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.

Feel Good French: Navigating New Beginnings with Déborah Pham van Xua

January 19, 2026

Deep in the heart of France, Déborah Pham van Xua is transforming how individuals over 50 and retirees embrace new beginnings through language. Her program, Feel Good French, opens doors to a more connected, fulfilling life by breaking down language barriers with empathy and expertise. In a recent conversation, Déborah and I discussed my own …

Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Inside Pizza by Ézéchiel Zérah — A Beautifully Crafted Celebration of Pizza Culture

January 16, 2026

When someone suggests pizza for dinner, do you think of your favourite toppings? Are you a purist who prefers classic flavours, or do you enjoy trying exotic options? Ézéchiel Zérah explores these questions in his book Pizza: Histoires – Reportages – Recettes. Accompanied by striking photographs from Jean-François Mallet and a talented team of artists, …

Explore · Guest Post

Things I Wish I Knew Before Spending a Month in Provence

January 14, 2026

I’ve been slow-travelling full-time for over five years now, spending at least a month in each place I visit. And while I’ve explored everywhere from Thailand to New Zealand and beyond, there was something about Provence that felt entirely different. I’d been to France many times before, but Provence stood apart. I knew it would …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Musée de la Mode et du Costume: A Fashionable Visit to Arles, France

January 12, 2026

What do you do when your partner is away? You could make plans with a friend to do something a bit cultural that your partner has no interest in seeing. My husband had returned to Canada at the same time as my friend was also solo for a period, so we planned an outing to …

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

Immersion en Provence : découvrir Glanum et pratiquer le français à Saint-Rémy

January 9, 2026

Avez-vous déjà envisagé d’apprendre le français pendant vos vacances ? Virginie Van Der Wess vit en Provence avec sa famille et propose des séjours en immersion totale dans la langue française. Située près de la magnifique ville d’Aix-en-Provence, Virginie organise des séjours sur mesure adaptés à chaque client. Dans ce cas précis, Jon et sa …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

An Interview with Elle Jauffret, Author of the Suddenly French Mysteries

January 7, 2026

Elle Jauffret is a former criminal attorney and the award-winning author of the Suddenly French Mysteries. Born in Provence, she holds law degrees from Université Côte d’Azur and George Washington University. Her work blends legal intrigue, identity, and culinary flair, making her a distinctive voice in mystery novels. We were thrilled when Elle accepted our …

David Scott Allen · Provencal Recipes · Seasonal Menus · Taste

When the Mistral Blows: A Winter Menu from Provence

January 5, 2026

David Scott Allen curated our 4-course winter 2026 menu. He is the creator and writer of Cocoa & Lavender, a food blog where he shares stories, recipes, and photos from his daily life. David has been cooking since he was a child at his mother’s knee, and started writing the blog in 2010. Since then, …

2-Bedroom Penthouse in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Extremely private, the Waterfront Penthouse 2-bedroom, 2-bath holiday rental with a panoramic view is a very romantic place.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
Two Bedrooms

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Les Vallons Holiday Home - Sleeps 12

If you are looking for a perfect holiday rental property, with a heated pool, Les Vallons sleeps 12 people in a fully restored hamlet.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Six Bedrooms

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L'Oréliane en Provence a Charming B&B

Located in the Vaucluse, this comfortable five (5) room B&B in Châteauneuf de Gadagne is a great location for exploring the famous nearby villages and vineyards of the Southern Rhône Valley.

Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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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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Villefranche-sur-Mer Gem 1-bedroom holiday rental

Le Petit Bijou is a 1-bedroom apartment on Villefranche's waterfront. The apartment is fully outfitted, ideal for a Riviera holiday.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Provence Marketplace

Natural Soap from Provence with Fig Fragrance

Rose et Marius soaps are made with 97% natural ingredients (palm oil-free) and exclusive fragrances. Formulated with poppy and olive oil from Provence, this soap has a perfume that will remind you of a fig tree in summer.

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Candles Fig Perfume from Provence

Rose et Marius combines citrus notes of fig leaves with Indian absolute for a summer in Provence into fragrance in this scented candle. Infused with exclusive perfumes, buy these refillable candles that burn for about 60 hours, making great gifts or additions to your home.

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Traditional Tablecloth from Provence

Dress your table in classic Provencal style with a deep-blue Bastide pattern. This tablecloth is made with 100% cotton and has a light acrylic coating for easy cleaning. Also available in a round shape.

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Spring Menu Collection

Spring recipes from Provence is organized by course, from starters to desserts. We have featured menus crafted by our favourite food enthusiasts who have shared our love for Provence for several years. This spring recipe collection brings many of those delicious dishes together in one place. These menus, spanning multiple courses, are a testament to their connection with the region and the use of seasonal ingredients.

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Floral-scented Candle

Created for the Rose et Marius founder, this candle fragrance includes jasmine, roses, iris, orange blossom and vanilla bouquets. This candle - Rose's scented water - smells like sunshine in Provence. Buy these refillable candles as gifts or for your home.

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Travel Journal for Your Visit to Marseille

From bouillabaisse to petanque, Marseille is a city that combines a Mediterranean lifestyle with great food. This travel journal from My French Country Home for Marseille features watercolour prints on the cover and throughout its 128 pages. It is 14.5 x 20.5 cm and made of recycled paper (25%). The journal is eco-friendly and beautiful, combining sustainability with artistry.

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Sunny Provence in a Natural Scented Soap

All Rose et Marius soaps are palm oil free and made with 97% natural ingredients. They are formulated with poppy and olive oil from Provence. Scented with an exclusive concentration of orange blossom absolute from Tunisia and Turkish rose essence, this soap smells divine.

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Quilted Change Purse in Provencal Fabrics

A quilted coin purse for your shopping. This wallet bag is practical, beautiful, durable, and has a large capacity. The quilting is both sturdy and lightweight, allowing for everyday use without weighing down your bag. This size is suitable for coins, credit cards, bills, a small set of keys, and shopping cart tokens.

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French Porcelain Dessert Plates

Founded in 1948, La Maison Degrenne is focused on "art de la table," these delicate porcelain dessert plates are a perfect example. Sold as a set of 4 plates by My French Country Home Box, they represent the seasons; cherries for spring, sweet peach for summer, a ripe fig for autumn, and a vibrant lemon for winter.

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Download Our Winter Menu Collection

Mary Kay Seales

Feel Good French: Navigating New Beginnings with Déborah Pham van Xua

Inside Pizza by Ézéchiel Zérah — A Beautifully Crafted Celebration of Pizza Culture

Things I Wish I Knew Before Spending a Month in Provence

Musée de la Mode et du Costume: A Fashionable Visit to Arles, France

Immersion en Provence : découvrir Glanum et pratiquer le français à Saint-Rémy

An Interview with Elle Jauffret, Author of the Suddenly French Mysteries

When the Mistral Blows: A Winter Menu from Provence

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