Month: December 2011

Remi in The Provence Post!

Remi and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Julie Mautner, who has chosen to feature Remi on her blog, The Provence Post. Julie has swoon-worthy professional experience with articles that have appeared in magazines and websites such as NYTimes.com, Conde Nast Traveller UK, Travel & Leisure, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Gourmet and Epicurious.com. So yes, we can all agree that she has excellent taste! Her blog, along with her twitter and Facebook posts, keeps hundreds of expats and Francophiles up to date on all of the most important events and points of interest in Provence and on the Côte d’Azur. Need to know where to go for Thanksgiving? Ask Julie. What not to put in your garden? Ask Julie. Who sells the best green-tea flavored chocolate? You get the idea. To top it off, Julie is also now organizing trips to (and within) Provence for groups and indviduals! What an opportunity to soak up her expertise for all it’s worth…


Photo©Remi Benali


And Julie even has a scoop! She breaks the news that I don’t believe that most of you know…Remi is shooting an assignment for the National Geographic Society!  It has been the dream of his entire career and after over twenty years of working around the world for many of the top magazines, it is finally happening. To find out more about what he will doing and to see more of his gorgeous photography, hop on over to Julie’s post here.

And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Julie also mentions a project that Remi has been developing for some time. He has created a new technique for shooting homes, hotels and other real estate. Yours truly does the styling for the shoots and the result is both unique and highly appealing, something completely unlike what you will see elsewhere. If you would like further information or pricing, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. 

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I am so proud of my wonderful man. His talent never ceases to inspire me. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that Julie sees it too and has shared it with her readers. Merci, Julie!

 Photo©Remi Benali
 Photo©Remi Benali

To see more of Remi’s work:
www.remibenali.com
To order Fine Art Prints:
www.naturecultures.com


Fire-fly

Here is a little addendum to yesterday’s post and I hope that those of you that are thinking, “Get back to the Provençal Christmas preparations already” will bear with me. 
Your comments always push my thinking to the next step. It made me realize that beyond the outer, physical expressions of the roles that we play, what is more interesting to me is the idea that there is a unique fire within each of us, one that waxes and wanes at different stages in our lives but frequently glows strongly in our youth (whether we were rebellious or not). And yes, like many, I tend to idealize that stage in our lives and the fearlessness that comes from not knowing any better. But what I had forgotten is the importance of those that let their fire burn bright even once they do know the consequences. I am referring not only to my response to Vicki Archer, who is increasingly creative on her blog French Essence but also to the numerous inspiring women that I have in my life both online and in person. Courage has no expiration date.
So if the fire within me feels dimmer than it has in the past, yes, it most certainly is a sign that I haven’t fully accepted who I am at this stage of my life. Which leads me to a question that came up yesterday while talking with my Sister, Robin (whose birthday it is today. Happy Birthday! I love you!) that she encouraged me to go ahead and ask. For those of you with children, did you feel that personal fire within you expand in having them? Knowing that it is passed on within them? Perhaps I am mistaken but for women like myself who haven’t experienced motherhood, the transition towards middle age seems to take a greater effort. It is something that has to be wrought rather than arriving on its own–or is that obvious? Any thoughts?