If the temperature reaches 35 degrees today, it will be a miracle of epic proportions. When given the choice to explore the city before my 10:30 class or return for another cup of coffee and check my email, I will choose the later, every single time.

"In a world full of choices, the way you stand out is not by adding to the noise, but by exposing your own uniqueness."

"When you write for everyone, you write for no one."

At the beginning of my blogging experience it was too easy to get caught up in the numbers: page views, subscribers, comments. This quickly added another dimension to blogging: writing to gain followers. Sure, I've joined a link-up or two, but I've been disappointed more times than I can count: I've read the same blog hundreds, maybe thousands of times. Do not be mistaken, I adore Pinterest and spend hours on Tumblr, but I try not to use them as fillers for my blog. My hope is to use this particular space for my own creations and ideas.

Finding blog ideas will be just as difficult as before, and experimenting with my writing style (and spelling errors, sorry Mom) won't change, but I have found a new source of reassurance when I stumble upon another cookie-cutter blog. Or maybe this newfound sense of individualism is just another consequence of being an only child. Who knows?

xoxo.


Read Jeff Goin's entire article, "If You Want to Write to a Larger Audience, Be More Specific," here. Even if you aren't a blogger, you can admire his writing style and organization. 

Paris offers many new and exciting experiences at every turn, most often involving chocolate, bread, or wine. The best days, of course, involve all three.

After a few weeks of indulging in the gastronomic pleasures of my new city: pâte, camembert, and  healthy amounts of Nutella, I'm coming to realize both the physical and psychological consequences that come with unhealthy eating. Today begins a new regime, a return to conscientious habits and a new pledge to be healthy.

The Cravings Chart is nothing new, yet this specific chart sparked my interest after being featured repeatedly on many of the online sites I visit. This version is so fridge-friendly: it is simple to understand, easy to read and offers multiple solutions for the cravings I experience on any given day.

In the spirit of healthy eating, it is important to recognize the difference between what you think you want, versus what your body needs.

If you haven't been following my crazed tweets or Facebook posts lately, you may not know that I've been without Internet access, my computer, or telephone since Sunday. With all my spare time, I decided to trim my bangs, inspired by the amazing French styles I saw outside the Chanel show on Tuesday. (More about that, later.)

-Finally scored a copy French Vogue {see below} and ordered a year-long subscription. Ah, commitment.

This display at the Repetto store on Blvd Victor Hugo is by far my favorite yet!

French Sephora stores are much better than their American counterparts, and for good reason: their flagship store opened here in the '70s. It's no surprise the French do cosmetics better than anyone else: enter Sephora's body baume/butter in two delicious flavors, chocolate praline, and citron meringue. There is a rumor that the creme brûlée scent is still on shelves in the lesser-frequented branches, so my hunt continues.

xox,

Besides being able to continue on with my games in Words With Friends, having my iPhone in Paris means I can continue to snap semi-decent photos and instagram them!

The weather here is rainy and cold, but our weekly delivery of groceries, livraison domicile, included a lovely bunch of bright orange clementines. Storing them in a repurposed wooden basket makes it all the more charming.

xox,

The winter sales in Paris have been on for about a week now. Here's what I've bought.

"On adore votre sens de l'houmous" : We love your sense of hummus (ie: humour).

"On a toujours besoin d'un bon avocat" : We always need a good lawyer/avocado.
In French, avocat can refer to either a lawyer (ie: advocate), or an avocado. I like both meanings.

Always on the search for funny foods, and I know Paris will not disappoint!


xox,

My favorite? It's a toss-up between the free-standing letters spotted behind the window of a children's toy store, and the gothic lettering and border of the last window.

xox,

GPOY insanely-awesome view-edition.

Happy Monday to all! This post is about a week too late, but c'est la vie. Last week I was boarding an airplane solo (after having a difficult and mildly destructive time with airport security), and heading back to the land of pastries and fashion!

I've been in Paris for only 4 days, but have finally settled into a comfortable routine of managing my au pair duties, exploring the city during my free time, and taking language classes at a school nearby. This weekend will mark the first 48 hours I will have all to myself, and I could not be happier!

Keeping in touch with my loved ones back home has been easier than expected: I am lucky enough to have wired phone in my room and complementary calls to the US, which makes life much more enjoyable is Skype is acting up, or if something immediate comes up.

Everyone has been asking about my life here, mostly my apartment, so I'm posting a few photos of what I encounter on my daily walk. (This is not everything, by far, but enough to start off with.)








xox,