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.
Splurge
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.
Those who know me well understand that part of my traveling experience is snapping food and drink photos. I didn’t travel to Edinburgh expecting a big foodie city, but left impressed with its charming cafe culture. From artful lattes, to marvelous tea, nutty whole wheat scones and warm, spiced breakfast quinoa, I was a happy girl!