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.
Browsing Tag
Splurge
Incredible lobby chandelier
Though my arrival into Paris wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped, it all washed away the minute I stepped into the cozy Hotel le Bellechasse. Booked through a Jetsetter flash sale, this hotel also had excellent ratings on TripAdvisor and I can see why. First, it’s in a prime location, just one half of a block from the Musée d’Orsay in the trendy St. Germain neighborhood. But, what would bring me back for another stay was the Hotel le Bellechasse’s excellent service and boutique hotel charm.
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.
You may not know this, but the most-read blog entry on my blog is how to use canned pumpkin as a lower calorie baking swap. Simply add canned pumpkin to your favorite boxed brownie mix et voilà – delicious, moist, reduced guilt brownies. While the end result is amazing, you cannot taste the pumpkin. So, when I discovered a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Brownie Cupcakes on one of my favorite vegan food blogs, Oh She Glows, a lightbulb went on. The flavors of pumpkin pie and brownies together!? I simply had to try this recipe!
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.