After whirlwind trips to Paris and London, I came home to properly celebrate my 30th birthday. A 30th birthday comes but once in a lifetime and I couldn’t have been happier to celebrate with friends and family. And, in the true spirit of such an occasion, the celebrating actually started over Thanksgiving and continued on until December 17, my actual birthday. From champagne, to cake, s’mores, thoughtful presents and cards, I’m grateful for all of the amazing people I have in my life. Here are a few snapshots from the occasion.
FAB FINDS
During December, I snuck in a trip to Paris and London. In Paris, I spoke at prestigious Le Web Paris conference on the social business track and used my free time to enjoy the city in all of its Christmas glory. I left the United States with visions of meeting leaders in tech and social media, Parisian Christmas markets, festive lights, vin chaud (hot mulled wine) and holiday shopping. Here are a few snapshots and stories from the touristy portion of my Paris trip.
My love for unique watches is well-documented on this blog, so when the folks at Fossil invited me to a holiday preview at their Newbury Street shop, I was tempted. To be honest, though I walk by the store frequently, I hadn’t ventured inside. Would their watches be a fit for my somewhat eclectic taste? Let’s just say that I’m glad that I accepted the invitation, because the answer ended up being a big YES.
Though I adore a good mani/pedi, some times a girl needs to paint her own nails. Over Halloween, I was short on time and snapped up a new OPI nail polish at CVS called, “William Tell Me About.” Described as a deep vampy purple, the shade looks nearly black after several coats. While I’m not sold on a color this dark on my fingernails due to my pale complexion, I did love it on my toenails.
After some digging, I found out that this color was part of OPI’s 2010 Swiss Collection. Seriously, a 2010 collection and CVS is just getting it?! Is that normal? Luckily, I like the color and the polish goes on just fine, so I’ll keep it in my nail polish rotation. Given that this color is apparently “outdated,” it’s challenging to find online, but I did manage to see some for sale on Amazon.com for $10 if you’re interested.
When it comes to watches, I seek out timepieces that are unique. Though I’m still religiously wearing my beloved black dual face watch from Urban Outfitters, a $50 credit to Rue La La burning a hole in my pocket resulted in the discovery of La Mer’s wrap watches. With a void in my wardrobe for a watch that would match browns, whites and beiges, I quickly snapped up a tan wrap watch from a La Mer sale on Rue La La. Accented with gold (my favorite!), it fits my super tiny wrist, and has a Roman numeral watch face that I adore. Though it’s become a fixture in my wardrobe and has received its fair share of compliments, the only con I would point out is the gold chain tarnished very quickly, making it a little more maintenance than I had hoped for. As a lover of unique watches, read more for a few similar ones (sans chain) from La Mer, to add a little flair to your wardrobe.