What to see, do, and eat while in Paris...

SEE

*The seine river
*Notre Dame
*The Eiffel Tower (especially at night!! It twinkles and it's magical.)
*Sacre Coeur
*Moulin Rouge
*Montmartre
*Every little piece of architecture because the buildings in Paris are timeless.

DO

 *Visit Versailles. We used Lauren's fantastic guide to the palace. It's stunning!

*Go to the Louvre. You could spend hours there. 

* A bit of shopping is always necessary in Paris. I recommend this area. 

* Get lost wandering the streets and find cute little boutiques to wander into.

* Take the metro. It's fast, easy, and cheap. 

*Visit some churches that aren't well known and just marvel at the architecture.

EAT

*Escargot! (Don't even think about what you're eating and just enjoy!)

*Macaroons. I could eat at least 10 in one sitting they are so darn delicious.

*French Onion Soup at Le Champ de Mars. This bistrot is around the corner from the      Eiffel Tower and was such a fun experience. It's a bit expensive (for someone on a college budget) but make it your splurge meal. 

*Eat something, anything, at Angelina's. They are scattered throughout the city and are di-vine! We had breakfast there but you can also just pick up a delicious pastry. 

*Bakeries in Paris are everywhere and each one we went to were fantastic. So find one and grab a homemade croissant for me. 

What are some of your favorite places to see, things to do and eat at while in Paris?

*Disclaimer: The places listed above are of my humble opinion. 

Merci!*

{Going Places} Tivoli

Haven't heard of Tivoli? I hadn't either. But if you ever get the chance to go, I definitely

recommend it now. The place is stunning and is known for the two villas in close

proximity to the city- those villas being Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este.

Hadrian's villa (the pictures above) is stunning and the history behind it is interesting

as well. Villa d'Este used to be a monastery and then was transformed

into a large estate and sprawling gardens. (I'm going to try and get some photos

up of the gardens soon!) There were fountains all throughout the gardens that 

were some of the most incredible fountains I've ever seen. 

But one thing that really blew me away was the weather!!! Guys! It was

in the 60's and kind of warm! See me not wearing the poof coat? Or ANY coat

for that matter??? The wildflowers were blooming everywhere and I couldn't

snap enough photos because I have such a thing for flowers. 

It's back to being rainy here but that little bit of sun gave me some hope for 

a warmer April. :)

I hope your Easter was lovely and spent with those  you love.
Oh, and happy April! 

Spring Break 2k13 Video

I put together a little video of my Spring Break and have decided

to share it on the blog. It covers all the good, the bad, and the ugly

but mostly the good. :)

Enjoy!

Happy Easter Weekend!

He is Risen!!!!

Easter is always a hard time for me to be away from my family. This is my second year 

not being with my family during Easter weekend and it doesn't make it any easier.

It also doesn't help that I haven't spoken to my mom in about a week (which is crazy

since we talk everyday) but she has been on a missions trip with my two younger 

sisters so I really can't whine about that. 

Being in Italy for Easter is unlike anything I've ever seen. There are chocolate eggs the

size of a microwave and treats everywhere your eyes wander. Today is Good Friday

and later tonight there is a candlelight procession through the streets. Tomorrow

there is a festival and then on Sunday there is mass at the Duomo. Oh, and then

Monday is a national holiday called Pasquetta where Italian families often go 

on picnics and spend time together. I am going to try and partake in as many Easter

festivities as possible. :)

What are your Easter plans?

Getting Ready for Spring

Who else is completely ready for warmer weather??? 

(I raise my hand enthusiastically) 

I am wanting all the above for my closet this Spring thinking

that perhaps the sun will see my enthusiastic display of color and florals

and decide to come out more often. ;)

What do you think? Valid idea? 

How are you preparing for Spring?

1. / 2. / 3. / 4. / 5. 

My First Tattoo!!!

"He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will 

be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the Earth." 

-Psalm 46:10

I finally got the tattoo I have wanted for the past year and a half. Psalm 46:10 is 

one of my favorite Psalms and ultimately just the phrase "Be still" means so much to me. 

I am one of those people always on the go, my mind is always racing and 

planning my next to-do list that it takes a lot for me to just be still. 

Having the placement on my foot was a no brainer because your feet are

what transport you. At some point I would love to add a simple black

cross but I think I'll wait till my 21st. 

Honestly, it didn't even hurt and the only way that makes sense to me is that

it must be meant to be because this girl has very low pain tolerance. 

All my friends were waiting for me to scream or cry or do something and 

I just sat there totally calm. 

Do you have any tattoos? What's the significance behind yours?

Orvieto Life

These are the people I am studying abroad with. We are a mix of every type of

personality and background who all decided to come to Orvieto, Italy

to study for a semester. I love this photo because it looks like we are standing

with a backdrop behind us but truthfully, that is just Assisi for you. 

Italy has been a dream and when I think that I only have about a month left, it 

stresses me out a little bit! How am I supposed to fit in all the rest of my growing and 

becoming who I am in just a month?!? But then I think about all of the changes

I've gone through thus far and the maturing I've had to face head on and realize

that perhaps I've already done a majority of that growing. And perhaps, we just

continue to grow all our lives and this one semester is just a small piece. 

I'm going to miss small town life. Sure, where I live is not a big city by any means

but once you've seen tiny Orvieto, it'll be hard to acclimate to anything larger.
But I think I'll manage just fine. :)

(a few of us in Tivoli this past weekend)

{Going Places} Vienna

I had never gone to Austria before and let me tell you, Austria is stunning. 

It was unfortunate that this was the last leg of our quick 10 day, 3 country trip

because we were exhausted. We really tried to rally and see some of the sights but 

one day we saw two palaces (Belvedere-last photo and Schonbrunn-first photo) and that

completely whipped us out. We really enjoyed getting off the Underground at Stephansplatz

and just walking around the city center though. Lots of shopping and a beautiful church 

to look at? Set! 

Apparently I look a little Austrian since every time people would ask me questions they 

would go off in German (sorry, Austrian) and then look at me funny when my face

looked entirely confused. My great-great grandfather was from Austria so maybe that's

why. :) 

I fell in love with the buildings in Vienna as well. Shots of buildings were the majority

of my photos haha. Also, please notice how it seems like I'm wearing the same thing

in all these Spring Break posts all because I had to wear the poof (down comforter)

every. single. day. due to the weather. Oh, it also snowed in Vienna. Yay snow!

We also had a slight meltdown in Vienna with the place that we had booked on airbnb.
It wasn't anything we were expecting and basically, they had had a rager the night prior
and the place was trashed when we arrived in the late afternoon the next day.
We immediately left to find wifi and called up our parents for help. It was sad because
we had done so well with the planning thus far and were feeling very adult-like and then
this happened. But you know what? My mom is super mom and she booked us
the coziest place for the rest of our stay. Thank God for moms, amiright?

Have you been to Austria? These are the last of the Spring Break posts but I'm

going to post a little Paris guide sometime either this week or next week. :)

A Quote a Day

{via Tumblr}

I thought I'd break things up a little bit and throw in a quote to end the week.
Vienna post will be up on Monday and I'm also getting something done
that day that I'm very excited about. :)