Category Archives: paris

coucou!

fleurishing-famille

 

We’re back! Our trip was both epic + exhausting, whew – traveling with toddlers is no joke. The joyous and memorable moments far outweighed the tough and tiring ones, thankfully. We accomplished so much during our ten days in Paris, and had the most amazing, gorgeous spring weather. I’m not sure it gets any better than April in Paris! I still have so much to share with you – I purposely didn’t post as much on social media as I usually do, as I was focused on being present with my family. I’m anxious to share our adventures, and promise to do so promptly, but currently we’re dedicated to recovering from jet lag and settling back into our regular routine. Check out the #fleurishingfamilleinfrance instagram feed…many thanks to my friend Ashley for capturing this moment (and more)!

ashley ludaescher photography

fleurishing famille in france

fleurishing-famille-in-france

 

Paris, here we come (we are most likely en route by the time you read this)! I couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce my children to the city (and country) I love so much…this is what dreams are made of (pour moi). We have a jam-packed itinerary, with exciting projects and collaborations planned along the way. We will be joined by my brother and family as well – Henry + Marie will finally get to meet their (4-year-old + 21-year-old) cousins! I have a few posts scheduled in the interim, and will have SO much to share upon our return! I hope you’ll follow our parisian adventure here…

#FLEURISHINGFAMILLEINFRANCE

packing for paris – with kids!

packing-for-kids

 

I’m currently surrounded by a sea of clothing + suitcases, with only two (gulp/eeek!) days until our departure. I’ve shared my packing for paris tips before (un + deux), but this time is much different – I’m packing for my children too! I’m a planner by nature, so I began taking inventory of Henry + Marie’s wardrobe as soon as we booked our tickets, and promptly identified the items they needed. For instance, since our international flight takes place at night and they will (hopefully) be sleeping for a good bit of it, I thought it would be smart for them to wear inconspicuous pajamas to the airport, along with their comfiest soft moccasins. They’ll also be toting their lovies + a few small favorite toys in their adorable backpacks. I wanted to involve them as much as possible (at almost three years of age) – they’re so excited!

I must admit – I have a lot of fun dressing both a boy and a girl. I always do my best to try and coordinate (not match) their outfits.  I tend to stick to the classics for them, with a little French twist, of course, and an indie/hipster add-on here and there. As with any adult-packing advice, comfort is key, and neutrals make mixing + matching outfits simple + easy. Layering is always a good idea, as weather can be fickle this time of year…I was sure to include a lightweight coat and rain boots for the occasional pop-up Parisian rainstorm. I’m not going to go crazy with the number of items I bring for them, as one of the many benefits of renting an apartment is having a washer/dryer…three cheers for airbnb! Now if I can just get them to use the (basic) French they know while wearing these cute duds…wish us luck!

clothing by GapKids | backpacks by Fjållråven | boots by Hunter | bow tie by Forage Haberdashery

french is beautiful

louvre-pyramid

 

“Il y a eu une modernité pour chaque peintre ancien. | Every ancient painter was once modern.”

Charles Baudelaire

c

One of the things I love most about Paris is it’s history. However, I’m constantly in awe at how beautifully ultra-modern elements are married + juxtaposed with classical architecture. The best example I can think of is the Louvre…with the original structure (not including the original fortress) dating to the 16th century, and the 1989 addition of the glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei. While originally very controversial, it is now one of the most recognizable modern landmarks in Paris. I feel this is very representative of French, and any language, really. You must have an understanding and respect for the proper (formal) verbiage, but be able to weave in modern day elements. There have been numerous times when I’ve used “textbook” French, and suddenly, it’s as if I have an arrow sign above my head blinking “AMERICAN” in neon lights. For example, instead of using the classic je voudrais for “I would like”…using je vais prendre gives it a modern, casual update. Another example – instead of using nous for “we”, a more common (modern) usage is the word on. I’m learning that these seemingly small tweaks can make the difference between sounding like you just left high school and sounding like a pro. Merci mille fois, Carrie Anne James.

* french is beautiful is a regular series – browse the archives here *

my french playlist

susan-hutchinson-paris

 

I can’t believe I’ll be back in France in less than 30 days!! As you can see in this image captured by Ashley Ludaescher last year, I’m pretty happy there (and Paris makes everyone feel sexier). I recently had a Madeleine moment thanks to one of my favorite French songs, and it made me realize how long it’s been since I’ve written a music post. La Noyée, by Yann Tiersen, transports me back to my first trip to France, circa 2001. Amélie had just been released, and being the hopelessly romantic Francophile that I am, the soundtrack was on repeat during my flight. I pressed play as we made our descent into Paris, and…no exaggeration – just as the music rose to it’s beautiful crescendo, we emerged from the clouds, with the Eiffel Tower in view. Seeing it for the first time took my breath away–I’ll never forget that moment. On that note, I thought it might be nice to share a few of my favorite French songs with you – it’s so hard for me to narrow it down…I’ll share more soon. Do you have any French favorites, and/or what songs bring back specific memories for you?

 

françoise hardy // le temps de l’amour

paris combo // aquarium

édith piaf // non, je ne regrette rien

les nubians // demain

serge gainsbourg // bonnie and clyde

amylie // espace

juliette gréco // sous le ciel de paris

mc solaar // le belle et le bad boy

jacques dutronc // et moi et moi et moi

coralie clément  // samba de mon coeur qui bat