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!
What do you do on a beautifully mild weathered summer day in PA? You head to the local farm, of course! Toddler paradise (aka Springton Manor) is rich with animals and learning moments, in a picture perfect setting. I could have spent all day there with my camera, but thankfully, the kids indulged my lens and we got some great shots in a short span of time. Seeing the kids faces light up over the animals is priceless, and made for a very happy Father’s Day morning.
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.
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.
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!
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!
my stories (shown above)… louvre at night | sully sur loire | orleans | arc de triomphe … best viewed on an iPhone