Download Our Spring Menu Collection

This seasonal collection features 19 recipes, including starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Featuring seasonal ingredients such as artichokes, asparagus, lamb, and strawberries. Download this PDF, which includes for recipes for entertaining at this time of the year.

 J. Christina

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J. Christina is the author and hobbyist photographer behind Scribbles and Smiles, writing a personal travel blog from the Midwest. Christina (Christie) is married to John, a.k.a. Mr. Christie. Where Mr. Christie is right on-board with their travel jaunts around the world; sharing in their blogging endeavors. He supports, encourages, handles gadgetry and embraces the role of the in-house editor - hence, their bespoke pen name, J. Christina.

J. Christina's blogging journey began before the word blog was trending, writing about European travel destinations on share-sites, forums and online journals. After many years of intrepid travel, they thoughtfully opened their treasure-trove of European travelogues, artfully sharing with a worldwide audience. Intentionally sharing the joie de vivre through their words and images, so others can travel vicariously. J. Christina believes smiling with your eyes is a beautiful thing.

You can read their most recent dispatches from aboard an elegant European river ship, sharing the allure of Europe’s great rivers and their capital cities. Or, follow them through serendipitous discoveries in the Cote d’Azur, where J. Christina captures the essence of a perched medieval village.

J. Christina's work has been featured on France Today, Bonjour Paris and The Good Life France.

Enjoy the Scribbles and Smiles stories

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Hotels Provence & Cote d'Azur · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Need a Luxury Escape to Provence? Hotel Capelongue Delivers

June 10, 2026
Our vacation in Provence began with an overnight flight from North America to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, followed by the TGV to Avignon. As we wound through the Luberon Valley, our driver pointed out the famous perched villages. We caught a fleeting glimpse of Lacoste and its château, once home to the Marquis …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Road Trips South of France

Top 23 Questions People Ask About Lavender in Provence

June 8, 2026
The Romans first introduced the lavender plant to the South of France in approximately the 2nd century B.C.E. Although lavender grows throughout the Mediterranean region, it is one of Provence’s most iconic symbols. To better understand the role lavender plays in this region, we answer the top questions people ask about lavender in Provence. Lavender …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Expat Living and Real Estate · Inspire

Living in Provence, France: A Feature Story on The Connexion

May 29, 2026
Since 2002, The Connexion has been a trusted English-language window into life in France. Its readers range from long-time residents to hopeful newcomers and curious property owners. Whether in print or online, The Connexion delivers stories on French news, travel, legal matters, taxes, and visas. Readers also find hands-on guides for navigating property, healthcare, and …
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