Category Archives: motherhood

gift guide pour les mamans

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I must say I do enjoy curating these gift guides every year, and I almost always discover something new for my own wish list (which is both a good and a bad thing, lol). While this is dedicated to les mamans, it can of course can serve as inspiration for any special friend in your life. Mother’s Day is upon us in the states and fête des mères falls at the end of the month in France. This guide does contain some affiliate links which help support the work that goes on behind the scenes here and @thefrancophiles. Thank you et merci for your community love and happy shopping mes amis!

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1.  this 14k gold “maman” necklace is the result of a cool collaboration between friends Maya Brenner + Clare V.

2.  an organic cotton “mère amour” tee-shirt by Sézane for the chic mom (check out their Mother’s Day gift guide).

3.  this luxe Carrière Frères (made in the Cire Trudon factory) Lily of the Valley candle is the scent of luck + happiness!

4.  celebrate le printemps and transport mom to the cherry tree-dotted hillsides of southern France with this set.

5.  say bonjour to a new skincare routine with this spray for both you + maman…this debut beauty brand is hot!

6.  Èclat chocolate and La Boîte spices marry in this gourmet chocolate bar (fun fact: we used to live above this boutique).

7.  a clever take on the French motto, this chic tote benefits Every Mother Counts, and the design is also on cute tees.

8.  designed by Hotel Magique, this mug is sure to delight the Francophile at heart (I’m a fan of the entire collection).

9.  a Francophile kitchen staple, The Cook’s Atelier is a mother/daughter duo who run a cooking school in France!

10. give notes from mom some French vibes with this fun striped baguette stationery (or these if she prefers croissants).

11. this soy wax (painted glass) candle pays homage to French blooms + Parisian style (and the box is equally stunning).

12. gift a subscription to the Francophile favorite France-Amérique magazine + save 15% by using the code: COUCOUFA

13. this glass duo (which says Je t’aime Maman) by Marin Montagut is colorful and hand painted in his Paris studio.

14. perfect for “mom”ogramming (ha sorry couldn’t resist), this coin clutch is a practical and French-inspired gift!

french-inspired gifts for mother’s day

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Mother’s Day is around the corner on both continents! While this year is quite different than the last (and giving gifts is a privilege), I still wanted to put together a gift guide for Mother’s Day, with a focus on small businesses. These makers and brands need our support right now, and if we’re able to do so while making maman smile it’s a win. As a devout Francophile and mother, I can honestly say that I would be thrilled to receive any of the items on this list (and ok, I have a few of these items already). This is dedicated to les mamans, but of course can serve as inspiration for anyone special in your life. If you’re not already, be sure to join @thefrancophiles community for more French-inspired ideas!

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1.  this luxe Cire Trudon beeswax candle was created to help save bees + smells divine (it’s still a favorite of mine).

2.  these matching organic cotton maman + mini sweatshirts are très mignon (very cute) and so is the entire line!

3. French Girl Organics Hibernation Recovery Duo is a treat for any confined maman (a gift card would be amazing too).

4.  treat Mom to hashtag rosé all day with this 3 pc. bento box of rosé-infused gummies by Sugarfina!

5. Paris in Bloom by Georgianna Lane is longer-lasting than a bouquet and is an elegant tour of the city in the spring.

6.  purchase a gift card from Maman with the promise of brunch (and a box of cookies) when they reopen!

7. a clever take on the French national motto, this chic tote benefits the amazing organization Every Mother Counts.

8.  Èclat chocolate (a local fav of mine) and La Boîte spices blend effortlessly in this gourmet chocolate bar.

9.  moms always say OUI to tea and this mug oozes with un charme français…designed by Clare V. for Anthropologie!

10. this velvety body cream by Bastide is super luxe, especially for under $50…you can’t go wrong with this French brand.

bon (mother’s day) weekend

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I savor the simple treasures that Mother’s Day brings with it…the handmade cards, the extra hugs and kisses, and sure – French toast in bed doesn’t hurt either. This Mother’s Day weekend, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite posts with you. Some have been bookmarked since pregnancy, some only recently discovered. I’m always seeking inspiration, so please feel free to share a link (or two, or three) in the comments. Now let’s just pretend for a moment we have time to relax, enjoy our cup of coffee (or glass of wine), and read all these, shall we?! Seriously though, I wish you a weekend of whatever feels luxurious to you: going to the bathroom alone, a spa day, brunch with your family, a night alone in a hotel room with room service and Netflix (I’ll be watching this)…you name it. Whatever it is, you deserve it mama.

BON WEEKEND

this poem and essay brought beautiful tears to my eyes…don’t shrink

what changes us – a thoughtful look at motherhood via one of my favorite female-focused blogs

a birth story of sorts – a moving essay on motherhood and adoption

breakfast in bed with a side of revolution, please: mother’s day reconsidered

the identity crisis of motherhood…(it doesn’t have to be a crisis)

for those that struggle with this holiday: mother’s day adjacent things to do this weekend

mom, maman, mamá: 13 stories of motherhood from around the world

a list + links to some of my favorite mamas to follow can be found here

 

pressing pause

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“An observant child should be put in the way of things worth observing.”

Charlotte Mason

 

We’ve made a big change in our life  – one that we’ve been debating for many years. If you’ve been following our journey for a while, you might remember this post which sparked quite the conversation in the comments. Two years later and here we are – officially (as in: compulsory age, district-approved) homeschoolers! It was a long road to get here, and not a straight one, but nevertheless, we have arrived. I’m aware that this is a very personal, often controversial topic, but I’m sharing our story in the event it might help someone else in their decision, to connect with other homeschooling families, and to hold ourselves accountable. I don’t think there is any one right way to educate a child. All of the options present their own challenges, and value. It’s not for everyone, and every family strives to make the best choice for their children given their circumstances. We feel quite fortunate to have the option of homeschooling, as my business allows for great flexibility. So far (one month in) it feels a little challenging, a lot right, and even, dare I say – luxurious (at times).

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birthday perspective

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The surgeon called me on Friday. I had just dropped the kids off at school and figured he was calling to check on how my wound was healing (for those of you who follow me on Instagram, I shared a little bit about my recent excision in Stories). He asked if I was driving, and then he asked when I would be home—and then I knew. Although the next thirty minutes were a bit of a blur, my shaking hands managed to scribble the following random yet oh so heavy words on the back of my daughters girl scout sign-up form: pathology. sarcoma. rare. CANCER. I called my husband and he rushed home.

I was unsure if I should share this kind of news here, but then I realized…if this isn’t what community is for, what is? Tomorrow is my 39th birthday, and despite what you might be thinking, it will be a happy one. I feel good, despite this scary diagnosis. I don’t have any signs or symptoms, beyond the scar on my chest. I know how lucky I am, as this cancer is treatable (in most cases) and has a very high survival rate. To quote one of my kids’ favorite movies…”yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present.” – Master Oogway

Thank you in advance for your support –  I promise to share more as it unfolds, as much is still unknown. For now, I’m going to love my family a little harder, live life a little fuller, and eat an obscene amount of birthday cake. Ok that’s not the truth, it just sounded great – I’ve actually been eating keto for almost a year now and have never felt better. Oh, the irony.

P.S. you’ll find more information on my type of cancer here + a health update here