Bienvenue! Welcome to Une Bonne Vivante
Some girls move to NYC with a dream. I’m moving with a dream, a website, and a suitcase that’s probably overweight with shoes. Et voilà—welcome to Une Bonne Vivante!
So, what is a Bonne Vivante?
In literal terms, Bonne = good and Vivant = life in French. So, a Bonne Vivante? She’s a woman who lives a good life. She appreciates and enjoys the finer things—especially when it comes to food, wine, travels, and great company.
I first heard the term while sitting across the dinner table from my good friend, Sarai, during a visit to Paris. She was telling me about a friend of hers, describing her as a Bonne Vivante. As she explained what it meant, we both had this moment—our eyes lit up with the realization that I was one too. It was one of those rare times where a phrase perfectly clicked with who I am.
Two thoughts immediately rushed to my head:
I was going to find and inspire a community of other Bonne Vivantes.
I had finally found my Paris tattoo.
For those of you who don’t know, I collect tattoos from places that have left their mark on me—figuratively and, now, literally. 🙂 But that’s a story for another day! (Makes mental note to do a travel tattoo blog post soon.)
Naturally, I did two things immediately: picked up my phone to book a tattoo appointment for the next day, and checked which Bonne Vivante Instagram handles hadn’t already been snagged. Lucky me—une.bonnevivante (“one Bonne Vivante”) was available and just waiting for me. And the next day? I took it a step further and bought the website domain.
That day was almost three years ago now.
So… what took me so long to do something with it? Honestly, I had no idea where to start. What direction did I want to go? What even was my brand? Was I a travel blogger? And if so—how was I supposed to stand out when others had been to twice as many countries as me? I kept hoping the answer would just hit me one day.
And—lucky for me—right around the time I decided to RSVP “yes” to my New York life, it finally did.
I realized I don’t want to be just a travel blogger. I want to share my experiences as a solo, independent woman who makes a point to live the best version of her life every single day. I want to inspire and create a community for others doing the same.
And maybe—just maybe—I’ll take this to the next level by launching a consulting business to help curate unique and special experiences for people who love adventure but hate planning. Whether it’s a night out on the town or a month in Europe, my 10 years in event management and my passion for planning make me more than qualified. 😉
But—one thing at a time!
Three years ago, I made it permanent—Bonne Vivante for life. ✨🍾
Why Une Bonne Vivante—and why now?
For years, I shared my fitness journey, travels, amateur modeling photos, and everyday happenings on FitBritt1088. It was my personal space—a mix of fitness, travel, and life updates. But deep down, I always knew I wanted something more. Something bigger than just me.
The day I heard the phrase Bonne Vivante, something clicked. It wasn’t just a cute French expression—it was an identity. A mindset. A way of moving through the world with confidence, joy, and a little bit of champagne in hand. I realized I wasn’t just documenting my experiences; I was living them in a way that could inspire others to do the same.
But for a long time, I hesitated. I told myself I needed to have it all figured out before I could really step into this. Who was I to start a brand? To create a community? To claim this space?
Turns out—the only permission I needed was my own.
So here I am, finally owning it. Une Bonne Vivante isn’t just a blog or an Instagram page—it’s the start of a movement. A space for those who want to travel boldly, live freely, and savor every moment. A place for those who know that life is meant to be indulged in, not just observed.
And if you’re nodding along thinking, Yes, that’s me—then welcome, babes. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be. 💋
Shoutout to @anthonyjamesss for the fabulous impromptu photoshoot on one of my last SF adventures!
So. What’s Next?
Honestly, I’m not 100% sure. 😅 As I said, I’m no expert in this space, and that alone has almost held me back from starting. I considered waiting until I could learn more about blogging, website design, etc. because, hello? Like anyone else, I want to create an image of perfection—have it all figured out. But here’s the truth: I don’t have it all figured out.
I’m figuring this out as I go. I’ll mess up along the way because, well, I’m a little messy. 😜 My brand might evolve, my direction may shift, but I want to be honest with you about that. Because that—the real, messy journey—is way more relatable than perfection.
I’ll be sharing stories and updates about my exciting move to New York, my travels, my everyday solo adventures, and yes—funny travel stories. (Boy, do I have a few!) I’m planning to theme some of my content in a month around the places I’ve been—starting with... well, it’s pretty obvious where the first stop will be, given all these French vibes I’ve got going on. 😉 But not every month will be themed, so get ready for some surprises along the way!
But here’s the thing: this isn’t just about me. I want to highlight and showcase other Bonnes Vivantes and their stories too. Because this is about building a community—together.
Et Voilà! A movement was started—one champagne toast, one adventure, and one Bonne Vivante at a time.
