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It’s 10 a.m. on Monday, and Susan approaches her boss, John, to ask if he has a few minutes to talk later in the day. It’s a bit of an unusual request from Susan, who has earned a reputation as a shy but skilled employee capable of completing major projects on her own.   “Hey, Susan. I might have a minute late afternoon, but today’s pretty busy,” John says. “Wednesday would be better for me.

Free your mind and the rest will follow…Any of my fellow xenennials want to sing along with me? If you now have the wonderful harmonies of En Vogue stuck in your head - you’re welcome. Oh man, did I love En Vogue. And I sure did love that song. Pretty sure that it was the costumes in the music video that did it for me. Black women strutting down a runway in shiny black latex to electric guitar solos…good stuff.

Welcome to Please Haul My Freight: Edition 14. Here are some of the items in my notebook this week: ECONOMICS: Former Obama economic advisor Steven Rattner has a very good analysis of the supply chain slowdown in the New York Times. Here is one part, but I highly recommend reading it all: “The bulk of our supply problems are the product of an overstimulated economy, not the cause of it. Sure, there have been some Covid-related challenges, such as health-related worker shortages in factories and among transportation workers.

The chunnel from my kitchen to French Onion and Oxtail Soup was chaotic. My first pass at this recipe took a solid two days, and when it was finally done, I served it to Cosmo. He took two bites and put down his spoon. Not a good sign. “What’s up with you and that soup?” I asked “Nothing, I’m not that hungry,” he said. “Bullshit. What do you think of the soup, for real,” I said.

When I was a beauty editor, one of my favourite things to do during press trips to Paris was to slip out to a pharmacy, armed with a list of products to buy (Citypharma? A tourist destination in its own right!). I would get things like the Sanoflore rose floral water, a cinnamon-flavoured toothpaste, or a sunscreen that might never make its way here due to Health Canada regulations. Even though browsing was half the fun, knowing exactly what to get was even more satisfying.

Last month, while on a work trip to NYC, I stopped to try Dauphiné ravioli at a newly opened restaurant, only to discover they sold out just before I got there. While I never tasted these in my life, the craving never left me. This started me down a rabbit hole, leading me to make this French speciality at home. I couldn’t find many recipes out there, since the dish is not commonly known outside of France.

It's a pleasant afternoon at the bookstore when through the window I spot my stylish friend P as she heads into the boutique next door. I chase her like a puppy dog and we chat through the dressing room curtain as P test-drives new togs for a trip. One thing leads to another, and soon I find myself pulling on the very jeans P has worn into the store, and thinking, I need these.

Originally posted on We Are Doré If you try to Google the elusive “French Beauty,” you’ll find hundreds of articles revealing secrets like mineral-infused thermal water and not being afraid of a little bed head. But when scrolling through the Instagram accounts of French beauty icons like Jeanne Damas and Sabina Socol, it’s easy to wonder if there is something more to their effortless, natural beauty. In a way, beautiful French women like these can feel like enigmas.

Dear Lovers of All Things Pie and Fruitiful, We have a fresh Post ready and waiting. Four full-color pages of downloadable fun. Download The Hutch Post Vol. 7 Now! We made a trip up to Pittsburgh this month, so expect to hear some tales from our time with family. As always, we’ve got some great and simple recipe and kitchen recommendations, along with the always popular stream of consciousness narration of Davis (age 4).