On our third day in Avignon, we made our way to one of the most enchanting towns in France - Gordes. The small Provincial village is set in the hills of the Luberon region. The narrow hillside driving can make it a challenge to reach the hill town in poor weather. However, to our good fortune, we Continue reading
5 October 2014 
Chicago Gourmet 2014 Celebrity Chefs
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Chicago Gourmet 2014 - a celebration of gourmet food and fine - featured many local celebrity Chefs, including Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, and Jimmy Banos. What I especially liked about this year's event, was that the celebrity Chefs were front and center at the event, giving food Continue reading
29 September 2014 
New Impressions of Chicago Gourmet
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This year marked the 7th anniversary of Chicago's premier culinary event, Chicago Gourmet. Created by the Illinois Restaurant Association and presented by Bon Appétit magazine, Chicago Gourmet continues to impress year after year. Held September 26-28 in Millennium Park, Chicago Gourmet 2014 was Continue reading
18 September 2014 
Fall Apple Harvest
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Pumpkins, apples, changing leaves, cool weather, salted caramel mochas, yes,...Fall is definitely here, at least in the Midwest. And you know how I love the Fall! This weekend was my family's annual trip to the apple orchard in Wisconsin. Thankfully our selected orchard had enough quality apples Continue reading
25 August 2014 
Living Renoir
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It is now less than 8 weeks until my trip to France! When I’m not scouring travel blogs and guide books for insiders’ tips to Paris and Provence, I’m getting my France fix in advance by attending French or European style events around the city. Last week, I was thrilled to have attended my second Continue reading
16 June 2014 
Royal Ascot: High Stakes and Style
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(photo source) Tomorrow begins Royal Ascot - the 5-day British spectacle, known as much for its top racehorses as it is for its sophisticated, and sometimes over-the-top, fashion. A mainstay in the British Royal calendar, Royal Ascot represents one of the most well-known sporting events in the Continue reading
2 June 2014 
Fresh French Bread
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(photo source) It may be 2am in Paris, but the French can still get their fresh bread fix. A recent invention by a French baker offers fresh, hot baguettes by way of a unique vending machine. Now it may seem sacriledge for the French to buy bread from anything other than a bakery. However, many Continue reading
28 April 2014 
The Good Life: Lessons from the French
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(photo source) If you're like most Americans, you probably work all year long hoping to save enough money to, one day, afford the "good life". The idea of the good life is relative....good to one person may mean spending all of his/her time traveling in luxury, while another may associate the Continue reading
3 February 2014 
Thawing Out in Lake Las Vegas
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We are merely 5 weeks into 2014 and I'm already on my second business trip of the year. This time, I'm in sunny and temperate Las Vegas - Lake Las Vegas to be exact. For me, "temperative" is a relative term. After having been consumed by the Polar Vortex in Chicago for four weeks, 55 degrees and Continue reading
13 January 2014 
Raising the Barre in the New Year
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(photo source) Happy New Year everyone! For many Americans, the New Year is a time to set resolutions – to create a goal for the year and then do your best to try to stick with it. However, like most French girls, I’ve never really been the type to make or stick with New Year’s resolutions. After Continue reading
23 December 2013 
Christmas Traditions from Around the World
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(photo source) For the last three years, my family and I have ventured into the downtown area of Chicago to experience the wonder of Christmas in the Windy City. This year, we visited such Chicago holiday favorites as the Christkindlmarket, the window displays at Macy's on State, and the Continue reading
16 December 2013 
French Lessons in Politeness
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(photo source) Bonjour! This weekend, I spent several hours rushing around town, trying to finalize my holiday shopping. And during my frenzied rush, I saw people of all kinds being polite to one another, but also saw a few not-so-nice behaviors. This reminded me of a sentiment I heard at a Continue reading
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