banon-france

Rent or Buy, Provence or Gironde?

These are questions going through our minds as we wait for our next little one to enter the world. We were supposed to move to Challans in December to live closer to my husband's family in Normandy. We decided to stay in Provence until the baby is born because it would have been too stressful - move across the country to a temporary month-to-month house while house hunting, and then buying furniture (we've only lived in furnished apartments/houses over the past 2.5 years in France). And now after passing it by, we're thankful because the weather there is very similar to Normandy.We know we … [Read more...]

grammar-girl-blog

Quick French Grammar Tips

Being married to an ex French teacher has its advantages and disadvantages. For one thing, he's always correcting me. It was greatly appreciated at the beginning, and now it has become annoying. Most of what he tells me I've already learned, yet I have forgotten at the moment.I created a new blog to provide quick French grammar tips. French Grammar Girl is for people, like me, who need reminders and don't have time to go through an entire grammar book.I still have some work to do on the look of the blog. If you've been a reader of French Mamma for some time, then you know I'm … [Read more...]

france-restrice-birth-control-pill

France to Reduce Prescribing Newer Birth Control Pills

I didn't know there was a difference in the level of dangerous side-effects when taking newer vs older birth control pills. I assumed newer pills would be safer. I was wrong.A Danish study published in the British Medical Journal in 2011 (as reported by France 24) found newer pills were twice as likely to cause venous thromboembolism (blood clots). If you choose to take a 3rd or 4th generation pill instead of using a birth control method like condoms, you are three to six times more likely to get a potentially lethal blood clot.There are four generations of birth control pills. Pills … [Read more...]

french-healthcare-pregnant-women

French Healthcare System Explained for Pregnant Women

A wealth of information can be found on the Start Business in France website. Valerie Lemiere is French and works in France as a business adviser for the national organization called Boutique de Gestion. She helps French entrepreneurs with all aspects of starting and running their business.This video presentation is slightly over 24 minutes (so grab a large cup of coffee) and discusses:How the health systems works Difference between employees and the self-employed What happens when you set up a business How to set up your health coverage (social security number, carte vitale, … [Read more...]

saving-money-buying-clothes-in-france

Saving Money When Buying Baby Clothes in France

Baby clothes is expensive and you need to buy more clothes every few months. I was lucky with Juliana because family on both sides of the ocean gave us enough clothes so we didn't have to buy any until she was a year old. Most of the clothes came from my older sister since her daughter was born only 2 years earlier, and borrowed from my husband's cousin, who by chance still had all the baby clothes of her 7 year-old daughter.We don't know yet if we're having a boy or girl. If we're having a girl, we're all set. Most of Juliana's clothes from birth until 3 months old were borrowed, so no … [Read more...]