celebrating joyful living every day. and dachshunds.
Bonjour! I've been thinking a lot lately about racism, sexism, and homophobia in American society. The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery once again throw into sharp relief the racial divide in the United States and the undeniable fact that our toxic culture places less value on certain lives than others,… Continue reading How to Be an Ally and Advocate
Bonjour! This post celebrates Joie de Vivre’s first anniversary. I started this blog one year ago this week, just shy of my 35th birthday. To celebrate, Joie de Vivre has a fresh look. I updated some style, design, and layout elements and created dedicated pages for food, travel, joyful living, and work. I'm also experimenting… Continue reading Happy First Anniversary, Joie de Vivre!
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #9 introduces Christiane Scheller, 36, the Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Scherzinger Pumpen in Furtwangen, Germany. Chris writes, “I was responsible for all marketing activities including the organisation of trade shows and events, print media, online marketing, and corporate communication strategies.” She… Continue reading How I Work #9: Christiane in Germany
Guten Tag! It’s German week here on Joie de Vivre! Today’s post shares the delights of Brotzeit, a simple picnic meal that’s easy to prepare and enjoy at home. Later this week, How I Work will feature my dear German friend, Christiane, who introduced me to Brotzeit and Orangina. What Is Brotzeit? A German dachshund… Continue reading German Brotzeit for Dinner
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #8 introduces Ryan Green, 36, a Field Curriculum Consultant for Medtronic based in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a member of product launch core teams and leads global training and education. For fun, Ryan loves to run and read, and also tipple the odd gin… Continue reading How I Work #8: Ryan in Alabama
Bonjour! This is a short post to say happy Memorial Day! I hope you had a nice holiday weekend and were able to relax and enjoy. I also want to thank you for following Joie de Vivre and supporting my writing. I appreciate you! This morning, I considered this quotation from William Henry Channing, a… Continue reading Happy Memorial Day from Joie de Vivre
Bonjour! One thing I do to increase joy in my daily life is try to elevate everyday items and activities. I use fun napkins at mealtimes; I bring daffodils (a happy surprise at the new house) from the garden into the home; I light a candle on my desk and use a pretty teacup when… Continue reading Recipe: How to Make Orangina at Home
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #7 introduces Ayanna Coleman, 32, who currently lives in Tokyo and runs her own business efficiency and marketing consultancy, Quill Shift. Ayanna writes, “I’m a business efficiency and marketing consultant. I work with new entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits who know their passion and… Continue reading How I Work #7: Ayanna in Tokyo
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #6 introduces Kelly Flynn, 41, an attorney in Weybridge, Vermont. After sixteen years, she is transitioning from corporate to advocacy work. Kelly enjoys hiking in the snow (“I’m terrified of snakes, so warm weather woods are out of the question”) and baking (“I won… Continue reading How I Work #6: Kelly in Vermont
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #5 introduces Dianah Kacunguzi, 35, a PhD candidate at the iSchool at the University of Illinois. Her dissertation research focuses on heritage informatics and she has also taught courses both at the graduate and undergraduate level. Dianah currently lives in Ankara, Turkey with her… Continue reading How I Work #5: Dianah in Turkey
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #4 introduces Sheramy Tsai, 42, of South Burlington, Vermont. She is a bachelor’s prepared registered nurse who has practiced in many fields, most recently school nursing. Sher describes her job as “Registered Nurse/ Nurse Manager/ Writer/ Producer/ Mom.” Sher writes, “In addition to being… Continue reading How I Work #4: Sheramy in Vermont
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #3 introduces Winnie Schats, 56, an information specialist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute from Zaandam, a suburb of Amsterdam. Winnie manages the NCI scientific information service alongside two (soon to be three) other colleagues. Her role focuses on managing the publication and data repository,… Continue reading How I Work #3: Winnie in Amsterdam
Welcome to another installment of How I Work! How I Work #2 introduces Kelly Rokosz, 35, a single stay-at-home mom and educator in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. A former primary grade classroom teacher, Kelly is currently homeschooling her son, 6, who would be in kindergarten, and daughter, almost 4. Kelly is the site coordinator for the… Continue reading How I Work #2: Kelly in Chicago
Welcome to How I Work! This series on Joie de Vivre highlights how women around the world are adjusting, coping, and working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. It features professionals living in Australia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and the United States (from Detroit and Chicago to Alabama and Vermont). How I Work #1… Continue reading How I Work #1: Margaret in Australia
Bienvenue to How I Work! This new series on Joie de Vivre highlights how women around the world are adjusting, coping, and working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Each post features the insights and experiences of a different female professional in locations across the globe. Whether full-time or part-time, entry-level or retired, a student… Continue reading Introducing the How I Work Project
"The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something." - Barack Obama Bonjour! The state of the world with coronavirus has me thinking. Thinking about my own life, thinking about the lives of others, thinking about the future of work, economics, and health. I am lucky. Almost every morning, I… Continue reading Global Pandemic: How Do I Help?
"Those French! They hate us, they smoke, they have a whole relationship with dairy products I don't understand." - Meg Ryan, French Kiss Bonjour! Though I am staying at home now per order of the Vermont governor in response to the pandemic, I am finding ways to stay positive and connected, help local businesses, have… Continue reading A French Dinner Party at Home
"Friendship is better because friends help you move, they drive you to the airport. Boyfriends just . . . Love you and marry you." - Leslie Knope, Parks & Recreation Bonjour! I hope this post finds you safe healthy during this time of coronavirus. I am adjusting to the new normal of working from home, cooking… Continue reading Moving into a New Home, with Dachshund
Bonjour! I hope you are all safe and healthy. I'm feeling overwhelmed and impotent, wondering what I can do to help during the coronavirus crisis. Today's post shares some information from my accountant and my own research about the newly enacted economic relief law in the United States, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security… Continue reading CARES Act Information
"Soup's not a meal!" - Kenny Bania, Seinfeld Bonjour! 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 Recipe: Tomato Soup and Quesadillas
"He who would travel happily must travel light." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Bonjour! 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 Bonjour! 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
"Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets." - Oscar Wilde Bonjour! 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 International Travel Tips
"I took your idea and I made it better." - Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation Bonjour! 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 Recipe: Slow Cooker Applesauce with Secret Ingredient
"Be a cupcake in a world full of muffins." - Anonymous Bonjour! 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 Recipe: Maple-Carrot “Pupcakes”
"The journey is the thing." - Homer, The Odyssey Bonjour! Ma Famille and I recently traveled to Galena, a small town in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River. L'Husband 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 an… Continue reading Airbnb Stay with a Dachshund
"I stand behind my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things." - Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation Bonjour! 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 Recipe: Chicken Power Salad
"I don't mean to brag, but I have irritable bowel syndrome." - Jeremy Jamm, Parks & Recreation Bonjour! 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 Bonjour! 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 Long Weekend in Vermont
"I’d say I'm about one cookie away from being happy." - Snoopy Bonjour! 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 Recipe: Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Dog Treats
"When you figure out your suitcase, you figure out your life." - Diane von Furstenberg Bonjour! 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 L'Husband and Le Chien can’t join me on this… Continue reading How to Pack for a Long Weekend
Bonjour! Welcome to Joie de Vivre! I am excited to write my first post and share a little bit about myself with you. My name is Katie Chamberlain and I love to write, travel, cook, and organize. I am also an ardent linguist and Francophile. Despite my nerd-like tendencies (I have a law degree and… Continue reading Welcome to Joie de Vivre!
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