After a tough year of restrictions and event cancelations, the Bastille Day events would recommence this year throughout France. I planned to take Bastille Day off instead of the Fourth of July this year at work. We then made plans to travel to Paris and experience the celebrated events on July 14. Even though many … Continue reading Bastille Day in Paris
The long-awaited opening of terraces arrived in France on Wednesday, May 19. Restaurants and bars that are lucky enough to have an outdoor space reopened precisely 203 days after closing for the second lockdown in October. Previously a ghost town, our neighborhood is starting to feel alive again. In the days leading up to the … Continue reading Enjoying the Terraces in France
French macarons are one of the most widely recognized items alongside croissants, berets, and baguettes. I’ve always loved eating them but recently enjoyed making them. These colorful pastries are perfectly smooth on top with raised feet, a chewy bite, and a decadent filling. But were they always this picture-perfect? Let’s explore the history and origin … Continue reading The History of French Macarons
Choose your side. Are you team "Valentine's Day is an artificial holiday created is a holiday created by candy and card companies to sell more products?" Or are you team "Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year" and think of grandiose plans to spend the day? For me, I'm more of the … Continue reading Valentine’s Day in France
February 2 is a day rooted in different traditions all over the world. It's a day for many that determine the outlook for the upcoming year. Americans look forward to February 2 every year to see if winter will be extended or determine if spring is on the way. Certain religions celebrate this day as … Continue reading French Traditions: Chandeleur and Crepes
They say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. But what happens when you drink too much of it? Is too much of a good thing actually a bad thing? All that acidity is sure to damage your teeth, and there's a lot of sugar in lemonade. We've been making a lot of lemonade lately in Lyon, … Continue reading How Much Lemonade Can Be Made From Lemons?
Have you ever had a love-hate relationship with something? Maybe you love your new haircut, but you hate all the maintenance required to keep it looking like it did when you walked out of the salon. Or maybe you love cooking, but you hate that it takes one hour to cook something devoured in five … Continue reading The Maldives: Paradise is Waiting
According to Jordan, "it's not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi plaza." So to officially kick off the Christmas season in the Shane household, we watched the movie Die Hard. If you aren't familiar with the thirty-two-year-old movie, let's break it down. The story follows John McClane, a police officer who decides to visit his wife … Continue reading A COVID Christmas Season
I don't know about you, but Fall is my favorite time of year. Cold nights and crisp air start to fill the air. Oversized sweaters come out from the back of the closet. Warm blankets now have a permanent place on our couch. Trees begin to change from green to vibrant shades of orange and … Continue reading Chasing After Fall Foliage
Stop what you are doing. Close your eyes and take a minute to think about how you are feeling at this exact moment. What was the first thing that came to your mind? Stressed? Sleepy? Joyful? How about happy? And if happy did not come to mind, now think about something that makes you happy. Maybe … Continue reading Why Are Norwegians So Happy?
