We’re just a few weeks away from our move to France, and you might think I wouldn’t have much time for surfing the internet. But you’d be wrong, because our entire family oh-so-conveniently came down with Covid, and it took us out for nearly a week. Maybe we needed a bit of forced downtime before the mad rush that will be our final weeks in the U.S. On the docket: Finishing our bathroom renovation, visiting family for Thanksgiving, packing, various home repairs, and saying a lot of tearful goodbyes. Until then, here’s what has caught my eye online this week.
- What it’s actually like to buy a chateau in France (Conde Nast Traveler). If this sounds like a dream to you, I hope you have already watched Escape to the Chateau, because it is my favorite show ever.
- We’re spending a few days in Paris before taking the train to Bordeaux, and I’ve been making a list of things to do while we’re there. Besides checking out the holiday displays at all of the department stores (and doing a bit of Christmas shopping), I’m looking forward to checking out the light displays at the Jardin des Plantes. It looks epic, and I know Oli will love it!
- How to spend the perfect Christmas in Paris (T+L). Yep, taking all the notes!
- I also can’t wait to visit my favorite store in Paris, Merci, to see their holiday wares. This made me squeal with excitement.
- I bought this Sezane cardigan in black, but I’m thinking I really need the red… P ère Noel?
- I follow a lot of Instagram creators focused on teaching French, but some of them can be a bit grating and condescending. My favorite is Seedlang French — I find that she makes my mindless browsing much more productive.
- Another favorite French account: Manon Lagreve. She’s a French cookbook author living in London who shares approachable French-inspired recipes that almost make me believe that I can cook.
- I’m trying out TikTok, and one of my first posts is about what I’ll miss about our life in the U.S. Did you see it?
- Not a week goes by that I don’t find some amazing French country home and threaten to buy it on the spot. This one in a picturesque village has five bedrooms, a big garden, and a heated swimming pool — all for 318,000€. Who would want to visit us there?