Whenever I tell someone I’m hosting a trip to Toulouse, France hosting a trip to Toulouse, France, the first question is usually, “Why Toulouse?”

France is full of beautiful places. Paris, Provence, the French Riviera, Bordeaux… there are so many destinations that immediately come to mind. Toulouse isn’t always at the top of the list, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

The first time I visited Toulouse, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with it. But somewhere between wandering the local markets, lingering over coffee at a neighborhood café, strolling along the Garonne River, and watching everyday life unfold in the city’s pink brick streets, I realized this was the kind of place that stays with you.

Toulouse isn’t a city that asks you to rush. It’s a city that invites you to slow down.

You’ll find beautiful architecture, incredible food, bustling markets, quiet churches, museums, riverside walks, and little shops tucked down side streets. It’s a city where locals gather at cafés, shop for fresh produce, and enjoy life at a pace that feels refreshingly different.

One of my favorite things about Toulouse is that you don’t feel like you’re constantly surrounded by tourists. Instead, you begin to settle into the rhythm of the city. You recognize familiar streets, discover favorite cafés, and start feeling less like a visitor and more like someone who belongs there.

That’s exactly why I chose Toulouse for my first hosted trip.

I didn’t want to create a vacation where we rushed from city to city trying to see everything. I wanted to create an experience where we could spend a week getting to know one place really well.

We’ll visit markets, browse a favorite flea market, learn the art of traditional pastel dyeing, share wonderful meals, and have plenty of free time to explore. There will be opportunities to wander, shop, sit beside the river, or simply enjoy a quiet afternoon with a pastry and coffee.

My hope is that by the end of the week, you’ll leave with more than photographs and souvenirs. I hope you’ll leave with favorite cafés, familiar streets, new friendships, and the feeling that, for a little while, Toulouse was home.

If you’ve been wondering, “Why Toulouse?”

I hope you’ll come discover the answer for yourself.

If you’d like to learn more about joining me in Toulouse in Fall 2026, you’ll find the full itinerary, accommodations, pricing, and booking information below.

Travel to Toulouse with me!

Looking for something a little different?

If you’re traveling with friends or family, I can help arrange a private apartment for your group. Apartments offer extra space, a kitchen, and a unique way to experience life in Toulouse together.

Availability is limited and varies by property, so please contact me for more information and to discuss your group’s needs.

The post Why Toulouse? appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Toulouse, France is a city that completely captured my heart. With its beautiful pink brick buildings, bustling markets, wonderful food, and relaxed pace of life, it’s a place that invites you to slow down and stay awhile. After returning again and again, I wanted to create an opportunity to share the city I love with others.

This Fall 2026, I’m inviting a small group to join me for six days and seven nights in Toulouse. We’ll explore local markets, browse a favorite flea market, take a pastel dyeing workshop, enjoy great food, and spend time discovering the city together. There will also be plenty of free time for you to wander, relax at a café, visit a museum, shop, or simply enjoy the rhythm of daily life in Toulouse.

This isn’t about checking off a long list of sights. It’s about spending a week getting to know one beautiful city and experiencing it in a way that feels a little more personal.

Ready to learn more?

You can find the full itinerary, accommodations, pricing, payment details, and booking information on my WeTravel page. You’ll find everything you need here: Travel to Toulouse with me!

And if you have questions, I’d be happy to help! Please fill out the inquiry form below with any questions.

Travel terms and conditions.

The post Travel to Toulouse France with me! appeared first on The Paper Mama.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I spent seven weeks in France this summer, with most of that time in the city of Toulouse. At the start of my trip, I joined Jess, from, Taste of Toulouse, on a wine tour which turned out to be so much fun and the best way to start my trip!

Our evening began at Le Nabuchodonosor, the oldest wine bar in Toulouse. This neat space is tucked away in a centuries old building with no sign out front. This bar’s atmosphere and knowledgeable staff was a great intro to the city’s wine culture. I loved this space so much, I came back a couple of weeks later for another glass for wine.

Our second stop was at Maison Sarment, located in the Carmes district. Downstairs in the bar’s stone-walled wine cave, we sampled two wines paired with a generous charcuterie board of cured meats and cheeses from nearby producers. The blend of modern design and it’s historic character makes this space feel both relaxed and refined.

We ended at Le 5 Wine Bar, a venue that has been named the best wine bar in the world several times. Le 5 Wine Bar’s concept is unique: rows of serve-yourself wine dispensers to pour tastes or glasses of wines from all over the world, including rare vintages. The bar also serves a selection of locally sourced tapas to complement whatever you happen to be drinking.

If you’re planning a visit to Toulouse, I highly recommend booking a tour with Taste of Toulouse. Jessica, the founder, curates experiences that are as informative as they are enjoyable. I’m already looking forward to returning and joining her Victor Hugo Marché tour on my next trip!

If you have any more questions about this wine tour in Toulouse, please feel free to email me or reach out to the Taste of Toulouse team.

– Chelsey

The post Wine Tour in Toulouse appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Renting an Airbnb can be a bit stressful. Will the rental look like the photos in the listing? What if the owner is crazy? What if I don’t like the neighborhood?

If you are asking yourself these questions, just know you are not alone. I have been a member of Airbnb for 12 years, and I am happy to share what I have learned from my travel experiences. Hopefully, this will make your next trip more enjoyable and stress-free.

Before You Book:

• The more photos in the listing, the better.
   I generally avoid anything that has fewer than six images. I want to see every nook and cranny. How clean is that bathroom? What are the beds like? Is there actually a kitchen?
• Read as many of the listing’s reviews as you can, but do remember to go into this with an open mind.
   What one person may have despised, another may love. For example, when I stayed in Toulouse, France, I wanted to be right in the center of it all, which meant noisy late-night crowds. One reviewer hated all the noise, but I came prepared with earplugs and loved my stay. Five stars.
• Google the street view of the listing.
   What’s the neighborhood like? Is this somewhere you feel comfortable staying? Where is the entrance to the rental?
• Carefully read the listing’s rules and description.
   You don’t want to arrive and find you missed something important in the listing.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact the host.
   In a previous post, I shared nine questions you may want to ask your Airbnb host before booking. Maybe you need clarification on bed size or when check-in and check-out are? Don’t forget that if you are traveling internationally, there may be a language barrier, and those auto translators can make mistakes.

When You Arrive:

• Upon arrival, be sure to take a video of the entire home or space.
   While I’ve never had an issue with a host accusing me of breaking something during a stay, it can happen, and I have heard some horror stories. If you do find something broken or missing, take photos and videos and contact the host immediately. Make sure they know.
• Accidentally break something?
   Be honest with your host. They will eventually find out anyway, and it’s better to be upfront about it.
• Lock your luggage.
   Before you head out to explore the city, lock up your luggage. It’s just a small precaution I like to take.
• Do not share your rental location on social media.
   You never know who is watching. Better to be on the safe side and save those photo shares for when you leave.
• Keep an eye on those keys.
   When I travel, I attach my rental keys to a little hook in my travel purse. Losing a rental key could result in hefty fees as they may have to change the locks.

When You Leave:

• Clean up.
   I know there’s a cleaning fee already in place, but be kind and clean up any spills or messes. Follow the checkout guidelines.
• Leave a review.
   Help the next traveler by leaving an honest review. It takes a lot for me to give anything less than a 5-star rating, but if the space was truly horrible, share your experience. If it was delightful and amazing, definitely share your joy.

Well, that’s it! I hope my tips for booking with Airbnb were helpful. Happy travels!

The post Tips for Booking with Airbnb appeared first on The Paper Mama.

A vacation should be fun and stress-free. That’s why you should ask any questions you may have before you book that Airbnb. Many hosts provide this information in the listing’s description, but quite a few still don’t. Here are some questions to consider before you book that Airbnb.

1. What sort of transportation can we expect?
 If you are flying into the city, you may not have access to a car to drive yourself around. What sort of transportation can you use to get from the airport to the rental? Is there a subway? Is Uber available in this city? What about taxis?

2. Is the home in a noisy area or on a busy street?
 If you are a light sleeper like me, any noise can make sleeping impossible. I personally always bring earplugs just in case, but maybe you prefer to stay in a quiet neighborhood. If the space is in the city, the nightlife could be louder.

3. What safety measures does the home have in place?
 Do the windows lock? How does the door lock? Who has access to the space? I have stayed in a home that only had a handle lock, and it made me uneasy as I was traveling alone. If I had asked about the door before I left, I could have brought a travel door lock. These days, I just keep these door locks in my luggage, so I always have one if needed.

4. How and when will you get access to the rental?
 The last thing you want after a long day of travel is to not know how you will access your home. What time is check-in? How do you get your key for the space?

5. What are their check-out procedures??
 What time is check-out? What will you need to clean? Rentals usually  hire someone to clean the space after your stay, but they will sometimes ask for you to do a few things before leaving. A typical stay may ask you to load and start the dishwasher, take sheets off mattresses, pile up towels, and bring out the garbage. All lights off with the windows and doors locked.

6. If you prefer to travel light, you may want to ask if toiletries are provided?
 I personally like to use my own shampoo and other items, but maybe you don’t mind. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, toilet paper, and paper towels are all items you may want to see included with the space.

7. What kitchen items are provided?
 Is the kitchen fully stocked with cookware, plates, cups, wine bottle openers, and utensils? Is there a coffee maker, and do they provide coffee for it?

8. Is there free WIFI?
 Will WIFI be provided during your stay?

9. Does the host have any recommendations for things to do or places to eat?
 Airbnb hosts often live in the area where they rent. I find that many hosts are more than happy to share their favorite places to eat or the best things to do with your time. You may discover a delicious restaurant that the locals frequent. When I travel, I like to eat some meals at home, so I would ask where their favorite grocery store is. If I am traveling with kids, maybe they have some recommendations for fun kid-friendly activities.

These are the basics I always like to know before I rent. The more I know beforehand, the better prepared I am for a relaxing vacation.

The post 9 Things to Ask Your Airbnb Host Before You Book appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Do you love good food? Do you love good food with a nice beer? Do you like to eat good food, drink a good beer, and also have children? Perfect. This list is for you. I am a mom of two girls, and these are our favorite places to go for a pint (or glass of wine) for the parents and tasty food for all.

Stormbreaker Brewing / website / instagram: 
 Fun fact: The Mississippi location is the first restaurant we went to when my 2-week-old baby graduated from the NICU. We went straight there from the hospital to celebrate. She’s now 9 years old, and while the menu is different, we still choose Stormbreaker for a fun family lunch on many weekends.
 What I like: I typically find something I love at a restaurant and stick with it, but I try something new here each time.
 What the kids like: Willa likes the mac and cheese, and Ruari likes the burger and fries.

Baerlic and Ranch Pizza / Baerlic – Ranch Pizza / Baerlic IG and Ranch IG:
 We love this space. Baerlic brews are tasty, and Ranch Pizza is absolutely delightful—Detroit-style pizza sold by the slice. What could be better for a simple dinner night with the family?
 What I like: I like the pepperoni pizza with a side of ranch to dip it in!
 What the kids like: The youngest is a pepperoni girl, and the older one prefers just cheese.

Wayfinder / website / instagram:
 While this place has some amazing burgers, their Caesar salad is one of my favorites in Portland.
 What I like: The Caesar salad with bacon crumbles! That dressing is amazing.
 What the kids like: The French fries! My kids are French fry snobs, and they have approved of these taters.

Great Notion Brewing and Matt’s Tacos / Great Notion – Matt’s Tacos / Great Notion IG – Matt’s BBQ IG:
 Matt’s Tacos runs a little kitchen inside this Great Notion location. Walk in, order your food on a screen, then find a table to sit and enjoy a Great Notion pint while they prep your delicious food.
 What I like: Chopped brisket taco!
 What the kids like: Surprisingly, my 9-year-old, who thinks everything is spicy, loves the mac and cheese with pepperoncinis. My 15-year-old likes the pulled pork tacos. They both love the waffle fries.

Double Mountain Brewery / website / instagram: 
 We love all the Double Mountain locations. It’s our go-to lunch spot when we visit Hood River, but the Portland locations are just as great.
 What I like: I always get a BLT. Simple and hits the spot.
 What the kids like: They always share a half pepperoni and half cheese pizza. They love it.

There are many more spots we love, but these are our go-to spots when we feel like having a fun family lunch out.

The post 5 Portland Brew Pubs that are Kid-Friendly appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Severed Hand Cheese Ball Recipe

The holiday season is about to begin, and that means all the appetizers! If I could, I’d eat appetizers for all of my meals. When it comes to party snacks, I like to go all out, and any apps I make tend to have a theme. So that’s why, for Halloween, I stepped up my creativity to make this Severed Hand Cheese Ball.

The severed hand cheese ball may appear to be hard to make, but I guarantee you can do it.

It’s simple enough to make. You mix all the ingredients, but the cheddar cheese and prosciutto, in a large bowl. You can use a hand mixer to make the blend creamier, but a spatula will work just fine. Blend in the cheese and you’re ready to form the hand!

I set a piece of plastic wrap on a tray, to keep the tray clean for presentation, and formed the cream cheese mixture into a hand. A palm, fingers, knuckles, and wrist. Easy peasy. Chill for a couple of hours, and add the prosciutto. Cover and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to serve. I love to eat this cheese ball with a crunchy cracker!

Print

Severed Hand Cheese Ball for Halloween

This scary-looking severed hand cheese ball appetizer is perfect for Halloween! You can't beat creamy cheese with prosciutto. Serve this creepy hand with some crunchy crackers, and it will be the hit of the party!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword appetizer, cheese, gluten free, halloween, keto, party food

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Chill Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 1164kcal

Cost 15

Ingredients

• 2 8 ounce packages brick-style cream cheese
• 2 chopped pickled golden pepperoncini peppers
• 2 tbsp juice from the pickled pepperoncini
• 2 finely grated garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp finely chopped green onions
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 3 oz. package prosciutto

Instructions

Prep the Mixture

• Before starting, make sure your cream cheese is softened. Use a fine grater, like a lemon zester, to grate your garlic. Finely chop your peppers and green onions.
• In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini juice, garlic, and green onion. Mix by hand, or with a handheld mixer.
• Use a spatula to blend in the shredded cheese.

Form the Hand

• Place a piece of plastic wrap on a tray.
• Form the hand on the plastic wrap. To start, create the back of the hand. From here, you can properly size the fingers and wrist. When you're happy with the size, you can work on the shape. I added a wrist bone and knuckles.
• Cover the hand with another piece of plastic wrap, and set in the refrigerator to chill for 1 - 2 hours.
• When the cheese hand is chilled, it's time to cover it with prosciutto. I found it was easier to cut the prosciutto to size as I went along. Gently press it onto the cheese ball to form it into the hand shape. Cut a sliver of the prosciutto to create a swirl at the end of the severed hand.
• Carefully move the cheese ball hand off the plastic wrap and place it on a tray. Cover and store the Severed Hand Cheese Ball in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. It's great served with most crackers or bread!

Nothing beats a delicious and creamy cheese ball. Do you need to find me at a party? Just head to the appetizers, and I’ll be with the cheese ball.

– Chelsey

Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. There are affiliate links in this post. Thank you for your support.

Related Content:

Monster Doughnut: This fun treat is so cute and easy to make. The kids will love it!

Sweet and Spooky Cinnamon Chips: Another fun and simple to make treat for the kids.

Venus Fly Trap Candy Holder: This DIY was a hit with the neighborhood kids.

The post Severed Hand Cheese Ball Recipe – Halloween Appetizer appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Are you looking for some ideas to get your patio ready for Winter? Then these tips are for you. The lifespan of any furniture left outside in our wet Oregon weather will drastically shorten, if not protected. My husband and I spent time and money building up our outdoor living space and we’d like to keep it nice. Investing a bit of effort now will ensure our furniture is ready for the Winter and it’s as good as new when Spring rolls around.

Follow my 6 Quick Tips to Protect Outdoor Furniture in the Winter:

Clean the Furniture

Your outdoor sofa and chairs have been sitting out and used all Summer long! Wiping the dirt and other debris off before storing furniture will extend the life of your pieces.

Consider Sealing Wood Furniture

Using a protective sealant, from Lowe’s, will seal the wood from moisture year-round. If your furniture is made of other materials there are sealants to protect items made of plastic or metal.

Store Any Cushions

If you have cushions and pillows out there they need to be protected from the rain. Because we don’t have much storage in our home we use this storage box to keep all of our outdoor soft items clean and dry through the Winter.

Hide Smaller Pieces Under A Table

Do you have an outdoor dining table? This is a great spot to hide those smaller pieces. Cover the table with an outdoor cover and everything under there is protected.

Cover Your Furniture

If you are like me and don’t have a space to store outdoor furniture consider purchasing some outdoor covers. These water-resistant covers will keep the harsh Winter weather from destroying your patio set. At Lowe’s, we found all the covers we needed for our DIY benches, the table, and the fire pit.

Finally: Raise That Furniture Up

This is just an extra step my husband and I like to take. In Oregon, we can go along time with non-stop rain, so a furniture cover isn’t enough to stop the water from soaking into the legs of a patio set that sits directly on the ground. Together my husband and I lift up our sofas and chairs onto concrete pavers. This way our set won’t be sitting directly in the water all Winter! If you’re in a dryer climate this is most likely unnecessary.

I hope you enjoyed my tips! Do you have any tips for keeping the backyard nice during the Winter?

– Chelsey

Disclosure: Lowe’s Home Improvement provided me with free products in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Thank you for your support. 

The post 6 Quick Tips to Protect Outdoor Furniture in the Winter appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Green Living with Primo

My family and I love to recycle and compost as much of our waste as we can. It takes about 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to break down, and I want to do what I can to ensure my daughters have a healthy planet to live on in the future. Reusable is so important.

How I Get My Kids to Drink More Water

I don’t like to keep juice in my home because my kids will ask for it all day every day. If given a choice between water or juice, my kids will always pick something fruity. Instead of the sugary juice option, I’ve been making infused fruity water for my girls. It’s a great alternative because it’s tasty and they are drinking water! There have been many times my oldest daughter would come home from school with a full water bottle, so I’ve been trying to come up with ideas to get her to WANT to drink more water during the day. I’m not there at school to bug and remind her to drink, so that’s why these fruit-infused waters are perfect. She now drinks her water, refills it at our Primo water dispenser, and then drinks more! Read more about the importance of hydration here.

Did you know adding a water dispenser to your home results in your family drinking 25% more water? Water is an essential nutrient for the brain and with the Primo dispenser at kid-level, my kids can easily fill up their bottle by themselves.

Below are Ruari’s and Willa’s favorite Back to School Infused Water Recipes.

Raspberry, Orange, and Lemon Fruity Water

This is my girls’ favorite infused water. They LOVE fruit, and it’s always a top request of my Back to School Infused Water Recipes. This water is simple to make. Use one orange, a handful of raspberries, and a couple of slices of lemon. I recommend cutting off the lemon and orange rinds because they can be a little bitter.

Add the fruit to a jar and fill it with water from your Primo dispenser. This water will be good for roughly two days.

Cucumber Lime with Mint

While the girls love the super fruity water, I have to say this is my favorite. It’s sort of like a faux mojito. Add half a cucumber, one lime, and some mint to a jar. I like to muddle the lime and mint to bring out the flavors.

Add the fruit to a jar and fill it with water from your Primo dispenser. This water will be good for roughly two days.

Strawberry Lemonade Water

This water recipe is perfect for a warm day. Add a handful of chopped strawberries and one lemon (rind removed) to a jar.

Add the fruit to a jar and fill it with water from your Primo dispenser. This water will be good for roughly two days.

Busy Mornings Made Easier

Our school mornings are a bit crazy, and I’m always in a rush. With our hTRIO Water Dispenser, my kids can fill their waters while I’m packing lunches. Another thing I love for these busy school mornings is the reusable, and simple to use, K-Cup® so I can brew a quick cup of coffee and get my kiddos to school. I don’t know about you, but I can’t function without a coffee first thing in the morning, and this has been a life-saver.

Bottle Refills

It’s so simple to refill your water at a Primo self-service water station. Find these stations at stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or at Fred Meyer for my Pacific Northwest Readers, or use the zip-code locator on the Primo website (don’t worry if it’s branded Glacier water, it’s the same company). You can purchase a non-spill cap, which makes it easier to refill your water bottle at a refill station. No spills!

Do you want to get a water dispenser for your home? Use the code, WATERGOALS25, 25% off a dispenser, with FREE fast shipping, plus a FREE coupon will be mailed for a 5-gallon bottle of Primo water and another will be in the box when delivered. It’s a great deal!

Drink Big. Drink Healthy.

– Chelsey

Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. There are affiliate links in this post. Thank you for your support.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Primo.

The post Back to School Infused Water Recipes for Kids with Primo Water appeared first on The Paper Mama.

Some cool events with tickets available:

• Late, Late Show: Noodles
• Melty Fest
• East Coast vs West Coast
• Shake, Shoot, Sip: Take The Best Cocktail Photo With Westward Whiskey
• Wine? Cocktails? Let’s Have Both

The links above are just a tiny sliver of the events you can still purchase tickets to attend. IF you want to splurge and get tickets to a couple of my favorite events that are sold out (Smoked and Brunch Village), you can purchase THE PACKAGE that includes passes to 5 main events.

While tickets do sell out fast, there are still plenty of events to choose from RIGHT NOW, so if you want to attend: head to feastportland.com to get your tickets. I can’t wait to eat my way through Feast and hopefully I’ll see you there!

– Chelsey

Disclosure: Feast is supplying me with passes in exchange for my coverage of the event. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Thank you for your support.

The post It’s almost time for Feast 2019! appeared first on The Paper Mama.