THIS DESIGNER //

Ferm living is a brand I particularly love, it inspires me a lot.

Voici une marque qui m'inspire beaucoup, Ferm living.

By M.

TO DO LIST //

I used to think that having my to-do list done would take me to some place of achievement's happiness, give me some peace of mind. But things keep piling down, that's just how it is. This leading to frustration and depreciation of myself. That's when one learns to let go. 

In the previous post I told you about making reasonable to-do list. I believe setting goals is helpful, especially when you easily get distracted - must confess. But accomplish tasks on a list should not become the motive of one getting the work done. Besides, the amount of items on the list can be paralyzing. 

I am starting to have a lot on my plate and I know it is only going to get worse until july. With the diploma deadline coming soon, 2 part jobs and posts writing, I started to schedule my time. Last year, I failed catching on it, biggest failure so far, still having a hard time looking myself in the mirror. Which is why I intend myself to let go off perfectionism, to let go off the self inflicted pressure, although I am not ready to admit that I expect too much of myself - ambition has some hold on me. I am just trying to make room for mistakes and adjustments.

So here it is, I am focusing on what I do in the present time. One thing at a time.
. set your mind to what you're at - present time
. go with the flow
. do not go for over 3 activities a day - this is the amount I can handle
. allow time for annoying tasks, once a week 

. breath, stop for a while here and there, enjoy the silence, the doing nothing, look around and breath
  even deeper

Indeed, as for minimalism, I try to enjoy the path and stop striving for the finish line.

By B.
pour la version française, cliquez sur more

THIS PHOTOGRAPHER //

He's fresh, he's new and he's young ! Here is my latest discovery of the month for the serie This Photographer. I know him from the school of architecture where we both went to study. Last year he went to Istanbul doing an Erasmus program and his passion for photography has been revealed there!

He did a first exhibition in Nîmes which had an incredible success because he sold everything in a really short time! I selected photos I prefered in his tumblr and I advise you to have a look on it. Matthieu Mazaudier.

Tout frais, tout nouveau et tout jeune ! Voici ma dernière découverte du mois pour la série This Photographer. Je le connais de l'école d'architecture où nous avons tous les deux étudié. L'année dernière il est parti à Istanbul pour faire le programme Erasmus et sa passion pour la photographie s'est révélée à ce moment là! Il a fait une première exposition à Nîmes qui a eut un incroyable succès, il a tout vendu! J'ai sélectionné quelques photos que j'ai préféré sur son tumblr et je vous conseille d'aller le voir. Matthieu Mazaudier.

By M.

Photos by Matthieu Mazaudier.

MANAGING IMPULSE //

As de-cluttering takes quite some time, time I do not have right now, I'll talk about it while going through the next house purge. Besides, I don't feel legitimate giving you advice on minimalism,  as I bought a certain amount of stuff lately. Although I've tried to get some perspective on my behavior. 

I realized I was much better at it making lists. Lists of items I would like to buy during the month, the semester or the year. I like to plan things and it allows me time to consider the item. Although I learned to keep those lists realistic to avoid frustration. I also try not to buy on an impulse. I like to take time, to figure out if it is really needed, if I won't get bored with it and if the quality allows it a long life. Also I like to give a thought about the place it will take in my apartment, on my mind and on my time. I am in fact a real concrete person - where the item is going to go, do I have room for it, how much time will I have to provide in order to take care of it, clean it, how often will I use it… those are the kind of questions I like to give a thought. And of course, I try to buy as much as possible items hand made and/or made with consideration for the planet. 

So to resume, if you'd like to buy more consciously, I'll suggest you this:

. make a list of wanted and needed items

. take time to consider each item 

. stick to the list

. stick to what you like, what you are used to

. one is enough, no need to own twice the same item

I value quality over quantity, but is there a real need to say it?

Post due on monday but delayed for planning confusion. Did not share my list - got confused.

By B. 

Pour le français cliquez sur more.

KITCHEN SUPPLIES //

As I am cooking more and enjoying it, I started to look for needed items. I intend to buy durable products I could use for the rest of my life. That means well made products in long life materials - wood, font, steel, linen, enamel or even marble. Except for the Le Creuset cocotte, I would rather pick colors that I would not get bored with - natural tones. For the cocotte it's different. In France, I would say that any respectable person owns a Le Creuset. Check your mother's cabinet, there has to be one and you'll tell in which decade she bought it by its color. My grand mother's is orange, as pursued in the early 70's and my mom's red, bought in mid 80's. So I figured, I should get one with the color of my time - pastels. 

Je cuisine de plus en plus et me surprends même à aimer ça. Alors j'ai commencé à rechercher les ustensiles dont j'ai vraiment besoin. J'aimerai acheter des objets qui puissent durer indéfiniment. Ce qui implique de trouver des produits bien faits, dans des matériaux à longue durée de vie - bois, fonte, acier, lin, émail ou encore marbre. Ainsi, hormis pour la cocotte Le Creuset, je pencherai plutôt pour des couleurs dont je ne puisse pas me lasser - des tonalités naturelles. Mais pour la cocotte, c'est différent. Je pense que toutes nos mamans en ont une; et vous pouvez même deviner à quelle époque elle l'a acheté à sa couleur. Celle de ma mamie est orange - achetée début 70, et celle de ma mère rouge, milieu des années 80. Du coup je me suis dit que ce serai bien d'en prendre une avec une couleur de mon temps - pastel.

Glasses and wooden tray - food52 // Mortar and pestle - food 52 // Blender - food 52 // 

Wire basket -Brookfarmgeneralstore // Kinfolk Cookbook - Kinfolk // Enamel Tea kettle - Brookfarmgeneralstore //

Japonese Linen Apron - Le Repère des Belettes // Cocotte - Le Creuset // Wire basket - Joinery

By B.

THIS HOUSE //

Fantastik Frank is a real estate agency which bases its sells on the crush of one person for one appartement. They think that one house can only have one buyer and their job is to find him. Their aim is to seduce with strong specifications and tastes. Personally I love this house.

Fantastik Frank est une réelle agence immobilière qui base ses ventes sur le coup de coeur de leurs clients pour l'un de leurs appartements. Ils pensent qu'une maison peut seulement avoir un acheteur et leur boulot est de le trouver. Leur but est de séduire avec des goûts affirmés et une vraie personnalité. Personnellement j'adore cette maison.

Photos by Fantastik Frank.

By M.

A VALENTINE'S DAY STORY //

This week, the Figuettes help you to have a perfect Valentine's day. And what is a love night without music? Nothing, you're right! So here is a little Playlist for the V-day. You will see that there are ups and downs in this compilation, just like in ALL love stories. Ok, it is not a so cool and chic playlist than the ones B. prepares you every month but this may help you fill in the blanks in a great conversation with your future-ex-boyfriend or to take action a little faster. Let us know!

Cette semaine, les Figuettes vous aide à passer une parfaite Saint-Valentin. Et qu'est-ce qu'une nuit d'amour sans musique? Rien, vous avez raison! Donc voici une petite Playlist pour le jour J. Vous verrez, il y a des hauts et des bas dans cette compilation, pour faire comme dans toutes les histoires d'amooouuur. D'accord, cette playlist n'est pas aussi bien que celles que B. vous prépare tous les mois, mais cela peut vous aider à combler les blancs dans une super conversation avec votre futur-ex-petit-ami, ou bien à passer à l'action un peu plus rapidement. Faites-nous savoir!

picture from weheartit

By A.