Category Archives: Paris

Oh, The Places You’ll Go.

I was looking through my photos the other day and some made me laugh while others made me say “what was that?!” Either way, they all bring back great memories and I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.

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(Intently using the iPad while Brian watches the Super Bowl in the background!)

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(Testing, is this thing on?!)

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(Pier destruction!)

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(The two best friends that anyone could ever have!)

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(If I ever dared to doubt if our friendship is legit, I just have to look at this)

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(One amazing year)

wedding

(My beautiful co-workers)

paris(Paris)

bordeaux(Wine tasting in St. Michele)

Capital Cities(Just another day at the office)

wolf pack(Wolves)

MOMA(My favorite frequency)

daffodils(Spring)

Snapping pictures with my phone has become one of my favorite hobbies. You never know what moment you’re going to capture.

Back To The Grind.

work outfitRunning out the door can be nerve wrecking on a workday, did I forget something at home?! Am I wearing the right color belt? Did I remember my walking shoes? Where’s my underwear?! Ok, that doesn’t really happen but here is a cute go-to work outfit to inspire you.

work outfit(White boat neck tee- Old Navy, French neck scarf- Paris, rolled up skinny pants- Target, long strapped purse- TopShop, and camel heels- Banana Republic)

purse topshop(I love natural colors paired with bright colors, it brings out the best shades in each of them)

french scarf(I picked up this scarf from a Parisian vendor across from the Louvre. It is silky and I love the print!)

studded belt(The perfect accessory- a studded belt)

banana republic heels(A true rarity- comfy heels! They are still a little high for me but I love the way they work perfectly with every outfit!)

Parisian Scarf(I miss you Paris)

Sometimes the outfit is about the accessories. Load them up and have fun with your look!

France’s Culture Club.

DSC_0435Trying to soak in all of the culture that France has to offer was no easy task but I sure enjoyed trying! From the food to the fashion to the GIANT buildings, I was in love. I am sad to report that this is my last post on France because it means that I have to come to terms with the reality that I don’t live there.

French Street(This picture was taken on a Monday evening around 7:30. So many people were out and about, grabbing drinks, dinner, and socializing)

Rue de Rivoli

(This picture was taken at 9 am when the sun was rising. We were in awe of how beautiful the streets were as we were searching for croissants)

Metro(We took the Paris Metro everywhere. It was pretty easy to figure out and a lot of fun too. One time there was a musician playing the accordion on the train!)

2013(The New Year is a big event in France. This was taken of a store window in Bordeaux)

bikes in Bordeaux(Just a few picturesque bicycles hanging out)

Arc de Triomphe(Finally, this statue belongs to the outside of the Arc de Triomphe. Monuments are part of the daily culture in France;  they are so lucky to be surrounded by beauty every day)

I can’t wait to go back to Europe! I had such a blast in France and thank my lucky stars that I had the opportunity to visit. I was able to learn so much about their culture and work on learning more about mine.

Under Construction.

French Canal

It goes without saying that France has some pretty unbelievable buildings; I couldn’t help but take a million pictures of my favorites. And believe me, they were ALL my favorite!

DSC_0026(The French Opera House glows at night. I don’t think there is one dim building in the evening)

Notre Dame(Notre Dame. It’s magical)

Monmartre(Montmartre was one of my favorite areas. It was so alive and they shot parts of Amelie there!)

Eiffel Tower(The Eiffel Tower. Yup, it’s pretty giant!)

Bordeaux(We got an overexposed version of Place de la Bourse but I like the way it turned out)

Hall of Mirrors(I never thought I would go here but I have always wanted to. The Palace of Versailles was incredible and the Hall of Mirrors was no exception)

Marie Antionette(Marie Antionette‘s bedroom was unreal! It was so over the top!!)

Palace of Versailles(Nick outside the golden gates of the Palace of Versailles. Can you tell we loved that place?)

I can’t get over how every building in France was clearly constructed with such calculated care. Everything is lavish in it’s own way and I just love it.

You Gotta Have Faith.

DSC_0125Let’s start at the beginning. Notre Dame de Paris. It is MAGNIFICENT! I have never in my life seen something so spectacular and moving, the moment I entered the building I was literally speechless. My art history classes in college could not prepare me for how overwhelmed I would be. To think that this church was built 850 years ago leaves me with so many thoughts but mostly “how did they do it?”

DSC_0123(The exterior holds hundreds of statues that depict passages of the bible and because it was Winter, garlands were placed around the church adding something special)

DSC_0138(The stained glass is intricate and delicate as the light passes through to illuminate the interior)

DSC_0141(There are nooks that display different pieces of art, this was one of my favorites)

Sacre-Couer, Paris

DSC_0381(At the top of a large stairway sits Sacre-Coeur. At night it is a place of gathering for young  people who spend the evening drinking wine, singing, and gazing at the view of Paris in it’s entirety)

DSC_0395(Behind Sacre-Coeur lies an alley of vendors and restaurants)

Basilica of St. Michael, Bordeaux

DSC_0548(Basilica of St. Michael  is not at the caliber of Notre Dame but it is also very breathtaking inside. The ceilings are higher than I can count and the hall stretches hundreds of feet long. It is very grand)

DSC_0551(It was so bright inside which gave this church a softer feeling)

France does not mess around when it comes to their churches. Aside from being incomparable inside, they are also very welcoming. Each church was a nice place to walk around quietly in peace, and take in all of the history that the walls held. I liked to think of who sat in the pews hundreds of years ago and what they were wearing, praying about, and hoping for.

Can You Feel My Bones?

Ever since I was a young girl I was drawing; art has always been my very first love. Paris was filled with life, color or something outrageously beautiful and perfect everywhere I turned.

Marc Chagall(The unbelievable Paris Opera has ceiling art created by the modernist painter Marc Chagall. I was in awe of my surroundings as I watched the ballet perform)

Paris Opera(Every turn was accompanied by magical costumes once worn in past performances)

DSC_0364(The Tuileries Gardens outside of the Louvre holds amazing statues, pictures cannot do them justice)

Palace of Versailles(One of my favorite rooms in  the Palace of Versailles held a hall full of statues. The way the light peeked in cast amazing shadows)

There were also bits of darkness as the city has a history of death and disease which ultimately will inspire as a result. Take a look at what I mean.

Catacombs of Paris(The Catacombs of Paris holds 6 million skeletons delicately placed throughout since the late 1700’s. While this is not technically art it is very amazing to look at )

catacombs skeletons(There are so many interesting things to look at but I tried my very best to not forget that this was a cemetery and these bones belonged to people alive over 200 years ago. It is a testament to how preserved France’s history is)

France has art all around, from the canal to the sky, there is always something to see and admire.

City of Lights.

Eiffel TowerWell, they definitely call Paris the “City of Lights” for a reason, especially in the Winter. I can’t imagine what the energy bill looks like!

Wine Bottles(One of my favorite parts of Paris were the window displays. Twinkle lights make everything a little more beautiful!)

DSC_0045(A statue outside of the Paris Opera)

DSC_0012(The city is alive even late at night and lights cover the street tops)

DSC_0209(Champs-Elysees illuminates the way to the glorious Arc de Triomphe)

DSC_0196(While I didn’t get a chance to ride it, I imagine there was no better view of the city than on this glowing Ferris Wheel)

DSC_0409(Flashy flash! Moulin Rouge was awesome and you could see it from blocks away! Ooh la la!)

DSC_0483(Bordeaux was gearing up for the Arlette Gruss circus. Look at the glowing trees in the background!)

DSC_0631(Lastly, Bordeaux has little bulbs of light everywhere you can imagine. It is beautiful)

I feel so lucky to have experienced France in the Winter, while it is the down time I can’t imagine it gets any better!

Love in Paris.

VersaillesEveryone said that I would love France but no one ever said I would fall in love with it. How could someone love a city so much? I had never been to Europe before and I am so glad I went on this trip, it absolutely changed my life for the better. For my first France post, I want to share a few photos that mean “love” to me.

Paris Candy(Everywhere I turned were perfectly wrapped candy and treats, something I love no matter where I am!)

DSC_0528(Along the same lines these macaroon cookies are delicious; I always had a purse full at all times!)

love lock bridge(My friend told me about the Pont des Arts where couples “lock” their love to the chain links and throw the keys into the water below as a romantic gesture)

DSC_0347(I surprised Nick with a lock that I had brought from the states. Our lock faces the Eiffel Tower)

DSC_0601(A literal take on love)

After this trip I love a lot of things even more than I thought I ever could: buildings, cookies, padlocks, and an amazing city with so much fiery history. But most of all one bearded man.