Hello and Happy Monday Everybody!
It feels bizarre typing that so nonchalantly–as if I haven’t been MIA for literal months. Instead of boring you all with the same spiel of how crazy life can really get, I’m going to cut right to the chase and give y’all some content that is long overdue!
About a month ago, I returned to PA from the most wonderful trip to Paris. Again, there’s a plethora of things I could say about that, but I’ll try and save that for another post. For now though, I thought it could be fun to do a little ‘What I Brought Home from Paris’ haul! While all of these items are a little hodge-podge, to say the least, looking at them and thinking about the memories behind each one makes me smile and I hope this is something you all will enjoy reading too (:
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it!
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Disneyland Paris
1. Disneyland Paris Sweatshirt
This sweatshirt was in practically all of the little shops throughout the park and from the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it–Disney paraphernalia just makes me so happy (as you will clearly see). Of course, the real dilemma was do I buy the blue or the gray? Obviously I went with the blue because it had a ton more color and is different from the monochrome look I tend to lean towards.
2. Disneyland Pins
Maybe a weird fact, but also maybe not, I have a love for Disney pins. I remember years and years ago when they first became a thing and having a lanyard covered in them while I walked throughout Walt Disney World. Even though my obsession has died down, there is something about having to buy at least one (or three) pin(s) that still tugs on my heart whenever I get to have a Disney trip.
The first pin I got is a Hyperspace Mountain pin. I knew I wanted one that I couldn’t just get anywhere else, and what better than to combine my love for Space Mountain in Walt Disney World with the Disneyland Paris version?
The next pin I got was inspired by a few things–the time of year, a very special engagement, and the fact that it included Disneyland Paris on it. Mickey and Minnie are such iconic characters and I can’t wait to add this to my collection.
Okay, I’ll admit it. The last pin I got was an impulse buy. I don’t even really have a good reason other than I’m just salty that I don’t have the slinky dog ears that they sell in Walt Disney World so I think maybe I was trying to tell myself that this pin would at least mend that small hole in my heart for now. Did it work? I’m not sure. But I also can’t deny that this pin is cute and anything Pixar is never a bad choice.
3. Ratatouille Mug
Call me crazy but I didn’t want to go to Disneyland unless we could get reservations to Bistrot Chez Remy, it’s just another weird Disney dream that I had on my bucket list. Spoiler, we obviously got reservations and in celebration of that and my love for Ratatouille, I had to get something to remember the occasion. Remy’s section is placed in Walt Disney Studios of the parks and it was one of the most special places we got to see all day, they really transport you into the movie and it was actually a spot I wish I got to spend more time!
4. Minnie and Mickey Kitchen Towels
I can really be a sucker for home decor. Actually, scratch that, I can really be a sucker for anything.. seriously, you can sell me anything. Not to be repetitive, but I just thought that these were really cute and would be a happy way to remember our trip. Plain and simple!
5. Minnie Mouse Ears
There was probably a time in my life when I thought wearing mouse ears at Disney was dumb. I wouldn’t know who that person is anymore because now, wearing mouse ears is a must. I forgot the pair that I have back in the States so you better believe as soon as we walked into the parks I was begging Seth to let me find a pair. I’m so glad that I did because these are the perfect mixture of my taste–black, sparkle, and stars. What more could a girl ask for? I also love that they have Disneyland Paris written on the side because for some reason that makes them just that much more special to me.
Food
1. Lay’s
Halfway through the trip, Seth and I were realizing that snacks would probably be a good idea. We went to a grocery store and were basically blown away with all of the options. One of the things we tried and had to bring back were potato chips! While I know that probably sounds underwhelming, the Poulet Roti flavor is literally one of the best flavor potato chip I’ve ever had in my life. So good, that we brought back like 3 bags. We also brought back a Bolognaise flavor that is good but underwhelming in comparison.
2. Macarons
We brought back a ton of macarons from Laduree, but I don’t have much to show for this except the empty boxes. We brought them back as treats for coworkers, family members, and obviously ourselves as well. To be totally honest, I’ve never really had an interest in macarons, but I knew if I was going to try them, it would have to be while I was in France. These macarons were just right, I don’t know any other way to describe them. The texture was perfect and I didn’t have one flavor that I didn’t like.
3. Sweets
Along the same vein as the potato chips, there was tons of sweets to pick from at the grocery store. I don’t snack too much so we didn’t bring back an overwhelming amount, but we brought back a pack of Kitkats (I wanted to try them from Nestlé), a Lion candy bar, and these sour gummies. Of the three, I have yet to try the Lion candy bar, but I’m trying to wait until I can share it with Seth (he gave up sweets for Lent).
Pets
1. Bandanas
My mom has put bandanas on our dogs for as long as I can remember so when we go on trips we always keep our eyes peeled for bandanas that can spice up their wardrobe. We picked up matching bandanas from the Eiffel Tower for Macaroni and Copper and one bandana for Macaroni from the Catacombs!
2. Stuffies
Again, I can’t help myself from wanting to pick something up for these dogs. We brought back a stuffed bear for Macaroni from the Louvre (he used to have a shirt that said I Louvre You, but it has since been ripped off and thrown away) and another stuffed bear from the Eiffel Tower for Copper. It was cute because while I was checking out with Copper’s bear, the cashier really wanted to make sure I knew the bear’s name was Arthur so I figured I’d share that with all of you as well.
Makeup
1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Okay let me preface this by saying that neither of these items are particularly revolutionary; however, I’m still pretty excited about them. The Sephora in Paris was a literal dream. While I wish I would have looked more into what were specific Parisian brands, I was just beyond excited to see this foundation sold in store. For those of you that might not know, this is the best foundation in the world and it’s not sold in stores in America so because I’ve been too lazy to order it online, I’ve been really missing it over the past few months.
2. Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronzer
This was somewhat of an impulse buy and somewhat of a necessity. My bronzer that I was currently using cracked into a million pieces on its journey to Paris. I probably would have tried to save it if it wasn’t already on its last leg, but instead I decided to pick this big boy up and give it a try. So far, I haven’t been disappointed!
‘Touristy’ Things
1. Souvenir Money
This is probably dorky but I have this weird thing with foreign money. I think it’s really cool and when we saw that there were souvenir bills at some of our favorite places we got to visit, I couldn’t pass it up. The first one we picked up was from the Arc de Triomphe. This shouldn’t be a surprise if you all are aware of how much I love Washington Square Park in New York.. I just have this strange attraction to arches. The next one we got was for the Paris Catacombs, one of Seth’s favorite parts of the trip.
2. Opera House Bits ‘n Bobs
I’m normally not into little trinket like souvenirs but combining my love for dance and theater really sucked me in when going through the Palais Garnier gift shop. I picked up a little pointe shoe keychain and a tin that came with tons of little hair ties and bobby pins to throw in my purse. On a side note, this is one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings we got to visit. My only regret is not trying to get tickets to see the ballet they were performing. If you ever get the opportunity to go to Paris, it might be worth while stopping by in person to get tickets, our tour guide said that they reserve a section each day for rush tickets that are super cheap.. like 12 euros!
Fashion
1. Zara hat
On one of the nights we visited Montmartre, I saw a girl wearing Dr. Martens and a hat like this and basically fell in love. First I should say that while Zara is one of my favorite stores as is, they are WAY better in Europe–the style is just so chic and timeless. I was really happy to pick up this little hat and because I know I got it while in Paris, wearing it makes me feel just that much cooler.
2. Yves Saint Laurent Boots
Okay, last, but DEFINITELY not least.. I splurged on a pair of Yves Saint Laurent boots!!! **Excuse me while I’m still fangirling over here**
Before anyone hates on me for spending the money, I’ll let you know that I’ve been saving since my birthday with the intent of buying a designer item on my trip to Paris.. because, what better place to throw your money at fashion? I didn’t really have any expectation and I figured I would let an item speak to me so I went in tons of stores browsing for the perfect item. I debated between items like Gucci bags or Balenciaga sneakers because I never actually thought I could afford something from YSL but I couldn’t commit to either of those things because something in the back of my head kept telling me those are just trends and I wanted something I could have and really use. So I convinced myself that I would just take a peak in the YSL store and while mulling over blazers I had this vision of the shoes that Harry Styles used to wear years ago while touring with One Direction. So I practically bolted to the men’s section and basically died when I saw a black suede pair of boots that were the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I kid you not, I was in the men’s section begging the people working there to let me try on these boots. Of course they didn’t fit and were wide beyond belief but they were able to find the woman’s equivalent. While there is a part of me that wishes they were black suede, I couldn’t be happier with these. They are perfect and I know I will keep these as a prized possession for (hopefully) years to come. Fun fact, they’re literally the only thing that fit in my carry-on and you better believe I shoved everything else in my suitcase because I wasn’t traveling anywhere without them by my side. You might say, well you could have parted with the box, but really I just couldn’t (:
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I hope you all enjoyed this post! It felt so good to write and I pray that over these coming weeks I’ll be able to keep the content coming! Are there things in this post you were surprised to see? Things that I should have brought back but didn’t? What are your thoughts on the boots (I promise, if you hate them it won’t hurt my feelings)? Let me know in the comments!!! And..
Until next time,
xx.Britani Skye
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