By Gabrielle. Dapper gentlemen via The Sartorialist: Lunch for 25, Edition III. Have you ever traveled someplace new and marveled at the way the locals dress? Me too. I always study women’s style for my own inspiration, but I also take note of what the men are wearing. That way, I can alert Ben Blair that cropped suit pants and no socks are quite the thing! When we lived in New York, men took fashion risks. It was completely normal not to double-take when seeing a guy wearing a skirt or brightly colored garb. Slowly but surely, fashion stopped mattering the bigger and bolder it got! Funny, right? In Colorado, men’s fashion was a little more earthy and functional. And in Europe, it seems like men are born wearing a scarf and layers that work in any climate and any setting. I’m totally looking forward to seeing what style secrets Oakland will share with my men! (So is Ralph!) What are the men wearing in your neck of the woods? More importantly, what do you wish they would wear?! P.S. — Oscar is developing some strong opinions about style. He had his hair cut on Tuesday morning, and independently of me and Ben, asked the stylist for a faux-hawk. Hearing him request it in French was pretty much the cutest thing ever.

By Koseli. Images via Taxi. Photographer Judy Gelles traveled the world to take portraits of fourth graders and ask them three questions: Who do you live with? What do you wish for? What do you worry about? The resulting photos and responses are as candid and frank as an interviewer could ask for —and so sweetly child-like. It’s also interesting to note that a common thread among the responses was an emphasis on their own family. How wonderful is that?

Image and text by Gabrielle Last week I was confidently telling Ben Blair that packing up would be a snap, and that we’d be able to spend this last week in France relaxing in this gorgeous home. Hah! Today my confidence is less confident. I forget so easily how quickly “stuff” accumulates. Let’s take schoolwork for example. Think of all the schoolwork your child brought home this year. Now times that by 6 kids. Now times that by 2 1/2 school years. That’s a lot of stuff! So we’re going through the stacks of notebooks and binders, and trying to make wise decisions on what to keep and what we won’t miss. And we’re helping the kids sort through their emotions about saying goodbye to things that might feel precious at the moment, but will be forgotten shortly. Then, figuring out if it’s better to ship the keepers to California, or if we can make room in our allotted luggage without going over airline weight limits. And that’s just the school stuff. : ) Oh man, I can not wait till the packing is done. I am plowing through it as quickly as possible because it’s my least favorite thing. But it’s not just the packing, I’m quite the basket case this week. Trying to pack. Trying to get my blog work done and my Alt Summit work done (Alt Summit SF is next week!). Desperately trying to be present during these last days before our move. Honestly, I don’t remember feeling this emotional about a move before. There’s so much in my head, and I want to write about it, but feel like I won’t have time for weeks. I’m craving more hours in the day in the worst way. Tell me, Friends. Have you had a particularly challenging move? Share your horror stories, and your most beautiful/hopeful moments mid-move. I’m sure I’m not alone! P.S. — Please forgive me if posts are late this week, or if I can’t respond to comments as quickly as I’d like to. I’m doing my best, I promise. : )

By Amy Hackworth. Image by Caravan Shoppe. We’ve heard repeatedly since we were young that money doesn’t buy happiness, but it can be tempting to test the theory out on our own, just to be sure. If you’re driving an old car, it’s hard to imagine you wouldn’t be a little happier with better gas mileage and air conditioning that actually works. And what if you could buy that perfect sofa that’s several hundred dollars out of your price range? Isn’t it possible that would make you just a bit happier? Research by professors Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton suggests that, for the most part, the old adage is true. A new car, or even a new house, doesn’t affect our happiness for long. Although we might experience initial excitement or enthusiasm for those kinds of purchases, we’re wrong when we predict they’ll make us happier. …

Can Money Buy Happiness?Read More »

[ UPDATE: Voting is now closed. ] By Gabrielle. If I don’t get enough sleep for a few nights in a row, I can pretty much guarantee a head cold. Are you the same? I woke up with one this morning and I’m trying to nip it in the bud quickly, because it’s only the second day of our summer vacation and having a sick mom is such a downer for my kids. Tell me, Friends: How do treat your colds? Tea with honey, a visit to your doctor, extra sleep, or over-the-counter meds? Feel free to chime in by clicking a checkmark above. As for me, I’m nursing my third cup cup of chamomile and taking a nap. : ) P.S. — Did you have a Happy 4th of July? Check out my instagram feed if you’d like to see what we were up to.

Image and text by Gabrielle. Hello, Friends! How are you doing? We are finally, sort-of, almost at the end of the school year! Ralph is done today. Maude and Olive will done on Tuesday. And Oscar and Betty will finish up on Wednesday. We’re in the home stretch! I’m pretty sure every American school is out for summer by now, but if not consider this a virtual fist-bump of solidarity for the longest school year ever. : ) Our big plans for the weekend? There’s a BBQ at the school on Saturday, and we also want to attack the ivy on The Cottage before it does more damage to the stone walls. I don’t know if I’ve ever looked forward to yard work so eagerly before! While I track down our gardening gloves and hedge clippers, here are a few things I thought you might enjoy: – Why tipping should be illegal — skip the video and just read the text. – It’s been awhile since I’ve watched a music video I’ve loved this much. Via Mrs. French. – Did you know you can rent a vintage airstream? – A scratch map to document your travels. – Build your own 35mm camera. – Culture does not make people. People make culture. (It’s 30 minutes, but so good!) – A pretty in pink nursery. – What happens to donated clothing? – Time to nominate your favorite entrepreneur for Martha Stewart’s American Made! Categories include food, craft, design, style, gardening, and technology. – On Babble this week: It’s time to pull out the flags! Here are ideas on how to decorate for The 4th. And a roundup of the best red, white & blue foods as well. I hope you have a marvelous weekend! I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already. kisses, Gabrielle P.S. — Alt Summit NYC inspired me to be more responsive on Instagram, and it’s been fun engaging in more conversations there. I’m @designmomblog if you’d like to follow along.

[ UPDATE: Voting is now closed. ] By Gabrielle. I was talking with Ben Blair about vacations and mentioned how much I care about the accommodations — for me, a good hotel room feels like the ultimate luxury. But I realized, it’s not the hotel room exactly, it’s that I want to relax on vacation, and the hotel room helps to facilitate that. Though really, I know there are plenty of people that would choose the beach for relaxation over a hotel room any day! So now I’m curious: When you think about and plan vacations, are you most drawn to the food scene, relaxation, culture & museums, or adventure? I’d love to know! Add your opinion by clicking on a checkmark above.

By Koseli. Image here. I am endlessly fascinated and terrified by anything that has to do with Mount Everest. I’ve read Into Thin Air, watched inumerable documentaries on the subject, and scoured the internet for as much information on the peak as possible. There’s no end to the mystery and thrilling stories behind that prestigious climb. And for as much as I try, I cannot wrap my head around why someone would want to climb such a treacherous mountain; at the same time, I can imagine the complete and utter rush of accomplishing such an incredible feat. This time-lapse video of Mt. Everest captures that other-worldly natural drama that makes this peak almost magnetic. I’d love to know: Is it hard for you to wrap your mind around such terrifying adventure like this? Or do you crave tackling seemingly insurmountable obstacles? And, just because I might die if one of you says yes: Has anyone climbed Mt. Everest?!! P.S. — George Mallory, an English mountaineer who tackled Mt. Everest in the early 1920s, is famous for responding to the question, “Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest?” with “Because it’s there.” The audacity, am I right?

Photos and text by Gabrielle. Okay. Let’s just get this out there. My blog is going to have a split personality for the next year, or probably longer. I’ll be talking about the French cottage in the countryside. Giving updates on the renovation. Sharing photos. And very likely taking trips back to France when we need to make in-person decisions. But I’ll also be talking about Oakland. Very urban Oakland. What it’s like to settle in. What we figure out for schools. And how we’re making our house a home. I hope it will be more fun and interesting than it is confusing. But who knows? We’ll find out soon enough. : ) This one is a cottage post. On Tuesday, we met with an architect named Bernard Pasquier. And it was the dreamiest sort of meeting. Bernard is actually retired and he’s only taking on passion projects at the moment. So before he would commit to our project, he wanted to meet us, and visit the property to “get a feel for the spirit of the place”. He also wanted us to see his work in person to make sure his style was a good fit for us. So we had our first meeting at his home. It’s the building pictured above. A converted mill. And it’s stunning! See the bridge heading to the top floor? That’s the entrance. He designed the bridge himself. And that top floor? It’s a modern open loft with French industrial influences. It looks like it would be right at home in Soho. I love it. Oh man. I was in awe at the space and couldn’t believe how lucky we were to meet him. We really wanted to work with a local architect if at all possible, but we are so rural there aren’t many around, so to be introduced to Bernard feels like such a gift. And guess who made the introduction? The same family that owns La Cressonnière. They know all the coolest people! I swear. At that point, we knew it would be ideal to have him as our architect, but he still needed to see our cottage. And what if he didn’t like it? It’s so modest, and in such ruin! But he went with us to the property, inspected every inch of it, and spent some time walking around the building. His conclusion: it’s a special place with a really unique outbuilding. And yes, he’s going to work with us! As an extra bonus, Bernard speaks about as much English as we speak French, and we understand each other quite well. During our conversation, Bernard would typically speak French, and we would answer in English. It worked out for everybody! We couldn’t be happier. This adventure is really happening! We can hardly believe it. Tell me, Friends. Have you ever worked with an architect before? Any tips? I haven’t and don’t quite know what to expect. But I’m excited! P.S. — I’m thinking I should create a “Cottage” tab and an “Oakland” tab to make it easier to follow along. Watch for it.

By Gabrielle. Photo of Kate Winslet by Alexi Lubomirksi for Harper’s Bazaar UK. I’m kind of embarrassed to tell you how taken I am with my long hair these days. It has finally grown! (Remember my post-June hair fallout drama?) I take my vitamins, twirl it when I’m on the phone, find myself braiding small strands while brainstorming, and am trying to master that super cool pencil-bun trick. You know the one: “Oh, this? No big deal. Just a pencil and my awesome long hair.” Ha! But then I went to Alt Summit last week in New York. And, oh my my. The girls with short hair made me forget how much I love my finally-not-falling-out locks. I don’t know what it is about short styles. They make faces look fresher. Outfits look crisp. Cheeks glow. Smiles shine from across the room. I don’t think I’ll be cutting my hair anytime soon. But I’ll be temped! How about you? Are the warmer temps luring you to the hair salon? Have you been pinning any inspiring hairstyles? Or are you one of those cute things already rocking the faux hawk?

This post is sponsored by Kiwi Crate — a fresh, fun learning experience every month!   Everyone is talking about Kiwi Crates! I’ve seen the company mentioned in Parents magazine, in Martha Stewart and even on Goop. Have you heard about them, too? Once a month, they send a package to your home filled with everything you need for simple + educational crafts your kids will love. You can order a multi-month subscription, or you can order individual crates. And all those art supplies that come in the boxes? You can order them individually as well! Which is perfect for when your child really loves a certain material, but you don’t want to reorder an entire crate. The crate themes are cute and creative. Some are art-based, some are science-based, some are history-based, but all are very useable and realistically doable. Kiwi Crate is also offering a Summer Discovery Series specifically for the warm weather months — crates with themes like nature, water, and flight. When I’m ready to stock my summer fun cupboard (my kids still have another week of school!), this is what will be on my shopping list: – natural eco-dough – beeswax crayons – farmer’s market crate – no-spill paint cups – colorful yarn to use with a pom-pom winder – rubber grip brushes – busy with bugs crate And after I’ve ordered up my supplies, I’ll head straight to the extensive DIY section to find tons of ideas on how to put those supplies to use. Wouldn’t a subscription to Kiwi Crates be so fun for the summer? I’m sure my kids would LOVE getting their very own package in the mail. And I’ll bet yours would too! Tell me: Are you an artsy craftsy family? Will your kids be craving projects this summer?

By Gabrielle. When Ginger first contacted me about participating in a Living With Kids tour, she mentioned her love of books. Little did I know, her interview would read like an old favorite. I found myself getting lost in her description of her boys, carried away by her comments about her home and how she ultimately fell in love with it, and the way she writes about being a mother…Oh, it’s all pretty wonderful! She told me to feel free to edit her thoughts, but I just couldn’t do it. So please, grab something to drink, find a cozy spot, and curl up with this tour! This is Ginger Johnson. Q: Please tell us all about the family who lives here! A: I’m Ginger. I spend my days writing books for children and young adults, and my nights masquerading as Omnimom the Enforcer, ensuring that homework and chores are done, piano and cello are practiced, lunches for the next day are prepared, showers are taken, projects are worked on (A whale on stilts costume with laser eyes? Really? A dodo bird carved out of Styrofoam? Sigh), and most importantly, ensuring that everyone knows that I love them. I occasionally check in as Pantry Girl, particularly during canning season. …

Living With Kids: Ginger JohnsonRead More »

By Koseli. Projecteo is a tiny projector for your Instagrams. This is how to works: connect your Instagram account to Projecteo and they develop your shots onto 35mm film. Both the projector and film are sent to you through snail mail and voila, you have a slideshow party waiting to happen. Can you imagine doing this for a children’s birthday party or family reunion? It would be so fun! You can read more about the simple process here.

By Gabrielle. It was fun to see the guesses come in last Friday and over the weekend. At last count, 55% of people who voted guessed San Francisco. And they guessed right. We’re moving to the Bay Area!! The home we’re moving to is actually in Oakland, not San Francisco. But when I’ve mentioned Oakland to people, some give me a blank stare (apparently most of our French friends have not heard of it), so I’ve mostly been telling people we’re moving to San Francisco. : ) We actually don’t know much about Oakland at all, so we’re trying to get caught up! We’ve heard it referred to as East Bay, Berkeley, and Oaktown, and several friends have described it as the Brooklyn of the Bay Area. If you are an Oakland lover, I hope you’ll chime in with some of your favorite things about the city — and I’ve been scouring SFGirlbyBay’s Oakland guide, too! Here are a few FAQs we’ve been getting about the move: Q: Why are you moving? A: We first made plans to move because the family that owns La Cressonnière was going to move back in. They’ve since decided to stay in Australia for another year or more, so yes, we could have stayed around. But we feel like it’s time to head back. Ralph and Maude are ready to try American high school. And sometimes, living here affects how easily we can run our businesses. But we hope we stay tied to Normandy for the rest of our lives! In fact, we hope our cottage purchase ensures that we do. But the whole family agrees that it’s time for us to head back to the U.S.. …

Oakland!Read More »

By Amy Hackworth. Image by Justin Hackworth for Alt. In a series of tips about joyful living in July’s “O Magazine,” a little piece by Chef Thomas Keller caught my eye. He writes about the idea of being prepared, in the kitchen and in life, and uses the term mise en place. It’s French for “put in place” and refers to preparations and arrangements required for the night’s cooking: ingredients and tools, and even, Chef Keller suggests, a mindset that’s on the lookout for potential snags, fixing problems before they can happen. He shares that this sort of habitual preparation in the kitchen has spilled over into his everyday, and he’s thinking ahead, double checking, and planning carefully in all aspects of his life. This way, he’s minimizing bumps along the way, and he’s as ready for the unexpected as anyone can hope to be. Because “joy” connotes a sort of spontaneous delight, the idea of preparing to maximize joy is an interesting one. When I think of those occasions I’ve been unprepared—anything from last-minute birthday party prep to dashing around the house looking for my keys—I can certainly see preparation as the foundation for a less stressful life. Though I’m sometimes most brilliant (though most frantic) at the last minute, I’m up for the challenge this summer of developing the habit of mise en place. How about you? Do you already have mise en place routines that fuel a sense of joy in your life? Do you think it’s true that careful preparation creates a space for enjoying life more fully?

Images and text by Carter. You know The Story of Ferdinand, right? That gentle, genteel bull just steals my heart with each read. This book, Wee Gillis, was published two years after The Story of Ferdinand by the same author/illustrator duo. That year was 1938, 75 years ago! One thing I love about picture books is how triumphant characters squeeze their way into our collective history, and Wee Gillis is a charmer. He’s an orphan, but from quite a legacy. A detail that tickles me every time I read it is his full name: Alastair Roderic Craigallachie Dalhousie Gowan Donnybristle Mac Mac — welcome to Scotland, right? And that’s where his story takes place — both in the Lowlands as a farmer with his mother’s family, and in the Highlands as a hunter with his father’s. But when Wee Gillis has to decide where to call home forever, he whips up a frenzy of creative fortitude and a whole new world opens up. I don’t want to spoil it too much, but let’s just say: bagpipes. It’s brilliant, sweet, inspiring, and timeless.

Image and text by Gabrielle. Hello, Friends! Happy first day of summer!! How are you? I’m writing this from New York. I get to enjoy the sunshine here for the rest of the day — my flight back to France leaves tonight at midnight. I’m still on a high from Alt Summit NYC! I’m sure I’ll share more about it in a future post. But first, I’m looking forward to a nice long sleep when I get back home. : ) I haven’t had a good slice of pizza in ages, or a rootbeer, so as soon as I hit publish, that’s where I’m headed. In the meantime, here are a few things I wanted to share with you: – The Most Interesting Cat in the World. – Stephen Colbert’s tribute to his mother. (Watch with tissues at hand.) – Jenny bought a new house and has big plans. I’m getting a kick out of the updates. – I’d love your thoughts on this essay (with an obviously provocative title). I really agree with the last sentence and feel incredibly blessed to have sought out and found a flexible career from the moment I graduated college. – And related: this letter from Harvard. – A bright and beautiful bedroom for two brothers and a baby sister. – My sister bought an old school photobooth! What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever bought? – Texas water safari. – BBQ in a box. Love this! (Also, I’m hungry.) – Thinking about Erin’s post: rethink the way you live. I hope you have a really wonderful weekend. I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already. kisses, Gabrielle

[ UPDATE: Voting is now closed. ] By Gabrielle. Friends. I’m feeling such a relief! We’ve been looking and looking and thinking and thinking about where we’ll move next, and we’ve finally settled on where to settle when we leave France in July. Want to guess? Are we headed back to Colorado? Moving back to New York? Trying something new in Brazil? Or maybe San Francisco? Feel free to click a checkmark above to add your guess. Sorry for the teaser — I’ll write a post about where we’re headed on Monday. And hey, if you know the answer already, keep it hush, hush till Monday, please. : ) P.S. — I’m still working on my “A Few Things” post. It will be delayed today because I’m shooting an Everyday Food episode with Sarah Carey this morning over at the Martha Stewart HQ. So excited!

Images and text by Gabrielle. A few weeks ago, one of my best friends from high school was visiting and she brought the most thoughtful gift! She had little dolls made based on the costumes my kids wore during the Little Red Riding Hood episode of Olive Us. Aren’t they adorable? The dolls are called Peg Buddies. Apparently, you can send them an image, and they’ll create a little doll just for you! Take a look at the video — it’s so fun to see how carefully the dolls replicated the details: I’ve included a few more closeups of the dolls below if you’d like to see — and a special doll for June as well! …

Little Red DollsRead More »