Recent Posts

TCF Carte de Résident Test: What to Expect

TCF Carte de Résident Test: What to Expect

The test de connaissance du français or TCF is required for a 10-year carte de résident, or when applying for citizenship. Here is how to sign up, prepare and what the test contains.

Pregnant in France: First Steps for Your First Trimester

Pregnant in France: First Steps for Your First Trimester

Félicitations! You’re pregnant and live in France – two reasons to celebrate. But…now what do you do? A guide to the pre-natal steps to take in the French healthcare system during your first trimester.

The Best French Advent Calendars of 2019

The Best French Advent Calendars of 2019

Each year, French chocolatiers and confiseurs release even more creative and beautiful calendrier de l’Avent, elevating them to a must-have for cozy holiday decor. And now the offerings have extended beyond chocolate to include tea, beauty and other high-end treats.

The Paris Life You are Sold on Instagram is a Lie

The Paris Life You are Sold on Instagram is a Lie

Just as fairytales portray an idealized view of love, the image of Paris pushed by brands and instagrammers is a privileged, airbrushed version of French life — one the vast majority of Parisians never experience.

French Favorites: Diptyque Carrousel

French Favorites: Diptyque Carrousel

Updated with 2019 carrousel info! Since 2016, the chic Parisian candle and fragrance brand Diptyque has released a unique holiday candle carrousel each year — and I am lucky to have all three.

Biarritz Guide: Beaches, Restaurants and Shopping in the ‘California of France’

Biarritz Guide: Beaches, Restaurants and Shopping in the ‘California of France’

When you think of France, you almost certainly don’t imagine a surfer chic lifestyle. But a little slice of California-style heaven does exist on the southwest coast and I experienced a coup de cœur the first time I visited Biarritz and the surrounding area.

Picnic like a Parisian

Picnic like a Parisian

The French invented the pique-nique way back in the 1600s and today picnicking is a cherished summer activity in Paris. In tribute, I hosted a summer picnic with a few elevated French touches for 12 of my friends.

One Perfect Paris Day: Five Itineraries for 24 Hours in the French Capital

One Perfect Paris Day: Five Itineraries for 24 Hours in the French Capital

How do you make the most of a short stay in Paris? The answer depends on your goal! I created five itineraries depending on what you consider to be a perfect Paris day.

Learning French in Paris: The Best Schools and Programs for Your Language Goal

Learning French in Paris: The Best Schools and Programs for Your Language Goal

If you’re really trying to speak French, eventually you’ll want to go to the motherland. And unless you are one of those super annoying people who has an “amazing ear” and picks up languages from just a vacation (looking at my sister), you’re going to…

La Vie de Château: A French Weekend in the Champagne Region

La Vie de Château: A French Weekend in the Champagne Region

My diary of a classic French weekend away in the Champagne region. A stay at Château de Courcelles, one of France’s many beautiful châteaux that have been transformed into world-class hotels.