Last week I posted about London, England and this week I decided to follow the trip to Paris, France. In the summer of 2005 I was given the chance to spend 17 days traveling all over Western Europe with my best friends. We made memories that I will never forget, and I love taking the time to go through old pictures and re-live those memories.
What I remember about Paris was that the people were way nicer than I thought they would be. While it is a gorgeous city with a rich history, I found it to be a little disappointing that the city was so touristy. It takes away from a foreign city when the waiter at a french restaurant asks you to speak in English when ordering. You want that rich experience of feeling like part of the culture.
I love adventures in foreign countries. I love getting lost, or walking 5 miles the wrong direction because it is in those moments when you see the truest parts of the country you are in and can really explore.
Enjoy these pictures from my trip in Paris, France!
In front of the Eiffel tower with two of my best friends.
Monte Marte (La Sacre Cure) and myself showing off the view of Paris!
Notre Dame
I'll never forget the beggars and pick-pockets hanging around here,
or our tour guide with a raggedy old towel on top of a long stick showing us around!
The Arc de Triumph
It was abnormally cold and windy for visiting Paris in July!
We were clearly underage (in the U.S) but the perk of this trip was that we weren't underage in Europe! Woo-hoo! We happened to be in Paris on the 4th of July and we found out that if we showed them our U.S passport, we would get a free beer! We took whatever we could get at this point!
When you were 5 years old and went grocery shopping with your mom as soon as she wasn't looking you slipped something in the grocery cart, right? Ever since I've been on my own and doing my own grocery shopping, I've splurged for the occasional "treat" that I always wanted when I was little.
Well...tonight I got that little trick pulled on me. Usually when I visit Matt in West Virginia I do a TON of grocery shopping. When I got to WV this time I knew that this trip would be no different. Matt had turned to eating out most meals (instead of going grocery shopping himself). I'm talking no bread, milk, meat, snacks...it was pretty ugly. I guess that is what happens when I go a month without coming to visit.
Usually I do the grocery shopping on my own because I "smart shop" and it takes me a long time to make sure I'm getting the best bang for my buck (thanks mom)! For those of you who know Matt, you understand when I say his attention span is not long enough to be able to stand my "smart" shopping techniques.
Tonight was different and Matt opted to join me in the grocery excursion. When we were almost done I was reviewing the grocery list and I told Matt that if he wouldn't have been with me I was going to surprise him with a box of Cosmic Brownies (his favorite junk food). I asked if he wanted to get a box? His response..."they may have already made it into this cart on their own"...(I look at him, very confused)..."as we walked passed they fell in the cart and I didn't want to take them out". I NEVER SAW THIS HAPPEN. He pulled one over on me. Shopping with Matt is, indeed, like shopping with a 5 year old.
In other news, I think my "smart shopping" paid off! Our $235 bill came down to $185. Making Matt take me to the local gas station this morning so I could get a paper and clip the Sunday coupons really paid off! I hate grocery shopping without coupons, it's like wasting free money!
Along with grocery shopping today we also spent some time at the mall. I got a suit for interviews this week, and we window shopped (Matt found a boat he wants). We then went and looked at some apartment complexes that are pet friendly because if we decide to stay in West Virginia for another 1-2 years, I think we'll be wanting a pet by then! The problem is...Matt and I want a pet...Matt does not want to move. Stay tuned for how this plays out, it could be amusing. This is where Matt currently lives, and we're so spoiled here with great amenities that leaving this complex would be hard!
The day has finally arrived! My comprehensive Exam is today! In an attempt to have a normal morning and not stress myself out, I decided that I would post before heading off to take the biggest test in my educational career. Once the test is over, I'm hopping in the car and heading to West Virginia for a Job Fair next week. Marshall University is hosting an educational expo where I can go and meet with different counties in search of a Special Education Teaching job! Comprehensive Test...Job Interviews...this is shaping up to be a stressful few days.
I really want to take the time to daydream about the release of a new movie coming out in 2 months and 1 day! I'm hoping when it comes out (May 6th) that my stress will be subsided (exams will be over) and all I will have to do is enjoy the last few weeks before the wedding!!! Lets just say going to see this movie is going to be my "Congratulations!!! You survived Grad school, moving, planning a wedding, job searching, and really growing up in the past year" treat to myself!!!
Matt popping the question - NYC, March 2010
Matt and I at my Undergrad Graduation - May 2010
I'm not 100% sure what it is about Emily Giffin books, but every time I pick one up I just can't manage to put it down. This was a problem considering I started reading them in Undergrad when my apt. was directly above a Barnes and Noble. I remember reading Something Borrowed and finishing it at 9:45pm (in bed in my PJs) and thinking...the bookstore doesn't close until 10pm. I rolled out of bed, threw on my slippers and headed down and bought the next book (using student loan money - sorry Mom and Dad) because I was so excited to keep reading!
Since then I've bought every book the day it is released and read them like it was my job.
(Ask Matt...he remembers those days because I barely acknowledged him.)
Point of the post - this is my Public Service Announcement that EVERYONE should go see Something Borrowed which comes out May 6, 2011! Usually when books that I love are turned in to movies, I don't really care for the movie version. (example - Dear John) I'm thinking this time it is going to be different, because Emily Giffin seemingly had a hand in the movie. I happen to be facebook friends with her (thank you social networking for at least making me feel like I can relate to an AMAZING author) and from some of her posts and status updates it looks like she was a part of the process. Another thing that makes me so excited to see this movie is that fact that it was produced by Hilary Swank, who is someone that I have always respected.
Let me just start off by saying that the following few pictures are getting me through this awful week of studying! We're officially 3 months from departing for our Honeymoon!!!!!
Sugar Ridge - Boutique Resort and Spa
View from the resort, overlooking the island
View from one of the Restaurants on the property
The main hotel lobby/restaurant/spa area
A typical room at the Resort
The private balcony for each room which includes an outdoor bed and your own mini "plunge" pool!
Now on to the not so fun stuff that has been keeping me busy this week...
My comprehensive exam is tomorrow and this week has consisted of working, eating, and studying. It's only the biggest test of my life, and I'm so ready to get it out of the way. 4 1/2 hours of writing...ugh
I finally had to move the study party to my apartment because I was hitting a wall in the library. Sometimes just a change in the environment gives me the extra push I need to study for a few more hours! The only way I can get anything done at home is if I put myself in a really uncomfortable position (sitting on the floor) and turn the internet off of my computer!
I worked extra hours from Monday through Thursday so that I could take today off and attempt to make a dent in my to-do list. Sorry Wedding...you're on the back burner for a couple of days while I try to get school, job, and moving stuff in order!
Here are thirty things that you may not know about me...
1) My fiance (Matt) and I have been dating since I was 14 years old!
2) When I was little I always wanted to be a veterinarian...until my parents told me that I would have to put people's pets to sleep and give them shots.
3) I then changed my aspiration to wanting to be a zookeeper - and sometimes when I see animal trainers at zoos or aquariums I feel a bit of envy.
4) I have an innate need to care for everything (from people to animals). I remember being the person at fraternity parties that was picking girls up off of the floor, or pulling their heads out of trashcans and making sure that they had a ride home with someone to take care of them.
5) I once found a stray dog on the side of the road (it was a particularly cold day) and since we couldn't find an animal shelter open in the Farmville area, I asked Matt to take me to Richmond to find this dog a home. He's now my neighbor's dog.
6) My dream is to own and renovate an old farm house with a lot of land.
Then Matt can have all of the toys he wants and I can foster Great Danes.
7) I only like the thermostat set to even numbers.
8) I only like the volume on TVs set to even numbers, if I'm somewhere where I would not be comfortable asking the person to change to an even number, I will turn my head when they change the volume so that I don't know what number the volume is on.
9) I count my steps.
10) I may not have a lot of friends, but the ones that I do have are all I need. Quality, not quantity!
Annual Christmas Party (I think we've been doing it for 8-9 years?)
11) My sisters know more about me than they probably should. They are my 4 best friends!
12) I love looking at old pictures - of anyone, really...
13) One of my biggest passions in life is traveling. I love to see, learn, and experience new things. When I find out that someone hasn't been out of the country I wonder if they understand what they are missing out on.
Here I am in Vienna, Austria!
14) I want to travel to all 50 states - I almost have Matt on board with this goal too!!!
15) Matt and I are going to Disney World in 2012 with my entire family and I'm already SO EXCITED for the trip! I will be focusing my planning on that trip once I'm out of wedding mode!
16) I've just started baking, and I love it. I find it relieves stress!
17) Ever since the transmission blew in the car I was driving when going to visit Matt, I've experienced severe anxiety on long car rides. (I'm talking throwing up and crying anxiety - no fun.)
18) I'm excited to be in a new state for our first year of marriage, hopefully it will make our relationship that much stronger. (Since we'll only really have each other.)
19) I've become VERY moderate (dare I say almost liberal?) on most social issues.
20) I am a reality show junkie (please let Brad pick Emily) .
21) I am unable to resist a good sale.
22) I'm a terrible secret keeper (only when it comes to presents) tell me a personal secret, and I'll take it to the grave.
23) I talked my parents into rescuing Riley (their current Great Dane) and I'm convinced that rescuing is the only way I will get a puppy from here on out!
24) Since Matt and I have been dating so long, I consider his family my family too! I'm crazy about his nieces and nephews!
25) The show "What Would You Do" on ABC has changed my life. It sounds trivial, but every time I have been faced with a tough decision after watching that show I always wonder "what if I was on that show and had to defend why I did or didn't act in one certain way"? I never want to have to make an excuse for myself.
26) My family is very large, and unusually close. I always grew up thinking that everyone's aunts and uncles were like second parents to them, then I realized that my family is the exception.
27) I used to be extremely athletic. My dad once told me that when playing basketball, if I was going to foul someone, I needed to make sure they weren't coming back in the game. Looking back, I think this advice was a little harsh...but cut the man some slack, he had five girls...he needed one of them to act like a boy.
28) I get frustrated when girls don't understand football...or don't try to understand and use the fact that they are a girl as an excuse.
Until May 28th, I'm going to devote my Wednesday posts to the wedding! Matt and I have talked a lot about this whole wedding thing and have ultimately decided that we're both very casual natured and we hope that our wedding reflects that. We're thinking less is more, and we want southern charm and hospitality to fill the day! We've spent countless hours in antique shops around Virginia and West Virginia hunting for Vintage Blue Mason jars that will be used to decorate every part of the wedding...from the ceremony to the reception. Here are some of my inspiration pictures!
Invitations have been a big stress this week seeing as how we're doing them all on our own (thanks, Mom)! Here's a sneak peak of our Thank You Cards that match the invites - we opted for simple, chic, classy and timeless!
My wedding radar this week includes making some final decisions on the wedding ceremony, and adding personal touches to everything! I'm so excited about the possibility of having personalized programs, and I have someone working on drawing Matt and I so our programs can look something like this.
Another decision we have to make is what our signature drink will be? We've ordered the mason jars and lids (that I'm in love with) but now we just need the blue drink! I have no idea what it should be, any suggestions?
I may give Matt a tough time for not helping me (do dishes, cook, or clean) and forgetting my birthday (in his defense he remembered, just after we had been awake for a few hours and the reminder set on his phone notified him). Altogether though I really have no room for complaining.
I always listen to Matt mention things off the cuff that he may need and make a mental note so I know for the next holiday or birthday what to get him. I continue to be amazed when he does the same for me.
Maybe it was last weekend (when he realized the bottom of my shoes were coming un-attached from the top) that he decided it was time for me to get a new pair of comfy go-to kicks. I haven't been able to justify buying new shoes when between the wedding, bills, rent, and groceries on a grad assistant budget I seem to have no money left over at the end of the month.
Point of the story, I unexpectedly (even though Matt almost spoiled the secret this past weekend) got a package in the mail today from Matt! What was it? A new pair of shoes! A pair of TOMS to be exact!
I know a few weeks ago I mentioned to my sisters that I wanted a pair, and it just so happened that Matt overheard! The last time he bought me shoes was my freshman year of H.S when we just started dating and he bought me Nike Shocks. I wore those things for years, and plan on doing the same with these TOMS!
They are definitely my new go-to shoes. Better than that though is the thought behind them. Thanks Matt!
