Since my family and I now live in Paris, at least for the Summer, I am again confronted with food choices and dietary restrictions that had become second-nature to me. Due to a spell of ear infections, a genetic predisposition toward food-triggered asthma, and probably as much a professional hazard of his [...]

Well, we finally made it. At least I think we’ve made it. At this point, there’s something so surreal about looking out my window and seeing the Paris garrets — a la the cartoon version of Paris Ratatouille (the movie that started this grand adventure, and a
story for another day) –instead of our [...]

My husband and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this week, a nice respite from Paris planning and mayhem. We’ve had a tremendous ride together, full of:
#1: laughter – the deep belly-wrenching, Will-Ferrell-inspired kind (“It sounds like you’ve got peanut butter stuck to the roof of yer mouth!” is a Talladega Nights favorite [...]

This is our big day of packing/getting ready for Paris.  Even Aidan is getting excited now, and has been determined to help out.  The day has gone like this so far:  We started by sorting out what toys and outfits were special enough or useful enough to take (think lego blocks, not massive-oversize-storm-trooper-helmet-with-the-microphone.)  Done.  After [...]

Thanks to everybody who contributed a DM to my twitter on sunburn when mama forgot the sunscreen during waterplay. Turns out Daddy’s a smarter cookie than Mommy today (I’m afraid to extend this thought out any further …) and remembered the spf.  The kid’s sporting a killer tan, somehow, but no sunburn.  Still, I [...]

So it’s nine days and counting until take-off… a family of five (my husband, son, and parents) taking off for the Summer in Paris…and beyond?
More often than not, we highlight (or at least, I should say, I do) the excitement of travel and change. I have a bit of gypsy in me at [...]

If your child is not a Harry Potter fan, you can stop reading right now. If, like my son, your child has become an aspirant to Hogwarts, complete with cape, chopstick wand and ring (not sure if rings are in the movie or just his own fashion-centric touch), then read on and let me [...]

So we’re leaving for Paris now in 13 days and counting, and I’ve finally, just now, graduated to that category of planning that transcends watching stylish French movies as part of my ‘language and culture’ research into actually figuring out how I’m going to take a family of three and move us out of our [...]

So my husband had a hangover all day today, and I’ll tell you why this bothers me. This from the man who rarely goes out, who not only accepts but participates in whatever food craze, health experiment, olive oil cleanse, or whatever else I implement as part of my home-is-my-laboratory strategy and smiles about [...]