le petit atelier de paris

le-petit-atelier-de-paris

 

After coveting the work of Le Petit Atelier de Paris for years, I finally had the chance to see their wares in person while in Paris. I kicked myself for never having made it to their boutique in the Marais before it closed, but was relieved to learn they sell online. Additionally, my good friend Jill had connected and met with owners and artists Stéphane + Jae, and put me in touch with them before our trip. They very generously offered to open up their studio for me, and I was lucky enough to see their offerings in person. What used to be their boutique is now a lovely guesthouse, but Stéphane (along with furry mascot Pompom) kindly met me there one afternoon to let me browse and learn more about their process.

 

Continue reading →

disneyland paris

disneyland-paris

mickey-ears

 

If you find yourself in France with children, you simply can’t miss Disneyland Paris! Located only 20 miles from the center of Paris, it makes for a fabulous day trip with the kids. With my brother and family joining us at our apartment a day earlier, we all hopped on the metro early Sunday morning, transferred to the RER, and found ourselves at the gates by opening time. It was an epic and exhausting day, but well worth the effort…the time with our family was worth the ticket price alone. Henry and Marie really earned those ears – they were troopers. Click through to see our adventures!

 

Continue reading →

paper + plans

paperandplans

 

So…we’re selling our house. Writing those words for public consumption makes it real, and I need that acceptance. It’s an idea my husband and I have debated for about two years now, but we’ve finally put the wheels into motion. The decision to move wasn’t an easy one, but it makes the most sense for where we are in our life right now, and where we want to be. Ultimately, it’s about freedom. Freedom from (too many) possessions, a mortgage, and a property that needs maintenance and care (as with any home). Freedom to say yes and pack our things if/when we get the chance to move abroad. Freedom to roam, to travel – to make more priceless memories with the kids. We’ve had a taste of it, and we’re hungry for more.

As you can imagine, I’ve been a bit stressed and emotional lately – even though I’m excited for what lies ahead, I’m emotionally attached to this house. We’ll be leaving the only home our kids have known. This house was the first one Parker and I chose together, and poured our heart and souls into. It’s the last place I heard the pitter patter of Billy’s feet. We’ve lived a lot of life here, and have filled these walls with love and laughter. But you know what? We’re going to do that wherever we are. Change as huge as this can be intimidating (and let’s be honest – scary, at times), but this is where growth happens. Our new space will be smaller, but our life will be so much bigger. Adventure lies beyond the paper.

ladurée soho

laduree-soho

 

You may have noticed I was in New York City two weeks ago for some meetings, and if not, you can see my adventures via the hashtag #fleurishinginnyc. Of course, I made time for my favorite neighborhood (SoHo), and place – Ladurée! A trip to NYC just simply isn’t complete (pour moi) without a stop there. You can imagine my delight when I received an invitation from Ladurée to come and enjoy some treats – yes please!! My visit happened to fall on the most gorgeous spring day – it really couldn’t have been more perfect weather to enjoy their courtyard. I savored every moment, every sip, and every bite…I was one blissed-out Francophile. Click through to see their lovely courtyard and more eye candy…

 

Continue reading →

french is beautiful

fleurishing-famille-paris

 

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of  a child. There are seven million.”

Walt Streightiff

i

Were we really in Paris with our children, only a month ago?! It feels like it was a all a dream. I’m so thankful to have moments like these documented, thanks to my friend Ashley Ludaescher (still so many more incredible photos to share). Navigating a foreign country with children, especially toddlers, is challenging for sure. Speaking the language (even at a basic level) really makes things easier, and more enjoyable. Carrie Anne James was kind enough to include me in the development of her French for Paris course, and I’m honored to have inspired the “traveling with kids” bonus lesson. I think it goes without saying that I personally relied heavily on that portion of the program during our trip!

Since this was my first time traveling with my children to France, I wanted to be prepared with the proper terminology. Full disclosure – I didn’t know the word for stroller. There were many times when I found myself using phrases that were new to me, such as “excusez moi, est-ce que les pousettes sont permises?” (excuse me, are strollers allowed?). I located diapers, requested mild cheese, even spoke with other parents, in French – and it felt great. Do you have to speak French in order to travel there with your children? No – but I highly recommend it. You will get more respect, better treatment, and yes, even the elusive smile, from the Parisians. Henry et Marie even garnered a tickle or two (or three).

* french is beautiful is a regular series – browse the archives here *