The Month of May
Hi friends,
Today is officially the first Sunday of June and as it marks the halfway point of the year, I wanted to take some time to write about how I spent the month of May.
When I’m not posting on social media, making content, or meal prepping, I’m spending 90% of my time applying to jobs. It’s the least glamorous side of my life here in Paris but in all reality, it’s where I’m mainly spending most of my time. From writing cover letters to networking, everyone knows finding a job is a full time job and I take it quite seriously as my entire existence abroad depends on it. So far, I’ve had a hand full of interviews, two of which I’m proud to say I’ve done mostly in French. Alors, c’est vrai je peux parle français quand j’ai une entrentien mais je me sens un peu stressé encore.
The truth is job hunting is hard enough as it is, but finding a job overseas is like trying to play a game you’ve never played before. Only the stakes are higher and you don’t always understand the rules.
But of course, I’m not just here to tell you what I’m sure you already know about the difficulty of landing a job abroad. Instead, I wanted to share with you a glimpse of the highlights from the month of May. The other, more joyful part of my life here in Paris:
What I Wore:
If you follow me on IG, you know that my feed and style is generally pretty minimalist. Since moving to Paris, I’ve had to be really selective with the clothing that I brought with me from LA and since I’m still on a limited budget, anything I buy must be long lasting and versatile.
My most recent purchase were a pair of black suede leather loafers from Emmaüs, the equivalent of an American Goodwill, for 8 euros. The heels are already getting a bit worn from all the walking I’ve done in them, but they’re comfortable and that’s the most important part.
Lately, I’ve been styling mini skirts as tube tops. The first photo looks like a strapless dress, but it’s actually a knitted mini skirt that I styled as a tube top with a gauze white scarf. I’ve also been trying to post a bit more of my OOTD content on TikTok though I’m not sure if I’m actually any good at it.
What I Ate:
Most of the time, I carefully meal prep all my meals for the week, including lunch and dinner. I love to cook and bake but I don’t like to cook every day so meal prepping works perfectly for my schedule. Every so often, I splurge on a meal or little treat out, but in this case, it was my lovely friend Ivana who invited me to a special dinner for a content collaboration.
French fries with mayo: Ketchup is less common of a condiment in France and now I think mayo has won me over.
Gelato at Amorino: Known to be a touristy trap, Amorino gelato can be found in nearly every district in Paris. Despite this notion, I love the endless amount of flavors that can be folded onto a single cone or cup.
Homemade Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies: I saw this recipe going viral on Twitter and had to try it. After my first attempt making them, the recipe lives up to the hype.
French Bloom non-alcoholic wine: Usually alcohol does not agree with me so for a little belated bday celebration, my friends surprised me with a lovely bottle of French Bloom. I really love the lightly sweetened flavor and beautiful presentation. I’m a sucker for elegant packaging every time.
Dinner at Benkay Teppan-Yaki: Located on the rooftop of a hotel in the 16th Arrondisment, Benkay features a high class Japanese dining experience where the chefs cook everything right in front of you. Ivana was kind enough to invite me as her guest and we stayed for four hours savoring every beautifully presented course. Dessert was crêpe flambée with vanilla ice cream and berries.
Poached Pears: Last month, my friends surprised me with a little citrus tree for my birthday. Since pears are still in season and relatively cheap, I decided to make poached pears using the citrus fruit from my calamondin tree. Delicious and so easy to make.
Homemade Bacon Pasta Sauce: For lunch, I’ve been making my own pasta sauce with tomato paste, bacon, and basil from my little plant. Topped with a generous spoonful of ricotta.
Homemade Focaccia Bread: Picnic season is here and one of my favorite things to bring is my homemade focaccia bread with whatever toppings I might have available. This time, I used leftover olives and salami.
Where I Went:
One of the best parts about living in Paris is that there are so many things that you can do for FREE in the city. Compared to LA, Paris offers an incredible range of free exhibits, shows, and cultural experiences.
Loewe Foundation Craft Prize: I’m a huge fan of all things Loewe, especially the fish handle bag that resembles a woven basket. This year the Craft Prize exposition was held at Palais de Tokyo featuring incredible crafts from around the world.
Parc Buttes Chaumont: Perfect for picnicking or long, contemplative walks alone. I love coming here to escape the noise of the city.
Lancôme on the Champs-Élysées: As a little brand collaboration, I visited the impressive Lancôme shop to discover the incredible assortment of perfumes, cosmetics, skincare, and other personal care items displayed strategically within the store. As part of the promotion, I was given a fresh bouquet and the new sunscreen to try.
View of the National Archives Museum - Hôtel de Soubise
Spa Alaena Paris: I love a spa day, but usually it’s not within my budget to splurge on a massage or facial. Luckily, I was given a gift card from a previous employer, so my colleague and I spent half of the day doing a yoga class, sweating in a Hammam, and getting massages. Our treatments were concluded with a lovely tea time overlooking the 10th Arrondissement of Paris. I highly recommend for anyone who has a little cushion in their budget.
Moments Offline:
No where can ever feel like home without having people who make life worth living. As I spend most of my time online jumping from one job app to the next, I know it’s important to take some time offline to live in the moment and appreciate the life I’ve built here.
Making rose water from the roses on my balcony. Tutorial coming soon!
A little belated bday celebration with friends. Merci Ana, Raquel, Sophia.
A little couch crasher we found by our building’s garbage. He was lovingly housed for one evening then returned back home.
Matching soft pink nail with my dearest Alexiane, my first friend in Paris.
DIY phone keychains with friends.
A little bday card.
A rare moment of sun.
A cozy corner. Usually I’m sitting at my desk but I made this space to have a little change in scenery one day.
My loveliest friends from around the world, Ivana, Vina, Ghazal.
If you’ve gotten this far, thank you so much for reading! I hope my little May recap gives you a little insight into my life in Paris. Now that I’ve had a few interviews under my belt, I’m really hoping it’s only a matter of time before I find the right job that allows me to stay in France for a few more years. Until then, happy Sunday xx
À bientôt!
Kiana