Notre Dame

Here are some of my favorite pictures of my time at Notre Dame, because the fires yesterday have devastated me, like they have most people who have visited this beautiful and symbolic structure.  It seemed unreal to watch the spire falling and the building engulfed in flames, and I just hope and pray that there is something left of this treasured building.  I will never forget walking thru the cathedral with Mom while mass was going on, lighting candles and praying for loved ones while taking in the enormity of the experience - memories I will certainly cherish forever.  Paris is strong and Paris will rebuild, but man my heart hurts for one of my most favorite cities in the world.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Paris {Diana}

It's only been a year and a half, but I finally got my Diana film printed from Paris!  I kind of love how dark and moody the pictures are - the weather definitely felt that way when we were there.  Sometimes I can't believe we actually went on this amazing trip - I wish I was back there so badly.  It definitely is one of my most favorite cities in the world.  Paris, I love you :)

Happy Friday!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

My First Chanel

So you're probably wondering what that little purchase was that I made back at Chanel in Paris :)  Well, these adorable earrings ended up making the trip back to the states with me.  I absolutely love the random sized pearls and the soft gold coloring - but those interlocking "C's" are what really make me smile.  I've worn them almost every day since I've been home, and have absolutely no regrets about treating myself to something a little fancy on my trip.  I mean, come on - how often does a girl get to go to Chanel in Paris? Coco would be proud :)

 cute, right?

i loved the packaging almost as much as the earrings themselves

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Paris {Day 7}

sunday morning, with the sun shining, i drug mom over to rue montorgueil - a pedestrian only street filled with shops and stands selling everything you can imagine.  it was one of those quintessential paris streets that is just like you see in the movies.

 we saw fresh seafood,

 lots of fresh produce,

 and quiet side streets with cobblestone roads.

 i'm so glad we made time to visit this market (which i first heard about here).

 afterwards, we took a few metros and ended up at this stop - how cool is all that copper?!?!  

 coincidentally, courtney and thomas were in town at the same time, so we met up with them near the centre pompidou for lunch.  it was so fun to see familiar faces halfway around the world.

 since we were so close, and it was free that sunday, mom and i decided to wander around the pompidou - the parisian modern art museum (and our 6th museum of the trip!).  it has some of the most amazing views of the city from the top floor

 we saw some cool picasso's....

 and some other interesting pieces (we decided we may not really be modern art people)

 after a sunny walk, we ended up on pont neuf (the oldest standing bridge in paris across the seine) and i made mom stop for pictures

and see how worth it the view is?!?!

 we headed back over to the eiffel tower for the rest of the afternoon, and since it was such a lovely day, we decided to sit and enjoy ourselves for awhile.  i kid you not, we even took our coats off for a minute! :)

 i made mom snap a few more pics, because how can you not?

 we ended the day with dinner at tribeca (again on the rue cler) and i had the yummiest duck confit with mashed potatoes

thanks, mom, for such an amazing trip. there's no one i'd rather go to paris with than you :)  can't wait to go back!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Paris {Day 6}

saturday is what i like to call "shopping day" on our paris trip.  we set aside the day to stroll down the legendary champs-elysees, while hitting up the fancier shops on the side streets too :)

 we started off at the galeries lafayette.  have you heard of this place?  it's the biggest department store i've ever seen, with levels upon levels of fancy designer duds (who knew they made baby balenciaga clothes?).  it was pretty fun to walk around admiring the pretty clothes and accessories

 next, we hit up our favorite mode of transportation, the metro, to the champs-elysees

 the thing i wanted to do most in paris was visit laduree - the home of the french macaron.  the shop is so pretty, with all of their colorful pastries and candies laid out for you to see

we each bought assorted boxes of macarons to take with us, and they were some of my favorite treats of the trip

 oh, and we stopped by this pretty french door to take pictures.  imagine that being your front door...

 we veered off the main drag to the triangle d'or - two streets that have some of the most famous couture shops in the world.  we walked by dior, givenchy, celine, cartier - and my favorite, chanel.  after an awkward moment where we accidentally walked into chanel fine jewelry (the guard actually had to unlock the front door to let us in), we went to the actual store across the street to check out their pretties.  though i refrained from buying the bag mom tried to coax me into purchasing, i did walk away with a little treat for myself (more on that later).  i was thrilled to be holding that bag for the rest of the afternoon :)

 we finally made it to the end of the champs-elysees to the arc de triomphe, where we snapped a few pics before heading back to the hotel to warm up

 on our way back to our hotel, we stopped at a crepe stand on the rue cler to share a banana and nutella crepe - amazing.

 and since we hadn't had quite enough sweets that day, we opened up one of the boxes of macarons to sample the cookies (my faves were raspberry and pistachio)

 for dinner, we walked a few short blocks to cafe roussillon, where instead of bringing us paper menus in english , they set the chalkboard menu right on our table!

i ended the day with prawn risotto, a huge glass of wine, and shared creme brulee :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Paris {Day 5}

 

 friday morning, we once again had breakfast on the rue cler - this time at l'eclair on their cute front patio, where we enjoyed fresh squeezed orange juice (my new favorite) and brioche toast

 we headed over to the musee d'orsay, located in a beautiful old train station, to see favorites like degas and van gogh

 afterwards,we went to see the gorgeous notre dame cathedral

 we lit prayer candles,

 and walked through the church listening to mass

 on our walk back, we crossed over one of several bridges in paris where lovers affix locks with their names on them to the side and throw away the key.  it's pretty awesome, but mom and i refrained from joining :)

 that evening, i convinced mom to head all the way back to montmarte with me for dinner at refuge des fondus, a hole in the wall fondue restaurant i originally read about over a year ago and had been dying to try

 see how tiny this place is?  they make you climb over the table (like, actually step on the table) to get to your seat.  that's the owner in the middle - he pretends he doesn't speak english, and is slightly grumpy, but a total hoot

 oh, and they serve you wine in baby bottles.  did i forget to mention that?  i may or may not be planning to incorporate this into my next dinner party. the whole restaurant is also covered in writing from patrons

 you get your choice of cheese or meat fondue, and we went crazy on the cheese and bread (though the lovely english girls next to us let me try their meat fondue - you get very friendly with your neighbors in this place)

though a little wacky, this dinner was one of those experiences i'll remember forever.  thanks for trusting me on this one, mom :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie