Dreaming of Paris: Books & Movies Inspired by the City of Love

October 19, 2020February 16, 2022by shakespeareloveschanel3 Comments

Bonjour, mes amis!

Raise your hand if you’ve watched Netflix’s new series Emily in Paris! This show gave me such wanderlust for the City of Love that I put together this fun little blog post of some wonderful books and movies set in Paris—plus a few of my favorite spots from past trips there.

What to Read

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain: this beautiful piece of historical fiction depicts the life of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley. This novel transports you to the City of Light in the 1920’s, with vivid imagery, evocative characters, and a perfect mix of Parisian romance and heartache. I’ve always had a fascination with Jazz Age Paris, and this book hits all the right notes.
Paris for One & Other Stories by Jojo Moyes: this story collection is equal parts charming and poignant, which I feel is a particular specialty of the author (who also wrote Me Befofe You). The title story “Paris for One” (which, at around 150 pages, I would deem a novella) tells the tale of Nell, a 20-something British girl, who finds herself alone in Paris for the weekend after being stood up by her boyfriend. I read this story in one sitting and very much enjoyed the characters and the magical descriptions of Paris.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George: this delightful novel is the perfect story for bookworms and romantics. The protagonist Monsieur Perdu, who owns a small book shop aboard his boat on the Seine, has this skill for “prescribing” the perfect book to heal peoples’ hearts—though ironically, his own heart has never healed, after his one great love left him suddenly many years ago.

What to Watch

Movie poster for the 1954 film *Sabrina*
(This photo is in the public domain. More info here).

Sabrina: though I adore the 1954 version with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, I must admit I slightly prefer the 1995 version with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford. One reason for this is because of the setting: many scenes were actually filmed on location in Paris, whereas the 1954 version used a sound stage to create Parisian backdrops (after all, nothing can substitute Paris for the real thing!). I also feel like you get a better sense of Sabrina’s experiences in Paris in the remake, and how the city changes her, makes her grow. Also, here’s a fun fact: though the popular quote “Paris is always a good idea” is often attributed to Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, it was Julia Ormond who actually said it in the remake!
Paris, Je T’aime: This movie is actually a series of vignettes (AKA short films). Some of the movie is in English and some of it’s in French, and each vignette has its own characters and unique stories. One’s first experience watching it can be a bit perplexing because it’s an unconventional form of storytelling, but I promise you that every time I see it, I truly enjoy it more and more. This film is not only a love letter to the city of Paris, it is a love letter to love in all its many forms.
Midnight in Paris: Owen Wilson stars as an American writer on vacation in Paris with his fiancée (played by Rachel McAdams). His soon-to-be-wife doesn’t understand his fascination with Jazz Age Paris (honestly, she doesn’t seem to understand him at all). One night as he strolls through the city, he finds himself magically transported back to that era, mingling with famed authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway. His experiences with them end up dramatically changing his perspective and, in turn, his life.

A Few Favorite Spots in Paris

Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company is a small, iconic bookstore that’s been visited by world-renowned authors over its many years in business, so if you’re a book-enthusiast like me, this is a must stop while in Paris. It’s pretty cramped and crowded inside, and they don’t allow photos, but it’s definitely worth perusing this famous shop.

Monet’s Water Lilies

Of course museums like the Louvre and the D’Orsay are vast and impressive, but it is the Musée de l’Orangerie that will always have my heart. The reason for this is my love for Monet’s Water Lilies, which reside there in two oval-shaped rooms specifically designed for them. These immense works of art have such a dreamlike quality that I find to be so peaceful and inspiring.

Jardin des Tuileries

The Tuileries Garden is magnificent—or, as the French say, magnifique. Though it was once a palace garden, it became a public park after the French Revolution and is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll, or to simply enjoy the sunshine and people watch.

Though like many of you, I’m dreaming of traveling abroad again next year, there remain so many uncertainties because of Covid-19. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my recommendations for ways to “visit” Paris via the pages of a book or a TV. The beret, of course, is optional 😉

Travel

Roses and Roller Coasters

January 17, 2020January 23, 2020by shakespeareloveschanelLeave a Comment

Rose Bowl

Being a third generation Duck and a proud alumni, it was such a treat to kick off 2020 with my husband at the Rose Bowl and cheer on our Oregon Ducks to victory! It was such a close game between the Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers, but the Ducks won by one point!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. See my full disclosure here.

Note that if an exact item is no longer available for purchase online, then I link similar styles.

We flew into Burbank the day before the game on New Year’s Eve, and stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in old town Pasadena, which was an ideal location. It’s a short walk to the shuttles that can take you to the stadium on the day of the game, and it’s also only a couple blocks away from the famous Rose Bowl Parade.

It was really special to catch up with my aunt and my cousin at the game! They live in a different state so we don’t get to see them very often (my aunt is also an alumni of the University of Oregon and a lifelong football fan!).

Disneyland

We spent the day after the game at Disneyland. I hadn’t been since I was 14 and I’d never been during the holidays, when the whole park is decked out in holiday style.

However, I must admit that the thing my husband and I were most excited about seeing at Disneyland was Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I have very fond memories of watching the original trilogy with my parents when I was a kid and building the Millennium Falcon out of Legos with my little brother.

So… was it worth all the hype?

YOU BET IT WAS!

*Cue Star Wars Theme Song*

Disney definitely knows a thing or two about bringing a fictional world to life, and the attention to detail at Galaxy’s Edge on both a large and small scale was truly astonishing. The full-size R2 droids (like the one above) would suddenly start beeping as if to say a cheerful hello, and Stormtroopers “patrolled” the area in full regalia, much to the delight of passersby.

We didn’t know about making reservations at Oga’s Cantina in advance, but luckily when we walked by the line wasn’t long and we waited less than 10 minutes before being taken to a shared table (when we walked by later on, the line was huge and we overheard that the wait was 45 minutes).

Keep in mind that the majority of the tables are bar counter height and are for standing (there are some seated booths, but definitely limited availability). The Cantina serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (and yes, minors are allowed. This is Disneyland, after all). My bright blue drink was called “Jedi Mind Trick” and was grapefruit-flavored and pleasantly tart.

Though we were lucky with a short wait time at the Cantina, we did not get so lucky with the Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run ride. Though we purchased the MaxPass so we could reserve a time slot for rides in advance and not have to wait in the regular line, unfortunately MaxPass is not available for any attractions in Galaxy’s Edge.

So we waited. And waited. And then waited some more. In total, we waited almost two hours, which–albeit long–isn’t the worst Disneyland line I’ve ever heard of.

When you finally get inside the ride itself, you’re divided into groups of six before being taken into a small room that looks just like the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit. Each person has job responsibilities for operating the Falcon (pressing certain buttons when they light up, etc.). The flight simulator does not use 3D glasses, but the room does shake and move to make you feel as if you’re truly flying Han Solo’s famous spaceship.

As much as I love roller coasters, I do sometimes suffer from motion sickness. I’m particularly sensitive to 3D rides, virtual reality, and immersive flight simulators with TV screens.

Thankfully, I was only a little bit dizzy after this particular ride, and I personally think it helped that I sat in one of the back seats and not right up front, which would’ve put me closest to the screen.

All in all, it was quite the fun ride, with hands-on and immersive features. But was it worth the long wait? That’s debatable. Flight simulators are not my personal favorite due to the motion sickness factor, so I’m admittedly a bit biased.

My husband and I both preferred Hyperspace Mountain, which is a ride on an actual roller coaster. I always prefer a real roller coaster over a simulated one!

Sleeping Beauty’s castle is beautiful at night, especially with the icicles and holiday decor. The fireworks show at 9:30pm was definitely worth staying for (they also had artificial snow falling at the end!). ❄️

We ended up spending almost 13 hours at Disneyland, with our final ride of the evening being Indiana Jones (always a fan favorite!).

I will say that the park was extremely crowded that whole day, though we knew it would be because of winter break.

A few things I learned:

You can make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance, and if you’re going during a busy season, I would definitely recommend lunch and/or dinner reservations.
The MaxPass is soooooo worth it. The Disneyland app is super handy and makes it very convenient to reserve time slots for rides on your phone. It saved us SO MUCH time, and we actually got to go on all the rides that we had hoped to.

Clothing Layers:

Universal Studios

Not gonna lie, the main reason we went to Universal Studios was to finally see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We visited Universal about six years ago, but at that time the Wizarding World was a few months from completion.

Not sure whatever happened to my Hogwarts letter, but I was like an excited little kid as we strolled through the village of Hogsmeade. Its cobblestone streets and familiar shops (like Ollivander’s and Honeydukes!) transported me to the magical times of my childhood when I would stay up all night reading the latest Harry Potter book.

We had purchased the Universal Express Pass in advance and got to skip the line and go on our first ride of the day with no wait time at all! It was the Flight of the Hippogriff ride, and–while it’s a fun little roller coaster with some sharp twists and turns–was extremely short in length.

We then rode Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which is a motion simulator type ride inside Hogwarts castle, but with a bit of a twist. Some parts of the ride use screens and movement to mimic the feeling of flying, and other parts of the ride utilize real objects and various special effects.

I was a bit apprehensive about this particular ride because of the motion simulator aspect, but I found that the combination between screens and real objects actually made it easier for me to handle (as opposed to other rides where you’re staring at a screen the entire time). I was a little dizzy by the end, but the thrill of the ride itself far outweighed my slight discomfort.

Afterwards we stopped for a refreshing glass of Butterbeer (which actually has no alcohol in it and tastes like frothy cream soda).

After more rides in other areas of the park, we had lunch at the Three Broomsticks, which was a busy restaurant straight out of the pages of Harry Potter with the antique feel of an old British pub.

Though the waiting area to pick up your food was a bit chaotic, our meal was well worth the chaos. My husband loved the sauce on the ribs, and my beef roast was excellent!

Shop my outfit here.

And this wouldn’t be a style blog without a bit of outfit inspiration! I call this look: Hogwarts, but make it fashion. 😉 Being comfortable and casual was key for our busy day at Universal, but I also wanted to show my Ravenclaw spirit with a classic scarf.

Pro tip: I ordered my officially licensed Harry Potter scarf on Amazon the week before our trip! Definitely a more cost effective option than buying one there. #RavenclawForLife

Griffith Park

We began our last full day in Cali with a short hike at Griffith Park. I really wanted to see the sprawling views of Los Angeles and, of course, the iconic Hollywood sign.

After doing some research online, we decided to do the Mt. Hollywood Trail near the Griffith Observatory. We wanted something shorter and moderate, and this route fit our needs perfectly.

We parked on the street on Western Canyon Road (the Observatory parking lot was full and to park on the street the cost was $10 per hour). We walked about 15 minutes uphill from our car to the West Trail, which eventually merges with the Mt. Hollywood Trail. This part of the West Trail is fairly steep, but only took us about 10 minutes before it leveled out quite a bit.

When we reached the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook (there’s a rectangular stone monument there with that name inscribed next to some stone benches), we stopped for photos. You can see the exact view from this spot in the photo below.

And look! To my right is the Hollywood sign!

*Cue that Miley Cyrus song*

Originally we’d planned to continue onward and hike to the top of Mt. Hollywood (which is about 2.5 miles round trip from the Griffith Observatory parking lot). However, based on our time frame for the day, we decided to head back down and check out the Observatory.

La La Land is one of my favorite movies so it was fun to see this memorable location from the film. It was a pretty busy day, but the entrance to the Observatory is free, so we perused a few of the exhibits and enjoyed more panoramic views of LA from the back deck.

In total, between our hike and our time at the Observatory, we were in Griffith Park for a little over two hours. Of course, one could spend an entire day exploring the longer trails, but for us, this was perfect.

Ladurée

Ladurée is a famous Parisian macaron shop, and if I’m in a city that has one, you bet I’m going to go there for afternoon tea! Their location in Beverly Hills is small but beautifully decorated, with pastel furniture and macarons to match.

It has a far smaller capacity than the Paris shop on the Champs-Élysées (you can read more about that location in my Paris post from our trip last year). It was still a lovely place to enjoy tea and macarons after our morning hike.

I highly recommend their signature tea, Thé Melange Ladurée. It’s a black tea and is one of my all-time favorites (I love the sweet spices, subtle rose flavor, and hint of vanilla). It pairs perfectly with their rose-flavored macarons!

All in all, we had an amazing week, and the weather was so sunny and beautiful (a welcome reprieve from the dreary winter rain for us Oregonians!). My husband and I love to travel together, and we’re always thankful for every opportunity that we get to do so. It was such a great way to start this new decade! ❤️

Wishing you all a happy and blessed new year!

fashion, Travel

Let’s Go to San Francisco

July 28, 2019July 28, 2019by shakespeareloveschanel2 Comments

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain (though the internet can’t seem to confirm that either way). Regardless, whoever said these words was well aware of San Francisco’s temperamental summer climate.

Having grown up in Portland, Oregon, I thought I was accustomed to unpredictable downpours and sudden shifts in temperature from one day to the next. But San Fran takes this to another level, and even during our quick weekend getaway, we discovered for ourselves how dramatically the weather can change from one hour to the next. Even different neighborhoods within the city often have remarkably different weather (more on that later).

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. See my full disclosure here.

Friday

Shop our matching tees here.

First of all: would it even be a girls’ weekend if matching tees weren’t involved? The best part is that when we ordered these from Etsy, there was never any discussion about whose shirt would belong to whom. When you’ve been BFFs for 13 years, you just know who the troublemaker is 😉 These fun tees are linked above, and we highly recommend the Etsy shop Lovemighty (our shirts are great quality and arrived so quickly!).

We flew out of PDX after work, and the flight to San Fran from Portland is short and sweet. We took an Uber straight to our hotel, the Westin St. Francis at Union Square.

This historic hotel has hosted multiple US presidents and even the Queen of England in 1983! We loved the location, with lots of restaurants and stores within a short walking distance.

After a yummy Italian dinner at Cesario’s, we perused the area around our hotel to get our bearings and see what was nearby. We then called it an early night, knowing that Saturday would be packed with sightseeing.

Saturday

Shop this outfit here.

Though the weather might look sunny and warm, don’t be deceived by those blue skies in the photo. It was comfortable at times, but quite chilly when the wind picked up. I was certainly glad I’d layered a long-sleeved tee underneath my linen blazer, but to be quite honest, I should’ve brought along an additional jacket or scarf!

Our first stop that morning was to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse for pastries (and, of course, to take pics with their famous neon sign!). ✌️

Unfortunately they were sold out of their signature “cruffins” (a croissant/muffin pastry), so instead we purchased some of their croissants. I got the raspberry rose flavor, and it was as pretty as it was delicious!

Next up, we walked about one and a half miles to the Painted Ladies, the iconic Victorian homes made world-famous by the opening credits of Full House. I grew up watching Full House and was a huge fan of the Olsen twins as a kid, so I truly enjoyed getting to see this California landmark in real life.

But as any true Full House fan knows, the actual “Full House House” is not one of the Painted Ladies. Instead, the home that was used on the show for the exterior shots is actually located 1.2 miles away from the Painted Ladies at 1709 Broderick St.

On our way to the “Full House House,” we stopped for some lunch and sangria at the Spanish restaurant Barvale. We shared their amazing steak and eggs!

Afterwards, we decided to make the long trek to the Presidio of San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge. Keep in mind we were walking everywhere, and the hills in San Fran are no joke!

This pic was taken shortly after we’d entered the Presidio, which is a 1500 acre National Park.

The Presidio still has over 400 historic buildings, from the nearly 150 years it served as a US Army Post.

As you can see, when we reached the beach, the fog nearly obscured our view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Even though we’d had plenty of sunshine as we journeyed through the city, the weather couldn’t have been more different by the bay!

I was a little disappointed to not get the Golden Gate views I’d hoped for, but as I’ve said on previous travel posts, c’est la vie! It was a lot windier by the water, so we decided to take an Uber over to Fisherman’s Wharf for some seafood.

And look! At Fisherman’s Wharf, there were blue skies. I’m not exaggerating about the weather varying greatly from one neighborhood to the next!

Fisherman’s Wharf is admittedly filled with tourists, but we still felt that it was definitely worth the visit! We perused several shops (and also bought a beanie because my ears were cold 🥶) before eating yummy clams and appetizers at Cioppino’s.

We also stopped at Ghirardelli Square. Once the headquarters of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, the square now has a variety of shops and restaurants.

Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop had a veryyyy long line, so we instead stopped at the nearby Cheese School of San Francisco for a glass of rosé. Their charcuterie boards looked incredible, but we weren’t hungry again quite yet.

However, after perusing some more shops and working up our appetites, we decided we couldn’t pass up a burger at the only In-N-Out in San Fran!

The only locations in Oregon are about a 4 hours’ drive away from Portland, so pretty much every time I’m in Cali, a stop at In-N-Out is a must.

San Fran has a lot of really cool murals and street art, and these two were some of my favorites that we stumbled upon throughout the day.

After miles and miles of walking (and all the incredible food and wine along the way!), we headed back to our hotel for the night. We joked that we must be getting old since we passed on bar-hopping, but after exploring the city primarily on foot we were exhausted.

Sunday

Sunday morning greeted us with mist and fog, though I’ll admit that it looked pretty cool contrasted with the green copper of the historic Sentinel Building.

I’d learned my lesson from the day before and dressed in warmer layers, thankful I’d packed my wool moto jacket (and remembered to grab my beanie!).

We perused Chinatown on the way to our lunch destination and this bright blue dragon caught my eye.

Don Pistos came highly recommended, and it certainly did not disappoint! I looooove tacos, so I’ve eaten my fair share over the years, and these were among the best I’ve ever had.

I had the carnitas, and the pork was so flavorful and cooked to perfection.

Shop this outfit here.

After lunch, we walked to the Ferry Building, a busy place where you can catch a ferry (go figure 😉), but also buy a variety of goods and foods in a large, indoor marketplace.

We had some tea and pastries for an afternoon snack and ambled leisurely through the various shops.

And, as you can see, the weather had cleared to become a glorious afternoon! ☀️

It was such a pleasant stroll back to our hotel to pick up our bags, as it was just about time to head back to the airport.

After we arrived at the airport, we saw that our flight would be delayed by a couple hours. Not long after, we checked the departures monitor again to confirm our gate, only to discover that our flight had been cancelled!

Thankfully, we were able to get on the last available flight back to Portland that evening and still make it home Sunday night.

We had such a fun weekend, and it was so nice to have one-on-one time with my bestie. We’ve been friends since we were 15, were roommates in college, and were maids-of-honor at each other’s weddings.

I’m truly grateful for our friendship and all our adventures together ❤️ Cheers to more girls’ trips to come!

fashion, Paris, Travel

Take Me to Paris

June 30, 2019April 14, 2020by shakespeareloveschanel11 Comments

We celebrated my mom’s 60th birthday with a much-anticipated trip to Paris! It had been her dream to see the Eiffel Tower since she was a little girl, and this bucket list trip had been in the works for many years. My husband and I were in charge of the planning, and it was such a joy to see my mom experience the City of Light for the very first time. (Our matching “Take Me to Paris” tees I found on Nordstrom Rack’s website last year and saved them for the trip!)

In this post, I’m going to share where we stayed, places we ate, and everything we managed to fit into five and a half days. If there’s something I particularly enjoyed, I’ll let you know. If there’s something that was disappointing or “just okay,” I’ll let you know that as well.

Towards the end of the post, I’ll also be sharing the details of various outfits—from casual chic daytime looks for museum hopping to classy evening attire.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. See my full disclosure here.

Friday

We flew into Charles de Gaul airport on a Friday afternoon and—because we were a group of five—decided to share a cab to our hotel. There was a decent amount of traffic going through Paris, but we’d expected that based on our arrival time.

We stayed at the charming Hotel Le Clément, in the 6th arrondisement (also known as the Latin Quarter because of the historic universities in the area, and that the academics spoke Latin here during the Middle Ages). This is the second time I’ve stayed in the Latin Quarter, and I very much like the location—it’s within walking distance of sites like Notre Dame and Sainte-Chappelle and has lots of great little shops, restaurants, and cafes in the area.

That night we ate dinner at one of our favorite spots from a previous Paris trip, a restaurant called Au Pere Louis.

We then surprised my mom with tickets to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower (something we’d booked about five weeks earlier).

I will never forget the look of awe and wonder on my mom’s face as she stood beneath the 984-foot Tower and gazed up at the golden lights.

I also won’t forget how windy it was at the top! I wish I’d brought a beanie and a thicker sweater!

Saturday

We ventured out to Versailles that morning, via the RER train line. We started at the Petit Trianon (above) and then visited Marie Antoinette’s rustic Hameau de la Reine (“The Queen’s Hamlet,” pictured below).

This charming farmland served as a playground of sorts for the Queen and her close friends—though it wasn’t entirely for show, as the Hamlet was actually capable of producing dairy products for the Queen.

We then made our way through the vast estate–so many beautiful buildings, landscapes, and foliage!

We decided to skip the Grand Trianon and walked over to the Grand Canal area to break for lunch. We ate next to the Canal at La Flottille restaurant and enjoyed a bottle of white wine as we watched people row in the little boats or relax on the grass.

We paid the extra fee to go through the Gardens, part of which is pictured above. Our museum pass covered the entrance to the rest of the grounds, just not the Gardens because of the Musical Fountains Show that’s held on certain days. (More info on that here)

After we finished touring the Gardens, the line to get into the Chateau was extremely long (we’re talkin’ Disneyland long), so we decided to return later that week to tour the Chateau. The jet lag was starting to hit everyone pretty hard, and we wanted to have enough time to power nap and change into our formal clothes for our river cruise on the Seine that evening.

The river cruise dinner was one of the highlights of our trip. We booked through the company Bateaux Parisiens, and I truly can’t recommend them enough!

We went to the 8:30 dinner, so we got to see the city at dusk (which is magical). The soft pastel colors of the sky behind Notre Dame is something I will never forget.

We splurged for the pricier seating area so we were at the very front of the boat right next to the large glass windows (as you can see below with the picture of my mom and her bday candle).

Our view of the sites and the Seine was truly incredible, and the live music and singing provided a lovely ambiance (one of the singers sang a sweet version of Edith Piaf’s classic“La Vie En Rose.” A song that always makes me think of Paris!).

The service was impeccable, and the food was fabulous! My husband was brave and even tried the escargot for his appetizer! (Above photo. More food pics shown below.)

Sunday

The next day we visited two museums—the Musee de l’Orangerie and the Musee d’Orsay.

The d’Orsay has a great selection of Van Gogh, but the l’Orangerie is my personal favorite because of Monet’s Water Lilies (shown above and below). There’s something soft and dreamlike about the Water Lilies that I find truly mesmerizing.

Between museum hopping, we took a pleasant break in the Jardin du Tuileries (“Tuileries Garden”).

It’s the perfect place to stop and relax (as my brother and my husband are illustrating in the above photo 😉).

After the Tuileries, we walked the short distance to the Louvre Pyramids to take the obligatory tourist photo “touching” the top of the pyramid (my mom’s pic turned out so cute!).

That evening we attended a show at the famous Moulin Rouge. Some people might argue that it’s just a tourist trap, but I’ve seen this show before, and I honestly enjoyed it just as much the second time around!

In addition to the iconic can-can dance, the show included some stunning acrobatic acts (juggling, swimming with snakes, roller skating, etc). *Note that no photos are allowed during the show.

Monday

Monday morning we visited what is quite possibly the most colorful street in Paris, the Rue Crémieux. Though it’s a favorite spot for bloggers, photographers, and tourists, keep in mind that this street is residential and people do indeed live there. As such, we were as quiet and respectful as possible while visiting this area.

We then ventured over to a world famous bookstore that was a bucket list visit for me, the iconic Shakespeare and Company.

It’s a small bookstore that’s been visited by world-renowned authors over the years, so if you’re a book-lover like me, this is a must stop while in Paris. It’s pretty cramped and crowded inside, and they don’t allow photos, but it’s definitely worth perusing this adorable shop.

I purchased a beautiful leather-bound copy of Romeo and Juliet. And also a coffee mug—which is one of my favorite souvenirs to buy while traveling because it’s something I can enjoy when I’m back home and be reminded of my travels!

Due to the terrible fire that ravaged Notre Dame in April of this year, we were unfortunately unable to visit this 856-year-old church (which is just a short walk from Shakespeare and Company). The bridge adjacent to Notre Dame was barricaded (not sure how long it will remain that way), so we onlookers could only view the church from afar.

After Notre Dame we had planned to tour inside the nearby Sainte-Chapelle (which was once the royal chapel), but the line stretched around the block so we rearranged our schedule a bit and instead decided to go see the Arc de Triomphe and wander around the Champs-Elysees.

That’s definitely something I’ve learned over the years whilst traveling: be flexible with your itinerary if you can! Sometimes it’s better to swap one site for another and come back later to see if the line is better!

On our first trip to Paris, my husband and I climbed the steps to the top of the Arc de Tripmphe. It’s quite a climb (284 stairs to the top) but is well worth the panoramic views of the city. This time around we were on a bit of a time crunch, and our group collectively decided not to climb it.

On the Champs-Elysees we ventured into the massive Louis Vuitton store and then had tea at one of my favorite sweet shops, Laduree, which is world-renowned for its macarons.

We had just a short wait to sit in the restaurant area and very much enjoyed the beautiful decor and our yummy macarons (last time my husband and I ate at their bar area in the back because the wait for the main dining area was veryyyyy long).

Laduree also has their famous little key chains that are perfect gifts or souvenirs!

That evening we had dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel, which is on the first level of the Eiffel Tower. If I can give you one piece of advice if you plan to eat dinner there: give yourself plenty of time to arrive.

We were all dressed up for dinner and thus decided on a cab from our hotel to the Tower, instead of taking the Metro. Even so, by the time we got through the Eiffel Tower security, checked in at the restaurant’s booth on the ground floor directly beneath the Tower, and then waited in line for the elevator, we made our 6:30 reservation with just a couple minutes to spare.

However, the multiple lines and logistics were well worth it! We’d booked a window table about five months before our trip, and the views of the city were magnificent (shown above: our window view of the carousel, the Seine, and the Trocadero).

Eating dinner on one of the world’s most iconic landmarks is one of those “pinch me if it’s real” type of moments, and it was something that we all enjoyed. The food was excellent, and the dinner service runs seamlessly, with each course coming out in a very timely fashion.

After dinner, we headed over to the Trocadero (located directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower) to take photos during the hour before sunset, when lighting is at its best. This is a very popular area for photos and it was quite busy at that time of day, so my advice is to just be patient and realize that there are likely going to be other tourists in the background of your photos.

Shop my outfit here.

I’m also gonna let you in on a little blogger secret: the Louboutin shoes I’m wearing in this picture? I packed them with me in a bag and put them on immediately before pictures! 😉 (I actually wore ankle boots to dinner!) The reason for this: I knew that even with the cab we’d have a decent amount of walking to get up to the Tower and then there would be the walk across the bridge to the Trocadero for photos. I love my Louboutins, but they are not meant for long distance walking! 👠

After photos, we watched the sunset and stuck around for the first light show of the evening at 10pm (the twinkly lights of the Eiffel Tower at night are a must see!)

Tuesday

We started our day with a visit to the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden). The French Senate resides in that beautiful building in the background, but the park area is open to the public, free of charge.

It showered a bit while we were at the Garden, but a little rain couldn’t phase these Oregonians! (If you don’t know much about the state of Oregon, let me tell you: it rains a LOT here). 🌧

Afterwards, we took the Metro over to Sainte-Chapelle and—to our pleasant surprise—the line to get inside was extremely short!

Sainte-Chapelle is one of my favorite churches, and it’s because of the vibrant stained glass windows. I love how each panel of stained glass illustrates different scenes.

The scenes begin with the Creation story in Genesis, continue on through the New Testament, and then go beyond Biblical times to tell the story of how the Crown of Thorns relic that was once kept in Sainte-Chapelle ended up in Paris via King Louis IX.

The Crown of Thorns that is claimed to be the very one that Jesus wore on the cross resided in this chapel from the 13th century until the French Revolution. In 1806 it was moved to Notre Dame’s treasury and was one of the relics saved during the recent Notre Dame Fire.

After Sainte-Chapelle, we took the Metro over to Montmartre and climbed up the many stairs to Sacre-Couer. This Romanesque-Byzantine style church sits on a hill that overlooks Paris, providing a stunning panoramic view of the city.

Something amazing about this particular church is that during World War II the area surrounding Sacre-Couer was bombed 13 times, and yet there were no casualties. The only damage to the church itself was that the stained glass shattered (and was rebuilt after the War).

Wednesday

On our last full day in Paris we took the RER train back out to Versailles, this time to tour the Chateau itself. The line was far shorter than it had been on Saturday afternoon, and it took us about half an hour to get inside.

The Chateau of Versailles is stunning and opulent, with the most ornate decor imaginable. From the artwork to the French Baroque architecture, this palace is truly a sight to behold.

It does get quite crowded in certain areas (especially the famous Hall of Mirrors, shown above), but is well worth the visit.

We had lunch inside the Chateau at Angelina, a famous French tearoom that has multiple locations throughout Paris. Their Mont-Blanc pastry is their trademark dessert, but it is the Mont-Blanc tea that truly has my heart. Without a doubt, it is my favorite tea in the whole world (and unfortunately they don’t ship to the US 😭).

Angelina opened its first location in 1903, and according to their website, a famous visitor from those early years was none other than Coco Chanel herself.

After lunch, we ambled outside to the large Orangery, which was one of my favorite spots on the estate. The elaborate landscape and darling orange trees made for a pleasant stroll in the early afternoon sunshine.

Later that day on our leisurely walk to the Louvre, we stopped at the Bar du Marche on the Rue de Seine and ate some of the best hot dogs we’ve ever had in our lives.

The French hot dog is different than the American hot dog, as it’s served on a baguette with lots of cheese baked on top (and I’m not talking that fake dipping cheese you’ll sometimes see paired with pretzels at American sporting events. I’m talking authentic French cheese in all its gooey glory).

We sat outside enjoying our hot dogs, drinks in hand, and toasted to our last night in Paris and a trip well spent. However, the night was young, and we still had one more museum on our list: the Louvre.

I’m no art expert, so if you want a thorough rundown of this vast museum, you’ll need to look elsewhere (though we highly recommend following the path that Rick Steves outlines in his Paris guidebook! It helps you find all the notable works of art and provides some brief context and history).

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Venus de Milo

Another gem of wisdom from the Rick Steves guidebook that we utilized on both of our Paris trips: visit the Louvre in the evening because it’s less crowded.

On Wednesdays and Fridays (except holidays), the Louvre has extended evening hours (open until 9:45pm). We’ve had great luck visiting this world-renowned museum during that time frame (you can actually get fairly close to the Mona Lisa instead of just viewing her from the back of the room!).

Though if I’m being perfectly honest, I find the Mona Lisa to be a bit underwhelming, and I find the story of why she became so famous in the early 1900’s to be a far more interesting tale (She was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and then recovered two years later!).

What I Wore

Shop this outfit here.

For wandering around the vast estate of Versailles: I wore a casual chic look in neutral tones, with a classic beige trench coat thrown over my otherwise monochromatic look. These layers were perfect for all the walking we did and the variety of weather (a mix of sun, clouds, and a few scattered showers).

As I’ve mentioned in other posts before, I LOVE boots by Blondo because they’re comfortable, stylish, and waterproof! We averaged over 12 miles of walking almost everyday in Paris, and my feet were comfortable in these boots the whole entire time (*not an advertisement or sponsored, just my honest review!).

Shop this outfit here.

For our visit to the Rue Crémieux and afternoon tea at Laduree: This was one of those days we did a large variety of sightseeing, so I wanted my outfit to transition well for different settings, and a striped blouse with black skinny pants accomplished that.

Shop this outfit here.

For dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel and sunset photos at the Trocadero: I wanted something that was more timeless than trendy, and that was elegant, but not ballgown fancy. This dress is currently on sale on Nordstrom Rack’s website for under $50 and comes in blue, black, and red (some sizes are already sold out!). I’m wearing the blue color.

Shop this outfit here.

For touring the Chateau of Versaille and lunch at Angelina: I wore a lace top, my fave high-waist Levi’s, and white Jack Purcell sneakers. I love the contrast of the classic white lace with distressed denim (this top was an H&M sale find from earlier this year, and I linked similar styles above).

Shop this outfit here.

For a casual dinner and visiting the Louvre: My “J’adore Dior” tee was a vintage find from the RealReal several years ago (reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw’s Dior tee that she wore on Sex and the City). I paired it with a black and white blazer and distressed Levi’s for a casual chic look (one of my favorite daytime outfits from the trip!).

Travel Hiccups

Perhaps this is something people don’t talk about enough when they discuss their travels abroad, but it’s pretty much a guarantee that at least one thing is going to go wrong or be delayed.

From renovations, to train strikes, to lost luggage, somewhere along the line you’ll likely experience a metaphorical (or literal) bump in the road. And you know what? As the French say: C’est la vie! (“That’s life” 😉) I try to go into trips being patient, open-minded, and with a grateful heart.

Also, be kind to yourself and your fellow travelers! Jet lag can be rough, so try your best to schedule in some down time, when you can relax at a cafe with some coffee or take a power nap in your hotel room. I know you probably want to see as much as you can in the time you have, but if you’re constantly exhausted or starving, that’s not going to be a pleasant experience for anyone.

Shop this outfit here.

And if you want to wear a beret in Paris, wear it! (That’s my way of saying carpe diem or the more contemporary YOLO 😉… But as you can see, I did wear a beret!)

If you have any questions or shared experiences, I would love to hear in the comments below! ❤️ Have you been to Paris? If so, what was your favorite thing you did?

In my next post, I’ll be sharing where my husband and I journeyed to after Paris: Positano and the Italian Riviera.

Pacific Northwest, Travel Oregon

Birthday Girl, Part 2

September 21, 2018August 6, 2019by shakespeareloveschanel2 Comments

From classic Shakespearean theatre to the great outdoors, my husband planned the perfect birthday weekend getaway!

We road tripped down to southern Oregon, stopping once at the In-N-Out in Grants Pass. It’s the closest location to Portland–about 4 hours away–and one of only two locations in the whole state. I mean, if it’s on the way, you gotta stop! This girl loves her burgers.

I snapped a pic of this road sign because it had both our destinations on it: the historic hotel where we would be staying at, and of course, the Festival itself.

My grandparents used to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival almost every year for their wedding anniversary (I always say they’re where my love for classic lit came from!). They both passed away when I was in my teens, but they weren’t far from my mind this weekend when we saw Romeo and Juliet.

We watched the famous play of star-crossed lovers performed underneath the stars in the Allen Elizabethan Theatre. It’s an outdoor theatre, and, though it was a chilly evening, it was such a treat.

Peacoat: H&M (similar) Striped Top: Adrianna Papell (similar here and here) Black Jeans: Topshop Clutch: Saint Laurent Shoes: Franco Sarto (similar)

I wore a wool coat over a long-sleeved blouse, but I was admittedly still a bit cold. Many playgoers brought blankets with them, which was definitely a good idea this time of year (the evening temperatures were in the mid 50’s). The play’s start time was 8pm and was almost three hours long (including an intermission in the middle).

As for the play itself, I very much enjoyed the set design, the Elizabethan-style costumes that had a modern edge, and the high quality caliber of the actors (we weren’t permitted to take photos inside the theatre itself due to copyright laws). Juliet’s performance was especially memorable–the actress balanced the character’s youthful innocence and fierce passion extremely well. My husband thought Friar Lawrence provided the perfect dose of humor and wit to the tragic nature of the play.

I first read this play in high school in my freshman English class, when I was 14 and quite near Juliet’s own age of 13. Like a lot of teenage girls, I was a bit fanciful then–the whole notion of love at first sight seemed romantic, and the idea of a secret elopement felt exciting and forbidden.

Now I’m 27 and–needless to say–have a bit more life experience under my belt. I studied the play several times in college, but something that struck me this time around was the fact that Romeo and Juliet share only four scenes together–technically five if you count the death scene at the end; however, they don’t speak with each other because at first Juliet is still asleep, and then by the time she wakes up, Romeo has already killed himself. This is one of the most iconic plays in English literature, and the title characters barely interact with each other!

And yet, four scenes is all it takes. The eloquence of Shakespeare’s writing, the immensity of what’s at stake, and the timeless romanticism of forbidden young love all make it the great tragedy that it is.

Before the play, we had dinner at Larks, a cozy local restaurant adjacent to the Ashland Springs Hotel. I had one of their daily specials (the salmon was excellent!), and I was grateful my husband had made reservations weeks prior to our visit because it was such a busy spot.

We’d also made our hotel reservations at Ashland Springs about 5 months prior (Ashland is a small town and the hotel is so conveniently located to the Festival–barely two blocks away!).

The next day, we headed out on Crater Lake Highway to–you guessed it!–Crater Lake National Park. I’ve lived in Oregon all my life, and yet I’ve never visited this famous site.

It was formed by the explosion of Mt. Mazuma over 7,000 years ago. The crater was filled in with water over time, gradually becoming what is now the deepest lake in the United States.

Hat: Portland Gear Jacket: Levi’s (color is Concrete Indigo) Hoodie: J. Crew (similar) Leggings: Nike (similar) Sneakers: Nike (similar here and here) Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Clubmaster

No filter needed for the incredible blue water of Crater Lake! It’s famous for its vibrant blue hue, and the intense sapphire color truly didn’t disappoint.

I’m no expert, but I learned that the remarkable blue color has to do with the lake’s depth and water purity. Since the water is so clear, sunlight is able to penetrate deep into the water and most of the colors on the light spectrum (red, orange, etc.) are absorbed. But the blue and violet light rays are reflected to the lake’s surface, creating that amazing blue.

We had planned a short hike at Crater Lake, but my husband was just getting over a cold and I was just starting to come down with one, so unfortunately neither of us were up to it. Next time!

I do recommend checking the weather and visibility before making the trek to Crater Lake. We had friends who went earlier in the summer, and they couldn’t see anything because of the smoke caused by the wildfires in Oregon and California.

All in all, it was the perfect birthday weekend! Thank you to my sweet husband for planning such a lovely trip with so many of my favorite activities. ❤️ I’m hoping we can take another visit down to Ashland next summer for some more plays! Is there ever such a thing as too much Shakespeare? 😉

Have a wonderful weekend, loves! Thank you for stopping by!

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Seas the Day, Part 2

August 4, 2018August 10, 2018by shakespeareloveschanel11 Comments

We cruised in the Caribbean aboard the beautiful Carnival Vista, one of Carnival’s newest and largest ships. It was my third cruise with Carnival, and it was my best one yet! I’ve always had a positive experience with Carnival, and our 6-night voyage on the Vista was exceptional. Everything felt new and modern, and the staff was so gracious and helpful.

This was the first time we decided to get a balcony room, and honestly, I’ll never cruise again without one! My husband and I enjoyed it immensely–we loved reading outside in the warm ocean breeze or watching the vibrant sunsets with a cold glass of champagne. Pictured above is one of the most colorful sunsets that we witnessed at sea.

I think there’s a certain stigma that exists around cruise line food–some love it, some hate it. I’ve honestly never had a bad food experience on any of Carnival’s ships, and the Vista’s food even exceeded my expectations.

For example, Guy Fieri has two restaurants aboard the Vista: Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. We didn’t have a chance to dine at the burger option, but that’s probably because we ate at the Smokehouse twice! My husband and I love barbecue food, and the pork was excellent (also the mac and cheese!).

Coincidentally, Guy Fieri himself was aboard the Vista the same week as us (if you’re a fan, he has pics of his trip on Instagram). My husband saw him at the casino several nights, but didn’t want to bug him for a photo (pics or it didn’t happen? 😉).

One evening we paid extra to eat at the ship’s steakhouse, and it was worth every penny! The four-course meal was elegant and well-prepared, from the flavorful French onion soup to my medium rare filet mignon.

Dessert was especially theatrical and unlike anything I’d ever seen. I included the video above of the dessert we shared, which they called “Art at the Table.” This tableside masterpiece mixed such a variety of tastes and textures, from the “drawings” made of tart passionfruit syrup to the sweet, white chocolate ball. My husband likened the white chocolate ball to an artistic, adult version of those Wonder Ball candies he ate as a kid.

Sunflower Bikini: Forever 21 (similar)

On our days at sea we lounged in the Serenity, the adults-only area of the ship. It was definitely serene, and the cabana-like pods were a cozy spot for two!

Dress: Spense (similar here and here) Heels: Nine West (similar) Clutch: Halogen Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar)

I wore this fabulous red dress for the ship’s formal night. There was definitely a variety of attire amongst the passengers–some wore full suits and long gowns, though I would say most women wore cocktail dresses and most men opted for a collared shirt, slacks, and no blazer or jacket.

This A-line dress was a TJ Maxx find from last year, so I linked similar silhouettes above!

Bikini Top: Cupshe Wrap Skirt: Band of Gypsies (similar here and here)

Our first stop was in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We had this be our casual, beach day, so we didn’t book any excursions.

My floral wrap skirt from Band of Gypsies was a breezy and effortless cover-up. The lightweight crepe fabric was such a practical choice for the humidity and strolling on the beach.

We had lunch at Margaritaville and really enjoyed the Jamaican jerk chicken and jerk pork tacos. The Jamaicans we met were so friendly and outgoing, and I would definitely love to come back here in the future to spend more time on this beautiful island.

Our next stop was the island of Grand Cayman. We booked an excursion through Carnival to the Cayman Crystal Caves. Our tour guide was so energetic and knowledgeable, and we had a wonderful morning trekking through the caves and learning about all the rock formations. Do you see the skull shape that the stalactites and stalagmites make in the picture above? 💀

There were bats in some of the caves, but our guide told us they were fruit bats, not vampire bats. Nevertheless, I definitely walked quickly through the cave they called “the bat cave” because I get pretty squirmy and uncomfortable around bats!

Hands down our favorite was the one they call “the lake cave” (shown above). Look at all those stunning shades of blue in the water! And please excuse how sweaty we look, but between the hiking and the humidity we were definitely glistening (hah 😉).

Our last port of call was the island of Cozumel, Mexico. We booked an excursion called “La Casa en La Playa” through Carnival’s website, and this peaceful, ocean-side retreat more than lived up to the amazing reviews we read online.

They keep the group small for this excursion, which makes this perfect for those who want a relaxing day in paradise. A private chef cooks you an authentic, Mexican lunch, and whether you’re hanging out in the ocean or the pool, the staff brings you tasty drinks and fruity cocktails at your leisure (lunch and drinks are included in the price of the excursion).

My husband and I love tropical vacations where we can swim in the warm ocean and lounge on the beach, so this was truly an idyllic day for us.

Hat: BP (similar options) Bikini Top: Target (similar) Swimsuit Bottoms: Cupshe

This hat I found at Nordstrom Rack earlier this year, and I love these playful styles with sayings embroidered on! I found on Amazon a large selection of similar hats with a variety of sayings and puns.

I enjoy mixing and matching swimwear, and I especially like strapless, bandeau-style bikinis to avoid tanlines.

Jumpsuit: Monteau (similar here, here, and here) Earrings: Nordstrom Rack (similar)

This striped jumpsuit is one of my favorite looks from the trip. It was a recent TJ Maxx find, and I’ve linked comparable black-and-white options above. I’ve been loving jumpsuits the last few years (they’re so cool and chic!). I’ve seen tons of different prints and silhouettes recently, from so many brands at various price points.

I hope you got some inspiration for your next tropical getaway! Thank you so much for stopping by, and please comment if you have any questions about our cruise. What are your favorite vacation spots? 🌴

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Seas the Day: Part 1

August 1, 2018August 2, 2018by shakespeareloveschanel7 Comments

After a brief blog hiatus for vacation, I’m so excited to share our recent travels! Part 1 will consist of our time in Miami; Part 2 will cover our Caribbean cruise aboard the beautiful Carnival Vista and the three islands we visited.

We traveled to Miami for our dear friends’ wedding. My husband was a groomsman, and the wedding guest dress code was formal. As such, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to wear a long dress. However, given the hot Miami weather and humidity, I also knew I wanted a lightweight fabric, and a color or print that evoked a summer vibe.

I found this gorgeous yellow dress at Nordstrom several months ago, and it checked off every single one of my dress requirements. It’s by the brand Eliza J, which makes truly beautiful dresses: long formal gowns, cocktail attire, flowy sundresses, and more. I found it on sale on the Nordstrom website (40% off! Yay!) with a few sizes still available. I also saw it on the Lord and Taylor website (only one size left).

I’ve linked here a comparable dress by Eliza J, also in a lovely yellow print. There are a variety of sizes available for this option. I’ve also linked here a long dress with a similar silhouette by Eliza J, available in two colors (mint and pink) that would be wonderful for summer weddings and bridal showers.

This dress was perfect for the elegant reception at the InterContinental Miami, a modern and glamorous hotel located downtown. The ballroom had a beautiful view overlooking the water and of the nearby skyscrapers.

We stayed at Hotel Victor, a lovely art-deco hotel on the iconic Ocean Drive in South Beach. We also stayed there two years ago on our last trip to Miami, and its proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shops makes it an ideal location. I’m pictured above in the lobby of the hotel before we headed downtown for our friends’ wedding.

Adjacent to Hotel Victor is the flashy and decadent Sugar Factory, a restaurant and sweetshop. They have multiple locations all over the world and are known for their rich food, elaborate desserts, and celebrity appearances.

They have an extensive list of drinks and cocktails, and our favorites are the goblets filled with dry ice. Available with or without alcohol, these colorful drinks are a cool, refreshing treat to beat the Miami heat (and the drink poured over the dry ice produces a dramatic smoky effect!). We enjoyed the Watermelon Patch on our last visit (pictured above!), complete with gummy watermelon candies.

I also loved the rainbow sliders. I sent a picture of them to my brother, and he said they reminded him of the “Pretty Patties” featured on Spongebob. Definitely a fitting comparison, and almost all the kids that walked by our table excitedly pointed at my colorful lunch!

One-piece swimsuit: Heat Swim (similar) Panama Hat: J. Crew (similar) Sunglasses: Circus by Sam Edelman (similar)

We always have a great time on South Beach, the iconic stretch of bustling beach perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and people-watching! The water was very warm and comfortable to swim in, but we actually saw a couple small sharks!

Allegedly they were “nurse sharks” (the ones we saw were about 5 feet in length) and are regularly seen on the Florida coast, though they’re not particularly aggressive unless provoked or stepped on. Nevertheless, our group got out of the water after that!

Next door to Hotel Victor is the famous Versace Mansion, once the glamorous Miami home of Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace. Now called the Villa Casa Casuarina, it operates as a luxury hotel and restaurant. According to Vogue, it’s “the third most photographed home in America, after the White House and Graceland.”

My husband and I watched American Crime Story: the Murder of Gianni Versace earlier this year, and many scenes from the critically-acclaimed series were filmed on location there.

Jumpsuit: Flying Tomato (similar cropped-length jumpsuits here and here) Panama Hat: J. Crew (similar) Sandals: Michael Antonio (similar) Sunglasses: Quay Australia (similar)

Gianni Versace once said: “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.” I’ve long admired these words from this inspiring fashion icon, whose life was so tragically cut short but whose legacy lives on.

Hope you have a great week and thank you for stopping by! This weekend I’ll post Part 2 of our trip about our Caribbean cruise and island hopping. 🌴

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Oregon, Home Sweet Home

June 8, 2018June 8, 2018by shakespeareloveschanel3 Comments

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I’m dedicating my travel series for the month of June to the beautiful state of Oregon that I’ve always called home. I’ll be sharing my personal picks for Portland (from restaurants to breweries to activities) and several quick and easy day trips–from Mt. Hood to the Oregon Coast.

I feel truly blessed to grow up in such a gorgeous, green region; we may get lots of rain, but that rain lends itself to colorful seasons and lush landscapes. Also, if you’re planning a visit to the Portland area, our summers are lovely, with mostly warm, dry weather from July through September.

Unlike my travel posts from May, however, I’m spreading out my favorite places and recommendations over the course of the whole month of June, so these will each be shorter, more succinct pieces.

I’m starting with a bit of nostalgia today and sharing one of my family’s favorite restaurants that makes the perfect pit-stop on Highway 26, when en route to coastal towns like Seaside or Cannon Beach.

Also, my summer reading list is at the bottom of this post!

Camp 18 is a charming, rustic restaurant about an hour’s drive west of Portland (and only 25 minutes from Seaside). The restaurant’s name comes from the fact that it’s located at mile post 18 on Highway 26 (one of the major highways that runs east/west in Oregon, stretching from the coast to the Idaho border). Its structure is a beautiful log cabin with massive wooden beams, hand carved front doors, and a picturesque creek located just behind it.

We adore their brunch and have been coming here since I was a little kid (highly recommend the “flatcars”–aka giant pancakes–with the locally made marionberry syrup!). This family-friendly spot is great for locals and tourists alike (pictured above on a recent visit with my younger brother!).

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Striped Top: H&M (similar here and here) Black Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (similar) Leather Jacket: Wyatt (similar) Mules: Topshop (similar) Purse: Prada (similar style here) Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Clubmaster Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar)

The weather has been hit-and-miss lately; we’ve had some hot, sunny days, but also some cloudy, mild ones. This outfit is perfect for those temperate Oregon days, typical of spring and early summer. I’ve been loving the off-the-shoulder trend, and this version from H&M is an awesome striped option. My mules are from Topshop and are a comfy, 90’s trend that I’m definitely a fan of. My Prada purse was a purchase on our honeymoon in Italy; above, I linked the exact style and also a less pricey option that is a similar size.

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My summer reading list (so far!):

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
The Light We Lostby Jill Santopolo
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitgerald

Currently reading The Little Paris Bookshop (and LOVING it)–I’ll share my thoughts on the full novel in a few weeks. The Light We Lost was recommended by a friend and is one of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club picks.

As for the first novel of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, I’ll be honest: I’ve been trying (and failing) to take the plunge and read the series for years. I’ve been obsessed with the show since season two debuted back when I was a senior in college, but I have yet to read the book series. Trying to make this the summer that I at least read the first one.

My best friend and I wanted to read a poetry collection that we haven’t yet done, and we chose Collins’s collection Aimless Love. And last, but certainly not least, I want to revisit one of my all-time favorite novels, The Great Gatsby. I try to reread this American classic every few years, and it’s one of those incredible books that no matter how many times I read it, I get something new out of it.

I would love to hear what you’re reading this summer! Have you made it through A Game of Thrones and the other books in the series, and/or are you a fan of the show? Are there novels you love that you reread over and over again? Let me know in the comments!

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Travel Series: La Bella Italia, Part 2

May 27, 2018May 31, 2018by shakespeareloveschanel3 Comments

Check out Part 1 of La Bella Italia for more Italy adventures, such as Venice, Florence, and Pisa. Like my previous travel posts on London and Paris, this is not intended to be a comprehensive guide; instead I’ll be sharing specific insights, experiences, and things that I enjoyed. But now onward to Part 2!

Rome

“Rome – the city of visible history, where the past of a whole hemisphere seems moving in funeral procession with strange ancestral images and trophies gathered from afar.” –George Eliot

This quote perfectly captures the essence of Rome, the Eternal City. It’s like constantly walking through a museum because such vibrant history is literally at your fingertips.

When in Rome (pun intended!), of course a must-see is the Colosseum, the infamous arena of ancient sporting events, ceremonies, and the gladiators. We visited the Roman Forum and the Colosseum on a guided tour, so we got to enter through the group entrance (a far shorter line than the regular ticket entrance–or if a guided tour isn’t your thing, you can buy a Roma Pass or an Archeologia Card to avoid the chaos of purchasing at the door). A friend of mine who just visited there last week said that she stood in the regular ticket line at the Colosseum for two full hours, so we highly recommend purchasing your tickets or passes in advance!

A detail that has stayed with me since visiting the Colosseum is how worn the narrow stone stairs are; it made me imagine all the millions of people who have travelled those same steps. After all, the arena is almost 2000 years old (completed in 80 AD) and has about 4 million tourists visit every year.

The iconic Spanish Steps is a bustling tourist spot (pictured atop the Steps with my husband). But what was most meaningful for me about visiting this area was the chance to tour the Keats-Shelley House (as mentioned in an earlier post, the British poet John Keats is my all-time favorite!).

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Keats resided in this very room overlooking the Spanish Steps in the final months of his life. He had contracted tuberculosis and sought the milder climate of Italy in hopes of regaining his health. However, he passed away in this very house at the young age of 25 and was buried in Rome in the Protestant Cemetery.

Vatican City

We very much enjoyed visiting Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museum. The line to get into St. Peter’s was extremely long (if you look at the picture below you can see that the LONG line follows the half circle shape of St. Peter’s Square). My friend who is currently in Italy said that they avoided the long lines at St. Peter’s by arriving early in the morning, about 20 minutes before the church even opens. She said there were no lines at that time, and they got in right away.

As with many Italian churches, there is a strict dress code–no bare shoulders or cleavage, and knees must be covered. It was a warm, humid day when we visited, and my husband and I stayed comfortable (yet dress code compliant) in white, cotton tops and lightweight pants. You don’t have to dress up fancy–just keep in mind that they very much enforce their dress code and won’t let you enter if you’re not clothed accordingly.

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To reach the roof level, you can take an elevator (or climb 231 stairs). But to reach the very top of Michelangelo’s dome (and this incredibly gorgeous view of Vatican City and Rome), you must climb an additional 320 stairs (no elevator option for this part!). I’m a bit claustrophobic, and I’ll admit that the small, winding staircase caused me some anxiety. However, when I made it to the top and saw the view, I was immensely glad I’d done it.

We also visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel (which is located inside the Museum). Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside the Sistine, but it was such a treat to gaze up at Michelangelo’s breathtaking ceiling.

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Pompeii

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The ruins of Pompeii are an archaeological marvel (cue the Bastille song! 😉). This is a great day excursion if you’re staying in nearby Naples or Sorrento (my husband and I personally love Sorrento!). This ancient site was so much bigger than I had ever imagined it to be and wandering these grounds in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius was a truly humbling experience.

To beat the crowds, we got there in the morning when it opens and were among the first groups to enter that day. Especially during the warmer months I highly recommend going earlier in the day because you spend much of the visit in direct sunlight.

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What to Pack

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Gray Lace Top: A Diva (similar) Striped Shorts: Forever 21 (similar) Graphic Tee: Gucci Museo (similar here and here) Denim Jacket: Levi’s (similar) Gray Striped Dress: One Clothing (similar here and here) Panama Hat: J. Crew White Button Up: Gap Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Clubmaster

As I’ve mentioned in previous travel posts, staying within a cohesive color palette is how I prefer to pack for travel. For Italy, particular in the warmer months, I would recommend breathable, lightweight fabrics–and a great hat, like this Panama hat from J. Crew! Pictured is a sample of what I would bring, staying within a gray, white, and blue color scheme.

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This gray, striped dress I wore in Rome with a classic, cotton button-up layered over it. We were on an all-day walking tour, and I wanted to protect my shoulders from the sun! I’ve linked similar striped options above.

Style Inspiration

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Pinstripe Blazer: Halogen (similar here and here) Graphic Tee: Gucci Museo (similar) Jeans: Lucky Brand (similar) Heels: Nine West (similar) Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) Lip Color: Birthday Suit by Tarte

This navy, graphic tee I purchased at the Gucci Museo–when I travel I really enjoy buying items that evoke memories of that trip and location. I often see graphic tees styled on bloggers, influencers, and models all over Instagram and Pinterest (this other Gucci tee is particularly popular lately, but quite pricey!). As such, I wanted to share a polished way to style a fun, graphic tee, especially for those special shirts purchased on a trip or at an event.

This navy pinstripe blazer is by Halogen and is a recent sale purchase from Nordstrom (I found it still available in one size on Nordstrom Rack’s website, but I also linked some comparable options). My jeans are Lucky Brand, and my heels are Nine West.

In honor of our 3rd wedding anniversary this week, I’ll be doing a special themed post on Friday (local vendor recommendations for the Portland area, wedding advice, and style inspiration for brides-to-be and guests!).

Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Uncategorized

Travel Series: La Bella Italia, Part 1

May 25, 2018May 25, 2018by shakespeareloveschanel5 Comments

“The Creator made Italy from designs by Michaelangelo.” Mark Twain

In the beautiful land of Italy, there is SO MUCH to see and do–and, of course, eat! Each region has its unique charm, with its own impressive history, culture, and landscape. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that. For the purposes of this post and the next one, I’m going to share several memorable highlights and recommendations.

Part 1: Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Lucca.

Part 2: Rome, Vatican City, and Pompeii (and also my usual “what to pack” feature)

Like my previous travel posts on London and Paris, this is not intended to be a comprehensive guide; instead I’ll be sharing specific insights, experiences, and things that I enjoyed. Italy is truly a gorgeous country with such a rich, varied history, and this would be a HUGE post if I tried to include every city or site that I’ve visited there.

Venice

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I’m starting with my favorite Italian city, which novelist Thomas Mann once called “half fairy tale and half tourist trap” (but don’t let the latter description dissuade you from visiting). There’s something inherently romantic about Venice, with its winding streets, narrow waterways, and complete lack of cars. My husband and I were newlyweds when we strolled through these ancient streets and floated in a gondola down the Grand Canal, so I will admit that it’s possible I’m a bit partial!

We were so taken by the city’s irresistible charm, and our private gondola ride at sunset was worth every euro. The pastel buildings lining the canal matched the soft pinks and blues of the Venice sky, and the air was warm, with a comfortable breeze… Some would argue it’s not worth the steep price, as it’s around €100 for 50 minutes if you go in the evening after 7pm (which, in my opinion, is the perfect time to go, particularly in the summer months when it can get quite hot during the daytime). However, I couldn’t disagree more, as it was an iconic experience that we will never forget.

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We also very much enjoyed the sites at Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). From the opulence of the Doge’s Palace, to the intricate golden mosaics inside St. Mark’s Basilica, and the hustle and bustle of the Piazza itself, the grandeur and magnitude of this historic area is truly a sight to behold.

We loved the view of the Piazza from the Basilica’s balcony–the stairs are steep but I definitely recommend! The horses on the balcony are replicas of the Roman originals, which were first placed on the balcony in 1204 but are now on display inside the church to preserve the bronze material. The lion statue I’m sitting beside is located next to the Basilica, as the lion is a symbol of St. Mark.

This giant canvas painting is Il Paradiso, and is one of the many exquisite works inside the Doge’s Palace. This particular oil painting is the largest of its kind in the world.

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The above picture is the view through the tiny openings in the limestone windows on the Bridge of Sighs. This infamous bridge connects the Doge’s Palace and the prison. The idea behind the name is that the prisoners would breathe a sad sigh as they glimpsed their last views of Venice before being sentenced or imprisoned. Lord Byron, the English romantic poet, once wrote about this very site: “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand.”

On a less somber note, we enjoyed lunch nearby in the Piazza at the famous Caffè Florian, which is Italy’s oldest cafe at nearly 300 years old. Casanova, Lord Byron, Dickens, and other noteworthy individuals all frequented here once upon a time, so you’re in historic company! The live music and view of the square is an idyllic locale for a nice lunch and people watching.

I adored the charming hotel we stayed at, Hotel Antiche Figure, whose building dates back to the 15th century. The lovely suite we were in was decorated in an elegant Venetian style. It had a balcony overlooking the Grand Canal, and one of the hotel’s employees told us the balcony itself was over 400 years old!

People often refer to Venice as a maze, and indeed its narrow, winding streets and alleys certainly give it that feel and make it very easy to get lost! Give yourself ample time if you have to be somewhere by a particular hour.

For our guided tour of the Doge’s Palace first thing one morning, we left early (and we did indeed get turned around a couple times! Pictured above is my husband with his trusty map). Yet we were rewarded with the site of Piazza San Marco in the early morning light, nearly devoid of tourists. Losing yourself in this city and exploring its streets can truly be one of the most enjoyable and romantic things about it.

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Florence

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Michelangelo’s David is probably Florence’s most famous “resident,” and this seventeen-foot statue did not disappoint. From the exquisite detail of his face and body to his towering height, I completely understand why he’s one of Michelangelo’s most famous masterpieces.

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Florence’s Duomo is, of course, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. This Gothic cathedral was completed in 1436, over a hundred years after construction first began. Its giant dome glows a vibrant orange when the sunlight hits it at dusk.

Nearby is the San Lorenzo Market, which gave us a great taste of the Italian market scene (Somehow I didn’t take any pictures! Too busy shopping!). Florence is known for its leather goods, so at the market I purchased a brown leather jacket that is extremely soft and comfortable. There were SO many to choose from that it was honestly a bit overwhelming.

Pictured above is one of the oldest copies in existence of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Being an English major who also studied medieval lit in college, this was a really cool experience to visit Dante’s home and see this centuries-old text.

We also visited the Gucci Museo, as the Italian fashion house Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921. I love fashion history almost as much as I love seeing early editions of classic literature, so perusing this museum was a real treat (pictured above: a set of classic Gucci trunks and an old Gucci Cadillac!).

However, earlier this year the Gucci Museo was reopened as the Gucci Garden, after being renovated and transformed. They still have a museum and shop, but they also added the Gucci Osteria, a brand new restaurant run by a three-Michelin-starred chef. Next time I’m in Florence I definitely plan on stopping by to see what they’ve done to the place!

Pisa

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Visiting the iconic Leaning Tower was bucket list for me. It was particularly special because when I was a little girl my grandfather would tell me that a favorite memory of his travels with my grandma was when they ate pizza across from the Leaning Tower of Pisa (notice the alliteration there? 😉). The opportunity to do that was truly special, especially since it’s been about a decade since my grandparents both passed away.

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The Leaning Tower was originally built as the bell tower for the nearby cathedral, but because of flaws in the original architecture, its infamous tilt made it become the world-renowned landmark that it is today. There are roughly 300 stairs to get to the top, and it’s definitely a bit disorienting, as the tilt is quite noticeable as you climb. However, just look at that panoramic view!

Lucca

I didn’t know much about the Tuscan city of Lucca before our visit, but it came highly recommended by our travel agent to do as a day trip while we were staying in nearby Pisa. And truth be told, our afternoon here remains among my favorite memories of Italy.

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Lucca is noteworthy because of its large, intact walls that date back to the Renaissance (though its earliest walls were first built by the Romans, and then rebuilt and fortified multiple times in the many centuries since then). It’s unique that their walls still remain, since most cities in Tuscany removed their old fortifications long ago as the cities and populations grew over time.

We rented bikes at a local shop and rode them on the picturesque street that sits atop the wide walls. The view of the old town inside the walls and the beautiful greenery that lines the promenade makes this city feel like something out of a dream. If you’re staying in Pisa and have a spare day or afternoon, I encourage you to visit this lovely place.

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I’m continuing my Travel Series with Part 2 of La Bella Italia on Sunday. I’ll be sharing Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, and what to pack!

I would love to hear your favorite sites in Italy in the comments, or places there that you dream of visiting (our next Italy trip we hope to see the Cinque Terre and Capri!).

Happy Friday! I’ll leave you with two photos of my favorite Italian foods to take you into the holiday weekend (Gelato and spaghetti! YUM). Thank you for stopping by!

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