I’m sure by now you are so tired of hearing about my trip to the U.K. and Paris, but the week has finally arrived—we leave on Thursday! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get just as much joy out of planning and thinking about an upcoming trip as I do when I’m actually on the trip. I’m super excited because I won a free 30-minute session with this service called Flytographer, that pairs you with a vacation photographer in over 200 cities all over the world. I’m always so bummed to get home from a trip and find that I have next to no photos of my husband and me together, as one of us is always taking photos of the other. Ok, fine—it’s usually my husband taking photos of me for this blog! Since I am so lucky to work with some of the best photographers in the country for work, I’m sure curious to see what I think of the experience. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.
In the meantime, here are some things I’m packing for my trip and some interesting things around the web.
ICYMI, I hereby declare these the best walking shoes for travel. I also just bought the perfect white sneaker.
We just rewatched the movie Julie & Julia last week—this time with the director’s commentary. Have you seen it? I’m so obsessed with romantic comedies, and it was fascinating to hear Nora Ephron (what a loss) talk about each scene.
If you wish someone would just surprise you with a trip and make all the plans for you.
I love to read a book set in the place I’m traveling to—do you? I’ve got this, this, and this all packed for Paris. And let’s not forget some Jane Austen!
I swear by this French pharmacy brand and can’t wait to stock up on products when I’m there.
Absolutely no one has it figured out!
I’ve really been into this app called Depop lately, where you can buy and sell merchandise. The platform looks like Instagram, but it is the best way I’ve found to buy and sell clothes I no longer wear. The J.Crew jacket pictured in the opening photo of this post I bought off Depop for only $59 to wear in The Cotswolds.
We were lucky enough to score a reservation at Rossoblu on Friday night for an early birthday celebration with dear friends. It was one of LA’s most anticipated new restaurants of 2017, and I see why—maybe the best Bolognese ever!
Your dinner planner for the week right here.
Don’t forget to go to the Rue Mouffetard where I purchased my “magic necklace” last year, it’s so charming and old-world, has one of the best chocolatiers in Paris (Nicolsen), and is straight out of La Boheme. Around the corner at the Rue Cardinal Lemoine is the flat where Ernest and Hadley Hemingway lived during the time he describes in A Moveable Feast, one of my favorite books. Also Jean-Paul Hevin is one of my favorite patisseries, I think they have a couple of branches with the most heavenly pastries. And of course there’s my favorite cafe, La Closerie des Lilas, which I love because it was Hemingway’s favorite. He did much of his writing there and there’s a plaque at the bar to commemorate where he loved to sit. Also you should look up afriendinparis.com, written by this marvelous woman who has a lot of articles about off-the-beaten path fascinating and wonderful places. She gives walking tours too which sound incredible. Have the best best time! I just returned tonight and have been up for about a week so it’s lights out for me! Have the best best time and the most wonderful birthday!! See you when you return. xoxo
Thanks for all these great tips!!! xo
You know it’s all my pleasure! Enjoy every second.