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Friday, April 23, 2010

Sunglasses and France's Favorite Fail Blog

Bonjour Blogsphere,

The fabulous weather is continuing here in Paris! I've been taking advantage during my lunch hours and exploring some local parks and basking in the sun's warm glow. The weekend looks promising as well- more sun and good weather! (Plus Tasha's birthday party! Woot!) I am also planning on cutting my long locks a bit, so hopefully I'll have a fresh new hairstyle for the party! (Nothing short, but my hair's getting all dead and icky. Boo!)

Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour Flirty and Floaty
Flirty and Floaty by Lapin a la Mode featuring Dorothy Perkins dresses

So now that the sun is shining brightly again, it's time for my yearly public service announcement: wear sunglasses. Sure, sunscreen is important in the fight against skin cancer, and just as important. However, in the fight against aging, sunglasses are a great line of defense. The eye area is the most sensitive and tends to be the place wrinkles start showing up first. Wearing sunglasses keeps you from squinting and deepening the lines. Sunglasses with UV protection also protect your vision. When buying sunglasses, always keep one thing in mind- it's not important what brand you choose, it's more important that the frames fit your face. Investing in a more expensive pair can be worth the money, because better sunglasses allow you see through the lenses regardless of the amount of light. So, if you are driving and pass through a tunnel, you don't suddenly become blind. The investment's also worth it because if you're like me, you end up wearing your sunglasses almost every day. (Note, the sunglasses in the photo are my new pair for spring! Absolutely love them.)

And yes, I am still obsessed with cowboy boots at the moment. After picking up two pairs at Fripes Star (my favorite cheap vintage haunt) for a total of $35, I've been sporting them everywhere. Both are vintage pairs from the 70's, and fit like a dream. Perfect for galavanting around Paris! I have to say, if you're looking to pick up a pair, definitely try the vintage shops. They're preworn (which gives them authentic character), and only a fraction of the price you pay in the department stores!

Click of French Culture
Even though Paris has a fabulous public transportation system, there is still heavy traffic in the city, and often many traffic jams, especially around the Peripherique (the high speedway wrapping around the city). One common place where bouchons (French word for traffic jams) occur is around the Champs Elysees tunnel. This tunnel has a lower height clearance than most; however, almost daily at least one vehicle misjudges their height and leaves the tunnel slightly shorter. It's such a joke in France that someone's even developed their own sort of FAIL blog based solely on the daily losing gambles of drivers. You can check it out here. It's in French, but the photos are pretty hilarious.

A bientot!
-Liz Anne

Sunday, April 11, 2010

I Love Paris in the Springtime....

Bonjour blogsphere!

Finally, I am back! For those of you who know me well already are well aware that I detest the grey skies of winter and would be happy to fastforward through most of January to March. I absolutely adore spring- flowers blossoming, green leaves bursting from the barren trees, birds singing, more hours of sunshine... YES. I would also have to say that the old sayings about springtime in Paris are also true- this city is brimming with blossoms and just gorgeous. Tash has some great photos on her blog from some of her walks through. This is a shot she took. Gorgeous, right?
Lapin a la Mode Tip du Jour
So, traditionally, I've never been a huge H&M fan (Brandon and Nicci, I know this is total sacriledge). Usually their cuts never work on me, and I'm not a huge fan of the color palette. But this year, I was quite impressed with some of their collections. Their nautical line was instantly snapped up here in Paris, and if you go out to any venue where there is alcohol, dancing, and young people, it is almost the uniform de rigour at the moment. The collection that impressed me most was H&M's latest Garden Collection. Not only is the array of clothing and accessories chock full of interesting yet tasteful pieces, but the collection is made from sustainable materials including recycled polyester and organic cotton. If you have an H&M near you, definitely check it out before the collection is completely gone.
Click of French Culture
Paris has an abundance of parks, which are a perfect place to pass a lazy afternoon. One of my favorite locales is Parc Monceau. It's more of an English style garden in that it has more curved walkways and random statues. (French Gardens tend to be very geometrical.) It's a good place to jog, and tends to not be as packed Luxembourg Garden or as dusty (and packed with tourists) as Tuileries. It, like many of the Parisian parks, has the added bonus of free wifi. For a good list of parks in Paris, click here.
All right, it's time to get back to the daily grind. :-)
A bientot!
-Liz Anne