An Au Pair Out And About: Hallowe'en Special! Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle

It's Hallowe'en! And to celebrate here is a special spooky edition of An Au Pair Out And About - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle! How is a natural history museum spooky? Well I'm specifically going to be looking at les Galeries d'Anatomie comparée et de Paléntologie - aka the bone rooms!

Bonjour. My name is Pierre, and I am your hell hound guide for today...

La Vie Est Belle: Klorane Shampooing Sec à l'ortie

Ok, I have said this before but it bears repeating. I am all about minimal effort when it comes to beauty products. There are very few products that I think are essential products that I would use everyday. A face-wash, a good moisturiser, brown mascara and a concealer are my everyday products. I can get quite happily by with just them, and one other thing.

Dry shampoo.

I love dry shampoo. It is a godsend. Anyone who has fine or oily hair knows that there is nothing more disheartening than waking up the day after your shower and your hair is already lank at the roots. I have tried several brands, to varying success. I am a big fan of Batiste original formula, but find the added volume version too sticky and the overly fragranced versions overwhelming. Here in France I have been unable to find Batiste. I was using Timotei Pure which I bought from the local supermarché, but it was very heavy and left me looking grey and flat. But now I have discovered Klorane.

The Au Pair Weight Loss Plan

Do you want to look good next summer when you head down to the French Riviera? Or perhaps you were thinking of taking another au pair position next year, further from the city, and closer to the sea. If so then you will be wanting to get in shape and loose a few kilograms. Well with the new "Au Pair Weight Loss Plan" you can get ready for next summer. I used to go to the gym every day and saw slow results, but I have been following the diet for two months and have dropped two dress sizes. Read on to find out more

Yes, you really can eat pastry on the Au Pair Weight Loss Plan

Holiday Hell and the frustrations of being an Au Pair.

So by now most of you have been au pairs for at least 1 month. You dealt with La Rentrée and you've finally sussed out what the kids like and do not like to eat. You've got your Navigo, and you've finally mastered enough french to get what you need. You have perfected the Parisian street style (black trainers, dark jeans, trench coat, scarf) and can walk with enough speed and confidence for people to believe you're local, or at least not try to drag you into their restaurant. You think you have it sussed. But now you are halfway through the first set of holidays, you have been working a 60 hour week entertaining the children while the parents are at work, and you've definitely caught some kind of illness from one of the kids. You are ready to scream. What has happened? Get ready for the rant...

This week I am feeling a lot of sympathy with the horses on the carrousel at the Jardins d'Acclimitation - going round and round in circles. 

Fortnight of au pair hell begins

This Monday morning I got up, dressed and went to breakfast. Unlike most mornings, I was not greeted with the sound of fighting over cereal, or the microwave pinging as it churns out porridge. The kitchen was dark, and the dad was getting ready for work without being harassed for apple juice or goodbye kisses. But do not be fooled by this illusion of calm, dear reader. The children were asleep, and as I write this are STILL asleep, but they are merely resting in preservation of the two weeks of hell that is about to descend on all the au pairs in Paris today.

A beautiful sunrise to start the week

An Au Pair Out & About: Père Lachaise Cemetery

Ok, so for this edition of An Au Pair Out & About we are going with a classic Parisian tourist spot - Cimetière du Père-Lachaise (Père Lachaise Cemetery). If you aren't afraid of graveyards and have excellent map reading skills, this can be a fun and interesting way to spend an afternoon.

My first month as an au pair - What I have learnt.

So my first month with the family is up. It's been a mad month, and I have learned a lot. To recap what has happened, here is a list of the 30 things I have learned during my first 30 days as an au pair

Coffee is BAE

La Vie est Belle- Evian le Brumisateur spray.

Yep, it's time for another French Beauty product review. This week i'm looking at Evian le Brumisateur Spray. 

This type of spray is incredibly popular in French pharmacies. Brands such as La Roche-Posay, Avène, and others market these as miracle sprays that can do anything from set make up to healing scars. It is also a cult favourite amongst beauty bloggers and youtube reviewers. I'm going to take a look at Evian's version, which I found at my local supermarché for 3€.