Have you ever bought a cookbook just by its cover and find it six months later realizing that you've only read the introduction? Well I can admit, I've done that quite a few times, but I blame it on the delicious photos and cute looking covers. 

Although, last weekend my whole universum of cooking, which is not relatively large, just turned upside down when a French friend of ours introduced me to "3 Fois par jour", three times in a day. She told me that one night in a week she takes the book and 30 minutes to plan menu for the whole week. That is so smart! 

I just love French people. I swear they all have a little gastronomic restauraeur living in them.

Inspired by my French friend and the book, I navigated to the book's website as soon as we got home. I tried a few recipes from the site and now I'm a massive fan of ! 

The recipes are simple, yet creative. As a working mom, the days are kind of packed, so you wish not to spend the whole evening wondering around grocery store and thinking what we could possibly eat tonight. 

What I've been looking for a while now is a go-to cookbook for those occasion, meaning majority of the time, when I dont' know what to have for dinner.

Your fast access to have a good dinner is below: 

3 Fois par Jour

Bisous,

Emilia

Dior Hydra Life - Crème Soyeuse Pro Jeunesse (face cream) 

Last year in Greece, I visited this one cosmetic store. There was a lady who did skin analysis so I decided to go to her and ask about these weird wrinkles that had showed up on my forehead. I was 26 so I thought whether I'm literally becoming old or there is something else going on with my skin. 

The lady told me "Those are not wrinkles. Your skin is dry. Use milk wash, thick face cream and drink a lot water." So simple and so true. Those words on my mind, I started the hunt of the perfect face cream. Last November I finally found it.

From Dior's Hydra Life Pro-Youth line there is two options, Silk Creme and Sorbet Creme. Before, I had the sorbet, which was hydrating as well, but I think now during the winter the cream does the work better. Both the cream and sorbet have very light scents and are extremely long-lasting.

The face cream can be a bit pricy, but it is definitely worth of every drop of it. I use only one face cream for the day and night, and it is this. Definitely a bargain.

Moroccanoil Treatment Light  (hair oil)

This product is one of them that I will be going to be using as long as they have in the stores. With long and thick hair (and blonde highlights), trying to solve your hair after washing them is literally a disaster. If you manage to break your hair brush and look like Poppy in the Trolls, it's a sign that you need hair oil. 

I bought the oil from Finland and the profound reason I was searching for one was the -20 celsius winter weather and electric hair. Additionally, I didn't want to look like as if I had been spending the whole day by sticking a power outlet with a fork. 

The oil is really long-lasting and for one use the dose is only one pump. There's also a thicker version of this, but the light version is recommended for light color-treated hair. Compared to the regular Moroccanoil, the LIGHT- version is also lighter in formulation, color and texture.

 You can apply the oil to wet or even dry hair and still it won't leave your hair oily, which I think is extremely rare for hair oils. You can see and feel the effects literally immediately. It smells like flowers, beach and turquoise ocean, so even if it was raining beets and potatoes outside, you can't help but imagining yourself at the Mediterranean beach.

Dior Flash Luminizer (Radiance booster pen / highlighter)

Maybe it's France (yes, I blame it on France..) but Dior has truly hit my beauty cabinet. This light-booster brings shining radiance to dark mornings and does the magic in cases where the coffee is just not enough.

I think this one-click miracle is simple to use and again, like the products before, is long-lasting, too. Depending on how much you want to put light on your face, the pen has lasted now for two months and I've used it pretty much every day.

LUMENE - Beauty Base (Primer)

This Finnish primer is a dry skin's savior. It brings healthy glow on dry and pale skin, while it creates an even base for makeup. The product retails about 12€ which I think is very, very reasonable price for this primer tube.

As it promises, the primer does hydrate and gives your skin more glowy and bright look. The texture of the product is very light and smooth, plus it's free from perfume. That is why I dare to recommend it to even the most sensitive skins as well.

NUXE - Rêve de Miel (Body lotion)

As you might know, in France you can find the French brand NUXE around every corner. It is sold in each pharmacy and in biggest grocery stores with very adequate price, at least when compared to the prices in Finland.

The lotion is equipped with a rather strong scent of honey, but it immediately hydrates effectively even the sand paper imitated skin. Despite the lotion's thick formula, it absorbs really fast so after applying there's no need to walk like a zombie.

Hopefully these products will help you in your search of the best hydrating products, and to find your Beauty Champs!

Bisous,

Emilia

.. but first, let me get a jacket. In brief, it has been cold. First the three weeks in Finland and now all of the sudden France has apparently turned into one of the Scandinavian countries. After returning from Finland and tackling the -24C weather over there, I thought now we can take it easy in France and have espresso in the spring sun.

This Christmas we spent in France due to my husbands work schedule. Spending Christmas here was a very good reason to cook traditional Finnish food, with a French twist of course. 

First things first: our living location has changed from Greece to France, which means Greek salad has changed to frog legs and charcuterie, and tsipuro now equals red wine. All in all, I love it. 

What I do miss from Greece is the cristal clear tourqoise water and freddo capuccino. How come they don't sell it in anywhere except in Greece? Greek coffee lovers, big high five for you to be able to enjoy that. But French cafés you know, when it's +30c outside hot cappucino isn't the best option.

French Riviera is the closest that we can get to have an access to a tourqoise sea and beach. Unfortunately, it situates five hours from us, so quick afternoon beach trips and dips in the ocean are kind of out question. Although, what this area does have is a tremendous selection of spectacular wines.

During the past weekend we made a visit to one of the local "domaine" called Sérol. When compressing the whole experience in few words, it looks something like this; VISIT. THIS. PLACE. The vineyard is beautiful, clean and has extremely welcoming and warm hearted staff.

The family owned vineyard has a long history and is now operated in the fifth generation by Stéphane Sérol and his wife Carine. The Domaine Sérol, located in Renaison in the verdant valley of Loire, is extremely loyal to manual handling as all the grapes are picked and cleaned by hand. The complete are of Sérol vineyard cultivates 28 hectares ( and has 9, 000 vines/hectare!!) and the ages of the vines range between 5 to 40 years.

When it comes to grapes, I do admit that I'm not the greatest master in knowing much about them. Although I do know that Sérol vineyard is committed to promote and develop AOC Côte Roannaise, the grape that is used to make red and (really good) sec rosé wines. 

The vineyard is open all year long and has long operating hours, although make sure you make a reservation before stopping by. Also, keep extra cash in your pocket because you have the possibility to buy Sérol wines straight from the winery with very reasonable price. I swear that after the wine tasting you won't leave home with empty hands.

Read about the Domaine Sérol from their website. 

Domaine Sérol in Facebook

Un gros bisou,

Emilia

Ever since we arrived back to Finland, meaning four weeks ago, each weekend has been hectic. Parties and get togethers here and there, which obviously has been just awesome. We've been able to meet up with family and old friends, who we haven't seen in a while. On top of that we've even got new friends. Cool! 

Hands down the cutest party was my close friend's baby shower who's expecting a little boy. Even though the table was full of baby blue desserts and everything else that can be colored in blue, yet the best thing was to see our friend's surprised face and happy tears.

Warning: Might cause baby fever.