Just reserved my space for The Bon-Vivants Wine Club Holiday Party next week hosted by à l'Alliance Française de Chicago and I hope you can attend too! It’s going to be so merry!
I have always been wanting to understand the harmonious relationship between cheeses and wines and this virtual workshop party couldn’t have come at a better time for my French themed Christmas dinner. As we celebrate the beautiful holiday season let’s learn from sommelière Alicia Barrett and cheese expert Chris Spier as they share their favorite French wines for the holidays and the most delectable French cheese pairings. You’ll receive a full list ahead of the event so you can shop in advance for les vins and les fromages.
Christmas week is soon upon us, which means it’s time to wrap up menu planning and make some decisions already — grocery shopping awaits! Even though it’s just Lin and I this year, I still want to make our Christmas meals very special. I also want to prepare some extra dishes for some of my neighbors going through a tough time too. I have been toying with sticking to tradition or switching things up this year! And have just decided today that I want to totally switch things up-it’s 2020 afterall. So a wonderful French dinner it shall be.
I am especially excited to use my new pieces from Le Creuset that they sent over! Since 1925, Le Creuset has been renowned as the colorful French companion in kitchens across the globe. Defined by three essential truths, Les Trois Vérités, they’re more than just cookware. These are the three pieces I now own.
Read MoreAs you’re busy finishing up all your holiday shopping for friends and loved ones, make sure you don’t forget about those adorable darling fur balls sitting next to you. Show your pets how much they mean to you this Christmas with some gifts under the tree that they’ll enjoy just as much as you will giving it to them. Anything from ModernBeast is sure to get tails wagging Christmas morning!
Plus create totally pawesome selfies with their darling Christmas attire!!!!!
ModernBeast is a women owned business which I really love.
Hope and Lona designed the MODERNBEAST to give back as simply as possible. After the costs of doing business (paying employees, suppliers, manufacturers, shipping, rents, etc.) the profits, 100% of it, is given to 501c3 animal charities.
Read MoreWhen I first spotted Haus on gram it was a love at first moment! The packaging is drop dead gorge! And as I read more about the company and Apéritif Culture I became immediately obsessed. I knew I had to experience them. So I reached out and was so very happy they wanted to partner with Go French Yourself!
HAUS APÉRITIF REVIEW
Haus is a new(ish) wine based apéritif, made from all-natural ingredients on a farm in Sonoma County, California by husband and wife team Helena and Woody. Their apéritifs are made with with only real ingredients (farm to bottle) - no sketchy additives. Love that they have less sugar too…..I really try to avoid too many drinks for this reason!
Here are a few of the ingredients they use to make their superb apéritifs.
Read MoreA new year is approaching and I made it a personal goal to keep blogging consistently this year…but still trying to simplify the process and not allowing it to take up too much of my time (as I’ve been known to spend hours writing blogs). Over the last few years, I’ve noticed there’s been an increase in people abandoning their blogs altogether but for me, I want to still have this space to talk as much as I do if you were to meet me in person. Instagram is great, of course, but there’s only so much information people can take on a daily basis, it can become so overwhelming and we can end up feeling our brains being oversaturated and close to exploding!
For me, I love talking about beauty products: I love testing products! I love the branding element of the industry; I love finding products that work and telling others!
Read MoreChristmas is a time of celebration, festivities, food, family, and friends typically-all though this year this part looks quite different! Pleasant memories from childhood are re-ignited with the aroma of Christmas cookies, pine trees, and Christmas dinner in the oven!
I just love the many wonderful aromas of this beautiful magical season! And reed diffusers from Alora Ambiance provide a consistent aroma throughout the day all throughout my condo and they subtly impact my emotions and mood. They make for an easy and ideal way to create a festive and positive environment. As most of our time during the Christmas period is spent indoors and without family this year- we can turn to Alora Ambiance to enhance our moods and ward off depression while creating pleasant memories or reminding us of happy times past!
Read MoreI am so excited to team up with The Makerage again this season! I needed a smaller round Lazy Susan for the area by my stove. The current setup was not working for me whatsoever. (showing that on Instagram today) This tinier round Lazy Susan is a great option for housing the items you reach for on a regular basis while cooking! I needed some easy access here for my salt and pepper, olive oils, etc. and it’ truly just perfection in my space. It was exactly what I was looking for!
Read MoreThe event kicks off today through the 13th so I will be Christmas Preluding from my couch!
This virtual programming will include the ever-popular Hat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, with people able to sign up now online, and participate in the “parade” through the wonders of Zoom. Prizes will be sent to the winners.
All of Prelude’s signature events - the Dock Square and Cape Porpoise tree lightings, caroling at the monastery, Santa arriving by lobster boat - will be pre-recorded and virtual this year, along with cooking and cocktail classes, shopping nights, a tour of White Columns and Dock Square, the story of the history of Prelude, a tree and wreath festival and Santa reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in front of a fire each evening.
Ah, the power of a good night’s sleep.
💤💤 All though getting a proper night’s sleep isn’t quite as easy as it sounds sometimes , is it?! Not to mention that once you finally do get to sleep but STAYING asleep can be quite the challenge!
Until now ...
Remember me introducing you to all my favorite pieces from Falcon in July when I share a delish recipe for a peach pie and a quiche lorraine?! You can refresh your memory on this post here. I also made a delish Cherry Clafouti using one of my most beloved Falcon pieces! And today I am going to share two more recipes I made for Thanksgiving using my newest Falcon pieces! How many Falcon pieces are too many?! LOL! Asking for a friend.
Their enamelware is so beautiful, so functional, and so light and compact to store. We have very little storage in our kitchen and an open pantry so Falcon really suits us perfectly. It’s also so easy to clean. It’s timeless and durable! Falcon is a UK company that now ships to the US, which is great because their quality and colors are the best out there. Enamelware is also great for camping trips as it packs light to stay nimble and agile on your travels! So it’s just incredibly versatile.
Read MoreToday’s post is dedicated to all my fellow home decor lovers! I love giving gifts that people actually want–and who doesn’t want to make their home feel a little more beautiful and cozy?
Gifts for the home are perfect for everyone on your list– especially this year, when we’re all spending more time at home. This is the perfect season to give gifts that celebrate all the ways we can make our homes feel like a beautiful, peaceful haven from the outside world.
No matter who you’re buying for, you’ll find Christmas gift ideas for all decorating styles and in all price ranges. I have most of all of these items except one and they truly are exquisite!!!
Read MoreIt’s always so much fun to shop for that girly girl in your life! Whether it’s your sister, cousin, niece, or friend that just loves all things fashion—there’s sure to be something for everyone on this holiday gift guide to inspire you to finish (or start!) your Christmas shopping this year. Sharing my 13 must have items of 2020!
Read MoreWhether the food lover in your life is a cookbook collector, a food lover, hostess with the mostest, eco shopper, or a cook searching for the best tools and gadgets to perfect their culinary skills, today's gift offerings are sure to excite the foodies and eaters of the world. If you find yourself feeling a little stumped on what to gift your food obsessed family and friends this season, look no further: the gifts below are sure to leave any gourmand grinning from ear to ear!!!! They are my absolute favorite things of 2020!!! I own every single one of them except for #14 and #19! Ha. (Sure hope Santa is bringing them)
Read MoreHey ladies and gentlemen, I’m back with another gift guide today - this time for beauty lovers. I rounded up the best of my favorite things from 2020 from gorgeous clean lipsticks to winter skincare essentials to the most raved about tools out there - all perfect for any beauty fanatic.
Happy shopping!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out more of my gift guide posts for more gift ideas for The Francophile and your darling furry companions!!!
Read MoreSharing a wonderful “Spread Some Holiday Cheer” idea today in partnership with Out Of The Woods Bags! They gifted me two of their amazing eco friendly bags and I am a HUGE fan!
The first idea is to pick one of your favorite easy recipes and purchase the items needed to prepare it! Pack everything in this gorgeous vegan iconic shopper along with the printed recipe with some beautiful blooms and place it on your recipients doorstep to let them know you are thinking of them and adore them.
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