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Vine and the Olive, Milly-la-Forêt (2026)

03/07/2026

I’m trying something that’s been on my list for longer than I’d care to admit.

We’ve had our pots and pans for over 10 years and it was a brand I didn’t know about before moving here but they make high end cookware that’s made in France and after all the use they’ve had I can attest to the quality. We chose well!

That being said, things that are well loved also sometimes show a little bit of wear and tear. The stainless steel pots are as good as the day we bought them but our non-stick pans need some love (though as I mentioned they’ve far outlived any other non-stick we’ve tried, yes even from big french names.) I know I know, not everyone is into non-stick, I tend to reach for other options first. But I don’t speak for every member of the family and I know that my cast iron and stainless steel pans require a little bit of a learning curve that not everyone is keen on.

So what I’ve been curious to try is Cristels resurfacing program. Buying something that can be re-done is huge and it is keeping these two pans from the landfill and making them safer to use. I logged onto the website yesterday and quickly found the references for my pans and paid to have these two resurfaced. Because no this is not sponsored. I just love that it’s an option and that they stand behind their products and thought someone else might want to know they could do this too! Other pans had to end up in the bin, but these two won’t and that makes me really happy! I dropped them off at the post this morning so they’re on their way. But I guess it’s a bit of a cliffhanger for now... I’ll update you when they come back!

16/04/2026

I've had a different rhythm this year and it's been really great. It's made everything feel a little lighter (which I can't complain about given the world these days...)

Wednesdays have always been a kids day. With no school, I'm usually driving everyone around to their activities and in the past there was no time carved out just for me. But this year there's one hour, where I can just walk and contemplate while the kids are busy. I look forward to this regular walk but it has also reminded me of a class in university at where we discussed the French art of the "flâneurs" or those who wander... I feel like I'm practicing it. Of course, at the time, I probably never imagined I'd be doing it from France myself.

What I love is that I've been wanting to create more space for creativity this year to fill my own creative cup a little better. Yes my work is creative but it's very focused and I still need other outlets to feel fully alive and engaged. I also want to focus on having fun, experimenting and without a need to achieve any particular outcome.

So this week I brought my camera along for the walk with the intention of photographing the colour green. It felt good to be in the moment, aware and noticing what was around me. Life is richer in this state of presence and I have found myself noticing all sorts of great greens since then, like I've changed my mental frequency to color green.

It was an enjoyable process of slowing down. Here are a few of the shots in hopes that maybe you might find a way to add a bit of creativity into your week too. I'd love to hear what kind of activities you are drawn to. I'm looking forward to more. I'm thinking blue might be next... But I've also wondered about finding shapes... Feel free to weigh in 😉

19/02/2026

I know I'm catching myself thinking about spring already but this Friday marks the beginning of winter holidays and it's still chilly out which is a reminder that it's still very much vin chaud or mulled wine season. Maybe some of you will be headed to the mountains for some skiing and this is the perfect warming treat after a day in the snow and a perfect reason to pull out the vintage pot

Here's what you'll need:

2 Clementine Oranges

12 cloves

3 pods green cardamom split open

5 whole allspice

2 sticks cinnamon

3-6 tbsp brown or cane sugar

4 shots spiced rum (optional)

1 bottle fruity red wine

Quarter your oranges, pierce them with cloves and add the remaining ingredients into your pot on over a medium low heat or to gently wam on top of the wood stove. Bring it to a light simmer for 15-20 minutes until all the flavours fill the room and you're good to go! Sugar is measured to your liking. The French tend to serve it less sweet, but it all depends on your taste and the wine you choose to make it with. Enjoy and let me know where you'd like to be sipping your mulled wine!

*L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé

08/02/2026

Call it prep for Wine Paris next week but it's always a joy to gather in a room full of women who have a goal to cheer each other on. Women Work and Wine led by Joy and hosted by Lauren was a great time to see some familiar faces and a few new ones. Abigail led us in one of my favourite art school activities (blind contour drawing) to all have a good laugh and clearly the laughter continued through the night. Let me know if I missed tagging you and go follow to join in next year if you're a woman living in Paris!

19/01/2026

2016. It was the big point of inflection.

I initially came to France in 2012. I knew deep down I was looking at a forever move, still, I hadn’t imagined how it would happen. I was happily single living my adventure in the south of France but it was on a job translating for my former Canadian employer in their French office a week out of every month that I met my now husband. It was completely unexpected.

When my visa ran out, I went back to Vancouver but little did I know that I’d get hired by an airline as a bilingual flight attendant almost immediately. It unlocked the next 4 years living in France, and working in Canada every other month. Building a life while still traveling the world and exploring.

But it was in 2016 I handed in my security clearance and my resignation to move back to France full time. It was such a big year. An international move, a new car, a decision to return to photography when I joined a group of international portrait photographers in Saint Germain en Laye for a fabulous multi day workshop and I even made sure to test out the medical system fully that year when I came down with meningitis and landed a significant hospital stay. At the end of the year, my husband and I even got married on a sunny day in December. There was nothing boring about 2016. 10 years later, a couple kids, and many little renovations later. I’m finally going into my first full year as a French citizen.

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Milly-la-Forêt
91490

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http://vineandtheolive.com/

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