#08: Lately...
Where we landed after Paris, intentions for 2026 & our new build moodboard
Coucou from…Melbourne! And happy new year!
I always love these slow days after Christmas, where everyone genuinely switches off and forgets what day it is. It’s not such a bad time to be severely jet lagged either, we just flew in from Dubai and it’s really really thrown us. Velzy is waking up at 1.30am every morning, and we patiently wait for coffee to open at 6am. Ohhh I’ve missed the early cafe starts here in Aus. One close by even opens at 5.30am. Unheard of in Parii!
Although I am yet to have a really great coffee, even asking for a double shot in my oat flat white (Melb does single shot coffeeee…ahhh!). I have been drinking espressos for the last month, and I feel it has really helped with my skin and hormonal breakouts, especially after a summer full of oat iced lattes. I have also been using these two French pharmacy products (serum and moisturiser) that genuinely improved my skin in 48 hours. And I’ve been taking these supplements for hormonal balance. My skin, for the first time since before my pregnancy with Velzyyyy has been consistently clear. Every morning, for the last three months. If you’ve been struggling with hormonal balance postpartum, I really hope these products help you too. My skin doesn’t love highly active ingredients, and I aways prefer a very simple 2-3 step routine. These products are inexpensive and so easy to stock up on. They were in Dubai pharmacies, and I’m sure around the world as well.
Paris is home, and I know will still feel like home for a little while. We haven’t lived in Melbourne for nine years. But it still feels so familiar and quietly nostalgic, and we weren’t quite ready to head back to a small coastal town, even though that is where we are building our house. We will head up to Byron to check on the progress of the build, but I’m excited for the boys to be in school in Melbourne. Ocean is already on the wait list for the kindergarten I went to when I was little, which is very cute!
As soon as we landed we wanted to jump back on a plane to Europe immediately. It was hard. The complete change in culture, time zones, hemisphere, seasons. When we were at immigration, the officer wanted me to wake up Velzy so she could see her eyes before stamping her passport. She had just fallen asleep in my lap when we landed and I successfully transferred her to the carrier, even with all our hand luggage and two other overtired cub cubs. Mama’s will understand how hard this is, to have to wake a peacefully sleeping baby. We also have suitcases full of winter coats and snowsuits, having just come from Val-d'Isère. My guide goes live next week, please keep an eye out. I answer all your questions about where we stayed, what room type we booked for our fam bam of five, skiing…whilst traveling with a bébé, transfers/the best way to get to the alps, what to pack…including do you need your own car seat, and all our tips to make it such an effortless trip.
So…we have a plan! One I’m very excited about. Melb for a little while…then we will head back to Europe in summer, ahead of our ten year wedding anniversary and vow renewal (which we really need to get started on organising…). And then, ideally, the boys will start school in the northern hemisphere for the start of the school year in September. It will give us time to get organised, find an apartment, all the logistics, without scrambling in just a few days. Which was tempting. Our shipping container is en route to Aus and should be here by March. So, it’s an empty apartment for us again for the first few weeks. Looking at some rentals next week as soon as all the offices open again. We will just run to IKEA for the essentials…cutlery, mattresses, bedding, towels. We are so used to moving house and living out of suitcases. Velzy has been in her travel cot since July. The boys are superstars and they happily share a bed in a hotel or Airbnb. We are all together, creating memories, living with less, and I love it. Experiencing life and raising our children in different parts of the world. Every time someone meets the boys, they can’t believe how independent they are. And confident, especially towards adults. They just strike up conversation. And aren’t afraid to talk to anyone. They are innately curious, resilient and open minded.
We would love to explore more of Aus while we are here for the next few months. Head back to Tassie. Maybe see the Northern Territory for the first time. I would love to go back to SA. All the road trips we did growing up.
Over the past few years, I’ve loved the idea of giving the year a ‘word’ and setting intentions for the year. Moving away from goals as such, and focusing on the bigger picture. Last year, I had two words: focus and simplify. Focus — we really wanted to set everything in place for our build, and not get distracted. It was one of the main reasons we didn’t sign a new lease on a Paris apartment (that required twelve months payment upfront, in addition to the two month security deposit, and 15,552 EUR agent fees). We value freedom and flexibility more. A wider range of opportunities. We traveled together to Portugal and London for the summer school holidays, then back to Paris before heading to Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Copenhagen. Back to Paris, then Val-d’Isère for the start of the ski season, Avignon, and the Côte d'Azur for Christmas.
We were able to move forward with a wonderful new architect, based in Copenhagen, and will see our first 3D renders later this month, after narrowing down our floor plan. Oh the house is so stunning! I’m so excited to share this journey with you. We previously had approved plans from Byron council, and around mid-last year made the decision to completely change everything and work with a European architect on a new design and direction. A new name for our house. La Maison Pricipale. A home that feels like us, for our family of five, with strong European codes. Full of all the worn pieces we love and have collected over many years on our travels and life in Paris. Because a home needs patina. And at least half, if not more of all objects and furniture should be vintage. Mixed with timeless pieces from independent designers. I love texture. Natural materials. And layers. Whilst still feeling clean and minimalist. I am not one to have multiple objects on display on a shelf…maybe it’s my ADHD but I need a calm space. Tableware, hidden. Handbags, hidden. Storage storage storage hehe! A kitchen that doesn’t really feel like a kitchen. Sharing some references below…because we are oh so excited!
My ultimate dream this year is to visit the land with the cub cubs and stand on the slab. Seeing the exposed beams. Walking through the future rooms all together. It really all depends on how quickly council will approve our new plans… Our second dream, will be to start sourcing all the pieces for our new home. Designing custom furniture together with our architect. I am thinking about reupholstering our cream bouclé sofa in my favourite Dedar fabric. Filling our home with art. And wildflowers. In all the special vases I’ve collected over the years. Our little Australie base, and connection to our home country for the boys and Velzy.
This year, my word is health. For my family and I. I really haven’t prioritised my health (or more so, self care) at all since becoming a mother. I don’t own a single pair of runners. Not even for school runs…I’ll always be in loafers haha! Ok first stop, get some runners. And a sports bra. I really feel this urge to get back into running. Yoga. I would love to consistently get facials. LED therapy. Lymphatic massages. Go for long walks with roo roo around the Tan. Get a juicer. We are trying to avoid getting a car in Melbourne, just because we love walking everywhere so much. It would feel strange to fill up a car with groceries, just because I love the routine of going to the market and carrying our groceries home, every day or so. The idea of the fully stocked pantry is overwhelming. We eat what is fresh. What we can carry. Walking to school with the cub cubs is one of my favourite things in the world. And no one likes to sit in traffic or fill up the car with petrol…haha! And I do love to get parking fines, especially in Melbourne…IYKYK. I always seem to accidentally park in a loading zone.
I guess we are still trying to simplify our lives this year. Not overcommit to anything. Just a simple six month lease. The boys back to swimming lessons. Maybe Aus Kick. Ocean in ballet, maybe Atlas in drama classes or music. He loves singing.
Recharge our batteries, clear our mind. We caught up with friends in Dubai, who were running on empty. Their house had just been robbed two weeks earlier in London. 60 of her handbags stolen. In two and half minutes flat. A very pre-mediated attack, even with a warning note a month prior. Thank goodness they weren’t home. They don’t want to go back. There is no greater feeling than safety, and something we are all prioritising for the new year. Especially with a family. That’s why the city we are looking to move to is so interesting. We feel so safe.
We flew out of Nice, having spent Christmas there. It’s one of our favourite European airports to fly in and out from, as it is much quieter than Paris and always such a short taxi ride from town. We were checking-in next to a family, with three young daughters all around Atlas and Ocean’s age. Suddenly, the mother was yelling at her husband, in French. Panicking. Searching everywhere. Running back to the entrance. Her black Hermès Birkin was stollen. Gone. On Christmas Day. Even I noticed it, sitting casually on the stroller as we walked up to the check-in counter. The thieves are so good at what they do, they blended in effortlessly at the check-in. Well dressed. Picking up her handbag without anyone noticing, and taking it away. While they were distracted. There was a security camera just above us too. It doesn’t deter them. Passports, gone. They didn’t make the flight to Dubai. They were just a meter or two away from us. It could have happened to anyone.
It is definitely a nice feeling to not be so on edge about my belongings here in Australia. Smart, yes. But I don’t feel like someone is going to come past on a bike and steal my phone (this happened years ago, and he missed and I was just punched in the head as I was on the phone at the time waiting to go into a cafe in London). Or steal my phone while I’m on the metro (this also happened to another friend in Paris). In Byron we never even locked our front door…
I would love to hear what intentions you are setting for the year ahead? What you are prioritising? It’s the year of the horse, and all about forward momentum. Last year, the year of the snake, was all about transformation, reflection and quiet change. Shedding and letting go. This year is all about energy and ambition. An entirely different rhythm. Renewed motivation.
I hope you are enjoying this slow, sleepy time of year, and not putting too much pressure on yourself to immediately set goals or write lists…or even create mood boards. Just go for a walk, get some (I’m sure much needed) rest and put your phones away from a little while. Read. Go for a swim. Have meaningful conversations that inspire you. I’m sure these small moments will bring some clarity and you’ll consciously or subconsciously know what feels right for the year ahead. And if it doesn’t, you can always pivot. Your time and energy, and health are most important. And of course, family.
Wishing you all a beautiful year ahead!
Bisous xx
Ps. today I ordered an ‘oat magic’ and it was perfect (double shot, 3/4 full of milk). Oh and I had my second all nighter in a row…Velzy and Ocean were awake all night long (both have chest infections)…Velzy from 10.30pm (Sammy went for a walk with her at 3am) and I was up with both boys. Then Velzy came back and woke up ahhh! At 7.30am I gave up trying to get any sleep and walked with her to get bread and coffee (she fell asleep in her pram haha!). I forgot my phone today when I went with her to the doctor because I’m so tired, and ohh it was the best feeling! I’ve seen a lot of people talking about reducing their phone time this year…guys…just leave your phone at home for a few hours. I even had to ask the lady at the cafe for the time haha! And I used my actual wallet to pay, instead of tapping my phone. I really should remember to wind my Rolex though haha!!!
Hi Sasha. Thanks for the lovely update. I’m confused about the plan, if your belongings are being shipped to Australia, will you then ship them back to France ?… So you are back here until European summer and then moving back to Paris ? And then moving to Byron once house is done ?
"It’s the year of the horse, and all about forward momentum. Last year, the year of the snake, was all about transformation, reflection and quiet change. Shedding and letting go. This year is all about energy and ambition. An entirely different rhythm. Renewed motivation."
This rings so true Saasha. This is exactly what is happening in my life. To see this written feels like a validation that I am on the right path. It's very motivating and reassuring. I've had some extremely challenging family issues over the last 2 months, and I found that I had more strength, clarity and calm than I ever knew. It brought out a version of me that I've had hidden for so long. It has transformed my life. Once you rise and become a better version of yourself, you cannot go back. The Year of the Horse is all about forward momentum. I see it so clearly now. Taking all of those long awaited projects off the table and making them a reality. That is 2026 for me. Shedding everything that no longer fits my life. Taking better care of myself, shedding toxic relationships, streamlining my business, and freedom. It's all so clear to me this year and it doesn't feel daunting at all. It's exciting!