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!
My favorite monument…up close and personal. I could walk around it for hours, studying each and every relief. My favorite one, pictured above, features Napoleon, crowned by the goddess of Victory. The neoclassical masterpiece was constructed over thirty years, and inaugurated in 1836. I love it for many reasons…the architecture, the grandeur, the location, and one of the best views in Paris! It is a must-see, much more so than the lovely lady Eiffel.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
With the holidays upon us, it’s the perfect time to share one of my favorite cocktails! The “French 75”, also known as the “Soixante Quinze”, is a classic + vibrant champagne cocktail. There are many theories as to it’s origins, and much debate over gin vs. brandy, but we know the recipe was first recorded in 1930. The name refers to the power of the drink, which was allegedly created by a World War 1 fighter pilot-saying it felt like being on the “receiving end of a French 75mm howitzer artillery piece”! It does pack a punch…you are forewarned-and as always, drink responsibly please. Personally, I like to think of it as elegantly potent, and anything that was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway is a favorite of mine.
combine base spirit, lemon juice + syrup in a shaker with ice; shake for 10-15 seconds
strain into a flute or coupe glass and top with champagne
santé!
With the babies in good care, mr. fleurishing and I decided to have time to ourselves for our anniversary and play tourists in our own city! It’s actually fairly embarrassing that we’ve lived in philly for three years and had never been to the art museum, so we had to remedy that. The impressionist wing is where it’s at-there is always a gravitational pull in that direction for me personally, but this one is notable. Afterwards we walked a few blocks to the rodin musuem…having only recently learned it’s the largest collection outside of Paris! It’s an intimate space but the key pieces are worth a visit (more photos to come). Flags were appropriately at half staff throughout the city…a sobering reminder during our day to clutch each other even tighter. Philadelphia sends it’s love Boston.
2012 has been the most momentous, challenging, and beautiful year of my life. Half of the year was spent pregnant, and our lives were forever changed when we welcomed Henry + Marie in July. Despite the challenges of being a new parent, the beauty and rewards have far exceeded my expectations. This year brought a new level of happiness, which I’m certain will grow in the coming years. I’m so very thankful to all of you for sharing in my new life-your support and friendship means a lot to me. The new year promises to be an exciting one, filled with personal discoveries, more baby firsts, and hopefully some travel. Here’s to a healthy, prosperous and inspirational 2013!
Bonne Année + Happy New Year!
2012 highlights…
welcoming our twins!!
becoming a mother of two