Cheese, Pastries and Children: My Year in France: Today, live like you wanna, let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, live like a warrior

I must start out by saying sorry. Sorry I do not post enough blogs, I totally don’t. I actually have this one and two others in the works so hopefully March shall yield at least three blog posts! I have also been told I need to post more pictures on my social media of “French things” so, follow me on twitter or instagram @skay1621 to see pictures. Anyway, I wanted to write about my time at home. Although writing about home seems counter…productive? No but you get it, since my blog is supposed to be about m experience in France. But really, I guess it is supposed to be about my life, and that just happens to be taking place mostly in France. Anyway, my time at home was lovely, #ivacationintheUS.

Ah, and because I love music, put on this new jam while you’re reading this. It’s great. Mumford and Sons "Believe"

I flew back home into Texas, and then into West Palm. Yea, I know this makes zero sense because I pass West Palm to get back to West Palm. It was such a long flight, the longest I have ever been on. Like 10 or 10 and half hours I think. I was super excited to get to Texas to drink. One, I drink way more than I use to cause it’s just a way of life here, but also to have American things. I had like three blue moons and was ready to pass the hell out by the time my flight finally left over five hours later.

I had a lot of things I had to do during my time home including seeing all my family, as much as possible, going wedding dress and bridesmaid dress shopping way out of town and throwing a baby shower. Although I was only home for two weeks it felt like I was home forever.

My first week was spent doing a lot of eating and a lot of party planning. I actually threw one of my most favorite events, the baby shower for my best and longest friend. But I will get back to that. The first day I surprised my sister and brother at breakfast, which was fantastic. They literally had no idea I was coming home and thanks to my social media posts I said I was going to Spain and Portugal. Which honestly I would have love to do…to have done? Whatever. We ate breakfast. I ate so much breakfast. Not just that day but in general. I love breakfast. It is my favorite along with seafood and burgers. Anyway, I went shopping after that.

So much shopping; I had a lot to do for the party and I had zero clothes that fit so I really needed some new pants and shirts. My dad had taken a whole bunch of time off because we were supposed to go on the boat. Oh yea. We have a new addition to our family. The 35 foot open fish with triple 250s; welcome to the family beautiful! Well, she was in the shop so that never happened. Which sucked…a lot. We did end up going to get her on some day that week but it had to be the coldest flipping day ever. I had so many layers on. Like maybe even more than winter in France. I put some pictures below.

At the end of the first week things got crazy. I had to drive to Jacksonville, 4 hours north of my house, to go wedding dress shopping with my lovely friends. I went Friday night so I could spend the night with family and get up early to go shopping on Saturday. I love my family. I knew what I was getting into going to their house that night and it did not disappoint. It included A LOT of drinking, tons of shit talking, life lessons, motorcycle talk and all around good times. It is always good when you know you have people that will back you probably no matter what and thankfully…people that would bail you outta jail should the need arise. And let’s be honest, that was a possibility.

The next morning I got up to go dress shopping. I slipped my ass into my new and awesome jumpsuit which I had ordered and it was waiting for me when I got home to America. I met up for lunch with my friends and we went wedding dress and bridesmaids dress shopping. Luckily we found bridesmaids dresses but sadly it would be some days later when my friend found her wedding dress. I will be flying home again for this wedding in June but returning to France after. I will have about three more weeks of work and then two weeks backpacking!!! I am so excited for my trip and for work to end and to get back to America and at the same time…it is quite sad to think about and maybe, in the end, my return won’t happen. Go big or go home, right? Except, I kind of am home…

That 24 hours was out of control. I did not get home till like midnight on Saturday and I had a party to throw the next day. My mother and my sister were vital in getting the party ready and together and I could not be more thankful for them. I am also so happy that I was able to do this for my friend. I know she will be right there with me should I ever have a child…doubtful…or more likely just get married. I put some pictures below of the party. They aren’t the best and honestly I didn’t even take any. I was so busy and my feet were killing me from rocking the same pair of 4 inch pattern leather Jessica Simpson peep toe pumps two days in a row. What we do to look good. On the topic of clothes, I also got to wear a lovely Michael Kors dress I had found earlier that week. He is by far one of my favorite purse and accessories designers and until I was home during that time I did not own many of his clothes. I was lucky enough to return to France with a whole new wardrobe which included about 75% MK stuff. Gotta love it.

The second week I saw a lot of friends and family and just relaxed. We took a long boat ride on the one day that was nice out. I was pretty busy again getting things together, giving away clothes, trying to make my parents family room look less hideous since half of my possessions currently reside in there. I of course did a ton of running since the following weekend when I returned was my half marathon. My first ever. Although running in hell…aka south Florida nearly killed me. One day I thought it was genius to run in the middle of the day, figuring I could handle it. Well me and my shorts and sports bra wanted to die. I had to call my mom to come get my fat ass because I might had just died.

I saw movies while I was home. Although I didn’t get to see all the ones I wanted. I saw 50 Shades of Grey, of course, Kingsmen and The Duff. I love movies. I go all the time and have been going to sometime. Now in France I started going but I do not get all the movies and there are French subtitles which, while they are great for learning are so irritating because it is all that I watch!!! Anyway. That was nice. And my dad took off more work that week so I got to spend a lot of time with just him and my mom. Little did I know of course that my mom and sister would end up coming to France not even two days after my return.

My flight home was canceled and I felt really bad about that because it kind of put my French family in a tough spot since I wouldn’t be getting home till Monday and I was supposed to work then. Saturday night when I was still in the US I spent it with my aunt and uncle and mom and dad drinking margaritas and eating Mexican food. It was pretty perfect. Especially when everyone got…happier. The food wasn’t so bad either and I got to take home cookies and bread to pack away in my suitcase and enjoy once I was back in France.

I realize how lucky I am to get to do the things that I do. And I try very hard to never forget that. I had a great two weeks at home and while I can’t wait to get back and be a part of everyone’s lives again, I do love France. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. But I am a water girl to the bone and living on the water and being on a boat is where I kind of belong. Or at least I belong closer to the opportunity.

The trials and tribulations of a fat, food lover trying to run:

Again I have no idea what I titled this before. I think this is close. I will briefly write about running in my first half marathon. It was amazing. I was shitting myself because I didn’t know what to expect and the longest I had ever run was 12.5 miles. The adrenaline that comes when you are walking around and seeing all the people is indescribable. This race had 43,500 people signed up. There were SO MANY PEOPLE. It left me speechless. It was also the hottest day in France since like September and it was cold the day before and the day after…of course. I was dying. Wearing infrared, cold gear leggings with knee high socks was not the best idea I have ever had. My mom and sister were there which was the best. Literally the best. And my French mom showed up after she dropped the rest of the family off in the city. I saw the rest of my family when I was running. They stood on the side of the road for me. It was hard, the race I mean. It is far more a mental game than a physical game. I think I have written before about how my runs are either when my head is the clearest or when I think about all the things that bother me most in the world. This time I literally was just counting down the kilometers. I had thought, wow I get to run through Paris, this will be beautiful. I barely saw a single site. I was just trying to focus and not die. My time was terrible and I will forever remember how terrible and I will want from now until I beat that time, to beat that time. Time is a big deal to me although I know it shouldn’t be. I know I am better than that, that’s why I bothers me so much. Anyway, I finished and I got a cool shirt and I got a medal and I have a great story to tell. I also burned some 1400 calories that day so that’s awesome. I can’t wait till Sunday so I can start running again. I bought some new shoes I am DYING to try out. I went from Nikes to Brooks, so I am pretty interested to see how this goes. I have signed up for the Nike Women’s run in Paris on June 7 and I am considering another half marathon Easter weekend. It is kind of crazy…I think I am addicted. I never in a million years would have thought I would be into running like this, but I have to say, even thought me and running and like in a love/hate situation I do love it. And hey, who doesn’t like shirts and medals?!

I still miss everyone a lot, maybe even more now that I was home for a minute. And I REALLY hate missing out on major things in everyone’s lives. As soon as I figure out exactly what I am going to do after this chapter I will let everyone know. Like I said in the beginning I actually have two other posts in the works and I will try really hard to get them out asap. I know I need to write more and I really will try. I don’t have a lot of time left here and I have a big mouth and a hell of a lot to say. Stay tuned because maybe I will get real crazy and write a real honest piece no one is expecting from me…until then…smile bitches, things could be worse…

Title quote: This came from a song by Matisyahu (click to listen) "Live like a warrior"