Joyful Living

My Happy at Home Basket

Bonjour! I spend a lot of time at home by choice - I’m a natural-born homebody - and by necessity - the COVID-19 pandemic has me (mostly) sheltering in place with a newborn, a dachshund, and my reentry anxiety cranked up to eleven. I’ve always loved being at and making a home. When I was… Continue reading My Happy at Home Basket

Family, Pregnancy, Wellness

Self-Care Tips for Pregnancy

Bonjour! To put it mildly, the world is going to hell in a hand basket. It’s been a long two (plus) years during the pandemic. And it’s okay to feel drained (emotionally, physically, grammatically) and take a relaxation moment to rest and restore. Building off some 2021 musings on self-care, today's post shares some tips… Continue reading Self-Care Tips for Pregnancy

Joyful Living

2021 Blog Year in Review

Bonjour! I'm sharing this a week later than intended, but I was making rather merry at home last week while on staycation with L'Husband and Le Chien. Better late than never, right? Le wink. Something about the end of the year makes me nostalgic, from that back-to-school feeling that starts in September (even though I’m… Continue reading 2021 Blog Year in Review

Wellness

Yoga Tips for the (Home) Office

Bonjour! As we come up on one year of quarantine and staying at home, I'm thinking about ways to incorporate yoga tips into my work routine. I tend to sit rigid at my desk, hunched a the computer, without taking enough breaks to stand up, shake it off, and make time for self-care. Today's post… Continue reading Yoga Tips for the (Home) Office

Joyful Living

Happy First Anniversary, Joie de Vivre!

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!

How I Work Project

How I Work #9: Christiane in Germany

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #8: Ryan in Alabama

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

Food, Recipes

Recipe: How to Make Orangina at Home

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #7: Ayanna in Tokyo

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #6: Kelly in Vermont

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #5: Dianah in Turkey

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #4: Sheramy in Vermont

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #3: Winnie in Amsterdam

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #2: Kelly in Chicago

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

How I Work Project

How I Work #1: Margaret in Australia

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

How I Work Project

Introducing the How I Work Project

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

Joyful Living

CARES Act Information

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

Joyful Living

How to Work from Home

"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

Joyful Living

Welcome to Joie de Vivre!

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!