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29/10/2026

😂 ADULTHOOD IS OVERRATED. AND APPARENTLY, EVEN A SLOTH KNOWS IT. 🦥

Remember when we were kids and couldn't wait to grow up?

No homework. No bedtime. Nobody telling us what to do.

We thought being an adult meant FREEDOM! 🎉

Well… surprise! 😂

Now we have bills to pay, laundry that never ends, dinner to figure out EVERY SINGLE DAY, and a to-do list that somehow gets longer every time we cross something off.

And apparently, we're also supposed to wake up at 5 a.m., exercise, eat healthy, build successful careers, maintain friendships, and become the best version of ourselves.

Excuse me… WHEN ARE WE SUPPOSED TO TAKE A NAP? 😭

Somewhere between all these adult responsibilities and the world's obsession with productivity, I created Sid — a permanently unimpressed sloth who has absolutely no intention of improving himself.

Sid doesn't believe in hustle culture.

He thinks Mondays are a design flaw.

And he firmly believes that most meetings could be replaced by absolutely nothing.

Honestly, I'm starting to think he has a point. 😂

So I wrote a little reflection for my Journal at Chez Thao Hoang about growing up, the ridiculous expectations of adulthood, and why sometimes we really should stop taking life so seriously.

And yes, it's also the story behind my latest book, Sid: The Grumpy Sloth's Guide to Adulting, published by Levy Press. 📚

☕ Because sometimes, we don't need another motivational speech.

We just need a good laugh, a cup of coffee, and permission to do absolutely nothing for five minutes.

📖 Read the full story on Chez Thao Hoang:
👉 Link in the comments or our webiste in the bio.

Now tell me…

What's the ONE thing about adulthood nobody warned you about? 😂

Mine? Having to decide what to cook for dinner. Every. Single. Day.

21/10/2026

🍎 An Apple Tart That Thinks It's a Rose 🌹
Some people buy flowers. I make them out of apples. 😂🍎
There's something oddly satisfying about arranging thin apple slices into a little rose. One slice here, another there… and suddenly, a simple apple tart starts looking like it's dressed up for a special occasion.
Of course, getting those slices to cooperate is another story. Some bend beautifully, others seem determined to have a personality of their own. 😅
But that's the charm of homemade baking, isn't it? A little patience, a little butter, a little creativity… and a kitchen that somehow ends up looking like a small disaster zone.
Golden pastry, tender apples, and a touch of sweetness. Nothing complicated, just one of those simple pleasures that makes an ordinary afternoon feel a little special. ❤️
And the best part? Unlike real roses, this one comes with dessert. 😋
Recipe 👇
☕ Now, who's bringing the tea?

19/10/2026

👵👴 Two Little Superheroes, 200 Puzzles, and One Simple Idea! 🧠❤️
We often talk about keeping our bodies healthy as we grow older. But what about our brains?
I've always believed that keeping our minds active is important, especially as we age.
That's one of the reasons I started creating activity books for grandparents through my publishing brand, Levy Press.
A while ago, I published 100 Super Jeux pour une Super Mamie, a French-language puzzle book filled with little challenges to encourage concentration, logical thinking, and mental stimulation.
But then I realized something…
Wait a minute. What about Papi?! 😂
Apparently, Grandma had been enjoying her superhero status all by herself!
Well, not anymore!
🎉 NEW RELEASE: 100 Super Jeux pour un Super Papi!
Now Super Mamie finally has her Super Papi! 💚
📚 Both books are entirely in French, with 100 activities each, including Sudoku with numbers and pictures, mazes, word searches, and number searches.
I didn't create these books because I believe puzzles can magically prevent memory loss. If only things were that simple! 😄
I created them because I wanted to offer older people something enjoyable that encourages them to think, concentrate, and stay curious.
No screens, no complicated technology. Just a pencil, a book, and a little mental challenge.
And perhaps a friendly Sudoku competition between Mamie and Papi. Although I can't guarantee it will remain friendly! 😂
I've written a little more about the inspiration behind these books and my thoughts on memory and growing older on my blog.

💬 Does anyone in your family love Sudoku or word searches?

15/10/2026

The Older I Get, the Less I Feel the Need to Explain Myself.
I don't know if it's age, experience, or simply running out of patience for unnecessary conversations. 😅
But I've noticed something about myself lately.
I no longer feel the need to explain every decision I make.
Why I prefer staying home sometimes. Why I do things differently. Why I say no to something that everyone else seems happy to say yes to.
There was a time when I would spend ages explaining myself, especially if I thought someone had misunderstood me.
Now? Not so much.
Some people will understand. Some won't. And some have probably already made up their minds anyway.
I've also realised that I don't need everyone to agree with me to be comfortable with my choices.
Of course, I still explain things when they matter. Especially at home, where my husband occasionally needs an explanation for why I've moved something to a place that makes absolutely no sense to him. 😂
But for the little things in life?
I'd rather spend that time enjoying my coffee, sitting in the garden, or doing something I actually like.
Maybe that's one of the nice things about getting older.
We don't necessarily become wiser. We just become a little more selective about what deserves our energy.
I've written a little reflection about this on my blog.
📖 The Older I Get, the Less I Feel the Need to Explain Myself
🌿 Read it here 👇
And I'm curious...
Have you also become less interested in explaining yourself as you've gotten older? Or do you still find yourself giving a five-minute explanation when a simple "no" would do? 😄

12/10/2026

🍂 A New Season, A New Little Garden Project! 🌱
Autumn is here, and while some people are putting their gardens to bed for the winter, we're getting ready to plant something new! 🌿
My husband has been busy building these beautiful wooden garden planters, and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. ❤️
There's something special about having things in the garden that are made by hand. A few pieces of wood, some time, a little patience, and suddenly we have a lovely new space to grow something.
Now comes my favourite part: deciding what to plant! 🥬🌱
Autumn gardening has its own charm. The days are getting shorter, the air is cooler, and the garden is slowly changing colours. But that doesn't mean the growing season is over!
I'm thinking about filling these planters with some seasonal vegetables and herbs. Maybe lettuce, spinach, radishes, or a few other things that enjoy the cooler weather.
For now, the planters are ready, the ideas are growing, and I'm already imagining what they'll look like filled with fresh greenery.
One thing I've learned about gardening: there's always another season, another project, and another reason to get your hands in the soil. 🌱
💚 What are you planting in your garden this autumn? I'd love to hear your ideas!
🌿 Chez Thao Hoang — Little moments from our home and garden.

09/10/2026

🍎 A Little Taste of Autumn, Straight from My Kitchen 🍂
There’s something about autumn that makes me want to spend more time in the kitchen, especially when apples are involved. 🍎
Today, a simple homemade apple cake, golden on the outside, soft and comforting on the inside, with a lovely crunchy topping.
Nothing fancy. Just a few apples, a little time in the kitchen, and the kind of homemade goodness that makes the whole house feel cozy.
I love these little moments when baking isn't about making something perfect. It's simply about enjoying the season, slowing down, and creating something delicious with what we have.
And honestly, a slice of homemade apple cake with a warm cup of tea sounds like a pretty good way to spend an autumn afternoon. ☕🍂
Sometimes, the simplest pleasures are the sweetest ones. 🤎
Are you more of an apple cake person or an apple pie person? 🍎🥧
🌿 From my kitchen at Chez Thao Hoang, with love.

05/10/2026

🍂 Sweet Autumn 🍂
There are recipes I make once and move on from… and then there are the ones I wait all year to make again.
These baked figs are definitely one of those. ❤️
Fresh, ripe figs opened up and topped with butter, a drizzle of honey, cheese and rosemary, then baked until soft, warm and beautifully caramelized. The honey brings out the natural sweetness of the figs, while the butter and cheese make them wonderfully rich and comforting.
I shared this recipe before, so I won’t repeat all the instructions today. I simply had to bring it back because fig season deserves its little moment every autumn. 🍁
And when the figs come straight from the garden, there really isn’t much more you need to do with them.
A little butter. A little honey. A little rosemary. And autumn does the rest. 🤎
Chez Thao Hoang

29/09/2026

There are some Vietnamese cakes I love because they’re delicious… and then there are the ones that simply taste like home. 💛🇻🇳
Bánh lá dừa is definitely one of those for me — and one of my all-time favorite Vietnamese cakes.
I found these at a Vietnamese grocery shop here in France. They were sold frozen, so when the craving hit, into the microwave they went. 😅 A few minutes later: warm bánh lá dừa, thousands of kilometers away from Vietnam. 🌿🥥
Of course, I’m not going to pretend they taste exactly the same. They’re good, and I’m very happy to be able to find them here, but nothing quite compares to fresh bánh lá dừa in Vietnam — freshly cooked, soft and chewy, with that wonderful fragrance from the coconut leaves.
Still, sometimes you take what you can get. 😂 And when you live far from Vietnam, even a frozen bánh lá dừa from the Vietnamese grocery store can bring back a little taste of home.
Food is funny like that. It’s never just about the taste — sometimes it’s the memories that come with it. 💛
Bánh lá dừa will forever be one of my favorites.
Anyone else living abroad have a Vietnamese food that you buy frozen because you miss it too much? 😄

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