Don’t Worry…Be Crappy

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

Life is a humbling thing, yes? I speak from years of experience, which have included plenty of moments that wound up…shall we say…imperfectly. Unsuccessful. Perhaps a bit embarrassing. (Followers of this blog will be keenly aware of this.) Take, for example, my recent efforts to learn yoga...where even the simplest-seeming pose came out like this: Or ta...

What to do about Life’s Little Stinks

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

The day began on a high note. Not only were we about to take a bike tour that would explore the beautiful fields of France’s seemingly endless vineyards, but – perhaps more importantly - we’d also get to try out the wine. And while the tour did indeed begin with lots of bright smiles… …it ended with a significantly more awkward one. It ended at the ho...

The Messy, Imperfect Blog Post

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

Well, this stinks. With just a few days left in Paris and a blog post coming due, I desperately want to write something inspired…something that beautifully sums up my time in the City of Lights and the lessons that have come along the way. There have been a lot of them, believe me. Not only that, but I’ve got some recent photos to help me express what I’ve...

The Right Thing To Ask When Something Feels Wrong

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

Today’s post begins with a tale regarding a beloved topic: food. Before arriving in Paris there was lots of dreamy anticipation about the pending French cuisine. Those decadent, creamy sauces…those exquisite pastries…that bread… Okay yes, the bread is pretty incredible. But now that I’m here I can say that the rest of it…well…I’m just not that into it. ...

How to Handle the Other B.S.

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

Well, my current city of Paris and my beloved, Italian mother just collided. I invited her to visit after experiencing some of the best things Paris has to offer. While Mama was excited about exploring both the culinary and non-culinary wonders of the City of Lights, her enthusiasm was accompanied by another emotional phenomenon: the worries. Those of y...

Lessons from the Tortured Artist in Room 5

Posted on June 16, 2014July 22, 2015 by Deirdre Maloney

Recently our French adventure found us renting a car to drive out to the country – a somewhat death-defying notion for anyone whose starting line is in Paris. Really, you never know what you’re going to find. (Actual photo from a random walk on the Left Bank) After delicately escaping the City of Lights, we soon found ourselves in Auvers-sur-Ois...