Food Styling + Photography with Aran Goyoaga in France: Part 1

Truly, France is a beautiful country, no matter the region; but, this part of the Dordogne (or Périgord as the locals say) is particularly spectacular.  The limestone cliffs, lush foliage, beautiful cows, multiple chateau, and a darn good patisserie all come together to create the perfect place for a workshop in the Valley of the Five Chateau (or Vallée des Cinq Chateaux).  

I am grateful for the opportunity to have hosted a workshop with the hugely talented Aran Goyoaga, who is an incredible inspiration to those who love creating and enjoying food.  Putting this workshop together was such an enjoyable experience and I relished in the chance to meet some incredible women.  Isn't it wonderful how the internet connects us all and allows us the opportunity to meet people we wouldn't otherwise know in our day-to-day lives?  This aspect of blogging is what keeps me going through life's challenges.  

Over the course of the next week, I look forward to sharing many more images with you from our time together in France...

Guests settled into the manoir on Sunday evening and awoke the next morning ready to enjoy a gourmet breakfast before meeting Aran.  After learning a little about each other, we set off for the manoir's Moroccan-inspired kitchen (a homage to our lovely hostess' roots) to begin the process of preparing, styling and photographing food in a natural setting.  Lots of fun was had as our guests milled about making recipes from Aran's new cookbook (which is exquisite by the way) and her delicious archives.  I still can't believe how many cooks we had in the kitchen that day!  

The view from the manoir was all the inspiration we needed to jumpstart the morning (the tiny town set into the cliff is La Roque-Gageac).  Although bright and sunny the previous day, clouds covered the valley Monday morning, creating the ideal backdrop for photographing.  

"Students" paired off to work with each other--this duo found a quiet spot just outside the kitchen.



A view of the beautiful window where they photographed...

Access to a beautiful garden, complete with herbs and flowers of all kinds, was a wonderful perk.  Anyone who is familiar with Aran's style knows that she enjoys using both when styling.  Ouafaa, the manoir's proprietress, has put so much love into the grounds over the years and we were grateful for the opportunity to use it during the workshop.

Later on in the day we set off to shoot at a chateau down the road...I have many pictures to share with you so stay tuned tomorrow morning!

Aprons provided by The Apron Society and Sew a Fine Seam

Mighty Summit

This year's Mighty Summit could not have arrived at a better time; of course, one look at our family’s calendar that month may prompt you to think otherwise (we moved to another home in our neighborhood and a workshop to France was coming up).  But a retreat centered on planning a deliberate, thoughtful and ambitious life is always a good thing.  At any time.  I peeked at the list of this year’s attendees and found that I didn’t know anyone really.  At first I felt a short wave of panic, but I quickly reminded myself of the beauty that can be found in unknown situations.



A stroke of pure luck led me to room with Christine Koh, founder of Boston Mamas.  I instantly wished I’d known her when we lived in Boston.  She is kind, wise, authentic and blessed with enthusiasm.  I also enjoyed connecting and sharing notes with Kate (Modern Baby), who also lived in France for a year with her husband and two small children.  There is an ease about her that makes you feel like you could share your life story and she’d keep it safe.  And last, there was Katherine Stone, who waited for me at the airport for an additional 2 hours because I barely missed my flight to SFO.  I was so touched by her goodness and kind heart.



Before heading to Mighty Summit, we were to create (or add on to) a Life List, which is essentially a “bucket list” of about 100 things we want to accomplish during our lifetime.  As we all know, it’s so easy to become caught up in the day-to-day…not thinking beyond the next week or even 24 hours.  I’ll be forever grateful for Maggie and her crew for creating a retreat that essentially forced me (and 25 other women), to gather momentum for going out and doing those things that will enrich us and others.  If the opportunity to attend Mighty Summit hadn’t arisen, I would seriously consider attending Camp Mighty; because for me, and many others I believe, there is much to be said for strength in numbers.

The day we walked through the majestic redwoods of Northern California and met as a group in a grove was truly inspiring.  Many shared some of their most intimate thoughts and fears.  And then asked for help from a group they’d only known a few days.  These are the women who have my respect and admiration.  Vulnerability is a scary thing, to be sure; butt, it adds a depth to our spirits that talent and taste cannot.  In fact, Maggie already knows this as she gifted us Brené Brown’s new book, Daring Greatly.  Now there’s a person who really speaks to me. 

Now, there is absolutely no reason we can’t all uplift and support one another when it comes to achieving the things we always think about, but never do (I have many myself.  It feels a bit scary and intimidating to even think about accomplishing our seemingly out-of-reach goals.  This is something I know firsthand and quite honestly it can be downright paralyzing (this site will surely help!).  However, I do know that there is a peace that comes from moving forward with our goals--the type of peace that spills forth joy and satisfaction beyond measure.  And I wish that peace upon each and every one of you. 

Have a lovely week!

p.s. view professional images from MS here. 

Bonjour

This week I am so grateful to be staying in my sweet, little cottage, La Maisonnette, while hosting a food styling and photography workshop with the talented Aran Goyoaga and her assistant, Nadia.  We are working hard, but to be honest, 12 - 15 hour days don't feel nearly as laborious in France;    somehow all the cheese, confiture, pastries and yogurt make it all better :)  Truly, I am bursting with joy at the opportunity to be here this week.

I am excited to tell you all about it just as soon as I can.  In the meantime, I've been posting madly on Instagram (which you can also view on Twitter); it's such a quick and easy way to share little snippets of real life.  Love it.

Anyway, I do hope your week is off to a good start and that you have a wonderful day wherever you may be~

xoxo

images by me

Vibrant Color: Japanese Pens + Spanish Linens

Feeling a bit foggy this morning?  Here's a small burst of color to awaken your senses...

I spotted these delicious-looking Japanese pens in the latest Madewell catalog and pretty much can't stop thinking about them.  The cobalt, the yellow, the green, the everything.  Perhaps a grouping of one color?  Or one of each?  Not sure.  But at $10 a pop, I'll save this heart's desire for my Christmas or birthday wish list.  Since they are only available online and not in Madewell stores, I am dreaming of visiting the newly-opened Delfonics boutique under the Louvre in Paris (a fun place to peek around after spending some time enjoying the amazing art).  The little snippets I'm seeing online look gorgeous.  Note to self: create more paperwork to justify spendier-than-usual office supplies.

Also adding color to my desktop today are these gorgeous napkins from Spanish-favorite, MyDrap; which are now thankfully available in the US (previously I've only been able to pick them up from Merci).  I keep a modest stash of these here at home and relish in having an occasion to whip them out for a meal.  As an added bonus, you can wash these hemstitched-napkins-on-a-roll and use them again (but you'll have to iron them and maybe even use a little starch).  I've enjoyed watching the color offerings expand each year and I confess I'm dying to get a hold of a few of those hues above.

I hope you have a cheerful day!

Teach Your Children Well + a Vintage French Cookbook

Perhaps all of the hours I've recently clocked on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Pandora station (best.station.ever.) have resonated.  Or perhaps I am finally tired of thinking about doing something for so long that I can I must talk about it openly here--for accountability purposes :)  Let me explain...



So you see, one of the boxes I'd like to check on my ever-lengthening-parenting to-do list is to teach my children the skills I have.  Nothing fancy, really...just things like "make pancakes", "how to run a load of laundry" and "how to play Ticket to Ride".  I feel so strongly that not sharing my knowledge with my children is such a disservice to them.  Yet, I struggle so much with implementation; despite the fact that my inner voice has been telling me this for a couple of years now.

Strangely enough, this classic, vintage, French book--a gift from my mother-in-law who picked it up for me at a Paris flea market--is going to be the motivating factor for finally tackling this weighty issue.  I refuse to be the mother who sends her kids off to college without knowing how to cook a proper meal (thankfully I have almost 10 years to teach 'em!).   This darling children's cookbook, complete with a forward by Jean Cocteau, is titled, "La Cuisine est un Jeu D'enfants"; which basically means that `cooking is child's play'.  This is according to the French, bien sur!

Between the charming illustrations, simply stated directions and cooking tips (like "don't flip over the crepe" and "don't put the mayonnaise in the fridge...ever!), I know my 2 oldest will be tickled when I initiate a little kitchen date for the 3 of us.  The deal will be this: I will teach them how to make a simple meal (and clean it up); in return, they can use the opportunity to teach me a few more French words and phrases.

I am hoping that as I seek to create these opportunities more often, and subsequently deal with the potential chaos of teaching a child a new skill, that I will actually grow more fond of the process.   And then perhaps it will feed on itself and become a more natural part of my parenting style.  A mother can always hope...

If you have any thoughts or advice on the subject, I would love to hear them!

note: vintage copies from 1963 can be found here and a new hardback copy can be picked up here. 

images by me

Zara Kids

On Monday, I popped into Zara in San Francisco with my mama. Gray desperately needed some non-truck/car/Star Wars clothing to mix things up a bit and for some reason most of the hand-me-downs from his older brother have almost entirely disappeared.  He is my youngest child, as most of you know, and quite honestly the only one I can dress 100% of the time.  Everyone else has some sort of opinion on the matter (drat!).

I made every attempt to stick to the boys clothes, but we all know that the girls sections are more fun, so I had to take a quick jaunt through the brocade, gold and plaid.  You have no idea what kind of self-discipline I drummed up that morning as I ran my hands across potential Christmas dresses and sweet coats.  Focus, focus...

Also, for some strange reason, I always (always!) forget that Zara has an e-commerce site (you'll find prices fairly similar to H&M fyi).  So if you don't live in or near San Francisco (or another Zara-sporting city), you can order frocks online instead.  Consider this your reminder...and mine :)

Ode to Summer

Here in the Pacific Northwest we cherish our brief summers like many of you cherish a cup of coffee, a bar of good chocolate, or your fabulous babysitter.  The season is only about 7-ish weeks long and even then we are known to have some chilly days intermittently (I saw more than a handful of down jackets at the pool in July).  However, while short, these two months are absolutely glorious. Downright magical even.  I have to say that I've never appreciated or enjoyed summer like I do here in Seattle.  Undoubtedly, I ate my more than my fair share of cherries and tried to sit smack dab in the sun as often as possible.  

Today's post is my ode to summer and one of {hopefully} many attempts at being more "glass-half-full".   I know that for some, summer ends once the kiddos are back in school; but I am holding on to these last couple of weeks as if it's a competitive game of tug-o-war.  I will not be letting go before I have to...

1.  Baby Gray, throwing rocks and a vintage romper (from Etsy).  I wish I could package that little boy right up. 

2.  Exploring both on land and off, empty beaches within minutes of home, and a pop of red a la Corot.

3.  Homemade raspberry freezer jam and berry picking.

4.  Collections, texture and no socks.

5.  Lemonade, blue skies, and running along the beach.

6.  We may have looked a little silly, but boy did we have a great time on this surrey.  Admittedly, all I could think about the entire time is that song from the musical, Oklahoma.  "Won't you take me out in the surrey...".

7.  Hanging out by the water, encouragement and taking turns on the rope swing.  It took a village to get some of us out on the rope swing; you know, the one that drops you into icy, glacier water that chills you right to your bones!

p.s. I totally did it.  3 times.  I think I surprised my kids, which was pretty much priceless. 

What are your summer highlights?  Is there anything you did this summer that you are just so proud of?  So happy you did?  I love to hear how other people spend their summers and what they make time to do during this special season...

Links to Love: Sweet Gifts for Babies + a Moving Update

Hello, hello!  It's Friday and I hope you're excited about your weekend.  These first few weeks in September when the weather straddles both Summer and Fall are amongst my favorite in the entire year--enjoy them if you can~

Many of you know that we moved this week to a different home in our neighborhood.  It was fairly last minute, which was both a blessing and a curse :)  Our new place, albeit smaller, has a couple of charming dormers and a boxwood hedge--both of which delight me so.  The last few days have been non-stop unpacking, but this weekend I will be taking a break from settling in here, in order to attend Mighty Summit in Northern California.  Are you familiar with the event?  It's an event put on by social media maven Maggie Mason and is centered around personal Life Lists.  I do not know what to expect, but I believe it will be a positive experience and for that I am grateful.  Like many things in life, the opportunity to attend didn't come at the most ideal time, but I simply cannot pass it up.  My heart and mind are open and I am quite honestly excited to not have to get up at the crack o' dawn (Maggie, you're not going to make us do yoga at 6 a.m. are you?).

A couple of things before signing off for the weekend~

1.  Were you 1 of the 3 people that won a $100 gift card to Minted this week?  Those are pretty good odds my friends.

2.  My kids went back to school this week and the subject of pencil pouches has come more than once with my 5th grader (ouch, it hurts to say that last part...where has the time gone?).  I believe this charming case is my all-time favorite.

3.  There are a few things I love to gift to friends who've recently given birth--Sophie la Girafe, peter pan collared clothing from Kayce Hughes or Olive Juice and now this simple but beautiful bib made of Lithuanian linen.  It's perfect for both a baby girl or boy, which I love.

4.  If you feel like getting lost in a blog, in beautiful images, spend some time on Nadia's blog this week--visual refreshment for the soul.

image of Dahlias taken in my old place - freshly picked from a local farm and just plain cheerful