Category Archives: francophilia

terrain en blanc

rustic-white-tablescape

 

I’m so thrilled to share these photos from the French Garden Party which took place Wednesday evening at Terrain at Styer’s. When they contacted me to participate, my answer was a fast + resounding YES! The concept was a perfect fit for my francophilia and aesthetic. Since I am a gleeful attendee of Dîner en Blanc, I took great pleasure in creating an inspirational tablescape. Delicate details were the focus, with a baby’s breath centerpiece, filigree lanterns + accents, lace and doily bunting, and porcelain flowers. I also used pieces from my own vintage milk glass collection!

 

rustic-white-details

rustic-white-tablescape

diner-en-blanc-tablescape

 

I used the bistro table + chairs to translate the large tablescape for Dîner en Blanc. Since you must carry all of your items to the event, you have to be selective and consider both function and form! To maintain elegance (and keep things eco-friendly), no disposable items are permitted. On the table, I used bone china + glass plates, linen napkins, vintage silverware, and a flameless candle. The picnic for two basket is absolutely perfect, and I couldn’t resist accenting with a delicate lace parasol. It garnered quite a bit of attention at the party – I’m totally using that for myself this year!

 

fleurishing-styling

 

It was such a magical + fun evening…a huge MERCI to Terrain and Dîner en Blanc for including me, and to all of my friends for their support! For more photos from the event, check out the #terrainenblanc hashtag!

bon weekend + announcement!

diner-en-blanc-philly

illustration by Sara Selepouchin for Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia

The Dîner en Blanc season has begun, and I cannot contain my excitement! Photos are emerging from the main event in Paris last night, and as usual, the vision of around 13,000 revelers in white is stunning. With the date set for the Philadelphia event in August, the anticipation is building, and I’m in the throws of planning. In addition, I have a very exciting announcement! I’m partnering with local haven Terrain for a special Dîner en Blanc garden party, where I’ll be sharing my tips for summer entertaining, a la française! There will be Lillet drinking + pétanque playing, all in the beautiful gardens of Terrain…you won’t want to miss it – make your reservation here. I hope to see you there…but in the meantime, here are some entertaining-themed links for your weekend reading…

BON WEEKEND!

piñata anatomy

 the kombucha cocktail

diy hanging floral chandelier

entertaining tips from questlove

french pharmacy favorites

french-pharmacy-products

 

I could spend hours in a French pharmacie – you can find so much luxury there, at a reasonable price. For my last trip, I made sure to do plenty of research beforehand so that I could bring back some serious loot. I had planned to pay a visit to the largest one in Paris, City Pharma, but ended up finding these items at the one near my apartment in the Marais. Armed with my list, I didn’t deviate much from it, with the exception of #5, which came highly recommended from a very knowledgeable salesperson. I was impressed with how helpful everyone was (maybe they saw the length of my list)…I was able to test a number of products and was attended to with great care. Keep in mind many of these items can now be found in some shops in the states + online (see links). Even if you don’t buy, be sure to browse when in France!

 

1… Bioderma Crealine H20 – This cleansing water is incredible, and I’m so I glad brought back two huge (heavy) bottles of it…you can wipe your makeup off without rinsing!

2… Nuxe Reve de Miel – By far my favorite lip balm of all time (and I’m obsessed with lip balm)…it is so rich and smooth and smells + tastes amazing.

3… Avene Eau Thermale – A refreshing thermal water spray, which is basic but better than the others I’ve tried.

4… Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo – One of the best dry shampoos (so I’ve heard from stylists)!

5… Hormeta Huile Séche – this is the one I ended up with, despite having the Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse on my list. This radiant dry body oil shimmers without being greasy, contrary to the Nuxe. After testing both, I chose this, which was slightly higher in price but worth it after comparing the two. I’ve actually never worn body oil before, but it feels like such a luxury, and the sheen is lovely in the summer.

6… Darphin Cleansing Balm – If you’ve never tried a cleansing balm before I suggest you do! This is a popular one in France that got great reviews. What you do is you massage the balm on your dry skin for a minute or so. Enjoy the massage. Then you take a warm wet wash cloth and press it against your face for a few seconds. Then gently wipe away the balm. So luxurious and great for dry skin.

7… Roger & Gallet Rose Lotion – A luxurious basic…like everything in French pharmacies!

8… La Roche Posay – Anything from this brand is amazing. You can also buy this in the states, but since it’s also a French line, I figured it was worth mentioning.

9… Homeoplasmine – This is probably the most boring item on this list, but probably one of the most widely used in Paris from what I have read. It’s basically an ointment that you can use for anything! Cuticles, chapped lips, burns, dry skin, any kind of irritation you may have.

10…Vichy ProEven Daily Eye Corrector – A lightweight cream infused with caffeine…perfect for depuffing!

brunch in paris

parisbrunch

roysoleil

My last trip to Paris was a very special one, for many reasons. One of them being, I finally had the pleasure of meeting friends that I’d known for years online (more on that below). Since I had rented an apartment, I got clearance to host a small soiree, chez moi, which of course added to the feeling of “living” there.  Tidying up my place, gathering treats, styling the party, and then hearing the first buzz of my door–exhilarating! It is a day that I won’t soon forget.

colorful-macarons

Those who know me understand + accept my obsession with macarons…Ladurée macarons, to be exact. However, to be fair, Pierre Hermé macarons were included, and I even offered to do a blind taste test of the two! For the record, the inventive Hermé flavors are amazing, but the clear winner was, is, and always will be, Ladurée, for moi. Just look at these beauties…drool! We did enjoy some other local treats of course, thanks to my lovely friends who arrived bearing gifts.

parisfriends

paris-bloggers

my lovely friends (from L to R)… Anne Ditmeyer, Amy Feezor, (moi), Lindsey Tramuta, Kasia Dietz, Ashley Ludaescher

I truly treasure my friendship with these ladies. Spending time with them, and finally meeting Kasia, Ashley + Amy was a highlight of my trip. Ashley was sweet enough to join us from Berlin, and being the talented photographer that she is, offered to capture our brunch and gallivant with me around Paris! Amy and I had only recently met online, but having Nichole Robertson as a mutual friend helped to secure our meeting, and I’m so thankful for the time we spent together. Kasia and I had no shortage of conversation, and with our many shared interests, I would have loved to have had more time with her!  Anne was celebrating her birthday and I was thrilled to be there to join the revelry. I spent the most time with my close friend Lindsey – she introduced me to some of her favorite spots, and I finally saw her lovely apartment. Even though blogging may seem like an anti-social activity at times (spending so much time in front of a screen), I have it to thank for some of the most amazing connections in my adult life. As I enter my 5th year of blogging, I want to thank all of you who spend time here, and help to make this space so lively. I am so thankful for your readership!

many thanks to Haven in Paris + Ashley Ludaescher

check out the story on steller…I’m a featured author all week!

steller

steller-stories

steller-stories-france

 

Allow me to introduce you to my latest obsession…Steller. A recent addition to the social media scene, it is taking the blogging world by storm! You don’t have to be a blogger to appreciate + participate…let me explain. It’s a storytelling app, where images and video unite, creating a format where any story can unfold. As a blogger, I’m enjoying the challenge of creating content specifically for Steller, especially the video component. It forces you to think differently, and capture moments in a new way. Going forward, I hope to infuse my stories with even more video. The options for customization are generous, with new features continually being added. The templates have been thoughtfully created to allow for maximum creativity…details are paramount. From a social standpoint, you can connect with others you already follow elsewhere, as well as being introduced to new storytellers. You have the ability to republish others stories within your own collections, allowing you to share and organize your favorites. It’s one big, happy, storytelling community!

In my opinion, this is the future of blogging. We’re already seeing a movement away from the traditional blog format, with less traffic + comments on websites. We all want quality content, faster and easier. Scrolling through feeds on an app is much simpler, and with Steller, you can create rich, beautiful content in a smaller format. Granted, they do take some time to create (especially if you’re a hopeless perfectionist like me), but so do blog posts! For now, I intend to use Steller as a companion to my blog, enhancing existing content, along with creating stories tailored to the app. For me, reading blogs, as well as perusing the app, is a treat. I reserve time for it, whether it’s with my morning coffee, or before I turn out the light at night. There are so many beautiful stories to share, and Steller provides a new and beautiful way to do so.

The kind folks at Steller reached out to me and offered to feature me as an author, and I couldn’t be more flattered! You can find me in the featured section all week. So check out the video below, download the app, and start sharing! If you’re already using it, I would love to hear your thoughts + see your stories, so please leave a comment, thank you!

everyone has a story to tell.

my stories (shown above)… louvre at night | sully sur loire | orleans | arc de triomphe … best viewed on an iPhone