A French Woman's Secrets to Having Your Cake and Eating it, Too! The Secrets to Domestic Arts, Optimal Health, Courageous Fashion, With a Revolutionary Cookbook This book came about through the encouragement of a friend who envisioned the value of my gathering together, in written form, what he referred to as my "secrets", as a French woman, to living so energetically, productively and well with wisdom, style and grace. Since my passion in life is to empower others, his words were the impetus to begin compiling a lifetime of knowledge absorbed from my native French upbringing and personal life experiences to create a manual that would inform and stimulate as well as empower its readers. I knew that a focus on the devouring, time-consuming facets of daily life, if infused with a refreshed order, simplified, rendered practical, economical, functional and comprehensive, would impact the reader in a positive way. Giving my readers the right tools would enable them to transform the myriad of actions performed on a daily basis into a more purposeful, efficient, meaningful and rewarding way of living. Nothing in this manual is extraordinary or unusual, quite the contrary; it is all basic, classic and logical. In the last three decades, we have been distracted by so much newness in services, products and their uses that we are all somewhat confused about what is actually most beneficial to us. There is an underlying simplicity to life that is unfortunately overshadowed by the complexities of modern living. My goal was to clearly explain the basic principles of this simplicity that enhances life for one's own ultimate benefit, gratification and pleasure. I expect my readers to put their own "spin" on the recommendations in this manual, that is, to modify and improve upon them according to their own preferences, especially those in the culinary section. Assuredly, it is in synergism, of different thoughts and ideas that magic occurs. Recommendations throughout the manual are tried and true, emanating from the French culture, with its centuries-old traditions and high standards for living well, and from what I have learned and practiced in my daily life. I most definitely have been justly served and benefited enormously by following these principles. My wish for readers of this manual is that your lives are enriched by the amazing potency that lies in the wise teachings of the French culture and traditions and that you are inspired and empowered to refine the daily actions that, in part, define us.