April Fool's Day, Culture, Paris

The French Speedo is Back as France strips down for the Climate

In France, a new law is being implemented to minimize greenhouse gas emissions caused by clothing during the summer season. Citizens are encouraged to wear less clothing, with limits falling from 1 kilogram to 700 grams by mid-June, and another 200 grams by July. Failure to comply will result in a fine or civil service. Some towns along the French coast may even require citizens to go about without clothing.
Continue reading The French Speedo is Back as France strips down for the Climate

Kristin Espinasse55 Comments
Accidents

Feu! Fire! Scary mystery solved here at home

Jackie, getting ready for work, in a photo from a few years back, with our Angel, Smokey. Notice the old table and the bench. Read today about a mystery surrounding their disappearance. Reading via email? Be sure to click through to the blog for the whole story and photos. TODAY'S FRENCH WORD: "rester bouche bée"     : to be speechlesss, stand gaping, stunned A … Continue reading Feu! Fire! Scary mystery solved here at home

Kristin Espinasse35 Comments
Uncategorized

La Colocation: Jackie’s house-share in Lyon is featured in the evening news!

In the video at the end of today's column, see our daughter's cool house-share in Lyon–featured recently on the evening news! Sincere thanks to Michelle D, Felicia B, and Mary B. who sent in donations via Zelle. I'm sorry I wasn't able to send you a thank-you note as I did not receive your email addresses (or find them on file). To anyone who has … Continue reading La Colocation: Jackie’s house-share in Lyon is featured in the evening news!

Kristin Espinasse27 Comments
Family Life

“Bisettes”- a favorite new word + photo essay with family updates

End of winter in La Ciotat. By the way, have you ever wondered how to pronounce the name of our town? Listen to the sound file and find out…. I loved the French word bisette the moment I learned it and am using it now in email endings in place of "amicalement" (unless you are the IRS or some such other). See an example at … Continue reading “Bisettes”- a favorite new word + photo essay with family updates

Kristin Espinasse27 Comments
Jackie, Jules, Lyon

Guess Who Moved to Lyon? + A useful computer term in French

One of the vocabulary words in today's story is brise-bise, for these charming half-curtains seen across France TODAY'S WORD: un logiciel     : software A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Good news! Our daughter will be moving to Lyon to begin a 10-month intensive program in Web Design. Since returning from Miami in September of 2021, Jackie's path has been hit … Continue reading Guess Who Moved to Lyon? + A useful computer term in French

Kristin Espinasse40 Comments
Fashion, Jackie, Motherhood

Coqueluche: My teen heartthrob & 70s fashion through a French girl’s eyes

An ancient hair-salon-turned-fashion boutique in Paris where you can buy a glittery 70s ensemble and more. Don't miss the sound file, near the end, with all the French vocabulary from this edition. Follow me on Instagram or here on Facebook to ensure you are receiving the weekly posts (which don't always end up in your emails–owing to filters, a full inbox, and other issues beyond … Continue reading Coqueluche: My teen heartthrob & 70s fashion through a French girl’s eyes

Kristin Espinasse45 Comments
Uncategorized

Disco Fever: A Funny Way to View The Flu

Missed you, dear reader, for Valentines Day. Our family has been under the weather. A brief update, today, and the regular edition will be back next week. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse “Saturday Night Fever” It is Day 9 of the flu and Jean-Marc (who is on Day 12) has returned to our matrimonial bed after sleeping downstairs. It is early … Continue reading Disco Fever: A Funny Way to View The Flu

Kristin Espinasse37 Comments
Uncategorized

Something to Celebrate!

If I were a 20-year sober cat, this is what my life would look like. I love this imperfect, slightly crooked picture and hope you do too for a future postcard. Meantime, many thanks for your postcard orders! A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse“In The Clouds” I don’t know what it is about my mind but sometimes the most obvious things escape me. … Continue reading Something to Celebrate!

Kristin Espinasse81 Comments
Jackie, Motherhood

Advice for Each Decade of Life & Surrender: A Mother Daughter update

Would this picture be good for the La Ciotat postcard series? Thanks for your helpful feedback and for your postcard orders this week! I am enjoying the quiet, mindful activity of addressing envelopes and my handwriting is slowly improving 🙂 TODAY’S WORD: s'abandonner : to surrender yourself to, to unburden yourself  A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse As I walked into Le … Continue reading Advice for Each Decade of Life & Surrender: A Mother Daughter update

Kristin Espinasse43 Comments
Uncategorized

6 Postcards from France: Les Cartes Postales

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: KRISTI’S POSTCARDS FROM FRANCEBonjour! I have created a limited series of cartes postales from photos I have taken around our seaside town of La Ciotat. These postcards are meaningful as they feature scenes close to home. One pack of postcards is $24 and contains these 6 cards: 1. Horse and Trainer in the Sea2. Smokey and the Doves3. The Barber Shop and … Continue reading 6 Postcards from France: Les Cartes Postales

Kristin Espinasse18 Comments