Welcome to the Neighborhood

While in the middle of taking pictures for this post I was yelled at on the street by a lady, first in French, then in English. Unfortunately, during my french classes, they did not teach me how to respond to someone accusing you of secretly taking pictures of them. I tried to assure her that I wasn't taking pictures of people, but she refused to believe me. Anyways, the point of this post is to showcase my new neighborhood!

We live in the 15th arrondissement ("The fighting 15th"). Paris is organized by districts called "arrondissements", and our place is about 15 minute from the Eiffel tower. It is a remarkably "untouristy" given it's proximity to the largest tourist trap in the world. A five minute stroll from our door yields some classic French sights. In France, there are separate shops for everything, if you want meat, you go to the butcher. If you want bread, then you go to the baker, etc, etc.

A short walk down this street is all you need to shop like a Parisian:

The vegetable and fruit shops only carry vegetables / fruits that are in season.

I have no idea what price this would translate to in pounds and Canadian dollars.

If you get tired from shopping on a hot summer day you can always stop for biere blanche at the numerous drinking establishments that you will pass. I must always be tired...

Paris was an early adopter of the bike sharing movement that has sprung up in places like NYC and Montreal (and very unsuccessfully Toronto).

It's never hard to find park around this city.

Metro (in english "metro") stops are everywhere.

Flowers are definitely a Parisians best friend. 

The butcher shop, which constantly smells like deliciousness. 

Butcher fare.

Of course, a cafe.

Probably the most important shop, the bakery.

Cliche picture of Macarons. 

This is a chain that sells all kinds of treats. No relation to Jeff Bridges.

Jeff bridges makes delicious waffle cones.

Our street is so named because it is right next to a church. Every day we hear the church bells ringing which is comforting but can be irritating when your head is already ringing from red wine. 

From Prairie to Paris

Well, I made it to the fashion capital of the world and am so excited to finally be writing my inaugural post from Paris! I must apologize for the lack of posts these past few weeks. I have been busy as a bee finalizing travel plans and settling in to our cute little apartment. I will be switching things up over the next few weeks as I have embarked on a new life for the next year or so, and feel as though my blog will need a makeover to fit this new chapter. I will also be blogging more often now that I have settled in nicely so keep checking back for updates!

(Photos by DJB)

Skirt - BCBG; Blouse - Jacob; Pumps - Franco Sarto; Clutch - Nine West; Serpent Bracelet - Stella & Dot; Sunnies - Kate Spade; Earrings and Ring - Gifted

Ahh, home sweet home. This is right outside of our apartment in our quaint little neighborhood. It's quite warm here right now so skirts and light hues are a must. I found this sleek pleated skirt on sale at BCBG and paired it with a simple white cotton blouse. A perfect summer work outfit, or for a date night with the Mr.

Makeup Moment

I'm switching things up and giving you a little break from my usual outfit post to bring some attention to my other interest, makeup. I took a 6 week makeup course about a year and a half ago and have since been very into bright lips, blush and black eyeliner. I have experimented with my own makeup quite a bit, have done friends' makeup here and there and just recently was asked to do the makeup for a friends sister's wedding party. I was extremely excited and a bit nervous of course, to put my skills to the test. Here's a sample of how the day went.

(Photos by Ximena Orellana)

The Setup:

The Action:

The End Result:

Mother in law

Sister #1

Sister #2

The Bride

A big shout out to my friend XO, who was in town visiting and agreed to be the impromptu photographer for the day!

Why I Have Been MIA Lately

It might have something to do with the fact that I am MOVING TO PARIS in two weeks! Yup, it's really happening and I am over the moon! Unfortunately preparing for the move has left me with little time to focus on my blog. I will have a few posts up before I leave and will continue to post regularly from the City of Light!

Photo via http://8tracks.com/maddieclare/cafe-francais

What I Wore: Rustic Mountain Wedding

I recently attended a gorgeous wedding, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at Jasper Park Lodge.

(Photos by Yvonne Ho)

Dress - Dylan & Rose (Winners); Clutch - Smart Set; Pumps - Le Chateau; Necklace - The Bay; Bracelets - Stella & Dot and Unknown 

I love going to weddings in general and it's always a good excuse to shop for a new dress! I had originally planned on doing double duty with this green dress that I had also worn to a business graduation but decided that I would keep my eye out for a good deal, and of course I found one! This little snakeskin number was only $40 at Winners which I accessorized with touches of pink. I like this dress so much, I'm also thinking about wearing it to work by simply throwing a blazer over top. 

Dressy Days

Dresses are probably one of the easiest things to wear to work. You can throw one on, add some pumps and be out the door in 5 minutes.

(Photos by Yvonne Ho)

Dress and Blazer - H&M; Belt - The Bay; Pumps - Franco Sarto (The Bay); Sunnies - Kate Spade; Necklace - Tiffany & Co.; Long Necklace and Bracelet - Rox On by Karina Miller

Dresses are also fun to accessorize, if you have the time.  I thoroughly enjoy pairing contrasting patterns and make no exceptions when adding accessories to dresses. Snake skin and polka dots? Why not. Turquoise jewelry and bright pink lips? Sure. If you're looking for a more professional look however, simply add a blazer. Oh, and if you're going to invest in a patterned dress, I would suggest that you go with polka dots as they seem to never go out of style!

T-shirt With a Twist

Wouldn't it be nice to wear a comfortable t-shirt to the office from time to time? Well, guess what...you can!

(Photos by Yvonne Ho)

Tee - Loft 82; Skirt - Club Monaco; Shoes - Michael Antonio (Winners); Sunnies - Kate Spade; Watch - Michael Kors; Serpent Bracelet - Stella & Dot; Jacket (below) - BCBG

 There are so many casual, yet professional t-shirt's out there that are actually quite work appropriate. The key is to choose a style that doesn't look like your typical ratty ol' tee. Usually when a plain t-shirt has an added detail such as a leather pocket, peter pan collar or lace sleeves, it adds a dressy element to it. You could pair the t-shirt with a pencil skirt, dress pants, or a nice full skirt, like the one that I'm wearing. Add a blazer or jacket over top if you want and don't forget to tuck it in!