La Princesse de Paris

I realize I've left you hanging without sharing any details about our time in Paris. We returned home to such a flurry of events that it hasn't been until now that I've had a chance to reflect on and write about Paris.

I will start off by saying that four days in Paris doesn't even begin to do it justice (especially when it rains for at least one of those days and you don't leave the hotel room before noon any day).

Alex and I had both been to Paris before (and Ava's too young to really appreciate the sites anyway) but I was still tinged with regret when we left that I didn't have a chance to revisit all my favorite old haunts, and more importantly, share them with Alex. (I had romanticized this trip in my head thousands of times and, for me at least, that's never a good idea.)

But here are some of the treasures we did have the chance to appreciate (clockwise from top left):

1. Ava looked the part of a true Parisian in the adorable tops her Babcia bought her at Zara.
2. We couldn't very well escape a photo shoot at La Tour Eiffel.
3. Ava took advantage of the beautiful vanity in our bathroom at the hotel.
4. Here she is looking cute as ever our first morning in Paris. The waiters at the hotel brunch buffet called her La Princesse de Paris and even gave her a sweet stuffed teddy bear. 
5. We did get the room with the cheerful yellow damask wallpaper, marble fireplace, and glass chandelier and we loved every second we spent there.
6. One of the many upscale flower shops in the 16ème.
7. The most professional crèpe-maker ever!
8. I was so in love with the cherry blossoms in the gardens behind Notre Dame.
9. Look at all these padlocks people have been leaving on Pont de l'Archevêché, the bridge behind Notre Dame.
10. A trip to Angelina is not complete without Le Mont Blanc.
11. Although I'm still not completely convinced we made it all the way into Les Puces, I do know that we at least tipped the iceberg. (I've always wanted one of these old vintage dressmaking models.)
12. Walking the streets outside Les Puces.

Our Paris Hotel

We booked our hotel in Paris!

(Remember the apartment rental option we explored here?) 

I'm looking forward to the entire Europe trip -- a week in Florence to visit my mother-in-law while she's teaching abroad this semester, along with my father-in-law and sister-in-law, plus a weekend all together in Rome. This will be my first vacation with my in-laws (and Ava's too, obviously). 

But there is something extra special about the week our little family will spend alone together in Paris.

Paris has claimed a piece of my heart since I inexplicably decided I wanted French to be the foreign language I took in eighth grade rather than the more popular and practical option of Spanish (it's practically a prerequisite in California). I can't explain why, but I was drawn to the classic charm of the French culture. 

(And the food, of course, particularly the pastries.)

So we were looking for a place to stay in Paris that reflected that traditional French charm while still keeping within our budget. And we found it!

I love this traditional yellow suite.

Our room will overlook the courtyard rather than the busy street in front.

Les Puces

We've barely started winding down from the birthday week celebrations and my insatiable self is already looking toward the next big event... We are going to Europe! My mother-in-law is teaching economics in Florence this semester and we miss her so much we will be joining her for a couple weeks next month. And we decided we might as well throw in a few days in Paris for good measure, and possibly also a weekend in Rome and some other side trips around Tuscany. We've been planning the trip for a while now, but with everything else going on in life, I can't believe it's already crept up on us. So next month! I'm starting to do some blogging research and pinning in search of what to wear, what to do, what to see, what to photograph, what to eat, where to eat, where to start...

The flea market (“Les Puces”) and “brocantes” in Paris are an absolute crafter's delight.

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