Published in ILLUMINATION·12 hours agoMember-onlyHow Living In France Helps Build Your Self ConfidenceThe waiter pulls out the seat for you; you sit down, and there before you is the twinkling Eiffel Tower lighting up the night for a romantic evening for you and your significant other. These elegant soirées where we’re treated to a nice meal to celebrate birthdays, graduations, or anniversaries…Life4 min readLife4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·2 days agoMember-onlyAre Parisians Mean?Recently, I’ve been in the habit of visiting numerous Parisian parks in the hopes that I’ll stumble upon someone or something interesting and inspiring. A book always accompanies me, tucked safely away in my tote bag. It waits there patiently, hoping to be picked up, understood, and adored. However, instead…Life5 min readLife5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 16Member-onlyHow Living In France Helped Me Ditch Diet CultureLike many women, for years, I felt that the tedious thoughts of what others thought about my body were controlling my life. These thoughts were invasive and demanded to be heard. After quite a bit of persistence, eventually, I gave in and let those thoughts control the way I felt…Life4 min readLife4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 11Member-onlyHabits That Are Normal In France That Aren’t Appreciated In The U.S.Living abroad makes you see the world in a way you would never would have if you hadn’t left. Habits that seemed normal to you in your native country might seem strange in your new, adopted country. I welcome every new concept and way of seeing the world. It thrills…Life4 min readLife4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 10Member-onlyFrench Women Do This One Simple Thing To Stay SlimI push open the ancient heavy doors that separate my apartment and Paris. I have never been a morning person, but lately, I have been forcing myself to go on walks. Sleeping in while I’m living in such a beautiful city feels ridiculous. Paris mornings are magical. I step through…Life5 min readLife5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 9Member-onlyLiving Abroad Has Separated My Family And Me Far Longer Than I ExpectedMy childhood was a kaleidoscope of happy chaos. I quite literally grew up in an old dairy barn. It was renovated, beautiful, and massive. Closets were crammed with art supplies–canvases, paint, sculpting clay, colored pencils, easels, and craft paper. …Life5 min readLife5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Dec 13, 2022Member-onlyAre You Beautiful In France?Some mornings, I’ll leave my sleepy little Parisian apartment to go on a quest to find a good pastry for breakfast. The pastries are always scrumptious, but sometimes the walks there are equally as delicious! I make my way to a boulangerie that I know will have exactly what I…Life4 min readLife4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Dec 12, 2022Member-onlyAm I proud to be American?: Told by an American living in France.My mom's voice echoed through the hallways of our renovated dairy barn home. "Josie! There's a letter for you here with your name on it!" I knew exactly what it was. My legs were stumbling over each other, trying to catch up with my heart which wanted to know if…Life5 min readLife5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Dec 10, 2022Member-onlyWhy I Gave Up Dieting When I Moved To FranceI open a big red notebook that has been patiently waiting to be embraced for years. Just simply looking at it, it tells me nothing about its contents. I don’t remember putting it here. Curious to discover what knowledge it has to share with me, I turn the front cover…Life5 min readLife5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Oct 12, 2022Member-onlyMy Night Routine As An American Living In ParisThere are moments in Paris that make life feel like a fairytale. For example, my fiance and I decided to take a long way home while returning from an ancient movie theatre we had discovered. On the way home, our nighttime stroll is illuminated by the glimmering lights of La…Travel3 min readTravel3 min read
