new and blooming in April – a springtime spirit of youth

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

William Shakespeare

Bonjour, salut et Happy April! It’s a beautiful day here in Ohio. On my way to work it felt like Paris in the air. April in Paris… le sigh. Actually it’s quite rainy in Paris in April, this week they were even expecting some snow! I’d take it 😁. Maybe when I finally return, I could take an April in Paris tour! April seems very fun and cool. It the meantime she has Virtual Tours, perfect for groups of Paris daydreamers like me. This will be a short but sweet post. I’m still in search of inspiration/motivation, maybe I will have it together for the next monday meditation. Until then, I’m inspired by the above quote from Shakespeare. Quoi de neuf en Avril? Un esprit de jeunesse, une joie de vivre. Here is what’s new and blooming in April – a springtime spirit of youth!

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What’s new this month? Well I have two anniversaries – back to back actually! The first is the 1 year anniversary of Charlotte le Blog 🎉! The next day is my anniversaire de mariage 💐 Look for those posts later this month. One thing my wedding anniversary has inspired is a return to the Dukan Diet. I followed it before my wedding, only 4 days of the week, and I was the thinnest I’ve ever been. It’s a protein based diet, so I don’t want to do it too long, I’m more into the greens, but maybe just a quick jumpstart.

Also, a return to Tracy Anderson workouts twice a week. I have the 30-Minute Method dvd from way back. It’s what worked for me before my wedding (although I was doing 4-5 times a week), so I’m trying it again. I can feel some difference only after a couple of workouts. Here’s her 15 minute workout on Goop if you’re short on time.

While we’re trying to get somewhat of a youthful shape back, might as well give these Face Exercises a try! And while we’re at it, maybe give the brand new GoopGlow Glow Lotion a go? Although I’m already loving my Tulip Dew Drops for a springtime glow.

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I’m just finishing Little Culinary Triumphs, which I very much enjoyed. I’m getting ready to start The Paris Wife, a Christmas gift from mon mari. I’m looking forward to getting lost in Paris again, this time in the Jazz Age!

Very excited to get my just released copy of The Purple Palace & other poems by Shayna Klee, who is always an inspiration to me. She definitely personifies a springtime spirit of youth!

I recently read a review recommending the book Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami that made me put it at the top of my list. It looks like a beautiful piece of Japanese fiction. Hailed by Haruki Murakami as Japan’s most important contemporary novelist, “Breasts and Eggs took my breath away.”

The Enchanted April has been on my list forever. I’ve seen the movie but never read the book. The perfect month to start, non? What a pretty cover on this edition too.

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What to wear in April? How about a new tee for a young cool me? Non, non et oui. A nice new modern spring dress from COS (which is now on sale!). Top it all off with a très cool Mango Soul Jacket (also on sale!).

I’m very jazzed to style some youthful outfits around my new Nike Cortez. Retro style, the style I had when I was young, but this time instead of red, white, blue, just a cool black swoosh. I was on a wait list for ces baskets from Maison Kitsune and Puma, foxy non? I got the call last week, so now I have 2 new pairs of shoes to show off some spirit of youth! 👍 I’m also very close to pulling the trigger on this too cute Coach 100 Percent Recycled Tote 42 bag. All I need is the jean skirt and the Earth tee and I’ll be ready for Earth Day, 70’s style.

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My sister sent me a special treat for Easter, just in time for my youthful spring transformation. The book Très Green, Très Clean, Très Chic by Rebecca Leffler is the perfect guide to feeling the healthy and channeling your inner Parisienne aussi. I tried her recipe for Inner Peas: Perfect Pea Purée on (Meatless) Monday, and it was divine. It’s a wonderful wealth of information, from yoga, to seasonal eating, to beauty tips. Next week I’ll start going through all the recommendations for springtime!

Think I’ll follow up my Très Green week, or maybe accompany it with, the One Week Green Bikini Cleanse by Candice Kumai. Doesn’t it just look so refreshing, so green, so youthful? I probably won’t be posting Friday, so I can concentrate on my monday meditation. I’ll leave you with a picture of the “Spring Break” pizza I’ll be replicating from Pizza Bonvivant. Now I’m hungry, on with a search for Comté!

New and blooming in April – a springtime spirit of youth, I hope you’ve caught the spirit! Bisous et à bientôt!