Joyeux Noel
C'est la veille de Noël, mes amis!
I wish you music that touches your heart
Light that floods your soul
and relationships that kindle your spirit
this Christmas.
LIfe with Little Ones Holiday Home Tour
Have you pinned any inspiring photos from holiday home tours lately? Last week I was admiring the lovely photos of Jen's IHeart Christmas Home Tour when I realized that she has three boys, so surely she took those perfect home photos when they were away at school. My little house is cozy and wonderful in winter--but it's evident that we have little ones around! To add some cheer and laughter to your day, here is Intentional Mama's Life with Little Ones Holiday Home Tour:
Read MoreWhen Gifts Go Wrong
I gave a terrible present this week. It was the wrong gift for a wonderful person, and though she politely thanked me, I knew before she opened it that it was a poor choice. The truth is this: I had forgotten to buy her a gift, ran out of time to shop, panicked, and wrapped a new item I had at home. Frankly, I hadn’t wanted it either. And her quick thanks and perfunctory facial expression told me what I had feared—she was disappointed.
Read MoreMy Language Love Story: From France with Amour
Bliss: When did you last feel it? I am blissfully in love with a few precious people and a few things: my husband, my children, my family and some cherished friends, and everything French. Because of my French ancestry, I confidently chose French as my foreign language elective in high school. The first day of class was the first day I ever heard the language. The sounds were odd and funny, yet the phrases flowed beautifully. I couldn't wait to learn more.
Read MoreAdorable & Free French Activity Books: LittleBilingues
Bonjour, mes amis! I'm currently working on a little language love story for a future post, but in the meantime I want to share some adorable resources available from Little Bilangues. Judith is a fantastic illustrator with her own publishing company, OrniCar, and this month she released her latest children's activity book for little French (and English) language learners. This activity book can be downloaded for free until next Friday, December 20th, so take advantage of her generosity!
Read MoreAll-American Chocolate Chip Cookies and A French Treat Cookbook
Do you have a cookie recipe that you use over and over? In 2008, I discovered No-Fail Chocolate Chippers in the Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook, and I've made them about once every month or two ever since. What makes this recipe amazing? It uses oat flour as well as all-purpose flour, which makes the cookies chewy and substantial.
Read MoreHomemade Brown Sugar: Simple, Fast, Fresh
'Tis the season for baking cookies, so I'm happy to let my four-year-old show you one of the most basic tips all bakers should know: how to make brown sugar. With only two ingredients, it couldn't be simpler, and it's certainly more fresh and moist than store-bought. Brown sugar is also a key ingredient in our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
How to Make Brown Sugar:
Read MoreFête des Lumières : Lyon's Festival of Lights 2013
If you're familiar with Europe, you probably associate December 6th with St. Nicolas Day, but my thoughts always turn to Lyon, France, and la Fête des Lumières (the Festival of Lights) around this date. Having lived there as a university exchange student, I knew nothing about the event until I attended with my host sister. But Wikipedia claims that Lyon's Fête is the most attended festival in the world after Rio's Carnival and Munich's Oktoberfest. While I don't have much confidence in Wikipedia's accuracy, I do know that the festival is an amazing experience.
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