We are back in our cozy spot in Nice after a long travel day and some hardcore settling back in. After unpacking our goodies and switching out too small baby clothes and winter sweaters, dare I say we’re settled back in?
We flew from Houston to Charles de Gaulle, landing on the morning of december 31. Unfortunately, we missed our flight to Nice and had to spend an extra five hours in cdg airport, but on the bright side we spent some time in the emily in paris lounge. Around 7pm on new years eve, we arrived back at our apartment. We had already backed out of our ambitious evening plans of a gladiator themed party in Monaco. and all any of us wanted to do was hit the hay. We bathed Charlotte, ran down to the grocery to stock up before the holiday and did some unpacking.
On new years day, we hosted friends for an American bagel brunch. Our carry-on was stuffed with fresh bagels we had picked up the morning of our flight from Houston. Our french friend made crêpes, our norwegian friend made lussekatter, and we toasted with champagne the advent of a new year. We wrote down our resolutions, and dressed in many layers to jump in the sea for a january 1 polar plunge.
The rest of the week was spent unpacking, reorganizing, readapting to french ways of live and dusting off my rusty french. Over the weekend, we saw our friends perform Taming of the Shrew, had pizza and played card games. On Sunday, we spent the afternoon celebrating the epiphany(when the three wise men arrived to bethlehem) with the galette des rois, where a figurine or fève is hidden in each the cake and whoever finds it in their piece is crowned as king or queen. I was lucky!
Starting Monday, the goal has been to cook more, stay on top of laundry and catch up on writing and visionboarding for the new year.
favorite reads
be ready when the luck comes by ina garten-although I began it in 2024, it’s the first book I’ve finished this year
the women by kristin hannah-another one I devoured and finished in two days with some way too late nights
gospel moms-after devouring those two books, I’m slowing down with a book not on a kindle screen that takes a bit more savouring to get through
still listening to what I ate in a year-by stanley tucci
this substack about organizing in 2025
favorite eats
a quick veggie chili from caro chambers new book and cooking as much as I can from it
neilson’s famous pasta carbonara
eating seasonally-making fritattas with whatever produce I can find
ina garten’s famous outrageous brownies
steak + caesar with anchovy croutons
endive salad with roquefort and walnut bagna cauda
fresh fruit sliced-grapefruits, oranges + persimmons
wearing
coming home to things I haven’t seen since last winter feels like having a brand new wardrobe!
my staples are mirth wool sweaters
mother denim…I added a pair to my repertoire before we left the US because they’re my most worn jeans
long coats and scarves
lounge sets…basically the first thing I slip when I walk back into the house
freshening up our space
thinking of creative ways to freshen up charlotte’s spaces since she’s changing so quickly and starting to love playing with actual toys and books
ordered some goodies from camomile london winter sale to freshen up her bedding/pjs-they have the sweetest fabric prints
got her a mini kitchen off amazon that needs assembling this evening
received a shipment of furniture from my grandparents’ flat in london-korean heirlooms and originals painted by my grandma
color blocking…still reading my josef albers book and using color to create sketches and paintings which have made their ways around the house.
moodboarding hardcore-physically and on pinterest
found some treasures at the thrift store this week including a marble top vanity, mirrored glass serving tray, copper pot and pieces of marble to place under plant pots or on side tables
french (re)faves
pain au chocolat
french vin
drinking from silver coupes
charvin art store for supplies
monday antique market and thrifting
that’s all for now. we are praying and thinking of all of those in la affected by these devastating fires and hoping everyone stays safe.
xxf
