If you didn’t know better, you’d think I might be reviewing two of my new favorite lipstick colors or new song by Stevie Nicks. But like beautiful colors and amazing songs, this dynamic duo are my right hand gals. 

They are the lovely voices on the phone that book your appointments and answer your questions. They arrange and stock the shelves and tables with pretty new things in our retail area. Along with Kim, Tara and Emilie- this team is such an important part of what makes Philosophie run like a well oiled machine and oh so inviting. Our desk game is stro

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When we had this idea to become expats, we scoured Airbnb and VRBO looking for the perfect set up for our fam. So many options!  Separate toilets from bathrooms, sofa beds as the second beds, IKEA sized apartments for days. Their were some pretty places, don’t get me wrong. But, there is something to be said for set up and great photography. 
After feeling a bit “spaghetti brained” we googled  “vacation rentals Biarritz” and there we found exactly what we were looking for... 

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When we first arrived, I got invited out to dinner with some fellow expat moms. We all met at this dreamy beach restaurant. 

Enter: Beach House.
Seriously, if I had a dream about a cool restaurant I’d love to open, it’d be this. 
From the entrance with the cool metal box letters that spell out it’s name, to the white washed exterior and sandy store front with a boat sunken in the middle. That’s a bar...
Beer taps and tiny herb garden ( yes, on the boat) sea glass colored glass bottles that dangle in the sun. A sign above this vessel boasting all of its offerings. Beautiful hand crafted cocktails and tapas garnished with herbs from said tiny garden. It’s hand painted sign, just above this vessel, is roughed up enough by the elements to carry the billowy shipwrecked theme. 

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I would love to tell you how different Christmas time is over here, but it’s not a big departure. 

They have no Thanksgiving (duh!) but they do kick off the buying frenzy with Black Friday. I was surprised about that one. They do recognize it as an American thing, almost like a holiday? So strange to see over here! 
 

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In the 90’s a girl couldn’t live without her scrunchie. Well, guess what? That trend from my childhood is emerging. I pinky promised with girlfriends that I would never go down that road again. After that trend died, we mainly used them for a while to pull our hair back to wash our face or put on makeup or a workout. It was totally a hair accessory that we scoffed at if worn out in real life.

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Behind The Scenes at Davines:

I had the privilege of visiting Davines main headquarters in Parma, while me and the fam were traveling around Italy last week. 

I met the lovely Laura Luciani, who is one of there chemist.  We had an expresso ( so Italian!) and exchanged pleasantries before donning funny paper suits and rubber croc like shoes to tour the manufacturing plant and distribution area.  
All of the chemist are women with the exception of one man, and I had the chance to meet them all. 

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