Back again with another Paris post, this time sharing the details about everything I wore on my trip last weekend!
It may come as a shock (to literally no one) that I was a bit last minute pulling together my outfits. I purchased a couple of things for the trip, but for the most part, I just kind of winged it! I usually find outfit planning to be so stressful, but when I think of Parisian style, it's so simple and effortless, and I really tried to channel that energy. I think it worked out well- I was pretty happy with what I came up with!
Let's recap the outfits:
1. Good morning, Friday! I can't complain about this week at all because I spent the first half in Paris, and the remainder here in sunny, 80-degree NYC! This morning I grabbed coffee with my friend Emma, and tomorrow I head to Dallas to see Joe! It really feels like we've officially turned a corner with the seasons and I am absolutely loving it.
Hope you're all having a fabulous start to your weekend as well.
2. In case you missed it, I recapped my Paris trip in yesterday's blog post (broke down our entire 4-day itinerary!), and answered all of your questions in Wednesday's blog post here!
3. This warm weather has me switching over my wardrobe and wanting to stock up on tennis skirts and tanks for all of my HGWs on the West Side Highway. Loving this tennis skirt under $50, and this one + the matching top (both pieces add up to just around $50!)
Welcome to the official Paris recap! If you're curious about where we stayed, and general Q&A regarding the current scene in Paris, highlights of the trip, and more, check out yesterday's post here!
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I never skimp on the details, so sit back and relax because this is a long one! At the bottom of the post is a map with all of the places we went!
Be sure to come back on Monday for everything I wore in Paris!
The first two times I visited Paris were actually within a few months of each other, in 2015. I studied French all throughout middle and high school, as well as half of college, and always planned to study abroad in Paris, but unfortunately, after transferring colleges, it was off the table. Additionally, my last trip to Paris was canceled due to Covid, so just a long way of saying I really was excited to get back!
Because it had been about eight years since my last trip, I didn't really remember much of the city. I was so shocked this time around to realize how big Paris is. It felt like every day we explored new neighborhoods and all of them just felt huge! I mean, New York feels so small once you live here, so it makes sense that anywhere with a little breathing room feels giant. But four days ended up being a great amount of time, and I'm just so grateful for the time we got to be there.
Let's get into the Q&A!
APRIL FOOLS!
(If you saw the mood board published earlier this morning)
I thought it would be funny/ironic to create a mood board with images that pop up when you literally google "april," "spring outfits," "easter," etc. It was the "hello spring" for me.
ANYWAY, above is the real April mood board, and I am in love with her. She's gorgeous, she's springy, and she is not cheugy! You'll also find the iPhone version below.
xoxo
1. Happy Friday and last day of March!! Q1 flew by this year. From Vermont to Dallas, Telluride to Palm Beach, both my mom and Joe visiting me in NYC, and shooting my apartment in NYC last week, it was a really fun few months full of time spent with my favorite people in some fabulous places!
2. Last week specifically was really busy for me; I had two influencer events + a birthday party for friends, and for some reason, it just felt like a lot. I took this week off of social activities (with the exception of going to book club, because I adore my book club) and it felt so nice to cook, watch Daisy Jones, lay on my couch, and relax every night. I didn't even read (I do need/want to get back into my reading, though)
Growing up, Easter was always one of my favorite holidays. I grew up in a family that went to church every single Sunday together, so we took Easter pretty seriously! It usually meant a new dress, an Easter egg hunt, brunch, and sometimes even seeing my grandparents (which, of course, was always special). I have such happy memories with my family on Easter Sunday; I always think of a sunny, spring day, with tulips, easter baskets, and dressing up for church before coming home and enjoying a delicious spread by my mom. It's a nostalgic holiday for me, and a day that I really look forward to celebrating when I have my own family.
Anyway, as I've gotten older, I feel like it's lost a bit of its sparkle... in college, and even now, it's not necessarily a "big enough" holiday to "go home" for, so I don't feel like I properly celebrate it how I used to, although I really wish I did!
This year, I am heading to Paris for Easter, *hopefully*. Since Easter is next weekend, it's creeping up quickly, and with all of the unrest in Paris right now, I'm just hoping we won't need to cancel our trip last minute. If we do make it, we have plans for mass, followed by brunch. I'm going with my friend Katie whose birthday is actually on Easter Sunday this year, too, so we of course have some fun evening plans as well!
While I'm not spending a traditional Easter with my family this year, I couldn't help but round up some pretty spring dresses for the occasion. I picked a variety of price points (including options under $100), but all of them are under $250.
Two years ago yesterday, my brother drove me from Wisconsin to NYC in a U-Haul, and two years ago today we rolled up to my sight-unseen, crazy covid deal, 400 square foot one-bedroom apartment in SoHo (with a dishwasher!). The past two years have been some of the happiest years of my life so far. I feel like myself more than ever, and I really, really like my life.
1. Hello and happy Friday! What a week! I had two influencer events this week, tonight I have a joint birthday party for two of my fabulous friends, and tomorrow (drumroll please!) I am shooting my apartment with a fellow blogger. To say I've been a bit overwhelmed would be an understatement, but all good things!!!
2. The highlight of the week so far was undoubtedly the launch party on Tuesday night for the LAKE Pajamas X Atlantic Pacific collaboration. It was simply surreal to me that I was included in an event alongside so many of the bloggers I grew up following. Not to mention, the pajama collection could not be cuter!
I have this pair of PJ's and this robe from the collection and I can't stop wearing them. Also, love this set for the pool/beach!
I just... I'm really at a loss to describe how excited I am about this. I actually made three tik toks exclusively from Tuesday night, haha! Blair could not have been nicer, more beautiful, or more humble in person. I really do check her blog every single day (there are very few blogs I check anymore!), so it was overall such a pinch-me opportunity.
3. I was pretty proud of my outfit on Tuesday night; I linked everything here, including these perfectly pink slingbacks (fabulous for spring!), my favorite feather bag, and this striped top (on sale!) that I purposely wore to match the collection!
1. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I have to share my new favorite seafoam green sweater that I can not get enough of!
2. RUN don't walk to get these sequined mini skirts on sale!!! I ordered both the silver and the navy because I couldn't choose. I plan to wear one in Paris in a few weeks and the other in Chicago next month for my bestie's birthday. They're going to be so much fun for going out looks in the summer, too, and the price is too good to pass up.
3. I wore this $25 sweater all week in Palm Beach - it's absolutely perfect for spring and summer! It comes in five cute colors; I have it in white. Size down, it runs large.
Next week I am heading to Telluride, CO for the first time! Not only have I not visited Telluride before, but I have never been to Colorado at all! I am so, so excited. I can't wait to explore the mountain village, ski out west for the first time in 15ish years (I learned to ski in Deer Valley, Utah when I was 7 or 8), and just take in all of the gorgeous views!
Of course this month we have Valentine's Day, so the Feb mood board is very pink! I tried to make it a bit more vintage-feeling and I love how it turned out.
Hello from my brain! A little Sunday night post -- it's been a really, really long time since I did this. Actually, I don't know if I have ever done this, but it felt right?
I read 32 books in 2022, my best reading year yet!
Although we are already a couple of weeks into the New Year, I wrote this same post last year, and I really wanted to do it again. Ranking every book I read in the previous year feels like a great way to share book recommendations because usually, it's only in hindsight that I realize how much I actually loved (or didn't love) a book. Personally, I tend to think the latest book I've finished is my favorite book ever, but then a month later I can't even remember what it's about! So, I think this retrospective approach is a bit more critical. Hope you find some reading inspiration here!
Last year I ranked my books by rating, so I am going to do that again!
I'm looking forward to recapping my highlights from 2022 and some thoughts on the year! I do a post like this every single year, and I feel like it's a really great exercise for me mentally. It always reminds me how much I have to be grateful for, and where I want to make changes in my life going forward!
Overall, 2022 was a really, really great year. From a handful of big moments (like four weddings and a couple international trips) to the everyday moments (like making new friends, reading great books, and feeling more settled in NYC), there was so much throughout the year to be grateful for. I feel like it was one of the first years of my life that I really felt like my life was completely up to me; I moved to NYC in 2021, and it was just a big adjustment time. I also was still getting used to working and post-grad life. This past year, however, was much more settling. I made handfuls of friends, strengthened new & old friendships, said no to things I didn't feel like doing anymore (basically, I went out less and stayed in more which turns out is way more my speed), and felt just really happy and content with where I'm at in my life. I read a lot of great books, traveled out of the country to places I'd never been before, and felt very secure and happy in my relationship... just a lot of positive things! As much as 2022 was a great year, of course, there were also challenges, But for the most part, I'll remember it very fondly.
I'm looking forward to even more fun in 2023. So far I have a couple of trips lined up and milestones to look forward to, like my 25th birthday, my 2-year anniversary of living in NYC, my 3-year anniversary with Joe, and more. Before I get ahead of myself, though, let's recap 2022!
Happy, happy New Year!!! I hope you all had a lovely New Year's Eve celebration last night! I am in Dallas visiting Joe and we had a really relaxing night just enjoying a couple of cocktails, making a board, and playing Rummikub!
I am so excited for another year of mood-boarding for you all. I feel like the mood boards really grew traction last year, and I'm looking forward to continuing to create them every month in 2023 for you! As always, there are both desktop and iPhone-sized wallpapers below.