Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Away We Go We Go follows the journey of Sophie & Jordan Epton, an American couple who moved to France with their 10-month old twins, and the crazy adventure that follows. We dive deep into what it's really like moving and living abroad as expats, interview others who have taken the road less traveled, provide travel tips, discuss how you can do hard things to change your own life, and everything in between.
Sophie Epton [00:00:10]:
A year and a half ago, we risked it all and moved to France. We'll be sharing about our life abroad, how people could do hard things to transform their own lives and everything in between. This is Sophie and Jordan Epton. Welcome to the Away We Go, We Go podcast.
Jordan Epton [00:00:27]:
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Way We Go, We Go podcast. Have you ever dreamed about completely changing your life? Moving abroad, starting a business, following your passions, even when it feels wildly uncertain? Today, I am so excited to welcome Adrienne Ryser, a true visionary and entrepreneur. Adrienne grew up in California surrounded by flowers, built a career in fashion PR in Los Angeles, and then made a bold leap to Paris, where she eventually became the owner of La Josoir, the oldest flower shop in the city. Since then, she has navigated all the challenges of running a French business, created a thriving brand, and even expanded her vision to a second shop in Oslo, where she's introducing Norwegians to the art of French floral design. In this episode, Adrienne and I dive into her incredible story, from finding love abroad to the leap of faith it took to buy her dream shop in the middle of a global pandemic, to what it's like balancing life as a creative entrepreneur abroad. And of course, we'll talk about her exciting new book, Fleur, which is already making waves before it's even been released. I had so much fun with this conversation, and I know you'll leave feeling inspired to believe in yourself and chase your own big vision. Adrienne Ryser, welcome to the podcast.
Sophie Epton [00:01:52]:
So I am thrilled to be here with Ms. Adrienne Ryser, who I had the joy of meeting last year and you were in a little bit of a precarious situation. Jordan and I, we met Adrienne, when you were a little bit more than three months pregnant.
Adrienne Ryser [00:02:16]:
Yeah
Sophie Epton [00:02:17]:
You were definitely in the throw still of like morning sickness, nausea.
Adrienne Ryser [00:02:20]:
I never came out of it by the away. Like I.
Sophie Epton [00:02:23]:
You didn't?
Adrienne Ryser [00:02:24]:
I remained in that state for nine months.
Sophie Epton [00:02:27]:
No, I didn't realize that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:02:29]:
Well, I. I feel bad saying I wasn't okay that day cause that was probably the one day I was feeling a little bit better because I was so happy to be there. I was so happy to meet you and your husband.
Sophie Epton [00:02:40]:
Oh my god.
Adrienne Ryser [00:02:41]:
You guys were so sweet to me that day. I remember just looking at you being like, do you guys have a snack? Like please, I need to eat something. And you guys were..
Sophie Epton [00:02:52]:
Which we always, because I have to deal with Jordan and him being hungry so I always have snacks. So I was like, yes, here's you Want a croissant? You want a chocolate croissant? You want a peanut croissant? Like, all the things.
Adrienne Ryser [00:03:02]:
You guys drove me around, You drove me to the farm. I was like, I'm in no condition to drive myself today. Please. You guys were the best.
Sophie Epton [00:03:09]:
No, I. The thing that, like, when I met you, I immediately knew, like, this girl is so cool. She's so funny, even in her throes of, like, pregnancy and nausea. Like, I really, really liked you. I felt a connection immediately. So I'm thrilled for you to be here today because even since the last time we saw each other, your life has, like, completely changed in so many ways. And so I just feel like our audience is going to get so much from this today. Just seeing how you've not only made one international move, but now two in, like, a pretty what, decade?
Sophie Epton [00:03:46]:
Like, pretty short amount of time. So I just want to get into it. I know that you are a Cali girl. You grew up in San Diego. So I want to hear more just about, like, your childhood and, like, how flowers and plants kind of played a part in it. And, like, tell me all the things.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:05]:
First of all, thank you so much for inviting me on your podcast.
Sophie Epton [00:04:08]:
Of course.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:09]:
I'm so excited to talk to you about all of the things. And actually, I haven't had the chance to sit down and explain to anyone, really, why I moved to all.
Sophie Epton [00:04:18]:
Oh, my gosh. Okay, good. Cause I was like, I know there's so much to unpack here, so this is really exciting.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:23]:
I think this is great.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:24]:
So if you want to start way back. Yes. I was born in San Diego.
Sophie Epton [00:04:28]:
My favorite.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:30]:
It's the best. Such a Cali girl. And I grew up. My parents are actually horticulturists.
Sophie Epton [00:04:36]:
I've read that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:37]:
So I really love flowers. My dad was a broker and grower, and my mom was same. They met, you know, on the job.
Sophie Epton [00:04:45]:
Wow!
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:46]:
And she wore us forever. They both studied flowers. So I really grew up in the flowers, loving flowers, but never imagined doing that as a job when I grew up one day.
Sophie Epton [00:04:55]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:04:56]:
So, yeah, that's my childhood.
Sophie Epton [00:05:00]:
And then I know that you, you kind of got into some, like, really interesting jobs working like PR, and you were, I was reading that you, cause I was like, I know you, but I didn't know a lot of your past. You were dressing celebrities on the red carpet. And like, I mean, how do you think that sort of led you to where you are today or sort of helps with where you're at today?
Adrienne Ryser [00:05:22]:
Yeah, so I grew up in San Diego, and then I studied in Los Angeles, public relations at my college. So then I got this fashion PR job. I was working honestly at such a cool firm. It's still open to this day.
Sophie Epton [00:05:35]:
Wow!
Adrienne Ryser [00:05:35]:
And every day was like tons of celebrities coming in, getting their best looks and like collaborating with these really cool brands. So I was working there as an intern and then eventually got a job as a stylist. But anyways, always interning. And I think that whenever I moved here it has kind of helped because I mean, I studied PR, so although I didn't want to do flowers, like I did learn communications and public relations.
Sophie Epton [00:06:04]:
Yes.
Adrienne Ryser [00:06:04]:
I think because, of course I bought this little flower shop in Paris. But it's like my dream to grow the business and make this, I mean, a really cool brand. So luckily I do have that background in PR that I think does help a little bit.
Sophie Epton [00:06:20]:
Oh, for sure. I always feel like everything that you've done, even when like you feel like, how am I going to use this? Like you always end up using it somehow in the future. So like, yeah, the fact that like, and we'll get more into this, but you have built a serious brand. And so that makes total sense that you know, it like went through the last like what couple decades of your life and really like continue to go on into your life and have this PR background.
Adrienne Ryser [00:06:46]:
And yeah, I remember they would come in and they would be dressed for these cool events and then actually the PR firm also like threw the event. So then we would go and work the red. Yeah, it's too.
Sophie Epton [00:06:57]:
Yeah, oh wow.
Adrienne Ryser [00:06:59]:
Like, honestly, I would be pissed off all night because I would be like, I want to wear the outfits. Like, this is not fair. In such a bad mood.
Sophie Epton [00:07:08]:
I love it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:07:09]:
So yeah. But yeah, it definitely has contributed, I think to the success of the shop.
Sophie Epton [00:07:15]:
Yeah, for sure. So now we're kind of getting into more of like where your life led in the last decade and moving to France. So tell me like, how was it that you ended up in France? I know that you're now husband has a big part of the story and like, how did you two meet? Like, tell me all the things.
Adrienne Ryser [00:07:35]:
So unlike many Francophiles, I had no intention to ever come to France. I had never heard French in my life. I didn't want to come to France.
Sophie Epton [00:07:46]:
Wow.
Adrienne Ryser [00:07:46]:
My friend was doing a study abroad in Barcelona and she was like, come visit me. I was happy to go visit her. We were having the best time. And then she said we should go to my grandparents friend's house.
Adrienne Ryser [00:07:55]:
They live in the south of France. And I was like, no, Lauren, I don't I don't care if you do that. Like, so stay at your grandparents friend's house. But then she was like, Adrienne, you have no idea what you're missing. Like, we're going. So we did go and we landed in Nice and these most lovely grandparents were waiting for us at the airport. They picked us up. They drove us to their apartment in Villefranche.
Sophie Epton [00:08:18]:
Oh, yes.
Adrienne Ryser [00:08:19]:
I had never seen colors like that in my life.
Sophie Epton [00:08:22]:
I know.
Adrienne Ryser [00:08:22]:
Like the blues, water, and then the pastel buildings. It was unreal.
Sophie Epton [00:08:26]:
Amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:08:26]:
And like, I remember right when I met them thinking, like, how am I going to live my whole life never seeing these people again? Like, I love them so much. I wish they were my grandma and grandpa. I was like, they are just so cute. And then cut to, they invited their grandson over for dinner. And that was Ben.
Sophie Epton [00:08:43]:
What?
Adrienne Ryser [00:08:43]:
So like, they did become my grandma grandpa.
Sophie Epton [00:08:46]:
Oh my God, that's amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:08:50]:
So Ben came over for dinner. I was. Had the biggest crush on him from the second I saw him, but really just thought like, okay, this is my French crush. I live in LA. I'm not moving to France. That wasn't even a thought. I was like, I, I thought, I'm never coming back to France. Actually, like, this is a once in a lifetime thing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:09:07]:
It's just that my crush for, you know, the dinner and then he ended up taking us out that night. We had such a fun night. We pulled such a French moment and like, stayed up until the sunrise just in Nice, having the best time with my friend and his friends. That again, like, I fell in love with all of his friends that night. And I was like, how am I never going to see these people again? Um, and then he says that I became his girlfriend that night. I didn't know that. So I left.
Adrienne Ryser [00:09:32]:
I went back to la, was living my life. He actually sold his Mini Cooper to have enough money. I mean, we were so young to be able to fly to LA. He surprised me at my college campus.
Sophie Epton [00:09:43]:
Oh, my God.
Adrienne Ryser [00:09:44]:
I didn't show up for school that day. Cut class. So then he..
Sophie Epton [00:09:47]:
I wouldn't either
Adrienne Ryser [00:09:48]:
Called me on some random phone. He's like, this is Benjamin. I was like, Benjamin, who is like, from France. I was like, okay, why are you calling me on an LA number? He's like, I'm at Men's Anita Hall. He was at my college.
Adrienne Ryser [00:09:59]:
And I was like, I'm not at school. I was like, what are you talking about? So then, anyways, long story short, we did long distance for two years and he's actually in production. So he was trying to move to LA during that time, but we realized it was really hard to get a US visa. He never asked me once to move to France. And within those two years he moved from Nice to Paris. So he was working in Paris at the time. And one day it seriously just dawned on me. I was working that internship in fashion PR and everyone was talking about how amazing Paris is.
Adrienne Ryser [00:10:31]:
And I was like, my boyfriend lives there. And they're like, what? Like, why don't you live there? And I was like, wait, you're right. What am I doing?
Sophie Epton [00:10:38]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:10:39]:
And so then I was like, wait, Ben, I'll move to Paris. And he was just like, he honestly was so sweet. He never asked me to and he said of course it was his dream, but he never wanted to like put that on me or like he wanted it to totally really be my idea, which it was.
Sophie Epton [00:10:54]:
So that's perfect then how it worked out, I love that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:10:57]:
I packed up my bags, I took two luggages in my cat, I left my apartment in la. It was so hard to do. I loved my life, like for sure. I love my friends, I love my life in la. And like I think that there's big bravery and people moving and changing their lives if they are unhappy, you know.
Sophie Epton [00:11:16]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:11:16]:
But to change your life when you are happy is another type of bravery.
Sophie Epton [00:11:20]:
You're so right. You just, ooh, you just gave me goosebumps. Yeah, it is. No, it's true. It's, it's so different. And what's so funny too is I've had several friends now who've who like came from Southern California. And I always feel like that is the, in some ways the hardest move because Southern California is so incredible that it's like, it's the only place that like when I go back to the States, I'm like, I just could stay here forever, you know, it is.
Adrienne Ryser [00:11:45]:
So I moved from San Diego or no, sorry, Los Angeles to Paris. And when I got there, honestly like I as I had never had this dream of living in Paris, I was kind of freaking out. Like I was happy to finally be with Ben, but I was sad. Like I had left my friends, I had left my comfort zone. Right before I left, I got this like part time job working at a flower shop in Los Angeles called the Empty Vase to have enough money to go study at the Sorbonne and learn French when I got to Paris so I would have something to do.
Sophie Epton [00:12:16]:
Okay, yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:12:16]:
And then when I was working at that flower shop job, literally just for one summer. I Remember, I would like ask my colleagues every day. I'd be like, this is your normal job. And they were like, yeah, every day for years you've been coming to this flower shop and selling flowers to like Anne Hathaway and Halle Berry and having these really fun interactions and like literally just over flowers and you cut flowers and you play with them. I was just like, mind blown. I thought it was the coolest job ever working in a flower shop.
Sophie Epton [00:12:46]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:12:46]:
So, then I was even sad to leave that and come to Paris. So, yeah, when I got to Paris, I was pretty confused.
Sophie Epton [00:12:54]:
Yeah. So. So talk, talk to me about that more because, yeah, I know that you, yeah, you move there. You obviously, you don't know the language. You don't know anyone. Like, you really, you've never been to Paris?
Adrienne Ryser [00:13:05]:
No.
Sophie Epton [00:13:05]:
So you, yeah, so like..
Adrienne Ryser [00:13:07]:
I've been there once to visit Ben for like one week and it was winter and I didn't leave the apartment.
Sophie Epton [00:13:11]:
Yeah. Yeah. So, so, what, what was that all like for you? Like, how did you, how did you transition into this new life? Because this wild. I mean, the leap of faith you took to believe in yourself, like, it's amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:13:25]:
Thank you. So I spent my days wandering Paris. Ben had a full time job. I had no job, no visa, because my visa ended up getting denied. Because in my interview I just gushed about my French boyfriend the whole time and how I was in love and moving to Paris to be with him. And then the day of my going away party in la, I received my passport in the mail with literally a big red X inside. A denied. This is a whole nother story.
Sophie Epton [00:13:49]:
Oh, my God.
Adrienne Ryser [00:13:50]:
I had already, like, my apartment, you know, someone else was moving into it. I had already sold all my stuff. I already had my flight, I was going. So I get to Paris, I'm visa less, I'm friendless, I'm frenchless. This, I'm confused. I'm walking around every day. And I honestly ended up going into all of the flower shops because they like kind of bridged the gap to home.
Adrienne Ryser [00:14:10]:
Like, it made me think of my parents.
Sophie Epton [00:14:11]:
Oh, I love that. Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:14:13]:
And it, it really, like, just. Yeah. Reminded me of home. Reminded me of that flower shop job that I loved. And so then I knew all of the flower shops in Paris and I always loved the one in the 11th down the street from my house. I thought it was the most similar to the Empty Vase where I worked in la. I thought that it just like had such a magical soul and I would always get scolded for touching the flowers. I couldn't help it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:14:36]:
And I always was like, I also like flowers and work in flowers. Please, I just need to touch one just to, like, to feel alive. Yeah, always yell. So one day saw that they had this little bag in the window that said, like, unch une florist passionnaire motive "We're searching for a passionate, motivated florist". And so I just went up to the counter in my broken French, and I asked them, like, I'm Adrienne. I'm kind of a florist. I worked for one summer at a flower shop.
Adrienne Ryser [00:15:05]:
My parents are florists. I'm looking for a job, and I'm getting my visa in a month. At that point, it had been a year in Paris, and I was going to get the visa vie prive familial, because Ben and I had been paxed.
Sophie Epton [00:15:16]:
Oh, that's so nice.
Adrienne Ryser [00:15:18]:
So they. I said, okay, when are you getting your visa? I said, you know, soon. And then the day I got my visa, I started working at that flower shop, and that was Laro's War.
Sophie Epton [00:15:26]:
Oh, my gosh. Amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:15:29]:
I worked there alongside the owners for two years, and during that time, I just learned all of the history of the shop. You know, it's the oldest flower shop in Paris and had only been owned by three families at the time. And I grew to really love it. They taught me so much about the business and, they were super creative, and so I just kind of soaked it in like a sponge. They wouldn't let me speak English at all. Like, even if the person came in and I knew them. They were like a friend from high school.
Adrienne Ryser [00:15:58]:
I had to talk to them in French. I was silent because I was like, I. Which at the time I thought was so mean, but now I'm actually really grateful because it forced me to learn French in those two years.
Sophie Epton [00:16:10]:
I know. And your French is so good. It's amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:16:12]:
I mean, I sound like Emily in Paris, but. Yes. Like, I can.
Sophie Epton [00:16:18]:
Yeah. No, I mean, I've heard, you know, it just to be able to get yourself around, that's. And, you know, that's what it's all about.
Adrienne Ryser [00:16:25]:
Yeah.
Sophie Epton [00:16:26]:
So, we're getting there.
Adrienne Ryser [00:16:28]:
I worked with them for two years. It was just me and them. And then two years into the job, they told me that they were going to retire, they didn't have kids, and that they were putting the flower shop up for sale. And he was like, I just want to let you know, you know, it could take months, it could take years, but, like, the flower shop's going up for sale. And we're, you know, were stepping away. And honestly, I knew instantly in my heart, like, okay, game on. I'm buying this flower shop. This is it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:16:54]:
But I was super young, and I was like, is this. I was like, this is all happening so fast. Like, I dreamed of buying that flower shop, but I was like, maybe in 10 years, not now, you know? But I went home, I told Ben, I called my dad. I was like, the flower shop's up for sale. And they're like, let's go. You know, like, you're doing it. So I visited all the banks in Paris. Couldn't get a loan.
Adrienne Ryser [00:17:18]:
Who was giving a loan to a young kid who wants to buy a flower shop who's American and can leave at any time, right? So I was getting. No, no, no, no, no, from everyone. And then this woman came in one day when I was at work, and she had these old photos, and she was like, my great grandpa was the original owner of this flower shop. And I'm like, you are joking me.
Sophie Epton [00:17:37]:
Oh, my God,
Adrienne Ryser [00:17:38]:
I still have them. And I saw that next to the flower shop was the bank that was still there.
Adrienne Ryser [00:17:45]:
And so it said, like, flower shop. And then it had a little sign, and it said, bank. And I was like, wait, why have I not asked that bank for a loan?
Sophie Epton [00:17:53]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:17:53]:
For some reason, the one I hadn't tried because I don't know why. And so I took the photos, I marched in there, and I was like, I'm Adrienne. I want to buy this flower shop next door. We've been sharing a wall for a hundred years. Don't give me the loan. It's going to be knocked down and turned into a Foot Locker.
Adrienne Ryser [00:18:11]:
So please.
Sophie Epton [00:18:12]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:18:12]:
And really quickly, you know, I. I got the answer. And they called. I remember I was working, and I was in disbelief. I answered the phone. They're like, hi, this is, you know, the Credit du Nord a Cote, the bank next door. And, and you're going to get the loan.
Adrienne Ryser [00:18:26]:
And I was like. I was so excited to get it. And then, you know, I called the owners. I told them, like, I got the loan. I'm going to be able to buy the flower shop. And then Covid happened.
Sophie Epton [00:18:40]:
I know. So I. Because I was reading. Because, of course, I'm reading all up on, you know, everything. And so you bought it, though, in 2020?
Adrienne Ryser [00:18:47]:
Yeah. So I was supposed to buy it on, I think the date was March 14, 2020. And that was the day that we were going to go in and sign the papers. And so we're sitting at the lawyer's office at this long table, my lawyers, their lawyers, pens in hand, and they announce a national lockdown where everyone has to stay inside, business is closed while we're sitting there. And then I'm like, I can't explain this right now. Like, I'm not going to now put this flower shop into my hands where I mean, it just was way too risky. And I mean,
Adrienne Ryser [00:19:19]:
Although I wanted to sign because I was like, I don't. I don't know, I just wanted the flower shop no matter what.
Sophie Epton [00:19:24]:
Of course.
Adrienne Ryser [00:19:24]:
My lawyer was like, you are not signing. Like, we are going into a lockdown right now. You are not. You know, so we ended up walking away without signing the papers. And I was super disappointed. They were super disappointed.
Adrienne Ryser [00:19:34]:
But a few months went by and, you know, we got more of a grasp on the situation. And then I did sign November of 2020. So,
Sophie Epton [00:19:45]:
Okay
Adrienne Ryser [00:19:45]:
We did go into another lockdown at that moment.
Sophie Epton [00:19:48]:
Great.
Adrienne Ryser [00:19:49]:
But then right after I signed and we did go into a quick lockdown, I think for like two weeks. But then flower shops were deemed a. What was it called? A necessity.
Sophie Epton [00:20:01]:
Yeah, yeah. A necessary business.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:03]:
Yeah. So then flower shops were deemed a. A necessary business in France.
Sophie Epton [00:20:07]:
Can I just. I have to stop you for a second. That is like the most French thing I've ever heard. In the best way that it's cutest. That is.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:13]:
Yeah.
Sophie Epton [00:20:13]:
Yeah, yeah. Necessary. Absolutely. You can't live without flowers.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:18]:
Wine shops and flower shops came necessary.
Sophie Epton [00:20:21]:
Yes
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:21]:
And so we spent in, during. In the middle of COVID and I had such a great team and we were like the only store open on the street. So we were like the cool new hip place to come to because we were the only place to go.
Sophie Epton [00:20:35]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:35]:
So it actually kind of worked out, out because like I said, everyone was coming to our store. It was one of the only stores open on the whole room.
Sophie Epton [00:20:43]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:44]:
And also France just really had small businesses backs during COVID I have.
Sophie Epton [00:20:50]:
For sure. Yes.
Adrienne Ryser [00:20:50]:
So it did all. All pan out. That was, you know, five years ago already. So a lot has happened since then. And I'm so glad I ended up buying the flower shop. Despite Covid and despite everything.
Sophie Epton [00:21:01]:
I know. I think that just really talks to like the second that you, you know, that I met you. It's like you can just tell that you are very sure of yourself. You believe in yourself. It's just. It's like an aura around you. I don't know how to also explain it, but it's just like, that's. And I,
Sophie Epton [00:21:19]:
And I love connecting with people like that because I love people that are like, I have a vision. I'm doing this. And even though there might be some hiccups, like, the vision will, like, be conquered, so to speak. And I just feel like, you know, to, to do something like that when you are literally, like, to believe in that, even when your pen is in the air and they're saying now there's only. That's, like, one of the best stories I've ever heard about Covid by the way. But it just. It just shows, like, you just have to persevere through the hard.
Sophie Epton [00:21:48]:
And especially I do. I feel like. Don't you feel like moving to France and just having to deal with the bureaucracy to kind of just. And, and learning a new language is just no doubt made you tougher and, you know,
Adrienne Ryser [00:22:00]:
100%.
Sophie Epton [00:22:00]:
Persevere through so much.
Adrienne Ryser [00:22:02]:
I remember when I first moved to Paris, I went to the bank, and then Ben came home from work and he was like, how was your day? And I said, horrible. I went to the bank. It was harder than college. I mean, what interaction.
Sophie Epton [00:22:15]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:22:15]:
Was just. It was super hard. But I feel like that's why not everyone gets to do it, because not everyone is going to stick it out and go through all of that hard. And that's what makes it so special, is because, like, you do go through all of the. It's gorgeous living in Paris, but it's also so.
Sophie Epton [00:22:32]:
Oh, so hard. I mean, it's like living in any big city is just more challenging. But then you add on that it's a totally different country with a different language and different cultural things you have to assimilate to, like. Yeah, there's just. There's a lot going on. So you. You're a rock star.
Adrienne Ryser [00:22:49]:
I miss Paris. I love Paris, and I will always love Paris. And it will always, like, just have such a special place in my heart. We, as you know, have now moved to Norway.
Sophie Epton [00:23:02]:
Yes. So I want. I want to talk just a little bit more about La Josoir. And then I really want to get into this whole move because.
Adrienne Ryser [00:23:11]:
Okay.
Sophie Epton [00:23:12]:
It's a. It's a big one. So. So in terms of just. Because there are a lot of people who ask me all the time and they're like, how do you, you know, how do you live here? How are you able to live here? And I say, well, there's like four different ways you can essential move, and one of them is to be an entrepreneur and open up your own business. And. But it's like, you know, when you're talking about, like, opening up something that's adding to the French, you know, culture and a French economy, but then sort of still taking your American sensibilities in with it, like, how do you think that you kind of preserve the fact that this shop had been open for, you know, a hundred years. Oldest shop in Paris, but then you were an American coming in and, like, still wanting to infuse just things that, like, you learned in PR and all that.
Sophie Epton [00:24:02]:
Like, how did you. How did you bring all that together and, you know, how did social media kind of play a role in that, too?
Adrienne Ryser [00:24:07]:
Well, first of all, when I bought the shop, there was no computer, no cash register system that checks out. Like, everything was written on paper in the cash, put into a little wooden box that you open with a magical little key, like an antique little key. And that was the system there. And so that I loved because it was just so, like, from a movie or something.
Sophie Epton [00:24:32]:
But, yeah, you're like, I feel like I stepped back a hundred years in time right now.
Adrienne Ryser [00:24:35]:
But this is running your business. Like, wow, this is awesome. I felt like it was just so bohemian.
Sophie Epton [00:24:43]:
Yeah, definitely.
Adrienne Ryser [00:24:44]:
But when I bought the business, of course, I brought my American, you know, with me, and I wanted to really grow the business. Like, I remember the owners would make these really amazing bouquets, and they wouldn't even take a picture of them. I was like, how are you gonna, like, remember that? Or, I don't know, like, content. And so I would always, like, take pictures. While I was working there, I started this Instagram called Flower Girl Paris. And I was just posting the pictures of the shop because I was like, this place deserves to. For people to know it exists, at least.
Sophie Epton [00:25:14]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:25:14]:
Like, it's so amazing that people just deserve to know it exists. And so I started that Instagram, and then when I bought the shop, I. I threw up a website, and I just started, I guess, networking and, and yeah, using the skills that I had learned in school to put up. Like, I created sort of a media kit and sent that out to businesses around the area. And. Just,
Sophie Epton [00:25:39]:
Amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:25:39]:
I also think, though, I'm not really someone who, like, searches and searches.
Adrienne Ryser [00:25:44]:
I kind of just like, open the door and let things flow in. So it was also just, like, hoping and wishing things would happen and talking about it and then, like, waiting for the opportunities to come.
Sophie Epton [00:25:55]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:25:56]:
Instead of really, like, searching for them, I guess.
Sophie Epton [00:26:00]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:26:00]:
Uh, so, yeah, once I bought the shop, I. I integrated the website. We got a normal cash register system. There's an actual computer, you know, got an email. Yeah, because they didn't even have that. They had a phone, though, which is shocking. So, yeah, I just did that.
Sophie Epton [00:26:18]:
Did all that. I know. And you. I mean, because I remember this is. I knew about you before, like years before we even met, because my best friend is a florist in Austin and she had come to help you, Twyla. And I remember, I think this is in 2021. I believe so.
Sophie Epton [00:26:37]:
And she was like, I'm just gonna go in and, like, see your shop and then help her a little bit with things. And so that I, like, you were already creating a buzz just with everything you were doing within, like, such a short time with what, not even a year, because you said you bought it in November of 2020 and this was like September of 2021.
Adrienne Ryser [00:26:55]:
So like I said, I created that Instagram and I had started, like, pumping out some content while I was working there. And then social media did play a big role in the growth of the business because I was able to connect with florists from all over, like Twyla. And she, is so amazing. She had such a great energy. She came in and she helped us on this huge event that we were doing. It was kind of like divine timing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:27:19]:
She's like, can I come and help? I was like, on the biggest day that we have. Of course.
Sophie Epton [00:27:23]:
Yeah. Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:27:25]:
So, I mean, I'm super grateful for social media. I've met so many other really cool florists through that. And also, I mean, essentially I met you through social media because, because of the event that we met each other.
Sophie Epton [00:27:40]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:27:40]:
And so, yeah, I'm super grateful for technology.
Sophie Epton [00:27:44]:
And it's like, it's. Social media can be such a drag, but it's like, it's moments like these where you realize, like, it is so amazing because it's just connected so many people in that way. And that's the beautiful thing about it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:27:57]:
Definitely. And I think it can be a drag, but I try to just be free about it. Like, I never have been, like, really regimented. I'm kind of just more like if I see something I love, throw a picture up of it, write something quick. Like, I don't put too much time and energy into it. I don't know if that's something I'm doing wrong, but it's just the way I am. And it.
Sophie Epton [00:28:18]:
No, you're probably. Honestly, it's probably the best advice you give to people because I think people get so caught up in like when they have to post what their numbers are and almost like it's like they wear it as like sort of there are. They had like attach their own self worth to it, I think a lot of the time. And so the fact that you're like, I'm, I'm living in my world of flowers. And like, when I feel inspired to post, I'm going to do it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:28:39]:
Yeah.
Sophie Epton [00:28:40]:
And just put it out.
Adrienne Ryser [00:28:41]:
Just don't overthink it. I think is a great advice. Like, just, just be free about it and, and just, and be authentic. Like post what actually inspires you instead of doing something because you think you have to.
Sophie Epton [00:28:53]:
Right. No, that's, that's like the best advice. So the other thing too that I wanted to talk with you about is that until I had seen the way that you, you know, created all of your beautiful bouquets and arrangements, I didn't realize that there was like a very special way that like Parisians, like, create these, you know, florals and, and kind of their recipes and how they put them together. Because of course I, you know, had seen so much and how they put it together in the US it's like, what do you think are like the big differences? And how do you, how, how are you creating, like. And by the way, for anyone who doesn't follow Adrian on La Rosoir, like, you need to just go look right now. We'll, we'll tag everything. But it's just, it's such a unique, cool way that you put these florals together.
Adrienne Ryser [00:29:37]:
I thought so too when I saw that flower shop, La Rosoir, when I first entered it, when I was visiting or when I had just moved to Paris, coming from the other flower shop in la, it was such a different style and such a different approach to arranging flowers in the US it's very much so like opaque vessel with mousse inside the flowers inserted into the mousse. You don't change the water, you don't like the flower. You know, the flowers just, you put them down in a corner kind of, and like you maybe look at them once or twice. But it's just a different mindset. I think in Paris you're really creating like these spiral bouquets. And at La Rosoir specifically, we always use a transparent vase. So the stems actually are part of the beauty of the flowers. Like, the stems are.
Adrienne Ryser [00:30:25]:
Just as important, I actually think. So you kind of arrange them so that they're doing this nice spiral formation and then you put them into the transparent vase that Way you can see when you need to change the water, the French take their time and change the water daily. Sterilize the vase. It keeps the shelf life of the flowers much longer. It keeps them looking much happier and healthier in the home. I think that the French will, while cleaning their flowers, pull out the dead ones and kind of leave the remaining ones in there instead of just letting the whole thing rot. They kind of like rearrange and play with their flowers at home when they receive them. And there are a lot of differences between florals in the US and in France, but that's definitely one of the biggest ones.
Sophie Epton [00:31:16]:
Yeah, I. Because I remember when you were putting together this bouquet and the way that you, you did that spiral design, it's just, it's so cool. So the fact that you've created this incredible shop, you know, things are buzzing along you. You know, you have your shop, you have your husband, you have your life. You've made great friends in Paris. Like, you have a real. You have your sweet baby that comes along Covid which you can tell how much you love him. He is a doll.
Sophie Epton [00:31:47]:
He is like such a little munch. But then you shock everyone by making this huge announcement that you're moving way up north to Oslo. And, and I remember thinking like, I remember, I think like seeing a couple things on your Instagram you were like going to. Sounds like you were like checking out like construction. And all of a sudden it was like you made this announcement and I just was like, I can't wait to talk to her about everything that led up to this. So, so, so you have this platform, like, let's go, let's talk about everything.
Adrienne Ryser [00:32:25]:
So here we are, I'm talking to you coming live from Oslo from this meeting room inside of this building that I was invited to come visit when I was six months pregnant. And it was. It's this state of the art building unlike any other. And they had this idea to. It's basically like a giant office building that they were renovating. It's an atrium, so you can see from the ground all the way up. There are nine floors.
Sophie Epton [00:32:53]:
Wow.
Adrienne Ryser [00:32:54]:
And a lot of like big businesses in Norway rent out their office spaces in this building. But they had this idea where they wanted to make the whole ground floor like a destination for not only the people who work in this building, but for people visiting, visiting Oslo and even just Norway in general. So it's right next to the train station, so it's super easy to get to.
Sophie Epton [00:33:17]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:33:17]:
And their idea was to make the whole ground Floor, like French inspired. So there's a French pastry shop, there's a French restaurant. And it was their dream to have a French flower shop in this building. So actually the owner of the pastry shop, he used to live in Paris. And so he saw the transformation of La Rosoir before Adrienne and then La Rosoir after Adrienne. And so when they told him, he since moved to. Left Paris, moved to Oslo, opened this really cool pastry shop called Mendel's. And he was going to be included in this project.
Adrienne Ryser [00:33:53]:
And so they asked him, like, do you know any florist? You're French, so do you know anyone that would be able to open a flower shop here? And he gave them my information. I received a phone call one day, you know, I was pregnant. And they were like, hi, can you come to Oslo? We have a position for you. And I was like, no, where is even Oslo? Like, what? I'm pregnant? And no. And I said, if you want to talk to me, you can come here. Okay. Not joking you.
Adrienne Ryser [00:34:23]:
Later that week, three businessmen in suits appeared. They had a flight from Oslo. They came to Paris to meet me. We sat down at a meeting and they gave me this pitch. And they said, you know, we have this new build. It's going to be a building like no other. And we want a French flower shop. And like, would you be interested in this project? And so,
Adrienne Ryser [00:34:44]:
I was just eager to find out more. So we flew to Oslo. We saw the construction and, and I mean, they sold the project really well. They. They inspired me to want to come here. And actually, while I was pregnant, I. I love Paris, like I said, but it is hard.
Adrienne Ryser [00:35:02]:
And I grew up with a yard and with animals and with space and green and oxygen. And I was thinking the whole time I was pregnant, like, how is my baby just gonna. The only ground he's gonna know is parquet floors.
Sophie Epton [00:35:15]:
Right.
Adrienne Ryser [00:35:16]:
Like it's amazing. But also he needs dirt. I mean, so we decided to take this leap and here we are. I mean, we opened this flower shop in Oslo. We opened in May.
Sophie Epton [00:35:27]:
You're amazing. Like, just think about what, like, the last year and a half of your life has looked like. And it's just.
Adrienne Ryser [00:35:33]:
So I visited at six months old, the site. And we moved and opened. Or sorry, we visited when I was six months pregnant.
Sophie Epton [00:35:41]:
I knew what you meant.
Adrienne Ryser [00:35:43]:
And then we moved when Cove was six months old. So within a year, we like totally transformed everything. Of course I still have the flower shop in Paris. I found.
Sophie Epton [00:35:53]:
Yeah, that's something to know. That is still open. It's running great.
Adrienne Ryser [00:35:58]:
The flower shop in Paris is running better than ever. It's being managed by an amazing person that is also feeling so lucky to have an amazing opportunity. And I'm so grateful to be able to give that to him. And he is the best. And he is running the shop so that I can be here and running this shop. And I have big dreams for this flower shop in Oslo. I think that. But I have encountered a lot of challenges.
Adrienne Ryser [00:36:25]:
Just simply they don't have the same view as flowers as the French do.
Sophie Epton [00:36:31]:
Okay. That's good to know.
Adrienne Ryser [00:36:32]:
Yeah. There's not a flower shop on every corner. And people don't just buy flowers to bring into their homes. Like flowers are just for special occasions. So I really want to bring this French mentality to the Norwegians. That is my goal. I want them to buy flowers for themselves and take it home and love it in their homes. In France, I always bought from like the local farmers at Runjies, the biggest market in Europe.
Sophie Epton [00:36:58]:
Yes.
Adrienne Ryser [00:36:59]:
And I was always so excited for the season to change so that the local farmers would be back. And when I moved here, I was not happy with the flower selection that I was finding at all because everything was from Holland, which is fine. But by the time it gets here, the quality is much lower.
Sophie Epton [00:37:15]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:37:16]:
So I started visiting these floral farms around Oslo and I. I just have met so many incredible people by visiting these farms. And I told them like, I have this idea to buy your flowers at, from the farm and sell them at my flower shop. And I mean, they had never had that opportunity before. Like, they were so excited. They're like, a flower shop wants our flowers from the field.
Sophie Epton [00:37:39]:
That is. It's so funny because it's like you think about you're moving from a place where it's just. That is the culture. And then it's shocking really that you, it's like these, these people have beautiful product. They've never been asked.
Adrienne Ryser [00:37:50]:
No. And they use gorgeous product. Like basically the same standard as what I was used to buying from the farmers in, in France. And also the farmers here told me, like, if there's something you want, like, we'll just grow it. Tell us the varieties you want. Tell us.
Sophie Epton [00:38:05]:
Wow.
Adrienne Ryser [00:38:05]:
I know. So I'm super excited because this week was our first shipment of flowers from the farm and the shop has never looked better. It's just all of these, you know, farm grown gorgeous Norwegian flowers versus what we were having before and what, what everyone is used to seeing is like these kind of basic flowers and now we just have the most stunning, amazing flowers ever. So slowly but surely, I'm gonna trickle this French mentality into the Norwegian brains and hopefully just take over the whole flower market.
Sophie Epton [00:38:40]:
I'm loving this vision. You know, it's so funny because I think it's like. Like we get so stuck a lot of times and I say we as like a collective, like, into. Because something's been done a certain way, that's how it's done. Until you have someone like you who's like, I'm going to disrupt the shit out of this and we're gonna create a whole different game.
Adrienne Ryser [00:38:58]:
I will say Norway is. They have a very different mentality on flowers. Like, so much so that in France we use cold water to put the flowers in once we buy them. Here, they use piping hot water.
Sophie Epton [00:39:12]:
Wow.
Adrienne Ryser [00:39:12]:
Like, everything is different. And trying to just absorb all of the information and like, I don't think that I'm doing it necessarily the right way. I'm just doing it my way. And so I'm trying to. There are a lot of things that. I have this employee here, she's a florist. Her name's Marielle. She's so helpful because she's been a florist in Norway for 11 years.
Adrienne Ryser [00:39:35]:
So she knows the ins and outs about ordering and deliveries. And like, she's just been such a big help. And she gives me a lot of information about the way that they do it here. And sometimes I'm like, I've never heard of that in my life. Like, we do it this in France. And sometimes I'm like, no, like, we really need to do things the French way. Because I. Not because it's the right way, but because I want this to be a French flower shop authentically.
Sophie Epton [00:39:58]:
Right.
Adrienne Ryser [00:39:58]:
So, like, let's stick to the French way. But sometimes, oh my God, no. Like, that's such a new cool idea. Like, let's try it your way. And so it's just been a really good learning experience, I think all of that. This.
Sophie Epton [00:40:13]:
You sound too like, you obviously have, you know, what you want to get done in business, but that you're very open minded, I think, to just these new experiences that you're having in a totally different country. And I just also wanted to like, touch on that a little bit. You know, what has it been like, like, what is the moving process been for you a second time now in such a short period when you think about it? And then you know what's really, like, some of the differences that you're feeling you know, living in Paris and then now l in Norway.
Adrienne Ryser [00:40:46]:
It is very different here than France. So it's crazy because like I said, I was happy with my life in LA, moved to France. I'm not going to say it was unhappy, but it was a big adjustment period. Of course, 10 years later, loved my life there so much. Loved my apartment, love my friends. Exactly the way I was feeling when I left LA. Yeah, didn't want to leave. Literally like left the Paris airport with my fingernails in the carpet.
Adrienne Ryser [00:41:12]:
Like I didn't want to get on the plane. I'm here now. It's the same feeling as like, everything's new, everything's confusing. Going to the bank is harder than college. I still feel that way now. It's. It's a big adjustment, but I feel like with time, things are starting to settle in and certain mentalities are starting to grow on me. In Paris, it's like go, go, go all the time, non stop.
Adrienne Ryser [00:41:38]:
Here everyone's not stressed at all and like, it's just very calm and. And everyone is really in tune with nature here and it's just a completely different way of living, the Norwegians versus the French. So I'm just trying to like, as you said, remain open and take it for what it is. I miss Paris a lot, but I still like, will always have Paris. I have that flower shop. And just like, as Paris brought so many good things into my life, I'm sure that this opportunity is going to bring so many good things into my life as well.
Sophie Epton [00:42:17]:
I mean, I have no doubt. This is like, we're in such early days right now and you've already, like, you're already making such a big impact, but I know that it's like, just give it. It's like all it takes is time and consistency. And like you, I know you're gonna do the same thing. Like, you're just a total, total visionary. So kind of getting into that a little bit more. I know you have kind of a really big announcement. You announced it on your Instagram, but I want you to talk to our audience more about this because this is huge.
Adrienne Ryser [00:42:43]:
Uhuh. Thank you so much. So, yeah, not only did I have a baby this year, move to Norway, open up a new business, run my old business, but actually the day I signed this exciting contract with my book publisher, I found out I was pregnant. And so I simultaneously did all of these things. I wrote a book about French floral arranging and it's called Fleur. It will come out in April of 2026. It's over...
Sophie Epton [00:43:16]:
Incredible.
Adrienne Ryser [00:43:17]:
Thank you so much. It's over 50 recipes about how to make different flower compositions. The French or like the Larosoir way. So I'm super excited about this and we. Sophie, this is such a me thing. But I just filmed this cute little video of the book with flower petals on it. We blew the flower off. I was like, this is great.
Adrienne Ryser [00:43:42]:
I'm gonna post it. And I just threw it up my. On my Instagram without checking with anyone. I didn't ask my agent, I didn't ask the publishers. I didn't ask anyone. Just threw it up. Decided to announce the book on a Tuesday at 2pm didn't check with anyone. And without any like, advice or any links, somehow the book went to like the number one, like number one new arrival on Amazon.
Sophie Epton [00:44:09]:
Oh my gosh, that's incredible.
Adrienne Ryser [00:44:12]:
I know. And so then I was like, wait, this is so confusing. And so then I sent this email to the publishers and I was like, hey, I announced the book cover. It's already number one on Amazon. And they wrote, they were like, what are you talking about? You're not supposed to announce the book cover yet. We didn't even have a meeting yet about it. So anyways, I did things totally backwards, but I think it's kind of okay because it's, it seems to be doing well in pre orders and I'm super excited about it.
Sophie Epton [00:44:40]:
Well, mine is pre ordered. I'm so excited. Of course, of course. So. But what I want to tell everyone is we will link it as well because it's. I mean, when you think about if you are. Whether you're, you know, living in France, living really any country, the U.S. but it's just like there's such an incredible sensibility about how you do flowers and to have the recipe.
Sophie Epton [00:45:01]:
And I like, I can't wait to like go to my Sunday flower market and try to, you know, put a little Adrian magic into my, into my floral design.
Adrienne Ryser [00:45:10]:
It's about getting inspiration. You know, I write in the book.
Sophie Epton [00:45:13]:
Absolutely.
Adrienne Ryser [00:45:14]:
It's no bouquets ever look the same, even if you're using the exact same flowers. So it's really just to give inspiration. It's different tips about floral arranging and in French rules and then of course, how to break those rules.
Sophie Epton [00:45:27]:
Right, right. I think that's, I think that's very, hat's also very you, like, you kind of have learned how to like live here but break rules a little too. So. I love that. I'm so excited. Like, there's just so much on the horizon for you and it's just so, it's always so exciting to talk to someone who's such a go getter and like, is living out their dream.
Sophie Epton [00:45:47]:
And I think, you know, what you've done and what, you know, people who move and people who start businesses and people who live in different countries. It's like there has to be maybe a little bit of sense of craziness in the best way because we have to believe in ourselves this much. But I feel like the payoff is always so good. And I just always tell people, like, if you want it, you just have to go get it. You know, it's.
Adrienne Ryser [00:46:13]:
Yeah, I believe that anyone can have anything that they want.
Sophie Epton [00:46:17]:
That's right. And you're, I mean, you are like living embodiment of that. So.
Adrienne Ryser [00:46:21]:
Thank you so much.
Sophie Epton [00:46:23]:
Yeah, it's, it's the coolest. So I think just a couple more questions. If you were to really give advice to anyone making a move internationally, because now you've done it twice, I feel like you're, you know, somewhat of an expert on this topic now, like, what would you say are kind of some of the big things that you would, you know, advise people to do when they first move or when they're moving in general?
Adrienne Ryser [00:46:48]:
I think that first of all, you have to have some help. Like, I had a lot of help, whether that's with a lawyer or with an advisor or with someone who already lives there. Like, it's going to make it a lot easier to just do things with someone who actually knows what's going on. I had the luck of just having my friend Emily. She knows everything. And I, I, you know, she's the first person I texted when my visa was denied. She's the first person I texted when I had to go to the embassy. Just, just you need help figuring out all of the ins and outs.
Adrienne Ryser [00:47:19]:
And also, like, it's not going to be easy. It's going to be hard. And you just, if it's something that you really want, like, just, you're going to have to get over those hurdles. And like I said earlier, I think the things that are hard make it more rewarding in the end. So if someone feels like, like there's something that they want to do, I think that they should just get out there and try. I mean, like I said, anyone can have anything they want. You just have to do it. You have to try.
Sophie Epton [00:47:46]:
Yeah, I agree. And then what would you say that right now you're missing the most in terms of like living in France and what. But, and Also, but what do you think that the French could sort of take from what you've been experiencing in Oslo?
Adrienne Ryser [00:48:03]:
I miss a lot of things about living in France as I missed a lot of things about living in California when I moved. One of the top things is always going to be food for me.
Sophie Epton [00:48:14]:
Yeah, that's a. That's. That's. I feel like that's the number one, you know.
Adrienne Ryser [00:48:17]:
So when I moved to France, I thought French food was gross. It was one of the reasons why I was so upset. Yeah, it was like, what are these weird meats? I don't want a sandwich with just one skinny cheese and one skinny ham. Like, yeah. I was like, I need a sub with like.
Sophie Epton [00:48:37]:
Yeah, I understand.
Adrienne Ryser [00:48:39]:
Why do people say French sandwiches are the best? They are so horrible now. Like, I would do anything for a proper baguette ham and cheese. Okay. So I feel like one of the top things I miss is, is the food. And I miss, you know, I miss my flower shop. But I'm super happy with the flower shop here. And luckily it's filled with all French antiques that I actually sourced in Paris in bronze.
Sophie Epton [00:49:01]:
I saw that. It looks like amazing.
Adrienne Ryser [00:49:03]:
It is my little slice of Paris here. I think that's something that the French could, could use a little bit more of from Norway, I guess. Just like peace. I don't know if it's just Paris. I haven't lived anywhere else in France, but I've visited many times the south of France. And I don't know, I just feel like, like it's a little less peaceful.
Sophie Epton [00:49:31]:
That's such a. I mean, I've never been to Scandinavia. It's like majorly on our list because I, you know, I have a lot of family that is from Sweden. That lives in Sweden. Yes. So we will be going sooner than later. But I. It does though.
Sophie Epton [00:49:45]:
I think it's like when I hear about their lives there, they just feel so much more even compared to here, which is, you know, very. It seems calm compared to other places, but it's, it's like they're in nature. They're just. I don't know, they have like.
Adrienne Ryser [00:49:58]:
Have you ever, like, witness two French people in Provence having a heated argument and yelling at each other?
Sophie Epton [00:50:05]:
All the time.
Adrienne Ryser [00:50:06]:
All the time. Like, yeah. I remember when I moved to France, I was like, this is not okay. Like, everyone's screaming at each other all the time. Everyone gets in heated fights and arguments and like, it really would stress me out. And here, same would never see two people getting in a heated fight. Or argument. Like, that's what I mean by peaceful.
Adrienne Ryser [00:50:24]:
It's just like, everyone is just. Just super happy. They're happy with what they have. Like, something that really threw me is when I went to the grocery store here and I realized there's, like, no options. There's just. And I was like, how are they? How are these people? Okay. There's, like, no options of anything.
Sophie Epton [00:50:40]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:50:41]:
Honestly, it took my husband to explain to me. He's like, because they don't need options because they have what they need and they're happy with it. Like he said, actually, too many options is, is complicating things and making people more unhappy because they have too many things to pick from.
Sophie Epton [00:50:58]:
And. Yeah, it's like they have decision fatigue a little bit.
Adrienne Ryser [00:51:01]:
He just wrapped it up for me in such a way that changed my vision on the grocery store here. And I was like, it's actually really true. Like, at first when I moved here, I was like, this is so annoying when you throw something away. There's, like, 12 different trash cans, and you have to put the paper in one, the plastic, but, like, the clean plastic in this one, aluminum in this one, the glass, and there's. All of the trash cans are, like, many different colors. I was like, okay. I feel like recycling is great, but this is just taking it to another level. This is annoying.
Sophie Epton [00:51:29]:
Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:51:29]:
Actually, now I find peace separating my trash into the right compartments because I'm like,
Sophie Epton [00:51:35]:
Look at you.
Adrienne Ryser [00:51:36]:
This is actually for the bigger picture of everyone. Like, here, everyone's thinking of others. Everyone's thinking of the bigger picture for everyone. In France, I think it's a little bit different. You know, people are thinking maybe just more about themselves.
Sophie Epton [00:51:51]:
Yeah. Yeah. That's so interesting. I mean, it's very cool to kind of. Now you sort of have, like, three different sensibilities from everywhere that you've lived.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:00]:
And let me just say one thing that I think is not okay to hear though.
Sophie Epton [00:52:04]:
Of course. Okay.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:05]:
The lights go from green to yellow to red. Like.
Sophie Epton [00:52:11]:
Like. Like the traffic lights.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:13]:
Okay, sorry. They go from red to yellow to green. Like, something is so off here. You know how it should usually go? I think now I'm here. So now I can't remember what's the right order. Yeah, it's an order of how it should be. Yellow comes up in the wrong spot. Like, usually in the US it's just green.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:33]:
Yellow, red. Right, right, right. Here, it's red, yellow, and then green. It's like red, and then the yellow is like, like, warning, warning. It's about to turn green and then it. Yeah, green. But then.
Sophie Epton [00:52:46]:
Oh, that would weird me out.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:47]:
It just goes from green to red. No yellow.
Sophie Epton [00:52:50]:
Like, just like driving on the opposite side of the road. It's just like your brain can't comprehend that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:52:55]:
I'm like, I understand a lot of things about Norway are great and people say this is the happiest place to live, but why does the light go from this doesn't make any sense to me. But anyway, that's my one big complaint point.
Sophie Epton [00:53:08]:
That's not, that's not so. I mean, it's, it's definitely something you're driving, but it's, it's better than it could be. I, you know, if you were saying something about, like, way more about like the, the culture or like the food was horrendous or like, that would be, that would be a bigger deal. But yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:53:23]:
It is interesting, like I said, I hated French food when I arrived. So we'll see.
Sophie Epton [00:53:27]:
Yeah, you're learning.
Adrienne Ryser [00:53:28]:
I'm learning. Maybe Norwegian food is going to become my favorite cuisine. And one day when I grow the business to another country, like, like, I will miss the food just as much as I miss the food in France. Who knows?
Sophie Epton [00:53:40]:
Yeah. Yeah. I just love how open you are. So I want. The last question I want to ask is, I mean, obviously you have your book coming out, you're building this business, but overall, like, what is, what are all the things you feel like are next for you? Like, what does your five year plan look like? Or do you even have one at this point?
Adrienne Ryser [00:53:56]:
I definitely don't have a five year plan. I, I know that I want to. I know what I want, I think, and that is to grow a really successful business here in Norway. I know that I want to always keep my flower shop in Paris. I would love to buy an apartment in Paris that I can go back to and, that's definitely one of my goals. I really just want to share the love of flowers. You know, the book is coming out and, like, I want to share the magic with as many people as I can.
Adrienne Ryser [00:54:31]:
So if I can travel and meet people and do my flower workshops and spread the love, like, that is something I would really love to do. I would love for flowers to bring me more places. I would love for flowers to, like, even bring me home to the U.S. So who knows? But I just got here, so I'm gonna let that sink in for a little bit. We. It was super hard for me to leave my apartment in Paris.
Sophie Epton [00:55:04]:
It was such a beautiful apartment.
Adrienne Ryser [00:55:05]:
It was such a beautiful apartment. And we spent years, like, making it ours and making it perfect how we wanted it. And like, I feel like the day we were done is the day we packed up and left.
Sophie Epton [00:55:17]:
So isn't that how it goes?
Adrienne Ryser [00:55:18]:
So, I'm trying to do that here now. Now. Before we moved here, I was like, okay, if we're moving to Norway, I have to live in one of those red Norwegian homes. Like, if I'm. It's like when I moved to Paris, I told Ben, if I'm moving to Paris, I'm living in the oldest fifth floor, rickety floors with chimneys and mirrors like that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:55:40]:
If I'm living in Paris, I'm doing. And so when we moved here, I was like, if I'm moving to Norway, I need grass growing on my roof.
Sophie Epton [00:55:48]:
I love that.
Adrienne Ryser [00:55:50]:
Yeah. So we visited one house and we actually got accepted. And it's like, I love this house. It used to be an art school, so it has rainbow floors. All of the floors are painted. And it's like this protected. It's so cute. It's a protected Norwegian historical home, so it can never be knocked down or anything.
Adrienne Ryser [00:56:10]:
And it has like all of these really charming features to it. So, so it makes me super happy. I really like this house and I think we can turn it into a home and. And that helps make it feel like home here.
Sophie Epton [00:56:23]:
Oh, yeah. The first thing for me, like, when I move is my space. I know that, like, I just. My background is in interior design originally. So it's like I just, I need my space to feel good and then everything else can start to feel good around me too. So, and the fact that you get to have grass. Grass for like cove to run around in and grass.
Adrienne Ryser [00:56:42]:
Like, we have a dog. He has never been up here. Cove has a backyard. Cove can lay in the grass. He can, you know, pick the flowers.
Sophie Epton [00:56:50]:
And play in the dirt, which is the best dirt.
Adrienne Ryser [00:56:53]:
Put his feet in the dirt like I wanted. We live like a 10 minute walk from the beach too.
Sophie Epton [00:56:59]:
Oh my. Well, that's everything. That's everything. Yeah.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:03]:
It's the Nordic Sea, Sophie. Okay, so it's. It's not the Mediterranean.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:10]:
But, it's the beach.
Sophie Epton [00:57:11]:
But to be able to walk and to hear the ocean waves, like, that's.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:16]:
To see the horizon, like, that's something I really missed in Paris.
Sophie Epton [00:57:20]:
Of course that's where your background is from. You grew up with the water.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:23]:
Makes me feel so good. So I really love that we Live so close to the water. And I love a lot of things about it here.
Sophie Epton [00:57:30]:
Yeah. I just, I have not one shred of doubt that you will, you know, you're gonna make something like, you're make the most beautiful business, the beautiful home. I have no doubt that in, like five years we're gonna be talking about this podcast and saying. Yep. All these things that you manifested like, really came to fruition.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:50]:
So I'm dying to ask you one thing, though.
Sophie Epton [00:57:53]:
Yeah, of course.
Adrienne Ryser [00:57:54]:
How are you and Jordan settling in? I mean, it's been what, like a year or two now in Provence.
Sophie Epton [00:57:59]:
It's been two years officially, as of last month.
Adrienne Ryser [00:58:02]:
Okay.
Sophie Epton [00:58:03]:
We are. Are doing really well, I would say. Like, of course, you know, people, our listeners hear this on the podcast that there's, you know, we definitely give the real of what it's like to live in a country like France, which is like, so beautiful. Like, the most amazing food. Living in the south of France is incredible. But, you know, just like the real things that come along with it. Like yesterday I posted we, this apartment that I live in, which I love.
Sophie Epton [00:58:27]:
We don't have air conditioning. It's been.
Adrienne Ryser [00:58:29]:
Yeah.
Sophie Epton [00:58:29]:
97 today it's supposed to get to 98 degrees Fahrenheit and we're like roasting. And it's just like the thing that people, like, don't, don't understand here about, you know, like ac. Just these little things, you know, it just, it is what it is. But I feel like we're really, like, settling. Like, the kids are starting school in a couple weeks. They're turning three next week. Like, it's.
Sophie Epton [00:58:51]:
We feel like our French is getting much better. We feel like we're meeting more people. It's just. Yeah, it just feels. It's starting to feel like we're settling in more. I mean, because by year one, I think we still were like, we're still in it. And I feel. And I also feel like you feel that more when you have kids.
Adrienne Ryser [00:59:08]:
Yeah.
Sophie Epton [00:59:09]:
Because, you know, one move you had without a kid, this one, you. So it's just, it's just different. You have to think about all these things for them. And you can't be as like, you can't sort of explore as much or be as like footloose and fancy free.
Adrienne Ryser [00:59:21]:
So it is different. And you want to do what's best for them. So you're always consider, like, of course. I used to just only be worried about myself, you know.
Sophie Epton [00:59:28]:
Right, right.
Sophie Epton [00:59:29]:
So no, but it's. But thank you for asking that. That's so sweet. Yeah, it's. It's really good. I'm really excited to see what happens between year two and three. I think it's going to be even, like, liked way more so.
Adrienne Ryser [00:59:40]:
I remember when we met, you guys were just in the thick of it, and you were like.
Sophie Epton [00:59:44]:
So in the thick of it.
Adrienne Ryser [00:59:45]:
I was like, do you guys like it? Crickets. I was like, okay, is that a yes or no? Like, and so it's great that you guys are feeling good about it.
Sophie Epton [00:59:55]:
Yeah, it took. I mean, for us, we. We make no bones about it that our first year, like, it was really rough. And I think, again, I think, think it's some. For some people, the first year can be rough in general, but then when you add in, like, twins. Because our son. Yeah. And then it's like our twin or one.
Sophie Epton [01:00:14]:
You know, our son Luca had the heart condition. So immediately it's like we're having to, like, find him the right doctors to figure out, because I don't know if you knew this, but he just had his second open heart surgery last month. So he's doing great. He's like, a total champ. But it, like. But it's like, we had to, like, get in the medical system very quickly in that way to, like, get him set up with doctors. There was just all this, like, very real world that was happening, and we were just like...
Adrienne Ryser [01:00:38]:
It's super hard to navigate that in a country. I totally understand.
Sophie Epton [01:00:43]:
But. But now I can say, like, two years in, like, it's feeling really good.
Adrienne Ryser [01:00:47]:
So I remember when I was pregnant, going to the doctors, I was like, this is not okay. I shouldn't be climbing up to six floors with no elevator. Going to the doctor, like, where is Kaiser? Where is the cement? Why are they all speaking in French? Like, and I was pregnant. You know, it must have just been so much harder when it's your actual baby and you're, like, trying to translate what they're saying. Do you have all of the right information? Like, it is. But then I kind of just accepted the differences and I realized, like, you do get really good care in France.
Sophie Epton [01:01:18]:
Really good care.
Adrienne Ryser [01:01:19]:
You get really good care. So I'm super, like, happy for you guys that you're.
Sophie Epton [01:01:23]:
Thank you.
Adrienne Ryser [01:01:24]:
Have getting the care that your baby deserves.
Sophie Epton [01:01:27]:
Thank you. And we will. I, like, I honestly can't wait for us to get up more to your new home, your new neck of the woods. Woods. And be able to, like, see you. Yes. Oh, my gosh. No.
Sophie Epton [01:01:37]:
We want to do, like, this whole, like, Scandinavian trip.
Adrienne Ryser [01:01:41]:
You can stay with us in the Red House and you can have. We would love that rainbow floor section.
Sophie Epton [01:01:49]:
I. We would love that. The kids. I mean, if you. If you allow. The kids come with, but yeah, the kids would love that, too.
Adrienne Ryser [01:01:55]:
So please visit. It would. We would love to have. You would love to have the babies. You, Jordan, everyone. It would be, like, so much fun, please.
Sophie Epton [01:02:03]:
Oh, thank you. Well, Adrian, I can't even tell you how much fun I've had today. Like, just be able to see you and to catch up on life and just, like, I'm so excited for you.
Adrienne Ryser [01:02:15]:
Thank you so much. Thank you for such a thoughtful conversation. Thank you for doing so much, like, research.
Sophie Epton [01:02:24]:
Well, you've. You've created, you know, such an amazing, I think, movement with what you're doing. I just wanted to delve into everything and just, just have our audience learn more about you in that way.
Thank you so much for listening to today's episode. Don't forget to subscribe, rate us and leave a review if you love what you hear. And you can follow us on Instagram and TikTok Heptons. See you guys soon.