It was on the 1st nivember 2009 : Muse Concert.
We were -me and my boyfriend-just in front of the scene, near Matthew Bellamy (the singer). It was very very marvellous, good music, good atmosphere... I wasn't fan of this group (my boyfriend and his bestfriend are fan for years), but I can say now that I really am.



And seeing Matthew Bellamy playing guitare just in front of me made me want to start learning how to play guitare (since I know how to sing already :p )!
So, my boyfriend has a guitare, he knows how to play.. and two days ago I start. Revelation, I'm not so bad, and I already can play some simple song ("Au Claire de La lune" "Happy Birthday"..).I made some music (only theory) when I was a child, and have piano knowledge (basics ones). It helps a lot ! So, now that I know how to place my hands and make notes, I must try to add some technic. And find something to heal my fingers, because playing guitare is very painful (but only in the beginning said my boyfriend).

Here is the guitare : a Silverstine fender (electric).

 I must made a picture of the guitare I use tomorrow or later ^^

So, what's up ??

Do you think that it could be a good idea to mentionned under a picture if it is photoshoped or not ?


It's an idea of a french politician (a woman). She proposed a law to impose this mention, in a way to preserve people from bad self estim concerning their physical appearance. I translate for you what she said :

"These pictures coul make people believing in this almost always fake reality"." It's not correct to make us thinking that 20 years old people are prettier than 70 years old. I want to re-built the border between reality and virtuality."

She didn't mention anorexia (she made the law to ban pro anorexia website a few years ago in France) or things like this, but just want to say that it's a general tendancy to show a fake reality.

What's your opinion ?

I just discover a so wonderful brand of cosmetic products : Snö Bioflower. It's a french brand,  with ecologic labels and a politic of envirronement protection. This brand was created by Raphaëlle Monod- Sjöström, a former Ski champion whose grand father was a botanists. She loves her moutains and, as a woman, love taking care of herself.

Their engagement is to use as much as 95% to 100% of vegetal and organic component, to be cruelty free, to make products that are not too expensive (because organic products are often very expensive), and to avoid paraben, phenoxy and petrochimy.
In fact, when you look to the composition of some of their products, you can seethat they are made of essential oils, plants extracts and stuff like that. Only.


I tried (and still use) :
*massage oil with millepertuis : it's an oil to relax muscle and feel better. It's really really my favorite products ! I love it, it gives me the impression that my stress fly away of me : I recommend it. (around 8 euros)

*cream for hands : I use this cream more than 10 times a day (I have an OCD I think). It let my hands smooth, and the little perfum is soft, fresh. (around 6 euros)

*face cream : soft, it makes the skin smooth, the complexion light, and it's really fair. (around 10euros)

There are so many other products, like a roll-on for acne, shampoo, masks for face and body,  tonic lotion for the skin... It's not so expensive, and really interesting.


Do you use* this brand ?

(*thanks Mercredi)

I'm a french young adult from middle class, studying at University and not so fan of fashion. I studied anglophone civilisations and literature (I got my degree yay !) and had the priviledge to speak with many strangers (Australia, Ireland,USA, Germany, Japan...) . Many of them were coming with mtyh about France and french people. Most of them went back without ! I'll give you my opinion about stereotypes about France, those I think true, other I think untrue.

1. French people have a problem with hygiene
I learn that french woman don't shave, and that we stink. Wow, harsh, and mostly untrue. Ok, Some people are stinking. OK, sometimes in winter I don't shave my legs but in fact, it's the same in so many countries ! Most of my friends are shaving or going to an esthetic center every month to get rid of hairs, and I even have male friends who do this !
We are huge soap user (statistics pointed us as major soap users in Europe some years ago), and cosmetics. Moreover, many people are loving our perfums (Guerlin, Chanel, Dior, Roger et Gallet...). So, don't they be a bit jealous by saying we stinks but buying our perfums ? (I joke).


2.French people are rude
I don't think so. I heard many times strangers saying that french we too welcoming (we often kiss people on cheeks, many french take other in their arms and this kind of things). It depends on people. Come to my house, you'll have frienship, coffee and cakes, someone to speak with and smiles. It's not the case everywhere, but we are friendly on a general scale. A bit excentric sometimes, it's true. Don't be affraid, it's normal !

3. French people are chic
Oh yes we are !
Hum... I'm a bit too arrogant, and to tell you the truth, it's partialy true. Ok, Chanel, Guerlain, Gauliter make nice clothes. Ok, Paris is full of luxuous shop with nice and "chic" clothes and accesories. But who can buy it ? I know NO french who can afford it (and eat at the same time). Many of us don't have a sense of fashion, trend, and most of the time are not "chic" but "normal" concerning style.When we have an appointment, a party, I guess that like the french I know, people try to dress with taste. But it's suggestive. It's not a generality, some are really "chic" and trendy (or think they are), but the most "chic" people I ever met was Meryl, a beautiful Texan Lectrice at University (this year). She was really chic and trendy. And Texas is not a place known for being full of chic people ! (oh, stereotype ...lol)
It's a matter of opinion, but I don't think that the majority of french are "chic".


4. French are eating odd things
Frog legs, calves head, snails, oysters, horsemeat... Well, I can't tell you it's wrong. Many french are actually eating this. I tried horsemeat and loved it when I was younger (I'm now adult and vegetarian). My father love snail, oysters and frog legs, but he eat this once or twice a year ! It's not so common, it's more something we eat during winter time (Christmas, New Year...).
Concerning Horsemeat, it's more a regional thing. In my region, we hardly eat it, in Alsace (where I'll live soon), it's very common. It's there I ate it.
But is it strange than jelly (made of porc bones) ? For a french people, definitly not !

5.White bread, wine and cheese
I have to tell you the truth : we eat a lot of bread (the "baguette" is so famous), we eat a lot of cheese, and most of people to my mind, drink too much wine ! But our cheese is real cheese. We have plainty of different kind, all are particular, and almost none look like some cheese I saw at Mac donald's or in American websites.
Champagne is a so famous wine that comes from my mother's region, and we alsmot never drink it since it's too expensive, and that other wine are quite the same for less money... but it's not well know by strabgers, so they spend money for champagne !


6. French men are romantic
Well... It depends on people. I had 5 relations, including an italio-spanish man, and half spanish man and 3 french men (including my actual boyfriend who is more germanic than french to my mind, for those who know geography and history, he is from Alsace). The three  french were the more romantic. Definitly. Less arrogant, proud of themself, less axed on sex (and don't think thtey are "sex" masters). Wandering in woods hand on hands, eating with candlelights, watching the sunset, cuddling while looking at the snow falling, giving flowers, or making kilometer to see me...
I am lucky, or french are really romantic lovers. I think they really are.


7. French don't speak english
Partialy true. If you go to France, try to speak a bit french. Not because we are proud of our language (in fact, we are...french are affraid f having english words settled their language, but they didn't even know that England was french 800 years ago !) but because people are not so good with english language. To tell you how to go to "la Poste", no problem most of the time, they'll help you. But don"t ask more at the majority of people (or have a gentle face and big boobs... no I joke !). We learn at school that speaking english is important, but so many don't understand why they have to do this, and don't work hard enough to get a correct level. I have an english degree, and you can see that I don't speak  very very well... so you can image the level of a french who don't study english hard at University for 3 years.
Nevertheless we are friendly people, so I don't think we'll stay alone in the street, lost, trying to find your hotel or the Museum, crying, under the rain. But you have to know that so many french are limited concerning english (and other languages as well).

8. French fries
It's not french, definitly. In France, we said it's a Belgium thing. Here, we are calling this "frites". (It's the name of my cat ^^). In fact, to french is "to cut into slivers". Potatoes are french and fry so... french fries ! (Learn it on a TV documentary about potatoes. Yes, I know I watch strange things on TV ).


So, What are the stereotypes you know about us ? What are those you still believe in, and those I forget to mention? Tell me more !

Just for the pleasure, here is a selection of "strange people's outfits. Sometimes, it's hard to define where they find those ideas... Ridiculous, funny, odd, or marvellously eccentric, I let you make your own opinion !

Enjoy !

Miley Cyrus, a normal teenager
 

Rihanna : mustard cocktail?


Josie Marian (a model) : bedsuit



Nicole Ritchie : hippy band, leather skirt



Victoria Beckham, Alien outfit.


Megan Fox : transform.. erhhhh


Paris Hilton : animal print


Katy Perry :animal print too


Mary-Kate Olsen : young small woman..
 

Agyness Deyn : herself


Nicole Kidman : Disco ?



Sorry Olya, no Lady gaga ^^ I can't find a picture with common outfit.

Next time, men !

Just, What do you think of people who are still gothic at 20, 40, 70 ? Are "adult "goth...

Lost teenagers ? Mad people ? Normal ? Excentric ? Cool ? Else ?