When We Were at Big Ben

It is TIME for women to be recognized for everything that we are.

Isabella and I have been pen pals for probably 10 years now, checking in every so often as we are the same age, growing up in different parts of the world! Once I knew I would be in London I wanted to try to connect with her. All the stars aligned and we got to meet each other in person! Things like this make the world feel smaller, feel like everything is connected, feel like we all belong here. 

Dress: Socialite

Model: Isabella F.

xo, Hallie

A Quick Fix of London

When Sarah and I were planning our week long trip to Paris this spring, I noticed that a train to London was only an hour and a half! We thought, why not, we want to go! Eurostar had tickets that were $80 roundtrip, so we booked them before we left. The time on the train was much needed... a little escape from the bustle of the cities to recollect ourselves briefly and get excited for the next adventure.

London St. Pancras International Railway Station

Sarah and I kept noticing bike stations and thought it would be so easy to grab a couple and set off on an adventure through the streets of London. We went to a station and simple enough, we learned it was about €2 to rent bikes for 24 hours. You get a code for this so it's a hop on, hop off deal at any station in the city. It was so convenient, especially as we didn't have a ton of time to explore. 

We didn't have a solid plan for when we got to London so for fun, Sarah looked at how far away Peggy Porschen Cakes would be to get some coffee and a little cupcake. We couldn't be more excited because the walk/bike ride was only 10 minutes from our Airbnb! 

The little studio we booked is probably the best place I've ever stayed, not to mention it's only about a mile walk to Big Ben area. The interior is totally white, so clean, we felt like we were staying in a luxurious suite! There was plenty of space to spread out and repack for the rest of our trip!

xo, Hallie

Mint Ruffles & Carrot Juice

Lately I've been in love with ruffles of all sorts on shirt, skirts, dresses... I was SO stoked to have finally found a cute dress with ruffled sleeves in Paris!

Wanted to share these images because not only was the fashion a major find in the city, but the food was too! The shopping wore us out so Sarah and I hopped into a cute, local, grab n' go restaurant called Cojean. We loved the atmosphere, it was light, youthful, and bright. We tried a pressed juice that was just carrots, apples, and oranges! This was our last full day in Paris and at this point we were pretty tired and could feel sickness coming on from all the traveling we were putting our bodies through! Fresh squeezed orange juice was our go-to for a hit of much needed Vitamin C. Our French baguettes were filled with tzatziki sauce, slices of cucumber, smoked salmon, and a garnish of dill. If you know me well, we all would think that I would never eat something like this. But I LOVED it! I now have some smoked salmon in the fridge and can't wait to recreate something like it sometime this summer.

I've linked a few similar pieces to get my look below!

xo, Hallie

Dress: ZARA || Sunnies: ZARA (similar here) || Booties: CLARKS

10 Things To Do with your Best Friend in Paris

1. The first night, make yourselves a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. Find a mini supermarket and buy rose, brie, salami, a warm baguette (it was 6pm and we still found a warm one!), and fresh strawberries. You'll find a florist on the street to pick up a bouquet of roses too.

The Champ de Mars

2. One word. Brunch. For €12 at Cafe de Amelie in Montmartre we enjoyed fresh squeezed orange juice, (it literally just slid down our throats, sooo tasty), coffee with milk, a fresh baguette with apricot jam, chocolate croissants, and eggs. You'll want this address: 15 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France ;)

We sat right on the sidewalk, watching people and cars move around, starting their day. We spent a couple hours here, this was definitely a highlight for both of us. Our conversation kept going on and was one of those ones you'll remember forever.

3. Rule #1: Always eat ice cream from a cone! Enjoy gelato that looks like a flower with a macaron on top from Amorino Glacier.

We found an Amorino cart in the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre.

4. Walk into the median of the Champs-Élysées to stand right under the Arc de Triomphe. Cars, motorcycles, and busses will drive right by you. Such a cool experience!

5. Enjoy Ladurée Macarons from the Champs-Élysées.

6. Pretend to be a local. Eat at a quick, easy, to-go restaurant and try something new. This is a sandwich on a French baguette with salmon, dill, cucumber, and tasziki sauce, along with a pressed juice which is made of carrots, oranges, and apples. My favorite lunch from the trip, a must try!

Cojean Restaurant

7. Walk into a new bakery that catches your eye each morning and enjoy anything you want!

Genest's Boulanger (Montmartre)
They must have just repainted it pink! On their website it's black!

Found in the 15th Arrondissement

The sandwiches make my mouth water.

And this bread! Are those freeze-dried strawberries? SO unique and cute.

8. Walk around. You’ll always “get lost” in the right direction.

9. Visit the Louvre. Take a break from the summer heat and sit among some of the greats! We got so inspired at the Louvre from all the art. We sat for a while taking it all in and then got some energy to go make our own!

10. Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour at night and remind yourself how lucky you are to be in Paris with someone you care about so much. 

From The Pont Mirabeau

XO!

Hallie