My French Lunch Break

While studying abroad in Cannes I grew to appreciate the importance the French place on their "dejeuner" (lunch). French lunch breaks are commonly 2 hours in order to give people time to truly relax from work, cook and enjoy their most extravagant meal of the day. This blog is dedicated to the idea of taking some extra time in the middle of each day to truly appreciate the gifts of food, nature, friendship, family, art and health.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Foolish Me

It's amazing to me how dance can so perfectly convey deep and complicated emotions, sometimes through the simplest of movements. This performance from last week's episode of So You Think You Can Dance left me with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart, but also in awe of the artistic power of dance. 

In just two minutes I felt swept back to the excruciating pain I felt a few months ago when my first serious relationship ended with a complete betrayal of my trust, both by the boy I cared so deeply for and a person I had previously considered one of my closest friends. The lyrics to this song (Fool of Me by Meshell Ndegeocello) are so piercing and terribly accurate. You can feel the soul and hurt in her voice when she sings. So many of us allow ourselves to be made the fool by giving our whole hearts to someone only to be pinned up against a wall of lies and abuse in the end. I hate it. 

But I suppose it's only through suffering that we learn how to protect ourselves and break through those walls to find people who truly care. It's difficult though--so difficult when such a great majority of people have no qualms about making choices that sacrifice the well being of those around them. Relationships are such complicated, twisted journeys... I'm far from understanding them, but at least I think I know better than to let someone make a fool of me again. 

<3 Lyssa

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Confessions of a Bachelorette

Confession: I watch The Bachelorette. Who knows why such trashy television is so addicting, but it is! I follow the relationships throughout the season, get attached to my favorite guy and cheer him on to the end, even though I know that a TV show competition is a horrible place to find love and most likely it won't work out. I guess you could call it my Monday night french lunch break, because it's my time to just rest my brain and indulge in something so ridiculous you can't help but enjoy it. 

This Monday was the finale, and naturally (being my planner self) I invited my friends over for a little themed viewing party. So themed in fact, that we even made cocktails in honor of each of the top two men...

"The JP" aka Sex on the Beach
(for obvious reasons) 


And "The Ben-elicious Sangria" 
(in honor of Ben F's wine making profession)  

Yes, this is extremely lame and further qualifies me as a complete nerd, but I just had to share. Hope you get a kick out of it ;)

<3 Lyssa

PS- SO glad she chose JP!!!!