Mary Kay Seales

Mary Kay Seales was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest in Washington State, where she also teaches writing to international students at the University of Washington. As a lifelong traveler, photographer and writing teacher, her recent move into travel writing was a natural progression.

She has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Costa Rica, India, Azerbaijan and France, and her travels include Bora Bora, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Peru among other destinations.

She is the author of two guide books - The Beginner’s Guide to the French Riviera: Stop Dreaming & Start Packing, and The Beginner’s Guide to the Olympic Peninsula: Exploring the Wild Beauty of the Pacific Northwest - as well as a frequent contributor to other publications in France.

Her most recent blog is The Conscious Traveler.

Pompe à l’Huile a Christmas Holiday Recipe from Provence

December 5, 2025

Kristi Espinasse is the wordsmith behind “French Word-a-Day,” a blog she has written religiously for over two decades. While she no longer publishes daily, her articles are always a heartwarming chronicle of life in the South of France. Kristi is an American born in the Philippines. Her path to living in Provence was unplanned, arriving …

Inspire · Learning French · Provencal History & Traditions · Virginie Van Der Wees

Immersion in the Heart of Glanum’s Ancient Ruins: Learning French Differently

December 3, 2025

Have you considered learning French on holiday? Virginie Van Der Wess lives in Provence with her family and offers French immersion homestay experiences. Located near the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence, Virginie curates a custom holiday experience that suits each client. In this case, Jon and his wife Marie were interested in learning about Glanum, the …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Local Food Producers · Taste

Order Today! Gourmet Christmas Delights from Domaine la Pierre Blanche

December 2, 2025

This holiday season, Domaine la Pierre Blanche in the Alpilles is here to enhance your celebrations with a delightful selection of gourmet Christmas treats. Curated by their talented culinary team, place an order before December 20th and pick up your items before December 24th. This way, your festive gatherings will be filled with culinary magic …

Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

2025 Holiday Gift Guide Books from Provence our Recommendations

December 1, 2025

Are you shopping for book lovers? Here is our 2025 holiday gift guide for books from Provence for those on your list who love reading, travelling, and dreaming of France. These books are for anyone who wants a literary “dose” of Provence. 2025 Holiday Gift Guide Books Whether you have visited the region or always …

Provencal Recipes · Side Dish · Taste

Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle – Purée à la truffe noire

November 28, 2025

In Provençal cuisine, few ingredients carry as much prestige and allure as the black truffle. Revered for its earthy depth and intoxicating aroma, this culinary treasure transforms basic dishes into extraordinary experiences. In this recipe, mashed potatoes with black truffles are enhanced with crème fraîche and salted butter. This is a sensational side dish with …

François de Mélogue · Inspire · Shopping & Gifts

This Holiday Season, Give A Sensory Story from Provence, not a Thing

November 27, 2025

In a time when so much of life lives on a screen, I have been drawn to making photographs you can actually feel. My series, “Stories You Feel,” began in a lavender field in Valensole on a hot afternoon when the sun turned the air to honey, and the rows of purple seemed to hum. …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire · What's On Provence & Cote d'Azur · Winter in Provence

2026 Winter in Provence Events and Festivals Calendar

November 26, 2025

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence Many images of Provence and the Côte d’Azur depict summer scenes with ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation, and beautiful people in straw hats enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less attention, but it’s a great time to enjoy the region …

1-Bedroom Holiday Cottage

Located in the peaceful south Luberon, this well-appointed gîte offers a real escape to the peaceful Provencal countryside with all the necessary modern comforts.

Luberon
Vaucluse
One Bedroom

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Rental Home in Crillon-le-Brave for 6 People

Designed for indoor-outdoor living, Villa Armajeva has three spacious bedrooms and all the modern comforts for a family vacation. Enjoy the views from any one of the terraces. The Crillon-le-Brave village centre is steps from this lovely home.

Vaucluse
Three Bedrooms

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Rustrel: Luberon Village House Sleeps Six (6)

Au Coin des Amis is a village home with 3 luxurious bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. and breathtaking views of the Luberon Valley.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Three Bedrooms

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Lourmarin Self-Catered Rental Apartments

Les Olivettes, once a Provencal farmhouse in the Luberon, has 4 spacious rental apartments only a 4-minute walk from the centre of Lourmarin.

Luberon
Vaucluse
One Bedroom

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Eygalières Hotel: Domaine La Pierre Blanche

The moment you drive through the front gate, you enter the embrace of this exclusive 15-room boutique hotel located minutes from Eygalières.

Alpilles
Boutique Hotels

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Provence Marketplace

Winter Recipes and Menu Collection

Featuring 20 recipes from the South of France for winter weather along with menu suggestions, all designed to make your cooking experience enjoyable. These multi-course menus are a celebration of Provence and its seasonal ingredients. We encourage you to try these dishes, create your own menus, and enjoy your culinary creations this winter.

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Bread Baskets from Provence

Remember Provence has a curated collection of printed cotton bread baskets in a selection of beautiful patterns from Valdrôme®. Available in two sizes, these round baskets add a touch of colour to your table. Made in a Provencal workshop using OEKO-TEX® fabric, these baskets are also practical for storing things in your kitchen or elsewhere.

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Stylish Cooler Bag from Provence

Le Rob'Fresh is a lightweight cooler bag for bottles, lunch or even a picnic. The cooler bag weighs 300g (10 oz) and can hold 2.8 kg (6 lbs). Available in a collection of designs. The fabric is OEKO-TEX® certified, and the bags have an environmentally-friendly kraft gel pack. Le Rob'Fresh medium version is L 37 cm (14.5 in) x H 25cm (10 in) x W 10 cm (4 in). The bags are machine-washable (in cold). Price is 35€ + shipping.

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Maison Pichon Braided Ceramic Baskets

My French Country Home is showcasing Maison Pichon braided ceramic baskets. These decorative pottery stands are beautiful decorations but equally practical on your kitchen counter for fruit or other objects. Available in two colours, the Maison Pichon products are handmade in Uzes.

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Lavender Field Room Mist

Okanagan Lavender Field Room Mist is naturally scented with pure lavender essential oil and hydrosol, no synthetics or artificial fragrance. Spray in a room or directly on your bed linens, then lay back, close your eyes and breathe in the calming aroma of a beautiful field of lavender. (Shipping in Canada only).

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My French Country Home Box

Because travel is not always possible, you can still give beautiful artisan keepsakes from French manufacturers with My French Country Home Box, a curated subscription box.

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Eco-friendly Wine Cooler Bag from Provence

Le Rob'Fresh is a chic, lightweight (200g - 7 oz) cooler bag for transporting your wine bottle or beverage. The cooler bag can hold 1.8 kg, is available in a collection of motifs, and is machine-washable (in cold). The fabric is OEKO-TEX® certified, and the bags have an environmentally-friendly kraft gel pack. The small Rob'Fresh version is L 36 cm (14 in) x H 19cm (7 in) x W 9 cm (3.5 in). Price is 23€ + shipping.

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Bee Pattern Drinking Glasses

Made by La Rochère, this French glassware is sturdy and easy to clean. The cheerful bee pattern will remind you of summertime in Provence. They are sold as a set of two by French Address.

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Linen Tablecloth with Country Flower Pattern

My French Country Home sourced a stunning linen tablecloth that is certain to dress-up your table for spring. The floral pattern is beautiful without being too showy. This rectangular tablecloth measures 170 x 250cm / 67 × 98″ and there are napkins too.

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Download Our Fall Menu Collection

Mary Kay Seales

Pompe à l’Huile a Christmas Holiday Recipe from Provence

Immersion in the Heart of Glanum’s Ancient Ruins: Learning French Differently

Order Today! Gourmet Christmas Delights from Domaine la Pierre Blanche

2025 Holiday Gift Guide Books from Provence our Recommendations

Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle – Purée à la truffe noire

This Holiday Season, Give A Sensory Story from Provence, not a Thing

2026 Winter in Provence Events and Festivals Calendar

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