bon weekend

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image c/o The Hive Studio (a letter she beautifully calligraphed for me)

I blinked and it’s February, yikes! January was all about holiday recovery and personal health (both physical and mental). I did a deep dive into some of my favorite podcasts, newsletters and Instagram accounts, and found quite a bit of inspiration. Narrowing your focus is imperative, as there is so much goodness to be found these days – it’s overwhelming! I’m sharing a of them few here in the hopes you might also enjoy them…each of these people have impacted me with their words. In addition, I stumbled upon this truth bomb the other day, and it was just what I needed to hear. I would love to know what you’re reading/listening to/inspired by these days…please enlighten me in the comments!

BON WEEKEND

(instagram) cleo wade jamie varon + mindfulmft

(podcast) jen gotch is ok…sometimes

(newsletter) friday letters by jamie varon

(book) first we make the beast beautiful by sarah wilson

bon weekend

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Bon week-end and happy Francophile Friday mes amis! Le Dîner en Blanc is on the horizon (in Philadelphia and many other cities), and I’ve rounded up some info and my archived posts on the subject. The dinner with friends that began in Paris over 30 years ago has become an international sensation, and is a highlight of summer for me. Sadly, we’ll be missing this years festivities due to coinciding vacation dates, but we hope to be back in 2019. You can read about our experiences below, and learn more about the dîner en blanc inspired tablescape you see above (styled by moi). Wherever you are in the world, if you attend the magical evening, I do hope you’ll tag #thefrancophiles and share your experience!

BON WEEKEND

terrain en blanc

dîner en blanc philadelphia

dîner en blanc inspiration board

our dîner en blanc experience on steller

the “secret dinner in white” 30th anniversary

bon weekend

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Well hello 2018! My apologies for the silence – December was a doozy of a month for us. I promise this post won’t be a pity party, but in case you missed this: my mother was hospitalized for almost half the month with more than one scary illness. After we got her home, I landed in the hospital myself with what seemed like the same infection. While I’m feeling much better now (whew), last month was challenging for our whole family, and threw off the holidays in a big way. Of course (to quote the Grinch), Christmas came…and it came just the same. The spirit of the season was clearer than ever this year. It was quite refreshing to only have time for family – so much so, that it made me question my social media agenda. This blog is and always will be a place for me to document my passions…but social media has felt like a chore at times lately. I’ve been feeling uninspired, restless, and unsure of my next steps…until a friend shared this video (on Facebook). Oh, the irony…and a strong reminder of why I create, share, and do what I do. What will be your space jam?

BON WEEKEND et BONNE ANNÉE

living in the moment

a poem for the new year

the only way to keep your resolutions

the end of the social era can’t come soon enough

worth a second mention: a pep talk about a pep talk

bon weekend

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Can you guess what I’m excited for this weekend based on this incredible illustration by Eleanor Grosch? If you guessed the Tour de France then OUI you are correct – it begins tomorrow!! If you’ve been following my blog since it’s inception, you are well aware of my TDF obsession (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C). I am not a cyclist – I’m just a devout Francophile who long ago decided to watch for the scenery. The rest is history, and I’ve been hooked to the sport (and the soothing sound of Phil Ligett’s voice) since 2006. Of course a lot has changed since then (ahem) but I still can’t stop watching. If you’re just not that into it…here are some links that have inspired me recently, for your holiday weekend reading!

BON WEEKEND

fourth of july recipes

parent like a minimalist

bounce back from burnout

the best of pardon my french

how to stay sane while sick or injured

bon weekend

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Easter weekend has arrived, and while we’re in the midst of our move, I’m doing my best to make the holiday fun for the kids. While we don’t celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday, we enjoy the commercial traditions (i.e. we’ll embrace any excuse to indulge in chocolate and candy). Our egg dying technique could probably use some work, but I think the colors are beautiful (we used the classic Paas kit). Most importantly, we had fun doing it. Here are a few (random) things I’ve enjoyed recently…bon weekend mes amis (the last link is sure to start it off right)!

BON WEEKEND

it’s only a phase

 ladurée emojis…OUI!

the sexiest French pastries

three iconic musicians on artistic creation

npr tiny desk concert: dirty dozen brass band