joyful living
"Soup's not a meal!" - Kenny Bania, Seinfeld Salut! The disruption of daily life by the coronavirus pandemic has forced many to “shelter in place” or “stay home, stay safe,” as we call it in the United States, and I’m noticing chatter online about how to prepare easy meals at home. I recently wrote about… Continue reading Tomato Soup and Quesadillas: A Simple Meal at Home
"He who would travel happily must travel light." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 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 the years. As 2019 draws to a close, I'm beginning to think… Continue reading Ultimate Travel Packing List
"We have to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third." - Leslie Knope, Parks & Recreation Salut! After a hiatus from the blog, during which I prepared and sat for the Vermont bar exam (as fun as it sounds), I am excited to be writing again on… Continue reading How to Work from Home – Tips from a Pro
"Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets." - Oscar Wilde 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 - and want to share… Continue reading Two Essential Tips for International Travel
"I took your idea and I made it better." - Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation 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… 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
"I stand behind my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things." - Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation 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… 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 five 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
