my New York life meeting my Paris one. Yes, I'm sorry New York I'm not quite as fast as Ive been in the past...but hey, I still love tequila.

Day One: Natasha aka Schmoopie Boysaw flies in and arrives about 9 hours en retard after experiencing the inconvenience of the striking French at the airport. Fitting really. But, we were finally reunited, jumping up and down like kindergarten bffs after not seeing one another for an entire Christmas Holiday. We chatted well into the morning, and its always so wonderful when you can feel as though nothing has changed... across continents, across time zones, and more importantly across new haircuts and hats.

Our first day took us to cafes, then a brief introduction to the Falafel man, (who after many inquiries I will answer yes, is sort of still around) and chatting in french history museums about art and life more than actually paying attention to the paintings on the wall.

Lovey, Martha.... You're too cute for the Brits.

Best storyteller around. Especially with those specs.

Enters Mlle. Kimmer Novak. Enter Mlles. Martha Gardikas et Devin O'Fallon. The loud laughing American girls taking photos on the subway, causing trouble at Brunch where forks were thrown at us and then right back (metaphorically on the return i suppose), drinking cafes and champagne trying to pretend like we fit in, but in our own quirky way forever standing out. These girls brought a little of New York back to me, reminiscing over our volleyball memories and nightmares and catching each other up on how we all changed, but more so, how we're exactly la meme.

Schmoopie always seemed to take pictures of Kim with a baguette in her mouth. I'm sure I would get some Kimmer hate mail if I posted the others.... Love you Kimmmer!

We had a dinner party with Americans and Frenchies... over pizza and NY cheesecake. Some of us got really drunk and started touching the hostess' face. Others were male Parisians named Eud (pronounced OOOOOD) who called themselves Phillipe. Others decided they didn't like their seats and began their rendition of musical chairs. And all the Americans were messy leaving their marks forever on the french tableclothes while the French looked from their side of the table in horror. God help us.

The next day, we climbed up to Sacre Coeur with soups and smoothies from Kim's find “Smooth and the City” (with a name like that, easily mistakable for a waxing joint), found photo ops around lovely Parisian sights, ate a mushroom apple strudel, had fortunes told at a bar by an 80 year old drunk Frenchman/ tarot card reader , boarded the wrong train that took us out of the city, fell down a couple stairs..... did a lot without doing too much.

When just the 3 originals remained, we brunched and check out my favorite, Musee D'Orsay, pointing out our individuals loves and leaves in this manageable magnificence.

The last night Schmoopie et moi recovered ourselves from almost dying several time on bikes and then in the below freezing crypts of the Pantheon, with a veggie meal discussing what we always like to discuss.... hats, Florida in old age , future life excursion and trouble in the making, and how bad we feel for whichever young men would ever attempt to manage either of us. These two ladies are just a little too happy on their own and a bit too difficult to please. But Paris, you've done one hell of a job.

Sometimes it takes some friends from a different time/ place to remind you of parts of yourself. They know you so well, and even if you think you've changed so much...they assure you that you haven't. You remind one another that Mariah Carey still has the best Christmas music around, Martha-isms are still the best -isms around, Butternut Squash said with no teeth is a way to make time and bus rides pass, the inside jokes about waterboys and London hostels will forever and always make you laugh, and that Schmoopies will forever and always be Schmoops...

The great things about friendships spanning over years is that they let you feel as you did when you first met, with less worries, less knowledge, and more importantly more mischief. Whoever said Americans don't keep their friends for life? Ca n'est pas vrai! ...the 4 of us living in 3 diff cities, is just another warranted excuse to travel. A bientot les filles!

Courtesy of Mlle Schmoopie Boysaw for all Black and White Photography. Quotes upon request.