alsace france

colmar-france

 

It’s been a few years since I’ve visited the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, but it is always with me. My maternal great-grandparents were born in Strasbourg, so the area has always felt comfortable and familiar. With only the Rhine River separating it from Germany, it looks (and sounds) German, but is, at it’s core, passionately French. The architecture, culture, food and people inspire me – it’s an amazing place. I recently revisited my time there on Steller…take a look!

out of office

lake-at-night

 

Hi friends! Just a quick note to let you know I’ll be absent from the blog for a week or so. I’ll be spending the last days of summer and ushering in september with my hubby + littles in the poconos! It will be our first extended vacation as a family, and we’re anxious to get on the road to relaxation. You can follow our adventures on instagram of course, and when I return I’ll be revealing my new + improved website!! It’s been in the works for a a few months now and I can’t wait to share it with you. I hope you’re soaking up the last bits of summer with your family and friends…bye for now!

the adventures of fleur + mozart

blablainparis

 

In an effort to show Marie + Henry how much they were on my mind while traveling in France, I packed Fleur + Mozart (their beloved blabla dolls) into my luggage. I explained to them that they were going on an adventure with Mommy, and we would all be back soon! While it was a bit cumbersome to carry them with me everywhere, it meant the world to see their faces light up when they saw them with me, and honestly it gave me comfort, especially when alone at night and missing them intensely. Sure, I got a few stares, but mostly made people smile…I even had one person ask me for a photo with them! Don’t worry, they had a relaxing bath upon their return along with plenty of snuggles.

I wonder where they will travel to next?!

germigny des prés

germigny-des-pres

I will always be amazed by the history that surrounds you in Europe. In the Loire for instance, this 9th century church is only a short drive from my brother’s house. While I’m not religious, visiting ancient structures delights me, regardless of their purpose, and this one seemed too good to miss. Dating all the way back to 806 (yes, that’s right), the highlight of Germigny des Prés is it’s well-preserved mosaic. Found on the apse ceiling, it is the only surviving Byzantine mosaic in France. Even more fascinating, in my opinion, is that it was discovered in the mid 19th century under layers of plaster!

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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