Living in one of the more posh arrondissements of Paris has significantly limited my access to craft supplies: the cheap bright fabrics that I'm used to picking up for a few dollars at home are nowhere to be found, instead I'm restricted to the rare upholstery fabric shop or mercerie which hardly fill my need for graphic prints and fun textures. This ache in my crafter heart was finally subdued when I found out about Le Super Market, thanks to a tweet from one of my favorite Parisian sites, Girls Guide to Paris. 

And so, an otherwise boring Sunday was made better with crafts, jewelry, free tote bags and cute bird-themed knick-knacks.

Full of brightly colored lanters,

A few of my favorite things: scalloped jewelry from Parisian-based designers, asme. // A bright pink screen printed bag courtesy of Etsy.

Sunny balloons tied to garlands of '50s and '60s style cutouts are the perfect touch, and add a fun touch.

xoxo. 

things i want: map tote

One of the great things about technology is that I am able to chat with my friends across an entire ocean, in real time. The invention of g-chat in particular means that I can talk to my best friends all day, discussing important things, like whether Lindsay Lohan will ever regain her former Parent Trap glory, or shopping the latest Kate Spade Surprise Sales. (We discuss very important things.)  

Despite having the bank account of, well, an au pair, I always like to riffle through the latest bags and totes, in hopes that I will finally find The One. I know it exists, but for now, I'd like to stick to a three digits. The graphic print of this 'Street of New York' tote grabbed me and won't let go. Of course, I'd prefer if it featured the mean streets of Lights where I currently reside, but the giant central park map and retro-typography make this cute enough to spend a month's metro fare on. If only Kate would considering explore some international cities, I might just have found an interim replacement.

If you've got 69-dollars to spend and dig the grey-blue-teal combo as much as I do, consider snagging this before the sale ends!

xoxo.

les enfants françaises

Happy Wednesday, once again! Ascension Day is celebrating in France with a long weekend in the countryside: Parisian au pairs (the lucky ones, at least) are off on vacation tomorrow. I'll be off to Arromanches, in Normandy, fighting the cold and wind, a small price to pay to enjoy a few tranquil days spent by the sea. 

As usual, Parisian weather is cold and gray--we're only now ditching the sweaters in favor of tee shirts and bare arms. The immaculate parks are filling up with children ready to enjoy the warmer weather, and I find myself surrounded by hoards of the same weekend outfits: polos + sneakers + jeans + assorted adorable accessories. 

My favorite five-year-old wears glasses (when he can keep track of them) in an adorable bright blue-green combo. These round glasses seem to be all the rage in Paris right now, in fact I think that they seem to be the only acceptable style for kids! The Lacoste store by our house has got new window displays featuring flag-icons and patterns, just in time for the Summer Olympics. I love this French-version: a subtle tricolore crocodile makes the classic French polo even cuter. 

Lest we not forgot the Bensimon sneakers, they French equivalent of Converse Chuck Taylors. Simple, understated and indestructible, every French child seems to have a pair or twelve of these in their closet. A pair of brightly colored ecouters help drown out the sound of city traffic. These awesome ones are from a cool gadget store, La Chaise Longue. 

xoxo. 

things i want: gilded satchel

Somehow, my e-mail address has gotten onto each and every one of Refinery 29's mailing lists: I have a constant stream of newsletters sent to my inbox on the reg. Last week, one in particular struck my interest: ' A Guide to Your Designer Handbag.'

Something about the brightly colored info-graphic reminded me of the countless CosmoGirl quizes I used to take as a pre-teen. I was always fervently answering multiple-choice questions, then changing my responses when I was unsatisfied with their final analysis. Looking back, I realize how juvenile and poorly written those quizzes were, but I loved them nonetheless.

via {rf29}

Despite the fact that it only barely covers the realm of current It Bags, they come pretty close to stereotyping who's wearing what. In fact, I've had my eye on a Cambridge Co. Satchel in bright gold for a while, a purchase that can hopefully help me stand out in the crowd of other "30-something bloggers."

Last time I checked, this baby was in stock at ASOS.

xoxo.

mind the gap.

Whenever I get fed-up of reading the same old gossip websites and homesick enough to actually read a newspaper, I turn to the New York Times for a quick glimpse into life back in the Etas-Unis. Halfway through a night of babysitting-induced bordum, I clicked onto their homepage which led me to an article chronicling the current revitiliization of The Gap. chronicling the current revitalization of The Gap.

In only three pages, this article chronicles the decline of the Gap since it's hay-day in the '90s of bright colors, celebrity endorsements and quality design. Since then, it's suffered many times over and went from being a pit-stop for every classic American prep, to a collection of marked down polyester tops and ill-fitting jeans. I can't remember having liked anything since they teamed up with SJP. Remember their Pretty Khaki campaign?! 

Sparkles and sequins to the max, those were the days! Ever since then, they've been more and more out of touch with their market, pumping out poorly designed garments that seemed to be marked-down immediately upon arriving on store shelves.

Interestingly enough, there are quite a few Gap stores located within a 5 mile radius of my apartment in Paris, and during the winter soldes, I was drawn to their brightly decorated windows just as much as I was drawn to their 70% off signs plastering the walls and windows. Oddly enough, I loved what I saw inside, especially the full-priced merchandise. Until reading this article, I was under the impression that Gap, Inc. had much more saavy European buyers, who were directing their overseas market in a much brighter, and successful direction. I'm glad to see that the brand is resurfacing with a younger, fresher style, and I've picked out my favorites below.

clockwise, from top left: 

• A loose sweater makes bright pastel stripes seem less daunting. (ie. more flattering)
• These fun metallic ballet flats can fold flat and are the closest i'll ever come to dance shoes.
• Magenta is my favorite color, so despite the general Parisian aversion to jean cut-offs, I'll be wearing this all summer. 
• The silhouette of this pretty ruffle-sleeved dress seems too adorable not to wear.
• Safari shirts in light-weight fabrics seem totally wearable.
• Short girls like me rely on heels, and the suede/cork combo is '70s in style, but current enough to pair with anything. 
• Leopard/cheetah print knits in odd color-combinations are always a must-have. 
• My Havaianas will only work in so many occasions. for anything fancier, these pretty mint thongs will work. 

Anyone willing to give Gap another chance?

xoxo.

tropezienne

As part of my year-long vacation from reality year as an au pair, I go on vacation with my family and help wrangle the kids, cook meals and tag along for any day trips, including, but not limited to, St. Tropez. 

Among the many famous people + things that the area is know for are the leather sandals made by K. Jacques. In between breakfast and hitting up the local art museum, the kids and I window shopped the famous streets surrounding Place de la Garonne. 

Leave it to my super-fashionable and brand-saavy 'host mom' to be in the know about this famous brand that considers itself the premier 'Atelier des Spartiates Tropéziennes.' In English, they're the geniuses who create spartan-style sandals in St. Tropez. 

Their high-price tags (starting around 150 euros per pair) don't stop me from drooling over them online: I picked out my six most favorite pairs, which, if I happen to win the lottery, will be walking their way into my summer wardrobe as soon as possible. 

xoxo. 

tunes.

Happy Sunday everyone! After two weeks of sun, sand, and searching for wifi, I'm finally back in Paris. Two weeks of being on the move (catching the train to the South of France and hopping on a flight to Spain) has left me with a little homesickness. I'm silently wishing it was just as easy (and affordable) to make a quick stop-over in DC and see my friends & family, if only for a weekend.

xoxo.