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!
The World is My Oyster
“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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Annecy, the Pearl of the French Alps
Nestled away in southeastern France, Annecy is called the “Pearl of the Alps” and is located on the northern tip of picturesque Lake Annecy surrounded by the snow-covered Alps. We recently travelled to Annecy to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday party, which was held in a chalet in this majestic area and were blown away…
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Castres, Languedoc’s Little Venice
Another little family weekend trip turned out to be a discovery of a new town and region in Occitanie. Located far from our beaches, nestled in the mountains, we reached Castres, aka the little Venice of Occitanie, known throughout the country for its rugby team and its pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturing. So, after 2 hours…
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Charcuterie Boards
Charcuterie is the French art of cooking dedicated to cured or prepared meats such as ham, pâté, terrines, sausages and confit. These items are served all together on a long planche (wooden board) and are to be shared as a group. Truly the most wonderful thing about a charcuterie board is its versatility and so…
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My House of Flowers
I’ve always had a thing for flowers. Perhaps it stems from my childhood; my mom, who is a big gardener, always had fresh flowers and flowering plants in the house. And so, at a young age, I learned that taking care of a living thing makes us feel good about ourselves. If you want to…
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Chocolate
Chocolate remains incredibly popular in France where the average person eats 7kg each year and chocolatiers in France are a highly trained and valued profession. The world’s oldest person, French citizen Jeanne Louise Calment, lived to the age of 122 and proudly ate two and a half pounds of dark chocolate per week. In Paris, you…
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Brunching in Montpellier
One of the beautiful things about living in Montpellier is that the city is filled with terraces and there is nothing that I like better, than eating al fresco, especially for brunch. The portmanteau of breakfast and lunch is not always widely available in a French city. It takes place at the same time as…
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The World of French Cheeses
I have to admit that at one time I hated cheese. But time does have a way of changing things and tastes and so naturally, when I married a Frenchman my taste for cheese improved greatly as it was front and centre in my daily life. You know, the French are considered to be the…
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Les Folies Montpelliéraines
Each French region or city has its historical monuments and landmarks. When visiting a French family, they’ll likely take you out for a walk to their local wonders. Montpellier’s downtown and surroundings have a lot to offer from the Roman era to modern architecture, but the “folies” are quite specific to Montpellier. When first visiting…
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The Price of Art 1.0
Everyone is nervous about paying for art. Its very subjective and so attributing a price to it may be quite difficult. Of course, one’s own budget must also be taken into consideration, as it makes no sense to buy something you cannot afford. To broach the subject, I’ve drawn up a few parameters to help…
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