Is it just me or does anyone else feel like we’ve just raced through the fastest January on record? I feel like it is just a few days since we celebrated the new year and I’m already flipping the calendar pages over!
But the good news is that the new year seems to have inspired a stack of articles on all things French. And, in even better news the long, warm Australian summer days have given me heaps of time to curate the best of these articles for you.
Please enjoy!
Paris
We’ll start, as we always do, with a little look at what is on in Paris during February. This month I’ve turned to Heather Stimmler-Hall from Secrets of Paris to guide the way. So many travellers make the mistake of avoiding Paris in February due to concerns about the weather, but as long as you dress for the conditions, there is a lot to see and do in Paris in February – and you’ll do it all without the queues.
If you do happen to be in Paris on the 14th of February, it could be that you are looking for a special way to celebrate Saint Valentines day. The team at Hip Paris has put together a few itineraries that will ensure that you make the most of your time in the most romantic city on the planet.
Parisian Accommodation
Even if you are not anticipating a trip to Paris this month, it could be that you are planning to go a little later in the year. If that is the case, you are probably considering all of your accommodation options. We started a discussion on Parisian hotels over the weekend but I thought you might like to also consider some AirBnB apartment options. We’ve not actually stayed in any AirBnB properties as yet, but we have friends who have and they’ve absolutely loved them so, if you haven’t already, you might like to check this out. MessyNessyChic has never let me down with restaurant recommendations, so I feel confident in sharing her accommodation suggestions with all of you.
While I’m on the topic of Parisian apartments, you might be as interested as I am in Paris Perfect’s ongoing insights into the remodelling of a Parisian apartment. The before shots are interesting, but the work to alter the apartment is truly fascinating. If you’ve ever wondered how tiny Parisian spaces end up being so functional, this series could provide the answer. Start with part one, and follow it up with part two, which you will find here.
Lyon
If it is foodie capital of Lyon that is on your must visit list this month, then you’ll want to have a look at this piece from the Delicious team. Author Valli Little outlines a fabulous 24 hours, perfect anyone interested in the best of French food – and let’s face it, isn’t that just about everyone?
More On French Food
Regular readers will know that I occasionally share recipes in our monthly inspiration updates. Well, this month, I want to point you in the direction of an online French cookbook. Jean-Marie over at Our French Impressions shares lots of information on food on his blog (as well as posting some very appetising food shots on Instagram) and he has shared a number of his recipes in a ‘book’ on his website. If you enjoy scallops, you definitely won’t want to miss this one.
French Style – And Lifestyle
I discovered so much in this space this month, I struggled to prioritise what to share!
On the style front, I’ll start with 12 Fashion Secrets to Steal From French Women – which is full of ideas from the team at Stylecaster. Admittedly the article is from a couple of years ago but I don’t think that the age of the article does anything to diminish the value of the suggestions it contains.
One of those suggestions was to develop a signature style – a topic we discussed recently on the blog. I know that many of you found Distant Francophile through the amazing Janice from The Vivienne Files but for those of you who haven’t tapped into Janice’s advice on signature style, don’t leave it a minute longer. Regardless of which post you choose, there will be sure to be something to help you develop your own look.
In terms of lifestyle, I was interested in this piece from French Garden House. It contains some good tips for bringing a little bit of French inspiration into everyday life – or perhaps they are just good tips for life in general.
Finally, I couldn’t help but share this piece that was posted on Wallpaper – partly because I love Diptyque but mostly because it is cute.
Have a wonderful month, full of French fun.
Until next time – au revoir.
