Last week was about a month long, and I plan on taking today to catch up on some much needed sleep. Here are a few things I came across this week I wanted to share. Hopefully they’ll fill your week with some inspiration and levity. Enjoy! Continue reading
Like so many around the world tonight, I’ve been glued to reports from Paris, gripped by the horrific events unfolding there. Just a few short weeks ago we were sitting on that very canal near where so many innocent lives were lost, and it’s hard to reconcile the peaceful quiet of that day with the carnage being reported on the news. It’s almost impossible to imagine these atrocities happening in such a beautiful city.
Right now the world is in shock. And I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before that shock gives way to hate and anger. Though both are justified, it is not what I want to feel right now. I want to remember that, despite the terrible events of today, and those that are sure to follow, there is still so much good in the world. And just so we don’t forget that, here is a little proof…
Parisians offer their homes as shelter with #porteouverte
Taxi drivers in Paris turn off their meters to shuttle people to safety.
Thousands sing the French national anthem during stadium evacuation.
Standing in solidarity with the people of Paris, landmarks across the globe, including the World Trade Center, are lit in the colors of the French flag.
People from all over the world share messages of love and support for the city of lights. Continue reading
Hot Chocolate at Angelina’s 
To put it mildly, I have a deeply rooted love of all things chocolate. With that in mind, to say that I was excited to sample the rich and creamy chocolat chaud at Angelina’s is a bit of an understatement. Fortunately, this infamous Paris cafe lived up to it’s reputation.
There are several locations in Paris, including one in Versailles, but we decided to go to the original on Rue de Rivoli right near the Louvre. This is definitely a major tourist attraction, so we were surprised to see that there wasn’t any wait – we were pretty much able to walk right in and be seated. The space is very charming, though the tables are definitely on the small side and you are essentially sitting shoulder to shoulder with other patrons. Continue reading
Vermont is a tiny little state, and when you grow up there it is easy to feel a bit like you’re flying under the radar. Whenever a Vermonter makes it on to the National scene, you can’t help but feel like a celebrity by association. Hell, even coming across a ‘Made in VT’ sticker in a Chicago store fills me with an indescribable amount of state pride (usually followed immediately by sticker shock). Suffice it to say, watching Bernie Sanders run for the democratic ticket has been a bit of a thrill. Seeing his campaign take off has not only made me so proud to be from such a liberal state, but it has also increased my homesickness ten fold. So in the interest of indulging my eighteen year old self, here is a list of the top five things I miss about my home state. (I’m sure my sister will use this against me in her ongoing attempts to lure me home).
The Politics
In terms of politics, Illinois and Vermont are pretty much night and day. It’s very telling, for instance, when you travel abroad and the one thing people consistently identify with your city is it’s history of organized crime (thank you, Al Capone). Vermonters (at least in Burlington, where I am from) are a delightfully liberal bunch. I always laugh when I hear people in Chicago talk about ‘farm-to-table’ and co-ops like they are these revolutionary new ideas. I mean, they might be in some places, but in Vermont ‘farm-to-table’ was just…dinner. Continue reading
I am a planner by nature. I research, make lists, weigh all my options and map out strategies. This is the case with most areas in my life, both at work and at home. And so when we decided to go on a trip to Paris for our late honeymoon/1st anniversary, I made it my mission to hunt down all the information I could get my hands on. I quickly found that travel blogs were a favorite source of travel tips and tricks, because bloggers are usually great at finding the unexpected – things that are a bit off the beaten path or that you wouldn’t normally see in your typical travel guide .
This is how I came across Lost in Cheeseland – an engaging blog by an American expat living in the city of lights and writing about her many adventures (and so much delicious food). If you are a Francophile, or are just in need of a nice escape, I definitely recommend subscribing.
A few months ago, Lost in Cheeseland was partnering with Fat Tire Bike Tours for a giveaway: a free tour for two of Versailles. In truth, Eric and I were still somewhat on the fence about if we even wanted to visit this infamous Paris suburb (and former home to French royalty), but since our trip was right around the corner, and signing up was so easy, I figured it would be silly not to at least throw my hat in the ring. To be clear, I did not think for one second that I’d have a chance of winning (I mean, who wins these things?). Continue reading
List Maker, Picture Taker 