The best apps and podcasts to get you learning French.

So as part of my new year resolutions, I promised to put more effort into learning French. Perhaps it's because my family are fluent in English, but French does not seem to be progressing as quickly as other people's. So I have turned to technology to try and push my French forwards. Mostly because some days the only time I have to myself is the 20 mins on the metro.

Here are a few of my top picks of the best apps and podcasts out there to help improve your French. And I have to add - none of these app/podcast makers have paid me for these reviews, they are only my opinion.

Happy New Year

I hope you've all had a wonderful break over the Christmas period. For those of you who stayed withe your families I hope you had fun learning some new French Christmas Traditions. For those who did not have to stay with their host families, I hope you got to enjoy some peace and quiet!

Sadly the holiday is almost over, and soon it will be back to Work and School. But it's New Year's Day, so I'm going to recover from last night's celebrations and reflect upon what I learnt about being an au pair in 2015, and what I can do better in 2016.

Time for my Au Pair New Year's Resolutions...

Champs Elysées Christmas Market

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Or if, like me, you loathe crowded spaces and shopping its time to get your game face on and reluctantly trudge around desperately trying to find something to take home for Christmas. This is made all the more difficult by the fact that your whole family wants something "from Paris", a city famed for luxury and chic, and your au pair wages just won't cover a Chanel coat for everyone.

The one upside to this time of year is that is more or less acceptable to consume hot alcoholic beverages in public at anytime after midday under the ruse of 'being festive". This helps to take the edge off the dreaded christmas shopping stress to the point where elbowing strangers in the stomach to get to the last box of macarons is almost bearable.

So in the spirit of christmas, and drunken public disorder, have you checked out the Christmas Market on Champs Elysées?

La Vie Est Belle - Clinique Repairwear

You may remember about a month ago I turned 26. I wrote a post about being an older au pair. Well here is one of the things they don't warn you about having your mid-twenties crisis - you start thinking about whether your moisturiser has anti-ageing properties.

Then you start investing night cream.

It's all downhill from here.

La Vie Est Belle - Sephora Poudre exfoliante métamorphose

Ok, so you knew it was coming. How can a girl write a beauty post from France and not mention SEPHORA?

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas in Paris

Well, it's time to admit to my addiction.

An Au Pair Out And About: Hôtel des Invalides, Musée de l'Armée

After the attentats that struck Paris, I decided to go on a temporary hiatus. It is very difficult to write about life in Paris when almost every day is overshadowed by such extraordinary events. Two weeks after the events, the whole of France watched as President Hollande delivered his address to the nation, commemorating those who had been killed alongside some of the families involved. He made this address from Hôtel des Invalides, a place filled with military symbolism for France. Some people in France criticised the choice of location, the talk of being at war, and the politicisation of his actions. I feel ill-equipped to discuss the politics of the situation here, as I am not as well versed in French politics as I should be by now. I however, went to Les Invalides just before the attacks happened for a look around, and thought I would share a few things

Nous Sommes Tous Parisiens.

I don't really know how to begin.

I have written and rewritten this so many times. Sometimes I want to make it funny, to try and lighten the mood. Sometimes I am angry. Sometimes I am so sad that typing the words brings tears to my eyes. Sometimes I feel as though my opinion is so insignificant in the great scheme of things that I shouldn't post at all. Sometimes I feel that it would be dishonest, considering the purpose of this blog is document my time in Paris, not to write about it. Most of the time I am so confused I don't know how to put the words down. So I will just write what I can see, what I can feel, and what I hope.

Image Credit - Jean Jullien (@jean_jullien )