Our Winter Wonderland

On Saturday, we woke up and it was chilly but sunny... We hopped in the car to head to Brive to go shopping for my Mom and Katy's birthday gifts... We had just made it about 15 minutes and snow started falling down in SHEETS... thick, HUGE snowflakes.  It was BEAUTIFUL and unlike anything I had ever seen.  We had to U-Turn and come back to the Colorado because the roads were in no condition for a shopping outing! Upon our return (just 1 hour later), the property looked like THIS. It is magical when it is white. 


This was taken from our front porch.  That is the entrance to The Colorado. 

If you look to the right from our balcony you see the "Big House" which has 6 rooms, a huge basement, and serves as our kitchen and dining hall. 

That is the 8 room building behind Logan.  We live up those stairs in our little loft. (That is the little balcony I took the first 2 pictures from.) 


Those 2 cabins belong to Bob & Sheri and Kristin & Nolan and their 4 kiddos.  They are to the left of the "Big House" on the opposite side of the property from us. 

These are the chalets (cabins) that families can rent out.  We have 4 of them and they are complete with a kitchen, bathroom, loft upstairs, and bedroom downstairs- My Mom & Chris stayed in one of these over Christmas. 


Past the chalets is the pond on the property. It was so peaceful and beautiful. I loved looking at the reflection of the trees in the water. 





The path walking back from the pond is lined with huge pine trees.  The closest thing I have to compare it to is the state of Colorado back in the states... so I guess our name is pretty appropriate :) 

We had a great weekend full of snow fights, hot tea, pajamas, and movies! How was your weekend?

2 Bits of Good News

1. Turns out the VISA shenanigans can and will be settled via MAIL. In some regards this is great news, in others its bittersweet since I would have loved an excuse to "have to" fly back to Texas :) The Prefecture (that we met with last week) was not able to pass my Visa and the local contact fell through... so we had to put all our eggs in the Houston basket and seeing how well last time went, we weren't very convinced how helpful they would be... BUT, we got the "new girl" and she was amazing and so helpful.  My paperwork should arrive in Houston today and I will officially have my long term stay Visa approved and back in the mail within the month. (happy dance!)


2. Just last week, we found out that TEXAS has been added to the approved "States" drivers license list in France.  What this means? I no longer have to take a written drivers test next year (which would be hard seeing as I am still far from fluent) NOR do I have to stick a big fat "A" on the back of my car for the next few years.  Its like the Scarlet Letter for foreign drivers over here.  So THIS was great news as well!


I don't have any pictures...So I will throw in a random print that I love to make this post prettier. 

Source: thatshappy.blogspot.com via Abby on Pinterest

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

My wonderful friend Katy Hafner sent this photo to me today.  She said she'd been holding onto it for 2 years and long story short, just got around to emailing it to me.  I opened her unexpected attachment and a huge beaming grin spread across my face. Marrying Logan was truly the best decision I have ever made. I have always been told I am a terrible liar and you can read my face like a book... Well, as you can see from my face, that man fills me with irrefutable giddiness and joy!  

Ryan turns 3!

Ryan turned 3 today! We gained inspiration for our party theme from Ryan's pronunciation of OCTOPUS... aka "HAWKAPUS." We had a flag banner, big octopus card, and attempted to make an octopus cake complete with cupcake tentacles. If you would have seen how it started out, you would realize what a BIG accomplishment this was! :) At the last minute, I decided to add some blue paper waves and fish because I wanted to make sure it looked more like an octopus and less like a sunshine. The little banner he is holding says "Happy 3rd Birthday!" I thought it was a cute touch.  

Ryan had a BLAST! He was the happiest kid, loved singing and blowing out his candles, and opened lots of gifts including some cute little boy clothes, finger paints, a book, and ... HOT WHEELS!!! He was beside himself about the hot wheels. He really is turning into a little boy right before our eyes, its crazy. Please look closely at the 2nd to last row of the photo collage and see the money shot of Sophia celebrating :) Pretty awesome! Happy 3rd Birthday to my adorable nephew Ryan!

NOTE: The top was a very LAME first attempt at using Photoshop Elements. That program is a shadow of ACTUAL Photoshop and I still cannot figure everything out! So my hats off to you people who can whip out a photo collage in a few minutes- this one took me 45! I suppose I will get better in time.  Regardless, it was fun :)

5 :)

Thanks to my friend Becky's sweet words, I am going to restart doing my 5 :) on Fridays. They usually have nothing to do with France, they are just random things that are making me smile right now.  So without further ado, here we go!


1. It looks like Pyrex just got a facelift! Love these dishes. 

Source: pyrexcollective.blogspot.com via Abby on Pinterest

2. I have heard of mini bars in a home, but never seen such a cute COFFEE bar! Or hot chocolate... or tea. Would love to do this someday in my dining room or living room area. 

Source: thevintagewren.blogspot.com via Abby on Pinterest

3. Heidi Merrick: The Spring Collection. I love the mix of neutrals with subtle pops of color! 

Source: dillydallas.blogspot.com via Abby on Pinterest

4. This is a really cool exhibit in Paris right now done with a huge mirror.  Look closely and find the people floating on the home are actually on the ground.

Source: presentandcorrect.com via Abby on Pinterest

5. I saw this home tour on Apartment Therapy this week. It is an old Victorian home redo in Portland and I think it is just dreamy. That patio... that spiral staircase... Oh the cook outs we could have!

Turns out my Frenchman is feeling sick today, so we are going to lay low and take our trip to Spain NEXT weekend.  This at least will give us a week to book a hotel and figure out everything we want to see and do in Barcelona! Thanks to everyone for all your concern and feedback- We are currently trying our luck at getting our license transcribed here in France while we wait to hear back from the Prefect if Houston is necessary or not.  We would rather not purchase that plane ticket if a trip is not needed, seeing as I will be coming home in June. International flights add up fast!


Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your weekend :) 

French Girl Problems. Chapter 1: Visa

Well, I don't know if I ever blogged about our Visa-gone-wrong trip to Houston in June but it was a nightmare. Sneaking around, trying to take off work without people finding out why we had to go to Houston so urgently only to be turned away at the Visa office because our marriage license was in English and not in French. (The website said Either/ Or) 

Seeing as we had little time in July amidst goodbyes, weddings, vacations, and packing... we were not able to make it back down to the consulate so we took our chances at getting things sorted out over here in France.  This morning we FINALLY had our interview with the customs representative. I was under the impression that our formal letter to come meet with them was to finalize my extended stay Visa and to interview me to determine my level of French so she could place me in an appropriate class level. I had butterflies all the way to Tulle and brought my French curriculum Kristin is teaching me and studied up with Logan on our way there. 

As our appointment began, I could tell something was not right. Basically, they called us in to tell us in person that our paper work is not sufficient and I am currently here in France illegally. Well- HAPPY THURSDAY right? They also wanted a first hand account as to what happened in Houston and what day I arrived in France. I thought about lying so they wouldn't kick me out, but my conscience had the best of me. 

The problem: We had our marriage certificate translated once we got here but NOT TRANSCRIBED. What is the difference? I am not sure. Something about a legal document?

What does this mean? If we cannot get our marriage license transcribed quickly OR get the "Prefect" (sort of like the District Governor) to approve my application knowing the background of my case, it looks like I will have to fly to Houston to sort this out. Talk about jumping through HOOPS! 

Until then... it is in MY best interest to flee the country... so folks, it looks like we are headed to Spain for the weekend! That way when I return, I can stay for 90 days without a Visa.  

The positive in this is obvious: We HAVE to go to SPAIN. Now my French/English/Spanish is REALLY going to get jumbled up!

Source: google.com via Bianca on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Lissa on Pinterest

Bits & Pieces: January

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1. We FINALLY got our new iPhone... and she has a CUTE new outfit! Thanks Mom :)

2. Iced over windows every morning. Brrrr!

3. The handsome one. 

4. A late night jam session consisting of: The Eagles, Lady GaGa, James Taylor, Old Crow Medicine Show.... and Justin Beiber :) 

5. A cute new sweater.

6. Learned how to cook salmon! Not too hard...but I made Logan take care of the skin... not there yet.

7. The Hunger Games. Finished this in 2 1/2 Days and already ordered the other 2 from Amazon France... loved the book and will find a way (even if it means going up to Paris) to see the movie in March!

8. Good morning, Moon. It is only light here from around 8:30-5:30pm. Very short winter days. 

9. Enchilada day at The Colorado was a huge success! 

10. The entire country of FRANCE is on SALE right now! (Les Soldes they call it here) For 3 weeks in January and in July, all stores are legally required to put items on SALE. I like this French law :)

11. Logan's first basketball game in Limoges after Christmas Break. 

12. We had a mad love affair with Patrick Jane from The Mentalist. If you are considering a new show, I HIGHLY recommend this one! It is just now on Season 4 so it is not too hard to catch up!

13. Geek Chic glasses have fared well. Logan and I trade off wearing them! The Isaac kiddos do not like them at all and I am sure we will make fun of ourselves in 10 years when they are so NOT cool, but they are fun for now. 

Our NEW Business Venture

Beginning last week, The Colorado tried out a new business venture. Currently we are a Bed & Breakfast that offers full pension if requested (that means 3 meals per day).  We have now decided to expand our lunches to the outside public as a restaurant (accepting walk-ins) instead of just serving clients.  We are hopeful that this will bring in some extra business seeing as it is not a huge stretch from what we are currently doing. 

We decided to position ourselves as "Tex Mex" since there are no other restaurants in the area offering the menu items we have come up with: Chili, BBQ, Hamburgers, Enchiladas, and Fried Chicken. Starting out, we will just offer the Plat du Jour (Plate of the Day) and the customer can choose between 2 appetizers and 3 desserts. We feel like this may be a good approach until we know exactly how many people (on average) will be coming in each day.  

Another fun idea that my Marketing brain came up with was our very first customer (Ali was his name) was named SHERIFF of The Colorado.  This means that if he flashes his badge when he eats lunch here, he will have bottomless coffee on the house. Pretty cute huh? He was pretty excited!

Who would have thought I would go from 3 years ago not knowing how to cook a chicken breast...to being a chef at a Tex Mex restaurant in FRANCE. Life is pretty funny :) 

A Note to the Future Mrs. "Krax-bear-jay"

Most days I am in love with my life here in France. The experience, the places I get to see, the things I get to learn... but there are times when my heart sinks all the way to my toes because I want to tap my shiny red shoes together and be somewhere else. This weekend is one of those times.  It is the weekend of Erin Gracey's wedding.  And by the way Erin... Kraxberger in FRENCH is pronounced "Krax-bear-jay" which I think is just lovely. SJP would approve :) 


Erin and I met right before heading to Texas A&M for college.  After she pledged Tri Delt, she met and became besties with my high school BFFL Alexis.  By the end of college, we were hanging out every weekend and that did not stop once we both came back to Dallas to start work in the "real world."  We have taken fabulously planned trips, become pros at sneaking into VIP events to celeb stalk, attended numerous concerts, torn up the dance floor at many weddings, divulged juicy-I-cannot-tell-anyone-else-about-this secrets to each other, held each other up as the other has limped through heartache, AND watched each other fall in love with Mr. Right.  We have analyzed boys and text messages, made therapeutic playlists, or just provided a girls night out with special "slushies" to get our mind off of being a twenty-something.  As fate would have it, Erin's sister Erica is married to my NOW stepbrother Josh Yarger, so Erica and I are stepsisters which basically makes Erin and I sisters... at least we like to think so. :) 


Erin is one of the most beautiful individuals inside and out and she is LOYAL. She is there for her friends unconditionally, can hold the most treasured secrets, and provide the most jam packed fun weekend you have ever had! She is a great big mix of a fun, uber intelligent, fashionable, sports fanatic, music junkie meets interior designer...girl. I am lucky to call her a close friend. 


Erin- I am devastated that I am not able to be there this weekend for your BIG DAY, but know that I will be thinking of you all weekend long! Thank you for still including me and making me feel like a part of the celebration- I am honored. We have been through hell and back together AND turned out better on the other end-  So here's to us, to upgrades, and to happy endings! 

Congratulations to Matt & Erin Krax-ber-jay!!! Je'taime! :)