Unfaithful

Commitment is not easy, even when you know it's the better way. Temptation is everywhere, and it's powerful, and I was weak.

See, sometimes your head says no, but your body shouts yes, you give up, and you end up hating yourself but decide "it was only this one time"...until you do it again. I've been unfaithful, and I don't know if I really regret it to be honest.

I had promised myself to finally LOSE SOME WEIGHT and get fit, but my dad had to get home with a bag of croissants for breakfast. And I cheated. 1, 2, 3 croissants, the same day. I know, horrific.

Staying fit, I have to admit, is a challenge for me. I feel like a yo-yo, I go down a little, and before I've had a chance to celebrate, I go back up right away. I've tried diets, pills, exercise (kinda)...And yet, nothing.

Now mind you, I am a size 8 for tops and 10 for bottoms (I have big hips...) for a height of 5'7, and most people ask me why I want to lose weight. And this got me thinking: why do I even want to lose weight? I'm not that fat. I'm not fat at all. And I realized that I would look at skinny girls and think: "how cool, her thighs don't even touch." And it hit me: they (society) got me. Its unrealistic standard got to my brains and changed my judgement of what's beautiful, even though months ago I was writing about how stupid the thigh gap trend was. Now, I catch myself looking at the curves I was once proud of with regret. Yes, I admit it, I sometimes wish I was skinny.

Fashionistas will understand the deception I get when the clothes that I ordered online don't fall on my body the same way as on the website, and even if I know I am not that model, who is supposed to be skinny for the clothes to be visible in all their glory, I secretly get disappointed.

Is fashion and social media destroying our sense of self esteem? Everywhere I go - literally - all I hear about is "this new diet" and "that smoothie recipe." Some women I know don't even eat for pleasure anymore, and I am one of them. I beat myself up and feel guilty for eating a pastry - or two, and I don't know anymore if I am actually overweight, or if it's in my head, or a little bit of both. We keep writing articles about fashion and its unrealistic standards of beauty, but as far as I know, that standard is getting more and more popular, to the point where eating pizza for dinner is pretty much cheating on my body.

I do want to be healthy, and it's a person right to aspire to a certain shape and weight, but I think we should all stop and look at ourselves, naked, in a mirror, and be honest. Do we really need to drink kale juice for breakfast?

Power Breakfast: A Twist to the Traditional Yogurt & Granola

I absolutely love my Yogurt & Granola, and I know I'm not the only one. Whether I want a power breakfast or a fiber-rich snack, this is my go-to recipe. But as much as I like the taste of it, the plain Yogurt and Granola combination can get a bit old over time. So, I decided to add a little twist to it: watermelon!

The original idea came from Spencer (the boo), and I thought it would never work! But I tried it and I was sold. While Yogurt and Granola are delicious together, I always felt the need to drink water while eating, as it can feel a bit dry. Watermelon was the perfect ingredient for added freshness and hydration.

It does also provide you with the carbs, protein and a portion of the value of fiber you need everyday, and it can help with weight loss. It is naturally sweet, which can help with sugar cravings.

Finally, every wedge of watermelon is packed with Vitamins A and C (up to 33 and 39% of your daily needs!).

The recipe for this Power Breakfast is more than simple. Just get your usual yogurt (I use a nonfat plain greek yogurt), your favorite granola (mine is Mixed Berry granola or Almond granola with dried fruits), one banana and a wedge of watermelon cut in small pieces. Mix it all up, add a bit of honey, and enjoy the fresh, creamy goodness while getting ready for Spring Break!

Bisous, Brigitte

(Excuse my messy hair, the sun felt so good I had to get out there and snap a pic!)

B in Wonderland: American Cupcake Review

Cocktails, food and colors!

Today, I stepped into real-life Wonderland with the girls from the Fashion Network Association for a Sunday brunch. I was already excited to just eat, but I was mesmerized when I stepped into what seemed to be a regular cupcake bakery. The lighting was amazing and colorful without being too harsh for the eye. For a while I did not even think about the food. All I wanted was to snap a picture of everything I could see, from the candy on the shelves and the color changing lights to the yummy looking cupcakes.

I thought I would do a quick (and very visual) review of the place. As you can already see, the ambiance is quite Charly-and-the-chocolate-factory-esque, and if you're into that, you will love seeing it in real life - personally, I am in LOVE.

The service was friendly (our waiter went to the same campus as all of us), and pretty fast. And for the food: it was amazingly tasty! I actually wanted to get some more but I decided to calm down. It was just the right amount of food.

AC might be on the pricey side, but for a nice brunch once in a while, it is totally worth it.

If you are located in SF or plan on visiting, I highly recommend this place for a unique experience.

Check out more pics below:

Veggie Omelette - Spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes / Toast / Fresh fruit: $12

Candy Cocktail "The Incorrigible" - Sparkling wine, pomegranate liqueur & raspberry: $8

Almost forgot the cupcakes!

This first time was for brunch, but I cannot wait to try the dinner menu. I heard it was just as delicious, with the great lighting as the cherry on top!

(AC's website)

Thanks to the FNA for putting together this great meeting! Make sure to check out our blog for more!

What I wore: a light black and white maxi-dress from Buffalo Exchange and a vintage Old Navy jacket. I bought this purse in a random shop in the streets of Paris.

Hope you like this post!

Bisous, Brigitte.