The phrase "bloom where you are planted" is often attributed to Mary Engelbreit, an American artist and illustrator known for her whimsical and inspirational designs. It's a phrase I have taken to heart, as I have spent the better part of my adult years bouncing around to different cities in Colorado, South Carolina, and France. … Continue reading Bloom Where You Are Planted
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed spending time with loved ones. While many know today as Black Friday, for us, it's officially the start of the Christmas season! Around this time of year, city centers across Europe transform. As the sun sets around 5:00 pm, Christmas markets help bring spirit and cheer … Continue reading Christmas Market Season
After falling in love with Bruges, Belgium, we looked to explore similar cities in the "Battlefield of Europe." (Yes, this is Belgium's nickname). We chose Ghent, a port city in northwest Belgium known for its medieval architecture and authenticity. The city, nicknamed "Medieval Manhatten" (seriously, who comes up with these nicknames), was largely spared from the wars … Continue reading Weekend in Ghent, Belgium
Berlin, the capital of Germany, is known for its historical landmarks, colorful cultural scene, and juxtaposition of the past and present. This unique blend brought Berlin to the top of our list to visit. Although the promise of German cuisines like spicy currywurst and drinks like a crisp Berliner Weiss helped tip the scales. My impression … Continue reading Weekend in Berlin, Germany
Travel is returning to normal, masks are disappearing, and we have nearly exhausted all possible weekend trips by train. Now, we are taking advantage of easy direct flights from Lyon. And to be honest, we are close to exhausting these options too. When we had a free weekend between our Easter Amsterdam weekend and my … Continue reading Let It Be London
The traditional saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers." But for us, Spring arrived early as April delivered blooming fields of colorful tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils right outside of Amsterdam. Amsterdam has been on our list to visit since we moved to France over two years ago. We originally planned to go to Amsterdam over … Continue reading Tulips, Hyacinths, and Daffodils (Oh My!) in the Netherlands
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go to the movie theatre in another country? It’s not something I’ve ever given much thought to. But I hope you’re at least curious to read on. While I avoid finishing up my blog posts on Amsterdam and London, let me tell you about our first experience … Continue reading Going to the Movies in France
As a cruel April Fools joke, the weather brought snow to Lyon for the first time all year on the first of the month. A quick reminder that while it may be Spring, it's not Spring weather yet! April Fools Day in France is known as Poisson d'Avril, literally translated to the fish of April. That name almost seems like … Continue reading Skiing in the Alps Part Two
Almost five years ago, Jordan and I experienced the northern lights for the first time while on vacation in Iceland. We were driving over a mountain pass in the late evening, and out of nowhere, the sky lit up in hues of green. Jordan quickly pulled the car on the side of the road and … Continue reading Hunting for the Northern Lights in Finland
Time moves differently as we get older. Some days never seem like they will never end, but months pass with a blink of an eye. How is it possible time can move so fast but so slow at the same time? And while it almost feels like we just arrived, as of February 27, we … Continue reading Living in France for Two Years
