My 10 favourite things to do in PARIS!

Oh, hi! ♥

So, I'm back and Paris was perrrrfect :) We had such a wonderful time! 

I feel like we got a really good feel for the city and all it has to offer. We saw some incredible things and explored. When we didn't have something specific to do we would just wander around & find new places. Pete and I tend to be very laid back travellers, we like to really get to know a city when visiting rather than sticking to tourist areas only.

It's hard to think of only 10, but here they are! I am going to have a series of posts coming up in the next few weeks, with more photo's & I will talk more about some of these things for sure! :)

1. Sit in a cafe & people watch! // This was honestly the best. Pete and I would have a coffee or a drink and just sit outside and watch the people go by. Almost every single cafe you'd see has tables and chairs out front and there's always tons of people sitting outside. I loved to watch everyone because I was so blown away by everyone's style. Specifically the men! (swoon)

2. Get "lost in Paris" // Literally, and because it's just kind of a saying. It's so nice to explore and wander around and not be on a time line. It didn't matter if we went the wrong way or took longer than anticipated because we always made our own schedule. A lot of the streets look similar and there's so many little streets everywhere, it's easy to get lost! Get out there and explore!

3. Buy cheap wine & champagne from the grocery store/ liquor store (& macarons) // This blew my mind, Haha. The booze is so cheap! No wonder the french love their wine! I would be drinking it every night too if I could buy a bottle for under $5! I loved that you could get wine pretty much anywhere, and really good wine for SO cheap! Champagne too :) & some macarons wouldn't hurt! We'd buy our wine from a liqour store called "Nicolas" or the grocery store and come back after dinner and drink at our apartment!

4. Have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower // We hungout by the ET on a beautiful sunny day and it was just perrrrfect. There were a bunch of other people just kind of lounging but it was still quiet with a perfect view of course. I'd suggest getting a baguette (obvs) some champagne and snacks at a market near your place and then bring it there since it tends to be more expensive by the tower.

5. Window shop! // I personally couldn't afford much in Paris! Hehe. There were some amazing stores but they were very much out of my price range. For the first time in my life I was actually just window shopping rather than buying! My favourite things to drool over from outside were jewellery stores!

6. Stop & smell the roses! // This one is going to get a whole post on it's own since I am seriously in love with flowers. In fact I recently decided I want to be a florist (lolz) I was so blown away by how beautiful all the flowers were. I totally wanted to buy them all. EEE!

7. Shop small // @ local shops & markets & vendors // Since we can't all afford chanel bags, my favourite places to shop were at local shops, boutiques, markets and of course these adorable vendors along the water! So many awesome things! Super meaningful & special too :)

8. Petit Dejeuner! // The best thing EVER. When Pete and I first stumbled across an adorable cafe and discovered what a Petit Dejeuner was we were so excited. It's a typical french breakfast served at cafe's. It comes with coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and of course BREAD! Croissants, fresh pastries etc. Each one is a bit differnent - bread surprise? Yesss please.

9.  The Lock Bridge! // Talk about something totally cute that I would love :) The lock bridge is between the left and right back in Paris. I love this area and the bridges overlooking the water. One day I was looking down at boats passing and waving to everyone (the best) I will do a separate post about the lock bridge and what it all means! 

10. See the Eiffel Tower *sparkle* at night! // Ah, talk about the prettiest thing ever. Pete and I and the awesome couple we rented a place with went out for a nice dinner by the Eiffel Tower and then headed to see this babe all lit up. Every hour on the hour there is a light show and shit gets SPARKLY! We brought some wine and just stood in awe to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle and shine! It's an absolute must if you're visiting!

Well, I am sure I missed some things since there really are so many amazing things to do. But, I will probably mention them in some upcoming posts! Please come back soon for more Paris inspired posts!

Love!

xo

home from paris!

hello my loves!

i'm home :) - what an amazing week in paris!

it was definitely everything i hoped it would be ♥

huge thanks to the lovely ladies who guest posted while i was away!

i have a bunch of paris blog posts coming soon, so come back soon to read about my adventures.

can't wait to share all my photo's & posts with you all.

xo.

I'm in Paris! Guest Post # 4 - Samantha from Of Madness and I!

Hey there LOAC readers!
My name is Samantha and I blog over at Madness And I and I have been lucky enough to be able to do a little guest post for Jules, while she is away in Paris!!!

Jules is so very lucky to be away in Paris right now and I am so very jealous!!! Her recent posts about her trip have made me yearn to travel and now all I can think about is travelling!!! I've travelled quite a bit for my age, but there are so many more places I want to go! Here are a few places that I'm dying to visit!


Paris, of course! I've dreamt about going for years and years and years.

Stockholm, Sweden! It's such a beautiful place with such an interesting culture.

Vienna! It's just so beautiful!

Prague! I don't know all that much about Prague, but I'd love to learn and I would love to visit!

Bern, Switzerland. Another place that is just so very beautiful and so very intriguing.

Edinburgh, Scotland! I have never considered Scotland as a place I'd love to go, but recently I have been doing more research and found some beautiful photos and now I really want to visit!

Egypt! Ah, Egypt!!! I have loved Egypt since I was a little girl, and I loved learning about it's unique culture. This is another place I have dreamed about visiting!!!

Seoul, South Korea! Recently I have been learning a lot about South Korea, and eating a lot of Korean food (YUM!) and I would love to visit there someday!

Manhattan! NYC has been the number one place I have wanted to travel to for as long as I can remember. It is so beautiful and magical and I can't wait till I get the chance to travel there.

Manhattan in 1964! I might've said that NYC was the number one place that I'd love to visit, but one other place tops it. If I could travel anywhere, and if time travel were possible, I would love to visit New York in the 60s. Sure, it's a fairly lofty goal, but I keep it on my list because it really would be the greatest!

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Thanks for having me Jules! I hope she is having the most amazing time in Paris and I can't wait to see heaps and heaps of photos when she comes back!

I'm in Paris! Guest Post # 2 - Caroline from The Old Country Blog!

About The Old Country Blog 

As a recent journalist and National Geographic oral historian, Caroline has a passion for both writing and history.  She also loves to bake and was lucky to have grown up very close with both of her grandmothers. Thus, the creation The Old Country Blog! 

My German grandmother (who married a tall, dark and handsome Lebanese man) told rich stories about the old countries — food was often a major plot point. And, as a New Orleanian, she was raised on great food and immersed in Louisiana's unique way of life. 

Every Wednesday, The Old Country Blog serves up a new recipe with a side of history or a fun tradition.

The Long Life of the Cupcake

While individually sized cakes, baked in ramekins and molds are scattered throughout culinary history, the original cupcake dates back to 19th century America.  

E. Leslie’s 1828 cookbook, “Receipts” concocted the first cupcake. The petite cake saved time in the kitchen — large cakes take longer to cook through — and changed baking forever. 

The treats were called cupcakes not only for the individual serving, but also because they were often bakes in cups, many in teacups. And the darling nature of this process was not unnoticed,  The name Fairy Cakes was coined because of the dessert’s dainty size and charm — fit for a fairy.  In England, Fairy Cake is still a proper term for personal cakes, though they often have less icing and vary in size.  

Cupcakes reached a new level of popularity just after WWII, when packaged brands hit the market. The cupcake craze has only increased with boutique pastry shops and an infinite number of flavors — including my most recent kitchen experiment, Strawberry Jalapeño with Buttercream Lime Icing. 

For more info on Cupcake History: 

http://www.crazyaboutcupcakes.com/learning.htm#history 

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcakes.html#cupcakes 

Cupcake Recipe 

Strawberry Jalapeño Cupcakes

·       3/4 cup strawberries

·       1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

·       1 teaspoon baking powder

·       1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

·       1/4 cup milk, room temperature

·       1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

·       1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

·       1 cup sugar

·       1 large egg and 2 large egg whites, room temperature

·       candied jalapeños*

Before we get started.  Here is how I candied the jalapeños …

-       12 slices of jalapeños from a jar

-       Pinch of salt

-       3T vinegar

-       ¼ cup sugar

Bring sugar, salt and vinegar to a boil. 

Add jalapeño and simmer for six minutes. 

AFTER THE STRAWBERRY IS PUREED, puree the candied jalapeños.

Set aside.

OK now back to the batter …

Puree strawberries.  Then, pour them in a bowl milk and vanilla, set aside.  

Combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

Cream butter and sugar, slowly add in eggs.

Slowly blend in milk mixture. Then dry ingredients.

Before totally mixed, blend in candied jalapeños.

Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 in lined cupcake pan. 

Allow to cool and add icing. 

Buttercream Lime Icing 

1 cup unsalted butter, softened  

3 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt – I may have sprinkled a tad more, to taste

1 tablespoon flavoring extract (Arak; but since it is scarce almond can work)

3.5 T lime juice

Mix it up. (If too runny, add more sugar. If too thick, add a splash of milk.)

Decorate! I topped mine with lime and strawberry slices. 

I'm in Paris! Guest Post # 3 - Toni from Lemon Freckles!

Blog // Instagram

Lucille Ball
August 6th 1911 - April 26th 1989

Lucille Ball, who is best known for her leading role in I Love Lucy, was an American actress, model, comedienne and executive and still to this day she is seen as one of America's most loved.  

Lucille back in 1948 who was already a movie star, co-founded Desilu productions (which she later took over after the divorce) and started I Love Lucy when she was forty years old, showing age wasn't an issue for this gorgeous lady.

Although I don't believe the show I Love Lucy was created to be a massive feminist statement, I do believe it accidentally stumbled into that territory by being such a unique sitcom with the leading role being played by a woman.  Lucille had a hand in writing, editing and directing the show and so was absolutely instrumental in shaping Lucy's character, who was soon to become televisions first female comedian character.  

Lucille was the first openly pregnant actress who ever preformed on television and refused to hide her pregnancy on the show, she was the first public example of a pregnant woman who continued working despite the limitations pregnancy can bring.  

I think it was a bit of a combination of both Lucille and her character Lucy that made her such a fantastic inspiration for women.  Lucy was a woman who refused to give up on her dreams, no matter what limitations others may have seemed to put on her due to her gender and it seemed Lucille was the same, being one of the first women to publicly show maybe we can have children and lead a incredible career.