France has never been on my list of must-see countries, but when a dear friend invited me to spend a few days celebrating her birthday in the French countryside, I couldn't say no.

We lounged by the pool (saltwater!) from 9-5, had a chef curate the most perfect dinners from 5-9, and sipped wine while chatting away well past midnight.

I tried my best to capture the spirit of calm camaraderie that hung in the air throughout the week through these photos.