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. …

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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.. …

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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! …

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Image and text by Gabrielle. Earlier this month, I wrote a post called Rent The Life, all about unusual and picturesque places you can lease and live in. And I received a bunch a funny + sweet emails in response telling me they’d rent my life in the French countryside if they could. : ) Well. Someone’s dream may be coming true. Because the fairytale farmhouse that we’ve lived in for the past 2 1/2 years is available! Yes, we’re moving home in July, but the homeowners of the farmhouse have decided they’re not quite ready to move back in — they’re going to extend their stay in Australia. Which means La Cressonnière is available starting August 1st! We first found this home when we searched on a site called Sabbatical Homes, and the house is listed there again if you’re interested. Living here has been such a gift. The house really is extraordinary. And not just the house, the whole experience of living here — buying fresh eggs from a neighbor, fresh milk from another. Goodness, Oscar was baptized in the stream just down the road! We get really emotional thinking about moving away, but we like imagining another family getting to enjoy this remarkable space. What do you think? Did you get butterflies reading this? (Maybe it’s a sign that you should move in!) Are you up for an adventure in the French countryside? P.S. — Here are all my posts with photos of La Cressonnière — the older ones share room by room photo tours. Or you can browse my Instagram stream. It’s full of photos of this beautiful place!

By Koseli. Image via Kottke. If you’ve been a Sesame Street fan from the very beginning, you might get a special kick out of this picture of the original cast, taken all the way back in 1969. Even more fascinating is this clip of the first fifteen minutes of the first episode: Do you feel nostalgic towards your favorite childhood cartoons or tv shows? Whenever I hear the music from Today’s Special or The Point, I’m overwhelmed with memories. I know my mom thinks of her mom every time she hears the I Love Lucy theme song and one of my sisters still watches and loves Little House on the Prairie. Do you or your kids have a favorite children’s show now?

By Gabrielle. Be prepared. This house is cute. Filled with sweet collections, cheery fabric inspiration, kid-crafty happiness in every corner, and a soft place to land on no matter where you may fall. I’d say it’s the perfect spot for two little girls to grow up. And I sure hope you agree! Friends, I’m pleased to introduce the Damiecki family to you. You’re going to love what Kendra has to share! Q: Please tell us who makes this colorful house a home! A: I live in Darnestown, Maryland with my husband Scott and our daughters Layla (4) and Hadley (2). We moved into this house just after Layla turned two and Hadley was a month old, so it’s the only home they have ever known. When I began the process of decorating I wanted to make sure it was a place they would always look forward to coming home to whether it was from preschool, college, or with their own children someday. I still have that feeling when we visit my parents. …

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This post is brought to you by stylish UK-based children’s shop, Alex and Alexa. Get up to 50% off during their Summer Sale, going on now! By Gabrielle. Photo of Maude by my brother Jared. I’m on my way to New York today for Alt Summit NYC. It was fun to pack up sandals and decidedly summer clothing. I even gave myself my first pedicure of the season! Yes, my kids are still in school, but packing for this trip really made me switch gears and think about what our summer will be like. Our kids are probably most excited for Cousins Week. Every July, all of the cousins age 8 and older gather at my sister Sara’s house in Southern Utah for 4 days of summer fun. It’s very laid-back with traditions like anything-you-want-for-breakfast, a freezer stocked with nothing but popsicles, and adventures with the aunts and uncles like cliff-diving and rock climbing. This will be Oscar’s first year at cousin’s week, and it is pretty much all he’s talked about for several months now. He literally could not be more excited. So I thought it would be fun to dream up everything Oscar might need for the Best Cousin’s Week Ever. 1) Did I mention Aunt Sara has a pool? We know from last summer that in the U.S., Oscar’s speedo/euro swim trunks work better for toddlers than big kids, so the first thing he’ll need is a new swim suit. And nothing says “Hey, we’re back!” like a flag-themed suit. Am I right? 2) A low-tech View Master. When I know there will be lots of access to screens (Cousins Week does tend to involve lots of movie watching), I like to have old-school toys out and about as an alternate temptation. For View Masters, I favor the National Park slides because they remind me of home. 3) A water toy. I know my sister’s house is stocked with the standard pool toys and water noodles, so I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for something unusual. This koi toy lights up as it touches the water! I thought it would be fun to introduce a dozen or two to the pool for some night time water games. 4) Something to read. The Wimpy Kid series is a good fit because the older kids can pick it up too. They’re the kind of books that work for all ages, and can be enjoyed in fits and spurts, or in a cover-to-cover reading. 5) A sleeping bag. This one opens up flat to function as a blanket, too. And it’s lightweight for the hot summers of St. George. I’m imagining this as a cozy spot that he can find easily amongst the sure to be large pile of blankets and bedding hanging around. 6) Backpack. I like this one because it’s not too big — enough space for a water bottle, sunscreen and a hat. And it comes in a million colors. Plus, the quality of these Swedish backpacks is legendary. He’ll be able to use it on adventures for years and years. 7) Travel chess set. Oscar is way into chess, and I’m glad, because he’ll be the youngest one there, and playing chess is a good way for him to relate to and interact with the older kids. I confess, I don’t think I’m brave enough to host such a group! But I’m so grateful to my sister for establishing this tradition. Tell me, will your kids get to see their cousins this summer? Would your family ever do something like a cousin’s week? P.S. — The photo at top features Maude roasting giant marshmellows at Cousins Week 2010.

By Amy Hackworth. Image here. When I happened upon Marie Watt’s Blanket Tower at the museum recently, I marveled at the 12-foot stack she’d created (how?!) of wool blankets. Blankets are universally functional, and I love that Watts created a piece of art celebrating such a meaningful staple of our homes. I was struck with this homey feeling of comfort, which seems appropriate since blankets offer physical and emotional warmth. They’re utilitarian, but often develop a strong emotional component. More than just practical household items, blankets can be family treasures, too, and sometimes carry a sort of provenance the whole family knows and a nostalgia the whole family feels. The tower is more than twice my height, and that’s a striking number of blankets, many of them contributed by families for the project. I felt a strong sense of community, thinking that each blanket represented a different family—their picnics, guest beds, sofa snuggles. Though each family is different, we all need and use many of the same practical items to create our individual lives and homes. They’re woven into our separate family histories, but also have meaning across our shared experiences. So many things pass through our homes over the years. Which are the items that share both function and meaning in your family? Which are the keepers? And what other household items gathered en masse would make an interesting art exhibit?

Images and text by Carter. That wondrous time when spring slips into summer ripples through If You Want to See a Whale. Julie Fogliano and Caldecott-winning Erin Stead are a stunning duo. Do you remember And Then It’s Spring? This one is just as magical. Because if you want to see a whale, you’ll need an ocean, a cozy chair, and some time for waiting and watching and wishing. And you have to be careful to not notice the little green things inching nibble scoot among the leaves. You’ll love this one. The art is sublime and the words are a whisper. It’s a little early for me to pick Caldecott favorites, but this is one to watch. And while you’re waiting, you might even see a whale if you wish hard enough!

Image and text by Gabrielle. Hello, Friends. How are you doing? Was it a good week? It’s been a landmark one for us. As you may have seen, on Monday we finalized the purchase of our little cottage in France. We can still hardly believe it. And our friend Caroline has been setting up appointments with roofers, plumbers, electricians and gardeners like you wouldn’t believe. We even hit our first bump in the renovation road: looks like we won’t get electricity at the cottage for 3 months. Hah! But we have good news too. Caroline met the neighbor, said he’s friendly as can be, and he’s willing to let us borrow his electricity until ours is installed. So we don’t have to wait 3 months to move forward. This is going to be quite the adventure. While we make our weekend plans, here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you: – This Benki project looks like the future. – I’m nuts for this braided basket DIY. Gorgeous. And made from old t-shirts. – Why there’s no French Harry Potter. Thanks, Annie. – A Finnish Toddler’s Room. – And did you see this article about the Finnish Baby Box? Thanks, Sara. – Dispelling 10 myths about child sexual abuse. – Man oh man we are lucky to be alive right now. Check this out. – The most incredible memorial in the Sahara Desert. Seriously stunning. – These beautiful women! This project made me emotional. (Lots of beautiful bare real-life mothers’ bodies. Just want you to be aware of what you’ll see if you click play.) Thanks, Sara. – War through womens eyes. – Last week, I featured DIY gift ideas for Father’s Day. This week, it’s Breakfast in Bed recipes! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. And I hope you have the chance to show love for the fathers in your life. I’ve been missing my dad like crazy these last couple of weeks! I think he would get a real kick of the projects his kids are working on. I think he would like his grandkids too. : ) I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already. kisses, Gabrielle P.S. — I snapped the image at top last Saturday in a tiny town called Rouvrou. There was no front gate, the yard was way overgrown, the shutters needed attention — made me wonder if it was abandoned. Looks like a fairytale, right? Feel free to follow me on Instagram for this weekend’s adventures.

[ UPDATE: Voting is now closed. ] By Gabrielle. It’s my birthday today! Ben Blair and I were discussing potential birthday desserts to celebrate with, and I narrowed it down to strawberry shortcake, mint brownies, a lemon tart, or glazed donuts. Do you have an opinion on the matter? You can click a checkmark above to add your vote. Then tell me: Do you have a favorite dessert you eat for your birthday? Classic chocolate cake? Red velvet? Carrot? I’d love to hear! P.S. — Since France really shines in the Tarte Citron department, I may or may not be favoring the lemon. : )