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!

Château de Versailles

25 October 2019

Recently, I had the pleasure to tour Château de Versailles with a dear friend, Kirsti who was visiting from Canada.   We had a superb time and discovered that the history of the Palace of Versailles is not as old as some of the other royal palaces, but it definitely has lots of drama.   It was…

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Soups On!

20 October 2019

Is a well-known expression that means dinner is on the table ready to eat, and while it might not be such a catchy saying anymore, soup remains a favourite at the table.   A lot of my favourite recipes are actually for soup.  Mostly because it doesn’t take a diploma in cooking to make soup and it…

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Le Corbusier: On the Hunt for Art & Architecture

30 September 2019

Four years ago on a visit to France with good friends, we set out on a trek to find works of famed modernist architect and painter, Le Corbusier. We had an exciting time looking for his buildings and discovering the art behind one of the most important architects of the 20th century, and we even…

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Citrus, The Zest of Life

16 September 2019

The sight of anything citrus puts me in a good mood. A bright lemon yellow kitchen, an enticing bowl of oranges or a gorgeous lime topiary in a French jardin. It all makes me smile.  I have fond memories of eating deliciously sweet and fragrant mandarins during the holidays. On winter mornings, in my youth,…

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Life at the Beach

15 August 2019

The smell of the beach naturally soothes many of us.  It’s been proven in studies that show it relieves stress and relaxes the mind.  It is also one of the reasons we moved to Montpellier.  Indeed with over 300+ days of sunshine, the beaches here are huge draws in the area.   The beach is only…

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Heading North to Norway

04 August 2019

Recently we were able to fulfill a lifelong dream of my husband of visiting a Scandinavian country, which he had decided to do for his 50th birthday.  He had the good fortune of flying to Paris, when he discovered that his seatmates were a lovely couple from Norway. This country has always been on our…

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Apéro, and the best places to enjoy it in Montpellier

11 July 2019

Like many French cities, Montpellier has a treasure trove of wine bars and these places go hand in hand with the aperitif.  Aptly known as apéro, is an evening custom here that blends friends, food and beverages.  It is a pillar of French food, culture and society and in many cases takes place in a…

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Climb Every Mountain: Pic Saint-Loup and L’Hortus

22 June 2019

I did it.  I climbed a mountain.  Yes, me!  Who knew I could?  I never thought I would and wasn’t truly interested until a good friend, Mimi, visiting from Switzerland insisted we go for a hike.  I’ve never hiked anywhere.  I’ve walked to places, strolled in towns, jogged or biked for sport, but never once…

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Nîmes, The French Rome

15 June 2019

When you arrive in Nîmes, it feels like you are stepping back in time, one that is rich with history and includes Celtic Volcae, Romans, Muslims, Protestant Huguenots and Kings of France.  It was built along the Via Domitia, the first Roman road, which reached from Italy to southern France and into Spain.  We recently…

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The World is My Oyster

18 May 2019

“The world is my oyster”, has been one of my favourite mantras for my entire life. Funny though, I hated the idea of eating them and now I cannot eat them enough. I love oysters and mussels.   One only need read any of my French restaurant reviews to see how many times I order oysters. …

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