French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:32:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/poppy-1-150x150.png French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com 32 32 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/06/french-la-vie-autumn-experience/ French la Vie Autumn Experience https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971075615/0/tongueincheek~French-la-Vie-Autumn-Experience/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971075615/0/tongueincheek~French-la-Vie-Autumn-Experience/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:46 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86789 They are here – a group of good friends. Two of them have been with us before. Isn’t that the best compliment? They definitely hit the ground running- purchases were made and the trunk in the van showed it. They are peas in a pod that have brocante in their blood! We are going to […]]]>

They are here – a group of good friends. Two of them have been with us before. Isn’t that the best compliment?

They definitely hit the ground running- purchases were made and the trunk in the van showed it.

They are peas in a pod that have brocante in their blood! We are going to have fun.
I think I have the best job ever! To be with kindred spirits, who love life, friendship, good food, and yes, the Brocante.

Thank you, each of who have come and joined me, and have come again and again. I love sharing what I know about antiquing in France- I feel like it is a dream.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971075615/0/tongueincheek~French-la-Vie-Autumn-Experience/feed/ 0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/05/creating-your-home-with-colorful-antiques/ Creating Your Home with Colorful Antiques https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971026514/0/tongueincheek~Creating-Your-Home-with-Colorful-Antiques/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971026514/0/tongueincheek~Creating-Your-Home-with-Colorful-Antiques/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:00:41 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86697 The perfectly put muted home soothing and soft like butter. I understand it. Truly, I get it. In a world is moving entirely too fast, walking into a room wrapped in moon light, linen, and a color define on the paint sample as: whisper of peace it can feel like a long exhale after a […]]]>

The perfectly put muted home soothing and soft like butter. I understand it. Truly, I get it. In a world is moving entirely too fast, walking into a room wrapped in moon light, linen, and a color define on the paint sample as: whisper of peace it can feel like a long exhale after a glass of Sauvignon.

It is like a perfect Sunday morning where nothing is expected of you, as you open the shutters hearing the distance church bells, and the Gregorian choir echoing in the distance. It is soothing, and it has its place.

But sometimes, pop goes the weasel!

You look around the room and realize that while peace is lovely, a little bit of daring mischief is divine.

Is your sanctuaries weasel popping, or the zen meditation in the living room, or is it somewhere between a blank canvas and roasted red chili peppers on the grill.

The magic happens when you let a little bit of the unexpected dance across the floorboards.

Imagine hunting through boxes of a weekend brocante.

Your eyes pass over the usual suspects,

and then—bam!—

there it is-

 A cupboard, but instead of being sanded down to a smooth patine, it wears a coat of unforgettable burnt orange that has survived since it begin. 

Or perhaps it is a collection of mismatched, century-old bottles in an array of jewel tones, sitting inside a rusty black iron urn, balancing barely on an orange velvet stool, and it makes you grin every single time you walk by.

Bringing color into a room does not necessarily create chaos; creates a spark. It is the chunky, colorful necklace paired with a simple linen dress—a bit of contrast such as a daring wink when everyone expects a nod.

Oh. It’s okay to let the world have its soothing beige moments. But don’t be afraid to throw open the windows, invite the pigment in, making a splash.

Maybe it is also true about ourselves too.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971026514/0/tongueincheek~Creating-Your-Home-with-Colorful-Antiques/feed/ 3 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/04/getting-ready-the-unpractical-way/ Getting Ready the Unpractical Way https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970980974/0/tongueincheek~Getting-Ready-the-Unpractical-Way/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970980974/0/tongueincheek~Getting-Ready-the-Unpractical-Way/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2026 11:00:22 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86760 The first thing I did today was ignore what I was to do, and went to a brocante. There were two dealers there who told me they come once a year just to clear out their extra stock. I just happened to be the lucky person who was there at the right time. They were […]]]>

The first thing I did today was ignore what I was to do, and went to a brocante.

There were two dealers there who told me they come once a year just to clear out their extra stock. I just happened to be the lucky person who was there at the right time.

They were selling things for under five euros. I couldn’t believe it! I asked why everything was so inexpensive, and they said, “We just want to get rid of it.” I thought, “Oh, happy day for me!”

Then I came home and had to focus on putting everything in order for my group. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to the antique market this morning, but that thought came several hours too late. Now I have a few things to do, I like working under pressure, and you?

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970980974/0/tongueincheek~Getting-Ready-the-Unpractical-Way/feed/ 6 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-10-04https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970952720/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970622906/0/tongueincheek/~Brocante%3a-Perfect-As-Is">Brocante: Perfect As Is</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970408001/0/tongueincheek/~The-Most-Lovely-Review">The Most Lovely Review</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970714313/0/tongueincheek/~Friends">Friends</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970213958/0/tongueincheek/~Day-Four-with-the-French-la-Vie">Day Four with the French la Vie</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/969996302/0/tongueincheek/~Where-Do-We-Go-During-the-French-la-Vie">Where Do We Go During the French la Vie</a></li> </ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/970952720/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 04 Oct 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-10-04:tongueincheek/2026-10-04T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/03/grandpapa-olivia/ Grandpapa & Olivia https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970945433/0/tongueincheek~Grandpapa-Olivia/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970945433/0/tongueincheek~Grandpapa-Olivia/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2026 11:00:49 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86752 Talkin’ about riding bikes on the pump track.]]>

Talkin’ about riding bikes on the pump track.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970945433/0/tongueincheek~Grandpapa-Olivia/feed/ 5 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/02/brocante-o-holic/ Brocante o holic https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970918598/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-o-holic/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970918598/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-o-holic/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:00:35 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86744 For the Love of French Antiques French Husband had barely parked the car at the brocante when I jumped out. Having the brocante bug is uncontrollable. It grabs you and pulls you wherever antiques can be found. Is there a cure? God, I hope not. If there is I am running far from it. As […]]]>


For the Love of French Antiques

For the love of French Antiques

French Husband had barely parked the car at the brocante when I jumped out.

Having the brocante bug is uncontrollable. It grabs you and pulls you wherever antiques can be found.

Is there a cure? God, I hope not. If there is I am running far from it.

As soon as my eyes fell upon the thickly painted, white-ish grey cupboard/buffet, I knew the brocante bug would begin to boil.

Why couldn’t I have the shoe bug, or the candy bug, or the magazine bug, or the makeup bug? Why do I have the furniture sized brocante bug? 

Looking over the whitish-grey cupboard/buffet piece, I knew it was a perfect fit. The height and length were ideal for the kitchen, and it would fit against the wall perfectly—like a silk glove on a hand—if only there weren’t already an armoire there, that is.

French Antique Kitchen

Have you ever done that, mentally start moving things around in your home so the something you want will work? Usually, I have an utter mental gymnastic of moving every thing right, left, up, down, inside out and backwards to make thing work. Today my mental gymnastics went like this:

I could sell my armoire. That was the only option.

I stared at the one of a kind beauty and whispered, “Bad bad brocante bug!” It didn’t even blink, that nasty broacante bug, poking at me.

To make matters worse, next to the cupboard/buffet piece were six dining room chairs. Caned seats, grayish color, late 1800s, perfect condition.

I do not need another chair.

Now here is the ticker… the chairs all six of them cost less than one chair at Ikea.

That is the biggest pain of all: When I find antiques in good condition, lovely patina, authentic, under price and DO NOT NEED THEM, nor have room.

Wait a minute… I could fix things to the ceiling?!

My name is Corey and I am a brocante o holic.

I kissed the cupboard/piece and the chairs goodbye, then wished I didn’t need to drop five pounds otherwise I would have some big salty fried delicious thing.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970918598/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-o-holic/feed/ 8 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/10/01/put-goodness-first/ Put Goodness First https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970867853/0/tongueincheek~Put-Goodness-First/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970867853/0/tongueincheek~Put-Goodness-First/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:00:56 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86740 Perhaps the way we meet the world begins in the way we speak, the way we listen, and the care we offer to the person before us. In each moment, we have the choice to move with gentleness and compassion, even when turning away might feel easier. Through the small acts of kindness and awareness […]]]>

Perhaps the way we meet the world begins in the way we speak, the way we listen, and the care we offer to the person before us. In each moment, we have the choice to move with gentleness and compassion, even when turning away might feel easier. Through the small acts of kindness and awareness woven into our daily lives, we contribute, in our own way, to the healing and tenderness the world needs.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/970867853/0/tongueincheek~Put-Goodness-First/feed/ 5