August always sneaks up on me. By the time it arrives, it feels as if summer is almost over, and I realize I haven’t done all the things that make the season feel like…well, summer. This year, I’m determined to change that. I am going to step away from my blog through the end of August, taking a cue ...
L'Art de Vivre
How to Host a French Apéro: The Art of French Entertaining at Home
There's hardly anything nicer than being invited for an apéro.
I'll never forget my very first one in France. At the time, I was living with a French family in Lille while teaching at the university. One evening, the daughter of the family announced that she was hosting an apéro in the garden so ...
A Summer Favorite: Saffron Aioli and Steamed Asparagus
One of the things I love most about France is that everyone seems to have a story—and often a passion project. Several years ago, while being driven across Paris by a private driver, we began chatting about his life and work. To my surprise, he let me know I was one of his last clients. He was ...
How French Women Stay Chic During a Heat Wave: Five Summer Style Lessons I Learned in France
Many years ago, I spent three weeks in August traveling from Paris to Carcassonne with two French girlfriends. We made our way slowly through France, stopping in small villages, enjoying long lunches, and exploring along the way.
With France once again enduring record summer temperatures, I often ...
Œufs en Cocotte: A Simple, Seasonal French Recipe
I saw the Emile Henry Solo Individual Baking Dishes in Paris and, honestly, everything else faded for a moment. They were displayed on a beautifully set table—one covered dish at each place setting—and I fell in love with the idea instantly.
My mind went straight to what they could hold: a ...
Five Simple Tricks to Always Look Polished
Looking polished isn’t about having a closet full of designer labels—it’s about intention and perhaps that elusive je ne sais quoi—the subtle, indefinable quality French women seem to mastered. Women who appear perfectly put together understand how to make everything work in harmony.
Over time ...
