Note #1: A Beautiful Beginning
Opening this notebook on a fresh page to welcome you and start sending some beauty and joy to your inbox.
Why substack? Why now?
If I’m being honest, I was a 100% skeptical about starting another project. Another social media space. Another blog. Another…thing!! However the more I thought about it and what I have always loved about sharing online and being on social media is sharing my travels, things I find, recommendations, and connecting with people. I love that feeling of finding something and wanting to share it with everyone I know.
The hesitation wasn’t coming from sharing but more from my current frustration towards Instagram and the algorithm, ads, and feeling like I have to devote so much time to perfectly curate and edit videos. (I am also extremely fed up with opening my Instagram app to see what people are up to, only to be reminded with targeted ads that I need to do some hormone testing, lose weight, or buy some product from a shop that probably doesn’t exist.)
A friend suggested that I check out Substack and I was suspicious yet curious. I have a slightly strange school girl love of learning new things, so I went on a deep dive and quickly realized this platform is a wonderful place for me to continue sharing what I love in design, travel, and entertaining.
As these thoughts were going on in my head, my community online started to grow with the release of my new book JOIE. Many of you reached out to me, sharing passages and parts of the book that you connected with and wanting more. I especially love getting messages that the book transported you to France. Of course I am so grateful that the book continues to sell exceptionally well and will live on, but there are many things that didn’t make the book, so I want to continue sharing here on Substack.
I am looking to build a community of fellow lovers of beauty & joy.
This will be space where you can get inspired and informed with recommendations, tips, maybe share some of your own in the comments, ask questions, and so much more. I am excited to connect with a community of people who are interested in beautiful spaces, places and experiences.
What should you expect?
You can read the about page here, but to repeat some of what I wrote on that page, this substack will focus on design, antiques, entertaining, Paris, and travel.
Notes on Joie is where you learn…
to surround yourself with objects in your home that bring you joy and even better if they have a story
to always use “the good china” for yourself and not to wait for a special occasion
“The good china” is also a metaphor for beautiful things and experiences that bring you joy
to care about where you buy the food you eat and drink as much the taste
that fellowship is life and that connections and conversations with people are vital for joy
that sometimes doing nothing is everything
that what brings you pleasure should never make you feel guilty
that self-care in various forms truly is self-preservation
As a paid subscriber, you receive:
A weekly newsletters about design, antiques, and entertaining to inspire and teach you how to bring more joie into your life
A monthly Insider’s Guide to the best of Paris and the rest of France with exclusive travel tips, addresses, shopping and places to go
The chance to be partof a community of like-minded lovers of beauty and joh
A first look at my new Paris and Provence retreats as they come up
Monthly live Zoom “Apéro Chats” where we discuss and share about topics such as slowing down, how to serve an apéro, what your home says about you, how to surround yourself with objects of beauty and that bring you joy, etc…
Access to the full archive of posts
And many more goodies will be added to this list
As a supporting JOIE club member, you receive:
Everything you offered in the paid subscriber package plus…
A set of cocktail napkins from my Madame de la Maison shop
As a free subscriber, you receive:
The weekly newsletter to help you bring joie into your life
Extras and bonuses
The opportunity to be an integral part of the Joie community
Welcome beautiful Ajiri!! It's a wonderful community here ✨