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Travel

Redeeming a French Class Drop-Out (Moi)

Hate me if you must, but I travel to Paris once or twice a year for work and for pleasure every so often, when I can swing it. The shopping, the light, the food, museums, the architecture, blah blah blah, everyone likes Paris, but for me, there is one unpleasant facet to every trip- not knowing French. Yes, I took five years in school, yes, I have been visiting for years, but yes, I cringe and grimace my way through every interaction. Having struggled through my junior high and high school French classes (once my teacher asked jokingly in French if I was on drugs and I promptly answered “Oui!”) I have never considered myself to have an aptitude for languages, but the awkward entitlement of repeatedly visiting a country without more than “merci” haunted every trip. So, when my friend Emily (does everyone have that friend who always has the freshest ideas leaving you wondering both, why didn’t I think of that? and why don’t we start a company together?) told me how much she was loving the Pimsleur Method, I hoarded my audible credits, purchased French Level 1 (30 lessons!) and got started.

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Inspiration•Travel

Parisian Apartment Essentials: What I Learned From Airbnb

Interior must-haves for a Parisian apartment www.trialbyinspiration.com

As I rounded hour-two of my deep dive into apartment research for our upcoming vacation, I realized: this is the fifth Milo Baughman style table I’ve seen on Airbnb Paris! Though the site provides a wide variety of different home sensibilities, prices, and arrondissement, I began playing a game at spotting the common threads.  Sate your wanderlust with these seven must-have Parisian apartment essentials.

From left to right: Built-in Plywood Bed, Gallery Wall and Puddled Drapes, Linen Dream, Attic Library, Beams and Plants, Seriously Stunning Entry, The Aforementioned Table, A Well Crafted Collection, Chic Shelfie

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Travel

Airbnb Round-Up: Paris

We’re planning a quick stop in Paris on our way to Amsterdam this Fall, and after staying in some amazing Airbnb homes on our trip to the San Juan Islands and Seattle last year, we decided to book an apartment and live like les locals. Even if you’re not thinking about Paris for your next vacation, I highly recommend browsing the apartment rentals for interior design inspiration, (it will certainly lend a little très chic to your next Le Netflix binge).

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Travel

Thailand Travel- My Hindsight Advice

Grand Palace Bangkok Thailand Travel www.trialbyinspiration.com

This week I have been planning our last minute getaway to Napa Valley, so much planning goes into each of our trips, but none more than last year’s trip to Thailand.  As I wrote in last week’s post reviewing our two beachside resorts, one budget, and one luxe, my mind kept wandering to the shoulda-woulda-coulda of our vacation.

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Travel

High/Low Resort Strategy- Railay Beach Thailand

thailand, krabi, railay beach resorts at any budget www.trialbyinspiration.com

ko phi phi krabi thailand resort hotel www.trialbyinspiration.com

So much planning went into our trip (over a year ago now!) to Railay Beach in the Krabi region of Thailand. Our three city trip clocked in at ten days, so it was a necessity to balance global luxury and quirky must-haves (i.e., budget friendly and Instagram enviable). Luckily, with its constant flow of wander lusting backpackers, Thailand, and Krabi in particular, have accommodations at all price points.  We spent three nights in a mosquito net draped, textile rich, beachside treehouse and the next two in a meandering luxury resort. Read on for all the details.

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Travel

Peaceful Pelindaba (Lavender Farm)

We arrived at Pelindaba Lavender Farm about three weeks before “peak purple”, but instead of mourning missing the intense grape-y glow I’ve seen in oh-so-many Instagram posts, we were able to wander the property virtually alone.

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Travel

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Check out my interview with one of our absolute fa Check out my interview with one of our absolute fav author/illustrators @mattforsythe in the blog today! He has so many wonderful insights into being a working artist, for me it was so motivating to here his take! Enjoy! 🌞
🐘Progress on my @melissaanddougtoys @ad_magazin 🐘Progress on my @melissaanddougtoys @ad_magazine trompe l’oeill house. This has to be my all time favorite, slowest, most meditative craft project ever. The kids are starting to notice when new decor goes in, but are not nearly as impressed as I am 🤷🏻‍♀️🤩 edited with @acolorstory
Lunch Break! I rounded up our fav kid’s books ab Lunch Break! I rounded up our fav kid’s books about Feelings today, since our house is currently the double toddler feelings zone Check out the link in bio👆👆👆👆 

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#kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookswelove #kidsbookshelf #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforkids #booksforchildren #feelingsbooks
🤯 Thinking about my 2021 creative wellness goal 🤯 Thinking about my 2021 creative wellness goals while listening to back episodes of Big Magic podcast @elizabeth_gilbert_writer .
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#creativelifehappylife #livecolorfully #creativeinspiration #creativewellness #livecreatively
🤩🤩The shirts are live!! 🤩🤩 link in bio 🤩🤩The shirts are live!! 🤩🤩 link in bio 🎉 a portion of your purchase will go to @thelovelandfoundation
Compelled to recreate this hand drawn, epic graphi Compelled to recreate this hand drawn, epic graphic from a vintage shirt one of my friends stole from me junior high. You know who you are. Vote (obviously) #handdrawntype #powertothepeople
👋Ladiessss... my muses from last weekend. Never 👋Ladiessss... my muses from last weekend. Never thought I’d be longing to go back to Denison
New muses=🐂 & 🌸? Desperately needed a change New muses=🐂 & 🌸? Desperately needed a change of scenery and change of pace, I’ll be clinging to the shot of inspiration for dear life as we go back home today.
🔥💗One of my fav interviews yet with super ta 🔥💗One of my fav interviews yet with super talented painter @natalieodecor link in bio! Cure for quarantine-times inspiration void! 💗🔥#artistinterview
I got your Sunday inspiration! *Link in bio* of my I got your Sunday inspiration! *Link in bio* of my interview with the DELIGHTFUL illustrator Raven Jones aka @bird_burger #artistinterview
found this on my walk this morning🍀💰📈🍾 found this on my walk this morning🍀💰📈🍾
Just finished live fashion sketching at a lovely @ Just finished live fashion sketching at a lovely @dior event in Houston! So tired, SO inspired! Thanks @dior_saks_houston 😘😘😘😘
Paused the morning toddler crazy to look through t Paused the morning toddler crazy to look through this estate sale find- Amish: the art of the quilt 
Can you believe these were made in the late 1800s??? Best $1 ever spent
Postnatal nesting and found this sweet pressed flo Postnatal nesting and found this sweet pressed flower from my wedding shower 7 years ago! 🥰🥰🥰@shannonjcurry @zinserthinktank @maddie_and_co
When a door makes you run to put lipstick on When a door makes you run to put lipstick on
TGIF (to the max)🌸🍾🌸🍾🌸 TGIF (to the max)🌸🍾🌸🍾🌸
more! more! more! Follow me

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