The Blog - Vivre ma France
Since moving from a beautiful, yet cold, Montreal in La Belle Province to a sunny little region known as Montpellier, la France has transitioned to Ma France - an adventure that has been documented with you, my dear reader. My journey has grown from creating a home in a Haussmannian apartment within a new country to the evolution of a community of new friends, colleagues and clients - both locally and internationally!
The inspiration I get from experiencing new sights, trying different cuisines and taking in new cultures translates into my everyday life, whether throwing a casual mid-week get together with friends, or hosting an all-out bash for a corporate dinner event.
Here in the sunny wine region, Sud de France, l’Occitanie, I am living out my life's mission: Bringing ease into event planning for the people - so that together we can craft their most memorable events. Whether teaching my friends how to set a formal table for their next dinner party including folding elaborate napkins or becoming a trusted advisor to a newly engaged couple by helping them meticulously plan the wedding of their dreams: My joy is to share my talents in making life a little bit sweeter and celebratory for all.
Follow me into wine country as we visit different vineyards and learn about wine production. Then I will take you back home and teach you how to pair the perfect wine to go along with a carefully curated menu for your home celebrations. Then recreate your adventures by following my online restaurant reviews and recommendations via VivreMaFrance at Trip Advisor.com.
You may occasionally see affiliate links included within my posts, allowing me to make a small commission from any sales coming from the blog. Please remember that I only post about vendors I trust and use myself - all opinions, reviews and recommendations are authentically my own.
So whether you are looking to find daily inspiration from la vie en rose, or you are ready to work with a trusted professional on crafting a wedding beyond your wildest dreams, I want you to join me. See the beauty of the south of France and beyond through my own eyes and experiences.
Vivre Ma France!
What Happened and What’s Next?
2020 has ended. Let us all rejoice in its passing. Annus horribilis, that’s what it was. From a global pandemic with 85 million infected and just under 2 million dead, a complete devastation for the arts and events industry, small businesses and restaurants, Britain leaving the EU, the death of US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth…
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Baguettes, Boulangeries & the French Revolution
The importance of baguettes and boulangeries in France is paramount. It is the lifeline of the country and has been for about 300 years or so. Today well over 30 million baguettes are sold every day in France. La tradition, as it is called in many boulangeries, is made with a light yeast dough formed…
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Musée Fabre and Canadian Impressionism
The Musée Fabre is a picturesque museum located in the southern city of Montpellier, and is having an exposition on Canadian art, titled “Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons”. I will talk specifically about the show and include photos of the art later, but first let’s talk about the museum itself. It is magnificent structure and considered a work…
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Do Tank, A Place for Creation and Inspiration
Do Tank is a co-working space created in an old factory ready for your next event, corporate meeting or new co-working office location. The beautifully decorated space is huge and separated into two floors plus more private spaces in the mezzanine. Based on the expression “Think Tank”, where ideas come together, “Do Tank” builds on…
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The Beauty of Île de Batz
Île de Batz is an enchanting little island located a quick 15 minutes boat-ride from the port of Roscoff, on the northern coast of Finistère in Brittany, in western France. It is where we recently had the pleasure of visiting our aunt and uncle who own a lovely house with sea view. We spent the…
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7 Things You Did Not Know About Château de Menthon St. Bernard
I am always on the hunt for new and exciting properties for my clients and I recently had the pleasure of visiting a medieval chateau located just a few miles outside of the Pearl of the Alps, called Chateau de Menthon St. Bernard. The chateau sits high on a perch overlooking Lac Annecy, where it…
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Orchids, The Affordable Luxury Plant
As you all know, I am a flower guy. I love filling my home with plants and flowers and one of my favourites are orchids, a luxury item since ancient times and now (thankfully) readily accessible to many. There are over 28,000 different kinds of orchids in the world and they can be found on…
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Serendipity, L’art de l’accident
Serendipity is the “occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way”. As in I had a fortunate stroke of serendipity. This mysterious word was first coined in the 18th century by English writer Horace Walpol, in a personal letter to friends. Walpole was inspired by a fairy tale called The…
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The Beautiful Art of Découpage
Decoupage is the process of layering paper to make art and can be done on any surface: wood, metallic, cardboard, mirrors, anything almost. Mostly it is a small item like a box or a piece of furniture covered by cutouts from magazines, from wallpaper or from printed images. Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often…
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What to do when Quarantined at Home
In these times of being in quarantine, it is important to do things that bring you joy and calm. Everyone can have added joy in their lives right now, you just need to create it. Many of us have been in quarantine for a month, and for sure we’re all a bit Netflix-ed out by…
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