Goodbye from FreshwaterPurls

After my huge hiatus, I have decided to say goodbye to Freshwater.Purls and start fresh.  The name no longer applied to anything I was sharing (I don't think I've knitted anything in 6 months......).  

You can check out my new blog HERE!  

<3 Kristen

Hiatus

Due to problems with my computer, I will be taking an official blogging break (not that I've been posting that regularly anyways) until I get back to Canada. I will be leaving Paris after next week and won't have definite internet access, so this is easier than stressing about when I can find time to update.  Don't forget about me though, because I have tons to share from my summer in Paris when I get back!

...in the mean time you can follow me on twitter for little updates on my trip @freshwaterpurls

Tune Tuesday - My Delirium

So due to the fact that my computer won't upload pictures, or the videos I wanted to share...my planned post for this week will have to wait. Until I can get that resolved, I leave you with a song that is currently stuck in my head. Hope you enjoy :)

In other news, I'm going to Main Square Festival this weekend in Arras! I am beyond excited! Get to see Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes and the National...among a bunch of other bands! It's gunna be awesome!

Tune Tuesday - L'été est arrivé

So due to the fact that I was out WAY later than planned last night this post is a tad delayed. I will share the excitement of my Tuesday with you next week! It was pretty magical :)

Happy Summer! To celebrate, the sun finally came out. It's been raining here for the last 2 weeks...I was starting to get a tad worried! Here's a summer playlist inspired by 'The Drums - the Saddest Summer' (Thanks Rachelle, this song is kickass!) Hope you guys are getting to enjoy your summer as much as I am! I can't wait for picnics and more summer music festivals (they're my favorite!) 

The Truth about Paris - La Langue

So after thinking long and hard about what how to share my summer with you, I have decided to do a little feature on what it's like to be a foreigner living in Paris.  The good and the bad....and yea sadly there's bad stuff.  It is pretty freaking awesome though!

I thought I would start off with the language barrier. I think it's been the biggest challenge for me.

For those of you who don't know me, I am an Anglophone (English is my first language), however, I completed my schooling in French, and am currently taking the entirety of my degree in French as well.  I speak the language very well. My vocabulary is very school French, still learning the 'slang', but I can understand pretty much everything people say, even if I miss a few words here and there. Either way, I speak french VERY well. This being said, no one here cares that I can speak french. If I say something in French, everyone responds in English. It doesn't matter how good my vocabulary is, how perfect my grammar and sentence structure are, I sound like a North American trying to speak French. Even the people who can't really speak English, speak to me in their terrible broken English.  I know they are just trying to make things easier for me, but this has becoming ridiculously frustrating in day to day life, as the whole point of my being here is to perfect my French. 

The only exception to this is at work.  My co-workers deal with customers and suppliers from all over the E-U, and are fully aware of how important it is to speak another language. They speak to me in French, and don't hold back at all. Now this makes up a huge part of my day, so I'm VERY thankful to have the opportunity to speak French 8 hours a day. They correct me here and there, suggest other words I could use instead. I'm still a tad self conscience during conversations, but I refuse to give up!
I have been here a month, and have already begun muttering to myself in French, swearing in French, French even makes appearances in my dreams. I am submersing myself in French music, movies and literature. I LOVE this language.  The way it sounds, the way it feels to speak, even the structure of it...probably why I'm minoring in it! I truly appreciate the challenge of living in a country that speaks a language different that what I use on a regular basis.

Oh and just in case you wanted to learn how to say something rude, or sassy in french, you should check out this website. It's kind of hilarious, especially since they give you the literal translation of a lot of it.

Grand bisous
❤ Kristen

Tune Tuesday - Valse accordion

Like I said in my last post, I'm really loving all the accordions.  And they seem to sound the most Parisian when playing a lovely waltz (or valse in French). Here are a few beautiful songs on the accordion...one of them is a little more famous than the others, do you recognize it from somewhere?

I'm trying really really really hard to come up with some post inspiration....do you guys have any ideas? After posting all my trip pictures on FB, I don't want to be too repetitive and share them all again here...I will however post the best of eventually....I will come up with something eventually, all this wine drinking has to be good for something ;) 
Oh and case you didn't guess, the last video is from the movie Amelie, one of my all time favorite movies. If you haven't seen it, you should definitely watch it!

Tune Tuesday - La Musique française

So, I have put together a nice playlist for you guys, full of some wicked French music.  It was WAY harder than I ever imagined. Why? Because everyone here listens to American Pop.  Now I'm not trying to shit American Pop, it's fun to dance to at the bar, but when I hear the same 5 songs repeated in the mall, on TV, on the radio...it loses any appeal it might have. People here appear to care more about anything coming out of the U.S.  This saddens me, since French culture is kind of amazing.
Needless to say I have managed to come up with some stuff, most of which is kind of amazing even if you have no idea what they're saying.

Completely unrelated to my French playlist...I have never heard so many accordions as I have in this country. It's freaking AMAZING!  On the train, in the train station, on the side of the road, in malls. Accordions are EVERYWHERE. It might be one of my favorite things about this country...right up there with cheese and WINE!

I truly love it here...even if I'm broke and friendless. France is Freaking AMAZING

Tune Tuesday - Paris Edition

So I know I said I would return to blogging after finals, but I got swept up in planning a trip that I had very much neglected.....and then I set off for FRANCE!
So to celebrate my arrival in The City of Love, I've decided to share a montage of Paris songs.
A few are not in English, but Yael Naim is amazing even in Hebrew, obviously threw in some French, and lastly some Rammstein dedicated to one of my travel friends, Natalie.

Planning on touring Paris tomorrow, so I will share pictures of that ASAP. Hope that now that I'm settled in one place for the next couple months I should be able to hop back on the blogging train.  I can't promise anything.  But I will do my bestest ;) I missed the blog world terribly!

Bisous
♥ Kristen

Tune Tuesday - Sucker Punch

So this CD doesn't exactly fall into my usual music genres, but that doesn't stop it from being any less amazing.  The music in Sucker Punch was so well selected that listening to the CD pretty much replays the whole movie in my mind.  Plus it has Queen on it, so it wins simply because of that!

and because I couldn't find the last song on Groove Shark...

I am super sorry for the lack of blogging...school is consuming all my time and then some. But I am finished this week, so I hope to catch up on all the things I've been wanting to share soon!  Plus I have a pretty fantastic playlist to share for May :)

Tune Tuesday - Whale Tooth

Discovered another fantastic band on the weekend. I LOVE when opening bands are just as good as the headliners (well almost...Mother Mother is a pretty sick group).  It makes me feel like I get my money's worth out of a show.  Whale Tooth was definitely one of those bands.  Not only do they have fantastic talent, but they put on a great performance.  Elise, the lead singer had awesome stage presence, and a voice that just blew me away!  I can't wait for the release of their CD!  Mother Mother was also amazing...I can't express how much I love them!  If you ever get the chance, you need to see them live!  It was honestly one of the best concerts I've ever been to!

WHALE TOOTH - The Visitor from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

In other news, I'm sorry I haven't been blogging so much.  Life has been busy, and to be honest, I just haven't been feeling all that inspired lately.  Hoping once school is done in 3 weeks, I'll have a little more time, and a LOT more to share!

Tune Tuesday - April Showers

Sorry for my tardiness...school is in the last few weeks, and that means 8 bajillion things to get done.  To make up for it, I've made you an April playlist.  This one's a lot more mellow than the last.  Hope you enjoy it!

Oh, btw, the other Pinback album I found was even better than the first.  This song is my favorite!

Tune Tuesday - Pinback

So to be quite honest, I don't even know how I ended up in possession of a copy of Pinback's Autumn of the Seraphs, but it's been playing over and over in my car for the last month...I only took it out yesterday, because I realized I also had a copy of another one of their albums and thought I should give it a try.  You know be fair to other cds in my possession...

I was trying to pick my favorite songs...and realized I kind of just love the entire album....it's got a good balance. But I really recommend listening to #3, 6, 9 and 10...and maybe 11...Here's the whole album, hope you enjoy!

I ♥ Youtube

Eeek this is the coolest thing ever!!!

My good friend Mik posted a pretty hilarious video on youtube this weekend....you should definitely watch this :)

I've spent the rest of the weekend watching The Vice Guide to Travel. This is pretty much the most awesome show I have ever seen, especially since I started with the one about North Korea.  Best journalists EVER...or maybe the stupidest.........
Here's all 3 parts of The Vice Guide to North Korea.  (They're about 20 minutes each...but well worth the hour!) You might have to click 'skip this ad' to get the video started.  

Tune Tuesday - Jeremy Larson

So today marks the release of a bunch of fantastic albums.  But this one really deserves a mention!  They Reapear is available for download here, and even better yet, you can listen to the whole thing before you decide to buy (but it's only 12$ so it's really a steal anyways!)

As it just come out, there isn't a lot on youtube as of yet, so I encourage you to click the link and listen away, but here's one of his new songs :)

Here's a the only video I could find of him.  It also happens to be my personal favorite, from an earlier self-titled album.  

You should also check out Mother Mother's Eureka.....I cannot wait till I get to see them on the second...SO EXCITED!

Any new albums to share?  I can always use new music :)

Hey Jude

So my very good friends Terra and Rob became parents last weekend, and little Jude Alder is pretty adorable.

He's a pretty big boy, coming into the world at almost 9 lbs, but that's 9 lbs of pure adorableness! 

Who couldn't love this precious face?! He already has enough hair for a little faux hawk, and the most pinchable cheeks ever! I can't wait to get to meet him in April!  So sad he lives in Calgary, because I would cuddle him all day if I could! Congrats Terra and Rob!

Tune Tuesday - Siskiyou

So I did end up going to a concert last week!  Sadly it was not Hey Rosetta. Instead I went to see what I thought was the Weakerthans, but turned out to be Jim Bryson with the Weakerthans band (they were accompanying him so support this new album).  It wasn't the best concert I've ever been to, but I already caused a bit of scene on Twitter sharing my opinions, I will leave it at that. It was not however a waste, as I discovered a new band.  It's a collaboration between former Great Lake Swimmer's band member Colin Huebert, and Erik Arnesen who still plays for GLS. It's a pretty fantastic first album, and they did an amazing performance. Never Ever Ever Ever Again is my favourite song so far...and not only because they added the saw to one of the many instruments making an appearance on this album.  I think I counted like 10 different instruments during their performance. It was pretty awesome.  Especially the Melodica, I REALLY want one!

In other news I bought tickets to see System of a Down with my friend Jessie the day after my birthday!  I am ridiculously excited! 

And hopefully I will be able to blog more often now that my midterms are done.  It was a rough couple weeks, but I survived! 

P.S Happy International Women's Day!  Did you do anything to celebrate?

Tune Tuesday - March Madness

To celebrate being one month closer to Spring...(it seems to be getting colder here instead of warmer...we're someone in the -40 region tonight. ICK!)...I thought I would share a new playlist. 
This playlist was inspired by the first song...which I have been listening to on repeat for like a week straight...

...I got in trouble because I never remember to turn down my stereo, so when I use my car starter in the morning, you can hear the music blaring out of my car...and apparently my brother didn't appreciate it @ 8 in the morning...you can actually hear the words from inside my house...it's amazing I'm not deaf, I like to listen to music REALLY loud to drown out my terrible singing haha!

So in addition to this playlist I thought I would share a couple tracks from two lovely albums that got released in February. I've been so busy with school I totally forgot!

Radiohead's 8th album - The King of Limbs was released on the 18th (MP3 only), but you can grab the CD at the end on this month. I've only heard a few tracks, but I'm enjoying most of it. It's so mellow and lovely. So far I love both of these:

Also out this month is Adele's second album - 21. She's one of my all time favorite artists, the power of her voice blows me away every time. I'm not 100% impressed with the whole album, I think I need to listen to it a few more times, but her first single is amazing (thanks Terra!).

Have a magical week! I have my fingers crossed that I can score tickets to a show tomorrow that's sold out...wish me luck!

Any albums you're looking forward to for March?

In the bag - BUMP BUMP

So this was my all time favorite Disney short as a kid...we had it recorded and I used to watch it over and over and over. I still hum the tune every now and then.  I didn't even think of Youtubing it...but then I found it on Cuppy's blog! She's my swap partner for the Tacky Souvenir Swap. This totally made my Sunday morning (well...afternoon haha)

I ♥ it

These amazing sunglasses from Oregon company Shwood - Discovered on Hivenn

Warby Parker Glasses - Discovered on Our City Lights
It's like TOMS Shoes but with glasses...and they're cheap. I don't even wear glasses and I want them...

Umm they even have a monocle?...I want it purely for funtastical value!



This super cute Nail DIY on Pamplemousse  I've become nailpolish obsessed lately...

This awesome Braided Hex Nut Bracelet DIY...it's kind of magic!

What are you loving?

Looking for a new dress?

You should definitely check out Red Velvet on March 1st.  These dresses are freaking ADORABLE!!!...and this video is the cutest video I ever saw...


Red Velvet Lookbook // Spring 2011 from elsie flannigan on Vimeo

I love the black velvet one!  Which is your favorite?