I'm Susan — devout Francophile, mother of twins, writer, creative director, and aspiring author. I've been sharing my life here since 2010...thanks for reading!
Hello et bonjour! I’m so glad you’ve discovered my little corner of the internet. I’m Susan, a forty-something writer, creator, queer femme, and mother (of twins). My life is “flourishing”, hence the name…with a French twist. I’ve been sharing my life here since 2010, with more to be found @fleurishing. I also founded @thefrancophiles community in 2016 with a goal to inspire, inform and unite Francophiles around the world and it continues to grow. In addition to the wealth of information I’ve shared here over the years, I’m getting even more personal on Substack…I hope you’ll join me there!
I never miss an opportunity to visit Albertine Books when in New York City. The “best bookstore in France” is tucked away inside the historic Payne Whitney mansion, just down from the MET on Fifth Avenue. Since it’s located within Cultural Services for the French Embassy, you’re technically standing on French soil while browsing for books. Within the two-story structure you will find carefully curated English translations of French literature, French language publications, and more than 14,000 contemporary and classic titles from thirty French-speaking countries. Rare books, elegant leather chairs, busts crafted by the ateliers of the Musée du Louvre, and a mesmerizing hand-painted ceiling mural of constellations add to the myriad of reasons why it is a sanctuary and delight for any Francophile, or bibliophile!
The first holiday in our Philadelphia home got off to a great start. We usually cut down a tree but this year we kept it simple and found a local spot that had trees fresh from a farm (we’ll be giving it to goats when it comes down). I wanted to honor the age of our home with 1920s inspired decor and wrapping, and focused on Art Deco vibes. I used mostly vintage items as accents, ribbon I’ve had for years, but did purchase some handmade paper (we’ve carefully saved each piece so that we can repurpose it next year, which is a small way we can reduce our waste). We added this special ornament to our collection, in honor of our first city christmas. We had exciting plans, but 2021 was getting ready to test us in a big way.
This gift guide is for the Francophiles in your life (hopefully there are many). May this list inspire your holiday shopping and perhaps even a little something for yourself! For a list of favorite French-inspired books (there are simply too many to narrow down), look no further than this dedicated bookshop.org page. Their site helps support authors and independent bookstores, which is more important than ever. Happy shopping and merci mille fois for supporting @thefrancophiles!
1. this set of puzzles by French artist Nathalie Lété for Vilac is perfect for les enfants.
Lately I’ve been in search of sunshine…metaphorically speaking. I know I’m not alone, and that many of us are struggling with our health right now, both mentally and physically. My anxiety levels are most definitely at an all-time high. We’re only mid-pandemic, our children can’t get vaccinated yet (and half of the country won’t), climate change is happening right before our eyes, and I realized that breaks from news and activism are necessary. It’s a lot…for anyone. I’ve been struggling with a (new + scary) health issue, juggling work and homeschool as always, and managing our household. In the event you’re also feeling overwhelmed (umm…who isn’t these days), I’m sharing some of my favorite therapeutic Instagram accounts. I created a collection within the app where I save the most inspiring posts to revisit when I’m in need of a boost, which I highly recommend. These accounts either offer direct rays of sunshine, or will help guide you on your path towards them. Feel free to comment with your go-to inspirational Insta accounts…sending love to you all! xo, Susan
