The Joie Review: December 2024
All the inspiration from the last month of last year with a lil Nov thrown in there.
The last month of 2024 truly felt like a proper ending. Often when December rolls around, I find myself saying, “Oh wow, that went by fast,” or “I can’t believe the year is already over.” But this time, the month had a sense of finality, and I was happy to close the chapter. I attended several events at the U.S. Embassy here in Paris—final gatherings hosted by Ambassador Denise Bauer—as well as events led by the outgoing Ambassador to UNESCO, Courtney O’Donnell. I appreciated their presence in Paris and felt they made a significant effort to foster culture and deeper connections between France and the United States as well as within the expat community. They will both be missed.
I also hosted a few end-of-year dinners and parties, which kept me busy with planning and cleanup. It was a balancing act, as I often find myself caught between wanting to relax and feeling the need to get things done. My friend invited me to be a guest on her Zillion Trillion Substack show, where she asked if I ever worried about making Christmas “perfect” for my kids. My answer was a swift no. Of course, I want my children to have fun, but modeling joy and sharing experiences with them also means not becoming a stressed-out mother in the process. (I also wrote about the idea of rest for women in this post.) Nothing is perfect, but modeling joy and keeping hosting joyful and not stressful are always among my goals and the values that I work towards.
As I turned the page to a new year, I did so with gratitude, perspective, and these wise words from Pharrell shared with my daughter during his ceremony where he was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. xx, Ajiri
P.s. If you live in Paris, then check out this 2025 Road Map Atelier that I am co-hosting with . Come plan out where you are headed for the year with us. There are only two spots left. Sign up here.
I know we are fully in January, and the last thing you want to hear about are my holiday dinners and decorations, but hear me out…I want to remind you that you don’t have to do it all to host a beautiful and bountiful gathering. Last month, hot on the heels of hosting a Friendsgiving on November 30th, I hosted a buffet for some of the parents from my children’s school and two separate cookie parties because the children each now want to host their own with different friends.
My tip for you this month in “setting the scene” is hopefully a simple reminder to order when and if you need to and then pull out all your favorite plates and serving trays and platters, and create a beautiful table. Ordering sometimes also includes decorations or flowers. As you go into the new year, please keep this in mind so you can have more joyful gatherings that don’t feel stressful. When the host is happy, the guests are happy.
Below, I am sharing three ways I ordered last month to keep things simple for myself so I had more time to enjoy my holidays, hosting, and cutting up with my friends and family.
1. Order an Apéro Platter
Technically, I didn’t order this grazing board from Tableaux Paris—it was sent to me as a gift from the Provence rosé brand Château Galoupet. It arrived at the perfect time, just as I was preparing for a Friendsgiving on November 30th with 25 guests. With so many dishes to prepare, having this beautifully styled grazing board and a bottle of rosé delivered to my doorstep that morning was a lifesaver. It meant I had one less thing to worry about and a pretty apéro setup for my early-arriving friends to enjoy while I dashed around finishing the dinner and catching up with everyone.
If you’re hosting, consider looking for a local company or épicerie that offers similar platters with crackers, cheeses, dips, nuts, and fruits. Of course, many of us enjoy putting these boards together ourselves, but if you’re feeling pressed for time, outsourcing this step is a great way to lighten your load.
Follow Château Galoupet on Instagram
Follow Tableaux on Instagram
2. Don’t Cook: Focus on Plating and Presentation
For a holiday dinner I planned to host for parents from my children’s school, I started with ambitious lists and recipes. It was initially meant to be an intimate dinner for six, but my Nigerian roots (aka "the more, the merrier") kicked in, and I kept inviting more guests until a sit-down dinner became impractical. Instead, I decided on a buffet-style setup that called for a variety of dishes.
A week before the dinner, I abandoned my lists and ordered food from Nour Comptoir, a Middle Eastern street food restaurant in the 11th arrondissement. I envisioned a grand French buffet table reminiscent of a 19th-century painting, with cake stands and tiers brimming with food. I ordered falafel balls, shawarma, dips, and bread from Nour Comptoir, picked up oysters from my local poissonnerie, fishmonger, and added some charcuterie, chips, and dips from my neighborhood épicerie. The only thing I prepared myself was a red cabbage salad and a tarte du soleil.
The food was a hit! My guests loved it, and I got the same joy as if I had cooked everything myself—especially when people asked for recommendations and recipes. Introducing my friends to a new favorite spot felt so satisfying. (And yes, before you ask, I’ll try to share my cabbage salad recipe soon—it’s still cabbage season, after all!)
Follow Nour Comptoir on Instagram
3. Order Decorations
Last year, I decided to delegate my holiday decor instead of making everything myself. Last month, I might have shared that for Thanksgiving, I ordered a runner from Éphémère Fleuriste that matched my table’s color palette. It was such a relief not to worry about it, and it looked stunning!
When I saw that Cordelia Coffee Flower Shop was offering wreaths and mantle decorations, I ordered from them as well. The mantle piece was full and beautiful, and it instantly transformed my salon into a festive, cozy space. While I love experimenting with my own floral arrangements, letting someone else handle it this year freed me up to focus on everything else and enjoy the season fully.
After I styled the below holiday table as inspiration, the talented Virginie Faucher came over to capture it all on her camera. It’s been a while since I played with a runner on the table and might need to do more of that.
All photos below by Virginie Faucher, who you can follow online here.
In December, I traveled to Switzerland, as I do every year, to visit my husband’s mother and for the kids to go to ski school. After 15 years of making this trip, I realized I’ve never shared much about it—mainly because we tend to be creatures of habit when visiting his hometown. However, during this last trip, I noticed something different: I heard so much English! It seems Lucerne’s charm is attracting more visitors these days, which feels like the perfect excuse to highlight some of our favorite finds.
Let me start by sharing a few must-visit spots from this trip that you might want to bookmark for your own Lucerne adventures:
A classic spot for us is dinner at Rebstock, a cozy restaurant tucked inside a small hotel in the heart of the old town. I love the dining room’s charming, old-inn vibes, and I always order the osso buco—it never disappoints.
The day after Christmas, we visited another family favorite, Seehotel Sternen Horw, which is another hotel restaurant on the lake. Unfortunately, there were no lakeside-view tables available, but with the lake covered in a thick fog soup, I didn’t mind missing the scenery.
For a change of pace, we booked two nights at Seehotel Pilatus. We stayed in a corner suite, hoping it would be the perfect writing retreat for me while the kids spent time with their grandmother. The suite itself was lovely, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and I only left it to visit the pool and jacuzzi for two and a half days. (The photo below is from their Instagram because mine were useless). Sadly, the fog never lifted, leaving me with zero views!
That said, the hotel is literally on the lake, with direct access to swim in the indoor pool or take a summer dip straight into the lake. Even with the crummy weather, I could see its potential as a fantastic summer destination. I’m already looking forward to returning when the sun is out, and the lake is showing off on full display.
Seehotel Pilatus
Website
Rebstock
Website
Seehotel Sternen Horw
Website
I was recently invited to the launch of a new beauty app, Le Dispo Club, which works like a dating app—but for beauty services in Paris. The app is the brainchild of two expat women who initially launched a similar app in Canada. When COVID hit, they had to shut it down, but instead of giving up, they pivoted, moved to Paris, and started again. I always admire entrepreneurs who demonstrate such resilience and courage.
The concept behind Le Dispo is brilliant. You simply enter your desired treatment and your location, and the app shows you available options—often with special discounts. It’s perfect for discovering beauty services in Paris, whether you’re in the mood for a facial, massage, or another treatment.
The launch event was held at FaceKult, where I was treated to a complimentary skin analysis and their signature face massage. Let me tell you—they slapped the heck out of my face! But I left with incredibly awakened facial muscles and glowing, dewy skin, so I can’t complain.
As for the skin analysis, it was fascinating but a little terrifying. It captured detailed images of my skin, revealing everything happening below the surface. It was a bit of a wake-up call, but overall, it was such an insightful experience.
If you live in France or are visiting, you can download it here.
An image drop of design inspiration from the past month to inspire. All the photos were taken by me.
They say you should eat mussels only in months that include an "R," and last month, I was reminded just how easy moules frites can be for a cozy weeknight dinner or a relaxed evening with friends. It’s as simple as sautéing some aromatics, adding a burst of flavor like curry or white wine with a splash of stock, tossing in the mussels, covering the pot, and letting them steam for 5–7 minutes until they open.
For the extra-ambitious, homemade frites are a fun addition, but we keep it simple with a crusty baguette or even Picard’s frozen fries (a lifesaver!). This comforting dish will be making regular appearances on my table through these remaining "R" winter months.
While I don’t have a set recipe to share, I’m linking a few favorites below to inspire you. The curry recipe I’ve included was my starting point, and now I love experimenting with new flavors.
My favorite Thai Coconut Curry Mussels recipe from Little Ferraro Kitchen.
David Lebovitz recipe for a traditional French Moules à la Marinière.
My Journey Back to Basics recipe for mussels in a tomato garlic wine sauce.
Linda Nortje recipe for mussels in a lemon-garlic butter sauce.
Serving Dumplings recipe for mussels in a garlic miso broth.
Reflect & Collect Joie
This week, carve out a peaceful moment to reconnect with joy. Grab a notebook, brew your favorite tea or head to your favorite café, and find a quiet spot—perhaps outside in the park or by a sunny window. Reflect on the past year and write down all the moments that brought you joy. Big or small, celebrate them: a giggly conversation with a friend, dancing on a party bus for a friend’s 50th birthday, speaking on a big stage for over 1000 people, laying in bed all day guilt-free to read and nap, a staycation to hear your creative thoughts, etc.…
If you want to take it a step further, this month, start a “Joie Jar” or “Joy Jar” if you want to keep it in English. :) Each week, write down at least one thing that brought you joy and place it in your jar. This could be a note about a kind word someone said, a fun experience, or a moment of gratitude. At the end of the year, you’ll have a treasure chest of joyful reflections to look back on—a reminder of the beauty and joy in your life.
Reflecting on joyful moments and creating a habit of recognizing them, you’ll train your heart to notice the beauty around you and carry that joy forward into everything you do.
I had so many “aha” moments while listening to this podcast with Oprah and Mel Robbins, then immediately started the audiobook, and wanted to underline so many sections that I also bought the book. Clearly I like the message and the theory. Ha! It’s a great way to lead you into a new year of focusing more on yourself and not what others think, want, or do.
Bring your own touch of beauty to our next issue! Send me an email (ajiri@madamedelamaison.com) with a photo of your styled tables, cherished antique finds, and beautiful treasures in your home, or anything that brought you joy and inspired beauty this month. Include a short sentence or a few about the photo, and you might see it featured in an upcoming newsletter!
Be back in your inbox soon! Thank you for all your love and support last year. Your kind emails, paid subscriptions, and praise truly keep me going in challenging times.
xx, Ajiri
Your best issue yet! When are we having Moules Frites Night?