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Life’s Unforeseen Monsters

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Bonjour, mes amies. I know I have been MIA for a few weeks now, but I wanted to let you know, my dear friends, that I will be MIA for a while longer.

My best friend, confidante, partner in crime and better half of five years is sick. He’s been sick for a few weeks, it has worsened and we are now fighting something terrifying. He will be diagnosed officially tomorrow.

I stand by his side, watching him bravely face this monster, never flinching but saving his energy to still smile, still somewhat laugh, still eat, still make the snarky comments and jokes that made me fall in love with him to begin with. And I am doing all I can to remain standing, with a strong face, with the positive thoughts and words and disposition, with the smiles and sarcastic jokes for him to know I am here beside him. Never leaving his side to deal with this alone. Always here to give him courage when he needs it. And always here to help lift him up, literally, emotionally and metaphorically. He is so much stronger and courageous than I. And it makes me love him so much more for it.

This is the most difficult and the scariest event life has ever brought. But we thank everyone for their love, kind words, support, encouragement, THE MEALS!, and just their time to listen, to talk, to encourage. I promise to try to keep everyone posted on the progress and on the wonderful news I look forward to sharing with you all about his improved and stronger health.

IMG_4761In the meantime, my hiatus is necessary to be 1000% by my love’s side. Thank you for understanding. I will miss you and the blogging, but we will be back at it after this monster is defeated.

♥ – LBH

~ La Présente ~ For Mom

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Bonjour, mes bons amis!!

My parents left a box of old photos so that I could eventually digitize all of the pictures. And as I sat at my laptop this evening to write a post with gift ideas for Mom, I remembered that box. Before I knew it, I had spent over two hours looking at hundreds of pictures, trying to remember events and dates, laughing at the memories I could recall, and holding back a tear or two. Or three.

Photographs are against some religions because of the superstition that cameras or photos steal a soul (or something like that). While I respect the belief, I also feel that this means truly missing one of the best ways to keep family and friends close to your heart, no matter their distance. My mom lives 2500 miles away, and yet in the last two hours of seeing her face through the years, the vacations, the family reunions… I was immediately reminded that my mom is always close.

I couldn’t help share a few of my favorites. There really is nothing like a mother’s love…

mothers day, mom, mother, feeding ducks, tenderness, a mother's love

our Moms never stop caring for us, no matter our age.

mothers day, mom, mother, feeding ducks, tenderness, a mother's love

our Moms show us what tenderness and love means.

mothers day, mom, mother, feeding ducks, tenderness, a mother's love

our Moms are our SUPERWOMEN!

mothers day, mom, mother, feeding ducks, tenderness, a mother's love

our Moms’ happiness is our own happiness.

  • It’s not too late to make some amazing DIY gifts for your mom!
  • Your gift doesn’t have to be crafty – whip up something delicious and easy in the kitchen!
  • Give your mom the gift of time: hire a local maid service while you take her out of the house for a few hours.
  • If your mom loves movies and TV shows, set up Mom with a 6-month or 1-year Netflix service.
  • If your mom loves to cook, sign up and take a cooking class with her and learn to cook a few new exotic or ethnic dishes. Check Yelp for some local cooking classes in hers or your area.
  • THE FAIL-SAFE: Treat your mom to a brunch at home with some fun recipes like a Bacon, Egg and Toast Cup, or any of these other great simple recipes. (And clean up after, too!)mothers day, mom, mother, feeding ducks, tenderness, a mother's love, mothers day brunch recipes, martha stewart, brunch recipe, bacon egg toast

What are you doing for your Mom this Mother’s Day?

♥ – LBH

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I’m In A Book Club!

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book club, we the animals, justin torres, best seller, recommended books, gay author, childhood memoir, memoir, biography

We The Animals by Justin Torres

When I was a kid, I loved reading. Sadly, as the world wide web rapidly began growing during my early college years, so the time I spent reading began to conversely wain.  I’ve recently tried being more introspective and conscious of my limited free time by actually unplugging more often in hopes of making more time for what I used to love so much.

So when a friend asked if anyone wanted to create a book club, I immediately raised my hand. Last Sunday we had our first club meeting, where I met and laughed with some wonderful other young women who were definitely smarter than me and so inspiring.

Our first book, We The Animals by Justin Torres, was a quick-read about a young boy growing up poor in the 70s with his family of three coming-of-age boys and extremely young parents trying to find their way through a rough life. What started out as a light story quickly turned quite dark and startling by the end. I won’t give anything away, but <spoiler alert! not really but kinda> it left me very much afraid for the vulnerability of children. Yeah, it’s a Debbie Downer, but an excellent book no less. The club agreed that our next book would not be so depressing.

debbie downer, saturday night live, jimmy fallon, rachel dratch, we the animals, justin torres, book club, best seller, childhood memoir

Debbie must have read We The Animals too… my sentiments, exactly, Debbie.

What should we read next? Now taking recommendations!!

Merci, mes amis!!  Hope you have a wonderful week!!

♥ – LBH

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Early Taste of Summer

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Bonjour, mes bons amis!

los angeles, LA, L.A., outdoor seating, outdoor, outdoor dining, warm weather, summer, spring, cafe

LA has some of the best outdoor seating and people watching.

Walking home from my bus-stop during ‘magic hour’ yesterday evening, I came across the beautiful setting above. The weather here in LA is turning rapidly, and the warmth in the air at 7:45pm was evidence. We’re expecting temperatures in the 80s and 90s (perhaps 100 inland!) today and Friday – just in time for a preview of the near summer season, and perfect margarita sippin’ weather!

Then I remembered that it’s Thursday, so my preview will be brief, at best. But thank goodness I’ve found a few great reads on the world wide webs to help get through the week. Check them out below, either from the indoors like me or if you’re lucky enough, from poolside or on the sand!

Enjoy the rest of your week, bons amis!!

♥ – LBH

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~ La Présente ~

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Bonjour, bons amies!!

I’ve been so motivated to revitalize my little nook in the world wide webs through this blog, that I decided to try adding at least one photo each day that embodies something beautiful, something delicious or something delightful.

This week helped remind me that the albeit too brief quiet moment in the morning, or the sound of a family member’s laugh on a quick call to say hi, or even the simple pleasure of walking your naughty dog through the neighborhood letting him smell every possible inch along the way but on a beautiful warm day… those moments are what make every day a small part of la belle vie.

I know I’m a flamboyant Francophile and Europhile for that matter. But I truly believe there’s something to be said for a culture that in the face of millennia of hardships, turmoil and reoccurring worst of times, they universally hold in high regard le joie de vie.

Donc, aux Français, je dis: merci beaucoup à vous pour inspirer ma joie de vie!

I hope you enjoy my daily (if not, at least very regular) visual inspirations, musings and small moments.

Here is my first of many, taken during a quiet moment this morning. I need these more often in my life.

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Passée un bon week-end, mes amies!

♥ – LBH

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