travel ~ food ~ joyful living
He who would travel happily must travel light.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Rue Ste-Catherine in the Gay Village of Montréal, Québec, Canada, May 2016 Salut! I love to travel and enjoy planning trips, organizing what I will need to take, and sharing what I've learned about the process (through beaucoup de trial and error) over… Continue reading Ultimate Travel Packing List
Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets.” ― Oscar Wilde Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, October 2018 Salut! After a brief break from blogging while Ma Famille and I relocated from Illinois to Vermont, I am ready to get back to writing! I'm thinking about 2020 travel plans - which hopefully includes trips to London and Tokyo -… Continue reading Two International Travel Tips
I took your idea and I made it better.” ― Leslie Knope Salut! For a recent Oktoberfest shindig with Ma Famille, I decided to experiment with a new applesauce recipe. I've made applesauce in a Dutch oven on the stove, but never before in the slow cooker, and never before with a special secret ingredient.… Continue reading Slow Cooker Applesauce with Secret Ingredient
Be a cupcake in a world full of muffins.” ― Anonymous Salut! In honor of Le Chien's second birthday, I decided to continue my foray into pet-friendly baking. As summer rolls into fall, I feel the call to bake even more acutely than normal. Baking brings me a lot of pleasure and honors my commitment… Continue reading Maple-Carrot “Pupcakes”
The journey is the thing.” ― Homer, The Odyssey Salut! Ma Famille and I recently traveled to Galena, a small town in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River. Mon Mari and I rented a historic miner’s cottage via Airbnb and took Le Chien with us. Today’s post shares our highs and lows of staying in… Continue reading Galena Airbnb with a Pet, August 2019
I stand behind my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things.” ― Leslie Knope Salut! I recently wrote about my experience with IBS and experimenting with a low-FODMAP diet. Planning a day's worth of FODMAP-friendly meals can be challenging, and I tend to eat the same things over and over (and over). But I… Continue reading Chicken Power Salad – Low-FODMAP and Gluten-Free
I don’t mean to brag, but I have irritable bowel syndrome.” ― Jeremy Jamm, Parks & Recreation Salut! During the past four years since my irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis, I have experimented with ways to manage my persistent mal à l'estomac through diet. While my gastroenterologist at the time prescribed an omeprazole to treat… Continue reading Low-FODMAP Diet for IBS
All in all, Vermont is a jewel state, small but precious.” ― Pearl S. Buck Salut! My long weekend in Vermont to visit Mes Parents was just as relaxing and beautiful as I'd hoped. There is indeed something précieux about that small state tucked between the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the White River. I… Continue reading Vermont Scrapbook, August 2019
I’d say I’m about one cookie away from being happy.” ― Snoopy Salut! Baking and cooking are two activities that enhance my personal joie de vivre. Since I became a dog mom, I have always wanted to experiment with baking dog treats, but have been too skeptical to try. In fact, Le Chien's favorite word… Continue reading Pumpkin Dog Treats
When you figure out your suitcase, you figure out your life.”― Diane von Furstenberg Salut! This weekend, I am visiting Mes Parents in Vermont. They recently retired from central Illinois to Middlebury and I haven’t seen their new cottage yet. The bad news is that Mon Mari and Le Chien can’t join me on this… Continue reading Packing for a Long Weekend in Vermont
