Paris is for lovers and cheesy tourist photos

(AKA. In which we do all quintessential touristy things)

the louvre
I've really fallen in love with Parisian architecture. The detail and the mid of modern and traditional is fantastic.



 Wouldn't this look absolutely smashing on me? I wonder where I can find a prince who can convince the Louvre to give this to me?

cupid and psyche


This is when we thought it'd be fun and scenic to walk from the Louvre to the Effiel Tower!


Somehow the fact we would have to climb all those stairs when we reached the tower escaped us...


(We ended up taking the lift)
(After we took a nap in the sun, and thus made our trek from The Louvre to the tower that much less impressive.)

When we got to Notre Dame, they had just closed and so we couldn't go inside. This happened to us at St. Pauls in London the other day too. I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with our hilarious (read: blasphemous) commentary on religious artwork at the Louvre...(and then again at the National Gallery...oops.)

Dan la Louvre
Sur la rue!


Versaille
La orangerie au Versaille!


The chapel at Versaille was off limits to everyone, so I'm like 90% sure this one had nothing to do with God not wanting us to enter his threshold...

Au revoir Peace & Love!

Our first full day in Paris.


view from our train window
Steven and I had an amazing time in Paris, we took way too many pictures, so I am splitting up the post into three, we arrived on the train at Paris Nord right at sunset, so our first view of France was the countryside at dusk, which goes without saying, was absolutely breathtaking. 

We got to the hostel around 10pm, and we met Nathanie, who showed us around the area around the hostel, but it was fairly dark and I believe Steven left his camera back at the hostel so we unfortunately did not get a picture with Nathanie. She had to leave the next morning to head back to London and then fly home to New York, which seemed to be a reoccuring theme throughout our visit, where we would make friends with people who had to leave the next day! hahaha. 

The next morning we headed up to La Bastille de Sacre Coeur, where we sat on the steps and had a breakfast of tarte aux fraise and orange juice while enjoying the lovely view as seen below:
view from sacre coeur
steven in front of sacre coeur
the harpist 
Afterwards we spent several hours exploring Montmartre, the area around Sacre Coeur, it was full of little cafes, brasseries, and cute little shops. We eventually wandered into a creepy little store full of doll parts and erotic keychains, and decided maybe we should call it quits exploring and have some lunch, so we bought baguettes, a big wedge of brie cheese, strawberries, and rose lemonade and sat on a bench on the side of sacre coeur and picnic'd.
our picnic lunch
the creepy doll store

 After we took a nap in the park and slept off our lunch, I wasted my money on a string of coloured lanterns simply because the store was colourful and I was distracted by it. We got lost for a bit and then walked to a champagne tasting bar I had read really good reviews for and had tapas and a bottle of bubbly there! All in all, it was a day of indulgence.
adorable
That night we made new friends at the hostel, Dan, Ron and Marty from Chicago, but again they were leaving the next morning again, hahahaha. We all went out to dinner, and we forgot to get pictures with them, but I believe they got pictures of us, so maybe after we facebook each other we will have the pictures together.



what is love?


I am absolutely loving our trip. Moony's already mentioned the fact that we've become utterly infatuated with London but I just have to emphasize HOW MUCH I love it.
For starters, people with British accents are my favorite. I absolutely ADORE the different dialects around Britain. Especially the ones here in London, though. So walking down the streets feels like something out of a dream for me.

Then there's the architecture! I'm not much of a "history buff" myself but I simply love all of the old streets, buildings and palaces and hearing about who lived where and how this and that were built....

I dream of being able to live here in London one day. Even for just a short time. It's so lovely.

I really did love Paris as well, though. I mean, the warnings we got were legitimate; it is honestly quite a dirty city, but I fell in love with the places we visited! I mean, the Eiffel Tower was stunning and is one of those things you HAVE to do once in your life and Le Leuvre was INCREDIBLE. I was in awe at all the marble statues. I mean, they can get rather boring after you've seen 100+ of them but I still retain my deep appreciation for how talented and skilled people have to be in order to make one so beautifully.
For the first time in my life, I've actually gained a deep appreciation and yearning to learn the French language! Hearing people speak it and being surrounded by it really made me understand why it's called "the language of love".


But that's enough ranting about art and culture for now.

We're hopefully heading off to Covent Garden again today and staying for longer (the last time we went it was dark out and we kind of just quickly went through).
This means we'll be taking "the tube" to get there and perhaps we'll find some cute shops to browse through.

Marija's already taken us to most of the tourist hot spots like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, etc. so now we can start truly exploring London and all its wonders!

Until next time,

Cheers!

C'est la vie!

Just got home from Paris...to be honest, I prefer London. It's a nice city, but It sort of smells like pee, hahahaha! I really had a good time though, despite a few minor incidents. Exhausted and about to eat dinner though, will definitely update tomorrow after the photos are uploaded to the computer!!

Fancy a cuppa?

westminster abbey:
very impressive exterior,
even more impressive entrance fee
will have to assume the interior is nice as well, haha
train time!
ronald weasley on a double decker bus!

more obligated touristy things!
natalie portman, stop harassing those ducks


a conversation with oscar wilde.
i don't quite understand this monument really
i always assumed oscar wilde was attractive
seeing how much tail he got.

walking into somerset house


somerset house:
makes buckingham looks like a rundown crack house.

Hurray!

We are officially in love with London, the city is amazing and I'm thoroughly enjoying all the fun accents of all the different people. Was dead tired last night, but still managed to get some of the mandatory touristy things in, like visiting parliament, Westminster abbey ("hands down, best abbey I've ever seen!"), buckingham palace, convent gardens, St James park, trafalgar square, and my favorite of the night, somerset house. It's Masha's favorite building in London, and seriously, if I were the queen I'd live there instead, makes buckingham palace look like a dump!
Will post a longer real post once Masha is up and I can use her laptop! :)

swoooooon

ungghhh
How perfect are these wedges from Lanvin? There are not enough synonyms for gorgeous to describe these. I love everything about them. I love the nude colour, the wood detail, the what must be buttery soft leather, the beautifully structured wedge, and my god, is anything in this world sexier than that ankle strap?

Shoe addiction is a definite cliche, but that doesn't make the problem any less serious. If I have to be honest with you, the only reason I go to school is so I can someday buy all the Lanvins, Louboutins, YSLs, and Pradas I want. And you know how little girls (coughallgirlscough) fantasize about their wedding dress, and grooms, and tiaras or whatever? I fantasize about the shoes I'll wear with my wedding dress (Royal blue Louboutins, just in case you're curious). And here's where you should stop reading if you don't want the full effects of my crazy (too late maybe? I think the wedding shoes comment pretty much obliterated that line anyway): sometimes when I really really really want a new pair of shoes, I will seriously not eat in order to squirrel away my food budget for them. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it's a good thing I already spent all my money on this trip to London, because otherwise I would be trying to sustain myself on water and rice cakes alone for these beauties. Ugh, and I just realized my nude feather clutch would be perfect with them too.

silly love songs


 Only seventeen more days until I leave for London. I feel like a million butterflies are fluttering in the pit of my stomach, and they are making it difficult to sleep at night. I have spent many many hours researching London and Paris the past couple days, looking at anything from Liberty fabrics in London, to one man operation restaurants in Paris. I know we won't get to most of the places I want to go to, especially in Paris, but I'm filing those places away for my next trip. Seems silly that I'm already planning another trip before I've even taken this one, but I feel like Paris is one of those places I'll adore. It has enough wine bars, french pastries, vintage shops, and beautiful people to keep me entertained for months at a time.

And besides, Sophie has already volunteered herself for a trip to Paris with me. ;) Now I just need her to get a job so we can actually go together next year, haha.

PS. I haven't been able to stop smiling since we won Series 1 last night, and FINALLY crushed those silly blackhawks. Hockey is one of those things that cause me to act irrationally, and every year during hockey season, I find myself filled with hatred for Vince Vaughn, for no reason other than the fact that he is a Blackhawks fan. Well, that and the fact that he's a terrible actor. I don't think I'm the only one either, I think if Vinny decided to come to Vancouver to work while we were playing the Blackhawks he'd probably have to hide out in his hotel or risk being ruthlessly heckled on the streets by rabid Canucks fans.

PPS. Though it doesn't really matter anymore, as I'm sure Vince Vaughn cried himself to sleep last night after Alex Burrows completely OWNED them.

i need to marry a basketball player, like right now.

I'm sure the vast majority of you have seen Elle's photos of Khloe Kadarshian's shoe closet, but just in case you haven't yet born witness to the extravagance, here it is:

love, pure love.
sigh
I have to admit though, while I am completely enchanted by the shoes, I am mostly loving the colour coordination. I have OCD tendencies, which usually only manifest themselves when I am stressed out or procrastination (exam week usually result in a colour coordinated closet, art supplies organized by size and colour, genre organized bookshelf, and make up sorted by colour, type, glitter, cream vs. dry, etc etc) and a shoe closet of that size appeals to both my love of shoes, and potential for endless organization systems.

While this has been posted to death on the blogsphere already, I can't help but point out another example of how style can only improve with age: Dame Helen Mirren at the European Arthur premiere! Seriously, at 66, Helen Mirren rocks leopard and leather better than girls my age, she's the perfect balance of sassy and classy!



In other news, Steven and I have finally booked our train tickets to Paris, and our hostel there! We'll be there the night of the 16th, and leaving the afternoon of the 19th!

Young woman, you're gonna be an old woman someday.


Advanced Style: Age and Beauty on Nowness.com.


Confession: I'm terrified about hitting 40, but could not be more excited to be in my 60s.

I am absolutely loving this video from Nowness, it is just fantastic. I think these women are an absolute inspiration, and proof that style doesn't come from the money to buy expensive label, but simply confidence in yourself.

Going cold turkey

So I have been thinking about clothes nonstop lately, which isn't really anything new, but because I am leaving in just over a month(!), I can't buy any of it. It's driving me insane, and to stop myself from blowing the money I need for food and shelter on things I don't (currently) need, I've been browsing saks, bloomingdales, and the like (if i'm going to fantasize, i may as well fantasize about chanel and prada right?) to fulfill my inner desire for pretty things. In the process, I've also made up a list of things I will let myself indulge in as soon as I get home and start making summer money.

1. Kate Spade Essex Scout, in citronella.

perfect for summer, am i right?
How cute would this be with a bright skirt paired with a sheer white top and espadrilles? (A: VERY.)

For the rest of my summer binge, read on after the jump!

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"holy impractical outfit batman!"


john and jeffrey = solemates (har har har)
I sent that in a text message to Steven as I left my house to meet him in Steveston today, and it's got me thinking: What would impractical outfit batman's gadgets be like? I know what he would wear, all leather and neon colours, both hard to camouflage and difficult to fight bad guys in (but oh so fierce!). I know his weakness, much like mine, would be the inability to compromise outfits regardless of weather, as evidenced by the pictures below the cut.

Read more »

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

So today Moony & I had the cutest date in our favorite fishing village; Steveston.

Days like these when we spend the majority of our time discussing clothes and taking pictures I feel most inspired to get working on a better wardrobe. It's hard sometimes to rationalize buying new clothes when in my mind I'm telling myself, "You have enough clothes already" but I can't help but feel that I've grown out of the style of a lot of what I own.

So I think I'll slowly start to build it up so that I don't end up spending a lot of money in one crazy shopping spree in an attempt to revamp my style~

Maybe I'll even start planning now for next fall!

Though, I should really think about the summer for now.

Especially because I feel like Europe is so far ahead of us, fashion-wise, so I have to make sure I look my best for when we go! Maybe that's the underlying reason behind my sudden insecurities. But again, with the pre-trip shopping thing... Can't go crazy!


Maybe I'll try out some vintage looks so Moony and I can pre-trip shop in thrift stores! (: There are lots in Steveston~ but the trick is always finding things to fit my skinny, tall self...

With these sort of thoughts in mind, I foresee some fun adventures in our future. (:

a house is not a home unless your closet is beautiful



At least a hundred bottles of Chloe hanging from the ceiling, probably my mother's worse nightmare. My dream come true though, I love Chloe, it's definitely one of my favourite fragrances. I'd never have to buy another bottle again if this were hanging about in my house. Though if we're going on a dream house fantasy, I'd also be living in one of those floating houses on the river. And my closet would be a huge boudoir of it's own, stuffed to the brim with designer clothes.

One day. In the mean time, don't forget to follow our blog with bloglovin!


What more of an appropriate way for me to introduce myself than to flaunt my obsessive love of shoes.

Hello, I'm Steven.

These are my new shoes.
--------------->

I bought these beauties just last week because after a year of eying them I no longer possessed the strength to resist.

John Fluevog is a shoe designer who actually lives in right here in Vancouver whose creations never fail to make my jaw drop in awe and shoe-lust.

However, this expenditure of mine must also serve as a reminder to both Moony and myself that we need to start tightening our wallets. We simply cannot afford all this pre-trip shopping when glorious things undoubtedly await our discovery in both London and Paris.

I'm still having trouble accepting that this is actually going to happen for the two of us.

This past fall I came up with the tentative idea to go to a college in England called Capernwray:

but things didn't work out as I had wished they would and there was no longer any hope of me going.

So, needless to say, I was beyond excited when the opportunity for Moony and I to go to London together on our own trip came up.

Things are moving so quickly. I think we're going to blink and then the next thing we know we'll be on the plane headed over there and then the trip of a lifetime will be underway.

I think one of the most exciting parts about it are going to be that it's just the two of us. It's going to feel so liberating and exciting and probably even a little scary. We're going to face the world on our own with nothing but each other to fall back on... for 15 glorious days.

But first,
we've got to get through exams.

I'd say that a nice little trip to Europe is going to be quite the reward for ALL the diligent studying the two of us shall SURELY be doing over the next two weeks. (:


life's such an adventure.

cheers for now,
until the next pair of sho--

until my next inspiration arises.

au revoir!

if the devil really wears prada, you can let him know i'm ready to make a deal


Continuing yesterday's theme of Muiccia worship, these Prada suede sandals from the Resort 2011 collection are my new summer loves.
They cost more than my flight to London, and I'm going to be honest with you, I seriously considered buying them instead of the plane tickets.
Could you really hold it against me though? They are beyond.
image from the amazing fashion toast