32 Comments
Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

We have watched all seasons of Slow Horses and really enjoyed. Can be a bit violent.

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

wow I just ordered that shirt and it came out to $13 with the promo code? Is this real life?

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Re Slow Horses: you can almost SMELL Gary Oldman through the screen. We enjoyed all seasons though!

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Just wanted to say: I just talked to Gabby this morning (booked time with her before the holidays) and it was absolutely delightful. If anyone is on the fence about it, it was well worth it to me. I feel re-energized, like I have some research to do, and also grace for myself as someone who, similar to Gabby, has *many* different interests! Gabby, so thankful for your wisdom and can't wait to read your parenting book!

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Dear Gabby,

I am a paid subscriber, but changed my email address to cgstbs100@gmail.com. (from cgs100@msn.com) . I now can not sign in to either account. I am so computer challenged & realize I am probably the problem. I am wondering if you have any suggestions? My renewal date is the middle of March & want to make sure I automatically can renew with the new email & that I am listed as a paid subscriber. THANK YOU for your input!

Cathilee Sharretts

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Congratulations Oscar 👏 he was wise to fly on Saturday. There were a lot of delays yesterday with Isha stopping by 🌬

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Re: holiday journal

Our “Santa” has always left the kids a letter which includes some acknowledgment of things they did well this year. As the years have worn on, and the kids have gotten to be teenagers and young adults, Santa has gotten more and more garrulous—commenting on the state of the world (Mrs Claus got the elves involved in canvassing for her favorite candidate, the elves joined Starbucks in unionizing, etc), and basically summarizing our family’s year for us before hopping back on the sleigh to finish his trip. The letters have ballooned out to over 4 pages some years. It’s a great record of our year and my husband takes his job very seriously. We’ve got them all in a binder—only missing 2009…..hoping it turns up one day.

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

A high school graduation in France!!!! Such a great thing. My brother went to the local French high school and I thought it was disappointing that he didn’t have a proper graduation. (I had one because I went to the American School of Paris - we didn’t have caps and gowns though because they got lost in the mail.)

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Gabi, I am so curious, do you find the choosing, applying, financial aid application-ing of schools outside of the US more difficult, the same, easier? Our only is heading off to college in September. This has been a massive undertaking for us, especially because we homeschooled K-12. She started off considering schools as far from us as a several hour plane ride, but narrowed the list to include only those within a five hour drive. We live in NH. Her list was 33 schools long at the start. She only managed to narrow it to 20. I am wondering if she should have/could have considered schools overseas. Maybe for grad school. (She says she wants to go; time will tell.)

She does say she is very excited to do a semester abroad.

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

I also love the Slow Horses series! Phenomenal, engaging acting and clever plots. The seasons are based on the Slough House book series by Mick Herron - the books are also outstanding.

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Jan 22Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Thanks for the Madewell tip! Love Slow Horses. The books are better, I think.

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Hi! I'm curious...do all six kids maintain your family's Mormon beliefs and traditions? Are any of them atheist, agnostic, or something else? Is religion a sore subject for any of them? Thanks!

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I love the photo of your son! Very nice!!

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On Oscar's bac ceremony: Emmanuel Macron held a press conference last week where he announced (among many other things!) that such ceremonies would now be held at the end of both middle school and high school. The idea is part of a plan to strengthen people's relationship to and respect for the education system. You can read about it here, for example, if you'd like: https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2024/01/17/service-national-universel-uniforme-education-civique-theatre-les-outils-du-rearmement-civique-voulu-par-emmanuel-macron_6211282_3224.html

It seems unlikely that Oscar's school put this one together on such short notice after Macron's press conference, so I guess they already had something brewing? Who knows. In any case there's a good chance Flora June will get one too!

I do hope French school institutions try to create a ritual that goes beyond copying American ceremonies, though. And I'm glad Oscar got to enjoy this celebration!

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Apparently much of Ireland was temporarily routed to Paris on Saturday, so I guess Oscar was lucky!

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Just a quick but huge thank you for writing “Ejaculate Responsibly”. I zoomed through it in 90 minutes and quickly passed it on to my sister. Just what our current chaotic world needs!

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