Bichonner & wise words concerning beauty by Sam Levenson
Monday, May 15, 2017
TODAY'S WORD: bichonner
: to pamper oneself
Can you distinguish between the French U sound and the French OU sound? Take this quiz from FluentFrench.com
FRENCH COMPREHENSION
Today, listen to our daughter Jackie read the following lines in French.
CLICK HERE to listen to Jackie read the following lines in French!
Time Tested Beauty Tips by Sam Levenson
(A.K.A. "10 Trucs de Beauté" et "Le Conseil de Audrey Hepburn")
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
Pour avoir des lèvres attirantes, prononcez des paroles de bonté.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
Pour avoir de beaux yeux, regardez ce que les gens ont de beau en eux.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
Pour rester mince, partagez vos repas avec ceux qui ont faim.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
Pour avoir de beaux cheveux, faites qu’un enfant y passe sa main chaque jour.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
Pour avoir un beau maintien, marchez en sachant que vous n’êtes jamais seule.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Vous le faites pour les choses, mais les gens en ont eux aussi besoin : réparez-les, bichonnez-les, redonnez-leur vie, sauvez-les, ne les jetez jamais.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms.
Pensez-y : si un jour vous avez besoin d’une main secourable, vous en trouverez une à chaque bout de vos bras.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
En vieillissant vous vous rendrez compte que vous avez deux mains : l’une pour vous aider vous-même, l’autre pour aider ceux qui en ont besoin.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.
La beauté d’une femme n’est pas dans les vêtements qu’elle porte, son visage ou sa façon d’arranger ses cheveux.
It must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
Elle se voit dans ses yeux, car c’est la porte ouverte sur son cœur [là ou l'amour habite].
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows.
La beauté d’une femme n’est pas dans son maquillage, mais dans la vraie beauté de son âme. C’est la tendresse qu’elle donne, l’amour, la passion qu’elle exprime.
The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.
La beauté d’une femme se développe avec les années.
--
Sam Levenson wrote these tips for his grandchild. His words were a favorite of Audrey Hepburn--who read his Time Tested Beauty Tips to her children.
French-themed products you might enjoy:
DOORMATS BIENVENUE/A BIENTOT - see a selection here
LA BONNE FEMME COOKBOOK: Simple, Splendid Food that Frenchwomen Cook Every Day
GOOD FRENCH SUNSCREEN - see the reviews reviews here
POMMERY MEAUX MUSTARD in a stoneware jar you'll want to save
Regarding your comments, Dear Readers, my mom best sums it up:
"My Dearest Kristi, I am now spending more time in your 'comments' section than I am in your word posts. I am fascinated with your readers and their posts. I must admit I am addicted, they are the icing on your cake...."
Thank you, Mom! I hope you--and all mothers out there, had a wonderful Mothers day!
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
Beautiful post today.
Posted by: Barb | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 11:50 AM
Ca n'est pas 10 trucs. Il y'a 12. Et ils sont beaux.
Posted by: DAVID LAROUSSE | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 01:03 PM
Whoops and thanks. (Two of the sentences were divided in two :-)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 01:07 PM
A good read for every age. My mother use to say "beauty is as beauty does". Good to hear from Jules - hope she is enjoying her "tree house" ? Bravo to all mothers and sisters. Thank you Kristin for the lovely post.
Posted by: Nancy | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 02:21 PM
I loved listening to Jackie's voice. How beautiful and melodious! As an American I strive for those qualities and the nasality and the distinct "r's." She has inspired me to work harder at my own pronunciation. The choice of reading was perfect, too, as we were celebrating Mothers Day. Would that all people follow the advice given there. Thank you, Kristin, for your wonderful and instructional blog and for sharing your whole family with us. Bonne journee!
Posted by: Diane Heinecke | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 02:30 PM
Lovely words on the art of beauty. Thank you for posting these! Kristin!
Posted by: Pamela Harnois | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 03:52 PM
I love you and your posts, but I use an iPad, and when I listen your daughter or your husband read the French I need to be able to see the written sentence. I still imagine I can learn more French before my next visit, but I am a visual learner.
Posted by: John Zachritz | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 04:42 PM
I loved the inspiring and compassionate poem about inner beauty and would like to thank Jackie for reading it so beautifully.
Your posts always brighten my day. I know your family has been through some challenges and I wish you all the best as you move forward. I have been through many challenges myself, some crushing, but I try to find something positive to think about every day, even if it's just the view from my window on a sunny May morning, and the prospect of reading a good book later in the day.
(For those who are curious, I am reading a novel by Alan Furst. It's set in France during WWII and is a fascinating read.)
Posted by: Suzanne Marie | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 06:47 PM
Thank you for sending your own kind of beauty out into the world every week. Have a good week.
Posted by: Julie Farrar | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 07:10 PM
Nice thoughts, beautiful pronunciation...
Posted by: Joan | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 07:26 PM
Hi Kristi,
Thanks for your post today! Love the beautiful words...thanks Jackie! I clicked back to your lovely papillon post too!
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 07:59 PM
Our dear Kristi,
This is so lovely and such an inspiration that it just wraps itself around our hearts.
But then,dear Kristi,your words and gifted storytelling never fails to leave us in a happier,more peaceful place.
And is always something to look forward to.
THANK YOU!
Love
Natalia. xo
Posted by: Natalia | Monday, May 15, 2017 at 09:08 PM
Such a wonderful poem! I know it was one of Audrey Hepburn's favourites. Curiously, it's often inaccurately attributed to her. Thank you for providing the French translation.
Posted by: Katia | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 03:57 AM
Aaaand I should have first read the caption at the top of the post. Oops! :) I'm in my hummingbird mode today and launched straight into the French translation.
Posted by: Katia | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 04:00 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed today's post. I was surprised to learn that the quotes were not Audrey Hepburn originals. I loved reading and hearing the French equivalents. Some time ago I created a slide show of quotations and pictures of Audrey Hepburn.
Posted by: Mary | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 06:04 AM
Dear Kristi,
This is an amazing tribute to the beauty in people, man or woman. It all comes down to kindness, compassion and a loving spirit (all of which I have encountered in large amounts lately).
It reminds me of this poem from Edwin Markham:
There is a destiny that makes us brothers:
None goes his way alone:
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back onto our own.
Your life must fill up daily as all you send to enrich our lives comes back to you. Your beautiful spirit has made a significant difference in our lives, for which we will always be grateful. I treasure the day I found you...
Posted by: Chris Allin | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 04:35 PM
Chris, At first I could not tell where the poem ended and your words began. I count my lucky stars I got to meet you, and put a beautiful face to the tender and soulful words I read here.
Thank you, and to all who take the time to comment here. As I read the notes above, I thank my lucky stars once more, for all the kind words!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 08:01 PM