Séduction

Seduction (Eng.)/ Séduction (Fr.) vb.: To lead or draw away as from principles, faith, or allegiance. To win over, attract or entice.

It should comes as no surprise that the timing of this exhibition in Paris and the recent outbreak of popularity of the 50 Shades of Grey books in the United states is auspicious.

"My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain."

- Helmut Newton

(Helmut Newton Exhibition, Grand Palais, Paris, Juillet 29, 2012)

"There must be a certain look of availability in the women I photograph... I think the woman who gives the appearance of being available is sexually much more exciting than a woman who is completely distant. The sense of availability I find erotic."

- Helmut Newton

(Charlotte Rampling, hotel Nord-Pinus, Arles, 1973 by Helmut Newton)

"Photography was always his mistress, and I was his wife. Let's say it was an open marriage."

June Newton (aka Alice Springs), Helmut's model, muse and wife.

(Helmut Newton, Monte Carlo, 1987 by June Newton, aka Alice Springs)

"Look, I'm not an intellectual. I just take pictures."

- Helmut Newton

(Catherine Deneuve, Paris, 1976, by Helmut Newton)

Juin

Juin (Fr.)/ June (Eng.) noun: The sixth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the first month of summer.

Smack dab in the middle of the year I find myself traveling more, with more social  and business engagements than all of last year. In addition, I have been house hunting in a medieval village in Bourgogne, France. And in July I will be going to The Netherlands for the first time and then Munich. Amidst all of this movement there has been a whole lot of reflection. Yet it is not the type of reflection that I am used to. You see, in the past I have induced my own reflective periods and conversed and pondered them intentionally. But now it seems to be happening under the surface, without any prompting from me. I am not even sure what it is all about.

"We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."
- Taoist proverb

So does that mean I won't find out until August when things become still again?

Contemporains

Contemporaries (Eng.)/ Contemporains (Fr.) noun: a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another. A person at roughly the same age as another.

What I am reading now...

While my American contemporaries are reading 50 Shades of Grey I seem to be heading in an opposite direction.

What's new.

Mode

Mode (Fr.)/ Fashion (Eng.) noun: The prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behavior.

"Can fashion be art?" Colbert

"Fashion can be something that you simply wear... or something truly creative to change how we think of culture and the time.... Fashion is self expression"
- Anna Wintour, The Colbert Report

The Colbert Report
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Destin

Destin (Fr., masc.)/ Destinée (Fr. Fem.)/Destiny (Eng) noun: The events that will happen to a particular person or thing in the future. The hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future. Fate.

"Any little desire, so long as you truly feel it, will get you started on the path toward your destiny."
- Martha Beck, The Joy Diet

In my mind

Alternative

Alternative (Fr.)/ Alternative (Eng.): one of two or more available possibilities. A situation presenting a choice. (it is the same word in French as it is in English)

Last weekend I went to the Keep Portland Weird festival/exhibition at Gaîté Lyrique. It was incredible to watch all of the Parisians marvel over the things that I considered a normal way of life. Portland's coffee shop culture, the outdoors, the environmentally sustainable mindset, creativity bursting at the seams, the foodie mecca, and healthy lifestyles.

 I was proud to call it my other home. And it found me a little homesick. At one point, my friend commented that we should leave the festival immediately for fear that I become emotional and decide to leave Paris to make my way back to the other city that I love.

 Rather than take such drastic measures, I pondered about the things that I miss the most, aside from my peeps. It was the healthy lifestyle, particularly Barre3, vegetarian culinary possibilities, and alternatives that are available no matter what sort of food preferences you have. So I have decided to make a concentrated effort to recreate that bit of Portland here in Paris. First up? Not just cutting out the gluten and grains whenever possible, but making my own delicious alternative recipes since Paris doesn't have a Back to Eden or Proper Eats (that I am aware of). So I went to the market to find alternatives to flour and sugar in order to make peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

(Organic honey, crunchy peanut butter, mini dark chocolate chips and baking soda)

Here is a recipe that I have made several times over the last week (yeah, I better keep this in check) which is super easy and uses ingredients that I usually have on hand:

Flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies 
1 c. peanut butter (prefereably organic)
1/3 c. honey (preferably local and organic)
1 egg (preferably local and organic)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. dark chocolate chips (mini's are preferred)

Mix it all together (add the chips last). It will be much stickier than regualr cookie dough but don't worry, it will totally turn out.

Scoop them onto a cookie tray that is lined with parchment paper and cook them at 350 F (175 C) for ten minutes.

Then you must let them cool for at least ten minutes so that they can firm up.

Et voila!

Just as good as any cookie I have had in Paris or Portland for that matter. In fact, better!