| happy holidays from our family to yours |
francophile gift guide – book edition
Since my Francophile gift guide was such a big hit last year, I’m bringing it back but with a twist – books! With so many amazing French-inspired book releases this year, it was quite hard to narrow it down to eleven, but these are some of my personal favorites. Full disclosure: a few of these authors are friends, and a few of these books were gifted, but this post is not sponsored. For more gifting inspiration for the Francophiles in your life, check out the Francophiles Pinterest boards, and please do follow along over @thefrancophiles…more to come in 2019! Happy shopping mes amis!
1. this Parisian Chic journal by French icon Ines de la Fressange is ideal for the writer or traveler in your life.
2. the debut cookbook by The Cook’s Atelier is so stunning – I’ve gifted it twice already this year!
3. a set of two chic passport pocket notebooks by Rifle Paper Co., for your next French adventure.
4. Women of Singular Beauty is a richly personal book of photographs that capture the essence of CHANEL.
5. for the Francophile mamas and kids, In the French Kitchen with Kids by Mardi Michels brings everyone to the table.
6. Tasting Paris is the latest from Clotilde Dusoulier and will surely transport you (and your taste buds) to Paris.
7. for the serious Francophile wishing to understand modern Paris, The New Paris by Lindsey Tramuta is a must-read.
8. Paris in Bloom by Georgianna Lane is an elegant photographic tour of the city during its most beautiful season.
9. for design lovers, Maison: Parisian Chic at Home features fifteen homes infused with French style.
10. perfectly pocket-sized, Paris in Stride: An Insider’s Walking Guide is cleverly illustrated by Jessie Kanelos Weiner.
11. just released, Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way by Rebekah Peppler is a celebration of cocktails and culture.
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).
birthday perspective
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
summer in the berkshires
I’m not sure I love any place more than New England in the summer. Ok ok, maybe France at any time of year, but I digress. If you follow me on social, you might know that our summer got a jumpstart thanks to a leak in our apartment that required us to vacate for repairs. After getting over the initial shock and frustration, and thanking our lucky stars for having great insurance (shout out to USAA), we decided to make the best of our “vacatetion”. With only a week to make arrangements, I did a deep dive into Airbnb and was thrilled to find a dreamy cottage in the heart of the Berkshires. Stretching along the western border of Massachusetts and bordering the Hudson Valley, Vermont and Connecticut, it’s a perfect setting for adventure. Well worth the drive up from Pennsylvania – we exhaled the moment we arrived.
