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!
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!
I’m excited to share a glimpse into this beautiful farmhouse that I toured in the Loire Valley of France. My brother told me about this amazing property and arranged a tour with the owner (one of his clients) while I was visiting. It is the quintessential french country farmhouse that so many of us dream of…rustic elegance at it’s finest. It is an experience I won’t soon forget – and I’m sharing the full story exclusively on Steller! If you’re not familiar with the app, you simply must check it out…it’s the latest and greatest way to share stories, and I’m obsessed. They’ve just released an update today, and Steller 2.0 is even better, with the addition of comments, hashtags, a snazzy new navigation, and more! Be sure to take a look at the full story, whether on the app or here. Be forewarned – it may leave you with severe wanderlust.
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?!
Wishing all my French and fellow francophile friends a happy Bastille Day! I’m reminiscing about the bastille day birthday party we threw for the kids last year…if you missed it, you can see the feature on 100 Layer Cakelet, as well as this Steller I created to commemorate the occasion. I’ll be sharing more photos from their second birthday soon!
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!