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!
We were very fortunate to have a summer vacation at our favorite place in the Poconos. While we lived there for well over a year, we only recently moved back to Philadelphia and didn’t expect to be back so soon – it was a pleasant surprise! We were so thankful for glorious weather (as usual, ten degrees or more cooler than the city), perfect lake temps, and our own private space to enjoy summer safely. It blows my mind to see how much they’ve grown at the lake, and how many core memories have been made here. You can see all of our Poconos memories here, and click through for more!
Our babies are nine!! What?! I asked them what they wanted for their ninth birthday, and the answer was both unanimous and instant – MINECRAFT. Marie and Henry discovered the game late last year and quickly developed an obsession (as many understandably do). I was immediately impressed with the endless possibilities of the game, to include the educational factor. I refer to it as AutoCAD with monsters, because the structures and interiors they create in-game are insanely complex and cool. While the theme is not “on brand” for me, lol…I love a challenge and had so much fun pulling it all together. Perhaps this could help inspire your Minecraft-themed fête! More photos + sources below…
We all know this lady…or at least, we think we do. Her origins are lesser-known, and go beyond the fact that she was a gift from France (a fact that delights many Francophiles). Her little sister (shown above) recently made the trek from Paris to NYC at Ellis Island, and now rests at the home of the French Ambassador in Washington D.C. – you can learn more about her journey here. Did you know that there are over thirty copies in and around France?! Talk about a fun treasure hunt!
Lady Liberty became an icon of freedom and of the United States, yet many don’t realize that her original purpose was to commemorate the end of slavery. French author and anti-slavery activist Édouard de Laboulaye (who was a firm supporter of Abraham Lincoln and his fight for abolition), first presented the concept in 1865. In an early model by sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, she held broken shackles in her left hand, however he decided this would be too divisive in the days after the Civil War. He gave her a tablet instead, invoking the concept of law, and shackles at her feet.
Ellis Island didn’t open until six years after she was first unveiled, and the symbolism and original intention was sadly co-opted, lost and long-forgotten…so many of us were taught a different story in our textbooks. Thankfully, this fascinating and culturally significant history was finally given a well-deserved spotlight at The Statue of Liberty Museum (read more about that here). As Americans, it is imperative that we acknowledge and share this history. It is representative of the continued struggle of so many, both stateside and beyond–anyone who is “yearning to breathe free”.
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.
We just got the keys to our new home in Philadelphia (yay), and this beauty welcomed us in her full spring glory. I’m obsessed and have photographed it from every window that faces it! I can’t wait to share more of the house soon but right now we’re surrounded by boxes and chaos and have to dig ourselves out of that first. It’s exciting (and anxiety inducing) to be back in “civilization” but the fact that we have a yard and a mature garden makes the adjustment so much less stressful. Every time I look at this tree (or any of the blooms), I exhale. We have a new sanctuary, and we hope to enjoy it for quite some time. For more blossoms and a few sneak peeks, check out the “new house” Stories highlight on Instagram!
